Like I've said before, sometimes for Retro Toy Week we check out figures that have aged well and still hold up today. And other times, well, we don't. Like today's figure! From 1996, Toy Biz's Captain America!
I swear, this was a high-end figure back in the day, a real step up in sculpt and scale. It probably wasn't a patch on McFarlane's sculptors of the same time, and I think Cap is actually a bit bigger than originally intended because of a panograph error. (I want to say that's via ToyFare, or perhaps Wizard.) Which probably explains why his shield is too small, even with the spark-action feature. (I think that whole wave of Spider-Man figures had such.)
Mine is a bit dusty, and the right elbow is a bit too loose to support that shield. (Nine points of articulation: neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees.) The paint isn't that bad, although the boot-tops are a little off.
I do still kinda like Cap's facial expression: he just seems pissed, and ToyFare had a couple of shorts with him yelling, usually at Thor. He also came with a jetpack/skycycle thing, which we saw four years ago in the strip "America in Flight." And after the break: the Third Annual Retro Toy Week 20 Seconds of YouTube! Check out Cap's shield-spark!
For a figure from 2000, Raziel has a fair amount of useful articulation, even if a lot of it is done with simple cut joints: 2 mid-bicep points, 2 elbows, 2 wrists, the right thumb, 2 hips and 2 mid-thigh. Then, the neck, shoulders and ankles are balls, and the knees straight-hinges. Some of the cuts are a little stiff, but would probably loosen up with a bit of work. Raziel's neck articulation doesn't come into play until you remove the shawl/face covering he wears; and he also has two non-removable soft rubber, membraneous wings. The latter are holding up pretty well for a figure over a decade old.
I didn't have them handy, but I'm pretty sure I still have his accessories, a torch and a spear weapon. The left hand has a hole to peg the spear into, while the cut right thumb joint helps him hold the torch.
If I haven't played the game, why did I buy this figure? Well, I was working at a store where I got a discount; and if my admittedly spotty memory serves, I'm pretty sure I got Raziel for under five bucks. That, and he looks like Nightcrawler's undead corpse: Still a pretty solid figure, wheather you know him or not; but NECA put out their own version pretty recently, so you could probably find a Raziel on the pegs with a little searching. Is the NECA one better than Blue Box's, is the question...
Even though I enjoyed the first couple Resident Evil movies, I've never played any of the games. It's not that I've been avoiding them, but they haven't fallen into my lap, either. I have only a nodding acquaintance with the mythology of either version; the T-virus, the Umbrella Corporation, lickers, and whatnot. Ditto the characters--I know a couple of the zombies came with Claire or Hunk or whoever, but they're in a different bin. (No, they weren't; I just wasn't interested in them.)
The bald zombie that came with Hunk reminds me of the cover of the original Dawn of the Dead, and since he came with a crow, I do believe that's an intentional homage. He may be a tough one to dig up now. The link is to eBay since I didn't find one of him on Amazon, and even with Hunk (the gasmasked fellow) and accessories he's a bit spendy. In that vein, if you look for the cop zombie, be sure he has the little top-of-his-head, cap/brain piece: press his guts, and he explodes into three parts!
But for figures from 1998-99, the Resident Evil zombies hold up great on the sculpt and paint fronts. There's a lot of exposed bone, tendons, and blood; as well as nice detail work on the lab zombies' little ID badges or the bald zombie's plaid shirt. However, they haven't aged as well in scale or articulation: they're too big to go with 3 3/4 inch figures like Star Wars or G.I. Joe, and too small for the six-inch(ish) scale of Marvel Legends or DCUC...
The zombies did turn up a couple times here, even though yeah, they're woefully out of scale. NECA has had the Resident Evil license in recent years, and I don't think they're the only one, either. So, there are more options out there for your videogame zombie needs, but I think a lot of them will be slightly bigger than six-inch scale!
You know I wouldn't let a Retro Toy Week go by without a Nightcrawler figure: this time, we're going about as far back as we can...sort of.
