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The Doctor Who Earthshock Set was released in the Winter of 2021, produced by Character Toys, and sold exclusively in B&M Stores in the UK. It was one of the newer format 3-packs from the Character line that focused on a particular story, in this case the 1982 5th Doctor Story of Earthshock. The packaging is a squared-off window box with deep blue borders and a silver secondary tone used on the Doctor Who logo in the top left and across the rest of the box where it acts as a backdrop for some TARDIS illustrations. The window wraps the top and right side of the box and displays all three figures along with a story-appropriate backdrop. The front of the box carries simply the story name, while the figures themselves are named on the right-hand spine and on the back of the box. Unlike other sets, there is no extensive write-up of the story on the box reverse. The internal card back is an illustration of the cave we find ourselves in during the first few scenes of the Earthshock serial, complete with the TARDIS standing off to one side and the secret cave entrance being utilised by the Androids under the Cybermen's control. We start with the figure of the Fifth Doctor included. This uses the base head sculpt and body first introduced into the line in 2008 when the Classic figures were first released. The decor is essentially identical to the first Peter Davison release from 2010 but with the celery added to his lapel - something that caused an uproar at the time when it was missing, and that would later come in the Timecrash Exclusive set. The figure is cast in light tones plastic with the red trim added to the jacket, red & black to the cricket jumper, and orange and beige striping added to the trousers. In this 2021 version, we do get some added weathering to the cricket shoes and up the trousers and jacket, which would be episode specific considering the Doctor spends a good amount of time at the start of the story traipsing around in a cave. The head is a good likeness to Davison, as it was back in 2008, and remains factory painted with the simplistic application of eyes, eyebrows, and lips. The hair is given some definition with the use of two tones of brown to bring out more details. The other two figures in the set are the Androids employed by the Cybermen to do their dirty work at the start of the story. They continue the recent trend of using the very simple body from Sharaz Jek and the Axon and adding a new head and hands - in this instance, no new feet are required. This is arguably a good solution to create the Android in figure form as on-screen they were nothing more than a black jumpsuit with a face-less helmet. The helmet is shared with the Raston Warrior Robot released in the Five Doctors Set at the same time, the Raston was in itself a repaint of the Android for the show. The figure is cast in the base colour with the only paint added to the faceplate of the helmet where a gloss black is used to create some variation and to define the front of the headpiece. The pair of Androids do get kitted out with some extra parts for this set, which is unusual in itself as the B&M releases are often quite spartan. We get a recreation of the Cyber-bomb used by the Androids. This is a very detailed piece, cast in silver and with added black details and red buttons. They have even added the countdown clocks on the two front faces. The Androids also each get a second pair of hands to replicate the firing position and mechanism they use as a defense mechanism in the episode. Like all Who figures, these are simply plug and rotate hands without any pivot but does allow some differentiation of display. The articulation of the three figures is consistent with the rest of the Who line with 16 points of articulation. These are all simplistic in design and are either pinned bending joints like the elbows or shoulders, or simple rotations like the neck and waist. The Androids do benefit from the shoulders having a ball joint that allows the arms to be moved out away from the body and not just rotated around it on single access as we see with the 5th Doctor. Posing, therefore, is limited with the option of some arm gestures or wider stances. The Androids can and do carry the bomb or can be posed with their arms out in a firing position. As a £20 set, the Earthshock 2021 release does bring us a new figure in the shape of the Android and a variant 5th Doctor. The question posed around the set is why an Earthshock Cyberman could not have been included - either in place of the Doctor or in place of one of the Androids which would then make this an army building set of sorts with collectors wanting two Androids- and you can never have enough Cybermen. Out of all the 2021 Winter Sets, the Earthshock release looks to be selling the slowest, but it should certainly not be overlooked and is a solid addition to the long-running Who line. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Doctor Who 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...

