Issue 51 : Saturday 8th April, 2017
Packaged images of the NECA 25th Anniversary Terminator McFarlane Destiny figure exclusives SH Figuarts Spider-Man Bandai Geonosis Battle Droids
IN REVIEW…. Star-Lord Guardians of the Galaxy
NECA have shared the packaging for their upcoming Terminator 2 T800 release. The set is a re-release of much of the Ulitmate T2 T800 figure, but does come now with a rose box accessory so you can recreate the Galleria Mall Scenes. It is being released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Terminator 2, and the 3D release of the movie on the 25th of August. The figure is due to start shipping in the US in the coming weeks. Expect to see this in UK stores by late May / early June. UK RRP is probably going to fall around the £27 mark.
Tamashii Nations have released a full set of promotional images for their SH Figuarts Homecoming Spider-Man 1/12 figure. He will be released on the 11th August 2017 and is packed with a bunch of add-on parts. For starters the eyes can be swapped out to give he head two different expressions. There are at least 3 hand options that swap out at the wrist. And being Spidey he also comes with two web effects - one for firing, one for swinging. Being at High School, Spidey also gets a back-pack and a mobile phone.
Collectors of the SH Figuarts Iron-Man figures will be looking enviously at the upcoming Marvel Age of Heroes event in Japan this week and it's own exclusive - the Marvel Now Black & Gold Mk3 Iron-Man. In reality this is a repaint of the 2016 Mark 3 cinematic Iron-Man suit, it also looks to come complete with the same accessories like the repulser effects. This release will be sold exclusively at the show for 5800 Yen (£42 / $52). Expect the secondary market to be much more if you are going to try and track this down for your own collection.
The Japanese RRP is 6264 Yen, that is £45 or $56 on a direct exchange. The US release, via Bluefin, has also been confirmed. And as an extra bonus will come with a diorama piece on which you can display Spidey.
Bandai have confirmed they will be re-using their 1/12 figure kit for the Star Wars prequel Battle Droid and releasing an Attack of the Clones two pack. The new pack will contain two 1/12 Droids in the revised brown colouring as seen on Geonosis. The kit will include the standard droid blasters, macro binoculars and display stand. It is also shown in the promotional images with a swapped out C-3PO head. The 3PO head will be included in the kit. These kits are already difficult to obtain outside of Japan due to licencing issues. This one will be even more so as it is expected to be a Bandai Hobby Store exclusive. The RRP in Japan will be 4572 Yen (£34 / $43). The kit should be released in June 2017.
McFarlane are bringing the popular Destiny video game to life in their Color Tops 7" series of figures, and confirmed the first three figures earlier this year as Vault of Glass Titan, Kings Fall Warlock and Iron Banner Hunter. On top of these 7" figures, collectors will also be able to get a 10" deluxe Lord Saladin But it seems the 2017 Destiny line will be even bigger with the announcement of these US Retailer exclusive. There will be four additional figures, one per retailer - Gamestop, Walmart, Walgreens and Target. Each exclusive is numbered as part of the main Color Tops range. Where this leaves UK collectors is unknown. Gamestop do usually ship internationally, but the others are unlikely to reach UK shores - at least in the mainstream.
Diamond Select Toys have been showing off the packaged samples of their upcoming Liz Moore Action figure from iZombie. This is the second version of Liz that Diamond have released, and this is much improved likeness and based on her appearance in Season 2. I have to resist calling this a Select figure, while still in that 7" scale - it is a single blister carded figure with no diorama piece, therefore not technically qualifying as a Select release. Liz will come packed with various accessories from a Mobile Phone, to a take away coffee, mug and rat. She is due to ship in late Spring early Summer. US RRP is $19.99, expect to pay £20 here in UK.
WARLOCK HALLOW SHADER – GAMESTOP EXCLUSIVE HUNTER MILLON MILLON SHADER – WALMART EXCLUSIVE HUNTER BLACKSMITH SHADER – WALGREENS EXCLUSIVE TITAN AMDUAT INK SHADER – TARGET EXCLUSIVE
Review : Star-Lord Diamond Select Marvel Comics Wave/Series : Disney Store Exclusive
To the left spine of the box we find the now familiar full art panel, depicting Star-Lord in his helmet.
