Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro Last year Hasbro released Crystal Ball into the G.I. Joe: Classified Series and he ended up being my October 31st review for last year's 31 Days of Toy Terror. With his introduction, Hasbro introduced something of a new Cobra sub-team into G.I. Joe as an adversary for Night Force: Cobra troops augmented with D.I.R.E. tech, or Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy. The D.I.R.E. tech is a mystical energy that can be used to both induce fear in adversaries and to create tangible constructs and it's a rather cool new concept for the G.I. Joe universe. Today I'm looking at the third figure released in this unofficial sub-team, the Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech). Like all of the D.I.R.E. tech figures released thus far, he's exclusive to Walmart. This guy showed up earlier this summer in rather limited numbers before showing up in September in greater numbers as part of Walmart's fall reset (there's also a new troop, the Cobra D.I.R.E. Hawk who actually started showing up in stores before he was officially announced on October 1st, but as of this writing I haven't procured one yet. Ready to check out the Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech) figure? Does anyone else, upon picking up a Night-Creeper, find themselves singing "Night-Creeper, Night-Creeper" to the tune of the BeeGee's "Night Fever?" All this and more will be discussed after the break... The Facts: Height:6 1/8ths inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed drop down hips, ball jointed waist, balljointed mid-torso, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, ball jointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head. Accessories: Kalis sword, barbed sword, 2 swappable portraits, crossbow, arrow, and 2 daggers. Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars The Positives: * The D.I.R.E. Tech Night-Creeper (who oddly has a hyphen, while no other Night Creepers have had one as to the best of my memory) is what we used to call a Franken-Joe. He's largely a repaint, sure, but he does have some parts borrowed from other figures. Instead of the standard Night Creeper arms, he now has the arms from the reptilian "Once a Man" Cobra Commander, giving him a more supernatural appearance. He's wearing all black, grey, and silver, making him look a bit stealthier than your average Night Creeper. It's a really cool color scheme on its own and the addition of the transparent green arms just makes him look even more unique. * The standard portrait is basic, but in a good way, adhering to the color scheme of the rest of the figure. The Night-Creeper looks like he's wearing a gray balaclava with dark blue goggles, feeling kind of like a variant of Commando Snake Eyes. He's also sporting an interesting helmet with a silver protective dome and a scarf or cowl around his head. It kind of reminds me of Keshikten helmet. * To really transform this guy into a fear-inducing warrior, a second portrait is included. This is a very Cthulhu-like visage with long horns and a tentacle covered mouth. Glowing red eyes, transparent skin, and skull-like features really make this a creepy sculpt. Oddly, this is the same exact portrait that was included with Crystal Ball and it felt like something unique to him. I guess it's kind of a standard option for the D.I.R.E. tech crew, though one of the heads from the Ghost Viper might have been a better choice. Still, if you don't have Crystal Ball or don't care about him being terribly unique, this is a wonderful portrait. * Here's a closer look at the Night-Creeper's translucent arms with scales and the interesting arcane symbol on his shoulder-pads. * This is a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure, so you know the articulation is excellent. This guy has plenty of bladed weapons to play around with and he can take a ton of ninja styled poses. He also can hold his crossbow with both hands, something that just strikes me as incredibly cool. Whether you have him as a sneaky, stealthy operative or a monstrous being wildly flailing around his blades made of necrotic energy, he's a fun figure. * The Night Crawler's curvy Kalis, a Philippine double-edged sword with a curvy blade, has been remolded with a gray handle and a translucent D.I.R.E. tech infused blade. Does it cover the blade or is the blade made of tangible energy? * The Night Creeper's second sword is a pretty nasty weapon and it's also glowing green. It's a long, straight blade with barbs down the side. It kind of reminds me of a something I found, a Kiribati blade called a rere made with shark teeth and other barbs from sea life, but this was probably made up by Hasbro designer back in the day. Do you think the blade hums when the Night Creeper swings it or does he have to provide the sound effects himself? * The excellent crossbow is included here, now in grey. The vintage Night Creeper's crossbow is a gem from the vintage line and this one is pretty nice, too. It's a larger crossbow than most we've seen and it doesn't fall apart as it's all one piece. There are spare arrows stored below it, too, so the Night Creeper can more quickly make multiple shots. The loaded arrow that's currently ready to fire is a separate piece. * Here's a shot of the crossbow from the bottom so you can see the cool foregrip on it. I've also removed the little arrow; don't lose it! * The backpack has two sets of arms to hold both blades and a rack of spare arrows. The loose arrow can pop right on. It's a bit askew, sure, but it's cool that it's an option. * The crossbow can also pop on to the backpack. There are two pegs that attach to it, keeping it on rather securely. * These two small, hooked blades are super nasty and look like something that the Night Creeper could really do some damage with up close. They also have glowing green D.I.R.E. tech infused blades. * Both can be stored in the sheathes on the back of the Night Creeper's belt, keeping them close at hand. I really like this guy. Maybe not as much as the first release, but then again, translucent green blades go a long way towards adding to the coolness factor. While he doesn't have the extra hands of the original release, the extra D.I.R.E. tech Cthulhu portrait is certainly more detailed than the original alternate Night Creeper head. The green reptilian arms are another nice addition that makes this guy more than just a repaint. Honestly, I still think he's a pretty Epic figure. He's fun, has a few display options, is loaded with weapons, and he can carry all of them. That's a heck of a toy if you ask me. If you're a fan, also check out the standard Classified Series Night Creeper. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following: Action Sailor (Recon Diver) Action Soldier (Infantry) Action Soldier (Special Forces) Agent Helix Albert "Alpine" Pine Alley Viper Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey with RAM Cycle Arctic B.A.T. Arctic Mission Storm Shadow Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L. Baroness (Rattler Pilot) Baroness (Retro) Baroness (Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) B.A.T. B.A.T. (Python Patrol) Beach Head & Quick Kick (Night Force) Big Boa Blowtorch Blue Ninjas Bradley "Big Lob" Sanders Brent "Hit & Run" Scott Buzzer Carl "Doc" Greer Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger Christopher "Law" Lavigne & Order Chuckles Clutch with VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle) Cobra Commander Cobra Commander (Once a Man) Cobra Commander (Regal Variant) Cobra Commander with Combat Armor Cobra Desert Scorpion & SKRP10N-25 Cobra Eel Cobra Infantry Cobra-La Pythona Cobra-La Royal Guard Cobra Ninjas Slice & Dice Cobra Officer Cobra Rattler Gunner Cobra Trooper (Special Missions: Cobra Island) Cobra Valkyries Cobra Viper Cobra Viper Officer & Vipers Cobra Viper (Python Patrol) Cobra Viper (Retro) Copperhead Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger (Retro) Craig "Rock 'N Roll" McConnel Crimson Guard Crimson Guard [Female] (Retro) Crimson Strike Team Crimson Viper Croc Master & Fiona Darklon David "Big Ben" Bennett (Night Force) David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Night Force) David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Retro) David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen (Tiger Force) Desert Commando Snake Eyes Destro Destro & Iron Grenadier Despoiler Dial-Tone Dreadnok Monkeywrench Deadnok Ripper Dreadnok Road Pig & Rawkus Dreadnok Torch Dr. Mindbender Duke Duke & RAM Duke (Retro) Dusty Dusty (Tiger Force) Edward "Torpedo" Leialoha Edwin "Lifeline" Steen Firefighter (Search & Rescue) Firefly Firefly (Cobra Island) Flint Flint (Retro) Flint (Tiger Force) Footloose Frag-Viper Franklin "Airborne" Talltree Gabriel "Barbecue" Kelly Gabriel "Barbecue" Kelly (Mad Marauders) General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy Ghost Viper & D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) Beasts Gnawgahyde, Porkbelly, and Yobbo Gung-Ho Gung-Ho (Retro) Heavy Artillery Roadblock Heavy Duty Iron Grenadier Jane "Glenda" Mullighan Jason "Shockwave" Faria Jodie "Shooter" Craig Kamakura Kim "Jinx" Arashikage Kyle "Budo" Jesso Lady Jaye Lady Jaye (Retro) Leatherneck Low-Light Major Bludd Master of Disguise Zartan Metal-Head Mole Rat Mole Rat [Stage 2] Mutt & Junkyard Nemesis Immortal Night Creeper Night-Viper Parth "Wolf Spider" Varma Professor Rottclaw & Cobra Deinonychus Profit Director Destro Python Crimson Guard Python Patrol Officer Quick Kick Rafael "Zap" Melendez (Retro) Ralph "Steeler" Pulaski and Short-Fuze Ramp Rats Range Viper Recondo (Tiger Force) Red Ninja Richard "Crystal Ball" King Rip Cord (Night Force) Roadblock Roadblock (Special Missions: Cobra Island) Robert "Grunt" Graves S.A.W.