Sunday 29 September 2013

Doctor Who: SFX Special Weapons Dalek Pre-order

Forbidden Planet.com have now listed the SFX Special Weapons Dalek on their site.

The Dalek features two sound effects, the gun sound and an explosion sound. Al Dewar tweeted that the figure had a 'secret'. Whether that secret was one of the above sound effects or something else remains to be seen... or heard, as the case may be.

The figure also features an improved paint job from the previous 'standard' release. (Note: The picture below is the original prototype, not the production figure)

Follow the ad link on the right to Forbidden Planet.com to pre-order yours today!


Saturday 28 September 2013

Doctor Who: The Green Death - Review

My last review with Jonathan, this time looking at the fantastic Green Death! Definitely one to watch for those of you who haven't seen this story!

Friday 27 September 2013

Big Chief Studios - 4th and 10th Doctor Updates and Ever wonder how your toys are made?

Big Chief have just given an update on their upcoming 4th and 10th Doctor figures. No update as to when these guys will be shipping (due October was the last we've heard), but they have released final production images on the clothing and expect more updates next week.

Designworks Windsor have released this awesome video detailing how the heads of these figures were sculpted and constructed. Definitely worth a watch, it is fascinating!






LOVARZI 7th Doctor Jumper and Scarf Available to Pre-Order

You can now pre-order these excellent replicas of the 7th Doctor's outfit! First up is his trademark question mark jumper, and second is his paisley scarf, which he wore throughout his three year tenure. Perfect for cosplayers!

Click the links to pre-order yours.

Jumper - £44.99

Scarf - £36.99



Tuesday 24 September 2013

From Pepper Pots to Potatoes...

The Daleks have undergone a makeover! To pose alongside your Mr. Potato Head inspired 11th Doctor, you can now own your very own Dalek version!

It's a tad bizarre to say the least, but a rather cute novelty item!

Follow the ad link on the left to Forbidden Planet to order yours today!


Doctor Who Classics: Figures we'd Like to See - Heroes - The Fifth and Sixth Doctors

We’re back for Doctors 5 and 6 and they’re fellow companions and supporting characters! So let’s take a look!



Tegan
The mouth on legs! I’d assume they’d go for the air hostess gear as that has the most re-release potential. Perhaps they could alter it in such a way as to repaint/tweak it to make a ‘leathers’ version, which could be released with a Dalek, rotocast Tractator etc.







Nyssa
I expect the easiest option for our lady of Traken is to release her in here Traken outfit. This could be easily tweaked to have one release in skirt and the other in trousers. Stick her with an Ainley Master in his proper costume!


Turlough
Well this one is easy! A new head on the James Lester figure from Primeval. A little tweak to alter his shirt collar and you’re sorted. Could be released with any number of monsters from seasons 20-21.


Adric
Well he has to pop up somewhere. I left him off the 4th Doctor list because Adric had more stories with Davison. Saying that though, Adric was less annoying when he was with Tom. Ah well. This guy could be packaged with a few different things. Marshmen and the Tereleptil Android seem quite fitting, well that and a Cyberman. Perhaps a badge-less variant could be packaged with a Cyber Leader?



Kamelion
Well why not? He may have been stuck in the Tardis cupboard for an entire season, but you have to admit he’d make a pretty cool looking action figure! They could stick him with the Master in his actual proper costume, or in the suit again. So long as it’s not that bizarre sparkly prototype that thankfully got the chop.


Fifth Doctor



Coatless
There’s a few occasions where the Doctor is wandering around in his cricket whites sans coat, Black Orchid being an obvious one. If this was to happen the sculpt could be repainted to reflect either season and could be packaged with a variety of monsters.


Waistcoat
Seen once in Planet of Fire this would be a fun variant, which could also see a re-release minus the waistcoat as the Doctor wandered around without it for most of the story. Packaged with the Master or Kamelion perhaps?


Harlequin Costume
I’d love this! I think it would great! An interchangeable head would be brilliant so you could either display it as the Doctor or George Cranleigh in disguise…


Sixth Doctor

Red plaid waistcoat blue tie/red tie
A simple set of repaints that could be packaged with something from the Trial of a Time Lord season.


