Author: Dale's Toys

Battle Armor He-Man

Recommended music: The Filthy Souls – Immortal Hero

Happy Monday! This #MastersMonday, we’re moving on from 1983 and looking at 1984 releases from the vintage Masters of the Universe toy line, starting with Battle Armor He-Man!

This was one of the first figures in my childhood MOTU collection. It could have even been THE first. I received one for my birthday at the ripe old age of three. 😄 (The photo exists somewhere.) Even though this armor breastplate look for He-Man was not used in any mini-comics or the Filmation animated series, it was used in enough books and packaging art to become my preferred look for He-Man.

The action feature in the chest is a three-sided drum that rolls to reveal more damage until you roll it back to “repair” He-Man to full strength. This feature was only reused once for Battle Armor Skeletor, but it remains a fun and unique aesthetic forty-one years after its US release date.

#MastersOfTheUniverse

Koozebanian Mama

Recommended video: Muppet Show: Planet Koozebane

On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re celebrating 70 years of the Muppets! From Palisades Toys Muppets line, it’s Koozebanian Mama!

The long-nosed Female Koozebanian creature made her debut preforming the “Galley-oh-hoop-hoop” mating ritual in 1974 on The Muppets Valentine Show which served as the first pilot for The Muppet Show series. During the show’s seventh episode in 1976, a re-recorded version of the sketch aired to a much larger audience who tuned in for that night’s guest, Florence Henderson.

Though the character showed up in the opening “The Muppet Show Theme” for seasons 2-5, and had brief cameos in a handful of Muppet Show episodes and films, she never a big role, so her inclusion with the Kermit action figure in his reporter outfit dubbed “Koozebane Kermit” is still an interesting choice.

Besides Kermit in his trench coat and a microphone like the one seen in the episode (but not on Sesame Street), the set also includes a male and child Koozebanian creature, some Koozebane landscape, and pair of creatures known as Merdlidops.

#TheMuppets70

From the Archives: 2023 Top action figures

There you have it, my Top 10 Action Figure releases for 2023 and also some honorable mentions, including:

Saurozoic Warriors Triax Skiver
Saurozoic Warriors Ceratopsian Guard
EPIC H.A.C.K.S. Pirate Skeleton
EPIC H.A.C.K.S. Gladiator Skeleton
EPIC H.A.C.K.S. Grim Spectre Skeleton
EPIC H.A.C.K.S. Barbarian Skeleton
Mythic Legions Lord Bushotee / Pelvicus
Mythic Legions Peteorionn / Uuwitt
Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Marvel’s Mantis
Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Star-Lord
Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Bespin Security Guard Isdam Edian
Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Bespin Security Guard Helder Spinoza
Star Wars The Vintage Collection Saelt-Marae (Yak Face)
Star Wars The Vintage Collection Admiral Piett
Star Wars The Vintage Collection Court Denizens (Ree-Yees, Taym Dren-Garen, Tessek, Velken Tezeri)
Star Wars The Vintage Collection Boba Fett’s Throne Room
Star Wars The Vintage Collection The Modal Nodes
Plunderlings Plunderlong Cursed Cayo
Plunderlings Plunderlong Tinker Rusty
Masters of the Universe Masterverse Motherboard (Revolution)
Masters Of The Universe Masterverse Man-at-Arms 2.0 Duncan (Revelation)
Masters of the Universe Masterverse Sorceress (Revelation)
Back to the Future Ultimate Doc Brown (Hazmat Suit)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon Ultimate April O’Neil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon Accessory Set
Sesame Street ReAction Bert
Sesame Street ReAction Count Von Count
Sesame Street ReAction Ernie
Sesame Street ReAction Yip Yip Martians

From the Archives: TVC Boba Fett’s Throne Room

Here it is, my #1 action figure release of 2023. The Star Wars The Vintage Collection Boba Fett’s Throne Room from Hasbro.

Little known fact: after Jabba left and before Boba Fett took over, Squid Head threw a raging party with Yak Face, even getting the Modal Nodes to appear.😄

Seriously though, even after removing the portly Bib Fortuna, throne, and monkey lizard, the accessories that stay can’t be beaten. The look for this diorama is unmatched in recent Hasbro releases! Some accessories are supposed to be from The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett. Still, this set looks right out of Return of the Jedi.

