043 Action Figure Sat-TOY-day News, 10th December 2016

Issue 43 : Saturday 10th December 2016

r e t t e l “ s ' r a e y s i h t t u o Check n o i t c A t a h to Santa�, w r o f g n i p o h e w e r a s e r u Fig ? e e r t e h t r unde e v a W t s o L s Prometheu s n a i d r a u G nd a e r u t l u V The el v r a M y x a l of the Ga Legends

Many collectors of the Disney Elite figures will have missed out on the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy figures that Disney released on a week by week basis last November & December particularly if as collectors they have only come to the Elite series this year.

One of the sought after figures, Darth Vader, is however getting a re-release and is now showing up in UK DIsney Stores and is also back online for the revised 2017 price of ÂŁ19.99. If Darth Vader was on your Christmas list last year, and Santa came up short - then there is a really great chance of him turning up under the tree this time round.

Christmas is fast approaching, and children (big and small) will be writing their letters to Santa.

For Action Figure collectors, the big frustration around Christmas is the lack of new releases and the ones touted for December often being hit and miss if they will arrive in time.

We take a look at some of the most anticipated items this December and speculate if indeed they will make it in time for Santa’s sack?

The figure at the very top of most Star Wars 6 inch collectors checklist has to be Darth Revan. Revan is part of wave 9 and is the figure chosen by fans as their choice for release back in 2015. Touted for a winter release, Revan has hit some US outlets and a few have landed in the UK via Kapow Toys and Forbidden Planet.

More stocks are on their way to other retailers, including Star Action Figures but it is hit and miss if these will land in time for Christmas.

Regardless of when they arrive, the initial pre-orders look to have sold out already so this figure is bound to be a chase. The good news is that Toys R Us at least are listing wave 9 online so there is a strong likelihood of these hitting shelves.

The Newt 7 inch action figure was released as a San Diego Convention Exclusive. Unlike a lot of SDCC exclusives, which then get an overseas release, Newt was annoyingly kept as a US exclusive on very limited quantities.

This has left many collectors short of a Newt in their collection (me included)

Most Marvel Select collectors know that release dates are to be taken with a pinch of salt. The new Doctor Strange movie figure is a case in point having initially been set for a December release, Diamond have just confirmed he is now likely to fall into January 2017. This is disappointing for those with Dr Strange on their list to Santa.

You can of course make up for this disappointment by tracking down the excellent Captain America figure, now hitting UK Disney Stores in his unmasked exclusive edition - and of course with that you get that final elusive piece of the Civil War diorama.

Fear not, there is a general release of Newt upcoming. Although to get her you have to purchase another Aliens Ripley figure in the "Saving Newt" box set from NECA. The Ripley does get a revised head sculpt. Meanwhile Newt loses some of the cool accessories she carried at SDCC, notably the Marine helmet and the data pad (although she can always borrow the helmet from Private Frost) US stores are now starting to receive stocks of this 2-pack, the question is - will we here in the UK be rescuing Newt & Ripley from our stockings, or will we come up short?

We are hoping our Darth Revan makes it here before Santa, and he will be our first wave 9 review.... watch this space.

Anyone who still needs the Star Wars The Force Awakens 3.75" set The Takodana Encounter may want to check out their local TK Maxx.

It has been confirmed that TK Maxx have received quantities of this set and are selling it at ÂŁ12.99 The set contains a repack of Finn, Rey and BB8 but also comes with a Maz Kanata figure that to this point is exclusive to the set and has not been released elsewhere. Also exclusive is the chest from Maz's palace into which you can place the unlit lightsaber hilt that is packed in as an accessory. You also get a lit version as well as Rey's staff and saddle bag and Finn's blaster.

Nerdist.com have exclusively revealed the full wave make up of the Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy wave for 2017.

Tied in with the movie release, the wave of 7 figures includes three directly from the movie...

Starlord is presented with his shorter coat this time round. There is also an improved Chris Pratt head sculpt and an alternative masked head. He comes with his dual blasters.

Drax is similar to the original release, but with a new "roaring" head. He also comes with a pretty impressive gun and his knives.

Yondu is brand new to the range after being missed from the original lineup in 2014 despite his role in the movie. He comes with standard, and whistling head as well as his homing arrow with what appears to be a flexible tail that fits from a holster to simulating the arrow flying.

