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Storm Collectibles have revealed their next release from their DC Injustice II : Gods Among Us line of action figures. Ares will be released in the 2nd quarter of 2021. He features three head options, 4 pair of hands and a soft goods cape. He is armed with his Sword and his Axe. "Superman reign has eliminated conflict... left me virtually powerless." - Ares ARES confronts the alternate Aquaman in Atlantis when the War God discovers the source of renewed conflict. When he cryptically tells Aquaman that he did not bring Orin and his allies to this new world, but that he could guess who did. Orin and Ares fight, and the Sea King triumphs over Ares. The latter tells Orin about the Insurgents, and that his colleagues are with them. Later, Ares teleports the alternate Wonder Woman to Themyscira to tell her of the Amazons' impending attack alongside Superman's Regime. When Raven discovers Diana and Ares, he vanishes. Features: 3 x Interchanging Ares's Head Sculpt 4 x Pair of Interchanging Hands A Wired Fabric Cape 1 x Ares Sword 1 x Ares Axe Estimated Release Date: Q2 2021 Checkout our blog page 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,

In 2020 Hasbro announced that they would be producing figures from the Fox X-Men Movies to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the original X-Men movie. The Fox Marvel Legends would sit as an anniversary line outside of the main Legends releases, and be made up of both single releases and two packs. Four sets were initially announced, with single figures of Wolverine and Mystique and a two-pack of Magneto and Charles Xavier. The line would expand further with releases from Deadpool 2 and exclusives - with two more Wolverine sets, including a 2-pack based on Logan, Wolverine's final outing in the X-Men Universe. See our corresponding Professor X review The X-Men Marvel Legends follow a different packaging design to the main line, using a squared off box in a similar style to the MCU First Ten Years Sets. The base colour moves away from black to a very bright blue/steel colour with a contrasting yellow backdrop behind the figures in the window. Under the window is a black X-Men logo and then the two character names in angled bold text - MAGNETO and PROFESSOR X. The side art uses a silhouetted image of the characters with some very subtle highlights on their shoulders and then a bright white design on Magneto's helmet. These same images repeat on the back of the box, filling the entire space. There is therefore no character background, movie synopsis or replica movie poster - which would have been a nice touch for this 20th Anniversary line and echoing the First Ten Year sets from the MCU. The set opens via either side flap and the inner trays slide out. The figures are all secured into the tray simply via its shaping - while the hands are taped into place. Make sure you bring out all the parts of the Wheelchair as you unpack - there is an axle piece that sits just under Magneto that may get missed. The background cardboard is now revealed fully to include another X-Men symbol. 3.5 Magneto is a not only a brand new figure for the line, he also comes with a staggering four different head options. The body is based on the armoured look from Days of Future Past and includes a black under suit with red copper armour over the chest and a similar colour down the two arms. The body is cast in black with the armour painted in a metallic copper finish and this adds sheen to the body, but there is quite a bit of bleeding and brush strokes on my figure that stray onto the textured black suit underneath. The cape is a separate piece and is cast in a slightly softer plastic, although its quite rigid vs other cloaks and capes in the line. It is cast in black and the inner lining is left in the base colour, while the outside is painted in another shade of copper red. There are two sculpted arrow fasteners to one side. The first two heads are accurate to the body and the movie, Days of Future Past. These are the Michael Fassbender heads and include a grimacing version in his helmet and an unmasked version with a neutral expression. Both heads use the facial print technology and both are recogniseable as Fassbender. The helmet version is my favourite thanks to the expression which does capture his look from the movie finale. The other two heads feature the likeness of the Sir Ian McKellen Magneto. While Sir Ian was in Days of Future Past - he did not wear this outfit, and the body type is too bulky and muscular for this older Magneto. What worries me about the inclusion of the McKellen heads by Hasbro is that these are a nod to the fans (and customisers) and that there is no intention to release an accurate version in the future - although that being said its a lot of investment to create four heads for a set (6 heads in total when you add in the Xavier heads also). The likeness to McKellen, like Fassbander, is recongiseable but not absolutely nailed on like some movie figures from Hasbro - Wolverine for example in this line, or the recent Black Widow figure. It looks like both heads use the same face as the hair piece on the first head is a second piece with a slight gap when you look up close. The helmeted head looks to then be a helmet applied in place of the hair on the same head. The helmet is not the same as the Fassbender head, but rather is accurate to the helmet Magneto wears in the earlier X-Men movies with a more swept back and angular side piece and a black trim around the opening. For sheer volume of head options, this set is impressive, and each are well executed although not blow away and with half of them not applicable to the outfit the figure is wearing. 