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Courtesy of listings on Amazon US, a full set of promo images are now available for the Star Trek Universe Prodigy figures from Playmates. The four-figure wave of Dal R'el with Murf, Zero, Gwyndala, and Jankom Pog are now listed for release in May 2023. The figures all feature character-appropriate accessories, and a different version of the Starfleet badge display base than was packed with the earlier releases from TNG, Wrath of Khan, and Discovery. The Prodigy figures also feature series-specific card backs that also include a short character bio - something missing from the earlier releases. These cards also include exclusive game content for the Star Trek Prodigy Supernova video game and a QR code link to the Playmates Star Trek site for Prodigy. Six very different intergalactic kids team up after escaping captivity and launching themselves into space aboard the U.S.S. Protostar. With the help of a hologram mentor, they warp across the Milky Way in search of Starfleet, answers, and a better future among the stars. An orphan with mysterious origins, Dal R’El is searching for a place to belong. He’s only in charge of the U.S.S. Protostar because he says so, but with his can-do attitude, he’s a good fit for the captain’s chair. Dal believes the impossible is possible. You can watch the adventures of DAL and his fellow escapees on “Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1”, which is now streaming on Paramount+. Six very different intergalactic kids team up after escaping captivity and launching themselves into space aboard the U.S.S. Protostar. With the help of a hologram mentor, they warp across the Milky Way in search of Starfleet, answers, and a better future among the stars. Zero is a body-less, genderless, energy-based lifeform whose true appearance can drive anyone insane. To protect everyone, Zero wears a containment suit made from castoff materials. Curious and intelligent, Zero is a telepath who just wants to help those around them. You can watch the adventures of Zero and his fellow escapees on “Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1”, which is now streaming on Paramount+. Six very different intergalactic kids team up after escaping captivity and launching themselves into space aboard the U.S.S. Protostar. With the help of a hologram mentor, they warp across the Milky Way in search of Starfleet, answers, and a better future among the stars. Gwyndala is among the last of her kind. Her mastery of languages lets her communicate with any species the crew encounters. She uses her Neuroflux abilities to manipulate her fretwork into anything she needs, like a battle sword and shield. You can watch the adventures of Gwyn and her fellow travelers on “Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1”, which is now streaming on Paramount+. Six very different intergalactic kids team up after escaping captivity and launching themselves into space aboard the U.S.S. Protostar. With the help of a hologram mentor, they warp across the Milky Way in search of Starfleet, answers, and a better future among the stars. Jankom Pog tinkers with anything mechanical—even when he’s not supposed to—and he has yet to find an engine he can’t fix with his trusty Multi-Mitt. Like any Tellarite, Jankom loves to argue, but he’s great at getting the crew out of a jam. You can watch the adventures of Jankom and his fellow escapees on “Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1”, which is now streaming on Paramount+. 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...

Doctor Evazan, and his partner Pondo Baba, were first released in the Star Wars Black Series as part of the 2021 Cantina Showdown Exclusive box set. Both figures went on to be repacked singularly in the standard Galaxy Collection packaging. Evazan is the 3rd figure in the New Hope Series with the black packaging accented with the yellow colour assigned to A New Hope. The slanted right side artwork connects to the figures either side in the series - Pondo Baba before Evazan and then connecting into the Figrin D’an art on the other side. He is a 2022 release as part of Wave 6 of the Galaxy Collection. While Pondo Baba had some subtle changes vs the Exclusive release - notably the lack of alternative hands, and a seemingly tweaked holster - Doctor Evazan appears unchanged. The head sculpt is suitably disfigured as seen on screen and the depth of the sculpt shows off the scars and damage from his surgeries and likely other nefarious activities. The eyes are executed well into the sunken eye sockets while the mouth has visible sculpted teeth beneath the heavy upper lip. The hair is sculpted, complete with bald-spot to the reverse, then coloured in grey. The hair decor doesn't quite cover all the sculpt with the forward strands of hair on my review figure still a flesh colour. While you know this is Doctor Evazan from the features, the actual head sculpt is not a great likeness and too rounded compared to on screen shots. The chin is also too shallow and the hair a little flat. The costume is made up of a dirty off-white vest with open collar over which the waistcoat is added as a separate rubberised sleeve, complete with belt and integrated holster. The vest is a singular colour, while the waistcoat piece has a textured brown effect overlaid with a darker shade around the front section to add weathering. Evazan’s trousers are purple and cast in the base colour with the boots then coloured in black The figure is another hybrid from Hasbro, reusing a number of parts from earlier figures. The legs are repurposed from