Hot Toys Upcoming Releases: Iron Man Mark 43, Captain America, Marty McFly, Rocket & Groot

We have new backstage news for you all on the Hot Toys collectible figures that will be available very soon!

Fans will soon be able to get their hands on the Iron Man Mark XLIII, Captain America, and Series 1 of Artist Mix Figures Designed by TOUMA from the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marty McFly from Back to the Future, Rocket and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, and Whiplash Mark II from Iron Man 2!

Keep a look out for them in the near future!

"In brightest day…” Kotobukiya DC Universe Green Lantern Classic Costume ARTFX+ Statue

Kotobukiya’s groundbreaking DC Comics Classic Costume ARTFX+ Statue series brings you brand new non-articulated comic book characters based on vintage 1980’s Super Powers action figure sculpts enlarged to 1/10th scale. Following after the initial release of Superman (previewed on my toy blog HERE) comes Hal Jordan as Green Lantern! Retro is in and you can celebrate the great action figures of yesteryear with this vintage-inspired Green Lantern resembling a classic five points-of-articulation toy!

An all new sculpt updates the classic style yet retains the nostalgic feel, and collectors will immediately recognize the inspiration for this look. Green Lantern stands in a classic power pose, holding the Lantern Power Battery that charges his ring and keeps him ready for action. And just like the GL figure from your youth this ARTFX+ version looks stunning in his green and black costume with white gloves and of course the ring on his finger.

Sculpted by Atelier Bamboo, Green Lantern Classic Costume ARTFX+ stands just under 8 inches tall (1/10th scale) on his included magnetic display base with perfect stability. Collect all of the DC Comics Classic Costume Statues with the previously released Superman and upcoming characters like Flash, Batman, and more (sold separately)!

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DAM TOYS Exhibition Exclusive Gangsters Kingdom: Side Story 1/6 Saxon 12" figure Review

My last haul for March 2015 is this DAM TOYS Exhibition Exclusive Gangsters Kingdom: Side Story 1/6th scale Saxon 12-inch action figure. This particular figure first appeared as a CICF 2014 Exclusive and I have been waiting patiently for him to come to Singapore since. I didn't want to pay the higher asking prices on the internet and managed to score him for much less - Dam Toys GKS001 Gangsters Kingdom Side Story 1/6th scale Saxon figure (CICF Expo 2014 Exclusive) was being offered by TFH at a most reasonable price so that was a pretty good deal for me.

Saxon comes with 1/6th scale head sculpt (It's a rather nice head sculpt if you like animated / caricature styled sculpts which Dam Toys have been releasing for their Gangsters Kingdom series. The HS reminds me of actor Ed Harris), 12-inch Action figure body, White long sleeve shirt, prison clothes, Leather shoes, Metal handcuffs, Metal ankle bracelets, Palm / hands x five (5)

Dam Toys Gangsters Kingdom series have been about two feuding families so far, the Spade gang versus the Diamond gang. Every member has a head sculpt resembling somebody famous (actor or footballer) but done in caricature style. Saxon stands out because he is not from either gang, hence a side story. Saxon was a partner with the K of Spades before he was betrayed and now that he's dying of cancer, has decided to take revenge before his life ends.

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Pre-order ThreeZero 1/6th scale Dragon Age: Inquisition Alistar 12-inch collectible figure

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From ThreeZero:
The 1/6th scale collectible figure line based on characters from BioWare’s celebrated Dragon Age universe will launch this month.

Alistair is a fully articulated and highly detailed figure featuring tailored clothing, standing at 12" (32cm) tall with realistic weathering, figure includes shield, sword and exchangeable hands.

1/6th scale Alistair collectible will be available for pre-order at www.threezerostore.com on March 31st, 9:00AM Hong Kong time for 150USD/1160HKD with International Shipping included in the price. Orders placed at threezerostore will include a chest code that unlocks one random in-game item.

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Incoming: Square Enix Play Arts Kai Star Wars Variant 1:7 scale Stormtrooper action figure

Square Enix has released the first official pictures of their next two Play Arts Kai Star Wars Variant Figures. We have earlier seen the Play Arts Kai Variant Darth Vader action figure (posted on my toy blog HERE), and now he is to be joined by two new re-imagined Star Wars figures, as interpreted by the designers at Square Enix. Redesigned versions of Boba Fett (see previous post) and a Stormtrooper are joining the Imperial party.

The Stormtrooper will come with interchangeable hands, a heavy blaster, a blaster pistol, a muzzle flash effect piece and a figure stand. Each is priced at 12,000 Yen (about $100 USD) and are scheduled for release in July.

The Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. They are the main ground-force of the Galactic Empire, under the leadership of Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin. The order of battle of the Stormtrooper Corps is unspecified in the Star Wars universe, but its numbers are far fewer than those of the Imperial Army's regular troopers. Despite this, the apparently high combat effectiveness of the Stormtroopers as well as their harsh reputation serve as the main reasons for deploying them almost exclusively in most of the military engagements of the Galactic Empire.

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Preview Square Enix Play Arts Kai Star Wars Variant 1:7 scale Boba Fett action figure - WANT!

Square Enix has released the first official pictures of their next two Play Arts Kai Star Wars Variant Figures. We have earlier seen the Play Arts Kai Variant Darth Vader action figure (posted on my toy blog HERE), and now he is to be joined by two new re-imagined Star Wars figures, as interpreted by the designers at Square Enix. Redesigned versions of Boba Fett and a Stormtrooper are joining the Imperial party.

The Boba Fett will include interchangeable hands, a heavy blast, a pistol, knives, flamethrower effect, jetpack effects and a figure stand. Each is priced at 12,000 Yen (about $100 USD) and are scheduled for release in July.

