2018 SDCC Mattel Exclusive Aquaman Figure Set

Another July, another round of figures that only are available at the San Diego Comic Con.  2018 is where Mattel gets wet, giving collectors a set of 3 six inch figures as a part of the preparations for the Aquaman movie set to come out in December, with their DC Comics Multiverse Aquaman Between Two Dooms Figures 3-Pack, featuring Aquaman and his two most fearsome foes, Black Manta and Ocean Master, in a package designed to emulate the classic Nick Cardy cover of Aquaman #35 (September-October, 1967), which is the first appearance of Black Manta.

In the depths of the ocean, the King of the Seven Seas must face the firing rage of his two arch enemies: Black Manta and Ocean Master. Both have pledged to bring their wrath upon him. While the waters of the ocean are typically kind to the Sea King and his city, today, they have summoned these two arch foes to battle Aquaman, and each other. For in their thirst for power, there can only be one ruler. A colossal battle begins, unleashing fire from the bottom of the sea. As the clash of these warriors makes the Atlantean water boil, a question rises at this pinnacle moment: Who will destroy the Sea King? The “Sea Jackal” Black Manta or the DREADED Ocean Master?

Available for pre-order at the Mattel shop, it seems  to only be available if you have your id, which you would present at the San Diego Comic Con, and then the $60 3-pack would be shipped to you. 

One can hope that Mattel wouldn't be a cold fish, and makes this easily available to fans who can't join the schools of fish at SDCC!

2017 SDCC Mattel Exclusive Cyborg Figure

With Mattycollector no longer in the picture, seems the DC Multiverse is a little lacking in exclusive figures for the 2017 San Diego Comic Con...

....but the one they have comes as a real mother....

....that is, a Mother Box!

It is an exclusive, premium Cyborg figure based on the character to fully debut in the upcoming Justice League movie, packaged in a Man's World Mother Box (the device scientist Silas Stone used to save his son, Victor, and turn the lad into the super-powered Cyborg).

The 6 inch figure's eye and torso light up when with a red LED when the button on the base is pushed.  The figure includes the hero in his silver colored power suit with 20 points of articulation, his White Noise Cannon arms and a translucent mask and chest, and should be available at Mattel's booth at SDCC for $25!

2016 San Diego Comic Con Mattel Joker Suicide Squad Exclusive

For fans of the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, as well as fans of the 6 inch DC Multiverse line, Mattel has something for you that will drive you crazy at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con!


The Joker, with Panda Man, as an exclusive!


Better still, it is packaged as a cereal box, and comes with a bat-mask (likely because of someone who will also have a small part in the movie coming out in August)...and the set runs for $40 at the comic con at the Mattel Booth, along with Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet.




Just the thing to keep you laughing at breakfast.....if you can get one!

2016 San Diego Comic Con Hasbro Collectors Exclusive

This 2016 San Diego Comic Con exclusive should appeal to the Marvel Legends 3 and 3/4th collector, as it contains an action figure of....the Collector!

The Collector's Vault is a set of figures, including the Collector, Devil Dinosaur's pal Moonboy, Inhuman dog Lockjaw, Howard the Duck, and Cosmo...as well as the Wand of Watoomb, the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Zodiac Key (longtime Marvel Team-Up, Dr. Strange fans, Thor fans and S.H.I.E.L.D. and Avengers comic fans should know what these are....if not, trust me, this is cool!).

This set is scheduled to run for $69.99 at the Hasbro booth, and may also appear at the Fan Expo Canada this year (making it not quite exclusive, but a great collector's piece, nonetheless).

2016 San Diego Comic Con Mattel Wonder Woman Exclusive

This year brings something we've all wanted to see...Wonder Woman and her Invisible Jet, as Mattel sets up an exclusive for it's 3 and 3/4 action figure line for the DC Multiverse.

Wait?  How can you see Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet?

Well, you'll have to go down to San Diego for the Comic Con in July, and buy it from Mattel!

It sells for $15 at the show....it will be hard to know what it will sell for after; even with the lasso of truth!

