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Hasbro held a Fan Friday Event on the 13th of November with news and reveals for a number of its brands. The Star Wars Black Series Galaxy collection is already very healthy in terms of figures from The Clone Wars, and we will be adding new figures to this with the arrival of Asajj Ventress. Ventress is converted from the animated style to a more real world setting and comes with her dual red lightsabers. Her outfit is the one with the longer skirt which will be done as a soft goods piece. Pre-orders for Ventress are live now, she is down for a June 2021 release. An assassin trained in the ways of the dark side by Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress yearned to be considered a true Sith, but such status wasn’t allowed under the Sith’s Rule of Two. Kids and collectors alike can imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from Star Wars The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. Star Wars The Black Series includes figures, vehicles, and roleplay items from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including comics, movies, and series. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) The 6-inch scale Black Series figure is detailed to look like the Asajj Ventress character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation. Includes: figure and 2 accessories. An assassin trained in the ways of the dark side by Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress yearned to be considered a true Sith, but such status wasn’t allowed under the Sith’s Rule of Two Fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the Star Wars Galaxy with this premium Asajj Ventress toy, inspired by the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series This Star Wars The Black Series action figure comes with 2 entertainment-inspired accessories that make great additions to any Star Wars collection Star Wars fans and collectors can display this highly poseable, fully articulated figure, featuring premium deco, in their action figure and vehicle collection Look for movie- and entertainment-inspired Star Wars The Black Series figures to build a Star Wars galaxy (Each sold separately. Subject to availability) 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,

Friday the 13th, and what better date for Mezco to open up the pre-orders for a re-release of their Friday the 13th Part III Jason Voorhees One:12 Collective action figure. Part III Jason will come with an alternative head with removable mask. There are a raft of weapons for Jason including an axe, cleaver, machete, knife and wrench. Larger weaponry includes a pitchfork, speargun and a poker. The figure also comes with the usual selection of hands and a display stand. Jason is up for pre-order now and has a release date scheduled between May and July 2021. Campers beware! Jason Voorhees from Friday The 13th Part 3 joins the One:12 Collective. The One:12 Collective Jason Voorhees figure includes two menacingly detailed head portraits and two removable hockey masks. Jason’s axe accessory fits neatly into the gash on his wounded head as well as the crack in his hockey mask, recreating the iconic finale from Friday The 13th Part 3. The infamous Crystal Lake killer is outfitted authentically from the film. Jason comes complete with every weapon he used in the film: an axe, a machete, a cleaver, a wrench, a fireplace poker, a knife, and a spear gun. Having recovered from the events of Friday The 13th Part 2, Jason Voorhees relocates to the Higgins Haven campsite where a group of unsuspecting teenagers are enjoying an amiable weekend – that is, until Jason shows up and continues his deadly rampage. 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,

Super7 have announced a Big Bad Toy Store Exclusive variant of their Thundercats Ultimates Mumm-Ra figure. The BBTS figure will feature a glow in the dark feature and will also include all the elements of the standard release. These include both a soft goods and plastic cape option, staff, sword of Plun-Darr, Book of Omens, Thundranium Urn and Rosenkrantz Medallion. There will also be two head options included. All the accessories will also glow in the dark, and the window box packaging will also feature a glow function. The Glow-in-the-Dark Mumm-Ra is up for pre-order now at BBTS with a January 2021 release date. The sorcerer and demon-priest, Mumm-Ra, is once again joining the ThunderCats Ultimates from Super7, but this time as a ghastly glow-in-the-dark BBTS exclusive figure! With the Ultimate ThunderCats you can relive the excitement of the classic ThunderCats cartoon like never before. Each 7-inch super-articulated deluxe action figure comes straight from Third Earth to you, beautifully painted and featuring a huge variety of interchangeable parts and accessories. Product Features 7 inches (17.78cm) Made of plastic BBTS Exclusive (Glow-in-the-Dark) version Super articulated Beautifully painted Limited Edition Huge variety of interchangeable parts and accessories Features a poseable fabric cape with wire insert Box Contents Mumm-Ra figure Poseable Fabric Cape with wire insert Plastic Cape Staff Sword of Plun-Darr Book of Omens Thundranium Urn Rosenkrantz Medallion Interchangeable Head 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,

