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In 2020, it was confirmed that Diamond Select had secured the license to produce action figures from the New Line Cinema Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The team at DST confirmed an initial plan for 6 figures, and a 7th bonus Build-A-Figure who would be collected over the first three waves. Rather than utilise the oversize blisters that Diamond have used for many years for their 7-inch action figures, the Lord of the Rings characters are packed in these sleek and more collector-friendly window boxes. It uses a blue base design that runs with the Middle Earth map as part of the background. There are then bright golden LOTR logos applied across the front and sides. The front of the box carries a generic image in the bottom right of Gandalf, Sauron and Frodo rather than individual images for the packed character. Therefore only the character name changes between each box. The rear of the box features a circular design with the elvish script from the Ring of Power around it. It acts as a checklist of releases and shows images of both Gimli and Legolas within. Under this is a further image with the Sauron Build-a-Figure shown alongside the Elf and Dwarf giving some scale to what we will end up with by the time we finish wave 3. The back of the box did give an opportunity for some background of each character, but this has been missed and instead, there is a generic piece of text - with the character name changed on each box - that confirms the source material as The Fellowship of the Ring, and reads:- "This deluxe action figure of Legolas is based on his appearance in Lord of the Rings ; The Fellowship of the Ring. It features approximately 16 points of articulation. and character-specific accessories. It also includes a part to build Sauron - collect the first six figures to assemble the 13-inch figure!" There is a noticeable issue with the window box in that the figure is not easy to see compared to the old Select packaging, or other window box figures. The reason is the decision to include two layers of plastic - an outer window and a second layer that cocoons the figure. This creates a double glazing reflective effect and is also not particularly environmentally savvy as we try to reduce plastics. Once you've worked through all the plastic you will also find a lovely backing card piece that uses the Middle Earth map. The first noticeable thing with Legolas in hand is the proportions of the body. While Elves are slim and tall, the figure is too slim in the waist vs the actual look on the screen with Orlando Bloom in full costume. The figure was originally going to have an elven cloak and the figure looks and feels like this is a key component missing that would have certainly improved the overall look. This aside, the costume is very well executed from a sculpt perspective matching that we see in the Moria scenes. The tunic and trousers are relatively plain, while there is some intricate scrollwork to the leather armour, boots, bracers and the strap for his quiver. Only the latter is maximised by the paintwork with a wash to show the intricate sculpting on the bronze strap of the quiver. The other areas are not painted and are therefore only visible upon close inspection. Adding a wash or more paintwork to the boots and leather armour pieces would have really improved the visuals, yet instead, the wash has been applied to the plain parts of the costume as a weathered effect. The likeness to Orlando Bloom in the head sculpt is good, just not quite as striking as that we see on the companion Gimli piece. The paintwork here also lets it down a little with a blotchy skin tone that is trying to bring out the shading of the face but is likely applied by hand and cant imitate the more realistic application you see on face printed figures like Hasbro & NECA. The hair is done well as a softer plastic section over the head allowing it to flow down over the shoulders without impacting all movement in the neck. It may be a touch short vs the onscreen look, but that may be as well to keep the figure mobile when posing. The hair, like the face, has additional paintwork to bring out the details of the hair strands and the plaited sections. The application is again patchy and goes from very good at the back of the figure to more heavy-handed applications on the front Legolas is proficient at many weapons in the LOTR trilogy and sadly the figure disappoints by only including his bow. There is no place for the twin elven blades he wields, and yet the quiver has been designed with slots for both swords indicating they were initially planned. This is a bad call and I'd have rather have paid more for a more complete Legolas than go without. If Diamond then goes down the route of variant figures with differing parts in each then I will be one fan that will be turned off the line very quickly. The bow is well designed with more scrollwork, and it comes with an elasticated