Action Figure Review: Multi-Bot from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 

   The Masters of the Universe movie is upon us! That's something that seemed like it would never happen, right? My local theater doesn't start showing it until Thursday evening but, from folks who have seen it who love MOTU, I've heard nothing but good things. I'm going to be checking out quite a bit of MOTU stuff this month but first up I'm checking out a new MOTU Origins release from 2026: Multi-Bot! If you asked to me to list all of the vintage MOTU figures with no assistance, there are two I'd likely forget: Multi-Bot and Evil Robot. Both of these guys just don't ever pop up in my memory. I never owned either as a kid (and I don't own vintage versions of either) and Evil Robot didn't even make it into MOTU Classics. Multi-Bot, did, though, and that's the only version of the character I won. That actually kind of made it exciting for me to snag the Origins version of Multi-Bot, the evil robot of a thousand bodies. Based on a Roger Sweet concept and a Ted Mayer design, Multi-Bot was part of the 1986 series and was incredibly similar to 1985's Modulok in build and packaging (both figures shipped in a box rather than on a blister card). The Origins version of Multi-Bot comes in a window box, kind of splitting the difference between the vintage packaging and the modern packaging. An exclusive to Amazon (with some stock allocated to Mattel Creations) Multi-Bot does get us a step closer to the completing the vintage line in the Origins style. Ready to check out the Multi-Bot? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Bullet-Proof from C.O.P.S. 'N Crooks by Big Bad Workshop/ Fresh Monkey Fiction

 

   I am incredibly excited to finally check out Bulletproof, the first release from Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's 1/12th scale C.O.P.S. 'n Crooks line. I love Hasbro's C.O.P.S. 'N Crooks line from 1988 and I collected it pretty actively as a kid. Heck, I still have most of my vintage figures, though I have sold off a couple figures and vehicles over the years. While C.O.P.S. 'N Crooks doesn't have the fanbase that many 1980s toylines have, there's still a group of fans who have long wanted Hasbro to revisit the property or incorporate some of the characters into a G.I. Joe toyline. Hasbro has licensed out the property to Fresh Monkey Fiction and they've worked with other companies to release M.U.S.C.L.E. inspired minifigures, 1/18th scaled figures (with Chicken Fried Toys), and now these 1/12th scale figures that will nicely fit in with the various Big Bad Workshop lines, Action Force, and the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. First up is Bullet-Proof (sometimes written as Bulletproof), the Federal Agent who came to Empire City to fight against Big Boss and now leads a special team of the country's best law enforcement specialists against Big Boss and his crime family. Bulletproof is definitely the first character I think of when I think of C.O.P.S. and he was a great choice for the inaugural figure in the line. This guy always seemed like the epitome of cool with his sunglasses and trench coat and I'm excited that Agent Baldwin "Bulletproof" Vess is now able to team up with my other 1/12 scaled action figures. This guy looks awesome working with the Joe team, Operation: Monster Force, and Action Force. Ready to check out Bulletproof? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Rafael "Zap" Melendez from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   It's usually pretty exciting when one of the Original 13 G.I. Joe figures gets made in the Classified Series as those 13 original characters definitely hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors and fans of the comic. I wasn't even born when the first series of A Real American Hero figures was released but I still love that team, particularly due to their excellent characterization by Larry Hama in the early years of the Marvel comics run. Overall, the Classified Series has done a great job of taking that original series of figures, many of whom seemed like they were initially just larger 1/18th scaled articulated versions of the classic little green army men, and turned them into unique modern figures while still maintaining a cohesive feel. It's been rally fun to see how the Original 13 have been updated and modernized while still keeping them recognizable. Unfortunately, Zap doesn't feel different and updated. Maybe it's because Rafael "Zap" Melendez has been released as part of the carded Retro series first rather than in the mainline but he feels like simply a larger version of the vintage figure or the 25th Anniversary version. Unfortunately, that makes him feel a bit generic for this line. He's not a bad figure by any means and I know there are some fans of the line who absolutely want 1/12th scale highly articulated versions of the vintage figures but I'm not usually in that camp. Zap definitely feels outdated to me. Even Short-Fuze, who Zap shares most of his body and belts with, had the modern helmet, updated colors, and a more modern rifle. Let's take a look a Zap after the break...

