Review - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Agent Helix & Bench Press

I wasn't a huge fan of the GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie, but I am a big fan of the toyline that came out of it. While, like most people, I prefer the classic renditions of GI Joe that was being offered in the 25th anniversary line, the reimagined characters in this new continuity present a great look at the GI Joe world in a new way. Two figures that represent that idea rather nicely are Agent Helix and Bench Press, neither of which were actually in the movie, but are still two very cool interpretations of neat characters. If you're looking for two of the better figures in the line, and want to update your GI Joe forces with some unique characters, then look no farther.

Agent Helix comes from the video game tie-in to the movie, and her articulation is well suited to capturing the action you might find on screen. She's a very poseable figure for this scale, and playing with her is actually lots of fun just because she can take so many dynamic stances. And once you add in her literal pile of accessories, she's well worth the price. Let's try to list everything she includes: giant gun with projectile missile, medium sized gun, two small pistols, a knife, some sort of high-tech dish, and a figure stand that doubles as a dog tag. There are so many different ways to equip her, and the big projectile weapon actually works pretty well, so kid or collector alike will be able to have lots of fun with Helix. She's definitely one of the most enjoyable figures to come out of the line yet. Her sculpt and paintjob are also top-notch, making her stand out with a colorful yellow costume that still retains a real-world style and functionality. She looks appropriately GI Joe-like and still seems like she could fit alongside real secret agents thanks to all the details in her costuming. So in summary: she looks good, she's fun to play with, and includes lots of extras; what's not to like?

Bench Press is another great figure. Although he's not as well articulated or poseable as Agen Helix (he's a bit too bulky to take some poses), you'll still be able to pose him quite a bit, and his playable hardly suffers at all. The limited articulation is more than made up for by his unique looks. He's a big, buff monster of a figure compared to the average sized joe, with much larger muscles and a more commanding presence on the shelf. He really adds some much needed size diversity to an otherwise uniform crew. His size represents his "lumberjack nature" quite nicely, which is further augmented by his equally large pile of accessories. He includes a giant machine gun that can be slung over his shoulder and fires a missile, a chainsaw (how cool!), a hand axe, a shotgun, a hat, a backpack, and a figure stand that can also be used as a dog tag. That's a lot of accessories, and all of them look great on him, featuring lots of detailing and nice paint applications. Bench Press himself is also well painted and showcases some great sculpting for such a small figure. You really can't go wrong with this one if you like GI Joe at all, because he's a solid figure in every way and includes s many nifty extras.

Whether you've been buying multiple GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra figures or don't have a single one, you should still probably look into these two. There are some weaker figures in the line, but there aren't many better ones. These two come with great accessories, look fantastic, and are tons of fun to play with. Just because they weren't in the movie, it doesn't mean you should pass them by. Take a chance, and you won't regret it.

Buy Agent Helix & Bench Press at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
Another Girl

Review - DC Universe Classics Cyborg Superman & Shark

Our next DC Universe Classics Wave 11 review is focused on two Green Lantern villains to complement the two Green Lanterns we just reviewed. One is a newer villain (Cyborg Superman), while the other is a classic favorite (Shark), but both of them are fantastic toys to line up across from your Hal Jordan or John Stewart figures.

This rendition of Cyborg Superman puts him in his new Sinestro Corps costume, making him a natural Geen Lantern villain, armed to the knuckles with four power rings of his own. After starring in one of the biggest comic events in years (Th Sinestro Corps War), this is a must-have DC Comics character that's as big a name as ever and makes for tons of fun. Even though he doesn't include any accessories, he does have lots of articulation and poseability to make him fun, along with top-notch sculpting and paint that really showcases how much Mattel loves this character. He's just unique enough from the previous Cyborg Superman release to make this one worth buying, and if you're a Superman or Green Lantern fan, I wouldn't miss him.

Shark is definitely a lot goofier looking, but really brings out the classic DC Universe style wonderfully. The colors are vibrant and his costume is simple, exactly what old comics conveyed like nothing else. He's got fins sculpted onto the base DC Universe Classics male body, and his shinier paint makes him look more ocean-like as well. The head sculpt is the real triumph here, giving us a terrifying open maw and wrinkled face that would make any shark mother proud. He does look a little unbalanced with such a ferocious and animalistic head with a human body underneath, but it's true to the character and fans of old should love him.