McFarlane launched their Warhammer 40k action figure line in 2020 with the Ultramarine Primaris Intercessor Marine. With that basic figure template in place, it was inevitable, and welcomed, that McFarlane would begin to release variants of the Space Marines from across the various Chapters. The first of these variants came in 2021 and moved the focus to that of the Blood Angels and brought us a Hellblaster Marine complete with an Incinerator gun. It comes packed in the standard McFarlane window box with a top hanging tab and extensive window that wraps the top and the right-hand side. The only border is on the base of the box front with a cutout shape of the Warhammer 40k logo. The character is not named until the left-hand spine where it is confirmed as a Blood Angel Hellblaster at the base of an atmospheric shot of the figure itself. The rest of the box carries some gothic illustrations that Warhammer 40k is renowned for and this extends round to the back of the box. Here it might have been good to include some background info on the Blood Angels or the Marine Type, but instead, we have a simple image of the figure and a checklist of the other releases in the wave - including the Space Marine Artists Proof, an unpainted blank that collectors can paint themselves. The Hellblaster is a direct re-use of the original Ultramarine figure with McFarlane designing the line so parts could be swapped in and out or updated for different troop types or Chapters. The Hellblaster stands 7.5 inches tall and proportionally the figure is well designed and executed. The height is perhaps somewhat off for what is described as 7 inch in scale. A Space Marine will stand at 7 feet tall as a minimum with the Intercessors reaching 8-feet. In the 7 inch, 1/10 scale that would mean our Marine would need to stand between 8.5 and 9.5 inches tall. What we get is nearer to a 6-inch scale The Hellblaster is cast in red plastic with the paintwork being sufficient to identify the various elements of the Marine without the extensive detail we might see on a miniature. It includes a rear backpack that is packed separately in the box and that slots into place by way of a socket and plug connection on the rear of the figure. While we have to consider factory limitations, there is an element of washes and dry brushing missing to stop these figures from looking too shiny and new considering the world they inhabit and fight to defend. There are specific details around the figure to align it to the Blood Angels chapter. These include the front winged blood drop symbol and the repeat of this on the left shoulder armour section. There is also a blood drop pendent hanging from the waist with a gold frame and deep red insert. These are all sculpted detail in full relief and painted neatly and in line with the Chapter colours. There are other painted or decal applied designs including a further blood drop on the right shoulder in yellow and a lightning bolt design in yellow on the black of the right knee pad. The Hellblaster weapon of choice is the Plasma Incinerators and this is a new weapon for the fledgling line. It is cast in black with silver details on the barrel and rear sections. The plasma chamber is picked out in a turquoise colour. This final colour application doesn't quite cover the black too well and looks murky at either end and across the top. The significant issue with the figure is found here as McFarlane has not changed the hands from the first Marine to a pair that are engineered to hold the Plasma Incinerator. The right hand has to be teased into position and particularly getting the trigger finger into the trigger itself which is positioned further away than the bolter that came with the first figure. The left-hand remains a flat supporting pose which does sit under the Incinerator but would be better shaped to cup the underside of the weapon. Articulation is quite extensive considering the bulk of the figure and we have a total of 18 points of articulation. The engineering of each joint is also really well executed so there are no immediately visible joints on the figure - and very few show even once the figure is posed. The shoulder armour is designed to move with the arms, while the legs extend out for wider poses or even walking/running stances. The heft of the figure and wide feed keep it standing perfectly solid in a lot of poses. McFarlane is no stranger to repaints and re-released variants and this Warhammer line will be no different. While they are now hitting the likes of the Orks and Genestealers, it is this Space Marine base that we will continue to see as they explore the myriad of Chapters in the WH40k universe. McFarlane are also keeping these around the £20 price point which means a lot of figure for your money and they certainly add presence to a shelf display. The question for collectors will be the shelf real estate the figure takes up and if multiple Marines will be feasible in the long run - or will we wait for our favourite chapters? I for one am waiting eagerly for the Dark Angels! For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our McFarlane 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...

McFarlane's Winter Showcase extended into a 4th day with their 'Encore' reveals. Coming later this year to the Warhammer 40k line are a new Dark Angels Assault Intercessory Sergeant. He uses the existing Space Marine body with a winged helmet and updated Dark Angels iconography around the armour - he is armed with a chainsword and bolter. The line will also welcome the first Chaos Space Marine, again using the existing body with a horned helmet and updated armour panels. The Armour designs and colour schemes are based on the Black Legion. 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's Winter Showcase extended into a 4th day with their 'Encore' reveals. Coming Soon from My Hero Academia are new figures of Overhaul and Hawks. 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's Winter Showcase extended into a 4th day with their 'Encore' reveals starting with these two new figures of Maleficent and Captain Hook from the Disney Mirrorverse line. The figures are based on the upcoming Mirrorverse Mobile Game and look to be in the 7-inch scale. 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...

