Mattel stuck with the retro style packing including the "premade discoloration". Each package has the headshots of the four characters on the front. On the back are some pretty cool action shots. The Batman and Aquaman are classic art that takes us back to thrilling days of yesteryear (as the saying goes).

One thing I actually thought was very cool was the little classic style Matty ( I assume). I think this was an excellent touch.

This time out, I will be reviewing Batman and Two Face.

Two Face is one of the villains that never actually appeared in the original Mego line which makes him all the cooler to have and a must to buy.

The Two Face side is classic comic styling and very well done. The Harvey side really reminds me of a sculpt I have seen somewhere before but I just can't place it. If you can identify, drop me a line.

One missed opportunity I was kind of surprised at, was that both hands were clean rather than having one scarred. Would have been cool to have one the same pea green as his face.

His clothes are removable but I didn't because it seemed like it would be too much of a hassle to put them back on. The jacket has some clear clasps so that Harvey can button up on the cold Gotham nights. I was also surprised that he had no belt.

I really like the blue shirt material on the Two Face side. I actually thought it would make a great Superman outfit rather the light blue one they used in Wave 1.

His shoes are different than we have seen so far. One black and one brown. These make the 4th type of footwear used in the line. 3 types of boots and now these.

I am considering buying a shirt like this. Would make it easier when debating myself over what to write about next.

DC!!!

Marvel!!

And now ….. The Batman

It was obvious that this was based on Adam West and the 60's TV Show.

Even in the package you could see his belly lopping over his belt. You know if Adam had used the pole less and the stairs more, he would not have had this problem.

This is actually a pretty neat figure for a blue Batman.

From the side he looks like Michael Keaton with a solid cowl bending back trying to look up.

He is significantly different from the original Mego Batman. (Sorry it is not a direct apples to apples comparison but My Original removable cowl Batman is in a box) First it seems Bruce nowadays is into french bikini cut underwear rather than regular briefs. Not to mention the darker grey tights.

Without the capes you can see the obvious mass difference between to the two. Retro Batman looks nearly anorexic to Mego Batman. But the weight Retro Batman lost in his waist, went straight to his quads. I guess all those stairs down to the cave REALLY develop your legs.

Next you can see, some minor differences in the Utility belt. The Mego has more pointy capsules. The Mego has more of a plastic belt, where Retro Batman has more of a vinyl belt.

Seeing the cape from the back shows the size in comparison to the figure. You can also see how much larger the Retro cape is than the Mego. I really appreciate this because Batman should have a huge cape.

The boots of Retro Batman are much darker and thicker but are near the exact same style.

The gauntlets are mostly nice. I like them better than the plastic gloves of old, that you can see in other pictures. They are a bit big and I think they should have used blue double sided fabric rather than white is the middle which is easily visible and looks a bit tacky. I show these to you upside down so that you can see they did take great pains to give them a sculpted look. From behind you can also get an idea of exactly how big these things are.

Now let's talk about the most important part of this figure… the cowl.

I really like the cowl; to me it is very reminiscent of the 1966 ideal batman cowl. I appreciate the nostalgia and knowledge that Mattel showed in its creation. Unlike the Mego cowl which had the eyes holes cut out so we could see Bruce's eyes. The Retro cowl has the eyes filled in and whited out. I like this a lot but I also miss the other.

The way you take off the cowl is a slit in the rear that can be opened up to pull the head. Since I don't have my original handy, I can't say for sure but I think this is a much better way than the first.

Once you get the cowl off, you are greeted with stylish if not a bit bloated Bruce head. In all seriousness I do like it. Of course Bruce will really need Hair Club For Men with that receding hairline.

I had considered taking off Two Face's suit and putting it on him, but it would have been too much trouble.

Now for the not so good stuff. I will have to exchange my Batman figure. My cowl had a scuff on the side, that I saw when he was in the package but thought it was something that could be cleaned off. It can't.

The next thing was the Bat emblem. I really like that it was not just a sticker. But as I posed and played him for this article. His Bat began to come off. Now this was something else I saw in the package but I thought it was the fabric. I don't think this is a running problem but watch out for it when you buy.

The way Superman said it happened.

The way it actually happened!

The way it would have happened if Grant Morrison had written it for Batman INC.

In part 2, we will look at Aquaman and Black Manta. We will also look at Mego style figures through the years, differences and Pro's and Con's of the all.

Here is a sneak peak

Also check out the forums I am going to post some additional pictures there and look forward to your comments. If you have not signed up for the forums, please do, it free and there are a lot of great people on here. Visit AFT Forums!

BY the By I know some people have tried to email but each time they try they get a warning that we our site is a threat. Not sure what is causing it but you are welcome to email Umpire and he can forward to me.

I once again want to thank Collectors Comics for helping out with the figures.

Bad boy, Bad boy whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when the Bat comes for you.

MEZCO MEZ-ITZ BATMAN AND JOKER!     8/23/10

I recently purchased the Mez-itz SDCC Batman and Joker set. You know I was just getting used to Kubricks and then these come along. Can't say I liked the idea originally but you know what, these things are cool.

Let's start with the box. Now my box is a little crumpled, but you can still get the idea of the work the guys put into these. You can see on the front in the right hand corner a red imitation wax stamp declaring it an SDCC exclusive.

The art wraps around the corners with each character having their name prominently displayed.

