Barbecue's Bonfire November 10th, 2025 Round 2! Use this one! It works!

Barbecue's Bonfire Live: November 10th, 2025 Last Week's Episode was a mess. Hope today's is better!- 8:30PM EST

Action Figure Review: Dash Rendar from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   This is actually my fourth review of a 2025 Star Wars: The Black Series release from Hasbro which is way more Star Wars: The Black Series reviews than I've done for a few years now. Why so many this year? Well, I've purchased six Black Series figures this year (I didn't review the updated A New Hope version of Han Solo or the larger R2-D2 on the ROTS card) as four were well needed updates of the original heroes and two are from Shadows of the Empire. That's the case for Dash Rendar here as he was one of the main protagonists for the 1996 multimedia project. I've been awfully bored of the Black Series lately as it feels like Hasbro just really doesn't know what to do with it, but I'm still really nostalgic for the Star Wars of the 1990s. Power of the Force II figures, the Expanded Universe, and Shadows of the Empire were all the rage at that time and I was the prime age for it. I loved my Dash Rendar figure from Kenner and I've been waiting for Hasbro to finally tackle him in the Black Series. How'd he turn out? Do you still need your Han Solo figures if this guy is around? Let's find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Riddler (Batman: Hush) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Lately I've been trying to start up a weekly livestream on Mondays at 8:30pm EST on YouTube as the latest iteration of my Barbecue's Bonfire posts that I used to post from time to time. Last Monday I tried to stream my second episode which involved me showing off some Jack o' Lanterns my family carved, talking about my dog Krypto, and doing a live review of the latest DC Multiverse version of the Riddler based on the 2003 Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee series Batman: Hush. About 25 minutes into the stream I think I cut out, though, so I did a live review of the Riddler and talked about the transition of the DC license from McFarlane to Mattel next year to myself. I blame my wife. I think that's when she started watching some One Piece and our internet just couldn't handle all the strain. Anyways, I had taken the pictures and I figure I should go ahead and also do a written review of the Riddler. I've been looking forward to this one as the designs of the characters from Hush are some of my favorites. When I think of the Batfamily and Batman's villains, their depiction in Hush is likely the first thing that comes to mind for me (stuff from the Knightfall era is probably second in most cases). Even with the story now being over 20 years old, I think the designs are still just very classic and definitive of an era of Batman comics. McFarlane has certainly visited Hush a few times now but there are plenty of characters from the series that could still be made. I still want a Hush version of Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Alfred Pennyworth before McFarlane Toys loses the license. For now, though, let's check out the Riddler, the man behind the Hush plan. Join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Vega from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   Now that Re-Halloween has come and gone I have a ton of non-spooky reviews to catch up on, one of which is Vega from Jada Toys' Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line. Vega (originally named Balrog in the Japanese version of the game) is one of the original four nonplayable "boss" characters and the only character to use a legitimate weapon from the Street Fighter 2 roster. A claw? Imagine showing up to a martial arts tournament where everyone else is using their fists and feet and you whip out a metal claw. Hey, Vega made it happen, so more power to him. With a mixture of Spanish bullfighting techniques and Japanese ninjutsu inspired fighting, Vega stands out even among the already colorful cast of Street Fighter. Vega is named after the star, Vega, which is part of the constellation Lyra and it's also the fifth brightest star in the night sky, so I guess the name works for a guy who stands out with his star power. With Vega's release we are now 3/4ths of the way through the Street Fighter II: The New Challengers main roster which is pretty incredible to me. While I feel like Jada Toys could be releasing these much more quickly, they're steady enough that I'm confident that we'll finish the line and move on to the Street Fighter Alpha 3 roster. Ready to challenge Vega? Then jump in the cage and join me after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Michael Myers (Halloween H20: Halloween Twenty Years Later) from Halloween by NECA

 

   It's Re-Halloween and it's time for Michael Myers to... well, not come home. How about make a trip out to California? Sure, let's go with that! Michael Myers travels to California in 1998's Halloween H20: Halloween 20 Years Later in a continued pursuit of his sister, Laurie Strode. NECA has really been on a roll over the past few years as they've now released modern figures of Michael Myers from Halloween II, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and all three of the 2018 trilogy films. Now they've tackled H20 and a Halloween: Resurrection version of Michael should start showing up any day now. If NECA gets around to the original film again along with Halloween 4, Halloween 5, and both of the Rob Zombie films they're have released a Michael Myers from every movie he's appeared in! (NECA did release figures from the original film but it was back in their Cult Classic days, so they're not well articulated.) H20 Came out when I was a freshman in high school and I caught in when it was released on VHS at a friend's house. Thinking back, it was probably the second or third of the Halloween films I saw as a friend and I watched the original quite frequently and I'm pretty sure we rented Halloween II at some point. I watched the movie again this week and I don't think my feelings on it have changed much over the years. There's a lot to like about the movie (Jamie Lee Curtis, good cinematography and some especially cool shots, a good story that does capture elements of the original film, solid cast) and a lot that still disappoints me (not sold on the overall look of Michael Myers, there's not a lot of fall or Halloween ambience in the film). Ultimately, it's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the movies in terms of my ranking of them. Still, am I going to turn down a new Michael Myers figure? Nope. Let's check this one out after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Michael Myers Candy Case from Universal Candy Cases by CandyRific

 

   You know who didn't make an appearance during 31 Days of Toy Terror this year? Michael Myers! We've got to fix that so for both today and tomorrow expect the Shape to be at the front and center! Today I'm checking out a Michael Myers Candy Case from CandyRific. I remember back as a kid when you could find candy in some elaborate containers that were far more enjoyable than the candy itself. Some of my favorites were a Slimer candy container that I used with my Real Ghostbusters figures, a plastic Batmobile from the 1989 movie, a Sonic the Hedgehog figure with moveable arms, a Snoopy driving a green car, and one of those bubble gum beepers which I covered with stickers and carried my Spin Fighters around in. Want candy or a toy? Why not both? My mom found this somewhere and gave it to me as an early Halloween treat which makes it even more special. I have to admit that I feel pretty blessed to be in my early 40s and still have a mom who will by me Michael Myers themed items when she sees them. Thanks, mom! Anyway, this guy is sold loose like this with a cardboard tag attached to his head which also seals the candy compartment. I believe he's sold in a tray alongside a Chucky Candy Case with four of each character or in a special boxed two-pack of both characters. Since Universal distributed the film, they have the rights to Halloween 2 which is why you see so much merchandise from it. That's also why the merchandise usually goes out of its way to note that it's from Halloween 2. Did you not get enough candy on Halloween and need both some more sugar and another Michael Myers collectible? Then join me after the break...