Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Kre-O Transformers Collection 3 Micro Changers blind pack.

Way back in October I featured the Kre-O Transformers Preview Series. At the same time I also picked up this Collection 3 blind pack. Yep I've been sitting on this a while now.

This set features another 12 Micro Changers to collect.


Again one of the things I like about these Micro's is the unique inserts that go with each toy. I pulled Long Haul, which is suppose to "transform" into a dumptruck.  Of course Kre-O makes sure you know that these don't really transform, but you have to build either the robot or the vehicle.

And once again the robot is very well done. The actual figure is pretty good looking.




However the vehicle looks to be secondary and almost an afterthought in the design.


I also don't like that not all the parts are used for both builds so that means when you are displaying the robot form you have 4 or so pieces left over to store or lose.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Micro Figures - Blind Packs and 11 Doctor set


I'm a little behind the curve when it comes to Character Buildings Dr. Who offerings, but while I was updating a few other pages here on the blog I decided to see if there was anything new out and it turns out there is. In honor of the Doctor's 50th anniversary CB has issued a new 11 Doctor Set and also a new set of blind packs as well.  After doing a quick comparison it would appear that the figures are different from the first 11 Doctor box set and that the blind pack and set minis are also different from each other. Of course if I ever get any of these in hand I'll do a better comparison, but at least preliminary they look like they are all different, some as subtle as a different jacket color, but some are quite different.

The blind packs also feature 5 super rare variations. The second, third, fifth, tenth, and eleventh doctors all come with a super rare variation.  I've seen a few of the rare figures online and they come with a shiny golden base! And while the box set looks very similar to original box sets that came out, the TARDIS door color is different and it also looks like the logo lettering on the inside is silver foil. To bad the bases aren't chrome silver.
Anyways I apologize for the real lack of info, but I thought I'd just put this out there for any other Dr Who fans who haven't seen this stuff. You can check out my review of my box set from a couple years ago HERE.






Monday, December 23, 2013

76000 - Arctic Batman vs Mr. Freeze: Aquaman on Ice

To quote Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger from the franchise killing movie Batman and Robin, "Chill out."

When I first saw this set come out earlier this year it was on my must haves. I mean you get a great Batman variation and Aquaman! Sure Aquaman gets his fair share of ribbing, but let's face it, unless Lego decides to do a full blown Justice League set you're probably not going to see another Aquaman mini anywhere else but here.

Let have a look at the set.
Mr. Freeze is up to his antics again and it's up to Batman to free a frozen Aquaman.
The Bat-Blade is pretty neat.

Those orange things on the back I do believe are suppose to be detatable mines or something like that

The push rods in the back are suppose to shoot out these discs. I'm not sure what they are supopse to be.  And they don't come out easily either.

Here's a look in the cockpit.
And a close up of the jet flame and butt mines.
The ice prison is pretty well done and actually would pair nice with the Yeti mini from Series 11.


Alright lets have a look at the minis
First up is the Arctic Suit Batman. I think it would have been cooler if the Batarangs had been white too.


Batman comes with dual faces as well.

Aquaman.  I lost his trident somewhere and still haven't been able to find it.


He's also dual faced.
Mr. Freeze.  DC has a whole stable of cold related villians. Mr. Freeze, Captain Cold, Killer Frost, you get the idea and oddly enough I think all three are in Batman's rogues gallery.

Mr. Freezes backback is a reuse of the Astronauts backpack with blue visor. I think it works well.
Here's a look at Freezy striped down.


Over all a nice little set. Can't go wrong for this set for around $20.  The variant Batman and Aquaman make it more than worth it.

Friday, December 13, 2013

76005- Spider-Man: Daily Bugle Showdown - Doctor Freaking Doom!!

I'll be honest there was only one reason I bought this set.-  Dr. Doom.  Of all the great Marvel villains Dr. Doom is by far my favorite. He's such a prick.  But when he pops up in Fantastic Four or Ironman story lines there's going to be a rumble.  I also managed to snag this set when Fred Meyers was having a 35% off sale so this $50 set was actually a steal at right around thirty bucks.  After looking at some of the preview images from the 2014 Marvel sets I've only seen one I probably will go after and they all seem to be Ultimate Spider-Man themed.  But lets have a look at the set.
The Bugle building is nice.  There is lots of actions built into the set and some great detail.








I think the side with all the doors and fire escape is really well done. Just a nice touch and so many places a mini figure could be attached to.
Here are some close ups of the interior.  Ground floor
Second floor. Love the computer with the Spider-Man mock up.  Oh look it's a copy of the Lego news! Looks like someone was reading the competition.
J.J's penthouse office
The roof with trap door. The other two push rods knock off the DBC sign and who ever is standing on the side.
There is also a little dumpster.
Here's Dr. Doom's plane.  A cool little design.




No real detail in the cockpit.

The grapple is neat as well.
Here's a look at the under carriage.

Alright now on to the mini's.  In this set you get 5 and probably the most boring is actually Spider-Man. He's exactly the same in all the sets offered this year and the Doc Ock set from last year.


I actually really like the addition of the Beetle in this set. I'm not sure how much he's used in the cartoon, having not really watched it, but he's such a second tier villain and I love these odd ball guys.


Plus his wings are pretty neat.
Here's a look at his back with the wings removed.

Another great addition to this set is the Nova mini.  Nova has always been kind of that second tiered hero in the Marvel universe. Sure he's had his own comic, but really Nova always seemed to play a supporting role in story lines.


He also has a dual face.

When Sam Raimi cast J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the first Spider-Man movie way back in 2002 I thought it was genius. Simmons played JJ perfectly. Because JJ is the ultimate egotistical jerk.
Here he's featured with a camera.

He also has a second face.
But of course the selling point of this set for me was this guy. Dr. Victor von freaking DOOM! He has a doctorate in ass-kicking.  I still think a Fantastic Four set would be great. I realize that the movies sucked and they probably won't be making anymore, but having Dr. Doom, Silver Surfer, and the Four, that would be great.  Maybe Disney needs to come up with another FF cartoon. Just no Herbie.



Here's a look under the cowl and cape.

Over all a great set and a great build, with great mini's. And getting this set for cheap made it all that much better.