Marvel Legends - CAPTAIN MARVEL!

Marvel The Infinity Saga - Avengers: Endgame - Captain Marvel - Hasbro 2021

I really disliked Captain Marvel's appearance in Avengers: Endgame. The color blocking of her outfit had the red and blue swapped, much like the suit Mar-Vell wore in the comics. While I always liked this coloring on the male costume, I didn't look right on Carol. Then the hair. I really really dislike this haircut. It looks like they intended to create her cool shaved-side fauxhawk look, but wussed out and gave her a mom 'do. It also stayed way too styled and coifed during the battle (no helmet-hair at all). It actually made me laugh in the middle of that awesome battle scene, which was a shame. But then this toy was announced and I decided, what the hell? The face sculpt is significantly improved over the Captain Marvel Movie wave. And the hair looks way more natural in plastic than it did on screen (that's a first!). Plus the maskless look makes me appreciate the color-blocking of the suit more than I expected. Overall it's a surprisingly great addition to my MCU collection. Let's check out Carol below!

Super7 ReAction - CHEETARA!

ReAction Action Figures - ThunderCats Toy Variant Exc - Cheetara - Super7 2021

Super7 gave us a real gift a few weeks ago when they released this "Toy Color" variant of their Cheetara ReAction figure. What I especially love about it is that I honestly never noticed the animated Cheetara color palette varied so much from the vintage LJN toy. I saw the previous ReAction Toy Color releases of Lion-O and Panthro, and I just didn't see the change as drastic enough to warrant an additional purchase, but when I got the email from Super7 announcing this Cheetara variant, I had the sudden donning realization that she has two distinct colorings. Where the animated version can be interpreted as varying shades of muted browns and oranges with a pale skin tone, the vintage LJN toy had a bright red and orange outfit with a distinct yellow-ish skintone (a true Autumn vs Summer palette). The variation excited me to the point where I bought the (seemingly) lackluster Lion-O and Panthro, and suddenly I'm eagerly anticipating a Tygra variant - and the missing 'cats of course. Let's check out Cheetara below!

Funko Pop - SCARLETT!

POP! Retro Toys #74 - G.I.Joe - Shana Scarlett O'Hara Vinyl Figure - Funko 2021

The Funko Pop Retro Toys theme is just awesome. This G.I.Joe Scarlett figure is my fourth purchase from the line (after She-Ra, Evil-Lyn, and Baroness) and I'm beyond thrilled with all of them. I was very close to ceasing my Funko collecting for various reasons, but this theme with all its perfect nostalgia has rejuvenated me. While my ideal version of every 80's character would be their animated designs, the vintage toy stylings represented here offer a different angle of childhood lore. Not bad, just different. Sure, She-Ra has a weird golden sword, Evil-Lyn is capeless and jaundiced, and this Scarlett is missing her signature ponytail. But these designs have just as much of a place in retro 80's mythos as anything else. In fact, I personally know a ton of collectors who much prefer toy designs to animation, so I'm glad Funko is catering to both audiences because I am on board for both. Fingers crossed for SilverHawks, TigerSharks, and ThunderCats! Let's check out the retro Scarlett Funko Pop below!

Nintendo - CAT PEACH!

Super Mario 3-D World + Bowser's Fury - Princess Peach Cat - Jakks Pacific 2021

It's been a long time since Jakks Pacific has given us a female character in their World of Nintendo line. My last purchase was a Samus figure back in 2016, and since then it's been crickets with an occasional resissue. While my ideal candidates for the action figure treatment in this line would be Daisy and Rosalina, this Princess Peach in her Cat outfit is a really fun surprise. Cat Peach first appeared in Mario Kart 8 in 2014 with no real backstory or explanation, just a fluffy pink cat costume and matching kart. This figure is is specifically from Nintendo Switch Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury game from 2021. This game is a classic Mario adventure (as opposed to the Kart series) and all the playable characters can don cat costumes and gain cat abilities when they get the Super Bell power-up. Peach Cat can climb walls and perform swipe and dive attacks. She's also referred to as Cat Peach, Gato Peach, and Peach Gato (the packaging is conveniently unlabeled). Let's check out Peach below!

