Issue 71 : Saturday 20th January, 2018
NECA have released promotional images of the packaged Texas Chainsaw Massacre Hitchhiker & Nubbins 2-pack. The set is in their 8" Mego style collection, with sculpted heads and soft good tailored outfits. There is also a number of accessories included, such as a camera, pelt, knife and a razor. There is also a feature where Nubbins can be attached via loops on his figure to other figures in the line so they can be his puppeteer.
The NECA social channels have shared this first look at the box design and artwork for their upcoming diorama piece, the Predator Clan Leader Throne. The Throne is scheduled for a March 2018 release and is priced around the £73 mark here in the UK. "Enjoy the first look at the packaging for the upcoming Predator Clan Leader Throne" - NECA, Facebook
"Shipping soon from the #NECA stores, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Nubbins Sawyer 2-pack packaging is complete!" - NECA, Facebook The set will retail in the UK around the £55 mark and should arrive a few weeks after the US release in January. You can pre-order the set at our site partner Toys In The Attic.
This first appearance of The Hitchhiker from Texas Chainsaw Massacre in our clothed action figure line celebrates the character’s circle of “life”! The Hitchhiker (aka Leatherface’s brother Nubbins) first appears in the 1974 film, where he meets a gory end. However, his mortal remains return in the second movie as a puppet-like pal carried around by Leatherface’s other brother, Chop Top. This collector’s set includes both versions of the character and plenty of accessories. The Hitchhiker is fully articulated and comes with pelt, knife, razor and camera accessories. Dead Nubbins has synthetic hair, a bendable wire armature for posing and loops that allow your other TCM figures to be his “puppeteer.” Figures are approximately 8” tall and come in window box packaging.
Add to your Predator collection or build amazing scenes with the new Bone Throne diorama element! Only the most powerful and respected member of a clan can be seated upon this throne, which is crafted from the bones of their most worthy opponents. The Bone Throne measures over 14” tall and is cast in resin with some plastic elements, such as the six Alien Queen “fins” on the back of the throne that can be angled to your liking. Sized to fit NECA’s 7” scale line of Predator action figures (will fit most figures 7-9” tall). Closed box packaging.
NECA have just announced that they are bringing their Ultimate Action Figure format to their 1/4 scale range of figures, with Deadpool having the honour of being the first Ultimate release at the 18" scale. The Ultimate Series premise is to release a figure packed full of accessories and swap out parts/heads so that collectors have a plethora of choices in how to display the said figure. In the 7" scale it will no doubt also mean multiple purchases for some collectors who want to display different versions at the same time.
After his announcement nearly a year ago, NECA's 1/4 scale Daredevil is now very close to his release date, with stocks due February 2018. We now get a good look at the window box packaging for the Devil of Hell's Kitchen and it is mighty impressive with a deep blood red theme and comic book artwork. NECA are using a numbering system on these 1/4 scale Marvel Comic figures, with Daredevil as number 02. The original Deadpool was number 00 and the X-Force (grey) Deadpool was 01. Daredevil is likely to set you back between £95 and £100 when he reaches UK shores.
The Deadpool 18" figure will follow the same principle and comes with three head swaps - the "pizza" head, the masked head and what looks to be an exposed brain head with the word Ryan built into the sculpt. Being Deadpool weapons are also a must with machine gun, assault rifle and pistol as well as katana's and sai knife - many of which fit into working holsters on the figure. We get some detachable blast FX pieces, similar to what NECA are putting out on their smaller Alien & Predator figures. And arguably most exciting for Deadpool fans are some character specific accessories - a "Mr-D" medallion necklace, baseball cap, some melted cheese pizza toppings, a Unicorn toy and a chimichanga. This is of course a re-use of the Deadpool 18" figure already released in a vanilla version, and again in grey outfit for X-Force. This has led to some complaints about putting out this Ultimate version so soon. While there have been some cries for an accessory pack for collectors to deck out their original 18" Deadpool, this seems unlikely as it will undermine sales of this new version. Ultimate 1/4 Deadpool is due to ship in late May or early June. The price is TBC but I estimate another £50 or so on top of the standard 1/4 price, so UK collectors should expect to pay around £130 - £140.
