Mezco Toyz One:12 Harley Quinn Review

  Mezco Toyz Harley Quinn Review 

It's Harley Quinn, this sweet little girl that likes long walks and lolly pops.  If that were Harley I think she would be a much different character, maybe even a woman who pursues Bruce Wayne.  Harley is a bad, bad girl with lots of crazy thoughts going through her head and shes's in love with everyone's favorite whack job the Joker.  The first Harley I owned was the Mezco movie version and I thought she was a very cool figure with great head sculpts. This Harley, is the one that we saw in the comics or even some animated series where she just likes to be a wild girl. I was excited to get her in hand and when I opened her up, she really met my expectations.  Let's take a closer look at this very kind and lovely woman we call Harley Quinn.

Hasbro GI JOE Classified Series Cobra Pimp Daddy Destro Review

GI JOE Classified Cobra Pimp Daddy Destro 

It's been a long time since we had new GI JOE figures from Hasbro in our hands, but its starting to look like it was worth the wait. I've been picking up the majority of the 6" classified series, but right now I think Pimp Daddy Destro is my favorite in the current line.  Now this isn't the same level of figure we are used to reviewing with the $23 price tag, but it doesn't matter its a great figure. Hasbro released the original deco Destro in wave 1, but I'm really happy they went with this repaint for him.  Lets take a closer look at what Hasbro is offering us now in the 6" scale. 

Storm Collectibles Golden Axe Skeletons Review

  Storm Collectibles Golden Axe Skeletons Review 

Starting as a young boy, I've had an obsession with skeletons whether in some scary room of the dead or warriors fighting them in old school movies.  Skeleton toys were a big thing in the 80's when I was growing up but we never had a true skeleton to play with.  Enter Sega and the game Golden Axe, where you could enjoy beating up on some very cool skeletons.  So many cartoons in the 80's had some kind of skeleton bad guy or weird scene with skeletons in the background or rising from the dead.  Golden Axe became that game where I could play out fighting these creepy skeleton warriors. Fast forward to today and Storm is releasing figures from the game including the skeletons! Enough about my love for them, let's take a closer look to see how well Storm did at pulling off highly articulated skeletons.

Mezco Toyz One:12 Collective Nosferatu Review

Mezco Toyz 
Nosferatu

Mezco surprised everyone when they announced that they would be doing a figure from the 1922 silent German film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror which was the first vampire film. It's a classic character that has had a major influence on all other vampire films that have come out since then. I honestly don't love vampires or the horror genre in general, but this figure is so visually appealing that it has become one of my favorite Mezco figures which is a pleasant surprise.

Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat Raiden Review

 Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat Raiden 

I really enjoy the products that Storm has released over the past year or so.  They are producing so many great lines I knew I couldn't collect them all so I chose Mortal Kombat.  I currently have all of the MK figures they have produced, but I passed on the bloody versions. In steps Raiden, a beloved character going all the way back to the first Mortal Kombat video game.  I've been anxiously waiting to get my hands on him, and when he finally arrived he didn't disappoint. Let's take a closer look at Raiden and if Storm collectibles really continues to make an excellent Mortal Kombat line.

Mezco Toyz One:12 Collective MDX John Wick Review

Mezco Toyz John Wick Review

John Wick blew up on the scene a few years ago and has been a total hit!  Keanu is really at his best in this role, and the gun play and action sequences are excellent.  Mezco has taken his character from John Wick 2 and put him into a sophisticated 1/12 scale.  The hype for this figure has been ongoing for over a year, but when I finally got him in my hands I really feel like it’s average at best.  Mezco had a lot of time and pushed back the release date, all raising our hopes that this would truly be an ultimate figure. I was let down, but let's take a closer look at the final John Wick from Mezco Toyz.   

Mezco Toyz One:12 Marvel Blade Figure Review

Mezco Toyz Blade

Blade, otherwise known as Eric Brooks, was only a newborn when his mother was attacked by the doctor delivering the baby (Vampire Deacon Frost) and killed her.  In doing so he passed enzymes in his blood into the infant that would eventually become Blade. Blade would go on realizing his powers and fighting all kinds of vampires through time...one of them being Dracula.  Let's see if Mezco's version lives up to the hype of the notorious DAY WALKER! 

