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Well, better late than never.
Honestly, I could take or leave Harry Potter as a franchise. Good stories, but still pretty low on my fantasy totem pole. And so I mostly avoided merchandise, apart from a Dementor I wanted to fix up just for kicks. This turned up for cheap, though, and I smelled diorama material.
We'll start with the titular Basilisk, and Mattel has certainly delivered an intimidatingly chunky snake monster here. Credit where it's due, bendy was out due to the action feature, but they kept the articulation sparse enough not to muck up the sculpt. Said sculpt is oddly shallow compared to screenshots, giving it more of an eel-like vibe. Probably based on early renders, but I appreciate the look.
The colors help. It's a nice gold plastic, no swirls or flaws, with a two-tone black and green airbrushing along the top. The dorsal ridges are cleanly picked out in silver. They even added some dark patches along the sides. It feels more colorful than the screen version, and I can absolutely dig it.
Meanwhile, the teeth and tongue are cast in color, so that's at least clean, if not especially impressive.
And now, the action feature. Pulling back on the tail sends the head striking forward as the mouth opens. In theory. Mine was extra loud the first time I set it, and the mouth does not open. Dammit, Mattel, it's always something, isn't it? Well, the decades have taken their toll, I suppose.
The electronics are fairly nice. The eyes and mouth light up green when it's jostled even slightly, and it emits an angry hiss. Pull the tail down, and it roars as the mouth lights up red. Pretty nice when the jaw works, I imagine.
Finally, pressing down on the tongue triggers a pained roar, and the head and jaw go limp as the neck falls over sideways. Okay, good play value, back when it worked properly. I'm just adding it to my medieval bestiary shelf anyway, so that's negligible.
To battle this beastie, one must supply a Potter. I have no such thing, but if I did, the giant Gryffindor key is meant to serve as a sort of control stick, clamping onto a figure's foot. Clip the included Sword of Gryffindor onto the wizard of your choice (and it's adjustable for various figures), and get to stabbing!
As for the playset itself, it's primarily a cardboard panel held up by two hunks of plastic. Said panel is double-sided, featuring either the Chamber of Secrets or a hallway lined with large stained-glass windows. A pillar holds up one end, while the other is a matching pillar with attached doorway. While the front side depicts the Chamber entrance, the other side (which extends back along with the door) is a mess of plumbing, including a small sink. The whole affair gives a pretty good illusion of being a real tunnel, at least from most frontal angles. The front gets a fair bit more paint, but the back's no slouch. Even on things like the sink knobs, there's almost no slop or uneven coverage.
Given that the Basilisk at least looks great for the era, and the backdrop is roughly in GI Joe scale (or vintage Marvel, I guess), this isn't a bad box of odds and ends if you can find it. Particularly when you consider the fact that you can stick any backdrop you like in there (a Cobra base or Indiana Jones temple, for instance), or just use the individual components here and there. Just don't trust that action feature....[See More]

Although the Shredder was a one-off villain in the original TMNT comics, he had a much greater presence in subsequent material. He served as the main antagonist of the 1987 cartoon, and while competent, he was held back by bumbling henchmen, and was generally a comic relief. The 2003 cartoon instead depicted Shredder as a dangerous and ruthless villain who can't be taken down easily, and that's how the rest of the franchise would portray him. With Super7 having switched focus of their TMNT Ultimates line from recreating vintage designs to said cartoon, the latest wave features both allies and foes, including Shredder himself.

The Shredder dons his traditional helmet, but the 2003 show altered its design to resemble samurai armor. Like how he appeared in the Mirage comic, all you can see behind the helmet is his blank eyes amidst darkness, but his eyes are red, giving him a more menacing look. There's a little bit of bleed from the mask onto the visor, but it's almost completely unnoticeable. He also gets something no Super7 Shredder had previously: an unmasked head. The likeness of Oroku Saki is very nice, and the semi-angular style of the show is recreated well, thanks to David A. White. The hair could use some work though, as the paint around the edges is a little rough, and it should be a bit longer in the back.

