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

 

   
   If you talk to some fans of G.I. Joe, especially folks who just jumped back in to collect the Classified Series, you'll often find that many really only collected the first few years of the A Real America Hero line. The A Real American Hero brand of G.I. Joe has been around for about 43 years now and, from 1982 through 2018, 1/18th scaled figures were released in every calendar year except for 1995, 1996, and 1999 (though other Joe product was available). There's also been an ever present cycle where the line tried to reintroduce characters and previous concepts and then goes and steps the brand forward. In 1991, G.I. Joe really began to push new takes on the most popular characters including Snake Eyes, who we're checking out today. This version is based on the 1991 "version 4" figure that changed Snake Eyes' traditionally all black look for a lot more grey and blue. I never had this version of Snake Eyes as a kid in the 1/18th scaled line though I did have the 1992 12-inch "Hall of Fame" figure of Snake Eyes in this outfit. This looks for Snake Eyes was used on most G.I. Joe licensing art and merchandise throughout the early 90s including video games and the DIC animated series. While we haven't received a figure based on Snake Eyes v3 yet (which was my Snake Eyes), this look is pretty unique and I was excited to get it in hand. How is he? A bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately, though mostly that has to do with accessories. Ready to check out the Classified Series take on the 1991 Snake Eyes? Then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Gollum the Fisherman from Middle Earth Toys by Toy Vault

   Toy Vault's Middle Earth Toys line only ran from 1998 through 2000 and while they didn't get to many characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, they did release toys in multiple sizes. The line had some pretty good internal scaling and Toy Vault's takes on Gollum (and Smeagol) were suitably smaller than most other figures in the line. They also capture a very creepy depiction of Gollum! Toy Vault released four different versions of Gollum (or Smeagol) and while this one, Gollum the Fisherman, has a quote from The Two Towers on the package, it always makes me think of Gollum when Bilbo meets him in The Hobbit. Toy Vault only had the rights for The Lord of the Rings and not The Hobbit, though, but apparently they didn't realize that at first, so some lineups had to be changed. This past year I was able to accomplish one of the things I've most looked forward to which was reading the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to my daughter and then watching the films with her, so now the series is even more special to me. It's a shame that Toy Vault never had the chance to really go far with this line as it was just a wonderfully unusual collection that emerged during the time when companies were realizing that collectors could support toylines and the direct market was becoming a legitimate means of distribution. Ready for a look at Gollum the Fisherman? Then keep a sharp look out, hold on to your precious, and join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Deadpool as Jacob Marley #1494 from POP! Plus by Funko

 

   

   Ready for a touch of Christmas leading up to Halloween? Then I've got you covered! Today I'm really excited to show off a very unusual Funko POP! that I found near the end of August at GameStop: Deadpool as Jacob Marley! Listen, I like Deadpool as much as the next guy, but I'm pretty sure this is the first Deadpool POP! vinyl that I've purchased. Now Jacob Marley? I've mentioned here before that A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite stories. I try to read Charles Dickens' book once every other year and I watch multiple film versions of it every year. I've also been able to amass a nice collection of action figures and toys based on the Christmas classic and Jacob Marley is my absolute favorite. So Deadpool as Jacob Marley? I'm down for it. A figure as Dead(pool) as a doornail? Sign me up! This is a weird, wacky figure and I'm completely ok with giving it a slot during spooky season. At just a bit over 4 inches, I think it fits our theme as well. Join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: John Nada (They Live) from Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights by CultureFly

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and review minifigures, and I'm all out of bubblegum."

   It's time for not just another minifigure from Culturefly's Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights but another from John Carpenter's 1988 classic They Live as well: John Nada. Originally intended as a role for frequent Carpenter collaborator Kurt Russell, Russell's unavailability led to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper being cast in the role as the man who exposes an alien invasion to the world. I'm really glad that CultureFly picked They Live as one of the movies this series delivers characters from as it's one of my favorites and their isn't a ton of merchandise from the film. Ready to check out a miniature Nada to protect your desk? Then join me after the break...

Attack of the 11 and a 1/2 inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Purple Skeleton Bear from Wild Knots by Kong

 

    We never leave out our four legged friends! Our dog, Zoey, has volunteered to write special reviews for the last two years of 31 Days of Toy Terror and she enjoyed all of the kind remarks and praise she got. Zoey absolutely loves her stuffed toys and she carries them all around the house. She carries them, licks them, chews them a bit (though she is rather gentle), throws them around, and uses them like pillows. I once again again bribed her into writing another review by buying her a new Kong Wild Knots bear, which is her favorite type of you. She has seven or eight of these bears in different colors and they really do seem to be her preferred toys. Ready to read a (dog) toy review written by Zoey, our 7-year old Kelpie/ terrier rescue dog? Then read on!

