#101: Iron Man 2 Hulkbuster Iron Man

About three months after the movie was in theaters (just in time for the DVD release!) I finally got the Hulkbuster figure. As a figure that's actually based on the comics, as well as one that's pretty big, this was a must get for me. It's not quite as tall as the Iron Monger figure, but it's pretty bulky in all three dimensions. I always feel like I'm getting my money's worth with such an oversized figure. Now I'll have someone to keep my Hulks in line.

#100: Star Wars Vintage Collection Rocket-Firing Boba Fett

And here he is, the Boba Fett that can fire a rocket from his back. With his odd coloration and minimal articulation, he is very old school. This version comes with two different rockets. One can actually be fired, but it has that long tail to it, so if you leave it in his backpack it doesn't look so good. The other one is shorter and looks good, but doesn't fire. He does indeed come with an old school Stormtrooper blaster. Unfortunately, his hands aren't sculpted to hold it very well, so I used one of the clear rubber bands to keep it in place. Even though this is a mail-away figure, the card has a proof of purchase on the back. I suppose that means if you're crazy, you could send away for a Boba Fett using nothing but proofs of purchase from mail-away Boba Fett figures. You'd have to buy a lot of figures for that, since it takes five proofs of purchase to get one Boba Fett. I hope Hasbro keeps up the cool retro theme for its mail-away offers, this has been one of the better offers.

#99: Star Wars Vintage Collection Rocket-Firing Boba Fett

So the main schtick for the current Vintage Collection is the retro packaging. The current mail away promotion takes the retro appeal even further, with this reproduction of the legendary first Boba Fett figure. In case you don't know, the first Boba Fett figure was available as a mail away figure, a sneak preview from The Empire Strikes Back. He was originally meant to have a rocket firing backpack, but due to child safety issues that feature was removed before the figure was released. Some people claim to remember receiving a figure with the rocket firing feature intact, but that is supposedly wishful thinking. There are some extant prototypes out there with the rocket firing feature fully functional, but I imagine they cost quite the pretty penny. Enough with the history lesson! You may have noticed that this picture is of the toy still in its packaging. For the first time I can think of, I specifically got a toy to keep unopened. This isn't as crazy as it sounds. I actually got two: one to open, and one to leave in the packaging. Okay, maybe that is as crazy as it sounds.

#98: G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra Jungle Viper

When I first saw pictures of the Jungle Viper from Comic Con or whatever I thought he had wings. Given that he's a Cobra trooper, that sort of insanity doesn't bother me, and is in fact exactly what I have come to expect. It's the kind of insanity that just goes past stupidity and loops back again to brilliance. Although it turns out that this isn't some sort of flying trooper, it still looks pretty ridiculous in that way I dig. So of course I picked up the Jungle Viper as soon as I saw one hanging from a peg. It's actually a pretty cool figure, too. The pieces of the "wings" are adjustable, and attached to a backpack frame which is removable. Aside from the ridiculously long gun he carries, there are two pistols with corresponding holsters included. The crazy long eye scope is also removable. Oddly enough, the Jungle Viper has spooky zombie eyes. I don't get it, but whatever. This figure is totally cool in my book.

#97: Star Wars Vintage Collection Clone Trooper

Unlike the magnaguard, Hasbro has not been shy about making many clone trooper figures. I have a bunch of clones, and almost all of them are variations of some kind, rather than exactly the same figure over and over again. Going back to basics for the Vintage Collection, this is a slightly different clone than the one that's been readily available in the Saga Legends sub-line. For starters, this version doesn't have the antenna on the back that so many clone troopers have. Also, this one has a removable helmet. As far as I know, this is the first time an all white armored trooper has been released with a removable helmet singly carded. Finally! The other big feature setting this clone apart is the addition of the ball jointed hips. I hope this becomes a standard feature of future figures, but it seems to only slowly be working its way into the Star Wars line. If GI Joe can have them, why can't Star Wars? Either way, this is definitely a good standard clone trooper figure to have if you don't already have one. If you want to army build, this would be a good figure to bulk up your ranks with.

#96: Star Wars Vintage Collection Magnaguard

The last time the released a movie version of the magnaguard was when Revenge of the Sith was in theaters. I have that one, and it's not very great. It's not very well articulated, especially on the lower half, where the hips are the only articulation for the legs. Also the cape is plastic, which limits the movement of the right arm, and the weapon is deactivated, missing the purple energy beams. Since then, there has been an animated version, which I skipped. Five years after the original version, the Vintage toy is a huge improvement. The legs are fully articulated this time around, as is the torso. The electrostaff has the purple energy beams, which are removable. A blaster is also included, although I don't think I ever saw one of the magnaguards use one. The cape is soft goods, so it doesn't limit the movement of the arm, although it is kind of hard to get it to hang in the right way. I'd still take it over the plastic one. This is probably the best version of the magnaguard that Hasbro is going to be make, and will go well with the new Grievous (which I haven't found yet). You don't expect your Grievous to fight all his fights for himself, do you?

#95: LEGO Minifigure Karate Master

At last, we get to the final LEGO minifigure from Series 2 that I wanted and have been able to find. Oddly enough, he has the same hair piece as the vampire. The coolest part of this figure is that he comes with two tiny LEGO guy trophies.

#94: LEGO Minifigure Vampire

Continuing with the Halloween theme, I got the vampire. Vampires that don't sparkle in the sun have always been cool in my book. And this is no regular vampire, it's a Dracula! I am actually a little surprised to realize that this is the only vampire in my collection.

#93: LEGO Minifigure Mime

Now how could I resist a LEGO mime? I can't! So I bought one. He comes with three heads, so you could have a three headed mutant mime. Or you can change his mood at will. Or you can have a psycho killer mime that likes displaying trophies from his victims. For now, I have gone with the latter option. Or you could buy three and have a troupe of mimes with different expressions. But then you'd have six extra heads.

#92: LEGO Minifigure Pharaoh

As far as I know, LEGO never made any Egyptian themed sets. That is too bad, because I think a LEGO pyramid or Sphinx would be really cool. The hole on the front of his headdress is the right size to plug onto LEGO studs, so you could make it crazy elaborate. Or add a laser gun or something. Laser pharaoh!