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With the UK lockdown easing, I decided today was the day to recommence our #OnThePegs Store Report. B&M have of course traded throughout lockdown, and their Covid 19 controls have been in place for a while - although they felt more lapsed today in my local store, with no cleaning stations or sanitizers and no-one on the door controlling the volume of people. The aisles have no signage or directions, and many are closed off creating a queuing aisle to the tills - not great if you want to try and get out without purchasing anything. The big news in B&M for Action Figure collectors is the arrival of the McFarlane DC Multiverse figures at £14.99 each. I found the Batman who Laughs, Green Arrow and a Superman. They had also reduced their other McFarlane figures with Game of Thrones now at £6.00 each. MEGO Star Trek figures were on sale on the same section at £12.99 each. Nice to see some Trek figures on a UK store shelf, although these are not my cup of tea. There were no new Doctor Who Sets, the now have a July ETA. There were plenty of the Dalek Big Finish 2-Packs and the new 3rd Doctor TARDIS - all at £19.99. I wonder if these may get reduced when the new sets arrive? 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,

With the UK lockdown easing, I decided today was the day to recommence our #OnThePegs Store Report. It has been 3-months since I set foot in a Toy Store and my son was eager to get out too. Smyths have set up their stores very well for Covid-19 controls. There is a marshall at the front of the store, along with a sanitisation station. There is no one-way system, but each aisle is marked for 2m distancing. Toilets are closed, which may be an issue for younger children. The Action Figure aisle has received some big new arrivals since March, and we started with a look at the new Lanard Toys Alien Collection. The sets included the Xenomorph Swarm Drone and Runner, both £9.99. And the Queen for £19.99. My son chose to pick up the Drone set, and loves it - I will encourage him to do a review this week. Star Wars section is not much bigger than pre-lockdown, but we now have the 2nd Wave of the 40th Anniversary figures for £19.99. These will get shopped and damaged, so not ideal for carded collectors. My Smyths had Lando and 2 x Tie Fighter Pilots. Next door we had Transformers and there was a whole raft of the new Netflix War for Cyberverse Transformers, starting at £19.99 each. Marvel has grown again with the new Gamerverse Legends in stock at £19.99 each. I could only see Captain America, Ironman and Ms. Marvel, which will be a bit odd for anyone who wants to complete the BAF. There did look to be cases on the top shelf, so the others may just not have been put out. The Marvel section also included the new basic 6 inch Gamerverse figures. These include Ms. Marvel, Captain America and Iron-Man at £9.99 each - with some two packs for £19.99. They only had Hulk vs Abomination in my Smyths, there is a Taskmaster vs Iron-Man also. 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 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strike Back, Hasbro released a number of their 6 inch Black Series figures on Vintage era cards. As well as three main waves, a number of exclusives were released including this re-pack of the 2013 Han in Carbonite block which was sold exclusively via Amazon worldwide. Buy from Amazon UK (subject to availability) Packaging 4/5 Han comes on a vintage era cardback, increased in size for the 6 inch series. It uses the same movie still as the original Kenner figure, but with an Empire Strikes Back logo. The original Kenner figure for Han in Carbonite wasn't released until 1985 on the POTF cards and the image looks to be taken from the Jabba's scene in Return of the Jedi. Hasbro have chosen to keep this image to invoke that nostalgia. The card carries a foil Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Logo top left and the Kenner logo is retained bottom right. The blister is extended vs normal for the larger size. For some reason the card doesn't stand too well, this may be down to the weight of the block or the shape of the blister. Round the back we have the same card-back as Wave 1, this also plays homage to the original Kenner card backs with the checklist of figures on coloured panels. The cardback has 5 figures pictured from Wave 1, interestingly the other Amazon exclusive of Zuckuss and 4-LOM had a sixth panel inserted to the far left to show that particularly figure - this has not been replicated here. There is no background text here, just a short piece of text, generic to all the Empire 40th Anniversary cards, giving some background to the collection. "Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging" Paint & Sculpt 3/5 When you open the pack - and I suspect many will keep it sealed - you will find the Carbonite block itself along with a three part acrylic stand that I will come onto shortly. The block is a hard plastic, sculpted on all sides apart from the back which is smooth. The proportions of the block are good, the imprint of Han is actually taller than the Bespin Han - but not so much it looks odd. The