ARCHIVE: 'Cloverfield' Film Review

Article originally published 01/17/2008 at myspace.com/aeriusprimus

What is Cloverfield? Since last July, fans have been seeking the answer to this question. Starting with an unnamed trailer that was shown before Transformers, speculation on the content of what has become the one of the most mysterious film releases in recent memory has polarized fans. Whether Cloverfield was a LOST spin-off, the next chapter in the Godzilla franchise or the big-screen debut of Voltron. Every fan had a theory.

I have seen Cloverfield and I will tell you one thing. This movie is a gift from JJ Abrams to the American monster movie enthusiast.

The events that transpire during this movie's 80 minute running time are, quite honestly, nothing new. A monster invades a big city. The government sends its armed forces to stop it. The confused and scared masses are sent running for their lives. We have seen this all before. What sets Cloverfield apart from every other monster movie is that it is shown to us from the perspective of the people we never really took the time to think about. The running, screaming bystanders who were always just fodder... with no chance of either slowing down the monster or changing the inevitable outcome of the film. Imagine being one of those people. One of the nameless thousands who's ultimate destiny is to become fodder. Now, what would happen if one of them had a camera and that footage was recovered in the aftermath?

I won't spoil the outcome of the film. It is best to go into this movie with the same level of knowledge and understanding of the coming events as the characters that you follow around an embattled Manhattan for 80 minutes. These people have no idea why or from what New York is under attack. Their instincts are to survive and make it off the island. From the first time the ground shakes and lights flicker, the footage that is recorded (by Hud, a rather welcome element of comic relief) is nothing short of exhilarating. As buildings are toppled, a small group of friends try in vain to find somewhere, anywhere to hide. By the movie's end, I was so exhausted by the feeling of dread and excitement that it took almost an hour for my arms and legs to loosen up.

And the monster? Ooohh... the monster. At first, we are given only glimpses of the beast. Hints of a tail, arms, legs... maybe more? It isn't until the film's final minutes, when an unobstructed view of the creature is finally shown to the viewer, that the enormity of it hits home. This is a completely original and terrifying, creation. One can only hope that we will be receiving an 18" action figure of this bad boy. Despite its absolute coolness, the Cloverfield monster isn't the primary source of the movie's terror. What makes the viewer most uncomfortable is the overwhelming feeling of dread. The feeling that, regardless of what you do, you are in a situation in which you have no control and there is no escape.

Would I recommend Cloverfield? The answer is an enthusiastic yes. Due to its 'found footage' nature, this unconventional film will draw comparisons to The Blair Witch Project. In truth, Cloverfield makes Blair Witch look like a parlor trick. There is no score, no credits (at least not until the end) and no feeling that this is a major Hollywood production. Instead, the movie thrusts the viewer into an 80 minute adrenaline rush from which they cannot escape. When it ends, you are left with the feeling that you have been a part of something both traumatic and invigorating. Cloverfield does not need an explanation. It does not need a sequel. This is a cinematic experience that will leave you wanting a deep breath, a stiff drink and another viewing.

ARCHIVE: McFarlane's Spawn Mini Trading Figures Series 1

Article originally published 06/14/2006 at figures.com

You love your Spawn figures. You have Spawn I thru VII, both MOC and opened. You’ve got shelves in your room lined with dozens of different likenesses of the character. From Mandarin Spawn to Ninja Spawn, Pirate Spawn to Manga Spawn… you’ve got them all. Every few months, McFarlane both excites and torments its Spawn-loving faithful with another series of figures featuring everyone’s favorite tormented soldier of Hell. As most Spawn fans can agree; the figures and their concepts get better and better. However, what does one do when there simply isn’t enough room to expand the collection? Simple… make them smaller! McFarlane Toys brings us the latest installment of their Spawn figure line with Series 1 of Mini Trading Figures. With three different paint variations on each of twelve individual figures, you can now build your own Spawn mini-legion. Pit them against your green army men. Create fierce battles with your Galactic Heroes. Or, simply display them in those little-used corners of your shelving units where the full-size Spawns just won’t fit.

PACKAGING:
Each figure is individually packaged in a pseudo ‘blind box’. I say pseudo as the outside of the box is actually marked indicating which figure is inside. However, you never know what version of the mini figure you are buying until you open the box. You could find one of three different variants of each figure. The most common of these is the normal paint version of a figure, which is helpfully printed on one side of the packaging. There is also a repaint variant and even a rare chase gold or pewter rendition of each mini figure!

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS:
These are miniaturized versions of previously released Spawn figures. Thus, it is relatively easy to determine how close the McFarlane sculptors were able to replicate the detail of each character in the Spawn mythos. With McFarlane, detail and sculpt has never been in question. The primary concern of most collectors was this: would it be possible to maintain a high level of detail on a 3” scale? For the majority of these figures, the smaller scale has not detracted from the overall detail. Santa Spawn, Mandarin Spawn and Wings of Redemption Spawn are amazing exact duplicates of their larger counterparts. However, the amount of sculpted armor and weapons on such figures as The Curse, Gate Keeper and Zombie Spawn made them seem a bit cumbersome and bulky. With these figures, it is a bit difficult to determine a weapon from part of the character’s armor. These are minor distractions though, and the superb craftsmanship of the more basic Spawn figures makes up it.

PAINT AND COLOR:
For this review, I was only able to get a look at the standard paint scheme for each figure. So, I’ll be searching for the repaint and pewter/gold variants myself. Again, the paint scheme for each figure was taken from its larger regular-series counterpart. Paint apps on a 3” scale can be hit and miss. Either the figure will come out of the box with a surprising amount of detail… or it will look like poo. There really isn’t an in-between. I can say that these mini-Spawns definitely do not fall in the latter category. Paint apps on McFarlane figures are generally impressive, even when it comes to smaller accessories. It should make sense then that the 3” figures are as vibrant and detailed in their paint and color as any full-scale Spawn figure could be. Redeemer’s stunning violet cape, Mandarin Spawn’s crimson and gold robes, Wings of Redemption Spawn’s grey and white flecked feathers… each figure looks absolutely brilliant. I can’t wait to see the repaints!

ARTICULATION:
None. Zero. Zip. Nada. This is the only major knock on these figures. At a 3” scale, one would hope that McFarlane would add a few cut-joints to allow for more articulation. Sadly, these mini-Spawns are display pieces only. They look great standing in their pre-formed poses, but I was hoping for a little more playability out of these figures.

ACCESSORIES\BASE:
Each Spawn trading figure comes packaged with either a sculpted base or plane black pegged stand. This is extremely handy, as most of these figures would immediately shelf- dive without some kind of support. A few figures in the series (Mandarin Spawn, Spawn the Black Knight, Skullsplitter, Raven Spawn) actually include removable weapons. This is an odd feature considering that the figures can only hold their accessories in one pose. Keep this in mind when you are tearing open your trading figures. If you send these tiny pieces flying onto the floor they may be lost for good.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Not everyone will be purchasing a full set of these figures. The standard retail price point of around $5 each doesn’t make the purchase of a full set appealing. Plus, these are being marked as ‘trading figures’. So, buy a few and trade with your fiends to get the variants you want. Having each package marked with the figure it contains is a slick idea, and will help to ensure that your quest for a mini Mandarin Spawn doesn’t end with an unwanted Gate Keeper exiled to the back of your toy closet. Miniature Trading Figures is new territory for McFarlane Toys, but their initial offering is very positive and I’m looking forward to seeing what from the Spawn archives make into Series 2. My favorites out of Series 1 are the Santa Spawn, Raven Spawn and Redeemer. I still haven’t seen the repaints of these figures yet, so drop me a line if you’ve got some for trade.