string rather than a plastic piece which always looks too thick. The next issue is in the attention to detail for the bow position as Legolas holds the bow in his left hand and draws with his right. The hands on the figure are, however, designed the opposite way round. The right hand is shaped to hold the bow and the left hand, with a parting in the fingers, designed to draw the arrow. This is another disappointment for fans, and while you can reverse the grip the fact the hands are the wrong way round means the bow doesn't hold well in the right hand and there is no ability to hold one of the three included arrows via the right hand - so you are left with a kind of balancing solution. The arrows included in the set are well done and you get three of them with a silver arrowhead, painted shaft and detailed flights with more paint effects on the feathers than some parts of the costume. They can be drawn on the bow or placed in the quiver when not in use. By taking away the swords and allowing Legolas to solely use a bow, the figures articulation was always going to be key and sadly there is not enough motion in the arms to get fully dynamic drawn bows and instead you will be limited to more preparatory posing with the bowstring flat. The issue is the single joint elbows that just about hit a right angle when bent but needed to be double-jointed for better bow action. While the back of the box talks about 16 points of articulation, Legolas only has 14 with the thigh swivels that we see on Gimil removed and replaced with a rotating single joint knee on Legolas. This allows for some wider stances, but there is no kneeling or other athletic options open to you. There is also a return of the dreaded floppy ankle issue that has plagued Diamond figures for many years on their various lines like Marvel. While Gimli was solid and stable, Legolas' ankles are very weak without any ratchet built into the joint and he falls over far too easily Wave 1 of the Lord of the Rings figures from Diamond Select is very much a tale of two halves. Gimli is superb with three detailed axes, swap out hands, solid articulation and a predominantly well-painted head and costume. Legolas on the other hand feels like a half-finished project. The costume is good, but the paint lacking. The head is good, but the paint application is messy. The bow is good, but the hands are the wrong way round and the articulation is lacking. We also miss out on the twin blades, and this is more frustrating when we consider they were in the plan at some stage due to the holsters slots in the quiver. We also lost the elven cloak seen in the first shots from Diamond which would have balanced out the proportions of the figure. COllectors like myself are desperate for a good Lord of the Rings line, having had nothing since the original Toybiz era figures. As I said earlier, I would rather Diamond up the RRP and give us a more complete figure akin to a NECA Ultimate than cut corners on key characters. For now, Gimli is a good indication of where the line could be and I hope that level of detail is what we see in Series 2 when that arrives later this year. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Diamond Select 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. Checkout 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... action figures, reviews, review, articulation, diamond select, lord of the rings, the fellowship of the ring, legolas, greenleaf, elf, elves

In 2020, it was confirmed that Diamond Select had secured the license to produce action figures from the New Line Cinema Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The team at DST confirmed an initial plan for 6 figures, and a 7th bonus Build-A-Figure who would be collected over the first three waves. Rather than utilise the oversize blisters that Diamond have used for many years for their 7-inch action figures, the Lord of the Rings characters are packed in these sleek and more collector-friendly window boxes. It uses a blue base design that runs with the Middle Earth map as part of the background. There are then bright golden LOTR logos applied across the front and sides. The front of the box carries a generic image in the bottom right of Gandalf, Sauron and Frodo rather than individual images for the packed character. Therefore only the character name changes between each box. The rear of the box features a circular design with the elvish script from the Ring of Power around it. It acts as a checklist of releases and shows images of both Gimli and Legolas within. Under this is a further image with the Sauron Build-a-Figure shown alongside the Elf and Dwarf giving some scale to what we will end up with by the time we finish wave 3. The back of the box did give an opportunity for some background of each character, but this has been missed and instead, there is a generic piece of text - with the character name changed on each box - that confirms the source material as The Fellowship of the Ring, and