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In another pre-Toy Fair 2019 tease, Mezco have shared details of a brand new action figure line that they will debut in New York. "Toy Fair is less than a week away and it's time for another Toy Fair 2019 product reveal! Here's a sneak peak at a brand new line we will be debuting at Toy Fair: 5 Points." The 5 Points line looks to do exactly what it says on the tin, with a couple of 5 points of articulation action figures shown as unpainted prototypes. The size of the figures is not confirmed, but could be anything from 3.75 inch up to 12 inch or beyond. The licences shown both seem to be Hanna Barbera properties as we have the hero Birdman and the ghost of Elias Kingston, a villain from Scooby Doo Where are You?

Welcome to our review of the 2018 Disney Store Exclusive Venom figure from Diamond Select Toys. While this is a comic book based version of Venom, the figure was released to coincide with Sony's 2018 Venom movie. The figure is a partial re-release of standard Select Venom with new heads and accessories. Packaging 4/5 Venom arrives on Disney Store shelves in what appears to be the standard Diamond Select packaging. However, as with other Disney Store exclusives you will find the blister is much slimmer than the normal Select releases - most likely to take up less space. The other design principles remain in tact with a cardboard backing card that then wraps the left hand side of an oversized blister and eventually wraps onto the front to create the space to label the figure. The text used for "Venom" is consistent with the other Comic based Select releases. The only clue to its Disney Store exclusivity is the small Disney logo under the character name. To the side of the nameplate is a triangular insert cutting into the blister on which is a head shot of Venom which does look very cinematic rather than comic based - although it is not an actual shot from the Tom Hardy movie. The left hand spine of the figure contains the standard art panel that Select figures are renowned for. While the front art is cinematic, the side panel is firmly rooted in comic book art and is nothing short of spectacular with a head shot of Venom with teeth bared and tongue snaking out. The back of the box is fairly simple with an image of the figure against a faded comic panel backdrop. The two alternative looks for the figure are represented in inserts either side of the main images legs. There is a repeat of the orange/yellow VENOM text from the front of the box and they usual logos and trademarks. Unlike a lot of Select figures there is no character or background text utilised. Paint & Sculpt 3/5 The body of our Disney Store Venom is identical to the original 2013 release, while the back section and all three heads are brand new additions sculpted for this version. The first head is a closed mouth version and is an interesting look for the Symbiote. While I kind of like it, I suspect it will be the least favourite of the three included in the pack. The figure itself stands 8 inches tall. It is cast in black plastic with the white spider logo, eyes and panels on the back of the hands added over the top. The back section, like the first release, is removable. Rather than plugs and sockets it works cleverly by moulding around the sculpt of the figure and both fits and stays in place really effectively. This is also cast in black, no paint apps. Under the back section is more of the spider logo and you can see in these images the paint doesn't quite cover the black base in places and looks a little grey. The head is swapped out by popping it off the ball joint. This is easy to do, with a small ball on the end of the neck joint. The only issue with this is I suspect the fit will start to loosen over time. The second head is an open mouthed version with the iconic tongue snaking out. This is much more the Venom we know and looks great. There is good colour to the lips, teeth and tongue and the eyes are pretty bright white, but again suffer from a little discolouration to grey at the edges if you look closely. Head three is another open mouthed Venom, but even wider this time round. The tongue on this is extensive and snakes out by some distance. Once again we have good deep red lips and tongue colouring and off white bone coloured teeth. There is also the addition of some yellow drool on the chin. Accessories 4/5 While Venom comes with two giant clawed hands, there are two other pairs included in the set if you want to tone down the look. The first of these are a pair of fists, the second open palmed. Both are cast in black plastic with white painted onto a panel on the rear of the hand. Like a lot of the white application these are a touch messy and greyed in some parts where they don't quite cover the black base plastic. Swapping out of the hands is another simple maneuver with a satisfying pop in and out. Be warned these are not pivot joints on the wrists so they only pop in and out and rotate, there is no bend on the wrist joint. The other "accessories" for want of a better word are the various parts that can be plugged into Venom and the backpack to represent the Symbiote parts snaking out from the body. The largest of these are scythe shaped and slot into the holes in the back pack with a ball type joint, this then allows them some movement. We then have some smaller parts which fit in the back, but also sockets positioned in the forearms. With all the parts pretty much interchangeable the options for Venom are pretty endless. Articulation 3/5 Venom has an impressive 19 points of articulation, not including the movement on those plug in symbiote parts. We start on the torso where we have the ball jointed head which rotates on the short ball joint post. There is no pivot however so if you try to make Venom look forward or back then the head simply pops off. Under the head is what feels like a torso ball joint. Sadly there is virtually no movement in this, neither in terms of rotating the torso on using it for ab movement forward or backward. There is better movement in the waist swivel under this which does rotate the whole upper body fully. The hip joints are a T-Joint mechanism where the leg is able to swing out to the side or in front, or a combination of both. With such a slim waist and nothing to encumber the legs, the movement is wide ranging. Under this we have thigh swivels to help align the feet in various poses. The knees are sadly only single joints so do restrict kneeling or crouching poses and do make Venom look a little awkward. The legs end with ankle rockers which are also wide ranging in their movement. Sadly these ankles are a little loose and standing Venom is difficult with such a big torso and the added weight of those symbiote parts. The arms are much better story with full movement driven by ball jointed shoulders, bicep swivels and double jointed elbows. It is only the wrists, as mentioned above, that let the side down by being plugged only and not allowing any pivot. Summary Venom is one of the most iconic Marvel characters at the moment, and you can't blame Disney for wanting some merchandise on the shelves for fans as the Venom movie hits theatres. There is also nothing wrong with giving an existing figure a redux to make it an exclusive - the three new heads and various symbiote parts create a significant point of difference. Unfortunately for Venom the original body re-used had some flaws, particularly the weak ankles and the lack of wrist pivot on a character that shoots from his wrists, and these have not been resolved. The white paint application is also sloppy in places and doesn't cover too well. I score the Disney Exclusive Venom a 3 out of 5. See More Select figures in our Diamond Select Toys Archive Review #506

