Search this site

Entertainment Earth have announced a Force Awaken's Jakks Pacific 18 inch C-3PO as an SDCC 2016 Exclusive at their booth. He will come packed in a golden window box, marked as "Premium Edition" and will only be available for the 4-days of SDCC 2016 (20th - 24th July) The Rebel Alliance and Resistance’s most loyal protocol droid has a new look – and you may not recognize him. But not to worry, with the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Premium Edition Vac-Metal C-3PO 18-Inch Big Figs(TM) Action Figure – Convention Exclusive, this loyal companion will become a familiar friend. Fresh from the Battle of Takodana, C-3PO sports his recognizable shiny gold finish, along with a red arm he wears to remember the fallen First Order RA-7 protocol droid named Omri. Measuring 18-inches tall, this is the first Threepio action figure at this scale with his metallic finish. From Jakks Pacific’s Big Fig collection, the figure comes packaged in a premium edition box with a Resistance symbol backdrop and gold foil highlights. Available for sale on July 20, 2016, at the Entertainment Earth booth #2343 at San Diego Comic-Con, fans will have the first opportunity to grab this exclusive! *NOTE: This item will only be on sale July 20 – July 24, 2016 at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 at the Entertainment Earth booth #2343. It will not be for sale on our website at any time. The announcement follows a series of pictorial teases that you can see below.

Mattel confirm a Hot Wheels exclusive to Star Wars Celebration London. The Prototype Boba Fett car is a repaint of the original release, and will come in special Celebration packaging. There are no details on price, numbers available or how to pick one up at this stage "FIRST LOOK: The new Hot Wheels @Starwars Prototype Armour Boba Fett exclusively at 2016 @SW_Celebration! #SWCE"

We don't usually cover Gentle Giant, particularly as their products are mainly high end statues. But this news, broken by Yoda's News today certainly caught my eye - if only from a nostalgia point of view. Gentle Giant will be releasing two Jumbo Kenner Luke Skywalker figures, one with light hair and one with dark - and these will be exclusive to their Premier Guild Members and then at SDCC 2016. Limited to 250 each, Premier Guild members can order these shortly - and the remainder will be available at SDCC with fans getting to choose which hair colour they want (subject to availability) Checkout the full story and gallery at Yoda's News

More details have been revealed for the upcoming SH Figuarts WWE debut figures. Stonecold Steve Austin will be provided with removable vest as well as beer can's with splashing beer effect to toast his victory. The images indicate there will also be at least 3 head options - Neutral, Shouting, Grimacing The Rock will come with microphone and either removable sunglasses, or a swap out sunglasses wearing head. He will also come with neutral "eyebrow" head and a shouting version. Both figures are due in stores in December 2016 with the Japanese RRP at 6000 Yen. This equates to around a £45 price in the UK. $60 in the US - but expect a bit more on top for import costs etc. depending on the distributors in these territories.

When McFarlane announced their return to the 7 inch scale with their Red Tops line, it was confirmed that Spawn would be a part of this return. We saw the first planned Spawn figure earlier in the year, and the full details have now been confirmed by McFarlane. Spawn will fall in the "Blue" wave and is #10. He is due to hit stores in November 2016 with an RRP of $19.99 / circa £20 here in the UK. Also confirmed, is a Toys R Us Exclusive "unmasked" Spawn. The wording is interesting in that the unmasked "hamburger" head is alternate, so fans will most likely be aiming to pick up this Toys R Us version over the vanilla release. This figure will be #11 in the blue wave and will retail at the same price, but only in Toys R Us Stores in the US. We await to see what UK / Rest of the World distribution looks like. Al Simmons, once the U.S. government’s greatest soldier and most effective assassin, was mercilessly executed by his own men. Resurrected from the ashes of his own grave in a flawed agreement with the powers of darkness, Simmons is reborn as a creature from the depths of Hell– a Hellspawn. Now, Spawn must choose between his life on Earth and his place on a throne in Hell. This figure stands 7 inches tall and comes equipped with an assault rifle and pistol. Spawn is sculpted in his signature black and white Spawn costume, complete with iconic red cape and spiked gauntlets. Stylized display base included. Text for exclusive version... Spawn stands 7 inches tall and features alternate “Hamburger Head” depicting Spawn without his mask. Figure comes equipped with assault rifle and pistol and is painted in a variant costume color scheme, complete with iconic red cape and spiked gauntlets.