The back has full frontal shots of both guys.

When you open it up, the Joker's hat is nestled in between the two. Batman's cape is normally tucked behind him but I had taken him out already. Batman's batarang is underneath the hat.

I really didn't even know the batarang was included but I am glad it was. It is a very nice touch. And huge.

Batman is very cool. I have never been much for the blue toned Batman but this one is nice. I am looking forward to the black version of him.

It has a very cool paint job, but I think there are too many muscles.

Look at that back, I mean does even the Hulk look like that?

The cape is nice and cloth and large enough to give it some pleats.

I was very surprised that their heads moved, a lot! I expected the arms and legs to move (though they are tight) but the head doesn't just turn, it has massive up and down movement.

The batarang fits nicely into his hand, but you can't raise it too high as it won't go past his head.

As for the Joker, I think he looks aged and constipated in the face, but he does have Luther's from “The New Guy” crazy eye down pat. I mean this boarders on a Jonah Hex Joker. I am cracking on him but I do like him.

He looks even better with his hat on. I think it was a very cool inclusion. I do hope with the upcoming version that he comes with a machine gun. I like the detail. The fact they added character lines to his neck is impressive, they also made a very good attempt at doing a trench coat while leaving enough room for spats.

Mez-itz also added their symbol to their feet.

This is Joker after he has been watching too many Michael Jackson videos.

This Morrison's pimp Batman.

Holy Moley Batman, Bat-Mite's been in Bane's venom and he's ticked.

On three old chum!

After all is said and done, you should really consider purchasing these, even if you're still not sure about the style. I'm glad I have mine.

I have included a link below to save you time Googleing. If you do buy, I would love to hear what you think.

Batman vs. the Joker, Vinyl Style

Be extraordinary,

Doc

DIAMOND SELECT TOYS: MARVEL SELECT - THING REVIEW!     8/16/10

It's Clobberin Time!!!

One of Marvel Selects latest offerings is the heart and soul of the Fantastic Four, the ever-loving blue eyed Thing.

My first impression was WOW This dude is heavy!! (and I don't mean this in the 60's sense). I mean he could weigh 5 pounds. Even if I didn't like him as a figure, I would keep him as a door stop or a paperweight!

It is a very good thing that he did not look this way when he was first exposed to the cosmic rays, that over the years he has continued in his transformation. I say this because had he looked like this when he was first exposed they would have called him “Pinhead” rather than “Thing”. This was my second impression, the figure is spectacular in scale and mass, except his head is tiny for his body. I can take my hand put it on my face with the bottom of my palm on my chin, my fingers reach nearly to the top of my forehead. I feel I am mostly normal. Look at Ben's hands! He could hold 2 of his heads in his massive fist. This is the only real complaint I have with this figure. Aside from scale, I like the sculpt of his head. Good expression and good paint job on his baby blues. Aunt Petunia would be proud.

I like the fact that he is huge. It is obvious he is the anchor of the FF in more ways than one. But if He wants to wear his traditional overcoat to blend in, he will need more than unstable molecules, he will need a tent and a big one at that. What he is wearing, is long pants with shoes. Why does Ben need shoes? Is he really in danger of stubbing a toe? Or getting a splinter? The ground cover must really be dangerous in the Negative Zone.

His articulation is more than you would expect in a guy made out of rock. I mean I have never thought of Ben as agile, have you? He has joints at his waist, shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees. His pea head can turn side to side and up and down.

Ben comes with a, well fake TV? I thought maybe it was supposed to be a backdrop but the scale is just as off as his head. In fact his head is the right size for the backdrop. It is a piece of cardboard with one side picturing the rest of the FF and man they look ticked (maybe because Ben got a figure first?). The other side is a street scene that doesn't look anything like Yancy. And a molded plastic … not sure, whatever… I would say “thing” but that would be in bad taste, anyway it is an accessory.

Ben is packaged well with wrap around art work.

Also included in the package is a polite Marvel select advertisement and questionnaire.

Here he is with Killowog. They started a friendship at a nail salon specializing in people with 3 HUGE fingers. Notice the head sizes.

Here is Ben in alternative uses:

Here is Ben trying to get the Batman's autograph.

Here is Batman politely declining.

See guys, I do like Marvel.

I would like to thank www.CollectorsComics.net for providing Ben. Check them out at their ebay store under the seller name: keimoncollectables. They have lots of cool statues and hard to find stuff.

Until next time, refuse to fit in, be extraordinary!

Doc

SITHLORD229 REVIEWS: THAT'S MY FACE CUSTOM FIGURE HEADS!     8/13/10

ThatsMyFace.com has supplied AFT with a figure head in the likeness of our esteemed Star Wars reviewer Steve (AKA SithLord229) which we placed on a Commander Bly body and mounted back on the card. Here's the review.

Be sure to check out ThatsMyFace.com to get your own face on an action figure.

DID COLLECTIBLES: PALITOY ACTION MAN ASTRONAUT SET! Rating: * * * * *     8/01/10

Palitoy Action Man Astronaut set

G.I. Joe was introduced in 1964 by the Hasbro company as America's first action figure. At 12 inches tall this mid-1960s hero was outfitted for all types of action beginning with military services such as Army ,Navy,Air Force and Marines with scale weapons and accurate clothing.