The other four characters are comic book, so head over to Nerdist to see the images for Angela, Vance Astro, Darkhawk and Nova. The build a figure is Titus, as seen at NYCC.

Hot on the trail of the Spiderman Homecoming trailer came a look from Hasbro at their Marvel Legends Vulture 6" scale figure.

The interesting concept with this release is that the base figure will be released as a figure in the wave, while the flight section and wings will be the Build a Figure - this means you will need to buy the full wave to achieve the full look as pictured.

The figure has only one head sculpt with its flight mask on, so we aren't getting any likeness to Michael Keaton.

We expect we will find out more at Toy Fair 2017.

Diamond Select have published these packaged photo's of their Odin Destroyer Select figure.

They have also confirmed this is now shipping and will be in US stores soon, and we hope overseas before the year end.

This means Odin has jumped over Doctor Strange in the release schedule and it seems we are now unlikely to see the good Doctor until at least January.

Odin the Destroyer will retail at around ÂŁ20 at all good independents.

So far the Cinemachine lines from NECA has been focused on their two biggest franchises - Alien and Predator. Coming in April 2017 are the first two releases from their other big licence, Terminator.

The diecast metal pieces are all around 6" in length, although not in scale to each other.

The April 2017 releases are the Hunter Killer Tank and the Hunter Killer Aerial Ship, both from Terminator 2 and both timed for the 25th Anniversary of the celebrated sequel.

At 6.5” in length, the Hunter Killer Tank from Terminator 2 (T2) is longer and also more massive than the average CINEMACHINE to reflect its deadly nature. It features working treads that roll over its wheels, and the wheels themselves pivot to raise or lower the tank for variable terrain. Also features a rotating “head.” Starts shipping out to retailers in April 2017!

Deadpool is due to hit stores in January 2017, with the UK price around £109.99 The newest addition to our line of quarter scale action figures is Marvel’s Merc with the Mouth!

Possibly the most skilled mercenary in the world… and definitely the most annoying. The joke-cracking, reference-making, fourth-wall-breaking, taco-eating funnyman of the cold-blooded killer set, Deadpool has long skirted the line between hero and villain, between maniac and genius, between ugly and smelly.

UK on the shelf price, via specialist retailers, is expected to be £22.99.

Watch out for pre-orders going up soon at our affiliate partner Forbidden Planet and all good specialist stores.

Celebrate some of the most iconic vehicles from film and television with #CINEMACHINES die-cast collectibles!

These exceptionally detailed pieces are made from die-cast metal and plastic that’s carefully hand painted and ready to add to your collection.

NECA have revealed the packaging for their upcoming Marvel 18" quarter scale Deadpool comic book figure. The box artwork is pretty impressive, capturing the overall feel of the Deadpool comic art and as should be the case having a bit of fun at the same time

From Terminator 2 (T2), the Hunter Killer Aerial features an articulated cannon that turns and pivots up and down.

Display stand included. Starts shipping out to retailers in April 2017!

This incredibly detailed 18” figure has over 30 points of articulation for great action poses. Accessories include katanas, sai, machine guns, pistol and knife accessories, all with working holsters and sheaths.

Stands 18” tall, Over 30 points of articulation, Arsenal of swords, guns, and knives, Working holsters & sheaths 1:4 Scale Action Figure

For the first time ever, as part of the film’s 25th anniversary celebration, Terminator 2 is being released in theaters in 3D!

NECA apparently have big plans for the 25th Anniversary of Terminator 2 in 2017, and have announced that their Ultimate T800 will get a re-release of sorts to coincide with the anniversary. The new T800 set will include the gold rose box from the iconic slow motion first meeting of the T800 and the new and improved T1000 Terminator The release is not a full Ultimate version as such and will only come with two head options, pistol and shotgun. Retail price for UK is expected to be around £22 Check out a full gallery over at NECA

To celebrate the historic occasion, NECA is releasing a Galleria version of the chilling T-800 with accessories that’ll let you reenact one of the film’s most iconic scenes. You know the one: the mind-blowing slow-motion sequence at the Galleria Mall when the Terminator whips out a shotgun hidden in a box of roses and saves young John from the T-1000.

The 7” scale action figure features the likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger and over 25 points of articulation. It comes with two interchangeable head sculpts, pistol, and a shotgun that fits inside the included rose box. The window box packaging features the new 3D release logo and branding.

Posted as a #FaceHuggerFriday reveal from NECA was this packaged sample of the Series 10 Gorilla Alien.