Whereas the Ultimate '03 turtles were shorter than their vintage counterparts, Shredder is taller than his predecessor, standing 8" tall, which makes him all the more imposing. His armor is primarily a bluish-gray, with various black and light gray areas, and just about everything about how he looks is dead-on to the show. His right hand is bare, but his left hand has a pair of long blades on it, and it's thick plastic, but not pointy enough that you could stab yourself on it by accident. The shoulder pads and waist armor are a much softer plastic, as to keep them from hindering articulation, and the long ends of the belt hanging off the body are fabric, and wired fabric at that, allowing it to be posed dynamically. The paint is good aside from some minor bleed here and there, but my main nit is how dull the armor and other "metal" areas look, no thanks to the unpainted gray plastic. Painting them like the gauntlets, or at least giving them a shinier finish would've helped.

Super7 decided to implement more articulation than usual with the first wave of 2003 Turtles Ultimates, and it paid off very well, and the next wave continues their decision to try harder with movement. Saki has a barbell head, swivel/hinge shoulders, elbows (double-jointed), wrists, hips, knees (also double-jointed), and ankles, ball-jointed neck and chest, swivel biceps and thighs, and a waist that's either a swivel or a very restricted ball peg. For a company that's not used to double-jointed elbows or knees, Super7 is surprisingly good at them; they have a deep bend, and look nicer than most figures I've seen with joints like that (such as NECA). The chest, however, doesn't have a lot of range. It's not quite as bad as some Ultimates I have (it can actually tilt a decent amount unlike some Silverhawks and G.I. Joe Ultimates), but if Super7 is going to put more effort into the articulation, they could’ve at least made the chest functional. The hands swap easily, but you'll need some heat to get the extra head on.

Old Shred-head doesn't have a ton of accessories, but everything he has is pretty essential. Aside from the extra head, you have seven hands to choose from: two closed, two grasping, two gripping (with vertical hinges), and a splayed right. As I've said already, they swap with no issues, and aid in plenty of poses. The hand blades aren't Shredder's only weapon, as he also has the Sword of Tengu, a powerful blade seen throughout the first season. The sculpt is great, but it suffers from the same dull, unpainted gray as the armor, and there's quite a bit of slop on the yellow parts. Lastly, there's Shredder's true form: the evil Utrom Ch'rell. The reveal that Oroku Saki was actually an alien in a mech was quite the twist, and the little monster looks great here, with a sinister look and clean paint for the eyes and scar. If you pre-ordered the whole wave directly from Super7, you'd get an accessory pack with two bonus items for Shredder: a yelling Ch'rell and a glow-in-the-dark Sword of Tengu. While the glow sword is cool (who doesn't love glow-in-the-dark accessories?), it's not something I'd call necessary. The extra Ch'rell is nice, and can make for some cool displays.

While I'm going to miss the Playmates-inspired TMNT Ultimates line, Super7 is doing fans of the '03 show a justice by giving the show modernized action figures. Shredder isn't perfect, but he's still fun to pose and play with, and I'm looking forward to the next wave to go up for pre-order. We already know it'll be April, Hun, and the Shell Cycle with a corresponding Raphael variant, but I'm hoping Super7 doesn't stop there and puts out as many characters as possible.

- 2/6/26...[See More]

Raised in the shadow of the Hart Dungeon, Diana was treated as the quiet heartbeat of the Hart clan. She grew up watching her brothers sharpen themselves into warriors. Diana was never a wrestler, but was always part of the emotional center of a dynasty built on discipline, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds.When Diana married The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, it was framed as the merging of two powerful wrestling bloodlines. Davey Boy was presented as the perfect complement to the Hart legacy: strength, heart, and a fierce devotion to family. Diana was the one who steadied Davey Boy’s fire. When he fought, he fought for her. Diana’s defining moment came during the build to Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog at Wembley Stadium. The story cast her as a woman caught between two men she loved: her brother, the Excellence of Execution, and her husband, the powerhouse challenger. Interviews showed her pleading for peace, terrified that the match would tear the family apart. Her presence at ringside turned the bout from a championship contest into a family tragedy waiting to happen.

