JLU: Big Guns Kick the Hell Outta' You!

The Mattel Justice League Animated/Justice League Unlimited toyline only produced a very small handful of 'oversized' action figures during it's tenured reign. 99% of the figures in the line shared the same basic size/standard male or female 'buck' or base body, arms and legs. But these big guys were each 100% originals.

If memory serves me correctly, of all 'people', Ultra-Humanite was the first Justice League Animated villain to make it to action figure form. Darkseid was produced not long after that, and it wasn't until the end of the line many years later that Doomsday and Gorilla Grodd made the ranks. Each of the latter was a Target exclusive figure in their own respective five packs, which consisted mostly of re-releases and re-paints of Batman, Superman etc etc. I'd complain about the difficulty I had finding all these guys at retail (I actually had to buy Grodd off a friend) but that pain is nothing compared to the fact that Mattel did make one more JLU big-fig that I don't own: an SDCC exclusive Solomon Grundy! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME MATTEL?!?!?!

Thankfully the Imaginext Solomon Grundy makes a respectable stand-in. But it still hurts not having the JLU Grundy!

Imaginext Gorilla Grodd (Stand-In Edition)

When not picking up Imaginext superheroes for myself, I like to grab up whatever piece-meal figures and accessories I can from garage sales and the flea market (especially when it's cheap) for my intern. A couple years ago I found the Gorilla Mountain playset and a bunch of jungle animals for her, and whenever we play I like to imagine this Gorilla is the Flash rogue Gorilla Grodd.

Fisher-Price released an official Gorilla Grodd, but in my mind it pales in comparison to this basic Gorilla, which, other than his mind control helmet, is all Gorilla Grodd is!

"I've got a monkey on my back!"

He's stamped '2006', and I believe he was sold alone or with a monkey or bird or something, and not as part of the Gorilla Mountain playset. Because, you know, that would have just made too much sense!

When you push down on his head, depending on the positioning of his arms, you can approximate the stereotypical chest-pounding action of great apes. Ook oook oook!

He stands upright well, leans into the four-on-the-floor pose well, and has a surprising amount of arm movement due to ball jointed shoulders and elbow articulation, even with the silly action feature.

A simple, solid Gorilla with a great sculpt that makes for a fun toy, especially when you imagine him plotting the overthrow of man's world from his secret base behind Gorilla Mountain!

Best of the Brave and the Bold

With the recent release of Target's exclusive Brave and the Bold inspired New 52 Justice League action figures, I've been reminiscing about the original Brave and the Bold action figure line and some of it's great stand-out figures. While the line was Batman-centric of course, I tend to gravitate towards the oddball character in this and other lines that dare to push the boundaries when it comes to enrollment. Here are four personal favorites:

B'wana Beast. This guy is great for so many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that women tend to gravitate towards this figure whenever he's around. Seriously, pile a bunch of action figures on your table, invite a girl over, and see where her attention goes. It'll be straight at the guy in the loin cloth. It happened with my wife when I set these and other toys out to photograph, and it'll happen for you. B'Wana Beast: Chick Magnet.

I used to own the JLU B'wana Beast but sold him to someone far more into the JLU action figure series than I. Also, I like this version better, due in large part to his characterization on the Brave and the Bold cartoon. That snaggletooth helps too. I found this B'Wana Beast on the shelves way back in 2010.

I also found Gorilla Grodd in 2010, but this one was at the flea market. I just love his massive stature. Bonus: no hex holes! Grodd has been available in a couple sets, and I still see him on shelves with a Superman and Batman packed in to this day. I own the JLU Grodd as well, and have no plans of letting loose of him any time soon!

Plastic Man is just awesome, always. I've had this one since 2009. He was a birthday gift from my sister. The hex holes make a little more sense for this guy, since he can change his body's shape at will.More Plastic Man themed accessories would have been nice though, as it is he only came with a massive hand (not shown here.) Then again, getting a bunch of Brave and the Bold accessories and painting them Plastic Man colors would make for a pretty epic custom! Those red and flesh toned pieces could be placed all over Plas, like he's morphing into all sorts of nifty things! If I ever find random B and the B accessories, I'm picking them up and doing just that!

