Action Figure Review: Jordy Verrill (First Bloom) from Monstarz: Creepshow by Amok Time Toys

 

   Guess what! This is my second new review for 2025. In fact, I think it might actually have been the first 2025 release that I received in the mail, though I did look at Mezco's Toht with the Ark of the Covenant first. Read for another review from a classic 1980s film? Then let's take a look at Jordy Verrill (First Bloom) from Monstarz. Based on the classic anthology film Creepshow, a collaboration between George Romero and Stephen King, Jordy Verrill is the country bumpkin from the second short story who gets infected by a space virus in plant form. Played in a wonderfully kooky and over the top manner, Stephen King's Jordy Verrill might be my favorite part of the film (story wise, it's between this one and "Father's Day"). It's just a wonderfully delightful performance with some wacky quotes ("meteror $#!%") and it cracks me up that the king of horror has no problem being so goofy. Garth Marenghi would never take on such a comedic role, that's for sure. Amok Time's Monstarz line has been around since 2008 with a mix of scales and styles, but their Creepshow line started in 2016 with the Nathan Grantham from "Father's Day" and then continued with the zombies from "Something to Tide You Over," the creature from "The Crate," and the Creep himself. Jordy Verrill was definitely a missing spot in the line and it seems like Monstarz has further plans for the line as they've recently renewed the license. Jordy Verill comes in two styles: The First Bloom version I'm looking at here on a green card with a smaller mossy beard and the standard figure with a larger mossy beard. Ready to check out that old lunkhead Jordy Verrill? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Wolfman from Universal City Studios Mini Monsters by Remco

   

   Today I'm taking a break from newer stuff and checking out something older that I've recently acquired: The 1980 Remco Wolfman. I had originally hoped to have this guy in hand for last month's Wolfman themed review series but it took a bit longer to get him. I'd been eying a Remco Wolfman for sometime and this guy was in excellent condition for a very decent price. It's not uncommon to find these figures beaten up or with the capes missing for Dracula and the Phantom, so finding a Wolfman in good condition was a win for me. This guy is one of the oldest action figures I've reviewed (the only older ones would be a couple vintage Kenner Star Wars figures) and the first figure I've reviewed from Remco. Remco released a series of Mego-like Universal Monsters and these 1/18th scaled Universal Monsters Mini Monsters, all of which are now very collectible. These were a couple years before my time so I never had any as a kid. Ready to check out the good old fashioned Wolf Man? Then let's jump in after the break...

The Best of the Rest: My Top 10 Favorite Individual Toys of 2024

 

   To supplement My Top 10 Toylines of 2024 I present to you The Best of the Rest, a listing of my top 10 favorite individual toys of 2024. I find that I typically am drawn to toylines where I can build a huge roster of A, B, and C list characters (with the odd Z-lister thrown in) that are part of a series with lots of releases throughout the year. I was born in the 1980s, so "Collect Them All" has always been my mantra. The Best of the Rest is my way of acknowledging single releases or  that odd figure that's cool enough for me to grab from a larger toyline I really don't even collect. Who's eligible? Most any toy or collectible released in 2024 could make this list. Who isn't eligible? Any toy from a line I picked in my 10 Favorite Toylines of 2024 list. Remember that these are just listed alphabetically, not in order of merit. Many of the figures I picked this year were from properties with limited characters released, import figures I ordered to supplement other lines, or my favorite figures from lines that just didn't make the cut in 2024. Ready to pick out some of my favorite one-offs of 2024? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Pirate Captain Brutus (Port Borgo) from Star Wars: The Black Series by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm checking out the last of the action figures I actually purchased in 2024 and I think you'll be quite surprised that it's a Star Wars: The Black Series figure. It's been over a year since I last reviewed a Star Wars: The Black Series figure (I reviewed Sabine Wren from Ahsoka in 2023) and, to the best of my memory, I only purchased two Black Series figures last year: Osha from The Acolyte (who I found on clearance and am using as a mechanic/ tech expert with my G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures) and Pirate Captain Brutus (Port Borgo) from Skeleton Key. I haven't watched either of these shows and I haven't been tempted by much that Hasbro has released lately. In the days ahead I do have two Star Wars reviews of new releases, the recent Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia from A New Hope, as those are incredible versions of characters I'm legitimately nostalgic for. Last year was pretty boring for the Black Series to me, but Pirate Captain Brutus was absolutely a must buy. Why? Because he's a Shitsavane wolf man with five blaster pistols, that's why. I'm a huge fan of Lak Sivrak and Captain Brutus seems even cooler. Ready for a wolf man in space? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Iron Grenadier from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   As you are likely aware, Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series was on the list of My Top Ten Toylines of 2024. In fact, it has been since the line began in 2020. Today I'm checking out the last of the 2024 release I have lined up to review: The Iron Grenadier. The Iron Grenadiers came into the line in 1988, so during the time I was the most heavily interested in G.I. Joe as a young child (for me it was 1986 to 1990). I had the Iron Grenadiers Destro (which was my first Destro figure), the Iron Grenadier trooper, and the Nullifer with the Anti-Gravity Pod, so the Iron Grenadiers were a small but formidable force in my collection. Over time, the look of the Iron Grenaders has morphed into a decidedly more "fascist" looking group with ties and fancy coats. They first sported this look in toy form in the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention set: The Oktober Guard: Operation Bear trap where the IG's reused the coat wearing body from the G.I. Joe: Resolute Destro figure. It's a great look and nicely separates them from Cobra's legions. Ready to take a look at the main troops of Destro's private army? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Guile from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