Spanish Holiday
I’ve seen some great customs of this one! Open Hawaiian waistcoat with neck tie tucked into the trouser pocket. Brilliant! Stick him with a Sontaran! 


Big Finish
I don’t want this one particularly, but it has been considered. Not to be confused with the blue Real Time version, this variant comes in a darker shade of blue and retains the patchwork and plaid patterns of the TV coat. Packaged with… I don’t know… Frobisher? Evelyn? Actually, that would be rather cool…



That’s it for this week! Join me next week as I wrap up the series with a the 7th and 8th Doctors and their companions! Until next time! 

Monday 23 September 2013

Figures of the Month - September 2013

Welcome to the first of a new feature for the blog! Each month I'm going to take a look at my favourite action figure purchases of that month, or if I have nothing new that I've taken a shine to, an lod purchase that is still a big favourite of mine! That's the gist, let's take a look at the list!

Morbius -Doctor Who, Bif Bang Pow

 I actually only recieved this figure on Friday, and actually I didn't buy it! This was a lovely gift from my girlfriend after the woes I've been having with my busted External Hard Drive (more on that another time) and I absolutely love him! Eventually I'll do the proper video review when all goes quiet with the main Character Options line, but for now here are my musings as to why I love him!

Bif Bang Pow are very much an acquired taste. They're Marmite to toy collectors. Some people only want super detailed realistic toys and others love retro stuff that reminds them of Mego, truth be told I always thought I was in the former camp but after getting their 4th Doctor I immediately fell in love with their old school charm! These are the toys the children of the 70s wish they had got, but sadly didn't. A 'What if Denys Fisher made those other figures?' 

Morbius is marvellous! The prototype images didn't look up to much, even for a retro style figure it looked shoddy. I am happy to report that the finished article is much better! I love the texture of his 'skin' which is in fact a set of faux leather overalls. It works great and has some really cool details stitched into it to suggest wires. The only issue with the suit is that it wraps around the feet, making it hard for Morbius to stand up. The clumps of fur are a nice touch, but he does have a tendency to moult so I am wary of ever touching him! My favourite aspect is the head! It's fantastic! The sculpt on the brain and all of the interior wires are really cool, and the glass dome is very screen accurate. It looks as if they've just enlarged the Character Options head! 

A really cool toy that looks great alongside the other figures. A massive thank you to Kat for buying me this! He's probably my favourite monster in this line! 

Castaspella - Masters of the Universe Classics

 Obviously I don't just collect Doctor Who toys, so there's a significant chance other toy lines will make it into this article; case in point. Now I nearly sold Castaspella, purely because although I subscribe to the line it is getting tremendously expensive and this silly bint cost me more than I was willing to pay thanks to frigging customs and handling fees! Seriously, you know you're a hard core toy collector when you start paying those. I decided against selling her due to her high status in the Princess of Power portion of the MotUC line. She's one of the leaders of the Great Rebellion (She-Ra's mates, for the uninformed) and so it seemed like I should keep hold of her and lose someone like Perfuma down the line (apologies She-Ravers).

The sculpt is beautiful.The Four Horsemen did an amazing job, she looks like she stepped right out of the Filmation cartoon! The face sculpt is fantastic, one of their best female sculpts to date. Nice soft features that make her look very feminine and pretty. My only downside is there is no dark wash to the hair to give it that added detail. The paint apps are crisp and really well done, even down to metallic yellow piping on her boots. She's packed with articulation, so you can pose her in loads of cool battle stances when fighting the Evil Horde! She has some really cool accessories too, the first is the standard shield that all of the Princess of Power ladies turn up with. This time it is cast in a translucent yellow, as if she's constructed it from magical energy. A cool idea that emphasises her status as one of Etheria's top mages. Second is this massive wheel that clips to her back, which is taken from the vintage toy back in the 80s. This disc would spin around on the original toy, to suggest her powers of hypnotism! Finally, and my favourite, is the magical energy blast! This is very cool, and the first time we've seen anything line this in the line. It clips to her left hand really snug and looks great! I really hope this sort of thing turns up with other magical characters. 

