Issue 55 : Saturday 3rd June, 2017
At Toy Fair 2017 back in February, Diamond confirmed their 7" Select scale of Ghostbusters figures will continue in 2017 passed it's 5th series. Series 6 would move the focus from the original 1984 movie to the 1989 sequel. The build-a-diorama for this second batch would be the frontage of the Ghostbusters firehouse. On display at Toy Fair was a 7" Vigo The Carpathian figure, as well as a cardboard placeholder for Janosz. Diamond have confirmed the full line-up for the first 3 figure wave.
Diamond have released the first image of the build-a-diorama piece that will be included with their Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Men Tell No Lies figures - or as it is now titled in the UK, Salazar’s Revenge. The three figures will be Captain Jack and Barbosa (pictured) alongside new character Salazar. The three figures each include a piece of the Black Pearl wheelhouse. The figures are due for release in September 2017 and the UK price is expected to be around the £23 mark.
Vigo is included as we had suspected. We also get Ray in his darker Ghostbusters 2 outfit, complete with Santa hat. And the third figure is Louis Tully in his Ghostbusters gear from the climax of the movie. Ray is a re-use of his original release with a new paint job and Ghostbusters 2 logo. The head however is a new smiling sculpt. At this point we don't know if the Santa hat is removable. Louis is also going to borrow heavily from the original figures - although he has been shortened a touch. The head is similar to the original release but the ear muffs seem to be sculpted in place. Vigo is a new figure, and we hope they find the budget to include his painting as an accessory?
A Diamond Select Toys Release! These 7-inch scale action figures based on the film include diorama pieces that combine to build the deck of the Black Pearl pirate ship. Sculpted by Gentle Giant!
The initial release date is scheduled for November 2017 on Big Bad Toy Store, while Entertainment Earth are quoting January 2018
We already knew that Tamashii Nations are giving us a Spider-Man from Homecoming in their Marvel SH Figuarts 1/12 range. A Diamond Select Release! It's the 15th-anniversary of the Select action figure format, and DST is continuing one of its most successful Select lines to date! With the 15-figure Rooftop diorama completed, DST is starting a new diorama-building series of Ghostbusters movie action figures, based on 1989's Ghostbusters 2! Series 5 will include Ray Stantz in his gray jumpsuit and gear, Louis Tully in his tan jumpsuit and gear, and Vigo the Carpathian. Plus, each figure includes pieces from a new diorama so fans can start to build the sign and doors from the Ghostbusters' firehouse headquarters! Firehouse parts will be included with the 15 figures total in Series 6-10, and these diorama pieces are exclusive to the speciality market. Each figure comes packaged in display-ready Select packaging, with side-panel artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios!
What we didn't know, until this picture surfaced, was that we seem to be also getting a Spider-Man in the home-made suit from the same movie. No more details are known at this stage, we will update our news page as we find out more...
Disney Stores will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars with some special product releases on the day itself, Thursday 25th of May.
Over in Osaka, Japan, the Tamashii World Tour has thrown up new images of a couple of future SH Figuarts figures from their Star Wars line.
Action Figure collector eyes will immediately go to the new Disney Elite Diecast 2-pack of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in Storm Trooper Armour. While the Storm Trooper itself has been released previously, this is the first appearance of Luke in the range, and Han has only been seen previously in his older persona from The Force Awakens.
The first is a Darth Vader, being unofficially badged Vader 2.0. This revised figure is based on his New Hope (Episode 4) outfit. And looks bigger and better than the original release. The cloak looks to be soft goods and we would assume he comes with his light-saber. We had seen an image of the Ben Kenobi a few months ago, but this new image looks a few steps on from the earlier image.
I did initially think Disney had gone the extra mile and made Luke shorter than Han (aren't you a little.... never mind) but when you look at the promotional shot side by side the height is the same. So essentially a human head on top of the current Storm Trooper body. We assume the helmets do fit on the heads, but we await to see how well that works and how they look once worn. Other items include a Tsum Tsum 4-pack of Han, Leia, Luke and R2.
There is a boxed set of 6 figurines which look to be fitted with a string to hang them like an Xmas Tree decoration. And finally there is a wonderful bronze effect statue of Luke & Leia replicating the original movie poster pose.
SH FIguarts have announced a 1/12 Captain Jack Sparrow figure will be released in July 2017. Captain Jack will be based on his appearance in the upcoming sequel Dead Men Tell No Tales. Jack looks superb, capturing the expressive face of Jack / Johnny Depp. There appears to be two facial options in the pack. These may be swap out heads, or faces - it is unclear at this stage. The neutral face is great, but it's the surprised face that captures the character best. He will be packed with a removable tricorn hat, bottle of rum, two compasses (one open, one closed) and his sword. The Japanese RRP is 6480 Yen. That's about ÂŁ45 here in UK and around $50 in the US. The US will likely receive this via Bluefin, and as with recent releases via Bluefin there could well be some added extras in the US release.
