Thanks to the proliferation of film, comic-book and cartoon characters, companies are bombarding consumers with an incredible selection of action figures. With tongue in cheek, let’s take a peek at some of the specimens worthy of a place in…
Zad’s Toy Vault
Darth Vader Transformer
Hasbro takes one of its most popular toy lines for the past 20 years and combines it with the adventures of the Skywalker clan with the release of Star Wars Transformers.
Six-inch-tall, mechanized versions of filmmaker George Lucas’ well-known heroes and villains give children a chance to enjoy two levels of action as each toy converts from a vehicle into a robotic entity.
The initial line includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, who becomes a Jedi Starfighter; General Grievous, who is transformed into his Wheel Bike; Luke Skywalker, who becomes his X-wing fighter; and Anakin Skywalker’s alter ego, who turns into a deadly fighter.
Figure profile: As a sinister Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader is on a mission to crush the rebellion and bring young Luke Skywalker before the Emperor. Using the power of the dark side, Vader changes into his Advanced TIE fighter mode and combs the galaxy for Skywalker, destroying all rebel ships, pirate fleets and asteroids that get in his way.
Accessories: In about a 10-step process, owners can transform a space fighter into a figure. Clever designs have Vader’s robot head pull up from the cockpit as one wing converts into his cape and the other into a shield. (Yes, I know Vader never used a shield, but it makes for more play possibilities.)
The toy also comes with a 1½-inch version of Darth with three points of articulation so he can bend and get crammed into the cockpit. A pair of light sabers with translucent red beams round out the extras and act as shooting missiles when loaded into the vehicle’s launchers, or they can be wielded by Vader in his mechanical form.
Price: $12.99
Read all about it: Dark Horse offers the monthly Empire comic-book series, which covers events around the time Vader was chasing Luke Skywalker around the galaxy. The “Star Wars: Empire, Volume 1” ($12.95) trade paperback compiles the first four issues of the monthly book and finds the Lord of the Sith at his most deadly as he avoids an assassination attempt and confronts a gang of bounty hunters.
Words to buy by: It was a pleasure to be able to quickly convert the figure into a vehicle and back. The figures in Hasbro’s regular Transformer line usually are not as compliant. Youngsters will love the ease of use and the combination of multifunctional weaponry and Star Wars themes. They also will jump to stores next month, when Boba Fett, Darth Maul and Anakin Skywalker make Transformer appearances.
George Washington
Sideshow Collectibles helps celebrate Presidents Day this month by producing 2,500 12-inch-tall representations of the Revolutionary War general who became America’s first commander in chief.
As part of the Fife and Drum Collection, he stands beside Sideshow’s period-accurate figures — which include a Continental soldier from the Delaware regiment and a Redcoat from the 6th Regiment of Foot — to deliver an educational experience as well as a collectible for the owner.
Figure profile: When 13 of Great Britain’s North American Colonies decided to seek independence, the Continental Congress selected an ambitious, hardworking, intelligent Virginian to lead its army. Fortunately for the Americans, that man, George Washington, also possessed great adaptability, resilience and combat experience that, with an understanding of European armies and tactics, enabled him to build and lead a viable military force through a long, grim conflict.
Accessories: General Washington comes with 30 points of articulation, a display stand and packaging that highlights a lengthy biography — including, on the back of the box, images of three of the most famous paintings of the man, among them “George Washington Crossing the Delaware.”
He gets an overcoat with cape, a tailcoat, vest, breeches, stockings, boots with spurs, tricorn hat, a retractable telescope, a sword with hanger and scabbard, and a map of Yorktown.
Price: $50
Read all about it: George Washington has made only occasional appearances in a sequential-art format. One of the more famous, Superboy No. 2 from 1949 ($2,100 in near-mint condition) had him saved and helped with his Delaware crossing by a DC Comics legend.
Words to buy by: The price point may limit some fans from grabbing him for the collector’s case. However, may I remind readers that in 1998, Hasbro produced a 12-inch Washington in its G.I. Joe line for roughly the same price but without the quality, clothing detail and accessories that make Sideshow’s version a stunning tribute.
Strange but cool
A short look at bizarre products with a pop-culture twist.
Marvel Heroes Battle Dice
(Playmates, $12.99 for starter set)
Yet another entry in the collectible-figure gaming market finds players rolling large dice and using 1½-inch statues to simulate fights between Marvel Comics’ famed superheroes and villains.
The action requires secretly placing a figure, with a slew of numbers and symbols on the underside of its base, into one of the “pop dice” and tossing it against an opponent’s die (which also has a figure hidden).
Whoever has the larger number thrown determines the power attribute used by each figure, which corresponds to the base’s number system. Opponents pull out their avatars, add up numbers and compare the results to see who wins.
Of course, rules can get more complicated to incorporate messages written on the inside lids of the dice, assembling a team of figures based on a set number of points and rolling multiple dice into play.
Two players first need to share a starter set that includes six dice, six action figures, a pair of arena cards to keep track of the action, a carrying case and a rule book. Characters include legends such as Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Magneto plus not-so-famous comic-book stalwarts such as Deadpool, Baron Zemo, Thanos and Mimic.
Of course, booster packs ($6.99 for three figures and one die) also are available to beef up the various armies. Eventually, 190 characters will be released, including members of the X-Men, Marvel Knights Villains, Fantastic Four and Avengers.
Not so complex as Wiz Kids’ HeroClix or so great-looking as Toy Biz’s Super Hero Showdown, the game nevertheless offers a quick way to improve addition and subtraction skills as well as manually and cerebrally interact with a comic-book universe.
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