cast impression is excellent with a texture around the body with clear defined features on the face, which is a great likeness, as well as the outstretched hands and the feet. The front Carbonite section is cast in a metallic gunmetal plastic with some degree of silver dry brushing to bring out the highlighted areas. The sides of the block are cast with various control panels and mechanisms. These are painted with subtle silver sections - and on the top right with the control panel, complete with green keypad and grey indicator screen. This piece was of course first released in 2013 as part of the Black Series launch and as a San Diego exclusive alongside Boba Fett. There have been no changes for this do-over 7-years later, in fact the back of the block still carries the 2013 copywrite. Every paint app is matched well, with no obvious variants in shading or colour. This re-release does of course put the block in reach of collectors who missed out in 2013, with the Boba Fett SDCC pack one of the higher end pieces on the secondary market in terms of price. Display 3/5 The stand piece is cleverly designed to perform two functions. If you assemble to two halves of the upright and then slot that into the oval base, you have a platform for Han in a vertical position - as seen as Boba Fett and the Stormtroopers wheel him through Cloud City to Slave-1. There are no instructions included (there were in the SDCC 2013 release), so it may take some trial and error to line everything up. The Carbonite slab has two slots on the back and two notches on both the top and the base to line up with this horizontal configuration. This allows Han to be positioned head first at the base or feet first. The whole piece hovers nicely at the height you see in the movie. If you leave the two uprights in place but slide off the Oval base, you are now left with an upright display base - as seen when Han comes out of the Freezing Chamber, and of course as seen in Jabba's palace. I always felt this position has too much of a backward lean, particularly for any Jabba's palace scene - but it does allow for Han to be a display piece in this orientation. Summary While Han in Carbonite is a great looking piece, both on its Vintage Card and unpacked and on display in either configuration, it is a static piece with no articulation and limited paint application. It retails in the UK at £16.99, just £3 less than a normal figure and I am not sure personally if it does enough to justify that price point. The choice of Amazon as the exclusive retailer is also not great for fans. Amazon exclusives are usually worldwide, meaning there is no other option to purchase from and we are left to gamble on the condition of the figure on arrival which I have seen shipped in anything from a Jiffy Bag, folded Amazon cardboard sleeve with no packing to a full enclosed box. Carbonite Han is an iconic part of Star Wars, and the 2020 re-release puts it somewhat back into the grasp of collectors. I would hope that for the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi, Hasbro explore perhaps how to give us the Han figure with the block itself - as seen in 1985 with the Power of the Force release. I score the 2020 Vintage Carded 40th Anniversary Han Solo in Carbonite a 3 out of 5. Visit our Star Wars Black Series Database for more News & Reviews 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, 40th anniversary, the empire strikes back, hasbro, kenner, han solo, carbonite

The Star Wars Black Series Amazon Exclusive 2-Pack of 4-LOM and Zuckuss pays homage to the original Kenner figures of the 1980's. Not only are the figures presented on Vintage style cards like other 40th Anniversary releases, but they give the figures a decor update in line with the original Kenner figures. The set even swaps over the names of the two Bounty Hunters, replicating the original name mixup from Kenner. See my corresponding review for Zuckuss Buy from Amazon UK (subject to availability) Packaging 4/5 The two pack arrives in a sealed box with a black starfield design. The front of the box see's a Bounty Hunters title, subtitled with "40th Anniversary Edition". The card backs for the two figures are the illustrated on the front, shown without the figures. The 40th Anniversary logo sits top left in a foil finish. The hasbro logo sits bottom right. Each side spine repeats the Bounty Hunters logo, with an illustration of each figure. On the right we have 4-LOM, on the left is Zuckuss. The back of this outer box see's the first use of the Black Series logo, and the rest of the reverse is taken up with some yellow text that provides some history and background for this text. While I am sure the choice of yellow against a starfield backdrop is an homage to the scrolling Star Wars introductory text, it would have been nice to see this more angled like we see on screen. "When Kenner first produced the 4-LOM and Zuckuss figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up was finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got back their rightful identities. In this exclusive set, we are paying homage to the first appearance of these bounty hunters that puzzled so many for years, with replicas