Thundercats
In case you’ve missed it, Thundercats is finally… roaring (sorry)… back onto toy shelves. I never really got into Thundercats as a kid, so this is a “well that’s nice for those folks” sort of thing. I could see picking up Bandai’s Classic Lion-O if we were MOTU compatible, but, at 8″, it’s not a likely purchase unless I want him to fight Hellboy or my Diamond TNG figures. Anyway, all your TCats needs can be met at the newly minted Thundercats.ws!
Power Rangers
And while we’re talking about Bandai… we did see that Rita Repulsa figure in TNI’s Power Rangers gallery. Can you say Most Requested?? Of course, we would’ve liked her better without the tiny head and huge hands, but beggars can’t be choosers…
CTR has a full look at the Bandai Showroom.
Ghostbusters
There wasn’t much to see Ghostbusterswise… at least not from Mattel. They mostly showed progressed items from SDCC (Vinz in his package, the corrected GB 2 Winston (score that one for the collectors), and the 12″ doll prototypes). They debuted the kitbashed Labcoat Egon. He does come with a nifty Library Ghost though!
Diamond’s Minimates are another story entirely. Diamond has moved onto Real Ghostbusters merchandise and debuted a crapton of minifigures. ProtonCharging has pics of the little guys including the four main Ghostbusters, Lewis & Janine both in office attire and uniforms, and a boatload of the series main ghosts – Sandman, Boogeyman, Samhain! I keep trying not to buy minimates, but that’s an awesome collection.
Also, there’s an upcoming Ghostbusters Bishoujo (via TNI) statue coming out for Ghostbusters too.
Tonner Dolls
Tonner is one of those companies I don’t know much about aside from seeing a few of their dolls in person and the pics online. They have a wide array of properties though and CTR has a full look at their booth. I like the Dove. I’d be interested to see her and Hawk done in metallic colors for DCUC.
DC Retro Action Superheroes
I don’t buy these, but Kyle Rayner in his 90s outfit (via AFP)? I feel like I’m being targeted.
NECA
I haven’t had time to look through all the NECA images yet, but I keep hearing people talk about their Gremlins 2 line. I find that odd and amusing, but I do admit the toys look great in the pics. CTR has full coverage of their booth.
Cars
There’s eleventy million Cars toys already, so companies are apparently going to great lengths to come up with novel ways to keep us buying them. Elkk Thunders Toy Room has pics and video of two such cars. A (relatively) normal sized die-cast Lightning McQueen that drives around and talks (it’s mouth and eyes move too) and a Finn McMissile that drives on walls. The Lightning is available for preorder at Matty right now, but the price tag may just kill this little project – he’s $60. Ouch.
Universal Monsters
Figures.Com has some images of this year’s Universal Monster figures from DST. Frankenstein and the Bride look nice, but the generic Dracula looks off. They also have a bunch of minimate pics and more black & white figures from series one.
The Wrapup
Alright, it’s early and it’s time to wrap this puppy up. Toy Fair isn’t over and there’s certainly a few other items I’ll be adding to this coverage until it is (there’s already a couple links I know I’ll be adding later in the day). We’ve been doing a lot of event coverage this week: WonderFest, Tamashii Features, and Toy Fair, but our reviews will return tomorrow. I’m not sure what Vault has on tap for Tuesday, but Wednesday will feature the long overdue review of the second MOTU Weapons Pack (yep, we head back to ye olde weapon shop).
Before I go, I have to thank that sites that put in the time, travel, and hard work to cover the show: AFI, AFP, CTR, ElkkThundersToyRoom, Figures, HISS Tank, Marvelous News, MillionairePlayboy, PoeGhostal, Rebelscum, Thundercats.ws, ToyArk, TFW2005, & TNI!
As a collector, I’m kinda happy that Mattel will be mass-producing your custom Super Powers Mr. Freeze, because I’ve been trying to acquire the goggle-less varaint for a while to copy your amazing work for my own collection!
That said, as a customizer myself, I’m sure your reactions were a little mixed this weekend. If Mattel had shown a Kalibak or Penguin in Super Powers colours, which looked exactly like my own customs (http://www.toymania.com/customcorner/cc25/zellers_r.shtml), I’d be torn. It’s perhaps not a novel idea that I can claim much credit for, but at the same time, I spent a while carefully choosing my colour palette and which regions would get which colour… So, flattering that an idea took on, but a tiny bit of recognition would be nice, too, right?
I know your Mr. Freeze is far more intricate, paint-wise that even my Kalibak was. I imagine you made many similar decisions that you can see here on their prototype that you (also? first?) made during painting. And I’d guess you’re also asking “well, why didn’t they use the goggle-less head, as well?”. As an example, I went back and forth so many times on the decision to paint a mustard-coloured midriff on Kalibak – if they showed a prototype with the same deco, I’d see my decision there I think… not their creativity.