ARCHIVE: 2006 San Diego Comic-Con Preview

Article originally published 07/18/2006 at figures.com

Every year, San Diego plays host to droves of rabid pop culture fans. They travel from across the globe to participate in what has become the premier event for all things new in the superhero and sci-fi universe. From July 19-23, the San Diego Comic-Con will become the focus of the comic book, toy and entertainment industry… and Figures.com will be there.

This year you can trust that Figures.com will bring you only the freshest news on the action figure industry. Our first postings will begin on Wednesday night, known as ‘Preview Night’ at SDCC. The site will be updated hourly with articles, updates and scores of new images from your favorite toy manufacturers. Look for news and photos highlighting exiting upcoming releases from SOTA, NECA, McFarlane, Four Horseman, Mattel, Hasbro and many more.

Superheroes aren’t the only thing being featured at this year’s SDCC. The explosion in popularity of urban vinyl toys is sure to draw much attention. These designer action figures have surprisingly taken much of the spotlight in the action figure industry over the past year. Companies such as Toy2r, Strangeco and newcomer Creatus Maximus will be displaying their latest offerings of hot new designer vinyl.

Oh, and do you like movies? Of course you do, and Comic-Con has some surprises in store. Sony, Warner Brothers, Marvel Films, Dark Horse Entertainment, Disney and more will be featuring panel discussions with both cast and crew of a number of next year’s exciting new feature films. Stay tuned to Figures.com for possible action figure tie-ins for upcoming movies such as Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean and Hellboy 2.

This time of year almost feels like Christmas for geeks worldwide. This is my first trip to Comic-Con and to be honest, I don’t really know what I’m getting myself into. Judging from the list of events and exhibitors appearing at this year’s SDCC, I know that I won’t be disappointed. There will be legends among us in San Diego this week. Sam Raimi, Todd McFarlane, Bruce Campbell, Guillermo del Toro, Mike Mignola, Ray Harryhausen, Ray Bradbury, Stan Lee… the list goes on. If you can’t make it to the Con yourself, keep a close watch on Figures.com. We’ll be happy to provide you with a front row seat.

ARCHIVE: 2007 San Diego Comic-Con Preview

Article originally published 07/24/2007 at figures.com

Each year, in the days leading up to San Diego Comic-Con, the fervor and anticipation among all walks of fandom reaches a boiling point. Comic-Con has become a Brigadoon of sorts for everyone from Trekkies to Browncoats, appearing only once a year and never lasting quite long enough. No longer just a small gathering of comic book fans, Comic-Con is now the premiere pop culture event of the summer. In previous years, San Diego has been host to the unveiling of some of the most anticipated movies and television properties of all time… and this year should be one for the record books.

Over the next five days, Figures.com will be providing our most expansive coverage of San Diego Comic-Con ever. We will be working around the clock to bring the Comic-Con experience directly to you. Beginning on ‘Preview Night’ (Wednesday) our coverage kicks off with a first look at new items from Hasbro, NECA, Mezco, Sideshow, Four Horsemen and many others. Before the five-day extravaganza is complete you will find interviews with some of the toy industry’s driving forces. Figures.com has lined up time to chat with Bill Marmaduke (McFarlane Toys), the Four Horsemen, Jean St. Jean (Jean St. Jean Studios) and even a few additional surprises!

In the movies & television world, the buzz leading up to Comic-Con is the unveiling of some of the most popular and anticipated titles in recent memory. Each year, the presence of film & TV has made SDCC a pop culture sensation. Panel discussions featuring upcoming films and shows have included everything from casting announcements to trailer premiers. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, LOST, Heroes, Stargate SG-1, Indiana Jones and The Watchmen make up the short list of this year’s ‘must see’ panel discussions. Look for recaps of each of these panels (and many others) as we dig up the info that fans have been clamoring for all year.

So, what do you want to know about this year’s Comic-Con? Keep us informed by jumping on our Forums and help us stay awake as we post the images and stories collected from each day. Our staff will be chatting both online with forum members and via email, so let your voice be heard!

Action figures, movies, television… this is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Comic-Con represents a level of fandom that is seen nowhere else on Earth. We will be working non-stop to bring that experience and awe directly to your computer. So, sit back and enjoy the next five days from the comfort of your chair. Comic-Con is coming… directly to your house.

ARCHIVE: Interview - Stargate: Atlantis Actor David Hewlett

Article originally published 08/08/2007 at figures.com

Thanks to the folks at the SciFi Channel, we were given an opportunity to conduct a brief one-on-one interview with actor David Hewlett, otherwise known as the brilliant yet arrogant Dr. Rodney McKay on Stargate: Atlantis. We spoke with Hewlett about the upcoming season four of Atlantis, learning 'technobabble' and his reactions to the upcoming Diamond Select Rodney McKay action figure.

Figures.com: What would you like fans to know about what’s coming up in Atlantis?

DH: I’m sort of like referring it to the season of change. The fact is that McKay really never changes that much. There’s just a central core of badness that just will always be there. He’s not a nice person. The interaction for his character (in season four) becomes… it picks up quite a bit. There’s this wicked sci-fi stuff going on. All of a sudden, we’ve got Keller (Dr. Jennifer Keller played by Jewel Staite), we’ve got Amanda (Col. Samantha Carter played by Amanda Tapping) and then McKay’s got his own girlfriend, Katie Brown. So it makes it this incredibly awkward romance with McKay, which is kind of fun. I think that the appeal of the character is that (McKay) is in a room and is supposed to be explaining something but the underlying thing is just discomfort.

Figures.com: Right, McKay is never really comfortable with himself. He’s cocky but underneath it you can tell he’s never really sure. We all knew that guy… some of us were that guy.

DH: Yeah, we all knew him in high school. Everyone knew a McKay and everyone has their own McKay. But everyone wants to be the guy with their hand up in math class… the one who figures out the crossword puzzle first. And he’s that guy. I never was. So, they write the smart stuff and I do the silly and fun things.

Figures.com: How well do you do with all the technobabble on the show?

DH: First of all, learning lines is hell! I’m the worst person at learning lines. Everyone always says ‘oh you’re so good at learning your lines’… but I’m not.

Figures.com: It seems like you have some of the hardest lines.

DH: It’s just takes hours. I swear, I talk to my fiance’ more in character as McKay than we do as real people because I’m learning lines all the time.

Figures.com: Do you adapt (the technobabble) by using the Star Trek method, just making stuff up along the way?

DH: I wish I could. You can’t though. You go off on the wrong tangent and then all of a sudden it’s like ‘so… eh?’. You’ve got to get your orbits right and your Lagrangians… all sorts of stuff. Its funny, the more you do it though the more certain areas become familiar. When I start talking about zed-PM’s and power, I have a certain theory and geography figured out in my brain on how this stuff works. Usually its enough to talk about how this will follow you to this will follow you to that. But every episode (introduces) some new technology and I’ve got to explain it.

Figures.com: When you were first appeared as a guest on SG-1 years ago, did you ever think that McKay would be a regular in a full series?

DH: Not for a second. I went in and he was just the most unlikable character. He was an unlikable character and I made him even more unlikable by adding my own personality. I was a guest star and it really felt like that was going to be it. So, when they went to Atlantis and started throwing my name around… I got kind of nervous about it. As a guest star you can come in and be a jerk who thinks he knows all the answers, gets it wrong and then everyone else saves the day. All of a sudden I’m supposed to be coming up with the answers and getting along with people. It’s like, how do you marry those two completely different characters together? I think (the writers) have done a really good job of it. They have allowed me to still be that sarcastic kind of jerk but at the same time, still have a bit of a heart and help to explain why (McKay) is the way he is. Season four is really good for this.

