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R2-D2, from his time on Dagobah, was released in the Spring of 2020 on special Kenner inspired vintage card-backs to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. This sub-line of the 6 inch Star Wars Black Series started in 2017 with the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope, and the 2020 line continues the design with a number of new characters and figures on these gorgeous vintage cards. R2-D2 Dagobah is part of Wave 2 which also includes the Tie Fighter Pilot, Lando Calrissian, Hoth Rebel Trooper and Luke Skywalker Snowspeeder Pilot. Packaging 4/5 R2-D2 arrives on an up-scaled Vintage style card complete with classic Empire Strikes Back header and silver tram-line border. The Kenner logo sits at the base of the card with the Kenner styled colour blocks for the character name and behind the figure blister - in R2's case these are green. The only new addition is a foil 40th Anniversary logo in the top left. While most 40th Anniversary releases re-create the original card, the image used for R2-D2 is a new one to show his time on Dagobah. I understand this derision to differentiate more from the A New Hope 40th Anniversary version, but this does mean the figure loses a notch of nostalgia for those of us around in the 1980's as we will not necessarily instantly recognise the card-back. The card back is also a replication of the 1980's versions, with the other figures from the wave displayed in varying character specific colour boxes. Beneath this is the 40th Anniversary text which is generic to all card backs. There is no character unique text. "Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging" The only downside of a card of this nature is damage, particularly if these are bought from physical stores rather than specialist retailers. Even fresh out of the case there is a slight bend on the card. Paint & Sculpt 3/5 This version of R2-D2 uses the same one from the start of the Black Series line back in 2013, and as we know this is a little undersized in terms of height and width. The proportions remain good with the silver dome packed with the correct blue panels and photo-receptor eyes. The dome remains two part and is joined across the middle with a very visible joint which is rough in places. The body also has a number of panels and grills, including down the two legs to the wiring around the feet. Any joints here are hidden by the legs, and the detail is quite extensive and screen accurate with the exception of the wires at the feet which have been sculpted quite a bit thicker - most likely so they can be mass produced and do not snap too easily. The dome is cast in silver with paint added, and the body cast in white. All the blue and red parts are hand painted and they are all neat and tidy. Over this is the "Dagobah wash", a number of splashes of brown/green paint to recreate the mud and swap water Artoo is covered in shortly after landing. This weathering is a little too patchy, and doesn't go far enough when you compare it to what we see on the card art. there are also discrepancies like very clean feet on the inside and the leg paint not lining up to what we see on the body. Regardless of the quality of the wash, it does look better than a sterile and clear R2-D2. Somewhere between the original and this release is a version with general weathering that will really bring out the detail on the sculpt. Accessories 2/5 When you unpack your R2-D2, make sure you spot the tiny part in the top right of the blister. This is the cover for the top panel if you do not want to use the periscope. Said periscope is an accessory of sorts considering it still does not withdraw into the body, but has to be swapped out with the cover if you want to change the look of the figure. This is disappointing in that a 2020 figure can't manage what an R2-D2 figure in the 1970's for Kenner did with its periscope. The periscope is also lacking any detail or paint apps and it would have been good to see the visual lens and some of the other indicators painted onto the plain white underside. On my version there is sadly a splash of blue on the periscope which is a shame. Everything else included in the original R2 is missing from this set, yet all the top panels still pop off and reveal the voids where the scanner and lightsaber go. Not sure why these have not been glued down - to prevent loss more than anything. They have at least glued down the leg panels where the rocket boosters used to go. Considering the size and articulation of the figure, had this been a basic release we would have been disappointed with the contents in terms of value for money. If this does get a standard box release then Hasbro need to consider including some of the Dagobah packing crates to help diorama build the display and add some value. Articulation 3/5 As a droid, R2's articulation is limited to 6 points. This includes the third leg for travelling, which winds down out of the body by turning the head. Be warned, that this third travelling leg still has a very ugly CE mark stamped into one side. The mechanism works fine, but it can interfere with the posing of the dome - which rotates - as you can be left with a partially