of the original packaging-switched names and all!" The outer box is opened via the top or bottom flap, and inside are the two carded figures packed face to face. The vintage card is presented almost exactly the same as the 1980's Kenner version, using the same image of 4-LOM and the green name plate and figure backdrop. The name plate reads "Zuckuss" in the homage to the original mis-naming from Kenner. The card front carries the foil 40th Anniversary logo on the top left, and uses the original Kenner logo on the bottom left side. The card back is more or less identical to the one used on Wave 1 of the Empire 40th Anniversary figures. This is not a direct replication of a Kenner cardback, but an homage using the tramlines, the Star Wars logo and a coloured checklist of the figures. There are 6 figures shown, with 4-LOM shown on the left with the other 5 figures from Wave 1 in sequence across to the left. There is no background text here, just a short piece of text, generic to all the Empire 40th Anniversary cards, giving some background to the collection. "Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging" Paint & Sculpt 4/5 4-LOM is presented on a protocol droid body, with many elements taken from the C-3PO figure. The chest is updated, and of course there is a very different head with insectoid features. The design of the head includes the large segmented insectoid eyes, with a cracked surface texture. These are painted light blue, rather than the green metallic of the onscreen droid. This is of course an homage to the Kenner original figure, as is the dull gunmetal grey body. Paint apps are applied to the exposed wiring on his stomach, and the red splash of paint on his chest piece. Even without any paint apps on the body, the detail of the sculpt is crisp and clear, including the pivots and pistons of the arms and legs and the components on the box on his back. This 2020 version of 4-LOM uses the same exact body as the first release in 2018. The difference being the paint job which is, as mentioned above, based on the original 3.75 inch Kenner release. The new figure loses the green translucent eyes and the rusty look on the original body. It is still painted "realistically" so does not look out of place in a display. Accessories 3/5 4-LOM is armed with a DLT-19 heavy blaster. This is the same as the original 2018 release, and before that included with the Imperial Sandtroopers amongst other figures. It is cast in a gloss black plastic with some net details down the barrel - while the main body of the gun is quite plain. I am not sure if it is a change in plastic or not, but I found the weapon easier to fit into this 4-LOM versions hands. He has a trigger finger hand on his right, with the left cupped to hold and cradle the barrel. Articulation 3/5 I also found this newer version of 4-LOM easier to articulate than the original, even though nothing has changed in terms of the 20 points of articulation - a couple extra than usual thanks to the rotating shoulder cups. Head : ball joint neck Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, rotating shoulder cup, bicep swivel, piston elbow joint, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hip, thigh swivel, single joint knees, ankle rockers 4-LOM did get some upgrades in 2018 vs the original Protocol Droid body, with the elbows now moveable with the pistons sliding with the movement. This is retained here and supports the two handed weapon posing. The legs aren't hugely mobile, but can be tweaked into some motion poses. And the ankle rockers are very robust with a secure ratchet when posed to hold these positions with 4-LOM very stable in a number of poses. Summary 4-LOM is the weaker of the two figures in this set, and is overshadowed somewhat by Zuckuss who is a spectacular figure while paying homage to the original Kenner version. 4-LOM pays similar homage, but the original figure was a dull grey with silver midriff and blue eyes - and while that is perfectly replicated, it does leave him quite dull against the varying shades and textures on Zuckuss. Something has changed to make the posing easier on this version of 4-LOM, quite possibly the plastic - or with no paint job on the body the joints are left unencumbered. The downside of the set overall is the fact it is an Amazon Exclusive - which means in the UK at least availability has been patchy, and the packaging Amazon use may not deliver a mint box at your doorstep I score 4-LOM from the Amazon Bounty Hunters 40th Anniversary Exclusive a 4 out of 5. Visit our Star Wars Black Series Database for more News & Reviews 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, 40th anniversary, the empire strikes back, hasbro, kenner, zuckuss, 4-LOM

