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“I see it Wedge, good work” After the 2019 launch of the Star Wars Retro Collection by Hasbro, 2020 saw them move from A New Hope to The Empire Strikes Back. The principles for Empire remained broadly the same, with 6 single-carded figures, all reproductions of the original Kenner figures. Alongside them was another board game release, the Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Game, complete with another exclusive figure. This time around, Hasbro presented us with Luke Skywalker in his Snowspeeder gear from the Battle of Hoth, tying in nicely to the game while also filling a gap from the original Kenner releases that went back as far as 1980. The board game recreates the original Kenner release from 1980, with the board game, playing pieces, supporting cards, and instructions all more or less identical. The Luke figure comes fully carded, but is inserted on top of the game board and pieces, with the blister visible through the opening lid of the game.  The card for Luke follows the same Retro Collection design as the first batch of releases, but with a move to paying homage to the Empire Strikes Back cards of 1980. This is inclusive of the original tramlines and logo, some faux creasing around the sides, and with the large orange Retro Collection label. Like Tarkin from the previous year, Hasbro has selected an appropriate film still for the artwork and chosen another blue tone for the back of the blister. The card back lacks any real interest, including text only and a background of the Retro Collection rather than any imagery or recreating the original Kenner checklist backing cards. Luke did have an original release of his X-Wing gear. This 2020 release does have similarities, including the bright orange jump suit, with black flight vest and white vest. The loose straps are sculpted around Luke’s legs and painted white. The boots are different, as they were in Empire, and in a grey finish. And Luke is also now wearing long gloves in a beige finish. The head is a complete sculpt, inclusive of the Rebel pilot helmet in white, with red Rebel decals and a centre stripe, we then have a rudimentary Mark Hammill likeness, with flight visor sculpted down over his eyes and painted in yellow.  The same 5 points of articulation as seen on the Kenner figures is replicated on the Retro collection, created by the way the figure is cast and assembled with the joints sandwiched between the two halves of the torso and leaving a simple rotating joint for the hips, shoulders, and at the neck. Snowspeeder Luke is provided with two accessories, the first being his lightsaber. This is an individual piece, as was made standard from Empire onward, replacing the original arm slot sabers. This is blue in colour, including the hilt, and fits into either of the basic gripping hands, but is most secure in the right. The second accessory is the grappling gun used by Luke to attack the AT-AT. This never existed in the Kenner line, but has been brought to life by Hasbro while remaining faithful to the single colour and simple lines of the original Star Wars weapons and accessories. The left hand is a better shape for the grip of the grappling gun.  Luke, in his Snowspeeder gear, fits really well into the fledgling Retro Collection series as a brand new addition to the original Kenner line, being different enough from the original X-Wing Luke and filling one of what feels like a very small number of gaps from Empire. Theme wise, he is also a solid choice to include with the game, and while some may be frustrated to purchase an entire board game to get the figure, I can confirm that the game itself is also a lot of fun and just as nostalgic as the figures themselves. If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed 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...