Mezco Toyz One:12 Exclusive Purple Variant Catwoman Figure Review

Mezco Toyz Exclusive
Purple Catwoman

Catwoman has always been one of the classic badass villains of DC Comics and a formidable foe for the Caped Crusader. Way before Harley Quinn was even a thing Catwoman was holding it down representing strong female villains. The initial release of this figure was fantastic, but the purple on this one just pops. Plus, Mezco made sure to make some improvements which should make many people happy.

NECA TOYS ROCKY 40th Anniversary Series 1 Review (ROCKY III)

Prediction: PAIN

NECA TOYS has started releasing their Rocky figures, and they look fantastic. Many people missed out on the first Rocky figures so this is the perfect way for many of the newer fans and collectors to catch up on this series without having to deal with the scalpers on eBay! While three of the figures are re-releases one of them is all new, but we will get to that later.

Celebrate ALIENDAY426 with a Look Back at NECA ALIENS

To mark the special occasion of ALIENDAY426 we wanted to take a walk down memory lane. 

Celebrate the day with us by checking out all of the NECA TOYS ALIEN(S) reviews we have done over the last few years. Lots of great ones!!!

NECA Toys Alien KANE Figure Review

NECA Toys Dog Alien Review

MORE REVIEWS AFTER THE JUMP

New York Toy Fair 2016

For a host of reasons Steve and I thought that we would not be able to attend New York Toy Fair this year. However, we figured it costs us nothing to register so let's do that at the very least. Well, in the end we were able to make it up to New York City on Saturday the 13th for Toy Fair.

Toy Fair just happened to be on one of the coldest days of the year. The last few years we had snow for Toy Fair, but this year we battled bitter cold and brutal winds. We took the train up from our neck of the woods of NJ up to Penn Station. Once we got there we took a look at the line for taxis and said "f that", manned up, and walked our asses to the Javits Center.

NECA TOYS Retro Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes To Midnight Eddie Review

Retro Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes to Midnight

"2 minutes to midnight,
The hands that threaten doom."

Following The Trooper, The Mummy, and the Piece of Mind Eddies, NECA has brought back the iconic mascot of Iron Maiden again for another kick ass figure. This time NECA brings us the 2 Minutes to Midnight retro format Eddie! Besides my Snake Plissken and VGA Freddy this is now my third retro format figure, and I continue to like them more and more with each one I buy.

NECA TOYS Alien Eggs Carton (6 Pack)

NECA TOYS ALIEN EGGS

If you are a fan of the NECA Toys Alien line then you are going to love the Xeno eggs. These are the perfect accessory to compliment your Alien collection. NECA has already brought us so many Alien goodies and there is no plan to stop in sight. By this point, we have all kinds of humans whether they be crew members or Colonial Marines, all kinds of Xenos, as well as the Blue and Red Queens, and the Power Loader!!! If you are into making your own dioramas like we are then the Alien eggs are a dream come true for you.

NECA TOYS 1954 Godzilla Figure Review

NECA TOYS 1954 GODZILLA

I have been waiting with much anticipation (for a loooooooong time) for both the NES Godzilla and 1954 Godzilla by NECA. They are both awesome in different ways, and it is impossible for me to pick one of them over the other. 

A few months ago Steve and I went up to Hillside, NJ to hang out at the NECA Studio with Randy and the rest of the crew. We saw lots of amazing things that day (most of which we can't speak about). When we were walking around the studio I spotted a loose '54 Godzilla. That was my first time seeing it in person, and it was love at first sight. Ever since that moment I have been saying repeatedly how bad I wanted to have it.

That brings me to how I obtained this figure when it's not out yet. Well, sadly, as many of you know my father passed away at the beginning of the month after a courageous eight year battle with Prostate cancer. I worked with my dad so I was lucky enough to see him every day. He wasn't just my dad, or my boss, but my role model and friend. Although, we knew for a long time that this day would come there is no way to really prepare for it. On Sunday, August 2 the time came to say goodbye. 

