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Lucca Comic Con saw Hasbro confirm the release of Puma and a 6-Arm Spider-Man in the Marvel Legend line. Due to a display error at London Comic Con, the cat was kind of out of the bag on these figures - but it was nice to see the promotional images. It was confirmed these will join the Kingpin BAF wave alongside Black Cat, Red Goblin, Silver Sable, Modern Symbiote Spider-Man and Night Thrasher.

At the Lucca Comic & Games Convention in Italy, Hasbro announced another new addition to the 3.75" Vintage collection for 2019. Poe Dameron, in his X-Wing "flyboy" suit from The Last Jedi will be packed onto a vintage card with face print technology included on the head sculpt. The figure itself was originally released in the 3.75" Black Series figures at Walmart / Asda

Michael Myers is not the only 7 inch action figure NECA are releasing for the 2018 Halloween movie. It seems after all these years we are finally going to get a Laurie Strode figure as played by Jamie Lee Curtis. For now, this teaser image is all the info we have - we await more from NECA with baited breath

Halloween.... and Mezco announce the arrival of Freddy Krueger to their One:12 Collective. Freddy will come with four head options, one of which has a removable face section to reveal the skull beneath. Of course he includes his trademark hat and a soft goods tailored striped jumper. There are three versions of his knife glove and a number of alternative left hands, including one with the severed finger. His final accessory is the trashcan lid and being a One:12 Collective release there is the usual display stand, with movie poster design. Freddy is scheduled for a release between July and September 2019. He will cost $80 in the US, with a $20 non refundable deposit payable if you order direct from Mezco. Expect to be paying circa £75 when UK pre-orders open up. "Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep!” The One:12 Collective Freddy Krueger figure features four head portraits capturing the fearsome expressions of the dream demon, including one with a removable faceplate that reveals a skull sculpt - from the iconic scene where Freddy & Tina have a fatal encounter. Freddy is outfitted in his infamous striped sweater and comes complete with his signature clawed gloves and a trash can lid, straight from Tina’s nightmare. In Wes Craven's classic slasher film, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, several teenagers fall victim to Freddy Krueger as he preys on them in their dreams. Dark secrets start to unravel as the teens suspect their parents may be the key to solving the puzzle before it’s too late.