the DJ figure from The Last Jedi, while the arms are taken from a Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight figure from Phase 2. Only the chest piece is new, and therefore like the head, while the costume as a whole is recognisable as Evazan, the execution is off with the trousers the wrong colour and too baggy and missing the strap for the base of the holster. The arms too should be more ragged, like the shirt and rolled up on the lower arm. Evazan comes with a single BlasTech SE-14 blaster that fits into his right hand, and when not in use into the holster. The articulation to support posing consists of a pinless upper body and with double jointed pegged knees on the legs thanks to the use of an earlier figure. Posing is fine without being anything special and Evazan can pull of some generic blaster wielding poses, or just as easily be stood next to the bar of the Cantina. A pointing left hand would have been a nice addition so the Doctor could point at bar goers and tell them he doesn't like them. Evazan is very much a background character from the Original Trilogy that has been expanded by way of other media and the more recent cameo in Rogue One. The figure is OK, but nothing special and while most fans will recognise him as Evazan, if you compare him more carefully to the on screen Doctor the issues are quite wide ranging. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

Following his career switch from Bounty Hunter Guild Master to Magistrate in Season 2 of the Mandalorian, Greef Karga upgraded his look to something more befitting his new station. This has allowed Hasbro to produce and release the 2nd Greef Karga figure for the Star Wars Black Series, releasing him in 2022 as part of Wave 9 of the Galaxy Collection. Magistrate Greef Karga is number 24 in the Mandalorian collection and arrives in the black packaging with umber accent colour and side artwork that connects to the figures at either side for a large mural for those who keep the packaging. The figure uses a new head sculpt for Greef, representing the time shift since the Season 1 figure. It remains a good likeness to actor Carl Weathers but not with more grey in the beard and a few more stress lines on the face. The photo-real decor application adds the usual level of realism, but the finish is glossy which does detract somewhat. The body does re-use some of the original Greef Karga parts, the legs are a complete re-use but recoloured into a burgundy base plastic with darker brown boots. The arms too are transplanted across and again recast in the bae red colour of his tunic and darker brown longer sleeved gloves. The torso, like the head, is new and is a simple basic torso over which a chest section is applied as a secondary sleeve incorporating the grey inner waistcoat, belt and skirt piece. There are then a set of more formal Magistrate robes added as a 3rd layer. Paint apps on both of the sleeve pieces are applied relatively neatly, picking out the belt and gold buckle on the inner outfit and the shoulder trim and clasps of the outer robes. Said outer robes are also two toned in finish with a golden inner lining and a dark brown exterior. Greef still comes armed with a single blaster this time round that fits in his right hand. It is a new weapon, adding a scope onto the original one packed with his first figure. There are no paint apps and limited detail. When not in use it will slot into the holster attached to Karga’s right thigh and hidden behind the robes. Articulation count is 17 points in total with the now standard integrated single knee and elbows that do try and blend in with the costume. Thanks to the robes there are limits to posing, but each joint works as it should within the limitations of the outfit.Greef stands fine on display supported by strong ankle rockers and a good centre of gravity despite the numerous layers of the outfit. The Mandalorian, and the other Disney+ content, are now the mainstay of the Hasbro Black Series line and it is inevitable that we will be getting repeat characters in new outfits as we progress through each season. Greef Karga is a nice update for Season 2, executed well enough, but obviously not as dynamic as some of the other characters from the show. Do we now look forward to a third Greef Karga as High Magistrate in the coming 12-months? For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

The Hasbro Power Rangers team hosted a Fan First live event this week, revealing a number of new figures from the Power Rangers Lightning Collection. Up first were reveals of the Turbo Red Ranger, the RPM Yellow Ranger, and the Light Speed Blue Ranger. These will each come with both masked and unmasked heads as well as character-appropriate weaponry and energy FX pieces. They are live for pre-order as of the 17th of April with an October 2023 release date. We can look forward to two new Deluxe releases of Minotaur and Rita Repulsa. These are both general releases and are live for pre-order as of the 18th of April. A trio of Cobra Kai crossover Rangers were also confirmed with a Black Johnny Ranger and a Miguel Red Ranger. These are Target US exclusives and are live for pre-order as of the 19th of April. They are joined by the Red, Green and Pink Rangers in the 30th Anniversary Remastered series - joining the already revealed Yellow and Blue Rangers. The final piece was the Black and Gold Megazord in the Zord Ascension Project line. This is a Special Edition release and is live for pre-order as of the 17th of April and has a June 2023 release date. This 6-inch Lightning Collection Turbo Red Ranger figure features premium