Action Figure Review: Crimson Guard [Female] (Retro Series) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I found two of newest series of Retro carded G.I. Joe: Classified Series on a store shelf a couple months back and then received the third in the mail directly from Hasbro Pulse. This series includes the female Crimson Guard, Zap, and Crazylegs. Let's start checking these out by taking a look at the female version of the Crimson Guard. The first Classified Series version of the Crimson Guard (based more on the vintage toy) and the Retro carded second version (based more on the comic and cartoon) both came out in 2022. I only have the standard Siegie and never grabbed the original Retro card release. I grabbed this version, though, as now we have a female member of the Crimson Guard. The Crimson Guards are elite operatives who spend most of their time in disguise as ordinary citizens with pre-fabricated families just living in America and finding ways to subtly push Cobra's agenda. Of course, they're also absolutely capable of engaging in warfare and that's what you get here. Ready to check out another addition to Cobra's most elite ranks? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Action Soldier (Special Forces) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Back in 2024 Hasbro released some action figures of "generic" soldiers in the Classified Series to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the original G.I. Joe. Since then they've released four soldiers (an Action Sailor, Action Marine, Action Pilot, and Action Soldier) along with a firefighter and a police officer. Today I'm checking out the newest figure in this subset, the Action Soldier (Special Forces), a new take on the Action Soldier who was previously released in a more desert themed camo pattern as the Action Soldier (Infantry). This definitely isn't just the same figure with a new paintjob, though; this guy has a lot of new parts, different portraits, and a very different feel. Some collectors are turned off by the higher price points on these figures (they're around $42 dollars each), though they do come with a nice assortment of accessories and two portraits, almost making them feel like a figure with an accessory kit. You could have a full figure to display and some leftovers to add some new parts to a couple of your named G.I. Joe characters. Is this guy worth it? Let's check out the Action Soldier (Special Forces) after the break...

Action Figure Review: Jedi Master Dooku from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   With the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu this week, I am well aware that I don't review many Star Wars: The Black Series figures these days. The main reason is that there just aren't that many releases that interest me. Please bring back some high quality Star Wars Micro Machines and playsets, Hasbro! Still, every now and then a figure comes around like Kyle Katarn or Dash Rendar that captures my attention. That's the case with today's figure, Jedi Master Dooku, a younger version of Count Dooku. I actually haven't watched the 2022 animated series Tales of the Jedi but I'm already sold on the concept of a younger version of Dooku prior to his leaving the Jedi order. I'm a huge Christopher Lee fan, too, so you could also argue use this as a base figure of Lord Summerisle from The Wicker Man or as Francisco Scarmanga. Or, y'know, just a heroic Jedi Master version of Dooku, like the package says. I stumbled upon this guy at GameStop a month or two ago and just picked him up because he looked so cool. Ready to check out Jedi Master Dooku? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cobra-La Royal Guard from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I don't believe I haven't reviewed a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure since last month! It's time to remedy that as I have a few more lined up for review, starting with today's Cobra-La Royal Guard. Cobra-La is definitely getting more respect these days with their inclusion in the Energon Universe comic books by Skybound and the excellent redesigns we're seeing in the Classified Series, which is a far cry from how they were perceived in the past. It feels like people used to hate Cobra-La. So far in the Classified Series we've received Nemesis Immortal/ Enforcer and Pythona, both individual characters, but with the Cobra-La Royal Guard we now have a troop builder for this faction. In the vintage line the Cobra-La Roya Guard came packaged in a 3-pack with Nemesis Enforcer and Golobulus but for the Classified Series the Royal Guard is packed individually, allowing for easier army building. Right? Well, yes, technically, but I do think it's wild how much stuff Hasbro included with this figure. If you have an extra body you could likely make two complete figures and have parts left over. I'm going to discuss this in more depth later on but I do want to point out that this feels like a single packaged figure with enough stuff for at least a two-pack. Ready to check out the Cobra-La Royal Guard? Then join me after the break...