#80: Minecraft - Overworld Zombie

I guess Minecraft has finally achieved enough mainstream success that it has a toy line that is available at more than just online outlets. Thanks to the simplistic style of graphics in the game, the zombie is a spot on representation of the game model. Articulation is fairly limited, but that is an accurate representation of how the zombies are able to move in the game. The head, shoulders, and legs are all swviel joints. In fact, I think the toy might have more articulation than in the game: a waist swivel.

Although the zombies in the game aren't armed, preferring hand to hand combat, the figure includes a sword. I think the Steve figure comes with a pickaxe, so this would be useful for arming him against the various mobs of the Minecraft world. In either case, the zombie is fully capable of holding the sword. The hand is shaped perfectly to accommodate the pixelated shape of the sword's hilt, and it fits snugly.

The zombie's other accessory is a block of iron ore.

The Minecraft figures are a bit pricy at ten dollars each, so at least they get a couple accessories each. For fans of the game, these are definitely cool to have.

#79: Batman Unlimited - Batman (Arkham Origins)

Despite being a fan of Batman in general, and the Arkham series video games specifically, I never bought any of the Batman figures based on the previous games. I knew that DC Collectibles had a line for Arkham Origins, but the Mattel figures based on the game were a surprise, showing up around the same time as the game's release. It's a pretty solid representation of Batman as he appears in the game. The cape is billowing dramatically, perhaps from the wind, or perhaps he's coming out of a glide to swoop in on some unsuspecting goon. The cape is a fairly soft plastic, but it's massive enough to throw off Batman's balance and make him a bit back heavy. Articulation isn't the DCUC standard. Instead of bicep swivels and hinge elbows, Batman gets swivel/hinge elbows. He also gets double hinged knees, and the head can actually look up or down. Although the array of gadgets is one of the aspects of the game that really helps it feel like you are Batman, the figure has no accessories at all.

#78: Hot Wheels - Bump Around

Usually I restrict my Hot Wheels purchases to representations of pop culture vehicles, other oddities, or cars I happen to particularly like. The Bump Around definitely falls into the category of oddities. It's a bumper car! With wheels. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a car that looks like a bumper car, or a bumper car that has wheels so that it lives up to the toy line's name. Either way, it's pretty cool. It even includes the pole on the back that touches the ceiling of the ride, helping give the car its power. The packaging identifies Bump Around as part of the HW Racing grouping, and is numbered 145/250.

#77: The Walking Dead - Gas Mask Riot Gear Zombie

Rounding out the month of October, for Halloween, here's a thematically appropriate action figure: a Walking Dead zombie. There are figures based on the TV show, and some based on the comic. This is one of the TV figures. I'm way behind on the show, but I've been reading the comic, so although I was aware of the figures, I wasn't too interested until I saw them in person. The look of the zombie in riot gear was just too cool to pass up. It's been a long time since I last bought a McFarlane Toys figure, and I am glad to see that this is a well done toy. It's well articulated, but not super articulated. Most of the paint is on the head and chest (looks like someone vomited all over himself). Zombies aren't really known for using weapons, so he doesn't come with any accessories. Well, there is an action feature, of sorts...

A tear away face! The whole portion of his face covered by the gas mask is detachable, revealing a pretty gruesome fleshless face. Now that is an action feature I can dig.

All my zombies

#76: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - M.O.U.S.E.R.S.

Finally, I get some antagonist figures for the turtles to fight. The M.O.U.S.E.R.S. come in a pack of seven, and they are pretty cool. There are three grey Mousers, two in a darker grey, and two in black, which helps give some variety to the otherwise almost identical figures. They all have a red spot for their optical sensors, and the black Mousers have a bit of red on the ridges inside of their mouths, which is the only other way they are different from the others. Their legs are on swivels, their necks are ball joints, and their jaws are swivels as well. You can get a surprisingly good amount of posing out of them. The Mousers are pretty simple toys, but they're fun, and it's good to have them in numbers to swarm the turtles. I'm definitely thinking about picking up a second pack if I run across them again soon.

#75: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Ninjas In Training Raphael & Michelangelo

After being surprised to find the young Leonardo and Donatello set I've been keeping an eye out for the companion Raphael and Michelangelo set. They are basically the same style, with four points of articulation and wooden weapons. I still wish the figures had at least swivel wrists, as that would give posing their arms a lot more options. They do have good personality. Raphael looks aggressive, and Michelangelo looks high. Interestingly, the notch on Raphael's chest is present, indicating that he received it a young age.

