#118: Marvel Universe Galactus

I wasn't into Marvel Legends during its heyday, when they made what I consider to be their two best build-a-figures: the Sentinel and Galactus. I most regretted missing the Sentinel, and I always thought having the Galactus would be cool too. Now Hasbro has made a brand new Galactus, and will soon release the new Sentinel, and I'll be happy. This isn't a re-release of the BAF Galactus, it's an entirely new figure, larger than the first one. It also has electronics, it talks and lights up. It's just... huge. Unicron is no longer the tallest figure in my collection. Overall, it's pretty cool.

Oh, and it comes with a Silver Surfer too.

#117: Star Wars The Clone Wars Clone Pilot Goji

Another slightly different clone trooper here. This was also one of the new figures that was out at Target. Goji is a pilot, so he has the life support box attached to the helmet. Otherwise, he'd just be a regular clone figure. The only other significant thing about him is the monster face design painted on his helmet. Could Goji be short for Gojira? I would not be surprised if that is the inspiration here.

#116: Star Wars The Clone Wars Flamethrower Clone Trooper

So when Target put out all their exclusives on the endcap, they also put out a few new figures as well. One of them was this flamethrower trooper here. You may notice that it is very similar to the Rex in cold weather gear figure, which is appropriate since the animation model is similarly repurposed. The flame is removable, and there is another flame piece that is meant to fit over the torso of another figure. Presumably, it's meant for torching droids, but if you have any witches that need burning, this guy is ready for the job. Most clones are white with colored markings, so this one really stands out from the ranks.

#115: Star Wars The Clone Wars Senate Commando Captain and Senate Commando

So, the 2010 Fall exclusives at Target have been showing up in stores the past few weeks, and I was able to pick up the only one I intend to get. For me, this was a no-brainer. Senate guards are cool, and a chance to pick up more is always welcome. They're basically just clone figures with a new shoulder and a new head (like the Captain Argyus figure). The captain has an elaborate design painted on the armor, and a cooler helmet featuring a large crest. Neither of them have removable helmets. I think it's a pretty cool set, and if you're into the senate guards like I am, you'll probably want to pick it up too. It's a Target exclusive, so it could disappear quickly. It's also entirely possible that it will linger and get put on clearance. So, it's up to you if you want to wait. I didn't.

#114: LEGO Minifigure Spartan

When I found the LEGO minifigures at my Target, the Spartan was the only one I wanted that I was unable to find. Fortunately, yo go re of OAFE.net had bought a case and was selling off his extras at cost. This is the minifigure I wanted the most, so I'm glad I was able to pick it up for a reasonable price. Now if I could only get my hands on 299 more of them...

#113: Ghostbusters Minimates Dr. Peter Venkman and Energized Terror Dog

Over a year ago when I got my first Ghostbuster Minimates, I said that I would prefer an unslimed Venkman. Finally I got one. At last, my Ghostbusters team is complete. It's nice that every Minimates Ghostbuster includes a proton stream, unlike Ghostbuster figures currently made by another company. The other half of the set is the energized terror dog. I guess terror dog is the official name for them, but that's never how I thought of them. Because this is the energized version, it's mostly semi-translucent plastic. What's neat about the terror dog is that it's a regular Minimate body in there, with a bunch of additional parts to give it that canine appearance. I'd have preferred a regular version,, but weird variant terror dog is better than none.

#112: Marvel Universe Colossus

During the Wolverine movie line, they released a Colossus figure, but I never saw it in stores so I never even had the chance to pick it up. I'm glad I missed out on it, because it looks pretty bad in comparison with this new version. The old one had odd proportions, and just doesn't look right to me. This version, on the other hand, looks pretty good. As the Marvel Universe line progresses, it seems that they are making adjustments to the articulation, and they seem to be for the better, mostly. The hips on Colossus don't really like being any position other than just standing straight. Also, the shoulder pads on the costume restrict the arms from going too high. Otherwise, I'm really digging it. The paint suits the figure well, it really brings out the detail, especially on the metal skin.

