PREVIEW - Kotobukiya Statue featuring Guardians of the Galaxy's Rocket Raccoon and Groot

Toyark gives us an awesome peak at some of the upcoming stuff related to MARVEL'S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY including the KOTOBUKIYA bust of Rocket Raccoon & Groot.

This one will come out around September 2014 according to the Kotobukiya page.

The Big Bang Theory Minimates Coming Soon

It's a minimates world now and to prove that point, here's a preview (of sorts) for the upcoming wave of THE BIG BANG THEORY minimates featuring our favorite cast of nerds and their significant others (except for Raj of course).

To break it down (from upper left to lower right)

• The Flash shirt Sheldon Cooper
• Leonard Hofstadter
• Green Lantern shirt Sheldon 
• Amy Farah Fowler
• Penny 
• Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
• Howard Wolowitz
• Raj Koothrappali

There's just one thing that worries me from all this. Back in the 2009 or probably 2007, the 'mates had so many licenses but they weren't selling so good. Remember back then there were minimates for Rocky, Back to the Future, The Good, the Bat and the Ugly and even the Spirit. So many, and then poof, market implosion and sudden loss of interest in the toy line. 

That's the sort of thing that makes me wonder if it's a good idea to have so many licenses selling all at the same time. Still, this wave looks nice. Think of how many TBBT minimates quips you can do with all this. 

PREVIEWS - More Batman Figures including New 52 Greg Capullo and Son of Batman Figs

Toy Fair is in full swing and the said event showcased a lot of new DC Collectibles figures including a wave dedicated to the New 52 Batman series based on the designs of Batman artist Greg Capullo...

And it's not just limited to the heroes as there are now villains added to the list including Mr. Freeze (above) and Red Hood 1 (below)...

They also have Batman in his battle armor as seen in the Night of the Owls storyline...

That was in Batman # 9 mind you...

DC will also release the generic Batgirl and Nightwing figure for their ever-expanding New 52 figures. (below)

New 52 Batgirl

New 52 Nightwing

If you're a fan of DC Comics' animation line, then you'll also be pleased to know that DC Collectibles will be coming out with a pair of DC animated related stuff. There's Batman from Justice League: War

... and a weird looking Robin based on his appearance in the upcoming Son of Batman animated film.

Figures will come out within the year I'm told.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Turns Grimlock into Samurai Dino Hybrid

Seen the new redesign for Grimlock from Transformers: Age of Extinction yet? Here's the big boy now in his debut in the Bayverse.

No release date for the figure but it does shed new light on the character, as well as how he'll be treated in the Michael Bay directed fourth outing for the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons.

Fine, they look alike but there's just something wrong about Grimlock's new look. I guess I'm not happy with the paint scheme.

This is where things took the wrong turn for me. First he looks like a samurai warrior in Robot mode. We ditch the classic 'flaming sword' from Generation 1? Here's a comparison between the G1 Grimlock and the AOE version.



There are a couple of new additions for both the Autobots and the Decepticons. Regardless how crappy the movie turns out, I'm still clambering out to see this.

PREVIEW - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Figures from NECA

Check out these two new photos of the action figures from NECA for Matt Reeves and 20th Century Fox's DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES movie coming this years.

There's no specific release date for these figures but just as well they still look awesome. I'm also surprised that they actually scored this license. Good times for NECA.

Here's another photo featuring the Orangutans working for Caesar...

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” will open July 2014 nationwide in the Philippines from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

PREVIEW: Captain America: The Winter Soldier Minimates

Art Asylum and MTV.com has released a completed look at the Marvel minimates for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and they look cool.

Here's the breakdown of the figures that'll come along with this wave:

» Stealth Uniform Captain America with Brock Rumlow
» Classic Captain America with Winter Soldier
» Black Widow with Falcon
» Agent Sitwell with Batroc

I'm actually quite happy that they didn't go for the masked identities right off bat. Frank Grillo's Crossbones isn't even tagged as his supervillain alias but rather as his civilian name Brock Rumlow. Also I like how they managed to make Georges St. Pierre a bad ass (as Batroc) without having the ridiculous moustache and the weird mask/ google.

And yes it looks like I'll be spending money on minimates this year than any other year. And I won't be doing business locally (as there's now a voracious amount of 'collectors'). I figure I'll probably go and make House of Flair rich this year.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens April 4 from Walt Disney Studios and Columbia Pictures.

The Walking Dead Minimates Wave 5 and TRU Series

Like I always say, you suck Toys R Us for hogging all the great minimates regardless if it's marvel minimates or these the Walking Dead minimates. Anyway, here's wave 5 of this set which will add more zombies and a new Rick Grimes figure.

The Walking Dead minimates Toys R Us Exclusive Series 5

• Traveler Rick Grimes and Business Zombie
• Riot Gear Michonne and Hitchhiker Zombie
• Abraham Ford and Military Zombie
• Eugene Porter and Emaciated Zombie

If you won't be buying your minimates from TRU and you plan on picking it up from specialty stores, these are what would be made available...

Maggie Greene and Riot Gear Glenn

•    Tyreese and Prison Michonne
•   Survivor Morgan and Geek Zombie
•  Caesar Martinez and Geek Zombie (rare variant)

No release date yet for this wave but you can certainly go and pre-order at the Diamond Select Toys official website.

Credits: Dreadcentral

Quite Possibly a Sneak Peek at the Ninja Turtles' New Look

The actual look of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from producer Michael Bay could have been spoiled early thanks to this particular photo.

Photo came from Reddit and was reported by Cosmicbooknews today. These are actually action figure prototypes for the movie which will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman and headlined by hottie Megan Fox.

The fun thing about these figures is that it really matches the description which was released days ago. Still take it with a grain of salt because there's this off-chance that the description was based on these figures alone (making it paradoxical in nature).

PREVIEW: Godzilla 2014 Action Figures

So if you're still wondering what Godzilla will look like when Gareth Edward's Godzilla comes out this year, you're in for a treat because a preview for the licensed action figure has hit the web.

If you haven't seen the trailer, you can find it HERE . There's a bit of articulation if you're into that kind of stuff which is all good. 

It's a bit of a bummer because it's not what I envisioned. It's still better than the "Zilla" version from 1998 and it's still scary as heck. The snout is still an issue though. If you're not into the whole look but still want to buy a Godzilla figure based on the Toho-era then you might want to buy the MonsterArts version.

Here are the links to the hi-res version of these preview photos.

Link1
Link2

Godzilla will be released this year and stars Avengers cast members Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Heisenberg himself Bryan Cranston. Distributed locally by Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.

Credits: Godzilla Movies

Arrow Action Figures Coming Soon from DC Collectibles

Gotta love the folks at DC Collectibles for actually listening and giving us what we want case in point, this nice two-pack featuring Oliver Queen/ Arrow (Stephen Amell) and Deathstroke.

Sad though that this is "island" Deathstroke and not Deathstroke from Arrow Season 2. Also you really can tell that the pack is a bit dated because the figure is still using the face paint/ war paint. Still its a nice addition to your Toy shelf.

The pack is already out and retails for give or take $50 from the WBShop.

Noteworthy Marvel Minimates Toys R Us Wave 18 Figures

Totally skipped the Marvel Now minimate figures being sold at TRU for the reason that they're overpriced and hard to come by. The next wave of Toys R Us exclusives however, I might not pass on as its got Wolverine (again) and another Winter Soldier.

credit: Marvel Toy News

No photo has been released yet but here's the rundown of characters getting the Marvel Minimates treatment.

Marvel NOW! Thor & Absorbing Man
Age of Ultron Wolverine & Gold Ultron
Captain America & Red Skull/Arnim Zola
Falcon & Winter Soldier

credit: Marvel Toy News

My obvious pick from this set would be the Age of Ultron Wolverine and Golden Ultron plus the two-pack featuring Sam Wilson aka The Falcon and the good guy version of The Winter Soldier aka Bucky Barnes. The rest I'll probably sell, that's if I ever get to order this from the States given that these figures sell like hotcakes.

Source: Marveltoynews.com

Clayface from Arkham City is the Next DC Collectibles Deluxe Fig

They just keep growing and growing. First they had Killer Croc, then Titan Joker and Solomon Grundy and now Clayface from the game Batman: Arkham City.

The monstrous Clayface can take any shape—including that of an awesome action figure like this brand new one based on the villain’s appearance from Batman: Arkham City.

Yes, the new year may be just beginning, but we’re already calling it the Year of Clayface, and it’s easy to see why. At over thirteen inches tall, the Batman: Arkham City Clayface Deluxe Action Figure is the largest action figure that DC Collectibles has ever produced. (See how it stacks up to our previous deluxe figures in the gallery above.) With eleven points of articulation, switchable arms, an interchangeable head, and more nuance and texture than an award-winning screen performance, it’s a figure that’ll put all of your other action figures to shame. And for a larger than life character like Basil Karlo, that’s only appropriate.

Not a big fan of the roided look which also spells rip-off of what the Abomination looked like in Louis Letterier's "Incredible Hulk" film; still impressed with the size of this thing though. 

Credit: Toyark

Enterbay Teases Derrick Rose One-Sixth Scale Fig

Derrick Rose, plays pretty good in the NBA but is currently out of commission due to an injury. But fret not, while D-Rose is out, we can still see him in our toy shelves together with other Enterbay figures including the recently released LeBron James.

Even better is that Enterbay is now selling basketball hoops that's in synch with their other 1/6th scale figures. Here's the entire photo of the D-Rose figure together with some pretty sweet details.

Basketball Hoop features:

• High-definition transparent acrylic plastic board
• An orange hoop of high quality metal, with rope nets that can rebound automatically
• The pillar is wrapped in soft, high-quality EVA sponge and also comes with a high quality metal casting base to secure a stable display. It also has special paint effect applied on, which gives a better texture.
• The electronic shot clock at the top can be set to difference modes, and can produce the end of game signal
• Battery is not included
• For further information regarding on the installation and instructions, please refer the product manual

NBA Collection – Derrick Rose 1/6 scale collectible figurine includes:

• 2 (two) head sculpts of museum-like representation of Derick Rose with authentic likeness, each with a different facial expression.
• One head is the serious-look head sculpture and the other with the shooting expression face.
• Each head sculpts are individually hand-painted with newly developed \”multi layer\” paint application
• Newly developed NBA-DR body with 40 points of articulation, the height is according to Rose’s actual height, therefore instead of the usual 12” figurine, this product is actually around 13” tall and with a lot of his iconic tattoos as well
• Accurate Official NBA Chicago Bulls Red Road Team Jerseys with shorts and a pair of black socks
• 5 (five) pairs of interchangeable hands, including two pairs with magnets on them to hold the basketball
• A pair of kneed pad and black basketball tights
• A 1/6 scale Spalding basketball with magnet inside
• One MVP trophy
• A pair of Adidas D. Rose 3.5 sneakers
• Figure stand with Official NBA Chicago Bulls logo

Credits Toyark

Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation Pop Vinyl

Australia will be the first to get its hands on this cute Aveline de Grandpré from the PS Vita game Assassins's Creed 3: Liberation. 

So aside from being the first female assassin to have her own game, she's also the first of her kind in terms of collectibles in Australia. Figure will be released February 2014 in Australia with a North American release soon.

Credits: Toyark

Play Arts Kai Aquaman and Cyborg Preview

Two more Justice Leaguers join Square Enix's Play Arts Kai toy line - Aquaman and Cyborg.

Toyark shared this amazing set and OMG, it looks like I'll be adding another Aquaman figure in my long list of action figures I have yet to acquire.

More photos below:

AQUAMAN

CYBORG

Hot Toys Bruce Banner 1/6th Scale Figure

Hot Toys is still not done with the Avengers as they're about to release *gasp* the 1/6th Scale Bruce Banner figure based on the likeness of actor Mark Ruffalo.

Dr. Bruce Banner was one of the great highlights of The Avengers. Mark Ruffalo’s wonderful performance as the gamma radiated doctor has been well-received by fans and critics.

Now Hot Toys is excited to present this widely anticipated 1/6th scale Bruce Banner Collectible Figure from the movie for fans to complete their Avengers collection. The movie-accurate collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner in the film, featuring the newly developed head sculpt, highly-detailed costume and accessories.

Check out more photos below:

Not too impressed. Can't say they nailed it. For me, it's really so-so. Still it's a must have for collectors and completists.

Also it's the perfect figure if you're a big fan of Ruffalo's other big movie "Now You See Me" where he plays the role of the Fifth Horseman/ Mastermind behind the "Four Horsemen" outfit.