Group shot

#74: Batman Classic TV Series - Catwoman

Finally, the sole female figure from the Batman '66 line is making its way through retail channels. Catwoman was famously played by three different actresses between the series and the movie it inspired, and this is the Julie Newmar version. Can Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether retools be far behind? The figure features a fairly good, if slightly cartoonish, likeness. Articulation is standard, and there's not a whole lot of paintwork necessary, but what there is seems to be good. Her gloves and boots are a more glossy black than the rest of her catsuit. She doesn't include any accessories. Her left hand is sculpted in an odd flat pose (she can tell Batman to talk to the hand), while the right is merely open. A clawing hand would have been appropriate.

Catwoman's display base features the sound effect "CRRAACK!" which is presumably the crack of a whip. Too bad she doesn't have one, although I don't remember her using one in the TV show. Not that she can hold one anyway, with her open hands. Once again, the image on the card is printed in a horizontal orientation, but the card only fits into the base vertically.

Batman surrounded!

#73: Star Trek Hot Wheels - U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

I'm not exactly a big Star Trek fan. I've only seen the two newer movies, plus Wrath of Khan. But the Enterprise is a classic iconic spaceship, so I've been keeping an eye out for the Hot Wheels version of it for a few months. I lucked into it in a display at a grocery store, and snatched it up immediately. I think this is the newer movie version of the ship, and it is sporting some battle damage, in the form of scorch marks painted on various points. I'd have preferred a clean version, but it is what it is. This is also my first instance of a Hot Wheels toy coming out of the package warped. The main dish and body of the Enterprise is metal like normal Hot Wheels toys, but the nacelles and arms they're on are made of plastic. They are a little warped from the packaging, so they aren't completely straight. I think it would have been amusingly ridiculous if the Enterprise had included wheels, but instead there is a small stand for it. The stand is in the shape of what I think is the logo of the Federation, the sort of inverted V shape that is on the communicators.

"Captain, this is most illogical. It needs to be at least three times as big!"

My entire collection of Star Trek toys.

#72: Sci-Fi Revoltech 005 - Jack Skellington

I've been feeling the Halloween spirit, and I've been reading reviews of Revoltech figures but don't have any, so those circumstances combined have inspired me to pick up the Revoltech Jack Skellington figure. Jack looks pretty accurate to his onscreen appearance, so he's ridiculously tall and thin with tiny feet. The only thing that looks off is the appearance of the revolver joints which are basically swivel-hinge joints. He is very well articulated, though. Even the neck is articulated on both ends. The bow tie can rotate too, as it is attached by a peg.

Jack includes a display base which consists of a section of sidewalk with a bit of fence interrupted by a gate, with a tree behind it. The three jack o' lanterns are attached by pegs and can be repositioned. A branch of the tree plugs into the back of Jack's torso. While the coattails are parted in a way to allow the branch through, it does still push them back a little.

For accessories, Jack includes a few extra hands. There are two grabbing hands, and a pointing left hand. The hands are very easy to swap out, as they are attached by a simple peg. There is also a name plate which would wouldn't look out of place sitting in front of him on a desk. For storage, a small box made of orange translucent plastic is also included.

It seems like a lot of Japanese figures get alternate face plates with different expressions, and Jack gets four extra heads rather than different face plates. There's a scared face, a scary face, a big smile, and a thinking face. They're all very nice looking and easy to swap out on his neck.

Even though his feet are tiny, Jack can be posed without the assistance of his base.

SKELETONS!

#71: Imaginext DC Super Friends - Bizarro & Safe

So far, I've managed to avoid getting any Imaginext toys, mostly because I don't need to start collecting in yet another new scale, although the playsets and vehicles are pretty cool. Then I saw there is a Bizarro set, and I do like collecting Bizarros, so I thought I would give it a try. After a couple months keeping an eye out for the set, I finally found one. This is an interesting design for Bizarro. I'm assuming it's a repaint of a New 52 version of Superman, given the lack of trunks and a belt. For some reason, New 52 Bizarro is wearing a t-shirt, so this toy isn't exactly faithful to any design. Still, it's the more purple version of his costume, which is a look I prefer, so that's cool. These toys are designed for the younger set, so articulation is fairly minimal. The shoulders are swivel-hinges, the wrists are swivels, and the legs are connected and can only swivel back and forth. His cape is also soft goods, so if I had any vehicles from the line, he'd be able to sit in it. Bizarro is packaged with a safe. It opens when you push on the dial. It's a little too small for him to fit inside. It's not really anything terribly exciting, and I would have preferred another character instead.

Bizarros!