Wrapping Up 2025: Ninjor from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel

 

It's February 2026 and I'm winding down my "Wrapping Up 2025" reviews. I haven't been on YouTube in a bit but on Monday evening, 8pm EST I plan to do a live even of my first set of awards for the best of 2025: My Top Ten Toylines. Join me on Action Figure Barbecue on YouTube then! 

   My local Walmarts and Target seemed to be filled with the vintage collection Masterverse figures and the various He-Man and Skeletor variants, so I didn't acquire most of the Masterverse figures I wanted last year until near the end of 2025. Ninjor was one of my must haves and I'm glad that I finally tracked him down. Who doesn't love Ninjor, the most uniquely and creatively named ninja in the universe? While overall I do still prefer the style and design of Masters of the Universe Classics, this MOTU: New Eternia Ninjor definitely feels like a figure that rivals the MOTUC version. Ninjor has had some real time to shine lately due to appearing in the Turtles of Grayskull comic series and he ended up with both a Masterverse and a Turtles of Grayskull action figure last year. In New Eternia, he's referred to as a demon king from the dimension of Noir who is searching for the Power of Grayskull for his own evil purposes. Let's take a look at the Masterverse Ninjor after the break...

Wrapping Up 2025: Wolverine (WWII Logan) from Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro

 

   I'm always a sucker for a good Wolverine figure and I was really excited when Hasbro announced this World War 2 era version of Logan in the Executioner Build-a-Figure series that shipped near the end of 2025. Besides the cool scene in the montage at the beginning of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Wolverine has also been depicted fighting in World War 2 in an episode of the animated series where he teamed up with Captain America and in a number of comic stories over the years.  I'm not sure the figure is based on any specific depiction and is really an amalgam of different depictions. Really, it's just Logan decked out in a standard World War 2 army infantry outfit and that's enough for me. My grandfather was a veteran of World War 2 and I've always been interested in the history of that era, so mixing those factors with Wolverine was enough for me to scoop this guy up as soon as I found him. He's actually the only figure I grabbed from this series (and he's the one without a Build-a-Figure part).  I was somewhat interested in Phantom Rider, Enchantress, and Werewolf By Night but not at the new $28 dollar price point. Ready to check out Logan ready to stomp some Nazis? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Keldor from Masterverse/ Masters of the Universe: New Eternia by Mattel

 

   Now that I've checked out Despara and Dragstor it's time to look at the third new Masterverse figure for the beginning of 2026: Keldor.  The Masters of the Universe: New Eternia Keldor, to be exact. I'm going to take a guess that I probably own more Skeletor toys and action figures than any other character (probably even more than He-Man, Batgirl, and Batman) and I've largely been passing up many of the newer releases that don't really offer up anything terribly new. This new version of Keldor, though? Well, I'm a sucker for Keldor, especially when he has a burned face. Finally tying Keldor to Skeletor was one of the most significant story additions by the MYP animated series for the 200x era and it's one that has largely been retained (or at least referenced) by every new MOTU project since. This Masterverse figure definitely retains the general look of Keldor (a blue skinned Gar with fabulous hair) but dresses him up in an outfit that's quite different from the traditional Skeletor outfit. He really reminds me of some of the early MOTU concept art sketches for various wizard inspired villains, which is definitely part of the New Eternia/ New Etheria blending of old and new that makes it so appealing. Ready to check out Keldor? Then get your vial of acid ready (or maybe just a big, round shield) and join me after the break...

 

Wrapping Up 2025: Seymour "Sci-Fi" Fine from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I only have a few 2025 G.I. Joe: Classified Series releases that I'm still planning to review and there is no way I'm leaving out Sci-Fi. While General Hawk v2 was my first G.I. Joe from the A Real American Hero line, Sci-Fi was my second. I don't think he has too many fans who would count him as their favorite Joe (he's not even on of my favorites) but I'm nostalgic for the guy since he was my second Joe and likely one of my earliest action figures. Sci-Fi was the second laser trooper in the line after Flash (who still isn't in the Classified Series yet, though he's been rumored to come out about every year) but it seems that he was originally intended to be a second version of Flash. There were a few figures in the line that seemed like they could have been designed as updated versions of the Original 13 (Short-Fuze/ Downtown, Grunt/Footloose) but by making most figures new characters in ARAH it seems Hasbro kept the line fresher. Sci-Fi is known for his distinctive bright green jumpsuit which does stand out, something that became important as the line continued on. Back in the 1980s, moms were considered to be the "toy buyers" for their kids and starting to offer more unique looks and visibly different figures was a way to clearly indicate that the kids didn't already have this one. It also does lend to his science fiction aesthetic. While Hasbro has still held fairly close to the vintage design for Sci-Fi in the Classified Series, they've also borrowed liberally from the 30th Anniversary version of the figure who really upgraded the vintage design a good bit and toned down the neon green. Ready to check out Seymour "Sci-Fi" Fine? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Dragstor from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe: New Etheria from Mattel

