Action Figure Review: Gambit (Age of Apocalypse) from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   The most recent series of X-Men Marvel Legends Series figures has been a really interesting mix of characters from different teams and eras. You've got four A-list big guns (Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit, and Nightcrawler) from different teams and eras (X-Treme X-Men, X-Factor, Age of Apocalypse, and X-Force), and three 90's era creations who haven't had Legends releases before (Marrow, Husk, and Fabian Cortez). It's a real potpourri! Age of Apocalypse Gambit was a really nice surprise for this series as whole the Age of Apocalypse storyline is quite well loved by many, the two series of Marvel Legends figures based on it didn't seem to sell as quickly as most mutant focused series and thus ended up easily found on clearance at GameStop, Target, and Ollie's. They look great together and I'd love to see Hasbro continue to add to them little by little. Gambit is an excellent addition and is always a hit, right? We've also rarely had Gambit figures in any outfit other than his classic trench coat wearing look. Ready to check out the AoA Gambit? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Deadshot (DC Classic) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Today I'm jumping back in to take a look at another DC Multiverse figure from McFarlane Toys: Deadshot (DC Classic) from the most recent McFarlane Collector Edition series. This is the first set of McFarlane Collector Edition figures where I've picked up all three figures released (Deadshot, Batman: Year Two, and Adam Strange) but Deadshot was the first one I found at a Target. I've actually seen all of these guys in stores multiple times now, though I did get Batman online from BBTS and Adam Strange online from GameStop. This is the first figure of Deadshot/ Floyd Lawton that we've received from McFarlane Toys in the DC Multiverse line, so that's another major Batman villain checked off the list. This isn't the first appearance version of Deadshot from 1950 (where he wore a tuxedo, top hat, and domino mask) but is the version most familiar to comic fans from Detective Comics in 1977 where he escaped from prison and came back with a vengeance. If you're looking for a classic "Super Powers"/ style guide look for Deadshot, this is it. He's much brighter than I expected (at a glance I always think he's Negative Man for some reason) but he does look accurate to most of his comic book appearances from the late 1970s, 1980s, and into the 1990s. Ready to see if Deadshot hits the mark? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Bloody Ash & Cheryl Williams from The Evil Dead by NECA

 

   I've been on a bit of a vacation, but not to a cabin the woods! I'm back now and ready to hit the ground running with some new reviews. NECA has been making action figures from the Evil Dead series since 2006 (the S-Mart Ash from Cult Classics) but it wasn't until 2022 that NECA released a version of Ash from the original 1981 film The Evil Dead. This year we're getting another release and this time it's a two pack! NECA has bundled a somewhat different blood splattered version of Ash with his sister, Cheryl. It's pretty amazing that NECA is still giving us new figures from this property and I'm quite excited to get a new figure of Cheryl. This is a great set with some fantastic new accessories, too. Ready to check out these two siblings doomed to some intense sibling rivalry? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Monkey D. Luffy (The Raid on Onigashima) from S.H. Figuarts: One Piece by Bandai

 

   I'm going through a midlife crisis, everyone. Some guys hit their early 40s and buy a sportscar or a motorcycle. Others begin pursuing a younger mistress. Me? I'm apparently now into watching anime and buying anime figures. OK, not all anime, really. Just One Piece. I've mentioned a couple times before that my wife really got into One Piece a couple years ago and since then I've certainly learned quite a bit about it. I love the characters and character designs, but my knowledge of the show was just from what she told me or from catching bits and pieces of it here and there. I finally started watching it for my self a few weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it (for those of you who keep up with it, I'm currently at the Drum Island arc of the Alabasta/ Arabasta Saga, and have officially met Tony Tony Chopper and learned his heartbreaking backstory). I purchased the S.H. Figuarts Romance Dawn Luffy a couple months ago but over this past weekend I stumbled upon the newer The Raid on Onigashima Monkey D. Luffy at my local GameStop and decided to snap him up. There's a lot of reuse here on the man dedicated to becoming King of the Pirates, but there's also plenty of differences to not make it feel too similar. Ready to check out this new version of Monkey D. Luffy? Then join me after the break...

"Gum...Gum... Mouse click!"

Action Figure Review: Prince Xizor from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

   What is Hasbro doing differently with the Black Series in 2025 than they did in 2024? They're releasing characters I have nostalgia for, baby. So far this year I've picked up the newest versions of the classic ANH Luke and Leia and now I've ended up with a third figure: Prince Xizor! That's more figures Black Series figures than I purchased in 2024 and 2023. Steve Perry's Shadows of the Empire came out in 1996 and just felt massive. As the marketing hype said, it was like a Star Wars movie release without a movie. I was really getting into Star Wars at that type and it was pretty exciting to have new characters who were getting action figures and other merchandise. I still have both of my Kenner Prince Xizor figures (one was sold by himself and another came in a 2-pack with Darth Vader); in fact, I think I have all of my Shadows of the Empire vintage figures. I've been hoping Hasbro would finally delve into this era of Star Wars as I really want Chewbacca as Snoova, Dash Rendar, Luke in his vest, Leia in the blue outfit, Leebo, and Guri. Prince Xizor's a great start, though. I believe the last time Hasbro made a Prince Xizor was in 2008 as part of a comic pack with Princess Leia. That's been a minute, as they say. Let's check out Prince Xizor after the break...

Action Figure Review: Power Girl (Power Girl: Reborn) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   While Todd McFarlane is now known for his infamous interview a few years back where he talked about the difficulty of selling female figures at mainstream retail and how little boys just don't want female figures, he sure has been filling out the DC Multiverse roster with some incredible women as of late. Today I'm checking out Power Girl, one of the most powerful women (no pun intended) in the DC Universe. I mean, c'mon; she's cousins with Superman (though from Earth-2) and a fellow Kryptonian. You know she's an A-list talent. She's also the counterpart of Supergirl from Earth-2 (she's Kara Zor-L/ Kara Zor-El, Karen Starr, or Dr. Paige Stetler). Power Girl is part of the McFarlane Collector Edition series which is where McFarlane Toys has been putting more of the collector focused characters as of late. Ready for a great classic take on Power Girl? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ghost Operator from Action Force by Valaverse

 

   It's been a little over a month since Valaverse did a drop with a few new figures but I'm finally getting around to checking out the second figure I picked up from the drop: The Ghost Operator. Like many lines these days (and some vintage toylines; heck, reuse has always been the name of the game), Action Force definitely relies on reuse, mixing together a number of base bodies and limbs with different gear and portraits to create new portraits. I think Action Force is a line that this concept works exceedingly well for since most of the figures are fairly standard soldiers using fairly standard military gear. It's kind of like playing dress up for adult collectors who dig military and tactical equipment! The Ghost Operator definitely is not a new figure by far but it's a new combination of equipment with a new camo pattern that's pretty appealing. According to the file card (and for those of you who follow the Action Force storyline), the Ghost Operators are special forces operators with the Republic Territory Guard who make daring incursions into New Colonia to gather intelligence and eliminate key targets. They're allies with the Action Force. Of course, it's also a fairly standard soldier in darker urban camo, so this guy can be whoever you want. In terms of the build, the Ghost Operator is the same as the Crimson Shadow Infantry, just with a different rifle and no grenade pouches. If you're experiencing some déjà vu while reading this review, that's why. Ready to check this guy out? Then join me after the break...