A Little Dancing Fun For Your Guardians Collection...

Captain America's Childhood Hero Turned Villain...

Released late last year from Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier was The Winter Soldier himself, a surprisingly great release from Hot Toys. If a hero is supposed to keep his friends close and his enemies closer, then Winter Soldier is as close as they’ll come as actor Sebastian Stan portrays Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s childhood hero turned villain. The sixth scale figure comes with two portraits, making collectors choose between three different looks, pushing this price tag to a cool $240.

1:6th Scale Iron Man Sets to Compliment Your Display...

Between his three solo outings and two Avengers movies, there has been no shortage of Iron Man armors for companies to replicate in toy form. While I enjoyed Iron Man 3, part of me feels that film was made just so there could be more toys produced. I digress, as there are legions of fans that are eager to complete their Iron Man collections, especially when it comes to Hot Toy's dazzling array of one sixth scale armors. Hot Toys has done most all of them, or is in the process of making them all, and while it's nice to see so many armors released in this scale, it's refreshing to see Hot Toys branch out with something different. That something different is two 1:6th scale Iron Man sets that compliment the passionate Iron Man collector's display: the Iron Man 3 Workshop Accessories Set (ACS002) and the Mark III (Construction Version) Diorama (DS003).

Unlike the bazillion armored suit action figures released in this scale, these two new 1:6 Hot Toys sets aren't required to be a completest. Well, perhaps that's not true, completest does mean everything. What I'm saying is that these two sets are more like add-ons rather than standalone items. If you're looking to spruce up your display, these sets make for really cool additions.

The Mark III (Construction Version) Diorama depicts Tony Starks third Iron Man suit in the process of being built or repaired. It's very similar in concept to the Terminator Salvation T-700 Terminator Factory in that what you get is the suspended bust of the figure in a diorama-like setting with light-up features. We've seen the Iron Man suits battle damaged before, but the Mark III diorama depicts the suit in a state of repair. An arm is missing and the legs are gone, Iron Man's suit trailing all sorts of wires as if they were guts.

Assembly of this piece is pretty straight forward and Hot Toys' illustrated instructions make building it a breeze. I was pretty much awestruck by all the detail in the suit, especially the string of computer boards and "metal" construction of the missing arm. Solid sculpting work elevated by phenomenal paint apps. To add extra dimension to your display, there are two optional chest pieces: a lower exposed portion that attaches via magnets and the red enameled chest cover that slips on via peg and hole. I think most collects will display it fully assembled, if you want to call it that, though combined with the Workshop Accessories Set I can see pieces being placed on the table as Tony Stark goes to town.

The Workshop Accessories Set is the very definition of an add-on, the small foam box housing nothing but Tony Stark's tools of the trade. And what a collection of gadgets you get! First to catch your attention is a large work table. It's cast in plastic, but looks like real steel. I believe it's actually the same table fans received with Hot Toys' Tony Stark Armor Testing Version Set (MMS191), as are many of the tools, including the headset, screw driver, wire cutter, pliers, magazines and blueprints - though the images are different on the latter.

New to this set are a pair of repulsor palms, in-construction bicep armor pieces, battery booster with electrical cables (and "Road Warrior stickers - same battery included with the diorama set above), battle damaged helmet and a pristine helmet with a light-up display stand. The stand can hold the undamaged helmet or you can pop it off and replace the top with a nifty Iron Man 3 logo faceplate. All said, the Workshop Accessories Set is nice if you don't already own the Armor Testing Set or if you simply want more workshop gear to expand your display. Unlike the Iron Man bust diorama, this accessory set is certainly not very much fun on its own. As an add-on this accessory set is a nice Hot Toys offering, however it could us more all-new gear, as opposed to recycled old, to make it a more tempting purchase.

Both sets are in-stock and ready to order via Sideshow Collectibles, the Iron Man Mark III (Construction Version) Diorama priced at $149.99 and the Iron Man 3 Workshop Accessories Set retailing for $124.99. They are certainly on the more affordable end of the spectrum when it comes to Hot Toys figures, making them an attractive add-on to serious Iron Man collectors. Those cherry picking Hot Toys' 1:6 Iron Man collection need not apply.

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To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, TheToySource.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, MonkeyDepot.com, EntertainmentEarth.com, Amiami, HobbySearch and Hobbylink
For hobby miniatures and all your gaming needs, visit MiniatureMarket.com.

A Movie Accurate Collectible with a Pretty Massive Wingspan...

Every now and then when Hot Toys isn’t producing scores of Iron Man armor or variants of the core Avengers, we get a great character release that may not have gotten as much screen time as they deserved, but still played a pivotal role in the Marvel film(s). In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the title character befriends Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) who later becomes Falcon, a hero with no special powers but aided with a one-man military-grade flight suit.