Buy Cyborg Superman and the Shark at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
Defending Oa

Review - DC Universe Classics John Stewart & Katma Tui

I'm one of the biggest DC Universe Classics fans out there, so when we started to receive Wave 11 and 12 at the store this week, I was extremely excited to have the chance to review them. To start off the bunch, I'll be taking a look at two popular Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Katma Tui. Both of these figures are great additions to the line and any DC Comics or Green Lantern fan will feel unfulfilled if they don't pick them up. If that's not convincing enough, keep reading for even more reasons these two should find a spot on your shelf.

John Stewart has been around in comics for a very long time, but his popularity didn't skyrocket until he become the starring Green Lantern in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon. Although this version isn't exactly based on that incarnation of the character, you can still tell it's him, making this fellow of particular interest to animation and comic fans alike. The sculpting is top-notch, as always, and really showcases great proportions and details across the board. His head sculpt has a great neutral expression with lots of facial detail worked in, making him look exactly like the serious guy he's always portrayed as. The paint is also well done, although you should be careful with the white emblem on his chest, because it does scratch off pretty easily. Aside from that problem, his colors are great, details are clean, and cut lines are very crisp. The real reason John Stewart is a must-have figure is because he's so much fun to play with. These figures introduce a much needed accessory into the world of DC Universe Classics -- light constructs! Never before have Green Lanterns been able to "use" their rings, but with John Stewart's punching construct and gun construct, he becomes a very entertaining toy. Combine that with his articulation, and you can pose or play with this figure for a long time to come.

Katma Tui includes constructs as well, making her just as much fun. Hers go the more medieval route, as she has a crazy looking sword and a Green Lantern emblem-inscribed shield. You can easily imagine her in battle with Sinestro or various other aliens around the universe with this set of weapons. She's also got solid paint and sculpting to brag about, as well as a strong articulation model. Even if you're not familiar with the character, she's a great way to fill out your Green Lantern Corps with another cool female figure. I've had problems in the past with flimsy female DCUC toys, but Katma Tui is well constructed with firmer plastic, and because of that change, she feels so much more durable and playable than past releases. This is definitely one of the top female figures in the line yet thanks to that and how enjoyable she is and the accessories she includes.

So when you put these two toys together, you've suddenly got the start of a fantastic Green Lantern Corps, with many more appropriate releases to come in the future I'm sure. These toys are each great on their own, but they go even better together. And although they aren't perfect, they're awfully close, and I recommend each of them to any DC Comics fan, collector, or kid looking for a fun afternoon.

Buy John Stewart and Katma Tui at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT

More Green

Review - Star Wars: The Clone Wars Yoda & Kit Fisto

Today we're taking a look at my two favorite Jedis from the Star Wars universe, and it's no coincidence that they're both green! Yoda and Kit Fisto are some of the best designed characters in all of Star Wars, and look as good as ever in the new Clone Wars cartoon. These two toys are new releases from Hasbro in the past year, and make perfect buys for any Star Wars fan new or old, especially those with a penchant for green aliens such as myself. Keep reading for a detailed look and to see whether the force is strong with these two.

Yoda is quite possibly the most recognizable character in Star Wars (I could make an argument for Darth Vader too), and despite being converted into a simple animated style, this old Jdi master is still completely recognizable and lovable. It's admittedly a rather tiny action figure, since these toys are normally only 4 inches tall, and Yoda is appropriately in scale, making him about half that height. Despite his minute stature, there's still a lot of fun and detail packed into him. There are costume details and texture worked into his skin and face, as well as clean paint applications on his face. That's hard to accomplish with such a small toy, but Hasbro did it here in strong fashion. Like some Star Wars figures, Yoda's robe is actually made of cloth, which may be a bit baggy, but it's well sewn and durable considering the, once again, small size. It's his tiny lightsaber that tops the cake for me, considerably shorter than the average figure's, packed with details and so cool in his three-fingered hands. You can tell he's a fighter underneath that humble guise, so it's easy to reenact his many lightsaber fights by dropping his cane to the side (he also includes a cane) and taking his lightsaber in hand, aided even more by his surprisingly effective articulation. He's got multiple ball joints, swivels, and hinges, so you can have a lot of fun playing with or posing him.