Released : March 2017 Price : ÂŁ19.99
Returning to the front and through the blister you get a good look at the figure surrounded with his element guns, alternative head and crystal. You
When the original Guardians of the Galaxy movie was released in 2014,
can also see the stand sat back behind the figure and the diorama base.
Diamond Select didn't release any characters from the movie or any related comic book characters - much to the disappointment of fans who only had the 6" Marvel Legend figures to choose from for their Galactic Heroes.
With the unprecedented success of the first Guardians movie, and the hype over the sequel this year, Diamond are now going all out to catch up Select collectors with Guardians. We know that Star-Lord & Rocket and Drax & Baby Groot are coming later in the year based directly on the Vol. 2 movie. What we didn't expect was for Disney Stores to go to Diamond and commission a full wave of Guardians figures based on their comic book (Marvel Now) appearance.
The new Guardians range gives you all 5 of the main characters across 4 releases - with Rocket & Gamorra doubling up in her pack. Here we take a look at Star-Lord.
Spinning the card fully round, the back is not your usual Select fare as it skips any text or background information in favour of a large image of the figure and to the side of this the other figures in the series atop their assembled diorama base. The card back is trimmed in the same yellow and purple with the Guardians shield to top right and lower left.
Like most Disney Store Select exclusives, the packaging is slimmer than what you would normally get from Diamond. However, the rest of the design principles survive with a large blister over-wrapped to the left by an art
Out of the box and you will find the figure and accessories secured into the
panel. On the front of this we see the Marvel Select logo and then a lovely
inner tray with a wealth of twisty ties. The diorama base sits separately
illustration of the Guardians as seen in the current Marvel Now comic series
behind the inner tray. Attached to the card back is a Diamond mini catalogue
(and on TV in their Disney XD show). This team image runs the full length of
in a plastic baggie - be careful not to dispose of this as it contains the
the card side, ending in a GOTG logo and a new Disney Store exclusive
connecting clips for the diorama base you will need in the future if you are
badge which now contains the Disney Castle.
collecting the full set of Guardians.
From this side panel projects a triangular piece out ontop of the blister. This
Star-Lord stands 7 1/4 tall, and looks pretty impressive as he comes out of
is a light blue and purple star field with another repetition of the GOTG logo.
the box with his helmeted head and rocket boot effects (we will look at them
The character name sits in a silver, purple and yellow design - replicating
shortly).
the colours of the Milano.
When not in use, Diamond have designed a peg either side of Star-Lords thigh into which you can plug the blasters. While this is a nice idea, the peg is a little obtrusive being so visual when the guns aren't holstered.
While not listed as an accessory, there is also back pack that hooks over Star-Lord's shoulder and hangs over the back. This comes in a soft rubber to aid flexibility and is coloured in two brown tones. It is designed to have a closing clasp, but the rubber is too flexible for the clasp to hold - which is a shame. I am also not sure what the idea was behind this satchel being designed to open as there is nothing in the set that can go inside? Starting at the head and the helmet is really well detailed with plenty of panels, ridges and grills. The helmet is painted in a gun metal finish. The two eyes are perfectly circular and are a bright orangey red tone. The hair is well sculpted with individual strands that flow up and over the helmet and add some dynamism as though the wind is rushing through the hair as Star-Lord is in flight. The colouring of the hair on this head is perfect for the comic version.
From the head the muscular neck leads into a muscular tight t-shirted chest which is sculpted to show chest and ab detail. Its painted a flat grey. This ends in a grey belt with silve buckle and then goes down into some tight grey trousers complete with silver knee pads. The legs end in knee high brown rocket boots with black painted between the segmented panels.
