Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts

Friday

Transformers Combiner Wars Liokaiser Toy Review

The Kind-Of-6 Robot Combiner, In Effect!

The Combiner Wars continue with one last release: the Entertainment Earth exclusive Liokaiser Gift-Set! This marks the first time the famed Japanese G1 gestalt has received any sort of official nod from Hasbro, and they went all-out accordingly. (Well, as all-out as can be given a budgetary constraint or two.) Now, let's dive in to see what the latest Transformers Platinum Edition release has to offer!

Disclaimer - Images below often contain fan configurations arranged to my personal taste. Be cool!

Guyhawk enters the fray!

10 G.I. Joe Figures To Display For Halloween

G.I. Joooooooooeeeeeeee

From the 1980s on, the G.I. Joe franchise has been built on a unique combination of military and sci-fi design sensibilities. Even so, plenty of Halloween-appropriate elements tend to slip through the cracks. In keeping with the spirit of the season, here are 10 of the spookiest G.I. Joe figures to ever hit the toy aisles.

Zartan v1 (Real American Hero, 1984)

Monday

The First Spooky Sightings Of Halloween 2015

Complete with Creepy, Crappy Collages!

The end of August is always a magical time. Summer and its nasty humidity-filled heat are slowly dying down, and the Halloween season is right around the corner. I'm about to friggin' squee.

In fact, the glorious fall holiday has already begun to rear its head. I'm seeing beautifully tacky decorations and fun candy assortments pop up all over the place. It would be impossible to keep my excitement in check, so I might as well share it with the internet! Here are some of my first spooky sightings of Halloween 2015!

Tuesday

Transformers Combiner Wars Silverbolt Toy Review

Aerial Robot Individual

It's been over a freakin' year since we were given our first glimpse of the initial Transformers Combiner Wars line-up, and Silverbolt has remained firmly atop my wishlist ever since. Alongside his wave-mate Optimus Prime, the guys at Entertainment Earth have allowed me to finally give the iconic Aerialbot leader a look. Let's do it!

"I don't know what to do with my hands."

Monday

Transformers Combiner Wars Optimus Prime Toy Review

That's just Prime!

It turns out there are three sure things: death, taxes, and a constant stream of new Optimus Prime toys. One of the latest from Hasbro has the iconic Autobot leader shoehorned into 2015's Combiner Wars assortment. Thanks to the fine folks at Entertainment Earth, I'm pleased to crack one open and see how it stacks up. Cue the pictures!

Why hello there.

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Premium Format Darkseid, Super Robot Wars, & More!

Darkseid is...expensive.

We may be in a bit of a pre-SDCC funk as far as huge reveals go, but "ooh" and "ah"-worthy product images are always trickling out here and there. The recurring theme of the week seemed to be official shots of previously-teased items, but there were still a few surprises in store. Now, on to my personal highlights!

Marvel Legends Infinite Series Avengers 5-Pack (Price & Release Date TBD)

These might be made from existing molds, but the vibrant decos have really won me over. It doesn't hurt that I'm a bit of a sucker for "gift set" releases in general. Unfortunately for many of us, this appears to be a European Disney Store exclusive.

Weekly Want - Transformers Combiner Wars, Play Arts Batman, Etc.!

So wild. So rider.

Cue the dramatic smoke-bombs and confetti; the Weekly Want has returned! You know what that means. That's right, I'm going to assume you're willing to scroll through a bunch of pictures. So, do that! I'll wait.

Star Wars Revoltech 005 Boba Fett ($53.99, May 2015)

Weekly Want - Masterpiece Tracks, S.H. Figuarts, & More!

The ultimate in high-quality prototype images!

If you're still feeling unsatisfied after the onslaught of awesome upcoming plastic whozits and whatzits from ToyFair 2015, there's no need to fret. There are still plenty of noteworthy wallet-killers to go around! From newly stocked items to unexpected reveals, here's the latest Weekly Want!

Francis Manapul Batman Black & White Statue ($63.96, February 2015)

Friday

Transformers Masterpiece MP-25 Tracks In Glorious Digital Color!

I say!

Thanks to TFW2005's Sup3hobo, we now have a look at the upcoming Transformers Masterpiece MP-25 Tracks. Scanned from a Japanese toy magazine, the photo shows off an early look at the classic 1985 character's prototype. I must say, it looks quite promising!

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Toy Fair 2015 Highlights!

Just. Take. The. Money.

With Toy Fair 2015 now behind us, it seems fitting to dedicate the latest Weekly Want to some of the event's coolest featured items. The fun just never ends here on Castle Geek-Skull. Let's get to it!

DC Collectibles Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 2 Pack ($32.99, Oct. 2015)

Sunday

The Transformers Brand Had A Strong Showing At Toy Fair 2015!

Looks like he can deal with it now, ho ho ho.