Marvel Legends 2016 Wave 3 3 and 3 Quarters

Technically, it is more Marvel Legends 2016 Wave 2 and a half, as half this group we've seen before!

This wave includes Spider-Man foes of the living vampire, Morbius and water elemental, Hydro-Man, as well as a more modern look for the mutant X-Men, Rogue, as well as a later look of Avenger, Quasar...all in glorious 3 and 3/4 plastic, as only Hasbro and Marvel can do!

The fellows we've seen before include Black Panther, original armor Iron Man (both from Wave 1), and Spider-Man in two different costume variants (one from Wave 1 and one from Wave 2 of 2016).  At least you'll be able to find a Spider-Man and a Black Panther figure in the aisles when the Black Panther and Spider-Man movies come out!

Marvel Legends 2016 2 Packs 3 and 3 Quarters 2

Adding to the action figure collection of Marvel fans comes the latest collection, with two packs centered around one character with similar names.

These 2 packs of Marvel Legends 3 and 3/4ths line include Hyperion from the Squadron Supreme (as opposed to the Squadron Sinister, in more recent, darker tones, and from an alternate Earth from a little while back) as the Supreme Power 2-pack; Captain Marvel Carol Danvers (masked) and Captain Marvel of the Kree (or Mar-Vell) in the Cosmic Marvels 2-pack, and Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man in the Web Slingers 2-Pack...and each two pack includes a comic as well!  What a Marvel from these figures from Hasbro!

Marvel Legends 2016 2 Packs 3 and 3 Quarters

A few new figures have hit the shelves for Hasbro's new Marvel Legends 3 and 3/4ths line....but this time they've doubled up, as they are two-packs!

This time, it's related heroes, with Shield Wielding Heroes (Vance Astro from the Guardians of the Galaxy and Sam Wilson's version of Captain America), Mechanical Masters (Machine Man and the "Superior" Iron Man), and Defenders of Asgard (Jane Foster's version of Thor and a rougher Thor Odinson).  Variations on classic Avengers...

Marvel Legends 2016 Wave 2 3 and 3 Quarters

Coming at you soon, the latest in Marvel action figures, wave two of the new Marvel Legends 3 and 3/4th line!

True, we've seen Ant-Man before, but his movie was so successful, Vision also gets a figure update in a more recent look, Daredevil goes back to his original costume that only a blind man could love, Spider-Man comes out in an armored version of his costume pre-Iron Spider, and new figures for Rage (of the Avengers), Living Laser (of the Lethal Legion) and Gamora (of the Guardians of the Galaxy).

Not the greatest of released, but something to help you pass the time while pumping your fist in the air waiting for more releases!

Marvel Legends 2016 Wave 1 3 and 3 Quarters

Yes, the folks at Hasbro have changed the name of their 3 and 3/4 sized Marvel figures (making the name the same as their 6 inchers...no, this won't cause  any problems at retail), but you still get the same action figure goodness!

This time around, starting off the new year with a House of M Spider-Man, a Spider-Man Noir version, Captain Marvel (the former Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, version), Thor troll villain Ulik, Black Panther, Mark I Iron Man, aquatic Inhuman Triton, and bow-slinging member of the Guardians of the Galaxy....Yondu!

All but House of M Spidey and Black Panther are new, so plenty of new adventures your little guys can get into!

Marvel Avengers Infinite Series 2015 Wave 3

Even more 3 and 3/4 plastic Marvel figures for your enjoyment.

Villains Emma Frost (a.k.a. the White Queen) from the X-Men and New Mutants title, Spider-Man foe Chameleon, Thor villain Korg, a Juggernaut possessed Colossus, and heroes from Alpha Flight (Northstar) and X-Force (Deadpool, in a variant costume), most of these planned for release earlier, but finally coming out now (like Northstar, who was suppose to be a variant with this sister, Aurora), finding their way out in the Avengers Infinite line.

Still waiting for that Hellcat!

2015 Hasbro Marvel San Diego Comic Con Exclusives

A pair of items that Hasbro is releasing at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con sure to get Marvel fans and Hasbro toy collectors excited...