paint and decorative details inspired by the show, over 20 points of articulation for high poseability, swappable heads to display the Ranger with or without his helmet, character-inspired accessories, and an extra pair of hands for more ways to play or display. Go Go Power Rangers! IT’S MORPHIN TIME! From Dino Fury back to the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Power Rangers have brought teamwork, action, and adventure to generations of fans. The legacy continues with figures, vehicles, collectibles, and roleplay toys from Hasbro, celebrating ranger teams from Mighty Morphin to the Dino Fury. Imagine all the action of Power Rangers with toys from Hasbro! (Power Rangers toys each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Includes: figure, 4 accessories, alternate head, and 2 extra hands 6-INCH SCALE COLLECTIBLE TURBO RED RANGER ACTION FIGURE: This Power Rangers Lightning Collection action figure has premium painted details and design inspired by the Power Rangers Turbo season INCLUDES CHARACTER-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: The Turbo Red Ranger toy includes multiple character-inspired accessories, and swappable heads, one of the Ranger in his helmet and one without INSPIRED BY THE SERIES POWER RANGERS TURBO: This 6-inch-scale action figure is inspired by T.J Johnson, aka Turbo Red Ranger! Create epic adventures as your favorite Power Ranger with this action figure which includes an auto blaster, Turbo Blade, Turbo lightning sword, and other character-inspired accessories PART OF THE POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION: Look for more collectible figures in the Lightning Collection. Each sold separately. Subject to availability. This 6-inch Lightning Collection Lightspeed Rescue Blue Ranger figure features premium paint and decorative details inspired by the show, over 20 points of articulation for high poseability, swappable heads to display the Ranger with or without his helmet, character-inspired accessories, and an extra pair of hands for more ways to play or display. Go Go Power Rangers! IT’S MORPHIN TIME! From Dino Fury back to the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Power Rangers have brought teamwork, action, and adventure to generations of fans. The legacy continues with figures, vehicles, collectibles, and roleplay toys from Hasbro, celebrating ranger teams from Mighty Morphin to the Dino Fury. Imagine all the action of Power Rangers with toys from Hasbro! (Power Rangers toys each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Includes: figure, 3 accessories, alternate head, and 2 extra hands 6-INCH SCALE COLLECTIBLE LIGHTSPEED RESCUE BLUE RANGER ACTION FIGURE: This Power Rangers Lightning Collection action figure has premium painted details and design inspired by the Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue season INCLUDES CHARACTER-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: The Lightspeed Rescue Blue Ranger toy includes multiple character-inspired accessories, and swappable heads, one of the Ranger in his helmet and one without INSPIRED BY THE SERIES POWER RANGERS LIGHTSPEED RESCUE: This 6-inch-scale action figure is inspired by Chad Lee, aka Lightspeed Rescue Blue Ranger! Create epic adventures as your favorite Power Ranger with this action figure which includes a rescue blaster, weapon accessories, and other character-inspired accessories PART OF THE POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION: Look for more collectible figures in the Lightning Collection. Each sold separately. Subject to availability. This 6-inch Lightning Collection RPM Yellow Ranger figure features premium paint and decorative details inspired by the show, over 20 points of articulation for high poseability, swappable heads to display the Ranger with or without the helmet, character-inspired accessories, and an extra pair of hands for more ways to play or display. Go Go Power Rangers! IT’S MORPHIN TIME! From Dino Fury back to the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Power Rangers have brought teamwork, action, and adventure to generations of fans. The legacy continues with figures, vehicles, collectibles, and roleplay toys from Hasbro, celebrating ranger teams from Mighty Morphin to the Dino Fury. Imagine all the action of Power Rangers with toys from Hasbro! (Power Rangers toys each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Includes: figure, 3 accessories, alternate head, and 2 extra hands 6-INCH SCALE COLLECTIBLE RPM YELLOW RANGER ACTION FIGURE: This Power Rangers Lightning Collection action figure has premium painted details and design inspired by the Power Rangers RPM season INCLUDES CHARACTER-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES: The RPM Yellow Ranger toy includes multiple character-inspired accessories, and swappable heads, one of the Ranger in his helmet and one without INSPIRED BY THE SERIES POWER RANGERS RPM: This 6-inch-scale action figure is inspired by Summer Landsdown aka RPM Yellow Ranger! Create epic adventures as your favorite Power Ranger with this action figure which includes the Nitro Blaster and other character-inspired accessories PART OF THE POWER RANGERS LIGHTNING COLLECTION: Look for more collectible figures in the Lightning Collection. Each sold separately. Subject to availability. The crackle of unreleased energy. The smell of ozone. The feeling that something big is about to happen… when you know you’re in the calm before the storm. Welcome to Zord Ascension Project, the next evolution of Lightning Collection. We’re bringing our expertise in giant robots and experience