Kit Fisto isn't quite so mobile, limited by non-bending legs and a skirt that restricts his hip joints. His arms and neck are much more limber, allowing for some pretty nifty lihtsaber poses and dueling scenes. What I really love about Kit Fisto is his perfect head sculpt. It looks like he just jumped off the screen and into my hands. There are tons of details worked into his expression and all the right elements (like all his tendrils) are present and accounted for. He's one nice looking figure from top to bottom, slim, detailed, and well designed. The paint doesn't let the sculpt down in any way either, resulting in one of the best looking toys in this scale I've purchased recently, and those looks make up for the lack of articulation. He includes a green lightsaber that fits into his hands well, but also includes a jet-pack which has two firing missiles. This is a cool accessory that will make him loads more fun for younger buyers, and makes him an even better deal than he already is. Even adults will enjoy these missiles, because they shoot with quite a bit of force and fly pretty far, making them a fun diversion for a while, especially if you have an army of droids to knock over.

Star Wars fans that started watching the Clone Wars cartoon will really have a hard time passing these two figures up. I don't buy a lot of Star Wars toys, but after getting these two, it makes me want to track down the rest of the Jedis. They're not just kids' toys, and I like that they toe the line between collector- and kid-friendly just perfectly. You won't be disappointed if you start your collection with these two toys, even if you are a little green when it comes to Star Wars figures.

Buy Yoda and Kit Fisto at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT

Making An Assassin

Who wants a free DC Univere Classics Wave 10 Joker?

Okay, now that I have your attention... we are giving away a new DC Univere Classics Wave 10 Joker (Walmart Exclusive) if we have 250+ followers on Twitter by the end of weekend! All you need to do to win is be a Past Generation Toys follower on Twitter. New and existing followers are eligible to win.

The best way to get us to 250+ is to Retweet our twitter message about the contest. You can see the tweet about the contest here: http://twitter.com/pastgentoys

This is no Joke(r), the below could be yours if we hit 250! He even comes with a rubber fish, c'mon!

Current Lines from Mattel

There are a lot of toys out in the world, with new ones arriving in stores and online every day. It's often hard to keep up will all the new lines and releases, easily letting something you might love slip through the cracks. As such, I've decided to provide periodic updates on the hottest and most popular lines from all of the major toy manufacturers. Up first is one of the biggest, Mattel.

1. Masters of the Universe Classics (Mattel)

This may be one of the most talked about and widely loved lines in the collecting world going back as far as I can remember. Masters of the Universe was one of the biggest toy lines in the 80s, and this line is taking classic characters and updating them to modern action figure standards while still retaining their classic looks of old. If you loved the wild adventures of He-man, Skeletor, Tri-Klops, and Man-at-Arms as a kid, then you're sure to find this toy line the perfect reminder of those simpler days.

Buy Masters of the Universe Classics at Past Generation Toys

2. DC Universe Classics (Mattel)

This is the line that fans of DC Comics have always wanted. Almost every character from the history of DC Comics is a possible release in this wide-reaching and oft-released line of figures. The design captures a perfect heroic style with a 6 inch scale and look that's consistent across the entire line. With hundreds of figures already released and more always on the way, this is going to go down as one of the greatest superhero lines in the history of collecting. From Superman and Batman to more obscure characters like Killer Moth and B'Wana Beast, no one is beyond being released in this line, so don't miss out, your favorite character is probably either already out or on the way.

Buy DC Universe Classics at Past Generation Toys

3. Ghostbusters (Mattel)

As the newest line of the three mentioned here, Ghostbusters may have the most room to grow. It's one of the most popular movie franchises ever with fantastic and likable characters that make for great looking action figures. Mattel has already started its 6 inch and 12 inch line, already producing some of the 4 main Ghostbusters, with promises to finish out the crew in each line in the coming months. Once all 4 Ghostbusters themselves have been produced in each line, then the real fun can start with the other members of the cast. Reliving scenes from the movie is going to become a blast thanks to these toys and the support fans are offering the line.