NECA have released a first look at the packaged 8 inch retro figure Captain Spaulding from House of 1000 Corpses. The figure will hit stores in July 2016. "A look at the packaged Captain Spaulding for #MonsterMonday Available late July & more from Corpses will follow" - Randy Falk, NECA (via Twitter)

In December of this year (2016) the world of Assasins Creed will be brought to the big screen by 20th Century Fox. The movie follows the modern day protagonist Callum who is re-living the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar, with both roles played by Michael Fassbender. And Aguilar is joining the McFarlane Color Top range this coming October in their revised 7 inch scale. Needless to say, this early promotional image looks fantastic - with a great likeness to Fassbender. All the other Color Tops announced to date have been popping up for UK pre-order around the £18-£20 mark, and we would expect Aguilar to be the same. Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day. Aguilar is a warrior in 15th century Spain, during the Inquisition. An Assassin who fights for freedom against powerful forces seeking to eradicate it, Aguilar possesses incredible Parkour fighting abilities. 500 years later, Aguilar’s memories continue to exist within his descendant Callum Lynch. Once unlocked, Callum experiences these memories in the present day, allowing him to re-live Aguilar’s thrilling adventures, while acquiring his ancestor’s powerful skills. This figure stands 7 inches tall and is dressed in his iconic Assassin robes depicted in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie. Aguilar comes armed with Assassin Sword and extended Hidden Blade. Assassin’s Creed branded figure base included.

Icon Heroes are releasing a range of 6 inch figures based on the hit ABC show, Once Upon a Time. The first figures will hit stores in December 2016, and we now know that Robin Hood will be the 4th figure in this initial December wave. Robin will come with his bow, arrow and alternative st of hands. He will join Regina, Hook and Emma Swan and each figure will retail at $24.99 in the US. As yet we have seen no UK pre-orders. "From the hit ABC television series Once Upon A Time comes the Robin Hood action figure! Measuring approximately 6 inches tall and fully articulated, Robin Hood comes with his bow and arrow and an additional set of hands!"

Support your Independents... 20% off this week at A1 Toys on all full priced items (some exclusions). Discount applicable in store and online. Online orders are discounted at checkout, and its FREE delivery too. Valid until 4th July http://a1toys.com/

Welcome to the Sunday Savings, where we delve into the Amazon Warehouse deals and see what we can find... Amazon Warehouse is their clearance zone for items that have packaging damage or very minor cosmetic damage - and therefore the savings can be really good. The links below should take you directly to the discounted price. If they don't, then click on the BUY USED option which sits below the main description - look then for the sold by Amazon Warehouse price. These items are in very limited, often single quantities, and were in-stock at time of publication. Prices quoted also exclude delivery options Gotham Select Ed Nygma £16.31 WWE Defining Moments Sting £15.44 NECA 1:4 Scale Avengers Battle Damaged Ironman £55.77 Game Of Thrones Daenerys Figure £10.59 The Walking Dead TV Morgan Jones and Walker with Spike Trap Deluxe Box Action Figure £16.37 WWE Super Strikers Turnbuckle Takedown Ring £10.27 (I am posting this one as a possible custom project and then display for the new NECA Rocky figures?) Predator 7-Inch Predator 2 City Hunter Video Game Appearance Figure £12.69 Star Wars Black Series 6 inch scale Special Forces TIE Fighter £70.68

Happy Sat-TOY-Day everyone! CLICK HERE for this week's issue. Happy #SatTOYDay In this weeks issue we have a wealth of new product announced by Medicom in their Mafex range. We also have new images from Diamond for their Mallrats, X-Files and Alice through the looking Glass figures. NECA show off Ultimate Ash from The Evil Dead, and Tamashii Nations & Bif Bang Pow announce some Summer Convention Exclusives www.facebook.com/mephitsu www.twitter.com/mephitsu www.issuu.com/mephitsu

Review : Asty, X-Wing Pilot Star Wars Black Series (Hasbro) Wave/Series : Figure #14 (Phase 3 Wave 4) Released : Jan 2016 in US / June 2016 in UK Price : £22.99 So we reach the 3rd figure in the heavily delayed Wave 4 Black Series, and if you've read the other two reviews you may be expecting another underwhelming figure - but do not worry, things are about to look up! Asty, the Resistance X-Wing Pilot, is the #14 figure in the Phase 3 red packaged Black Series line and was part of Wave 4 which has taken a little under 6 months to finally reach UK collectors. Asty is lost a little in the box with his red flight suit against the red background. He is posed brilliantly in the box with him holding his X-Wing helmet under his left arm, a pose that replicates our very first Black Series figure - Luke X-Wing. The artwork on the Asty packaging depicts him without his helmet and captures him really well. A short background on the character is then written out on the rear in four languages. Out of the box Asty stands 6 1/4 inches high and is packed with his helmet and a handgun - both of which we will look at a little later. I am going to start with the body rather than the head. The skeptic in me expected a full re-use of the Poe Dameron X-Wing suit with the Asty head dropped on top. This is certainly not the case, and with close inspection I can find very few parts (if any) that I could definitively say have come from the Poe Dameron figure. The flightsuit itself is sculpted with a baggy look and loads of detail like ridged panels, pouches and straps and the whole thing is coloured in a striking red, a touch darker in shade to the Poe figure. On top of the suit is the flight vest and life support box and from these drapes a flexible hose which snakes down into the left leg pocket. The flight vest is painted a contrasting cream colour with a Rebel - sorry Resistance logo decal on the left side. And under this is some Aurebesh writing, a detail so small I applaud it's addition. I am not sure if its the depth of the sculpt of the creases on the vest or a very subtle paint wash but the vest is really well defined, particularly round the collar and down the back. The flight suit finishes with a set of straps, cast in flexible grey plastic with painted silver buckles. On the right side of the top belt of these straps hangs a gloss black holster. Asty is also wearing grey flight gloves and these are definitely in receipt of paint applications, with a dry brush effect over the top to dirty them up a little. Comparing the head of Asty to the preceding figure, General Hux, you would think they were two different ranges. The Asty head is really well defined with plenty of skin folds under each eye and round the back and down to the neck. This is then painted and then washed and dry brushed. The eyes are a little sloppy in terms of placement, but are more subdued than normal and therefore more natural. My own issue with the head is that the neck underneath has a different skin colour and also doesn't really match the head in anatomical terms. The head is articulated really well, and that probably explains the neck joint so Asty can look round fully. Although raising the head up will expose that neck. The arms extend out to the side and above the head, and the elbows bend and swivel - with the elbow joints really well disguised under the folds of the flight suit. The arm articulation ends with a rotating wrist peg. This arm movement all serves the one pose everyone will want, Asty holding his helmet under his arm - and although it takes a bit of patience, this can be achieved. There is a hidden chest joint under the flight jacket and you can rotate Asty to one side at least, the other way gets blocked off by a protruding end of the jacket. The legs move fully and by using flexible plastic in the hoses and straps, they move with the legs. The thigh swivel is still there, but in my opinion redundant on this figure as it adds no value. The knees, like the elbows, are disguised well and yet retain the double joint movement. The ankles are then on rockers which means you can spread the stance quite wide on Asty and still plan the feet flat to the floor. The first accessory is the handgun, which is a bronze colour with a silver barrel and some darker detail on the grip and in front of the trigger. The gun fits into Asty's right hand with the trigger finger dropping into the trigger. When not in use it fits snugly into the belt holster. The helmet is the crowning glory (pun intended) and is a masterful piece of work. I always felt the Dameron helmet was too clunky and very tight to fit, but the Asty helmet glides over the head and into position and looks like it could be a swap-out head rather than a removable helmet. The helmet is brilliantly decorated too. A bright white base has Aurebesh symbols across the front and down each side of the chin. There is then red and yellow decals with the Resistance logo as well as a hazard pattern and some trim lines. The helmet then has a visor, which is coloured in yellow but still make sure that Asty's eyes are visible underneath - and more importantly they line up with the visor. Asty is pretty much a perfect figure. He looks great, is designed really well, is painted nicely and has well engineered accessories in terms of the helmet and the gun. Hasbro also avoided the temptation of re-using the Dameron sculpt and put in lots of little details that could have easily been left off - things like that tiny Aurebesh wording to the right of the chest box as you look at him. Hux may have been disappointing, and the Snow Trooper feeling a little over-used already, but Asty is a shining star in Wave 4 and is one of the best figures to date. I score him 5 out of 5 and urge whomever is doing the Aliens on the Black Series immediately also take over the Human figure development.