SST: Shin Select Toys
 

ANOTHER NEW UNOFFICIAL RANDOM A%$ COLUMN BY YOURS TRULY
Note: The following posts and subsequent ramblings posted by yours truly are not indicative of the staff here at Toyark.com but are probably true nonetheless since I am typing this and I am a superstar

Here at The Toyark, we appreciate the finer things in life. Full articulation. No..SUPER articulation. Hard plastic. Soft plastic. DURABLE plastic. Great sculpts. Kick ass paint apps that won't make you cringe. Action figures that you can take home to your mother SON.

So I took it upon myself, a hero, a superstar, a phenom; a figure of brutally honest truth and superstardom, to fill you in on toys that receive my personal vote of confidence. Toys I think you should spend your HARD EARNED MONEY ON in light of times iz tough.

First up:

SPIDERMAN 3-3/4" LINE



JUST JOKING



With that monumental introduction out of the way and destined to be preserved forever in the hearts and minds of toy collectors everywhere, let's get down to business shall we?

Marvel Universe Bleeding Edge Armor Iron Man
This figure is like caviar on a toasted rye cracker on a bed of cottage cheese and awesome. The epitome of FTW. That energy effect part? Do what I did. Throw it over your shoulder. YOU DON'T NEED IT. What you DO need, is this figure. Rocker ankles, HASBRO style. Now the bro hasn't made a perfect Marvel line, and in fact, I was quite vocal about being burned out on it last year(HUG ME). So one day after many fruitless weeks of searching for that damn World War Hulk, I not only found him but Bleeding Edge $% %^* Iron Man. Now mind you, I had seen Iron Man before...hell he's the peg warmer OF that very wave that he's in.

Ironically enough though, Bleeding Edge Iron Man is not only the best figure in that wave(arguably), but quite possibly the best figure in the Marvel Universe line(though Cable might take the cake). In fact, IMHO he's the very best 3-3/4" Iron Man figure to date.

Great range of motion, those ankles...OHHHH MANNN THOSE ARE COOLLL, the paint job, the fact that it's a recent armor; BUY IT. Don't let the shelf-warming status fool you, Bleeding Edge is bi-winning.

Transformers Reveal The Shield G2 Laser Optimus Prime
This figure has me kind of skeptical. See, I was THRILLED to see this revealed months back. Astonished actually. Disappointed that the truck mode wasn't all that, and above all, that it was a deluxe, but see Laser Prime was my favorite G2 figure, and my favorite Prime incarnation for YEARS. I mean here was the G1 Prime, with a NEW body and FULLY FREAKING ARTICULATED FOR THE 1st TIME!

So with that said, the RTS version had HUGE freaking shoes to fill. Considering that I had become more selective with my choices(I didn't become a superstar overnight ya kn-ACTUALLY...), I looked forward to this figure with an open mind and some doubts.

When the first samples started leaking and emerging I was concerned about the reviews. Stress marks? #$%^&*!!!!!

Then I saw the UNITED version, thought about holding out for that. This all changed when my brother said he saw the RTS Prime at Walmart, of course afterwards I rushed all the way there, destroyed a blockade at the entrance, climbed over a 70.5ft 4.34 inch display of Coke 12 packs, stood 1 foot on the cart of a scalper, used a fishing pole like a boat oar, jumped 9 ft across the camera display and shuttle ran to the Transformers aisle. After braving a horde of ghouls and some dudes in a scuffle over "How to tame your dragon" Walmart exclusives, I found the Transformers equivalent of Excalibur.

You know how in the myth King Arthur says "man $%^&* this S%^!", chucks Excalibur in a moat and it drifts off somewhere(sensationalized account)? Well that's kind of what happened but not really.

So I saw the figure, COULDN'T RESIST, bought it, then tore open the package. This little nugget of awesome, though limited in range of motion for the knees, is %^&*(Iing FUN to pose. Ridiculous. It's like there's a rivalry between all the Hasbro design teams. Oh you got swivel/hinge wrists? Alright Clone Wars team, we got this. CHECK OUT THE VINTAGE ROTJ LUKE SON! Oh Star Wars got swivel/hinge wrists now? HEY GUYS CHECK OUT OUR NEW SNAKE EYES. Oh those guys got that hand articulation? Hey let's add ROCKER ANKLES AND THIGH SWIVELS TO BLEEDING EDGE IRON MAN.