How Randy Falk and NECA Toys Keep Collecting Fresh and Fun

NECA Toys and Randy Falk

NECA Toys is the best toy company in the market today.  Is this our opinion? Yes, but it's also an opinion that is growing strong with a lot of other collectors.  I have been collecting for the majority of my life and until just a few years ago I was only collecting vintage items.  The newer collectibles being made just didn't match up to all of the great things I had as a kid.  I have worked hard to build and complete so many vintage collections over the past 10 years, but I wasn't giving the new stuff a chance.  I made a trip to TRU one day and came across a few NECA predators that I had never seen before.  I generally wasn't picking up these items because the crappy company McFarlane was ruining all of them with these toilet squatting poses that I just didn't want (that's besides the fact that Todd McFarlane is kind of a dick, but that's a story for another day). So, on that day I picked up my first ever Predator figure from NECA which happened to be the V1 Elder. 

Why did it take so long for me to realize there were better items being made?  Maybe I was so focused on hoarding as much GI JOE items as I could that didn't focus on much else.  At this point, I didn't really know anyone else that was into collecting like I am, and I wasn't getting many other opinions.  Shortly after, I started buying every single Predator being made by NECA, and then it was the Aliens, Terminator, etc. NECA's products literally brought me out of the vintage age and suddenly gave me something new to look forward to.  At the same time, one of my closest friends, Jon, (who co-runs our site and Twitter page) had a strong, growing interest in collectibles.  He pulled all of his old toys out of his attic and I helped organize all of these wonderful hidden treasures he had stored away. 

Fast forward a year, Jon and I build our website and start using Twitter every day to talk toys with all of these amazing people.  At the same time we were literally buying everything NECA was putting out because we loved it so much (I have 5 ED-209's).  So the perfect storm happens where we are in love with a company's products and also have the opportunity to talk to the product developer of NECA, Randy Falk, through Twitter.  We were able to ask this incredibly polite stranger about the products they were developing and what his opinions were on vintage toys as well.  I know...so many of you reading this have the same chance to talk to him… but isn't that a great thing?  Think about your daily work day...and all the stress and time management, etc that goes into it just to make it through the day and actually try to enjoy it as well.  The majority of us use Twitter, and we also know how crazy/active that can be at times. It can hard to try to keep up with all the great conversations going on...it's really tough. Now, think about Randy. He is working 'round the clock, but still makes time to connect with all of us.  Kudos to Randy! You are a true Road Warrior when it comes to this. 

Randy is extremely busy working so many angles as Product Developer for a major toy company.  That being said, here he is responding to our questions, Tweeting out sneak peeks that we all want to see, and even doing great contests and giveaways (which encourages us to play with our toys)!  Now, yes, we love NECA's amazing lines and the great things to come (and when I say great, I mean GREAT), but Randy's added connection to it really builds to the love Jon and I (and many others) have for the company.  He is a very laid back and intelligent person who once was a school teacher but followed his true passion that many of us have...the love of toys and collectibles. 

Since then we have had the chance to hang out with Randy and the NECA Toys crew a few times. That has allowed us to get a real up close and personal look at the business and how decisions are made.  Once you get the chance to see the NECA crew in action you really get to see how all of the amazing things they create get done.  Randy is extremely busy, but he always finds a way to make the time to connect with his fans.  We recently drove up to NY to see a screening of the original Predator at the Alamo Drafthouse in Yonkers. Randy was there with an awesome setup of Predators and was giving away figures that weren't even released yet!  Now, Jon and I went because we were never lucky enough to see Predator on the big screen (we were only young bucks at the time), but it was an added bonus for all of the people there to have a chance to talk to Randy himself.  It was very cool to watch this little kid bring his own NECA Predator figure and take a picture with Randy. He won't admit it, but we all think he is the best in the business, and we are extremely lucky to have him. He takes that extra step and relates to people. He isn't just some corporate stiff giving a bunch of non-answers.

