Paulie Pennino
Rocky - Jakks Pacific
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle! Everyone’s favorite alcoholic, abusive brother is home for the holidays. I missed out on Paulie from the Jakks Pacific Rocky line way back in 2006, so this guy was a must at a local toy shop...for only $7.99! Between Jakks and NECA, I feel my Rocky lineup is that much more complete now. Time to start work on a custom of Paulie’s robot!
Take a look back at the rest of my Rocky Collection here:
Louis Tully’s Terrible Night
Ghostbusters Plasma Series- Hasbro
As it was originally planned as a San Diego Comic Con exclusive, I should be jumping for joy that I got it with no fuss from Hasbro Pulse. HOWEVER, this Plasma Series capper does come at a price...and I’m not just talking money.
Let’s talk positives first. Louis Tully looks great. They absolutely nailed the Rick Moranis head sculpt. Mattel’s figure was okay for it’s time, but this is a case where the digital scan trumps hand artistry by a mile.
His body is totally unique to the line, having no shared parts that I can tell. He is appropriately short and frumpy in all the right spots. The articulation is greater and more improved than the Mattel Tully, obviously...my how Marvel Legends spoiled us all.
While making the colander helmet a separate, removable piece and not a part of a separate head does work just fine, Mattel still put a little more effort in their Tully in detail and accessories. Pizza, popcorn barrel, barbecued Terror Dog head...here, you get nothing. A tiny pot of coffee (yes, have some), a telephone, and a lamp would have put longtime collectors over the moon.
I liked the dark blue stripes on the shirt that Mattel used, over the flat blue we get here. I also wish he had a separate, neutral head. This one, with the red eyes, is in full Keymaster mode. (What an asshole!) Still, it’s the best version of the character we have gotten so far.
Having already released one as a build a figure, Hasbro thought this was the best way to get us to buy another Terror Dog. They are right, but you’d think you would get a little more effort from them than what we have here. Reuse of the body sculpt and paint were a given, but the head...there’s supposed to be a difference of horns between Vinz Clotho and Zuul.
Technically, we have two Vinz Clotho figures in name alone according to Hasbro. The BAF was labeled Vinz and, to make their double pack gimmick scene specific, this one is also Vinz. C’mon, we’re talking a bout a half a thimble’s worth of plastic here! I could modify the horns myself...but this is the kind of abuse Ghostbusters fans already had to endure with Mattel!
Sigh, it is what it is...and what it is is at least a fairly well rounded first movie line. Sure, there a a few more ghosts we’d like. I’m hoping more are on the way just to get Slimer out there. If not, Mattel at least has us covered with their efforts. Gotta mix and match with this mixed bag of a property. Ghostbusters deserves better...but, hey, it goes with the underdog theme, right?
Back to the Future Clock Tower and Mini Time Machines
Funko Pops - Jada Toys
Here we go again...I bought into those nasty Funko Pops once more. While it’s hard to pass on anything Doc Brown, he was not the aim for this special set. He comes packed with the famous Hill Valley Courthouse Clock Tower!
Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower! - RIP, Elsa Raven.
It’s made of a soft, hollow plastic much like the Pops. I have the Beetlejuice Dante’s Inferno Room from a few years back, and was afraid that this might be as fragile/brittle as that. Luckily, even the weather vane and lightning bolt are made of a semi-flexible plastic.
While still on the small side, I got this primarily to stand in with Diamond Select’s huge BTTF minimates collection. I think it looks pretty good!
It scales even better with 1/64 die-cast cars. I have many Time Machines in that scale, so it’s nice to have a backdrop for them as well.
Another BTTF collectible I picked up recently: Jada mini die-cast Time Machines! As if micro vehicles aren’t fun enough, I am eagerly awaiting NECA’s 1955 Doc Brown figure to recreate the scale-model demonstration.
November 5, 1955...Happy 35th, Back to the Future!
Go back in time to look at my BTTF cars and Minimates collection: 88 miles per hour!!!
Sack Head Jason
Friday the 13th Part 2- NECA
I never thought there was anything inherently scary about Jason’s signature hockey mask. Gimme a good sack, length of rope, flannel shirt, and bib overalls...I prefer the homespun “Bald Knobber” look, dagnabbit! Maybe it’s because I live in the Ozarks? Why, is that you, Cuzin Jason? Come on down by the fire and rest a spell! Bring yer Ma, too!
“Ma’’ has seen better days. She’s not quite as dried up as Mrs. Bates, but at least the smell might have faded at this point.
Jason has come in from a hard night‘s work, putting to rest all the tools of the trade. Looks like a mess of em are in dire need of a good scrubbin, son!
The fire is roaring high and mighty hot. Better take off your mask before you freeze to death.
Yeeesh, on second thought, put it back on! That’s definitely a face only a mother could love.
Oh, look! More guests to share the warmth of our company.
What’s that? Yes, I have seen the controversial X-Files episode, “Home.” What’s that got to do with...Jason look out!
Oh, well...he’ll be back. Again and again and again and...Happy Halloween 2020!