Earlier this year Hot Toys released their take in sixth scale of the Falcon, a movie accurate collectible with a pretty massive wingspan. Falcon is currently shipping for the price of $250. It may seem steep but this figure comes with quite a lot.

Let’s start with the outer packaging, which looks no different than other releases from The Winter Soldier, only picking it up you will see just how much heavier it is. The box front, as well as the sides, feature Anthony Mackie as Falcon with his wings spread out, only the outfit on the box is not the actual version we’re getting. The figure itself is a lot more detailed and involved.

The back of the box celebrates the cast and crew of Hot Toys' Movie Masterpiece Series, although it should just say “Crew” since there’s no actual cast. Underneath the top lid we see an insert with a photo of the toy in an action stance. Beneath that are plastic trays stacked upon each other, each compartment holding various items. The figure and accessories are on the top tray while the wings and display base come beneath that.

What makes Hot Toys what they are, are the sculpts of the Masterpiece Series. The majority of the time, each piece knocks it out of the park. With the Falcon, they’re 95% there. Some angles work better than others but for the most part there is no mistaking who this figure is. The paint work on the head is always pretty dead on too and is no different with this figure. The line work is clean and Falcon is as lifelike as he can be.

Articulation is more or less standard across Hot Toys figures now and Falcon has about 30 points. The arms are exposed and he’s wearing short sleeves making it much easier to pose Falcon as well as pop off and on his extra hands. The boots are a little confining, but you will be able to make some decent flight poses.

The accessories are what you’d expect for Falcon, the biggest component being his flight pack that can be worn as is, or with the wings connected on. The wings themselves are articulated to fold down (not very far) or extend all the way out (very far). It’s great that there’s so many different ways to display Falcon, but he really isn’t Falcon without his wings.

The flight backpack also comes equipped with a LED light-up function with an included battery. The switch is concealed on the top of his backpack to activate the light-up feature. It’s a nice feature, but not at all necessary.

To assist with flying, Falcon comes with a diamond-shaped dynamic figure stand with nameplate, movie logo, and flexible pillar. The pillar can be positioned in many ways, making it a little easier to display Falcon in a way that works best for you. However, the grip itself however doesn’t lend itself too well to Falcon’s belt accessories and backpack, making it feel as if you’re damaging the figure.

Falcon only comes with four pairs of interchangeable hands, but he really doesn’t need more than that. He has one pair of fists, one pair of relaxed palms, one pair of palms for holding weapons, and one pair of palms for holding wings.

There’s also two submachine guns, one for each hand to recreate the scene in the film where they extend out from his wrists. When he’s not holding the guns in his hands, there are two sliding wrist bands with pegs to hold the guns.

The costume Falcon is outfitted in is for the main battle sequence towards the end of the film. There’s a dark grey and black vest, grey t-shirt, bicep guards, camouflage pants and shin guards and black boots. If you want to recreate the look from earlier in the film without the vest, you might be able to recreate it but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Falcon is a great release from Hot Toys and no doubt there will be an updated version for Captain America: Civil War, but for those who cannot wait, Falcon is now shipping. $250 does seem high, but it’s an amazing release with a number of display possibilities.

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To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, TheToySource.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, MonkeyDepot.com, EntertainmentEarth.com, Amiami, HobbySearch and Hobbylink
For hobby miniatures and all your gaming needs, visit MiniatureMarket.com.

A Fine Looking Figure of Angelina Jolie's (Not So) Evil Character...

One of Disney’s biggest hits from last year was actually a film that was a complete dud to me. Maleficent had all the makings of greatness, with a perfect cast and one of Walt Disney’s most iconic animated villains. Even after decades of great animated features, no other villain has gotten close to the villainy that is Maleficent. How the film managed to ruin the character, even with Angelina Jolie turning in solid work, is baffling, but it is what it is. Hot Toys, in turn, has given us a sixth scale figure that looks as evil as she should be so you collectors at home can keep her wicked, rather than the protective baby sitter she became. Hopefully the sequel will give us the Maleficent we want.

Unique Take On Iconic Amazon Superheroine...

DC Collectibles has perfected a very specific type of statue collection that they started with the Dark Knight. The Batman Black & White series has been replicating distinct versions of the character as imagined by different artists for years, and more recently they’ve started the same with both Superman and Wonder Woman. The Amazonian superhero stars in the “Art of War” series with full color 7 ¼ - 8 inch tall statues featuring character designs and interpretations by current and classic artists. The latest take on Wonder Woman is a new statue out now based on the design by superstar and current Wonder Woman comic book artist David Finch!

Pricey, But The Best Looking Wolverine Figure Ever Released...

Hot Toys follows up on their last 1:6th scale Wolverine release with an action figure of Logan as he appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past. While lacking on accessories, this version of the clawed mutant is hands down the best looking, nay, definitive Wolverine figure released to date. Awesome future tech suit aside, it's Hot Toys phenomenal Hugh Jackman head sculpt that really sells this figure. While Hot Toys' past two Wolverine figures had a passing resemblance to the actor, this Wolverine figure nails it.

