Lion King

I’m in two minds about the next Haslab, on the one hand I’d be happy if it were Primus as I would ignore it and save some money. On the other hand, I’d love a Grandus to go with Star Convoy! However, it’s now been confirmed at NYCC we won’t find out until next year which means I will have sold more than I’ve spent this year!

Anyway, the current Haslab. I started opening Liokaiser. First the jets, mostly because I wanted to look at Leozack. I think they’re great. A little simplistic maybe, but that’s not an issue for me. I think this set has come at the perfect point in the nostalgia cycle for me - I was watching Victory about 20 years ago and these guys got a good amount of character development. I could do without the chunks on the side of Leozack’s feet (could they have swivelled behind?), but I like these guys so far. Leozack balances a lot better with his breastmaster attached, otherwise he is slightly inclined to fall backwards. Anyway, I am very glad to get a Leozack - he was a really important character in the cartoon. I would have been happy with a retooled POTP Starscream but to have them all the same size is even better.

The other three members are also really good, the leg guys remind me of pod vehicles for Thunderbird 2. And the combined mode is…… also amazing! I was pretty set on keeping them individually but am very tempted to keep it combined. Deathcobra is the icing on the cake, a whole lot of kibble but a good looking figure. It’s 3/3 for the Victory Haslabs for me.

With Thunderwing expected next year it got me thinking, give us a Road Caesar (and maybe an update of Octopunch and Stranglehold), and 1989 is looking pretty complete. (If you ignore the other pretenders and Micromasters like me.)

Realised that the new Vision series is starting soon so thought better get going on the most recent series of Daredevil. I find it difficult to get into it, I enjoy it but I’m not really about the violence. I don’t need gritty realism, I need escapism. That said, after the new Spider-Man, I think it’s time Punisher got a permanent space on my display shelf. He will need to borrow a gun from someone though……..

Doc Samson has arrived. This is a bit of a milestone - I think I’m done with Marvel Legends! I’m sure I’ll end up buying the odd new figure here and there, but in terms of having a toy of every character that I want, I’m done. The smiling face he comes with scares me slightly but I like the determined face. I have Luke Cage on my desk at the moment so I can see they share torso tooling, it works though. Whoop! Galactus better watch out. (Punisher had a little word with Bucky before this picture and Bucky agreed to lend him his guns.)

Tailgate and Joyride arrived, nothing too surprising since they’re both repaints. Happy to get another addition to the 1988 lineup, though it also really needs its own gun. I like Tailgate more than I expected - the headsculpt didn’t look great in online photos but I like it well enough in person.

Saesee Tiin was announced at NYCC!Finally! I thought I was pretty much done with Star Wars and 6” but looks like this is really finishing up my lineup (I’ve given up on holocomm Palpatine). In Transformers news, as well as the Haslab update, Guzzle and Nautica look decent, and a hint that Transformers Mark wants to ‘complete’ Machine Wars. Promising. Nothing from McFarlane about Mortal Kombat Klassic. So, not a lot of news, but a few promising bits at least.

Combiners 2.0

They’re doing Nintendo Lego with actual Mario minifigs. I think I’m onboard. It feels quite rare when new things pop up that I’m interested in. I think Lego is the main thing that if they try something I might go for it. Marvel, Batman, Star Wars, Thundercats, Turtles, Ghostbusters, video games, and  Power Rangers, I’m (pretty much) done with action figures. But in brick form, I could be tempted. It’s the main area where I could still be tempted to spend a large amount of money as opposed to the odd figure. Outside of the Baxter Building (main want), I could be tempted by Wayne Manor, Hyrule Castle, or the Cat’s Lair. (The last one is extremely unlikely given they’re not even making brick built Thundercats stuff.) The idea of getting Hyrule Castle and making a Smash Bros display on the roof is particularly fun!

Hasbro also have a license for Legend of Zelda. I think I’d stick with 3.75” for Link and Zelda, but if they did a Gannondorf in 6” it still might work for me. Would need it to be Ocarina of Time style of course.

