Action Figure Review: Scare Glow from Masters of the Universe Chronicles by Mattel

 

   While there are some pretty exciting movies coming out this year, I don't think I'm anticipating any of them as much as Masters of the Universe. This movie has seemingly been in the works for nearly 20 years off and on and it's amazing that it's finally happening. And the trailers and such so far? They look good! Yes, like many others I'm not a fan of Jared Leto, but everything else about this film so far has me ecstatic and the hundreds of people (likely over a thousand) working on it seem to be delivering something special. I don't think any MOTU project could ever please all fans but I think this project seems on the right track. You'll probably hear me go on about the movie once it releases, though; for now, let's talk about the first release from the new Masters of the Universe Chronicles line: Scare Glow. If there's a figure that's guaranteed to get MOTU fans and collectors of cool action figures in general all up in a hot tizzy, it's Scare Glow. The guy is a legend just for looking incredible cool. While the MOTU Chronicles line seems to be largely supporting the movie this year, it hasn't been confirmed if Scare Glow will appear in the film or if this is just a new take on the character. Mattel Creations also just announced a King Grayskull for Chronicles who may just be a new take on the character rather than a movie based design, so it seems like Chronicles will be a larger banner for figures from different MOTU media, like Masterverse. I'm going to go in to this guy in more depth here since he's the inaugural release in the line, so get ready. He's a Walmart exclusive, something which usually freaks people out but he seems to be plentiful on store shelves as I've seen him multiple times at different Walmart locations in my area. Ready to check out the MOTU Chronicles Scare Glow? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Barbecue: Dracule Mihawk (Hawkeye) from S.H. Figuarts: One Piece by Bandai/ Tamashi Nations

 

   The second season of Netflix's live action One Piece dropped a few weeks ago and my wife and I are slowly making our way through it (if it were up to her, she'd have binged it in a day or two). I'm really enjoying it so far as it manages to be faithful to the series despite having to condense some aspects of the anime and manga. The showrunners also add some stuff, though, and one addition I really appreciate is showing the character of Dracule Mihawk as a constant presence in Zoro's mine through imagined interactions between the two characters. Mihawk is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the strongest swordsman alive, both a rival to Zoro but also somewhat of a mentor to him later on. I believe Dracule Mihawk (Hawkeye) is some sort of an exclusive to Bandai's online store, though I ordered mine through Nin-Nin Game back in January and he showed up in February. It seems like a good time to check him out! He's a cool character that just oozes coolness and I'm excited to have him on my shelf so Zoro has someone worthy to fight. Ready to check out the S.H. Figuarts Mihawk? Then join me after the break...

Figure Review: Nami (Egghead Style) from Glitter & Glamours: One Piece by Bandai Namco/ Banpresto

 

   Ready for another cool RossCon find? Just a couple weeks ago I was in a Ross and found the new Nami (Egghead Style) figure from Bandai Namco/ Banpresto's Glitter & Glamours: One Piece line. Bandai seems to have characters from multiple anime and manga properties in the Glitters & Glamours line, all women, and these figures are designed to be glamorous and eye-catching. They also seem to be a bit taller than most of the Banpresto releases; Nami herself comes in around 9 inches tall. I'm a fan of Nami and the SSG branded outfits for the Straw Hats in the Egghead arc, so finding this figure at Ross at a steep discount made her an instant buy. These usually run around $30 dollars each but I found mine for $20. Not a bad discount for a new figure. If you've ever collected the Kotobukiya Bishoujo figures, these remind me a lot of that line in terms of the scale and style. Ready to check out this new Nami? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Zatanna (DC Classic) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Last week I checked out the Platinum variant of the recent McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Zatanna, so today I'm checking out the standard version. I found the Platinum version first at a Walmart near me  and then found the standard version later in the day at a GameStop. If I had found both at once I likely would have only grabbed the standard version as I like the colors better and the more modern take on Zatanna, though both Zatanna and Detective Chimp have unique portraits between the two versions which can swap easily. Since this is a review of a variant (well, I technically reviewed the variant first), there's going to be a lot of reused text here as most of the sculpt and the accessories haven't changed. 

