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Action Figure Collectors (or should I say Kollectorz) from the UK and particularly the North West of England can look forward to a brand new event in March of 2024. The FIgure Kollectorz event in Bolton on the 30th of March will bring together like-minded collectors, reviewers, traders, and action figure manufacturers in an event that will be very much themed around the action figure market. Ahead of the event, we caught up with event organiser John to learn more about what we can expect at the event, and how to buy tickets - an ideal last-minute Christmas gift for the action figure fan in your life. Scroll down to read our full interview. Where did the inspiration for Figure Kollectorz come from? I'm pretty much like everyone who's ever wanted to host/organise an event. It's something I've been wanting to do for many years. But in the past, something always happens that stops me from moving forward. I'm happy to say that this time everything is steadily moving forward and I'm looking forward to meeting new and like-minded people. Tell us about some of the things we can look forward to seeing at Figure Kollectorz. What sort of exhibitors will we get to meet? There's a ton planned for the event. Firstly there is a cosplay competition called KOSMANIACS which has 3 age categories. Secondly, I'm organizing a custom figure competition called Kustom Figure Comp which is open to custom figure creators who are UK-based. In addition to these, there will also be a collectors panel consisting of five YouTube reviewers who will be answering questions and talking about various figure collections ranging from Transformers to Wrestling figures. FK will also be holding a figure expo, which so far will include Yolopark, DR.Wu studios, Hasbro, and Minifigs.me to name a few. What are you most looking forward to at the event? With my hand on my heart, I can honestly say everything. The content creators, The traders, the attendees, and meeting my friend Gareth for the first time in person who will be running a traders stall for the first time. And he's travelling all the way from Northern Ireland to be at the event. As the name implies you, like all of us, are a figure collector. What sort of figures are in your collection? I love to collect what's known as Legends Scaled Transformers, which can be referred to as mini masterpiece figures or small scale. Normally measuring around the 10cm mark. Mostly by 3rd and 4th party companies. I also collect Coreclass figures which are Hasbro's renamed Legends Class figure line, that have more detail and now come with weapons. On the last count, I had close to 220 figures. I've also been known to dabble in Neca, Funko, Star Wars, Marvel, Mcfarlane, and Wrestling to name a few along with a couple of other companies. Remind us when the event is, where it is being held, and how do we get tickets? Figure Kollectorz will be held Saturday 30th March 2024 inside the Lion Of Vienna suite at the Bolton Stadium Hotel. It will be a 1 day event and the doors open at 9am till 4pm. Tickets are available via Eventbrite's website at this link To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

“I am just following standard Jedi mission protocol.” Professor Huyang was one of the stand-out characters from the 2023 Ahsoka Disney+ series. It is this live-action appearance that has seen him finally realised into the Star Wars Black Series with a late 2023 release as part of Wave 14. The wave also features Hera, and Marrok from the show as well as Pre Vizsla from Clone Wars, and a repack of the new R2-D2 figure. As with all the Ahsoka figures within the Galax Collection, Huyang’s packaging utilises the light blue accent colour on the text and artwork. The rear of the box carries the generalised synopsis of the series rather than character-specific info. Huyang is a full new sculpt for the Black Series, expertly proportioned, and cast in what looks like a pearlescent sandy plastic that is perhaps a shade too dark compared to the lighter colouration of Huyang on screen. The glossy finish also cheapens it a little compared to the promo shots which appeared more matt in finish. Huyang is also too clean for a millennia-old droid and is probably a weathering wash away from reaching that next level. The arms and legs do utilise a darker shade of panels to create some variation on the arms and down the legs. The robotic elements between the joints and under the outer panels are finished in a gunmetal silver while the exposed stomach is matt black with red and white painted wiring. Huyang’s work belt and apron is an individual softer plastic piece around the waist. This is cast in dark brown with some greyer shades used at either side of the main panel, and a touch more gunmetal silver at the buckle. While all the pouches and pockets are sculpted, no opportunity has been taken to make any of them functional with the included accessories. Huyang is missing the aerial on his left shoulder, but I can understand the decision at this scale - and instead, we get a wider base of an aerial without the actual aerial itself which would either be too big or would snap too easily. The head sculpt is just as well proportioned but the use of that glossy plastic without any weathering does hinder the overall likeness. The eyes are painted, but the gold uses is very close to the outer shell of the droid which makes them look unpainted until the light catches them. The upper blue ‘cap’ section is a good colour and finish and is trimmed nicely in bronze with his eyepiece sculpted as part of the head. Huyang comes with his backpack that plugs into the reverse of the figure by way of a single peg and socket. The backpack is a gunmetal