GI Joe 25th Anniversary: Snow Serpents

When I was a kid, this guy was my absolute favorite Cobra army builder. This is also the best 25th Anniversary GI Joe figure yet. And I'm not saying that because I am hopelessly biased.

I also admitted that I am a sick puppy and limited myself to only four of these. Well, plus a fifth one that I am using for a custom figure. Any way, COBRAAAAA!!!!!

Transformers Universe: Prowl and Sunstreaker

Yeah, I said, lots of stuff was coming. And I said it was a month ago. Toys I got. Time, I don't.

These are cool and all this G1 goodness is actually kind of weaning me off the Animated high I was on a for a while there. So if Hasbro keeps these coming,especially the "Autobot Cars," I'll be a happy boy.

While the bot modes don't quite match the Classics aesthetic, these are just too damn purty for me to care.

Huh? What's that? What does Sunstreaker's license plate say?
WE R 84
Hell, yeah!

Working on It

The toys...

My GOD, the toys!

I'm drown-ding under the mountain of toys.

Trying to get caught up.

It will happen.

Transformers Animated

Yeah, this is a crummy picture. My camera allowed me one shot and then the batteries died. Point is...Transformers Animated is In Da Hizzouse!!

They're popping up all over the country. Head out to your local Megalo Mart and check them out!

Beast Wars Quickstrike.

Alright, technically it's a Beast Metals Quickstrike. Bought this from BBTS for about 10 bucks total. My Predacon show cast is nearing completion.

Beast Wars was a great show. It started me back down the dark road of Transformers collecting. However, the only figures I was interested in were show characters. I'm missing Scorponok and Terrorsaur, both of which I passed on because of their show-accuracy. Or LACK of accuracy.

I'm also missing all of the Transmetal Preds except for Megatron. I'm having problems with the vacuum-metalized paint coming off the few TM figs I have, so I'm probably going to skip out on all of them.

Quickstrike was actually one of my favorite characters. I don't know why, but I always liked him. Well, actually, I liked all of the Beast Wars characters. It was simply a really good show.

I like all the translucent bits. It really helps the figure stand out. The paint job is nice too. I don't know why I skipped out on this figure when Beast Wars first came out. I also just realized this is the first Beast Wars toy I've ever featured here. I should put a few more up.

Transformers: Car Robots God Magnus

aka Robots In Disguise Ultra Magnus

A few weeks ago I was over at my usual haunt bragging about the fact that I had just bought my RID Optimus Prime and, as usual, no one was paying attention to me. Or so I thought. A day or so later I got a Private Message from a fellow board member saying he had an extra RID Ultra Magnus and he was willing to part with it for 10 bucks or so plus shipping. The only thing wrong with it was the little tab that holds the front of the cab on was broken.

He assured me that it did not affect transformation. I told him to give a while to mull it over, clear it with the requisite authorities (wife), etc. and to not feel like he had to hold it for me. "Don't worry," he said, "I've bought a replacement and this was just sitting in the closet. It's not going anywhere."

Well, a few weeks passed, we exchanged a few PMs and how ya doin's. Pictures of the Transformers Animated Ultra Magnus were released. I watched TF: the Movie (the one from the 80's). I had a fever, and the only cure was more cowbell Ultra Magnus, I was leaning more and more between parting with some of my wife's hard earned money.

It was a Friday. I was off work, my kids and wife were out of school. There was a knock at the door. I looked out the window to see a UPS truck backing out of the driveway. Quickly, my mind raced through the possibilities. (At any given time there are around 30 packages containing various plastic bits en route to my house.) I opened the box that was sitting on my front porch. And there he was, Car Robots God Magnus. I couldn't remember paying for it, but I forget stuff all the time. So I logged on to send the guy a PM to see what was up. I already had a message waiting for me:

"You should be expecting a package from me. I was going to throw it out anyway before I came across you. Consider it a gift!"

If I told this person "Thank you" a hundred times, it wouldn't be enough. Pictures of the combined form of RiD Prime and Ultra Magnus, Omega Prime/God Fire Convoy are forthcoming. (I already took some pics, but they sucked.) Omega Prime is one of my favorite figures in my collection, and not just because its an awesome figure.

Oh. You know he can't deal with that now!

RID Prime - FIX'D

A few weeks ago, I showed you my recently purchased RID Prime with...uhhh..."battle damaged" chest.

Well, thanks to the generosity of a fellow Robophile, the great and powerful Evil King Macrocranios, I got a replacement chest that looks spiffy and shiny.

I also got a sweet little bonus item, my very own copy of The King of All Toy Robots Poem Collections, which is way cooler than any dumb old plastic robot.

Mighty Muggs Iron Man

*AHEM*

Greatest Iron Man figure EVER!!!

You cannot withstand a blast from my mighty uni-beam!!!

Did someone say Fin Fang Foom??

