Wrapping Up 2024: Iron Grenadier from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   As you are likely aware, Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series was on the list of My Top Ten Toylines of 2024. In fact, it has been since the line began in 2020. Today I'm checking out the last of the 2024 release I have lined up to review: The Iron Grenadier. The Iron Grenadiers came into the line in 1988, so during the time I was the most heavily interested in G.I. Joe as a young child (for me it was 1986 to 1990). I had the Iron Grenadiers Destro (which was my first Destro figure), the Iron Grenadier trooper, and the Nullifer with the Anti-Gravity Pod, so the Iron Grenadiers were a small but formidable force in my collection. Over time, the look of the Iron Grenaders has morphed into a decidedly more "fascist" looking group with ties and fancy coats. They first sported this look in toy form in the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention set: The Oktober Guard: Operation Bear trap where the IG's reused the coat wearing body from the G.I. Joe: Resolute Destro figure. It's a great look and nicely separates them from Cobra's legions. Ready to take a look at the main troops of Destro's private army? Then join me after the break...

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

   Since February is when I present my annual awards for the best action figures and toys of the previous year, it's highly likely that you've just read  me gush about Jada Toys' Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line. Last year the line didn't make my Best Top 10 toylines, but it only had three figures released and I didn't find most of them until the very end of the year, though Chun-Li did make my Best of the Rest list, however. This year? Street Fighter II is definitely one of my top 10 toylines of 2024. Each release is a super high quality figure and Jada is absolutely impressing me every chance they get. Today we're checking out Col. William F. Guile, the guy who was definitely my favorite World Warrior as a kid. When I first discovered the Street Fighter 2 subset of Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline Guile was the first figure I wanted. Heck, I even had a Jean-Claude Van Damme based Guile from Hasbro's movie line. This guy really thrilled me when I opened him, though, as he's such a cool Guile figure and I was excited to pair him with Cammy as part of the squad to take down Bison! So, yes, I do absolutely revere the 1994 film. Why do you ask? Let's take a look at this tough American after the break...

My Top 10 Toylines of 2024

 

   Once again it's February, and that means it's time for my annual Best Of lists for the previous year. I see a lot of other collectors putting out their lists in December, and sometimes even November, but I usually like to give myself a month or so to find items released at the end of the year and give them their fair shake. I also try to really go through my list and make sure items I'm basing my picks on really did get released domestically in North America during the previous year. I have three lists that I do every year and you'll see one a week for the next three weeks or so. I'm starting off with my top honors, though: My Top 10 Toylines of 2024.

    

   Creating my "Top 10" lists is always one of my favorite things to do at Action Figure Barbecue and I always spend quite a bit of time pouring over my notes from the previous year to determine which toylines were my favorites to collect. This is the thirteenth year I've created a list (the earliest ones were posted at The Epic Review) and it's always interesting too see how my lists change from year to year, often reflecting my changing interests and collecting trends. Like is often the case, 2024's list had some long time favorites, some returning champions, and some new comers. 

   In 2024 I noticed what seemed to be a continuing trend of lots of toylines being marketed directly to collectors and being sold just online or through specialty vendors. I know it's been the case for quite a few years now but no longer is traditional retail required to have a successful toyline. Lines like Mythic Legions & Cosmic Legions, Action Force, Savage Crucible, LooseCollector's Coffin Comics, Animal Warriors of the Kingdom, anything from Boss Fight, or Chicken Fried Toys are impressive, robust lines, some going for a decade now, and the bigger retail giants have nothing on them.

  Going straight to collectors is the order of the day once again, even for Hasbro, Mattel, and NECA. They have continued to sell product at retail, sure, but also have lots of online exclusive products targeted to collector's base. Heck, NECA might even ship you product you didn't order! At regular retail, you'll find most product marketed to kids in the action figure aisle is based on videogames, probably even more than superheroes, Trasnformers, wrestling, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the now perennial Jurassic Park/ Jurassic World right now. Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Bendy, Pokemon, and something called Skibidi Toilet. Heck, Walmart even has classic Sega stuff, including toys from Altered Beast! Altered Beast at Walmart in 2024!

   Unlike last year where it seemed like lots of box office bombs led to lots of product sitting, getting clearanced out, and ending up at Ollie's and the like, this year toy companies seemed to be more conservative. As mentioned earlier, Hasbro was even conservative with Deadpool & Wolverine, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew. This year most toylines that collectors care about from the big players seemed to be produced in smaller numbers. It's been rare to see much new stuff hitting discount stores and liquidators in any significant numbers. 

   It's also been interesting seeing which smaller companies have made it into Walmart, Target, and the like. At my local Walmart and Target I can find figures from Super7, Nacelle, Trick 'r Treat Studios, NECA, Mego, others. It reminds me of the good ol' late 1990s and early 2000s where there was crazy stuff everywhere, though especially at places like Media Play.

      A number of years back I divided my Top 10 list into two separate categories: My Top 10 Toylines and My Top 10 Individual Releases. I always start with My Top 10 Toylines as it's my standard best of list. These are the 10 toylines (action figures, statues, minifigures, etc.) of the past year that I had the most fun collecting and enjoyed the most. They may not always be the best or the most expansive lines, but they're my favorites for one reason or another. As I reiterate every year, the two key word for this list are "my" and "favorite." My list isn't necessarily based on a toyline's true merits and I really don't go outside of what interests me. Take this as a snapshot of the ten toylines I had the most fun collecting in 2024. As always, these are listed alphabetically rather than by any order of merit. And now, for My Top 10 Toylines of 2024...

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...