Bootleg Hulkbuster Armor Iron-Man Mini-Figure

The Chinese LEGO bootleggers have done it again! This time giving us a wholly unique over-sized 'Minifigure' of Tony Stark's Hulkbuster Iron-Man Armor!

Hulkbuster Iron-Man is an 'oversized' minifigure ala the larger Incredible Hulk figure. He is also not necessarily a bootleg, as there is nothing here that copies LEGO besides the aesthetic.

It is amazing enough that these crazy bootleg companies are copying hard to get LEGO minifigures, but the fact that they are creating completely unique characters like Hulkbuster armor Iron-Man (and a large sized Thing from the Fantastic Four) is simply incredible!

Hulkbuster Iron-Man has 'articulation' at the shoulders, elbows and wrists. In LEGO terms that means each arm is in three pieces (plus the 'pin' that holds the arm in the shoulder socket.) The shoulder shields are also separate pieces, making an un-built Hulkbuster Iron-Man come in at a whopping 11 separate pieces.

Since when did bootleggers give so much and ask so little in return?

Hulkbuster Iron-Man fits right in with bootLEGO Hulk.

Both of these figures come from the DeCool company, whihc has thus far put out some good quality bootlegs.

"Hulkbuster SMASH!"

My Hulkbuster does have a scuff on his face, but I can just pretend it's a battle scar. For the unbelievable low price these go for on eBay, as well as the fact that there is no other version of this minifigure from any company anywhere, I can accept some paint smudges!

Bullet Man the Human Bullet minifigure :: Yo Joe!

"I'm #1 with a bullet, I'm a power pack."

Although I have picked up quite a few Kre-O Transformer minifigures aka Kreons (Arcee, Nemesis Prime, Galvatron), I have been able to avoid any of their GI Joe offerings. Mostly because I was never really a GI Joe fan.

But that all changed with this guy!

I spotted these Series 5 GI Joe Kreons at Toys R Us and my eye was immediately drawn to Bullet Man, the Human Bullet. I couldn't believe my eyes - Hasbro made a minifigure of this classic GI Joe superhero action figure dolly! I had to have him!

Now in the past Kre-o have been pretty good about printing codes on their packaging - at least where their Transformers offerings are involved. Making finding the figures you want, while avoiding the dumb ones you don't quite simple.

Well no more, Mr. 'buy only what you want'! All the packages have the exact same number printed on them now! ARGH!

To the squeeze method!

Thankfully Bullet Man has that pointy noggin (a re-used jet nose from the Transformers Kre-ons), so he's relatively easy to find.

I was also trying to find Zaranna, but she eluded me. I imagine she'll be popular, so she may have already been found by someone before I got there. But that idiot passed on Bullet Man, so it's their loss!

Bullet Man comes with a small flat brick and a decal to make like he is holding a MOC action figure of his own self. So meta!

The Human Bullet really appeals to my love of all things 'superhero', as well as my love of classic and nostalgic toys (although I never did own an original Bullet Man myself. I was never into dollies!)

And as if he wasn't fun enough, they added a clear 'jet pack' tube and a string, so you can zip-line Bullet Man into action!

After squeezing every mini-figure on the shelf, it seems these may be two to a shipment. So if you're good at feeling-up, you should find him easily enough.

If you are not good at feeling-up, I suggest you get to practicing!

Bucky O'Hare - Intergalactic Rabbitary, Rabbitary Intergalactic!

A few years ago John of RobotMonsterSpaceSuperHero asked me to keep my eyes peeled during my toy hunts for a Bucky O'Hare action figure so he could add the alien green rabbit to his collection. I knew little about Bucky O'Hare but I knew what he looked like and that I'd probably find him eventually, so I was glad to help, and in short order I found the funny space bunny.

What I didn't know was that after finding a Bucky for John, I would think he looked so cool in person that I would want to find one of my own!

My patience finally paid off last weekend when I spotted Bucky O'Hare once again, and this time he's mine, mine, MINE! ALL MINE! MUAHAHAHAHAhahaha...ha...hahaha...ha....ahem.