4.0 Magneto from any era does not utilise weaponry or accessories, so the set gives us additional hands in the set for variant posing. There are two pairs of black gloved hands, one with fingers outstretched and the second set clenched into fists. These swap in and out easily, and match up to the gloss black colour of the wrist pieces. The open hands are more expressive when you consider the way Magento manipulates metal and will be the ones that get most use. It is worth noting that the other hands in the set - the flesh coloured hands for Xavier - are transferrable between both figures so that the hands can be used for a gloveless look for Magneto - although that is a look rarely seen in any of the X-Men movies. The cloak can be removed if you wish, making it an accessory of sorts. You have to remove the head first, then slide the cloak off over the neck piece. The body underneath looks a little odd without the cape but it is an option. You can see with the cape off that in order to keep it in check on the figure the cape has a large plug in the centre that lines up to a hole in Magneto's back. This takes a bit of work to line up but once plugged the cape sits nicely against the body. 4.0 Magneto arrives with 20 points of articulation, two more than normal by way of those shin joints that rotate at the cut of the boot. Head : ball joint neck with pivot Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, bicep swivel, double joint elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, boot cut swivel, ankle rockers The first issue is one of stability and I found Magneto extremely frustrating to get stood. The cape is relatively heavy and makes him overbalanced at the back. The ankle rockers then do not seem to want to line up and either sit too far forward or too far back between ratchets. Standing poses tend to need to include a stand, or having one leg stepping forward vs the other. The hips should allow for wider stances, sitting and kneeling - but they have that strange springy issue that we've seen on a few other Legends where the joint always wants to spring back to the original position. This does not help with the posing either. The arms are very expressive, and of course crucial in terms of the posing of Magneto showing off his powers. The arms will extend fully out to the side or in towards the helmet to help him focus. The arm joints are all secure and ratcheted in place so once posed the arms remain in place. The head and torso joints work as you'd expect, adding some further options in stances and gestures. We often see Magneto levitating, particularly in Days of Future Past, and the figure looks good placed onto a dynamic stand to recreate a levitation pose. 3.0 The Fassbender Magneto, as seen in Days of Future Past, is faithfully replicated in this set with two good heads offering differing takes on the character and both with decent likenesses. The figure does suffer with a few paint issues, and a very frustrating set of leg joints that make him hardwork to stand and pose. The inclusion of the McKellen heads still has me a little stumped and I do hope they will find a way to bring us an earlier appearance McKellen with these heads in the future. The packaging is bold and bright, and perhaps just a little repetitive by use of those same silhouette images on the side and reverse - when some movie text or character info might have been a nice addition. I score the X-Men 20th Anniversary Magneto a total of 4.0 For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Marvel Legends Database 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, x-men, days of future past, apocalypse, magneto, professor x, xavier, charles

In 2020 Hasbro announced that they would be producing figures from the Fox X-Men Movies to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the original X-Men movie. The Fox Marvel Legends would sit as an anniversary line outside of the main Legends releases, and be made up of both single releases and two packs. Four sets were initially announced, with single figures of Wolverine and Mystique and a two-pack of Magneto and Charles Xavier. The line would expand further with releases from Deadpool 2 and exclusives - with two more Wolverine sets, including a 2-pack based on Logan, Wolverine's final outing in the X-Men Universe. See our corresponding Magneto review The X-Men Marvel Legends follow a different packaging design to the main line, using a squared off box in a similar style to the MCU First Ten Years Sets. The base colour moves away from black to a very bright blue/steel colour with a contrasting yellow backdrop behind the figures in the window. Under the window is a black X-Men logo and then the two character names in angled bold text - MAGNETO and PROFESSOR X. The side art uses a silhouetted image of the characters with some very subtle highlights on their shoulders and then a bright white design on Magneto's helmet. These same images repeat on the back of the box, filling the entire space. There is therefore no character background, movie synopsis or replica movie poster - which would have been a nice touch for this 20th Anniversary line and echoing the First Ten Year sets from the MCU. The set opens via either side flap and the inner trays slide out. The figures are all secured into the tray simply via its shaping - while the hands are taped into place. Make sure you bring out all the parts of the Wheelchair as you unpack - there is an axle piece that sits just under Magneto that may get missed. The background cardboard is now revealed fully to include another X-Men symbol. 3.5 While the Magneto figure in this set was a full new figure, Professor Xavier borrows a lot from previous figures - particularly the often used suited body from the original Agent Coulson and multiple figures since. To achieve the waistcoat look from X-Men Apocalypse - the movie on which this version of Xavier is based - a soft rubber sleeve has been added over the top of the shirt and tie in place of the jacket. This sits rather strangely and makes the shoulders look disjointed. It also bulks out the figure too much and makes Xavier look a little wider than he should do. The suit colours are accurate to Apocalypse with a cast blue plastic for the legs and arms and the same on the coat with painted blue inner waistcoat. The waistcoat paint application is messy, with the top edge left unpainted and still in dark blue. The tie and pocket square are picked out in red. Professor X is supplied with two head options, both executed using face print technology. The first is the James McAvoy version which has a decent likeness to McAvoy as we see him in Apocalypse. The second head gives us a Patrick Stewart Professor X, with a really good likeness to Stewart - although he was not see in this suit, or in the style of wheelchair provided in the set. The heads are very difficult to swap over and the neck peg is particularly tight. 2.5 Professor X comes with his wheelchair, a very basic version and the same one used in the Logan set. It is not really accurate to Apocalypse where McAvoy was using a sleeker chair similar to that used by Patrick Stewart in the earlier movies. Another inaccuracy in the set sadly. The wheelchair arrives in parts - most likely to save box space considering the chair in the Logan set arrived assembled. There are no assembly instructions, so there is a bit of working out how to get the axle into the socket when it is too long to insert? The answer is to pull the chair partially apart and then slide the axle in and push the whole lot back together. Once done the wheels click onto place on the outside - but this fit is far from secure and they have a habit of falling off. The chair is pretty well executed if you put aside its accuracy to the movie. As a manual wheelchair it ticks the boxes with a leather look seat and back, black group handles, silver frame and black wheels with the outer hand grips to move the chair around. The other accessories included for Professor X are hand variants. We have a pair of open reaching hands, a pair of gripping hands and a single right hand with a two finger pose. This last one does make me think of seeing Picard utter "make it so". The hands swap in and out easily enough, and they give you a number of options for posing Xavier in the chair. It is however disappointing not to get a Cerebro helmet for use with the figure. 2.5 Having used an existing body, Professor X has a total of 18 points of articulation, with the torso joint snuck in behind the waistcoat piece. Head : ball joint pivot neck Body : ball joint torso, waist swivel Arms : ball joint shoulder, bicep swivel, double jointed elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball jointed hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, ankle rocker The Coulson body always had trouble standing, and this is still the case despite the overly large feet which don't seem to want to sit flat to the floor. Of course, for Xavier what we need is the ability to get into a seated position for use with the chair. This works pretty well, with the tails of the coat left a little higher so his butt sits cleanly into the seat of the chair. The figure has the same issue as the older Xavier from the Logan set and he constantly slides out of the chair. The arms work fine to allow him to gesture and focus, while also being able to grip the wheels or the arms of the chair. 3.5 Professor Xavier feels like a figure that was put together on a limited budget. The original body from Coulson is actually fine as a re-use for Xavier and has enough articulation to have him seated in the chair. The issue is the waistcoat piece which is ill-fitting around the shoulders and make him look a little too bulky up top. The two heads are both well done and while the suit is perhaps not quite what the Patrick Stewart Xavier wears in the earlier X-Men movies it is not too far away. The chair should have been the more futuristic version seen in Apocalypse and what we get doesn't really fit with either the McAvoy or Stewart Professor X. Not only is it inaccurate, there is also a problem with construction with the wheels dropping off the axle too easily and the issue with the figure sliding out of the chair - some kind of clip or plug is needed really to support the posing. In the two pack, Magento is certainly the leading role and while Xavier does a job he looks more like a custom / hybrid figure than I'd expect from an official release. I hope that we see enough interest in the line for Xavier to be revisited as there is certainly a good looking figure there trying to get out (keep scrolling to see). I score the Professor X from the X-Men 20th Anniversary line a total of 2.5 For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Marvel Legends Database Figure Hacks Once I knew the Professor Xavier was arriving with two heads, I began to prepare some parts for an original Professor Xavier to let me use both heads. Because the figure uses the Coulson suit body, the head will fit on other versions of the figure such as the First Ten Year Stark figure which gives you a darker suited figure more akin to the Xavier from the early movies. The chair from the original Toybiz X-Men figures can also be used to seat Xavier and this combination of the original X-Men chair and a slimmer Patrick Steward Xavier - in my opinion - looks much cleaner as a figure than the actual release. 