Sideshow Masters of the Universe He-Man exclusive

When I first saw the teaser pics of Sideshow's new Masters of the Universe statue line, I loved the style. But I was trying to stay away from larger collectibles at the time due to space and funds. But after seeing more pics, and then the details of the Skeletor and Evil-Lyn statues, I just couldn't resist! I ended up using the free reward points that Sideshow was giving out during their recent Spooktacular to essentially give me free international shipping to Australia on this one, so can't complain at all!

Click the link below to check out my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. This thing is just beautiful!

The day it arrived I also received the new BigBoysToys TNC-05 Blanka set. It's always a good day when great things arrive in the mail lol :)

Everything is packaged fairly well within the usual foam protection, and all wrapped in plastic with desiccant. I have heard some reports that people may have received some with moisture inside that resulted in some paint defects, so definitely check over it carefully! Luckily mine didn't have any major issues that I was concerned about.

The exclusive version that comes with the Battle Axe has an edition size of 1250, of which I received 0776. I'm not too fussed with the numbering or edition size, but like PCS it would've been nice to have a certificate of authenticity or something to accompany the statue.

As I said, the exclusive comes with the Battle Axe, and it is an essential purchase with this statue! If it hasn't sold out already, head over to Sideshow and get the exclusive one!! The Battle Axe (and standard Power Sword) are both full made of metal, with some extremely nice sculpted detail. The heft is quite pleasing to the touch I have to say!

The base itself looks great, and is also quite heavy. Not sure exactly what it's made of, but it weighs quite a bit so make sure your shelves can handle it! The statue fits into the base with a metal rod in the left foot, and goes in fairly smoothly. Normally I actually prefer standard black bases, but on this statue the design works very well.

The sculpted details on the body, armour and costume are all well done for this. Luckily the head sculpt is not meant to resemble anyone, and the stylised look works well here. I don't think accurate likenesses are Sideshow's forte, so going with this style was a good decision!

The statue comes with a red cape, but I still haven't figured out how to put it on properly lol! And when I did try, the leather like straps actually left brown streaks on the statue which initially scared the crap out of me. But with that, there's no way I'd leave that on for any length of time in case it permanently stains the statue!

Despite the Battle Axe and Power Sword being metal, it's a shame the shield is only plastic. It is still painted very nicely, with a leather like strap over the forearm piece. Unfortunately on mine, one end of the strap that attaches to the shield was not glued properly. I'm waiting on Sideshow's response for a replacement, but they should be able to help me out like they have in the past.

The separate sheathed Power Sword is plastic, and attaches to He-Man's back with a magnet. Together with the Battle Axe, it makes for an amazing looking statue on display! Note that it does also come with an unsheathed accessory for when he is holding the Power Sword.

Together with the other statues, I think this new series from Sideshow look amazing. I really hope that they continue on and make all the core characters, unlike Pop Culture Shock that stopped their line without completing them. If they do that, this series could truly become legendary for Sideshow!

Sideshow Collectibles Darth Maul - Duel on Naboo exclusive

I was pretty pissed when I saw the asking price for the new Sideshow Darth Maul, particularly when it comes with next to nothing! In summary, I think the figure itself is OK, but for the price it should come with far more!

Click the link below to watch my full video review up on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel.

For $240, the contents are pretty barebones, with just a few hands and the double bladed lightsaber. I got the exclusive version, which gives the extra severed lightsaber. So the folks unlucky enough to get the regular version will get even less for the same price!

It baffles me why they could not even include a cloak or an alternate snarling head sculpt for this price. I think Sideshow really had a great opportunity to make this perhaps the definitive Darth Maul figure, but have definitely fallen short on that mark.

The biggest improvement is of course the head sculpt. I think overall it is a pretty good likeness, and the paint app is decent. The tattoos are cleanly done, although the head sculpt itself has some seam marks that appear worse on some than others. Luckily the seams on mine on the side of the head aren't too noticeable.

The eyes are also nicely done, with realistic glassiness and the orange and yellow tinge around the iris. The horns are also sharp and have a good paint app to them. So if there's only one thing worth upgrading for, it's definitely the head sculpt.

The costume itself is also nicely done, with good materials and tailoring. All the pleats have thin wires along the edges so you can get some pretty good flowing poses out of the costume. It's a shame that the underlying body is still a bit too loose in the joints. This is a problem with the base Sideshow bodies that they seem incapable, or unwilling, to fix! The Hot Toys bodies feel much sturdier in comparison.

It's also a shame that with decent overall articulation, the boots do not feature any real ankle pivot or rocking ability! The top of the boot and the foot area are actually separate pieces held together by the main strap piece along the front. But despite this, there is very limited movement, so getting his feel flat on the ground in wide leg poses is impossible. I think they could have, and should have, done much better in this area.

