I am back home and nowhere near caught up from the Con, but visions of amazing toys are still dancing in my head. I wanted to get my thoughts organized and try to think through all of the stuff that was there to be seen.
This seemed like an especially good year for me in terms of seeing stuff that I loved and absolutely want to add to my collection. My wallet was CRYING the entire time I walked the convention floor, just hoping for some relief. There was none to be found, however, and the cool stuff just kept on coming.
I would love to mention so much more in a list like this, but I am trying to keep it to ten-ish entries, even though I cheated a bit (spoiler alert!). Just because something isn’t here doesn’t mean I didn’t love it terribly. All of the Ahsoka Star Wars Black Series figures looked amazing, for example – but there is just a giant crowd at the top of my best of the best list.
So, here are some awesome things I saw at SDCC, and that will eventually be added to my own space. I kept this list to things that debuted for the first time at the show, just so I had a workable baseline. Even seeing stuff we already knew about for the first time in person is a thrill (I’m looking at you, Dragonfly!), but let’s keep this just for the newest of the new.
Here is my list, but be sure to mention the things that caught your attention in the comments below.
Super7: Misfits Retro Figures
Misfits figures are nothing new, but Misfits figures with DANZIG is something to talk about. It feels great finally having him represented in plastic, and this five-inch bulky format feels just right for this kind of thing. These were as new as new could be in terms debuts, so some deco updates might still be made, but count me in as ready. If you’re gonna scream, scream for these!
NECA: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage Comics Rat King
I as not ready for this one, and I am still creeped out by it. It is saying something when a character who has a long history in plastic see’s its best figure after literal decades. But here we are. The new Mirage Comics Rat King is so creepy and detailed, he looks like he stepped right off the page. There will be swappable parts to capture his different looks in the comics, so this stands to be one of the best TMNT Mirage figures ever, and that is saying something.
Hasbro: Marvel Legends Crystar
Okay, NO ONE saw this coming, so don’t say that you did. There were some cool MLs shown off at SDCC, that is for sure, but NONE were close to being as cool as this. Holy smokes, CRYSTAR! This character has lurked on the fringes of unknown legalities for so long, I think I chalked him up to the “never gonna happen” category. But here he is! And he looks GREAT! The geometric lines really capture his look and the clear plastic is some of the best I have ever seen. Can’t wait for this guy, and I hope we see some more from this mythos.
Syndicate Collectibles: Double Dragon & Ghoulies
Well, here is an impressive new company with a strong historical background. Jerry Macaluso (previously of SOTA, Pop Culture Shock, etc.) is back with a new venture, and boy, oh boy, did he impress. I am cheating here because I am mentioning both Double Dragon AND The Ghoulie, but they all looked so great, and I have wanted figures of all of this stuff for ages. Yay! Add some Golden Girls, Dragon’s Lair, and others, and Syndicate certainly showed out at this show.
Mattel: Masters of the Universe Masterverse Movie Evil-Lyn
This was another totally unexpected reveal that left me completely gobsmacked. It has only taken DECADES, but we are finally getting our first MOTU movie Evil-Lyn! What an amazing thing this is, and the fact that the other movie characters might be on the table for release is something I can barely comprehend at this point. I love this design for Evil-Lyn and it looks like she can go with your Masterverse collection, or be cheated into the Classics display as well. Wow!
NECA: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Elkhorn
For me, the D&D line is the best thing NECA is doing not Turtle related. It has been a bit of a slow build up to this point, but seeking Elkhorn debuted as part of a third series was a real treat. He looks absolutely amazing, and the added accessories are a real treat. This line is starting to build into something special, so fingers crossed we can get the full vintage (and “lost” figures from last year) in this format. But who will be joining Elkhorn in series 3? Hmm…
Hasbro: G.I. Joe Classified Series VAMP and Clutch but really – all of it. Just ALL OF IT!
Yep, this is a cheat, and DO NOT CARE. If I had to pick my favorite GIJCS debut, it would be the VAMP, but everything was absolutely amazing. Even the the not-shown reveals of things like retro Duke and Scarlett have me so stoked. Tripwire? YES! Shockwave? YES! Helix? YES! Hawk? YES! Crimson Strike Team? YES! Torch and Buzzer? Oh HELL YES! Matt & Junkyard? Holy freakin’ HELL YES! All of it. This line is an absolute joy right now, and the Joe team is crushing everyone. I cannot wait for everything that was shown and mentioned, and everything else in the future.
Super7: ThunderCats ULTIMATES! Cat’s Lair
I know we knew about this ahead of the show, but the whole build-up was that the Lair would be debuting at SDCC. I don’t even have words to describe it. This was by far the talk of Comic Con, at least within the toy contingency, and it did not disappoint. There is no way to describe how impressive and massive this thing is. Words do not do it justice. Pictures do not do it justice. Video does not do it justice. Seeing it in person is the only way to take it all in, and this is a one in a life time type of item. $650 is a lot of money, but seeing at the show makes it clear that is is 100% worth it. I cannot wait to add it to my collection, even if I have to move a LOT of stuff around to make it happen.
NECA: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Stump Wrestling Turtles
Full disclosure: even if we were not in on the debut of these beauties at SDCC, these would still be on my list. Even those of us who are the most tried and true Turtle fans probably could not have imagined seeing these even a few years ago. The Wrestling Turtles. This is such an amazing cut, and the perfect way to introduce them into the NECA Adventures line. These are 100% Ken Mitchroney drawings come to 3D, and those expressions just ice all of it. Plus, those base bodies are fantastic and will make for some pretty great standard Archie Turtles down the line. What an age of Turtles collecting we live in.
Jada Toys: Mega Man 2 Wood Man and Bubble Man
This should come as ZERO surprise. I will acknowledge that I have been talking and gushing about this line for awhile now, but I just cannot help it. This is something I have been waiting for my entire life. Mega Man ranks right up there with TMNT and MOTU for me, so getting a first REAL crack at a REAL action figure line is beyond exciting to me. I am already counting myself as lucky here – the new debuts included Wood Man and Bubble Man, my two favorite Mega Man 2 Robot Masters. Heck, Wood Man and Ice Man are tied for my all-time favorite Robot Masters and I will have them both in the first three series. Plus, I got to play a bit with the first series figures. Eep! I cannot wait for these and I think this will be a line that grows in popularity – the figures are too much fun. This is truly a life-long dream.
As is customary, Honorable Mention shouts to things like the Black Series Ahsoka figures, the Haslab Ghost, Silver Hawks toy tribute figures, NECA Elvira, Jada Dee Jay, NECA Flash Gordon, and on and on. There was so much cool stuff, so no matter what you are into, there was certainly something for everyone.
Oh, and it was REALLY awesome to see our first Ninja Scroll prototypes at the show 😉
What were your favorites?
Source: The Fwoosh
