Here are the results from July’s G.I. Joe Q & A session with Hasbro. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 22% [?]

In an attempt to close up the Week that was ROC, I didn’t finish up with a Friday review. Let’s do that today, shall we? On Monday and Tuesday, I did Joe figures. On Wednesday and Thursday, I did Cobra figures. So, to do a fifth review, let’s do a Cobra who dresses up as a G.I. Joe, huh? That way, we’re fair to EVERYONE!

Let’s take a close look at Zartan. