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  • McFarlane Collectors Club Drawing Board project of Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad

    McFarlane's next Collectors Club 'Drawing Board' crowdfunding project will be a DC Suicide Squad Harley Quinn deluxe figure set. Backers can choose from four different levels, each offering different options and accessories for the base 7-inch Harley Quinn figure. "Sometimes the only way to stay sane is to go a little crazy" -Harley Quinn McFarlane Toys seeks to produce Harley Quinn 7" scale figure as portrayed in the 2016 DC film "Suicide Squad". With each subsequent tier, you can add additional accessories, The Joker 7" scale Suicide Squad figure and classic comic Harley Quinn 7" scale figure. All levels will include a Movie Mini Poster, Harley inspired Temporary Tattoos, Art Card, movie-inspired Backdrop, and logo base. The project starts at Level 1 with a Suicide Squad Harley Quinn complete with baseball bat, reolver, collector card, movie poster and temporary tattoos. Level 2 will include the same base figure with an extended range of accessories, now including two guns, the baseball bat and Quinn's iconic hammer. You also get four head options, extra hands, and extra arms and jacket piece to display her as both shirt and jacket versions. Level 3 is everything we get in Level 2 plus a 7-inch figure of The Joker in Tuxedo. And the full Level 4 version adds a second Classic Themed Harley Quinn figure into the Level 3 contents. Backers have until the 27th of October to back the level of their choice. Assuming successful backing, you will be charged at the end of the crowdfunding window with the sets themselves due to ship in about 6-months, so circa April or May 2026. 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...

  • Hasbro to release TRON collector line

    Hasbro is working with Disney to bring us new TRON collectibles from the upcoming TRON: Ares releases, as well as figures from the original 1982 TRON movie and TRON: Legacy. More details should be incoming soon... Disney and Hasbro are excited to bring TRON from the Grid to your collection. As fans gear up for the all-new film TRON: Ares, coming to theaters October 10, rediscover the digital frontier that started it all with collector offerings inspired by the iconic 1982 classic and TRON: Legacy. 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...

  • Marvel Select Miles Morales Spider-Man and Spider-Ham

    While almost all of the Diamond Select products in production have been cancelled, there is at least one that was significantly along in the production process and has now been offered for sale, having started to arrive with retailers. The Marvel Select Miles Morales Spider-Man will include both masked and unmasked heads, alternative hands, web effects, and a Spider-Ham figure. It appears to be a Disney Store Exclusive Swing to the other side of the Spider-Verse with this Miles Morales a.k.a. Spider-Man, a.k.a. Spy-D, Action Figure Set! It includes eight interchangeable hands, two interchangeable heads and a Spider-Ham figurine, for action-packed play! 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...

  • Mondo Toys One Twelve Masters of the Universe He-Man and Clawful

    Mondo have shared details of their first Masters of the Universe 1/12 scale figures with wave one, comprising of He-Man and Clawful. He-Man will stand 7.25 inches tall and comes with multiple heads, hands, Power Sword, Axe, and Shield. A special 'Timed' Exclusive is also available , which gives you an extra King Grayskull head and a diorama base. Clawful will be larger at 8,5 inches tall and includes extra heads and mace. There has been some confusion over Clawful, but based on Mondo's own website, we now understand that at present Clawful is being offered solely as a 'Timed Exclusive' with a deluxe release that includes an extra head plus a diorama base and a pair of Ocean Buddies. If and when a standard version is offered is as yet unclear. 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 DC x Legendary Comics Monsterverse Wonder Woman vs Atomic Blast Godzilla

    The next release in McFarlane's DC Monsterverse crossover series will be Wonder Woman vs Atomic Blast Godzilla, based on the Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong series. The set will include Wonder Woman with her lasso of Truth, and the existing Monsterverse 12-inch Godzilla updated with the Atomic Blast effects down his dorsal spine. Also included is a mini-scaled Wonder Woman with no articulation to pose with Godzilla for a greater variance of scale. The set is listed as a November 2025 release. We've added it to our extensive McFarlane Collector Database The cataclysmic crossover event of the year is here as the DC Universe clashes with Legendary's Monsterverse in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong. Clark Kent is enjoying a night off with a very important dinner planned with his girlfriend, Lois Lane, when the entire city shudders under the weight of the monstrous Godzilla, who emerges from the bay! What started as a routine clash between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom takes a dangerous turn when the wall between worlds is breached…with Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse emerging on DC's Earth! What ensues will be a brawl of unprecedented scale and destruction! 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...