This Kenner inspired release has been reworked in NECA's own style and will be packed with a Kenner coloured Facehugger. Like all Kenner inspired releases to date in both Aliens and Predator ranges, the card design is a further homage to the original 1990's Kenner figures Series 10 is scheduled for a UK release later this month, pre-orders being taken at all the usual retailers.

It was yet another card-back reveal from NECA in the shape of the upcoming Serpent Hunter. The Serpent Hunter, from Alien vs Predator, is going to be a pretty striking figure and a departure from a lot of the AvP Predators with his distinctive mask. He is due to ship in early 2017

Another Prednesday reveal from NECA was a look at the card back and bio for their upcoming Series 17 Youngblood Predator.

Series 17 will hit shelves in early 2017

It has been a LONG wait, but Prometheus fans will finally be able to get their hands on the three cancelled figures that NECA pulled the plug on back in 2013.

NECA have confirmed that the three figures of the infected Fifield, Vickers and Elizabeth Shaw will be released in 2017 as "the lost wave". Their eventual release looks to be linked to NECA's plans for the upcoming Prometheus sequel, Alien Covenant. The three figures are presented in their space suits, and will fit in perfectly with the David 8 figure.

Good things come to those who wait... #facehuggerfriday #prometheus #lostwave #AlienCovenant The Lost Wave Q1 2017

"The Gorilla Alien packaged for #facehuggerfriday heading your way soon! #kenner #series10 #nostalgia #alienfilledchristmas" -- via Twitter @NECA_TOYS

We first got a glimpse of Mezco's One:12 Spider-Man back in July at San Diego Comic-Con. Now the full details have been revealed, with Spidey hitting stores between May & July next year, 2017.

Spidey introduces a brand new body to the Mezco catalogue, a slender version which we would expect will get re-use for other Spider-men at least - think Iron or Scarlet Spider. He will come with two head options with 8 variant hand options including fists and web shooting hands.

Webbing will also be included and the whole figure will sit on a classic Spider Symbol blue & red base.

RRP in the US is $80 and US collectors can place their pre-order now via Mezco directly. For UK customers, we will need to wait for the pre-orders to open and I expect the price will sit around £75-£80

Square Enix have unveiled their next 10 inch Batman release in their popular Play Arts Kai Rogues Gallery Line. We've already seen Square Enix cross Batman with the Joker, and again with Two Face. Now it's the turn of Mr Freeze.

The Batman Freeze figure will come with its own Cryogenic inspired Freeze Suit, Freeze Gun and Batarang. There are also hand swap-out options as well as a base to pose the 10" figure on.

Release date is scheduled for April 2017 with an RRP of 19,800 Yen. That's roughly £137 / $173

Tokyo Comic Con is in full throw, and SH Figuarts have been showing off their 2017 Star Wars offerings, including a first look at a Padme Amidala from Attack of the Clones. On display in Tokyo was Padme in a Geonosis Battle Diorama with the Episode 2 Anakin and the Red Battle Droids.

We also got to see A New Hope Obi Wan Kenobi and FN 2187 and Han Solo from The Force Awakens. It is interesting that Rey, who was pictured alongside Finn at Tamashii Nations 2016 event, was absent from the display.

For Rogue One the Death Trooper, Hover Tank Pilot and Scarif Troopers were in attendance and look fantastic.

There was also a K-2SO with the display showing off this new figures articulation.

None of these figures are "officially" announced so we are assuming these as 2017 releases. FIguarts have been known for showing off figures, and then releasing them very quickly - but also very slowly. We will keep you all posted as and when these are confirmed with release dates, RRP's and the official promotional shots.

In October, SH Figuarts confirmed they were releasing an Iron-Man Hall of Armor pod for their 1/12 range of Marvel figures. At the same time as this would hit stores a Mark 6 Iron-Man was also confirmed.

At the Tokyo Comic Con there was an impressive display using these new Hall of Armour pieces, and confirmation that SH Figuarts have more Iron-Man suits on their radar. Suits from the Mark 1 through to Mark 7 were on display in the Hall of Armor - and as far as I can see this is the first confirmation that the Mk1, Mk2, Mk4, Mk5 and Mk7 are at least being planned by SH Figuarts.

The question is whether these will ever make it to release, and if so in what format - many of the Iron-Man variants have been exclusives or limited runs.