Daredevil, the man without fear, joins NECA’s line of incredibly detailed quarter scale action figures! Based on his classic comic book look, the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen stands 18” tall and has over 30 points of articulation for high-flying action poses. Accessories include alternate Matt Murdock head, removed cowl, batons, interchangeable hands, and more.
Those that follow Diamond Select and their Ask DST format of Q+A's will know that while they do their best to answer collector's questions, there is often very little new information presented in each episode. However, if you do look hard enough and start to bring two or three answers together you can start to make some pretty educated guesses at what Diamond may have in store for us. In the recent issue, this question was asked by Bryant P.
With the reply as follows from Chuck at DST
Following on from their Christmas Eve tease, NECA have shared this new image of the various parts that will make up their 7" scale Pennywise figure from Stephen King's IT. The image shows three different head options, indicating this release may be more akin to the Ultimate line with boxed packaging and a number of accessories and parts for the figure.
Now that feels fairly conclusive that at least two of these characters are in the pipeline for 2018 release in the Marvel Select line. But which are the strongest possibilities?
Our friends at Kapow Toys have just shared this exciting new "Best of" set for Marvel Legends MCU collectors. This 7 figure wave has combined the MCU figures from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 with Thor Ragnarok with parts across all 7 figures to build the BAF Gladiator Hulk. The figures are available from Kapow as a boxed wave only at ÂŁ169.99, that is ÂŁ24.28 a figure. If you are solely an MCU figure and have held off on the GOTG2 and Ragnarok waves due to the associated comic book pack in figures, then this is the wave for you.
For now I think Vision is of the table as we've seen in a recent Ask DST the very definite answer that Vision is not in their plans for 2018. While things may have changed, I don't see Vision as being part of what will most likely be a three figure release for Infinity War. On the other hand I think both Thanos and Captain America are prime for Infinity War releases. Thanos would require a brand new big figure, while Cap could save some money by being a re-use of the current body with a new bearded head? While I would love a movie Deadpool, the deal with Fox is still very much in its early stages and I can't see any movement as yet on the ability of Diamond or others to do Fox linences. So that leaves Punisher, and if Diamond have deemed the Netflix Daredevil a success then Frank Castle feels the next obvious choice for release - and will mirror what they have done with their Statues line in releasing Daredevil & Punisher very early in the line.
Diamond Select Toys have revealed the first packaged shots of their 2018 GHostbusters II figures - Vigo, "Geared Up" Louis and Ray Stantz. This packaging is the vanilla version of the figures, exclusive to Toys R Us in the United States . These are slimmed down versions and do not include the diorama parts. The larger packaged Select figures will follow these into comic book stores and specialist retailers soon after. These will contain the diorama parts that you can collect over series 6 (this one) to 10 and build the front fascia of the Ghostbusters Firehouse. Our partner Toys in the Attic are one of these stockists and are expecting stock around 9th of February, you can pre-order the set from them here
Our friends at Toys in the Attic have confirmed the ETA for the Marvel Select Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord and Drax figures from Diamond will be 21st February. Pre-orders are being taken now... We would hope to be reviewing these two releases as soon as we can after the 21st "We have finally had confirmation that shipping for the below will be 21/2/18" - Toys in the Attic (Facebook)
Rey comes with four other hand options - two gloved, two uncovered. There is also the proton emitter and stream. The goggles from the first release seem to have been dropped and replaced by the Santa Hat. Vigo has no specific accessories that I can see. Louis gets a walkie talkie, alternative pair of hands and the proton emitter and stream. The bases you can see in these images are specific to these Toys R Us exclusives, to date they have not been included in the Select releases - and this is a shame considering the issues some of the GB figures have had with standing unaided.