In 1966 the United Kingdom produced similarly designed figures under the name Palitoy. As the name G.I. was a very American term the British renamed their action figure Action Man. In essence both G.I. Joe and Action Man were the same type of figures.

They shared the same types of accessories and vehicles. In the mid-1960s Hasbro released a space capsule that fit G.I. Joe and came with a spacesuit and accessories for spacewalks and a 45 RPM record. Palitoy introduced their space capsule in 1970. This was the heyday for space exploration, not only in United States but all over the world. The toy aisles were populated with items from Maj. Matt Mason, Billy blastoff and Moon McDare.

Now in celebration for its 40th year anniversary action man from palette way has released its nostalgia collection they will be looking at the astronaut sat. The set includes two major pieces the first being an action man figure in a box reminiscent of the packaging pallet void put out in the early 60s. The next is the accessory set which includes space helmet spacesuit loathes boots camera propulsion unit and chest packed with attached airline.

The figure

The boxed figure comes dressed in orange flight suits tall black boots blue air man hat and a metal dog tag that reads action man. Also included is a small booklet that an Air Force manual which has illustrations, and some details about the Air Force. The figures the typical body used in recent years for the reissue of adventure team figures at Wal-Mart. They seem to be made of a lighter gauge plastic but the only noticeable difference would be the weight of the figure. The action man figure comes with a painted head just as the original release in the early to mid 60s. A buffet scope is exactly the same as the original version of G.I. Joe from 1964 is still super poseable and still ranks as one of my most favorite figures ever.

The accessories

The accessories come in a separate window box where everything is displayed. The silver cloth suit has matching booties and gloves. Once you strip your figure down it's an easy process to put on the spacesuit if you remember to remove his hands and feet so that nothing will catch on the inside of the suit.

The suit fits well the embroidered American flag on the shoulder is just as I remember from my first figures back in the 60s the helmet has thick foam padding to keep it securely on the figures had the visor moves up and down there is also a communications cable which plugs into the chest breathing unit, or into the capsule if you happen to have one. There's also camera with an elastic strap that fits over the figure's arm. The propulsion unit comes in two pieces a thin plastic nozzle that fits over the gas tank units.

The only difference between this recent product and that of the 1960s version is that the nozzle is now plastic and not bent metal. The chest unit is attached to the figure via elastic straps, on the back of this unit are two black suction cups so that you may stick your figure on a pane of glass or any smooth surface to simulate flying in space. There is an orange air tube made of orange rubber. All of these are very similar to the previous versions stated earlier

.

Fit and finish

The execution of this figure and the accessories that is quite exceptional. It really brought me back to see the original version of G.I. Joe/action man, and to once again possess a perfect replica of my old toy. DIG has done an exquisite job with this set they've included all the major pieces that geeks such as myself would enjoy. If you're a fan of the 1/6 scale figure I am certain you will enjoy this box set.

KOTOBUKIYA IRON MAN 2 MARK IV ARMOR ARTFX STATUE!     7/06/10

I loved Iron Man 2, the movie was just a ton of fun! The best thing about the movies and the toys are the loads of armor variants that abound. Last year we covered the MK II armor suited statue, and that was just awesome. About a month ago I saw the first pictures of this statue, the ARTFX Iron Man 2 MK IV statue, and man, was I impressed! The lines, the paint job and the light up features would make any fan boy quake.

The packaging:

The model comes in a box adorned with photos of the character on front in full color set against a blue curtain, the back of the box shows the model itself and a small rendering of the one sheet from the movie. On top of the box is the embossed "Avengers Assemble" shield.
When you remove the inner clear plastic packaging you can see all the parts that make up the statue. Upper torso, right and left arms, and the lower torso and legs section. The light up stand is stored in a separate area in back. You will also find the batteries included. This is a great way of insuring the model will come to you in perfect condition.

Assembly:

You'll need to install the batteries before you assemble the statue, which is easily done by removing the panel behind the left shoulder and placing the three button cells in, then the panel pops in. No sweat. The AAA batteries go into the light up base, youll need a small phillips screwdriver to install them, should take about a minute.
The parts of the statue pop in just as easily. Place the upper torso on the lower torso/leg section and carefully slide the post home. Then just pop in the two arms and you're done. The statue then is placed on the stand with corresponding blocks that fit into the feet.

Sculpt and paint:
This is where this statue really shines (excuse the pun.) The armor has a reworked chest piece, and the overall pose of Iron Man is iconic, with his right hand extended, before launching a hand repulsor blast.
The light up features blend in beautifully with the sculpt.

The paint is vibrant, deep reds and shining gold. No paint glops, it's very tidy and sharp. The paint is glossy and the entire armor is given a darker wash that fills the armor joints and lines and make the panels pop. Great detailing of the armor pieces adds to this effect.

Light up features:

This statue takes advantage of Kotobukiya's craftsmanship with a light up chest, eyes and both hands.

The base also lights up. The effect is mesmerizing.

Overall:
The Iron Man 2 mk IV armor ARTFX statue is a fantastic statue, with dynamic pose, cool lighting effects and great detail. Fans of the movie will need this statue on their shelves, so I would rate this as a must have purchase!

Purchase yours before they disappear from the Kotobukiya US online store.

STORE-ROOMS.COM'S TOMS FORREST 1:6 SCALE FIGURE!     6/24/10

1994's hit movie "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks as the lovable dunce that manages to inject himself into nearly every important historical event in recent history has finally been realized in plastic. Welcome "Toms Forrest".