A Diamond Select Toys release! This 7-inch scale action figure of Spider-Man features his "Iron Spider" look from the movie, and features approximately 16 points of articulation and interchangeable parts and accessories. Packaged in the full-color, display-ready Select packaging, with side-panel artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! Released : February 2019

The Fugitive Predator stands over 8” tall and features over 30 points of articulation. Includes 2 interchangeable heads (masked and unmasked), interchangeable forearms, 4 interchangeable hands, 4 wrist blades, and articulated shoulder cannon. Comes in deluxe 5 panel window box with Velcro closure. Release : August 2018

It’s another NECA first – an “Ultimate” action figure two-pack! We’ve upgraded our first action figures from Dark Horse’s Predator: Bad Blood comic book series and given them new Ultimate bodies and new exclusive accessories (in addition to all previously released accessories). Ultimate Bad Blood and Ultimate Enforcer each have two interchangeable head sculpts: Bad Blood has a new masked head and Enforcer has a new unmasked head. Figures stand approximately 8″ tall and feature new, less stylized deco and over 25 points of articulation. Release : December 2018

NECA presents our first action figure ever from Dark Horse Comics’ “Predator: 1718”! One of the most memorable moments in the 1990 film Predator 2 is when Elder Predator gives his flintlock pistol to Detective Harrigan as a sign of respect. “Predator: 1718” reveals the story of how Elder (whose coloration was more yellow in his younger days) originally acquired the pistol. The figure comes with 3 different heads, alternate hands, trophy necklace, smart disc, shoulder cannon, sword that fits in a back sheath, and flintlock pistol that tucks through his belt. Golden Angel Elder stands approximately 8.25” tall and features over 30 points of articulation. Collector-friendly deluxe window box packaging with opening flap. Release Scheduled : Q1 2019