Last year, NECA brought fans attending SDCC some fantastic 7" scaled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures based on the classic arcade game. 2017 will see NECA go one better with an enormous 8 figure box set based this time on the classic cartoon series.
NECA have announced a brand new Ultimate Predator that will hit shelves in October 2017.
The set will open to initially reveal the four turtles with appropriate weapons and accessories, including pizza. There are also variant hand options for each turtle.
The Ultimate Ahab figure will revisit the popular Dark Horse character. This time he will come with an upgraded "Ultimate" body with increased articulation and an opening wrist gauntlet. He comes with new armour and decor and comes with a raft of accessories - including an impressive Engineer Gun (see Prometheus). US RRP is $24.99 and expect to pay around £25 in the UK once Ahab lands on UK shores.
Behind this first tray is then a secondary tray containing the Villains - a cartoon Shredder, Krang and two Foot Soldiers. The villains are also suitably armed and have additional hand options included. The set will be sold at SDCC 2017 for $200. The initial press release, via The Fwoosh, also states that fans can pre-order this via the NECA store in advance of SDCC. We would expect this is US only, particularly due to the Turtle licensing agreement that NECA hold being for the US only.
This brand-new version of Ahab is based on his appearance in the Dark Horse comics. Neca has given the SDCC 2014 exclusive a massive upgrade, equipping it with the all new "Ultimate" Predator body which has added articulation in the biceps (bicep swivels), elbows (double elbow joints) and torso, plus an opening gauntlet. The figure also features new loin armor and skirt, new right gauntlet, new knee armor, fabric cape and all new deco. He's equipped with brand new accessories too, including an Engineer Gun, Spear, Gauntlet with both 2and 3-blade configurations, Engineer skull trophy, alternate hands, and more! The Engineer Gun can be held or clipped to the figure's back. Stands approximately 8" tall and comes in collector-friendly deluxe window box packaging with opening flap
To celebrate 30 years of the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, we needed to create something suitably epic, like this massive, limited edition collector’s set with carrying case! It includes 8 action figures (Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Shredder, Krang with Bubble Walker, and 2 Foot soldiers) and tons of accessories, all packed into two figure trays in a vinyl carrying case. The case features original artwork by Ken Mitchroney, Archie Comics’ "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures" artist. Figures stand in 7” scale and are fully articulated. Case measures approximately 16” H x 10” W x 5.5” D. Limited edition of 5,000. Retail: $200
NECA teased a variant coloured Xenomorph back in their SDCC 2016 display. The figure has now been named as the "Sewer Mutation", a potential homage to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza monster.
While the homage is clear to fans, the blurb invents its own background for the figure - a result of a radioactive accident on a Weyland Yutani outpost. The figure itself appears to use the sculpt of the AvP warrior, with a ridged head crest.
The figure will be a limited edition of 3000 units, sold at SDCC 2017. But in a move to please UK fans, it will be available as a pre-order to UK collectors via the NECA Alien X Club (assuming you are signed up as a member). The US RRP at SDCC is $30, that would be circa £25 here in the UK.
Deep in space, something is happening at a remote Weyland-Yutani scientific outpost! The terrible coincidence of a power outage and a deep space radiation has created a new Xenomorph… one that’s right at home in the pipes and tubes of the station’s sub-levels. The Sewer Mutation Warrior Alien Movie UK stands over 9" tall and features over 30 points of articulation and a bendable tail. Limited edition of 3,000 Price: $30 This figure WILL be available to Alien Movie UK Club members and at our booth at SDCC. It will NOT be available during the online presale that starts on 6/20. A full post about the SDCC pre-sale will be coming on Monday 6/5 - look forward to it!"
Hasbro have released some promotional images of their upcoming Marvel Legends 12" scale Thor figure. Thor will come with two head options - one bearded, one clean shaven and the hair piece fits on either figure. There is then a helmet which will fit both figures. Mjolnir is presented twice - one of which has a glowing energy effect. There are then a couple of hand options. In an exciting announcement for Star Trek fans, it has been confirmed that McFarlane have signed a deal with the consumer arm of CBS to produce Star Trek products. These will range from figures, to role play items. While the agreement is badged under the upcoming Star Trek : Discovery TV series, the deal allows merchandise to be created from the entire Star Trek Universe. The new line will kick off in 2018 with 7" figures of James T Kirk (Star Trek The Original Series) and Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek The Next Generation). They will then follow these with the Discovery series items. "Star Trek is hands down one of the most groundbreaking and innovative franchises in the history of entertainment," said Todd Mcfarlane, owner and CEO of McFarlane Toys. "We plan on carrying that forward with our upcoming toy lines, giving fans a fresh and detailed look, that their favourite characters deserve." What we don't know at this stage is where this leaves the licence with Diamond Select Toys who had been producing 7" figures from Star Trek alongside a range of Star Ships from the show? Have a look at these promotional images of the 14" Marvel Legends Hulk - coming later this year in their 12" scale range of Marvel Comic Book heroes. Hulk will come with two head options - one angry, one stern - and swap out hands so you can display him with clenched fists or open palms.