grey colour at its core, with painted ivory panels that are probably a closer shade and finish to what was needed on the bulk of the droid's body. Other accessories include a datapad in off-white plastic with metallic blue sections and a silvery grey screen. This fits into either hand, but can't be stowed away in the utility belt which would have been an exciting addition to the figure. Similarly, the sole training lightsaber hilt included in the pack also has nowhere to be stored. In the show, Huyang wields four of these, but we get just one. It uses the same base plastic as the datapad, with some gunmetal silver added partway down the hilt and again at the far end. This doesn’t fit as well in either of Huyang’s hands where the grip is too loose to hold it overly securely. It also lacks a blade of any kind, whereas a single translucent blade would have replicated the scene on screen. Articulation is very much built around the same joints we see on the droid himself, with 15 points of articulation across the main body, all single-jointed and with the joint replicating the pins and pivots of the full prop. The shoulder joints are supremely stiff thanks to a robust ratchet, while the elbows feel quite loose out of the box. There are no issues at all within the legs, and Huyang is stable in a variety of poses. The head articulation is through a two-part neck joint which certainly helps with expressing some of Huyang’s mannerisms. We also get what could be classified as 6 further points of articulation within the backpack with the pair of extendable arms being jointed in three places allowing them to extend up and then over the shoulders. In the show we also see these move out to the side and become four arms when fighting, the figure fails to replicate this rendering these additional arms quite one-dimensional and awkward-looking when extended up but not outward. They also lack any gripping options ending only in three fixed prongs, so even if additional training sabers had been included - the four-arm fighting pose was never an option. The Star Wars Black Series release of Huyang feels a bit of an anti-climax in hand. While it is still a good figure considering the price point, there are several obvious missed opportunities throughout that could have made him amazing. These range from the choice of base plastic and colouring to the lack of weathering, the eye colour and the lack of any functionality in either the apron or the additional arms. I am sure skilled painters will work wonders with the figure, but for us general collectors he does have a bit of ‘what could have been’ about him when posed on display. Not a bad figure by any stretch, and I’d still recommend him for any Ahsoka (or Clone Wars) Collector. Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Star Wars Black Series Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

“My job is to protect the people of this Republic.” Following the release of Ahsoka and Sabine from the Disney+ Ahsoka series, we did not have to wait too long to add the live-action General Hera Syndulla to our Black Series collection. Hera was released as part of Wave 14 of the Galaxy Collection in late 2023 alongside Marrok and Huyang from Ahsoka, and with Pre Vizsla and R2-D2 filling in the other two slots. Hera is number 06 in the Ahsoka collection sitting between the HK-87 Droid from the previous wave, and Huyang. The light blue accent colour assigned to the Ahsoka figures is featured on the front text and the side and rear artwork. The back of the box sees the text element carry a generic synopsis of the Disney+ series rather than any snippets about the character. Hera is a full new pinless figure sculpted in her flight suit overlaid with her New Republic combat jacket. The orange flight suit elements lack any decor or weathering but are inclusive of sculpted pockets and padding around the knees. A ‘gun-slinger’ belt overlays the legs with a strap around Hera’s right thigh holding a working holster in place. The upper vest is a brown colour with painted darker brown piping. The flight jacket is then added as a softer rubber sleeve over the torso. It is cast in dark brown with a light brown painted collar, and a rank badge in silver and red off to one side. Decals are used to add the New Republic & Phoenix Squadron symbols to either shoulder with the rear of the jacket carrying the new live-action ‘Ghost crew’ symbol. The head sculpt is interesting and has not quite captured the full likeness of Mary Elizabeth Winstead in full Hera makeup. There is something slightly off around the mouth and chin area when viewed head-on. When viewed from a side-on profile, the likeness is much more impressive. The eyes are also a bit too heavily made up with dark rings around the blue of the iris. The skin tone is a good match, as are the subtle patterns down the Leku. Hera’s flight cap features her goggles which are a separate piece. Sadly these are glued at the side so don’t pivot down over her eyes which would have been a nice feature. Articulation is 17 points in total, with the thigh swivel no longer in use by the newest Black Series bodies. Hera does feature butterfly shoulders tucked away under the jacket as well as the two-part jointed neck. Everything works as intended and there are no issues with posing or stability. The sole accessory is Hera’s small hold-out pistol. This is not the same one from her Rebels release and is a new piece featuring more decor than we would usually see with a black plastic base and both gunmetal silver and bronze metallic additions around the main body of the weapon. It fits snugly into Hera’s right hand, or into the provided holster when not in use. Hera is another solid Ahsoka release, recreating the onscreen look into figure form. The likeness is best viewed from a side profile for the best effect, but otherwise, the sculpt, decor and articulation are all well executed. The accessory also works well and looks much better than most Black Series weapons despite its small size. With Sabine from the previous wave showing these live-action Ahsoka characters are not hanging about, Hera is certainly one to procure now if you’d like her in your collection - along with a CHOPPER of course. Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Star Wars Black Series Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