It cost me extra because of those damn customs, which is always going to set my teeth on edge whenever I look at her, but I think she's a great figure and really stands out from the rest of the Princess of Power crowd. It's unusual but nice to have such a strong female character roster in a line of action figures. 




Leela - Doctor Who, Bif Bang Pow

Ah! Another Bif Bang Pow and another lady to add to the list! Rounding off this article is Leela, who I purchased on the very first day of this month while attending Cardiff Comic Con. It was between her and Sutekh, and Leela looked like more bang for my buck. 

She's the first female figure in the line and she's great! The headsculpt has something of Louise Jameson at certain angles, but then again it's not meant to be an exact likeness and to be fair even Underground Toys/Characters doesn't look that much like Louise. If anything at all. The costume is really well done her. Very accurate with some very nice details stitched into the clothing, much better than the printed look on the initial prototype. All of the little sections are really well done and she even has a little pouch that can be used to house Janus Thorns (not included). She comes with her knife and a little pouch to sheathe it.She has a necklace, which has annoyingly marked the figure's neck, but luckily this remains covered by the necklace itself. 


She has trouble standing up, but once in position she seems pretty stable. She looks great alongside the 4th Doctor battling the monsters of the universe! 



That's all for this month! Some really cool purchases! October is going to be quite a big month with Doctor Who's Ace and Priory Set arriving, along with Big Chief's 4th Doctor and MotUC's Sky-High and Jet Sled two-pack! Thanks for reading! 

Thursday 19 September 2013

Remote Control 12" Dalek from Asylum of the Daleks available to order from Toys R Us

The new and exclusive remote control Dalek is now available to order online from Toys R Us. Featuring a new dirty paint job to suggest centuries of festering in a Dalek Asylum. Sadly it's not so evident in the main publicity image, but check out the in-package shot below to get a better idea!

£29.99



Dark Blue and Burgundy Talking Plush Daleks Available to Order

Daleks have never been so cute and cuddly! Following on from their previous releases, Underground Toys are releasing the plush Paradigm Daleks in darker colours, no doubt to mimic the darker metallic versions seen in Asylum of the Daleks. 

You can order by following the ad link to Forbidden Planet on the right hand side. Here is the full press release.

Travel through time and space with Doctor Who!

Based on the incredibly popular television series, this brilliant plush toy embodies that distinctive look and feel of the longest-running sci-fi TV series in the world, that is to say, retro futuristic! Showcasing the very best from the Doctor Who rogues gallery, this release features the iconic Dalek (in dark blue).

Spoken phrases include “Exterminate, Exterminate.” And “You would make a good Dalek.”

The Daleks have been hated and feared throughout time and space, maybe it’s time someone gave them a hug.

Might be worth getting one on your side.


Holy Adam West, Batman!!!!! Hot Toys 1960s TV Series Batman and Robin - Full Specs


"Great Scott, Dynamic duo! Hot Toys have done it again!"
"Indeed... Commissioner Gordon. It seems that whoever works at these Hot Toys... has somehow found a way to copy our bodies... exactly!"
"Holy cloning shrink ray, Batman!"
"Quite possible, Robin..."
"Saints be praised! They've even got yer little Shark Repellent spray!" 
"Yes, Chief O' Hara... someone seems to have learned our deepest darkest secrets... even down to the way I dance... the Bat Tusi... I suggest we go to the Batcave and do a full Bat Spectrum Analysis of these figures... To the Batmobile!" 



Yes, well these guys are undeniably amazing. Even if you're not a fan of the TV series (I'm no fan, but I appreciate its place in Bat-History) you cannot deny how cool these guys look. Adam West's likeness is spot on. My only criticism is he may be a bit too tubby, I know he had a bit of a Bat Belly but I think they've filled him out a bit too much in the arms and legs. I'm also not keen on the way the cape hangs around his neck. But that's nitpicks for what is undeniably an impressive figure. 



Robin is also fantastic and the tailoring on the suit is perfect. His likeness isn't perfect, but you can tell who it's meant to be! Those little threads on the shirt are brilliant. Other companies would simply stitch those details on, but Hot Toys are quick to go the full hog, which is why they are so successful and easily hold the title for the best quality 1:6 scale figures money can buy. They don't come cheap, but you know you're getting something fantastic. 