Released in 2021, the Infinity Saga range of Marvel Legends was a revisit of figures and characters from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its first three phases. It followed a similar ethos as the 2018 First Ten Years Sets and the 2019 sets for the 80th Anniversary, sitting outside the main Marvel Legends line with specific packaging and aesthetics. The original Iron-Man movie from 2008 pre-dates the Marvel Legends line as we know it, and while some figures were produced they are now showing their age in terms of scale, sculpt, and overall design. Hasbro has used the Infinity Saga as an opportunity to return to the movie that started the MCU with the release of the Iron-Man Mk III suit - and also the Iron-Monger and Obadiah Stane set. Iron-Man arrives in a single figure squared-off box with side art depicting characters from the Infinity Saga in a metallic sheen finish. This artwork is slightly different on each side, but it is the same on all the Infinity Saga releases - there is no extended montage of images as we saw with the First Ten Years sets. The Iron-Man logo sits top left with the Legends logo to the right-hand side. The Infinity Saga is the largest logo just under the window, with the character name beneath. The back of the box carries an image of the original movie poster for the 2008 film and a short piece of text that reads "Tony Stark takes on the world's worst villains in the Mark III suit: a technological wonder equipped with a variety of stunning enhancements and upgrades" The figure is packed into the usual plastic tray that itself sits in a cardboard inner that also acts as the card back. Onto this almost white scheme are printed a number of Marvel circular logos such as The Avengers, Iron-Man, Black Widow, etc. acknowledging each of the major players during the Infinity Saga art. It's not as nice as the illustrations used on previous sets but is a nice touch all the same. The Mk III is pretty much an all-new figure. I had expected some re-use from the 2018 MK 7 but that does not seem to be the case. It stands 6.75 inches tall, making it a more realistic scale and height for Tony Stark in one of his suits - but that does cause some scaling issues with older Iron-Man suits, particularly the Mk I which still uses the original 2008 sculpt, and earlier Legends releases like the Mk 42 and War Machine figures. It is cast in a red plastic throughout that is not quite metallic, but does have a high gloss almost pearlescent finish to it that does get quite close to the on-screen suit without getting into the realms of the higher-end collectibles finish comparisons. The gold colouring is quite limited on the Mk III but is painted on neatly and without too many issues - although the coverage on the thigh armour doesn't extend over the top of the panel and the sections on the back of Iron-Man are a bit scuffed - that last one will be a factory issue and variant on each figure. The final deco application on the body is the Arc Reactor that looks to be a decal or a sticker with a white centre and a visible blue ring around the outside. There is then a hint of white paint added thinly around the reactor on the arm to create a glow effect. On arrival, we have an unmasked Tony Stark head on the figure with arguably the best Robert Downey Jr. likeness to date in the Legends figures. While you can't see the full head, what is exposed is treated with the photo-real deco adding in a very impressive level of realism to the eyes and the facial hair which now looks like individual strands of hair and not just a solid painted piece. Hasbro has not yet come up with a removable faceplate for Iron-Man so for the full helmet look you can swap this head out with a fully masked Iron-Man head. Like the armour this is cast in red with the faceplate painted in gold. The swapping out process is OK, but the masked head does feel tighter on the ball joint and is harder to engage. There are other accessories included with the suit, most of which focus on the right forearm. On arrival, this is simply an exposed panel with a socket. You can clip three elements into this depending on your display wishes. There is a set of exposed wrist missiles, with the missiles themselves painted in gold with black tips. You can also insert the panel mid-opening with the various armoured sections part open with the workings picked out within in silver. The final option is simply for the covered panel to match the left arm. Each of the parts is shaped to fit the right way and the fit is tight enough so that these will hold in place and are not at any immediate risk of dropping out and going missing. You also get a pair of alternative hands, allowing you to exchange the clenched fists with a pair of open repulsor firing hands. These are cast in red with a white painted repulsor. Unlike other Iron-Man hands, there is no socket for the often-used effect part - and the blast effect is also not included. On my first Iron-Man Mk III the alternative hands were cast poorly and did not engage into the wrist slot. This again is a specific factory issue, but something to watch out for. I was offered an exchange and the second version seen here is absolutely fine. Articulation is excellent on the Mk III with 18 points of articulation overall. All the joints on the body are pinless so the overall look of the figure is sleeker and without any visible joints, with each point of articulation designed around the flow and layout of the Iron-Man suit itself. Iron-Man can kneel, stand, pose to fire his various arm weaponry, and also get into flight posing with an appropriate after-market stand. Every joint is tight and secure and engineered so that nothing hinders the joints when moved including the shoulder armour which actually sits on a flexible rubberised hinge so it moves up and down with the arm movement. The Infinity Sage release of the Mk III Iron-Man gives us this very important version of Tony Stark for the MCU to display with the Iron-Monger and Obadiah Stane. Like the Mk7 from a couple of years back, it fixes the older Iron-Man suit under-sizing issue and creates a very nice looking suit at the £25 price point that articulates well, and has a couple of posing options - including that unmasked Tony Stark head which is a brilliant likeness. The suit also provides some future hope of a Mk II all silver variant and parts can then be utilised for more Hall of Armour models going forward. A recommended purchase. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Marvel Legends 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...