The Star Wars Black Series Amazon Exclusive 2-Pack of 4-LOM and Zuckuss pays homage to the original Kenner figures of the 1980's. Not only are the figures presented on Vintage style cards like other 40th Anniversary releases, but they give the figures a decor update in line with the original Kenner figures. The set even swaps over the names of the two Bounty Hunters, replicating the original name mixup from Kenner. See my corresponding review for 4-LOM Buy from Amazon UK (subject to availability) Packaging 4/5 The two pack arrives in a sealed box with a black starfield design. The front of the box see's a Bounty Hunters title, subtitled with "40th Anniversary Edition". The card backs for the two figures are the illustrated on the front, shown without the figures. The 40th Anniversary logo sits top left in a foil finish. The hasbro logo sits bottom right. Each side spine repeats the Bounty Hunters logo, with an illustration of each figure. On the right we have 4-LOM, on the left is Zuckuss. The back of this outer box see's the first use of the Black Series logo, and the rest of the reverse is taken up with some yellow text that provides some history and background for this text. While I am sure the choice of yellow against a starfield backdrop is an homage to the scrolling Star Wars introductory text, it would have been nice to see this more angled like we see on screen. "When Kenner first produced the 4-LOM and Zuckuss figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up was finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got back their rightful identities. In this exclusive set, we are paying homage to the first appearance of these bounty hunters that puzzled so many for years, with replicas of the original packaging-switched names and all!" The outer box is opened via the top or bottom flap, and inside are the two carded figures packed face to face. The vintage card is presented almost exactly the same as the 1980's Kenner version, using the same image of Zuckuss and the orange name plate and figure backdrop. The name plate reads "4-LOM" in the homage to the original mis-naming from Kenner. The card front carries the foil 40th Anniversary logo on the top left, and uses the original Kenner logo on the bottom left side. The card back is more or less identical to the one used on Wave 1 of the Empire 40th Anniversary figures. This is not a direct replication of a Kenner cardback, but an homage using the tramlines, the Star Wars logo and a coloured checklist of the figures. There are 6 figures shown, with Zuckuss shown on the left with the other 5 figures from Wave 1 in sequence across to the left. There is no background text here, just a short piece of text, generic to all the Empire 40th Anniversary cards, giving some background to the collection. "Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging" Paint & Sculpt 5/5 Zuckuss is presented as an homage to the original Kenner figure and the colours used rather than being fully screen accurate. This means his robes are sandier with a bleached pattern, the tubing is now a lighter colouring and the segmented chest piece and straps are cast in a darker brown. The sculpt on the head is spectacular, another alien figure done really well by the Black Series team. The lighter colouring brings out more depth to the sculpt, helped by a dark wash. The segmented eyes are a bright silver and the breathing apparatus a gun metal colour. As per his stature in the film, Zuckuss is quite small - measuring 5 inches tall. When you compare the 2020 Kenner inspired version to the 2018 release you can see the differences. But both versions look fantastic, and Hasbro have avoided making the new version look too "retro" so it will still fit in a Black Series collection with any other figure - it does not look out of place. Accessories 4/5 Zuckuss comes with his GRS-1 Snare Rifle. This is identical to the 2018 release, cast in black with no paint application. The sculpt is crisp and straight, despite the complex design and segmented lower grip/barrel piece. To retain screen accuracy, Zuckuss is sculpted to hold the weapon left handed. You slide in the grip and then twist the gun so the third finger of the hand becomes the trigger finger and slots into place. Articulation 5/5 Zuckuss has an impressive 18 points of articulation hidden away under the robes, and despite the squat diminutive build, he is very articulated and able to achieve a number of action poses - even if he didn't move at all on screen. Head : Ball jointed neck with pivot Arms : Ball jointed shoulder, bicep swivel, double jointed elbows, pivot wrists Torso : Ball jointed waist Legs : Ball jointed hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, ankle rockers The inclusion of a double jointed elbow makes a huge difference for weapon stances and for posing as a whole as you can have Zuckuss adjusting his mask or even putting up his three fingers hands for a bit of hand-to-hand combat. The legs too are very mobile under those soft goods and you play around with wider stances, with the figure even having the ability to kneel if you can tuck the soft goods out of the way. Articulation is unhindered by any of the tubing or appendages which all move with the body. And to cap it off he stands perfectly too, no balance issues or loose joints - all very stable in a number of poses. Summary The Amazon Exclusive Zuckuss is a brilliant figure, it brings back some real nostalgia for the original Kenner figure thanks to the decor, and yet does not look out of place with any other Black Series figure. This set pays homage to the 1980's Kenner figures brilliantly, and works for carded collectors and loose collectors who want to add these two Bounty Hunters to their collection. The only downside of the set is the fact it is an Amazon Exclusive - which means in the UK at least availability has been patchy, and the packaging Amazon use may not deliver a mint box at your doorstep I score Zuckuss from the Amazon Bounty Hunters 40th Anniversary Exclusive a 5 out of 5. Visit our Star Wars Black Series Database for more News & Reviews 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, 40th anniversary, the empire strikes back, hasbro, kenner, zuckuss, 4-LOM