exposed leg when you turn the head. The idea is to rotate the head the opposite way when posing the dome, but that will give you some nasty "clicks" and I would guess a risk of damaging the internal mechanism. The other joints are at the top of each leg so the legs can be swung back or forward. And then at the feet on all three legs to position them flat to the floor. To aid movement, and in what feels more like a play feature, R2 has two rollers on each foot to help him move around. Artoo has also kept hold of his welder and manipulator arms. These are hidden under two long panels on the front of the figure. The panels are hinged to open and the two arms swing out. These arms need some coaxing to come out, the gap is far too small to get fingers in to aid them. What we want to see really in the absence of needing any more body articulation, is the scopes and scanners to now be retractable adding more movement to the figure and removing these fiddly clip in and out pieces. Summary While other 40th Anniversary figures got significant paint improvements (like Lando) or new parts (like Bespin Luke) R2-D2 gets very little in terms of updates from his previous release. The figure is now 7-years old and slapping on a dirty brown paint job doesn't quite go far enough to demonstrate he is worth the same £20 price point as other figures - especially when all but one accessory are removed. I don't want Hasbro to change the dimensions of R2 units now, we are too deep into the line, but resolving the cast line on the head, the CE mark on the leg and making sure the Dagobah mud-wash was consistent would have been a good start. The accessories need improving too, either include everything from the first release or include some value add parts like the packing crates from the X-Wing. R2 will always be a popular choice for any Star Wars wave or sub-line, but this time round he is a little lacklustre alongside the other figures chosen. I score the Star Wars Black Series 40th Anniversary R2-D2 from Dagobah a just above average 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series figures 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, empire strikes back, dagobah, 40th anniversary, hasbro, bespin, R2-D2

The Rebel Trooper from Hoth was released in the Spring of 2020 on special Kenner inspired vintage cardbacks to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. This sub-line of the 6 inch Star Wars Black Series started in 2017 with the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope, and the 2020 line continues the design with a number of new characters and figures on these gorgeous vintage cards. The Hoth Trooper is part of Wave 2 which also includes the Tie Fighter Pilot, Lando Calrissian, Luke Snowtrooper Pilot and R2-D2 Dagobah. Packaging 5/5 Like the 2017 releases for the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope, these new Empire Strikes Back figures come on a vintage inspired blister card - complete with original Kenner logo. The card art remains the same as the original 1980's releases with the same card image of the trooper from Hoth, the same orange name plate and figure backdrop and the same red Empire Strikes Back Logo. Even the 4+ safety sign appeared on the original, although this new version has been changed to a circular design rather than plain text. The only new addition is a foil "40th Anniversary" logo in the top right next to the offset punched hole. The card back is also a replication of the 1980's versions, with the other figures from the wave displayed in varying character specific colour boxes. Beneath this is the 40th Anniversary text which is generic to all card backs. There is no character unique text. "Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging" The only downside of a card of this nature is damage, particularly if these are bought from physical stores rather than specialist retailers. Even fresh out of the case there is a slight bend on the card. Paint & Sculpt 5/5 Out of the box we have a very impressive face print sculpt for the Trooper, using the face print technology. The figure is not specifically designed around an actor, but looks to be based on the Trooper we see in the film in front of the Radar Laser Cannon - the same screen grab used on the cardback, albeit reversed. The costume does not appear to re-use anything from previous Hoth figures of Luke or Han and is again very faithful to the unnamed trooper from the cardback. The figure uses an off white for the coat with texture of the jacket built into the sculpt. It has some component parts sculpted onto the chest - including the grenades and rank badge, both neatly painted in silver. Further decor includes the insignia on the right shoulder and communicator on the wrist. Gloves and boots are also painted, with very crisp precision and no obvious errors. The Hoth Rebel Trooper features a first for the Star Wars Black Series. While we have had alternative head options before, this release features alternative face pieces. It is a very clever idea which we will look at further on under accessories. But essentially there is a 2nd face hiding in an almost secret compartment of the figures backpack. To allow these to be swapped the cap pops off, and