Action Figure Review: Destro & Iron Grenadier Despoiler from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

   As you can tell, I'm, clearly behind on my G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews. I'm working to catch up, though, as it's been my favorite active toyline since the line debuted in 2020, so now I'm checking out a release from way back in June: Destro with his Iron Grenadier Despoiler. I absolutely remember getting the vintage version of this figure back in 1988 and being quite thrilled with the opportunity to have a Destro in my collection as I was too young to be into the line when the original Destro was released. This is a pricy release although Hasbro definitely has enhanced the size of the Despoiler. It was a tiny little vehicle back in 1988 but it definitely feels more impressive now. As I was looking at pictures of vintage Despoilers and the packaging they came in I was surprised to learn that some of the boxes had the Battle Force 2000 logo on them. I don't think I ever realized that the Iron Grenadiers were originally created as an adversary for Battle Force 2000. Of course, over the years the Iron Grenadiers have grown in popularity and have become a fan favorite while Battle Force 2000 is one of the least popular sub teams ever. Let's take a look at Destro and his Iron Grenadier Despoiler after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack O. Lantern from PIX! Garbage Pail Kids by Thrilljoy

   I am always down for a character with a Jack o' Lantern for a head so I made sure to preorder the PIX! Garbage Pail Kids Jack O. Lantern for this year's "Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror" since he fits the theme perfectly. Thrilljoy is a newer company (founded in 2024 by former Funko CEO Mariotti) and PIX! seems to be their signature line. Like Funko, they're releasing vinyl figures of multiple different pop culture characters at fairly reasonable prices. Thrilljoy's PIX! figures are a bit less stylized, a bit more expensive, and I believe they all have a set edition run. Each figure has at least one chase variant, too, and the figure comes in a blind box. Well, they actually come in a nice display box but there's a cardboard sleeve that you tear open to reveal whether you received the standard edition or the chase variant. Jack O. Lantern is based on a Garbage Pail Kids character who appeared in the collectible cards back in 1986 and is essentially a pumpkin headed guy carving his own face. That's pretty wild! The variant of Jack O. Lantern has a pumpkin pie head with a piece carved out, which is also funny, though I do prefer the regular version of this guy. Ready to check a pumpkin who carves himself? Then let's take a closer look after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Creature from the Black Lagoon (Black & White) from Tubbz Mystery Egg: Universal Monsters by Numskull Designs

   I received a pretty cool little surprise for my birthday: A Tubbz Mystery Egg. I've had a Jeep for a couple years now and while my dashboard isn't covered with ducks, I do have a few in a little tray and in a little net bag inside. I received this guy as a little extra gift probably more for my love of the classic Universal Monsters than because it's a duck. These guys are blind bagged, which I'm not a huge fan of, so I'm not sure I'll go out and attempt to snag any more, though you know I really want a Wolf Man. I like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, though, and this black and white variant is pretty cool. Not only do the minifigures look like little rubber duck versions of the Universal Monsters breaking out of an egg but the figure comes inside of a little plastic egg, keeping you from being able to tell what's inside of the wrapper. These can vary in price depending on where you get them as I've seen them listed for between $5 and $9 dollars. Which characters are available? It looks like there is a regular and black & white creature, a regular and black & white Bride, a Wolf Man, Mummy, Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, and Invisible Man, and a rare bronze Dracula, silver Frankenstein, and gold Mummy. Ready for a look at a very classic looking Creature from the Black Lagoon? Then dive in and join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tony Tony Chopper (Drum Island) from S.H. Figuarts: One Piece by Bandai/ Tamashi Nations

 

    S.H. Figuarts has really been pushing the One Piece line lately and they're doing a solid job of beginning to fill out some rosters/ teams/ storylines. I mean, One Piece has been going for decades and there are so many different characters and arcs, but it really feels like there's a renewed effort on Bandai's part this year. The main pre-time skip cast has been getting a lot of attention lately and now we have a "first appearance" version of Tony Tony Chopper, the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates, from when the crew first meets him on Drum Island in the Grandline. Yes, Chopper is in fact a doctor. A reindeer doctor. A blue-nosed reindeer doctor. A blue-nosed reindeer doctor who ate the Human-Human Devil Fruit and can talk and transform into different forms. Wild stuff. Let's check out this cute little guy after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Hot Wheels High from Hot Wheels: Halloween Series by Mattel

   I was really excited this year because I had the chance to do something I've always wanted to do: Take a ghost tour! We took a train to New Orleans this summer and took a walking ghost tour while staying in the French Quarter. It was a lot of fun and a spooky good time. My wife and daughter had to keep me in line from asking too many questions ("Not trying to be funny, not trying to get a laugh, I don't want anybody to have the worst day at their job..."). Today's installment of Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror is a jet powered bus that's labeled Terror Tours! The model itself is called "Hot Wheels High" and it's a 2013 Hot Wheels concept of a school bus or tour bus that is heavily modified for some serious travel. Ready to jump in this tank of a bus and see some spooky sites? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Sarah Bowman from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   For today's installment of Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror I'm finishing up Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead line by taking a look at Dr. Sarah Bowman, the film's primary protagonist and someone who can fight the other zombies in the line. She's a solid choice for the line due to her role in the film, played by actress Lori Cardille, though I do have to admit that she's the least interesting of the figures since she's not a zombie and she doesn't rip apart like Capt. Henry Rhodes. Still, she's a vital part of the film and she comes with some nifty weaponry. Ready to check out Dr. Sarah Bowman? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: "The Bride of Frankenstein" '40 Ford from Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters by Mattel

 

   Ready for another Universal Monsters themed Hot Wheels car? Today I'm checking out the last of the cars from this series that I'll probably be reviewing this year: The Bride of Frankenstein's '40 Ford. This is a very classy coupe and it looks perfect for the Bride to cruise around in. Likely on a moonlit night without any lightning, though, as the roof is down on this one. Ready to check out the classiest car in this series? Then join me after the break...