reads:- "This deluxe action figure of Gimil is based on his appearance in Lord of the Rings ; The Fellowship of the Ring. It features approximately 16 points of articulation. and character-specific accessories. It also includes a part to build Sauron - collect the first six figures to assemble the 13-inch figure!" There is a noticeable issue with the window box in that the figure is not easy to see compared to the old Select packaging, or other window box figures. The reason is the decision to include two layers of plastic - an outer window and a second layer that cocoons the figure. This creates a double glazing reflective effect and is also not particularly environmentally savvy as we try to reduce plastics. Once you've worked through all the plastic you will also find a lovely backing card piece that uses the Middle Earth map. Gimli is a solid figure in hand with plenty of weight. The head sculpt is superb with a very good likeness to the heavily made-up John Ryhs-Davies as we see him on screen. The beard is a triumph considering the complexity of it, and the detail around the helmet is intricate and looks brilliant. The costume goes a little plain after the head area with a brown tunic and silver armoured panels down the arm overlaid with a couple of gold shoulder sections and a belt buckle with similar bronze colouring as the helmet with a dark wash to bring out the detail. Gimli is carrying his pack on his back and there are a couple of other iron rings around the costume. The boots are a little bit of a let down when you see the detail built into them and they've then be left as a single brown colour on the upper section, but washed in bronze on the feet part causing a disparity. Gimli is armed with three different axes. We start with the single-handed axes. The first is his walking axe with a shaped, cutout blade. The second is his beard battle-axe with a more simplistic axe-head. Both are very well cast in a hard plastic and with bright silver painted blades, bronze detailing on the head and a brown grip section. You will need to swap out Gimlo's provided hands to the alternative gripping pair to use these axes. There is a loop on the belt that allows one of these smaller axes to be stowed when not in use. You also get the larger two-handed axe that he collects in Moria and that belonged to his cousin, Balin. This is a lovely piece with the same silver blade, bronze connecting headpiece and brown ribbed handle. It is just a pity that there is no option for Gimli to stow this on his back along with the rest of his gear. Gimli has 16 points of articulation as stated on the box. These are all single joints, there are no double-jointed knees or elbows. Gimli can gesture well enough with his arms and there are plenty of weapons poses available to him. The head is held in check by the beard, but can be turned partially so Gimli is looking to the side. The legs are short and held behind the lower part of his tunic. They are sturdy and the joints tight and secure so standing Gimli is a simple operation and he holds most poses well and without any risk of him falling over. As a launch figure for a Lord of the Rings action figure line, Gimli is a brave choice ahead of characters like Aragorn or Gandalf. While he is a bold choice, he is also a great choice considering and the figure is a triumph. For your £25 UK price point you get a lovely looking dwarf with crisp sculpt, and loads of detail in the face, beard and armour. You also get three axe options, and an alternative pair of hands to provide various display options and articulation that is considered and supports the posing while not being over the top or a detractor to the look of the figure. The only negatives are the packaging, particularly for boxed collectors, and that visibility issue with the double-glazed interior. And the paintwork on the boots which ideally needed the same paint care and application as seen elsewhere on the figure. For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Diamond Select 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. Checkout 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... action figures, reviews, review, articulation, diamond, select, lord of the rings, the fellowship of the ring, gimli, gloin, dwarf. durin. dwarves

Two further sets from the Marvel Legends Infinity Saga collection have been revealed, initially via a listing on Entertainment Earth which apparently went up a little too early and has since been removed. Making his debut in the Marvel Legends line is the MCU figure of Odin, as seen in the first Thor movie in 2011. Odin is sporting his full Asgardian armour, and is supplied with two heads - one with his helmet, and one without. He also comes with an alternative handset and his staff. The Infinity Saga figures are all scheduled for an August/September release. MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES 6-INCH INFINITY SAGA ODIN Figure (HASBRO/Age 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $26.49/Available: Fall 2021) Fans, collectors, and kids alike can enjoy this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES 6-INCH INFINITY SAGA ODIN Figure, inspired by the character from MARVEL entertainment. This quality 6-inch-scale figure features premium design, detail, and multiple points of articulation for posing and display in a MARVEL collection. Includes figure and 4 accessories. Available for pre-order at Hasbro Pulse, Big Bad Toy Store, and Dorkside Toys. "The king of Asgard, protector of the Nine Realms, and father of Thor, Odin has learned to appreciate peace over the centuries." 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