...just in time for the Ant-Man movie and a certain magical hero and his friends as well!

Marvel Legends

We'll start small, with the Ant-Man exclusive 0.75″ figure “that’s smaller than a penny”, and it’s the smallest figure ever created by Hasbro.


The figure will retail for $9.99, and is modeled after Paul Rudd’s character in the upcoming Marvel release, and comes in matchbox packaging.

But, if you have a hankering for more Ant-Man product...

Hasbro is also bringing along a deluxe Ant-Man pack that includes 12-inch Giant Man, 6-inch Goliath, 3.75-inch hank Pym (who comes in a lab coat with swappable heads), 1.5-inch Scott Lang/Ant-Man, and 1-inch Hank Pym/Ant-Man (as you can better see here....).

The set is packaged inside a cardboard helmet with a swiveling antennae...


...and will be available for $64.99.


Last, but not least, getting ready for his movie to come out in 2016, a set of figures on Doctor Strange and other magic users of the Marvel Universe for Hasbro's Marvel Legends line.

The collection’s edition includes 6-inch figures of Strange in his blue astral form, his ally Brother Voodoo, Strange’s arch nemesis Dormammu, the Asgardian goddess of death Hela, and mutant sorceress Magik.

The entire set comes packaged in a box resembling Stephen Strange’s magical Book of Vishanti, and includes a wearable role-play Eye of Agamato and is priced at $104.99 according to the official Hasbro description.

Marvel Avengers Infinite Series 2015 Wave 2

More Marvel 3 and 3/4 goodness with the second wave of Marvel Infinite action figures (or wave 7 if you've been following since the beginning!).

Starting with a reissue of Miles Morales....the Ultimate Spider-Man; two members of the Sinister Six...Doctor Octopus and the Vulture; an armored up version of Daredevil; Thor-lite with a version of Eric Masterson as Thunderstrike and Ka-Zar's Savage Land wife...Shanna the She-Devil.

Hoping that means we'll see Ka-Zar and Zabu soon, and with the original Sinister Six finished (Electro was in the very start of Marvel's 3 and 3/4 figures, Kraven and Mysterio more recently, and Sandman in the last wave), maybe we can get more members of the Masters of Evil or Sinister Syndicate...

Star Trek ReAction Figures 2015 Series 1

Coming in March, 2015, you can take your action figures boldly, where they've never gone before!

Funko is starting a series based on the original Star Trek for their ReAction line, and you can have Spock, Dr. McCoy, Sulu and Uhura in 3 and 3/4th inch size, to reenact scenes on the Enterprise.  It would only be logical to assume that Kirk, Scotty and Chekov would follow...

Marvel Avengers Infinite Series 2015 Wave 1

Starting off 2015...more 3.75 goodness from Hasbro and Marvel!

Ready for order....a few Spider-Man villains like Black Cat and Sandman (with a "sandy" Sandman variant as well), a few X-Men (Bishop and the blue, furry Beast, with a grey variant), Big-Time Spider-Man (reflecting a recent storyline), and reissues of Avenger Hawkeye and soon to be on Netflix Daredevil!

Tons of action figure fun for all fans of Marvel Super-Heroes, and planned for the future..Hellcat, Northstar and more!

Universal’s Mutant Of The Opera

No, it’s not an addition to the X-Men to back up Dazzler, but instead, the latest series (#4) of Universal Monsters’ action figures to hit the shelves in time for Halloween!

The fourth series of Universal Monsters Retro-Style Action Figures is due out in October! The two new 8-inch, cloth-costume figures — inspired by the classic Mego figures of yesteryear — are of the Phantom of the Opera (as played by Lon Chaney) and the Metaluna Mutant from This Island Earth (as seen on Mystery Science Theater 3000).

The Phantom Of The Opera

The Phantom of the Opera was originally a novel by Gaston Leroux, and adapted as a silent movie in 1925 with Lon Chaney as Erik, the deformed Phantom, who haunts the Paris Opera house looking to make the woman he loves (Christine Daae…played  by Mary Philbin) a star…but things don’t go well for Erik.

