Ralph Wiggum
Simpsons (Super7) - Ultimates
Rated 3.85 stars by RMaster007
In the world of B-list Simpsons characters, Ralph Wiggum is one of the most iconic ones. He's a special kid, and a highly-quotable one at that, so what are the odds he'd receive an Ultimate figure? Besides, Bart(man) can't be the only kid in the line. Ralph's default expression is a blank stare with a smile. There's not much going in his head, but his heart is certainly full of love. His design is captured well in plastic form, looking near-perfectly recreated, save for his hair. He's supposed to have a bald spot right on top, but Super7 designed it as a big piece of stringy soft plastic plopped onto the head. It throws off the appearance of an otherwise accurate figure, and the hair strands should've just been sculpted onto the head. He gets an alternate head with an ice cream cone...[See More]

Harley Quinn (Timed Edition)
Batman (Mondo) - Animated Series
Rated 4.80 stars by RMaster007
Although I haven't been keeping up with Mondo's Batman Animated line, from what I've been hearing, they're really good, and while Catwoman was the only one I had up until recently, I'm starting to get into it more. I pre-ordered Bane when the timed edition was up, and I also got Harley Quinn some time ago as well. Most fans know she was a character created for the show, and has since become an iconic villain in the franchise, so her inclusion in this line was a no-brainer. The box is pretty simple in nature, being red all around, but Danny Haas' art on the front is great. This is a fifth-panel box with an opening flap to reveal the contents inside, and it's made out of a thick, durable cardboard. It's very easy to open up and get everything out, so there's no reason not to play with...[See More]

Count Orlok (Nosferatu)
Universal Monsters (Neca) - Ultimate Collection
Rated 4.90 stars by RMaster007
It's hard to believe that there are films that are over a hundred years old out there, but there are, such as Nosferatu. Released in 1922, it's known as the first vampire film, and is rather well-known (probably thanks to SpongeBob). Super7 made their own action figure of the main creature, Count Orlok, to celebrate its 100-year milestone, but NECA came along and did one that both looked better and cost less. Guess which one I went with? The packaging is nothing too special, though the front bears a painting that looks just like the figure inside, done by Daniel Horne. I'm guessing they couldn't do a poster this time, since the film's so darn old there's no surviving ones. You still have photos of the figure on the sides and back, along with a gate backdrop on the inside. I don't talk...[See More]

Suckerman
Suckerman (Mattel) - Basic Series
Rated 4.50 stars by Karl T. Face
Spoiler alert: this thing sucks. Now, this may be my long, long history with rubber monsters that are older than me, but there's a simple pleasure in holding a floppy Fierce Critter. While most companies were content with the 2-5" range, Mattel went big with a plate-sized suction cup lizardman. I've had the classic green here for years, but never gave it a proper review. Firstly, despite being 44 years old, all 11 inches are still plenty soft, with only a hint of discoloration on the rear suckers and a small mouse nibble. Sporting 14 suckers on the front, 10 in back, and two on the feet, one's eyes are mostly drawn to the head, where we get a grinning nosferatu-lizard that radiates pulp-comic energy. Fishlike scales cover the torso and hips, fading into a cracked or veiny texture. The...[See More]

Samurai Adventure Michelangelo and Space Adventure Donatello
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Classic Cartoon (Neca) - Multi-Packs
Rated 4.80 stars by RMaster007
Character variants are inevitable in cartoon figure lines, but how often do such lines incorporate variants not seen in the source material? NECA's TMNT line, which hasn't been variant-heavy thanks to the wide character selection, started giving specific characters all-new outfits. Usagi, a mere two-episode character, got both new space and samurai outfits, and such themes are present with one of their latest two-packs. The samurai role is played here by Michelangelo, and he looks like a total badass. The combat-focused head, with gritted teeth, is an all-new sculpt, and it's got the traditional samurai kabuto helmet on him. This helmet pegs into the back, where a mask knot would usually go, allowing it to fit on his head with ease. You can swap his head out for an afraid expression, and...[See More]