A number of European stores, including Animegami and Curibo here in the UK, have shared the promotional images for the next McFarlane DC Multiverse build-a-figure wave. The four figure wave from the Last Knight on Earth comic book features figures of The Scarecrow, Omega, Wonder Woman and Bruce Wayne. Each of the four comes with BAF parts to create a Last Knight on Earth Bane figure. The Scarecrow can be positioned on Bane's shoulders to recreate the look from the comic. Like all DC Multiverse releases from McFarlane, each figure will feature circa 22 points of articulation and will come with a display stand and collectible art card. The Last Knight on Earth wave is an early 2021 release - with release dates being listed between February and March 2021. Omega Wonder Woman Bruce Wayne Scarecrow & Bane BAF 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 2019, NECA released a John Connor action figure from Terminator 2 Judgment Day as a San Diego Comic Con Exclusive. It was only available in the US and had collectors of NECA's Terminator series up in arms. Roll on 12-months, and NECA did come good for collectors with the release of a Terminator 2 Judgment Day Ultimate 2-Pack of John Connor and his mum, Sarah Connor. John did sadly lose the dirtbike seen in the SDCC set, but retained most of the other accessories. Sarah, as a direct repack of her existing T2 Ultimate figure. Packaging 3.0 The box design was in keeping with the Ultimate series, with the black base colour and ice blue panels as seen on other T2 releases. The box is fully enclosed with an art panel on the front with artwork not drawn from a movie poster, but inspired by the 1990's with a montage of Sarah and John overlooked by a T800 Endoskeleton. The two side panels are quite plain, carrying the T2 Judgment Day logo and a blue panel carrying the NECA logo. Under each logo is an image of the characters, with John on the right and Sarah on the left. The back of the box carries three scenic shots of the two figures in various poses - but there is no background text or bio, something NECA has not chosen to do on the Ultimate figures. The front cover opens by means of a Velcro fastening. Once opened we find another image on the flip side of the front cover showing the figures of John and Sarah. The figures themselves are presented in a window with their various accessories spread around. The figures are set against a cardboard background of the Cyberdyne Systems building - which does make the whole window looking a bit busy. Paint & Sculpt 4.0 We start with John Connor, and the sculpt is a very good likeness to actor Edward Furlong, 1991. The sculpt is not neutral, but rather shows John with a slightly puzzled look with his mouth open and eyebrows partially furrowed. The facial features are well defined, but the skin tone is quite flat and does not use any shading. The hair piece hangs over the side of John's face and you can see individual strands sculpted in the hair piece - but you can also see a lot of "bits" which looks to be particles in the paint, or that has settled while the paint is wet. John's costume is accurate to T2 with the exception of the Public Enemy logo on the T-shirt which is left black. The jacket has a camo design which is very well executed and a step up from the plain green of the SDCC, and then we have a pair of stone washed jeans. The figure finishes with some trainers, black with a white sole, and here the paint is patchy with the black paint applied to the white plastic of the trainers not covering everywhere it should. John's wrists, exposed under the folded back arms of his jacket, are very thin - almost unnaturally so on his right arm which is a lot slimmer than the left. His left wrist has a watch sculpted on and painted. Sarah Connor is the exact same figure released in the Ultimate Sarah Connor set from 2015. She comes in her combat vest and trousers, all painted in black or dark grey with just the odd piece of detail picked out in her belt with the silver buckle and pins. The figure utilises the rubbery groin piece to hide the hip joints and on our review figure this right hip is exposed significantly under the rubbery piece. Sarah's arms are cast in a skin colour and are well defined in terms of the musculature. Sarah comes with three head options, the first as fitted to the figure is the 1991 Linda Hamilton with her long fringe and hair tied back in a ponytail. Like John, the likeness is good and the facial features painted really well. Head two is Sarah in her sunglasses and cap. The glasses are - like many in this scale - touch too bulky in their rims. The final head is Sarah with her hair down, and this is potentially the best likeness of the three - but the worst in terms of hair style which seems to sit too high on her head. All three heads are a bit tough to insert onto the very narrow neck peg and there is no obvious snap or click into position. Accessories 4.5 The first accessory the set has to offer is the T-800 Endoskeleton arm complete in its clear case. This is really detailed, and decorated in a black base coat with silver applied over the top in layered dry brushing. The base is left a plain silver and the clear plastic case sits into this - but can be removed to show off the arm more clearly - particularly as the plastic is very thick and my review set arrived with marks already on the plastic. For John, we have his backpack which is cast in a hard plastic but with flexible rubber straps. The pack is painted in blue with black trim and includes visible zip details and ribbing on the straps. The straps fit over the arms of John, which is best done with his arms behind him and bent in at the elbows. Once in place the pack sits very naturally against John's back with the straps sitting flat against the jacket. John then comes with his hacking device for ATM machines. This is a very detailed piece with a keyboard and screen that is then connected to a drive piece and a final card insert by a flexible white cable with sculpted VGA