  • Review: Star Wars Retro Collection Ahsoka Tano from The Mandalorian

    “The Jedi Order fell a long time ago.” The Retro Collection release of Ahsoka Tano first came under The Mandalorian banner; she would go on to be released again under her own series logo and with an added soft goods cloak.  The usual retro-inspired cardback and blister is used, taking an image of Ahsoka from The Mandalorian to use as the main artwork. The card features the Kenner-inspired tramlines and a reworked logo for The Mandalorian that also takes its inspiration from the Kenner cards of the '70s and '80s. The card also features faux wear & tear around the edges, and is overlaid with a large Retro Collection sticker, which seems unnecessary for these modern releases of new Star Wars shows, considering there is no way these can be passed off as original Kenner figures from the 70s/80s. The cardback moves away from paying homage, and rather than use a checklist of releases as images, it simply lists the other figures that form part of The Mandalorian series.  Ahsoka is wearing the outfit she wore on screen during The Mandalorian and into season 1 of her own Ahsoka Disney+ series. The execution of this is inspired by the original Kenner figures, with the skirt piece created as part of the legs, as seen with original figures like The Emperor and the Tusken Raider. The outfit is predominantly grey in colour, glossy in places, and accented with a dark blue vest, silver armour on the gauntlets and shin plates, and a brown belt with a silver buckle and wrapped blue rope.  The head sculpt is also in keeping with the Kenner figures, featuring a simplistic likeness that does come complete with facial markings as well as painted eyes and mouth. Her Lekku are wrapped around the head and down over the torso, coloured in white and blue. Ahsoka comes with her twin lightsabers, styled after the Empire & Return of the Jedi sabers with a flat hilt, guard, and blade all in the same base colour. For Ahsoka, these are white with one saber shorter than the other and a bend included in the hilts.  There are five points of articulation, as was the Kenner standard, with rudimentary joints at the shoulders, hips, and neck. While the legs and arms can rotate fully around the joint, the head is held a little bit in check by the Lekku. While these are flexible and do bend as the head turns, the head cannot go all the way, thanks to the rear Lekku, which locks the full turn. Ahsoka Tano is one of the new era of Star Wars key characters, and Hasbro has done a good job in realising her as a Kenner figure in the style of the original figures, mimicking some design features of the 70’s like the legs, and of the 80’s as seen in the flat-gripped lightsabers. A neat addition for anyone expanding their original Kenner collection, or building a Retro Collection in its own right. 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 Doom: The Dark Ages Doom Slayer 'Phalanx Skin'

    McFarlane has announced a new Doom Slayer figure from Doom: The Dark Ages. The Phalanx Skin version of Doom Slayer includes a red & gun-metal themed decor to his armour. A code to redeem for the skin in the video game will also be included in the release. The set includes alternative hands and a combat shotgun for the Doom Slayer as well as the usual display stand and collector card. The McFarlane Doom Slayer 'Phalanx Skin' is a general release at McFarlane stockists and is due to be shipped in November 2025. We've added it to our extensive McFarlane Collector Database The With the Slayer imprisoned at the dawn of Dark Ages, the balance between light and shadow teeter on the edge of oblivion. A feared outsider among an imperiled people, he is both weapon and prisoner, his strength bound by the very gods they serve. As an ancient evil lays siege to their world, time runs short, and darkness deepens. 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...

  • Medicom MAFEX Marvel X-Men Comics' Gambit

    From the Marvel X-Men Comics comes this new Medicom MAFEX release of Gambit. The Ragin' Cajun will include a soft goods coat, two head options, staff, and a selection of magic effects, including throwing playing cards. Gambit is a July 2026 release. 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...

  • Medicom MAFEX Black Manta from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

    From Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom comes this new Medicom MAFEX release of Black Manta. The new 6-inch releases includes an unmasked head and the helmet, plus a raft of weapons and effect parts. It is due to release in July 2026. 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...

  • Medicom MAFEX DC's Peacemaker and Bloodsport from Suicide Squad

    Originally seen at the Medicom Toy Exhibition earlier this year, the MAFEX figures of Bloodsport and Peacemaker, both as seen in the Suicide Squad movie from 2021, will open for pre-order shortly. Peacemaker will include both masked and unmasked portraits, four in total, as well as coming with a helmet accessory. You also get twin handguns, sword, axe, clipboard, pen, and straw. Bloodsport will include three head options - two unmasked, one masked - as well as an extensive armoury of weapons and an FX flame piece. The pair are July 2026 releases. 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...

  • NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 'Stump Wrestling' Ace the Duck (Archie Comics) and Chote from the Mirage Comics

    Two of NECA's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book releases that were initially a 'first to market' exclusive via Walmart in the US are now opening for general pre-orders. They include the Stump Wrestling Ace the Duck from the Archie Comics, complete with three heads, extra hands, and a steel chair. And Chote from the Mirage Comics, who will include a soft goods cloak, hat, extra hands, and a flaming torch. With the general availability announcement comes official packaging images for both figures. We've updated our NECA Collector Database accordingly As seen in Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book series from Archie Comics! NECA is proud to present Stump Wrestling's mightiest mallard: Ace Duck! This 7-inch scale action figure includes multiple heads and hands for all types of action in and out of the ring. Comes in collector-friendly packaging with artwork by original TMNT Adventures artist Ken Mitchroney. As seen in Eastman & Laird’s original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics from Mirage Studios! Chote, the mysterious, dinosaur-like creature and skilled samurai warrior, is ready to join your collection. Standing in 7-inch scale, this NECA action figure features a soft goods cape, removable hat, torch, all-new weapons, and even a hinged jaw! Comes in collector-friendly packaging with artwork by Kevin Eastman and Michael Dooney. 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...

  • Review: Star Wars Retro Collection A New Hope box-set including Ceremony Luke, Stormtrooper Han, Dr. Evazan, Sandtrooper, Rebel Fleet Trooper, and Pondo Baba