Feedspot is a one stop shop for blogs on any subject you can think of, and once you have signed up you then can create a custom feed based on your interests and blogs you want to follow. At the back end of 2017, the Mephitsu Archives was granted number 28 in the Feedspot Top 50 Action Figure blogs - a fantastic achievement that I am really proud of. Now while this is brilliant for me showing off and for bragging rights, and allowing me to display a shiny gold medal on our site, what does it mean for you?
Your custom feed will then appear on your page as you visit Feedspot, but the big plus is that these blogs are also turned into an email digest which you can choose to receive Weekly or Daily, bringing the key headlines of your selected subjects direct to your inbox. Why not give it a go! And remember to add Mephitsu Archives to your feed
Review : Apollo Creed Rocky 40th Anniversary Series (NECA) Wave/Series : Wave 2 (Rocky IV) Released : May 2017 ÂŁ22.99 The original Apollo Creed 7" figure from NECA was released in 2012. This 2012 version was Apollo as seen in the first Rocky movie in 1976 where he went head to head with the titular character. After this, figures of Carl Weathers have been very short on the ground with NECA seemingly unable to translate Weathers likeness to the Predator licence or indeed replicate any more of Apollo's Rocky appearances.
While the front of the box is tailored for the figure, the reverse of the box is standard for any of the four figures in the Rocky IV wave. We get a short synopsis of the movie and how World Champion Rocky faces off against new challenger Drago. Under this is an image of Rocky from the end of the movie, wrapped in the Stars & Stripes. The box reverse ends with images of the four figures that make up Series 2 - Apollo, Rocky and two Drago figures.
Roll forward to 2016 and it was announced that the Rocky figures were going to get a new lease of life in a 40th Anniversary collection spanning 4 waves, each based on one of the first four Rocky movies. After the first wave focused on Rocky III and included figures of Rocky and Mr T, the second wave was confirmed as being based on Rocky IV and fans of Apollo Creed were delighted to find we would now get the "showman" figure - complete with top hat and Stars & Stripes tailcoat. Apollo was released onto store shelves in the Summer of 2017.
The bottom of the box, if you are interested in this detail, confirms the development team for the figure and also carries the NECA and MGM logos. The figure is accessed via either the top or bottom flap. It slides out within an inner cardboard tray which is a deep red to create a backdrop to the figure and is consistent with the overall red theme. Apollo is strapped into the clear plastic tray with four black twisty ties. Either side of the figures head sits the top hat and the alternative head.
The Rocky 40th Anniversary figures are now boxed releases rather than the original blisters. The standard design is a black box with spotlight star icons as a backdrop. Over this we get a theme colour, which for the Rocky IV releases is a bring red. This red design is used to create a two tone image of Apollo in the bottom left, and on the side spines the red is used for the silhouette of Rocky in that iconic arms raised victory pose. The movie name is picked out in a simple white text, with the character name underneath. The figure is presented in a window on the front of the box which wraps over the top flap.
The likeness to Carl Weathers is exactly as you would expect from NECA. Not only is it very well sculpted likeness, it also captures the smiling fun loving Apollo that we see dancing to James Brown as he makes his journey to the ring to face Ivan Drago. The head is cast in a skin tone plastic with the eyes and mouth painted over the top. The teeth are visible thanks to the beaming smile, something we don't always see on Action Figures, and these are painted with impeccable detail. Moustache and Hair are sculpted with texture - but are a plain black colour. Moving down from the head and you start to appreciate some of the other detail in the outfit including the individually painted stars, the golden tassels on the shoulders and the red tassels on the boots.
Overall the outfit works well and even with such stark contrasting colours like red and white, there is very little bleeding or issues. The blue front collar of the coat is bring and also carries a sculpted texture. My only grip for the coat and costume is that from the back it does make Apollo look a little hunchbacked. Of course this is because the coat is a separate piece, and the issue is negligible considering no-one will display Apollo from this angle.