Hasbro have revealed a new variant of Destro for their 6 inch Classified GI Joe line. The Profit Director Destro is based on the rare 1997 variant Destro in the 3.75 inch line with his leopard-print outfit. The figure uses the base Destro body and sculpt with updated burgundy and leopard print paint job as well as an over the shoulder cloak. He comes with gold handgun, briefcase and a burning bunch of dollar bills. Destro will be sold at a slightly higher price-point of $24.99 (US) and will arriving in October 2020. He is a shared Fan Channel exclusive. This Destro figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability and character-inspired accessories, including his signature sword. And with custom artwork by James White, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Profit Director Destro package will make a mark on shelves. Includes: G.I. Joe Classified Series Profit Director Destro action figure and 5 accessories. The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch-scale with premium deco and detailing This figure features a classic design updated to bring the G.I. Joe Cobra mechanical engineer into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by the character’s rich history Joining some of the best artists from the world of comics, graphic design in our artist partnership program, James White adds a unique style to the Profit Director Destro package This G.I. Joe Classified Series Destro figure features premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability (some poses may require additional support) Look for other 6-inch-scale G.I. Joe Classified Series figures (each sold separately) and build a roster of heroes and villains 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, gi joe, classified, hasbro, destro

The Wave 2 Winter releases for GI Joe are very Coba heavy, but there are reinforcements for Joe in the shape of this new Gung Ho figure in the 6 inch GI Joe Classified line from Hasbro. Gung Ho will feature three heavy weapons and his backpack. The hat is removable. Gung Ho will arrive in November 2020. This Gung Ho figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability and character-inspired accessories, including his energy weapon. And with custom artwork by James Paick, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Gung Ho package will make a mark on shelves. Includes: G.I. Joe Classified Series Gung Ho action figure and 7 accessories. The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and detailing This figure features a classic design updated to bring the G.I. Joe jungle specialist into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by the character’s rich history Joining some of the best artists from the world of comics, graphic design in our artist partnership program, James Paick adds a unique style to the Gung Ho package This G.I. Joe Classified Series Gung Ho figure features premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability (some poses may require additional support) Look for other 6-inch-scale G.I. Joe Classified Series figures (each sold separately) and build your roster of heroes and villains 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, gi joe, classified, hasbro, destro

The first army builder of the GI Joe Classified 6-inch action figure line from Hasbro will be the Red Ninja, taken from the ranks of the Cobra forces. The figure will include a variety of weapons including a katana and sheath, pair of sai's, a pair of Ono throwing axes and a pair of kama blades. The Red Ninja will arrive in November 2020. This Red Ninja figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability and character-inspired accessories, including a katana. And with custom artwork by Furio Tedeschi, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Red Ninja package will make a mark on shelves. Includes: G.I. Joe Classified Series Red Ninja action figure and 8 accessories. The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and detailing This figure features a classic design updated to bring the G.I. Joe Cobra ninja into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by the character’s rich history Joining some of the best artists from the world of comics, graphic design in our artist partnership program, Furio Tedeschi adds a unique style to the Red Ninja package This G.I. Joe Classified Series Red Ninja figure features premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability (some poses may require additional support) Look for other 6-inch scale G.I. Joe Classified Series figures (each sold separately) and build your roster of heroes and villains 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, gi joe, classified, hasbro, destro