I'm almost certainly biased in the matter, but I'm of the firm belief that the Transformers brand completely stole the show at Toy Fair 2015. In effort to prolong my robot-fueled high as long as possible, I'm going to pour over as many of the eye-catching new reveals and official promo images as I can. Tag along, won't you?

Combiner Wars Voyager Proctectobot Hot Spot

While the GDO Hot Spot made from Universe Inferno was an acceptable placeholder, the firetruck Protectobot leader now has a fantastic original sculpt on the way. Once again, patience pays off!

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Machine Robo, Friesenberg, & More!

Oh Bike-Robo, you're so dreamy.

From the glorious return of old favorites to fancy-pants Japanese statues, the Weekly Want covers a lot of ground this time. The temptations never cease. Someone hide my wallet immediately!

Enough goofy intro-text. Let's just get to the good stuff.

Kotobukiya Avengers Hulk and Hulkbuster Iron Man ARTFX+ Statues ($79.99 & $199.99, October 2015)

Sunday

Transformers 3rd Party G1 Hound Showdown!

Decisions, decisions.

In the wild world of 3rd Party Transformer toys, it's not uncommon for several companies to release their own versions of the same characters. However, the practice has been most common with "sexier," high-concept ideas like combiners. That's now completely out the window. Within the same day, new images surfaced of two different nods to the oft-overlooked and under-appreciated Hound.

Begun, the Hound War has.

Friday

Comic Book Michelangelo Toy Review (Ninja Turtles 2012)

Master of Dual-Nunchucks!

If I buy one Ninja Turtle action figure, I pretty much have to grab the remaining three. I'd bet a hefty sum of cash that I'm far from alone. After raving about Playmates' semi-recent Original Comic Book Raphael, the inevitable quest for his brothers began. First up is Michelangelo. Review mode, activate!

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Marvel & DC Play Arts, Hot Toys Thanos, & More!

The fastest batarangman in the west.

Come one, come all; it's time yet again for the Weekly Want! Spoiler alert: one of this installment's highlights actually breaks the $400 mark! Bills, schmills. Toys are clearly all that matter.

Now, let's get this wallet-destroying party started.

Hot Toys Artist Mix Avengers: Age of Ultron Assortment ($39.99-$127.99, Summer 2015)

Sunday

The Targeted Ad Experience Of Castle Geek-Skull

Action figures, video games, and...cat food?

During my routine bouts of frenzied internet browsing, I've noticed more and more targeted ads creeping their way into the margins of each page. I shouldn't be surprised, as pretty much everyone is bound to get bombarded with advertisements related to their recent search history these days. Still, it seems more prevalent than ever, and I've become increasingly amused at the niche various networks have filed me under.

So, in a classic display of over-sharing (and posting shit no one cares about), here are a handful of the targeted ads recently thrown my way!

Friday

Let's Kickstart The TruForce Mega Man X Action Figure!

One hundred percent of my want.

If you know me, you should be well aware that Mega Man X is a longtime favorite of mine. I spent the first few hours of 2015 in a strange trance where I couldn't stop watching videos of it, and a couple of weeks later I actually interrupted important work I was doing just to check out a four-man race to finish it first. Somehow, my appetite for this game never seems to be fully satisfied.

There's not just one thing I enjoy about it. The gameplay itself is classic, the soundtrack is absurdly memorable, and the visual aesthetic falls on a unique balance between slick anime sensibilities and the round, oddly friendly look of earlier Mega Man titles. I'm also a big enough fan to extend beyond merely appreciating the game itself. If I come across some form of Mega Man X collectible, it might be difficult for me to resist.

Wednesday

Weekly Want - Marvel Legends Thanos, LEGO, & More!

All smug, all smiles.

Welcome once again to the Castle Geek-Skull Weekly Want, wherein several of the latest plastic-crack reveals are given a place to shine. To say that this is a big deal is an atomic bomb of an understatement. Hold on tight, because here we go!

LEGO Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine Set (Price and Release Date TBD)

Tuesday

I Want To Collect Skylanders Now. Thanks, Krypt King.

He's got the edge!

During my latest visit to a local retail store's wall of Mario amiibo, I did an amazing thing. I turned around.

Arranged before me was a beautiful display of Skylanders with a degree of variety I no longer thought possible. While I've found plenty of items in the line's history intriguing, I've always been more than happy to admire them from a distance. I'm afraid that might be out the window now. I have witnessed the full glory of Krypt King, up close and personal. I have the sneaking feeling that his allure may be inescapable.

I think I'm going to finally buy a Skylander. I think I'm going to buy a Krypt King.

Monday

The Combiner Wars Aerialbots Get Their Slingshot After All!

Surprise!

As featured in Castle Geek-Skull's latest Weekly Want post, Takara Tomy is bringing an actual Slingshot our way. "Combiner Wars" Superion has always looked promising, but it was definitely a bummer that one of the original crew had been replaced. I chalked up the inclusion of placeholder 'Bot Alpha Bravo to necessary cost cuts, but now I'm not sure what to think!