Action Figure Review: The Bride of Frankenstein from Toony Terrors by NECA

   During 2025's festivities, 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, I featured the Bride of Frankenstein for my Halloween review, though she didn't get as much attention throughout the month like most of the gents. The Bride is absolutely an A-Tier Universal Horror icon despite the fact that she appears in only one film for less than 4 minutes. Still, that four minutes has cemented Elsa Lanchester and the Bride in horror history. Today I'm checking out the first of the fairly new Universal Monsters Toony Terrors, featuring The Invisible Man, the Phantom of the Opera, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Bride of Frankenstein. Today is a bit of a sneak preview for this Halloween season and I was inspired to check out the Bride as I've watched the trailer for Warner-Bros. upcoming 2026 film The Bride! like 3 or 4 times today and I'm pretty excited for it. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs Jessie Buckley as the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster in a cross between Bride of Frankenstein and Bonnie and Clyde? That's a crazy choice and I'm ready for it. I'm always open for new takes on the classics. Let's check out a stylized version of the classic Bride tonight, though. Play here comes the bride and walk down the aisle after the break...

Action Figure Review: She-Hulk from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Fantastic Four by Hasbro

 

   Gosh, I've been a way for a couple of days, haven't I? I've been working on reviews for next month's 31 Days of Toy Terror, sure, but your old pal Barbecue has also been under the weather for a couple days and I'm just now finally feeling well enough to sit up and work on a review. How about we take a look at a fairly recent release from Hasbro's Fantastic Four themed Marvel Legends Retro Collection? Yes, it's She-Hulk clad in her Fantastic Four outfit. This is a pretty smart release on Hasbro's part for three reasons: 1. She-Hulk is popular and the majority of her action figures have sold quickly; 2. This is nice brand synergy with the recent release of the Fantastic Four movie as the character is connected to the team; and 3. She-Hulk joined the Fantastic Four at the end of Secret Wars, so this figure can kind of go along with the Secret Wars Retro Collection releases from earlier this year. I actually skipped the Iron Man Retro Collection version of She-Hulk (and now I wish I hadn't) but I do believe this figure is a repaint of that release with a new portrait, new accessories, and more hands. Ready to see if Jennifer Walters' latest release is worth laying down your hard earned green for? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Footloose from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   After reviewing four Cobra agents in a row (and M. Bison, who did show up as a villain in the vintage G.I. Joe line) it's time for a hero. A Real American Hero. Let's take a look at Footloose from the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. Part of the 1985 series of vintage G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero figures, Footloose is currently the second to last 1985 single carded character we need to finish that year in the Classified Series (we just need Airtight now). An infantry trooper, Footloose had a rather basic specialty compared to other Joes. I wonder what led to him being placed on the Joe team, anyway? Footloose had an interesting file card that portrays him as an Eagle Scout and valedictorian who drops out of college, moves to California, and "became quite weird for about three years." Eventually he reaches a point where he questions the meaning of his existence (or lack thereof) and joins the army. Interestingly, Larry Hama originally suggested that figure should have just been an update of Grunt rather than a new character, but Hasbro apparently disagree and we have a somewhat far out, though presumably competent soldier who once told a kid playing football "Nice catch blanco nino, but too bad your ass got saaaacked." And then he tackled the kid after he was down. Seriously, besides the figure and file card, this is the thing I remember most clearly about Footloose. Avoid a similar fate as that kid by joining me after the break...

Action Figure Review: M. Bison (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   A week or two ago I reviewed the Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive Dhalsim that was one of the two Jada Toys SDCC exclusives for the Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line and now I'm reviewing the other exclusive: The Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive M. Bison. This is the third version of Bison Jada has released in this line, after the original release and the BBTS exclusive Player 2 M. Bison, and they've all had different colored outfits. This new variant comes with a lot of new extras though, including new portraits for both himself and the original Bison figure, the Psycho Crusher effects, and the blue fiery figure representing when other World Warriors get hit by Bison's Psycho attacks. There's a lot of new stuff here and this is definitely a fully loaded set! Ready to check out another version of the big boss of Shadaloo? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cobra Viper (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I'm on a bit of a Cobra spree right now, aren't I? Today I'm checking out a retro take on one of the Cobra troops who has seen the most use and reuse in Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series: The Cobra Viper. The Cobra Viper first came out in the Classified Series in early 2021 in the Target exclusive Cobra Island subset. That was (and still is) an excellent figure and it's been the basis for a handful of variants over the past five years: The Cobra Viper Officer and Vipers set, the Python Patrol Cobra Viper, and the Crimson Viper. Now we have a Cobra Viper from the nostalgia infused Retro Series line and while you might initially just think this guy is a brighter repaint, it turns out he is almost completely different from the other Vipers. The 1986 Viper was one of my favorite figures as a kid and has always been a top G.I. Joe figure for me. While I usually prefer the designs of the modern, updated Classified Series to Retro releases, the Cobra Viper doesn't really feel much less modern than the Cobra Island Viper. Just different with more accessories. Yes, Hasbro could have just recolored the earlier figure, but they really increased the value of the figure this time as this guy has lots of nice extra including two rifles, six swappable hands, and a display stand. Let's check out a new (old) take on the Cobra Viper after the break...

Action Figure Review: Wild Weasel from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Wild Weasel Incoming! 

   Included with the base package of the Haslab Rattler, Wild Weasel is definitely a figure that I'm guessing most collectors wanted in their collection. His presence actually completes the 1984 Cobra lineup in the Classified Series, which is a pretty impressive feat! The vintage Wild Weasel also came with the Rattler, making him a popular figure, but the first thing I always think about when I think of Wild Weasel is his appearance in G.I. Joe #34 when he went against Ace in a dogfight. It's a good issue and a cool story that shows Wild Weasel as a highly competent enemy worth of some respect. This is the first version of Wild Weasel to come with a removable helmet, so we get a chance to become even a bit more attached to the character. Ready to take to the sky? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cobra Rattler Gunner from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   It's going to be tough to beat the Rattler pilot version of the Baroness that I just reviewed, but that doesn't mean the Cobra Rattler Gunner isn't still a pretty solid figure and a great addition to the Rattler setup. As I mentioned in the Baroness review, I'm not planning to review the Rattler itself but I do intend to review all three of the figures from the Haslab campaign. The Cobra Rattler Gunner was the second stretch goal (after a set of patches) and was unlocked once the Rattler hit 14,000 backers. There have been Cobra gunners before but I don't recall any specifically for aircraft, so this guy is a new concept for the line. Ready to check out the generic troop builder figure that you won't be able to get any way except with the massive Rattler? Then join me after the break...