When Bulldog won and Diana embraced both men, it was framed as a moment of healing. Throughout the mid‑90s, Diana appeared whenever the Hart family was threatened. She was the one who spoke for the family’s honor, the one who reminded the world that the Harts were more than wrestlers — they were a dynasty built on respect. In 1996, Diana was thrust into one of the era’s most dramatic storylines when she accused Shawn Michaels of making unwanted advances toward her. She was portrayed as a wronged woman defending her marriage and her family’s honor. This ignited a feud between Bulldog and Michaels, painting Diana as the spark that intensified the already‑volatile Hart vs. Michaels rivalry....[See More]

The most powerful of vampires is the Master. Trapped in a sort of dimensional prison, he is unable to enter our world and is only able to act through his minions. With the help of these vampire followers, he was able to cross over to our world briefly by luring Buffy to his lair and biting her. Fortunately, Buffy would not die so easily and defeated him by impaling him and then, later, smashing his bones to bits. The Master is gone forever… at least for now....[See More]

Kaine Parker was the first successful clone of Peter Parker, created by the mad scientist known as the Jackal. Although initially a success, a flaw in the cloning process caused Kaine to suffer from severe cellular degradation and mental instability. This degeneration scarred his body but also amplified his spider-powers, making him significantly stronger than the original Spider-Man. He also developed unique abilities, such as limited precognition and the "Mark of Kaine," a corrosive touch that leaves burns on his victims.
Rejected by his creator as a "failed experiment," Kaine spent years as a vengeful assassin and antagonist to both Peter Parker and fellow clone Ben Reilly. His perspective shifted during the Spider-Island event when he was finally cured of his genetic flaws, restoring his human appearance. Seeking redemption for his dark past, he moved to Houston, Texas, to start a new life. Despite his gruff nature, he reluctantly became the city's protector and officially adopted the mantle of the Scarlet Spider. Since then, he has served as a brutal anti-hero and an important ally to the Spider-Family during multiversal threats....[See More]

Current Projects: Silmarillion Heroes
Comments: Many different parts of many figures to make one , most of these figure took 5 months to make
Favorite Figure: Maedhros
Favorite Series: Mcfarlane
Collection Size: 12 Quantity
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The first issue of The Last Ronin made clear that only one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was still alive, and the end of said issue confirmed it was Michelangelo, the Ronin himself. Subsequent issues showed how Mikey's brothers and other allies died, ultimately ending with… I won't spoil anything for you, but I was a little surprised when NECA's Last Ronin line led to the production of turtles other than him. I already covered Raphael, and following him is Leonardo and Donatello, alongside a pre-ronin Michelangelo. Since there are plenty of similarities between them, I may as well review all three at once.

First up is Leonardo, appearing how he does in the third issue's flashback sequence. Following up from Raphael, Gurjeet Singh sculpted the rest of the brothers (with May Thamtarana helping out some with Leo), and he captures the style of the comic well. Leo has a stern but focused expression, with the shawl covering his chin, as well as a second one with a slightly angrier look, bearing gritted teeth. His mask is in better shape than Raph's, but still has a painted outline around it. The outlines on the face could look a little nicer, but the work is still clean, with no bleed or slop.

Leonardo stands about 6" tall, as do his brothers, and he's much more dressed up than before. He's outfitted with torso armor, wraps covering the lower legs and most of the arms, the aforementioned shawl, a right shoulder pad with the Hamato Clan symbol, and plenty of pouches on his belt. All the little details are accurate to the source material, and the shawl has some slits in it to help get the katanas into the loops on the back. His paint is good as well, though there are a couple of areas of bleed, such as the strap going across his torso and the right hand armor. Still, the colors match the feel of the comic, and there's plenty of wash on him for a slightly dirty look, especially on the wraps.