Welcome to our review of the 2018 Black Panther Marvel Legends release. Black Panther headed up his own wave in early 2018 to coincide with the movie release and was packed alongside MCU figures of Nakia and Killmonger, as well as comic book characters Black Bolt, Namor and Iron-Man. Each figure (except Iron-Man) carried a Build-a-Figure piece to construct a 4th MCU figure in Okoye, Black Panthers loyal Dora Milaje bodyguard. Packaging  5/5 Compared to other colour schemes used on the scooped Marvel Legend packaging, there is something impactful about the choices made for the Black Panther movie figures. The figure backdrop is a golden orange colouring and this is carried through as highlighting on the images on either side of the box. In contrast these images are drawn in shades of blue, and it is blue lettering that is used around the packaging and as a border for the character name. On the rear of the box we have a promotional image of the figure, a short bio and then the usual BAF checklist for the Okoye figure "A warrior and defender of Wakanda, T'Challa is the hero of Legend, Black Panther" ​​ Sculpt & Paint  3/5 Black Panther comes out of the pack with his helmet/mask in place. While this looks quite plain, there is actually a lot of detail built in when you get up close with panels of intricate mesh between the elements of the mask. The head, and indeed the body, are all cast in black plastic and the only paint applications on the head are the white eyes and the silver trimming. Both are neat and crisp with no obvious issues. The body, like the head, is cast in black plastic and is also cast with a lot of textural detail in the sculpt. All of this flows around a muscular body shape. The black is broken by the various silver detailing, starting with the necklace. Here you can start to see some paint complaints as the silver only partially covers each tooth. The same happens around the wrists and shins. Considering this is the only paint on the figure it would have been nice for it all to be applied neatly and without issue. There is a second head included with the figure and this pops on and off well with no concerns. The head uses the face print technology and yet the likeness to Chadwick Boseman is not the best. There is something about the frown and the deep ridged eyes that throw off the portrait. While the likeness may not be spot on, the printing element is really nice with shaded skin tones, natural eyes and a good looking beard. There is a very weird hairline for T'Challa with a strange point in the centre of his forehead. While this is trying to be accurate to the movie look, it actually looks like a flap of excess paint. The hair itself is too flat, it should have some body and instead it looks more like a buzzcut. It is also not painted too well with the hairline showing skin tone where hair should be. And while I don't want to seem over critical, there is something not quite right about the unmasked head and the neck piece, particularly if you look from the side. The head seems to hit too high and the neck seems elongated? As well as an alternative head, T'Challa comes with an alternate set of hands also. This allows you to have fists or open claws when displaying him. Both are proportioned well and swap in and out with a simple click. The clawed hands have a bit of paint applied for the claws. Articulation  5/5 Black Panther is one of the most articulated Legends figures I have had the pleasure of posing to date - up there with the likes of Spider-Man. T'Challa has 21 points of articulation that start with a ball joint pivot neck joint that allows either head to rotate and look up and down. There is a pivot chest piece which gives the ab crunch movement to bring Black Panther into more "crouching poses". The torso joints finish with a waist that rotates although when this one is moved the lines of the figure is thrown out. The arms are butterfly jointed at the shoulder with a ball joint behind this for full movement of the arm and the ability to bring the arm in past the chest. There is a bicep swivel and double jointed elbows, and we finish with pivot wrists. The legs are ball jointed hips, with a thigh swivel and double jointed knees. The ankle rocker are solid and the feet hold up Black Panther really well in both neutral and action posing. With all this movement you won't be short of poses for T'Challa. Being a very athletic figure I would also recommend getting a flight stand to support some action posings of T'Challa leaping into battle. Accessories  N/A Black Panther doesn't come with any accessories, not that he uses many in the movies. It might have been nice to include the Wakandan blade he uses to finish off Killmonger, but considering we get two heads and four hand options we can forgive them. The great thing about the masked head is that if you wish you can pose Black Panther holding his helmet - so an accessory of such. Summary Black Panther is a subtle figure with a great depth of sculpting that gives the impression of differing shades of black without any significant paint apps. The articulation is excellent, and only the waist joint throws off the look of the figure when posed. That being said there are imperfections with the little paint we do get with unpainted sections on the suit that should be silver. I am also not convinced by the Boseman head sculpt with its odd expression, odd hair sculpting and the little flap of what you think is misplaced paint. I score the 2018 Black Panther a 3 out of 5 and look forward to perhaps an improved Boseman head sculpt and a crisper Black Panther in the 2nd wave.

Hasbro's final panel of the year for new product reveals takes place on October 31st at 4pm at the  Ingellis Hall as part of Lucca Comics & Games 2018 - that is 3pm UK time. We will bring you all the news as it is confirmed, but if you want to follow a live stream then checkout Guerrestellari.net on Facebook who intend to stream the panel live. We would expect the Lucca Comics reveals to follow the same format as previous international con reveals with around 3 Marvel Legends reveals, 1 Black Series and 1 Vintage Collection. Indications are that the Star Wars Black Series reveal will be prequel related - I am still hanging my hat on a Mace Windu

Three new Hasbro Marvel Legends were revealed at the MCM London Comic Con Panel. Union Jack was the British link, arriving in 2019. He will be joined by Citizen V from the Thunderbolts. Both Union Jack and Citizen V will fall under an Avengers wave with already announced figures like Classic Loki and Hercules. The exact makeup of these waves (plural) can't be confirmed as yet as they will also include MCU figures from the 4th Avengers movie. Fans of the 1990's X-Men figures will finally be able to complete their blue team in 2019. Gambit and a new Jubilee have already been announced, and at the MCM London panel is was confirmed the team would be completed by the addition of Beast.

Hasbro have unveiled the addition of R2-D2 to the 3.75" Vintage Collection at their MCM London Comic Con Panel. They describe this as the definitive R2-D2 with removable 3rd leg for posing him in a couple of different positions. He will be released in 2019 on the A New Hope cardback.

Announced at MCM Comic Con London, the Battle Droids are coming to the 6 inch Star Wars Black Series in 2019. The figure will be engineered so it can actually fold up into the stowed position. There will also be some interchangeable parts included for the shoulders and backpack so fans can adjust the look of their Battle Droid when army building these onto display. The Battle Droid will include its E-5 Blaster Rifle.