Amazingly I found Bucky in a basket of other random toys and he was still clutching his blaster. More amazing - I got him for fifty cents!

The muzzle of his blaster is a bit droopy, but I am sure I can fix that issue with some hot and cold water therapy.

Honestly I still know nothing about Bucky O'Hare, except that he was made by Hasbro in 1991. And that he's a Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon type alien rabbit. I believe he had a supporting cartoon, but I don't think I've ever seen it. If he doesn't have a comic book, he should. I may start looking for some supporting characters now, too.

But even if I never find anyone else, I am glad I finally succeeded in tracking Bucky down. He's in scale with TMNT figures, so he'll be slapped right into my collection of mutated animals and human/animal hybrids.

I just hope he and Usagi Yojimbo don't multiply!

Extendar - Sticking his neck (and arms and waist and legs) out for He-Man since 1986

Although I was a huge Masters of the Universe fan back in the early eighties, Extendar came out too late in the line (1986) to enter into my collection.

Until last weekend that is, when I found him at the flea market. It was a good weekend for flea-marketing!

Extendar is one of the few MOTU action figures that shares no parts with any other Masters of the Universe figure. He does however have a gimmick action-feature like pretty much every MOTU action figure.

And it's...unique.

I am Extendar - Master of the ancient art of 'Pea-kah-booh'

Extendar is a literal robotic White Knight. He actually looks far cooler in his 'normal' mode than when his action feature is employed. But leave it to the original MOTU toyline to take things to the nth degree:

Go Go Gadget Arms...oops...wrong '80s cartoon.

Extendar's arms...

Top shelf be damned!

...legs...

36-24-36, bitches!

...waist...

I wish I was a baller

...and neck all extend to make Extendar's dreams of joining the MOTUNBA complete.

Extendar is...just weird. He's like Mekaneck on steroids. But he is also surprisingly endearing. I like the pearlescent nature of his armor, and he's a bit bulkier that standard Masters of the Universe action figures - as if he were actually wearing armor over their musclebound near-nakedness. His extending bits lock into place quite well after all these years, and only his left leg suffers from the looseness common in MOTU figures. An issue that can be fixed if I ever feel the need. But for now he still stands with a bit of work in both modes, so it isn't as bad as a few MOTU figures I have.

Oddly Extendar has a peace sign embossed on the back of his neck. Not sure if this was addressed in any iteration of the character's storyline, or if this is just something a designer threw in for fun. Peace through superior extending-power? I don't know. Does anyone know?

Napoleon Bonafrog is Dynamite!

Another TMNT figure I freed from the flea market this past weekend is Napoleon Bonafrog. What makes this acquisition extra special is that it is a COMPLETE Napoleon Bonafrog!

Including his little mutant insect buddy Flyboy!

Digging through a box of old toys I was able to gather together quite a few TMNT weapons and accessories. The only actual figure in the whole bunch was Napoleon! So I tossed him in with all the weapons I gathered and when I got home to sort through it all I discovered all his 'stuff' was there too.

Napoleon Bonafrog always looked more like a Horny Toad to me, which is neither a frog nor a toad. But hey, I'm no naturalists. If you say he's a frog, he's a frog!

"Keep on Froggin'!"

He's a part of the Punk Frogs team, which also included Ghengis Frog in action figure form and Atilla the Frog and Rasputin the Mad Frog in cartoon form. Oddly enough all four frogs looked like Ghengis Frog in the cartoon, making the Napoleon Bonafrog action figure a bit incongruous.

I don't know where such a warning would typically be posted, but it makes a good shield!

The 90s neon and OP Boardshorts make this guy a rather goofy reflection of the times he was mutated in. And ultra Caliofornian, Dude!

Sandstorm Camel :: Another nutty TMNT action figure for your viewing pleasure

"Who you callin 'Joe'?

I have been piecing together my original TMNT action figure collection for many years now. Most of my figures have come to me via the flea market or other second-hand resources. It's a collection that I honestly never set out to build but over time, and finding so many on the cheap, it sort of just took on a life of it's own.