Buy Ghostbusters toys at Past Generation Toys

Of course Mattel has more than 3 lines running right now, but those are the most popular with collectors and sure to receive the most attention. I can fully recommend all three, and if you aren't currently collecting from these lines, you might want to think about starting. Thanks for reading!

Corey @ PGT
A Smaller DC

Review - DC Universe Classics Ultraman & Alex Luthor

If you have never heard of Ultraman or Alexander Luthor, don't worry, you're not alone. These are both two very obscure DC Comics characters that only find their way into stories from time to time. But just because they aren't famous doesn't mean they aren't nifty toys in their own right. Both of these figures are great buys for the biggest comic book fans out there, and even those individuals who aren't familiar with either of these toys may still enjoy them. Keep reading for a little more background on these characters and a review of the toys, and then you might just decide need to own this cool pair of DC Universe Classics figures!

Ultraman and Alex Luthor are both from an alternate universe in the DC Comics continuity. You may have already noticed that they share certain similarities with the altogether more famous fellows, Superman and Lex Luthor. That is in fact because these two figures are designed to be the opposite of their corresponding regular character. Ultraman is a superpower villain who is exactly like Superman except that he's a bad guy, while in this universe Alex Luthor is a good guy who does everything he can to defeat Ultraman. Once that distinction is clear, these two become all that much more enjoyable to play with, because suddenly the stories and scenarios you know are turned upside. Suddenly a Luthor is the good guy and the cape-wearing Ultraman joins the side of the bad guys.

Ultraman himself is designed to look quite a bit like Superman, which is a good thing, because it's an iconic image that makes this an attractive toy. The sculpt captures all the muscles, costume details, and physical attributes that make Ultraman so neat looking, while the paint offers simple coverage that gets the job done and colors right without too much fuss or show. The one feature of Ultraman that makes him stand out amongst other figures in the DC Universe Classics line is his grouchy facial expression. He looks mean and ready to fight, a perfect characterization that makes him even more fun for play situations. His articulation aids in that respect, because he has a lot of points and they all work well. You can see how dynamic and life-like poses become with the fight scene pictured above. I would be remiss if I didn't admit that the piece glued onto his chest to form the letter U is somewhat disappointing. Instead of sculpting an new chest piece with the U worked in, Mattel decided to just glue an extra piece on top, and it doesn't look as good as it might have otherwise.

Alex Luthor on the other hand, is practically problem free. His costume gets all the details right and just looks classic and fantastic. It might seem goofy, but that's because it's true to the old design of the character, ideal for long-time comic fans who will appreciate this nod to older generations. But even modern collectors with no idea of this figure's past will appreciate all the awesome costume details like the texture worked into his forearms and torso, the painted rectangles down the sides of his legs, and even his ornate helmet with raised detailing. The colors are crisp and bold, allowing him to really stand out on your shelf, while the articulation is free from trouble and great for posing. I'm really not sure how this figure could be done any better than he is and still effectively reproduce the classic look with modern action figure innovation.

Both of these toys are well done, they're just not characters most people know. Don't let that obscurity stop you from taking a chance on two nifty DC Universe Classics figures that will fill our your superhero collection with a unique take on two iconic superhero archetypes. Alex Luthor and Ultraman will fill a hole in your collection that you never even knew you had.

Buy Ultraman & Alex Luthor at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
From Earth 2 to Space

Review - Masters of the Universe Classics King Randor & Goddess

Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line is a huge hit and picking up steam every month. With new buyers jumping on board and older figures being rereleased, it's quite clear just how popular this line is becoming. As such, instead of just receiving one release this month, December brought two brand new figures, King Randor and the Goddess, both of which are strong additions to the line that fans and casual collectors alike will enjoy.

I think the biggest highlights with King Randor for me are his two huge weapons. He includes a beautiful sword that works a cross motif into the hilt, which matches the same theme present on his chest armor and staff. It's a cool look that brings out the royal nature of the character. The accessories certainly look ceremonial, but also like they could stand up to a fight or two as well, making him the perfect combination for play or display situations. His color scheme hearkens back to the classic figure from decades ago, and you can tell too, because it's a gaudy mix of colors that don't go together. If you can get past the bright shades, then you'll see some beautiful sculpting work, including an extremely detailed head that shows signs of wisdom and age. My figure's crown isn't placed on the head straight, although that's going to vary from toy to toy. The final positive attribute for King Randor is his articulation, which offers a lot of useful points (especially in the legs), so he can do some fun stuff in battle or look nifty on your shelf too.

