TMNT Murakami Gennosuke aka 'Gen'

Stan Sakai's beloved Usagi Yojimbo has had a long relationship with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which included both an original Usagi Yojimbo action figure in the '89 series and an updated, more comic accurate version from the early 2000s toyline.

Although I picked up the 2000s Usagi off the shelves when new, I still only vaguely understood his universe and wasn't 'officially' collecting TMNT toys anyways. I later acquired the original Usagi action figure and even Space Usagi, and finally began reading the entire collected series in graphic novel form.

That's where I learned about the rhino samurai Murakami Gennosuke aka 'Gen', and later discovered he too had an action figure!

I remember seeing this guy on the shelves but not knowing anything about him I assumed he was a 'modern' take on Rocksteady or something. By the time I realized he was from Usagi Yojimbo's universe it was too late to add him to my collection via basic retail means. Thankfully the flea market came through for me and now I have him...as well as his lame action feature:

For some reason Playmates thought to themselves 'hey, action figures are fun, but floppy action figures are funner!' You push a button on his chest and then - you know those toy wooden animals which you push a button on the base and they flop down? - yeah, Gen does that.

As if kids hadn't just pretended to knock out their action figures for years, now they had the added bonus of playing like they were dragging a real limp body out to the dumpster.

To cinch him up again, you tighten this dial on his back. You know, once tightened, the figure actually stands and displays well. But I can imagine the strings holding him together breaking over time. I suppose if that ever happens I'll just glue his limbs back on.

My Gen didn't have the twin katana he was originally released with, but I can probably dig up at least one out my random accessories bag.

Marvel Legends Spiral

What I know about Spiral can be counted on six hands. Just kidding - more like six fingers! Let's see:
1) I think she has some sort of association with the X-Men. What that association is, I do not know. But I seem to recall her appearing in the cartoon at some point.
2) She was a playable character in the arcade fighter 'Marvel Vs. Capcom 2' - this was probably my first exposure to her.
3) She has six arms.
4) She likes swords.
5) Umm, I think she's an alien?

Yeah, that's about it. I made it to five.

But honestly, what do you need to know? Spiral has six arms, likes swords, and was sporting the grey hair look before your hipster neighbor did it.

She also has like ten million points of articulation and is a surprisingly attractive sculpt for a figure with six arms. I am certain pulling off such a design was no easy feat, so kudos to whatever Marvel Legends designer pulled the short straw on this assignment.

So when Marvel Legends released her in action figure form way back in 2008, I had to have her regardless of my lack of familiarity with the character. As is generally par for the course for retailer exclusive action figures like Spiral (she was a Target exclusive), I couldn't find her at retail back then, but lucked out on finding her at the flea market in 2010 for a mere five bucks.

Not long after that Spiral appeared in the Super Hero Squad line-up, and this one I did pick up at retail because she is just so incredibly cute. I think she came with a Wolverine because in any given Marvel toyline there are like seventy thousand Wolverines.

I don't know why she has ninja-turtle hands in this form when her hands are human in her ML form.

Her mini version is little more than a figurine with no articulation whatsoever. But she has a different sword in each hand so your argument is invalid!

Marvel Legend Spiral came with three swords, one sheath, and a removable helmet. She looks pretty goofy without her helmet and I am surprised it didn't just end up being a glued-on piece, but at least this way it isn't glued on crooked.

Another Batmobile Kiddie Ride, And This One is For Sale!

My recent post about a '66 Batmobile Kiddie Ride that I spotted in front of a not-so-nearby K-Mart prompted a reader to alert me (and now I'm alerting YOU!) that she has one just like it, and hers is FOR SALE!

Jen has this Batmobile ride-on and is looking to get $850 obo for it before she makes a cross-country move. I wish I had that kind of dough, but I'm no Bruce Wayne!

If you would like to make all your childhood dreams come true for a measly $850 contact Jen at her email jenrem76.jr@gmail.com

BONUS PIC: I returned to the 'scene of the crime' and got a pic of myself in my local version:

Zoom Zoom!

Imaginext Blind Bag Series 1 Diver

Thanks to a trade with a fellow Imaginext collector I was able to finally add the Imaginext blind bag series 1 Diver to my collection. The diver comes with a pet Manta Ray and removable helmet.

I needed this diver to compliment the Pirate Dive Suit I recently acquired.

The diver that comes with the dive suit armor is a completely different than the blind bag diver. I like the steam-punk vibe of the armor driver, but I think Imaginext missed an opportunity to include the dive helmet from the blind bagged figure.

Now the dive suit pilot can leave his armor and go exploring!

And he's not the only one...

The helmet doesn't show the Space Ape's face, which gives him a real Robot Monster vibe!

"Hail Hydra!"