McFarlane's 6-inch DC Retro line is branching out into the 1977 New Adventures of Batman series. The first wave will bring us figures of Batman, Batgirl, Joker, Riddler, Robin, and Commissioner Gordon - who will also come with Bat-Mite. These releases remain blister carded, with updated artwork to represent the new source material. Wave 1 is a general release via McFarlane stockist and has a February 2024 release date. The mean streets of Gotham City have a number of guardian angels watching over them. And one of the first—the young woman who turned the Dynamic Duo into the Batman family—was Batgirl. Barbara Gordon has always existed between two worlds: her life at home as the only daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon and her life swinging from gargoyles as an associate of the Dark Knight. A playboy billionaire by day, Bruce Wayne’s double life affords him the comfort of a life without financial worry, a loyal butler-turned-guardian and the perfect base of operations in the ancient network of caves beneath his family’s sprawling estate. By night, however, he sheds all pretense, dons his iconic scalloped cape and pointed cowl and takes to the shadowy streets, skies and rooftops of Gotham City. Acrobat Dick Grayson was the youngest member of his parents’ death-defying circus act. But after their cold-blooded murder, Dick vowed revenge. Seeing a genuine piece of himself in the boy, Batman took him in—and gave him a better outlet for his anger. Becoming Batman’s protégé, Robin is an expert fighter and astounding acrobat—with the toughest example in the world to live up to. But the Boy Wonder’s true strength may lie in not being Batman—and providing a beacon of hope and family throughout the Dark Knight’s grim crusade. No name strikes terror into the hearts of Gotham City's citizens quite like the Joker. In a city overrun with larger-than-life criminals, the always-laughing villain stands alone. A complete psychopath with no moral compass whatsoever, the Joker, whose real name and identity remain completely unknown, is characterized by his chalk-white skin, green hair and a permanent rictus grin stretched across his face. But there isn’t a single thing funny about this particular clown, who only finds humor in the suffering of others. Possessing a genius-level intellect, the Riddler creates elaborate, sometimes Rube Goldberg-esque traps, and is even willing to use innocent civilians as bait. Although not physically imposing, the Riddler's brilliance, neurosis and lack of empathy make him an incredibly dangerous foe. He cares very little—if at all—about the lives of those he uses in his plots and instead only sees them as disposable pawns in his continuing intellectual battle against Batman. Not all heroes in Gotham City wear masks. GCPD Commissioner James Gordon is the Dark Knight's greatest ally, and one of his closest friends. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

"Marrok will complete his task." The Star Wars Black Series release of Marrok from the Ahsoka series on Disney+ was part of the December 2023 Wave 14 release alongside Hera and Huyang from the same first season. The Ahsoka Galaxy Collection packaging is assigned a blue accent tone utilised on the artwork and the front text elements. The same artwork is used on the rear of the box alongside a generic overview of the Ahsoka Disney+ Series as featured on all the Ahsoka releases to date. Marrock is number 08 in the Galaxy Collection Ahsoka line following on from Huyang, and preceding Baylan Skoll. Marrok is an entirely new figure comprising of a black undersuit over which we have grey Inquisitor armoured panels. The grey used for the armour is a touch too light in shade to the actual prop. Each grey element - as seen on the chest, shoulders, forearms, and lower legs - is sculpted with panels and fixings and these are picked out in an orange tone that is too rough to be deliberate colouring and is trying to replicate some level of rust or weathering that did exist on the Marrok armour, just not overly visible in the dim-lit scenes in which he appeared. This whole Inquisitor Armour combination is, otherwise, pretty accurate to what we see on screen in terms of design, just not the colouring. Considering how close this figure has been released to the series finale it may be based on earlier concept designs or a misinterpretation of the rusting colour scheme. The helmet is cast in the same grey as the armour and is knight-like in design with a front ridged visor and ridged top. The strange orange is applied here too with a pattern that doesn’t quite fit with the parts themselves as any weathering or rusting would start at the edges, and recesses, of the armoured panels, not down the centre of the helmet. Marrok features a soft goods cloak that uses a similar plain black material as other Dark Side characters like Darth Vader and The Emperor. It is cut with a ragged hem sitting just above the ankles and is fitted around the neck with an elasticated tie. This makes it removable if needed, and also fully poseable with the figure. There is what initially looks like a strange