Figures.com: It seems like you’ve been given the chance to really grow the character.

DH: Part of it is that, like you say, you were McKay growing up. I think a lot of the writers were as well. I think there’s an affinity with that character. They know how to write for him. They get his rhythm very well. So, in a strange way, learning lines becomes easier because they understand (my) rhythm and how much stuttering I’m going to do… and when I’m going to go off on tangents. They know that with anything they write, I’m going to try and say it differently than they want it to… just to be difficult.

Figures.com: So, what do you think of your new action figure? Diamond Select has a prototype of your figure down at their booth now.

DH: Really? They have that now? I’m dying to see that one!

Figures.com: Yeah, they have you in two different outfits. One in the standard uniform and a field ops version with a vest.

DH: Get out! Oh my god! When we did the head scan thing, everyone was this (looks serious) standing very still for the head scan. So I thought, what’s the best McKay (pose)? So, I did this (gives mouth open, astonished look)… he could give that (look) with a gun, a computer, it’s perfect McKay. That stuff is just… I can’t believe its me! I’m so thrilled, I’ve got to see these things!

ARCHIVE: Interview - Stargate: Atlantis Actress Jewel Staite

Article originally published 08/08/2007 at figures.com

Jewel Staite is a familiar name to sci-fi fans. Her portrayal of the mechanic Kaylee on the short-lived series Firefly cemented her status as a fan-favorite actress in the sci-fi world. Now, Staite has returned to the screen as, Dr. Jennifer Keller, a reoccurring member of Stargate: Atlantis. At this year's Comic Con, we sat down with Staite for a brief one-on-one Q&A session to find out what life is like on the SciFi Channel.

Figures.com: What would you like fans to know about what’s coming up on Stargate: Atlantis?

JS: Well, I think this season of Atlantis is a lot darker than what (fans) are usually accustomed to. We’ve got some new faces. We’ve got some old, very familiar faces coming back from the past. It’s full of surprises.

Figures.com: How do you feel about moving from the level of fandom that was created by Firefly to something that is as established as the Stargate franchise, being around for a total for 14 seasons?

JS: I feel a little bit like the new kid. I’m a bit green… but everybody’s been very accommodating. It’s interesting to be on something that runs so well. They’ve been at it for so long that it seems like clockwork. It’s amazing. And nobody really fears being cancelled On Firefly that was all that everyone had our heads around.

Figures.com: How would you feel about an action figure being created from your character on Stargate?

JS: I would love it! I’ve always wanted an action figure. They had a couple of Serenity ones out. They had a Mal, they had a Jayne and I think they had a Reaver. But they had no Kaylee, so I always felt gypped about that.

Figures.com: A lot of fans are waiting for your Stargate figure to come out so they can customize it to be a Kayee.

JS: Cool. Hopefully I’ll get one… that would be nice.

Figures.com: Fans don’t know very much about your character yet. What can we look forward to as far as an evolution of the character?

JS: I think she’s very likable. She’s smart but I don’t think she realizes how smart she is. She’s humble and she feels out of her element. I think she misses home a lot. She’s with a bunch of people she doesn’t really know. She constantly has to prove herself and she’s in danger every day. She’s just not accustomed to that. She’s a fraidy-cat… a little bit.

Figures.com: At the beginning?

JS: Well, pretty much all the way through. She’s a great doctor. She’s very very smart and when she’s in her element, in that med lab, she’s totally comfortable. But when she’s outside of it, she doesn’t really know what to do. She’s not accustomed to that world yet.

Figures.com: How do you feel about filling the role of the previous doctor (Dr. Carson Beckett) who was such a well-loved character?

JS: Well, I’m a reoccurring (character) so in a way I feel like I haven’t replaced anyone. And, it being sci-fi, nobody every really dies so anybody can come back at any time. I just hope that the fans will give her a chance and will like her as much as I like playing her. She’s fun, a lot of fun.

Figures.com: Well, I know fans are excited about seeing you back on the screen. Thanks for your time.

JS: Cool. Thank you!

ARCHIVE: McFarlane Toys - Pop Culture Masterworks, Led Zepplin 1

Article originally published 05/19/2006 at figures.com

This year, McFarlane Toys ventures once again into the world of popular music for a new line of sculpted products. However, unlike their previous efforts - which have produced an impressive list of music-themed action figures - the Spawn house has opted to recreate a number of classic rock album covers in amazing 3D form.

While this may seem like an unlikely choice, especially coming from an established action-figure company, it gives McFarlane Toys a chance to show the extraordinary depth of their sculpting staff. These 3D album covers are the first of a new line entitled ‘Pop Culture Masterworks’ which will also include sculpted movie posters as well and the first of the album covers to be released is Led Zeppelin’s landmark debut, ‘Led Zeppelin I’.

PACKAGING
This piece displays nicely in its standard McFarlane Toys clamshell packaging. Being only 7” by 7”, it sits fully revealed in the clamshell tempting the avid opener to keep it unopened and dust-free. The paper insert provides a brief history of Led Zeppelin’s monumental first album including the release date and song listing.

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS
‘Led Zeppelin I’ is easily the band’s most recognizable album cover. The vivid black & white image of the Hindenburg disaster has served as a trademark of the band throughout rock history and, keeping that in mind, the sculptors at McFarlane Toys knew this would be the way to pay homage to this legendary rock band. Of course, nothing less than a seamless transition from 2D to 3D art would suffice and I can honestly say that as I pulled this piece from its packaging, I could not distinguish the 3D sculpture from the original 2D album cover.

The picture-perfect detail in this piece is truly amazing. From the three-dimensional zeppelin flying out of the base to the forced perspective of the multiple layers of smoke, every detail from the original source material has been included

PAINT AND COLOR
When you’re dealing with a piece whose primary colors are black and white, one would think that the paint applications would be fairly straight-forward. Not so with this 3D album cover. Special attention has been paid to the multiple layers of sculpted smoke. The different gradients of black & grey help to illustrate the flow of smoke as it rises from the doomed zeppelin and the airship itself is painted nearly solid black, which provides a stark contrast to the solid white background. This of course makes the ship jump out of the sculpture even more.

ARTICULATION
None asked for and none given. This is a display piece only and will look great on your desk or wall. Don’t expect it to have kung-fu grip.

ACCESSORIES\BASE
I absolutely love the multiple ways you can display this piece. The back of the album flips out to allow the piece to be stand as an easel. Peg-holes allow the album to be displayed proudly in your home or on your cubicle wall. Either way, you can show off your McFarlane Toys and/or Led Zeppelin I pride with this awesome sculpture.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION
The line of 3D album lists for approx. $20.00, but you may be able to find it for a few bucks cheaper at your local specialty or record store. If you are a Led Zeppelin fan, this is a piece you will instantly fall in love with; for the casual rock fan, the higher price point may be a deterrent.

However, if you appreciate superior sculpting and a unique pop culture collectible, this is an item you’ll want to own and enjoy. And with more sculpted album covers - featuring Metallica, The Sex Pistols & Jimi Hendrix – coming fan’s way later this year, the McFarlane Pop Culture Masterworks line has a very exciting future.

ARCHIVE: SDCC07 - Paramount Pictures Panel Report

Article originally published 07/27/2007 at figures.com

This year, Figures.com is expanding our SDCC coverage to include some of the more popular and anticipated film panel sessions that the Con has become famous for. On Thursday (7/26) we were able to catch the amazing Paramount Pictures panel (say that three times fast!) and get the scoop on some of the studio's projects.