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, x-men, days of future past, apocalypse, magneto, professor x, xavier, charles

Diamond Select Toys and Skybound Entertainment have announced a new partnership to bring action figures from the Skybound Invincible series to comic book stores in 2021. Invincible ran for 144 issues and will translate to a Netflix animated series in 2021, and it is from this new series the figures will be taken. The figures will be 7 inch in scale and feature additional hands, alternative heads and accessories. The line will launch with Invincible and his father, Omni-Man. The figure pre-orders are now open (23rd December 2020) and will ship in the Summer of 2021. The figures will stand at seven inches, and each will come with a second angry head, multiple interchangeable hands, and baseball gloves. Invincible will come with a baseball and a Reanimen head, while Omni-Man will come with a chunk of concrete and a Flaxan arm. Each figure will feature approximately 18 points of articulation. “It’s a thrill to be working on Invincible action figures for the new animated series,” said DST president Chuck Terceira. “The comic was groundbreaking, and the animated version should be unlike anything that has been seen before. It’s the perfect time to launch a toy line, and I think collectors will be very happy with the product we’ve developed.” About Skybound Entertainment: Skybound Entertainment is a multiplatform content company that works closely with creators and their intellectual properties, extending their stories to further platforms including comics, television, film, tabletop and video games, books, digital content, events, and beyond. The company is the home of notable properties including The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Super Dinosaur. Skybound holds strategic partnerships across the entertainment industry, and has the in-house capabilities to serve as publisher, producer, and global distributor for tabletop and video games. On screen, Skybound holds a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios and a first-look movie deal with Universal. Additional partnerships include comic book publishing with Image Comics, book publishing with Simon & Schuster, and a first-look narrative audio deal with Audible. Skybound also houses a variety of unique creators and their IP, including Kristian Harloff and his pop-culture movie trivia platform the Schmoedown Entertainment Network, and printmaking expert Peter Santa Maria’s Attack Peter brand. About Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC: Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC, was founded in 1999 to create unique and exciting collectibles for children and adults alike, and with the acquisition of Art Asylum in 2007 and Gentle Giant Ltd. in 2019, they have become the premier source for pop-culture products. “DST” licenses a variety of entertainment properties from partners Marvel, Disney, Lucasfilm, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Nickelodeon, Sega, Skybound, Netflix and Sony Pictures. Products include Gallery Dioramas, Select action figures, Vinimates vinyl figures, Minimates mini-figures, statues, busts and more. They are headquartered in Hunt Valley, MD. For more information, visit diamondselecttoys.com and gentlegiantltd.com. Checkout our blog page 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,

The next MAFEX DC release has been unveiled by Medicom as Superman from the Return of Superman story arc. The figure will feature two head sculpts - one standard, one angry - as well as a selection of hand options. The figure will feature swap out lower legs replacing the standard lower legs with rocket boots. There are also two rocket effects include to recreate a flying mode. The figure will sit on an included display stand. Superman will be an October 2021 release, with pre-orders open now. Checkout our blog page 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,

The MAFEX Avengers Endgame Thor from Medicom was first shown in early December 2020 as part of the Medicom Toy Exhibition. The figure has now been fully revealed with this gallery of promotional shots confirming that Thor comes with three head options and the usual alternative hand options. Both Mjolnir and Stormbreaker are included in the set - in fact you get two of each with a normal version and a blue tinted version to reflect a lightning charge. And talking of lighting effects, there are a multitude of options included which attach to the figure and the weapons. Thor also features a soft goods cape and a display stand. Pre-orders are starting to open for Endgame Thor with an October 2021 release date being quoted. Checkout our blog page 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,