Boba Fett is a fictional character in Star Wars. A recurring antagonist in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi as a bounty hunter hired by Darth Vader. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones establishes his origin as an unaltered clone of the bounty hunter Jango Fett raised as his son. His aura of danger and mystery have created a cult following for the character.

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Check out this Hot Toys "The Avengers" 1/6th scale Iron Man Mark VII (Stealth Mode Version)

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Hot Toys will be traveling to different locations in Asia to bring fans "Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Exhibition”, and an exclusive collectible figure will be only available during the event periods in selected markets.

Today Hot Toys is excited to reveal the specially designed 1/6th scale Iron Man Mark VII in Stealth Mode collectible figure based on The Avengers to celebrate upcoming launch of the Avengers: Age of Ultron movie and exhibitions! This MOVIE PROMO EDITION collectible figure will only be available exclusively during upcoming exhibition periods in different countries. Please stay tuned with your local distributors for update!

The Mark VII (Stealth Mode Version) Collectible Figure is highly detailed featuring multiple layers and various shades of metallic and matte black color with digital camouflage design, translucent black chest armor and articulated flaps on back of legs, Stark Industries decals at various parts of the armor, LED light-up functions, interchangeable armor parts, and a specially designed dynamic figure stand.

This stylish stealth mode version Mark VII collectible figure will be a great addition to your Iron Man collection!

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Sideshow Collectibles J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man collection - Black Cat Polystone Statue

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What a tangled web love weaves!

Black Cat (Felicia Hardy) is a reformed burglar who continues to walk on the wild side as a detective and adventurer. Learning safe cracking, lock picking, and other techniques of thieves, Felicia set out stealing from others to compensate psychologically for what was stolen from her. The first night she took on the persona of the Black Cat she tried to break her father, Walter Hardy out of prison before he died. In the process, she met Spider-Man. After her father's death, she set out to become New York's premier cat burglar. However, over time, flirtations led to romance with Spider-Man, as Felicia promised to abandon her criminal activities. Spider-Man and the Black Cat often patrolled the city together, with Felicia in love with Spider-Man. She was reluctant to see Spider-Man unmasked, for fear the excitement of the mysterious romance would be lost.

Introducing a new addition to the fan-favorite J. Scott Campbell Spider-Man collection - and Peter Parker's love triangle - Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present the Black Cat Statue. Sly, sexy and surrounded by piles of glittering jewels, Felicia Hardy seductively toys with a familiar looking ball of yarn. Because you can be sure that when she's not out stealing diamonds, she's out to steal Spider-Man's heart...

DC has their Catwoman and Marvel has Black Cat. DC has Black Canary and Marvel has Black Widow. The list goes on and on... So many similar characters in the two different universes created by these separate publishing houses.

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Wolfking 1/6th scale Chemical Poisoning Partner 12" Figure Set (Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman)

Wolf King's soon-to-be-released 12-inch figure set "Chemical Poisoning Partner" is essentially Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) former student who partners up with him to make high-level meth.

The set is quite spot on with the recreation of the character, and will come with 1/6th scale realistic head sculpt with a striking resemblance to actor Aaron Paul as well as t-shirt, gas mask, chemical suit, jacket, gloved hands, shoes with socks, lab apron, jeans, chemical drum, mixing bowl with hand mixer / crusher, and hand gun. Extra hands are included for added measure.

Wolfking 1/6th scale Chemical Poisoning Partner 12-inch Figure Set (Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman) specially features: 1/6th scale Head sculpt, 12-inch Action figure body,  Palms / hands x 4, Gas mask, Jacket, T-shirt, Jeans, Leather belt, pair of leather shoes, Chemical gloves, Chemical protective clothing, Chemical apron, Chemical barrel, Handgun, Mixing dish, Glass rod, packet of fine chemicals. NOTE: Box set comes with one action figure only (other figure for display only).

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Preview Hot Toys MMS289 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 1/6th scale Hawkeye Collectible Figure

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The release of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is coming closer and closer! Fans are all pumped to see the Earth’s mightiest heroes assembling again to save the world from the menacing artificial intelligence Ultron! Following the reveal of Black Widow, Hot Toys is thrilled to present the widely-anticipated 1/6th scale Hawkeye Collectible Figure!

The movie-accurate Hawkeye Collectible Figure is specially crafted based on the image of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye in Avengers: Age of Ultron, featuring a newly developed head sculpt, new outfit, improved articulations for action poses, freshly designed bow and arrows, and a specially designed figure stand. Expand your Avengers: Age of Ultron collection with this extraordinary marksman!

Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS289 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 1/6th scale Hawkeye Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and detailed likeness of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Approximately 30 cm tall Body with over 30 points of articulations, Movie-accurate facial features with detailed wrinkles and skin texture, Six (6) pieces of interchangeable palms with finger tabs on left palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) right palm for holding bow, Three (3) left palms of different styles for holding arrow. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

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Check out Kotobukiya Avengers: Age of Ultron 1/6th scale Iron Man Mark 43 ARTFX Statue

Kotobukiya last brought you full size ARTFX Iron Man armors from the movies with Iron Man 3, and now we’re expanding your collection with one of the stars of the upcoming blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron! In that film Robert Downey Jr. reprises his born-to-play role of Tony Stark while cutting edge special effects bring his armored forms to life like never before. If you’ve been keeping up we last saw the Mark 42 armor in the last Iron Man film, and so naturally the next step in the Armored Avenger’s development is Age of Ultron’s Iron Man Mark 43!

