Issue 06 : Saturday 19th December, 2015
Not actual figure, stock photo from Star Wars Wiki
Issue 06 : Saturday 19th December, 2015
So The Force has finally awakened, and the long awaited Episode 7 is now in cinema's. I have seen the movie, but to protect those who haven't I can guarantee both this Newsletter and all of our Social Channels are spoiler free and will remains so until the 1st of January as a minimum. This week was really interesting as I was perhaps expecting a bit more "ooomph" in terms of new Star Wars product, but it seems there isn't much more to come now the movie is out and we are looking at early 2016 for Wave 4 of the Black Series and Wave 3 of the 3.75" figures. I was also disappointed to see Diamond's BIG news relating to Captain America Civil War spoiled by an online store who published their 2016 listing too early. DST have been building us up nicely to an announcement ref Civil War, and finding out in a preorder newsletter felt a bit flat. I have got back into the review backlog this week having had a good look at the NECA Alien Eggs, Wave 3 of the Black Series including the HUGE Tie Fighter and just today the Sherlock 5" figure. I'd love to hear what you think of our reviews. I tend not to publish the review in the newsletter, just a link, but this week I've left in some extracts and am toying with publishing at least one review in full in the Sat-TOY-Day update. We won't be having an issue next week, and return on 2nd January with an end of year special where I will be looking at my top figures for 2015 Merry Christmas Everyone, have a wonderful Festive Period and thank you for your ongoing support.
NECA Alien Eggs Reviewed After a couple of weeks of nothing, I have got round to tackling my review backlog this week. I took a good look at the recently released NECA Alien Egg 6-pack, and you can see this on the review archive page HERE or by clicking the link via the image to the left.
Sherlocked I also took a close look at a very unusual release this week. Underground Toys have long worked as the distributor of the 5” Doctor Who figures in the US, commissioning several figures and sets over the years. They have now turned their attention to bringing us the hit BBC Sherlock to an Action Figure range. Sticking with the 5” scale, this first release is Sherlock himself supplied in a collector's box and with his Violin and a skull. Click HERE or the image right to read the full review
The stars of The Force Awakens weren’t the only ones stepping out on the Red Carpet this week.
There was a similar concern over Phasma, and she worked out OK and was well received.
As the film got its big premiere in Hollywood, Hasbro were revealing (at last) their 6 inch scale Black Series C3PO figure.
I personally prefer a grungier look to C3PO which for me fits with the whole ethos of Star Wars as a “used” universe. The only time we really saw a shiny C3PO was at the end of A New Hope.
The C-3PO has been long touted to be joining the Black Series range, first mention at least 12 months ago by Hasbro. And we assume at that time the plan was to release an Original Trilogy version. This revised release, is C-3PO as he appears in The Force Awakens with a dull finish and the red arm. And fans will have to wait almost another 12 months before he hits shelves in Autumn of 2016. Many collectors will be frustrated over the lack of a vac-metal finish, particularly when you look at what Bandai have done at the same price point.
All that being said, Hasbro now have the sculpt - so expect a whole raft of various C-3PO releases. I would bet on seeing an Original Trilogy release shortly after this one - with its silver leg and dented head. I suspect we may also see the unfinished version from Attack of the Clones and I hope that at some point they can recreate my childhood by making a “take apart” C-3PO complete with new bag that we can throw over Chewbacca’s shoulder.
Issue 06 : Saturday 19th December, 2015
Predator : Series 15 Reveal NECA’s latest Series 14 Predators started shipping this week. And it was soon revealed that NECA would continue the Alien vs Predator theme into Series 15. Across Prednesday (Weds) NECA tweeted a number of promotional images for Series 15. This three figure series would contain ● Ancient Temple Guard ● Ancient Warrior ● Masked Scar Predator Shipping in the first quarter of 2016, this now gives fans 6 Predators from the 2004 AvP movie and these will line up brilliantly against the planned series 7 Alien warriors which are also taken from the AvP movie.
That wasn’t all though as NECA went on to confirm the absent AvP Elder Predator was still in the works and tentatively planned to be part of Series 17 or 18. Series 16 will be focused on the Kenner tributes and will debut at Toy Fair 2016
Within the same email from BBTS were details of the three Select 7” figures we would be getting from the upcoming 2016 Captain America : Civil War movie. Diamond have been teasing us and building up to an announcement for a few weeks now but it seems that BBTS have beat them to it. DST’s Civil War figures will be made up of 3 figures ● Captain America ● Iron Man, Mk45 Armour ● The Winter Soldier
Subscribers to BBTS got an email on Weds which confirmed a number of new Diamond Select products including images of the new Mulder & Scully from the returning X-Files TV series.