then the face unclips from the head. The new face is then inserted and the cap placed back in place - leaving no obvious seam or indiction the head is in fact in three parts. This second face sculpt is the same as the first to allow Hasbro to cast them all the same, but it has facial hair added which changes the look considerably - and that is a dream come true for army builders as we will see shortly. Accessories 5/5 The accessory set on the Hoth Trooper is pretty in depth when you break it all down. We start with the backpack, which comes fitted to the figure but unclips by means of a plug and socket on the centre of the figures back. Two flexible straps at the side of the figures stomach give the illusion of a strap for the backpack without actually holding it in position. The backpack is sculpted with good detail and painted neatly. As we have seen a hidden compartment on the rear pops open to allow the spare face to be stored inside. I find it strange that this feature is not advertised anywhere on the package. While most Black Series collectors will follow Hasbro news coverage, or social media and news sites (like ourselves), I bet there will be people out there who end up owning this figure - oblivious to what it can do? The 2nd part, the scarf, is packed separate in the box - and again it is not immediately clear what it is for or how to use it. This is a rubbery cast piece that is designed to slot under the head piece. The head pops off for this to be positioned and the scarf can be positioned either way up. Positioned lower down it is a scarf round the neck, positioned upwards it becomes a face mask.The fit is pretty good, but it doesn't always sit neatly against the V of the jacket neck. It also can crease when the head is turned. We also get a pair of goggles. These are white framed with a translucent green visor that remains partially see through. They are fitted with black elastic - and if this release has a downside, the elastic is it. Mine snapped straight off the bat, and I had to glue the seam together. It also stretches and loses elasticity far too soon. From just a handful of poses to do this review, my goggle strap has gone slack and no longer holds its position. What this all means for army builders is that the faces, scarf and goggles can be configured in numerous ways to give you a variation in your Hoth Rebel Troops. There are 15 different looks made up across the two faces and combinations of scarf and goggles. This is still the same two faces, and actually the same face when the mouth covering is used as the only difference between the two is the beard. This is real innovation for the line, and opens up huge possibilities for future army building figures and sets, even alternative expressions of the same face could be included where the character design allows. Our Trooper is also armed, with two weapon options, starting with the DH-17 Blaster. We've had this weapon a few times before including the Death Squad Commander from the A New Hope Anniversary figures as well as Lando and the Rebel Fleet Trooper. The blaster has great detail but no paint apps. It can be held securely in the figures right hand only. And when not in use it slots into a holster on the figures right hip. Weapon number two is new to the line, the A280 Blaster Rifle. The detail on this is less defined and mine had a bit of a stress mark in the plastic between main body and barrel. The fin at the end of the barrel is a bit large and the barrel itself a little warped. This again fits into the right hand, with the left hand specifically shaped to cradle the rifle body for two handed infantry poses. The left hand is quite stiff and needs some teasing to slot onto the rifle. Warming it up will help. The choice of accessory and customizable options on this figure are way beyond anything we've had before in a single figure release at sub £20. And therefore it is hard to criticize a bit of paint missing on the guns. I would however add it would have been really awesome for the figure to have included the macrobinoculars, a key part of that scene as they spot the walkers. It feels ungrateful to add this my review, but would have elevated a superb release a little further. Articulation 5/5 Our Hoth Trooper is fully articulated with a total of 19 points of articulation. 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 He includes the new neck joint where the ugly pivot has gone and instead we have two joints top and bottom of the neck to aid head movement. He also gets the relatively new butterfly shoulders that allow his arms to pull round and in further than normal for some two handed weapon posing. Arms are fully mobile, as is the waist joint giving the figure some lean and ab crunch options. The legs are quite stiff and held back slightly at the hips and thigh by the lower skirt of the coat. The ankle rockers are tight and the figure stands perfectly well in a number of poses. And for anyone who did wonder... the Hoth Trooper can sit on the 2014 Tauntaun release, giving another option for army-building (if we had Tauntauns to spare). Summary This new Hoth Rebel Soldier release really goes back to the roots of the Black Series with its depth of accessories and options. It