Two further sets from the Marvel Legends Infinity Saga collection have been officially revealed by Hasbro and have gone up for pre-order around the globe. From Avengers : Endgame (2019) is the first 2-pack in the line containing tweaked versions of the previously released Mk85 Iron-Man and the armoured Thanos. Tony comes with the Iron-Man suit head, and then two unmasked heads - one of which is battle damaged. There are three sets of hand, including an option for the 'snap'. Other parts include the nanotech weaponry blades, shield and two of the repulsor blasts we see quite often in the Iron-Man releases. Thanos uses the base armoured figure but is updated to have battle damage on the armour, and Thanos is now be wearing the Nano Gauntlet. This then has two 'hand' options, one normal and one snapping his fingers. There is a new head for Thanos that looks to be 'mid-snap' as he begins to turn to dust. Three other heads are included, all of which look to be the ones released previously across the various MCU Thanos appearances. The Infinity Saga figures are all scheduled for an August/September release. MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES 6-INCH INFINITY SAGA IRON MAN MARK 85 VS. THANOS Figure 2-Pack (HASBRO/Age 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $62.99/Available: Fall 2021) Fans, collectors, and kids alike can enjoy this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES 6-INCH INFINITY SAGA IRON MAN MARK 85 VS. THANOS Figure 2-Pack, inspired by the characters from MARVEL entertainment. These quality 6-inch-scale figures feature premium design, detail, and multiple points of articulation for posing and display in a MARVEL collection. Includes 2 figures and 15 accessories. Available for pre-order at Hasbro Pulse, Big Bad Toy Store, and Dorkside Toys. "Iron Man steps onto the battlefield against Thanos in the ultimate fight for the fate of the universe. Thanos grew into a destructive force that will stop at nothing to achieve his goals." 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

During the Diamond Select 2021 Showcase last month, a new Tron set was announced in the 7-inch Select line. The set was planned as an SDCC 2021 exclusive and featured figures of Tron, Sark and Flynn who are cast in clear coloured plastic as originally seen on their original 1982 figures from Tomy. The set will feature each figure on a retro blister card, and then this will be wrapped up in a larger window box. There are no images of the box as yet, but we have got new images of the three figures outside the original screengrab from the Diamond Presentation. The set is limited to 3000 pieces and is up for pre-order at selected retailers for a June 2021 release. Visit the far-flung future of 1982! As we approach 40 years of Tron, Diamond Select Toys is looking back to the original Tron toy releases for this new exclusive box set! These three 7-inch figures - Tron, Sark and Flynn - are cast in translucent material to replicate their 1982 action figures, with black-light-reactive printed details. Each comes packaged on a retro-styled blister card, and all three come packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Yuri Tming, sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! Limited to 3000 pieces! 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

Variants and repaints are very much part of the McFarlane model for all of their action figure series, and the Warhammer 40k licence is particularly ripe for that treatment with the various Space Marine Chapters and the various Orders of the Sisters of Battle. A new variant of the Adepta Sororitas has been announced by McFarlane, the Sacred Rose Battle Sister. The new variant will be a chase figure under the Platinum Collection. This means that the chase version will be packed into standard cases and will turn up randomly at any stockists who order the mainline. This will make it one of the harder of the WH40k figures to find. 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