GI Joe Character Pics

So, Paramount has released some images of some characters from the upcoming GI Joe movie. Great big MEH! on most of them (it looks like they're going for a glorified Sigma 6 movie), but...

OH MY GOD do I want the Baroness to hurt me like the naughty boy I am!

Superhero Squad Iron Man

Continuing on with the Iron Man theme... I dig the who Galactic/Robot/Superhero Squad thing. I wouldn't say this guy is frawesome (Friggin' awesome), but definitely cool.

Next time...what is possibly the greatest Iron Man figure ever.

EVAR!!!

Marvel Legends: Ultimate Iron Man

So I thought I'd go ahead and make this Iron Man week here at Addicted to Plastic. You've already seen two of the excellent movie figures. Ultimate Iron Man I bought a little over a year ago because I wanted an Iron Man figure and didn't have one.

He's not a bad figure at all. Like the other two Iron Man figures I've already shown, his armor hinders posing a little, but that's not big deal.

I've never read any of the Ultimate Iron Man books, so I don't know if this is how he fires repulsor blasts or not. There's little thingys on his palms, but there's also wrist thingys ala DC's Deadshot. This way looks less gay.

I'm assuming that Ultimate Iron Man takes to the skies just like every other Iron Man, with a sweet dramatic pose.

I like this character's design because he looks totally different, yet still feels all Iron Man-y. I just wish there wasn't so much gray on him. Blah.

And, of course, no Iron Man figure would be complete without a removable helmet.

Not really. I guess that doesn't really matter. In fact, this is the only Iron Man figure I have that has a removable helmet.

Iron Man Mk III

You did go see Iron Man when I told you, right? You are not allowed to read the rest of this unless you have seen Iron Man. Git, dang it!

This figure is the one I was looking forward to the most from the new Iron Man movie line. It actually took me a while to find a gold variant. Target was the only store that had Iron Man figures for a while, and then it was only the Target-Exclusive Silver Centurion variant, which is nice, but isn't Iron Man. At least to me.

My only real gripe is that the armor on the back of the wrist prevents the wrist from being angled fully up, so this is the closest to a "repulsor blast" you can get.

It looks like the figure is molded in a metallic plastic (possibly silver) and has a clear read coat painted over it. Every figure I've seen so far has little red smudges on the gold areas. If you're considering getting one make sure you look it over before buying it. I love this profile:

Past and Present:

Iron Man Mk I

I've been sitting on pictures of these figures for a few weeks, but I thought I'd wait until the Iron Man movie opened to put them up.

First up, if you haven't seen the movie yet, go see it. It is totally awesome. I'd rank it up there with Spider-Man and Batman Begins as one of the best superhero movies ever made. It kicks ass! Robert Downey, Jr.'s casting as Tony Stark is PERFECT! That's it, that's my in-depth super-detailed review. Honestly, don't even look at these lame action figure pictures, go watch Iron Man right now!

Took me forever to find this one. Apparently it was short packed. Boo, to you, Hasbro. I like it because because the suit looks like a conglomeration of parts, which is its origin in the movie, and is also an homage to Iron Man's original armor.

When I tell you that his first appearance in the film is awesome, it would be an understatement. He kicks ass! Here's my take on that "original armor" pose.

And up close and personal. Kick Ass!

Pics of the red and gold Mk. III armor tomorrow. Go see Iron Man immediately. Tonight. Right now, in fact. In case you didn't notice, I think it kicks ass! MAKE SURE YOU STAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END CREDITS!!! There's a little treat at the end.

NOTE: If this post seemed particularly poorly written and gushy, it was. I geeked all over myself.

T2: Low Budgement Day

Yeah, this has nothing to do with little plastic things that make the world go round. But it's funny. If you're a hardcore fan of the Terminator series, you should dig it.

Apparently this "swede" stuff has been going on for a while, but I just discovered it. Well, someone pointed me to it is more like it.

This clip has been rated PG-13 by the A2PMPAA for mild language and really, really low-budget violence. NSFW, kids.

GI Joe Target Exclusive Attack on Cobra Island A.W.E. Striker w. Crankcase

So, I was, like, totally having an argument with my wife and she was all, "Oh, gag me with a spoon." So I said "Where's the beef?" and told her I was leaving and she was all "Every breath you take, every move you make I'll be watching you." So I asked her "What did you do with my Flux Capacitor?" and she was all "Shut up, McFly!" and broke my Money for Nothing 45.

But then, when I was watching an episode of Miami Vice, during that scene where Crockett and Tubbs are driving through the streets of Miami while In the Air Tonight is playing, she said she was sorry. Then we watched The Breakfast Club and did some coke.

Sorry, I've been having 1985 flashbacks ever since I went to Target this weekend and picked this up.

Stupid American Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity automotive ingenuity.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime

I've always liked Optimus Prime figures, but I have always focused on the ones that are Optimus Prime-ish. You know, blue legs, red upper body, windows on the chest. All the identifying features that we've come to associate with name Optimus Prime.