also innovates with the various configurations of the head and brings new options into the line with the first ever swap out face part. It delivers all this alongside a great sculpt, crisp paintwork and a level of articulation that is also improved on the norm by the addition of the revised neck joints and butterfly hips. Yes, the weapons would have been nicer with a touch of paint. And the inclusion of the macrobinoculars would have set this set off nicely. But these are very very minor points in the grand scheme of a figure that remains sub £20 at most retailers and offers arguably the best value for money to date in the line. I score the Star Wars Black Series Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Hoth Rebel Trooper top marks of 5 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series figures 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, hasbro, black series, 40th anniversary, the empire strikes back, vintage card, kenner, hoth, rebel, trooper

Hulk, as seen in Avengers Endgame, was released twice by Diamond Select Toys in their Marvel Select 7 inch scale action figure line. The first, the one we are reviewing here, was released in 2019 a a Disney Store / Shop Disney exclusive. Diamond would release a 2nd version in January 2020. Packaging 2/5 Hulk is packed in the standard Select oversized blister packaging, with a wrap around side panel. An insert in the blister confirms this is Hulk from Avengers Endgame. The character name sits in non-specific yellow text down the side - with the Marvel Select logo at the top, and the Disney Castle logo at the bottom confirming this as an exclusive. The main issue with the Select packaging - in a world where resealable window packaging is the norm - is the fact it is destroyed one opened. And even sealed the size and shape attracts shelf wear, particularly on the exposed corners. (I purchased this figure loose so the packaging images are stock photos) Paint & Sculpt 1/5 The likeness to the Endgame Mark Ruffalo Hulk is terrible on the figure, it is a very generic head and then painted badly. You know it is a bad likeness when my son took one look at the figure and asked why Hulk was wearing makeup. The lips are too red, the eye brows comedicly thick and Hulk is indeed wearing what looks like blusher on his cheeks. Beneath these "details", Hulk's green skin tone is too bright and light The hair is painted black with very messy white added to each side. This is mean to grey the hair as we see on screen. Instead it looks like Hulk has been painting his ceiling. The costume is a close approximation of what Hulk wears in the scenes where he wields the Infinity Stones. There are issues though - issues that Diamond seem to fix on their general release - this includes the colouring and the panels of the suit, where the shapes are not quite right and the shade of grey and purple are too bright. The body shape is also off. Hulk is too wide and the legs too short for the torso. Another poorly proportioned figure from Diamond. Hulk is much shorter than previous Select Hulk figures as you can see in the images below where he lines up with the 2012 Avengers Hulk. However, when you line up the Endgame Hulk with a standard figure he is about the right height. He is also the same height as the Marvel Legends Hulk (top 2 images) making him a "possible" stand in for Legends figures - if you want to go down that route with this figure. Accessories 1/5 Hulk has no true accessories as such, but is packed with spare hands. We have a pair of fists and a pair of open palms for variation in posing. These too have the same pale green skin tone and are poorly painted. What I wanted as the Infinity Gauntlet as an option. This was reserved for the infinately better looking general release. Articulation 2/5 Hulk arrives with a total of 19 points of articulation, which on the surface is impressive for a Diamond Select figure. Head : ball joint neck Body : torso ball joint, waist swivel Arms : ball joint shoulder, bicep swivel, single elbow joint, wrist pivot Legs : T-Joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rockers Unfortunately the movement on the joints does not live up to the number of joints available. The arms are heavily restricted by the shape of the shoulders and biceps and the elbows get to about a 45 degree bend. The chest torso ball joint simply rotates - the same movement as the waist - and is also blocked off as you turn by the shape of the torso. Legs use the T-Joint that Diamond employs and once again these are loose. Hulk is a hefty figure and needs suitable joints to hold him up. Sadly the hips are not up to the task, and this is made worse by the ankles being even looser. The knees do fare better, but despite being double jointed the mass of muscle on Hulk's thigh blocks movement beyond a right angle bend. That does mean Hulk can get into some awkward kneeling poses. With those hips and ankles working against you, the Hulk is really hard to stay standing. Summary This whole figure feels like a Knock Off - from the paint to the articulation, everything is inferior to what Diamond eventually released as a standard figure. It is very odd that tooling and costs would go into making two figures of the same character in the same costume and one so much poorer than the other. The figures are priced the same too, which is staggering. I bought my Hulk on the secondary market loose - but am still disappointed with the figure for the price I paid, which was about half the price of the full figure as new. I score this Disney Store Exclusive Endgame Hulk an atrocious score of 1 out of 5. This is my first Marvel Select figure for some time after being all-in for a number of years. It certainly has done nothing to tempt me back to the line. See More Diamond Select Marvel figures 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, Avengers, hulk, endgame, diamond select, toys, disney store, shop disney, exclusive