McFarlane have shared this image of their DC Multiverse Batman Hellbat Suit figure in a new gold variant colour scheme. The variant release is scheduled for a 2021 release, with pre-orders opening on the 12th of February 2021. This would likely put the Gold Hellbat around a May release. "Batman: Hellbat Suit (Gold Edition) is coming 2021. Pre-orders launching February 12." - McFarlane Facebook Checkout our blog page 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,

As the second season of The Mandalorian arrived on Disney+ a series of product reveals commenced under the Mando Mondays header, and one of the first reveals was a brand new Black Series set containing a Speeder Bike, Scout Trooper and The Child as seen in the finale of Season 1. The set is exclusive to Amazon globally. The set is the first vehicle release in the new Galaxy Collection packaging. The shape and design remain consistent, including the angled side panel, but the set is extended both in width and length to accommodate the Speeder Bike, while the height remains the same. Like the older 2014 Speeder release, space has been saved by angling the Speeder in the box which does look odd - but of course reduces the packaging and shelf space. The Speeder Bike set fits into the Mandalorian releases of the Galaxy Collection, and uses the burnt umber colour scheme on the thick border that runs around the box, the set name, and round into the side artwork. While the angled side lines up perfectly with the other releases in single or deluxe boxes - Hasbro have chosen not to make this release part of the wider montage for The Mandalorian, or for that matter give the set a number. Instead, the art panel is made up of three separate images. The top one is the Scout Trooper standing next to his bike, the middle one is him riding it with The Child in the bag beside him, and the final image is a close up shot of Grogu. The back of the box doesn't repeat this illustration, but follows suit with previous vehicle releases with a shot of the actual product with some labels around the side to highlight the features included - specifically pointing out The Child and the included piece of junk used as target practice. To the side of the artwork is the usual background text, which focuses only on the Scout Trooper and their role in the wider Empire and not their role in The Mandalorian and the capture of The Child. "Scout troopers were lightly armored compared with other Stormtroopers, which allowed them to move more quickly and easily in a range of environments. They were also trained for more independence and adaptability than most Imperial troops. The Empire used scout troopers for a range of missions, including reconnaissance and infiltration" The top of the box carries additional artwork with a further image of the set. And across the base, next to the copywrite and safety info, is an illustration of the bike and the stand and how the two fit together. The box opens via one of the side flaps, the flat end is the easiest so not to damage the imagery if you intend to keep the box. The figure sits into an inner tray and is well strapped in place with clear ties. There are further ties holding the figure onto the bike around both wrists and the leg. The backdrop for the figure initially looks like the base grey of the Galaxy Collection but as you open up the set we find a view of Nevarro from a distance in a similar illustrated style to the side artwork. 3.0 The Scout Trooper utilises the 2014 sculpt which is a good recreation of the on screen Scout Troopers. The helmet and armour are cast in a off white with an applied layer of weathering and dirt to the parts to represent the damage and grime accumulated from the Scout Troopers time on Nevarro. The under suit parts are cast in black and the only issue this presents is where white has to be painted on top for the elbow and knee pads. Here the coverage is not defined in the edges and the tone is just slightly off from the rest of the armour. If you compare the new 2020 Trooper to the 2014 version you can see they are identical in sculpt but vary in the paint décor - both in terms of the yellowed armour on the new figure but also with areas of detail being dropped on the helmet. The Speeder Bike is a also based on the 2014 release with a new white paint job over the gun metal of the main body and engine parts. This off white is then weathered further with mud streaks over the front steering vanes and the main body of the bike, round the sides and over the back just beneath the tan painted saddle bags. The stand for the Bike has been updated since 2014 and like the Heroes of Endor Set (2020) it uses the newer clear stand with the rippling air effect and single height with ball joint top. This was first used in the Enfys Nest Speeder. While it looks more dynamic and still allows the bike to pitch and yaw - it doesn't allow the height the Speeder sits to be adjusted like the older pyramid stand. 