-Viper (Semi-Automatic Weapon) Scarlett Scarlett (Retro) Scrap-Iron & Anti-Armor Drone Serpentor & Air Chariot Seymour "Sci-Fi" Fine Sgt. Slaughter Sgt. Slaughter & Felix "Mercer" Stratton Sgt. Slaughter (Mad Marauders) Sgt. Stalker Shadow Tracker Shipwreck Snake Eyes Snake Eyes Deluxe Snake Eyes (Retro) Snake Eyes (Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) Snake Eyes (v4) Snake Eyes & Timber: Alpha Commandos Snow Job Snow Serpent Spirit Iron-Knife Steel Corps Troopers Storm Shadow Storm Shadow (v2/ G.I. Joe) Stuart "Outback" Selkirk Stuart "Outback" Selkirk (Tiger Force) Techno-Viper Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble) Tomax Paoli Tripwire, Aspara, & M.A.C.L.E.O.D. Tunnel Rat Tunnel Rat (Night Force) Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone & Quarrel (Night Force) Vypra Wayne "Beach Head" Sneeden Wild Weasel William "Wild Bill" Hardy Xamot Paoli Zandar Zanya & Dreadnok Chameleon (Swamp Skier) Zarana Zartan Zartan (Ninja Force) Zartan (Retro) http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_01414318297.html #toyterror #classifiedseries #tech #hasbro #days #night #cobra #joe #ball #swivel #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Perfect Pairs from Peanuts by Just Play It just isn't Halloween without a visit from the Peanuts gang, is it? The first Halloween strip for Peanuts ran on October 31st, 1956 and they've ever since been key ambassadors of Halloween nostalgia. Five Below has had quite a few Peanuts themed Halloween items over the past few years and this year they have this little set from Just Play called Perfect Pairs. Who is the titular Perfect Pair? Why Charlie Brown and Snoopy, of course! They're both decked out for trick or treating with costumes, candy pails, and even some treats. Snoopy showed up earlier this month but I don't think there's anything wrong with giving him some more attention. Ready to check these two out? Then join me after the break... The Facts: Snoopy Height: 2 inches Articulation: None Accessories: None The Facts: Charlie Brown Height: 2 3/4ths inches Articulation: None Accessories: None Non Scalper Price: $5 dollars The Positives: * First of all, yes, you get both figures for $5 dollars. That's a pretty nice deal as they're decent sized minifigures and fully painted. The poses are really fun, too, with Charlie Brown waving happily and Snoopy eying a treat he just received. They're super cute. * I love Snoopy's skeleton costume. I have figures of Snoopy dressed as a lumberjack, Frankenstein, a World War I flying ace, a pumpkin, and wearing a Halloween mask, but I don't have a skele-Snoopy. Now I do! The print on the bones is really sharp and I love that they look like they're a glowing green, kind of like Scare Glow. * No matter which side of Snoopy's face you look at he'll still have this cute expression. He's really eyeing that treat, isn't he? Let's just hope it isn't coconut. * Check out the classic jack o' lantern pail! It's nicely done, especially considering how small it is. * You know what's visible from the back? Snoopy's cute little tail! There's a hole cut in the back of his costume for it. * Here's Charlie Brown, dressed like the Frankenstein Monster. It's a very simple costume, but it's fitting for a simple Halloween costume. This is something largely homemade with just a Frankenstein hat purchased from the local five-and-dime. The Charlie Franken-Brown from a few years back was a bit more sophisticated, but I like this one too. * That Frankenstein hat is really neat and I'd kind of like to have one like it. It's cartoonish and fun, looking like it's made from a plush material. Definitely something you'd expect from a younger elementary school aged child. * Rather than a pail, like Snoopy has, Chuck has a blue bag that says "Trick or Treat" and that has some candy flowing out of the top. Hopefully it's candy instead of rocks. * There's so much candy that Charlie Brown has dropped a piece and it's laying by his shoe. What could it be? If he's lucky, it's a Lindor Truffle, hopefully caramel or pumpkin spice or something. If he's not lucky, it's a a 36 year old peanut butter kiss that will absolutely yank out a crown or filling. $5 bucks for these two little guys? These are some quality minifigures! They're nice designs and they're fully painted. What more could you ask for? I really like both of them. Charlie Brown himself might be the technically more impressive figure but Snoopy gets my vote as the winner just because he's Snoopy. Skele-Snoop, in fact. These are really cute and far more affordable than many other Peanuts collectibles out there (Hallmark has some great stuff but they get really pricey!). I always associate Peanuts with Halloween and Christmas even though the decades worth of comic strips and cartoons cover every day of the year. This is an Epic set and definitely worth making a trip to Five Below for. Looking for more of Snoopy? I've also reviewed the Funko POP! Snoopy #330, Forever Fun's Snoopy's Doghouse Display, Just Play's Pumpkin Snoopy (Black & White), a Peanuts Halloween Sound Clock, and the Franken-Snoopy dog toy by G. Mason Group. Looking for more of Charlie Brown? I've also looked at a Peanuts Halloween Clock with Charlie Brown on it, the Just Play Charlie Franken-Brown, and the Funko POP! Ghost Charlie Brown #333. Looking for more of the Frankenstein Monster? Then check out Castle Frankenstein for all my reviews of the famous monster (or folks dressed like him!). For more Peanuts figures from Just Play check out the following: Charlie Franken-Brown Pumpkin Snoopy (Black & White) http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_0140469448.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Sylvester #1675 from POP! Animation: Looney Tunes by Funko "Sufferin' succotash!" Halloween is getting nearer and nothing goes together better than jack o' lanterns and black cats. So how about one for today's spooky review? Well, at least we've got a jack o' lantern and a tuxedo cat. Yes, today we're taking a look at Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. and a fantastic Halloween jack o' lantern that he's been using as a hiding place. Perhaps he was curled up in here waiting for Tweety? Sylvester is from a Halloween series of Looney Tunes from the Funko POP! Animation line and he's just such a fun toy that I had to pick him up. He's from 2024 (and was released alongside of a ghostly version of Bugs Bunny, a mummy Marvin the Martian, and a witch version of Tweety) but I actually found him at regular retail this year despite being listed as "vaulted" on Funko's website. Looney Tunes has had a great year in 2026 with the popularity of Coyote Vs. Acme and while Sylvester only had a small cameo, it was still nice to see this classic brand have an incredibly fun and well receive film. Of course, I bought this guy because he's coming out of a pumpkin. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. Let's check out Sylvester after the break... The Facts: Height: 5 inches (to the top of the stem) Articulation: Swivel head. Accessories: None Year of Release: 2024 Original Retail Price: $11 to $16 dollars The Positives: * If you're someone who hates Funko POP! vinyls, sees them as the decline of Western civilization, and berates anyone who buys them, you might want to skip this review. I'm not a fan of every POP! as some of them are quite boring, but some, like Sylvester here, are pretty interesting. I love that the jack o' lantern is the base of the figure and how Sylvester is clearly larger than the interior of the pumpkin. It's a fantastic cartoon aesthetic! He has a swivel head, so you can pose him a bit. * This is such a fun Sylvester portrait. It's interesting that they went with white eyes, though it does ensure that his eyes are visible against his black fur and it makes him look a bit more frightening. Sylvester looks kind of fierce here, doesn't he? I wouldn't usually think of him as fierce but, dang, he does look rather intense. The proportions are quite nice and exaggerated, making him look just a bit unhinged. If this puddy tat popped up, you can kind of understand why Tweety might be afraid of him. * The jack o' lantern looks great. I love the classic face that's quite friendly and simple. It's basic and classic, reminding me of the trick or treat pails that everyone had as a kid until they graduated to pillow cases. * Here's a shot from the back to show off the effect of Sylvester popping out of the top of the pumpkin. I really like how he still has the lid of the pumpkin stuck on his head, kind of like you're seeing him just as he has popped out. * Sylvester's sharp claws really add a lot to his look. I love how they're visible here rather than just being standard rounded fingers. This guy is just a really fun Funko POP! vinyl. The design of the full figure is really well done, the orange of the jack o' lantern adds some welcome color to Sylvester, and the entire sculpt has a lot of personality. I love that Funko seems to have more freedom to do weird stuff like this than a lot of other companies can. This is one of the few POP! vinyl figures I've purchased this year but it's unusual and fun concepts like this from them that grab my attention. I'm giving Sylvester a Great. He's a super fun toy and a delightful, colorful little piece for your Halloween collection. That's all, folks! This is the first toy of Sylvester that I've reviewed on the site. For more POP! Animation reviews check out the following: She-Ra & Kowl #1800 from She-Ra: Princess of Power http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_0728110003.