She is given all by him, but is not suppose to look behind his mask.  Of course, that doesn’t go well….hence, his surprised look (which required extensive make-up at the time for star, Lon Chaney…quite painful as well…).

This movie has been remade a few times...and even been on Broadway...but, the classics are the best!

This Island Earth

The Metaluna Mutant is from the movie version of This Island Earth that came out in June 1955 as Universal was switching from the more gothic horror it had been known for to the science fiction based bug-eyed aliens invading Earth idea that became popular in the 1950s, and was their first in color, no less!  With Regis Parton as the mutant, he didn’t really have a lot to do in the movie, but he stole the show from alien Exeter (Jeff Morrow), Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) and Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) who were helping to fight off the invasion of Metaluna by the evil Zagons (so, two intergalactic armies fighting it out, with Earth getting dragged in…sounds like the Kree-Skrull War…but it was first!).

Look for Dracula, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Wolfman, Frankenstein’s Monster and his Bride from previous series in stores now!

The Walking Dead Action Figures Series 6 and 7

It's October...and that means it's the Walking Dead time!

Action figures for the 6th series of the Walking Dead TV line from McFarlane Toys include:

The Governor (with long coat), Carol Peletier, Abraham Ford, Hershel Greene, a Bungee Guts Zombie and Rick Grimes!

Action figures for the 7th series of the Walking Dead TV line from McFarlane Toys include:

Carl Grimes, Michonne, Gareth (with a slab of meat!), and a "Mud Walker" complete with a sign...that should have been a warning.  Series 7 is not due until March of 2015!

Get them before they get you!

Son of Monsters are Universal

In this case, it is a son and a daughter!  But, either way, it’s more classics from the Universal Monster vault, this time being the Bride of Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon in Mego-style!

The Universal Monsters Retro Cloth Action Figures Wave 3 stand 8-inches tall, with over 14 points of articulation and authentically detailed full-cloth outfits, packaged in re-sealable clamshell packaging…with the Bride in her cloth gown and the Creature all green and scaly.
Who wouldn’t love that around Halloween?

The Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride of Frankenstein came out in 1935, and was the first sequel to Frankenstein, and featured most of the same cast, adding Elsa Lanchester to the cast, as the titular character.

One of the greatest sequels of all time, and a true delight for the fans of Frankenstein.  Sadly, she made no future appearances in the classic Universal Monster films, though her look and idea has become iconic…and is a favorite among female horror fans (and the male fans who adore them!).   

Phyllis Diller even took on the role for the 1967 Mad Monster Party (and she was quite the fright!).

The Creature From The Black Lagoon

The Creature from the Black Lagoon was the Gill-man, and the movie came out in 1954, starring Richard Carlson as David Reed, Julia Adams as Kay Lawrence (the girl in the poster),  Richard Denning as Mark Williams, Antonio Moreno as Carl Maia, and Whit Bissell as Dr. Edwin Thompson, with the Creature being portrayed by Ricou Browning underwater, and by Ben Chapman on land.  Guess he couldn’t share space like Aquaman does.  The film originally came out in 3-D, and had two later sequels, Revenge of the Creature (which came out in 1955, and had Clint Eastwood in a small uncredited role as a lab technician, and was also in 3-D, and Tom Hennesy taking over as the Creature on land), and it’s sequel, The Creature Walks Among Us, which came out in 1956, and featured Don Megowan under the make-up on land (Ricou played the Creature underwater in all three movies), with none of the scientists, creature hunters or victims moving on through the movie series…

Though only in black & white, these movies took advantage of advances in movie-making, which allowed them to film underwater (and, of course, the early 3-D process, which, when you donned your special red and blue lensed glasses, made you feel the action in the movie was coming at you!).  Well, it was early in the process, but it was the beginning of the idea…and tried to draw more people into the theatres.

With wave one of Frankenstein and the Wolfman, and wave two with Dracula and the Mummy, the majority of the early Universal Monsters have been translated into Mego-like figures.  Who will be next? Can we hope to see the Invisible Man?  Dare we dream of the Phantom of the Opera?