Then you get RTS Laser Optimus who not only has EXCELLENT sideways/ball jointed ankles BUT also ball wrists AND hinges!

RIDICULOUS

I have stress marks on the hands but crossing fingers nothing happens.

DC Universe Classics Robin(Dick Grayson)
Never was a big fan of Batdick's old Robin costume. I mean would I stroll around town in that? %^&* no. See here at Toyark, we enjoy the finer things in life. I'd go around dressed like HE MAN. THE LOINCLOTH ONE. THE ORIGINAL ONE. Or 2002 to mix it up and further try to convince Mattel/4H to make a MOTUC 2002 He Man despite the numerous times they have sent now whenever we sent a question about it for the Mattycollecor Q&A(WHICH BTW SUBMIT QUESTIONS!)

Anyways, good ol Dickbats. When I was a kid I thought this guy was a tool. I used to watch reruns of the Batman 60's show on FX(DUDE CLASSIC CATWOMAN? PURRRRRRRR). SON.

Anyways, 60's hotness back in the day Catwoman out the way, I could never imagine myself wanting a super articulated Robin figure. I mean...WHY?

Yet then again, Dickbats was Batman's partner in crime and Batman just looks right when Robin is around. Reminds me of the old classic DC Batman artwork, like Dick Giordano, Neal Adams, the list goes on. Case in point? I DIG CLASSIC BATMAN ARTWORK.

Since Robin is near inescapable there, he became a common request for DCUC. The original 6" Robin was sculpted in house by Mattel for the 4H's Batman line. That one didn't cut it. We got a Robin eventually for DCUC but it's that kid who is the 3rd Robin or some shit.

So once Dickbats became Dickbats, fans only clamored more for Dickbats Robin.

I found this figure the other day at Target, but the whole $%^& $%^&*() wave and ya know what? Robin may actually be the strongest figure of the wave. Now mind you, I appreciate toys like a fine wine, a nice cut of meat, the cheese of the cheesecakes, so naturally, I gravitated towards the most bad ass Batman design of the 90's ARMORED AZRAEL BATMAN!

To my surprise I found Dickbats the most fun to pose. The sculpt? GREAT. The 4H are masters at meshing the classic aesthetic with their own interpretations. I think this is key to the success of the DCUC line, and it provides great consistency. Not to mention..damn Robin has a great sculpt! Also the new double jointed elbows, knees, and ball jointed wrists. OH...OH GOD...Mattel you should make this standard!

So now there is no excuse, we NEED a Dickbats Dickbats just as articulated as this Robin! BTW for those who were wondering, YES this figure smokes Nightwing. 4H have come along pretty far.

I'll add more to this post later when I think of more goodies you should spend all of your money on.

Agreed on all counts, save three: 1) I don't own Robin, so I can't comment one way or the other. Sounds interesting, and I might pick him up if I ever saw him at retail; 2) My only issue with G2 Prime is that his right arm movement is hindered slightly by a tab on his upper shoulder. Because of that, he can't put his arm flat to his side. But it's ok if you make him a lefty, or if you have him two-hand his sword (yes, he can do that); 3) You will never EVER catch me in a loincloth.

Where is this ego on the Tank? And you sound like one of the announcers from the Powerthirst Commercials.

DO A PART II!

You done pissed me off Shin.

I passed up on both RTS G2 Laser Prime and Dick Grayson, and your enthusiasm for them both has me regretting that decision.

DAMN YOUUUUUUUU! *insert shakey fist here*

Dude Laser Prime ROCKS! I was surprised when I opened him up man...I ragingly ripped him out of the package in my car, posed him, then sent CIAD a pic message like "DUDE THIS GUY FUCKING RULES".

Robin is beast!

Laser Prime and surprisingly DOTM voyager Ironhide have similarities. Leg articulation on both is EXCELLENT.

LOL

I am holding out for Leader Ironhide I think. But I may just cave if I ever see those damn DOTM toys in person.

Man I caved hard last night. Ironhide is very cool, I'm sure the leader one surpasses it but I'm all for different versions of the same character. I think voyager ironhide blows away that overrated hftd deluxe Ironhide. Leader is best overall most likely, the new voyager and recon ironhide probably gunning for second spot. Freaking leg articulation on voyager ironhide blows my mind.