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Tauraton from Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull by Mattel So today's review might not fit this year's theme perfectly but I've really been wanting to review Tauraton and I usually have at least one Masters of the Universe toy on the countdown. If you don't keep up to the minute with Masters of the Universe, you might be wondering who this guy is. Fret not; he's actually a new character that's part of the Power of Grayskull subset being sold exclusively through Mattel Creations. Tauraton was created by Axel Gimenez and Roy Juarez for the packaging of the Mattel Creations exclusive He-Ro and then was developed into a figure this year. He's a mighty minotaur inspired by Greek myth and Ray Harryhausen's "The Minoton" from "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger." It's a cool design for a MOTU villain, especially one from the Preternian era (many years before the time of He-Man/ Prince Adam). For so many of us, our first experiences with the horror genre and horror toys were through toylines with creepy characters, so it's fun to check out one that feels like it could have existed during my childhood. I know I owned the old The Real Ghostbusters: Monsters long before I ever saw any of the classic Universal Studios horror films and I'm sure many others had similar experiences. Ready to check out a classic monster reimagined for MOTU? Then join me after the break... The Facts: Height: 7and 7/8ths inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, swivel/hinge knees, balljointed hips, swivel waist, swivel/hinge shoulders (x4), swivel/hinge elbows, (x4) swivel/hinge wrists (x4), a barbell jointed neck, and a ball jointed head. Accessories: Battering ram, belt, chest armor, 4 wrist cuffs, and minicomic. Non-Scalper Price: $33 dollars The Packaging: * The Powers of Grayskull subset of Masters of the Universe Origins has some incredible packaging nicely inspired by the vintage concepts for the Powers of Grayskull expansion. The rear of the package, shown here, has some incredible artwork. You've got Tauraton battling Vikor and Wilda. There's also a green dragon warrior, similar to Draego-Man, swooping down to join the fray. The Positives: * Tauraton is a really cool looking character that has a very classic MOTU look and color scheme. His red, black, and gold is very basic in a way but it also stands out, making him feel rather unique. Still, he is a muscly animal-guy with a gimmick (four arms), so he fits in aesthetically with the early years of MOTU and the concept artwork for the vintage line. He has a lot of removable armored pits including his harness, his belt, and the armored wrist cuffs. The gold plastic looks pretty good here, fitting the MOTU Origins vibe of brighter colors. It's gold, not yellow, and it does have a bit of a shine to it. His body isn't furry at all except for on his hooves, which almost gives him the weird look of some sort of automaton version of a minotaur. * Tauraton is a big dude. Not only is he tall, he's wife as well. I had the MOTU movie inspired Origins Moss Man close at hand and you can see that Tauraton makes him look like a small fellow. There's a lot of plastic here! * Tauraton has a really weird headsculpt that could be taken as either a Destro styled mask or a primitive robotic take on a minotaur. All of those classic elements of the minotaur are here such as some dangerous looking horns, red eyes, and a loop through the nose, but the aesthetic of technology that feels both primitive and futuristic at the same time is present here, too. That's something that really feels reminiscent of the early years of the vintage MOTU line * Here's a closer look at the hooves I mentioned earlier along with the armored shin guards. Check out those spikes! * And here's a closeup of all of the removable armor. I love the belt with the metal studs and the chain across the front. The bracers are quite nice as well as you get two styles on Tauraton's arms and they're removable. * Of course, you also get two massive, articulated arms on each side of the figure. With four arms this bull can really deliver some damage. I know he's built quite differently but seeing this guy's built really makes me want an updated figure of Sagitar! * The articulation is pretty similar to nearly every other MOTU Origins figure except for the addition of two extra arms and both a neck and head joint. An abdomen hinge would have been really neat as you could easily put Tauraton in a charging position. Still, he's a solid, sturdy figure. It's a shame that an action figure as toyetic as this isn't on toy shelves to interest kids. He's much cooler than any Skibidi Toilet or Labubu. * What does Tauraton need? How about a battering ram? Mess with this bull and you get the horns. Ram horns, that is. This is a wicked looking accessory that feels like adding spikes onto the front of a tank. It's not really needed but it's just a cherry on top of a sundae of destruction! This is a really cool accessory and is definitely quite unique. * Like with most MOTU Origins release, a minicomic is included. It's a fun, simple little comic with great art and plenty of characters including Tauraton, the Great Black Wizard, Eldor, He-Ro, Sharella, and Moss Man. Tauraton is a Great and a 1/2 figure and a cool addition to the Powers of Grayskull subset of Masters of the Universe Origins. Sure, I'd love if all of the MOTU releases were in the same scale and style (MOTUC forever!) but I'm still thrilled to see new characters in the line. Tauraton adds another bruiser to the enemies and another much needed non-Snake Man villain for He-Ro and company to fight. He definitely feels like a character that would have appeared in vintage concept art and I love that he's just a real beast of a figure with a cool accessories. A sword, shield, or axe would have been nice, or perhaps a way to pose him charging like a pull (an ab hinge) but I'm still pretty thrilled with this guy. This is the first figure of Tauraton that I've reviewed on the site. For more Masters of the Universe Origins figures check out the following: 40th Anniversary 4-Pack Anti-Eternia He-Man Battle Armor He-Man Battle Armor Skeletor Battle Cat Battlefield Warriors Beast Man Beast Man (Lords of Power) Blast-Attak Bolt-Man Buzz-Off "Buzz Saw" Hordak Camo Khan Castle Grayskull Clamp Champ Clawful Digitino Dragon Blaster Skeletor Eternian Goddess The Evil Horde Evil-Lyn Evil-Lyn (200x) Faker Fang-Or Fisto Flying Fists He-Man Fright Pit Frog Monger He-Man He-Man (200x) He-Man and Prince Adam 2-Pack Hordak Horde Trooper Hypno Jitsu King Grayskull King Hiss King Randor (200x) Kol-Darr Lady Slither Land Shark Leech Lords of Power Man-At-Arms Man-E-Faces Maniacal Mimics Mantenna Mekaneck & Ground Ripper Mer-Man Mer-Man (Lords of Power) Mosquitor Moss Man Multi-Bot Mysteries of Grayskull Ninjor Orko Panthor Panthor (Flocked) Pig-Head Prince Adam & Sky Sled Ram Man Rattlor Rise of Evil Roboto Roboto (Minicomic) Rokkon Roton Scare Glow She-Ra She-Ra (PowerCon Exclusive) Skeleton Warriors Skeletor Skeletor (200x) Slamurai Snake Face Snake Trooper Snout Spout Sorceress Spikor Stinkor Stratos Stratos (Minicomic) Stridor Sy-Klone Sun-Man Sun-Man (Mattel Creations) Teela Teela & Zoar Terror Claws Skeletor Trap Jaw Tri-Klops Tri-Klops ("The Terror of Tri-Klops!") Tung Lashor Webstor Whiplash Wind Raider Wun-Dar Zodac He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection (200X) Moss Man Tri-Klops The Powers of Grayskull Gray Great Black Wizard Sketchbook Series Man-E-Faces http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_01324460606.html #toyterror #universeorigins #masters #mattelcreations #grayskull #tauraton #powers #days #treat #motu #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Bride of Frankenstein Glow-In-The-Dark Character Spoon from Universal Monsters by Sonic/ C3 It wasn't until the first week of October that I realized that Sonic is running a Universal Monsters October promotion in their Wacky Pack kids meals. A quick trip to sonic and one milkshake later, I was the proud owner of the full set of all seven toys from the series. Five of the the prizes are more traditional toys while two are spoons. I've previously reviewed items from Sonic's He-Man and She-Ra promotions from a few years back and those included some spoons and straw caddies as well, which I guess is fitting for a place that sells various ice cream shakes, sundaes, and other sweet beverages. The Bride of Frankenstein is represented here as a glow in the dark spoon. It's not the most exciting prize on its own but, at the same time, it's pretty thrilling to pull in to a Sonic drive-in and get a glow in the dark spoon based on a film that's 91 years old. Burger King and Jack in the Box are famous for having Universal Monsters themed kids meals in the past (I've reviewed of them on this site) but now Sonic is stepping in. Ready to dig in with the Bride of Frankenstein? Then join me after the break... The Facts: Length: 5 and a 1/2 inches Material: Plastic Non-Scalper Price: $1-$2 dollars or included with Wacky Pack meal purchase The Packaging: * The prizes in this series come packaged in individualized foil bags with some really cute art. We've seen this style of art for the classic Universal Monsters before but it's still neat to see it used here. It's not a bad choice for kids' meal toys as many kids will likely be unfamiliar with the films and characters, so these are much more kid friendly and appealing. The Positives: * Sonic has a variety of sundaes and Sonic Blasts, Sonic's version of the Blizzard, concrete, or McFlurry, so including a special spoon for eating your treat isn't a bad move. It's a fairly sturdy plastic spoon with a fairly blunt tip and a reasonably sized bowl. The handle and neck of the spoon look like the Bride with her dress twisting into the shape of the bowl itself. * I'll admit that it's tough to see the design of the spoon in pictures because of the color of the glow-in-the-dark plastic. It's a solid take on the Bride, however, and her classic hair makes up a large part of the handle of the spoon. The face is cute and she's winking, which makes this just a bit more fun. * Like the name implies, the spoon does glow in the dark! The Negatives: * It's not a crazy strong glow, though. It's cute but it's not going to really standout too much on a shelf or while you're sitting there, eating your Banana Pudding Sonic Blast in the dark. How's this spoon? It's good. It's cute and a fun little extra. It's definitely not the most exciting of the prizes from this assortment but if you're a fan of the Bride of Frankenstein this will likely be an unusual piece in your collection. I wish the glow were a bit brighter, or that it was just a plane spoon with more visible colors, but for less than $2 dollars I'm not complaining too much. I got these during the first week of October but by that point I was already pretty much finished with my scheduled reviews for the countdown, but expect to see a few more of these during the week of Re-Halloween. It's a Good little treat and the fact that my local Sonic charged me $8 something to buy all seven was pretty reasonable. For more of the Bride of Frankenstein check out my reviews of the Funko ReAction figure of The Bride of Frankenstein, the Toony Terrors The Bride of Frankenstein, NECA's April O'Neil as the Bride of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (Glow-in-the-Dark), the Bride of Frankenstein from Tiny Nightmares, the Funko POP! Bride of Frankenstein #1631, The Hot Wheels "The Bride of Frankenstein" '40 Ford, and the Mystery Minis Bride of Frankenstein. http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_01257610581.