Another 7-inch McFarlane DC Multiverse release has been listed on Big Bad Toy Store. The new Ghost-Maker figure is taken from DC Future State and will be a July 2022 release. Ghost-Maker will come with twin swords as well as the usual display base and art card. Bruce Wayne, while training to become Batman, befriended another student on the path toward justice—the man who would become Ghost-Maker! A master in all forms of hand-to-hand combat, the sword-wielding vigilante has a different, deadly approach to justice which often puts him at odds with Batman. Much like the Dark Knight, Ghost-Maker has an array of fabulous weapons and vehicles, and he will always strive to prove to Batman that his approach to justice is superior. 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...

Two new McFarlane DC Multiverse Megafigs have been listed at Big Bad Toy Store - Killer Croc from the Arkham Asylum games, and Man-Bat from DC Rebirth. The two figures each stand approx 9-inches tall and are packed in the larger Megafig boxes complete with display base and art card. We can expect to see these two figures land in August 2022. Born with a rare mutation that made his skin green and scaly and grew his body to grotesque proportions, Waylon Jones was raised by an abusive aunt and bullied relentlessly for his appearance. He briefly worked as a carnival freak under the name Killer Croc, but his misanthropy grew as did his bestial nature, pushing him to a life of crime. As his physical condition and mental state deteriorate, Killer Croc becomes a more bestial foe, increasingly detached from humanity. This genius-level zoologist attempted to make a serum derived from bats, in order to give humans special “sonar” senses. But the formula backfired, mutating Langstrom into a giant “Man-Bat,” complete with its own feral personality. Batman™ routinely tangles with this creature of the night, hoping to save Langstrom from his own scientific sins! 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 2nd day of the McFarlane Winter Showcase was all about the DC Multiverse with four new figures revealed - although we did know about one of these already (kind of). Up first was Duke Thomas Batman from Tales of the Dark Multiverse. This alternative Multiverse Batman will be armed with his Parrall-Axe. He is joined in the new lineup by the Infected Batman of Earth -22 as seen in Dark Nights: Metal. This Batman will come with a Batarang. The surprise reveal was this new Deluxe Joker Dragon, also taken from Dark Nights: Metal. The Joker Dragon is essentially a vehicle that can be ridden by other figures, or simply left as a creature. It comes with a clear stand to display it flying. The fourth reveal on the day was the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh as revealed a few weeks ago, but this version is an Unmasked Gold Label variant. It comes with an unmasked head, as well as the spiked bat and knife accessories. This figure is exclusive to the US McFarlane store and is only available as part of a bundle with the other three figures. Each of the three standard figures will feature the usual circular base, and all four releases will come with the usual art card. The wave and the special bundle is due between June & July 2022. After traveling the different realities of the Dark Multiverse, Duke Thomas returned to his Earth to find the cosmic destroyer Barbatos, now in his final form as a dragon, along with his other Dragons of the Bat. With the help of some allies, Duke defeats Barbatos and his forces, but the darkness still consumes this universe. Despite the ultimate loss, Duke does not stop his mission. Creating a Batsuit of armor from the hide of the defeated dragon, Duke takes the powerful Parall-Axe and ventures into the Dark Multiverse alone to hunt any remaining monsters! Designed with Ultra Articulation with up to 22 moving parts for full range of posing and play. Born from the nightmares of the Dark Multiverse, the Batman of Earth -22 started out much like the Batman we know. However, on Earth -22, he becomes infected when nanotoxins from The Joker’s heart are released into Batman’s bloodstream, causing the Dark Knight’s perfect mind to merge with the warped psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime. He soon transforms into his final form, The Batman Who Laughs, and becomes part of an attempt to plunge the entire Multiverse into ultra-violence, chaos, and utter darkness. Nobody knows the exact origin of these beasts from the Dark Multiverse, but what is known is that they do the bidding of The Batman Who Laughs wherever they appear. During the invasion of Earth-0, the Bat-God known as Barbatos summons these great dragons to help his Dark Knights destroy the world, but they're ultimately defeated by Batman and his allies. These ghastly beasts are as deadly as they are horrifying, and a powerful addition to the army of darkness that threatens to engulf the entire DC Multiverse. 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...