I guess after reading a few paragraphs of this you are wondering what is the point of all of this?  My point is to continue to share the stories we have with the huge community of collectors we are all a part of. We are regular guys with regular jobs who love toys...just like many of you. Our goal is to be real and authentic...that's why we just like to be ourselves. We value the personal interaction with all of you. It's fun to share stories and have conversations with other like-minded people. We like to joke around and have fun at the same time. You won't see us using over the top, fake, obnoxious voices when doing reviews. There is no need for us to put on a front and come up with a fake persona when reviewing toys. What you see is what you get when it comes to us. Thankfully, you guys seem to like us and accept us as we are which is awesome!

Randy has been able to take all that love we have and add to it with all the information and feedback he shares with us fans.  Name another company that gives you the same personal interaction and covers social media the way he does…. good luck.  Now, with Randy opening himself up like this there is a small amount of vocal of haters and complainers about things NECA does.  I guess there will always be a percentage of people that feel this way. Nothing is ever  good enough for them, but that's just the Internet in general. With that said, sit back for a minute and think about everything NECA has done.  Randy is spearheading all of this, and not only that, he is making things bigger and better every single day.  Other toys companies should take notice to what he does. If they don't then NECA is going to keep moving right past them.  Yes, Hasbro, Mattel, and the major toy companies give us rehashed vintage figures that we most likely want...but damn, a lot of them suck! 

Listen, a lot of us collect a lot of different things and will continue to do so.  Yes, NECA will most likely not be able to make a lot of the figures we want for one reason or another...mostly because of licensing issues and profitability among other things.  This is not the fault of Randy or NECA. It's just the name of the game.  People are so quick to forget that they are running a business. If you can't sell anything then you can't bring in the revenue to take risks on new, cool things. Without sales, there is no business...no NECA Toys. So, give them a break and use your brain the next time you complain about not having a Johnny 5 figure! 

Randy has mentioned many ideas to us, and what he has planned for the future. His vision and what he has in store for all of us is amazing!  We are not homers here. We are just genuine NECA fans that realize the quickly growing potential of what NECA is doing in the collectible world.  Bottom line is be thankful we have a bright mind like Randy. He has to make a lot of tough decisions to give us what we want.  Remember, they can only make a certain amount of figures a year and only have so much funds allowed for new tooling each year. That doesn't stop Randy from sticking to his vision and planning out all their awesome lines for years to come.

Thank you NECA Toys and Randy Falk for truly making collecting exciting and giving us that feeling of anticipation of what is coming next.  

If you don't already, follow @neca_toys and check out all of the awesome things that they do every day.  

And as always, feel free to chat with us any time on Twitter: @cobrashadowjoes

Turd of the Week: ReAction, ReAction What's Your Function?

I admit, I had the very same ReAaction the first time I saw ReAction figures in stores.

When ReAction figures first came out I knew they weren't for me, but I did think it was a cool idea. It was a neat homage to the old school figures of the 70's. Just basic figures with five points of articulation. I thought it was pretty cool to be able to get some of these old-style figures in lines that we only dreamed of having when we were growing up. For example, I dug the ALIEN figures they did (particularly the Chest Burster). 

Sadly, what started out as an original, fun idea morphed into a played out, blatant money grab by Funko. I can't say I really blame them. Making money is the name of the game in the business world after all. However, that doesn't change the fact the these figures are, for lack of a better word, turds.

The Alien figures made sense and fit right into the throwback idea they started out as. Now, they are just making these figures for any and all licenses that they can get their hands on (just like they do with the Funko Pop Vinyls). So they started out with Alien and then somehow came up with the brilliant idea of making throwback-style figures for current TV shows such as ARROW and FLASH. Uh huh. Makes zero sense. Again, the chance to cash in trumps common sense or making good products for the customers.

If that wasn't bad enough, they have also begun to come out with some super unoriginal figures. One clear example is ReAction's Heat Vision Predator figure. Hmmm...I wonder where they got that idea? It sure reminds me of NECA's Thermal Vision Dutch. So not only is it NOT original, but the idea of this figure makes zero sense! Is the Predator looking at himself in the mirror or what? This figure just leaves me asking, "what the hell are you?"