stitch at the top of the cloak that stops it from sitting against the back of the figure. This is deliberate and keeps access clear to the very top of Marrok’s rear torso armour where a plug-in slot can hold his lightsaber hilt. The included lightsaber is a similar design to other Inquisitor figures but is not an apparent reuse coming with only one of the two circular central guards and some spikes of some description sitting on the guard that remains in place. It is silver in colour with a black grip. The red blades clip in and out as usual and arrive straight thanks to the return to the inner trays. As mentioned, when not in use the hilt can be stored on Marrok’s back. Otherwise, it can be manoeuvred into either hand, making sure the plug for the holstering action is pointing out of the grip and not into the fingers. Marrok features 17 points of articulation on the new format pinless body with no thigh swivel included. Every joint works as designed with a good level of posing options available for Marrock with or without his lightsaber in either single-blade or double-blade configuration. The dual neck allows for the head to be posed with some level of expression even from a helmeted character. And the cloak works with the articulation rather than blocking it as we might see with a rubberised plastic version. Marrok is designed and executed to a good standard, the team have just made the armour too light and the rusting is not subtle enough and looks more like daubed orange paint markings. He will be ripe for a quality repaint by those talented enough to do so considering the quality of the sculpt and also comes off well in terms of the articulation, the soft goods cape, and the lightsaber accessory. Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Star Wars Black Series Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

“This lightsaber was stolen from the Jedi Temple by my ancestors during the fall of the Old Republic. Since then, many Jedi have died upon its blade. Prepare yourself to join them.” The latest addition to the Star Wars Black Series Clone Wars contingent is the December 2023 release of Pre-Vizsla, part of the Wave 14 of the Galaxy Collection. This five-figure wave was the second to focus on the Ahsoka Disney+ series but also inserted this new Pre Vizsla figure as well as a general release for the new R2-D2 figure. The packaging is a window-boxed design after the plastic-free packaging was abandoned for Wave 13. The standard black base colour is overlaid with the yellow accent colour assigned to The Clone Wars and this is utilised on the front wording and the side art of Pre Vizsla in action. Round the back is a repeat of this same artwork and a short text piece that talks briefly about Vizsla’s role during the events of The Clone Wars. Vizsla is number 17 in the Clone Wars collection, following on from the exclusive release of ARC Trooper Fives. With several Mandalorian armoured bodies in the Black Series catalog, Hasbro has chosen to re-use the older Jango Fett mold for this new release. This is likely an aesthetic choice but does have some considerable issues with articulation as we will see later on. The bulk of the figure is cast in a deep grey finish with metallic silver used on the armoured parts and a bronze metallic finish to the belt, holsters, and wrist gauntlets. The Clan Vizsla crest is neatly painted across the central chest piece in blue. The Jet Pack is the usual plug-in arrangement and it is a brand-new piece with wider thrusters and a central body more aligned to what Vizsla uses in the Clone Wars. This too is cast in dark grey, with the central section then painted a bright silver with red and white indicators and buttons. The helmet is another new piece featuring the antennae at either side that are iconic to Pre Vizsla’s look. The grey cast helmet is overpainted with a second gun metal finish around the gloss black visor and a further Mandalorian crest is painted on the forehead in an ivory finish. The helmet sits over a brand new Vizsla head sculpt, one that translates the animated character into a real-world setting as has been done for all Clone Wars and Rebels releases. This is an impressive head with a good ‘as you’d expect him to look’ likeness to Vizsla, complete with facial hair and a scar under his left eye. The face print expands on this detail with a level of detail around the eyes, brow ridge, and nose in particular. The hair is sculpted to be close-cropped, and is painted as such. This then allows a good fit for the removable helmet. The origins Jango Fett body has been utilised a few times previously and always comes with some articulation issues. The older format of 16 points of articulation does mean you benefit from double-jointed pinned knees, but lose out on a lot of elbow movement - more so than usual with a pair of arms that barely bend to 45 degrees. The torso joint too is restricted beneath the armour, allowing just a swivel in the waist and nothing more. Posing Pre Vizsla is also a frustrating business thanks to some very small feet, restrictive ankle rockers, and a figure that is heavier at the rear thanks to his jet pack. Vizsla is armed with a pair of Mandalorian Westar blasters. These are a basic design cast in grey plastic but with no additional decor. They are designed to fit in the holsters, and can then be held in either hand - with both left and right hands featuring a flexible and separate trigger finger. Pre Vizsla also comes with the Darksaber a re-use of the one originally released with Moff Gideon. This features a black cast hilt and a removable black blade. This time around the Darksaber does feature a crisper and thicker white edging more aligned to the Clone Wars appearance. The