The AFB Podcast Episode 185: Kotobukiya Zatanna Bishoujo Statue / SH Figuarts DBZ Android 16 / Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Boxed Set

Episode 185 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join Ben, Scott and Adam for a great new show with all of the latest news and reviews!

This week we check out the Kotobukiya DC Bishoujo Zatanna Statue, the SH Figuarts Dragonball Z Android 16 Action Figure, and the Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Boxed Set. 

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 185 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!

News Covered in this Episode

1. Sideshow Collectibles “Batman: Dark Knight” Premium format statue preview
2. Kotobukiya Art-FX “Red Robin” statue
3. Bandai S.H.Figuarts Star Wars “Biker Scout & Speeder Bike”
4. Walgreens exclusive “Marvel Animated series 1.5” Minimates set
5. Hasbro Star Wars Black 6” Episode VII “First Order Tie-Fighter”
6. Lego Star Wars Episode VII sets
7. NECA Friday the 13th Part VI “Ultimate Jason” action figure
8. Funko - Crap load of Episode VII Wacky Wobblers and Pops
9. Phicen Limited ⅙ “Lady Death” Action Figure & Robyn Hood
10. Sideshow Collectibles “Godzilla” statue
11. Funko “Iron Giant” & “Godzilla” 6” supersized Pop
12. Hot Toys Episode VII “Kylo Ren” ⅙ action figure
13. Hot Toys Episode VII “First Order Stormtrooper: Squad Leader” 
14. Hot Toys Episode VII “First Order Stormtroopers” set

The AFB Podcast Episode 154: Bombshells Zatanna / Batgirl Toy History

Episode 154 of the AFB Podcast is live at iTunes and is now available for direct download! Download and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes now! 

This week, join Scott, John and Ben for all of the latest news and reviews!

This week, our Toy of the Week is the DC Collectibles Zatanna Bombshell Statue and we take on a new Toy History - of DC's Batgirl!

If you don't use iTunes, you can download Episode 154 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!


News Covered in this Episode

1. Funko & Marvel team up for Collector Corps Subscription
2. Hot Toys Thanos
3. Walking Dead Comic Series 4
4. Walking Dead TV Series 7.5
5. Funko Legacy Evolve 6” Figures & POPs
6. Lego SHIELD Helicarrier
7. Kotobukiya Lil Gotham Mini Figures
8. Figuarts Zero Vegeta Galik Gun
9. NECA 8 bit Dog Alien
10. NECA DeVito Penguin ¼ scale action figure
11. NECA Pacific Rim Series 7
12. NECA Pacific Rim Baby Otachi

Batgirl Toy History:

Action Figures

• Mego 8” 1973
• Mattel DCUC 6” Version 1
• Mattel DCUC 6” Version 2
• Mattel Batgirl 6” Unlimited
• Mattel 1966 6”
• Mattel 4” “The Batman”
• DC Direct Secret files 6” Unmasked set
• DC Direct All-Star 6”
• DC Direct Showcase Carmine Infantino 6”
• DC Direct Elseworlds Thrillkiller 6”
• DC Direct Elseworlds Finest 6”
• DC Direct Justice 6”
• DC Direct 13”
• DC Collectables - The Nu52 Batgirl
• DC Collectables Super Best Friends
• Hasbro 12” Batman animated
• Kenner Batman animated 4”
• Kenner Batman animated “Tech suit” 4”
• Kenner Legends of the Dark Knight

Busts

• DCD Silver Age Tim Brucker Bust
• DCD Women of the DCU Adam Hughes Bust
• DCD Women of the DCU Amanda Conner Series
• DCC New 52 Batgirl Bust

PVC

• DCD Ame-Comi Batgirl 1 (Babs) and Variant
• DCD Ame-Comi 2 (Cassandra)
• DCD Ame-Comi 3 (Babs v2)
• Kotobukita Bishoujo Batgirl & Black Variant
• Kotobukia ArtFX Batgirl
• Play Arts Batgirl
• DC Direct Yamato figure
• Super Best Friends Forever

Statues

• DCD Silver Age Batgirl Paquet
• DCD Batman Animated Batgirl on Bat signal
• DCD Batman Animated Batgirl
• DCD Classic Confrontations Batgirl vs Catwoman
• DCD Batgirl Cassandra Cain
• DCD Cover Girls Batgirl v1
• DCC Cover Girls Batgirl v2
• DCC Batgirl Bombshell
• Batman B&W White
• SS Premium Format

Other

• Funko Pop (Classic)
• Funko Mystery mini
• Minimate
• Tonner 2012 Batgirl two versions

Almost Magic – DCD 1:6 Scale Zatanna

Nearly called this “13 Inches of Magic”, but that just…. didn’t sound right.

After the debacle that was the 13” Wonder Wompus – er, Woman, I was very concerned when I went to pick up my pre-ordered DC Direct 13” Zatanna from my LCS today.

The good news is that, while they seem to have used the same material that was used for Wondy’s headsculpt, which seems to differ from the rest of the line, it works much better here. The differences between the photos in the packaging and the final product are still very clear – the eyes in particular are painted very differently, but the overall composition of the face  in the sculpt is better, giving it a very reasonable likeness to “Zee”, as we know her.

DCD was always going to struggle with Wonder Woman, due to the fact that her costume (or lack thereof) exposes all of the inherent weaknesses of the female 13” buck. Zatanna is a step ahead in that her costume covers most of these up – however the awful, awful pelvis / hip joins are still on full display. Any character with a brief-style costume falls short here, with the end result being an adult-diaper look that is less than attractive. It also causes the legs to looks scrawny and bowed. Ugly, fugly.

Thankfully, Zatanna still has a good deal going for her. Her costume is well constructed, and her top hat provides a few display options. It fits nicely in her head but can also be held in one of her three sets of swappable hands. Interestingly, these three sets (fists, open / snapping fingers and hands that can hold objects) are all white gloved, unlike the flesh coloured hands shown in the packaging photos. One set of those would have been a nice option to include, but Zee still scores well in the accessories department. As well as the hat and extra hands, she comes with a magic wand (which looks dreadfully  lose-able, so I’m not even bothering with it), a white rabbit (which comfortably fits in her hat, although it’s too heavy for her to hold as she does in the packaging pics) and a copy of her book. Good stuff.

This is a welcome addition to the DCD 1:6 Scale Line, although without an apology Wonder Woman it will never be complete. I do hope at the very least DCD addresses the headsculpt material issue and rectifies this – with the frailties of the female buck design, what’s on top has alot to make up for!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the November AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Zatanna adds some magic to the Women of the DCU Statue line.

And from what I hear, I’m not the only one who thinks so. The owner of my LCS told me that they’ve never had more pre-orders for a statue than this, DCD’s latest addition to the Women of the DC Universe statue line. I picked up mine last week and was only allowed a peek before handing it over to be wrapped up as a Father’s Day present (Father’s Day is the first Sunday of September in Oz). Just from that glimpse, I knew that none of those pre-orderers (I love creating new words!) would have cause for disappointment.

In a few words, this statue is just plain hubba-bubba-liciously gorgeous. It captures the look of the Adam Hughes cover art (CATWOMAN #58) pretty much perfectly, which includes no fishnets. When I first saw the previews for this statue I thought they would be added later. The Black Canary statue was first shown with bare legs and then fitted with fishnets, but this isn’t the case here, because Hughes drew her without them.

I thought this might have been a deal breaker for me but the look has quite grown on me, and I think that apart from the fact it would not have been true to the art, it wouldn’t have looked great for the pose that she’s in. All good in fishnet-less land.

This statue is beautifully sculpted, right down the stray strands of hair and Zatanna’s trademark top hat. Her cane (not really a classic Zee prop, but true to the cover) is made out of a flexible material, making is less easy to break, which is a nice touch. The base is very solid, no toppling here. The hand painted finish makes for a pretty perfect effort.

Kudos to DCD not just for this instalment, but creating a full-sized statue line that is a bit more in the affordable range for the average collector. Looking forward to Black Canary, Catwoman and beyond!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and enter the September Comment of the Month Contest by commenting on this post.

Toy Fair: Stuff to buy, stuff to hide…..

Stuck over here in the boondocks, of Oz, sites like Action Figure Insider and Toy News International are a fanboy’s lifeline at convention time. Thanks guys for some great glimpses of ToyFair so far!

We had heard rumours that Zatanna was the next DCD 1:6 Scale figure, and sure enough there she was, with a top hat and white bunny too! Personally I’d love to see the Perez costume come out in this line someday, but it was a no-brainer that we’d see the black and white magician’s suit first. And it works, but golly I wish DCD  would get the knock-kneed thigh cut mess sorted out on their female figures in this scale. It’ll be sorted out with posing, but gosh she looks scee-raggly. Not super-duper wild about the facial expression either, but this is still a lock for me because I love the character and the line and want more, more, more.

We also saw the 1:6 Scale Wonder Woman up close, and after all the ongoing drama about what form Wondy’s hair should take, I can only imagine the screeching that might be taking place now. I’m personally glad they went with sculpted hair, but when have we ever really seen Diana in a ringlet perm? And…. she has the icky thigh cuts. Her uniform does look solidly done, but too loose around the bust in the same way that Black Canary’s was. I’ll reserve judgement until I see her in person. I do feel a bit for DCD on this one, because there are so many dedicated fans that there is no way to make everyone happy no matter what decisions are made.

Oh, and Georg Brewer obviously loves his ablutions so much he’s now  selling them. They’re called Uni -Formz. How Georg manages to do poopies that look kinda like Superman and Batman I have no idea, but the dude should be selling them on eBay along with the Corn Flake that looks like Jesus and the Raisin Toast with the profile of the Pope in it. I guess this is DCD’s answer to Mighty Muggs, and your intrepid reviewer is going to get a couple to give you the low-down. That is how much I love you. Remember that come Christmas time. God help me if I end up liking these.

And outside of DC world, DST is making a Star Trek Original Series Nurse Chapel! That’s awesome news for the Original Series collection. I do hope that DST remembers that the Original Series Stuff was in a smaller scale than the other stuff they’ve made so that she doesn’t end up towering over the rest of team. Looks like she’s coming in a two pack with McCoy with short sleeves and gorilla hair arms. That’s another figure off my want list.

Oh, and AFI has a truly terrifying Toy Fair video of Jesse Falcon up. Put the kids away before you watch that one, if you must watch it all. Short but scary.

Now for some fun news – if you want to make comment on this or anything else you’ve seen from Toy Fair – you can now do it at the AFB Forum – please have a look, set up and account and lend a hand in setting up what we hope will be another fun place to chat toys on the Internet!

Enjoy!

.......yM hO

Speaking of DC's beautiful ladyfolk, Big Bad Toy Store has this amazing Adam Hughes Zatanna Statue up for preorder, which means we'll see it in the next DC Direct solicits.

I. Want.

Just in time for my birthday, too! Well, a little bit early, but I've never been good at waiting!