"We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke!" In 2019, Hasbro returned to the original Star Wars Kenner line of figures from the 1970s and 80s, reproducing a number of the original figures in what they badged the Retro Collection. The figures imitated the Kenner originals in both design, colour, and cardback, and in the main were like-for-like releases. One of the most interesting concepts of the first batch of releases was that of a Grand Moff Tarkin figure, a character never made by Kenner but now brought into the line as a Kenner-Inspired Design, and so would kick off what feels like the natural extension, after some 34 years, of the original Kenner line, a line that would dive head long into new Star Wars properties like The Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, with new homage figures. I am very late into the Retro Collection, but as I come close to concluding a run of original Kenner figures, I wanted to look at expanding beyond the original 70s and 80s figures with the new Original Trilogy Retro Releases. Interestingly, I have had the Tarkin figure for a number of years. I bought it at the time for the board game rather than the figure.  The board game, Escape from the Death Star, is also an homage to an original 1977 Parker Brothers release and recreates the full experience in terms of the game board, pieces and gameplay. The Grand Moff Tarkin figure was only available as a pack-in with the game. He is fully carded and then slotted into the game box with the blister visible through a cutout on the main box.  Tarkin’s card, like all Retro Collection releases, is based on the original Kenner designs but with faux weathering printed into the design. It is also overlaid with a large orange ‘Retro Collection’ sticker to differentiate it from the original Kenner releases. As Tarkin never had a corresponding Kenner figure, the Hasbro team have used appropriate artwork from A New Hope and assigned the Grand Moff a cool blue backing colour.  The back of the card is a bit flat, coming only with an overview of the Retro Collection and an image of the original A New Hope standee cards rather than figures. I would have liked to see Hasbro lean into the checklist design we saw on the Kenner cards, giving collectors of the line a clear look at the other figures released.  As a carded figure, there is no going back if you choose to open Tarkin, another throwback to the Kenner figures. In hand, he follows the base principles used by Kenner with a main two part torso that connects front to back with the neck, shoulder, and hips being secured between the two halves and therefore creating the basic 5 point articulation. Colours are crisp but limited with a grey for Tarkin’s uniform, black belt with silver buckle, and black for his boots. We do also get a painted Grand Moff Imperial rank badge in blue and red to the left of his chest. The head is very much in keeping with the likenesses of the 1970s, but is discernible as Peter Cushing.  Tarkin comes with an Imperial Blaster, again almost identical to the original Kenner accessory and included not to replicate the onscreen scenes, but to present play and imaginative options for Tarkin as was often the case with Kenner releases.  The Retro Collection releases do not quite hold the same nostalgia as the original releases, as they come with the memories of childhood for most of us. But they do extend the Kenner collection into a brand new era. At the time of release, Tarkin teased the possibility of further unreleased Original Trilogy character,s and as we have seen, that has been realised to a certain degree with figures of Snowspeeder Luke from Empire, Mon Mothma from Jedi, and the newest New Hope releases, including Luke from Yavin, a Rebel Fleet Trooper, Doctor Evazan and a Sandtrooper If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed 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...

"We are the Imperial Fists. We are the Emperor's last wall and we shall not be moved." Alongside the Summer 2025 wave of McFarlane’s Warhammer 40k figures, featuring the Ultramaries Lieutenant in Reiver Armour, and Blood Angels Assault Intercessor Sergeant (and the relevant Artists Proof), was a further Gold Label Exclusive release featuring the first Imperial Fists Marine in the line. The Intercessor Sergeant is exclusive to Gamestop in the US, but here in the UK it was available generally through stockists.  The packaging for the Summer 2025 figures remains broadly the same as the newer and larger boxes established in 2024 after the line took an extended break. The box front is white with a right-side strip of grey artwork taken from the Warhammer 40k source material. The Warhammer 40k and McFarlane logos top the box front, with the character name sitting in large text under the window. Just above this is an Imperial Fists blue bar, confirming the Chapter for the release. The right hand spine continues as a wrap around of the grey artwork, while the left hand spine has now moved from being colour coordinated to the Chapter, to a blue design imprinted in the centre with the Chapter logo. The back of the box carries no detail other than the same WH40k and McFarlane logos and the various legal and copyright text. What we do get is a glorious illustration of an Imperial Fists Marine in the midst of battle. The Marine pictured is quite different to the included figure being shown with a tabard, an Iron Halo, and sporting a left-hand Power Fist with a Bolter in his right hand.  