Slam Dunkin' Don
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Super7) - Ultimates!
Rated 4.75 stars by RMaster007
After Samurai Leo, Surfer Mikey, and Space Cadet Raph, you'd think Super7 would do an Ultimate Undercover Donatello next, but nope, it's Slam Dunkin' Don. It was supposed to be Punker Don, but that got pushed back by a lot, so here we are. Granted, an Undercover Don would've been great in this format, but I guess the BBTS-exclusive Undercover Raph filled the "turtle in a trenchcoat" quota. The portrait of the Slam Dunkin' Don was kinda weird. I suppose it's supposed to be a "game face," but the expression is still a little off-putting. Super7 and Four Horsemen did a good job recreating it in a larger scale, albeit without the goggles, and also threw in an extra head. This head has a somewhat happier expression, with his tongue hanging out, and it fits for this specific version of the...[See More]

Punk Disguise Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Classic Cartoon (Neca) - Multi-Packs
Rated 4.65 stars by RMaster007
In licenses with a ton of characters like TMNT, it's important to keep major characters on the shelves, such as the Turtles themselves. With this year's Haulathon, there's plenty of new versions of the brothers, including outfits both in-house and sourced from the cartoon, the latter being the long-awaited "punk" disguises. The Loyal Subjects did some punk Turtles already, but those suffered from weird design choices and mediocre head sculpts (which were the S.H. Figuarts Turtles heads but worse), so here's NECA with something better. Usually these four-packs have unique art, slipcovers and/or fifth-panel flaps, but not this set; it's just a standard window box with the same motif as the rest of the toon line. It does a good job showing everything off, though, and the new artwork done...[See More]

Soundwave (G1)
Transformers (Super7) - Ultimate
Rated 4.60 stars by RMaster007
I think it's clear now that Super7's Transformers Ultimates line is done for. We haven't seen any waves go up for pre-order since the end of 2022, and with complaints about the quality and articulation, alongside most of the figures having gone on sale, Super7 may have felt the line wasn't worth continuing. On a more positive note, they at least gave us fan-favorite Soundwave. Soundwave has a rather unique head design (though not as unique as Shockwave), with no visible mouth and red, visor-like eyes. It gives him bit more of an ominous vibe than the other Decepticons, and Four Horsemen did a great job matching his animated appearance. Back then, Transformer designs weren't consistent across media, let alone toys, and Soundwave's alternate heads reflect that. One of them originates from...[See More]

Baxter Stockman
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Mirage Comics (Neca) - Basic Series
Rated 4.85 stars by RMaster007
Unlike everything that followed after, the Mirage TMNT comics didn't have a huge cast of mutants and other non-human characters, but it still had some pretty interesting humans. One of the first human villains after Shredder's "demise" is the evil scientist Baxter Stockman. Despite his presence throughout the franchise, his role in the original comics was minimal. Over at NECA, Richard Force and David Giraud brought the original Baxter into action figure form. The default portrait is a sly grin, and it's very accurate to how he appears in the comic, but it can be swapped out for a more sinister look with a wider grin and visible forehead wrinkles. The hair has a lumpy texture, giving it a bit more definition, and the paint is good, though the alternate head has better work. At about 6...[See More]

Steel Clan Robot
Gargoyles (Neca) - Ultimate
Rated 4.90 stars by RMaster007
Most gargoyles are flesh and blood, as with any other creature in the world, but there are some that aren't, like David Xanatos' army of evil "Steel Clan" robots. I've seen this release in-store a lot, but it wasn't until a few days ago I caved in and got it. This is probably the last time I'll mention the packaging with this line, since we all know these figures have great box art, and this one in particular depicts an army of these robots glaring at you with their menacing red eyes. Other than that, it's all the same. Same text on back, same cross-sell, same interior backdrop. Xanatos must have a thing for Goliath, as the Steel Clan robots are made in his image. The chiseled jaw and long hair are reminiscent of him, but it's basically a blockier, mechanical version of the big guy....[See More]