Photos from NYCC 2014!

A Small Collection of My Favorite Action Figure Reveals at NY ComicCon 2014

If I was to be perfectly honest, I would have to say that this year's New York ComicCon was the most disappointing toy-wise than it has been in a long long time.  There was a lack of vendors.  Mattel was absent; Hasbro is continuing the tradition of setting up shop several blocks away (and by appointment only); and DCC showed us nothing new.  And on top of that, my favorite small vendor seemed to be a no-show as well.  This is a booth that usually has tons of large bins of loose action figures in little baggies.  You have to be patient to get close enough because this booth magically turns everyone into kids digging for buried treasure.  I always look forward to spending a good hour there, and I was sad that I couldn't find it (although it may have been there for all I know.. I was an unplanned mess this year tbh).  Despite my overall disappointment on the toy front, I still enjoyed myself and found a few great gems to share.  Let's check them out below!

TOY FAIR 2014 Coverage - OTHER COMPANIES!

 

 LEGO - McFarlane - SquareEnix - Monogram - NJCroce - Dark Horse

Play Arts Kai - Arkham City POISON IVY!

Play Arts Kai - Arkham City Figure No. 6 - Poison Ivy - Square Enix 2013

As much as I tend to gripe about modern character redesigns, I'm not a complete purist because love this Arkham City version of Poison Ivy.  A lot of that may have to do with the fact that the previous (bewilderingly popular) green-skinned "Hush" version always felt like a lazy design in my eyes.  To me, this updated version has equal parts elemental goddess, sinister villainess, and alluring seductress - a formula that other versions of Ivy failed to perfect.  I think if I had to analyze my own contradictions when it comes to character modesty, I think it oddly enough boils down to skin color.  Meaning that a green or blue skinned woman being scantily clad doesn't have the same lurid quality as a normal-hued woman would have.  I know it doesn't make sense, but I'm always overanalyzing myself and that was my latest self-revelation.  This 2011 Arkham City design seems unchanged from 2009's Arkham Asylum design.  If there are differences, I certainly can't spot them.  Anyway, it's 2am and I'm rambling.  Let's check out this green goddess below!

Play Arts Kai - Arkham City HARLEY QUINN!

Play Arts Kai - Arkham City Figure No. 5 - Harley Quinn - Square Enix 2013

Of all the Batman characters to suffer in the hands of constant redesigns in recent years, the award for the most drastic changes would have to go to our dear old Harley Quinn.  It wouldn't even garner much attention if her original costume wasn't so cool to begin with.  But I digress.  The first change was atrocious.  The 2009 video game, Arkham Asylum, dressed her up as a sexy nurse.  It was embarrassing.  If it made sense to dress a psychiatrist as a sexy nurse, they should have dressed Commissioner Gordon in a fireman's outfit while they were at it.  Next up was the 2011 Arkham City redesign we see here.  Following this design she was revamped for the DC Comics New52 reboot as well as for the game Injustice: Gods Among Us.  This Arkham City design is my favorite all all the non-original looks.  Yeah, she's overly-sexualized, but at least she looks tough and her outfit seems functional.  Plus the candy-striped baseball bat is a fun new accessory that I can totally get on board with (I was starting to amass as many oversized Harley sledgehammers as Catwoman whips).  Let's check her out below!

Play Arts Kai - Dark Knight Rises CATWOMAN!

Play Arts Kai - Dark Knight Rises Figure No. 3 - Catwoman - Square Enix 2013

My second Play Arts Kai figure is a hit!  My first figure was the Arkham City Catwoman that I reviewed back in January.  I didn't know what to expect when I got her soon after Christmas, but I was smitten with the brand as soon as I took her out of the packaging.  This follow-up Catwoman does not disappoint either.  I think I might go as far as to say this is the ultimate Dark Knight Rises Catwoman collectible.  Sure, the Hot Toys figure looks pretty much perfect, but the rooted hair and soft materials turn off a lot of collectors (me included) - not to mention the price is about triple what this Square Enix figure will cost you.  This Catwoman though, she's detailed, extremely poseable, lots of swappable body parts, moderately priced (for a higher-end collectable) and she just looks great.  I've been extremely happy with all my Play Arts Kai purchases so far (perhaps I'm foreshadowing my next two reviews...).  My only issue with this figure is that she's annoyingly difficult to photograph.  Something about the semi-translucency of her skin (which is fantastic in person) washes out under photo lights.  Let's check her out below!

TOY FAIR 2013 Coverage - SQUARE ENIX!

 Play Arts Kai (Arkham City, Dark Knight Rises, DC Universe)

Play Arts Kai - Arkham City CATWOMAN!

Play Arts Kai Arkham City Catwoman - Square Enix 2013

Square Enix's Play Arts Kai action figures have officially blown my mind.  I honestly never expected to see this level of detail and articulation on such a sturdy well-made figure.  I guess I had been burned a few times after saving my hard earned dough for a high-end collectible figure, only to find the same old problems I would find from figures at retail.  The Arkham City Catwoman is my first Play Arts Kai figure, but definitely not my last.  My first impressions upon holding this figure was that she was heavier than I had expected and her joints were impressively tight.. they even click like gears as you move them.  My second wave of awe came when I began inspecting the detailed, well-planned articulation.  This is actually the first female figure I've ever seen with articulated lats (a "shrug" joint if you will).  This Arkham City version of Catwoman is getting a lot of play.  I normally don't buy video game versions of toys, but this Selina is so similar to her comic appearance that I don't mind.  Let's check out this amazing figure!