4.0 The Scout Trooper is armed with the EC-17 hold out blaster, another carry over from the original 2014 release. It is one of the smallest guns in the Black Series, cast in black and with quite a bit of detail across the barrel and down the grip. It is so small it does not fit into hand and allow all four fingers to hold the grip, instead the Trooper's hands are shaped so the top two fit into the handle and create the grip. When not in use it slots into a molded holster on the right shin. The fit here is OK, but not overly secure and is certainly at risk of being dislodged and lost. The second accessory is the "junk" component that the two Scout Troopers in the finale of Season 1 of The Mandalorian use for target practice. This is quite intricately cast with wires running out of the top part of the piece and down into the lower section. It is cast in grey with no other paint apps. I am not sure the "junk" piece is needed in the set and seems like an unnecessary newly cast piece that took up cost that could have gone into enhancing the final accessory... This final accessory is The Child aspect of the pack. While The Child is listed on the box as a character, what we get is a satchel with a head of Grogu plugged into it. There is no body tucked into the bag, and what we are left with is a static piece with limited use. The satchel itself is well done in a tan brown to match the saddle bags on the bike. There are Imperial-esque insignia badges on the front flap and this is a softer plastic to allow it to fold over and close by way of the two plugs that push into the two provided holes. The bag piece does a job, sitting on the shoulders of the Scout Trooper and allowing the figure to be displayed with Grogu hidden in the bag, or revealed by opening up the front flap - although the way this second option sits is not too natural with the bag flap sitting bolt upright and defying gravity. I would have preferred to see the junk piece scrapped (pun intended) so to develop the Grogu and Satchel into something more impressive. Maybe a soft goods bag with a full Grogu figure - even if it was a repack of the existing 1 inch figure. 3.0 As the Scout Trooper is based on the 2014 body, he comes with the same articulation as the original figure. In this case, this works in our favour as the original Scout Trooper was significantly articulated to allow him to ride the Speeder Bike and the figure has a total of 20 points of articulation. Head : ball joint neck with pivot Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, bicep swivel, double jointed elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, boot swivel, ankle rockers The arms and legs move well, with the arm shoulder pauldron sliding over the chest armour when the arm is raised. The legs can be raise dup to a sitting position to allow him to ride the Speeder Bike, and this also allows the Scout to kneel. The chest joint is not too mobile, being blocked from forward leaning motion by the two pouches on the stomach section of the Scout. This does leave the Scout sitting a little too upright on the bike, and just a few mm of lean forward would have helped considerably. That aside, the arms articulate into a grip on one or both handlebars, with the legs bending and sitting on the foot pedals, with a peg on the pedal lining up with a hole on the foot to secure the riding position. The head is quite extensive in its movement allowing for the Scout to look up and forward while riding. The neck joint is super loose though compared to the older figure, and the same is said of the legs The Speeder Bike has the ability to lean and pivot on the ball joint of the stand, but sadly the fit is not great. This must vary by pack as the ball joint works fine on my Heroes of Endor Speeder, on this one the connection pops off with even the slightest movement. The Bike also has moving joints on the thrust flaps, and the undercarriage mounted blaster can also rotate around into different firing positions. I do like how the set components combines, not only in the riding position but in posing the Trooper casually with the bike or sitting sideways on the seat like we see in the early scenes of the Season 1 finale. This gives us other options for display rather than simply having the Scout Trooper ride the bike. 4.0 The Speeder Bike Scout Trooper exclusive set is another potential army builder (there were of course two Scouts in the episode and more in Season 2) handed off as an exclusive set. The new bike colour and weathering the Trooper are well executed and articulation is fine other than a very loose head. The Child, as promised on the box as a named include character, is underwhelming when you realise it is just a head and there was certainly scope for Hasbro to play with this idea and go with a much more extensive option such as a soft goods bag with full Grogu figure or similar. The bag itself works fine when closed, but is a little clunky when opened to display Grogu due to how the flap sits bolt upright when unclipped. There was also an opportunity missed in the packaging. While the Galaxy Collection has been inclusive of Standard, Deluxe and Exclusives to date with the montage artwork and numbering (Convention Exclusives excluded) this vehicle release is given neither a number or a slot in the montage - with a very different artwork panel used with three individual images rather than a larger illustration. Considering this is a repainted 2014 set with two new parts - the junk piece being one I could have done without - the RRP is relatively high and at time of writing the set is already set as unavailable on Amazon UK. Taking all of this into account, I score the Speeder Bike Scout Trooper and The Child a total score of 3.5 For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Black Series Database Figure Hacks If you dont want to use the Grogu head and Satchel with your Scout Trooper, it will of course fit perfectly well on other figures from The Mandalorian to recreate scenes. Din Djarin works really well - although the same issue exists with the open flap of the bag. You can also swing the satchel over the body of IG-11 for a Nurse-Droid look, although IG-11 has no where near enough articulation to actually ride the Speeder Bike. 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, INSERT KEYWORDS