This 1990 PVC isn't the oldest in my collection of Nightcrawler items: the lead figure from TSR predates it by six years. But it may have taken me the longest to get: I was a senior in high school in '90, and the nearest comic shop was about 80 miles away. 'Course, in Montana, that's usually 'bout an hour's drive. These PVC's had shown up in ads in comics of the time: I believe this was the second series of them.
So, one relatively fine day, my friends and I made the drive to get McDonald's and comic books...and Nightcrawler was already sold out by the time I got there. Apparently there was two per case or box or whatever, and they went immediately. Although I'm pretty sure my friends were less than sympathetic, I was crushed. I bought an Iron Man PVC, a feeble second-best. And I went back to that comic store many times, and others; and other PVC's were produced in staggering numbers, but I never saw a Nightcrawler one. Not once.
Years later...and I have to admit, I am completely unsure how long. I think eight years, but for some reason thought fifteen, and I know that's wrong. Anyway, that missing PVC was one of, if not the first thing I ever bought on eBay. He's not articulated. The balance on his three-point stance is a little iffy. The paint is slightly better than you could do yourself; ditto the sculpt.
Here's a retro toy that's not a proper action figure, but is definitely retro: it may be older than some of you reading this! From Kenner and 1980, Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back Diecast Twin-Pod Cloud Car!
I had a ton of Star Wars figures and vehicles through Empire, being "too old" to keep getting them when Return came out. I know I had a Cloud Car and pilot, but while I still have my figures, I don't know where my ships or Death Star went. (It's not a huge hole in my soul--just a dent.) But I still have this one, although I have no recollection when or how I got it--it must have been a gift, but I wish I remembered from who.
It might not top a lot of wish lists, but I appreciated the Cloud Car: in my imagination, it reminds me of WWI observation planes, not an air-superiority fighter. Against TIE Fighters, a Cloud Car Pilot would have to be his best, and damn lucky...Plus, for my little kid hands, this was about the perfect size to mimic one of those double-blasters from the Black Hole.
The Cloud Car is almost entirely orange--it's the hunters' safety vest of Star Wars ships. There is a little paint on the pilots, and I want to say their helmets are a different shade of redder-orange. The canopies do not open, but the landing gear does extend.
A quick search found a little history: the Cloud Car was Series 3, with the admittedly cooler Snowspeeder and Slave I. And the Cloud Car isn't displayed as prominently in my collection as the Series 2 Diecast Millennium Falcon, which is face-rockingly super-cool and I'm seriously considering being buried with it. The Cloud Car, is merely neat.
He's mostly cut-joints, and came with several accessories he couldn't hold. But that didn't mean he wasn't a decent figure for his time: from 1997, Playmates Borg action figure. Well, the full listing would be the Borg action figure from Star Trek: the Next Generation "1998 Warp Factor Series 1 Deluxe Action Figure with Spring-Firing Borg Arm."
Wait, didn't I just say 1997? Yes, because a good chunk of this figure was used the year before for a Borg in the Star Trek: First Contact line. That one had a cybernetic claw and a pasty human hand; while this one has a spring-loaded phaser hand and an opening clamp. (Did the Borg have phasers, or disruptors, or something else? I'd have to look it up sometime...)
There are five tubes coming into and out of him, along with two molded ones in the gun arm. The articulation, like I say for most of these figures, is of its time; but you don't need a hyper-poseable Borg figure. You need more Borg.
Like zombies, the Borg don't look right by themselves: you ought to have at least three on the shelf. I know I have one of the First Contact Borg somewhere; along with one of the higher end Art Asylum ones from a few years later. These Borg are taller than most of the Playmates Trek figures: they're labeled as six-inch (really?) while most of their line was 4.5. I used them in a strip a long time back.
From 1997, Toy Biz's Smash and Crash Leader. Huh, looks like he came with a little robot drone. Wonder what happened to it?
The 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon wasn't great, but got several action figures. The Leader would get a couple, including a Leader-Hulk one that I can't remember if it was a Hulk turned into the Leader or vice versa. I think Todd McFarlane is actually behind this redesign of the character, with Peter David on or around Incredible Hulk #342. The uniform anyway; although, Todd drew Leader with less of an elongated skull than a big brain pouring out the top of his head.