The articulation is the same on all three, and is what we've seen already with Raphael. Each turtle gets a barbell head and chest, swivel/hinge shoulders, wrists, and ankles, ball-jointed hips, double-hinged elbows and knees with swivels at the upper knees, and swivel biceps, thighs, and mask tassels. The sculpts are a little restrictive on the articulation - for example, the arms can't relax at the sides, and Leo's shawl gets in the way of head movement - but they can still manage pretty good poses, and everything moves and swaps with little issue, save for a loose ankle on Leo. There's not a lot in terms of accessories, but Leo has four pairs of hands (closed, gripping, grasping, and flat), his twin katanas, and five little throwing knives, which fit into the loops on his belt and can also go between the fingers on the gripping hands.

Leonardo lost his life in an explosion while fighting Baxter Stockman, so that takes us to Donatello. Donnie looks a little grumpier than Leo, in addition to having another gritted teeth head, and his mask has a bit of fraying sculpted on it. His skin is a little darker than Leo’s, but the work on the outlines is much better. The mask tassels are different on both heads, with the alternate head having shorter tassels, and you can swap them between portraits if you so desire, but keep in mind they're pretty thin, so take care when doing so.

Donatello comes in his outfit from the fourth issue, dressed for a colder climate, and with lighter colors to match. It looks great all around, with plenty of clean paint and wash, with even what we can see of his shell getting some wash. His clothing is a bit thicker than the other turtles (he's gotta keep warm, after all), and the torso overlay leaves him with less freedom for the chest to move than his brothers, but everything else moves fine, and the holster for his bo on the back can swivel as well. Aside from the extra head, his bo staff, and the same hand options as Leo, Donnie also has a hat that fits over the heads just fine, and a shashimono that can be held in his hands or the bo holster. The shashimono is a cool inclusion, and the use of (I assume) faux leather for it was a nice touch.

Donatello and Splinter both lost their lives fighting Oroku Hiroto (when's he getting a figure, huh?), so that leaves Michelangelo as the last of the Hamato Clan. Like Leonardo, his outfit comes from the third issue, and the portrait reminds me a lot of him, specifically the beady eyes. The dark spots on the back of his head are unique to Mikey, and he has a more frayed mask similar to Raphael. As with the others, he has a gritted teeth head, and the paint on both portraits is very clean.

Michelangelo's outfit is primarily orange and tan, befitting his color scheme, and his arm and leg wraps are brown instead of off-white. His left arm is almost completely covered due to the sleeve and wraps, and there are straps on his chest armor for his nunchucks. Although his paint is very clean, the main aesthetic issue results from his articulation. The pin for his upper right elbow is brown, rather than green, which is how it's shown in the photos on the box. How could such a mistake occur here? I'm glad NECA has since made the jump to pinless elbows and knees, so we don't have to deal with issues like this. Mikey's accessories include his extra head, four pairs of hands like the others, his nunchucks, and that's it; no extra pieces here like the other turtles. A set of nunchucks with sculpted chains for more dynamic poses would've been nice.

For a miniseries that had 3/4 of the turtles killed off right from the get-go, The Last Ronin gave them some pretty cool designs, and thanks to NECA, we have them in action figure form. They're not without their issues, but they'll look darn nice on your shelf once you can work past the slightly limited articulation.

- 2/2/26...[See More]

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Favorite Figure: Spider-Man Classics Red and Blue Spidey
Favorite Series: Toybiz Marvel Legends
First Figure: Spider-Man Classics Red and Blue Spidey
Collection Size: 20
Currently Collecting: Toybiz Marvel Legends
Want List: Toybiz Marvel Legends Silver Surfer
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Rocky Johnson began his career in 1964 in Southern Ontario before moving into the U.S. territorial system. After adopting the ring name Rocky Johnson, he entered the California circuit, where he became a regular in NWA Hollywood Wrestling. His early California tenure centered on extended feuds with Freddie Blassie, The Destroyer, and John Tolos, appearing in repeated grudge matches, title challenges, and Los Angeles main events.

