April in Review
April has been busy, but before it's over, I wanted to point out all the great content that's been featured here throughout the month.
I took a look at a couple "vintage figures", in particular with my spotlights on 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tokka and 2003's Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime. There were also new Lego Minifigures reviews and Transformers Prime reviews.
The month of May will feature even more content coming your way, including additional Lego Minifigures Series 7 reviews, the new collector tip of the month, and a few new top 10 lists to enjoy.
Ratchet and Soundwave Get Reviewed
It's been a good week for this particular toy collector when it comes to new finds. I've been hunting the Transformers Prime Ratchet, Soundwave, and Arcee figures for quite some time in my local rural area, and finally found two of the three this week. I quickly snatched Ratchet and Soundwave, took them home, ripped open the packages, and fell in love with two more Transformers Prime figures.
In a continuing trend, both the Deluxe Class Ratchet and Soundwave figures are strong entries into the Transformers Prime line. You can read my detailed thoughts on each figure by checking out my Ratchet review and Soundwave review. These figures are worth tracking down.
I plan to continue providing reviews of Transformers Prime figures in the future, so keep coming back and keep enjoying the show when it airs on TV.
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Photo © Corey Tincher
Minifigures Series 7 Reviews
I just spotted Lego Minifigures Series 7 in stores earlier this week, and I've already taken some time to look at the first two figures I purchased. Spend a minute and look at my Tennis Ace review and Computer Programmer review for a detailed look at two of the newest minifigures in stores.
The Tennis Ace figure wasn't spectacular, but remained another solid entry in the line. The Computer Programmer, on the other hand, is surprisingly charming. There aren't really any bad figures in the Lego Minifigures line, but there are some clear differences between these two particular releases.
I can't wait to get my hands on more figures from Series 7 in the very near future. I'm especially looking forward to the Ocean King, Aztec Warrior, and Bagpiper. Hopefully I'll be able to review them soon.
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Photo © Corey Tincher
Lego Minifigures Series 7 Has Arrived
Although Lego Minifigures Series 7 was promised to begin hitting stores in May, it seems the lovable little figures have hit store shelves at least a few days early. I managed to find the new red-packaged blind-bagged figures hanging on in an end-cap in my local store's automotive section, of all places. So although they may require some hunting, they're definitely already out there.
I've reviewed multiple figures from Series 5 and Series 6 of the Minfigures line, most recently the Leprechaun and Highland Battler releases. Although I only grabbed two Series 7 figures to start, I was lucky enough to get the Tennis Ace and Computer Programmer, two personas which hit home with me personally.
Lego continues to pump out wave after wave of the Minifigures line, and like many collectors, I can't get enough. They're some of the most consistently well made action figures being produced today, they're extremely affordable, and practically every new figure is beloved by fans of the line.
April's Tip for New Collectors
I've decided to start a tradition in which I'll be pointing out an important tip for new collectors each month. There are a lot of things that can go wrong when collecting figures, so having an extra piece of knowledge here and there never hurts.
April's Tip: Never tug, yank, or pull on the straps holding figures in their packaging. Figures are typically held in a plastic bubble with rubber bands, twist ties, or other foul devices used to keep them out of collectors' hands. Some people get impatient and try to fight their way through these shackles and end up damaging their figures. Always use small scissors to make an incision in the straps to more easily free a figure. Knives can damage paint, and ruthlessly tugging on straps can break joints.
I have more tips on how to open an action figure package safely, so take a look and good luck on getting your next figure out of its plastic prison totally safe and sound.
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Photo © Corey Tincher
Updates on Mattel and DC Comics
There's a lot of confusion regarding Mattel and their DC Comics properties these days. DC Universe Classics is long gone, its replacement DCU All Stars is being limited to one small wave, and the Young Justice figures are also dead in the water. Things certainly don't look good for the future of DC Comics based toy lines at Mattel.