Darksaber fits in either hand, but can’t be held by both hands due to the restricted arm movement. When not in use there is no holster option. Pre Vizsla is certainly a very good-looking release with a good level of decor, particularly the metallic hues, as well as the Clan Vizsla iconography. The head sculpt is glorious, as is the helmet. And there is not much wrong with the accessories - although the blasters might have looked better with a darker wash as a minimum. The articulation however is not up to the current standard of the Black Series and has been a known issue with this Jango Fett base for many years. The arms are pretty static which you can work around a bit when posing with blasters, but it becomes more frustrating when attempting Darksaber poses. The legs are more mobile, but the balance issues are hard work. There are better Mandalorian bodies and parts out there in the line, but I do understand using these to increase articulation would have lost some of the key parts of Vizsla’s armour configuration such as the lack of any thigh armour, and the particular shoulder pauldrons. A good release, excellent in some areas, sub-par in others. Once posed and stable in your display you won’t be disappointed. Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Star Wars Black Series Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

Hiya Toys have released the full details for their Exquisite Basic release of Godzilla from the 2014 movie. The 160mm high figure will be a Q3 (July-September) release in 2024. We are delighted to announce the Godzilla(2014) Godzilla Action Figure is ready to join Hiya Toys EXQUISITE BASIC series! Godzilla (2014) tells the story of a mysterious incident at the Janjira Nuclear Power Plant in 1999 that resulted in the unfortunate deaths of Joe 's colleagues and his wife. Years later, Joe's son Ford travels to Japan to help his father, who has noticed anomalies and is determined to uncover the truth in the forbidden zone. They discover that the root cause of the disaster, concealed beneath the ruins, is a colossal cocoon. Facing an ancient catastrophe, Dr. Serizawa believes only Godzilla can restore the balance of nature. While Godzilla confronts significant challenges, humanity strives to comprehend this formidable ally with destructive power, united to confront the ancient threat. This brand new Godzilla action figure stands 160mm tall, based on Godzilla (2014). Crafted with attention to detail, referencing the original CG data from the movie, every aspect of the Godzilla's appearance from the film is faithfully reproduced! Including an articulated tail for posing and display in collections. *The Godzilla Figure is open for orders in global regions (excluding Japan). Price: 51.00USD Release time: 2024Q3 To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

Tamashii Nations have revealed a new S.H. Figuarts figure of Nami from the Netflix live-action One Piece series. More details will follow, with the figure also on display Jump Festa 2024 this past weekend. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

“This is not war, this is PEST control!” The second batch of Doctor Who 5.5 inch collectors sets for B&M stores in the UK arrived in November 2023 and included a pair of History of the Daleks releases as well as the sole 3-pack of 2023. After finishing with the Classic Era Dalek stories, we always knew that Character intended to move on to the rebooted new series from 2005 and this is exactly what the next set does. It slightly oddly titles itself both number 16 and number 17 in the History of the Dalek series as it draws its contents from ‘Dalek’ from the 9th Doctor tenure, as well as from ‘Army of Ghosts’ from the Tenth Doctor finale of his first season. While I understand that Character have moved off track from covering every Dalek story and that this is a combined release of two new series Daleks from different eras and stories, I still find the dual numbering choice on a single slightly odd. The packaging, established for the 2023 anniversary year with the late Summer releases, remains in play with the usual sized History of the Dalek box now emblazoned with the 60th Anniversary logo. The establishment in 2023 of some form of colour coding by Doctor does not seem to be applied to this set which doesn't carry the diamond call out for which Doctor’s era the set is from. In terms of colour it uses the base blue tones that were described by Character as the generic colour scheme for non-Doctor specific sets. We therefore have to wait and see what colours (if any) are applied to releases from the 9th and 10th Doctor eras. The box also continues with the long-established inclusion of the gold ‘limited edition’ sticker in the bottom corner. Around the back of the box is the very extensive background text which changes tact again for this release talking about the props first and the two stories from which the set is based second - a reversal from all the other sets. This background remains very wordy and not overly visual, but the details are fascinating. The History of the Dalek sets continue to use an inner cardboard backing card - in the vortex blue design - onto which the figures are secured and then overlaid with a glued-on blister. That leaves no actual window in the box which does leave the edges easily feathered and damaged. The blister card also removes any option for collectors to open their sets and reseal them later. Character has been producing New Series Daleks since their Doctor Who line launched in 2005, with the early models inclusive of a slight dimensions error on the skirt making them slightly out of proportion to the re-designed Dalek props we saw on screen. By the time we hit the Eleventh