#111: The Dark Knight Scarecrow

When this figure went on sale during one of the monthly Mattycollector.com snafus, I thought about trying to order one. In the end, I didn't like the figure enough to pay 20 bucks or whatever it would have come out to. But for five bucks at Toys R Us, this was an easy decision. The first movie Scarecrow had him sporting a straitjacket. I liked the mask and suit look better, so that's the version I wanted to get. Until Mattel gets around to doing an updated comic style Scarecrow, this one is pretty cool. Like the other figures in the six inch Movie Masters line, he comes with a piece of "evidence" which in this case is his mask. It's too big for him, but perhaps it would fit on a 12 inch figure decently. I'd rather he came with a more useful accessory for the toy, perhaps a fear gas emitting suitcase. He's got the usual guy in a suit articulation that the line uses, and it works well. Oddly enough, he isn't wearing a tie. Instead, he has a sort of brooch or something. I'm not sure what's up with that. Maybe it is accurate to his onscreen costume, but I'd have to check.

#110: Iron Man 2 Comic Series Iron Monger

So the other week, Target was having a sale, with Iron Man and Star Wars figures for 5 bucks each. I can't resist a good deal, and I can't resist a cool mechanical suit so I picked up the comic version of Iron Monger. It's pretty cool! It's about the same height as the movie Iron Monger, but with much chunkier proportions. I also dig the big stompy feet on it. Despite its bulk, the articulation is pretty well designed. The shoulder armor/pads can move up and down, so they don't get in the way too much. The left elbow is stuck, so it's currently serving some freezer time. There is a black wash over the figure, which really helps bring out the details of the sculpt. That's a good thing, because it's pretty well detailed. This version of Iron Monger is definitely worth picking up.

#109: Doctor Who The Master

Perhaps the Doctor's greatest nemesis is the Master. Like the Doctor, he's a renegade Time Lord, but he'd rather rule the Universe than help people. As one of the few people that can match the Doctor intellectually, it's always trouble when he shows up. The Master has been played by a few different actors through the years, and this is the most recent version, played by John Simm. Apparently John Simm has a face that's hard to capture as an action figure head, because although there have been a couple figures so far based on him, they haven't yet made a good likeness. The hair doesn't look right at all, unfortunately. I think the expression they went with is also part of the problem. John Simm's Master is pretty manic, so the calm expression doesn't look right. The picture they used on the package shows him with a crazy grin, and I think that would have been appropriate to use for the figure as well. Other than that, my only complaint is that the right bicep swivel seems to be stuck, even after some time in the freezer. Hopefully the next time they make a John Simm Master (assuming that they do), it will have a better likeness.

#108: Doctor Who Vashta Nerada Suit Monster

I've been meaning to buy one of these guys for a while now, and I'm glad I finally got around to it, because it's damn cool. There are a couple characters this toy could represent, but basically it's a victim of the Vashta Nerada (an invisible swarm of tiny carnivorous creatures). They have skeletonized the suit's inhabitant and are using it to walk around in. So basically, skeleton spaceman! My only complaint about this figure is that the lines are perhaps too prominent due to the paint. I think this is a figure that would be worth picking up even if you're not a fan of Doctor Who. It's hard to top a skeleton in a spacesuit.

#107: Doctor Who Captain Jack Harkness

Aside from Amy Pond, Jack Harkness is my favorite companion since the re-launch of the series. I'm not his only fan, as he was given a starring role in the spinoff Torchwood. There have been a couple Jack figures. I like this the best, as it's the outfit he wore throughout Torchwood, and for his return appearance on Doctor Who. This version of the figure has also been released with the Doctor's hand as an accessory, but this one just comes with Jack's trusty revolver. The hand would be cool to have too, but it's no big deal to miss out on it. Otherwise, it's an all around good figure, as are most of the figures in the line.

#106: Star Wars K-Mart exclusive Jodo Kast

So in case you're wondering who Jodo Kast is, he's a bounty hunter that pretended to be Boba Fett, which resulted in Boba Fett kicking his ass and leaving him to die. Mainly, he appeared in the Star Wars RPG and a couple of comics. This was all in the early days of the Expanded Universe, so he's not exactly a well known character. Oddly enough, this is his second action figure. The first was released early in the Legacy Collection but suffered from arms permanently stuck at a 90 degree angle, having been based on a mediocre Boba Fett mold. Now, Hasbro has gone back to the drawing board, and re-used a superior Boba Fett mold, as well as sculpting a new head to go under the removable helmet. So basically this is the best figure that you can likely hope for of Jodo Kast. I never would have guessed he would get a second release, but there it is. Being mostly a cheap repaint was probably in his favor.