Monstructor has finally arrived, I’d kinda forgotten about it to be honest. I think I like the individual robot modes more than Dinoking - the headsculpt and colours pop a bit more. The less said about the alt modes the better. They are effectively three pairs - Wildfly and Scowl are great (elbows), Icepick and Bristleback are okay (no elbows, but arms a decent length at least), and Slog and Birdbrain (no elbows and stumpy arms). Actually Birdbrain is almost in a class of its own - those Sludge hips are doing a lot of work for the combined mode whilst severely compromising the individual robot mode. I like the combined mode headsculpt - I remember reading the IDW comics and trying to make a custom head for the G1 with the same expression. So, overall pretty happy although digging out the G1 shells for the photo was a hassle!

Bruticus has also arrived. Well, Onslaught and Swindle at least. Took me a while to open it, and even longer to transform it into Bruticus, but I’m actually really impressed with it, probably Onslaught more than Swindle, though I don’t mind the yellow as much as I thought I would. I was already signed up for the inevitable toy deco version, but actually combining it made me think again. Maybe not. I’ve gone from already being signed up to ‘wait and see’. Menasor seems like the junior partner by comparison - Bruticus just has more heft. I’m really enjoying this second generation of Generations combiners, Bruticus has rejuvenated my excitement!

In other combiner news, Liokaiser is on its way. It’s truly combiner month. I think my top figures of the year pick themselves - ML Grimlock, Monstructor, Bruticus, Liokaiser, and (if it arrives in time) Beast Wars Galvatron.

Finally, I went to see the rerelease of the Transformers Movie. I didn’t see it in the cinema back in the day (I also have a traumatic VHS tale of woe). Really enjoyed it, I don’t think I’ve seen that particular version before (with the swear), but seeing it on a bigger screen I noticed more things (like background characters). I enjoyed the Awakening as well though I agree with some online comments that it maybe wasn’t that coherent. Nice to hear Peter Cullen’s final work at least. What a legend.

So Shiny!

SDCC then. Nautica looks okay, Lego Nightcrawler’s not what I want so I’ll revert to my earlier plan of getting the Advent Calendar to get Doom. McFarlane showed off Klassic Smoke and all the P2 colours for the next lot of releases. Conventions definitely not as exciting as they used to be!

I recently found out about ZD Toys, they make fairly high end Marvel figures (better than Legends, not quite Hot Toys). They’ve done a good few main characters, but they’ve also made just about every single Iron Man armour. Me want. I did briefly consider buying ‘all of them’, but that would cost several grand and so thought better of it. They’re also 1:10/7” scale so they don’t strictly work with Marvel Legends. That said, some of the MCU armours are supposed to be a bit bigger so you can sort of fudge it. There are a few which are a bit bigger, but rather than get all of those, I decided just to get the ones which I had on my want list - specifically the Mark 37 Hammerhead armour and Mark 48 Hulkbuster.

They’re painted with metallics so a bit more fancy than Marvel Legends, but I thought I’d give them a go. (The Hulkbuster even has lights!) I’m not sure why the Mark 37 appeals to me so much (green is my favourite colour mind). I look at it and think, that looks cool, I need more! But I just don’t really like the other armours that might work scale wise all that much, and I’m reluctant to replace ones I already have even if the scale is better. So I will just try and enjoy these ones.

I went to watch the new Spider-Man film, very much enjoyed. Though I haven’t really thought about the MCU as much recently, I’ve enjoyed the last few films - Fantastic 4, Thunderbolts, and the Doomsday trailer looks epic. I’ve found it hard to get going on some of the TV shows recently but the trailer for Vision Quest also looks good.

Missing link Grimlock! So good I bought two. It looks great, a genuine joy. Could well be my figure of the year. I put my original G1 figure in the packaging to create a display of both modes plus MIB. Living the dream!

I have a lot of amazing toys, but I have so many their true amazingness is diminished by the sheer number I own. I have slowed down a lot though so hopefully I’m able to appreciate them a bit more. It’s eye opening looking at my spending from five years ago, I’m in a very different place now.

Bored?!

So despite having given up non-Transforming transformers….. I bought Blokees WW Grimlock, just in case they do the rest of the Dinobots. It looks really good so I’ll probably keep it regardless.

Johnny Cage arrived, probably the least interesting Mortal Kombat character! Still he has a pair of sunglasses.

My spending for the first half of the year has been extremely low - I’ve sold more than I’ve bought, and actually if a couple of the things I’ve budgeted for don’t materialise then there is an outside possibility of my selling being higher than my spending. A couple of years ago that would be unthinkable. I have just had my highest ever quarter of selling which has really helped.

