Slushy Soldiers

 Slushy Soldiers

Fortnite Legendary Series - Jakks Pacific

It’s been a while since Jakks’ Fortnite series filled some goon slots in my superhero collection.  This Walmart exclusive was a bit late for Christmas...but luckily that groundhog saw his shadow, and gave Mr. Freeze a bit more time on the ice with his new henchmen.

The slushy soldier is on a reused soldier body, but is nicely repainted with wintry colors.  His arsenal is appropriately hilarious:  carrot knife, carrot bandolier strap, machete wreath back pack, ice pick/hammer.  The traditional snowman head could be taken as cutesy or creepy, depending on what you’re using them for.  Of course, these have several machine guns with them at all times, so I would guess the latter.

 

I braved sub-zero temperatures and hardened plastic joints for this shoot.  It was a lot of fun to play with my toys in the snow.  I got to break out my favorite Mr. Freeze figure (DC Direct’s Secret Files figure) and  Arctic Shield Batman (Mattel 2003 Batman line).  While these are older figures with limited articulation, the sculpts and accessories keep them in my displays.  Freeze just looks perfect, and Arctic Batman...he’s had a lot of wacky costume variants, but this one actually works!  I was even able to give hi shield/sled a go!

 

Get out there and have some fun with your toys when you can.  And pick up some Slushy Soldiers on Walmart’s website now!  They, and the snow, won’t last for long.

What About Bob?

 What About Bob?

Funko Pops

Funko got me again, buying the same head sculpt three times over...because who else would get a “What About Bob?” toy license?  

These have just started hitting Walmart full force, in a weird, “all-Bill Murray” assortment featuring Stripes, Ghostbusters, and his zombie-self from Zombieland.  I had preordered these ages ago, but cancelled as soon as I saw the wall of lifeless doll eyes in my local store.  Walmart/Funko just couldn’t get it together enough to get these out before Labor Day.  Just like when my Michael Myers figure got here right in time for Valentine’s Day (bummer).

The head sculpts are all the same, but Funko really nailed Murray’s wild hair from that era.  The “Traveling”  Bob might feature the most detail.  Just look at that tiny “Gill” and copy of Dr. Leo Marvin’s “Baby Steps”!

“Local” Bob sports his tacky t-shirt, and a detail that one might overlook in watching the movie.  Bob wears the same pair of pants throughout, but turns them into cut-offs in vacation mode.  The sculpt really accentuates this.

“Sailing” Bob comes in full life jacket and makeshift safety harness.  This one is supposedly a Walmart exclusive, and sports the special sticker on the window box.

As usual, as much as I despise the concept and over saturation of Pops, I couldn’t pass on this movie property.  I think “What About Bob?” is a pretty darn good, dark comedy, worthy of immortalization in plastic.  I would love to see a Leo with puppet Leo, or a Leo and Bob “Death Therapy” two pack, complete with shotgun, chair, and explosives.  Until then, your Pop Bob will just have to annoy your Pop “Jaws” Hooper figure.

Aliens

Aliens

Lanard Toys

Wow...what a weird property to reemerge at the hands of a low-rent toy company!  I mean "low-rent" in the best way, as Lanard has managed to deliver some great quality toys in the last couple of years at basement prices.  Aliens is quite a gamble on their part, considering there isn't a new movie out and Ridley Scott and crew did their best to kill any interest for me.  Lanard is going full-on nostalgia with multi-colored aliens, power loaders, space marines, and Alien Queens...and I fell for it...hard!  

The alien figures are top-notch as far as sculpting goes.  Articulation could be better, but it's still good for the price point.  I dig the ball jointed hands, hips, and feet.  The only thing lacking is a bit more range in the head (swivel cut), and an action feature for their tongue-mouths or ability to port an extended attachment.  The colors might be a turn-off to older collectors...get over yourselves and grab a paintbrush.  I like how they used a different color for each class (Newt: "Mostly.") 

There are some noticeable sculpt differences in the head and appendages between the Drone and Soldier Aliens.  The details are pretty crisp for a four-inch figure.  A black paint wash could make these pop even more.

The Runner (or Ox or Dog, depending on which cut of Alien 3 you prefer) gets little extra attention considering it runs on all fours.  The extra movement with the elbows and wrists gives it a better range of attack poses.  Its larger tail also gets an extra joint for max-impalement potential.

These aliens are packaged with some human figures to menace.  While Lanard's Corps lends itself to this area thematically, these are the weak point in the deal.  The sculpts and articulation vary from acceptable to down right insulting...okay, maybe not insulting...hilarious!  The repurposed space suits fare better than the Marines.  If you were expecting Lanard to shell out for Ripley, Hicks, and Bishop, prepare to be disappointed.  I'm indifferent.  The aliens are enough of a selling point to me and I'm glad they included anything for them to munch on at the least.

One of the sets (which I bought two of) included an alien egg and facehugger.  Scale is an issue here, as the tail cords wrap better around the waists of the figure than their necks.  These would probably scale just fine with NECA's 7-inchers.