The promotional images of the Target exclusive Batman from White Knight - the Red Edition - have been released. The set will be released in March 2021 and is based on the red art variant comic cover from the White Knight series. After years of epic battles between the Dark Knight and his twisted archenemy, Batman faces his greatest challenge yet: The Joker has been cured of his madness and is now sane. The Clown Prince of Crime has changed his ways, fighting for good in Gotham City, and it may just cause Batman to go over the edge of his own sanity. Batman is based on the comic book Batman: White Knight #5 (Comics 2018) Batman is featured as a red cover variant from Batman: White Knight Batman comes with Grapnel Launcher, Batarang with line, wrapped Batarang with line, and a base Includes collectable art card with red Batman: White Knight on front, and character biography on the back Checkout our blog page 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,

In 2020 Hasbro announced that they would be producing figures from the Fox X-Men Movies to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the original X-Men movie. The Fox Marvel Legends would sit as an anniversary line outside of the main Legends releases, and be made up of both single releases and two packs. Four sets were initially announced, with single figures of Wolverine and Mystique and a two-pack of Magneto and Charles Xavier. The line would expand further with releases from Deadpool 2 and exclusives - with two more Wolverine sets, including a 2-pack based on Logan, Wolverine's final outing in the X-Men Universe. The X-Men Movie Legends do not utilise the standard Legends packaging and utilise a box format that is similar in size to those used for the MCU First Ten Years sets in 2018 and the 80th Anniversary series in 2019. The box uses a steel grey base colour with yellow and black X-Men logo and an angled character name coming off this. The figure is presented in a shaped window against a bright yellow background with the Legends logo sitting just above this window on the top left. The side art moves away from the usual coloured movie prints to a silhouette image of Logan with very subtle highlights on his hair and bright white colour on the claws and lines of the jacket as a point of focus. This image is repeated on both sides and also on the back - where there is no other details in terms of character background, movie details or even a checklist of other releases. Once opened the figure slides out in the usual inner plastic tray, the yellow outer tray is now revealed as carrying another X-Men logo. 3.5 Wolverine is taken from his early appearance in X-Men (2000) with the striped arm leather jacket which is cast in the base colour with the stripes added along with what I think is meant to be leather wear or weathering, although it looks more like a stain or something has been spilled? Under this is a checked shirt and a peak of that famous white vest. The trousers are cast in blue with a wash applied to give a denim finish. We have more weathering applied here too with more of a muddy splash effect. The belt buckle finishes off the jeans and includes sculpted central detail picked out in gold. The lower legs are identical in sculpt to the exclusive X-Men : Origins version. Wolverine comes with an "angry" Logan head fitted, the same one as used in the Amazon exclusive release from X-Men Origins : Wolverine. The likeness to Hugh Jackman on this version is good, with face print tech applied - and painted detail in that open mouth. The second head is a more nailed on Jackman likeness, one of the best the Marvel Legends line has produced, although the mutton-chops are perhaps a bit too big - they needed thinning out towards the top rather than being a solid mass of hair. The heads swap out easily enough and also can be used on the other Wolverine bodies from Origins and also the suited version from Logan. 4.0 Wolverine arrives with two hand options, a pair of basic fists and a set of Adamantium claws. The clawed versions feature individual claws that are not cast as part of the hand, while that does mean they can drop out and be lost - the look is much crisper as they appear to be extending from the skin. The shape of the claws is good, although they are a softer plastic so they can warp. These hands are the same as the Origins version. Like the head, the hands are easy to swap and give the figure a number of combinations for display such as straight up fist fighting, one claw extended or both claws out. The dog tag from the Exclusive version is not included. While it did not really feature in X-Men (2000) it might have been nice to throw it in with this set to tuck under his jacket? 