Thomas the Tank...Raven?!?! Azarath Metreon Choo Choo!

I've known about the blind bagged Thomas the Tank Engine mini-trains for a while now, and the fact that certain DC Comics characters can be found therein. But only now am I finding them in my neck of the woods. I found four of them from the 2016 Wave 3 batch this past week!

Raven! A Raven train is just absurd and I love it. This is actually a train named Belle as Raven, according to packaging.

The blind bags are not only coded (Raven is number 61) but you can also see through them pretty well by moving the train inside up to the white part of the package. So the guesswork is pretty easy to work around on these things.

Flynn as Firestrom! Firestorm is number 60.

Victor as Hawkman. Hawkman is number 62.

Rosie as Supergirl. Supergirl is number 59.

These trains are ridiculous but irresistibly fun. They're off the rails! It's neat to see the broad range of heroes and villains (well, in this case just heroes) that have been released so far. You don't see much of Raven anywhere and Firestorm doesn't get much play either.

Some DC characters have been released in multi-packs, but I think the blind bagged versions can only be found in the blind bag series and aren't duplicated in the multi-packs (and vise versa). Blind bags are $1.50 each which is a fine deal for the size and for what you get here. Go get some!

Imaginext Cheetah, Sinestro, Red Robin, Man-Bat and Firestorm coming soon!

Fisher-Price just released a slew of new product images and descriptions for many of their Imaginext sub-themes. Among the surprises (and most relevant to my interests) are the DC Super Friends figures, most specifically the beautiful and long clamored for female villainess: Cheetah!

Ever since Imaginext made a Wonder Woman figure, fans have been awaiting her most well known rogue Cheetah. Imaginext could have gone a couple directions with this figure, but I think most will agree the Golden Age Priscilla Rich was the best version to make in Imaginext form.

It's now abundantly clear Imaginext is putting together the Super Friends cartoon era Legion of Doom (do we dare dream a Giganta will actually happen?) so Sinestro was bound to appear sooner or later. Apparently Mattel/Fisher-Price have gotten over the bad taste left in their mouths from the craptastic Green Lantern movie and are finally approaching the GL universe again. I could honestly care less about any of the GL themed characters, but I will get Sinestro because he comes packaged with Cheetah. And he does have that sweet dragon helm construct, so I guess he could be worse. Also, now that Imaginext is venturing back into the GL mythos, I am hopeful they will shrink their Hero World Dex-Starr down to Imaginext scale (like they did with the Hero World B'dg).

Another surprise reveal is Firestorm. I don't follow Firestorm at all but I know he's getting some attention in the current Flash TV show. Whether or not I pick this one up will depend on how he looks in person, and how many other 'must-haves' are already in my shopping cart at the time.

Man-Bat! I will probably have to own this guy, as he is such an integral part of the Batman mythos. He'll look awesome next to other Imaginext 'big-figs' Solomon Grundy and Clayface!

Most exciting to me (besides Cheetah of course) is Red Robin! Now mind you, this New52 Teen Titans Red Robin costume is not even remotely my favorite Robin design, or even my favorite Red Robin design, but...HE HAS A CAPE! I have seriously held a grudge against Imaginext Robins for years. They NEVER have a cape! I've actually avoided owning any of them because of this fact, only recently 'breaking my one rule' because the latest Toys R Us exclusive Robin comes with a sweet sweet Robin Mech Suit.

Mech Suit > Cape...but only just barely. Of course this new Red Robin is yet another Tim Drake Robin. Which is fine, but here's hoping Imaginext gives us a Damian Wayne Robin (WITH CAPE) next.

Fisher-Price also revealed some awesome additions to their Pirates, Medieval Forest Elves, Dinosaurs, Power Rangers and Spongebob lines too, but this handful of DC related stuff should keep my attention focused for a little while at least. So stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled, True Believers. All of these figures should be hitting stores within the next few weeks!

Brave and the Bold: Plastic Fantastic

I'm lovin' the current Batman: The Brave and the Bold toy Happy Meal promotion at McDonalds. I've only been able to gather together releases #1, #2 and #4 so far, but with three toys in each release that's a lotta bats (and friends,) including two different Batmans (Batmen?) Solomon Grundy, Riddler, Penguin, Two-Face and Firestorm.

There are still a few I really want (Bat-Mite and Spectre top that list) and I admit I'd be happy with all of them. But thankfully, if unable to gather them all together before promotion's end, I have been lucky enough to have gotten one of the best in the bunch already:

Oh frabjous day! Plastic Man as a car!

ZOMG that is the greatest thing ever!

Yes McDonalds, this does indeed make up for all the fat people in America. You are forgiven.

I've always longed (hahaha get it) for a Plastic Man toyline. Imagine how many things he could be made into! I get it, he can make his hands into hammers and such, but that's been done a thousand times. Make him into a picket fence, a painting of Mona Lisa, a kangaroo, anything! The possibilities are endless!

Well at least I finally have him as a car, and I am happy.

One of the three sets I have procured also came with a Batmobile. These toys are small and more figurineish than hotwheelish - the wheels don't all roll (there is one wheel on the underside that does) and the construction is pretty simple, but who cares. Plastic Man is finally a toy car that I now own.

I am elastic...I mean, ecstatic!