Released in the late Summer of 2021, the Infinity Saga collection was a set of 10 releases in the Hasbro Marvel Legends line that revisited a number of the Infinity Saga MCU movies. It was made up of single and two-pack releases and brought us some new characters not seen before in the MCU Legends line while revisiting some others. One of the biggest sets in the line was the two-pack from Iron-Man (2008) of Obadiah Stane and Iron Monger. The set was the first release in the line for Jeff Bridges' Stane and gave the old Iron Monger figure a more accurate and better-scaled replacement. The box design is similar to that used for the First Ten Years sets in 2018 and the 80th Anniversary sets in 2019. It uses a squared box rather than scooped side with a black backdrop. It utilises the Iron-Man movie and the Infinity Saga logos prominently on the box and a foiled side art of various characters from the Saga. The two sides are slightly different, but the same image is used on all the sets so there is no connectivity as we saw with the First Ten Years. The rear of the box carries a recreation of the 2008 Iron-Man movie poster and some very limited background text for Obadiah and the Iron Monger suit. There is no extensive synopsis of the movie as we've seen on other releases in the past. Obadiah Stane After a long stint as second-in-command of Stark Industries, Stane is eager to exact revenge on Tony Stark Iron Monger Obadiah Stane suits up as the powerful Iron Monger to threaten Iron Man The Obadiah Stand figure itself uses the Nick Fury figure from the Captain Marvel movie as a base, with a new tie added that includes some built-in texture and is painted in blue. The suit is cast in plain black plastic as are the shoes, with no paint apps at all across the body apart from a silver buckle on the belt. The body brings with it the same issues we saw on Fury. The gap on the arm slot of the coat is quite large, particularly on the right-hand side, and the white shirt is visible through the gap in a lot of poses. The shirt collar is also poorly painted where it meets the skin of the neck, it is the skin colour that is the painted part and it doesn't meet the collar fully leaving a white line that makes it look like Stane is wearing a vest. My figure is also starting to rub on the neck and the flesh colour is coming off in several places. The head sculpt is a new piece and presents a good likeness to Bridges with the photo-real print enhancing the strong sculpt. The beard is well-textured put painted in a single colour rather and is missing the white at either side that we see on screen. Obadiah comes with two accessories for display, a working briefcase and the Arc Reactor he steals from the chest of Tony Stark. The case is cast in plain black with a simplistic hinge that allows it to be opened. The Arc Reactor is much more detailed and despite the small scale, you can make out the blue of the surrounding ring and the white of the inner segment. There is even the trailing wire where it had been connected into Tony Stark keeping him alive. Sadly, the reactor is too big for the case so the two don't necessarily work together unless you put the reactor in the open case as we see in the image below. Obadiah has 19 points of articulation with double joints on both knees and elbows. The chest is a torso ball joint as well as having a swivel in the waist. All of this makes Stane pretty poseable although the character doesn't lend itself too much to action stances. The briefcase fits into the left hand for carrying positions, while the right hand is shaped to hold the Arc Reactor. Like the Fury figure that provides the base, the should joints don't quite retract enough to have the arms close to the body and this doesn't quite allow Obadiah to stand with the briefcase at his side as you would expect. While it is great to see Stane join the MCU Marvel Legends line, he alone was never going to sell a set and most collectors will be drawn to this pretty costly pack by the new Iron Monger. This behemoth stands 9 and a quarter inches high so is much more in scale than the original figure and is scaled well with Obadiah and other figures. The bulk of the piece is cast in grey plastic with a slight metallic sheen to the plastic. Around the body, Hasbro has used silver parts for pieces like the pistons and where we may expect movement which contrasts well against the grey. Further details are added with white eyes behind the helmet, a transparent cover over the white arc reactor, and some yellow & red detailing on the weaponry on the left arm. The Iron Monger figure includes some clip-on accessories starting with a missile launcher that is tucked away in the box behind the figure itself and something that may be missed when you are unpacking. It is not immediately clear where this goes, but it is shaped to clip onto the strut that connects the shoulder armour - fitting on either the right or left. Iron Monger then has a piece that recreates casings being spat out of the mini-gun on the right arm and this slots in tightly to a socket just under the weapon itself. You can then enhance this piece further with the blast piece - the same as has been included on Iron-Man figures for some time - which can sit into the end of the mini-gun. You can then go a further step with a