Hasbro have revealed an Amazon Exclusive Storm Shadow figure in the ir GI Joe Classified 6-inch line of action figures. The Arctic Mission Storm Shadow is a variant on what we assume will be a general release for Storm Shadow a bit later in the line. Arctic Mission Storm Shadow will include a removable hood for variant display options. He will include a bow and quiver as well as his sword and sheath. For his Arctic mission, he also includes snow climbing gear and grappling hook. Amazon US are taking pre-orders now, including shipping to UK for circa £26 with custom charges and shipping included. Checkout this affiliate link to pre-order. He will ship in October 2020. This Storm Shadow figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability and character-inspired accessories, including his signature sword. And with custom artwork by Melita Curphy, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Arctic Mission Storm Shadow package will make a mark on shelves. STORM SHADOW-INSPIRED DESIGN: Figure features a classic design updated to bring the Cobra ninja into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by the character’s rich history COLLECTIBLE PACKAGING WITH CUSTOM ART: Joining some of the best artists from the world of comics, graphic design in our artist partnership program, Melita Curphy adds a unique style to the Arctic Mission Storm Shadow package HIGHLY POSEABLE WITH PREMIUM DETAILING: This G.I. Joe Classified Series Arctic Mission Storm Shadow figure features premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability (some poses may require additional support) EXPAND YOUR ROSTER: Look for other 6-inch-scale G.I. Joe Classified Series figures (each sold separately) and build a roster of heroes and villains 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, gi joe, classified, hasbro, destro

The mystery of the Hasbro GI Joe light blue Cobra Commander variant is becoming clearer with the confirmation this is indeed an exclusive variant titled the "Regal Variant". It shares its sculpt with the main release figure, but with lighter blue uniform and gold trim as seen in the 1980's animated TV show. You can pre-order the item now at Hasbro Pulse (US and Canada) with pre-orders closing as of the 30th of July. The item will then ship around the 15th December 2020. This Cobra Commander figure comes ready for action, with a color scheme inspired by the 1980s animated series, multiple points of articulation for high poseability, and character-inspired accessories, including his signature sword. And with custom artwork by Dan Mumford, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander package will make a mark on shelves. Includes: G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander action figure and 5 accessories. The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and detailing This figure’s light blue color scheme is inspired by the character from the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series This figure features a classic design updated to bring the G.I. Joe Cobra leader into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by the character’s rich history Joining some of the best artists from the world of comics, graphic design in our artist partnership program, Dan Mumford adds a unique style to the Cobra Commander package This G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander figure features premium detailing and articulation for dramatic action poseability (some poses may require additional support) 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 Rebel Hoth Snowspeeder was released in 2020 in the 6 inch scale Star Wars Black Series, and was part of the 40th Anniversary celebration for The Empire Strikes Back. The set includes a scaled T-47 Speeder as well as a figure of Dak Ralter, the gunner from Empire who flew with Luke Skywalker at the Battle of Hoth. Packaging 4/5 The Rebel Snowspeeder comes in the Phase 3 packaging which is black throughout, but with the red side spine. There is no numbering on this set, so it does not directly follow on as suspected as the #06 after the last vehicle release, Enfys Nest's speeder. There is no window on the box at all, so the contents are fully hidden. We do not even get a cut out to show Dak as the included figure. Instead we have a grey lined Titus illustration taking up the front of the box with insert images top and bottom right to show off the actual item. The Black Series logo is top let, with an Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary logo in the top right. The name plate, in red, is bottom left and listed simply as "Snowspeeder" with "Dak Ralter" listed underneath as subheading. The back of the box carries a better look at the product, with a large image from the back of the Speeder with its cockpit raised and Dak standing to one side. There are then a series of images of the cockpit, and a couple more angles of the Speeder and a closer look at Dak. The final side spine has a very nice - and big - Titus illustration of Dak Ralter in his Snowspeeder flight gear and