Doctor era, Character corrected those proportions with an updated Dalek model used for the Ironside Dalek and then onward through the series. That did leave some of the early Dalek appearances from the 9th and 10th Doctor eras stuck in the older body. This new set from B&M corrects a couple of these by bringing us an updated Time War Suriviro Dalek from ‘Dalek’, originally released as the Genetic Print Dalek on the older body. We also get a correctly sized Dalek Sec from ‘Army of Ghosts’, although this one isn’t completely new considering a correctly sized Sec did get a US-only release in 2014 through the Underground Toys distribution agreement and their ‘Diamond Classic’ releases. The new Bronze Dalek in our B&M set is identical in construction to all these new tooled Daleks that have come before. It starts with the paneled dome with inserted clear plastic lights and a shaped socket for the eye stalk with visible sculpted rivets. This flows down into the three neck rings sat over a darker mesh plastic beneath. The shoulder section includes individual riveted panels around the full circumference, breaking only for the two boxed sockets for the plunger arm and the gun. The base then features the familiar rows of circular sense globes and ends in the solid base that extends to a point at the front of the Dalek and also includes rivet details. Evolution of the Character Dalek figure from old (right) to new (left) The decor is modeled on the Dalek from Ecclestone's first encounter with them as the 9th Doctor in ‘Dalek’ and is based on the appearance of this Time War Survivor after it repairs using the Time Vortex energy from Rose. The base figure is cast in bronze, overlaid with a subtle darker wash to add weathering. Where rivets are included on the main body, these are picked out in silver. And the base section too is a gunmetal silver colour - unique to this on-screen appearance and providing this B&M release with a key point of difference from others that have come before. The Dalek decor is finished with the white symbol just under the eye stalk which is a feature of the New Series Daleks. The eye stalk, arm, and gun are cast in silver with the eye stalk inclusive of a set of clear plastic rings and a black eyepiece with a blue iris. The manipulator arm similarly ends with a black sucker attachment. Both eye and sucker arm arrived warped on my set - they are obviously a much softer plastic than has come before and the shape of the inner tray does push them to the side causing warping in the package. These three appendages are articulated with the eye stalk on a pivot allowing it to move up and down within its outer casing. The gun and sucker arm are ball jointed so have a wider swing of movement. The Dalek also features a 360-degree rotating dome and wheeled base. Dalek Sec is the exact same mold as our Time War Survivor. This time cast in black plastic while retaining the clear headlights on the dome. These do have a tendency to be poorly positioned in the factory with the Dalek Sec from the set we bought having lights that are angling too far forward on one side. The black plastic is executed in different finishes to provide screen-accurate variations in the overall look with the dome and central body in a gloss finish, and the neck rings and lower skirt in a more mat colouration - the latter of which does then feature a glossy black finish on the spheres. The sculpted rivets around the body are only painted silver around the midsection of Dalek Sec and this appears accurate to the on-screen appearance - although previous versions have also painted the rivets on the base. Which version is correct is debatable depending on what screen grabs or prop photos you look at. The white symbol under the eye stalk is crisp and neatly applied and is accurate to the same symbol born by Sec when he appears in Army of Ghosts. Evolution of the Character Dalek Sec figure old (right) to new (left) The three appendages remain silver, the eye with its clear rings and the black eyepiece with blue iris. Like the companion piece, these are soft plastic and do suffer from warping from the packaging. These are all articulated as standard with the pivot eye and ball joint arms. Dalek Sec also comes with a rotating dome and wheeled base. This latest History of the Dalek Set is relatively historic in the B&M Collectors line in terms of moving beyond the Daleks of the Classic era into the new series cannon, although the dual numbering is an odd decision. The two figures are sufficiently tweaked from what came before for collectors, while not impacting on older collections - particularly those who paid out to import the Diamond Collection Dalek Sec. They remain great value for money at the £21.99 price point, but remain a target for scalpers with B&M’s staggered distribution and a lack of a definitive launch date as well as having no online ordering options. For fans of the New Series Daleks, this set is a must and will likely be bought in multiples across certain collector circles for Army Building - although expect to see quite a few loose Dalek Sec figures hit eBay. Keep Track of all the Doctor Who figures from Character at our comprehensive Doctor Who Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