I am finally at the point where there are only a couple of figures that I am actively seeking whenever I go out on a weekend morning and dig through other people's trash treasure. And thanks to a score this past weekend I can now check Cameltoe...I mean 'Sandstorm' off that list!

"I'd walk a mile for a Virginia Slim."

I actually did see Sandstorm at the flea market years and years ago, back when I had maybe five TMNT action figures and little interest in a large collection with insane mutant animals from all corners of the Earth. So when my collection took on exactly those proportions, it always bothered me that I had seen him once and didn't buy him when I had the chance.

So when I saw a table of Ninja Turtle action figures this past weekend, and THEN saw Sandstorm sitting upon said table right square between head-droppin' Leo and naked Splinter I humped on over and spat out three shekels (Camel puns aren't easy) and now he's mine! .

"BARTENDER! BARTENDER! Geez, can't a guy get a drink around here?!?!"

He's not perfect. There's play wear and some yellowing on his smock, and he lacks his accessories, but who cares. He's a fez-doffed arabian-clad mutant Camel. HOW DID I PASS HIM UP BEFORE?!?!?! What was I thinking?!?!

"Who. Bent. My. SWORD!?!?!"

Fortunately I also scored a big bag of miscellaneous TMNT accessories this past weekend, and while Sandstorm's weapons weren't a part of the pile, this sword (which originally went with a Shredder variant I believe) is a good substitute.

Also of note: Sandstorm has an action feature similar to classic Masters of the Universe figures - a spring-loaded waist. I don't know how that action is relevant to an Arabian mutant camel.

Launchpad McQuack - WooOOOoo!

Launchpad McQuack - the action figure!

Launchpad was released as part of the short-lived Darkwing Duck action figure toyline and manufactured by the same company that brought the world the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Playmates Toys.

A solid action figure to be sure, but the Darkwing Duck line doesn't come close to the original TMNT toys in level of detail. I imagine that is due in large part to the owner of the characters - Disney - wanting them to stay as true to their cartoon appearances as possible. Still, Launchpad's pose could have been a bit more dynamic.

That said, there is no mistaking that profile. This IS Launchpad McQuack! As a fan of Ducktales first and only marginally of Darkwing Duck, I couldn't be happier to have added Launchpad to my meager collection of what is now a whopping three 'Darkwing Duck' action figures!

And getting him for fifty cents? Priceless!

Well, not exactly priceless...I mean fifty cents isn't 'nothing', but it's pretty darn close!

Like all toys in the Darkwing Duck action figure line, Mr. McQuack does have a silly action feature. You spin this wheel on his back and his head spins 'round and 'round.

Ummm...just like in the cartoon?

I guess so, maybe after a crash or something. Whatever, at least it's unobtrusive and not terribly obnoxious. Unlike Launchpad himself. ZING!

DuckTales - WooOOOooo!

Arctic Bat Trooper LEGO Minifigure

I posted about my Batman-slash-Stormtrooper Arctic Batman LEGO minifigure before...

...but in digging through my stepson's LEGO stuff, I found a sweet Boba-Fett/Clone Wars jet-pack in white! My Bat-Stormtrooper is now complete!

TMNT Casey Jones :: Another custom LEGO minifigure

Hot on the heels of my custom LEGO Metalhead and Panda Khan minifigure comes my custom LEGO minifigure of the one and only Casey Jones!

I used an old slightly play-worn 'Evil Skeleton' headpiece, and it works pretty well as a LEGO version of Casey Jones' goalie mask. I may someday get creative and just draw a more comicbook accurate face onto a clean white LEGO headpiece, but this works for now.

I used a random black hairpiece and a torso piece that has what appears to be sports padding of some sort. I know Casey didn't generally run around with any padding, but it works with the theme. To finish, I gave Casey grey 'sweatpants', flesh toned arms and ddark grey hands (to emulate gloves.)

For his 'golf bag' I used one of these ubiquitous LEGO bits, and jammed a hammer of some sort in the end which looks a bit like a putter. I also gave him LEGO Nelson Muntz's baseball bat and a hockey stick form an earlier blind bagged hockey player minifigure.

