Slash and Burn

Even though I have gathered together a bunch of original TMNT toys over the last couple years, there was only one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy that I purchased when the original run of action figures were clogging the stores. While I'm simply fascinated by the late eighties/early nineties Playmates Turtles toyline now, and have been lucky enough to acquire quite the collection of heroes and villains in my secondary market travels and trades, during the time the toys were hanging on toy store shelves they did little to interest me. I didn't care about any of them.

Except for Slash:

When I stumbled upon Slash on the pegs back in 1990 I just had to have him; his design was a little 'something extra' above and beyond the normal and relatively simple turtle and villain action figures of the time. He was a total bad-ass! He had some rather brutal (albeit hot pink...the nineties, ladies and gentlemen) weapons and he looked mean. He's like a Bizarro-turtle, complete with backwards 'S' on his belt buckle! In fact, now that I type that, I bet Bizarro was the inspiration for this guy, and is probably why I found (and still find) him so appealing!

Beyond his look, I knew and still know nothing about Slash except that he's a bad guy. He's like the Boba Fett of TMNT (pre-prequels of course!)

I displayed Slash in my room for years, a solo yet loved representative of a toyline I completely ignored for years. Yet somehow over the years and the many times I have boxed up my stuff and moved I have lost my original Slash. This is especially odd because I tend to keep pretty good track of my toys and if/when I get rid of one it remains rather memorable in my little mind; and to add to the mystery I have come across his weapons floating all alone in a baggie recently...yet still no sign of Slash himself.

I have no recollection of selling him or of giving him away, so maybe he's buried in some random box to be discovered again in the far off future. Until then, thanks to Jboypacman from Revenge from the Cosmic Ark, I have this one to rejoin my ranks and further ignite what originally grabbed me about these silly little toys in the first place.

My original Slash had a black belt and a darker shade of yellow on his chest-shell; this one is a lighter yellow and has a hot pink belt (nineties again) and apparently is considered a relatively hard to find 'variant.' He also came with "Nasty Nunchuku, Mutant Mace, Razor-spiked Gnarly Knife and a Psycho Sai (this Slash is missing the nunchucks and gnarly knife, but as I previously stated, I have my originals around here...somewhere!)

Thanks again Jboy! Slash rocks!

The truth is out there...

NOTE: The following images were received by Toyriffic World Headquarters in an anonymous coded email. The authenticity of their content cannot be guaranteed by the editors of Toyriffic. The images and anonymous email have been forwarded on to our Government connections for a more thorough analysis. We will keep you informed as further details emerge.

In the meantime, it would behoove us as public servants to not publish these images; we do so without further comment and leave you to make up your own minds as to their authenticity.

Catwoman Purrrsday :: TDKR Catwoman from DC Direct

A closer look at the Dark Knight Rises Catwoman as portrayed by Anne Hathaway has recently hit the internet via the 2012 London Toy Fair.

Shown are some upcoming DC Direct products, including a mini bust, a 6" scale action figure pre-production design (what looks to be a CGI body scan,) and a 12" scale statue.

You can see the 90s era Catwoman influence in those gloves and boots, as well as the obvious sixties influence of pretty much the rest of the costume. I really really like what I am seeing so far!

CLASSIFIED

Toyriffic just received an anonymous email with the preceding image attached, along with the promise of more to follow and the simple message 'The Truth is Out There...'

Stay tuned!

Harley Qwednesday :: Batman Legacy Arkham City Harley Quinn

Reports are coming in from all over the blogosphere that Mattel's Batman Legacy Series 3 figures are starting to hit retail; included in this release is a First Appearance Batman, a Golden Age Catwoman, Arkham City Nightwing and most important to us on Harley Qwednesday: Arkham City Harley Quinn.

I've kind of cooled to the whole of Mattel's DC stuff, so I will have to wait and see this in person before I make any decisions about adding this version of Harley to my collection.

Upcoming Lego Themes!

I've already reported about the upcoming Lord of the Rings themed Lego sets, and we all know about the Avengers themed sets due for release this summer (when the big blockbuster hits I assume,) but I was quite pleasantly surprised to learn about Universal Monsters themed sets coming soon!

EDIT: Actually, it appears these will be part of a new series called 'Monster Fighters,' and sound like they will be a Monster themed Ninjago-esque series. Cool!

And here's your first look at the Fellowship of the Ring. These look like so much fun!