'Cloverfield': Call it '1-18-08' or 'Slusho' if you prefer... either way, this film is still without a title. This film has been the buzz of blogs and comic shops since its trailer appeared before Transformers earlier this month. Producer J.J. Abrams was on hand (wearing a curious 'Infocom' t-shirt) to spread even more confusion about the project. Dubbing it an 'American monster movie', Abrams let the crowd know that additional info would be coming over the next few months, including a trailer, film clips and perhaps even a title. As a bonus, the first official movie poster for the film was debuted; a haunting image of a headless Statue of Liberty with a smoldering New York skyline in the background. Creepy.

Spiderwick Chronicles: This movie, based on the fantastic series of children's books by Holly Black, is slated for a February '08 release but Con attendees were given the first official look at the trailer. Author Holly Black and director Mark Waters presented not only the trailer but also a series of concept sketches and VR animations. The main characters shown were the goblins, which are a main fixture in the film. We were introduced to the froglike 'bull goblins', lizard-looking 'common goblins' and the menacing Redcap - a goblin sergeant-of-arms who gets his name from the bloodstained color of his hat. While 'Spiderwick' is not a direct translation of the books, Waters expressed his commitment to bringing fans a film that would respect the source material. "I want to do for fairies and goblins what Jurassic Park did for dinosaurs" Waters claimed.

Iron Man: This was a bit of a surprise. The Iron Man segment of this panel was supposedly moved to Saturday in order to pair it with the Marvel Films presentation of The Incredible Hulk. Imagine our surprise when director John Favreau appeared onstage, ready to give us a full five minutes of footage! I'll be covering more of this after the full Hulk/Iron Man panel. However, let me say that if the movie is half as mind-blowing as what was shown today, fans will be in for one of the most spectacular comic films ever to be put to screen. Again, more on this later in the week...

Indiana Jones IV: This was expected, though a bit briefer than we all hoped. Steven Spielberg joined the panel via a satellite uplink from the shooting location of the film. He briefly spoke about the motivation for making a fourth Indy movie (for the fans) and how long they had been shooting (25 days). He was then joined by the announced cast members, all in costume. Ford (looking unchanged from the Indy we last saw 18 years ago), Ray Winstone and Shia LaBeouf were then joined unexpectedly by someone 'new'. Karen Allen, who's involvement in Indy IV had been speculated for some time, walked in and sat down... confirming her role reprising Marion Ravenwood.

Star Trek: Abrams returns, this time for something less cryptic. Abrams' Star Trek movie, which is rumored to be centered around the escapades of a young Kirk/Spock duo, immediately jumped into the topic that everyone wanted hear... casting. It was then that he revealed the very first casting announcement for Trek. Spock will be played by Heroes actor Zachary Quinto. Quinto walked onstage, giving the crowd the traditional Vulcan salute. Perhaps the bigger surprise was that he was then joined onstage by Leonard Nimoy, who was also confirmed as playing Spock in the movie. Curious...

Look for more panel updates tomorrow as Figures.com adds bonus coverage of Stargate, Watchmen, Speed Racer and more!

ARCHIVE: TF08 - Transformers Movie Toys Showcased By Hasbro

Article originally published 02/10/2007 at figures.com

Get ready Transformers fans, a new wave of toys and collectibles are rolling your way! Hasbro unveiled their Transformers movie tie-in products at this year’s Toy Fair International. Included are a wide variety of action figures, role playing toys and interactive devices that will likely be on a number of want lists for the coming year. Hasbro’s intention with their new Transformers products are to both satisfy older G1 collectors and indoctrinate a whole new generation of Autobot and Decepticon fans.

There are a number of basic Transformers planned for initial release. These figures were on display but we were not allowed to take any photos. Basic figures on display at Toy Fair were:

• Megatron
• Barricade
• Wreckage
• Scorponok
• Brawl
• Optimus Prime (Proto Form)
• Bumblebee
• Jazz

In addition, two Transformers will be released in ‘deluxe’ form. Ratchet and Wreckage will be available as individually-boxed figures and will be larger scale than the basic series. Perhaps the crown jewel in Hasbro’s Transformers summer lineup is the Ultimate Bumblebee. This massive 14” Autobot includes electronic working headlights, voice chip, programmed battle moves, firing cannon and is fully transformable into the yellow concept Camaro from the movie.

Expect to see a revitalization of the popular Unleashed brand as Hasbro introduces their first Transformers figure into the line. Bumblebee will be available nationwide as an Unleashed figure and will be showcased in the same style packaging that was included with last year’s popular Star Wars Target exclusives.

For the kids (or at least the younger ones) Hasbro unveiled plans to roll out a full series of Robot Heroes, similar to their widely popular Galactic Heroes. These will be available in two-packs and will include fan-favorite Transformers characters. Be prepared to receive an entirely new form of transforming toys when Hasbro gives us, wait for it… plush G1 Transformers! These cute little retro-style buggers flip from robot to vehicle in one smooth (if not fluffy) motion. Included in the first wave of plush Transformers are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

Have you ‘permanently borrowed’ the Darth Vader voice-changing helmet you bought your kid for Christmas? If so, you can finally return it in favor of the upcoming Optimus Prime Voice-Changer Helmet. Now you can shout ‘roll out!’ with all the emphasis and authority of the Autobot leader. Finally, Hasbro will release Optimash Prime, a Mr. Potato Head version of the Optimus Prime.

ARCHIVE: DST Stargate SG-1 Daniel/Anubis "Ascension 2-pack"

Article originally published 08/28/2007 at figures.com

Over the past year, Diamond Select Toys has enjoyed a great level of success with their Stargate line. Already three full series of figures into the Stargate universe, DST has hit their stride and is rolling out more characters for the die-hard fans of the show. Accompanying the latest series of Stargate figures is the first multipack of the line. The Daniel & Anubis ‘Ascension 2-Pack’ features the duo as they appeared in the SG-1 season six episode ‘Full Circle’. This multipack includes a variation of the previously-released Daniel Jackson figure. However, fans will be most interested in the figure debut of the powerful Goa’uld System Lord, Anubis.

PACKAGING
DST stuck with the standard SG-1 packaging for this set, including the two figures in a blister shell with a stiff cardboard backing. As with SG-1 series 3, the cardboard has been strengthened on the packaging. This is a nice upgrade, especially for the heavier 2-pack, and allows the figures to hang on the wall with little damage to the peg hook.

SCULPT
As with the rest of Diamond’s Stargate series, the Daniel & Anubis 2-pack is sculpted by Jean St. Jean Studios. The difference with this set lies in its simplicity. Unlike the more detailed outfits of the serpent guards or SG-1 uniforms, the ‘ascension’ robes featured on these two figures are sculpted in one piece. The folds of each robe and hood are nicely done, but the focal point of the set is the head sculpts. Anubis features an entirely new sculpt, highlighting the mysterious black skull of the half-ascended Goa’uld. On the show, Anubis’ face is never completely revealed, allowing fans (and the sculptors) to create a minds-eye version of what the alien may actually look like. Daniel Jackson’s sculpt is the same that was featured on the series 1 version of the character, but a difference in paint apps makes a vast improvement.

PAINT AND COLOR
Diamond opted to use the same body sculpt for the two figures, so the paint applications are critical to give each character definition. Again, at first glance these seem like very simple figures. Daniel Jackson’s robe is a mixture of two shades of brown while Anubis is almost completely all black. However, the apps on both head sculpts are very crisp. Daniel especially shines in this section, appearing to have a bit more clarity than his series 1 counterpart.