with awesome collector figures into this never-been-done-before expression of some of the most iconic robots to ever grace the screen. This Lightning Collection Zord Ascension Project Dino Megazord Black and Gold Special Edition (MZ-0101.2) is a premium, collectible figure made with an incredible attention to detail and the love of true fans Power Rangers and awesome giant robots. Featuring 5 individual Zord figures that can combine to form the Dino Megazord — in both Tank and Battle Modes — this figure is a truly morphinominal addition to any fan’s shelf. Includes: 5 Zord Figures and 10 accessories 1:144-SCALE COLLECTIBLE FIGURE: This special edition Black and Gold Dino Megazord will fit right in with already-existing 1:144-scale figure displays INSPIRED BY ORIGINAL CONCEPT ART: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has roots in Japan, and the design of these figures are based on concept art from that original inspiration THE ULTIMATE DISPLAY PIECE, PART 1: Incredible detailing, including translucent pieces and specialized paint techniques to highlight the details of each of the Zords A UNIQUE UNBOXING EXPERIENCE: We’re transporting you to the Zord Ascension Project and putting you inside the cockpit with premium packaging unlike anything you’ve seen before from Power Rangers THE ULTIMATE DISPLAY PIECE, PART 2: A removeable faceplate showcases the cockpit of the Megazord, with sculpted Rangers inside THE ULTIMATE DISPLAY PIECE, PART 3: Each Zord is designed with attention to that original concept art detail… easter eggs abound! ZAP IS AN ECOSYSTEM OF ZORD COLLECTIBILITY: MZ-0101.2 is the ZAP identification number for this special edition Mighty Morphin Dino Megazord 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 Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones figure is the first of what is likely to be many Indy figures in the 6-inch Adventure Series. He is part of the launch wave for Hasbro’s newest collector line, and like the other four figures in the wave Indy is packed with part of the Ark of the Covenant ‘Build-an-Artifact’. The packaging for the Adventure Series is a squared-off box in the same dimensions as the Star Wars Black Series but without the cut-off corner slant. It uses a sandy base colour and then overlays this with the map graphics we see during the Indy movies as well as a generic Indiana Jones logo rather than anything movie specific. As a closed box release, the figure is depicted on the front, with artwork on the right-hand side and a checklist of other figures (and the build-an-artifact) on the left. The rear of the box confirms the content of the box but does not follow suit with other lines and forgoes any background text or info. Inside, a cardboard sleeve is used to hold the figures and accessories that are themselves in a waxed paper bag also printed with the Indiana Jones world map design. Raiders Indy is of course a brand new sculpt, but will certainly be going on to donate parts to future Indiana Jones figures. The look is very much as seen at the start of the movie and includes a beige shirt over which the worn leather jacket is added as a rubberised sleeve. Indy is then wearing khaki trousers and brown shoes with further rubberised parts added for his knapsack and belt with holster. These are all cast in their base colour, but there is a good level of weathering applied to the jacket including worn edges on the folds and patches on the reverse. Similar, but less obvious, wear is applied to the trousers and the outfit is finished off with small details of paint application around the belt - specifically the buckles. The head sculpt is a good likeness to the 1980’s Harrison Ford, and in this instance comes complete with stubble beard. This beard and the facial details are added using photo-real technology and do look a bit messy in places with the stubble perhaps looking more like mud from certain angles. The face also suffers from a waxy finish which is a bit shiny - while you could argue this off as sweat, it does detract slightly from the overall finish. The iconic Fedora hat is an individual piece but is glued in place on Raiders Indy and is not removable. It is also created using a softer rubberized plastic giving plenty of play in the rim. Decor here follows suit with the rest of the outfit and uses a lighter brown to add wear and tear to the hat around the rim and the edges. Most of the other figures in Wave 1 all come with one or two accessories but as the signature release, Indy features quite a few more including the first sets of alternative hands in the line. These swap out by way of the hand slipping onto a socket in the wrist, not the usual hand with a peg that slots into the wrist. Despite being a little bit unfamiliar to Hasbro collectors it works perfectly well and the obvious benefit is the lack of any joints visible on the hands. As well as a pair of clenched fists for an Indy fistfight, the other hands are designed to do various jobs in line with the included accessories. The wider grip left hand can hold the included Chachapoyan Fertility Idol which is cast in a gold(ish) plastic. The details on this Idol are crisp enough considering the scale, but the finish is just not shiny enough. Indy comes with a revolver, cast in black with limited detailing. It fits again in a specially provided hand (right). The gun is too small scale-wise, but Indy does hold it securely enough. When not in use it goes in the holster on his belt where it should be secured by way of a strap and cover piece that fold together. These do not work all that well and it is very hard work to get