Through the late 1960s and early 1970s, Johnson became a traveling contender across the National Wrestling Alliance, entering multiple regional title programs. He received several NWA World Heavyweight Championship matches against champions Terry Funk and Harley Race, working as a recurring challenger in St. Louis, Texas, and Florida. During this period he also entered numerous tag team campaigns, capturing regional NWA tag titles with partners including Don Leo Jonathan, Earl Maynard, Jerry Brisco, Danny Little Bear, and Jose Lothario.

In Memphis, Johnson wrestled intermittently for the Continental Wrestling Association, where he engaged in a recurring feud with Jerry Lawler. Their rivalry included matches for Lawler’s crown and multiple rematches across the territory’s weekly loop. Johnson also held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship with Jimmy Valiant and later with Soul Train Jones, entering programs with local heel teams and stables.

In the Mid‑Atlantic territory, Johnson adopted the masked persona Sweet Ebony Diamond, entering a feud cycle built around the NWA Television Championship. As Diamond, he faced opponents such as Greg Valentine, Ray Stevens, and various members of the Mid‑Atlantic heel roster, defending and reclaiming the TV title in repeated television bouts.

Johnson’s work in Championship Wrestling from Florida included multiple reigns with the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, as well as the Florida Television, Florida Tag Team, and Brass Knuckles titles. His Florida runs placed him in feuds with Buddy Colt, The Missouri Mauler, and Ivan Koloff, along with tag programs alongside partners like Pedro Morales.

In Georgia Championship Wrestling, Johnson held the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship twice and the Georgia Tag Team Championship with Jerry Brisco. His Georgia feuds included programs with Ox Baker, The Assassin, and Buddy Fuller, as well as tag rivalries with heel units operating in the Atlanta territory.

Johnson also competed in NWA Big Time Wrestling in Texas, where he held the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship twice and the Texas Tag Team Championship with Jose Lothario. His Texas feuds included matches against Bruiser Brody, Killer Karl Kox, and Gino Hernandez, along with Brass Knuckles title defenses in specialty bouts.

In San Francisco, Johnson captured the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) and held the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) four times—three with Pat Patterson and once with Pepper Gomez. His San Francisco feuds included extended programs with Ray Stevens, The Von Steigers, and The Invaders, often involving title switches and multi‑team matches.

Johnson’s work in the Pacific Northwest included reigns with the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship and the PNW Tag Team Championship with Brett Sawyer and Iceman Parsons, entering feuds with Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, and the Army stable.

In 1982, Johnson entered the World Wrestling Federation, where he immediately began feuds with Don Muraco, Greg Valentine, Mike Sharpe, Buddy Rose, and Adrian Adonis. After several months of singles programs, he was paired with Tony Atlas to form a tag team unit. Together they entered a feud with The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika), culminating in a title match taped November 15, 1983, where Johnson and Atlas won the WWF Tag Team Championship. As The Soul Patrol, they defended the titles against the Samoans and other heel teams across the WWF’s touring schedule.

After leaving the WWF in 1985, Johnson returned to the territorial circuit, working in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Portland, Tennessee, and Central States. In Polynesian Pro Wrestling, he teamed with his brother Ricky Johnson, capturing the NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Championship twice and entering feuds with local heel teams and visiting NWA talent. In ICWA, he held the ICWA Tag Team Championship with Crash the Terminator, working against regional heel stables.

Across the late 1980s and early 1990s, Johnson continued to appear in regional promotions, entering short‑term feuds and title programs before gradually reducing his in‑ring schedule. His career remained defined by multi‑territory championship pursuits, recurring rivalries with top regional heels....[See More]