Spidey and His Amazing Friends - DOC OCK!

Disney Jr - Spidey and His Amazing Friends - Doc Ock - Hasbro 2021

In recent years I've become obsessed with female characters in the Spider-Man Universe. It started with Ultimate Spider-Woman back in 2006 and has branched out since then. It's amazing that I thought Jessica Drew was boring for her first 30 years, but now I'm a superfan. Most of these female characters are spider-based heroes, but equally intriguing are the gender-swapped members of the Sinister Six. Besides a few Heroclix and Mini-mates, this Doc Ock from the preschool Spidey and His Amazing Friends line is the first true action figure of any of them. I think a Francine Frye Electro or Tiana Toomes Starling would make amazing Marvel Legends figures, and with the frequency of Spider-Man waves released I think there is actually a decent potential for them. I don't know if this animated version of Doc Ock has a civilian name in the cartoon or not, but she seems like a unique incarnation of the character to me. I'm really excited to see what this line gives us next. Let's check out Doc Ock below!

Gargoyles - DEMONA!

Disney's Gargoyles 8" Vinyl Figure Series - Demona - Applause Inc 1995

The upcoming NECA Demona figure has inspired me to finally review this old vinyl figure from the mid-nineties. This line was unknown to me at the time, but I discovered them on eBay in the early 2000s and I heard rumor that they were originally exclusive to the Disney Store (but can't exactly prove that). They are impressively large and well-sculpted. I only own Demona and she is not articulated, so I assume the rest similarly stationary. They have a quality of that reminds me of supersized PVC figures like the little ones that were so prevalent throughout the 80s and 90s. Demona has odd coloring that is more reminiscent of her daughter Angela. Angela has black hair and very dark wing-membranes. Demona has red hair and light purple membranes. But the sculpt with the crown, belt buckle, armband, and single shoulder strap are uniquely Demona.  It's a rare enough of a figure that I'm not comfortable painting her hair, however tempting that may be. Let's check out the 1995 Applause Demona below!

Spidey and His Amazing Friends - MS. MARVEL!

Disney Jr - Spidey and His Amazing Friends - Ms. Marvel - Hasbro 2021

When I think of Marvel characters that would be well-suited to a preschool audience, Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel is a top contender. She's fun, colorful, diverse, and her powers are very cartoony. I'll admit her powers aren't my favorite, but I still really enjoy reading her comics and I'm excited about her Disney+ show later this year. This Spidey and His Amazing Friends toyline came out of nowhere, but I'm really enjoying it. The costumes are comic accurate, the toy proportions are unique and fun, and the overall property is just very eye-catching. So far, this Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel figure only comes in the Team Spidey and Friends Figure Collection 7-Pack (which I believe may be exclusive to Target). She tends to have some paint issues around her eye mask, so keep that in mind when selecting one in store. I expect we might see a single-release of her in the future with an extended limb accessory, but there's no word on any product beyond this initial burst of figures. Let's check out Kamala below!

Nano Metalfigs - AGONY!

Marvel Comics Nano Metalfigs - Series 6 - 20-Pack - Agony - Jada Toys 2021

It's not often that I would create a whole post to highlight a tiny 1.5" metal figurine, but it's pretty rare in this age of collectors that a character gets merchandised for the first time ever after 28 years. Agony is a symbiote in Spider-Man comics that first appeared in 1993; the same issue that debuted Scream, Riot, Phage, and Lasher (the entire Life Foundation), Venom: Lethal Protector #4. Agony was always my favorite with her multi-hued purple and her acid-spitting powers. But for some reason, she never had a toy made. She was notoriously absent from the 1996 Planet of the Symbiotes ToyBiz line when the rest of her team debuted. And she's never received any merchandising since. Not a single HeroClix, Mini-mate, or Funko Pop. Until I recently discovered her in this huge multipack. Yes, I'm aware she is simply a repaint of the Scream we got last year, but I'm still ridiculously happy to own this. And hopefully it will inspire that long overdue Legends figure. Let's check out Agony below!