ACCESSORIES
Some may be disappointed that this set comes with no accessories. The hoods for both figures are removable and some of the shoulder wraps on Daniel’s robes easily slide off, but there are no true items included for these figures to hold or interact with. Although, the previous two Daniel Jackson figures both included the same piece of the SG-1 Stargate, so fans may be satisfied to not get yet another copy of the same gate piece.

OVERALL IMPRESSION
This is a nice episode-specific set that hardcore Stargate fans will surely pick up. It is on shelves now for around $25, which may put off more casual fans considering its lack of accessories. I love the ominous look to Anubis and the overall simplicity of the set. With the complexity and detail that DST has put into their previous Stargate efforts, the Daniel/Anubis 2-pack makes a nice background companion piece.

ARCHIVE: TF07 - Diamond Select Beams Down More Trek Goodness

Article originally published 02/11/2007 at moviemaniacs.net

Diamond Select knows when they have a good thing going. Last year, DST gave Star Trek the revitalizing jolt it needed by creating several series of highly detailed action figures. The plethora of Next Generation, Original Series and exclusive figures were enough whip fans into a speculative frenzy over what might be next. At this year’s Toy Fair International, DST delivered a new batch of figures that are certain to have Trekkies and Trekkers alike singing their praises.

Starting off with the next full series of TOS figures, DST plans to capture characters from the epic film ‘The Wrath of Khan’.

Included in the ‘Khan’ wave:
• Admiral James T. Kirk
• Khan Noonien Singh
• Captain Clark Terrell
• ‘Double Cross’ Kirk variant

As an added bonus, Diamond will be offering additional ‘Khan’ figures as exclusives at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. As with last year, DST will provide attendees with a punchcard that can be stamped as they purchase each of the four retailer exclusives. Once the card is full, it can be redeemed at the Diamond booth for an awesome ‘battle damage’ Khan figure.

This year’s San Diego Comic Con ‘Wrath of Khan’ exclusives:
• Cmdr. Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott
• Hikaru Sulu
• Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
• Pavel Chekov
• ‘battle damaged’ Khan

DST will be continuing their 6” scale Trek line with the addition of Deep Space Nine figures. DS9 series 1 is currently slated to include Benjamin Sisko and Jadzia Dax. Odo will be added as a retailer exclusive. Also in the works are two figures to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Captain Picard in his captain’s chair will be produced as a follow up to last year’s Pike and Kirk. A new William Riker figure is set to be released as a companion piece to the Picard in captain’s chair.

When it comes to Trek, DST has figures of all sizes. Capitalizing on their popular MiniMates line, Diamond will be producing a number of TOS figures that will include a wide variety of characters. From the Orion Slave Girl to Spock displaying his trademark ‘live long and prosper’ Vulcan salute, Diamond has a full docket of MiniMates in store . As a bonus, we have been informed by DST that the aforementioned Spock will be the very first MiniMate to actually sport fingers! Check out our photo gallery for images of this monumental figure.

Adding to their growing collection of action figures, DST has more new Trek to release over the coming year in the form of starships and resin statues. The Enterprise will be made available in a number of film and episode-specific forms; including the versions featured in ‘Wrath of Khan’, ‘The Cage’ and ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’. Diamond’s popular ICONS line of busts will be expanded to include the captains of Star Trek. Picard, Kirk and Sisco are slated to be released first with Archer and Janeway to follow. Two series of statues are in the works that combine the three main ‘away team’ characters from the original series. The ‘Amok Time’ set (due in August) includes Spock battling Kirk while McCoy watches nearby, recreating the classic scene from TOS season 2. The ‘Landing Party’ (due in July) set features the same three preparing for battle as they have arrived on a new alien planet. With both sets, each character will be sold separately and will include a connecting piece to the set’s base.

Lastly, Diamond Select will be celebrating Star Trek’s action figure origins when they release their Retro Cloth Figures. These Mego-style 8” figures are a new take on the 1970’s originals, featuring similar head & body molds, mono-color weapons and cloth outfits. The first wave of Retro Cloth Figures will be out this July and will include Captain Kirk and a Klingon. Additional waves will follow throughout the year and will feature a number of TOS Enterprise crew and aliens.

ARCHIVE: New York Toy Fair 2007 Preview

Article originally published 02/09/2007 at figures.com

As 2007 shapes up to be a banner year for the toy industry, action figure collectors and fans have their sights set on some exciting news. To kick the new year off, Figures.com and Action On-line will be at the New York International Toy Fair (February 11-14) to ensure YOU get the info first.

Comic books, movies and television shows serve as epic source material for some of the most innovative and detailed toys that we have seen in some time. From Jack Bauer to Jack Sparrow and everyone in between, these characters are sure to inspire geekdom when their figures hit shelves later this year.

Following up their landmark presence at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Sideshow Toys has big things planned for 2007. While new collectibles from their successful Marvel, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings lines will obviously be highlighted; it is a new license that has most fans salivating. Last month, Sideshow announced the production of polystone figures and dioramas based on the wildly successful Blizzard online game World of Warcraft. Until now, there has been no hint from Sideshow brass as to which WoW characters would get the first polystone treatment. Could NY Toy Fair be the grand stage on which Sideshow unveils the first glimpse of their WoW statues? We’ll be there to find out…

Amidst the depth of toy companies vying for the attention of fans this year, Hasbro is positioning themselves to be a major player. With 2007 being the 25th Anniversary of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Joe fans everywhere are locked, cocked and waiting for news on what Hasbro has in store. Last year’s success of G.I. Joe Sigma Six has fans expecting another amazing assortment of Six figures and vehicles. While one of the most anticipated lines of the year is Hasbro’s continuation of Marvel Legends, they’ll also be producing the much heralded Spiderman 3 line. In addition, Hasbro will use Toy Fair to showcase figures from the new Transformers movie, which looks to be gaining steam to be one as the summer season’s biggest blockbusters.

Not to be outdone, Marvel Toys (formerly Toybiz) will have their newly announced line of Legendary Comic Book Heroes on-hand to show fandom that the independents mean business. With figures based on Erik Larsen’s The Savage Dragon, Marc Silvestri’s The Darkness, Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood, Dale Keown’s Pitt and other independent comic heroes (and villains?) under their belt, comic fans will be rejoicing in the amount of plastic goodness headed their way. Mattel has also entered the fray, bringing with them a full line-up of DC Superheroes that fans have been clamoring for since the original DC Super Powers Collection ended in the late 1980s. With Superman and Batman heroes and villains already in the mix, can other new figures be far behind? Let’s hope Mattel delivers at Toy Fair…

NECA hopes to top last year’s efforts with a plethora of new licenses, featuring some amazing new toys and collectibles. Starting off with the recently revealed Kratos: God of War figure, expect NECA to have more video game toys on the horizon as part of their Player Select series. Not to be left out, new Resident Evil figures are in store, including the fan-favorite Tyrant monster. In movie news, magicians and muggels alike will get a glimpse at NECA’s Harry Potter figures at Toy Fair. With figures based on each of the previously released films and a new line centered on the forthcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, fans of the epic series of books and movies are in for a treat! When it comes to films, NECA has more in store than just wizards and wands. Horror and action fans can expect figures based on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Quinton Tarintino’s Reservoir Dogs, David Bowie’s wicked Goblin King from Labyrinth and even a brand new series of Cult Classics.