Due in June 2016, you can pre-order these first two figures from Forbidden Planet.
12 Days of Downloads NECA kicked off a 12 days of Downloads this week by making several of their background images available on their site. Up first was a whole suit from Aliens which you can print and use to make your own Alien nest. This was followed by further background images for use with your Alien and aliens figures. And we have also had a brilliant poster that details all the Alien series figures to date and Click the image above to go to Day 1 and download your images
Diamond Select must be pretty miffed about now having had two pretty big announcements spoiled by Big Bad Toy Store.
Mulder & Scully arrive in the usual 7” select scale and are the start of what DST hope will be a wider range including figures from the 1990’s series.
NECA’s
Disney Elite
Although this line-up won’t please everyone, we already new Captain would be included and an updated Cap is probably overdue considering we only have his WW2 and Stealth suits to date. Winter Soldier will be well received as I recall fans being in uproar when he was missed off the Winter Soldier release and we got a Comic version instead. Iron Man will always be a seller, but people may point at this slot and wish it could have been a Vision or Black Panther. That being said, am sure we will get Black Panther when his movie debuts. The unknown element now is that will any Disney Store exclusives bring us anything different or will it be the usual battle damaged or unmasked route?
Since they announced the Elite series of Star Wars 7” Diecast figures back on Force Friday, Disney have always promised a mystery release on the 18th December when the movie hit cinema’s Many, including me, speculated it would be a version of C-3PO and R2D2 which we know are sculpted It was therefore a surprise on the 18th to find not one, but THREE new figures on Disney Store shelves. The first, a Poe Dameron in X-Wing pilot garb, is pictured above and looks pretty good. The other two are alternative versions of Kylo Ren and Rey. We have chosen NOT to show these in today’s issue for fear of them giving away plot spoilers to any fans who have not yet seen the film. If you DO want to see more, head over to the Disney Store HERE
Issue 06 : Saturday 19th December, 2015
The Force has Awakened... I can’t believe that as I write this I have now seen the film! I won’t be giving away any spoilers here, or on any of our channels until at least the 1st of January. But I can highly recommend the movie, and I intend to go back and see this again very soon to take everything in. To celebrate the Premiere of The Force Awakens I have done a number of Star Wars Black Series reviews this week, and as opposed to linking you in like I usually do I have published the first couple of paragraphs from each review. If you like what you read and want to read the review fully and see the image gallery then head over to the full review page using the links embedded in the header image or at the bottom of each column.
First Order Tie Fighter
Resistance Trooper
Tie Fighter Pilot
Hasbro's 6" 1/12 scale First Order Tie Fighter is likely to be one of those products that we as fans may end up wishing we'd never asked for.
The Resistance Trooper is the 10th single release in the new phase 3 Black Series packaging, and as with all the Phase 3 releases to date is taken from The Force Awakens. He forms part of Wave 3 alongside the First Order Tie Fighter Pilot, and then re-packs of Rey/BB8, Finn, Stormtrooper and Kylo Ren.
The First Order Tie Fighter Pilot, in it's basic version, is number 11 in Phase 3 of the Star Wars Black Series 6 inch range.
