[Captain Nash]

Well, it doesn't look like Firestar is going to get released in time for 2020, so I will go ahead and post my top 10 figures released this year.

I had an easy time with picking my top 9, but there were 3-4 figures I was considering for that #10 spot, so I give honorable mentions to the Walgreens Moon Knight, Sunspot and Weapon X.

10. "Age of Apocalypse" Apocalypse deluxe figure - just an all around awesome figure that really got the comic look right. Granted some of the comics showed him with a much thinner head, but others had his head normal sized. It would have been a great homage to the 90's figure if they had included a lava lamp looking Shadow King.

9. Mach 1 - I understand his base figure is from the Beetle? It's hard to tell because they did such a great job with the new parts. They are clearly working on finishing up the OG Thunderbolts so this was a great addition

8. Sebastian Shaw - the male figures in the SDCC set look a little rougher than the female sets, paint app wise, but he's still a great figure. So glad we got this set, and that we now have a male buck that uses this type of outfit, it definitely opens the door for more possibilities.

7. Kang - I really wanted to rank him higher than this but I just couldn't justify him getting past any of the below figures. Man, this is a huge improvement over the 2009 version, which always seemed tiny to me. He's perfect and was so unexpected for this year, though I was sure he would come eventually, I was ecstatic when they revealed him in September.

6. Emma Frost - the second of the figures from the SDCC set. I long said that they would not release an original white queen at retail and that a convention exclusive or something was the way to go to get her right. They got her right and I'm extremely pleased. Definitely was a needed figure for the X-Men corner of the line.

5. Selene - I know this is really the Jean Grey figure, but for me, it's Selene. She was a huge want for a figure for me, but never really expected to get her (even if it was with the packed in headswap). While not the most amazing figure, and the purple eyeshadow is definitely overdone, the fact she got made at all puts her at this spot.

4. Nimrod - Ever since Sauron got released this guy's been my #1 BAF want. Was thoroughly surprised he wasn't a BAF but definitely pleased. He may not be the most articulated of figures, but that's okay, his comic design never really led me to believe he would be. He's very blocky and that's represented very well here. While I'm definitely using the classic head for him, the alternate HOX/POX head is a great bonus and maybe one day I'll pick up a second pack.

3. Dark Beast - Utterly fantastic. I was beyond thrilled at an AOA wave, and this was my #1 hope that would get made. He absolutely doesn't disappoint, and they really captured his twisted menacing look.

2. Dr. Doom (F4 wave)- This was the first figure I received in 2020 and for the longest thought he would be my figure of the year. He was the sole figure I bought out of this wave and was definitely not something I could pass up. I don't think I'll ever need a Dr. Doom. He is perfect and he got so close to being figure of the year for me.

1. First Appearance Storm - What can I say? She's not perfect (old granny hands on the lightening effect hands) but this figure is just incredible. I had to get two of course to have the regular and angry goddess looks. While she may not be as perfect as some of the other figures on this list, what Hasbro did get right puts her at a well earned figure of the year spot. I'll gladly take any Storm looks and I do want the HOX/POX and AOA looks, but there is not another Storm look I "need" now that we've got this one.

BAF of the year: My BAF want list is very short nowadays, and this year I only bought two full waves of figures so I only got 2 BAF. While Sugar Man is great, I've never felt this huge attachment to the character, so Strong Guy is the BAF of the year for me, he's a great figure that definitely was needed to complete the 90's teams line up.