the strap to plug into the cover piece, and even when you execute the move the thing pops out again too easily. And because this is Indiana Jones we of course get his whip - in fact, we get two. The first is the unfurled whip shown in the promo images as whipping out quite some way. What you actually get in the pack is a more coiled piece as you can see from our images. While this works for me in terms of not using up a lot of shelf space - it is not quite what we expected, but would stretch out with some heat treatment and a bit of care and attention. This fits again in the grip hands provided. If you don't use Indy with a whip in hand, the second wrapped version is provided for him to hold - or to hang on his belt. To achieve this the Hasbro team went with another strap and plug system which works even worse than the one on the holster. It will certainly not hold the whip all that securely and again does not hold in place even if you do ever manage to line it up. Why didn't the team follow suit with the Star Wars line and use hooks or a plug on the whip itself into a socket on the belt? Hopefully, this will be fixed for upcoming figures. Indy is articulated across 18 points of articulation with the addition of butterfly joints to the shoulders neatly hidden under the jacket. While the other figures had a dual articulation on the neck (top and bottom) the neck on Indy is fixed at the base so the head only moves on the top of the neck. All the other joints do what they are designed to do while also working with the sculpt of the figure so not to spoil any aesthetics. While Indy is not quite as articulate as a Marvel Legends or some of the more pricy collector figures out there - there is enough movement in the figure and with the included accessories for a number of dynamic poses. As the launch Indiana Jones figure, the Raiders Indy ticks plenty of boxes but is far from perfect. The accessories are welcomed and well thought out giving you a number of options for display, it is just a pity the gun is undersized, the holster doesn't work as intended, and the strap to hold the whip - while more in keeping with the costume than a hook or socket - doesn't work at all well. You will not be short on Indiana Jones figures in this line - at the time of writing there are already 9 in the release schedule for 2023 and a 10th in development - with this exact figure from Raiders getting some tweaks in the upcoming Temple Escape set. If you want to complete the Lost Ark piece, then buying this figure is unavoidable, otherwise you may want to let the line mature a little and pick up some of the future Indy releases. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Hasbro Database 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...

Jedi Aayla Secura is the 3rd release from Attack of the Clones in the Galaxy Collection Series. She is packed into the usual Phase 4 black packaging with the red accent colour as assigned to Attack of the Clones. The slanted artwork connects to the figures either side to make a wider montage - the Phase 1 Clone Trooper to the left and we assume Ki-Adi Mundi will connect to the right once released. Aayla is a new character to the line and is executed in her Attack of the Clones outfit including the brown leather colour top with left arm sleeve and the burgundy trousers with leather belt and brown boots. All of these are cast in their base colour with no obvious paint applications save a two tone brown panel on the front and back of the belt piece. Aayla’s head sculpt is detailed enough in terms of Twi’lek Lekku which are also wrapped in a leather look cap and wrappings. However, the positives end there for me with the skin tone far too bright and the likeness of the face very generic in its looks and almost regressing back to the painted face details and eyes. Hasbro usually nail figures based on the Star Wars alien species, but in this case Aayla seems to be more of a generic amalgam of all her appearances across live action and animation rather than a specific match to actor Amy Allen. The figure comes with Aayla’s lightsaber which is executed in the usual two piece format with a hilt and clip in blade piece. The hilt piece is a single silver colour and soft in detailing. While it looks a decent approximation to Aayla’s on-screen blade, it would have benefitted from some darker definition on the ridges and switches. The blade is a good blue colour while remaining translucent and the end clip section is robust enough to withstand being swapped in and out. It can be held in either hand, but I have noticed Aayla’s left hand has a trigger finger which I assume has come from another figure (I think it may be the original Rey figure) as otherwise this makes no sense for a lightsaber user. Using two handed posing is possible, but does put stress on both arm joints so is not advisable longer term - the figure really needed some more expansive shoulder butterfly joints. When not in use the saber hilt can be ‘hung’ on Secura’s belt by way of a plug on the hilt and a small socket on the left hand side of the belt. Aayla Secura is a completely pinless upper body, while the legs are double jointed at the knees with visible pins having been re-used from a Admiral Holdo and while that brings some wider range of motion, you do have to put up with the visible pegs. The articulation on Aayla is OK and allows you to pose her in a number of lightsaber wielding positions. The right arm is a transplanted reuse from Aurra Sing and doesn't quite match up the movement of the left arm with the elbow joint much more pronounced on the older right arm