4.5 Wolverine has an articulation count of 21, coming with the top end level of articulation for Marvel Legends inclusive of the waist and chest joints and butterfly shoulders Head : ball joint neck Body : torso t-joint, waist swivel Arms : butterfly shoulder, ball joint shoulder, bicep swivel, double joint elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knee, ankle rocker Wolverine is fluid in most poses and can flex his arms out to the side, or cross his claws in front of his face thanks to the double joint elbows and butterfly shoulder joints. He can also kneel and crouch with the chest ab crunch working to ensure these poses are more natural and in line with the way a body would shape in such positions. Each joint is tight and secure and Wolverine stands fine in most positions, he can also drop onto a stand for more dynamic posing such as a flying claw attack. 5.0 This is my 3rd Wolverine this year, and while all three have been different in their own way there is a touch of fatigue that in the X-Men Anniversary line we've had so many Logan's when there are other great characters to be made. This is another iconic look for Logan which is executed really well other than the weathering on the jacket which needed to be applied more like the subtle strokes of the trousers than the splodges that are running down either side. The articulation is great, as good as it gets currently for Legends and there are plenty of iconic Wolverine poses to be executed, especially with that angry shouty head. The packaging is vibrant and I love the silhouette art, but there is a bit of a repetition element and I think the back would have benefitted from either some character info, or movie poster & info like the First Ten Years. I score the X-Men (2000) Marvel Legends Wolverine an impressive score of 4.5 For more News, Reviews and a Checklist of Releases - visit our Marvel Legends Database 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, wolverine, mystique, professor x, xavier, magneto, x-men, 20th anniversary, hasbro

It was the final Mando Monday this week with no new action figure news, but two brilliant new Black Series Role Play items from Star Wars. Boba Fett's Black Series helmet will feature the newer paint job from The Mandalorian as well as a flip own rangefinder, LED lights and an illuminated heads up display. You will have to wait well over 12-months for the helmet which is a Spring 2022 release. Preorders are now open including at our affiliate partners of Zavvi and across your independent stockists of choice. STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES BOBA FETT (RE-ARMORED) PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET (HASBRO Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £119.99/Available: Spring 2022) Commemorate the live-action return of fan-favourite character BOBA FETT with STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES BOBA FETT (RE-ARMORED) PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET, inspired by the series THE MANDALORIAN on Disney+! This role-play item with premium deco, realistic detail, and series-inspired design is a great addition to any STAR WARS fan’s collection. Featuring a flip-down rangefinder with flashing LED lights and an illuminated heads-up display (HUD), fans can imagine what it was like for the famous bounty hunter to reclaim his iconic armour and suit up for galactic action alongside THE MANDALORIAN! Requires 1 1.5V AAA battery, not included. Includes helmet and instructions. Available for pre-order at Amazon. Checkout our blog page 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,

It was the final Mando Monday this week with no new action figure news, but two brilliant new Black Series Role Play items from Star Wars. The Black Series Force FX Darksaber will feature LED light up functions and sound effects. The light up functions feature a "progressive ignition", molten tip effect, light up hilt and light up function in the blade edge to recreate the Darksabers unique design. Sounds include power up and power down as well as motion sensor controlled hum and saber clash effects. The hilt is metal and can be displayed in the sleek display stand provided in the box - with or without the blade. The Darksaber will be a Summer 2021 release with a £249.99 UK RRP. Preorders are now open including at our affiliate partners of Zavvi and across your independent stockists of choice. STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN DARKSABER FORCE FX ELITE LIGHTSABER (HASBRO/Age 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £249.99/Available: Summer 2021) Fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS Galaxy with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN DARKSABER FORCE FX ELITE LIGHTSABER, inspired by the live-action THE MANDALORIAN series on Disney Plus. Combining advanced LEDs and entertainment-inspired Lightsaber sound effects, the STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES FORCE FX ELITE LIGHTSABER is the most realistic FORCE FX LIGHTSABER yet and features authentic Lightsaber sound effects inspired by THE MANDALORIAN series, including power-up, power-down, and motion sensor-controlled idle hum and battle clash effects. In addition, this Lightsaber features progressive ignition, molten tip effect, light-up hilt, and the first-ever STAR WARS FORCE FX ELITE LIGHTSABER white LED blade edge. The durable light-up metal hilt features design and deco based on the DARKSABER seen in the live-action series. Proudly display this item in any STAR WARS collection with the included stand, with or without the removable blade. Requires 1 rechargeable 3.7V 1500mAH LiPo battery, included. Includes Lightsaber, barrel plug, hex key tool, stand, rechargeable Li-ion battery, USB charging cord, and instructions. Available for pre-order at Amazon. Checkout our blog page 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,