    When Hasbro launched the Star Wars Retro Collection, it was initially distributed in the traditional manner with cases of carded figures sent to retailers and online stores. This worked relatively well for the early waves that recreated the original Kenner figures from The Original Trilogy. When the line branched into creating Kenner inspired content for the newer properties, then the distribution began to see peg-warming issues and significant retail reductions to clear stock. The other issue with any collector carded line is shelf wear, and the Retro cards were taking some level of damage when shipped and sold in physical stores in particular. The answer, as implemented in 2023, was a new outer box distribution with six carded figures within. This was first used to re-issue the original 12 figures from A New Hope across two boxed releases, and more recently adopted for sets for The Acolyte, the Prequel movies, and the set we are looking at here from A New Hope with a number of brand new characters brought into the Kenner-style line. The 2025 Retro Collection A New Hope box set was made up of six figures, five of which were entirely new in terms of never being released in the original Kenner run or in the Retro Collection to date. They are packed into an outer box that replicates the card design to a degree, with the Kenner Star Wars logo heading up the box front and fake box wear around the sides. The figures are depicted against a blue checklist, reminiscent of a Kenner card back, with the Retro Collection roundel now printed and not a sticker, and a small call out in the bottom left corner that confirms all six of the figures come on their own card. The box front and reverse are almost identical, save for some warnings and legal text, and also carry the Kenner logo as opposed to Hasbro. The box sides are plain with the 1977 Star Wars logo, while the top of the box also includes character pictures from A New Hope of the included characters. The box opens via either side panel, with the cards within stacked interlocking with blisters overlapping each other to minimise the space needed and also to prevent any movement that would then damage the card. There is no packing piece, so some parts of the card are unsupported in transit, which can lead to some very minor card warping. Because these are designed to be sold from a shelf at retail, the cards are unpunched, which is a nice touch. All of the cardbacks follow the same design principles of the Retro Collection to date, which itself pays homage to the original Kenner figures. This includes the use of the original logo, the tramline border, fake card wear, and the use of an original character still from the movie which in this case are all new apart from Walrusman, whose art depicts his original carded release. This imagery is all overlaid with the Retro Collection sticker; this can be removed with care if you want to display the figures carded and without the Retro logo. The figures are also given a colour for the panel behind the blister, and on their character name plate. Around the back of the card, the homage to Kenner dies off a little bit, and while there is room for some form of checklist of old, we simply have a four-language overview of the Retro Collection, followed by a text list of the other figures in the wave. The rest of the cardback is turned over to legal and safety warning text. As it was back in the 70s and 80s, if you want to play with or display your figures, the cards will be damaged as you rip off the blister. Our new figures from A New Hope start with a new version of Luke Skywalker, as seen at the end of the film, receiving his medal. This newly designed look mirrors the general aesthetic of the original Kenner figures in terms of its basic design, simple colour choices, and rudimentary decor limited to the belt buckle and yellow piping up the legs. The head is not the same as that of Farmboy Luke, but a new look that is in keeping with the simplistic nature of the Kenner facial likenesses as per the technology of the time, while not perhaps immediately recogniseable as Mark Hammil, but that is possibly born more out of my own personal memory and this figure having no context from the original line as such. Articulation is the basic five points, and this works with the included accessories of a blaster and a medal. The Blaster is the slimline Leia Blaster seen on the Kenner releases of ANH, Bespin, and Hoth Leia. This is cast in black and fits into either of Luke’s hands. The medal is new and made of a softer plastic that sits over Luke’s head. Also seen in the medal ceremony scenes, and of course at the start of A New Hope, are the Rebel Fleet Troopers. This figure mimics much of the Luke design with a waistcoat, pants, and boots - although they are not the same sculpt. The Fleet Trooper paint decor is again on the belt buckle, and also on the blue shirt front, overpainting the black plastic and creating an ever so slight colour variance vs the arms - but again you could argue that is evocative of the Kenner figures themselves. The head is sculpted with the helmet plugged in as an individual piece. The helmet is gloss white with a painted black visor, but the choice has been made not to include a chin strap, which is in keeping with the same principle applied back in 1977 for the Death Squad Trooper.  Again, we have five points of basic articulation, and this time a single blaster. The blaster is again based on the original Kenner line and the Bespin Blaster with a blue colour cast. I found this incredibly difficult to put into either of the Fleet Trooper’s hands, and when it is wedged into position, it is not quite in a firing position.  Our next two figures take us to the Mos Eisley Cantina, and we start with a new figure of Doctor Evazan. The Doctor features another waistcoat, shirt, trousers, and boots design but with a messy, low slung shirt collar and a gun belt around the trousers, which are painted in browns with a silver bukcle. Evazan’s deformed face is replicated quite brilliantly into a 70s Kenner style, complete with mismatched eyes both in position and colour.  Evazan uses the same five points of articulation to wield two weapons, neither of which are based on any of the original Kenner blasters. The first is a black cast snub blaster, similar but not the same as the Rebel blaster. The other is a grey cast wide barrel piece. These fit more comfortably into Evazan’s right hand rather than the left, but there is a dual-wield option if you can coax the left hand to hold one of the blasters.  Evazan was, of course, a large gap in the original Kenner run due to the release of his partner, Pondo Baba, as Walrus Man. It is well established that Kenner was working on still images of 'cool' aliens with no costume design, so there was an option here to bring us an updated Pondo Baba with his correct costume. Instead, Hasbro has chosen to stay true to the Kenner blue and orange jumpsuit with green skin, bulging eyes, and mouth. Walrus Man also features the webbed feet of the original and the same Imperial blaster in blac,k which he can hold with his right hand. The final two figures have an Imperial theme, starting with an Imperial Sandtrooper as seen on Tatooine during much of the first half of the movie. Of course, an Imperial Stormtrooper was part of Kenner’s earliest releases in 1977/78, and this new take on the Trooper pays homage to that in terms of styling of the helmet and armour, but is its own figure in terms of tweaking the key elements of difference of a Sandtrooper, such as the knee armour. The armour itself is bright white, the connections black, and with the same principles used on the helmet for the visors, breathing apparatus, and the upper forehead trim.  Our Sandtrooper has been given a Pauldron and backpack, and these are part of the wider sculpt rather than add-on parts. The Pauldron is split across the shoulder and torso of the body, and painted in orange with black trim. On the left arm, the other part of the Pauldron, the pouch, sits as part of the left arm sculpt.  The backpack is part of the torso and is coloured in black. The Sandtrooper has been given a new, long, repeating blaster that we never saw in the Kenner series. It is cast in black and fits in either hand, with the left arm bent at the elbow to accommodate the longer weapon in standing poses.  Our final figure also uses Stormtrooper armour and is another figure who’s counterpart was released back in the 80s and who we’ve had to wait over 40 years to pair up on display. Han Solo, in Stormtrooper Armour, follows the same principles applied to POTF Luke in Stormtrooper Armour back int he 80s without being a direct copy. Like the Sandtrooper, the armour is gloss white, while the connecting parts are painted in black. Han’s head sculpt is new, and not a replication of any of the early Han Solo releases, either from Kenner or from Hasbro’s retro series. Again, the likeness is not initially recogniseable or memorable as Han. The helmet, another close match to the original Luke figure but less elongated and therefore better proportioned, is wearable and sits neatly over the head to complete the disguise. With his five points of articulation, Han can wield two different blasters, the first of which is a black cast standard Imperial Blaster whose design dates back to the first Kenner figures. The second is another newer piece, the longer blaster rifle used by some Stormtroopers. Both weapons fit into either of Han’s hands, and unlike Evaza,n he can gear up with both blasters at the same time. The A New Hope Retro Collection boxset is priced at circa £56-£61, depending on your retailer of choice, which equates to around £10 per figure and is in line with the RRP of the original single carded releases for the Retro Collection. While this is a larger outlay initially, the cards will arrive in great condition and unpunched. The contents are well chosen to a point and expand on the original Kenner line some 40-odd years after it concluded, although without the memories we older folk have from the 70s and 80s, and their modern digital design, they come close to filling gaps Kenner missed but not quite. The Walrusman inclusion is a no-win situation with purists leaning towards a direct Kenner recreation as we got, while collectors wanting more variety were perhaps hoping for either a different figure entirely, or one with a costume update. 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...

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