section. The figure does suffer from incredibly loose ankles - an issue I thought we had moved past. We cant put this down to the re-use of the Holdo legs as Secura has new boots which are plugged into the lower leg underneath the knee. The ankle rockers have zero ratcheting and this makes Aayla very difficult to keep standing. While I am pleased to see the release of another prequel era Jedi, I feel Aayla Secura fans have been let down by this particular execution of the character. There is nothing wrong with part re-use, and all of the shared pieces work well. But the head sculpt is off, the face print tech looks absent and the choice of blue skin tone comes more from the animated Clone Wars cartoon than the on-screen Attack of the Clones appearance. That does mean she can be used across displays for both the Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith as you see fit, and looks good posed with the existing Commander Bly - but we are still waiting for more of the 327th Troopers for a wider display. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

The 187th Battalion Clone Trooper was a 2022 Black Series release exclusive to Walmart in the US and sold via Fan Channel routes in the UK. The 187th Trooper was the 10th numbered release in The Clone Wars Series of the Galaxy Collection and was packed in a window box using the yellow accent colours assigned to the Clone Wars. The slanted side artwork lines up with the figures released either side - the 212th Clone Trooper and the Clone Wars Darth Maul. The 187th Battalion Trooper uses the newer Clone Trooper body which means we have clearer definition between the white of the armour and the black of the undersuit. The white armour appears dulled slightly and not as crisp white as other Clone’s in the line. Over the white is painted the burgundy markings of Mace Windu’s 187th Battalion and this is applied with rougher edges to depict the fact it has been painted on the Trooper’s armour by hand. Articulation on the newer body is superior on the upper body with a relatively wide range of motion on the arms supported by a chest ball joint and neck articulation. The legs are partly blocked from a full range of motion thanks to the shape of the upper thigh armour section and where as the older Clone body could kneel, this one finds that position a step too far. The knee joints work well enough but the floating knee armour panel does look off when the knee is bent too far as it doesn't move as it should with the actual bend of the leg. Clone Trooper’s used to come with two weapons, but this release is limited to the smaller DC-15S blaster rifle. Cast in black plastic, it has limited detailing and no paint apps. It fits into the right hand only where a trigger finger can be slotted in place. Clone Wars and Clone Trooper fans will be pleased to see the 187th Battalion Trooper in the Black Series, but the ongoing issue of making army builders exclusives at premium prices is certainly an issue. While regular figures are available between £22 and £25 - these Fan Channel Exclusives are pushing £30 and that is not cheap for Army Building especially when you consider this is an existing figure with a relatively simple paint job and a single underwhelming accessory? For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

Amazon in the US have put a number of the new Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron Series 4 items up for pre-order. This has given us a clearer look at the Y-Wing, Vulture Droid, TIE Bomber, TIE Interceptor, and the A-Wing. Some of these are bundled up on Amazon with the Series 4 Scout Class blind boxes while others are being sold on their own. The individual Amazon links are included in the details below for each ship - with Amazon quoting a December 2023 release for all of them. Command Gold Squadron with the STAR WARS Micro Galaxy Squadron Gold Leader's Y-Wing. Featuring incredible details and authentic scaling, this 5-inch vehicle is based on the BTL light bombers deployed during the Battle of YAVIN. Race through the Death Star Trench with proton torpedoes, a rotating ion turret, an opening cockpit, retractable landing gear, and a working droid socket. Vehicle also includes articulated 1-inch Jon Vander and R2-BHD micro figure accessories, compatible with any STAR WARS Micro Galaxy Squadron craft. Collect Gold Leader's Y-Wing and lead the assault on the DEATH STAR. Officially licensed STAR WARS product from Jazwares. Ages 8+ Fortify your fleet with the STAR WARS Micro Galaxy Squadron Vulture Droid. Each pack features an Vulture Droid vehicle with Battle Droid micro figure accessory Prepare for surface assault with the Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron TIE Bomber. Featuring incredible details and authentic scaling, this 5-inch vehicle is based on the heavily armed starfighters flown by the IMPERIAL NAVY. Pummel the enemy with an opening cockpit with dual seats and an opening bomb bay. Vehicle also includes an articulated 1-inch TIE Pilot micro figure accessory, compatible with any Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron craft. Collect the TIE Bomber and switch on your targeting computer. Officially licensed Star Wars product from Jazwares. Ages 8+ Fortify your fleet with the STAR WARS Micro Galaxy Squadron TIE Interceptor. Each pack features an Imperial TIE Interceptor vehicle with TIE Interceptor Pilot micro figure accessory Fortify your fleet with the STAR WARS Micro Galaxy Squadron A-wing. Each pack features an Imperial A-wing vehicle with A-wing Pilot micro figure accessory 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...