It would be very nice of them to at least give you inspirational credit. Or a shout-out. Palisades was the king of giving credit to the community at large for participating in the creative process; Mattel couldn’t possibly be hurt for mentioning your participation, however tangentially, in public, right?
Damn! I knew I’d seen that Freeze before! I don’t know if I’d be ticked off or flattered.
Man-e-faces should not be a part of the Shore… PASTY MEF FTYW!
Thanks for doing this. I’m happy that we have the guys going to Toyfare to get the pics, but I’m thankful for sites like yours that pull it all together too.
Thanks for all the “points” Noisy. It was hard to find a website that had pic links that would even work yesterday and you have a few listed here I didn’t even think of.
I personally want both versions of Man E Faces. The vintage figure was my fave as a kid so I’ll want that for notalgia’s sake, but I’m also a huge fan of the mini-comic mythos, so I’d like his concept colors too. Hopefully whichever one doesn’t make the cut ends up in a MotUC/DC 2 pack or some other alternate vending.
BTW, I never thought of his orange body as his “skin”. If it was supposed to be his skin, then that means the vintage figure’s helmet plugs directly into his body. Ewwwww.
this TF looked quite excellent, but honestly, toypocalypse ruined TF for me. exploded scarabus image, along w/ reveals for raven, and then the numerous symbiotechs, AND new OSM to boot! come on, the other companies are getting around to almost treating us as well as the horsemen have treated us for years. that said, come on… the starscream skystriker w/ megatron weilding cobra commander takes the grand prize for 2011 for responding to fan demand in the coolest way possible. blonde bikini teela takes a distant second, though she too is welcome.
Just think of it as flattering that you’re getting your own custom made… 9_9;…. (except I like Vault’s more… ^^; )
For the Crime Syndicate figures, the Green Ring and Johnny Quick both were back as the versions in a recent issue of Justice League of America. I dont have it in front of me to reference but they seem pretty close to how they appeared there.
One way of looking at it is, each team is now a single two-pack away from completion. Or, knowing Mattel, two two-packs.
I was disappointed when I saw the Batman Legacy teasers. When they turned out to be mock-ups, it was a different kind of disappointing. Now that the full reveal shows they cheaped out on Freeze, I’m worried for Catman. They wouldn’t really use that crappy DCSH body, would they? I wouldn’t pay one dollar for that Catman, let alone whatever they’ll be charging by the time he hits. It doesn’t take much to do him justice, just repaint a decent base, maybe add a few sculpted details/new parts. A new head for sure, accessories would be nice… On a related note, why the Hell are they putting out the Supergirl no one wants again? That and Hal/Zodak are terribly unappealing. Are they trying to kill the DC/MOTU two-packs?
I’m in love with the 6″ Young Justice line. Price will be a sticking point, but I’ll spend hours trying to convince myself Artemis and Aqualad are worth it. Quality is the trump card. And oh, the possibilities… New Black Canary with useful hip articulation? Yes, please. This could be the DCU/DCAU hybrid line many have clamored for for years. Mattel can bolster the DCU ranks with Red Arrows and Cheshires without making room in the main line.
And hey, wave 18 doesn’t completely suck! Go figure. Not a fan of Boomer’s headsculpt, but Bronze Tiger must be mine.
Weapon shop! *squee* I can hardly wait.
The Mr. Freeze custom use is absolutely the funniest thing I saw this weekend. I guess you guys probably won’t take it too hard kind of being affiliated with Fantastic Exclusive and all? The Batman Legacies line was a wasted opportunity. Understanding its Movie Masters from Dark Knight Rises but I thought they we’re going to a Batman Classics DCUC subline like the Lantern line earlier this year. More “lack of retailer interest” excuses?
Best thing I saw though was Battleground Teela. June can’t get here soon enough! They stayed faithful to MOTU Teela’s look without falling into the trap of making her yet another stereotypical barbarian female in the Thor/Conan vein.
Triad Toys also had some good stuff in their booth, now its just matter of getting them to release the stuff in less than a year. These guys have nothing on Mattel.
The total lack of any Generations/RTS Transformers stuff is disturbing but its a movie year and Hasbro will focus completely on the film. Takara can pick up the slack with some repaints in the United import line.
Theres still some time left before Toyfair is over so I hope some surprises creep in. Overall I’ve been thrilled with far less stuff this year than in past years. SDCC can’t get here soon enough.
Love your writing, but, I’m sorry, don’t you mean Legion 12 pack instead of 5 pack? Or did they change plans?
Symbiotech stands up for me as the new toy line I’m most excited about. Has there been any word on release?
Transformers – Sad to see Generations suffer. Mechtech is not for me at all. Cyberverse looks fun, but again isn’t for me. Prime is okay and I may grab the Starscream. Generally a huge letdown after how awesome Generations has been.