This figure is 1:6 scale, and has so many cool accessories from the movie, I can't think of one that it's missing.

Tom comes encased in a clear plastic box with a back insert showing the figure and giving the assembly instructions for the scale bus bench that appeared in the movie.

Figure:

The figure is very limber and easy to pose even in extreme poses. The joints are not sticky, but they support the weight of the figure nicely.

The head sculpt is wonderful and very detailed. They've captured the look of Tom Hanks marvelously. The paint is very well done down to his close cropped sideburns.
Forrest comes with two sets of hands and they are very easy to interchange. The shoulders a just a little too broad, but Gump's time in the service could explain this.

Costume:
Here's where figures make or break being a successful 1:6 scale piece. I loved the satin lined jacket and the killer blue and white checkered shirt. The Bubba Gump hat is silk-screened and bears the logo of the shrimp company in the movie. His pants are nicely done and fit very well. His shoes are Nike complete with a red slash. All are done in movie accurate coloring.

Accessories:
This figure has it all. Starting with the wooden bus bench, that you have to assemble. The kit comes complete with glue and it takes no time to finish it. Just let it dry overnight before putting your figure on it.

Luggage: One cloth covered suitcase with velvet interior, and a net to hold his magazines. There are plastic clasps to hold the case shut.
Included is a box of chocolates that played such a huge part in the film. The box is a replica of a Russel Stover gift box.

There is a Forbes magazine and a copy of Curious George included, interior sheets are empty, but there are a few pictures of seafood in the Forbes magazine. Forrest also comes with a pamphlet with Uncle Sam on the cover looking for enlistees.
Other accessories include a golden statue award, a ping pong paddle with Mao's picture on it and a tiny feather. These guys thought of it all!

Overall impressions:
It's astounding the amount of detail that went into this figure, and all the included extras that make this figure stand out in the crowded field of foot tall fighting men and armor clad superheroes. I could see outfitting Forrest in some Vietnam era fatigues and an M-16.

If you are a big fan of the film or just of Tom Hanks, this is the figure you need in your collection. He's available for purchase from Store-rooms.com

RANDY INSPECTS MERIT'S MARINE!     6/23/10

June 21, 2010

Welcome back,campers!

Sorry for the delay on this but I think it'll be worth it.

While my tastes have narrowed in toy collecting, 1/6 is still a big part of it. And I'm always on the look out for something new to take a look at for what I want out of a figure.

Which leads me to this review.

This US Marine figure is made by Saturday Toys, but this particular version is a Merit Exclusive, coming with the Lightweight helmet.

The display of the figure in the package is obviously quite important for that collector picking the piece up for the first time. And this Marine doesn't diappoint!

What was also neat was that I found a great "hidden" addition. Once the figure was removed from the package, a listing of all the figure's gear is listed in the back of the package! I don�t normally see this in most boxed set This is an excellent help in not only knowing what gear you have but getting an idea what it supposed to do!

Or at least it is for ME!

Being able to grip and use items is an important part of a figure for me and I was quite pleased with Saturday Toys' work here.

As you can see, I wanted to give you an idea what the hands are capable of performing.
I will admit to hoping the hands were closer to fleshtone in color. But the indiviual fingered Nomex gloves most definitely took what little sting I had away.

Plus there's nothing wrong about making sure a Marine can salute properly!

The variety of items that allows the owner to customize a figure is something I greatly appreciate. This Marine give you the option of garrison cap, boonie hat and, exclusively to Merit, a Lightweight Helmet-all in Woodlan MARPAT camo.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the boonie hat had a woven mesh top. But unless I'm doing something wrong, it was just a bit too tight for that jarhead!

And, naturally, rocking the shades!

Here's the primary weapon for the Marine: M4A1 SOPMOD Carbine.

It comes with six extra magazines with MagPuls for easier removal from the weapon. It also has a mag pouch storage that mounts on the vest.

I dig the fact that you can either have the already full, using the foam inserts or replace them with the mags. I will admit they are a bit snug when put inside but I think its worth it for the more realistic look.

While you can keep the M4A1 stock, there are plenty of accessories to add on to it. By removing the rail coverings on either side, top and bottom, you can add several different items.

These include:
-Tactical Single Point Sling (at rear)
-Vertical Forward grip (on bottom)
-Tactical Flashlight (on Right side)
-ACOG RCO Scope (on top/middle)
-AN/PEQ2 Laser Designator (on top/front)

As a great attention to detail, the Laser Designator normally has a cord attaching it to a thumb switch. To make this eaiser the "cord" is actualy a thin wire that allows to custom place it-and keep it in place. Nicely done!

Just because you never are sure based on box art or looking at the unopened piece, I wanted to includee detail shot of the footwear a Marine operates in!

The Spartan Assault vest and SAP1 side pieces not only hold other pouches and equipment, it some with armor plates that can be added in as well! The top piece is a removable throat protector that attaches underneath the armor.

In addition to the US Flag patch, this set includes Special Unit Gadsden Flag Badge with Velco Back, which I is ALSO exclusive to this set.

While the right thigh has the pistol holster, the left thigh includeed a pouch for carrying an additional M249 SAW ammo box! I also dig the size appropriate zippersďż˝ that actually WORK! The devi's always in the details.