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Action Figure Review: Moss Man & Ram Man from Masters of the Universe Origins: Masters of the Universe (2026) by Mattel While Masters of the Universe has been out of theaters for sometime now and wasn't a hit, it's apparently been quite successful on Amazon Prime and the physical media versions (Blu-Ray, DVD, and 4K Blu-Ray) just came out last week and seem to be strong sellers. I really liked the movie and I'm still holding out hope that the numbers for streaming and toy sales are strong enough that Amazon wants to visit Eternia again. There was a fairly strong toy presence at retail but one issue that I think is worth talking about was the number of different scales and styles of figures available. These days it seems like most toylines for major media try to release a smaller number of characters in multiple scales and styles (so hitting multiple price points) rather than having one standard line with a wide selection of characters. The mainline figures seemed to have a decent number of releases and went fairly deep (with more figures apparently coming, though likely as Amazon exclusives) while Chronicles and the Movie-based Origins lines were a bit more limited. I like Origins for some things but I'm not sure they made a ton of sense for the new movie. Still, when I found out there was a Moss Man for the movie Origins line (who, to the best of my knowledge, is the only movie Moss Man yet released) I had to jump in. You all know that Moss Man is my dude and while I was maybe a 7/10 on his portrayal in the film with such limited screen time, I was absolutely devastated that he died so quickly. What? Why? Still, a Moss Man is a Moss Man and he can join my flock of Moss Men in my collection. I'm also a pretty big Ram Man fan as well, so I wasn't upset about getting him as the other figure in this two-pack which I believe is exclusive to Target. Ready to check out two of Eternia's most powerful warriors? Then join me after the break... The Facts: Moss Man Height: 6 inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, swivel/hinge knees, balljointed hips, swivel waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head. Accessories: Club and loincloth. The Facts: Ram Man Height: 5 3/8ths inches Articulation: Swivel/hinge knees, "springy" legs, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, and a ball jointed head. Accessories: Axe Non-Scalper Price: $45 dollars The Positives: * I really like the look of the figure so, even if I'm not thrilled that the movie killed off my guy so quickly, I still do like his appearance. Moss Man has two ways he can be portrayed: He's either a more beastly, sasquatch like guy with green fur or he's something more akin to a nature deity; wise, ancient, and kind of like the Green Man in folklore. The movie went with more of the green sasquatch inspired vibe which I do think fits the 1980s portrayals of the character better. He's not just green, though, he is flocked and has multiple shades of green and yellow on him, giving him a more impressive appearance. That's quite welcome, especially when MOTU Origins is kind of known for it's simplicity. The loincloth is a separate piece that sits over the waist (remember these guys are modular and come apart easily) and features various sculpted details like vines and chain along with painted bones or teeth hanging down. * The portrait is pretty good here. It's not a perfect match for the film but it's in the ballpark for sure, especially considering the MOTU Origins figures rely on a more vintage style and design aesthetic. I really do like this portrait. If the vintage Moss Man had been able to receive his own unique headsculpt rather than just receiving a repainted Beast Man portrait, this feels like what might have been. A lot of the vintage art of Moss Man really did lean into the green sasquatch look and that's kind of what we have here. There are definitely some nice paint applications here, keeping everything from looking too flat. * Is Moss Man flocked? Yes, he is! He isn't flocked everywhere but he does have a nice spread of flocking across his shoulders and chest and it actually looks pretty good. While not every Moss Man has been flocked, it's definitely something that most people think about when the character is brought up, so I'm glad it's present here. It's actually a nice balance between flocking, paint, and sculpting. * Moss Man is built like nearly every other MOTU Origins figure that's come out. That means he has some fairly decent articulation on a body with the proportions of the vintage line. He can move alright, though his hips are a bit stuff, and you can definitely pose him more than the vintage toys. He's also fully modular, so you can mix him together with other figures from any of the Origins lines, the WWE lines, or the Thundercats, Transformers, and TMNT crossover lines. * I don't think Moss Man carried any weapon in the movie but fortunately Mattel still gave this figure an accessory. It's the same club that the Origins Moss Man came with but now molded in a dark grey plastic with somewhat of a metallic look to it. * Let's talk about Ram Man! I thought Ram Man was also quite cool in the movie and I liked how the film portrayed his power and physicality. The MOTU Origins movie Ram Man does seem to utilize the arms and legs from the standard Origins Ram Man but the torso, hands, and head are unqiue for this figure. The MOTU movie really did a great job with the costumes and there is absolutely no doubt as to who you're looking at here; it's definitely Ram Man! His tunic looks like it's made from an armored material with many tiny rivets while his chest and shoulder armor has an interesting design that looks like metal with a patina. Remember: In the movie the heroes were on the run and in hiding, so it's probably been some time since Ram Man was really able to care for his gear as ideally as he should. * Ram Man's face is peaking out from his helmet and, given the style of MOTU Origins, it's a pretty decent likeness to actor Jon Xue Zhang. The head is a separate piece from the helmet although it isn't removable. * This Ram Man operates like the Origins Ram Man which also retained a version of his vintage action feature. It's a little different from the 1983 toy but I kind of think this one makes a bit more sense. When you push down on his legs, they go up into his body and lock into place. Push down on them again and they unlock, allowing him to spring upwards! It's kind of fun. Not overly impressive or anything but it does work about as well as the vintage toy and it feels like he has a nice, strong spring to him. He's fun to fool around with while knocking over figures over. * Ram Man doesn't seem to use an axe in the film, either, but he comes with one reused from MOTU Origins that nicely mimics his vintage accessory. * Ram Man is sturdy and well built and he has more articulation than the vintage figure. The Negatives: * Unfortunately, that's about it. His head barely moves and while the boot swivels are nice to have, the swivel/hinge knees are essentially worthless. Bummer. It feels like he could have had a bit more motion and still have retained his action feature but that's not the care here. I'm a fan of both characters here and these are... OK versions of them. They're fun and decent MOTU Origins figures but they're both a bit barebones, aren't they? You're paying a little over $20 for each of these ($45 for the set) and they're missing some of the cool stuff that the pricier MOTU Origins figures usually come with like a couple extras or a minicomic. They're just a bit light for the price. They're still solid and probably a Good and a 1/2 set, but unless you really want vintage styled figures of characters from the movie or you just really like these two, why go with the Origins line over the standard movie figures or the Chronicles? Moss Man (real name Kreann'Ot N'Norosh) is one of my favorite characters out there and along with the vintage Moss Man I've also reviewed the 200x Moss Man, the Masterverse Revelation Moss Man and the New Eternia Moss Man, the MOTU Origins Moss Man and Cartoon Collection (200x) Moss Man, the M.U.S.C.L.E. Moss Man, a stick of Eternia Pine Deodorant, the MOTUC Moss Man, the Dorbz Moss Man and Beast Man 2-pack, the POP! Moss Man #568, the POP! + Pez Moss Man dispenser, the Vinyl SODA Moss Man, the Pint Size Heroes Moss Man, the Monogram International Moss Man bag clip, the Masters of the Universe Minis Battle Armor Skeletor and Moss Man 2-pack, and the Mega Construx flocked Moss Man that came with