To make up for how well this figure turned out otherwise, it has been released as a K-Mart exclusive. Given how few K-Marts are still around, that might make for some difficulty tracking it down. I was able to order mine from their website, so you may be able to order one too if you want one. If you sign up for a free trial their premium shipping service, you can get free shipping, then cancel the trial afterwards. Which is what I did. It's a dollar or so more than a normal figure at retail, so nearly doubling that with shipping would have made the price too steep for my tastes. Also be warned, K-Mart does a terrible job of packing their products. The figure arrived in a huge box which could have easily accommodated probably 20 carded figures, and there was no packing material holding it in place, it was just rattling around loose inside. The card was slightly bent, but the toy itself was fine. If you're one of those people that don't open their toys, it is something to watch out for.

#105: Star Wars Vintage Collection General Grievous

Many times, Hasbro will make a figure of a character, then later release a better version, and then again later another better version, with each new version somehow not quite the definitive version of a character. Grievous is a perfect example of this. There was a version of him with a cape, but two arms, then one with four arms but no cape, and a different version with a cape but two arms. And a few others between now and then. Finally, Hasbro has released what is almost the definitive Grievous figure. Before I opened it, I thought it would be, but it's not quite there. So here's what this Grievous has: four arms which can also be connected so it appears he has two arms, the proper height, plentiful articulation, and a cape. Except for the cape, this is exactly the same Grievous as the previously released version. The cape is where this figure really shines. For the first time, the cape is soft goods and accurately represents the one he wears onscreen. It even has tiny pockets stitched to the inside, allowing extra storage for lightsabers stolen from vanquished Jedi.

So what's the problem with this figure? The plastic they used on the limbs for this version is much softer than the previous one, and the articulation is also looser. Naturally, this means trouble standing up (which tends to be a problem for Grievous figures). I am not sure if this is a problem specific to my figure, or if every one is like that, but it's enough to keep it from perfection. As it is, it seems that the cape is removable, so I am going to transfer it over to my other Grievous that uses the same mold. As long as that works, I'll have the definitive Grievous, and I won't need another.

#104: Star Wars Jabba's Throne

Back during the 90s revival of the Star Wars line, the only Jabba figure available was based on his appearance in the special edition of the first movie. So of course I had that, but it just wasn't the same. Since I got back into collecting a few years ago, I've been waiting for a new version of Jabba as he appears in Return of the Jedi. Hasbro teased us recently with a new Jabba in the animated style, but I'm glad I skipped on that one because they pretty much nailed it with this new Jabba. Unfortunately, they also made it a Wal-Mart exclusive. Fortunately, I was able to order it from Wal-Mart's website the second time it was in stock. Part of their world domination strategy includes surprisingly cheap shipping charges, so it wasn't a big deal that I never found one of these in person.

So this is basically the ultimate Jabba the Hutt. It's got Jabba, his dais, a bunch of cushions, Salacious Crumb, and Oola. Oola, the dancer, is a cool figure. The string is permanently attached to a collar around her neck, so if you don't like that, you'll have to cut it off. The pipe and its stand are removable, as are all of the cushions. You can come up with whatever arrangements strike your fancy. The dais has wheels on the bottom, so it can be moved back and forth whenever Jabba wants a better view of what's going on in the rancor's den. Jabba himself is a great representation of his onscreen appearance, right down to the tattoo on his arm and the scar on his tail (I always wondered about that, was Salacious Crumb chewing on Jabba's tail?). The tail itself has a bendy wire inside it, otherwise the lower body is hollow soft plastic. The upper body can rotate, and the arms are articulated at the wrists, shoulders, and elbows.

If you managed to pick up that slave outfit Leia a while ago, this is the perfect companion piece for her. If not, this is still a totally cool set to have.