In the end, I think the figure does display very well. But for the price, they should've included much more to justify that, or at least price the figure much lower. Prequel fans will love this, but I'd recommend waiting for a sale price or use a discount code.

Kotobukiya Horror Bishoujo Edward Scissorhands

I loved the previous Kotobukiya Horror Bishoujo Jason and Freddy statues. I think the new Edward Scissorhands is even better than those! This is pretty much an instant classic by Kotobukiya!

Click the link below to check out my video review up on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel.

I was disappointed with their recent Bishoujo Harley Quinn statue, but this new Scissorhands redeems them for me. The sculpted detail and paint application on this one is just about perfect! I love the sculpting on the tousled hair. The pearlescent skin, eyes, and lips are all done extremely well. I also love the sculpted hands!

The corset and skirt look great too, especially the transparent aspects of the skirt. She also has her striped black and white undies for some fan service lol! The stockings and boots complete the look along with a great snow themed base.

Together, these Horror Bishoujos are absolutely fantastic! Kotobukiya have released the Chucky statue for preorder for an early 2017 release. With the new bloody head sculpt on that, that looks to be another winning addition to this unique horror line. Can't wait! :)

Hot Toys MMS342 BvS Dawn of Justice Batman exclusive

After I got the Dawn of Justice Superman, ordering the Batman and Wonder Woman figures was a no-brainer! I didn't get the special exclusive from Sideshow that came with the tech cowl if your ordered both figures together. But I did manage to get the separate exclusive versions for both (kryptonite for Superman and sniper rifle for Batman).

Click the link below to watch my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. It's a great figure!

This is another recent Hot Toys release that comes with a great set of accessories. And for the price, it's actually decent value for money this time I think, especially compared against some Sideshow figures that cost more and come with far less!

The cowl looks nice, but I think the swap out eye mechanism is far too fiddly for its own good. I much prefer the old PERS mechanism in the DX line or the independent eyes in Hulk. Taking the eyes out wasn't too bad, but aligning them and putting them back in with the little included tool was frustrating to do.

The other main complaint I have with the figure is the cape and it's very cheap material. For a figure like Batman, they should never go cheap on the cape. After such an awesome cape on the Superman, with really nice heavy material, the Batman cape just feels like thick paper. It doesn't drape well and is hard to pose.

The suit itself, and the underlying body, I think is pretty damn awesome though. The whole torso areas seems to be some new type of body where the musculature is a soft foamy type material, unlike the hard plastic of the Superman. This means when the body moves, the suit and muscles move in a very realistic manner too.

The suit seems quite flexible, and pretty durable, but I'd be careful anyway since I have seen photos where the patterning has been stripped from the suit. The articulation, especially in the shoulders, is quite impressive.

On display, it looks fantastic with Superman. I really can't wait to see how the Wonder Woman turns out. Apparently it may be delayed to early 2017, but I'd rather they take the time and get it right rather than rush it out. Looking forward to adding to the DC ranks to even up the battle against Marvel in my collection :)

Hot Toys MMS337 Rey and BB-8

Out of all the Hot Toys Force Awakens figures, Rey and BB-8 were the two I was anticipating the most. And they do not disappoint!

Click the link below to watch my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel.

The packaging is the usual Hot Toys classy style, and the great set of accessories and the figures themselves make this a great overall package to get!

The tailoring on Rey I think is very good. The instructions warn against leaving the hood and scarf etc on too long because it may stain the head sculpt. It's also very difficult and fiddly to get on, so I didn't even bother trying.

I love her minimalist look that she had for most of the movie, so have gone with that on display. Using the sand base and having BB-8 peer out from behind just looks fantastic in the cabinet.

The head sculpt isn't their best. I think the Princess Leia had a much better likeness, but the usual paint app and detailing is of the high Hot Toys standard. If they had tweaked it a little, it could've been better.

Together with Finn, they both look awesome. I did the ankle mod on Finn to make him shorter, and the overall scale between them is much more movie accurate now. I think Hot Toys have done a great job with these two, and I just wish they would announce a Poe Dameron!

Here's how they look in my display cabinet now with the First Order bad guys. I think the overall quality of the TFA Hot Toys figures has been pretty good. Still deciding if I'll get the Han/Chewie pack and Luke as well, but I think I'll cave soon, especially if there's a discount code to use lol! :)

Transformers Masterpiece MP-31 Delta Magnus

Sorry, catching up on the website updates again! Here's my review of the MP-31 Delta Magnus release from a month ago! Click through below for the full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel :)

Loving the Diaclone colours! It really pops in bot mode that's for sure!

I'd even say the colours are better than the original MP-22 Ultra Magnus colours in bot mode. I love that they fixed the sprue mark issues on the forearms.