A new McFarlane Mandarin Spawn figure has been listed on US retailer Gamestop. This new version of the Mandarin Spawn is badged as a 'Designer Series' release which is a Deluxe release that appears to have improved paint apps as well as a wider range of weapons. The new Mandarin Spawn features four individual bladed weapons as well as an ornate shield. Rather than a collectors card, a mini-poster is included in the set. The figure is up for pre-order now at Gamestop in the US. We await details of availability outside of the US. 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

Following on from the reveal of their Orc soldiers is this new Iron Studios 1/10 Art Scale figure of Boromir from Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring. The statue features an excellent likeness to actor Sean Bean. Boromir is armed with his sword and shield, and as seen in the scenes in Moria as the Fellowship prepares to face off against the Orc horde, and their cave troll. The Boromir 1/10 Art Scale Statue is a Quarter 4 2021 release. "The ground shakes ... Drums… drums… in the deep ...", an account of the past, read by wizard Gandalf, which is recorded in an old book taken from the hands of a Dwarf lord, fallen in combat at the Tomb of Balin. That moment happens once again when a horde of Orcs approaches to attack the heroes of the Society of the Ring and the warrior of Gondor. When he locks the gates of the mausoleum, he warns: "They have a Cave Troll!" ... Faithful to the smallest details of the costume, characteristics, and physiognomy of actor Sean Bean, Iron Studios presents its statue of the warrior prince "Boromir - BDS - Lord of the Rings - Art Scale 1/10 - Iron Studios", where the brave hero holds his circular shield firmly against his chest, while he wields his broad sword with his right hand, firm and focused for combat, carrying the Horn of Gondor, the symbol of his people and heritage of a line of Kings. This statue comes with a base representing the petrified ground of Minas Moria, with the remains of bones and weapons of Dwarf warriors, who are lying at his feet. Known for his greatness and courage, Boromir is the eldest son of King Denethor II, Regent of the kingdom of Gondor. He joined the Fellowship of the Ring and was warned by Elf Elrond not to blow the Horn of Gondor until they were close to Gondor, and only in dire need. He proved his worth as a warrior in Minas Moria when he and the other members of the Society of the Ring were cornered at Balin's Tomb and faced the attack of the Orcs. This piece is part of a diorama inspired by this emblematic moment presented in the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", which Iron Studios adds to its collection inspired by the immortal literary work that was created by J. R. R. Tolkien, and masterfully adapted in theaters by Peter Jackson in 2002. - Limited edition - Based on original movie references - Made in polystone - Hand painted - This statue is part of a battle diorama based on The Fellowship of the Ring movie - Product dimensions: 9 in (H) x 5.1 in (W) x 5.1 in (L) - Product Weight: 0.7 lbs - MSRP: USD 149.99 (American US Dollars) - Release schedule: Fourth quarter of 2021 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

Iron Studios have announced three new 1/10 Art Scale Statues from the Lord of the Rings movie saga, specifically The Fellowship of the Ring. The Orc statues are sculpted based on their appearance in Moria during the Fellowship's escape from the Mines. There are three variant Orcs - one Armoured, one with a Sword, and a final Orc Archer. The statues are down for release in the 4th Quarter of 2021. In the past, they were once Elfs. Tortured and mutilated by the evil powers of Morgoth, the first dark lord of Middle Earth, they were transformed into a new grotesque form of life, the Orcs. Stretching his bow and arrow to shoot his poison-tipped arrow, the monstrous being with greenish skin, long pointed ears, and serrated teeth prepares his attack, ready to do anything to defend his territory. Beside him, on top of a tomb that houses the skeleton of a former Lord Dwarf, another of his brothers in arms is also prepared to attack, protected by rustic armor and wielding his spear and shield. And joining forces with the two, another relentless Orc wielding a sword joins the pursuit of the Society of the Ring through Minas Moria. In this way, Iron Studios presents the statues "Archer Orc, Armored Orc and Swordsman Orc BDS - Lord of the Rings - Art Scale 1/10 - Iron Studios". In "The Fellowship of the Ring", the first movie in the trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings", by director Peter Jackson, to arrive at a volcano in Mordor, a region dominated by Sauron's evil, on a mission to destroy "One Ring", a creature's power artifact, the group of protagonist heroes must cross Minas Moria, a vast network of tunnels, chambers, and halls, built below and through the Dark Mountains, which in the past was home to the race of Dwarves, and is now completely dominated by Orcs. Upon reaching Balin's Tomb, a white marble mausoleum of the old dwarf King, the Hobbit Pippin drops a bucket into the crevices of a well, awakening a group of Orcs, who attack the cornered group. Iron Studios replicates in detail