Return of the Universal Monsters Action Figures

The classic Universal Monsters have been reincarnated in Mego-style, with series two release of Count Dracula and the Mummy called Imhotep for EMCE Toys Retro Cloth line. 

Eight inches with 14 points of articulation for all your classic Universal monster needs!

Following the success of series one, which had Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolfman...

here are two more creatures that go bump in the night!

Dracula

Dracula, premiered in the movies in 1931, with Bela Lugosi as the titular monster.  A vampire lord of some power who plans on expanding his evil influence past his small castle onto the greater society, he is undone by the end of this movie. 

The Dracula idea continues with Dracula’s Daughter in 1936 (with no Dracula), Son of Dracula in 1943 with Lon Chaney Jr. as Count Alucard (aka Dracula!), House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945 (in both Houses, John Carradine was Dracula), and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948, only the second time Bela Lugosi played Dracula, and the last of Dracula before the Hammer Films of the 1950s and 1960s, which took advantage of color in films, especially the color red! 

Each of those later movies were deep in blood red...

The Mummy

The Mummy, premiered in the movies in 1932, played by Boris Karloff, and was an ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep who was revived, and tried to bring back his Princess.  He wasn’t successful. 

This movie franchise did not have direct sequels, but instead spawned remakes early on…starting with The Mummy’s Hand in 1940, The Mummy’s Tomb in 1942, The Mummy’s Ghost in 1944 and The Mummy’s Curse in 1944 (all with Lon Chaney Jr as the Mummy, Kharis). 

Kharis returns in Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy in 1950, with Eddie Parker being the Mummy for this feature, which would be the last appearance of a classic, Universal Monster Mummy.

Future releases would be incredible, just to have versions of the Phantom of the Opera, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and even Dr. Jekyll’s alter-ego Mr. Hyde and the Creature from the Black Lagoon as well!

Monster Action Figures Are Universal

Two things were so far ahead of their time, that they are still important today.  Universal Monsters and Mego Toys.

Thankfully, these two things are still able to be enjoyed today with slightly more modern modifications.

The bestselling retro cloth line made its terrifying return in 2010 with the series one release of Universal Monsters action figures! Fans have waited for retro cloth figures of the true Universal Monsters for over 30 years. And here they are! Each sensational action figure stands 8-inches tall, with over 14 points of articulation and an authentically detailed cloth outfit. Scare some up for your collection...Frankenstein’s Monster and the Wolfman.

 

Frankenstein

Frankenstein’s Monster came alive in the movies with 1931 in Frankenstein, with Boris Karloff as the Monster.  Pieces of people animated by a scientist who wanted to show he had power over life and death, where the creature had more humanity than other people. 

Hugely successful, this inspired many a sequel, including Bride of Frankenstein from 1935, Son of Frankenstein in 1939 (both still with Boris Karloff as the Monster), the Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942 (with Lon Chaney Jr. as the Monster), Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman in 1943 (with Bela Lugosi as the Monster), House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948, all with Glenn Strange as the Monster. 

Though not officially one of Universal’s monster movies, Young Frankenstein with Peter Boyle as the Monster, is a priceless gem written by comedic genius Mel Brooks in the Universal Monster style, including being in glorious black and white.

Wolfman

The Wolfman changed for the first time in 1941, with Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot, a man cursed to change into a wolf creature at the full moon.

Lon Chaney Jr. was also the Wolfman in all his sequel appearances under the Universal banner, including Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman in 1943, House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948. 

The Wolfman was also revived, as was Frankenstein, Dracula and the Mummy, as part of Hammer horror films (starting with The Curse of Frankenstein in 1957, The Horror of Dracula in 1958, the Mummy in 1959 and the Curse of the Werewolf  in 1961, with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing being the notable actors in these productions, and took full advantage of color in the films, as well as later entries being…well, a little provocative and not for the children), and all four movie franchises enjoy some success today.

Let’s hope these retro-cloth figures continue, as it would be incredible to have versions of Dracula, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and even Dr. Jekyll’s alter-ego Mr. Hyde and the Creature of the Black Lagoon as well!