wearing his flight helmet with Rebel symbols. We have the usual background text on the reverse of the box, with a section for the Snowspeeder and a section for Dak Ralter. SNOWSPEEDER When stationed on Hoth, the Rebel Alliance modified T-47 airspeeders to become snowspeeders. The snowspeeder was a two-man vessel, with a pilot and a rear facing tailgunner. DAK RALTER An eager young rebel pilot assigned to Hoth's Echo Base, Dak served as Luke Skywalker's tailgunner during the Battle of Hoth but was killed by Imperial fire that struck the back of the snowspeeder. The size of the box is illustrated in these images - firstly with Dak stood next to the box, and the second against a standard Black Series figure release. Unpacking & Assembly The box opens by means of either side flap and a full cardboard tray slides out. This filled me with much nostalgia from unpacking the original Kenner Snowspeeder and other vehicles in this manner. The figure is secured off to one side, and below him a bundle of items. On the opposite side wall are the two cannons. The speeder is not so much secured in place as boxed into place by the shaping of the tray and two overhanging packaging pieces. If you strip everything out of the box you are left with Dak, the two front cannons and a baggie containing a couple more parts of the Speeder as well as Dak's accessories. Interestingly there are no instructions? Now assembly is not rocket science, but the guns are left and right handed and the panel pieces for the left hand side as you look do have a specific way to get them to slot into place. The lack of instructions also may lead many to miss some of the opening panels and details for the ship as you will see shortly. With the Snowspeeder unboxed you can now see the scale of the item. The overall dimensions of the Speeder are 18 inches back to front, 16 inches wide and 5 inches tall with the cockpit hatch closed. The box measures 16.5 inches high, 18.5 inches wide and 5 inches deep. Paint & Sculpt 5/5 The Speeder is a thing of beauty and very well proportioned to the original prop - neither under or oversized. The ship is cast in grey plastic with weathering and scoring added as paint effects. Decals are also used around the ship, predominantly in Aurebesh. The cockpit is accessed via the opening cockpit door and inside is a fantastic replication of the interior we see during the Battle of Hoth. There are two control yokes in the front as well as individual painted controls in black, silver and red. The rear seat also has control yokes for firing the rear gun and grappling hook and there is a similar level of detail - more so perhaps with a tactical screen and individual levers and buttons. Onto Dak Ralter and he is presented in his Snowspeeder flight suit complete with flight hood. The face sculpt is excellent likeness to actor John Morton - even if we do not see his face too often in the film. Face print technology is used for the likeness making the eyes in particularly very lifelike. The suit is presented in bright orange cast plastic, with survival vest and chest unit all very well painted. Slight strapping snakes around the legs and is flexible enough to move with the leg articulation. Boots are wrapped snow boots with some canisters in a bandoleer around the left leg. Dak shares a body with Luke Skywalker Snowspeeder, also released in 2020. There is a difference in belts though with Luke retaining his brown belt with lightsaber hook, while Dak has a simpler grey belt in keeping with he rest of the suit. Accessories 5/5 Dak comes with his flight helmet, a re-use from the original Luke X-Wing helmet - and as used on all Rebel pilots to date. it is painted white with blue rebel symbols and flight wings applied as decals. The visor is left as transparent yellow and the chin strap in a flexible plastic. It fits perfectly, if not a little tightly, to the head - helped by the use of a flight hood rather than sculpted hair. The strap sits under the chin and the visor lines up with the eyes. The other accessories included are more for Luke Skywalker, rather than Dak who never exited the Snowspeeder in the movie. We get the grappling gun that Luke uses to climb up to the belly of the AT-AT. This is black across the body with silver end and rear hose piece. It fits snugly in Dak's hand (and therefore by default into Luke's hand also). The other two accessories are (I believe) the explosives that Luke uses to blow up the AT-AT. The are cast in grey with a gold painted tip and can fit in either hand ready to be thrown and deployed. Articulation 5/5 The Snowspeeder articulates in a number of areas, notably the opening cockpit. We also have the braking flaps on each side of the reverse. These clip up and then pivot outward on a hinge. Just down from these is the exposed workings as seen directly out of the box. They are covered by a grey panel that clips in place and then the engine piece that slots on top. These can be removed again if you want to display the Snowspeeder with these inner workings exposed - after all they are gloriously detailed. Our Speeder does not have a stand, but does come with working landing gear. There are three panels on the reverse. The