the Battle Bones set and the standard Moss Man. If you're a fan of Ram Man/ Krass, I've also reviewed the 200x Ram Man, the Origins Ram Man, the Masterverse: New Eternia Ram Man, the MOTU Chronicles Ram Man and Fisto set, the Netflix Ram Ma'am (a Rule 63 Ram Man), the M.U.S.C.L.E. green Ram Man and traditional pink Ram Man, the ReAction standard Ram Man and Ram Man (Mini Comic), the Loyal Subjects Ram Man, the Eternia minis Ram Man, the Hot Wheels Ram Man emblazoned '41 Willys Coupe 2002 #91, the Turtles of Grayskull Ram Man, and the MOTUC Ram Man. For more Masters of the Universe Origins reviews check out the following: 40th Anniversary 4-Pack Anti-Eternia He-Man Battle Armor He-Man Battle Armor Skeletor Battle Cat Battlefield Warriors Beast Man Beast Man (Lords of Power) Blast-Attak Bolt-Man Buzz-Off "Buzz Saw" Hordak Camo Khan Castle Grayskull Clamp Champ Clawful Digitino Dragon Blaster Skeletor Eternian Goddess The Evil Horde Evil-Lyn Evil-Lyn (200x) Faker Fang-Or Fisto Flying Fists He-Man Fright Pit Frog Monger He-Man He-Man (200x) He-Man and Prince Adam 2-Pack Hordak Horde Trooper Hypno Jitsu King Grayskull King Hiss King Randor (200x) Kol-Darr Lady Slither Land Shark Leech Lords of Power Man-At-Arms Man-E-Faces Maniacal Mimics Mantenna Mekaneck & Ground Ripper Mer-Man Mer-Man (Lords of Power) Mosquitor Moss Man Multi-Bot Mysteries of Grayskull Ninjor Orko Panthor Panthor (Flocked) Pig-Head Prince Adam & Sky Sled Ram Man Rattlor Rise of Evil Roboto Roboto (Minicomic) Rokkon Roton Scare Glow She-Ra She-Ra (PowerCon Exclusive) Skeleton Warriors Skeletor Skeletor (200x) Slamurai Snake Face Snake Trooper Snout Spout Sorceress Spikor Stinkor Stratos Stratos (Minicomic) Stridor Sy-Klone Sun-Man Sun-Man (Mattel Creations) Teela Teela & Zoar Terror Claws Skeletor Trap Jaw Tri-Klops Tri-Klops ("The Terror of Tri-Klops!") Tung Lashor Webstor Whiplash Wind Raider Wun-Dar Zodac He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection (200X) Moss Man Tri-Klops The Powers of Grayskull Gray Great Black Wizard Sketchbook Series Man-E-Faces http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/action-figure-review-moss-man-ram-man.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Starscream Armor Scare Glow from Masters of the Universe x Transformers by Mattel Today I'm checking out a figure that might not exactly fit this year's theme but I'm still going to go with it. When you have your own action figure blog, you can do stuff like this, too. Besides, I've reviewed Scare Glow action figures during 31 Days of Toy Terror a few times in the past, so let's just call it tradition at this point. Yes, today I'm checking out the Masters of the Universe x Transformers crossover version of Starscream Armor Scare Glow. If you've kept up with my reviews over the years you've probably realized that out of all of the big 1980s properties, I've never reviewed much when it comes to Transformers. I reviewed two of the Transformers BotBots a few years back and that's it. I'm just not that big of a Transformers fan. When it came to Mattel putting out a MOTU/ Transformers crossover, I was wondering if we'd get MOTU vehicles that transformed but, no, we got a couple characters wearing Transformer armor. He-Man is dressed like Optimus Prime, Man-At-Arms is dressed like Bumblebee, Skeletor is dressed like Megatron, and Scare Glow is dressed like Starscream. I skipped the others but I was interested in Scare Glow. Surprisingly, the first time I found this guy he was on clearance. That's wild, right? He was originally $30 dollars at Target and is now $33, and Mattel Creations had him for $30 at one point, too, but I only paid $8 to $12 bucks. That sealed the deal for me and now you can reap the benefits. Let's check out the spooky skeleton, Scare Glow, dressed up like a Transformer for trick 'r treating. Knock on the door and ask join me after the break... The Facts: Height: 5 3/4ths inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, swivel/hinge knees, balljointed hips, swivel waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head. Accessories: 2 wing blasters, cape, crown, 2 pauldrons, and minicomic. Non-Scalper Price: $30 to $33 dollars The Positives: * This isn't just Scare Glow or Starscream: It's Scare Glow wearing Starscream armor. What's that mean? I'm not completely sure. I think the idea is that Skeletor somehow finds armor imbued with the memories of Megatron, so He-Man has to use armor imbued with the thoughts of Optimus Prime. Somewhere along the way Scare Glow gets Starscream inspired armor. That's what this figure is: Scare Glow cosplaying as Starscream. There's clearly a buff skeleton under here, just like Scare Glow's usual look, but he's sporting the Generation 1 Starscream jet look as armor. It's honestly a bit like a variation of Bludgeon. There's a lot of color with purple pauldrons that tie in with the Scare Glow cape design. It clearly uses a lot of unique parts, so that's a pretty cool feature for folks who mix and match their Origins figures. * The head looks like a mechanical Scare Glow wearing Starscream's helmet. The glowing red eyes and skeletal teeth are pretty cool, definitely giving this guy just enough creep factor for our purposes here at 31 Days of Toy Terror. * There's a lot of very geometric looking armor here, so it's clear that Mattel put some effort into these. It's a pretty small line (just four figures, I think) but the designs are nice. I love the pauldrons, too. They're extra pieces that fit over the shoulders, so you can remove them if you choose. * Scare Glow's legs have the typical "painted bones over black negative space" effect though they're more ivory here. He's also wearing some incredible boots. He's upgraded from furry purple boots with purple leather wrappings, hasn't he? It's the future, baby. Technology. They're cloning sheep now. * Scare Glow betrays Skeletor in the minicomic and shows up wearing this awesome crown inspired by the crown of Cybertron. It fits on Starscream's head and looks pretty nice up there. Definitely a very regal look. * The cape is a piece that's easily removable and adds a bit more Scare Glow to the design. There are two plugs on the cape that correspond with two holes on the rear torso, making this easy to pop on and off. * If you're at all familiar with Masters of the Universe Origins or any of the crossover lines, you have a pretty good idea about what to expect. No, he doesn't transform. He does have a number of joints, though. The range of motion is decent, though not wild, given the somewhat beefy, vintage inspired proportions of the line. Still, it's a solid figure for play and being able to swap most body parts with other figures is a clever gimmick that Mattel has kept in place throughout the line. * Included are two "wing blasters" that can be removed to form two ax-like weapons. Or place them together for a longer weapon. They each get a paint application on the wing/ blade and a stamp of the Decepticons logo. * They can also fit onto the sides of Scare Glow's biceps or on his back, giving you a few ways to display the figure. * The minicomic is pretty standard fare for MOTU Origins and similar sub-lines. It's short with solid art and it's just a neat, nostalgic way to show off the characters. I'm always down for these being included. The Negatives: * You can see the little scuff on Scare Glow's shoulder. I'm complaining about that specifically; it's that there are lots of little scuffs and paint marks all over the figure. There's a good bit of slop here, which is never a good thing. * What does Scare Glow (almost) always do? Glow in the dark. This figure is supposed to as well but even after leaving him under a bright light for awhile, when I cut the lights and went to take a picture I got nothing. That's a ...now pardon my language, but that's a real bummer. Starscream Armor Scare Glow isn't a bad figure at all, in fact I'd say he's a Good and a 1/2 figure, but it's weird that Mattel and Hasbro didn't consider making MOTU themed Transformers instead of Transformers themed MOTU figures. I'm not much of a Transformers fan, so this is one of the few MOTU themed products I'm not wild about, but having a transforming Wind Raider or Battle Ram, or even Battle Cat and Panthor, seems like a better fit than this guy. He is a cool figure, though but it's a shame that little things like the scuff marks in various places and the lack of a solid glow bring things down. This is the first figure of Starscream that I've reviewed on the site. If you're looking for more of Scare Glow / Scareglow/ Karak Nul fan, check out my review of the MOTUC Scareglow, the MOTU Chronicles Scare Glow, the Masterverse Scare Glow and Scare Glow (exclusive), the MOTU origins Scare Glow, the Mega Construx Heroes Scare Glow and standard Scare Glow, the Funko POP! Scare Glow pencil, the POP! Rides Scare Mare & Scare Glow #999, the Mondo Scare Glow and Scare Glow (Classic Variant), the Vinyl SODA Scare Glow, and the ReAction Scare Glow and Scare Glow (Clear). http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_0322665047.