For devout fans of Masters of the Universe Classics, the Goddess is going to look awfully familiar. That's because she looks just like the previously released Teela figure, and she is in fact almost exactly the same toy. The only differences are her color scheme (this one is a translucent green that's a lot more fun) and the included accessories. Teela came with a staff, sword, shield, and extra head, while the Goddess includes a different staff, the same shield, and three extra pieces of He-Man's equipment. The staff is a nice simple spear that's well sculpted and its into her hands perfectly, while the shield matches the snake theme of her headdress, to bring her look together nicely. I love the translucent green skin she's got, while the green outfit is just dark enough to contrast well. She's painted wonderfully, and the sculpting is top-notch, even if we have seen it before (and will see it again). She's a fun figure that continues to narrow the gender gap on your Masters of the Universe Classics shelf, so I recommend picking her up.

For long time fans of Masters of the Universe, both of these figures are must-buys. If you're not sure and don't know a lot about the figures, I recommend picking one up and giving it a chance, because you might just get hooked like so many others starting the line. These aren't the best or most unique figures yet, but they're still solid entries into the line.

Buy King Randor and the Goddess at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
Mystic Enforcer

Review - DC Universe Classics Romat-Ru & Karu-Sil

One of the biggest events in comics in the last few years was the Green Lantern focused Sinestro Corps War from DC Comics. It took one of DC Comics' greatest villains and gave him an army of support, creating one of the most visually stunning and engaging reads I can remember. Of course that same storyline is continuing in an even bigger story, Blackest Night, which is entertaining comic fans all around the country right now. Mattel decided to capitalize on all this popularity by releasing two of the Sinestro Corps' key members, Romat-Ru and Karu-Sil in the DC Universe Classics line. These 6" superhero toys are fantastic for fans of Green Lantern, great for any DC Comics fan, and still enjoyable for anyone who just likes toys.

Romat-Ru is the male half of this pair, a spikey-headed alien who's as mean as they come in the comics. Although he might not look inherently terrifying in this picture, the toy has a eerie presence about him, standing tall and wide, with dangerous looking beak on his face. Romat-Ru features the standard DC Universe Classics set of articulation, which is a good thing to me, because he can pose quite a bit but still looks good doing it. The joints aren't too ugly or distracting thanks to a good job using his dark paint and sculpt to hide them. His costume is perfectly authentic compared to the comics, a bright yellow on a black base, with sculpted details on his belt and wrists. The paint isn't perfect, as some spots look a little green around the edges, but unless you're super picky or very up close, it probably won't bother you too much. I definitely don't have any problems lining him up against my Hal Jordan figure in a battle to the death. Romat-Ru doesn't come with any accessories, so you'll have to have a love for the character (not too hard) and some imagination with his yellow energy constructs to get the most out of him.

Karu-Sil is an even more popular member of the Sinestro Corps thanks to her horrifying backstory and implementation of the three terrifying creatures she creates with her power ring. One of these creatures is included as an accessory, cast in a clear yellow plastic that perfectly conveys it as an energy construct. Of course it would have been nice if all three of her constructs were included, but at least we got one. Karu-Sil herself is quite scary because of her frightening grin and the way that her hair covers even more gruesome facial details. This head sculpt is one of the best I've seen out of this line yet, and does the character justice in every way. She has a small female frame underneath that head, again capturing the Sinestro Corps costume nicely in all its details. her paint is considerably better than Romat-Ru's, and thanks to that and her perfect head sculpt, she is definitely a better figure. She can pose just as well Romat-Ru with the same articulation model, and she looks even better, so what's not to love?