McFarlane Toys announced on Friday that they are building on the success of their Hanna-Barbera line by creating a series of figures based on the classic Dr. Seuss story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This could open the door for McFarlane to tackle the entire Seuss library, possibly including the popular The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who. The Spawn house appears to be expanding their presence in the television market as well. They plan to continue producing collectibles from The Simpsons, with box sets and individual figures to feature characters from fan-favorite episodes of the long running series. Capitalizing on the success of their LOST line, McFarlane also has 6” figures based on the television hit 24 coming this fall.

Diamond Select will continue to expand their partnership with Art Asylum in 2007. Several new lines of Star Trek figures and ships are slated to land later this year. DST will continue to produce lines based on both classic and new-age Star Trek characters. Already announced are the ‘Wrath of Khan’ Enterprise and a special ‘Space Seed’ Khan/Kirk 2-pack. Despite the breath of new life DST has given the Star Trek license, the folks at Diamond have mapped all corners of the cosmos and aren’t happy with just sticking to all things Trek. Diamond has announced they will not only continue their successful line of Stargate: SG-1 figures, but will also produce 6” figures from hot sci-fi shows Battlestar Galactica and Stargate: Atlantis. In other news, DST has also secured rights to immortalize 24’s Jack Bauer in plastic. DST will tackle Bauer in numerous sizes, with both 12” scale and MiniMates to be included in their line of 24 figures.

One of the main questions the toy community wants answered at Toy Fair is what the future holds for some of the most successful and fan-favorite licenses. Rumors persist that Halo is looking for a landing pad and Kotobukiya appears to have made room for Master Chief at their headquarters. The Japanese company has announced they will be producing ARTFX statues based on characters from Halo, its sequel and the upcoming Halo 3. More is in store from Kotobukiya’s partnership with video game giant Square Enix, as additional lines of both Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts figures and statues are planned.

This is just a taste of the things we expect to see at this year’s New York Toy Fair. There is certainly more in store for the action figure community. What new plans does Hasbro have to continue the endurance of their Star Wars license? Will DC Direct release the full details of their World of Warcraft line? What’s in store for high-end collectibles from Master Replicas and Gentle Giant? Figures.com will be there with the latest news, photos and interviews direct from New York. Stay tuned for our live coverage of Toy Fair 2007!

ARCHIVE: McFarlane Toys - The Simpsons 'Ironic Punishment' Boxed Set

Article originally published 05/17/2006 at figures.com

When Playmates Toys let their license for The Simpsons expire in late 2004, fans of the long-running cartoon were disappointed, though not surprised. While the ‘World of Springfield’ line brought forth a number of amazing figures and playsets, it had finally run its course. Sales were slowing at retail chains and Playmates had simply run out of well-known characters from the show from which to produce figures.

Two years later, in January of this year, Simpsons fans were stunned to hear that McFarlane Toys had picked up the Simpsons license. TMP’s plan was to breathe new life into the Simpsons universe by creating figures based on scenes and characters never before sculpted and the first of these to be released is the ‘Ironic Punishment’ box set.

Based on the classic ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episode in which Homer is sent to Hell, this set boasts some unique and exciting features that will surely get Simpsons fans excited about this new lease on life and the new collectibles coming their way via McFarlane Toys.

PACKAGING
There is an amazing amount of detail and information involved in the packaging of this box set. While the window-box provides a clear view of the set and all its accessories, the back boasts the packaging’s finest features. Included are screenshots from the episode on which the set is based as well as a diagram of the playset and its unique action features, a brief description of the episode, a list of Simpsons trivia, and even a preview of the next McFarlane Toys’ Simpsons figure release, ‘Family Couch Gag’.

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS
I have to be honest here; I have never seen the ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episode from which this set is based. However, I have seen my fair share of Simpsons episodes or, at least enough to know what the characters are supposed to look like. Like Playmates before them, McFarlane Toys has excelled in recreating the colorful characters from the Simpsons universe.

The finest sculpt in the set is by far the blue demon (above). The demon has never before been an action figure, which will likely make him an instant fan-favorite. By contrast, Homer is a character most Simpsons fans are used to seeing in action figure form. This version of Homer is permanently attached to the torture chair, partly due to the set’s unique action feature (more on this in the sections below). It is because of this action feature that Homer is assembled with an unsightly seam down both sides and a hinge on his jaw. While these are understandably needed to make the action feature work, Homer looks slightly cumbersome and mechanical as a result.

PAINT AND COLOR
Apparently, Hell is painted in purple! Shades of violet and pink dominate the base and most of the donut accessories. Homer is colored in basic yellow and white with clean black lines illustrating his head features. The dark blue of the demon provides an interesting contrast to both the base and Homer. Paint apps on the demon are by far the cleanest in the set and provide the best example of the detail-oriented work that McFarlane Toys has been long known for.

ARTICULATION
This is where things get interesting. ‘Ironic Punishment’ includes the most unique action feature I’ve seen in a playset. The application is simple; turn a crank on the back of the base and a mechanical contraption force-feeds a stack of donuts to the helpless and restrained Homer Simpson. As Homer swallows each donut, the top half of his head is pulled back by a large lever and his legs squirm a little.

If nothing else, this feature is true to the episode from which the set is based on. However, I was unable to get the donut force-feed to work consistently. The first few donuts easily flew down Homer’s throat, but each subsequent one would randomly glance off his mouth and fly across the base and fiddling with the crank and lever produced few better results. Considering that there are only a handful of detachable donuts that come with the set, be wary when playing, you might just loose your donuts.

ACCESSORIES\BASE
The scale of this playset is slightly smaller than those from the Playmates line and this leads to smaller accessories and more brittle pieces. While the packaging advertises over 200 donuts are included in the set, this is slightly misleading. Yes, there are a large number of sculpted donuts included, but only ten of these are removable. The other 190+ donuts are molded together and serve no real purpose other than being sculpted as a part of the base. Keep this in mind while you are feeding the tiny donuts into Homer’s mouth, especially with the lack of accuracy in the action feature (mentioned above). Once the 10th donut is lost in your carpet or eaten by your hungry pet, there are no more to be had!

The blue demon can be considered an accessory as he is the only other piece that is removable and there are two sturdy metal pegs to keep him in place when he is attached to the base. The demon is really the finest element to this set and will display nicely with the rest of your ‘World of Springfield’ collection.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION
Simpsons fans are rabid about the Springfield universe and will no doubt be picking this up as soon as it hits shelves. The almost two year drought of Simpsons action figures has created a demand in the toy market that should make ‘Ironic Punishment’ a hot seller. The price point on the set is around $20, which is similar to the old ‘World of Springfield’ environments and is a great deal considering the unique action feature and removable blue demon.

One would hope that McFarlane’s customer service division might make replacement donuts available considering the ten included with the set will likely be the first items to be lost or broken.

Overall, ‘Ironic Punishment’ is a great start to another exciting and new McFarlane toy license. With the next release - ‘Couch Gag’ - just around the corner and rumors of a line of carded action figures before the year’s end, the future is once again bright for The Simpsons!

ARCHIVE: Figures.com Staff Choose "Top Five of Toy Fair 2008"

Article originally published 03/18/2008 at figures.com

No doubt our 175+ articles reporting on last month's New York Toy Fair showcased a wide variety of statues, figures, and pop culture collectibles which will grace fan's shelves, desks and collections later this year. Now, following the completion of our coverage of the show, four Figures.com staffers and attendees of the show reveal their top five favorites...

Dan Clark - Reporter, Figures.com

5. Diamond Select Toys' Stargate Atlantis Series 3
While attendees only received a taste of what's in store for Stargate: Atlantis; man, what a taste it was! The head sculpts on Colonel Samantha Carter and Dr. Jennifer Keller - courtesy of Jean St. Jean Studios - feature scary-accurate likenesses and it was just announced Ronon Dex, a Wraith Drone and a new version of John Sheppard will round out the line.