Our Imperial Fists Intercessor Sergeant utilises the basic Intercessor Marine body, parts established back in 2020 when the line launched. The armour is cast in a bold yellow with the connecting joints in black, which creates a more visual contrast than other Marines released to date, making the Imperial Fists Intercessor a much more striking figure. The sculpted chest emblem is the winged skull design and painted in black and then overlaid in red. The Imperial Fist Chapter badge sits on the left shoulder pauldron with the panel itself featuring a black border. The same black border is found on the right shoulder with the black arrow depicting his role in the Battleline, and the II numerals depicting the squad. The only other decor is on the left knee, with a black and white checkerboard pattern. The backpack, again standard and reused, is cast in the same yellow as the armour and connects securely via the usual plug and socket. The central roundel has been updated and includes a relief sculpted Imperial Fists logo painted in black. The unmasked head is a new piece and depicts the Sergeant with a part mask covering his mouth and nose, and round over his ears. This is red with silver piping as well as an upper scope with a green pealescant lens. The Sergeant is sporting a closs cropped grey hairstyle, and there are also two service studs present on his forehead.  Like the Blood Angels Sergeant released at the same time, the Imperial Fists Sergeant includes an alternative head. This is a red cast Intercessor helmet, again the same as has been used on the other Intercessor releases. It features painted red eye lenses, silver pipework to the side, and a silver sculpted skull on the forehead. According to the source material, the red helmet is still a Sergeant in the Imperial Fists, but it presents an Army Building option to display more than one of the Imperial Fists in a squad with varying looks. The exchanging of the headpieces is simple enough with a longer neck peg that connects snugly to either head socket.  The Sergeant comes with a left hand in a pointing gesture, the exact same hand as the 2025 Blood Angels Sergeant. This can be swapped out for a gripping left hand, although the grip is very tight and not compatible with the included weaponry. The right-hand options include a clenched fist as well as a wider trigger grip that is used to hold the second of the two included weapons.  The first of these weapons is again identical to that used in the Blood Angels Sergeant, a Power Fist which is created as a sleeve that slots over the hand and forearm rather than replacing the standard hand and clipping into place. The Power Fist is again the same yellow plastic, with gunmetal silver conduit to the side, and an Imperial Fists Chapter logo across the back of the hand just above four raised studs. The fit on the Power Fist is rudimentary at best, failing to secure in place over the clenched fist and being more secure when squeezed over the gripping hand.  The second weapon is the plasma pistol, originally seen with the Blood Angels Lieutenant from 2021 and the Dark Angels Intercessory Sergeant from 2022. This is presented with a black barrel and central section, complete with turquoise cooling coils and a silver grip section. To have it wielded, you need to swap the right hand from the fist to the trigger finger. Doing so is hard work for some reason, and on our figure, the wrist peg has come apart every time we’ve tried to change the hands. Once the trigger hand is in place, it is thankfully a wider grip than usual, allowing the Plasma to slot into place. There are the standard 17 points of articulation for the Intercessor body, including double-jointed pegged knees and elbows. The armour does restrict some movement, but there is enough range for some more dynamic battle poses. While there are ratchets on some joints, the shoulder and hips are not secured in the same way, leaving them weak and loose, considering the weight of the body. This is a particular issue at the shoulders and they do tend to droop when the arms are raised, either in a firing position with the Plasma Pistol or the heavier Power Fist.  The Imperial Fists Intercessor Sergeant includes the usual display stand which fits relatively well into pegs on the soles of both feet. You also get a collector card.  Adding the Imperial Fists into the range has been a long time coming, and while the Ultramarines and Blood Angels are the more popular Chapters, the Imperial Fists do have a striking look about them with the contrasting bright yellow against the black. The sculpted, unmasked head is impressive, with McFarlane improving on these considerably as the line matures. There are the usual gripes, such as weak shoulder joints, troublesome wrist pegs, and the Power Fist (also long awaited) is not particularly impressive or engineered well enough to fit securely to the figure, relying on gravity and friction.  As a Gold Label Exclusive, the figure may be more troublesome to obtain for US collectors, but that exclusivity is not a problem outside of the US, including here in the UK. That therefore, opens up the figure for more squad-building opportunities, particularly thanks to the alternative red masked sergeant's head and the ability, as you will see in a moment, to share heads from other figures from the 2025 releases. It will now be interesting to see if McFarlane will revisit some of the other Marine types like the Hellblaster, Reivers, or indeed the Terminator armour and give them the very visual Imperial Fists makeover. Figure Hacks As the WH40k line from McFarlane grows, and in particular the various Space Marine releases, we are now starting to see wider options for creating new variations of the figures by swapping parts. In this Summer 2025 wave alone - including the Gold Label Exclusive - there are a raft of weapon options as well as different head options, all of which work on each of the figure bodies for some variation and army building in your collection.   Keep Track of all the Warhammer 40k figures from McFarlane at our comprehensive McFarlane Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed 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...