the battle scenario described above in a diorama designed with attention to every detail, which will bring members of The Fellowship of the Ring against the Orcs and the monstrous Cave Troll, in one of the most striking action moments of the first movies of the trilogy, based on the iconic literary work created by JRR Tolkien. Available separately, join the three Orcs in your collection next to the Cave Troll Deluxe statue from Iron Studios to compose the forces of evil in Moria. Swordsman Orc BDS Art Scale 1/10 - Lord of the Rings: - Limited edition - Based on original movie references - Made in polystone - Hand painted - This statue is part of a battle diorama based on The Fellowship of the Ring movie - Product dimensions: 6.2 in (H) x 6.6 in (W) x 5.1 in (L) - Product Weight: 0.8 lbs - MSRP: USD 139.99 (American US Dollars) - Release schedule: Fourth quarter of 2021 Archer Orc BDS Art Scale 1/10 - Lord of the Rings: - Limited edition - Based on original movie references - Made in polystone - Hand painted - This statue is part of a battle diorama based on The Fellowship of the Ring movie - Product dimensions: 6.2 in (H) x 5.5 in (W) x 5.1 in (L) - Product Weight: 0.5 lbs - MSRP: USD 139.99 (American US Dollars) - Release schedule: Fourth quarter of 2021 Armored Orc BDS Art Scale 1/10 - Lord of the Rings: - Limited edition - Based on original movie references - Made in polystone - Hand painted - This statue is part of a battle diorama based on The Fellowship of the Ring movie - Product dimensions: 7.8 in (H) x 7.4 in (W) x 7.4 in (L) - Product Weight: 2.2 lbs - MSRP: USD 159.99 (American US Dollars) - Release schedule: Fourth quarter of 2021 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors,

Marvel's Katy, from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is a standalone exclusive release in the Marvel Legends line. She was released in April 2021 in the same window as the other 4 Shang-Chi movie figures who sat as part of the Mr. Hyde Build-a-Figure line. Katy, who comes with no BAF pieces, is exclusive to Target in the United States, and elsewhere is a more general release via specialist stores. Her box design mirrors that of the other Shang-Chi figures with the red movie logo, gold nameplate, and the light grey patterned backing card. Like the other figures, the illustration of Katy is just that as opposed to a still from the movie. This image covers both side spines and is right across the back section with the briefest of background text that simply reads "Katy, Shang-Chi's oldest friend, is free-spirited and fiercely loyal" Katy is presented in a full-length Japanese Yakuta with a wide belt. This is predominantly cast in textured red plastic. Paint apps are applied down the lapels and across the belt and these are very intricate floral designs that appear to be decals rather than hand-painted detailing. The lower part of the dress is slit up the right side to try and aid articulation as we will see later. Under this is a pair of ankle cut-off trousers in the same red colour. Katy is wearing a pair of brown sandals which are not painted at all well with the brown leather colour not covering the skin tone in places where it should. The ankle rockers above also give the ankles an odd look as though they are swollen at each side. The head sculpt likeness to actor Awkwafina is OK, but not as strong as the other Shang-Chi figures. While face print tech has been used, the application is minimal and restricted to eyes, eyebrows, and lips, with no shading or definition to the rest of the face. I also have a small mark on Katy's right cheek which I thought might be a mole at first. It seems it is not and is a mark that is being very stubborn in coming off. The hairpiece is well executed with a front strand of hair blowing to one side while the remainder flows down the back of the figure. Katy does include a good selection of accessories that all centre around her bow and arrow. The bow itself is relatively plain with a brown bow section and a white string which is as thick almost as the bow body itself. The central handle is also painted in white and is the grip for Katy to hold. The bow will fit in either hand, although the box art indicates she would usually hold this with her left hand. We then get some arrows. A single arrow to be drawn on the bow and a bundle of arrows for use in the quiver. The single arrow is made up of a red arrowhead, brown shaft and red flight. It is again quite chunky, but it would be difficult to make any slimmer without it snapping all too easily. I was expecting the right hand to be designed to hold the arrow, and in a way, it does with a cap between the fingers into which you can slot the flight. The fit though is poor and a wider gap and better shaping on the hand would have allowed for easier posing with the arrow drawn to the bow. Katy then comes with a shoulder slung quiver. This is cast in the same red plastic as her outfit and is then trimmed in silver. It has a brown