Back to the guns, we have the Bertta 92F handgun along with five extra magazines with two magazine holders. While each holder can hold two mags, it may look like you have an extra mag to put in a boot!
But take a gander at the holser and you'll see there's an additional holder on the front!

After drawing and firing his sidearm, the Marine drops the empty magazine, pulls anotherr, smacks it in and is able to continue the fight!

As you can see, the pistol's slide is movable. The pistol magazines are a little snug but I think I'd take that over being too loose.

I should note that all the poses of the figure did NOT require any additional support. And that's a really big deal to me. While things look nice static, I like to see a little "life" in my figure displays!

With prices skyrocketing in the 1/6 field, this detailed and accessoried figure retails for around $90. I think it's well worth the price based on all that come with it.

Hope you enjoyed you look at this great product!
Thanks to Merit-International for this great 1/6 US Marine!

Be seeing you soonďż˝ as the countdown to San Diego Comic Con speeds up!

RANDY

HASBRO'S IRON MAN MOVIE AND COMIC SERIES FIGURES!     6/16/10

Iron Man 2 has hit the theaters kicking off the summer movie viewing season. Of course the toys hit about a month before the flick dropped, and I for one was pleasantly surprised.
The two sets are the Comic and Movie series.
Each figure comes with its own generic base with a clip to hold the three cards with a schematic of Stark's armor.

Here's some shots of the Proto-Classic armor Model II Mark I. Most notable difference in this armor is the wicked horned helmet. The figure comes with a flying flame base and a red repulsor bolt. Shellhead is decked out in his red and yellow paint scheme with a nice job done in the small details of the armor.

Warmachine looks dark and menacing. Put that together with his awesome set of weapons and you have a heavyweight superhero. Warmachine comes with two shoulder mounts that slide up into position or down his back when the weapons are not deployed. He sports a gatling gun, missile launcher, two missles and an ammo belt.

Iron Monger.
This guy is a true heavyweight when it comes to the armor. He's even too massive for his base. No accessories to speak of, although he didn't need anything in the first movie. I would like to have seen them try to put in a opening cockpit with the bald head of Obidiah Stane sticking out of it. This is one big hunk of plastic and is just fun to pose. More fun details that in this size of figure is nice to see.

The Mark VI armor sports a operating chest light that runs on a button cell battery. Just press down on his shell head. This lights up his entire torso and is kind of eerie. This version has the more golden finish and looks amazing. Like all the others it has great articulation and great attention to detail.

This is the comic version of Iron Man that most resonates with me when I was reading the mag back in the '70's. Red and yellow with a great shine on the vac-metallic red armor. I like this version better than the other Marvel Universe figures that Hasbro is putting out. They are a bit larger and seem to be fatter, or more durable feeling in your hand.

I'm really enjoying this line and can't wait to pick up a Whiplash figure. I would hope that we can get ancillary movie figures like Nich Fury or Black Widow as they did show in the movies. If I had a wishlist it would be for Pepper and Happy and a workshop with storage areas for the different armor styles. Oh, and for laughs add the robot with fire extinguisher. I'm just saying.

This is a fine line of toys and I am very happy with the workmanship and engineering that went into them. Unlike a great many companies that just make 'em and slap them onto backers, Hasbro has made the line appealing to both kids and collectors. I can't wait to see more figures from this line, and if they keep cranking out movies we'll be sure to see more of Tony Stark and his handiwork.

GREENLIGHT ENTERPRISES BULLITT 2 CAR SET, CORVETTE SET AND HOT PURSUIT VEHICLES!     5/21/10

Bullitt 2 car set.

The 1968 cop thriller Bullitt starred Steve McQueen and Jacqueline Bisset was best known for the awesome car chase that made movie history. Bullitt won an Academy Award for Editing.

At the time of the film's release, the car chase scene generated a great amount of excitement.

Two 1968 390 CID V8 Ford Mustangs (325 bhp) were used for the chase scene, both owned by Ford Motor Company and part of a promotional loan agreement with Warner Bros. The Mustangs' engines, brakes and suspensions were heavily modified for the chase by veteran car racer Max Balchowsky.

Ford Motor Company had also originally loaned two Ford Galaxie sedans that were intended to be used in the chase scenes, but the producers found the cars entirely too heavy to put through jumps over the hills of San Francisco without the suspensions of the cars being severely damaged.

The Galaxie sedans were replaced with two 1968 440 CID/375 bhp Dodge Chargers that were bought outright from Glendale Dodge in Glendale, California. The engines in both Chargers were left largely unmodified, but the suspensions were upgraded to cope with the demands of the stunt work.

The director called for speeds of about 75–80 mph (120–130 km/h), but the cars (including the ones containing the cameras) reached speeds of over 110 mph (175 km/h) on surface streets. Driver's point-of-view angles were used to give the audience the "feel" of the ride as the cars jumped the hills. Filming the chase scene took three weeks, resulting in 9 minutes and 42 seconds of film.

Steve McQueen was an accomplished driver and managed to perform the bulk of the driving stunt work.

Of the two Mustangs, one was scrapped after filming due to liability concerns and the surviving backup car was sold to an employee of Warner Brothers' editing department. The car changed hands several times, and Steve McQueen at one point made an unsuccessful attempt to buy it. Currently in non-working condition, the Mustang is rumored to have been kept in a barn in the Ohio River Valley by an anonymous owner.