This figure is in-stock and available for order now through Sideshow Collectibles priced at $249.99.

HODOR! ...and Bran are up next in Dark Horse's extensive ‪Game of Thrones‬ figure series. Like the books, we sorely missed the pair in Season 5 that just ended, but my bet is that they'll be back as main characters come next year. This is hands down the largest (and nicest) figure in the line so far, the gentle giant and his fragile boy cargo measuring close to 9 1/2-inches tall. Like two figures in one, Hodor and Bran make for an essential addition to your Game of Thrones figure display or they look great on their own as a standalone piece.

The Galactic Gunslinger Makes His One Sixth Scale Debut...

Cad Bane made his cool character debut in 2008's Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. A Durosian (first glimpsed in Episode IV's cantina scene), Cad Bane is a ruthless bounty hunter whose attitude and attire was heavily influenced by old western films (in particular, Lee Van Cleef's portrayal of Angel Eyes in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly). A worthy new villain to the Star Wars universe, Cad Bane quickly became a fan favorite, the galactic gunslinger receiving his small share of toys and collectibles from Hasbro back in the day. Now Sideshow expands their own Clone Wars collection, introducing Cad Bane as a realistic 1:6th scale action figure. Alas, this version of Cad Bane isn't entirely the bounty hunter fans know and love.

Rebel Scum! Blast Them!...

Star Wars collectors have good reason to celebrate with Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series release of a Stormtroopers 2-pack, perfect for army building. There is also a single release of the Stormtrooper for half the price but there are a few goodies only available in the exclusive double pack. If you plan on picking up multiple troopers, the box set is the way to go at $400. The single trooper works fine too for $200 but there’s fewer accessories.

DC Comics' Man of Steel In 12" Action Figure Form...

There's no denying the most popular superhero on the globe is Superman.

His image and symbol can be found on everything from t-shirts and shoes to bed sheets and towels; in fact, you can even find Superman's likeness on shelving units, bumper stickers and even Bandaids -- and in every major continent! While there might be countless action figures of Big Blue out there, there's always room for more...especially if those figures are as well sculpted, impressively detailed and fashionably articulated as Sideshow Collectible's new Superman Sixth Scale Figure.

Expand Your Clone Ranks With Bomb Savvy Soldier...

Every good specialized fighting team needs a demolitions expert. It's in all the big action movies where a small group of commandos, with the properly trained soldiers, take out a whole army of bad guys and saves the day. Heck, even our real life military employs such experts, so it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise that a fictional universe like Star Wars uses such bomb savvy soldiers. Meet the Bomb Squad Clone Trooper, Sideshow's latest release in the ranks of their ever-expanding 1:6th scale Clone army. In-stock and available to purchase now priced at $149.99, this unique trooper features an orange deco with shoulder insignia, and is fully equipped with everything he needs to get the job done, including twin blasters, backpack, and wire cutters for diffusing deadly virus bombs.

Back in Black...

Last week we took a look at Hot Toys’ Captain America Stealth and Steve Rogers sixth scale figures from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This week we thought we’d take a look at another character essential to that film: Black Widow, as played by the lovely Scarlett Johansson.

Cap's Alter Ego Exclusive To This Set...

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, released in 2014 is often regarded as one of the best Marvel Studios film to date, if not the very best. And while that film was released over a year ago, it takes just a bit longer before the stunning work of Hot Toys makes it to our grubby hands. Captain America, in his third major film appearance has been known to change up his uniform from Captain America: The First Avenger to The Avengers and now in The Winter Soldier, with his first appearance in his Stealth S.T.R.I.K.E. (Special Tactical Reserve for International Key Emergencies) Suit. Not only has Hot Toys created a remarkably realistic Captain America figure from this latest film, they’ve also released a Steve Rogers figure exclusive only to this box set. You can still get Captain America in his Stealth Suit by itself, but this is the only way to get both!

New 52 Oliver Queen As You’ve Never Seen Him Before...

DC Collectibles has a ton of awesome figures, statues, and more celebrating the characters of the DC Universe, whether they’re from the comics, television shows, movies, animation, or beyond. For statue collectors who have been enjoying the New 52 era of DC Comics (which started in 2011 and draws to a close with this summer’s Convergence event), there’s nothing quite like the current DC Comics Icons 1:6 Scale series. With arguably the highest quality representations of popular heroes from today’s books, the Icons statues have wowed fans with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and more. The latest release in the lineup is the first non-Justice League member (though he’s expressed a lot of interest in joining), Green Arrow! The timing couldn’t be more perfect for this debut as the Emerald Archer is breaking through to all new audiences and fans with the Arrow TV show in addition to the character’s comic book appearances. Keep reading for an in-depth look at this impressive new statue hitting stores this month.