This brand-new version of Ahab is based on his appearance in the Dark Horse comics. We’ve given our SDCC 2014 exclusive a massive upgrade, equipping it with the all new “Ultimate” Predator body which has added articulation in the biceps (bicep swivels), elbows (double elbow joints) and torso, plus an opening gauntlet. The figure also features new loin armor and skirt, new right gauntlet, new knee armor, fabric cape and all new deco. He’s equipped with brand new accessories too, including an Engineer Gun, Spear, Gauntlet with both 2- and 3-blade configurations, alternate hands, Engineer skull trophy and more! The Engineer Gun can be held or clipped to the figure’s back. Stands approximately 8″ tall and comes in collector-friendly deluxe window box packaging with opening flap. Released : September 2018

Mezco revealed their One:12 figures from cult film The Warriors at SDCC 2018. Now the release information has been confirmed and all four figures will be combined into a box-set release rather than individual offerings. For The Warriors we have 6 inch figures of Ajax and Swan. Both come with a baseball bat accessory and an alternative head portrait. There are also multiple hand options and a display stand included with both. Ajax has a pair of handcuffs, Swan has a knife and two Molotov Cocktails. The Furies are presented in their Baseball uniforms. Both again coming with Baseball bats. There are more interchangeable hands and a Furies display base. The Fury leader has an alternative head sculpt. While the packaging has not been unveiled, the set is listed as coming in a collector friendly metal tin. The set has a US RRP of $275, and that will likely convert to somewhere around the £220 mark for UK collectors. There is a tentative release date of December 2019 - March 2020. “Warriors, come out to pla-ay!” February 9, 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the timeless cult hit, ‘The Warriors’. In honor of this occasion, The Warriors join the One:12 Collective with a four-figure deluxe box set and are packaged together in a special edition, collector-friendly metal tin - perfect for displaying alongside the gang! The One:12 Collective The Warriors Deluxe Box Set includes Ajax, Swan, and two Baseball Furies. Swan & Ajax both come outfitted in leather look vests. Swan comes battle-ready with a switchblade, baseball bat, and two Molotov cocktails – one with and one without a flame. Ajax is always ready for a rumble and comes complete with a baseball bat and a pair of handcuffs. The Baseball Furies, both leader and soldier, are outfitted in their signature Baseball Furies uniforms. Both are ready to bring their A-game and each come complete with a baseball bat. After being accused of killing Cyrus, president of the Gramercy Riffs, The Warriors soon have every gang in New York City out to get revenge. The turf battle rages from Coney Island to the Bronx as The Warriors fight to make their way back home.

It seems Kaiyodo are returning to the Transformers line with this new Optimus Prime on display at Wonderfest Winter 2019. The figure is non-transforming and is going to be released under the Amazing Yamaguchi Revoltech branding. Release is scheduled for July 2019 and the price is listed as 7800 Yen, that is just shy of £60 converted to GBP, but expect this price to rise once this has been imported into the specialist stores.

The other Newt Scamander offering on display at Wonderfest Winter 2019 was this version from Soap Studios. Soap's version of Newt remains 1/12 (6 inch) scale but is more akin to the Mezco figures with soft goods tailored clothing. This version of Newt comes with his suitcase and mini figures of Niffler and the Bowtruckle. The Soap Studios Newt Scamander has no release date either as yet, but will be a higher price point than the MAFEX version, coming in somewhere in the region of £80 - £100 for the UK market once imported.

Idlehands have shared a new article with the packaging design and layout for the incoming McFarlane Game of Thrones figures. The figures of Daenerys, Jon Snow, Arya Stark and the Night King will be blister packed with a deep red colour scheme. There is house appropriate banners above the character name in each blister. The same scheme is used on Viserion who is in a window box. Checkout the article with more images at Idlehands Blog

At Wonderfest 2019 in Japan, the Medicom display had a brand new MAFEX 6 inch figure of a classix X-Men Jim Lee Cyclops. Nothing else is known at this stage, other than we assume this is the next release after the recently announced Wolverine.