McFarlane's next wave of its Super Friends line features Captain Cold, Cheetah, Toyman, The Flash, and Superman. Each of the five figures comes on a Super Friends Retro Carded and includes an appropriate accessory, including a Kryptonite ball & chain for Superman. These are general releases with a September 2025 release date. We've updated our extensive McFarlane Collector Database with these latest additions. Superman is the world's greatest hero. He is a tireless champion dedicated to protecting life and battling injustice not only in his city of Metropolis, but also all over his adopted world and across the universe. With his fantastic powers and abilities, fueled by his alien cells-which hyper-efficiently process the solar energy of Earth's yellow sun-Superman is an unstoppable force for good and a steadfast punisher of evil. Superman is a founding member of the Justice League, and an inspiration to countless other heroes, continuing into the 31st century and beyond. The Flash has mastery over not just speed, but time itself, and he has often used his powers to travel though different eras and even into other dimensions. Although the Flash has not always been fast enough to outrun personal tragedy when it has come for him, he always does his best to prevent the same from happening to the people of Central City and Keystone City. In so doing, he's earned himself a spot among the greatest Super Heroes the DC Universe has ever known. One of the first friends Wonder Woman made when she left Themyscira's shores, Barbara Ann Minerva betrayed Diana's trust and became The Cheetah. Whether with the Suicide Squad, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, the Menagerie, or the Legion of Doom, The Cheetah has earned her place as one of the fiercest Super-Villains in the DC universe. Many men have claimed the title of Toy Man, transforming toys into weapons of profit and vengeance. The first was Winslow Schott, a failed toymaker who has plagued every incarnation of Superman over many reality-alterations, warping wholesome childhood fantasies into a deadly criminal arsenal. In the annals of villainy, there are few bad guys as likable as Captain Cold. Seeing himself as a blue-collar, working man's super-villain, Cold has a code of honor, one that prevents him from killing innocent people...though he's more than happy to rob them blind! To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

As seen at SDCC 2025, Mezco have now unveiled in full their new Superman figure from the 2025 movie, complete with Krypto. The One:12 Collective set will include five different heads, including one with heat vision effects. There is also a selection of extra hands as well as a posed Krypto and the usual display stand and post, complete with Superman 2025 logo. The figure is a general release available at the Mezco Store and at Mezco stockists. It is expected to ship between January to March 2026 From the blockbuster film ' Superman ', The Man of Steel soars into the One:12 Collective in his most heroic form yet! The One:12 Collective Superman wears a film-accurate, bold blue suit proudly emblazoned with his iconic crest. His flowing cape features an integrated posing wire, perfect for dramatic airborne poses. The Last Son of Krypton includes four distinct head portraits featuring the likeness of David Corenswet, each capturing a different facet of Superman - calm, smiling, heat vision-ready, and a battle-concentrated look. Superman doesn’t stand alone! Also included is a fully articulated Krypto the Superdog — more than just a sidekick. Outfitted in his own soft goods cape with integrated posing wire, Krypto comes ready to leap into action at Superman’s side. He includes an alternate open-mouth portrait, letting you display him in mid-bark or guarding his companion with heroic loyalty. James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor, and heart, delivering a SUPERMAN who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

Heading to the McFarlane Store as a Gold Label Collector Exclusive is this new Superman 'black and white accent' edition figure from The Dark Knight Returns. The figure, available immediately, is limited to 5300 units and is packed into a closed collector box and comes complete with extra hands and a display stand. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

McFarlane has revealed in full the next three DC Multiverse Collector Edition releases. They include Deathstroke from The Terminator, Mirror Master from The Flash, and the previously revealed Metron from New Gods. Metron will feature his throne and alternative hands. Deathstroke also has extra hands, four different weapons, and a removable ammunition bandoleer. The final figure, Mirror Master, includes three extra pairs of hands as well as a pair of mirror guns. The figures all feature the usual display base and collector card. Each of them also has a Platinum Edition Chase variant with darker black/grey colour schemes for Deathstroke and Metron, and a yellow & green recolour for Mirror Master. These will be randomly packed in cases. The figures are all August 2025 releases. They are all now added to our extensive McFarlane Collector Database The origins of