smoke wisp which also fits into the barrel to recreate the smoke from the firing weapon. And both parts can be included for a firing and smoking effect. The weaponry on the left arm is fixed and has no parts to enhance it any further. The Iron Monger is also supplied with two pairs of hands to further enhance the display options. We have a pair of clenched fists for hand-to-hand combat, with two open gripping hands for grabbing and tackling your Iron-Man figure. Despite its size, the Iron Monger is pretty well articulated with the equivalent to 18 points of articulation in total. The joints are more restricted vs a standard figure but there is plenty of play in the arms thanks to the floating shoulder armour, and in the legs. The head can move in the socket of the chest armour and the torso can not only be rotated on the waist but pivoted thanks to a robust ball-joint within the waist. Every joint is tight and secure and hefty enough to hold its pose for such a large figure. Iron Monger stands, and remains standing, perfectly well. The joints are supported with some pistons on the back connecting the upper arms and the shoulder armour. These move in and out with the movement adding another 4 points of movement essentially. The single issue with these is the lower set of pistons attached to the arms which do pop out as the arm is posed - and once out they are not easy to put back without bending them which then adds stress marks to the plastic. This is a pretty impressive set from Hasbro, headlined by the Iron Monger. There is nothing wrong with Obadiah, but he is another character in a suit. It would have been awesome if Hasbro could have gone the one step further and while it would have been difficult to have the whole Obadiah figure to sit into the Iron Monger, it would have been great to have an opening cavity and the options to put the Obadiah head, or torso and head, into position so Stane could be displayed in the armour. The price of the set is floating between £65 and £75 here in the UK and that is probably inclusive of the recent increase we've seen across the action figure lines from Hasbro. Pre-Pandemic this would have been the equivalent of a £30 deluxe figure with a £20 standard figure and might have come in around £50-£60. Now we are seeing deluxe figures like the Hydra Stomper retailing at an eye-watering £55 which then makes the price of the Iron Monger set more palatable. I am not sure this one will hang around long enough for a deeper discount to be applied at retailers. For fans of Iron-Man, and that era of the MCU that missed the Legends figures we know today, these Infinity Sets (and others like it) are great to ensure these earlier films are represented on display and with the Infinity Saga bringing us Iron-Man, Obadiah, and Iron Monger - we can now celebrate the film that launched the MCU in our displays. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Marvel Legends 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...

Hudson is the next release in the NECA Gargoyles action figure line. He will feature two head sculpts, a selection of hand options, and his dagger. He is down as a September 2022 release. As with the rest of the line, there is no availability directly outside of the US. The time of the Gargoyles has come again! Arguably the best gothic cartoon of the 1990s, Gargoyles followed an ancient clan of gargoyles transported to modern-day Manhattan when their Scottish castle is relocated. Hudson was once the leader of this group of gargoyles, until he chose Goliath as his replacement. Although blind in one eye, Hudson is still a cunning fighter and a source of much wisdom (especially about Celebrity Hockey). The figure is fully articulated, including poseable wings and tail, and comes with interchangeable roaring head, sword and multiple hands. Comes in display-friendly window box packaging with opening flap. 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 second version of NECA's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figure of The Last Ronin from the IDW comic series has been listed for pre-order. This shirtless version of The Last Ronin will share a number of parts with the Armoured Version as well as much of the weaponry including nunchucks, sai, and tonfa. The sword in his set is broken and he also features some throwing knives. Also included exclusively in this version of The Last Ronin is Splinter's Journal as well as a Mouser. There is also an alternative head and a selection of alternative hands included. This Ultimate Last Ronin is an August 2022 release and will come boxed with an opening front window flap (as yet the packaging is not revealed). From the 2020 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series, The Last Ronin! In a future NYC far different than the one we know today, a lone surviving Turtle goes on a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. This unarmored version of The Last Ronin action figure is authentic to the comic book depiction and stands in 7” scale. Includes Mouser, tonfa, ninja star, throwing knives, Splinter’s journal, nunchucks, broken sword, and interchangeable head and hands. Comes in collector-friendly window box packaging with opening flap featuring a custom illustration. 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...