With the coat off you now have Apollo in his ring attire ready to fight. The body is a re-use of that original 2012 release figure, but it certainly doesn't show its age with well defined musculature and body tone. The shorts are a new piece with the higher blue waistband. Again, these are very well decorated with more red & white striping and white stars on the blue trim. The gloves appear to be the same as the 2012 figure but are re-painted white with red trim to be accurate to the Rocky IV movie. They even carry a decal for Tuf Wear, the company that supplied the gloves in the film. The boots, like the shorts, are new and are white in colour with red trim and tassels and red & blue stripes down either side of the sculpted laces.
The Top Hat is a separate piece and cast in a rubbery plastic so it has a degree of give. It too is painted really well with more red and white stripes and individually painted white stars. It fits neatly onto Apollo's head and does not look oversized or unnatural - or at least no more oversized than it was in the movie - excellent engineering.
Of course once in the ring the happy-go-lucky Apollo demeanor changes to the meaner and more focused Apollo we know. To replicate this, NECA provide an alternative head sculpt of Weathers. This is cast in the same skin tone plastic with the same level of paint detail on the eyes and hair. The head is on a slim peg with a notch to keep the head in place, the smiling head pops off easily and the replacement slides down and clicks in place neatly.
The jacket is removable, although there is nothing on the package that indicates so. It is not the easiest to remove, and you will need to pop off the gloves and then position the arms behind Apollo and slide the coat off. It is tight completing this maneuver and I would not recommend doing it too often. There is however no obvious damage to the paint of the coat or to the joints of the figure.
The 40th Anniversary figures from NECA have been mixed in terms of articulation and it seems to depend on whether the figure is a new release or if it uses a 2012 sculpt. The upper articulation is excellent on Apollo. The head is free moving on that peg, and beneath this neck joint we have a ball jointed torso that allows the abs section to be bent forward or backward crucial for that specific boxing stance and guard.
To aid the stances, we have ankle rockers built into the boxing boots. And the cleverest part of the foot joint is the jointed toe which allows stepping forward & backward poses. Just in case you want a stern looking Apollo in his coat and hat, I can confirm the hat fits the serious head as well as it fits the smiling one.
The arms are ball jointed at the shoulder with a wide range of movement upward and outward - although if you have the coat in place this will be reduced. The elbow is a single joint, but it bends to 90 degrees and also rotates. You have a similar rotation on the gloves also for the final position of the hands.
The hips on any NECA ROcky figure are restricted by the rubberised trunks that they use. While this hides the hip joint neatly, it does stop Apollo hitting anything other than a standing pose. You can rotate the hips under the trunks to vary the pose slightly and to line up the joints underneath as needed. You then have a single jointed knee which will only bend to about 90 degrees. This knee does rotate like the elbow, but doing so goes against all the laws of human joints and rotating it also exposes a hole in the joint which ruins the look of the figure.
Apollo Creed is the star of the Rocky IV releases, and is arguably the star of the 8 figures that NECA have released in the 40th Anniversary collection. Sadly, he may be the last as sales don't seem strong enough for NECA to continue with the Rocky I and II figures - denying us further Apollo figures. Apollo is bordering on the Ultimate level of release coming with two head sculpts and a distinct outfit change - and all of this is painted and sculpted really well. Articulation is limited around the legs, but nothing that stops me lining up Apollo in a boxing pose against Drago or entering the ring and dancing to James Brown. The only criticism you could level at Apollo is his scarcity. He sold out from initial deliveries really quickly and this was certainly helped by the raft of Predator collectors who wanted to grab the Weathers head to make their own Dillon figure. Even as we write this review just 6-months or so after release, you can be paying anywhere up to twice the original RRP to bring Apollo into your NECA collection. I score Rocky IV Apollo Creed a perfect 5 out of 5.
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