front opens by means of two doors and the ski gear pivots down and clicks into place. The two rear ski pieces are attached to one side of the opening doors. Once the first is open the second pivots out and engages the gear. The Speeder is constructed for two 6 inch figures to sit in the cockpit, and the Snowspeeder flight body is articulated to allow both Luke and Dak to sit in their relative flight positions. The legs slide into the body of the ship positioning the body into the seat and with the hands able to grip the flight grips provided. The strapping is attached at the seat top by a plug in piece, you unplug it to accommodate the figures then reattach it to secure the figures in place. There are more goodies at the rear of the Snowspeeder with the Harpoon gun and tow cable. The gun rotates on its axis, while the tow cable is attached to the rear fins. The cable can be pulled out and clipped to the gun - and there is a fair bit of cable secured in the body of the ship. To retract the cable there is no winding mechanism, just another hatch on the reverse through which you pull the cable back into the body of the ship. Dak Ralter weighs in with a total of 19 points of articulation, including the newer butterfly shoulders. All of this does exactly what you need him to do in terms of sitting in the cockpit or posing with the Snowspeeder in a hangar diorama. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base Body : ball joint waist Arms : ball joint shoulders, butterfly shoulders, single joint rotating elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, single joint rotating knees, ankle rockers Summary The Snowspeeder is a wonderful piece of kit, executed brilliantly in the 6 inch scale. Not as big and display heavy as the Tie Fighter, yet of a scale to be a real centrepiece in any collection. The detailing is impressive, particularly the braking flaps and the cockpit controls. Dak is a great inclusion, and while the accessories are not directly meant for him - they work well with Dak or you can hand them over to Snowspeeder Luke. The Snowspeeder invokes real nostalgia from unboxing it to playing with it, the only thing it doesn't do is sound FX and light up guns - which would have been cool, but added quite a bit to the cost price I imagine. I score the Star Wars Black Series Snowspeeder and Dak Ralter top mark of 5 out of 5. Visit our Star Wars Black Series Database for more News & Reviews 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 empire strikes back, 40th anniversary, snowspeeder, dak ralter, rebels, hasbro

Super7 have unveiled their third wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 7 inch Ultimates. The line is inspired by the 1980's TMNT figures and this third wave brings us closer to a full set of Turtles with the inclusion of Michelangelo. Also included is April O'Neil, Metalhead and Rocksteady, who will complete the duo alongside the wave 2 Bebop. Each figure comes with appropriate accessories - with weapons for the Turtles and Rocksteady, while April has her video camera, microphone and press pack. To mimic the original 1980's figures, each figure also comes with a sprue of unpainted accessories. Each figure will be boxed, as shown off below with the mock-up of Michelangelo, and will be released in early 2021. As always, these are made to pre-order with the pre-order window open now through to the 26th of July 2021. Cowabunga, dudes! Super7 is proud to announce the debut of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wave 3 Ultimates! Inspired by the original 80s classic toy line, each 7-inch articulated deluxe figure is lavishly painted and features a massive cache of weapons and interchangeable accessories. Available for a limited time, these are a must have for the TMNT fan! Each figure will come with an alternative set of hands for highly posable play and display, plus a fully loaded weapons rack. They will also come with a PAINTED set of rack accessories in addition to an UNPAINTED set still on their rack. Michelangelo, the carefree joker, comes equipped with: Interchangeable Heads Interchangeable Hands Pizza Box and Slice Nunchukus Turtle Fist Daggers Ninja Stars Kama Grappling Hook Weapons Rack Michelangelo will also come packaged in a deluxe slip case-style box. April O'Neil, trusted ally to the Turtles, comes equipped with: Interchangeable Heads Interchangeable Hands Camcorder with Tripod Gun Wireless Microphone Flashlight TMNT Portable Computer Ninja Stars Open and Closed Turtle Communicator Press Pass Weapons Rack April will also come packaged in a deluxe slip case-style box. Metalhead, the robotic turtle, comes equipped with: Interchangeable Hands Radical Robo-chuks Portable Party Pack Radar/Foot Blaster Utility Belt Grenades Weapons Rack Metalhead will also come packaged in a deluxe slip case-style box. Rocksteady, the mutant rhinoceros villain, comes equipped with: 8" tall (other TMNT Wave 3 figures are 7") Interchangeable Hands Retro-Mutogen Gun Manhole Cover Shield Turtle Carver Knife Grenades Weapons Rack Rocksteady will also come packaged in a deluxe slip case-style box. 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, teenage mutant ninja turtles