[Editor's Note: Zoey is a very, very good dog, but she has never been the best speller. She also doesn't always use the correct words. While we've tried to work with her on this for the 5+ years we've had her, it seems that Zoey will forever talk the way she talks. 

   Hi. This Zoey. I dog. And I back again because it Howlween. How I know? I know because Krimstin and Girl start putting up fake punkins. Everywhere. Lots of punkins and other things that they tell me are decrations and not snacks or toys. Barbcue seem to think it Howlween all year long. He always wear punkin on head and sit round eating treats and watching movies he say scary. They not scary. Mailbox scary. Cars driving by scary. People other than family, Gram-Gram and Pap-Pap, and Girl's loud friend scary. But movies not scary. Bears not scary, either. They friends. And snacks. Mostly snacks. Bear is my favorite animal. I love bears. Barbecue tell me my dog food made from bear, but I think he make it up. Last month Barbcue sent picture of new purple Howlween to Krimstin and say he find at store. Krimstin say "Zoey spoiled. She have too many toys. She not need more bear." 

   

   But I get on phone and say "Want want. Please give. Thamks. I polite and cute and Barbcue spoil me. He bring home purple bear that look like skelton. He say it spooky, but it not look like mailbox or plastic bag blowing across yard. I think it look yummy. Snack! He hold it up and ask me if I want it. I say "Want want. Please give! Give! Want!" he throw it to me. It amazing! I call this purple bear Bone Bear. While I chewing, Barbcue say I have to write review. I think Bear was bribe. It OK. I telligent and litrate. I write review. Hit button to read more, pleeze. Thamks...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Phantom of the Opera from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   I'm really glad that Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera still gets lumped in with the classic Universal Monsters. He's from the silent era, so he predates the classic Universal Horror period of 1931 to 1960, and the film is in the public domain. Still, I think he belongs as he's one of Lon Chaney's strongest creations and he just feels right at home next to the other classics. I like him better than Claude Rain's Phantom from 1943 and I'm glad NECA picked him for the second series of Toony Terrors focused on the Universal Monsters. I'm excited to review the Phanton as he is one of my favorites. So... let's address this figure's height: He's 5 1/2 inches tall. Yes, this year's theme is The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror, so wouldn't you expect a shorter figure? I originally wanted to just do minifigures and shorter stuff, but I really want to work these guys in. Besides, these are shorter than your standard horror action figures, right? Yeah, of course. Let's go ahead and count the Phantom! Join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Mummy's Tomb from Universal Studios Monsters by Jack in the Box

   Just this past weekend I reviewed the Mummy from the 1999 Jack in the Box "Universal Studios Monsters" promotion and I mentioned that there were actually two sets Jack in the Box Universal Monsters toys included with the kids meals from different years. Today I'm going to check out the Mummy again, but this time it's from the 2002 promotion where it was billed as "The Mummy's Tomb." Now, The Mummy's Tomb is the title of the 1942 film in he Kharis series, but I don't think this figure is really connected to that film. I did hint that I was going to check out something from this second Jack in the Box Universal Monsters promotion in a previous review, so, how about that? I try to always do what I say I'm going to do! This second set seems to be much more uncommon, perhaps even selling out fairly fast and causing many folks heading to Jack in the Box for Monster Tacos and curly fries to come up as empty as Dracula's coffin on a cold, October night. I actually remember being in a Jack in the Box where a friend of mine worked during this promotion and seeing at least one angry customer who was at the drive-thru come inside the store because their didn't get a "monster" with their order. This lady was really aggravated and was threatening to call the police for fraud since the store was advertising the product. She kept demanding that my friend come out from behind the counter and pull down the big cardboard standup or whatever that showed off the toys that were available since it was false advertising. 

   I get aggravated when restaurants don't seem to have availability or any knowledge of their own promotions, too, but this lady was taking it way too far! Anyways, I never expected that 23 years later I'd be writing about those Universal Monsters toys on my own website. While the 1999 promotion accompanied a rerelease of the films on home media, a Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights themed attraction, and the release of the remake of The Mummy, I don't think much happened with classic Universal Horror in 2002 except for a showing of many of the films on AMC's 7-day MonsterFest event. I guess that just shows there's never any event needed to celebrate the Universal Monsters! Let's look at the 2002 fast food offering of the Mummy after the break...