McFarlane have announced that Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet will be joining their 6-inch DC Super Powers line in the near future. 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 first Han Solo figure from Harrison Ford’s return in The Force Awakens came before Hasbro started using the Photo-Real face print technology, and therefore like many of the pre-2017 figures the likeness is not particularly flattering. The Archive Series allows for a do-over of figures of this era, and Force Awakens Han was chosen for release within Wave 7 in 2022. Like all the Archive series to date, the packaging is that of a shaped black blister card with grey backing for the figure and the use of an insert that carries the original Gregory Titus lined artwork. Now the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary is out of the way we have thankfully seen the rear of the card return to the usual Archive format where it details the original release, has an image of the original packaging and carries the usual short character text piece. Out of the box and it is immediately clear that this Han Solo is not just a repaint, but rather an updated head sculpt that captures Solo’s grizzled greying look from The Force Awakens. The iconic cocky and sure for himself expression is perfectly captured as is the slanted mouth and the aged face and greying hair. The rest of the body remains as it was originally and there is not a huge amount wrong with that other than the legs which can look a bit bow-legged and bandy if not posed correctly. Han is wearing a creased off white shirt over which is his brown flight jacket with weathered leather look applied. The trousers and boots are similarly worn and weather and the outfit is finished with Han’s gunslinger belt and holster complete with painted gunmetal buckle and rivet detailing. As this is an older buck, the figure does have visible pinned joints but the flip side of this is it also comes with the original double joint knees. All the joints appear pretty secure, but there is a bit of play still in the ankles - an issue that was quite problematic around The Force Awakens era. Han does stand and pose fine, and can wield the included modified DL-44 blaster. The blaster accessory is OK, but remains quite soft in the detail and lacks any paint apps on top of the cast black plastic. It fits in Han’s right hand where a trigger finger slots into place. Or it can be holstered snugly in the thigh holster. Han Solo from The Force Awakens is exactly what the Archive Series is for, taking an older figure and bringing it up to speed with the rest of the line while not devaluing the original release which remains unique in its execution of the time. You will not regret adding this Han to your collection. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

Across the history of Star Wars and the various movies and shows, the Mos Eisley Cantina remains one of the most iconic sets, and it is now finally being realised in the Star Wars Black Series. The Cantina Showdown is a Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 exclusive, sold only via Hasbro Pulse in the US, Canada, and the UK following the live stream event. Hasbro provided us with this set free of charge as part of a press pack for Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 The Cantina Showdown continues the packaging homages that we have seen across the last year celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Lucasfilm. It mimics the Power of the Force 2 Cinema Scene packaging of the late 1990s and is a direct update of the original 1997 Cantina Showdown set from the Kenner 3.75 inch POTF2 figures to the modern 6-inch Black Series. Unlike the original box, the new Exclusive Set features a metallic foil finish to the box which matches the finish they put on the Wampa set from last year. It looks impressive in person but is difficult to photograph and is prone to fingerprints and smudging. The box opens from either of the two side flaps and the full innards slide out. The contents are packed onto a 5 sides cardboard tray, enclosed in clear plastic trays that themselves slot into and through the cardboard base and are secured in place with a number of plastic twist-lock connectors. The figures are held in by clear elastic ties - and lots of them - while the accessories are on a small tray to the side of Obi-Wan and taped into position. Like the original POTF2 release, the inner tray is illustrated like the Cantina bar. Whether it is serviceable as a display environment on its own will be an individual choice, but the various slits and holes do detract and the plain cardboard sides will mean it needs a bit of work. We start with Obi-Wan Kenobi who is a direct and full re-use of the original 2016 release. There are some tweaks that do improve the figure massively, particularly the photo-real decor on the head sculpt. This face print now works with what is a very good likeness of Alec Guinness, and with much better colouring on the face and hair than the recent 2021 Kenner Homage Obi-Wan. The other improvement is on the soft goods with a stitch added either side of the hood to keep it in a more natural position. The original figure suffered from a floating hood look, and considering that Ben Kenobi has his hood raised in much of the Cantina Bar scene this minor tweak is appreciated. The hood can still be lowered to reveal more of the head. Obi-Wan comes with his lightsaber which includes a detailed and well-painted hilt that can also be hung at his belt by way of a hook on the belt, and a loop at the end of the lightsaber itself. The translucent blue blade is a good colour and straight - but the connecting section is quite slim and may be at risk of damage if you swap the blade in and out too often. There has been no improvement in Obi-Wan's articulation and that does mean that he features the basic 16 points of articulation from that 3rd phase of releases. The legs are very poseable but restricted behind that rubbery skirt. While the arms really need a better elbow and a butterfly joint for the two-handed saber pose. While you can force the arms into a position to hold the saber (see below) they don't want to stay in that pose and put a lot of strain on the saber hilt which bends through the pressure. Ponda Baba is a brand new character addition to the Black Series with a full new Aqualish head sculpt. The head may appear a little large