Metron are unknown, but at some point in history the New God received an amazing chair from enigmatic presence Mobius. It allowed Metron access to time, space, dimensions, and all the knowledge in the universe—except for the mysterious benefactor’s identity. On his incredible journeys, Metron witnessed multiple crises destroying and remaking numerous realities. Deathstroke is the most feared and respected mercenary in the world. His elite military training and genetically enhanced physique make him a very dangerous combatant, but his deadliest weapon is his mind. A master strategist and tactician, Deathstroke specializes in psychological warfare tactics that he uses to devastating effect. Criminal Sam Scudder uses the codename Mirror Master, wielding devices allowing him power over reflective surfaces. He was an early member of Central City’s Rogues—villains employing themed hi-tech weapons in their crimes. Mirror Master can emerge from any reflective surface and drag victims back to the Mirror World. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

"Whilst we draw breath, we stand. Whilst we stand, we fight. Whilst we fight, we prevail. Nothing shall stay our wrath" The July 2025 wave of McFarlane Warhammer 40k figures expanded on the forces of both the Blood Angels and the Ultramarines, whilst also giving painters two further Artist Proof figures. For the Ultramarines Chapter, the latest release was that of a Lieutenant in Phobos Armour. The packaging for the Summer 2025 wave remains broadly the same as the newer and larger boxes established in 2024 after the line took an extended break. The box front is white with a right-side strip of grey artwork taken from the Warhammer 40k source material. The Warhammer 40k and McFarlane logo’s top the box front, with the character name sitting in large text under the window. Just above this is an Ultramarines blue flash confirming the Chapter for the release. The right hand spine continues as a wrap around of the grey artwork, while the left hand spine has now moved from being colour coordinated to the Chapter, to a blue design imprinted in the centre with the Chapter logo. The back of the box carries no detail other than the same WH40k and McFarlane logos and the various legal and copyright text. What we do get is a glorious illustration of the Reiver Ultramarines preparing to launch into battle.  This Ultramarines Reiver Lieutenant in Phobos Armour utilises most of the existing Reiver sculpt from 2022, with core armour cast in the base blue and the connecting joints in black. The armour is accessoriesed with weapon holsters and sheaths to either side of the thigh armour, with the right hand side sheaths painted in brown and gold with skull iconography. While these look operational, they are solid sculpts and cannot be used for the included weapons.  The upper chest piece features further components and pouches, on either side of a gold skull central panel. The shoulder pauldrons include the Ultramarines logo in white on the left, trimmed in gold, while a further Ultra skull symbol is found on the right with the gold ‘Ultra’ plate sculpted as part of the armour. The final Chapter detail can be found on the left knee with a white diamond and black skull design. The backpack is the Reiver Phobos Armour, cast in blue and with the twin articulating fins as seen on the original Reiver release. This time around, the backpack is left in the base blue with no extended paint detail. The headsculpt is new and depicts the Lieutenant complete with half face mask breather in the same blue as his armour. Straps across the head hold comms tech and some scopes, each painted with a red lens. A single strip of hair crosses the centre of the head, front to back, and is painted in a grey finish. The eye detailing is much improved on previous WH40k unmasked heads, with the realism much improved. The Reiver Lieutenant is armed with a trio of weapons, the first of which is a basic knife with a gold hilt and a silver serrated blade. This is the same piece as first released in 2022 with the Artist Proof Reive,r and it fits into either of the Lieutenant’s hands, but with the usual difficulty due to the solid plastic and lack of flexibility in the fingers. Looking at the knife and the aforementioned sheaths, it is a shame the McFarlane couldn’t have made the two compatible. Weapon two is a Heavy Bolt Pistol, a weapon that dates back to the start of the line in 2020 and was included with the first Ultramarines Intercessor release. For the Reiver Lieutenant, this is cast in silver with no wider detail. It is designed to fit in the right hand, which has an extended trigger finger.  Our final weapon is a Heavy Bolter, similar to those seen in the line before, but with a variant scope. The black cast piece has a painted silver grip and ammo clip. To the front of the Bolter is a sculpted winged skull design, painted in gold and repeated on both sides. Like the Pistol, the Bolter fits into the right hand. The weight of this final weapon does pose some challenges to the arm articulation, and there is no extra left hand with a supporting pose to hold the barrel of the Heavy Bolter in a two-handed firing position. Articulation is limited due to the bulk of the armoured figure, but you do get 19 points in total (21 if you include the hinged flaps on the backpack). The key knee and elbow joints are pinned and double jointed to give the broadest movement. This Riever body also comes with toe articulation for walking or running poses. The other articulation of note is around the shoulders where the arm is jointed into the torso, with the shoulder armour jointed separately so they can move independently and one doesn’t impede the other.  