I'm thoroughly enjoying both of these figures, not only because I love the story they're from, but because they're good toys in their own right as well. If you're the least bit curious about them, then I recommend picking up both the comics and the toys, because I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Buy Romat-Ru & Karu-Sil at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
A Match Made in Green

Review - Transformers Animated Swindle

Although Transformers Animated may be on its last legs as a toy line, there are still some amazing Transformers figures in the line that are not only perfect for kids, but enjoyable for collectors (like me) as well. A perfect example of that is Swindle, a cool character from the show, a well designed toy, and a Transformer that looks good in both his modes.

Swindle is a weapons dealer who has a giant cannon of his own, which sits atop his awesome vehicle mode. He appears to be some sort of armored Hummer/tank with big tires and a huge front grill. The seams in this mode are mostly well hidden. They could have done a slightly better job aligning them to the vehicle's natural door lines on the side, but otherwise it's hard to tell where he's broken up for transformations at all. This is a fun vehicle mode thanks to the giant cannon on top which actually fires a small projectile a pretty decent range. It's hard to get all four of his tires touching the ground, meaning Swindle doesn't always roll smoothly. Despite that, it's still a lot of fun to roll him around, crashing into other Transformers, or firing his missile into a group of Autobots.

His robot form has a great sleek design that's very reminiscent of the cartoon's character model. That's a tough to translate to toy form, so they did an excellent job with it. The color scheme is a cool blend between a military olive green and the standard purple of the decepticons, with black here and there to reinforce how sneaky this fellow is. The best thing about this mode is that his enormous cannon attaches to his arm, making it usable here too. Combine that with his good articulation and super easy transformation, and this is one fun action figure.

Buy Transformers Animated Figures at Past Generation Toys!

Corey @ PGT
An Animated Voyage

At a Glance - Batman

Buy DC Universe Classics Figures at Past Generation Toys!

Review - DC Universe Classics Blue Beetle & Booster Gold

There are a lot of pairs in comics, like Batman & Robin or Spider-Man & Mary Jane, but few are as unique or intriguing as DC Comics' obscure duo Blue Beetle & Booster Gold. These two characters became famous goofballs long ago, and still hold a big spot of fondness in a lot of collectors' hearts. Thankfully, Mattel has created two great representations of these fellows in the DC Universe Classics line, and any comics fan or superhero lover (young or old) is sure to find these figures a blast.

Blue Beetle here is based on the Ted Kord version of the character who isn't the most recent individual to bear the name and costume, but probably the most famous to do so. So this toy takes the name "classics" to heart with this rendition of an older character, capturing his costume absolutely perfectly with every clean paint application and bold, clearly separated colors. Even the goggles are translucent plastic, a great design choice that pulls together his smirking head sculpt perfectly. Blue Beetle is not only a great looking figure, but he's fun to play with too. The articulation is abundant, resulting in tons of posing options and playability, while the included accessory is a great throwback weapon. It might be a little goofy (and look like a hairdryer), yet it's instantly recognizable to long-time fans and is made even more fun by the fact that it can be stored in his holster. My figure was totally free of quality control problems, meaning he has crisp paint, a beautiful unmarred sculpt, and no broken or loose joints.

Booster Gold was equally well-made, and is just as good a figure as Blue Beetle. He's got another fantastic body and head sculpt, including nicely shaped hair and equally cool goggles. One thing that makes Booster stand out even more than his pal is the shiny metallic paint used for his costume, accurately emphasizing his futuristic tendencies. Booster Gold's articulation is well-suited to play or display and all the joints are in good working order too. Aside from all the fun that's sure to provide, he includes one other awesome element, his lovable robot companion Skeets. Not only can Skeets be attached to Booster Gold's back (so that it looks like he's flying), but the little hunk of metal also opens up to reveal the he's got a bug invading his circuits, a neat story element for those who follow the comics closely, or just a cool feature for those who don't.

I really think that Mattel made two near-perfect representations of these characters. I can't think of any changes I would make, and I haven't spotted a single disappointment in either of these toys. As a DC Comics fan, these two lived up to and even exceeded my expectations, so I definitely recommend them to anyone who has an interest in comics, and wholeheartedly suggest you buy them if you're a Booster Gold or Blue Beetle fan. You can't go wrong here if you love Blue & Gold.

Buy Blue Beetle and Booster Gold at Past Generation Toys!

-Corey @ PGT
Green & Green