The packaging is very cool with a background depicting a San Francisco street, complete with skidmarks on the pavement. The green Mustang and the Tuxedo Black Charger are flawlessly painted, and fine details are all over these authentic vehicles. Greenlight Entertainment has really done a great job with these die-cast collectibles. Insignias and license plates are clearly visible and the paint on the Mustang has metal flake laid into the finish. The tires are a pliable rubber and the hoods lift up revealing painted manifolds and air cleaners. A very nice touch.
The cars really are works of art!

Corvette Collection Series 4:

There are six cars in this set. 1969 white Corvette,
1966 black and yellow Corvette race car, 1968 midnight blue Corvette convertible, 1980 red Corvette, 2008 yellow Corvette Z06 and a 2008 black and silver Corvette Indy 500 race car.
All come with a trading card with large photographs of the vehicles and on the back, a short description of the Corvette and where it's manufactured.

Once again these cars are impeccably finished, with lush colors and fine details. Some of the older models sport white wall tires. How many of us still remember those?

Hot Pursuit

Two hot cop rides: 2008 Ford Crown Victoria in white with Montgomery County, Texas Sheriff Department markings. The hood raises and there is a detailed engine compartment. The front windshield has the SHERIFF legend in reverse. Front pushbars and a lightbar on the roof.

The other is a black 2009 Corvette Z06 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan police interceptor. Police department shield on the hood, which opens to reveal the engine. Lightbar on roof and is even complete down to the website address for the police department stenciled on the trunk of the car! Nice!

All of the Greenlight cars were solid, with great fit and finish. I loved the packaging which makes it easy to display your collection on card, and still be able to see the product within.

The minute details that were added just made these cars extra special. License plates, the solid steel bodies, the rubber tires and all licensed by the actual car companies. A lot of love and care went into these, something that appeals to a great number of collectors.
Well done Greenlight Enterprises.

Interested in these or other fine products from Greenlight, just visit their Greenlight Online Store!

DIAMOND SELECT: JEDI KNIGHT LUKE SKYWALKER REVIEW!     3/28/10

Diamond Select has been producing Ultimate Quarter Scale Star Wars figures and have brought us large talking characters of Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Hoth and more. This time they have graciously sent us the Luke Skywalker Jedi outfit.

Packaging:
Large and I mean large window box that shows off the figure as well as the accessories. It has the white and red Clonetrooper helmet design used on recent Star Wars product.

Sculpt:
The Luke Skywalker face sculpt is a very close match to Mark Hamill as he appeared in the Return of the Jedi. Right down to his blue eyes and cleft chin.
The joints are strong and a little stiff, but there are tons of POA for your displaying enjoyment.

Costume:
Let's face it. These figures live and die by their costumes. Diamond Select has outfitted Luke in his black Jedi uniform with knee high boots and black belt.
He also comes with a Jedi robe, that has a wire embedded in the hood to help adjust the hood to hang correctly on the figure, be it laying down or covering the head. The design and quality of the fabric shows through. The neck of his tunic is open and showing a bit of the gray lining, a very nice touch.

Accessories:
Luke comes with two extra hands, a bone to recreate the scene from the Rancor den beneath Jabba's palace floor, a lightsaber with a removable laser green laser blade. The saber fits in the hands well as does the bone, although the bone is quite solid and heavy and could throw the balance of the figure off, save for the adjustable black stand.

Voice chip:
The great added value of these figures are that they are a third bigger than 12" figures and the fact that they talk! Make sure you flip the switch out of the Try Me demo and you can hear Luke say the lines from Return of the Jedi

Master Yoda, is Darth Vader my father?

(shutting down lightsaber sound effect) You've failed your Highness, I am a Jedi, like my father before me...

Then I am a Jedi.

Overall impressions:
We've seen some very cool characters come from Diamond
Select and Art Asylum recently. Luke Jedi Knight is one of these. Very high quality, cool accessories and clothing, and the voice chip. All of these things combine to create a huge Star Wars collectible!
I've seen that Darth Vader is coming soon, that will be a must have, and I'm hoping that we get Stormtroopers, Luke flight suit, Leia (New Hope) and a Chewbacca.
The Ultimate Quarter Scale Star Wars figures are the giants of the action figure aisle...

SCI FI METROPOLIS REVIEW: DR. MAUREEN ROBINSON - LOST IN SPACE FIGURE!     2/28/10

The year was 1965, the space race was brand new, and the US was heading for the moon. Like all kids of that era, we dropped our cowboy six-shooters and picked up laser guns. Lost in Space ran for 3 seasons and was one of my favorite shows as a kid and even now I am still a fan.

The story was loosely based on Swiss Family Robinson, although set in space. The Robinson family would battle space monsters and freaky hippie aliens and the bumbling of their stowaway, Doctor Smith each week, hoping to find their way home.
The show had a tight knit family led by Professor John Robinson and his wife, Dr. Maureen Robinson (portrayed by June Lockhart). Maureen Robinson had the warmth and gentleness of any TV mom, but she did it hanging around with robots and interstellar spacecraft.

Sci Fi Metropolis / Robot Factory have been selling 1/6 scale Lost in Space Figures for several years. The

Costume:

Maureen Robinson is dressed in the third season purple outfit, with matching shoes.