I also hadn't realized until this shoot that Plas does not have a hex hole in his back. Probably because of his neck's extendo-action-feature, which is pretty cool and reminiscent of his Super Powers action figure, which I I do not own, nor do I own the JLU Plastic Man action figure for that matter.

Last but certainly not alive, this big baddy is Solomon Grundy. I obtained Grundy in early 2010, and although I simply HAD to open him up because he looks so COOL I really loved the fact that on card it called him 'Zombie Hitman Solomon Grundy.'

Best. Toy. Name. Ever.

Wish I had nabbed an extra to keep carded, but at least I took pictures!

I also do not own a JLU Solomon Grundy, because for some idiotic reason he was a con exclusive. I also do not own a DCUC Solomon Grundy because I couldn't find Nightwing at retail, so I never completed his C and C.

DAMN YOU MATTEL!!!

Oh well, this Zombie Hitman Brave and the Bold version is tops and one of my favorite action figures of all time. Such a dapper dead man, with a tommy-gun to boot!

While we're damning Mattel, let's look at some proposed Brave and the Bold figures that never happened (but should have!)

The Faceless Hunter! This guy would have made a fun action figure. Although I would have made sure B'Wana came out on top, unlike their cartoon encounter!

Flash made it to retail - barely. Who knows how many made it out to a handful of Mattel stores, but he doesn't show up on the aftermarket very often (if ever). He also had scalloped gloves like Batman for some reason (which may be why the figure was scrapped?) Anyways, an updated Flash is finally seeing release now as part of Target's new line - sans hex holes, roller blades, and scalloped gloves, but with all those extra Jim Lee lines all over his costume. You can't win 'em all.

And finally, Gentleman Ghost! This figure was one I was really anticipating. He would have been cast in clear plastic for the most part, and would have had a ghostly head too! What a shame he never made it to retail.

There were also a couple figures I missed that I regret not buying and may chase after someday, including Joker, Sportsmaster, Green Arrow and the hard to find later released Riddler. Hopefully some of these pop up at the flea market for cheap!

But enough living in the past - for a great close-up look at the brand new single figures being sold at Target right now (sans hex holes) head on over to Super-Duper Toy Box: He has Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and Flash!

Tiny Heroes and Villains

My oldest daughter and I picked up this bunch at the flea market last weekend.

My favorites are Gorilla Grodd and classic Iron Man (the shiny one back row center.) We also have Batman (with what I assume are Kryptonite gloves) an Iron Man with removable mask, Ice Man, an Iron Man movie Mark 1 (or 2? - same as first movie armor but in gold,) another movie Iron Man, the classic Iron Man armor again but this time in more subtle colors, movie Green Goblin and Dr. Doom!

We got the lot for five bucks - that's fifty cents each! Not too shabby!

Gorillas just want to have fun

The most impressive figures released in the animated Justice League toyline, in my opinion, were the oversized characters like Darkseid, Doomsday, Ultra Humanite and this hairy heathen here, Gorilla Grodd.

Most of the time these bigger baddies were only available as part of a store exclusive multi-pack that usually contained at least three or four figures you already owned. Because Mattel.

I won't even begin my rant about the JLU Solomon Grundy figure.

Anyways, I did not get Grodd when he was released. I did see him in the store once, but I was Christmas shopping for my kids and contrary to popular belief, I do have some self control.

So when I saw Gorilla Grodd pop up on Eclectorama's own Chunky B's ebay auction extravaganza, I knew I had to bid for him and at least get a shot at a great priced Grodd while also helping Chunky B clear out his awesome manly toys so he can make room for more dollhouses and Barbie Corvettes and tea sets. I set a bid and walked away, only to find later that I had won Gorilla Grodd and a handful of other cool toys, including a JLU Zatanna and Black Canary that were immediately added to my daughter's superhero collection! Chunky B also sent me bonus toys and some stickers and a re-usable bag depicting all the awesome art he has done for Tate's comics! A great haul from a great guy, with the highlight of course being that I now own a JLU Gorilla Grodd.