The Tie Fighter arrives in a giant box which mirrors the black and red design of the current phase 3 product for the Black Series. The front of the box has the Star Wars Black Series logo in the top left, and the grey-scale image of the Tie Fighter in the top right flashed with some red highlighting. The lower left and centre shows images of the product itself and to the right is a window in which sits the Special Forces Tie Fighter Pilot that is packed with the ship. The right side of the box is a block red colour, again mirroring the single figures. And it is stamped with an ominous 01 in black text, indicating Hasbro potentially have a series of larger vehicles planned for the Black Series line. Under the numbering is the First Order Tie Fighter wording, replicated in 3 other languages. The top panel of the box repeats the Black Series logo and then has an insert showing the inner cockpit of the fighter. The whole left side of the box is a grey scale line drawing of the Tie Pilot, again with the very subtle but effective use of red highlighting down the helmet. Round the back there is a panel to the left (as you look) that repeats the 01 numbering in bright red and then has a four language bio of the ship. The rest of the rear is made up of varying panels illustrating the ship from various angles. Continue Reading the Review HERE
The box is the standard fare or Black with grey lined artwork, and some short wording on the rear explaining the Troopers role within the Resistance and their struggle against the First Order. The irony here is the wording that states that the Resistance Trooper is "well equipped" yet out of the box he comes with a rifle only - no other accessories or equipment. The design of the trooper is pretty basic and therefore he isn't the most dynamic of figures. Starting at the boots, these are nicely detailed with four individual straps. The trousers are plain and without any detail save a sculpted seam down the outer side of the leg. The overcoat is a similar design to those we have seen on Finn and the exclusive Poe Dameron, although this version is a little longer and is fastened on the figure. The coat is nicely sculpted with some decent folds of the cloth and various seams and pockets. The coat is then overlaid with a kind of double side ammo strap, and you kind of expect to turn the figure round to find a backpack - but there isn't one.
It is also packed in with the 6" scale Tie Fighter, albeit the Special Forces version with his red helmet markings. The Tie Pilot is part of Wave 3 of Phase 3, arriving with the Resistance Trooper and then repacks of Rey/BB8, Finn, Stormtrooper and Kylo Ren. We have looked at enough of the Red & Black Phase 3 boxes to know them inside out, so let's get straight to the figure. The new First Order Tie Pilot design hasn't grabbed me as much as the Original version, and in the box and in most images he doesn't show off all the little details in his costume & armour. It is only in hand and close up that you appreciate the figure and it's intricate design. Starting with the helmet, and like the OT version this draws a lot from the standard Stormtrooper helmet. Onto this are bolted some kind of visor, which is sculpted onto the forehead, as well as the breathing pipe at one side of the mask which snakes down into the chest unit.
The crowning glory is the helmet, which at first I didn't like as it was all a bit "Halo". However the helmet is made so that the bottom half of the face plate lifts up to show the face of the trooper within.
The chest armour and shoulder armour are directly taken from the First Order Trooper whilst everything else in the torso is a more lightweight flight suit. This is all painted in black, but there is a clear definition from the armour parts and the helmet to the flight suit, and it is this change in texture and shade that adds a real visual distinction to an otherwise all black figure.
Continue Reading the Review HERE
Continue Reading the Review HERE
Issue 06 : Saturday 19th December, 2015
Bandai : Kylo Ren?
Illogical Captain
A recent update to Bandai’s website has extended their release schedule to reveal that we are getting a 1/12 Kylo Ren in their Action Figure kit range.
Mezco’s One:12 range of high end 1/12 collectibles has been winning fans all over the world with their Batman and Judge Dredd releases to date
Phasma, as we know, is due in February 2016 and following her in April will be Kylo Ren from The Force Awakens.
In 2016 they will move into the Star Trek franchise with the addition of Mr Spock, as seen in the Original Series.
The One:12 Collective is proud to present one of the most iconic and enduring characters in the pop culture lexicon: Spock from the original Star Trek series. The One:12 Collective Spock features: ● Real fabric uniform ● Incredible sculpted details capturing the likeness of this complex character ● Leather-look screen matched boots ● Display base and posing stand Each figure is packaged in a deluxe, fifth panel window box featuring character specific artwork and a translucent acetate slipcover. Designed for collector convenience, the packaging has been especially engineered to allow for both maximum protection without sacrificing ease of removal for display.
It will be interesting to see how Bandai tackle the robes and cloak of Kylo considering the awkward job on their earlier Darth Vader release. I think the undersized Hasbro 4POA figures prove that Kylo can be done in hard sculpted cloak - but not how you can do super articulation at the same time.
Spock is available for pre-order now for shipment in April of 2016
Who Ya Gonna Call? Diamond Select’s Ghostbusters will finally hit stores in January 2016 with wave 1, and this week DST have shown off this first wave of Ray, Winston and Louis with a number of promotional images. Pre-orders have also now gone up for wave 2 which is due in June. Each of this 15 figure series will come packed with a diorama piece which will eventually build the roof top scene from the films climax
You can pre-order the Ghostbuster Select figures for £19.99 + P&P at Forbidden Planet. Click the images above to go direct to their site