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Ambassador of R'lyeh from Operation: Monster Force by Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction 2026 has been an awesome year for Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's Operation: Monster Force and its companion line, The Order of the Crimson Moon, and while I'm going to be reviewing a bunch of these guys during the last quarter of 2026, I wanted to give this Cthulhu inspired figure a spot on Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror. Who is the Ambassador R'lyeh? He's a Cthulhu-like representative of the sunken city of R'lyeh, the mythical resting place of the great Cthulhu himself. The ambassador is now part of the Forgotten King's army, bringing the eldritch menace of the elder gods into the world of Operation: Monster Force. This guy is a stellar release from Season 3, part 1 of this series and was my most anticipated figure from this set. I actually preordered the full set of six figures so I received the bonus head pack, but I'll look at that separately at some point. For now, let's basque in the cosmic horror of the Ambassador of R'lyeh... The Facts: Height: 6 3/8ths inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, thigh swivels, balljointed drop-down hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid-torso, lateral pectoral hinges, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, forearm swivels, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, hinged neck, and a balljointed head. Accessories: Three swappable portraits, 2 tentacle hands, 8 standard hands, 2 spell effects, 1 closed spellbook, 1 open spell book with removable tentacle, and display base. Non-Scalper Price: $38-$40 dollars The Positives: * I absolutely love the look of the Ambassador of R'lyeh! Like so many of the Operation: Monster Force villains, he's clad in an outfit that definitely looks to have a fascist, authoritarian aesthetic to it. Does a denizen of R'lyeh actually wear clothing if he's built like the classic Cthulhu? Perhaps he's been given these clothes by the Forgotten King's forces, allowing him to better blend in. The outfit/ base body is shared with Major Noir from The Order of the Crimson Moon, but the green, black, and silver paintwork stands out more here and fits the Ambassador's vibe well. The paintwork is also really clean and sharp. BBWS and FMF have really tightened up these figures and they keep getting better and better. * This is an incredible portrait. How creepy is the Ambassador? He's definitely very Cthulhu inspired with his most-looking green head, those big, bulbous yellow eyes, and the squid-like tentacles draping down over his mouth. I presume that there are more spawn of Cthulhu roaming around the city of R'lyeh, helping to carry out their dark master's wishes while they await his awakening. The wash on this is so good and really brings out the detail, making every little segment of the tentacles and crevice in the head stand out. * Two alternate portraits are included, one of which looks to be a masked human. We've seen this hooded portrait before in both The Order of the Crimson Moon and the Soldiers of Fortune lines, though this time the hood has been painted black and green. Could this guy be a cultist of Cthulhu who follows the Ambassador? Or perhaps the Ambassador can disguise himself, allowing him to walk among other villains without driving them mad. * The third portrait is pretty wild, showing the hooded head turning into a Cthulhu-like being. Is this the Ambassador of R'lyeh revealing his true form or is one of the cultists being transformed? I love how the mask looks like it's dissolving while the eyes are now yellow with the squid-like tentacles spilling out from below the hood. It's an excellent portrait and may rival the basic headsculpt just because of how creepy it looks. * The tentacled hands are really weird and creepy, so they're perfectly fitting for this figure. There's a blend of colors here, really adding to the look of those long, slimy fingers. * Here's a shot from the back to check out the paintwork. One thing that Big bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction absolutely do not scrimp on are paint applications. There's even a drybrush effect covering the Ambassador's coat, making it appear like it's rather soiled and mildewed. It's a great effect for the clothing from a creature from a sunken city. * The Ambassador of R'lyeh (and so far all of the Season 3 figures I've messed around with) feel really nice and well made. Articulation-wise you're getting a figure that has the same joints as, say, a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure or some of the newer Action Force figures, but the plastic feels firmer. Most join movement is nice and smooth, too. You can feel the improvement in the feel of the figures in this line. Sure, there is leg restriction due to the Ambassador's long coat, but the bottom of the coat is made from a very pliable and rubbery material, so most poses aren't really hindered. The style is worth the sacrifice in my book. * A set of standard hands is also included in case you want to have the Ambassador disguised or you want this guy to just be a Cthulhu cultist. There's a set of standard grips, a set of pistol grips, a set of gesturing or grappling hands, and a set of fists. They swap easily and really give you a nice variety when posing or displaying this guy. * We saw these magical effects with the Forgotten King but they've been recolored and included with the Ambassador of R'lyeh to give him some extra powers. Just pop off his hands and place on these magical effects. They fit over his wrists (just at the edges of his sleeves) and look quite nice. They look very clear here but they actually have a purplish color to them. They look pretty solid and are a nice inclusion. * Operation: Monster Force is filled with various spooky tomes. This book has some great design work on the covers and even some paint applications. The pages also get a paint hit, making them look like they're aged and ancient. * A second open book is included. First of all, the level of print detail on visible pages is crazy. It's such an intricate and clean print! Second, the tentacle coming through a portal on the page is amazing and really makes this one of my favorite accessories of this year. The tentacle can rotate and it's removable. It's also fully detailed with painted suckers on it. How cool is this? This is some quality work for sure. * Each figure in the Operation: Monster Force line comes with a really well designed gravestone with two foot pegs and their name on the front. I love the personalization on these. * One thing that sets the Operation: Monster Force stands above the rest is the ability to stand the display stands upright, allowing you to make your own little cemetery if you don't need the stands. * Another really cool thing about the Operation: Monster Force figures is that they come in a five panel box with an opening front flap. The front flap contains a pretty cool comic unique to the character. I love this as it gives the figures a welcome touch of the old fashioned storytelling that we used to see on action figure packaging. There's also a copy of the comic on the back of the backer card inserted behind the figures tray. The Ambassador of R'lyeh is absolutely Epic. He's one of the coolest figures I've purchased this year and another standout in Operation: Monster Force. Honestly, this line (and it's sister lines like Order of the Crimson Moon) comes second only to the G.I. Joe: Classified Series for action figures that I look forward to the most. This is such an incredibly well made figure and there's an exceptional quality to every part with no shortage of paint applications. Those extra portraits and high quality accessories really make this guy feel worth the price, too. If this guy isn't Cthulhu himself, he's certainly of the same breed. Looking for more of Cthulhu and his spawn? I've also reviewed the Conjured Cthulhu and Spawn of Cthulhu from Legends of Cthulhu, the red Cthulhu Idol and the Early Bird Collector's Package Series 2 from Mythos/ Mythos in My Pocket, and the Funko POP! Cthulhu: Master of R'lyeh. For more Operation: Monster Force reviews check out the following: Chatsworth Count Dracula Declan Van Helsing Doctor Caligari The Donner Party The Forgotten King Halloween Boy Lt. Griffin "The Eraser" http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_0723287214.html #monsterforce #toyterror #badworkshop #freshmonkey #monkeyfiction #bigbad #operation #days #treat #cthulhu #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Action Figure Review: Destro & Iron Grenadier Despoiler from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro As you can tell, I'm, clearly behind on my G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews. I'm working to catch up, though, as it's been my favorite active toyline since the line debuted in 2020, so now I'm checking out a release from way back in June: Destro with his Iron Grenadier Despoiler. I absolutely remember getting the vintage version of this figure back in 1988 and being quite thrilled with the opportunity to have a Destro in my collection as I was too young to be into the line when the original Destro was released. This is a pricy release although Hasbro definitely has enhanced the size of the Despoiler. It was a tiny little vehicle back in 1988 but it definitely feels more impressive now. As I was looking at pictures of vintage Despoilers and the packaging they came in I was surprised to learn that some of the boxes had the Battle Force 2000 logo on them. I don't think I ever realized that the Iron Grenadiers were originally created as an adversary for Battle Force 2000. Of course, over the years the Iron Grenadiers have grown in popularity and have become a fan favorite while Battle Force 2000 is one of the least popular sub teams ever. Let's take a look at Destro and his Iron Grenadier Despoiler after the break... The Facts: Destro Height: 6 5/8ths inches Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, balljointed drop down hips, balljointed waist, hinged mid-torso, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, ball jointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head. Accessories: 2 swappable portraits, cape, revolver, holster, sabre, sheath, claymore sword, and shield. The Facts: Iron Grenadier Despoiler Dimensions: 18 inch wingspan (approx.) Articulation: Rotating chin gun turret. Accessories: 2 small missiles, 6 medium missiles, and 2 large missiles. Non-Scalper Price: $110 dollars The Positives: * Destro is decked out in his Iron Grenadier regalia, sporting his familiar black and red color scheme now augmented with gold or bronze instead of silver. This