McFarlane's second wave of 6-inch scale Batman The Animated Series figures have been revealed. It is four-figure wave made up of Batman, The Joker, The Riddler, and Commissioner Gordon. The Batman figure this time round is based on 'Blind as a Bat' The Build-a-Figure is Lock-Up. The wave is a Target US exclusive with a late January 2024 release date. As a child, BRUCE WAYNE™ watched as his parents were brutally killed in GOTHAM CITY'S CRIME ALLEY. Traumatized by their deaths, he devoted his life to becoming the world’s greatest weapon against crime – BATMAN™! To become the ultimate vigilante, the DARK KNIGHT™ disciplined his mind and body to reach the pinnacle of mental and physical superiority in his relentless pursuit of justice! Incredibly detailed 6” scale figure based on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ BATMAN™ (BLIND AS A BAT) is based on the television show BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ BATMAN™ accessories include 2 extra hands, extra head and 3 batarangs BATMAN™ comes with the Lock-Up build-a figure torso Included collectible art card with character art on the front, and character biography on the back Collect all McFARLANE TOYS™ BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ figures! A homicidal artist and an agent of chaos, the Clown Prince of Crime is the embodiment of everything Batman fights against…and everything he fears. Incredibly detailed 6” scale figure based on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ THE JOKER™ is based on the television show BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ THE JOKER™ accessories include 8 extra hands THE JOKER™ comes with the Lock-Up build-a figure arms Included collectible art card with character art on the front, and character biography on the back Collect all McFARLANE TOYS™ BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ figures! One of the Dark Knight's most infamous villains, Edward Nygma enjoys flaunting his intellectual superiority by conducting crimes and leaving clues for Batman to piece together. While this habit constantly leads to the aptly named Riddler failing in his criminal endeavors, his puzzle-problem actually stems not only from his own narcissism and ego, but also from a deep-seeded psychological compulsion. Because of this, the Riddler often finds himself a resident of Arkham Asylum following his inevitable capture. Incredibly detailed 6” scale figure based on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ THE RIDDLER™ is based on the television show BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ THE RIDDLER™ accessories include 4 extra hands and cane THE RIDDLER™ comes with the Lock-Up build-a figure legs and baton Included collectible art card with character art on the front, and character biography on the back Collect all McFARLANE TOYS™ BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ figures! Batman may be the sworn guardian of Gotham City, but the man who makes it possible for the Dark Knight to safeguard its streets is James Gordon. A veteran cop who rose through the ranks by putting his foot down on rampant corruption—even when that stalwart devotion to justice came at great personal cost—Gordon worked tirelessly on Gotham’s police force, eventually earning himself the title of commissioner. Incredibly detailed 6” scale figure based on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ JAMES GORDON™ is based on the television show BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ JAMES GORDON™ accessories include 4 extra hands and megaphone JAMES GORDON™ comes with the Lock-Up build-a figure head and shoulder pads Included collectible art card with character art on the front, and character biography on the back Collect all McFARLANE TOYS™ BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES™ figures! To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

The Star Wars Black Series ‘Holiday Edition’ figures were first released in 2020 and took existing Star Wars Black Series figures and accessories and converted them into Christmas-themed versions. The line is made up of various retailer exclusives and one wave would be spread across availability at different retailers and e-Tailers. It sits outside the main Galaxy Collection but uses the same angled side packaging and has retained window packaging throughout its current run spanning 2020 through to 2023. The box design is themed around a Christmas present with a white base colour incorporating snowflakes, red trim, a red-themed Black Series logo and an Aurobesh ‘gift label’. The Holiday Mandalorian Trooper was part of the 2nd wave of Holiday figures released in 2022. He was a US exclusive to Target stores, while had a wider Fan Channel release in the UK. The Holiday Trooper is, like the rest of the line, a repaint of an existing figure - namely the 2020 Mandalorian Loyalist figure from The Clone Wars. The Loyalist colours are of course gone, and the Holiday Edition features a deep red suit overlaid with armour that ranges from green & white striped around the legs, to solid green and red panels and a red & green helmet. The torso is photo printed to recreate a knitted Christmas jumper with a Mythosaur skull and Mando helmet design. Our Holiday Mando Warrior still features the same twin holsters as the original Loyalist figure but is not packed with any blasters. Instead, he is given a Holiday version of The Mandalorian’s Phase Rifle - presented in white with orange trim and perhaps nodding in some way to the Nerf release of the weapon which used a similar colour pallet. The rifle fits into the Trooper’s hands but articulation will limit posing. The peg on the weapon that exists to plug it into Din Djarin’s back has no purpose for this release - there are no holstering or slung options. Articulation for the Holiday Trooper is 16 points in total and is a little bit limited with the elbows in particular very restrictive, especially with the wires built into the forearm sculpt. The Holiday figures often also include a small creature of some description, and the Holiday Mandalorian is accompanied by a repainted Bogling from the 2021 Cal Kestis Deluxe figure. The Bogling has white fur and blue legs with painted eyes, but no further paint apps or detailing. The Bogling is non-articulated and free stands on its legs, balanced out with the squirrel-like tail. These releases are very much a bit of fun and I certainly do not intend to purchase a lot of them, but at the Festive period, they are great to display and look great alongside Christmas Decorations and Trim. Christmas Decorations and trimmings are not included in the set Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Star Wars Black Series Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