Halloween II Mystery Capsules
NECA
Impulse buy! I found these in the “adult collectible” section of Walmart (electronics area) and had to know what was inside. Funny that NECA pumps so much energy behind sequels that are no longer canon (or part of an alternate timeline?).
What’s inside? Was this worth 10? Well...it’s a literal mixed bag. First, you get some appropriately colored capsules embossed with the Halloween II logo. I guess you could string these together or put em in a bowl for a seasonal decoration.
Inside are Halloween II trinkets of varying quality. Here’s my ranking from least to most exciting: eraser, lanyard, shoe laces, magnet, key chain, finger puppet mask, Haddonfield Memorial patch, enamel pin, Halloween III skull mask.
Wait...Halloween III? They couldn’t think of nine H2 collectibles? Nothing to commemorate my favorite kill in the entire series?! I’m not complaining too much about that, as this is my favorite pull from the mix. It may just be a repacked head from NECA’s H3, Mego-style (pronounced “cheapandoutofscale”) figures, but the peg hole fits my Michael Myers figure and doesn’t look too big. I wish I could get the pumpkin and witch mask the same way, as I’m not a supporter of the 8-inch (pronounced “lame”), clothed line.
While half of these will be dumped in a bin and forgotten about, the other half I can see making future seasonal appearances. Kids, like mine, will have a good time opening these with you. NECA also has a Child’s Play pack available...I wonder which movies might be on deck next year? C’mon, tiny Jason masks!
BB Units
Galaxy’s Edge Trading Outpost
Target Exclusives - Hasbro
While I’m probably never going to get to visit Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World (due to admission price, travel time/distance, excessive crowds, TSA hassles, Coronavirus, etc) the overlords at the House of Mouse (Barf) have graciously allowed everyone’s favorite exclusive retailer, Target (Double barf), to bring park merchandise to their loyal subjects in the flyover states. Now you can buy the same, 2008 large Millennium Falcon for over twice the original price! Or maybe some BB Units? If you can find them! I found all three two-packs of BB Units. Missing in the same assortment were three Astromech Droids. What does that tell you about the sequel trilogy?
Anyhoo, more droids is more droids. They’re cute, colorful, and non-offensive (that sass-bot from “Solo” is another story). Also, 3.75” figures in this day and age are becoming more rare and rare...
There are apparently more body/ball designs than there are head models. With heads you only get dome or cylinder. Hey, sequel trilogy, what happened to the more triangular heads? Disney was probably afraid sharp angles might be deemed too aggressive or something...
I wish there was more color variation among these six. I mean, two share an orange deco, and two others share black and white. They are made so you can swap heads, but that can only take you so far. The old Droid Factory Astromechs had, what, five swapable parts? Sigh...
That’s a lot of complaining for something that doesn’t quite break the bank. Still, priced at $10 a set, I would have liked to have paid at least $2 less for what you get. But, hey, more background fodder for play as I re-write the further adventures of Luke Skywalker and company with my action figures.
The Hellfire Club
Marvel Legends - Hasbro
One positive of the Coronavirus has been the postponement (And hopefully death of) San Diego Comic-con and their awesome-yet-nerve-wracking exclusives. Hasbro had their own virtual convention and sold their planned exclusives via Hasbro Pulse. Shockingly, I had no trouble getting their product...like this fantastic Hellfire Club boxed set.
Arguments for wether or not a period-costumed dude would sell in the standard way aside, I would have fought the usual hordes to get my hands on important X-Men villain, Sebastian Shaw. He was featured in both the animated series AND played by Kevin Bacon in a movie...I think Hasbro underestimated this character with the 30+ crowd. However, he does have a unique sculpt that they might not get much mileage out of outside of more Inner Circle figures.
They appropriately double-dip with a new head and paint job for Donald Pierce.
And while I’m glad to have a standard “bad guy’ Emma Frost in my line-up, Hasbro got to double dip on sculpts to make Jean Grey/Selene. Don’t get me wrong, they all look great, but is this set worth $80?
“The White Queen welcomes you to DIE!!!”
Character wise, yes. Presentation wise, yes. This is another box I am keeping, because it practically folds out into a parlor room diorama. The gate-fold box is shiny and beautiful, and the invitation to the Inner Circle sealed on the back of the group portrait was a nice surprise.
The negatives to this set boils down to ankles and accessories. Donald’s ankles in particular can barely support his weight rocking back and forth. Both girls have high heels that may require special stands for proper posing.
While you do get one alternate head for Jean/Selene, the rest of the accessories are prepackaged/repaints. It’s disappointing that there are no accessories to demonstrate the characters’ powers. Not even a single reuse of previous mutant power effects. So, I’ll have to dive into the toy bin to find something to simulate Shaw’s energy absorbtion/rechanneling and Selene’s energy vampirism. At least Donald has some cyborg hands...ugh...courtesy of Dr. Doom?!
I guess the real accessories to this set are higher priced add-ons...revealed at Pulsecon and for sale shortly after: Hellfire Guard army builders! Follow-up coming soon!