   Zatanna has been one of my most wanted figures from McFarlane Toys for a few years now. Besides members of the Batfamily and Batman's villains, I'm also a huge fan of DC's array of magical and supernatural heroes, so anyone who fits that bill or who has been a member of Justice League Dark is a character I've been waiting for. Zatanna is a key member of Justice League Dark, a prominent character in the DC Universe, one of the most powerful of mages on any Earth, and it also doesn't hurt that she's pretty easy on the eyes. The character selection on DC Multiverse has definitely improved over the past few years (though we are still getting an insane amount of Batman variants) and besides just getting Zatanna, a character who has had an action figure in multiple DC toylines over the years, we also have Detective Chimp, a character who has not had an action figure previously so far as I can recall. Zatanna and Bobo are part of the McFarlane Collector Edition subset of DC Multiverse, meaning they're a bit pricier than your average figure but come packed with a few more extras than normal. Ready to check out Zatanna and Detective Chimp? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Owl from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Spider-Man by Hasbro

 

   Before recently, I had no idea who Owl was. Usually I can at least recognize most Marvel and DC characters who get an action figure, but that is not the case with Owl. He's also apparently just Owl and not "the Owl," which is also something I find kind of weird. Anyway, here I am, sitting around typing up a review of Owl from the most recent Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Spider-Man series that showed up at the end of 2025. So, yes, Owl is a Spider-Man villain, although he apparently was a Daredevil villain first. I was actually surprised to learn that he appeared in the Netflix Daredevil series. I would think I would remember this guy, you know? It turns out that he was really just a regular guy in that series, going by his real name of Leland Owlsley and working as Kingpin's accountant. The comic Owl is also in finance, onetime being known as The Owl of Wall Street. After being caught up in corruption charges, Owlsley becomes a crime boss and a figure in the underworld. He can glide and hover a little bit, he has hollow bones, enhanced senses and strength, and he can turn his head 180 degrees. Crazy. I actually wasn't looking for Owl at all but when he came across my path for $7 bucks on a Target clearance sale, I decided he actually could make a cool member of the wierdo group of Cobra agents like Croc Master, Raptor, Crystal Ball, and so on. Ready to check out Owl?  Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Zatanna (DC Classic) [Platinum] from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

 "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; it's time for the Sorceress Supreme and the Mistress of Magic herself: Zatanna!" 

   Zatanna has been one of my most wanted figures from McFarlane Toys for quite a bit. Besides members of the Batfamily and Batman's villains, I'm also a huge fan of DC's array of magical and supernatural heroes, so anyone who fits that bill or who has been a member of Justice League Dark is someone I've been waiting for. Zatanna is a key member of Justice League Dark, a prominent character in the DC Universe, one of the most powerful of mages on any Earth, and it also doesn't hurt that she's pretty easy on the eyes. The character selection on DC Multiverse has definitely improved over the past few years (though we are still getting an insane amount of Batman variants) and besides just getting Zatanna, a character who has had an action figure in quite a few DC toylines over the years, we also get Detective Chimp, a character who hasn't had an action figure previously so far as I can recall. Zatanna and Bobo are part of the McFarlane Collector Edition subset of DC Multiverse, meaning they're a bit pricier than your average figure but come packed with a few more extras than normal. There are also two versions of the figure: A normal and a Platinum variant. Today I'm looking at the Platinum variant as it's the version I found first. I actually found this one at a Walmart near me last month (locked up in a glass case, so I had to get assistance to have the figure unlocked and had to purchase it at the electronics counter) and then found the standard version that evening at a GameStop. If I had found both at once I likely would have only grabbed the standard version as I like the colors better and the more modern take on Zatanna, but this more Silver Age take isn't a bad figure, either. In fact, you get different portraits for both figures that can swap easily. Ready to check out Zatanna and Detective Chimp? 

   ...kaerb eht retfa em nioj nehT 

Action Figure Review: Kyle Katarn from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   Without much new coming out from Disney over the past year or two, Hasbro has been having to go back to the OT, the ST, and the Legends canon/ Expanded Universe for inspiration. I'm A-OK with that as I've ended up with quite a few characters in the Black Series who I've wanted since the line started. Dash Rendar? We got him! Now I'm getting the chance to own another character who I've looked forward to in the Black Series for over a decade: Kyle Katarn! Kyle Katarn was originally the protagonist of the 1995 video game Star Wars: Dark Forces but quickly became an incredibly popular character in the Expanded Universe back in the days before it was relegated to "Legends" status. He starred in multiple video games, novels, and comic books and while Kyle hasn't made his return to the current official canon yet, he's still a prominent character for most of us who grew up during the height of the EU (Expanded Universe, not European Union). Star Wars: Dark Forces impressed me so much that it's one of the few PC games I've ever owned. I've always hated gaming on a PC but I wanted it so bad that I added it to my Christmas list when I was in 6th grade. From the beginning of that game, Kyle Katarn impressed me. I loved the idea of this guy who did the sneaky and off the books stuff for the Rebellion (a group who was already all about subterfuge and sabotage) and the game was incredibly fun and far more impressive than Doom on the SNES and Curse of the Catacombs, the only First Person Shooters I had played at that time. While this figure is based on Kyle's appearance in later projects, especially Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, it's still a figure of the original man who stole the Death Star plans (I will admit, though, that Rogue One is the far better story, however, and one of the best Star Wars films of them all). Ready to check out Kyle Katarn? Then join me after the break...