Back at the Tamashii Nations 2016 event the DC SH Figuart display confirmed a Deadshot was joining the Suicide Squad figures of Harley Quinn and The Joker, but at the time he wasn't on display - only a cardboard insert was shown.

Roll forward to Tokyo Comic Con and the SH Figuarts DC display included Will Smith's' Deadshot and our first look at this highly anticipated figure.

No more details are known at this time, and fans who are hoping for a full set of Suicide Squad figures should beware as I doubt SHF will reach the likes of Katana or El Diablo anytime soon - after all we're still waiting for our Age of Ultron Avengers to be completed.

Also in attendance were The Dark Knight Batman and Joker figures, which also look pretty impressive

It looks like Doctor Strange is joining the SH Figuarts ranks of Marvel figures. This image has been doing the rounds on Facebook, taken at the Tokyo Comic Con 2016 No more details are available at this time

Review : C-3PO Star Wars Black Series (Hasbro) Wave/Series : Walgreens (US) Exclusive 2016 Released : November 2016 Price : £29.99* *Currently this item is not sold directly in UK. You can purchase via independent retailers, like our preferred Black Series suppliers Kapow Toys And Star Action Figures. This is an imported figure so the price is approx £30 plus delivery. We will update this review should C-3PO receive an official UK release.

If you follow my reviews, or indeed the Star Wars Black Series range, then you will already be aware of the annoyance of fans (including myself) around this release of C-3PO. After waiting an age for a C-3PO figure in the 6" scale, Hasbro have struck a deal that makes the original trilogy C-3PO an exclusive to Walgreens in the US. For UK customers this is a double blow as the only Hasbro Walgreens exclusive to officially make it across the pond was the original Prototype Boba Fett.

Why Walgreens couldn't have been given a C-3PO variant like the Jabba the Hutt translator version, or a Protocol Droid variant like K-3PO is beyond me. I guess as collectors we should remain hopeful that at some stage Hasbro will work this Original Trilogy C-3PO into the main range, perhaps as a 2-pack with a re-release R2-D2 or perhaps as one of the variants I mentioned above - Jabba's Translator, disassembled Cloud City version etc.

The box is standard fare, with a grayscale image to the front corner which again feels more detailed (or is at least bolder) with some artistic stylization of the lines in the image. This image is different to the one used on the main release, a nice touch for Mint-in-Box collectors especially if you consider Hasbro could have easily re-used the box.

Like other exclusives, the red spine is devoid of any numbering.

Instead the top section is a bar code type affair and under this sits the character name. The character name - used on the front, side and round the back - is simply C-3PO. There is no story/film specific bracketed text, so I guess this is a general release for Checkout full Marvel Select War C-3PO and willour be suitable for any display fromCivil Revenge of the review archive clicking through the Civil Sith through to Return by of the Jedi.

War logo

Round the back and the bio paragraph sits over a blown up version of the same C-3PO image. Another decent touch is that this bio is not a word for word replication of the main release.

This is in itself unusual as other characters with multiple release (Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor) have simply had the same bio used on every box. The difference here I guess is how specific to The Force Awakens the main release bio is, so this version talks more generally about C-3PO and his involvement in "some of the galaxies most thrilling battles". It also uses the trademark "fluent in over seven million forms of communication.

C-3PO is one of the few Black Series figures to date to be packed with absolutely no accessories at all. This further insults the fans who will be paying upward of £21 for this figure, particularly when you consider what could have been included, at least with an Original or Prequel Trilogy C-3PO. He stands a touch shorter than most 6" figures, putting him in scale with his peers like Luke and Han. It also makes him scale well when up alongside the Black Series R2-D2.

The actual design and sculpt of the droid is pretty nice. The lines are clean and the panels smooth and nicely proportioned. The head captures that quizzical look of 3PO, particularly when it is cocked to one side. The eyes don't feel big enough and with not much surface area to paint this stops them looking illuminated, or at least a variant gold to the rest of the head. Instead you see a dark centre pupil and a touch of lighter yellow round the lens.

Articulation was never going to be great, it isn't on the real costume after all.

We start with the head which sports the new pivot ball joint. Despite the neck rings this joint allows the head to tilt back and forward, and it also rotates a full 360 degrees. The arms are only jointed at the shoulder and then again at the wrist, the elbow is fixed.