connectors. The piece sits really well in John's hands for posing, otherwise it will have to go in your bits box. Moving on to Sarah, we have a number of weapons - all of which were included in the original Ultimate box set. The knife is a cast in hard plastic with a flexible strap attached. The blade is coloured in a silver while the grip is in a tan leather colour. Considering the size it is well shaped, but lacks any real detail. It fits in Sarah's right hand, although the grip is not overly tight. Considering Sarah was an Ultimate release originally and this set is also an Ultimate Series release - some additional hands for both characters would not have gone amiss considering the various items they need to hold. When not in use the knife can slip in the holster on her belt at the right hand side. Sarah's next weapon is a small handgun which again is cast in a harder plastic. It is coloured silver with a black grip and even has the screw heads on the grip painted in silver. It fits more snugly in the right hand with a trigger finger sliding into place. There is no holster or belt position for the handgun when not in use. The assault rifle is a more detailed piece thanks to its size. We have some nice shaping on the but of the weapon, across the scope and into the barrel and down to the ammo cartridge. The gun is cast in a grey plastic with silver used across the centre of the gun body and into the handle. It is fitted with a rather unruly flexible rubber strap. The AR is designed again to fit in Sarah's right hand where the trigger finger slots into place. The left hand can then be employed to cup the barrel for a two handed grip. The strap is not long enough to have Sarah hold the weapon with the strap engaged over the head & shoulders. The arm articulation is also not extensive enough for firing poses, only cradling the weapon two handed. The strap does work well to have the weapon slung over Sarah's shoulders and actually enhances the look of the figure in terms of Sarah being geared up and ready to face off against the T-1000. Our final accessory is the shotgun. This is cast in silver with a painted slide arm in a tan brown, and the same colour used on the grip. Over the top arch of the Shotgun as shown when folded are a line of cartridges, painted blue on one end and bronze on the other. The shotgun is also articulated with the upper arch folding down to become a stock piece. The right hand again is used here, but the grip is quite poor and the trigger finger won't quite reach the trigger - another case for the need for alternative hands. The left hand again will cup the barrel for two hand posing. Due to the nature of how this type of shotgun is fired, there is enough range in the arm articulation for some firing poses. Articulation 3.5 Starting with John Connor, and he comes in with a total of 14 points of articulation. The NECA joints are very well disguised to give a more natural look to the figure, but those aesthetics do see overall poseability sacrificed a little. Head : ball joint peg neck Body : waist ball joint swivel Arms : Ball joint shoulder, single joint rotating elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, single joint rotating knee, ankle rocker John is pretty mobile in most places with the exception of the elbows which won't reach a right angle bend. It doesn't pose too much of an issue as we will be posing John neutrally or with his ATM hacking device rather than weapons or in any dynamic poses. It would be interesting to see how well this articulation allowed the bike riding position (but without the bike I cant assess). All of John's joints are secure, including the ankle rockers, which means he is stable enough once posed and stands fine on his own. He will drop onto a display stand for more action posing such as the walking pose I played with in the images below. Sarah arrives with the same articulation count as John, 14 in total. As mentioned earlier in the review, my Sarah Connor does suffer with a exposed joint on her right hip with a right leg that seems to be a little longer than the left and requires some adjustment when posing. Having got out my 2015 figure, it presents the same issue. Head : ball joint peg neck Body : waist ball joint swivel Arms : Ball joint shoulder, single joint rotating elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, single joint rotating knee, ankle rocker Like John, Sarah's motion is most restricted in the elbows and while she can pose and fire off her handgun, two hand grips with the two larger weapons are more restrictive. While some of the action/dynamic poses may be a little bit beyond Sarah's range of articulation, she does pose well with her weapons - particularly using the head with the hat and sunglasses which just looks a little meaner than the others. All the joints are secure and tight and Sarah stands unaided. Summary This boxset was very much about getting John Connor out to the general collectors who were up in arms about his initial exclusivity. It seems the profitability of the set relied on a repack with an existing figure and while Sarah makes sense - you do wonder if a T-800 or T-1000 may have been more popular. John as a figure is very well executed and I like the accessories he comes with - I just know a "better" version exists with the Dirt Bike and I cant comprehend how that could be made in very low numbers for SDCC yet cant be included in a set like this for a wider global release. Sarah is a direct re-release of the original 2015 Ultimate Sarah Connor and comes with a wider proportion of options to include all three heads and her arsenal. Like the original release, there seems to be an issue with