Articulation is sparse--shoulders and hips--but the Leader isn't the most active character anyway. It would be nice if he had a weapon-holding hand, though; so he could try to take a potshot at the Hulk: both his hands are open. He does have an action figure, though: his skull and face are transparent-green, and on his back is a hard plastic button that pumps blood to his melon! Sadly, the 'blood' in mine is old and dry; and I'm not quite curious enough to try and pop him open to refill it with anything.
I know there have been Marvel Legends Leaders, but I never got around to getting one.
The temptation was to keep this post until 2013, but here's the fourth and final of Toy Biz's Mutant X figures. Still had it on a shelf, as a matter of fact; although on closer inspection I'm not sure why. Possibly because it may have been Havok's only figure for a number of years, or at least the only one I had. (There was one in his X-Factor jacket in the X-Men 90's line, wasn't there?)
Havok's head seems...thick, here. I almost prefer the classic headgear, like he has in his Marvel Legends figure. In the pictures, his eyes seem really cross-eyed; but I'm not sure I noticed before.
I know I watched Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, and I know the Deathscythe pilot was supposed to be the deadliest, but I'm going to be completely vague on the details since I don't think the show has aged especially well in my memory. I also think Gundam Wing was aiming for nuanced and dark and ended squarely in emo, before that was even the term. That's doubtless not a fair assessment for a kids' show designed to sell several tons of action figures and models; because by that metric, mission accomplished.
OK, the figure; and you'll excuse me if I forget if it's the Gundam Deathscythe proper or the Deathscythe Hell Custom upsell upgrade: there's not a lot of paint, since most of the pieces are cast in the appropriate colors. There's a goodly amount of articulation, including the wings of the big, Batman-like cape or whatever; but a lot of it is blocked by the design, which technically would be referred to as a "hot mess." Take your basic Gundam chassis, then add Wicked Witch of the West pointy shoes, huge grey pointy bits that go on top of the shoulder and knee pads, wrist guards and skirt piece, including a codpiece that appears to be at half-mast, giant cape with additional pointy bits, and the traditional Gundam head with big V-crest. (There may be some warping on mine from the position he was in on my desk, namely wedged between it and the wall.) Deathscythe makes the Big O look positively streamlined...he also comes with his "beam scythe," which he holds fine, but it's problematic to get him in a good two-handed grip-slash-action pose.
So, Deathscythe Hell might be trying a little too hard to be "extreme." Especially for the show it was on: if you're going to call that thing "Deathscythe Hell," own it. Go full-on death metal with it. But the figure is a fun reminder of when anime was still on Cartoon Network. Maybe that cycle will spin around again someday...
From ReAction Toys and 2000 AD, Strontium Dog! I've been doing a bit of searching, but I'm still not positive what year these came out in America. Best I can figure, 1999? Strontium Dog is a British creation, and although there's been more than a few reprints here in the states, he's not exactly a household name.
This figure predates many artist-specific figures, but bears a strong likeness to Johnny Alpha's co-creator Carlos Ezquerra's art. The color scheme is predominantly green with yellow and orange-brown elements; which should help him stand out in a crowded shelf. He comes with two guns, that probably have proper names but I don't recall them.
Johnny also comes with a beam polarizer and electronux (taser-like brass knuckles) and his armor and helmet are removeable, as are the shin and forearm guards. The helmet splits in two down the middle, which is a little unsightly, but helps keep the helmet and his head the right scale. (Sometimes, a figure can end up with a pinhead, or a bobblehead-looking helmet.)
I have to wonder how these did for Re:Action, in America anyway. I'm pretty sure I got Strontium Dog, and possibly most of the rest of their 2000 AD line, for $3.33 a piece at the late, lamented KB Toys. He's a good figure that has aged pretty well; but the character still isn't widely known stateside. In fact, he's had a bit of down time in his native Britain as well: Johnny was killed off, a move that apparently is widely regarded as a mistake. He may be on his way back, which I'd be glad to see. Read more!
File this under "Good Idea, Bad Idea": I wasn't sure if I had taken a look at any old McFarlane toys this year. Then I remembered I had just seen in one of my bins, the Kaneda figure from Akira; and that would tie into last year's look at his motorcycle. (Both were from 2000.)