That said, representatives from Mattel have been reassuring collectors that there is life in DC's brands yet. Although the two flagship lines, both the 6-inch classic-styled figures and Young Justice are being canceled, Mattel supposedly intends to "relaunch" the brand with an assortment in 2013 that's yet to be announced.
Mattel issued a few words explaining the reasoning behind recent changes. "Overall, we need to adjust to retailers, consumers and what's selling in volumes that can be supported." Essentially Mattel claims to need stronger support to produce such a wide array of collector-focused lines. Despite their comments, the blame can't be placed on collectors. It's a function of a weak brand identity from DC Comics and mishandled lines from Mattel.
Regardless of the direction taken by Mattel with DC Comics based action figures in the near future, it certainly seems the golden era of the Mattel and DC Comics relationship is over.
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Photo © Mattel
Guides to Everything Transformers
Trying to understand everything about the various Transformers iterations is an overwhelming undertaking. There are so many different characters, universes, story lines, and figures. I produced a couple new guides to help people navigate their way through one of the action figure world's most confusing brands.
First off is the specific Guide to Transformers Prime, and there's also a general Guide to Transformers. Keep in mind that these are both ever-evolving articles that'll be added to as I develop new Transformers content.
I hope these guides give readers a chance to better understand Transformers and get more involved in collecting its fantastic figures and enjoyable toys.
New Transformers Prime Reviews
Transformers Prime is one of my favorite shows currently on television, and it's just a nice bonus that it's centered on the world of action figures. I finally got my hands on some long-awaited Transformers Prime figures, and I've written a few reviews for your enjoyment.
It's quite an eclectic assortment. On the Decepticon side, there is Megatron, an incredible figure that looks like it stepped right out of my TV. On the Autobot side, I grabbed a couple of short-term guests on the show, Wheeljack and Cliffjumper. One of them is great, and the other is average. I'll let you read the reviews to figure out which is which.
There are lots more reviews coming in the near future, from both Transformers and other properties, so don't wander off too far.
Transformers Prime Video Game Announced
This month has been full of Transformers news thanks to the Cybertron Con 2012, new Transformers Prime episodes, Transformers Prime figures hitting collectors' hands, and of course the release of the Transformers Prime Season One DVD and Blu-ray. Even more Transformers news was made this week with the announcement of the Transformers Prime video game.
Set to be released by Activision in Fall 2012, the Transformers Prime game will be directed at younger audiences and be released exclusively for Nintendo systems. Unlike the upcoming Transformers: Fall of Cybertron game designed for older gamers, this new Transformers Prime adaptation will be capitalizing on the popularity of the show among youngsters.
I absolutely love everything Transformers Prime, and I'll probably be tracking down this game just to see what it has to offer. The show is fantastic, the figures I have so far are great, and I expect the game to be enjoyable too. It's a wonderful time to be a Transformers fan.
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Photo © Corey Tincher
Vote on the Transformers Hall of Fame
Each year Hasbro inducts characters into the Transformers Hall of Fame, and it's that time again. The inductees already announced are Jazz, Grimlock, and Shockwave. Those characters were pulled out of the Transformers Vault by folks at Hasbro, but they've left the last spot open, and it's up to the fans to decide. Be sure to do your part and take a minute to go vote in the Transformers Hall of Fame Fan's Choice Poll.
The characters in the poll are Beast Wars Megatron, Wheeljack, Arcee, Sky-Byte, and Rodimus. The odds are certainly stacked against Sky-Byte with those other major names, but there's always a chance for an upset. I have a feeling Rodimus will take the prize thanks to his general popularity. It would be nice to see Arcee win as the only major female Transformer.
I personally can't decide between Wheeljack and Beast Wars Megatron. I love Wheeljack, and I adore that iteration of Megatron. The good news is I don't have to limit my vote to just one, because fans can vote once per day until March 21st. I guess I'll be alternating between my two favorites until the deadline.
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Photo © Hasbro