LEGO Metalhead :: TMNT Custom Minifigure Build

After slapping together a custom Panda Khan LEGO minifigure,  I started thinking of what other Ninja Turtle characters I could possibly cobble together. It struck me that the robotic turtle Metalhead (Classic Metalhead action figure, Modern Metalhead action figure) was do-able and would be a fun character to have in minifigure form. So I set out to make a Metalhead minifigure!

In making Metalhead, I didn't use any actual minifigure components. Instead, I built him entirely from standard LEGO bricks and bits. I based him predominantly on his modern look, but took a lot of liberties and just let my creativity lead me down a long path to this final result.

I gave him a blow torch hand, which can be switched out with other weapon types like a chainsaw or a claw or whathaveyou. I had the notion of making a rotating 'stick' ala the classic action figure's spinning nunchucku weapon, but I haven't put that one together yet.

Metalhead is a little larger than a standard minifigure. His legs don't move, but his arms can be rotated at the shoulders. After putting him together I looked around online and discovered a few other Metalhead customs, but they are generally pretty small. Essentially they are little more than micro-builds. My Metalhead has a bit more heft to him, and his weapon customizeability gives him more personality too.

Young Justice LEGO Bootleg Minifgures by ShengYuan

While perusing eBay to see what those crazy awesome Chinese LEGO bootleggers have to offer I came across a full series of Young Justice minifigures by ShengYuan (the same company that made the bootleg Batgirl I blogged about a few weeks ago.) Having seen the quality of their Batgirl, I knew it was worth the less-than-a-dollar-each risk to order this set of eight minifigures, especially because LEGO will never make a series of minifigures for a long cancelled cartoon!

The set includes:
Aqualad
Artemis
Robin
Nightwing
Superboy
Clone Containment Suit Superboy
Miss Martian
Kid Flash

Each minifigure includes accessories and a weird minibuild to accompany them on their base. A ton of toy for less than a buck!

Aqualad comes with two hard-water swords. Awesome!

Artemis is one of my favorites from this set. She comes with a compound bow and a quiver, and a perfectly passable piece of Kryptonite!

Kid Flash comes with a couple red sticks to emulate speedlines I suppose.

The wild red hair is just perfect!

Miss Martian. What can I say? Did you ever think in a million years you would see a LEGO(esque) Miss Martian minifigure? She also has a lasso(?) and a green thingy that I suppose could be put on her hand and emulate some mid-form shape-shifting.

I would have preferred her hair a bit more on the ginger side, but come on! Miss Martian! This is definitely my favorite minifgure from the set, and well worth the price of admission!

Nightwing. You may be surprised to learn that this is the first Nightwing minifgure in my collection!

LEGO always gives Nightwing an idiot hairdo. It's nice to see a well coiffed Nightwing for a change.

Robin. A nice Young Justice variant on the ubiquitous Robin minifigure. With dynamite.

None of the figures from this series have multiple facial expressions, but they are all printed on their backs, and many (like Robin here) have printing on their legs - attention to detail that the bootleggers could have easily skipped (they ARE bootleggers after all!)

Clone Containment Suit Superboy. With...windmill(?) and a sweet piece of blue Kryptonite. Isn't blue Kryptonite the one that is effective against Bizarro? Did it have a role in Young Justice? I don't remember.

And finally, regular t-shirt and jeans Superboy. He came with an all white head piece - I have no idea why. It may also be relevant to the cartoon but I clearly missed that episode.

The quality of these ShengYuan bootleg minifigures is top notch. Not as top notch as LEGO but on par with Kre-O and Mega Bloks for sure. And did I mention how cheap these things are? Good lord, you're losing money by NOT buying these things!

My only quibble is that the upper arms of the minifigures aren't painted, so instead of short sleeves, you get wife-beater shirts on a few of them. But that's a MINOR issue for a bunch of non-licensed minifigures you will never see made in any official capacity. Go buy some and see if you don't agree. What do you have to lose?