figure takes everything from the vintage toy and amps it up, adding more detail and a few cool little flourishes such as the gold skull on Destro's belt buckle, the gold skull on the badge for the aiguillettes that encircle his right shoulder, and the gold skulls on his boot cuffs. There's definitely a new skull motif going on here and I like it. It feels very fitting for Destro, especially with the gold/ bronze color of his mask. It definitely looks more like gold or bronze than iron to me, anyways. There are lots of little flourishes and textures on the figure, making for an impressive faction leader. * Destro's eyes really stand out here. I think it's interesting that Destro's mask seems like it should just be a metal mask, solid without expression, but in the cartoons and even in the Marvel comics run we see Destro's expressions through it. If you like Destro's mask as just being an expressionless mask, hiding his true face, this is the one you'll want. His eyes are quite prominent and really stand out with a brilliant green color. * If you're all about Destro having expressions, you'll probably really like this portrait, too. His open mouth and teeth look really good. It's reminiscent of the cover of issue #116 of Larry Hama's Marvel run. Also, take a look at how this figure has Destro's traditional red jewel design on his scarf. That wasn't present on the original figure and it's a nice addition. * Destro comes with a soft goods cape, just like his vintage counterpart. It's a nice, simple red half cape that hangs behind his left shoulder, giving him a very regal air about him. It's the kind of thing that just lets everyone around know that he's the head honcho of the Iron Grenadiers. I do have a problem with the way the cape attaches, but we'll get to that in a minute... * Here's a shot of Destro from the waist down to show off more of his super cool boots. The studs around the edges of his thigh armor are pretty neat, too. I can't imagine this outfit is all that comfortable but I'm sure he feels like a boss wearing it. * The articulation is excellent. So far as I'm aware, this is a completely new sculpt and everything moves wonderfully. Whether you want Destro piloting the Despoiler, using his smaller revolver and sword, utilizing his massive claymore, or just standing around looking cool while aura farming, the articulation isn't going to let you down. * Destro comes with a nice complement of accessories; a mixture of both classic accessories from previous incarnations of this figure and items newly conceived of for the Classified Series version. First up is this incredible Scottish claymore that seems like it would be something ceremonial, but I can also see Destro using this when he needs to really lay someone out. It fits this take on James McCullen XXIV incredibly well. * The vintage Iron Grenadier Destro came with an ornate sword and scabbard that was all molded as one piece, similar to the Iron Grenadiers themselves and "dress blues" Gung-Ho. The 25th Anniversary line fixed that, giving Destro a removable sword, and the Classified Series goes a step further by giving him an amazing looking saber. It's also bronze with a decorative grip and guard. There's even a red jewel at the base of the blade, similar to the one Destro wears around his neck. * His scabbard is also extremely ornate with a fantastic design on the mouthpiece, a gold chain that can be plugged into the side of his belt, and a decorative tip protector at the bottom of the scabbard. Destro looks incredible wearing this on his hip. * Destro's revolver looks kind of like a Colt Army Model 1860 revolver and it's cast in the same bronze/ gold plastic as most other accessories and accoutrements, making it look rather ceremonial and prestigious. * It slips snugly into the removable holster that fits over Destro's thigh, keeping it at the ready when he needs a bit of range. * Destro's last accessory is a shield and it might be one of the most impressive accessories in the line. Check out how amazing this thing looks? It really looks like another artifact that has either been in Clan McCullen's family for generations or it's an absolute tribute to how pretentious Destro can be at times. The sword on this is decorative and isn't removable (it really is meant to be part of this design) but it definitely sends a message and looks like the Iron Grenadiers logo, just more ornate. * What could make this shield even cooler? How about two machine guns attached to the back? Did Destro modify a family relic or did he design this as a tribute to his heritage? Who know, but this thing is really cool and surely is a nasty surprise when he's in a fight. The barrels do hold firing effects though the figure itself doesn't come with any. I really like how solid and sturdy this weapon is. It's not a pair of wrist rockets but it will still do the job. * We've looked at Destro so now let's take a look at the Despoiler. The Despoiler is a personal VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) craft for Destro that allows him to deliver some serious damage in battle, monitor troops from nearly any altitude, and quickly get to where he is needed. While the vintage vehicle was quite small, this is a larger vehicle, closer in size to the AWE Striker when it comes to the amount of real estate it takes up. I do like it, though, as it looks and feels fairly impressive. * Underneath you can see the two pieces of landing gear that allow the Despoiler to rest firmly on the ground. There are also two jets down there which are what gives this VTOL functionality. There are attachment points for exhaust effects, though none are included here. That's a bit odd, isn't it? * The back of the Despoiler has four thrusters, which is two more than the vintage vehicle had. There are paint applications for the thrusters and attachment points for the exhaust effects here as well. * The wings have a nice amount of detail with various labels including Destro's Iron Grenadiers logo, the designation for the vehicle (similar to the vintage vehicle) and a Scottish looking lion on the tips of the bat-wing stabilizers. * Is Destro's Despoiler armed? Oh, yeah. Absolutely! First, you've got four weapons barrels mounted on the front. The original called these dual laser cannons but there are four barrels this time around as you have four spots for energy or firing effects. The weapons system rotates and there are even belts for what I presume would be conventional ammunition. My vintage Despoiler may have been missing this piece as I remember not having it as a kid when I opened the box. I'm glad this one words. There's even what looks like a camera in the middle of the weapons for improved targeting and such. * Each wing has four missiles under it: Three smaller missiles and one larger missile. Seriously, this thing is really heavily armed. Destro is not playing around. * The control panel looks great and features a yoke for piloting the vehicle. This is a great print with some excellent details. I much prefer these printed elements over stickers. * The cockpit is exposed, sure, but there is some protection from the fins from the side. Besides, I doubt Destro's going up against aircraft with this; I imagine he's using this to launch a quick attack on unsuspecting targets or to simply keep a watch over what's happening on the battlefield. * These two missiles on the front are something else the vintage toy had and I've always loved them. They're just so darn cool! They fit snugly in the front and can be removed to obliterate a target. I'm not sure why I like them so much but I always have. * This thing is really large! I'm honestly surprised by how big it is, but I do appreciate that it's a substantial piece and doesn't look dinky or anything. My understanding is that many retail products, especially toys like action figures, vehicles, models, dolls, and brick building sets, actually have a designated price point before they even really get toy designing the toy, so the Classified team likely needed to come up with a vehicle at this price point and decided to upscale the Despoiler. I'm not disappointed by the size, that's for sure. It's pretty substantial and Destro looks quite good inside of it. He doesn't feel like he's as much of a target as the vintage figure seemed to be. The Negatives: * I have one negative about this figure and it's the cape. Rather, the way the cape attaches to Destro. Maybe it's just my copy, but the pin on the back of the aiguillettes falls out rather easily. I'll probably put a spot of glue on there to keep it in place better and build up the peg as I can't see any real reason to remove the cape. It fits just fine when sitting in the cockpit. This is a very cool set and both Destro and the Despoiler are excellent toys. If Destro were a standard release, he'd be incredible. If the Despoiler on its own were closer to, say, the $60 or $70 dollar mark, it'd be more palatable. This does feel like a rather expensive release at $110, though. At that price I'd really like to have flight stand and some thruster effects for the engines. It's not a bad figure and vehicle at all but there's really not as much to it as most other similarly priced Classified Series vehicles. It's a Good and a 1/2 set not because of quality but because of the price. Has some more extras been thrown in or if the Despoiler had more features (maybe a place to stow the shield and claymore, or some hidden weapons compartments), I think we might not be having this conversation. I'd love to see more cool little features on some of these vehicles that shake things up a bit. They don't necessarily need to larger or less expensive; just perhaps more interactive with a couple more cool little features. This is the first version of the Despoiler that I've reviewed on the site. If you're a fan of Destro also check out my reviews of the G.I. Joe Classified Series Destro and Profit Director Destro and the 8 inch G.I. Joe Crime Boss Destro. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following: Action Sailor (Recon Diver) Action Soldier (Infantry) Action Soldier (Special Forces) Agent Helix Albert "Alpine" Pine Alley Viper Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey with RAM Cycle Arctic B.A.T. Arctic Mission Storm Shadow Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L. Baroness (Rattler Pilot) Baroness (Retro) Baroness (Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) B.A.T. B.A.T. (Python Patrol) Beach Head & Quick Kick (Night Force) Big Boa Blowtorch Blue Ninjas Bradley "Big Lob" Sanders Brent "Hit & Run" Scott Buzzer Carl "Doc" Greer Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger Christopher "Law" Lavigne & Order Chuckles Clutch with VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle) Cobra Commander Cobra Commander (Once a Man) Cobra Commander (Regal Variant) Cobra Commander with Combat Armor Cobra Desert Scorpion & SKRP10N-25 Cobra Eel Cobra Infantry Cobra-La Pythona Cobra-La Royal Guard Cobra Ninjas Slice & Dice Cobra Officer Cobra Rattler Gunner Cobra Trooper (Special Missions: Cobra Island) Cobra Valkyries Cobra Viper Cobra Viper Officer & Vipers Cobra Viper (Python Patrol) Cobra Viper (Retro) Copperhead Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger (Retro) Craig "Rock 'N Roll" McConnel Crimson Guard Crimson Guard [Female] (Retro) Crimson Strike Team Crimson Viper Croc Master & Fiona Darklon David "Big Ben" Bennett (Night Force) David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Night Force) David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Retro) David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen (Tiger Force) Desert Commando Snake Eyes Destro Dial-Tone Dreadnok Monkeywrench Deadnok Ripper Dreadnok Road Pig & Rawkus Dreadnok Torch Dr. Mindbender Duke Duke & RAM Duke (Retro) Dusty Dusty (Tiger Force) Edward "Torpedo" Leialoha Edwin "Lifeline" Steen Firefighter (Search & Rescue) Firefly Firefly (Cobra Island) Flint Flint (Retro) Flint (Tiger Force) Footloose Frag-Viper Franklin "Airborne" Talltree Gabriel "Barbecue" Kelly Gabriel "Barbecue" Kelly (Mad Marauders) General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy Ghost Viper & D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) Beasts Gnawgahyde, Porkbelly, and Yobbo Gung-Ho Gung-Ho (Retro) Heavy Artillery Roadblock Heavy Duty Iron Grenadier Jane "Glenda" Mullighan Jason "Shockwave" Faria Jodie "Shooter" Craig Kamakura Kim "Jinx" Arashikage Kyle "Budo" Jesso Lady Jaye Lady Jaye (Retro) Leatherneck Low-Light Major Bludd Master of Disguise Zartan Metal-Head Mole Rat Mole Rat [Stage 2] Mutt & Junkyard Nemesis Immortal Night Creeper Night-Viper Parth "Wolf Spider" Varma Professor Rottclaw & Cobra Deinonychus Profit Director Destro Python Crimson Guard Python Patrol Officer Quick Kick Rafael "Zap" Melendez (Retro) Ralph "Steeler" Pulaski and Short-Fuze Ramp Rats Range Viper Recondo (Tiger Force) Red Ninja Richard "Crystal Ball" King Rip Cord (Night Force) Roadblock Roadblock (Special Missions: Cobra Island) Robert "Grunt" Graves S.A.W.-Viper (Semi-Automatic Weapon) Scarlett Scarlett (Retro) Scrap-Iron & Anti-Armor Drone Serpentor & Air Chariot Seymour "Sci-Fi" Fine Sgt. Slaughter Sgt. Slaughter & Felix "Mercer" Stratton Sgt. Slaughter (Mad Marauders) Sgt. Stalker Shadow Tracker Shipwreck Snake Eyes Snake Eyes Deluxe Snake Eyes (Retro) Snake Eyes (Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) Snake Eyes (v4) Snake Eyes & Timber: Alpha Commandos Snow Job Snow Serpent Spirit Iron-Knife Steel Corps Troopers Storm Shadow Storm Shadow (v2/ G.I. Joe) Stuart "Outback" Selkirk Stuart "Outback" Selkirk (Tiger Force) Techno-Viper Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble) Tomax Paoli Tripwire, Aspara, & M.A.C.L.E.O.D. Tunnel Rat Tunnel Rat (Night Force) Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone & Quarrel (Night Force) Vypra Wayne "Beach Head" Sneeden Wild Weasel William "Wild Bill" Hardy Xamot Paoli Zandar Zanya & Dreadnok Chameleon (Swamp Skier) Zarana Zartan Zartan (Ninja Force) Zartan (Retro) http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/action-figure-review-destro-iron.html #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack O. Lantern from PIX! Garbage Pail Kids by Thrilljoy I am always down for a character with a Jack o' Lantern for a head so I made sure to preorder the PIX! Garbage Pail Kids Jack O. Lantern for this year's "Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror" since he fits the theme perfectly. Thrilljoy is a newer company (founded in 2024 by former Funko CEO Mariotti) and PIX! seems to be their signature line. Like Funko, they're releasing vinyl figures of multiple different pop culture characters at fairly reasonable prices. Thrilljoy's PIX! figures are a bit less stylized, a bit more expensive, and I believe they all have a set edition run. Each figure has at least one chase variant, too, and the figure comes in a blind box. Well, they actually come in a nice display box but there's a cardboard sleeve that you tear open to reveal whether you received the standard edition or the chase variant. Jack O. Lantern is based on a Garbage Pail Kids character who appeared in the collectible cards back in 1986 and is essentially a pumpkin headed guy carving his own face. That's pretty wild! The variant of Jack O. Lantern has a pumpkin pie head with a piece carved out, which is also funny, though I do prefer the regular version of this guy. Ready to check a pumpkin who carves himself? Then let's take a closer look after the break... The Facts: Height: 4 1/2 inches Articulation: None Accessories: Collector card Edition Size: 6,000 (5,000 regular, 1,000 chase variants) Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars The Packaging: * Here's a look at the packaging since this is the first PIX! figure I've purchased This is the exterior sleeve that covers the inner box. You know you're buying this item but you won't know if you're getting the standard or chase variant until you tear the sleeve in the back (there's a perforated strip). I'm not too bothered by this, especially if you know you're getting the character you want and know you're not getting a duplicate, but it seems like Thrilljoy sometimes locks characters as chases (there are chases, super chases and ultra chases, I kid you not) behind the regular figure. You know I love Universal Monsters. Well, they have Dracula. Awesome. But guess what? The Wolf Man is a chase of Dracula and the Invisible Man is a super chase. Want to know why I haven't bought any of the Universal Monsters Pix! figures at retail yet? That's why. Two of my favorites are chase variants. Want both? Well, you're likely going to end up with a lot of Draculas. That's a real shame. * Here's Jack O. Lantern in his package. The black and red looks really nice and the edition number is a plastic piece attached to the front window. These guys really feel like you're not meant to open them, though I did anyway. The Positives: * I first saw the preorder for this guy on Big Bad Toy Store but he was waitlisted, so I jumped on and he ended up arriving in stock in September. I honestly didn't known he was a Garbage Pail Kids character until I got him home and looked at the package. He just looks like a really cool pumpkin guy in a green suit. He's not as stylized as a Funko POP! vinyl, reminding me of a cross between a POP! and a Vinyl SODA figure. He's still got a larger head but the body is slightly more proportionate. * Jack's portrait is great. It really is a weird, anthropomorphic pumpkin sculpt that definitely captures some of the lurid appeal of the Garbage Pail Kids art. It's not just a regular smiley jack o' lantern guy. The pumpkin is shaped with some facial features like cheeks and a nose and it just comes across as being actual skin. I love the dark reddish-orange as it contrasts so nicely with the yellow of the inside of Jack's noggin. The slightly lifted lid of his pumpkin head is also a cool little detail. * Check out Jack O. Lantern's carving knife. What's he got on there? Barbacoa? Sashimi? Nope! Those are... well, they're pieces of his own face. Yes, as shown on the original Garbage Pail Kids card Jack O. Lantern carved his own face. That's wild. * He also has a candle, which is his equivalent of a brain. So is he holding his own brain? Well, he already seems to have glowing yellow eyes, so is it someone else's brain? Is he going to make another pumpkin person or did he take this from someone. Maybe he's going to transplant it? * Apparently each of the PIX! figures comes with a laser printed, spot-varnished certificate of authenticity. It actually has the specific edition number, too. I'm not a nut about these things or anything but it does make this feel like a more "sophisticated" product than your average vinyl figure. I guess I should keep this in my wallet in case anyone tried to doubt the status of my Jack O. Lantern. This is a cool little figure and I'm giving him a Good and a 1/2. I do wish his neck swiveled, but otherwise he's a perfectly neat little vinyl figure. It feels like you're paying more here for the smaller edition size and the packaging, both of which don't really mean a lot to me but apparently they're a selling point for others who collect these. I do like the design of the figure and the style. That color is also really nice, especially the reddish-orange of Jack's noggin. I don't see PIX! around too much (only at GameStop once or twice) but if I did, and if they weren't blind boxed, I could see grabbing a couple more of them. This is the first figure of Jack O. Lantern that I've reviewed on the site. http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2026/10/trick-or-treat-through-31-days-of-toy_01559412249.html #toyterror #pailkids #garbagepail #lantern #pix #jack #days #treat #thrilljoy #trick #rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit