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Friday, June 27, 2014

Review: Funko ReAction The Rocketeer 3 3/4" Figure

Once upon a time, this site was simply a place for me to blog about my new purchases. Over time, it has become so much more, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s been so busy doing all the great new stuff that AFB has become, however, that I haven’t posted a review for ages!

While we now review multiple toys every week on our podcast, there is something very enjoyable about getting out the camera and writing down my thoughts about a new acquisition, so I am going to try to get back into the habit and use this space to highlight some items that won’t get full reviews on the show. Who knows, you might see the other AFB hosts posting reviews here as well!

Tonight I’m checking out something quite interesting – the Funko ReAction The Rocketeer 3 ¾ Figure.



Funko has burst on to the collectibles scene and has progressed from pop vinyl to action figures, which has the potential to be very exciting. It’s certainly great to have more players in this game, and the idea of the ReAction Figures is something that really appeals to me – toys that harken back to the carded 3 ¾” figures and “rack toys” of old.



For something to be effectively retro in my eyes, it needs to harken back to something old without being slavish to it, and I’m not certain that’s been achieved here. What would really elevate this line for me would be a more collector-friendly packaging design. The retro carded feel is great – but totally destroyed if you want to open the figure. A design that allowed you to inspect the figure and then display either loose or on card would be something I could see myself attracted to.

That’s really reinforced once you open this toy. It’s cute, but very basic. Simple five points of articulation and with (mostly) acceptable detail and accessories.
Sculpt-wise, there is some very nice detail here, particularly in the Rocketeer’s uniform and his two accessories – his helmet and jet pack.  He stands easily and while the addition of the jetpack requires some rebalancing, it is still easy to find his balance.




Funko’s Pop Vinyl line has been plagued by spotty QC when it comes to paint, and there are issues here too – brown spots on his cream trousers and a few areas of bleed. Especially disappointing is The Rocketeer’s face, which is really lacking in definition and looks sort of sprayed on rather than painted.

Sadly, I pretty much regretted opening this as soon as I did, because it’s an idea that’s better appreciated in theory than in reality. This really comes home once you put on the Rocketeer’s helmet, and the toy instantly becomes a kid dressed up as The Rocketeer for Halloween with a much-too-big helmet on his oversized head. There’s just not enough going for this figure to make it something I’d want to display loose.



Funko has hit on a model that relies on the love of particular licenses and nostalgia to sell product, but I am not sure I see this concept reaching the popularity of the Pop Vinyls. Again, I think that collectors would probably respond to this idea if there was an aspect of the product that elevated it beyond a reproduction style rack toy to a retro “feel” modern figure – a re-openable package or a higher degree of detail in face sculpts, for example.

For a Dolly Rating (now the standard scale of rating toys on the AFB Podcast), I can’t go higher than a 6, and most of that is for the concept rather than the execution. I’m left underwhelmed on too many fronts to go higher.

If you’d like to see a full set of photos of this item, please check out the album on Flickr.

Your thoughts about this item are most welcome – please comment here or over at the AFB Facebook Page!

Until next time!


Scotty

Thursday, June 26, 2014

The AFB Podcast Episode 122: MOTUC Battle Lion, DCC Justice League War Wonder Woman, Sideshow Premium Format Harley Quinn


Episode 122 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

Join Ben, Justin, Scott and Eli for this week's toy news and reviews!

This week we check out three great new releases: 


Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics Battle Lion

DC Collectibles' Justice League War: Wonder Woman 

Sideshow Collectibles' Harley Quinn Premium Format Statue. 

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 122 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!















Thursday, June 19, 2014

The AFB Podcast Episode 121: Boss Fight Studio and the Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S.


Episode 121 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

In this episode, John has a great time speaking to the team from Boss Fight Studio about their already funded Kickstarter for their Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. line and their future plans. This is a great interview that gives a range of insights into the process of producing the toys we all love - a huge thanks to the Boss Fight team for their time and enthusiasm!


Once you've listened, head over to the Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. Kickstarter and get in before it closes!

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 121 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!












Sunday, June 15, 2014

AFB Interviews Nicola Scott


**reposting this as there was an issue with the url for the previous post**

Episode 120 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

Join Scott  and Eli for a very special episode this week!

In this episode, we have the great privilege of speaking to DC Comics superstar artist Nicola Scott! As well as hearing the fantastic story of how she came to the world of comics, we speak to Nicola about what it's like to have her art turned into toys, and discuss some recent and upcoming releases from DC Collectibles based on her Earth 2 work!


If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 120 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!












Thursday, June 12, 2014

The AFB Podcast: Turning Art into Toys with DC Comics Artist Nicola Scott


Episode 120 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

Join Scott  and Eli for a very special episode this week!

In this episode, we have the great privilege of speaking to DC Comics superstar artist Nicola Scott! As well as hearing the fantastic story of how she came to the world of comics, we speak to Nicola about what it's like to have her art turned into toys, and discuss some recent and upcoming releases from DC Collectibles based on her Earth 2 work!


If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 120 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!













Sunday, June 08, 2014

The AFB Custom Comp - "Scum and Villainy" - The Winners!

Recently the AFB Forum held its first Custom Comp for a year, and this time it was all about the bad guys!

If you haven't checked out all of the fabulous entries in this comp, please check them out now.

Finally, let's give a big round of applause to our three top vote-getters:

Third Place - PSYCHO PIRATE by NiteOwl



Second Place - SCALPHUNTER by fishmilkshake




First Place - SLIPKNOT by dozymuppet



Congrats to all of our winners, and again well done to all of our entrants!

Saturday, June 07, 2014

The AFB Podcast Episode 119: Bowen Designs Hela Statue


Episode 119 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

Join Scott, Adam and John for this week's toy news and reviews!

This week we after our regular features, we check out the amazing new release from Bowen Designs - the  Bowen Designs Hela Statue.


If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 118 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!













The AFB Podcast Episode 118: Hot Toys Celtic Predator / Robot Action Figures


Episode 118 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct downloadDownload and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

Join Ben and John for this week's toy news and reviews!

This week we check out the  Hot Toys Celtic Predator V2, and then we look at some of our favourite Robot Action Figures.


If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 118 here now! Click on the link to listen, or right click to save the file! The podcast will always be available from the “Podcast” tab here - but if you can subscribe and give us positive ratings at iTunes, that will help us greatly! 

The AFB Podcast is also on Stitcher Radio!

Have a listen, and please give us some feedback at podcast@actionfigureblues.com - we might even read out your feedback on the next show!

Happy listening!












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