Action Figure Review: Major Toht and Ark of the Covenant from Indiana Jones: One:12 Collective by Mezco

 

   Guess what? This is my first official review of an action figure or collectible released in 2025. Yippee! It's actually been over 4 years since I last reviewed a Mezco One:12 Collective action figure and I'm pretty sure the two Harley Quinn figures were the last ones I bought from the line, too. When I saw Major Arnold Toht go up for preorder in August of 2023, I was kind of interested. Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite film and while Mezco also released a One:12 Collective Indiana Jones, I wasn't all that impressed with him compared to what Hasbro put out in the Adventure Series, especially considering the price. Toht, however, well, let's just say that three things sold me: The gruesome melting portraits and hands, the inclusion of the Ark of the Covenant, and the ark ghost figure. While I purchased Hasbro's Toht (and really like the figure), I never had all of the pieces for the buildable Ark of the Covenant and I sold the ones I did have. Mezco's Ark is far superior and just an incredible piece to have. I'm going to admit that I secretly hope that Mezco will also release a couple figures Hasbro didn't. I think it has to be a Disney issue, but think there's any chance that Mezco could release Mola Ram? He's my favorite Indiana Jones villain, followed by Major Arnold Toht. Let's take a look at this incredible cool set that started shipping at the beginning of 2025. It's to die for....

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

 

   I'm getting excited with pretty much every release of a new character in Jada Toys' Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers toyline. Dee Jay is probably one of the characters who I'm the least familiar with gameplay wise as I didn't have The New Challengers for my SNES until... maybe like 2000? I actually mostly new him from the move where he was played by Miguel A. Núñez Jr. and is portrayed as a computer expert and hacker who is working for Bison just for the money. Unlike Zangief, Dee Jay was getting paid! In the game, though, he's not on Bison's side and is instead a Jamaican kickboxing musician and breakdancer based on Billy Blanks, the real-life martial arts champion and creator of Tae Bo. Dee Jay didn't get an action figure in the G.I. Joe subset or Hasbro's movie based line, so I didn't have a Dee Jay as a kid. I don't recall using any other random G.I. Joes as any of the New Challengers crew from the film, either, so I'm kind of thrilled to have an actual Dee Jay. Ready to check out this kickboxing karate champion? Then get with the beat and join me after the break...

Nights with Nosferatu!: Nosferatu from Vinyl SODA by Funko

 

      I've collected action figures based on Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror on and off since I picked up the Aztech Toyz Silent Screamers Graf Orlok sometime in the early 2000s. This isn't a new Vinyl SODA (the line seems to be dead), but one I found from 2022 that I didn't have. Since I reviewed the Bram Stoker's Dracula version of Dracula from Vinyl SODA last month, I figured I'd give this one a look over as well. I'm really excited for the extended cut of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, which is being released on physical media later this month (I think mine's supposed to ship on the 18th of February), so consider this a way to harness my excitement to watch the film again. This one is obviously based on Max Schreck's iconic horror performance, just in a somewhat cuter and only a tad bit more charming style. Ready to pop open a cold can of Graf Orlok soda? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Metal-Boto from Turtles of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   Today I'm checking out the Build-a-Figure from the Turtles of Grayskull toyline: Metal-Boto! Metal-Boto is a hybrid of Robot from Masters of the Universe and Metal-Head from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the figure absolutely does feature elements of both characters. It's been a little over a year since I found and reviewed Mouse-Jaw, the first figure in the series to come with BAF pieces for Metal-Boto, and the other three figures were scattered throughout the year, with 2-Bopsteady coming out near the end of 2024. Ready to check out this upgraded version of Robot and Metal-Head, straight from Donatello's lab? Can you believe I've written another review with a video supplement? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Rogue & Destiny from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

   In February I'll still be wrapping up some 2024 reviews, but I've got some new stuff for 2025 to look at. I'll also be publishing my annual Best of the Year Awards throughout the month, so keep reading!

   I thought 2024 was a really good year for Marvel Legends. While it was odd that it took Hasbro so long to get out action figures for Deadpool and Wolverine, and then it was a pretty basic lineup (if any Marvel film in recent memory was going to be a surefire hit that was it, plus those two always sell action figures), I think most of the year was excellent. The second series of X-Men '97 figures were great, the 80th Anniversary figures were incredible, whether individual figures, multi-packs, deluxe releases, or Ghost Rider with his motorcycle, the Strange Tales and Secret Wars sets seemed pretty popular, and the Spidey fans got plenty to love. My main Marvel Legends focus is X-Men, and while most releases were excellent, I do want to look at a set that I received for Christmas which was a bit disappointing: Rogue and Destiny. The character selection isn't bad at all (first appearance "villain" Rogue and the first ever figure of Destiny/ Irene Adler), but the figures are the definition of barebones. Compare this set to the Wong and Doctor Strange set, also an exclusive and a 2-pack, and you'll be shocked by what you get with that set versus the single pair of swappable hands that Rogue and Destiny each come with. No energy or power effects? No really cool alternate hands like Rogue taking off her glove? No alternate portraits, or an unmasked portrait for Destiny? Nope. I added this set to my wishlist because while I like Rogue, I really wanted Destiny for my Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Sometimes with figures like this you never know what's going to hang around and what's going to disappear (this year's Target exclusive Warbird and the Cabal set come to mind) and skyrocket in price. Let's take a look at this two-pack after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: 2-Bopsteady from Turtles of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   If you've been around here long enough, you might have noticed that I didn't review as much Masters of the Universe stuff in 2024 as I had in previous years. While both Origins and Masterverse still have some good releases that come out, so much of the MOTU product I like has gotten really expensive (think Tweeterhead and Mondo) or Mattel seems to be releasing the same characters over and over and over again with little difference. Yeah, there were some new characters and such, but a good bit of things felt a bit stale to me this year. The most exciting line Mattel did for MOTU last year was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover, Turtles of Grayskull. TMNT has crossed over with everything out there, but the MOTU crossover feels more organic than most of the others. I've skipped a lot of the figures in the series, sure, but I did want to get 2-Bopsteady as it's just such a wildly wonderful concept for a figure and it contained the final pieces for the Metal-Boto figure. Ready to see what happens when Bebop and Rocksteady get uncomfortable close? Then let's check out 2-Bopsteady, the "Two-Headed Mutant Monstrosity," after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Col. Siege from Action Force by Valaverse

 

   I didn't review as many Action Force figures as I thought in 2024, but I've still got a couple reviews planned as I only recently received a shipment of figures and accessories from series 5, which was released near the end of 2024, along with one or two items that are just now shipping at the beginning of 2025. Today I'm checking out the figure from series 5 that I was most looking forward to: Col. Siege! Col. Siege has decades of military experience and helps recruit new talent to Action Force, but do you know why I really wanted him? He reminds me of Col. John "Hannibal" Smith from The A-Team. Heck yeah! I love The A-Team and imagining Col. Siege as Hannibal-like cigar chewing mastermind who can get the job done in a variety of unorthodox ways. He's a cool figure and I'm excited to add him to my 1/12th scale forces. Let's check out Col. Siege after the break...