Had you read my standard Resistance Base C-3PO review you will know I had some issues with the colouring used on C-3PO. Having now had that, and this C-3PO for a week or two now my position has mellowed a touch. The gold is not perfect, it lacks a little bit of sheen - but I wouldn't have wanted a full vac-metal C-3PO (see Bandai's model) as this kind of represents 3PO at the end of A New Hope only, I want the dirty, weathered 3PO we have through most of the movie. To that end the gold isn't a bad base coat, the issue is that they haven't taken the next step and weathered the figure. A quick dark wash would have massively improved the look of 3PO and tied him into a lot of the Trilogy scenes.

These shoulder joints sit in a shoulder collar which you initially think will stop the arm being moved too much. However, this collar around the shoulder does actually move and can be rotated, and doing so the arm can then be raised and lowered more. The hands rotate at the wrist, and with a peg they also bend, almost to 90 degrees to the lower arm.

The silver leg is included, a detail missed on a lot of 3PO figures. Like the gold finish of the rest of the body, this silver paint is not high sheen. A dark wash here would have improved the leg no end and brought out the detail and lines of the sculpt.

The torso is ball jointed just under the upper chest piece, this means the joint is hidden, but allows for a wide range of movement and this allows 3PO-esque poses to come more easily as he quite often pushed out his groin and leans his shoulders back when you look at him on screen - particularly when he is walking.

The ball jointed hips won't move much as they are held back by some overhang on the top of the thigh. They can go wider if you wish or out to the front for an almost sitting position. After dropping the elbow articulation, Hasbro have also gone single joint on the knees. Now this is nicely engineered to match the way the characters costume works, it does only allow for a slight bend and the hydraulic peg that connects top of the knee to the shin is fixed and just juts out when the knee is bent.

The tummy section is nicely detailed and is sculpted detail that is then painted, not just painted wiring. It is also a different setup to the Force Awakens C-3PO, another nice touch considering a complete re-use would have been the easier option. Each wire is neatly picked out with blue, red, yellow and green all across a flat black background. Down the arms are the hydraulic rods and bolts that aid in 3PO's movement, these are a bit soft and not as crisp as other parts of the droid - most probably as casting them in harder plastic would Checkout have left them open to snapping too easily. our full Marvel Select Civil

The articulation ends with the standard ankle rockers, and these are easy to adjust and C-3PO stands pretty well.

All of this articulation does already feel loose and wobbly, and I would imagine C-3PO will start to flop and fall over in the very near future.

War review archive by clicking through the Civil War logo

I scored the Resistance Base C-3PO a 2 out of 5 score. That figure had the same flaws as this version, but the red arm (which has since been tweaked by Hasbro) was a pretty disappointing element that scored the figure down. If we assume you can get this figure at retail RRP in the US, or under ÂŁ30 here in the UK, then it is a reasonable attempt at an Original Trilogy C-3PO. I am going to up the score to 3 out of 5, and put it out there that the figure is probably only a decent wash away from looking the part and scoring further up the scale.

Checkout our extensive Star Wars Black Series Archive over at www.mephitsu.co.uk or via the links to the right →

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas.

Thank you for your support over the last 12 months, and here’s to the same in 2017 Our next issue will be our End of Year Review on the 31st of December In the meantime you can follow all the Action Figure News at our online channels www.mephitsu.co.uk www.facebook.com/mephitsu www.twitter.com/mephitsu

Checkout the alternative covers that didn’t make the front page this week

Issue 43 : Saturday 10th December 2016

r e t t e l “ s ' r a e y s i h t t u o Check n o i t c A t a h to Santa�, w r o f g n i p o h e w e r a s e r u Fig ? e e r t e h t r unde e v a W t s o L s Prometheu s n a i d r a u G nd a e r u t l u V The el v r a M y x a l of the Ga Legends

Issue 43 : Saturday 10th December 2016

r e t t e l “ s ' r a e y s i h t t u o Check n o i t c A t a h to Santa�, w r o f g n i p o h e w e r a s e r u Fig ? e e r t e h t r unde e v a W t s o L s Prometheu s n a i d r a u G nd a e r u t l u V The el v r a M y x a l of the Ga Legends

Issue 43 : Saturday 10th December 2016

r e t t e l “ s ' r a e y s i h t t u o Check n o i t c A t a h to Santa�, w r o f g n i p o h e w e r a s e r u Fig ? e e r t e h t r unde e v a W t s o L s Prometheu s n a i d r a u G nd a e r u t l u V The el v r a M y x a l of the Ga Legends