Then Blogger (which has recently updated it's posting layout and possibly some other nuts-and-bolts nonsense) has been really squirrelly on the picture-loading front. And it didn't help that the first pictures I took came out terrible. Fine, but after all that I really don't like this figure anyway.
Kaneda looks nice: he does have a bit of a mouthbreather look, that actually probably goes with the character. The sculpt and the paint are both well-done: McFarlane called this line "3D Animation from Japan" or such, and it shows. But even with ten points of articulation, almost none of it is useful: neck, waist, shoulders, wrists, mid-thigh and boot-top; all simple swivels. Kaneda also comes with goggles, which I couldn't get to sit properly, and the laser-rifle and powerpack. The rifle and pack are connected by a thin plastic hose, which is fine; but aren't removeable (hmm, maybe you could get the pack off, maybe, if you really wanted.) or adjustable. You can just get the rifle in Kaneda's hand, but he can't even raise it to point it at anything.
Worst of all, like we mentioned back when we looked at his bike, the carded version of Kaneda can't sit on said bike. Like, at all, in the slightest. And frankly, he can't do anything else, either. If you're looking for a Kaneda to sit on your desk and stare slackjawed at you, he's great (again, the slackjaw isn't a dealbreaker, the character wasn't exactly a rocket scientist) but if you want him to do anything else, you're out of luck. McFarlane was well on his way out of the "action figure" business then, and would make increasingly less articulated pieces for the next few years--maybe until he got the Halo license? I don't know, I'm not a fan, but it seems like that's doing all right for him.
I must've spelled KenadaKanada Kaneda wrong forty times on this post.
This is our third annual Retro Toy Week, and we're hitting our third of the four Mutant X figures, Bloodstorm. We've already seen the Fallen and the Goblin Queen, maybe we'll get to Havok next year...
X-Men Annual #6 was one of the first X-Men comics I ever read, and it actually ties into this figure a bit. In the regular Marvel universe, Dracula went after Storm; in the Mutant X world, he succeeded in turning her into a vampire. Taking the name Bloodstorm, she would go on to turn Kitty into a vampire, and keep Forge as her feedbag. While Bloodstorm is a bit bare-bones as a figure, she does have her huge mohawk ponytail as a plugged piece in the back of her head; and her leather jacket. I know some collectors don't care for soft-goods pieces on figures of this scale, but I think it's not bad. It's not like she had a lot of articulation to be hindered by the jacket anyway, and it's fitted well. Oh, we'll see... Read more!
Retro Toy Week hit at a weird time for me this year: at work, I'm moving desks, from the happy little cube I've had for upwards of six years. Which means boxing up the myriad little figures on my desk: happy meal toys, Minimates, Transformer and giant robot PVC's, Lego mini-figures, gashapon and capsule toys, and more. It's going to take me a minute...
But, it's the perfect opportunity to take some pictures of an old favorite that's been on my desk for some time: from 2001, Bandai's Big O! Showtime!
If you aren't familiar with The Big O anime series; well, it's awesome, but I'm hesitant to recommend it. It takes elements of Batman: the Animated Series, film noir, the movies Blade Runner and Dark City, and throws in a giant robot. Granted, everything is better with a giant robot. I'd read Fifty Shades of Grey if it had giant robots in it.
The downside of The Big O is that it's not for everyone, some may find it derivative (I don't) and the last episode doesn't give a lot of closure. But, again, it's awesome. And so is this figure of the titular giant robot!
Big O has an unusual, art deco-ish design: a lot of rivets, odd proportions, curves, and points. He's not an agile or quick robot; more of a bruiser. The Popeye-like forearms contain piledrivers, which in-show deliver quite a punch. The figure is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles; for a total of 13 points. Some of the articulation is limited, not by the sculpt as much as by the design, but it suits him. There are also interchangeable hands, which I might have to look for...he can choose rock or paper, but not scissors.