There are plenty of posing options, despite the limitations of the bulky amour, although like most previous Space Marine releases from McFarlane the lack of any obvious ratchet within the arm joints in particular does leave the joints loose and in some cases unable to support their own weight, most notably when the weapons are raised upward, the Heavy Bolter being the worse of the three. As with all releases, the Reiver Lieutenant also comes with a collector card, and the black circular display stand with white Warhammer 40k logo. The peg on the stand can plug into holes on either feet, and while this is a tight fit, once secure the stand does help in keeping the figure stable. The new Ultramarines Reiver Lieutenant in Phobos Armour is a welcome addition to the McFarlane line and the Ultramarine display. Sadly, the figure doesn’t see any of the lines key niggles resolved and we still have loose joints, and difficulty in getting the weapons into the hands. There is also more paint variation from prior releases, and while the darker blue of the Lieutenant is a reasonable match to the Intercessor Marines, it is somewhat different to the 2022 Reiver. There are plenty of positives too, with these figures now coming with multiple weapon options and the unmasked head sculpts much improved on some of the earlier versions.  Our Lieutenant in Phobos Armour is a strong base release for fans of the Warhammer 40k series, with bold and crisp paintwork that works perfectly fine for display, or that can be enhanced by those with skill with a brush who want to enhance the figure to the same level of detail seen on the WH40k miniatures.  Figure Hacks As the WH40k line from McFarlane grows, and in particular the various Space Marine releases, we are now starting to see wider options for creating new variations of the figures by swapping parts. In this Summer 2025 wave alone - including the Gold Label Exclusive - there are a raft of weapon options as well as different head options, all of which work on each of the figure bodies for some variation and army building in your collection. Keep Track of all the Warhammer 40k figures from McFarlane at our comprehensive McFarlane Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed 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...

"By the blood of Sanguinius!" The July 2025 wave of McFarlane Warhammer 40k figures expanded on the forces of both the Blood Angels and the Ultramarines, whilst also giving painters two further Artist Proof figures. For the Blood Angels Chapter, the latest release was that of an Assault Intercessor Sergeant.  The packaging for the Summer 2025 wave remains broadly the same as the newer and larger boxes established in 2024 after the line took an extended break. The box front is white with a right-side strip of grey artwork taken from the Warhammer 40k source material. The Warhammer 40k and McFarlane logos top the box front, with the character name sitting in large text under the window. Just above this is an Ultramarines blue flash confirming the Chapter for the release. The right hand spine continues as a wrap around of the grey artwork, while the left hand spine has now moved from being colour coordinated to the Chapter, to a blue design imprinted in the centre with the Chapter logo. The back of the box carries no detail other than the same WH40k and McFarlane logos and the various legal and copyright text. What we do get is a glorious illustration of the Blood Angels Assault Intercessors in the heart of battle. The Assault Sergent is made up of the established Intercessor parts established in the line since it launched in 2020. Each of the armoured sections is cast in red Blood Angels plastic, with the connecting joints in black. The figure features the same belt as the Hellblaster, with a Blood Angels red tear drop pendant on one side trimmed in gold paint. The upper body and the central chest features a sculpted winged skull, rather than the blood drop symbol, painted in black and with grey drybrushing.  The shoulder armour features the tilting plate on the right shoulder, as seen on the original Intercessor, this is painted up in four quadrants with two plain red panels and two white panels the top with a painted black skull and the lower with a red diagnoal slash. The shoulder panels themselves feature a black central panel with red trim, the right painted with a single yellow blood drop, and the left with a yellow winged blood drop. The armour is finished off with a sculpted skull cross on the left forearm, and a black painted knee pad with a white lightning bolt symbol that indicates the Squad Number.  