Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman

Mattel WWE Then Now Forever basics (Wal-mart)

It's the battle of the Hollywood Blondes!  Just kidding...still waiting on that Mattel tag team 2-pack.  Here we have the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin with a set of gold knee braces and "smoking skull" belt. 

 Nice accessories for a basic figure ($10 and less articulation than the $20 Elite figures), as most basics get zilch.  I know the origin of the custom "smoking skull belt" but I'm having a hard time remembering when he had the gold braces and for how long.  Anyway, cool figure, even with the lack of Elite articulation.  I even like this head scan better than the Hall of Fame Target exclusive one I have.  The only gripe I have here is that the belt would look better with the shiny, vac-metal plastic.  That is the only time you will ever hear me say that about a toy...I hate vac-metal on my Transformers!

Next up, Flyin' Brian Pillman!  No, it's Loose Cannon Brian Pillman!  The tights on this figure are from his brief time with the 4 Horsemen in WCW.  He comes with a crutch accessory, which I assume has something to do with the ankle injury sustained from the car accident he had right before coming over to the WWE.  He was still in the action while laid up, feuding with his former WCW tag team partner Stunning Steve Austin...er...Stone Cold Steve Austin.  Which brings me to much-needed-but-lacking accessory:

Oh, yeah!  Now that's pure Attitude era there!  Stone Cold coming to Pillman's house, Pillman threatening to shoot him, a scuffle, shots fired, camera goes to black...pretty extreme stuff for the time.  Weird and exciting, but still just an angle, folks.  I know it's a big departure from seeing Ultimate Warrior run around and do the same 3 moves over and over, but calm down.

This figure came in a 2-pack with Dean Ambrose as a "loose canon" themed set.  I've seen Dean Ambrose wrestle, but have not been all that impressed or excited.  The set was a $20 Wal-mart exclusive, but I got it for $5 after Christmas clearance.  

Sorry, Dean...you're just a cheap accessory/bonus here.  Get in the bucket of misfit toys!

Random Marvel Legends

Random Marvel Legends:

Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman, Enchantress

There are so many figures out there that divide my attention (and funds), that I have to pass on a few every now and then...especially in the realm of comic book heroes.  Though, if you play the cards right, you can wager which ones will be giving you a second chance to pick them up...and usually at a discount.  Here are a few recent pickups I made at $9 a figure in the Wal-Mart clearance aisles:

I have the Carol Danvers Ms Marvel figure that Toy Biz put out a decade back...as Warbird?  Kinda looks like old-school Meg Ryan? Whatever.  Like most of their figures, the push for maximum articulation leaves them all gangly looking and barely able to stand.   Hasbro has made just the right adjustments.  

This version, Captain Marvel, has just the right balance of articulation to get some great action poses.  She also has an alternate, unmasked head and and energy effect that fits over her fist.  For my display, I'm sticking with the Kree mohawk!

Spider-Woman is from a different wave, but shares the same body as Captain Marvel.  This is fine for standing, but you won't be able to get her into any Spider-Man-like poses.  She's got a new head, of course, and some creepy posing hands.  She also comes with two types of underarm webs:  flared out and closed.  These plug into slots in the figure's triceps, but not as easily as they should.  Both options limit mobility above the waist, and tend to fall out with the slightest movement. 

Enchantress has a different female body sculpt.  One that is better suited to show off her *ahem* powers.  Yes, she comes equipped with two, huge...magic power thingies?  Hasbro is really getting some mileage out of this particular accessory with Dr. Strange, Dazzler, Scarlet Witch....just mold it in a different color and call it a day!  

Anyway, back to the sculpt.  She shares the same body type that Hasbro used on their Scarlet Witch.  And bringing things back around to the beginning, things have only improved since the Toy Biz days.   Yeesh!

WWE Mystery Minis

WWE MYSTERY MINIS

FUNKO

Yep, I fell for another "blind box" line.  Sort of.  I mean, these figures come in a case of twelve that are all packed the same way.  And somebody online is always kind enough to share the packing order to save you the headache of searching for your favorite Superstar and ending up with Roman Reigns over and over again. (BOOOOOOOO!)  Also, someone had already opened all the boxes when I found this crop. These are a little under six bucks at Wal-mart.  Not bad for sturdy, cute little caricatures.  They stand at an average of 3 inches high.

Bret "the Hitman" Hart is the most colorful of this second wave.  (So much black throughout.)  There are some nice details on his tank top and tights.  Also, pretty rad that his shades are translucent plastic, and they actually painted his eyes back there.

It's strange that they went with a more classic Dusty Rhodes over his yellow polka dot look he had during his time in the WWF.  A missed opportunity to bring some color to this series.  I would also take this variation, but I'm sure that's off the table.

"The Million Dollar Man" Ted Debiase at least has the Million Dollar Championship belt over his shoulder to brighten things up.  The black suit might be his standard, but there are other choices that would have been better here.

I guess if you gotta go with "Crow" Sting, the only real color variation would be Wolfpac Sting.  No thanks.  I'm gonna hold out for multiple Surfer Stings!  Oh well...at least the paint on the face and scorpions is crisp and clear.

I've seen Wave 2 on shelves at most Walmarts now, with remnants of Wave 1 scattered here and there. There are supposed to be a couple of exclusive minis in assortments at Target, but I have not been able to find these in my area yet.  They're holding Razor Ramon, Sgt. Slaughter, and Jake the Snake ransom at my most hated of chain stores?!  Ugh...character exclusives...

Marvel Legends Icons - Spider-man and Captain America

Marvel Legends Icons

Spider-man and Captain America

Hasbro - 12-inch figures

It's been over 10 years since Toy Biz introduced their 12-inch line of Marvel Legends Icons, and just this last year, Hasbro brought them back!  The sculpting and quality have improved, as have the accessories...but is it enough to ease the jump in price from $20 to $50 a figure?  Nah.  I have some of the older figures, so these were a "pass" until I saw them on clearance for $20-25 at Wal-Mart and Amazon.  For that price, make mine Marvel!

It's your friendly neighborhood Spider-man!  Just a little bit bigger!  This is an up-size on the 6-inch "pizza" Spidey that Hasbro released last year, so the sculpt and articulation are comparable. You get the half-masked head and interchangeable hands, but instead of a slice of pepperoni, you get a fully unmasked Peter Parker head.  The only other change would be that the shade of blue on the 12-inch figure is much darker, almost navy.

(What the hell?  I didn't know Zack Snyder was doing Marvel now?!  ...Oh no?  Thank goodness. If there is one character that shouldn't have the joy sucked out of him, it's Spider-man).  Anyway, at least the smaller figure is the appropriate true-blue. 

Captain America's blue is a little dark, too.  That might be appropriate with this more modern costume choice for all I know.  The detail on the lines and scales is great, as is the metal scuffing paint job on the kneepads. Accessories: extra hands, unmasked head, and separate headpiece to hold.  The shield has straps to hold it on his arm.  It can also be plugged into his back.  To do so, you press the star on his chest to pop out the star on his back, revealing the hole to plug the shield...yeah, it's almost a weird action feature. Careful: I almost threw away the star from his back, as I apparently pressed the star on his front while I was unboxing him. I didn't notice the back-star drop out, but, luckily, found it on the floor later.

The biggest complaint I have with Cap, aside from the blue, is that both heads are kind of dead-eyed.  Not even a hint on the mouth that he could be capable of smiling and...oh no!  Damn you, Zack Snyder!  

Must...combat...grim...superhero....syndrome.....

Whew!  That's better!  Thanks, big-noggin Spidey!