flexible strap that is best shaped to go over her left shoulder and around the waist at the right. The quiver has a large slot in which you can place the bow and a smaller slot for the arrows. Rather than be a design where arrows are drawn over the shoulder - like Hawkeye - the quiver is more horizontally strung and therefore the position does make sense for Katy to reach around with her right hand to draw arrows from her left. Katy is packed with another character/creature from Shang-Chi in the shape of Morris. Morris is a Dijiang from Chinese mythology, a six-legged winged creature with no face. Morris is cast as a single piece with a fur textured body in a cream plastic. The sculpt and texture is good, but there is no paint applied to define the fur further or indeed the sculpted details around the feet. Morris has two sets of wings, which are very detailed with individual feathers on each. They are cast in a rubbery plastic and left the base brown colour from the top - again this is crying out for a second wash. Morris' best paint feature is the underside of the wings which are predominantly hidden. These are painted with an iridescent purple and blue colour which is not particularly neat to the pattern of the wings but is quite striking in contrast to the dull brown. Katy is articulated reasonably well with the standard 16 points of articulation we associate with a female Marvel Legends body. The legs are impressive considering they are not of much use behind the skirt piece, coming with double-jointed pinless knees. The ankles are a little weak and despite flat feet, Katy is not the easiest to pose standing - especially if a bow pose is adjusting her centre of gravity. The arms are where Katy really needed the movement of double joints on the elbows only bend far enough for more relaxed bow positions rather than a fully drawn position with the right arm bent back on itself under the chin. Katy sits perfectly well alongside the other Shang-Chi figures, with the costume design fitting in well with the likes of Wenwu, Death Dealer and Shang-Chi himself. Its practicality has to be called into question for an archer, but am sure it has some context on screen when the movie is released. She could have done with having the leg articulation reduced and new joints explored for the arms, and that quiver could have been shaped better to fit on the body. Other than that paint and decor is OK for Katy, while Morris is certainly lacking a couple of washes and some care on that wing paintwork. 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. Checkout 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... action figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, marvel legends, shang-chi, legend of the ten rings, hasbro

Mr. Hyde is the 6-part Build-A-Figure from the April 2021 wave of Marvel Legends made up with four figures from the Shang-Chi MCU movie, the Civil Warrior Gamerverse release, and the comic book based A.I. Tony Stark. Each figure comes with a selected body part which are then relatively easy to clip together and assemble. The trickiest element, as is often the case on these larger figures, is getting the legs into the large peg of the thigh - you may need to warm the parts up a little in hot water or with a hairdryer to help the fit along. Mr. Hyde does reuse parts from the larger King Pin / Joe Fixit body although the overcoat and shirt front with bow tie look new. The head is also new and features a grimacing Mr. Hyde with bared teeth and red bulging eyes which looks really good. He is wearing a bowler hat, which is part of the head and cant be removed. The hands are new also and are sculped with body hair down the back of each of them and this is then painted in a light brown. The suit itself is all cast in a base green with painted black buttons. The same black is used on the shoes, while the bow tie is painted in red and the shirt in off-white. The figure is supplied with a single accessory, a walking cane that is included with the Wenwu figure along with the Mr. Hyde right arm. The cane is cast in black, with the top section a light brown finish. It is designed to fit into the right hand, and while the fit is tight it holds the cane well for either a neutral walking pose or to raise it up as a weapon. Mr. Hyde has 16 points of articulation, with the large body being downgraded on both knees and elbows that are single jointed rather than the double joints we see on most Legends figures. Due to the bulk of the body, the legs are mainly designed to keep Hyde standing, and most poses will be very simple neutral stances or a walking pose. The arms are more expressive, and further motion can be added by engaging the ball joint waist under the waistcoat and the neck joint. Mr, Hyde is an impressive figure standing 8.25 inches tall and therefore being a focal point standing a good head or more taller than most other Legends figures. He is well-executed vs the original source material and is likely to be sought after considering he is a comic book Build-a-Figure across a predominantly MCU wave. 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. Checkout 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... action figures, reviews, review, articulation, marvel, legends, hasbro, Mr Hyde, build a figure, BAF