In an announcement that surprised no-one, Hasbro have finally confirmed that the 5th figure in their first wave of 6 inch G.I. Joe Classified Collection figures will be Snake Eyes. He will feature his Katana with a workable sheath that clips to the backpack also provided. There will also be a knife, two guns and a silencer that clips onto the smaller weapon. The figure is identical sculpt wise to the exclusive, but has reduced paint apps and accessories. Snake Eyes will join Duke, Roadblock, Scarlet and Destro in the first wave due to arrive in June. Sites are now able to open up pre-orders for Snake Eyes. Like the other releases, Snake Eyes features some pretty impressive box artwork drawn specifically for the release by Tracie Ching. G.I. Joe is a highly skilled, on-demand, special operations force of men and women from around the globe. These extraordinarily talented heroes are selected for their elite abilities and tasked with defending the world from Cobra, a ruthless criminal organization bent on total domination. With unwavering courage and steely determination, the brave members of G.I. Joe are prepared to seek out Cobra in any environment on the planet. From hostile jungles to ice-clad arctic peaks…wherever there’s trouble, G.I. Joe is there. This Snake Eyes figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability and character-inspired accessories, including the ninja’s signature katana. And with custom artwork by Tracie Ching, the G.I. Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes package will make a mark on shelves. Includes: G.I. Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes 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 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, Tracie Ching adds her unique style to the Snake Eyes package This G.I. Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes 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, G.I. Joe,

Diamond Select Toys have released new images of the packaging for their two new action figures from the Jay and Silent Bob reboot movie. Jay and Silent Bob are packed in the oversized Select blister packs. The figures include action figures of themselves as accessories as well as swap out hands. There are also character appropriate accessories included. The figures are arriving in stores now. Jay and Silent Bob are headed back into theaters! Just as Kevin Smith reimagines the Bluntman and Chronic movies in Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, DST is relaunching the View Askew toy line with two new action figures! Jay and Silent Bob are wearing their new outfits from the movie and feature multiple points of articulation and include movie-specific accessories. Each figure comes packaged in display-ready Select 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, diamond, select, jay and silent bob, reboot

Review : Concept Alien Big Chap (Alien 1979 NECA, Alien Series Wave/Series : Series 7 Released : March 2016 Price : £19.99 - £22.99 When the original Alien movie went into production, HR Giger's iconic Alien creature was initially conceptually planned to be an off white, translucent colour. Following a number of technical issues with bringing this creature to life the colour ended up being changed to the dark colouring we are all used to seeing today. NECA have always sought out opportunities within their licences for figures that many of us would not expect to see, and the Concept Alien Big Chap is a perfect example that they have added for release in this wave 7 of the Alien series. As with all the Alien figures to date, the Concept Big Chap arrives in a sealed blister pack with the header containing the bold white text Alien logo, and an insert at the bottom of the card which specifies it's name as Xenomorph, and in brackets "Translucent Prototype Suit". The figure is also presented with a sticker on the front blister which identifies it as a Concept Figure. Round the back is a full length image of the actual figure, and over the top of this is a couple of paragraphs that explain the origins of the creature/suit. Across the bottom is the "also available" flash under which are head & shoulder shots of the three Xeno's from Series 7 - Concept, AvP Grid Alien and AvP Warrior. Out of the box, and the Concept Alien stands 9 inches high and is a very striking piece with the bone colouring bringing out much more detail than you would ever see on the original Big Chap without close inspection. The sculpt is stunning, with so much intricate detail