I also seem to be making better decisions, I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m losing interest, or simply I’m not prepared to spend big money on things that aren’t exactly what I want. I wanted a MP Blaster, but I’m just not sold on the cartoon deco the new figure will have. I wanted a voyager Sunstorm but I’m not sold on the deco of the new figure, and I’m definitely not paying over quadruple the price for the made to order set.

Speaking of MTO. Mephisto has turned up, a surprisingly short amount of time after the US release (unlike say, Liokaiser…..). He’s devilishly good! So unless Hasbro stun me at SDCC, this is my penultimate Legends figure for the foreseeable. I’m glad I replaced the Selects version.

And finally, Ray Stanz has turned up to complete my Real Ghostbusters team. It even came with a little Marshmallow Man. This feels like quite the milestone - I now have a complete set of Thundercats, Turtles, and Ghostbusters in the versions I want. 

Apparently a Lego set has leaked with Nightcrawler (and Dr Doom) in it! Fantastic, hopefully Nightcrawler is generic enough to fit in with the other X-Men (and not too movie-ish), but great news. Just need a Baxter Building now! It really feels like my non-Transformers wants are pretty much done. Hoping for a Saesee Tiin from SDCC, maybe see some new Klassic figures from McFarlane. Not really expecting too much else.

Got Powerglide and Swerve. They both look solid in robot mode. I found on Powerglide that several parts would rather fall off than move in the way they are intended, there were a few times I wondered if I was stressing a part. Anyway, they’re fine. Apparently Missing Link Grimlock is on its way, with the Minibots and Bruticus it’s not been the most exciting of years so hopefully Grimlock can save it!

Streetfighting!!!

I would like to spend a bit more time taking pictures of my collection, but it has always been tricky finding the particular figures I’m after. Previously it was organised by line (roughly), but to find any one thing required me to know what came out around the same time. I therefore decided to sort it by the year the character first had a figure. Quite the epic task, and made more tricky by Titans. At the same time I want to set up ‘Primitives’ and Lost Light shelves. Took almost an entire weekend but if nothing else it was quite a useful exercise - like taking a census to remind me of what I have and what I got rid of! I’ve also bought a much bigger light box, potential for Titan pictures now!

Started off by sorting out the Lost Lighters (and Scavengers)!

Secondly, got the Dinobots out.

Both generations! These guys have had the benefit of some reprolabelling as well.

Some exciting reveals from Takara - Beast Wars II Galvatron. As much as anything it’s exciting that we’re getting new moulds in the New Legends line. MPG Blaster is also interesting, though I’m mostly interested in the cassettes. I’m also still keeping an eye on Missing Link, I think Ironhide and Ratchet look good. I’m trying not to be drawn into another line though. In other news, Thunderwing and Sunstorm have been leaked!!! Very exciting news, 2027 is shaping up nicely.

Some reveals for Mortal Kombat Klassic - they’re actually finishing off the roster for playable and secret characters. I was thinking about on passing on Baraka - I was just going for the earth based characters (MKI plus Kung Lao, Jax, and Smoke), but since I already have Mileena perhaps it would be rude not to get him. I will try to pass on Jade and Noob Saibot - as much as anything it’s almost impossible to get them anyway.

Also a picture of Marvel Legends Doc Samson, bit of a low key reveal but once I’ve got him and Mephisto that’s all my must haves done for Legends. Not quite stopping but nothing else on the horizon. Got him preordered.

Also got Swindle, Tailgate, Joyride, and Pointblank preordered. Prices have crept up again. Good to get the last Combaticon and Minibots lined up. Also some promising mentions of Throttlebots, Targetmasters, and Powermasters.

Spent a bit of time messing around with my Diaclone inspired figures. They really are great, I like every single mould. Just need the few they haven’t done yet.

Got some new Streetfighter figures - Balrog, Akuma, and E. Honda. They all look great. Balrog and E. Honda are to go with my other Streetfighter characters, Akuma is to go with my X-Men characters! I never actually played Children of the Atom (I only had a Mega Drive when it was released), but I was buying a computer games magazine focused on Sega so I was very much aware of it. Got a preorder in for Zangief, very almost done. With not much on the horizon it feels like I’m almost done with 6” figures (Mortal Kombat are 7”).

Collecting feels a bit low key at the moment, I guess I’ve just been a bit distracted with other things. SDCC next month, let’s hope it delivers!