Still looks unfortunate from the rear, but I've minimised the weird look of the butt flap by folding it up lol. Luckily I never display my MPs from the rear! ;)

Looks pretty damn good in alt mode too!




And even better when loaded up with the other Diaclone MPs!

If you're a fan of Transformers history and understand why these homages to the original Diaclone figures exist, then you're going to love this release! I hope they continue the trend and give us more great repaints! :)

Transformers Masterpiece MP-14+ Red Alert Anime Color Edition

When this more cartoon accurate repaint of the original MP-14 Red Alert figure was announced, I was adamant that I would pass. But after seeing some more photos, I just couldn't resist. And in the end, I'm glad I went with it, as it certainly is a better repaint of the character in bot mode, which is how I display most of my Transformers Masterpiece collection.

Click through below to watch my full video review of the MP-14+ figure on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel.

The packaging and accessories are the standard fare for MP figures in the line. One thing to note is that the figure released just before Hasbro Asia was able to send out the associated collector coin. But Robotkingdom will be shipping them out to collectors that received their figure early, so you'll still get it, which is great!

The other thing to note accessories-wise is that the head piece for the sparks is given in an orange color as opposed to the blue on the original MP-14. This is at odds with the cartoon accuracy intent of the new figure since the sparks were blue in the cartoon! So if you want full cartoon accuracy, you'll have to use the sparks head piece from the first figure if you have it.

On it's own, the paint app is very well done, with minimal paint issues. The overall hue of the white is only dramatically greyer than the original when placed side by side. The original MP-14 has a very bright, stark white paint app, as you can see in the pics below. The new one is more cartoon accurate, but is very bland and grey in comparison.

For me, I would have to say that I prefer the original MP-14 paint app in alt mode. But after transforming into bot mode, I definitely prefer the new version.

It's great that the white parts are painted in the off-white colour as opposed to just unpainted grey plastic. The paint also has a nice glossy finish that gives a more premium look. The only areas that I would probably change would be the feet, where I think the silver on the original would still go nicely with the new figure, just to break up all the grey just a bit.

I do like the additional paint app on the forearms in bot mode that highlight the "CHIEF" text. The transformation is still not totally cartoon accurate in that the forearms are still one piece instead of having the outer part separate like it is in the cartoon. But the addition of the text is a decent enough compromise to highlight that area of the body.

Even the rear is very cartoon accurate with the grey parts along the back of the legs. The shoulder cannon also has a bit more paint app to make it more accurate.

In the end, if you don't have the original MP-14, then I think this MP-14+ release is the way to go. If you do have the original, it really comes down to how much you prefer cartoon accurate paint apps on your MPs. All the figures have some slight differences, but I guess the red thighs and other slight changes on the original do make it differ a bit more. Either way, both figures are nice additions to the MP line, and the new one will especially go well with the upcoming MP Inferno!

Bandai Tamanshii Nations Star Wars Movie Realization collection

Here's my crude attempt at a music video showcasing some of the awesome detail of the Bandai Tamashii Nations Star Wars Movie Realization figures. Set to the soundtrack of my favourite game, Ultra Street Fighter 4, this time using the Fei Long theme :)

Bandai Tamashii Nations Star Wars Movie Realization Taikoyaku Stormtrooper

I've loved all the previous figures in this incredible Star Wars Movie Realization line by Bandai. The unique Japanese feudal designs and great build quality make this one of my favourite figure lines. It took a while for the Taikoyaku Stormtrooper to release, but it was definitely worth the wait!

Click the link below to head over to the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel and check out my full video review :)

The box art is the usual classy design similar to the previous figures. The figure and accessories are all packed in a very collector-friendly way.

The accessories are pretty nice with this set, including the drum chest piece, flag and connector for the back, drum beaters, sea shell horn, and array of hands. The overall detailing and paint application is the usual high standard in this line (and expected for this price range and scale!)

My video review shows how to set everything up on the figure, and goes through the articulation as well. Overall, this is another beautiful and uniquely designed Star Wars figure. It reminds me of the classic Stormtrooper design, but with a gorgeous Japanese style that I think will truly stand the test of time!

The Yumi Stormtrooper (Archer) is up next April 2017, and that looks amazing too. I really hope they continue this line for many years to come, and release the characters they teased at SDCC. I highly recommend these to any Star Wars fan!

Hot Toys MMS345 Finn from The Force Awakens

I received the Hot Toys Finn figure a while back, but only just recently found time to give it a review. Check the link below to head over to the Kool Kollectibles channel for the full video review. I do go through the ankle mod, so check it out if you're thinking of doing it too.

The set comes with a fairly decent array of accessories. I especially like the rifle and bag, with both having lots of nice details.

The ankle mod I mentioned is specifically to remove the clear ankle pieces and mod the ankle joints so that they fit into the lower leg. This reduces the height of the figure to bring it more into scale with the other characters such as Rey and Han. Check out the video review for the full details.