For that reason (and the fact that the domestic version of the cartoon sucked), I skipped over RID Prime when it first came out. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I really took notice of the figure and realized how cool it was. But a complete RID Optimus Prime was going for way more than I wanted to pay. However, when I came across this one, the price was too good for me to pass it up.

The seller said that it was only missing its gun and the four missles that go in the missile rack on the ladder, and that wasn't enough to dissuade me from buying it. However, once I got it and opened it up there was a bigger problem. The vacuum-metalized paint on the chest was worn and the white plastic looks a little yellowed. Also, you may not be able to see it, but there are some small parts missing from the red base of the ladder as well.

The yellowing is easily fixed, I think. I'm probably going to paint over it and give it a nice clear coat. Don't know how I'm going to fix the chest, though. But let's be real, this mode isn't why I got this figure in the first place.

This one is...

So pretty.

Yes, I know it's an older figure, and I know the Super Mode is basically a part-former, but I don't care. This has turned out to be one of my favorite figures in my collection. Also, if anyone has a junker RID Optimus Prime, or some of the parts I've mentioned that I'm missing and are interested in selling them, please drop me a line.

P.S. Dear EKM: GOTCHA!!

LEGO Star Wars AT-ST

LEGO + Star Wars = WIN!

I have a crapload of LEGO Star Wars vehicles. Next to the Millennium Falcon, this one is by far my favorite.

If you know anything about AT-STs, you'll know that one of the "cheek" turrets is a twin blaster cannon and the other is a concussion grenade launcher. That is something that the original vehicle did not try to replicate. I, being a professional Star Wars nerd by the age of 2, was always bugged by this and am always happy when other AT-ST toys make note of this subtle difference.

I haven't bought much Star Wars stuff lately, but I was glad to add this one to the collection.

Star Wars: McQuarrie Signature Series - Concept Darth Vader and Stormtrooper

I don't know why I bought these. I'm so over Star Wars figures. Yeah, I'm still buying Stormtrooper/Sandtrooper/Biker Scouts. One can never have too many of those. I'd even be pumped if they finally announced a TIE Fighter Pilot or Snowtrooper in the new 30th Anniversary aesthetic. But other than that, Star Wars figures are just "meh" to me. Weird.

The Stormtrooper is a decent enough representation of the original McQuarrie painting, but just like the Darktrooper it's just only a step above a 3 3/4 inch statue. It has articulation at the hips, shoulders, neck, one wrist, and the elbows rotate left/right. The head isn't even on a ball joint. The shoulders have the same full articulation that is standard for current Star Wars figures, but since the elbows and wrists are so limited, it's really kind of wasted.

Darth Vader is by far superior in terms of articulation. It has all full articulation at the ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, and a ball jointed head. They elbows are of the "45 degree" type, but I don't mind these because you don't have to worry about an ugly ball joint in the middle of the arm. He comes with a blue light saber and a laser pistol that fits in a hip holster (not seen because...well, dammit, Darth Vader doesn't use blasters.)

A nice bonus is that Darth Vader comes with two different heads.

However, I don't really have the inclination to try and figure out which head comes from what source. It's not that I can't...I probably have more books on McQuarrie's concept art than most fans (or more than is healthy for a normal human being to have)...it's that I just don't care.

Transformers: Generation 1 Perceptor

I didn't have a whole lot of Transformers as a kid. I can probably count the ones I had on two hands. That's not because I was deprived, I wasn't. I got a new Star Wars figure every Friday from my dad for a few years, and I got a crapload of GI Joe stuff later on (including my pride and joy, a Cobra Night Raven, which is currently undergoing restoration.) I liked Transformers a lot, I just didn't ask for them, so I didn't get many.

Perceptor was one of the few TFs in my collection and, unfortunately, he did not survive the Great Garage Sale Purge. I haven't really thought about him much, despite my growing TF collection. Maybe it's because he's a G1 figure, and to be honest, I'm not much of a G1 fan when it comes to the toys. But I came across this figure a few months ago and the price was right, so I got him. He's only missing two of his three missiles and the joint on one of his shoulders is a little damaged, but other than that, he's in great condition. (And if anyone has a junker Perceptor with a good shoulder joint or a few spare Perceptor missles, drop me a line.)

Yeah, its true, he turns into a microscope...

...a microscope that could kick your ass!

Wal-Mart Exclusive Masterpiece Starscream: A Photo Essay

Oh, I love him so much. Y'all just don't know.
Here's a nice "pad" shot of him:

Here's a shot with him holding the Megatron gun that comes with Masterpiece Optimus:

And one with his Classics and G1 little brothers:

Decepticons...ATTACK!!!

"See you back at the base" pose I ripped off from Robot Heroes Starscream:

Die, Autobot SCUM!