Action Figure Review: Violent Ken (Deluxe) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   What do you get when you cross Ken Masters with M. Bison's Psycho Power? Violent Ken! This deluxe figure released on Jada Toys' Next Level store over the summer (it's still available, too)  represents Ken surging with Psycho Power energy and intent on taking down everyone in his path. He's brainwashed by Bison, sometimes to be in his service but often just running with his own agenda to be the best and violently destroy anyone who stands in his way. The regular Ken figure shipped as part of the second series of Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers figures earlier this year and this is an enhanced version of that figure. He's a repaint with three portraits this time around, a new energy effect for his Shoryuken, and some barrels from the background that can be broken during a fight or attached during the bonus stage. Ready for battle? Then join me after the break.... 

Fight!

31 Days of Toy Terror: The Mummy from Universal Monsters Alliance by Pop Mart

 

   It's another Mummy Monday as we enter the week of Halloween and today I'm checking out the Mummy from the Pop Mart blind boxed Universal Monsters Alliance line. These came out last year and feature the classic Universal Monsters (and a few less often seen friends) chilling out in movie theater styled chairs with snacks. Get it? They're watching their films! I love it. This is such a cool and cute line of little figures. There are 10 figures in the set but only 9 figures in a case as Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde is a 1/108 chase figure. My case didn't come with him and he's pretty pricy, so I don't have him. I have the rest of the crew, though, and I thought this would be another fun chance to show off Boris Karloff's Imhotep. Let's take a look at this blind-boxed classic after the break...

Action Figure Review: Robin (Batman Forever) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   

   Halloween is almost here and while this isn't a 31 Days of Toy Terror review, nor is it a scary action figure in any way, this version of Robin from Batman Forever absolutely reminds me of Halloween. In 1995, when Batman Forever came out, I though Chris O'Donnell's Robin was the coolest. I remember finding the Kenner Street Biker Robin on the same trip to Target that I found the Riddler and Two-Face, so that was a huge deal, but it took me quite a bit more time to find Hydro Claw Robin, the first Robin that was actually in his costume. I think I put the animated series Robin on that figure and gave him the staff from the Toy Biz Joker figure to complete my ideal Robin at the time. For Halloween that year I dressed up as Robin and had a great costume that actually had a hard plastic chest plate. Sadly, my parents have not been able to find any pictures from that Halloween, so that's a bummer. Recently a friend shared an old picture of him and his brother as the Riddler and Two-Face from 1995 and I really wanted to show off my Robin costume. I'm pretty glad to get this guy as Robin is definitely the best part of Batman Forever (though Dr. Chase Meridian, Sugar, and Spice are close). I don't dislike Val Kilmer but I think he's pretty much the most boring Batman we've ever had. Chris O'Donnell as Robin, however, really worked quite well. It's a shame we didn't get to see him teamed up with Michael Keaton's Batman. This guy is a darn fine Robin figure, so let's take a look at him after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Mole Man from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   We're looking at a deeper cut today (some might say deep enough to satisfy a Hollow Earth theorist), though one that's supposed  to be getting a remake soon: The Mole Man from the 1956 Universal Studios sci-fi horror film The Mole People! Are you looking for a "fabulous funny freak-out" about Sumerian albinos that worship the Babylonian goddess Ishtar deep within the earth and who use a race of enslaved mole people to harvest mushroom? A film that is so bizarre that is was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000? A movie about the people who make that nice Mexican sauce? Then let's check out the Mole Man from Super7's Universal Monsters ReAction series. Let's dig in, after the break...

Action Figure Review: Chun-Li (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   I've been nuts about Chun-Li since playing Street Fighter II: The World Warrior on the Super Nintendo I got for Christmas when I was in 3rd grade. The only woman in the original roster, Chun-Li was captivating, quick, and fun as heck to play as due to her speed and cool attacks like the lightning leg. She's not just one of the faces of the Street Fighter but one of the most memorable video game characters of all time. I reviewed the standard Jada Toys Chun-Li release from 2023 earlier this year and today I'm checking out the Chun-Li Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive that was released on Jada's Next level website this summer for SDCC 2024 and which is still available as of this week. This is a pretty cool offering that gives you not just Chun-Li in one of her alternate color schemes but also offers up some new accessories and a new portrait. In fact, Jada Toys included two copies of the new laughing/ victory headsculpt: One for this figure and one with the correct colors so it can be used with your standard Chun-Li. How cool is that? I love when figures come with accessories and items like this that can be used with figures you already own. Let's get ready to throw down with Chun-Li after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Grumpy Bear as Frankenstein #1627 from POP! Movies: Care Bears X Universal Monsters by Funko

 

   OK, I've got one more incredibly adorable review for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe and this time it's Grump Bear as Frankenstein from Funko's POP! vinyl Care Bears X Universal Monsters line. I reviewed Bedtime Bear as the Mummy a few days ago and now I'm getting the chance to review this guy. Grumpy Bear is probably my favorite of the Care Bears and I love this combination of him and Frankenstein's Monster. His personality and expression just make this one work! I'm a little surprised that whoever was behind this design didn't try to find an already green Care Bear, but personality wise Grumpy Bear is the best fit. Ready for a review that's sure to make your day a bit grumpier? Than join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Riddler (Batman Forever) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   The last three months have been crazy for DC Multiverse, especially for fans of Batman and his related allies and villains. I've actually had the Batman Forever set of figures since the middle of August but I've been so busy writing reviews for 31 Days of Toy Terror that I've had to put a lot of stuff on the backburner. I'm not planning on reviewing all of the figures in this set but I have a few that definitely hit some nostalgia buttons for me. First up, I'm going to check out the Riddler. Back when Batman Forever was released in 1995 I was in love with this movie. I liked Batman Returns at the time, too, but I appreciated the brighter palette of Batman Forever. That summer I wore my baseball cap with the Batman and Riddler's question mark logo on it all the time, carried the coin from Kenner's Two-Face coin in my pocket, read the comic adaptation quite frequently, and ate more than my share of McDonald's Super Hero meals. Batman Forever was a big deal and, being just out of fifth grade, I was digging the ride of it being huge all that summer. I've seen the film a couple times over the past decade or two and I have to say that it doesn't hold up for me. If you would have asked me a year or two ago which Batman film was the worst I would have said Batman & Robin, and there would have been a time when I wouldn't have even spoken that film's name. Ask me now, though, and I'll tell you that Forever is easily the worst of the Batman films. I'm not going to get into a movie review here, but the movie takes it's greatest strengths, Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, and just wastes them. There's no menace; just goofiness and cackling. Still, nostalgia. I remember how excited I was to find the original Kenner Riddler figure from the film at a Target that summer of 1995 and this guy gives me a bit of the same feel. Ready to check out the Riddler? Then join me after the break...