Once all setup, the figure is actually very nice, and looks great on display. The jacket in particular is very nicely tailored, and has great quality materials and tailoring. Really looking forward to Rey and BB-8 now!

Asmus Toys Gandalf the Grey exclusive

The new addition to my Lord of the Rings collection finally came with the release of Asmus Toys' Gandalf the Grey. Check out my full video review below :)

Overall it's another fantastic set by Asmus. Not quite as impressive as the Aragorn figure, but still pretty damn good! The head sculpt is not perfect, but the attention to detail across the outfit is very nice indeed.

There are a few nits to pick that I go through in the video review, so check that out for all my thoughts on the figure!

Kotobukiya DC Comics Bishoujo Harley Quinn

Picked up the new Kotobukiya Bishoujo Harley Quinn recently. Click through to the full video review below for the main reason why I'm disappointed with this release.

Box art is the usual Kotobukiya Bishoujo style with the view of the statue and the artwork on the back.

You can see in the pic below why I am disappointed with the eyes on the production statue. The prototype that they showed at conventions looked much closer to the concept art with nice deep red and blue eye shadowing.

But the final production statue has barely any red on the right eye, and the blue on the left is just smeared around. Overall it still looks nice on display, but it's definitely not up to the usual high standards of previous Bishoujos that I have.

Hot Toys Alien Warrior

The Hot Toys Alien Warrior finally made it to Australian shores after a seemingly long delay after the HK release. Aliens is one of my favourite films, so finally having a xenomorph in the collection in awesome!

Click the link below to checkout my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles channel! Remember to give the video a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel for more reviews :)

The box is nicely done, with a clear slipcover similar to those provided on previous diecast figures like Robocop and Iron Man Mk3. Accessories wise, it doesn't come with much at all, which is disappointing for the price. Something extra like an alien egg or facehugger, or even a diorama backdrop would've been nice for the higher price point.

Overall, the figure looks fantastic on display. The paint app and sculpting in particular look great. The paint has a wet look to give the alien skin that sheen, and the paint actually has the blue/brown pearlescent look to it as well when the light hits the skin.

The opening jaw feature is a scary gimmick, and is difficult to get to stick. The trick is to pull down on the trigger mechanism at the end and it will lock into place. The mouth opens due to the very soft rubber tendons and jaw piece of the figure.

There is a warning not to leave the mouth open for long periods of time to prevent damage. I definitely won't be opening the mouth too much! Hopefully the soft rubber does not deteriorate too fast over time.

The sides of the head sculpt have a magnet on one of the ridges to attach the acid blood spatter. The spatter on the chest is added by inserting the grooves over the ribcage area. It does give it a nice look, and hopefully is a tease for upcoming Marines figures!

The rubber suit severely limits the articulation of the arms, hips, and knees. The instructions have another warning to not leave these bent too much for too long to prevent damage. Luckily there's enough articulation that doesn't distort the suit to allow a walking/stalking pose. It still looks pretty awesome like that on display, especially if you have some Predators too!

Hopefully they announce the Aliens Ripley and Power Loader soon. In the meantime, I'm waiting for the Alien version of Ripley to come out later this year. Stay tuned for more reviews :)

Sideshow Collectibles AT-AT Driver exclusive

Got the new Sideshow Collectibles AT-AT Driver recently, and it's definitely another solid addition to the Star Wars collection!

Click through below to check out my full video review over on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. Make sure to give it a like and subscribe for more reviews up soon :)

Box art is pretty stock standard these days. Accessories aren't that many to discuss. The exclusive is the larger rifle, which is nicely done. The detailing and paint application in the helmet is pretty nice, with some additions that make it more screen accurate. I think there are still a few inconsistencies that really detailed fans will be able to pick out in the helmet. But for more it looks pretty great.

The flight suit is similar to other suits that Sideshow have done for other figures, including the recent TIE Pilot and X-wing Luke. It's nicely tailored with decent stitching. The gloves and boots are molded plastic, which could be nicer, but still look OK enough on display.

The hoses attaching the chest piece to the helmet restrict the head movement, but look OK. Some futzing of the hose is probably needed to make it look its best, but overall its a decent representation based on movie screenshots I've seen. So again, it's a nice addition to the Star Wars collection, particularly for those that are looking for more troopers from the Hoth battle.

Kool Kollectibles Collection Update August 2016

Earlier in August I posted a collection update video over on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. With things coming in thick and fast in Sept/Oct, I thought I better post it up in the website too! :)

Click through below if you haven't checked out the latest in my collection. Certainly was another big 3-4 month period from around April to August this year.

Hope you can check it out, subscribe, and stay tuned for all the upcoming reviews coming soon! :)