Lastly, and this is strictly my opinion, but these figures are WAAAAAY overpriced! I wouldn't pay five dollars for one of these let alone ten dollars. They have no functionality and no likeness. Essentially, they are a hunk of plastic. I would pay, maybe, $3.50 for one of these. Even then, these are only good for little kids who are going to take them outside and bury them or beat the living hell out of them.

Again, the idea at the beginning was a noble one, but it has now gotten ridiculous. There will now be a ReAction figure for every freaking single license they have. Honestly, who can blame them? As long as there are chumps out there shelling out their hard earned cash on these pieces of crap they will continue to suck out every last cent out of these while they can.

Happy Turdsday!

As always, feel free to join us for more discussion over on Twitter: @cobrashadowjoes

NECA Toys Video Game Rocky Action Figure Review

Boom! Randy and NECA have done it again with a KNOCKOUT of a figure with the video game version of Rocky. I have seen many pictures of this figure online, but you can't begin to truly appreciate this figure until you get it in your hands. It blew my expectations right out of the water!

"I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!"

Packaging:

This figures comes with the Sega-style packaging which I love. As always, when it comes to the NES/video games figures the packaging is ALMOST as good as the figures. NECA always pays close attention to detail and does an excellent job of replicating the look of the original packaging of the video game. Like the other action figures in this line, the inside of the box has a picture from the Start screen, an open window where the figure sits, and a 8 bit-style background. As you can tell from the above picture those backgrounds come in handy when taking photographs of the figure.

Figure and Accessories: 

This figure may only come with one accessory, but in my opinion it is one hell of an accessory. The American flag is molded to fit right over his shoulders. With it on, Rocky looks just like he did in the movie. Rocky is wearing his red, white, and blue trunks courtesy of his old buddy Apollo Creed. (Quick side note: Hey Carl Weathers, give Randy a call so you guys can get working on a Dillon figure!) The color on the trunks and gloves pop and the shading used on the hair and body just put this over the top. There is tan/light brown shading used on the body and blue/purple used on the hair. The paints and shading really accentuate and highlight the many details of this figure.

Bottom Line:

NECA has come out with many different Rocky figures over the years and I like them all a great deal. With that said, this one is, by far, my favorite one! Whether you are a Rocky collector or just a big fan of the retro NES/video game line you will not be disappointed. Like I said before, you can't truly begin to appreciate how nice this figure is until you get him in your hands, play with him, and pose him. 

It's great to know that this line has just taken off and there is no end in sight! 

Don't forget to check us out on Twitter @cobrashadowjoes

Sample courtesy of NECA Toys

" He is not human, he is a piece of iron."

NECA Toys Enforcer Predator Figure Review

NECA Toys Predator Figure: ENFORCER

The Enforcer Predator has been out for a little while now, but he is a fan favorite character who deserves a review from us. The Enforcer is from the Dark Horse Comics Predator: Bad Blood series. He was sent to put a stop to the blood-thirsty, psychopathic Bad Blood. As you can see below, NECA did a great job of translating the Enforcer from the comic to action figure form.

Packaging:

The Enforcer comes with similar packaging as Bad Blood. The only real difference is this does not have the foil on the backer since it is not a Deluxe Figure. The back features a customized biography that gives a little insight into the Enforcer for those who may not have read the comic.

Figure and Accesories:

Just like the rest of the Predators in this wave NECA did a great job with him. His paint, armor, and helmet make him look like he jumped right off the pages of the comic book. He comes with an extra hand, plasma caster, spear, and smart disc. He also has over 25 points of articulation and you can see from the pictures at the end that he poses very well.

Bottom Line:

The Enforcer Predator has always been one of my favorites. NECA didn't disappoint and gave him a proper figure. As is always the case with NECA figures, it is a blast to get him out of the packaging and pose him and take some fun pictures. The pictures of him speak for themselves and show you just  how awesome he is...better than I can put into words.

Take a look below and enjoy some pictures of the Enforcer facing off against his nemesis Bad Blood!