Finally here's The Incredible Hulk and Captain America from the Avengers releases coming this year. The thought of Marvel vs. DC battles that can be created and waged in Lego form has me all giddy!

Info from London's Toy Fair 2012 via That Figures via ComicBookMovie.com

Sim sim sallabim!

I think the single most anticipated Lego Series 6 minifigureis the Genie. He's a blast!

Genie is super fun and unique. He comes with a magic lamp that he can sit on top of or hold in his hand (or another figure can hold with the genie on top!) He also has the unique 'legs' potion that emulates his mystical smoke self as he exits the lamp or just hangs around being magical.

More Than Meets the Eye...Literally

What the hell is this?

And is there any reason anyone in the world should expect to find the following within?

No. No there is not.

In a marketing move that can only be summed up with the word 'Huh?!?!' Kre-o, the makers of the 'don't call 'em Legos' Transformers building sets and minifigures have stocked the local K-Mart shelves with...a red box.

The box is factory sealed shut, with no indication on what lies within.

Well okay, there's a picture of a Bumblebee minifigure, or Kreon, on the back; but within all ten of the boxes on the shelf (and yes, I peeked in all of them) Optimus Prime was the only figure inside. If they all contain Optimus Prime, why seal them shut in the first place? Okay, maybe I got there late, and there were other boxes containing other Kreons. But I doubt it.

Once you open the flap it does make a little more sense. Maybe. Looks like they are trying to push Kre-o sets by getting you interested in this little Optimus Prime first. Then why hide him behind a blank red flap?!?!

The box contains one Optimus Prime minifigure with his exposed (scandalous) matrix of leadership. And the block he's standing on. That's it. Big box, little bang. For $4.99.

Weird.

Oh, there is a booklet on the inside flap which shows all the Kre-o sets we've all already seen a million times. Yay.

I admit I bought this to have an Optimus Prime Kreon...and also to take one for the team. This package/presentation is truly terrible product marketing and I just had to share my thoughts. In fact, I bet a lot of folks out there have or would have walked right past these. I almost did.

One last thought: Is this set a mis-shelved Valentine's Day promotion? Possible, but it should still either contain more (ex: Valentine's cards) or be better marked on the outside of the package (ex: I love Kreons!)

The world may never know.

Releasing Kreons individually: smart. Releasing only one Kreon individually, in an unmarked blank red box and charging five bucks? Lame.

EDIT: A little internet sleuthing has revealed that this figure/packaging was a convention exclusive last year. So much for 'exclusive,' eh? Apparently there were a few leftovers and they hit my local K-Mart. Keep your eyes peeled if you too want to find this 'exclusive!'

Bullheaded

Another outstanding entry in the Lego minifigure Series 6 collection is the Minotaur of Knossos.

This guy was on my short list of 'must-haves' from the moment I first saw the complete series 6 line-up. When I got him I immediately set up a labrynth for him to be photographed in so he'd feel at home.

He's pretty much awesome in every way.

I again used the 'squeeze/feel' method to find him; feel for the large headpiece and axe handle to confirm.

Poisunday Ivy :: Lego Comic book Poison Ivy

The Lego version of Poison Ivy appears in this comic book insert appearing in the most recent issue of Lego Club Magazine, as a member of the new Injustice Gang!

The comic has a neat centerfold with stats on many of the new Lego Superhero characters. Although generally speaking, when I think 'Centerfold' and 'Poison Ivy' I'm not also thinking 'Lego.'

Drat, thwarted once again by that damnable weed killer...or was she? I'm not giving away the ending!

Ironically Poison Ivy doesn't appear on the cover, but Harley Quinn does (who herself is nowhere to be seen on the pages within.) However the comic ends with a cliffhanger, so we can probably safely assume Miss Quinn appears in the next issue.

Bat(girl)Mobile

Fisher-Price has been putting out these cute 'Little People' DC Super Friends cars since last year. They have already released a Batman, Joker, Superman and Green Lantern version, and surprisingly even a Wonder Woman car (which I thought I had already blogged about but realize I haven't yet; so stay tuned!)

Anyways, I spotted this brand new Batgirl car the other day at Target and knew my daughter just had to have it, even though she's only a few months old.

She'll appreciate my efforts someday.

These little cars are sold separately for around five bucks. There are a few tracks and playsets that these cars run on, like a Bat Cave and others. But they are also awesome on their own.

BEEP BEEP!