her right hip joint and the figure is crying out for alternative hands to better hold the various weapons Both figures have been designed with looks over articulation, but still articulate well enough for most poses you would want for display. Elbows are the biggest issue for both, and Sarah in particular is hindered by the elbows not bending enough for more poses with her Assault Rifle. The Sarah and John Connor Ultimate Terminator 2 set is a solid release, but at its £55-£60 price point here in the UK I do tend to look at it and think of the missed opportunities with John in particular and that dirt bike and the alternative head and where tweaks could have been made to Sarah to add some collector value to the set. I score the Sarah and John Connor Ultimate Set a total of 3.5 For more news, reviews and a checklist of releases visit our NECA 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, NECA, Terminator, Judgement Day, John Connor, Sarah Connor, T800

Shout Factory are releasing another Horror movie classic in their Scream Factory Steelbook line with My Bloody Valentine - and one of the packages will feature an exclusive 8 inch scale NECA figure of The Miner. The Miner will be presented in the usual 8 inch format for NECA, featuring an articulated body and soft goods tailored clothing. The head will be sculpted and the set will include The Miner's pickaxe, helmet and gasmask gear. The set will also include a heart in a box (not shown). The figure is limited to just 4000 units. The figure is only available via Shout Factory as a package with the Steelbook of the movie and only to US and Canadian collectors. The set is up for pre-order now with a February 2021 release date. 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's beginning to look a lot like Christmas with this packaging reveal from NECA of their Misfits Holiday Fiend 8 inch action figure. The Holiday Fiend features alternative head, swap out hands and a gifts sack. He will be shipping in November, so should arrive in plenty of time for Christmas. Have a very Misfits Christmas this year with one of the most recognized music mascots of all time! Wearing a long tailored robe and a removable Santa hat, The Misfits Holiday Fiend is dressed for a trip to your Christmas tree this winter season! Standing at 8″ tall, this poseable figures comes with a fabric present sack and two sets of hands. Also included are two interchangeable heads, creating both the classic look of the Fiend, and a highly stylized version rendered in artwork painted by the late, great Basil Gogos, featured on the window box packaging! 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 Summer 2020, Hasbro moved to a Phase 4 packaging for their Star Wars Black Series figures, entitled the Galaxy Collection. This new design moved away from a fully uniform look for the series and introduced accent colours for each movie or show within the Star Wars Universe. The Galaxy Collection launched with two full waves - a Rebels wave with a number of repacked figures, and Wave 1 of the new Collection made up of 7 figures from across the Star Wars Saga. In this review we look at the new Imperial Stormtrooper from the first wave. Packaging 4.0 The new Galaxy Collection packaging uses the same footprint dimensions as the previous Phase 3 boxes, although the window section is reduced and the right hand side is cut in at an angle. The base colour of the box remains black, with the Black Series logo on the top rail above the figure window. Each part of the Saga has been given an accent colour, and for The Mandalorian figures we have a deep, almost rusty, brown tone. The brown colour is used as a border under the window where the movie is named, and again as text for the character name which is listed as "Imperial Stormtrooper". Troopers from the Mandalorian era are arguably Remnant Stormtroopers but I suspect that name is being held for a weathered and dirty version of this in the future. This trooper was modelled on the Rogue One troopers but since it was announced as a Rogue One release it was switched to sit in The Mandalorian era of the Galaxy Collection. This angled panel on the right is used for an illustration of the character. This is done in a grey scale with the orange/brown accent colour applied as a glow at the base of the image. The Stormtrooper is shown cradling his blaster in the panel. There are no discernable details above the Stormtroopers head with a mountain range and what could be a moon or planet. Each art panel in a collection lines up with the next figure in the line to create a larger montage. When you begin to look how this works in practice then it will take up a bit more room as the figures have to be angled to create the wider panel. However, the logic of the side panel is more evident when figures are displayed side on where both the figure and the art are on display. The brown band wraps round the other box side and angles upward and round to the back. It is here we still get a numbering system for the figures - now specific by movie or series. The Imperial Stormtrooper is number #02 in the Mandalorian range. The back of the box also carries the short background text. The background text relates the trooper to the Empire, and does not mention the downfall of the Empire or the Remnant factions that we find in The Mandalorian. "Stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armor, which offers a wide range of survival equipment" Due to the angles used for the box, there is a significant amount of tape in use which does look unsightly although they have avoided use on the front and the art panel. The figure is accessed via the top or bottom