In addition, the figure came with two smaller PVC's of Roger the Negotiator and Dorothy the Android: neat, but I don't keep them on display with Big O. This was a great, reasonably priced set...back when it came out. Now, oof, good luck finding one. (For reference, here's a link to Bandai's second series bad robot Big Duo, which I think I have somewhere...hey, there it is!) It's All True has a great review of the slightly more recent Soul of Chogokin Big O, which is a little bigger and more elaborate figure but also more expensive.
After the break, the Queen-inspired Big O opening!
Long before he got a black-and-white uniform with the Fantastic Four, but well after the symbiote suit; Spider-Man had another monochromatic costume: from 1997 and Toy Biz, Web Catcher Spider-Man variant. Looking it up on Amazon, I had forgotten the 'web catcher' accessory entirely. I have a vague idea that I've read the issues this figure is referring to--I thought it was on or about Spider-Man #90, but that was '98, and the figure is marked 1997! Maybe the sculpt was reused later, with the black-and-white color scheme? Maybe I've got the issue wrong? My research has hit a wall (meaning I got distracted by something else) so let me know if you know. Anyway, somewhere in there Spidey comes back from the Negative Zone with the color bleached out of his costume...somehow. I know the same sort of thing altered the colors of the Fantastic Four's uniforms, sometime during Byrne's run; but again, no idea how. It's not the Thing ever came back from the Zone in greyscale, or turned green or something. Still, it is a neat variant.
There was a time, though, when this was the best-looking Spider-Man sculpt ever. That time was 1997, yeah. He predates Spider-Man Classics...and articulation. Nine points: ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and neck. None of which is especially useful; but the paint is pretty nice. And the web lines on his costume are all sculpted.
I was thinking there was a 'web catcher' Red Skull figure as well, but on Amazon I was surprised to see a Madam Web action figure. Huh. Read more!
If DC Direct is still making action figures when this is posted (EDIT:Sorta.) they'll be in their fourteenth year, with a pretty substantial list of figures. But it might be hard for some of you to remember when they were the only game in town for your B or C-list characters. Case in point: from 2001's Justice Society series, Power Girl. (As always, any Amazon links are just for reference, shop around!)
This was Kara's first action figure, although it's more of a display piece than that. Mostly cut joints: neck, shoulders, upper bicep, hips; and hinged elbows. Not an amazing range, and her cape isn't removable and is a bit heavy. Still, even with the not-outrageous heels, Power Girl stands fairly well without a stand. (I'm not sure she came with one.)
Power Girl has a bit of a retro look: her haircut seems particularly dated. But she's not overly sexed up, either. DC Direct has since done (at least) three other versions of her over the years, and DC Universe Classics made a more poseable version.
Total Justice Wonder Woman is a bit of a misnomer: after the proper Total Justice line from Hasbro, several of the figures were reissued as a JLA line. The figures were the same sculpts, minus the 'fractal armor' accessories; with the occasional new, repainted, or previously unreleased character. In the fourth and final series in 2000, Wonder Woman was released, along with her teammates the Atom and Red Tornado. I want to say she was single-packed per case; and I'm not positive I ever saw another one after getting mine at the late, somewhat lamented KB Toys. I'm pretty sure she was only $3.33, too...
Since I didn't have it handy, I looked up a couple of dates: Total Justice began in 1996, Wonder Woman here has 2000 on her, and 2000 was the same year Toy Biz would release the precursors to Marvel Legends, Spider-Man Classics. So she may have been a little dated even when she hit the pegs.
WW has the typical five points of articulation shared with the rest of the line: neck, shoulders, hips. All basic swivels, with her hair restricting the neck for the most part, and the leg points only good for finding her standing balance. There is a hole on her hip to attach her magic lasso (which I probably have somewhere...) but she has two closed fists and couldn't hold it. Her sculpt is muscular, but not overly so like the main TJ line; and her stance is relatively neutral compared to their angry grit-tooth poses.
Despite all that, and despite her not being displayed regularly, I still have a soft spot for this figure: I think this was the first Wonder Woman figure I ever bought; and I managed to get her ahead of my boss at the time, who was also collecting the line! Wonder if he ever did find one... Read more!