From the Archives: April O’ Neil

The penultimate figure on my 2023 Top 10 Action Figure list comes from NECA Toys. At #2, it’s the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon Ultimate April O’Neil.

There is a pile of new accessories. The figure has a better-scaled (taller) body. It comes with improved head sculpts and paint deco. The original release is even improved with a new head, as seen in this shot.

From the Archives: Rusty

At #3 on my top action figures of 2023 list was the Plunderlings Plunderlong Tinker Rusty figure from Lone Coconut.

The 2nd Kickstarter wave with the new Long and Strong designs shipped to backers in the final months of 2023, just in time for the figure (and hatchling counterparts) to ride into my Plunderlings display in style.

From the Archives: Peteorionn

At #4 on my top action figures of 2023 list are the Mythic Legions Uuwitt, Peteorionn, Pelvicus, and Lord Bushotee. Together, they form the Furious Four from Four Horsemen Studios.

Specifically, my favorite of the bunch here is Peteorionn (the red bull).

These were first available in a two-pack at LegionsCon 2022. In February 2023, they came as two single-carded releases from The Four Horsemen site with the extra heads and accessories needed to make each character.

From the Archives: Motherboard

At #5 on my top action figures of 2023 list is my only double dip into the same film/show. It’s the Masters Of The Universe Masterverse Motherboard figure.

This character played a larger role in the (then-upcoming) Masters of the Universe Revolution series, but also showed up in MOTU Revelation. The figure stands 12″ tall with a massive 24″ wingspan that will dwarf most figures in your MOTU display.

TVC Hoth Leia

Recommended music: The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love

On this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re staying in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From Star Wars The Vintage Collection, it’s Princess Leia Organa (Hoth Outfit)!

When Hasbro rebooted TVC in 2010, this Leia figure was the second in the line. Using all new parts, 12 points of articulation, light dirt on her uniform, and a decent likeness of Carrie Fisher, this was by far the best representation on the character in the 3.75” scale at the time of release.

“Oh, what about you need?” – Han

“(mystified) I need?  I don’t know what you’re talking about.” – Leia

#EmpireStrikesBack45

From the Archives: Yip Yip Martians

Coming in at my #6 action figure release of 2023 are the Sesame Street ReAction Yip Yip Martians from Super7.

This is the first time these characters have been made in articulated action figure form. A lever on the back lets you move the jaw for a yipping action, and the included display stand gives them a floating appearance. Fun stuff!

From the Archives: Doc Brown (Hazmat Suit)

Coming in at #7 on my 2023 top action figure list was this Back to the Future Ultimate Doc Brown (Hazmat Suit) by NECA Toys.

This figure shipped right at the beginning of 2023 and came with a pile of accessories. There are alternate arms that are fully sleeved with gloves for handling uranium. It also has an alternate head that looks a lot like Christopher Lloyd circa 1985.

From the Archives: Man-at-Arms 2.0

At #8 on my 2023 top action figure list was the Masters Of The Universe Masterverse Man-at-Arms 2.0 Duncan (Revelation) figure from Mattel.

I think this was the most decked-out Man-At-Arms figure ever at the time of release, with two completely different looks.

As soon as I saw this banished Duncan in the MOTU Revelation series, I knew I wanted it in plastic form.👍

From the Archives: Isdam Edian

At my #9 action figure release of 2023, I would like to say it’s the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Princess Leia (Bespin Escape) from Hasbro.

The head sculpt and face detail are this scale’s best 1980 Carrie Fisher likeness. The articulation has been improved from the POTJ version from 20 years earlier.

Unfortunately, this Leia figure actually came out in 2021, so she was not eligible for this list. So, let’s go with the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Bespin Security Guard Isdam Edian. He is the guard on your left without a mustache. He is a big improvement from the 2009 version and was a 2023 fan channel release.

From the Archives: Grim Spectre Skeleton

Coming in at my #10 action figure release of 2023, is the Boss Fight Studios EPIC H.A.C.K.S. Grim Spectre Skeleton!

The Skeletons have good articulation and well-painted accessories. Unfortunately, they aren’t the most stable and have difficulty standing without the included stands.

From the Archives: 2023 Top 10

It’s time to start adding content to this site. I’ve got a backlog of around 500 posts from the archives to share here that should take the rest of the year.

Let’s start with a countdown of my top 10 action figure releases of 2023.