flaps - the bottom being a little easier to get at with less tape used. The figure sits in an inner tray as normal, but now the outer window is part of this inner piece and is not attached to the box. This is most likely to assist in recycling of the packaging. The cardboard backing card is quite a dull grey and this is uniform on all figures. I wonder what it would have looked like if the accent colour was used as the backdrop? Paint & Sculpt 4.0 This is a brand new Imperial Stormtrooper figure, based on the costumes and armour built for Rogue One, used in Solo and now being used in The Mandalorian. Starting with the helmet, and this is not a solid piece but rather this new approach from Hasbro of putting a helmet over a head sculpt underneath. This can leave to warping of the helmet, depending how its fixed in the factory. My review figure is not too bad - but I have seen some pretty horrible examples of this figure. The helmet looks to be proportioned well enough with the black rim and visors, nose piece and breather. The grey panels are painted on the forehead rim and the cheek with the blue lines applied neatly on the rounded base of the helmet. The armour is now cast as individual pieces and they are all in a very high gloss white. This means a very limited need for any paint on the figure other than the black detail on the stomach section. The benefit though is very crisp lines and definition between black and white and no issues with overpainting as was seen on the early version of this figure from 2014. Proportionally it looks a good match to the Rogue One troopers. I did think the chest piece was too slim to start with, but looking at reference photos the dimensions look to be spot on. The chest also looks less defined in the way it is shaped, but again a lot of this lies in the Rogue One design that the figure is then replicated. The original Stormtrooper was released in 2014 and had was based on the Original Trilogy Troopers. It had some articulation issues and also suffered from some paint issues around the joints where white had to be applied over black plastic to match the armour panels. The new helmet is smaller, as is the chest piece which is narrowed at the neck. The belt piece is changed to the newer Rogue One format and the holster is lost completely. Looking at the two figures side by side, they do look very different - as though two companies produced them. I am not sure whether I would display these two side by side and each manages to show discrepancies in the other. Accessories 4.0 The Imperial Stormtrooper comes with a single weapon, an E-11 Blaster Rifle. This is a new piece, cast in black plastic. It too is based on the Rogue One props with a larger stock piece on the side and a smaller second scope to the side of the barrel. While they are black on screen, there is some detail that would have been enhanced with a brush of silver or similar. It fits into either hand, with both hands designed with a trigger finger that then slots into the trigger. The other hand can be used to cup the barrel. With the holster removed on the new figure, there is no options for holstering the blaster. Considering this figure is being marketed as a Stormtrooper from The Mandalorian, I would have liked to have seen some other weapons included to give some differing options. Articulation 4.5 The main selling point of this new Imperial Stormtrooper is its vastly improved set of articulation, with a total of 19 points of articulation across the body. Head : neck base ball joint, neck top ball joint Body : torso ball joint Upper Arms : hinged pauldron, butterfly shoulders, ball joint shoulders Lower Arms : single rotating elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, single rotating knees, ankle rockers While the elbows are downgraded to a single joint, they are designed so that they still bend well past 90 degrees while being easier on the eye than than the double joints. The arms are fully mobile thanks to the addition of the shoulder butterfly joints as well as a joint in the shoulder pauldron which allows it to move independently but in tandem with the arm as its raised and posed. These can look a little odd in some poses, but you can work with and round them to get the pose you need. The legs are great, with the Stormtrooper having the ability to kneel, sit or stand in a number of poses. All the joints are secure and tight with no looseness present. The only issue I could find was that the chest armour - being a seperate piece - can ride up and then opens up a gap in the torso with some poses. Summary There is an element, in my opinion, that we as Black Series collectors have become very used to the proportions and design of the original Imperial Stormtrooper and initially in hand, this new version does not look quite right. Once you've played and posed with it a while then you will, I think, learn to appreciate the design and the features Hasbro have improved vs the original version - assuming you get an upwarped helmet. This is very much the Rogue One / Solo Stormtrooper and I do find it a little odd it is badged as a Mandalorian release, even the packaging illustration and text alludes to a Stormtrooper at the height of the Empire. We now know this figure will be turned round as a Remnant repaint figure in the next few months which is a better fit for The Mandalorian - but in its clean and crisp execution this would have worked so well to launch the Galaxy Collection Rogue One series. I score the new Galaxy Collection Imperial Stormtrooper a total of 4.0 For more reviews, news and a checklist of releases : visit our Black Series Database page 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, star wars, black series, the mandalorian, imperial, stormtrooper, remnant