 

   While I'm still finishing off some 2025 reviews here and there (and I'm getting ready for my annual "Best of" lists for the previous year), it's the beginning of February and I'm ready to check out some new stuff. Sometime in January I made a trip to a collectible shop that I absolutely love, Needless Toys and Collectibles in Lincolnton, NC, and grabbed the three newest Masterverse figures and a handful of older Masterverse figures that I missed in 2025. Despara was one of those three new figures and today I'm looking at another one: Dragstor! I haven't reviewed many Dragstor figures on here, partially because Dragstor isn't all that popular and there haven't been many toys of the character made. I did review the Masters of the Universe Classics Dragstor back when he was released and he was, I believe, the last non-variant character released to complete the vintage MOTU and Princess of Power rosters. This Masterverse Dragstor isn't a significant hallmark in any way though he is a darn cool figure. Probably my favorite of the latest series of releases. Sadly, it sounds like Masterverse is coming to an end by the end of this year as Mattel shifts their focus to Masters of the Universe Chronicles. Will that make the 2026 Masterverse releases more difficult to find? Will there be a Phantom Series/ Wave? Who knows? For now, let's enjoy Dragstor. Ready, set, go...

Wrapping Up 2025: Ralph "Steeler" Pulaski and Short-Fuze from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

It's been nearly a week since I last reviewed a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure and today I've got a two for one review for you: Ralph "Steeler" Pulaski and Short-Fuze. When they're doing a two-pack, don't you wish they would have just called Short-Fuze Eric "Short-Fuze" Freistadt instead? I think it would have definitely been nicer. I know why Hasbro has to use the real names on some figures but in a two pack why not just do it for both figures? Of course, I guess you can call them whatever you want when they're out of the package, right?  Steeler and Short-Fuze are two of the Original 13 G.I. Joe team members and just because of that fact alone the have a special place in most fans hearts. Overall, though, they're not the most memorable characters. Short-Fuze was known for being cool and calculating... until he wasn't. Yes, the guy had a bit of a temper. Steeler was a bit reckless, was the driver of the M.O.B.A.T., and did have a few small but important roles in various comics and cartoons over the years. If not for being part of the first series, it's doubtful either would be remembered as fondly. Still, I love the dynamic of the early team with a small, focused group of specialists. Hasbro is slowly completing the Original 13 and all we have left are Zap (coming soon in the Retro Series), Flash, and Grand Slam. Getting two of the original team at once is nice, although initially this set did put me off a bit as both figures felt rather bland unlike some of the other Original 13 members who got something of a nice update. Having them in hand, though, they're better than I originally thought, though not without their shortcomings. The set is a Target exclusive with a limited Hasbro Pulse release, and it's cheaper at Target. Heck, as of  publishing this Target has the set on sale online for $45 dollars, which is a pretty solid buy. Ready to check out Steeler and Short-Fuze? Then join me after the break...

(Note: This set does come with some accessories and effects that aren't clearly distributed to either character.)

Action Figure Review: Despara from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe New Etheria by Mattel

 

   While I still have a few 2025 reviews left for the coming weeks I do want to go ahead and start off some reviews for 2026. Usually January is pretty slow for new action figures but one of my local collectible shops received their stock of the latest Masterverse figures and I had to jump on them. I didn't review a ton of Masterverse figures last year though I did pick some up. I've actually got a few that I still plan to review, though, as I didn't find them until the end of the year, but I'm going to check out the newest series of three releases first: New Etheria and New Eternia versions of Despara, Keldor, and Dragstor. The trailer for the "finally, actually a real thing"  Masters of the Universe movie looks pretty impressive and just a day or two ago Mattel showed off the upcoming Masters of the Universe Chronicles figures at the Nuremburg, so there is a lot of excitement around the brand. I was excited to see Despara arrive in Masterverse as I'm a huge She-Ra fan (my kid is named Adora, after all) and Despara was a neat addition to the character's lore when she appeared in the DC MOTU series that was published between 2012 and 2016. She was a great addition to Masters of the Universe Classics, though the figure itself was a bit lacking. How does this one fair? It's definitely an interesting figure with some cool elements but it also it an example of how Mattel really is making the Masterverse figures as toys first and foremost, for both good and bad. Let's check out Despara after the break...