The backpack is the basic Intercessor pack, cast in the same red as the armour and with a sculpted Blood Angel winged blood drop design on the rear circular panel, painted over in black. The headsculpt is new and shows the Sergeant unmasked, apart from a chin strap, and connected component parts over both ears. The Sergeant is sporting a single Service Stud on his forehead and is painted in a relatively realistic style, complete with painted eyes.  These newer WH40k figures are now starting to feature alternative head options, and our Blood Angels Assault figure comes with a second standard Intercessor helmeted head in yellow, with green eye lenses, as is the colour for Assault Intercessor Marines. The head swaps easily enough with a long central neck peg that sits into the socket in the upper part of either head.  Our Blood Angels Assault Sergeant is the first Space Marine release to come with a Power Fist. The Power Fist has been developed as a sleeve to fit over the standard hand of the figure rather than connecting directly to the wrist. This is not particularly well-engineered, and there is no securing the Power Fist in place, relying solely on the position of the arm. This lack of any clip, socket, or bracket, leaves the Power Fist prone to sliding off the arm too easily, particularly when the fist is positioned downward. It is cast in the same red with the only other paintwork a gunmetal pipe to one side. The Power Fist is sculpted in a clenched fist pose.  The figures standard hands include a pointing left hand and an alternative gripping hand. The right hands can be swapped between a standard clenched fists, or to a weapon grip hand with trigger finger - although the Sergeant doesn’t actually come with any projectile Weapons. I did find that the right gripping hand holds the Power Fist in place more securely than the gripping fist.  The other weapon is a Power Sword, a piece that will arrive warped due to how McFarlane are packing it under the figure and taking its full weight in the box. The plastic is very flexible, and while that doesn’t help the warping, it does mean it is relatively easy to straighten back up with some heat/cold treatment. The blade is a pearlescent sky blue over a silver base to give a finish that is almost glowing. The hilt is black with a large sculpted skull central section painted in bone white.  The Power Sword can fit in either of the gripping hands, but both are so stiff that the sword hilt won’t actually go past the fingers without heating them up gently. This issue has been ongoing since the line launched 5 years ago and is yet to be resolved. There is no sheathing option for the Power Sword when not in use.  Our Blood Angels Assault Sergeant has 17 points of articulation, including pinned double jointed knees and elbows. While not extensive in its movement due to the bulk of the armour, the Assault Sergeant can hold some varying poses with any of the included weapons, including holding the sword aloft. Sadl,y the shoulder joints in particular are not ratcheted and are therefore prone to drooping when the Power Fist in particular is in situ.  The Sergeant comes with the usual display base in black with the McFarlane logo and the collector card. The base is tough to attach to the feet as the holes on the feet seem to tight and too shallow for the peg on the stand. The figure lines up nicely with the other Blood Angel releases to date, with a good match on the red of the new Sergeant to the older Hellblaster figure.  Our Blood Angels Intercessor Assault Sergeant extends the Blood Angels Chapter out, and while not as extensive as that of the Ultramarines, we can now start to assemble a Blood Angels Squad, particularly if you lean into the army building options of this figure and the extra helmeted yellow head to complete a standard Assault Intercessor. The same issues persist with the gripping hands a pain to work with, and the shoulder joints too weak. McFarlane also needs to think about how they pack certain weapons in the line, with a particularly poor position chosen for the Power Sword. Also disappointing is the engineering and execution of the Power Fist, a long sought after piece for the line that fails to connect or secure itself to the Marine armour in any way. For your money, you do get a crisp and neatly painted Blood Angels figure which looks great on display, but also provides a base for those collectors who want to lean into the customising and painting aspects of the WH40k hobby. The face sculpts and heads are improving wave by wave, and I look forward to seeing where McFarlane goes next. Figure Hacks As the WH40k line from McFarlane grows, and in particular the various Space Marine releases, we are now starting to see wider options for creating new variations of the figures by swapping parts. In this Summer 2025 wave alone - including the Gold Label Exclusive - there are a raft of weapon options as well as different head options, all of which work on each of the figure bodies for some variation and army building in your collection.   Keep Track of all the Warhammer 40k figures from McFarlane at our comprehensive McFarlane Collectors Database & Checklist If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed 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...