This weeks Mando Monday reveals from Hasbro saw the unveiling of another Mandalorian based Black Series figure in the shape of the Remnant Stormtrooper. He essentially is a repack of the recent TCW 02 Stormtrooper with a distressed and weathered paint job. He comes with the same E-11 blaster. He will be an exclusive in the US to Target stores. Here in the UK the release info quotes availability via Zavvi, but does not confirm if it is exclusive to Zavvi. The press release quotes a generic Autumn/Winter release - with Zavvi's page having a January 2021 release date. STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH REMNANT TROOPER Figure (HASBRO/Age 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £19.99/Available: A/W 2020) Fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS Galaxy with this premium STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH REMNANT TROOPER Figure, inspired by the live-action THE MANDALORIAN series on Disney Plus. STAR WARS fans and collectors can display this 6-inch scale highly poseable, fully articulated figure, featuring premium deco, in their action figure and vehicle collection. Includes figure and accessory. Available for pre-order at Zavvi. 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,

One of this week's Mando Monday's reveals was the next 1:1 scale Star Wars Black Series helmets - and of course, it was that of the Mandalorian. The helmet will feature electronic effects and will retail at £119.99 here in the UK with a Spring/Summer 2021 release date. The UK press release lists Amazon as a pre-order option, but it is not an Amazon exclusive with pre-orders opening shortly. STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN ELECTRONIC HELMET (HASBRO/Age 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £119.99/Available: S/S 2021) Fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS Galaxy with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN ELECTRONIC HELMET, inspired by the live-action THE MANDALORIAN series on Disney Plus. Featuring highly-detailed deco, series-inspired design, interior padding, and an adjustable fit, this helmet is a great addition to any STAR WARS collection. This screen-inspired reproduction helmet features a removable tactical light, as well as dual red interior lights that can be activated while the helmet is upside-down. Requires 1 1.5V AA 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,

Following the announcement from NECA that they would be making figures from Puppet Master over Halloween, we now have full details of the first figures. The figures will be about 4.25 inches tall, representing their height on screen to the 7 inch scale NECA uses for their figures. They will be presented in 2-packs in the Ultimate format - with a two back of Blade & Torch, and a second of Pinhead and Tuneller Each figure will include appropriate accessories which represents films across the franchise. The packaging will be designed to replicate Andre Toulon's Puppet Case. Expect to see these first releases in March 2021 “…and now a box of little toys has become a gang of little terrors.” NECA is proud to present the Ultimate Blade & Torch 2 Pack from the cult series, Puppet Master! Each figure stands approximately 4.25″ tall, representing the classic look of each puppet, with accessories themed to the character’s appearances across several films in the franchise. Blade includes interchangeable heads and knives, both with clean and bloody variations. Torch features an articulated jaw and can equip a flame effect for his right arm. Comes in window box packaging replicating Andre Toulon’s Puppet Case. “…and now a box of little toys has become a gang of little terrors.” NECA is proud to present the Ultimate Pinhead & Tunneler 2 Pack from the cult series, Puppet Master! Each figure stands approximately 4.25″ tall, representing the classic look of each puppet, with accessories themed to the character’s appearances across several films in the franchise. Pinhead includes two interchangeable hands, a fire poker, a vial of rejuvenation liquid, a wrench, and hooks. Tunneler is armed with a grease gun and pickaxe, along with interchangeable heads, hands, and an alternative bloody drill top. Comes in window box packaging replicating Andre Toulon’s Puppet Case. 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,

To celebrate the 150th issue (5 years) of our Sat-TOY-Day newsletter - and to do a little bit in this current unprecedented time for retailers in the UK - I am pleased to announce that between now and the New Year I will be turning over a slot in the Sat-TOY-Day news to a UK independent retailer of action figures or collectibles. There is no charge for this, and you can use the slot for a pictorial advert for your store or site - or do a short editorial about your business. All we ask in return is for a share of our page and content via any social channels you currently use. Shoot us an email at mephitsu.archives@gmail.com to discuss this further or message us on Facebook or Twitter. And watch out for more on UK retailer advertising in the coming weeks as I am revamping our store database for physical UK stores and continuing the conversion of online stores from our old database into the new one... The store is responsible for providing the content which will be inserted/edited at our discretion Stores should be UK based, be registered officially as a UK company and be selling action figures or associated collectibles We will support as many stores as contact us - but in the event of oversubscription we will draw lots.