Marvel Legends Reveals from the Hasbro Panel at MCM London Comic Con - keep refreshing for updates Live Feed from Fantha Tracks Revisiting the 2018 product lines from the MCU Looking at the exclusives on sale at the show - The Defenders 5-Pack and the Red Skull and Tesseract Now revisiting the "First Ten Years" set of figures, showing the digital presentation for all the sets. Role Play Line look back at the Infinity Gauntlet and Black Panther helmet. Black Panther Legends Wave 2 is going to be rushed out by end of 2018. Looking again at the full wave with M'Baku build-a-figure. Looking at reveals so far. First the Black Order recent announcements of Corvus Glaive and Ebony Maw. These will be out in 2019, but they aren't confirming where/how these will be released. Looking at Captain Marvel line and the Paris announcements of Genis-Vell and Grey Gargoyle to join the Captain Marvel wave. They touch on how Grey Gargoyle is French character announced in Paris, and what they may announce today? Looking at Wilson Fisk BAF with a video against the Daredevil Netflix theme.  Silver Sable, Black Cat, Spider-Man, Red Goblin, Nightstalker are in the Kingpin BAF wave. Nightstalker comes with skateboard. The final 2 figures for this will be announced in Italy (we'd guess Puma and 6-Arm Spiderman) Look back at Wendigo who will be a BAF but they will not confirm where/how as yet. Looking at some local reveals - looking at Black Knight and Captain Britain previous figures Reveal of Union Jack in an upcoming 2019 Avengers wave. And joining him is Citizen V from the Thunderbolts. These will join Loki, Hercules etc in Avengers waves that will sit along with MCU figures. For X-Men there is also a reveal of Beast to complete the 90s X-Men team.

Star Wars Reveals from the Hasbro Star Wars Panel at MCM London Comic Con - keep refreshing for updates Live Feed from Fantha Tracks Revisit the Archive announcements with the first wave in Spring 2019 and the 2nd wave in Summer. IG88 has been pulled from the display at MCM due to the paint not being accurate to the final product Revisit the NYCC announcements. Luke Stormtrooper has a revised head sculpt from the one shown in the 40th Anniversary diorama. Dr Aphra and Droids shown again. Looking at General Grievous who will be 7 inch tall Dryden Vos and Han Solo Mud Trooper revisit. The Han figure can be army built as the helmet can be put back on to make a general trooper. (they talking about Samuel L Jackson - a hint perhaps?) Showing the Padme Amidala figure and how it "kicks off their prequel line". They talking about the promo image being taken about 3-4 months ago and that is why the "in hand" images from Paris Comic Con look more impressive (Padme will come with a friend?) Vintage 3.75" content now. Looking at Klaatu and Scarif Stormtrooper. And now looking at Yak Face and Leia as Boushh. They are talking about how Leia Boushh has a nod to original packaging with helmet packed above her head. Looking now at recent 3.75" Vintage announcements - Han in Stormtrooper disguise, Elite 41st Clone Trooper, Imperial Assault Tank Commander and Luke Skywalker from Craiit (The Last Jedi). Looking now at Phasma, first time on Vintage Card. And a look at the recent Paris confirmation of Chewbacca. Chewbacca will be on the A New Hope Cardback. There is a Europe only "revisit" wave to catchup European collectors for 3.75" Vintage - Darth Vader, Leia, Han, Luke an d Boba Fett. They are now showing some Digital Content, doing a similar thing to what Marvel Legends have done recently with the First Ten Years sets with figures in dioramas for online content. There is also a featurette of Dewback from concept to shelf. There is a digital content looking at history of Star Wars toys - starting with the history of speeder bikes and Darth Vader helmets. Here Comes The Reveals.... 6" Black Series Battle Droid. Includes fold up feature and swap out parts to adapt your figure to different looks with shoulder and back pack Vintage 3.75" R2-D2 on A New Hope Classic Card

NECA have just announced, via Bloody Disgusting. a brand new 8" figure of Valak from the movie, The Nun. Valak the Demon is part of "The Conjuring" Universe and the most recent outing of The Nun fills in some of Valak's backstory. The NECA figure will sit in their 8" retro style figure range, where a generic body is dressed with tailored soft goods clothing and appropriate sculpted head and hands are added. Valak will come with two heads, one neutral and one screaming. The figure is scheduled for a release in the first quarter of 2019 "From The Nun, the terrifying new movie in The Conjuring Universe, the demon Valak takes action figure form! This clothed figure is based on the demon’s manifestation as a nun and features a full fabric habit. It stands 8” tall, is fully articulated and comes with an additional interchangeable head when you want to take the horror up a level!"