   Since February is when I present my annual awards for the best action figures and toys of the previous year, it's highly likely that you've just read  me gush about Jada Toys' Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line. Last year the line didn't make my Best Top 10 toylines, but it only had three figures released and I didn't find most of them until the very end of the year, though Chun-Li did make my Best of the Rest list, however. This year? Street Fighter II is definitely one of my top 10 toylines of 2024. Each release is a super high quality figure and Jada is absolutely impressing me every chance they get. Today we're checking out Col. William F. Guile, the guy who was definitely my favorite World Warrior as a kid. When I first discovered the Street Fighter 2 subset of Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline Guile was the first figure I wanted. Heck, I even had a Jean-Claude Van Damme based Guile from Hasbro's movie line. This guy really thrilled me when I opened him, though, as he's such a cool Guile figure and I was excited to pair him with Cammy as part of the squad to take down Bison! So, yes, I do absolutely revere the 1994 film. Why do you ask? Let's take a look at this tough American after the break...

My Top 10 Toylines of 2024

 

   Once again it's February, and that means it's time for my annual Best Of lists for the previous year. I see a lot of other collectors putting out their lists in December, and sometimes even November, but I usually like to give myself a month or so to find items released at the end of the year and give them their fair shake. I also try to really go through my list and make sure items I'm basing my picks on really did get released domestically in North America during the previous year. I have three lists that I do every year and you'll see one a week for the next three weeks or so. I'm starting off with my top honors, though: My Top 10 Toylines of 2024.

    

   Creating my "Top 10" lists is always one of my favorite things to do at Action Figure Barbecue and I always spend quite a bit of time pouring over my notes from the previous year to determine which toylines were my favorites to collect. This is the thirteenth year I've created a list (the earliest ones were posted at The Epic Review) and it's always interesting too see how my lists change from year to year, often reflecting my changing interests and collecting trends. Like is often the case, 2024's list had some long time favorites, some returning champions, and some new comers. 

   In 2024 I noticed what seemed to be a continuing trend of lots of toylines being marketed directly to collectors and being sold just online or through specialty vendors. I know it's been the case for quite a few years now but no longer is traditional retail required to have a successful toyline. Lines like Mythic Legions & Cosmic Legions, Action Force, Savage Crucible, LooseCollector's Coffin Comics, Animal Warriors of the Kingdom, anything from Boss Fight, or Chicken Fried Toys are impressive, robust lines, some going for a decade now, and the bigger retail giants have nothing on them.

  Going straight to collectors is the order of the day once again, even for Hasbro, Mattel, and NECA. They have continued to sell product at retail, sure, but also have lots of online exclusive products targeted to collector's base. Heck, NECA might even ship you product you didn't order! At regular retail, you'll find most product marketed to kids in the action figure aisle is based on videogames, probably even more than superheroes, Trasnformers, wrestling, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the now perennial Jurassic Park/ Jurassic World right now. Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Bendy, Pokemon, and something called Skibidi Toilet. Heck, Walmart even has classic Sega stuff, including toys from Altered Beast! Altered Beast at Walmart in 2024!

   Unlike last year where it seemed like lots of box office bombs led to lots of product sitting, getting clearanced out, and ending up at Ollie's and the like, this year toy companies seemed to be more conservative. As mentioned earlier, Hasbro was even conservative with Deadpool & Wolverine, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew. This year most toylines that collectors care about from the big players seemed to be produced in smaller numbers. It's been rare to see much new stuff hitting discount stores and liquidators in any significant numbers. 

   It's also been interesting seeing which smaller companies have made it into Walmart, Target, and the like. At my local Walmart and Target I can find figures from Super7, Nacelle, Trick 'r Treat Studios, NECA, Mego, others. It reminds me of the good ol' late 1990s and early 2000s where there was crazy stuff everywhere, though especially at places like Media Play.

      A number of years back I divided my Top 10 list into two separate categories: My Top 10 Toylines and My Top 10 Individual Releases. I always start with My Top 10 Toylines as it's my standard best of list. These are the 10 toylines (action figures, statues, minifigures, etc.) of the past year that I had the most fun collecting and enjoyed the most. They may not always be the best or the most expansive lines, but they're my favorites for one reason or another. As I reiterate every year, the two key word for this list are "my" and "favorite." My list isn't necessarily based on a toyline's true merits and I really don't go outside of what interests me. Take this as a snapshot of the ten toylines I had the most fun collecting in 2024. As always, these are listed alphabetically rather than by any order of merit. And now, for My Top 10 Toylines of 2024...