Wrapping Up 2024: Rip Cord (Night Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   

   Here comes the third team member of the Haslab Dragonfly crew: Rip Cord in his Night Force gear. Rip Cord was the first tier/ stretch goal figure unlocked (at 13,000 orders) and, since he's decked out in his Night Force gear and was part of the 1984 series, we'll likely see a standard version (or Retro version) at some point in the near future. While Rip Cord isn't one of the A-list Joes like Snake Eyes, Duke, Roadblock, Scarlett, Flint, or Barbecue, he definitely has some recognizability due to appearing in one of the most popular years of the vintage line, appearing in the Sunbow animated series, having a pretty well remembered storyline (when he date Candy Appel, A.K.A. Bongo the Balloon Bear, and goes on a solo mission to rescue her from Cobra Island), and appearing in 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra where he was played by Marlon Wayans. Rip Cord / Wallace Weems is an interesting character as he has all of those accomplishments and appearances and yet he only received one vintage figure and seems to often be confused with other characters, or intentionally renamed. Also, sometimes his name is written as Ripcord with no space, while other times he's Rip Cord (with a space). Has Rip Cord received any action figures since the vintage line? 

   Yes, has. In 2003, as part of the G.I. Joe Vs. Cobra: Spy Troops, there was also a figure that was named HALO Jumper, Ripcord's MOS, with the file name Wallace Weems. The name was changed during the run, however, and the figure became Sgt. Airborne instead, now with Airborne's classic name of Franklin Talltree. Airborne wasn't a HALO Jumper but a helicopter assault trooper. In 2009 as part of the 25th Anniversary Collection,  Airborne was released in the Assault on Cobra Island set....just kidding, no he wasn't. It looked like Airborne but the figure was named Spc. Altitude and given the file card name Phillip Arndt, like the Sky Patrol Altitude figure with the file name of Freefall. Who the heck was this guy supposed to be anyway? That same year there were four Rip Cord figures released as part of the Rise of Cobra line, all called Wallace "Ripcord" Weems and based on Marlon Wayans' likeness. None were outfitted as paratroopers/ HALO Jumpers, though they were pretty cool, especially the one outfitted in full camo. Lastly there was a Ripcord figure in 2011 based on the short lived G.I. Joe: Renegades who did have paratrooper gear and favored the Marlon Wayans take on the character over any other previous versions. While he wasn't part of the vintage Night Force subset, a Night Force Rip Cord did come out as a 1/18th scaled figure with the Haslab Skystriker a couple years back (2022), which seems to be what this figure is based on. Why'd I spend all that time on this? I just find it interesting. Thanks for sticking around! Let's dive in to the main review after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Frankenstein from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   I picked up the entire series of the Universal Monsters Toony Terrors and I'm making my way through them, following up the Wolf Man with Frankenstein. Or Frankenstein's monster. Or just the Monster or the Creature. I received two of the Toony Terrors as Christmas gifts from my parents, Frankenstein and the Mummy, so it was a very Karloff Christmas at my house. Ready for an animated take on the classic First Monster of cinema? Then join me after the break...

Prepare for the Wolf Man: The Wolf Man from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   We're less than a week from the opening of the new film Wolf Man, a reimagining of the classic character. From everything I've seen (I've been trying to stay very spoiler free) we are definitely in for a different take on the story rather than a remake of the 1941 Lon Chaney Jr. film. I'm actually really excited for the movie and, to help find an outlet for that excitement, I'm reviewing a few different Wolf Man figures throughout January. While the Crypt Club 4-pack and this Toony Terrors version of the Wolf Man are new releases (though both from the very end of 2024), I've got some older stuff that will be showing up, too. NECA's Toony Terrors are a fun range of figures that I really cherry pick. I don't buy or like all of the characters or films they draw from, but I've found most of the ones I've picked up to be real winners. I received the Mummy and Frankenstein for Christmas but last weekend I was at a large mall that had an FYE and found Dracula and the Wolf Man. Let me tell you, I have no idea what FYE's business model is or what they're smoking but these guys were priced at $22.99. That's really high! Fortunately they were having a buy one, get one half off sale, so I ended up paying around retail price and had the opportunity to select from multiple figures for the best paintjob. They had a lot of figures in stock, but FYE was charging $40 bucks for a standard Star Wars: Black Series, Marvel Legends, or Jada Street Fighter figure. Insane. I'm not sure what their marketing strategy is as they have a massive clearance section of unsold figures, some cheaper and some more. Anyways, I just wanted to complain, even though it worked out to standard retail for the two Toony Terrors I received. Let's run with the Wolf Man after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Jane "Glenda" Mullighan from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   It's time for another figure from the Dragonfly crew and this time it's Jane "Glenda" Mullighan. Glenda is an interesting figure as she's another character based on a vintage international variant figure. Glenda was originally part of Plastirama's G.I. Joe: Comandos Heroicos from Argentina and was a repaint of Scarlett. Glenda was blonde instead of a redhead and sported a blue and white jumpsuit with a vac-metallized torso. She's similar to Quarrel, another international vintage repaint of Scarlett (who was part of Palitoys' Action Force line. Glenda is a really nice inclusion with the Dragonfly as she's always been a helicopter pilot. Hasbro didn't just repaint Scarlett here, either; Glenda has lots of unique gear, accessories, and a new portrait with three different hairpieces. She's an impressive figure! I do like these international variants, especially when Hasbro really puts time and effort into them. Glenda was the second stretch goal in the Dragonfly campaign (unlocked at 16,000 backers) and is the figure from the Dragonfly least likely to see a re-release. Ready to check out Glenda? Then join me after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: Wong & Bats and Doctor Strange from Marvel Legends Series: Doctor Strange by Hasbro