4. Mezco's Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I applaud Mezco for sticking with the Hellboy film license; they did an amazing job with the initial offering and when I learned a sequel was planned, I crossed my fingers Mezco would again be rolling out more B.P.R.D. plastic goodness...

This year, fans can expect not only a whole slew of new 7” Hellboy figures, but new 3 3/4" figures, busts and statues, and a new massive 18” Hellboy! Who else will be buying Wink figures to build a troll army?

3. Mattel's The Dark Knight 6" Joker
The fan fervor for this summer’s The Dark Knight was brought low following the tragic passing of Heath Ledger in January and with rumors Mattel would shrink production on the Joker figure featuring Ledger’s likeness abound, until Toy Fair there was no telling what would happen. However, the figure was still on display in New York and you know what? I loved it. The perfect embodiment of Ledger’s portrayal of this broken character, the figure will no doubt be popular and thus hard to find. And for good reason - it's an amazing figure!

2. Hasbro's Indiana Jones
Considering the deluge of Indy products fans have had to suffer through over last decade, it's hard not to give this my "Best of Show" nod; however, it's official - Indiana Jones is still popular with kids and collectors alike!

Be prepared for an influx of amazingly cool products including 12” and 3 3/4" figures, Mighty Muggs, role play items and some kickass vehicles. Where am I going to find the shelf space?

1. Hasbro's Cloverfield Monster
I'd seen the film twice and loved the look and style of the monster, so this was the one item I was dying to see at Toy Fair. And though I wasn’t certain how it would transfer into an action figure, the figure I saw in the Hasbro showroom looked absolutely spectacular. With over 70 points of articulation, two head sculpts and a roaring sound chip, it's ready to wreck havoc in almost any pose imaginable!

ARCHIVE: SOTA Toys' Street Fighter Series 4

Article originally published 06/13/2006 at figures.com

In 2004, SOTA surprised the gaming and action figure scene by picking up the license for Capcom’s Street Fighter. It was a bold move, especially considering that the Street Fighter line had seen its share of both good and bad figures. There was some question as to whether the Capcom fan base would tolerate yet another rendition of Street Fighter toys. Two years and three full assortments of SF figures later, SOTA has silenced its critics and delighted fans of the game. Series 1-3 of SOTA’s Street Fighter figures have brought us spectacular pieces such as Blanka, Bison and Guile. With Series 4, SOTA adds six more characters into the fold.

PACKAGING:
The simple clamshell packaging that has been in place since the inception of this line has not changed in Series 4. The figures are packaged in a standing pose with each of their accessories displayed clearly. Also continued is the nice addition of including each character’s in-game special moves on the front of the package.

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS:
It seems that the sculpting of these figures gets better with every series. SOTA continues to do an excellent job of capturing the essence of these vibrant and diverse characters. From the towering Shaq-like brute Birdie to the slender and deadly Remy, each figure is the spitting image of its 2D in-game counterpart. Fans of the Street Fighter mythos will appreciate the subtle details included in both the figures and their accessories. A nifty inclusion in the line is Ibuki’s pet raccoon, Don. Don is articulation-free, but his sculpt is simple and he looks great sitting beside Ibuki.

The head sculpting is perhaps the best feature of this line. Each figure (with the exception of Ibuki) includes a second head which portrays the character in a ‘battle rage’ expression. This is particularly nifty on Birdie, whose second head sports a ‘tongue-out’ visage. Remy’s second head includes perhaps the coolest sculpt, featuring a windblown hairdo. Other nice features are Ibuki’s long locks and Akuma’s vast array of topknots.

While the head sculpting is definitely the highlight of this series, the rest of the figures are also nicely done. With Street Fighter Series 4, SOTA continues to market these toys as being very playable. Any time you increase articulation in a figure, attention to sculpt is sometimes sacrificed. The increase in joints in some of the figures is a bit distracting, especially for the collector who just wants these as display pieces. Ibuki, Fei Long and Birdie are really designed to be posed and reposed. Remy and Akuma look great in a standing position and their additional joints do not look cumbersome or out of place.

PAINT AND COLOR:
The heroes and villains of the Street Fighter universe are very vibrant characters. There are a few repaints of each figure available, but I was only able to get my hands on the regular version of each. The paint apps on each figure are clean, which is a tad surprising considering the amount of joints they have. The cleanest and brightest colors are prominent on Remy and Birdie. I really dig the contrasting colors in these figures. Birdie sports a bright yellow Mohawk, blue jeans and shiny silver belt buckle. Remy’s aquamarine locks look great and stand out nicely against his dark blue coat and red pants. Ibuki and Fei Long are simpler figures and are painted primarily in shades of black and tan. The attention to detail in the figures’ clothing is excellent. Great examples of the subtle paint additions in this series are the zippers on Remy’s coat, Chinese characters on Akuma’s vest, Birdie’s array of rings and even Don’s yellow tail bandana.

ARTICULATION:
Articulation is really the main focus of the Street Fighter line. SOTA proclaims on their web site that “while we made the joints as seamless as we could it all took second place to what was important. Action.” These are indeed action figures. You can pose these figures into any fighting stance of your choosing. You can reenact every angle of any in-game battle. Each figure features an arsenal of cut joints, ball joints and articulated hands & feet. However, keeping them standing is another matter. Out of the package, most of the figures were unable to stand on their own. Either they were too top heavy (Birdie) or their joints were too loose to allow them to stay in one pose (Fei Long). The only figure that was well-balanced enough to be displayed without assistance was Remy. So, while SOTA accomplished their primary goal of playability with this line, some collectors may be satisfied by just leaving the figures in-package for display. Otherwise, keeping these guys in a standing position may just be too frustrating.

ACCESSORIES:
As mentioned above, each figure ships with an alternate head and replacement hands. In place of Ibuki’s second head, her pet raccoon Don is included. Other figures include character-specific weapons, such as Birdie’s switch-blade comb and Fei Long’s nun chucks. I love that SOTA used mixed media with some of the figure accessories. The chains included with Birdie and Fei Long (nun chucks) are real metal. Akuma’s necklace features wood beads. This is a nice addition and really sets these figures apart from those that opt for generic plastic accessories.

One problem I encountered was with swapping out the alternate hands in Remy, Fei Long and Ibuki. These are the more slender figures in the line, so the joints and pegs for their hands are tiny. Be careful when exchanging limbs, as these small pieces are brittle! I actually broke a peg off one of Ibuki’s hands during a swap. I was more careful with the rest and it really wasn’t an issue with the larger Birdie and Akuma.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I’ve said in the past that I’m not a big fan of the Street Fighter games, but I do like many of the SOTA figures. The sculpting on Birdie and Remy is the best in Series 4. The rest of the set is nice and most Capcom fans will want to pick these up. Priced at $10-$12 each this series is a good value, especially if you are looking for playability. In-package collectors wont’ be disappointed with the line, but these figures are really meant to be opened and played with. SOTA continues to receive positive feedback from Street Fighter fans and has responded with another great series of well-articulated playable figures. Stay tuned for Series 5, due out in July.

ARCHIVE: McFarlane Toys' 12" Spawn i.095

Article originally published 12/14/2005 at figures.com

These days, bigger is definitely better. The market for large-scale 12” and 18” figures has never been better than right now. Thanks, in part, to quality offerings by a number of toy manufacturers, a plethora of film-based large-scale figures have provided numerous companies a competitive edge over other toy manufacturers.