“Kinda Defeats The Whole Anonymous Superhero Thing.” The 2021 release of Spider-Man: No Way Home was shrouded in a lot of secrecy ahead of its release due to the number of returning characters that appeared in the movie as cameos, or as key characters. This meant that Hasbro was most likely a little restricted by the Marvel Legends figures it could get on shelves to coincide with the December release. That amounted to figures of Doctor Strange, J. Jonah Jameson, and a trio of Spider-Man figures, all pretty much as seen in the trailers. Following the movie, there was a huge clamoring for many more figures from the movie and it has taken a full 2 years to finally bring the next batch of Spider-Man: No Way Home figures to store shelves. The Marvel Legends ‘No Way Home’ wave is dedicated to movie figures and goes down a similar track as the Across the Spiderverse releases by packing the figures onto blister cards and doing away with a build-a-figure option. While the rest of the wave had a card back aligned to No Way Home, there was some licensing issue with the likeness of Andrew Garfield that has led Hasbro to market this release of the Amazing Spider-Man under the Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie. To that end, this card back is different to all the others and while it includes the deep blue Spider-Suit inspired backing, the overlay is a a brighter blue with a single image of The Amazing Spider-Man to the top left and the Amazing Spider-Man 2 logo heading the card. The Marvel Legends logo as well as the character name sits bottom left, with this Spider-Man titled Amazing Spider-Man to differentiate him from the Maguire (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) and Holland (Spider-Man) releases in the same wave. Round the back is another image of the Amazing Spiderman, headed by the movie logo as though it were a movie poster. The standard Marvel Legends principle of a short character overview is then listed to the left of the card back. The decision to card this wave does mean there is no way of opening the figures without damaging the packaging in some way. The Andrew Garfield Spider-Man is pretty much interchangeable between either his Amazing Spider-Man 2 appearance in 2014, or his return to the role in No Way Home (2021) as the same suit was apparently worn for both movies. This is executed as a darker blue suit than the other Peter’s, with deep red inserted panels and black weblines. The body is cast in either blue or red plastic depending on the majority colour for that part, with the secondary colour painted over, as are the web lines and the spider logo on the front in black and the rear in red. The sculpt of the suit is inclusive of that spandex pattern, most visible at the biceps and down the legs. The proportions for Garfield are accurate, as a taller Peter Parker he does stand above the corresponding Maguire and Holland figures. The head sculpt is impressive, and while based on the Amazing Spider-Man look it fits perfectly well into the No Way Home scenario considering the 7-year gap. The head utilises the facial print technology to great effect around the eyes, nose, and mouth. And Garfield’s hair is replicated flawlessly as an additional piece glued into the head allowing a crisp line between flesh and hair and no paint bleeding or unpainted elements. *3-pack version far right This unmasked head is the only difference between this release and the 3-pack released as a Hasbro Pulse exclusive earlier this year. The heads can be swapped over between the two, not that this adds any value. The 3-pack did get more hand options, with the single version only including two pairs of hands - a 'web-slinging' set, and a second pair made up of a clenched right fist and an extended fingers 'wall-crawling' left hand. The preference would have been to have included a pair of each of these for different posing options. There are no web effects included. Articulation on paper is extensive at 21 points inclusive of a two-joint torso, butterfly shoulders, and double-jointed elbows and knees. However, like the 3-pack version, a lot of the joints feel springy and don't quite hold their position - this is most noticeable at the hips. With work, the figure can be posed in plenty of Spidey positions including crouching, webslinging, and fighting positions. Like the Maguire figure, the ankle rockers don’t quite pivot far enough forward for the crouching pose we associate with Spider-Man sadly. The Amazing Spider-Man is another strong release in an overall impressive wave, marred only perhaps by the packaging choice and lack of BAF while being priced the same as the normal Marvel Legends releases. The unmasked head is impressive, as is the detail on the suit, and the majority of the articulation once you work round the springy joints. For those who stumped up the cash for the 3-pack, this is a superior release only in light of the head but you do lose some of the alternative hands and the web effects if those are to your liking. Keep Track of all the Marvel Legends figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive Marvel Legends Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...