Her undershirt is a light pink turtleneck with light green lining.

She carries a laser pistol sheathed in a clear holster, with a barber-pole red stripe running up its length. The holster is strapped on with a beige belt.

Sculpt:
The face used on the prototype was a smiling visage of June Lockhart, and I'm glad they ended up giving her a more serious look. Her short red hair is sculpted nicely and the sculpt leaves no question as to who this character is.
The hands hold the pistol easily, but you may need to replace the hands with the included set because of a manufacturing problem. (Some of the originals were a bit brittle in the wrist, but Robot Factory saw to that and has replacements in a little manila bag.)

The figure is extremely posable and is flexible.

Packaging:
Single door-flap with a clear window to view the figure full length.

The inner panel shows a picture of Maureen with a small blurb explaining her character.

The inner background shows the crashed Jupiter 2. Outside on the sides of the box are photos of the first three figures Sci Fi Metropolis released, John Robinson, Dr. Smith and the Keeper (Michael Rennie), the other shows Maureen Robinson, Judy Robinson and Don West.

I am very pleased with this figure and the costume. The details and accessories are top shelf and I'm looking forward to the rest of the Robinson family to be released. The numbers for these figures are extremely limited, so if you're a fan of the original show, hurry and order yours today.

I can't wait for the next release which should be Major Don West.

Visit Robot Factory to purchase yours.

KOTOBUKIYA ARTFX SERIES 2 - CLONE TROOPERS REVIEW! SithLord229's First written Toy Review!     2/10/10

Kotobukiya ArtFX Series 2: Clone Troopers
Review

First of all, hello to all Action Figure Times viewers & welcome to my first written review. Today we will be looking at the ArtFX series from Kotobukiya, this is Series 2, the Clone Troopers. The 3 I have here are the Captain Rex, Commander Cody & Commander Gree statues, which are available at retail. A fourth statue, Commander Fox, is also available but is an exclusive. Each Trooper is roughly 6-7” tall & with each of the Clone Troopers, comes a body part to build an additional Clone Trooper. The buildable Clone is a standard Trooper with a Jet backpack. Commander Cody includes the right arm, rifle & lower body, Captain Rex includes the Clone Troopers head, left arm, jet pack & display base & finally, Commander Gree includes the Troopers torso. Also included are 2 magnetic display bases, one featuring the Galactic Republic Logo & one with the Clone Wars logo embossed on the stand.

Now let’s analyze each character.

Captain Rex

Rex is the leader of Torrent Company, a division of the famed 501st Legion. He is a no-nonsense, hard as nails Trooper, and Anakin’s right hand man. Rex’s personality is captured perfectly in this statue, both in his physical stance & facial sculpt. Rex is posed in a gunslinger pose, with one arm reaching for a pistol in his holster, the other pointing in front of him, taking aim. He is nicely weathered, giving a battle hardened effect & really bringing him to life. His weapons are not removable, however he does come with interchangeable heads, one helmeted & one human. His helmet sculpt is extremely well done, with the jaig eyes above the visor, and rangefinder on the side of the helmet. (This is extremely flimsy however & could be snapped if pushed hard enough when swapping the heads.)

Assembly wise, I found this figure rather difficult to put together & at times was afraid of snapping some parts, particularily the hands which are thinned out at the wrist, and the rangefinder on the helmet. As with the other statues in this range, Rex comes with magnets in his feet, which enable him to be attached to the base included.
Overall rating: 8/10

Commander Cody

Commander Cody is the Clone Commander of the 212th Attack Batallion, led by Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars, he is perhaps my favourite of the 3 statues, however at the same time, he is also the one I found the most faults with. His physical stance depicts him standing proudly, aiming his rifle. He is holding the rifle by the barrel on the bottom. This is one of the many problems with this statue, when removed from the packaging, the barrel is attached by a very thin & flimsy piece of plastic, which, like with Rex’s rangefinder, is extremely prone to snapping. Other parts on this statue that could be easily broken include the antennas on both his helmet & shoulder armour, the latter of which I broke myself when removing this statue from it’s packaging. It is very hard to reattach & may require some trimming to get it back in place. For the price of these statues, I would expect fragile parts such as these to be made to a higher standard. On the plus side, he is nicely weathered, has perhaps the best looking stance of the 3 Clones & has a superb alternate head sculpt which pays particular detail to Cody’s scar. There is also some nice texture to the hair, which Captain Rex was lacking due to his clean shaven, blonde do.
Overall rating: 8.5/10

(Had it not been for the aesthetic value of this statue, he would have received a much lower mark due to the amount of fragile parts, however once displayed, Cody looks the best of all 3 statues, which boosts his grade.)

Commander Gree

Commander Gree serves under Jedi Generals Yoda & Luminara Unduli, and leads the 41st Elite Legion. Gree is probably my least favoured of these 3 characters, compared to the other Clones, his pose is a little boring & minimal. He is posed on one knee, crouching, with one arm draping over his left knee, the other holding his rifle in an upright position. Compared to Cody & Rex, he is much smaller thanks to his stance, and because of this, seems to deliver less value for money, on a positive note, he has no fragile parts like Cody & Rex do, and has some nice modifications to his armour, making this Clone Commander very aesthetically pleasing. He has a holster attached to his right leg with a Blaster pistol identical to Rex’s slotted inside, however this can not be removed & placed in Gree’s hand. He also has a bandolier strap attached to his torso, which is also not removable.