The mid-range sets include a power loader and APC vehicle.  The load is another repurposed Corps gadget, and it fits just fine.  I do wish that it had two claw hands, but a chainsaw is pretty rad even if not canon.  The APC should be bigger in scale to the figures, but looks decent and seats three Marines.  Its artillery rotates and the wheels roll...that's about it.  It could also benefit from a paint wash and a little detailing on the front windows.

The roughly twelve-inch tall Alien Queen is the best part of the line, as she should be.  The sculpt is great for a big, $20 monster.  Lots of Giger lines and protrusions. These areas look great with the metallic purple, but may also stand out a bit more with some black wash.  She has decent shoulder, elbow, mini-arm, and feet articulation...nothing that would rival NECA, but at least she can stand!  They took some liberties with the legs, making them bulkier for better balance, which I'm fine with.  She is also the only figure in the line with an action feature.  The jaw can be opened manually and, when you tilt the head back, her tongue comes out.

Despite what other adult collectors may think about this "garbage kids line," I want more.  The smaller sets with an alien, human, and accessories are $10, the mid-range vehicles are $15, and the Queen was $20...$80 for a full line of fun is hard to beat these days!  These are exclusive to Walmart and should be hitting now.  Fingers crossed that Lanard can snag the rights to Predator...they're coming for you, NECA!

Stay Puft Halloween Greeter

Stay Puft Halloween Greeter

Properties like Ghostbuster and Beetlejuice should never be lumped together with Halloween as a "once a year" thing.  Sure, ghosts on the brain are more likely to occur during the season, but I need my fix all year round!  This two foot tall "Halloween Greeter" is staying out as a permanent display piece.  He's plush throughout, but has some sturdy inserts in his feet and legs to keep him upright.  

The brighter colors and cartoony face match up perfectly with the Real Ghostbusters style.  If you don't already have Diamond Select's giant Stay Puft Bank standing in with your figures, this is a good alternative.  Cheaper, too, at $20!  I found him at Walmart early in the season...maybe there are a few floating around on clearance or online at this point?

Walmart also had a "classic" (must you remind us that horrible "modern" take exists?) tumbler for only $5.  So why not mix up some homebrew Ecto Cooler with some Crystal Head Vodka while you marvel and your new marshmallow friend?

WWE Ghostbusters

WWE Ghostbusters

Mattel - Walmart exlusives

Who ya gonna call?  No, after them...Transformers!  No....Ninja Turtles!  No...Stone Cold Steve Austin?  GIMME A HELL YEAH! (Cue breaking glass sfx.)  Just when you think a Ghostbusters crossover couldn't get more bizarre than a turtle with a Winston stache, comes a death knell from Mattel.  Gotta squeeze a couple more bucks from a license we're losing to Hasbro, right?  Anyway, weird and goofy?  Yes, but are they cool?

I think so.  The wrestlers they chose to strap proton packs to may not match the characteristics of the true Ghostbusters, but make sense as recognizable faces of the WWE brand: Shawn Michaels, John Cena, The Rock, and Austin.  Solid choices, but I do wish they had thrown in at least one 80's classic.  Or a whole team to be era appropriate.  Maybe Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Junkyard Dog, and Macho Man?  Slimer with the head of George the Animal Steele?  Oh well, I'm happy with the two Attitude era choices.

Austin and Rock get the most costume variance, with full removable jumpsuits and slime-green undershirt decos.  Shawn adds some tan to his already green DX gimmick, plus a name-tagged half-shirt and GB logo hat.  Cena has some GB logo sweatbands and a bigger one on his removable shirt.



















  

GB accessories include the removable proton packs from the Mattel figures at the end of the Mattycollector era.  You know...the ones they released to bait fans into committing to a make-or-break Ecto-1 campaign.  Good times.  The packs are a bit small on these guys, considering they are almost 7-in figures and the Matty GB figures were on the short end of the 6-in scale.  I would compare it to a large man wearing the scaled-down Spirit Halloween pack.  They also have removable belts with walkie talkie, belt gizmo, and such.  Shawn is packed with the ghost trap that has opening doors to plug in the trap effect.  I'm disappointed by the lack of PKE meter.  Hell, they could have thrown in so much more considering they already have the molds:  video camera, tripod trap, sniffer.

These are Elite figures, so at least they didn't go cheap with basic articulation.  They are Walmart exclusives, priced less than your standard Elites elsewhere:  $15.88...not too shabby!  There is a translucent purple, "ghost" Undertaker figure that I missed out on picking these up.  From the wrestling toys forum, I gather that strict wrestling fans poo-poo this GB gimmick save for Taker and his slime-green classic championship belt.  It's easy to say these will "peg warm" when you are helping to ensure that GB and completist fans can't find a full set, you sacks of monkey crap!

In the absence of Undertaker, I threw in some 7-in articulated skeletons to take the smack down.  These are under $5 at Home Depot, and feature 24 points of articulation!  The plastic is flexible, allowing you to pop off joints for customization.  They scale okay with the wrestling figures, and should work great with Masters of the Universe Classics and most spooky NECA offerings.

Bonus:  I also recently picked up an older Mattel Egon figure with removable pack from Ebay to complete the larger No-Ghost Logo build-a-figure (mentioned in an earlier review).  It doesn't do much as figures go, but it looks nice in the background and glows in the dark.  Man, does it glow!