where ever you look. The crowning glory is the head which has a clear dome and beneath this, and helped by the off white colour tone, you can pick out all the gruesome detail of the Xenomorph skull, with a look that is very reminiscent of the Alien 4 hybrid - which of course was also this pale bone white colour. Articulation is much improved compared to the original Big Chap release, on who this figure was based and as I will cover in a moment. But while improving on other areas, NECA have still retained the features that work really well, in particular the articulated jaw. This mechanism includes a moveable inner jaw which drops forward and out when the outer jaw is opened. The head moves on the shortened neck, not by much, but it can look side to side - any up and down movement is none existent. NECA have actually upgraded parts of this figure vs the original Series 3 Big Chap and the first of these improvements will be found down the arms. Te ball jointed shoulders are the same and allow for the arms to rotate round and out with a full range of motion. This is then further enhanced with the same bicep swivel. At first glance the elbows look the same, but the Concept figure has an enhanced joint which now allows the elbows to both bend and swivel. There is also improvements at the wrist and hand, with the swivel cut on the Concept figure made after the ribbed wrist rather than before and the hands are then pegged so can bend back and forth as well as rotating. There are also improvements around the main trunk of the figure with the hips in particular widened to incorporate updated ball joints. Down in the legs the thigh swivel has gone and the knees upgraded to a double joint. The ankles have also been tweaked, with more of a ball joint rocker movement - although on my figure this is a little stiff. Back up in the torso and the chest piece is new, and slimmer and the neck shorter. The torso joint feels and moves a lot cleaner than the original. The tail remains the rubber over the bendable inner skeleton and is invaluable in getting the figure into standing poses in particular as it acts as a counter point to the legs to keep the Alien upright. The leg joint improvements do also allow more scope for crouching or running positions but I suspect you will need a stand or support to achieve these. Paint application is really nice, considering it is one finish all over. The base bone colour is washed over with darker tones and brings out that skeletal detail of the exo-skeleton throughout. There was not a great deal wrong with the original Big Chap figure, but NECA have proved here that they are always seeking improvement and all those new joints and tweaked pieces have elevated the base figure to new heights - particularly when it would have been easy to repaint the old model and call it a concept. Yes the figure didn't appear on screen, but from a franchise point of view it was almost the original Alien and has a place in many collections to represent what it actually is, or just add some variety to a hive of Aliens. I can find no fault with my concept Alien other than the stability, which has plagued these figures but is more down to their design on screen than the figure. I see no reason why the Concept Xenomorph shouldn't be scored at 5 out of 5. Buy from Amazon UK Buy from Amazon US

The Child action figure was released in the Star Wars Black Series in May 2020. It was a special mini release, following the same packaging size and layout as the Porgs from 2018. The Child, or Baby Yoda as he has been named online, is in scale with the 6 inch Black Series figures and comes with a number of tiny accessories. Packaging 3/5 The Child arrives in a tiny box, that will surprise many in terms of how small it actually is. It measures just 72mm across (just under 3 inch), 82mm high (3 inch) and 23mm deep (just under 1 inch). This is the same dimensions as the 2018 Porg release. It follows the same design principles as the other Black Series Phase 3 figures in terms of colours with a red side spine and red backdrop to the figure window. The Black Series logo sits above the small window. Beneath this, and out of line with usual principles, is The Mandalorian TV show logo with the character name of "The Child" in bold grey to the side - not red text as we would see on the main releases. There is no room for any Gregory Titus artwork. It is interesting to see the Disney logo front and centre with Hasbro, usually this is round the back. The same warning logos, and 4+ logos are squeezed in to the front of the box. The back of the box has no room for anything other than a whole raft of warnings and copyright info in various languages. This is a shame that we miss out on the usual character bio, although at this stage there is not much to tell about The Child. You can see how tiny the release box is when you line it up with a standard release box. Paint & Sculpt 3/5 The Child stands just 1 inch high. He is well sculpted with a good proportion to his head and body and pretty screen accurate considering the tiny scale. He is cast in the base plastic colour for each element - the head, hands and feet in green and the robes in beige. The head gets a number of paint apps over the top with