Star-Lord of course comes with a separate unmasked head. The head pops of easily and so swapping is pretty simple. My issue with the separate head
Of course there is then coat, which is a lovely deep red and cast in a rubbery
is that it looks nothing like Star-Lord, in fact it looks more like Captain
plastic to give it some flexibility. To Star-Lord's left shoulder is an added
America. For one its clean shaven, when Star-Lord is usually depicted with
shoulder pane in gun metal grey and there is a second panel across the left
stubble. The hair is the wrong colour too being too blond, and the fact it is a
forearm. The coat contains some very nice parts such as the sculpted
completely different colour to the hair on the helmeted head is just plain
zipper, with gun metal colouring. There is also buttons, seams and paneling.
bizarre.
In areas the coat is also weathered with some darker red rubbed areas.
The arms end in brown gloves with black fingers. The two hands packed on
Another swap out part is the left hand. Here you can pop off the weapon
the figure are designed to hold the Element blasters. These take some
holding hand and swap in an open palm. The swapping is far too easy, so
manoevering but once in place are gripped securely. Each blaster is a gun
easy in fact that the hands pop out with the least movement - very frustrating
metal finish with gold detailing.
when trying to pose.
The open palm hand is designed to hold the purple crystal, which is cast in
What you will probably find however is your Star-Lord spends most of his
a clear plastic and isn't a bad design. It fits into the hand, but there is no peg
time in a flying pose. To support this you get a two piece flight stand. The
or grip so it has to sit unsecured - be careful therefore if it falls out on
bar fits into a hole on Star-Lords back. This hole is usually hidden by the
display, particularly with the wrists being so weak.
satchel which is less intrusive than say the weapon holsters. Ensure you slot the stand into the hole in the back of the figure, and not just through the hole in the coat - this can take some wiggling to find the hole and line up.
Articulation on Star-Lord is a standard 16 points of movement that we see on most Selects. This starts with a ball jointed head with a good range of
Once the bar is fitted you can slot the bottom section into the circular base.
movement to either side as well as up and down. The arms have a ball
From here the stand will take the weight of Star-Lord in most flying poses. It
jointed shoulder, bicep swivel and joined elbow. This lets you achieve a
can start to unbalance if you have too much weight out to the sides - for
good range of poses, from firing to his hands up in surrender. The wrist
example having the arms out in a firing pose while the legs are out in the
joints will rotate as needed, but as I mention above watch out for the left
same direction.
hand popping out. One of the best parts of the release is the two rocket effects that come to The torso has a torso joint and this helps for action poses, allowing the torso
help enhance the flying pose. These are cast in a clear plastic and start
to twist and giving a touch of forward and backward motion.
orange at the base and seem to variate out to a yellow flame at the tapered end. These slot into two holes on each boot, and once in place hold there really well - a nice tight fit.
The legs are the t-joint hips followed by a thigh swivel and double jointed knees. There is then an ankle joint to finish. All of these leg joints are incredibly loose, the worse I have seen on a Diamond figure for quite a long time. While Star-Lord will stand up straight it is tough to get him balanced right. You get more joy from a wider stance, and if you wish you can pose him kneeling.
Star-Lord fits scale wise with most Select figures - both movie and comic based. You can see him in our images with Doctor Strange and Ant-Man. He also scales with the Marvel Legends BAF Groot (if you choose not to go to the comic book Groot).
This Comic Star-Lord looks stunning with the helmeted head and the flight effects. Price wise you cant argue with the RRP of ÂŁ19.99 and with the diorama and flight stand to boot.
It does however have some substantial flaws. None more so than a poor unmasked head that looks nothing like any comic book rendition of Peter Quill. The lower joints are really floppy to the detriment of posing. The left hand pops off to easy. And I don't like the pegs used for the guns - I'd rather have seen a hole on the thigh and peg on the gun.
The diorama base is a solid piece that is designed to look like a mix of asteroid/rock with a metal platform. The rock is a little soft and not a great paint finish, while the metal section is angular with more gun-metal grey paint work. There are no peg holes or stands, and so this is simply a scenery piece. Like the way the Avengers Facility was engineered, this piece works well on it's own - or if you get them all will connect up (remember those connections I said to put safe) to the other bases. The base also works with the flying option as you can stick the flight stand at the back and have Star-Lord blasting up off the platform.
Balancing up the RRP, visual looks and the flaws that probably puts Star-Lord at a 3 out of 5 result