Also, check out that Batmobile... *drool*... As much as I'd love the whole lot, these guys are way out of my price range. Maybe when I win the lottery. 



Full specs and pics:

“Na na na na…Batman”! The catchy opening song, campy style costumes, and lighthearted comical scenes have made the Batman 1960s television series a classic among Batman fans. Adam West has become synonymous with the crime fighting hero and the show’s success has even led to a movie being made featuring most of the original TV cast. 

Hot Toys is excited to introduce the 1/6th scale Batman Collectible Figure from the 1966 feature film. The collectible figure is newly developed and highly detailed, which is specially crafted based on the image of Adam West as the iconic character Batman, featuring a screen-accurate masked head sculpt, specially made costume with Batman logo, weapons and accessories.

The 1/6th scale Batman Collectible Figure’s special features:
- Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Batman from the 1966 Batman movie
- One (1) Batman head with patented Interchangeable Faces Techniques with three (3) interchangeable lower part of faces capturing Adam West’s classic facial expressions 
- Approximately 30 cm tall
- TrueType body with 30 points of articulation 
- Thirteen (13) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including:
- One (1) pair of fists
- One (1) pair of relaxed palms
- One (1) pair of dancing gesture palms
- One (1) pair of open palms
- One (1) pair of partially-clenched palms
- One (1) right palm for holding Batarang
- One (1) right palm for holding spray can
- One (1) left palm for holding Bat-radio

Costume :
- One (1) Batsuit
- One (1) dark purple cape
- One (1) yellow utility belt with metal Batman emblem
- One (1) pair of dark purple forearm gloves
- One (1) pair of dark purple boots

Weapons:
- One (1) Batarang 
- One (1) shark repellent spray 
- One (1) big bomb 

Accessories:
- One (1) Bat-radio
- Figure stand with Batman nameplate and Batman movie logo

Release date: Q2-Q3 2014

** Batman, Robin, and Batmobile are sold separately
** Prototype shown, final product may be slightly different
** Product details could be subjected to change without further notice

TM & © DC Comics.
WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s13)

© 2013 Hot Toys Limited. All Rights Reserved. 

ARTISTSHEAD SCULPTED BY K.A. KIM & JONG HYUK PARK
HEAD PAINTED BY JC.HONG
HEAD ART DIRECTED BY JC.HONG. COSTUME DESIGN ASSISTED BY HAI LIM

















“Holy smokes, Batman”! The crime-fighting hero of Gotham City is rarely seen without his faithful sidekick – Robin in the Batman 1960s television series. The campy and lighthearted TV show has become very popular with fans and a movie was made between the first and second season of the TV series. 

Hot Toys is delighted to introduce the 1/6th scale Robin Collectible Figure from the classic 1966 Batman movie. The collectible figure is newly developed and highly detailed which is specially crafted based on the image of Burt Ward as the boy wonder Robin, featuring a screen-accurate masked head sculpt, the classic Robin costume, weapon and accessories.

The 1/6th scale Robin Collectible Figure’s special features:
- Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Robin in the 1966 Batman movie
- One (1) masked head featuring the likeness of Burt Ward 
- Approximately 28 cm tall
- New developed body with 30 points of articulation 
- Ten (10) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including:
- One (1) pair of fists
- One (1) pair of relaxed palms
- One (1) pair of partially-clenched palms
- One (1) pair of holding palms
- One (1) right palm for holding Batarang
- One (1) left palm for holding Bat-radio

Costume :
- One (1) Robin suit
- One (1) yellow cape
- One (1) black and bronze-colored belt
- One (1) pair of green forearm gloves
- One (1) pair of green pixie style shoes

Weapon:
- One (1) Batarang 

Accessories:
- One (1) Bat radio
- One (1) Bat-cuffs 
- Figure stand with Robin nameplate and Batman movie logo

Release date: Q2-Q3 2014

** Batman, Robin, and Batmobile are sold separately
** Prototype shown, final product may be slightly different
** Product details could be subjected to change without further notice

TM & © DC Comics.
WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s13)

ARTISTSHEAD SCULPTED BY YULLI
HEAD PAINTED BY JC. HONG
HEAD ART DIRECTED BY KOJUN