McFarlane Toys has made great strides in recent months with their efforts to expand their large-scale Spawn figures. Utilizing the same mold as the 6” scale version from last year’s Spawn Series 25, one of these figures includes the new 12” Spawn Issue 095.

PACKAGING
Packaging for McFarlane Toys’ 12” figures has remained consistent; a large window box with beautiful graphics on both the front, both sides, and the back; the 12” Spawn i.095 window box package allows for a clear view of the figure, and sits on shelf nicely (for those who prefer to keep their figures mint in package and unopened).

SCULPTING AND CHARACTER LIKENESS
While it is true that McFarlane Toys’ competitors have made significant strides in the past years in sculpting quality (editor’s note: many of them began their careers at McFarlane Toys), most fans recognize McFarlane Toys’ Spawn action figure series’ sculpting as some of the finest available in the toy industry. Each Spawn figure gets better and each and every new Spawn action figure series proves it. The same is true for the 12" figures.As previously mentioned, the 12” i.095 is based on the 6” figures Spawn i.095 from McFarlane Toys’ Spawn Series 25.

Flawlessly adapted into the three-dimensional realm from Greg Capullo’s amazing cover art, the 12” i.095 highlights one of Spawn’s most recognizable features: his massive cape.In this case, the cape features a wrap-around wind blown look that wraps around the figure and fully encompasses Spawn’s body. Its form-fitting look doesn’t interfere with the overall aesthetic of the figure itself, but rather becoming a part of the figure and enhances the overall appearance.

PAINT APPLICATION AND COLORS
With this figure, we are really dealing more with shading than color. Most prominent are the black, white, red and silver colors that make up almost every version of Spawn in the history of the character. However, it is the shading in this figure which helps highlight the detail in the sculpt. Spawn’s cape features darker paints that enhance the folds, tears and wrinkles to help bring the figure to life; and Spawn himself is given a crisp black and white paint application highlighted by his haunting green eyes. The paints on the figure I received seemed crisp and clean, with little bleeding; and in my efforts to move the figure’s joints, I was not able to make the paint near the twist joints flake or rub off.

ARTICULATION
Fans of McFarlane Toys’ figures have come to compromise limited articulation in exchange for enhanced sculpt and detail. I believe that this is a fair trade, especially when it comes to the company’s 12” line. These truly are stunning display pieces. The 12” i.095 Spawn does feature 12 points of articulation, including cut joints on Spawn’s legs waist and arms. This does allow for limited posing of the figure, but too much movement of his arms or legs simply won’t allow him to remain standing. This Spawn’s primary out-of-box pose is the sturdiest and allows for the best chance of keeping the figure upright.

ACCESSORIES
Not much here, but most Spawn figures don’t generally ship with many accessories. On this particular figure, the only accessories are the real metal chains that come attached to Spawn’s waist. Long enough to be wrapped around the figure, the chains allow for some custom "chain positions," they add to the overall appearance of the figure. After all, what would Spawn without them?

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION
Retailing for anywhere from $25-35 (standard for most of McFarlane Toys’ 12” figures), the 12" Spawn i.095 is, in my opinion, money well spent. The design is based on one of the most amazing Capullo covers ever (see top) and the sculpting and paint at this scale are both well done.

Overall, the 12” Spawn i.095 is a beautiful rendition of one of the most recognizable comic book characters in a classic pose that is easily recognizable at any comic store. I’m sure this figure will be a sought-after display piece for both new and old Spawn fans. Be sure to check out the McFarlane Toys' 12" Spawn i.095 photo gallery below for more pictures of this awesome figure.

ARCHIVE: McFarlane Toys Motley Crue Figures

Article originally published 08/30/2005 at figures.com

You remember these guys from the late ‘80’s & early ‘90’s, right? Big hair, big sound, bigger egos. What drummer Tommy Lee began a few years ago with his experimentation in low-budget film-making has grown into something that many wouldn’t have predicted a decade ago – the return of the legendary band Motley Crue!

Sixteen years have passed since Motley Crue released their multi-platinum album ‘Dr. Feelgood’ and now they're back – not only on stage, but on your toy shelf as well!Thanks to McFarlane Toys, who had supplied the world’s music fans with a variety of figures, including The Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Jerry Garcia, Angus Young, and more, Motley Crue joins the ranks of bands and musical artists that have been immortalized in plastic...

PACKAGING
Last year, McFarlane Toys released these same figures as a boxed set, allowing die-hard fans the chance to purchase the entire band in one shot. However, fans of particular members now have the chance to get only the ones they want thanks to the new, individually packed band members.The long-used clear clamshell packaging allows MIB collectors to display these figures in pristine carded condition and protects the figure extremely well. All four packages allow for the figure and their instruments to be fully visible and each includes a piece of Tommy Lee’s massive drum set as well.

SCULPT AND CHARACTER LIKENESS
These are literally rock stars and I simply love how close the figures look to their hard-rockin’, real-world counterparts. From Tommy Lee’s fishnet shirt to the buckles and laces on Vince Neil’s boots, each figure has been meticulously sculpted to include even the smallest details. McFarlane Toys has based this series on the group’s 1983 ‘Shout at the Devil’ tour and these figures are the spitting image of the group at that time. Though they look fine displayed individually, one really needs to have the entire band together to experience the full metal effect that is Motley Crue!

PAINT AND COLOR
The paint application and colors on the Motley Crue figures are truly something special. This is easily one of the cleanest paint jobs I have seen on a McFarlane figure in some time. Every detail is accounted for and each figure exudes its own style and personality. Tattoos, face paint, silver rivets, bandannas, chains, and armpit hair have all been included to add realism; and the colors on every figure are vibrant and unique. Being the group’s lead singer, Vince Neil (above) naturally sports the most flamboyant colors; his red bandannas, chaps and webbing provide a nice contrast to the darker black & blue attire worn by the rest of the group.

ACCESSORIES
What would a band be without instruments?Even if you’re not a Motley Crue fan, the onslaught of instruments included with these figures is worth the cost of the figures alone! As mentioned above, each figure includes a piece of Tommy Lee’s full drum kit along with their own respective instrument. The only problem setting up the drum kit was the lack of reference photos. Though this does encourage more ‘creative’ ways to setup the set, getting it as close to real-life as possible will be, for many fans, the main goal.

Other accessories include a drum stool for Tommy Lee (which fits his bum nicely). The other figures include black plastic bases with peg-holes. Both Nikki Sixx’s and Mick Mars’ guitars feature pegs which help keep them attached to the figure as well. A warning however - lots of instruments means lots of little parts, so be careful unpacking the figures and their accessories and don’t lose or break anything.

ARTICULATION
Honestly, these figures don’t have articulation. If you are looking for poseability, you’re going to be disappointed. What little articulation does exists allows each to be only slightly adjusted and reposed. Again, vets of McFarlane collecting will realize the emphasis on realism and not movement.

VALUE AND OVERALL IMPRESSION
C’mon, what do you think? I absolutely love these toys! The only downside I can see to this set is that there isn’t much point to owning the figures separately. Though you may be a fan of only one band member in particular; if you’re going to buy one, you might as well buy all four! The McFarlane Toys’ Motley Crue figures are available at your local specialty store for around $12.00 each.So is it worth the $45.00+ investment to have the whole band? Absolutely! Heck, Tommy Lee’s elaborate drum kit is worth $30 alone in my book! Hopefully, McFarlane will continue with even more modern music figures in the future. With Metallica and now Motley Crue under their belt, can a series of Guns N’ Roses be far behind?