As SDCC 2025 draws to a close, Hasbro Pulse has opened up the holding page for their Star Wars Black Series SDCC Exclusive of Anakin Skywalker vs Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar. The Revenge of the Sith set features two new figures, each with an alternate head and hands, lightsaber, and alternative motion effect lightsaber blades. The diorama base with translucent flame effects includes the larger repulsor platform and the Lava panning droid. A series of footpegs allow the figures to be posed and connected to the base in a number of different positions. The box is a windowbox with an outer sleeve, and the set opens for ordering for collectors who didn't attend, or were unable to obtain one, at SDCC 2025 on Friday, the 1st of August 2025. The link is live on Hasbro Pulse US for $109.99 , but as yet there is no corresponding UK page. CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH™ : This 6-inch-scale figure 2-pack is inspired by the iconic scene from the final film in the prequel trilogy – a great gift for collectors and fans ages 4 and up INCLUDES 25 ACCESSORIES : In addition to their signature Lightsabers™, the Sith Lord and the Jedi Master come with swinging and clash effects, a two-part stand, interchangeable Force hands, and more PREMIUM DESIGN AND DECO : Fans can display these 6 inch action figures (15 cm) – with film-inspired photoreal deco and design – in their collections PREMIUM ARTICULATION : Each figure features a poseable head, arms, and legs so fans can create dynamic poses for display DIORAMA PACKAGING : Display Star Wars™ fandom on your shelf with unique movie-inspired window-box diorama packaging and reimagine the momentous duel! INCLUDES STAND : Designed to look like the planet Mustafar, the platform can be displayed in multiple configurations, and includes an additional lava piece for posing BUILD OUT YOUR PREQUEL COLLECTION : Look for more Star Wars figures to recreate scenes from the franchise on your shelf! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability) You can find all the SDCC 2025 news at our Conventions Newsfeed . In the main our coverage focuses on the mid-scale 6-7 inch action figures from TV, Movies, and Videogames. For clarity, we are not attending SDCC 2025. Our SDCC coverage is collated through social media posts, published articles, and direct press releases from the Action Figure companies. We will endeavor to credit the original source (with links where possible). If you feel we have used an image inappropriately or with incorrect, or no, credit then please contact us directly. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

As a final SDCC 2025 tease, the Hasbro Marvel Legends team have added a new figure of Doop to their booth display. This is strongly understood to be a teaser for a Maximum Series release of Wade Wilson's Deadpool. You can find all the SDCC 2025 news at our Conventions Newsfeed . In the main our coverage focuses on the mid-scale 6-7 inch action figures from TV, Movies, and Videogames. For clarity, we are not attending SDCC 2025. Our SDCC coverage is collated through social media posts, published articles, and direct press releases from the Action Figure companies. We will endeavor to credit the original source (with links where possible). If you feel we have used an image inappropriately or with incorrect, or no, credit then please contact us directly. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...

The Master Replicas booth at SDCC 2025 included plenty of new figures from their Star Trek action figure series. Joining Spock from Strange New Worlds is Ortegas, while Below Decks is significantly expanded past the announced figure of Mariner to now include Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford, and Billups. The figures from Picard now include Jean Luc Picard, Worf, and Riker. With the Data figure approved for display part way through the show, and the La Forge figure joining the display on the final day as he was approved. You can find all the SDCC 2025 news at our Conventions Newsfeed . In the main our coverage focuses on the mid-scale 6-7 inch action figures from TV, Movies, and Videogames. For clarity, we are not attending SDCC 2025. Our SDCC coverage is collated through social media posts, published articles, and direct press releases from the Action Figure companies. We will endeavor to credit the original source (with links where possible). If you feel we have used an image inappropriately or with incorrect, or no, credit then please contact us directly. To manage our storage costs, news article images are archived after 12-months. Accept our apologies if you have reached this news article, and the images are no longer available If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube . Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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...