For some reason, checking out Batman: the Animated Series Man-Bat at Amazon brought up pictures for a set of Charmed action figures. Maybe someone'll fix that by the time this posts... We checked out the Legends of the Dark Knight Man-Bat last year, so why not take a look at another interpretation? Good grief, how many Man-Bats do I have?
Manny is tagged Kenner 1993, but I'm pretty sure he was a yard sale find for me; so I couldn't say how long I've had him. Easily ten, maybe fifteen years; and he still looks nice. Partly because as a bigger character, Kenner had a little more space to work with, so Man-Bat has more articulation than any other animated-style figure: swivel-hinges on the shoulders and a similiar set-up for the elbows and the neck, plus swivel hips. Unlike so many, many flying characters, Man-Bat can look up! There is also an unobtrusive t-shaped button on his back for wing-flapping action.
If you're a fan of the DCUC animated style, Man-Bat will be a great addition to a display. I've liked the character since his seventies adventures like the Power Records "Robin Meets Man-Bat." (You can find it at the Power Records Plaza!) Dig him up!
This one may be a bit of a cheat, since he was picked up at a yard sale, October 2011. (When I'm writing this, as a matter of fact!) From 1997 and Toy Biz's Hulk line, Doc Samson!
Conventional comic wisdom says every character is somebody's favorite, but a quick wikipedia check for Doc Samson begins with "No Image Available"? No love there...I'm leaving the link since I'm not up at all on his recent history, but I'm used to Samson as either a foil for the Hulk (as a possible rival for Betty) or as psychiatric help. Maybe 'help' should be in quotes there, since it is questionable how much good he's done Banner...but, exposed to gamma radiation siphoned from the Hulk, Dr. Leonard Samson developed green hair and super-strength. (Which may or may not have varied depending upon the length of his hair.) Just like Matt Murdock is Marvel's default lawyer or Jake Lockley Marvel's cabbie, Samson was the go-to psych consult for some time.
So, he's a glorified supporting character; but in 1997 he would've been a novel choice for an action figure. (Samson would've appeared on the Incredible Hulk cartoon of the day.) That said, he doesn't get anywhere near the attention or detail that a Hulk figure would have: Samson has maybe seven points of articulation--his neck is cut, but immovable due to the hair--and bog-standard sculpt and paint. The nicest thing I can say about this figure is the shoulders are swivel-hinges rather than mere cuts; but that's still not a lot of effort. He's not aged well, then.
Doc Samson would get a Marvel Legends figure in 2008--he was part of the Hulk/Fin Fang Foom series, and cost a then unheard of $14.99. In fact, he also received a Marvel Universe figure, if 3 3/4" is your game. The character is a bit of a jerk, but he serves a purpose in Hulk stories (or others) as a sounding board. Or punching bag.
I have a vague idea that I've read the issues this figure is referring to--I thought it was on or about Spider-Man #90, but that was '98, and the figure is marked 1997! Maybe the sculpt was reused later, with the black-and-white color scheme? Maybe I've got the issue wrong? My research has hit a wall (meaning I got distracted by something else) so let me know if you know. Anyway, somewhere in there Spidey comes back from the Negative Zone with the color bleached out of his costume...somehow. I know the same sort of thing altered the colors of the Fantastic Four's uniforms, sometime during Byrne's run; but again, no idea how. It's not the Thing ever came back from the Zone in greyscale, or turned green or something. Still, it is a neat variant.
We checked out the Legends of the Dark Knight Man-Bat last year, so why not take a look at another interpretation? Good grief, how many Man-Bats do I have?
This one may be a bit of a cheat, since he was picked up at a yard sale, October 2011. (When I'm writing this, as a matter of fact!) From 1997 and Toy Biz's Hulk line, Doc Samson! 
So, he's a glorified supporting character; but in 1997 he would've been a novel choice for an action figure. (Samson would've appeared on the Incredible Hulk cartoon of the day.) That said, he doesn't get anywhere near the attention or detail that a Hulk figure would have: Samson has maybe seven points of articulation--his neck is cut, but immovable due to the hair--and bog-standard sculpt and paint. The nicest thing I can say about this figure is the shoulders are swivel-hinges rather than mere cuts; but that's still not a lot of effort. He's not aged well, then.