the dark eyes and shading around the ears. The robes are left the base beige and this is a shame as there is some good detail in the folds of the cloth which would have been great washed in with a darker colour. Similarly the head detail would have been brought out much more by a darker green wash. A lot has been said about the scale of the figure alongside the other 6 inch Black Series figures. If you initially look at reference photos or watch the show, The Child is often about as big as the Mandalorians upper arm (as seen when he is being held or they are in the Razors Crest cockpit) in which case the figure is certainly in the ballpark - but gut feel and eye still says he is too small. If you go more technical with the height comparison, online info has The Child at 406cm / 16 inches tall, and this is backed up by Sideshow's 1:1 scale figure which is also 406cm / 16 inches in height. Converted down to the 1/12 scale of the Black Series, our Child should be around 3.3cm, so at 2.5cm he is undersized by 0.7cm, or slightly under a third of an inch. This doesn't sound a lot, but it is 25% shorter than he should be. In fact, The Child is closer to 3.75" scale, where he should fall in about 2.2cm tall vs the 2.5cm he actually is. It will be interesting to see if Hasbro revisit The Child for Season 2 or in further sets - or if this will be the mould for all of The Child figures going forward - giving us another R2 situation. It will also be interesting to see how the SH Figuarts version sizes up with Hasbro (watch this space). The Child is certainly not the smallest figure in the line, as he is taller than both the Porg and Babu Frik. Accessories 3/5 Despite his size, The Child comes with three accessories. The first is the control knob from The Razors Crest. Up close this is a very tiny and poorly cast piece - its not spherical and has a cast spur on the top. It fits into either hand, but it is not gripped - just balanced, and that will mean the part will most likely get lost very easily. The second accessory is the bowl, which is much crisper and better sculpted. It is cast in the brown colour and shaped circular, much better than the control knob. Accessory three is the frog from Sorgan. This is another lumpy sculpt with very little detail. Painting is also a bit off. It captures the single eye, but the dark markings are only down the back and not down the legs - again I appreciate the scale and how hard it would be to paint at this tiny size. The three accessories are provided in an acrylic clear box - which makes sense to keep them all safe. This is quite robust and does the job its designed for. The issue with all these accessories is that they aren't the ones we wanted. We all wanted the hover cradle with a suitable clear flight stand, as seen in the first couple of episodes, and this would have made this a much improved release. Articulation 4/5 The Child is articulated, despite its size, with 7 points of articulation. The head can move in the socket of the robes allowing some articulation and expression. The arms rotate in the shoulder via a ball joint -but do pop out very easily so be careful of that. The hands rotate in the sleeves which is great for posing and carrying the accessories. The feet, under the robes, are also jointed and this allows The Child to lean backwards. The Child stands fine with no need for other support or tricky balancing. Summary The Child is halfway to being a brilliant release. The sculpt is there, but it would benefit from a darker wash on the skin and the robes to bring out the detail. The accessories are OK, but they are too small to be of much use and including the hover cradle would have been a far superior option - even if it meant the need for a bigger box and a few quid on the price. Price wise, this is circa £11 in the UK which is half of a full figure. You therefore do have to question the value for money for this set. But in the end, the is The Child and he is certainly filling a need that Collectors have had since his November debut on the show. With some work he does look great poses with Mando on display, particularly when you get him balanced with the Mando holding him. I score the set a 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figure 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 mandalorian, the child, baby yoda

NECA have revealed the 2nd Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle exclusive 7 inch scale figure from the Lootcrate set of 3 loot boxes. Box 1 contained a cell shaded Shredder figure from the TMNT comic. This will come out to subscribers in June 2020 Box 2 will include a Shell Shock Turtle from the videogame, complete with glow in the dark paint job. Box 2 is due to dispatch in September 2020. The figure for Box 3, based on the animated cartoon is yet to be confirmed. The bonus figure, Bunny Bebop, if you buy all 3 crates is confirmed - but as yet unrevealed. These will come in November 2020. You can order the various crates directly from Lootcrate, including UK delivery - but watch out for potential customs charges. 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, neca, teenage mutant ninja turtles, lootcrate