 

   As I'm wrapping up 2025 I'm going to be reviewing a few cool things that I received for Christmas from my family. My wife surprised me on Christmas Eve (everyone always gets to open two gifts each) with the Amazon exclusive Marvel Legends Series set of Wong, Bats, and Doctor Strange. While I haven't been buying much outside of X-Men and related mutant releases lately, I'm always still down for what seems to be the best of Hasbro's new stuff and this set was definitely on my radar. Probably on my Amazon wish list, too. :) Hasbro put out some excellent releases this year and this one really appealed to me. I love Doctor Strange and I've long wanted a comic accurate Wong figure. The movie version was a pretty good figure and I love Benedict Wong as Wong, but I tend to prefer the comic inspired versions best. It really is pretty wild that it's taken Wong over twenty years to get a Marvel Legends figure not from the films. He's a pretty prominent character. Also, I wasn't familiar with Bats until this release, but a ghost Basset Hound? I'm all for that. I've lost two of my boys over the years and I'd love them to accompany me as spectral sidekicks. A new comic Doctor Strange, the first ever comic Wong, and Bats the ghost dog? This set really sells itself! Let's check it out after the break...

Wrapping Up 2024: David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Night Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Since I'm wrapping up the figures from 2025 that I received over the past month or so, it's time to start looking at some more G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures. Today I'm very excited to be checking out one of the stretch goals from the HasLab Dragonfly (XH-1): David "Crazylegs" Thomas in his Night Force gear. While we're almost guaranteed to get a standard Crazylegs figure at some point soon wearing his classic red and grey outfit (likely just a repaint of this figure), I was really excited for this guy as I love Night Force (in the Classified Series it might be eclipsing Tiger Force for me) and Crazylegs is the only one of the four Dragonfly figures that I had as a kid. Well, I had the original, not the Night Force repaint. Still, I've always liked the figure. Back in the day you could even send crush a Crazylegs Valentine! Crazylegs hasn't had many figures over the years (just the two from the vintage line, a Pursuit of Cobra update in 2011, and a Night Force parachute drop convention figure in 2014). Maybe that's just because he's not the most popular guy or doesn't stand out that much, but it could also be because he was one of the Joes who was actually killed in the Marvel series. Crazylegs was killed by a Cobra Maggot alongside Breaker and Quick-Kick. Bummer. It's nice to know that all those guys are still alive in the Classified Series, though, as Crazylegs still has plenty of missions ahead of him. Let's check him out after the break...

Prepare for the Wolf Man: Crypt Club 4-Pack from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   

   Today I'm very excited to check out the Crypt Club 4-Pack of Universal Monsters from NECA! I preordered this set from NECA's online store back in September with the hope of reviewing it during 31 Days of Toy Terror. The release date changed a couple times; initially the release date was October 2024, then 1st quarter 2025, then it ended up at my door a few days before Christmas. It was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. I had hoped to get around to a few Nosferatu reviews in December, though I ended up with all Dracula reviews. Anyone seen Nosferatu yet? My wife and I went a couple days ago and I loved it. She wasn't all that into it but I thought it was incredible. If you're looking for an incredibly well-shot vampire movie that's bleak, oppressive, moody, and absolutely a well-acted gothic story with a vampire who is utterly irredeemable, this should be right up your alley. Now, for January, we've got Leigh Whannell's Wolf Man. It's a new Universal Studios take on the classic character and I'm cautiously optimistic even though I'm not expecting anything traditional. The original The Wolf Man (1941) is probably my top Universal Horror film, but I'm excited to see something different and new as well. Lon Chaney, Jr.'s Wolf Man (directed by George Waggner) will always be here and Benicio Del Toro's The Wolfman (2010, directed by Joe Johnston) is a pretty solid re-make film. I'm glad to have a story I don't know this time around.
   Now, about the Crypt Club 4-pack? These are a tribute to the Burger King Kid's Club toys from 1997. I don't have as much memory or nostalgia for those as some folks seem to, though I do think I had the Wolf Man. I've never been a huge fan of the BK Lounge, so we didn't eat there as much as some other places. Still, these are a fun tribute, if a rather off-beat one. NECA originally offered these last year and early this year as parts of four different crates through Loot Crate (which they purchased in 2019), but this set is more convenient, less expensive, and comes with a red coffin for Dracula. I'm sure some folks who purchased Loot Crates just for these figures might be a bit miffed, but they got their figures early and perhaps a bit cheaper, too. Ready to take a look at this set? Then join me after the break...