In the Iron Man sequels and the first Avengers film we’ve seen Tony Stark continue to modify and improve his armors, with Iron Man 3 really showing off the range of possibilities in purpose-built systems. In Avengers: Age of Ultron Iron Man returns to a more classically-inspired look with the Mark 43, similar in shape and size to the previous favorite Mark 42. A direct descendent, the new version is a sleek machine with overlapping plates and a similar segmented look. The new Iron Man stands ready for battle in a classic pose with a slightly angled upper body, hands balled into fists at his sides, and his armored head tilted downward ominously. The Mark 43 continues the red and gold color scheme the fans know and love but features a return to scarlet dominating the armor; gold appears mostly on the limbs, down the sides of the torso, and of course on the faceplate. Also like the previous armor, Iron Man Mark 43 features the round Arc Reactor in its chest.

Sculpted by MIC, Iron Man Mark 43 stands just over 11 inches tall (1/6th scale) on a special Avengers logo base with LED lights integrated in the eyes, chest and palms. Just like the previous Iron Man films ARTFX Statues, the Mark 43 is loaded with incredible sculpted and painted details bringing the armored suit to life like never before. Arriving later this year after the release of the film, the Mark 43 is sure to be the centerpiece of your Avengers: Age of Ultron collection!

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Devil Toys War of Order Vol 1 - The Secret Master 1/6th Limited Edition Collectible Figure

The New World War Has Already Begun...
​
WOO-War of (new) Order is a sci-fi story based on mysticism. In the year 2047, at a time when the world is at the brink of World War III, countries around the world are utilizing mercenary and high-tech companies to participate in this full scale advance warfare.

The Secret Master is just the first of many programmable robots (cyborg?) tasked to fight a war they didn't start but one that will probably be finished by them. It'll be a war where no quarter will be given and no questions will be asked. The victor will be the last bot standing...

Lots of these 12-inch robot figures popping up lately. It used to be ThreeA's domain but it has now fallen in the hands of many, all hoping to cash in on the 1/6 scale collectible market that is growing and growing. ThreeA recently announced their CHAPPiE 12-inch collectible robot figure (posted on my toy blog HERE) as well as the upcoming ThreeZero 1/6 scale 2014 RoboCop version 3.0 12.5-inch figure (pictures HERE) and now Devil Toys has joined in the fray.

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The passing of a great man: Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – 2015). May He Rest In Peace

The founding father of Singapore has passed on. Rest in peace, Mr Lee. Thank you for all that you have done for our nation.

Review III: Hot Toys "Guardians of the Galaxy" 1/6th scale Star-Lord (Peter Quill) 12-inch Figure

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continued from previous post...

Star-Lord (Peter Quill) is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Englehart and Steve Gan, the character first appeared in Marvel Preview #4 (Jan. 1976). The son of a human mother and alien father, Quill assumes the mantle of Star-Lord, an interplanetary policeman. The character played a role in the crossover comic book events Annihilation (2006) and Annihilation: Conquest (2007), and became the leader of the space-based superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy in the 2008 relaunch of the comic of the same name. He has been featured in a variety of associated Marvel merchandise, including animated television series, toys, and trading cards. Chris Pratt portrays Peter Quill as the lead character in the 2014 live-action film Guardians of the Galaxy.

This is the recently released Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS255 "Guardians of the Galaxy" 1/6th scale Star-Lord (Peter Quill) Collectible Figure as seen in the 2014 movie, played by Chris Pratt. I have already posted pictures of the very well crafted 1/6th scale Chris Pratt as Peter Quill head sculpt in the two previous review posts HERE and HERE. Now it's time to check out the interchangeable masked head sculpt with LED light up function (red lights, battery operated) that was included with this Hot Toys Star-Lord set.

In the Marvel Comics, Peter Quill wears a suit that grants augmented strength and durability and the ability to travel through space. The character uses an "Element Gun", a special meta-pistol capable of projecting one of the four elements (air, earth, fire and water).

In the film, Star-Lord's costume consists of red long coat with distress effects worn over a light gray T-shirt, a pair of dark gray pants with double holster belt for his guns, and a pair of brownish red boots with boosters. The outfit appears to be the uniform of the Ravagers, a mercenary gang (space pirates) led by Yondu Udonta. Star-Lord also has a sling pack on him. The mask (not helmet since it doesn't cover his head) seems to allow him to breathe in space.

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Phicen Limited / Go Hero presents Wilma Deering, heroine of the 25th Century 12" figure

Wilma Deering is smart, tough, and doesn't take any guff. This daring dame fights to protect earth from the evil aliens, rogue robots, and dastardly villains. Her world of tomorrow is turned upside down when she meets a stranger from the distant past... a man named Buck Rogers!

As the original "space girl", Wilma is the archetype for the many heroines of science-fiction and fantasy. With her clever mind, adventurous spirit and trusty “rocket pistol”, Wilma Deering has defied gravity and the stereotypical “damsel in distress” since the 1920s (That's almost a century ago!).

Phicen Limited / Go Hero PL2014-49 Wilma Deering 12-inch figure comes with: Realistic portrait of Wilma Deering, New Phicen fully articulated female body, 4 pairs of interchangeable hands and gloves, Classic outfit, Bubble helmet, Pilot cap with moving visor, Anti-gravity leather "jump belt" with disc, Leather boots, Rocket pistol, Belt, buckle and holster, Figure stand, Special packaging

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Tomorrow Kings Underverse Ranger SENSAI KOGEKI (Red) and DAI NI SUTORAIKI (Yellow)

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Sideshow Collectibles and 3A Toys are proud to introduce the Tomorrow Kings Underverse Ranger - SENSAI KOGEKI (Red) and DAI NI SUTORAIKI (Yellow) Sixth Scale Collectible Figures. Designed by renowned artist Ashley Wood, these futuristic fighters are fully articulated and include grenades and fighting weapons.

Is it me or are these just rehash of the same figures done so many times before? The only new addition here are the grenades and scythes. Underverse Ranger DAI NI SUTORAIKI (Yellow) is another one of the many Tomorrow Kings already released except he's dressed in a different attire from the ones that came before, looking more casual this time around. Underverse Ranger SENSAI KOGEKI (Red) is ThreeA (3A) 1/6 scale Tomorrow Kings SHOGUN Gorei garbed differently. I really like the 3A SHOGUN Gorei 12-inch figure because of his samurai inspired getup with helmet, shoulder armor and long sword connected to a battery - see the reviews posted on my toy blog HERE and HERE. It showed imagination and thinking out of the box. These two are just very bare and basic (simple looking).

Anyway, these two figures are probably good for anyone just getting into the hobby and wanting some ThreeA figures to kickstart their collection, to add variety to the other 12-inch figures in the market. Nowadays there are so many options and choices to choose from it's a great time to be a 1/6 scale collector.

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"In brightest day, in blackest night…” Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6 Green Lantern Figure

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"In brightest day, in blackest night…”

Joining our celebrated DC Comics Sixth Scale Figure collection, Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present the next member of the Justice League – Green Lantern!

Limited only by willpower and imagination, Hal Jordan is Earth’s first – and possibly greatest – member of the Green Lantern Corps! Proudly bearing the Green Lantern emblem on his chest, the masked hero is decked out in an exquisitely tailored version of his emerald green and black costume with shiny metallic highlights. Packed with powerful accessories he can pull from the pocket dimension, Hal Jordan wields his infamous ring, power battery, and massive green fist construct. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail on a fully articulated muscular superhero body design, the Green Lantern is sworn to guard and protect his Sector of the Universe – in brightest day and in blackest night!

The Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics Green Lantern Sixth Scale Figure features: Green Lantern Portrait, Fully Articulated Body, Detailed Green Lantern Corps Uniform, Power Battery, One (1) Pair of Standing Boots, One (1) Pair of Flight Boots, One (1) Pair of Glove Gauntlets, Right and Left Fists, Right and Left Flight Posed Hands, Right and Left Grasping Hands, Left Power Battery Holding Hands, Right Fist Construct Hand and Gauntlet. The Sideshow Exclusive will be: Right Fist with Power Sculpt

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Hot Toys "Guardians of the Galaxy" 1/6th scale Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) 12-inch Figure Review II

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continued from previous post...

Having gone into the box packaging and contents in my first part review of this Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS255 "Guardians of the Galaxy" 1/6th scale Star-Lord Collectible Figure on my toy blog in the earlier post HERE, let's look at the nice details found on this figure. Hot Toys is GREAT at replicating the details and accuracy of the 1:1 scale movie pieces into 1:6 scale miniatures and this Star-Lord figure is no exception. From the amazingly realistic head sculpt of Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord to his costume and accessories, everything is faithfully reproduced and beautifully crafted. Only top notch work can be found here and I'm very pleased with this Hot Toys collectible figure.

As with most of Hot Toys releases, always read the instructions first before attempting to do anything with the figure. You certainly don't want to cause any unnecessary damage to these expensive figures, a price to pay for the quality you are getting. Gone are the days of cheap toys. Now that you are an adult, you have to fork out good money for these high end collectibles, a whole new market created to entice and appeal to the adult-child who now has the disposable income to indulge in these things whilst still harboring a child inside, one who missed out on the wonderful toys while growing up.

The success of the movie "Guardians of the Galaxy" has certainly fueled demand for these movie-related figures. Guardians of the Galaxy earned $333.2 million in North America and an estimated $441 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $774.2 million. The film became the third highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, behind The Avengers and Iron Man 3. It was the third highest-grossing 2014 film (behind Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) and the highest-grossing superhero film of 2014.

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Recently Announced: ThreeZero 1/6th scale CHAPPiE 12-inch collectible robot figure

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Chappie (stylized as CHAPPiE) is an American science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp. The screenplay, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, is based on Blomkamp's 2004 short film Tetra Vaal. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman, and Watkin Tudor Jones (Ninja) and Yolandi Visser of the South African zef rap-rave group Die Antwoord.

It is sometime in the near future. In an effort to reduce the high crime rate in Johannesburg, the South African police force purchases armour-plated attack robots from weapons manufacturer Tetravaal, which prove successful in reducing crime. A mechanized police force patrols the streets and deals with lawbreakers -- but now, the people are fighting back. When one police droid is stolen and given new programming, he acquires the ability to feel and think for himself. While the robot, dubbed "Chappie (Sharlto Copley)," puzzles out human behavior, the authorities begin to see him as a danger to mankind and order; they will stop at nothing to ensure that Chappie is the last of his kind.

The fully-articulated 1/6th scale Chappie collectible (stands 12 inches / 30.5 cm tall) is available at www.threezerostore.com for 230 USD / 1780 HKD with International Shipping included in the price. Chappie features highly detailed paint and weathering replicating his appearance on screen. Chappie also includes light-up LEDs and an AKS-74 rifle accessory.

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Hot Toys "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 1/6th Scarlett Johansson Black Widow 12" Collectible Figure

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"I'm always picking up after you boys."

A new wave of Hot Toys’ 1/6th scale Collectible Figures based on the highly anticipated Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is coming as the movie’s release date draws near! Today we are excited to present the deadly female member of the mighty Avengers – the 1/6th scale Black Widow Collectible Figure!

The movie-accurate collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in the film featuring a newly painted head sculpt with short curly brownish-red real fabric hair, newly tailored costume with leather-like trims and blue highlights, detailedly made new weapons and accessories.

Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS288 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 1/6th Scarlett Johansson Black Widow Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and detailed likeness of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron with Newly painted head sculpt with movie-accurate facial expression and make-up (Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted), Short curly brownish-red real fabric hair implantation. Approximately 28 cm tall Body with over 28 points of articulations, Eight (8) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of fists, One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) pair of palms for holding pistols, One (1) pair of fists for holding batons

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Coming soon from Ax2: 1/6th scale BOOM! #3 - Smith Baker 12-inch figure from a bleak future

Backstory:
Smith Baker, a county sheriff from Philadelphia who has been through a major accident, was saved by a cyborg surgery. He was very fortunate to survive because of the technology, but that also became the nightmare of his life. Through a rescue operation requested by his best friend, he will eventually find a door to salvation for himself.

The Ax2: 1/6th scale BOOM! #3 - Smith Baker 12-inch action figure seems to come from a future similar to that seen in "Blade Runner", a 1982 American neo-noir dystopian science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos. It was a modified film adaptation of the 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.

I also see Jude Law in the 2001 American science fiction film "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" written, directed, and produced by Steven Spielberg, and based on Brian Aldiss's short story Super-Toys Last All Summer Long. Except in "A.I.", Jude Law was Gigolo Joe, a male prostitute Mecha programmed with the ability to mimic love. 

This will be Ax2's second 'mass' produced figure (limited to 400 pcs) from the BOOM! series after #2 Rei 12-inch figure (reviewed on my toy blog HERE, HERE and HERE). While Rei appeared to be from a post-apocalyptic future, Smith Baker seems to come from a dystopian one.

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Review 1: Hot Toys MMS255 Guardians of the Galaxy: 1/6th scale Star-Lord Collectible Figure

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This was part of my March 2015 haul (see my previous toy blog post HERE)

Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Brash space adventurer Peter Jason Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the quarry of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four disparate misfits: gun-toting Rocket Raccoon, treelike-humanoid Groot, enigmatic Gamora, and vengeance-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when he discovers the orb's true power and the cosmic threat it poses, Quill must rally his ragtag group to save the universe.

This is the recently released Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS255 Guardians of the Galaxy: 1/6th scale Star-Lord Collectible Figure with authentic and detailed likeness of Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy film. The funny thing is Peter Quill is the one who calls himself Star-Lord and nobody else seems to know him by that name LOL

One of the funny / comedic scenes in the film happens when Peter Quill / Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is arrested by the Nova Corps. While being processed before he is sent to prison, Quill winds up his finger and flips the bird at the officers who are processing him. Casting director Sarah Finn had suggested Pratt to Director James Gunn, who dismissed the idea despite struggling to cast that role. Despite this, Finn arranged for a meeting between the two, at which point Gunn was immediately convinced that Pratt was perfect for the role. Pratt also won over Producer Kevin Feige, despite having gained weight for the film "Delivery Man". Prior to filming, Pratt underwent a strict diet and training regimen to lose 60 lb (27 kg) in six months.

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March 2015 Haul: "Guardians of the Galaxy" 1/6th Star-Lord, EVA Mark.09 & 1966 Batmobile

Not a lot of 1/6th scale figures so far this month but I'm quite pleased with what I got :) The star of the show (pun intended) is none other than Hot Toys MMS255 Guardians of the Galaxy: 1/6th scale Star-Lord Collectible Figure with the newly developed head sculpt of Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in the 2014 movie and an interchangeable LED light-up masked head sculpt. I also got the SEGA Evangelion Shin Gekijouban: Q "Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo" EVA Mark.09 pre-painted PVC statue and the Polar Lights 1/25 scale 1966 Batmobile Snap Kit. There just wasn't any space for the Hot Toys 1/6 scale version of the Batmobile so this is a size I like and am most comfortable with.

My main interest is in 12-inch figures but I'll always have a soft spot for the other toys I used to grow up with. My toy collecting hobby started with the carded BTAS (Batman: The Animated Series) figures way back in 1994 and although I've moved on from those figures to the bigger sized 1/6th scale figures, Batman has always had a hold on me in one way or another. Even when I started my toy blog in 2007, my first few posts were all about Batman. I even considered calling my blog site "The Batcave" but decided against it as I also have a lot of other toys that are not Batman related.

The Batmobile is very much a part of Batman and I've amassed quite a number of Batmobiles already, although they aren't in 1:6 scale. There are the classic Batmobiles from the 1966 Batman TV series as well as the DC Super Powers Batmobile (posted HERE and HERE), the BTAS Batmobile (pictures HERE) as well as the ones from the Batman movies (posted HERE). I even received a very nice gift in the mailbox from someone all the way in the United Sates - check out the post in my toy blog HERE.

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Comparison pictures of Hot Toys MMS202-D04 die-cast RoboCop with HT MMS010 & MMS032 RoboCop 12-inch Collectible Figures

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Here it is! Three different Hot Toys 1/6th scale RoboCop 12-inch collectible figures all in one place. It's good to see how far the standards of this 1:6 scale modeling hobby (a.k.a. Playscale Miniaturism) have come in terms of sculpting and the production of 12-inch action figures. Since Hot Toys has been leading the way in innovation and design, we can also see how much they have improved over the years. Standing front and center is the latest Hot Toys released die-cast RoboCop collectible figure (MMS202D04). Behind him on the left of the picture is the original (first released) Hot Toys MMS010 RoboCop and on the right of the picture is the Hot Toys MMS032 RoboCop 3 figure with flight pack.

One of the first things you will notice is the difference in the paint application. All three are painted differently. I think Hot Toys got the colors closer to the movie version RoboCop the first time (i.e. MMS010). We also know that RoboCop got more blue by the third film, hence the colors painted on RoboCop 3. The other most obvious difference is the lower face sculpts since RoboCop doesn't really show much of his face when he's wearing his helmet. The next RoboCop to be released by Hot Toys will be the Hot Toys 1/6 RoboCop (Battle Damaged Version) & Alex Murphy Collectible Figures Set (previewed HERE) and that RoboCop figure will finally show the full face as seen in the ending scenes of the film.

Besides the improvement of the sculpts, thanks in part to the sculptors who have turned their hobby into a passion in order for us collectors to be able to own such realistic masterpieces, the engineering of toys and action figures has also brought the 12-inch collectible market to a whole different level. These collectible figures are now so well produced that they are truly of museum quality and are fit to be put up for display in any museum as a memorabilia or showcase of that particular movie genre. People don't call them toys anymore. They are true 1:6 scale representations of the real McCoy and as the name states - Movie Masterpieces.

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Advance Look: Kotobukiya Marvel Now! X-Men Cyclops ARTFX+ Statue (Beam me up, Scott!)

As a follow up to the immensely popular Avengers ARTFX+ statue series Kotobukiya presents the Marvel Now! X-Men Cyclops statue with concept artwork by Adi Granov and sculpting by Junnosuke Abe (RESTORE).

Cyclops is a fictional superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963).

Cyclops emits beams of energy from his eyes, described as "optic blasts", which have the appearance of red light and deliver massive concussive force. The beams cause no recoil or heat, but are tremendously powerful, and can be used to rupture steel plates and pulverize rock. The beams constantly emanate from his eyes involuntarily, and can generally only be stopped by his own eyelids, or by shielding his eyes with "ruby-quartz", a translucent mineral; Cyclops wears ruby-quartz as lenses in glasses or in his visor, which is generally the only way for him to safely see without inadvertently damaging his surroundings. The beams' involuntary nature has been explained as a psychological shortcoming that resulted from childhood trauma. Cyclops can nevertheless manipulate the beams in several different ways, partially through the use of adjustable apertures in his eyewear that allow the beams to fire through their shielding at variable levels.

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Play Toy 1/6th scale Racing Girl 12-inch Action Figure Set in Red / White / Blue - VaVaVroom!

Play Toy will be offering three different Racing Girl Figure Sets. The girls will comes dressed in either White, Blue or Red motorcycle racing outfits with matching helmets and will feature 1/6th scale Female Head Sculpts, 12-inch Female Body, Racing Suit, Racing Boot/Feet, Helmet and Gloved Hands. NOTE: The Motorcycle is not included (used primarily for display only to show off the female form on hard metal).

I wish there were pictures taken of the girls wearing the helmet. Then we can have an idea of the size of the helmet. Having them posing with the helmet doesn't tell us if the scale of the helmet is done in the right size. There have been mistakes made in the past regarding motorcycle helmets which were made too BIG and looked terrible when put on the head.

1/6th scale girls wearing motorcycle racing suits are not new. There have been quite a number of these biker babes released in the past. Most recently there was the Play Toy 1/6 scale Bride Killer version 2.0 Female Action Figure Collectible Set previewed HERE and sometime back there was the Triad Toys 1/6 scale Gunn 4 Hire: Catalina 12-inch female biker action figure which definitely needed the helmet to stay on LOL (check out my toy blog post HERE). Back in 2009, I had reviewed the ZC World 12-inch Rosanna Bike Girl which came with a 1/6 scale motorcycle all at a very affordable price. You can see the pictures of the bike HERE, Rosanna Biker Chick HERE and gal on bike HERE.

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"Judge, jury and executioner" - Prepare to meet Mezco Toys 1:12 scale Judge Dredd action figure

Ripped from Rebellion’s award winning comic is Mega-City One’s most notorious Street Judge, Judge Dredd. Some time in the near future Mega City One is part of what is left of a dystopian society and the law is upheld by Judges. Charged with the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner Street Judges are on the front line of maintaining order in a post apocalyptic world.

Working closely with Rebellion and comic book artist Ben Willsher to design the most accurate figure possible based on the characters current look the One:12 Collective has crafted a finely detailed figure with some truly amazing features. The Judge Dredd figure has a comic accurate, digitally sculpted likeness, a specially silkscreened spandex uniform with a real working zipper to create a realism at this scale not seen before and numerous accessories as well as interchangeable parts.

The One:12 Collective Judge Dredd features: Iconic helmet with translucent visor, Real leather-like fabric uniform, Equipment belt with working compartments for grenades and ammo magazine, Boots with holster and knife sheath, Boot knife, Handcuffs, Lawgiver pistol, Lawgiver ammo magazine, Daystick, Two grenades, One set of fists, One gun holding hand, One open hand, One pointing hand, One choking hand, Display base and posing post

Each figure is packaged in a deluxe, fifth panel window box with translucent acetate slipcover. Designed for collector convenience, the packaging allows for both maximum protection as well as ease of removal for display.

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Check out Kotobukiya 1/7th scale Street Fighter Sakura Kasugano Bishoujo (approx 8") Statue

Sakura Kasugano (春日野 さくら Kasugano Sakura) is a character in the Street Fighter series. She is a Japanese schoolgirl who has an intense fascination with Ryu. She has managed to copy and learn some of Ryu's techniques, but really wants him to train her personally.

She is the fourth female fighter in the series (after Chun-Li, Cammy and Rose). She has a friend named Kei Chitose, who attends the same high school and sometimes goes along with Sakura on her street fight tour.

Sakura typically fights in her school's uniform, a short-skirted sailor uniform (seifuku) with the collar popped and red bloomers underneath. She also wears red Converse-esque shoes, a red top under her uniform, red boxing gloves, a yellow bola tie, and a white headband (given by Ryu before Street Fighter Alpha 2). She has short brown hair.

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Incoming: Asmus Toys HOBT02 1/6th scale The Hobbit "Bard the Bowman" 12-inch action figure

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a 2014 epic fantasy adventure film, directed by Peter Jackson and written by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro. It is the third and final installment in the three-part film adaptation based on the novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, following An Unexpected Journey (2012) and The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and together they act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Luke Evans stars as Bard the Bowman, a skilled archer and the heir of Girion, the last king of old Dale. He was described as "grim faced" and while a guardsman of Esgaroth he was often predicting floods and poisoned fish. He rallied the guards to defend the town when the dragon came. Bard was able to slay the dragon Smaug with the Black Arrow after a tip from the old thrush (who had overheard Bilbo Baggins' description of Smaug) had revealed an unarmoured spot on the dragon's underside.

Asmus Toys HOBT02 1/6th scale The Hobbit "Bard" 12-inch action figure specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Bard from The Hobbit Trilogy with Approximately 30 cm tall Super action male body which has Over 36 points of articulation plus 3 pairs of interchangeable hands.

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Preview ENTOYS 1/6th scale Blade Girl "Bolita" post-apocalyptic 12-inch female action figure

Remember what I said about 1/6 companies releasing post-apocalyptic 12-inch figures? See my previous post. Well, here's one more to share.

Short backstory / intro:
In A.D. 2075, the World War III broke out. The ignorant human used nuclear weapon and the earth was in a disaster. Resources on the earth were almost exhausted and the living creatures became extinct, including human beings. Human continue severe slaughter for resources. Among these plunderers, the organization named Blade Girl is the flagship.

ENTOYS Item#ET-001 1/6th scale Blade Girl "Bolita" 12-inch female action figure parts list: Female head sculpt, Female body, Corset with leather belt, Leather pants, Cape, Holster, Leather scabbard, Relaxed hands (pair), Gun hands (pair), Sword hands (pair), Leather Boots, Armband, Elbow pad, Gun, Sword, Sheath (1 pc)

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New from Studio Sundowner: The Mechanical Arm 1/6th post-apocalyptic 12" collectible figure

In order to compete for scarce resources on earth, World War 3 takes place in 2112. After 4 years of war, there is still no winning party, so out of exhaustion the warring countries decided to sign a peace treaty. The Mechanical Arm (TMA) was born in this particular era but no one seems to know its background. Even its national origin can hardly be traced. The only thing we know is it is named RED and was used by the army during the war.

Currently, the man with the mechanical arm is a WMMA (World Mixed Martial Arts) athlete and specializes in ancient Japanese martial art. To enhance his proficiency his left arm was transformed into a mechanical arm. TMA adores the old time band Beatles, so he always puts on headphone to enjoy his favorite rock and roll music. Besides his personal career, he wants to be a music composer. He is a fan of one 21st century Japanese actress and often has her name printed on his outfit.

Lots of 1/6 scale companies releasing post-apocalyptic themed 12-inch action figures these days. Apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of science fiction and horror fiction that is concerned with the end of human civilization. This apocalypse is typically portrayed as being due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as zombie apocalypse, nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural phenomena, divine judgment, runaway climate change, resource depletion, ecological collapse, or some other general disasters. Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in a world or civilization after such a disaster that ruins the world. The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the travails or psychology of survivors, or considerably later, often including the theme that the existence of pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten (or mythologized). Post-apocalyptic stories often take place in a non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of technology remain.

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DC Collectibles shows off the articulation of their new DC Comics Icons Action Figure line

From DC Collectibles:
DC Collectibles have shared just how much articulation will be in the new DC Comics Icons Action Figure line.

In May of 2014 during our 100,000 Facebook Likes celebration, we asked you, the fans, how much articulation you preferred in your DC Collectibles action figures. The overwhelming vote was for as much articulation as possible. With that sort of response, we couldn’t help but hear you loud and clear, so during the development of the new Icons line, we aimed to develop a universal model that would load up our figures with articulation points.

Below is the complete anatomy articulation breakdown for our new DC Comics Icons Action Figures. Pretty cool, eh? Click on the pic for a bigger and better view :)

So far the line will feature Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Mister Miracle, Deadman, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Lex Luthor, Green Lantern, Black Adam, Aquaman, Atomica with Atom, and Harley Quinn.

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Pre-order Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Episode VI Darth Vader Premium Format Figure

Pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles

You underestimate the power of the Dark Side.

Ruthless and powerful, Darth Vader stands at the height of his power in Sideshow Collectibles Darth Vader Lord of the Sith Premium Format Figure.

Inspired by one of the most climactic duels in cinematic history, Darth Vader descends the steps of a Death Star themed base. With his light-up crimson lightsaber at the ready, the commanding villain is prepared to engage in mortal combat and claim victory for the Galactic Empire. Every detail of the Sith Lords costume, from his iconic helmet to his sweeping black cape, have been faithfully recreated as seen on screen in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The height and composition of this impressive piece make it an ideal companion to Sideshows Boba Fett Premium Format Figure, and the perfect centerpiece of any Star Wars collection!

Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Episode VI 1/4 scale Darth Vader Premium Format Figure measurements: 26.5 inches H (673.1mm) x 16 inches W (406.4mm) x 12 inches L (304.8mm). Product Weight: 25.00 lbs (11.34 kg)

Pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles

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Review III: Hot Toys MMS202D04 1/6th scale Battle Damaged RoboCop Collectible Figure

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The RoboCop series is the latest addition to Hot Toys’ MMS Diecast Series in which the collectible figures are made of diecast material, specially designed to look more closely to the realistic RoboCop in the movie. The MMS Diecast Series brings us to the next level of authenticity, focusing on the materials, fine details and engineering of the collectible figure.

Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Diecast Series MMS202D04 1/6th scale RoboCop Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and highly detailed fully realized likeness of RoboCop in the movie with newly sculpted and refined body with black, light grey and silver armor, interchangeable lower faces, working thigh gun holster and the ability to speak memorable quotes from the movie. RoboCop stands approximately 30 cm tall with over 25 points of articulations.

I've already covered most of this Hot Toys die-cast RoboCop collectible figure from packaging to contents earlier in my toy blog post HERE, followed by reviewing his weapons (one normal pistol and one die-cast pistol) and the famous thigh gun holster in the previous post HERE. This third part review will cover the interchangeable battle damaged helmet and interchangeable battle damaged chest armor. The weapon battle damaged RoboCop is holding in the picture is NOT included witht he figure. I just wanted to shoot RoboCop with a different gun. It's related to the movie but slightly different. Check out the details below.

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Check out the pretty Kotobukiya Marvel Comics 1/7th scale Wasp 8-inch Tall Bishoujo Statue

Wasp (Janet van Dyne) is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 (June 1963).

"The Winsome Wasp", as she is sometimes called, is usually depicted as having the ability to shrink to a height of several centimeters, grow to giant size, fly by means of insectoid wings, and fire bioelectric energy blasts. She is a founding member of the Avengers as well as a long time leader of the team. The codename of "The Wasp" was temporarily used by Hank Pym while Janet was presumed dead.

Kotobukiya continues their lineup of stylized Bishoujo Statues based on Super Heroes and Villains from the pages of Marvel Comics with Wasp! Wasp is based on a new character interpretation and illustration by master Japanese Illustrator Shunya Yamashita. The statue shows Wasp lightly touching down on a special base designed to look like a splash of water. Wasp looks great in her black and gold costume and iridescent wings. Wasp can be displayed alone or alongside other Marvel character inspired Bishoujo statues from Kotobukiya.

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Hot Toys "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 1/6th scale Hulkbuster 21-inch (55 cm) Collectible Figure

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This is the Iron Man armor you have been waiting for!

Ever since the first official appearance of the massive anti-Hulk Iron Man suit, Hulkbuster, in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, fans worldwide have been filled with excitement! Its fight against Hulk is an unforgettable moment from the clip and pushes the popularity of the huge machine to a new level even before the movie launch!

Today, we are proud to officially introduce the collectible figure that many fans and collectors have been longing for – the spectacular 1/6th scale Hulkbuster Collectible Figure!

The movie-accurate collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Hulkbuster in Avengers: Age of Ultron. This colossal figure stands approximately 55 cm (21 inches) tall, featuring a Mark XLIII bust inside the Hulkbuster with LED light-up eyes and arc reactor on chest. The metallic red, gold and silver armor with weathering effect, and over 16 LED light-up areas located in the eyes, chest, repulsor palms, back, and legs.

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ACI Toys 1/6th scale Crusader Knight Templars – Version B Templar Knight Sub-field Marshal

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After the First Crusade recaptured Jerusalem in 1099, many Christians made pilgrimages to various Holy Places in the Holy Land. However, though the city of Jerusalem was under relatively secure control, the rest of Outremer was not. Bandits and marauding highwaymen preyed upon pilgrims who were routinely slaughtered, sometimes by the hundreds, as they attempted to make the journey from the coastline at Jaffa into the interior of the Holy Land.

In 1119, the French knight Hugues de Payens approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Warmund, Patriarch of Jerusalem and proposed creating a monastic order for the protection of these pilgrims. King Baldwin and Patriarch Warmund agreed to the request, probably at the Council of Nablus in January 1120, and the king granted the Templars a headquarters in a wing of the royal palace on the Temple Mount in the captured Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Temple Mount had a mystique because it was above what was believed to be the ruins of the Temple of Solomon. The Crusaders therefore referred to the Al Aqsa Mosque as Solomon's Temple, and it was from this location that the new Order took the name of Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, or "Templar" knights.

The knights wore a white surcoat with a red cross and a white mantle also with a red cross; the sergeants wore a black tunic with a red cross on the front and a black or brown mantle. The red cross that the Templars wore on their robes was a symbol of martyrdom, and to die in combat was considered a great honour that assured a place in heaven.

Besides the ACI Toys 1/6th scale Crusader Knight Templars – Version A Knight Templar Brother previewed earlier HERE, ACI will also be releasing the ACI Toys 1/6th scale Crusader Knight Templars – Version B Templar Knight Sub-field Marshal 12-inch figure. Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures. Click on them for bigger and better views.

Incoming: ACI Toys 1/6th scale Crusader Knight Templars – Version A Knight Templar Brother

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Salomonici), commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of Solomons Temple (French: Ordre du Temple or Templiers) or simply as Templars, were among the most wealthy and powerful of the Western Christian military orders and were among the most prominent actors of the Christian finance. The organisation existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages.

Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favoured charity throughout Christendom and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades.

The Templars' existence was tied closely to the Crusades; when the Holy Land was lost, support for the Order faded. Rumours about the Templars' secret initiation ceremony created mistrust and King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the Order, took advantage of the situation. In 1307, many of the Order's members in France were arrested, tortured into giving false confessions, and then burned at the stake. Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V disbanded the Order in 1312. The abrupt disappearance of a major part of the European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the "Templar" name alive into the modern day.

ACI will not be just producing one Templar Knight Brother but four different styles of the Templar Knights to be released soon. This is the Version A Knight Templar Brother. They have also released pictures of the Version B Templar Knight Sub-field Marshal which I will show in my NEXT toy blog post. Meanwhile, scroll down and check out all the pictures of ACI Toys 1/6th scale Crusader Knight Templars – Version A Knight Templar Brother. Click on them for bigger and better views.