The new Star Wars Black Series Amazon Exclusives for Summer 2020 have been quite disjointed in terms of allowing fans to get their pre-orders in. Here is what we know so far... (this article contains paid links) Amazon US Availability & Links In the US, there was a delay in Amazon listing these three products. As an interim solution, Hasbro Pulse put up limited pre-orders. As of the 5th of May the products are now live on Amazon US, but only for shipping within the US. Han is $12.99, Vader $24.99 and the Bounty Hunters $39.99. Each is down as a 1st July release date. Carbonized Darth Vader Han Solo in Carbonite, Vintage Card Bounty Hunter 2-Pack of Zuckuss & 4-LOM, Vintage Card Amazon UK Availability & Links It has been confirmed that these are a Worldwide Exclusive, and will only be sold in the UK via Amazon (no official Fan Channel option in the UK). We may see a few sneak in via the Far East, with Robot Kingdom already listing them as pre-orders. But the majority of UK collectors will need to order via Amazon. At the time of writing, Amazon UK had placeholders for Vader and Han Carbonite, with nothing as yet for the Bounty Hunters. We would hope pre-orders open soon via these links (below). There is no clear UK pricing yet but we would expect £14.99 for Han Carbonite, £24.99 for Vader and £44.99 for the Bounty Hunters. The listings have indicated a later release for the UK in terms of August 2020. Carbonized Darth Vader Han Solo in Carbonite, Vintage Card Bounty Hunter 2-Pack of Zuckuss & 4-LOM, Vintage Card 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, star wars, black series, exclusives, amazon

Hasbro have confirmed another Marvel Legends release on the Retro Spider-Man cardback - Kingpin. This is a re-use of the Kingpin BAF with an adjusted collar to create a cravat, as well as repainted trousers, waistcoat and pocket handkerchief. Kingpin will come with his cane as well as both heads, the angry head now redecorated to look battered and bloody. Kingpin is down as an August 2020 release. It looks to be a Fan Channel exclusive, available at most specialist retailers. Kingpin is back with a vengeance... and the city isn't safe! The criminal mastermind has returned to wreak havoc on New York with thisexclusiveMarvel Legends Series 6-Inch Kingpin Action Figure. Lavishly detailed in a comic-inspired design, Fisk in his infamous suit is highly articulated and stands above your 6-inch tall figure collection. Not every Marvel Legends collector has the courage to add Kingpin to their collection - do you? If so, capture him now while you still can! (Daredevil and Spider-Man totally would.) Ages 4 and up. The city isn't safe! Kingpin is back! Wilson Fisk ruthlessly rules New York City’s underworld with cunning and a keen intellect. Amazingly detailed exclusive action figure in a cartoon-inspired design with cane and alternate head. Wilson Fisk is highly articulated and is scale to your 6-inch action figures. 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, marvel, legends, spider-man, spiderman, retro, kingpin, wilson fisk

Incendium have let us know about a brand new item in their Fig Biz line for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! With their 5 inch Bill and Ted out now, it seems our bodacious duo needed a means of travel to complete their history report, and Incendium have followed in Rufus' footsteps with this upcoming 5 inch scale Phone Booth. The Phone Booth is in scale with the Bill and Ted figures - all of which are licenced and inspired by the classic 1990's cartoon. It features opening doors as well as internal phone decor. The piece is a pre-order item, with no due date confirmed as yet. It will set you back $39.99 BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE FIG BIZ PHONE BOOTH We are excited to offer one of the most Iconic time machines ever created! Help Bill & Ted pass their history class and avoid military school, party on as you travel through time with this EXCELLENT Phone Booth! FigBiz officially licensed action figures are the perfect addition to any collection, inspired by the ultimate era of Saturday morning cartoons! Please note this item is for Pre-Order and will ship at a later Date. Prototype shown. Bill and Ted Figures Sold Separately. Ages 15 and up. 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, incendium, bill, ted, excellent adventure

Diamond Select Toys have revealed new promotional images of their upcoming Marvel Select Taskmaster from the Black Widow movie. This 7 inch Select figure features 16 points of articulation, and a good choice of accessories from his Shield, Sword and Bow & arrows. There are also alternative hands to support posing with each weapon. Diamond are still looking at a Summer 2020 release, meaning the figure will arrive ahead of the movie which has been pushed back to November 2020. From the Black Widow movie comes the villain that is just as cool as the heroine! Taskmaster arrives on the big screen to menace Natasha and also as a Select-style action figure! This approximately 7-inch tall action figure includes multiple accessories and 16 points of articulation and comes packaged on display-ready Select action figure 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, diamond, select, marvel, mcu, taskmaster, black widow