The MCU version of Death Dealer is part of the April 2021 Marvel Legends Mr. Hyde wave, sitting in the wave alongside the other Shang-Chi MCU figures and the Comic & Gamerverse releases that make up the full-wave. He is packed in the usual scooped side box, with a gold nameplate, red Shang-Chi movie logo, and a grey backing card. An illustrated image of the MCU Death Dealer is used on the two side panels and again on the back of the box alongside a short piece of background text. "Death Dealer is one of the most formidable opponents Shang-Chi has ever faced" Death Dealer is a wonderful-looking character and has been translated well from screen to figure. The character wears what looks like a full face mask, painted a stark white with red and black markings. From beneath this a pair of black ringed, face tech printed, eyes peer out with real intensity. The lower half of the face is covered with the blue hood of the outfit and from this, a ponytail extends with a red tie, with the hair then hanging down over the back of the head. The blue outfit is a quilted texture and includes an ornate orange trim and a red internal lining. There are armoured pieces added over the robes with wrist bracers and knee armour panels coloured in silver. The belt carries an ornate buckle, and round the back we find two tucked throwing knives (non-removable) that match the included accessories we will see shortly. While not immediately obvious, if you look closely the base figure for Death Dealer is the MCU Ant-Man figure, The torso beneath the robes and the legs and boots are both directly taken from the Ant-Man figure with the robes placed over the top and new arms and head added. I have no issue with re-use like this, particularly as it works so well with Death Dealer. Painting is pretty good across the figure, with just a few sections of the orange trim showing a bit too much blue underneath where the coverage is not what it should be. There is then a similar issue on the back end of the belt where the base blue is not fully covered by the black. It looks like the outer robes could be removed, with a clasp to on side - but this is glued shut. Opening this up would simply reveal the base Ant-Man figure body underneath. Death Dealer does not come with a traditional weapon as such. Instead, we have two hand options each with a weapon built-in. There is an alternative right hand which is cast to include a pair of throwing knives that have just been released - similar to the throwing star hand used on Ronin from Endgame. There is a left hand which includes one knife, gripped by the blade and ready to throw. Each blade is painted in silver with a red shaft and both look the part when used on the figure either together or in isolation with the other hand options. The other hand option in question is the set fitted when the figure arrives, a general open-handed pair. Considering that the other figures such as Shang-Chi, Wenwu and Xialiang come with extensive Martial Arts hands - it is a shame more weren't included with Death Dealer, particularly a set of clenched fists. Death Dealer does struggle a little with articulation. The count is good, with 17 working joints and we know that because this is the MCU Ant-Man base we have a further waist swivel and T-Joint torso under the robes - although both of which are not really workable beneath the robes. This upper body joint is rendered useless by the way the robes are added as a full piece, and this, therefore, does not allow Death Dealer to articulate anywhere on his main body, so no crouching stances or twisting angles to release his throwing knives. The legs too also suffer from the robes which extend down as far as the left knee. So while the legs are double-jointed at the knees, the reality is that you are very much tied into neutral stances. The arms are thankfully unaffected by any of the figure's design and are fully mobile with double-jointed elbows and bicep swivels to help with throwing stances. Death Dealer is probably the coolest looking of the Shang-Chi figures released in this first wave, but the look has been prioritised over the articulation in particular and that is a compromise that perhaps stops him from being posed in the more dynamic poses we'd expect to see him in. He also feels a little short-changed with the accessories and particularly alternative hands considering how many were included with other characters like Shang-Chi and Wenwu. 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. Checkout 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... action figures, reviews, review, articulation, marvel, legends, shang-chi, legend of the ten rings, hasbro, death dealer