at first glance, but is correctly scaled considering the original 1977 costume - over the years other figures have scaled the head down. The body is taken from the Luke Skywalker Medal Ceremony figure (2019), repainting the jacket and sleeves to orange and adding some weathering and dirt. The trousers remain brown, but a shade darker and without the yellow piping. The boots remain gloss black. Ponda Baba is seen in the Cantina scenes with two types of hands, and Hasbro has included both of them so you can choose his appearance at the bar. The hairy standard hands look new and feature textured hair painted in a darker grey than the base skin colour. The hoof hands also feature hair around the wrist with a glossy grey finish to the hoof itself. The Luke Skywalker arms did not originally facilitate swapping out hands. And while these new ones work OK, they feel stretched when going in and out and the pegs are quite slim so another area to watch for potential breaks. Sadly, there is no feature for Ponda's arm to be severed by Obi-Wan's lightsaber - this is a miss for the set. The articulation is 16 points in total with double joint knees and single joint elbows. Ponda Baba comes with a blaster that I think is new to the line, a sleek scoped weapon with a painted red handle that arrives wrapped in a tiny sleeve to protect it in the box, It fits into the right standard hand, and slips into the holster when not in use. The holster is carried forward from the Luke figure and it was designed to hold a different weapon. The fit, therefore, is not perfect and a little tight and the strap is hard to engage being too short to come over the grip of Ponda's blaster and into position. The final member of the Cantina Showdown is Doctor Cornelius Evazan who also features a brand new head sculpt with all his disfigurement sculpted in glorious detail- albeit not that good a match to what we see on screen with the figures head too round, with a shallow chin and lack of depth in the hair which is more wild on screen. Evazan features a new torso piece over which is the new waistcoat jacket complete with holster. The arms date all the way back to the orginal Jedi Luke Skywalker figure, while the legs are taken from DJ from The Last Jedi. Most of the decor for Evazan has gone into the face with the body cast in their base colour with the belt the only piece with paint detail. There is no weathering to dirty up the Doctor as we see with Ponda. Doctor Evazan has 17 points of articulation, gaining an extra joint thanks to that new torso and a dual joint neckpiece that has motion at where it connects to the torso as well as where it connects to the head. Evazan also comes with a new blaster with a very complex design of overly long scopes and a very short barrel. It is believed the original blaster prop went on to be re-used in Alien if anyone thinks it looks familiar. It is cast in grey and has no paint apps added. The holster is part of the belt sculpt and is made for the weapon so the fit, when holstered, is tight and secure. The Black Series is pretty scarce in terms of environmental pieces released over the past 8-years. Aside from a number of diorama bases, we've only really had Palpatine's Throne, Obi-Wan's table, and the Throne and base for Snoke. This set brings us three modular pieces to build part of the Mos Eisley Cantina Bar. We have a straight piece and a curved piece and Hasbro has alluded to us needing two sets to build the full curve of the bar - although the exclusive is restricted to one per customer. I would assume we will see these pieces in further sets perhaps with other Cantina patrons. Each piece is cast in beige plastic with a grey trim on either side of the bartop and discoloration added to weather the sections. They clip together by way of a clip and peg system and can be connected in both left-hand or right-hand curving configurations. And the straight sections are designed to connect together too if you had more of them to create a longer bar. The centre part of the bar is a third segment that has to be carefully, almost surgically, removed from the packaging and a myriad of clear ties. The base section is the same colour as the rest of the bar, with the grey trim. On the back, you can see more plug and socket connectors which would allow you to connect two island pieces together for a fuller section of the bar. The various canisters and pipes above are all individual pieces that slot into holes on the bar and into each other. They are all cast in a grey, with no paint apps applied at all and this is a shame considering the props were varying colours with copper pipework. You are also provided with three cups/glasses as part of the set to dress your bar with. None of the figures can easily hold these in either hand without some level of stretching. Once connected together and lined we can see the bar is scaled well to the 6-inch figures. It is well-engineered in terms of how it connects and stands fine on its own. The Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 exclusive Cantina Showdown set will sell at £104.99 in the UK and that equates to around £66 of figures at the current £22 price point, and about £39 of the bar. It is perhaps lacking in a couple of areas - I'd like to have seen more paint on the canisters and pipework of the bar, and a feature to severe Ponda Baba's arm would have added more value. As it stands, this is a great display piece if you can snag one via Hasbro Pulse after the Star Wars panel at Pulse Con. Those who love the packaging and are picking up the other POTF2 carded figures be really happy with the foil packaging while loose collectors should be happy with the overall construction and look of the bar - and it is a fair bet we will see further bar pieces now Hasbro has the design to expand the diorama further. For those who miss out by choice or due to demand, it is understood Ponda Baba and Evazan will be single releases at some stage in 2022. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Star Wars Database 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...

Super7 have teased this image of what appears to be a Conan the Barbarian Ultimates 7-inch version of Valeria. We will get the full details next week and we will therefore have to wait and see if this is a sole release like the Wave 4 King Conan, or whether Wave 5 will be more than one figure? 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...