He is also unable to hold his rifle in any other pose besides the upright position thanks to his hands being in an open stance. On the plus side, he is probably the easiest & most secure to stand thanks to his pose. His alternate head features Gree’s trademark double mohawk haircut, and as with Cody, there is some nice detailing in the hair. His armour is also thoroughly weathered to give a battle worn look to the statue.
Overall rating 7/10

BONUS STATUE: Clone Trooper with Jet Back Pack

The idea of a buildable statue makes the price tag of these 3 statues a little easier to swallow, as you are basically getting 4 statues for the price of 3. This Trooper is a nice addition to the existing Clone line up & compliments the others nicely. What I found interesting about this statue is that it shares what seems to be the same pose as the exclusive Commander Fox statue, albeit without the specialized helmet & command kama. His stance is that of a Trooper in the midst of battle, with his rifle held out in front of him by one hand, unfortunately this makes the statue harder to stand without the help of his magnetic base. The Jet pack included has a magnet which allows it to be attached to the Troopers back. I was hoping for a plug in/clip on method, as utilized with Hasbro’s 3 & ¾” Action Figures that include Jet Packs, the magnet makes the Jet pack looser & not as stable as a clip on feature. Visually, this Clone is definitley up there with Commander Cody as one of the best of the set, however the lack of an alternate head, magnetic Jet Pack & failure to stand lose this statue some marks, otherwise, he would have scored the same as Commander Cody from a visual standpoint.

Overall rating: 8/10

In Summary

Overall, I am thrilled to have added these items to my collection. Being in the UK, and having to buy these from a store that most likely imports them made the price rather inflated. At £39.99 a pop, these don’t really feel like good value for money, however I was eager to get them & the addition of a fourth statue included for “free” made it easier to make the purchase. The size of the statues also made the price point appear somewhat high & the amount of fragile & breakable pieces included such as Blaster barrels, rangefinders & antennas disappointed me as I would have expected better quality for the price. I also encountered some difficulty with the assembly, as each of the statues requires you to clip the body parts together, I found these (in particular the torsos of each Clone) to be very tight & hard to assemble. I reccomend to anyone who has just bought or is thinking of buying these statues to take great care when assembling them, and maybe even running some of the parts under hot water to soften them up when putting them together, making the process much easier. In all honesty, had I known these statues would probably have been reduced in my local store, I would have waited till then to purchase them as I do not think the £39.99 price point is at all reasonable for what you get. I do not know if this price differs in the USA or any other country, but I would seriously consider staying well clear of paying a high price for these unless you suspect they will not stick around long & want to grab them before they go (which I foolishly did.)
The moral of this story is, impulse purchases do not always guarantee satisfaction, although to give credit where it is due, these statues look pretty damn awesome when displayed!

Thanks for reading.

SPARKLE LABS DISCOVER ELECTRONICS KIT! MARK H.     1/01/10

When I was kid I loved experimenting with electronics. I would go out and buy the individual parts and manuals at Radio Shack for my projects I would spend a lot of time finding the items that I needed to complete my experiments, which was a lot of work. But with Sparkle Lab's Discover Electronics kit everything you need to start building your own circuits is included in one box.

Organization:

One of my favorite things about this kit is it's organization of the indivisual components. Each type of component is in it's own labeled envelope with a picture of the component and corresponding schematic symbol. The envelopes make it easy to pick out the exact type of component you want without searching through a mass of tangled parts.

Contents:

The kit includes a instruction book, breadboard, and over 130 parts that you can start using immediately. The projects in the booklet require a 9V battery that is not included with the kit.

The Manual:
The Thirty-Two page manual is colorfully illustrated with schematics and detailed drawings of the circuits. The manual starts out with a basic power supply which each successive project builds upon.

The manual goes over transistors, capacitors, and resistors with corresponding projects of their use. The instructions are easy to understand and provide a basis for which you can expand upon.

It's great to find a product that brings all of these things together in one place. Sparkle Lab's Discover Electronics kit is a hit.

Visit Sparkle Labs for more cool news and information!

DARK HORSE NEWS: "MY NAME IS BRUCE" BRUCE CAMPBELL ACTION FIGURE!     10/26/09

One of the most anticipated genre movie releases of the year is My Name Is Bruce, starring the cult hero Bruce Campbell. Campbell is abducted from his trailer-park home to fight against Guan Di, a Chinese war deity. Thinking it all a joke, Mr. Campbell discovers that it all is real, much to his shock and dismay. Mayhem ensues.

The head is scanned from Bruce's own noggin, and a pretty good job they did. The cotume is spot on with the Hawaiian shirt colorful to the point of distraction. The pattern is great and the figure seems to be packed with fun.

Accessories:

First off you have the Devil and Angel that are magnetized and sit nicely on Bruce's shoulders, trying to either keep him in or get him out of a jam.
Bruce is armed with a .45 that still sports its price tag, a bottle of Shemp's Olde Tyme Whiskey, a bottle of refreshing lemon water, an Army of Darkness action figure and a miniature mock up of Bruce's book: If Chins Could Kill.

This cult favorite is going to be a hit with any Campbell fan,

My Name is Bruce is available from Entertainment Earth:
Gimme some sugar, baby!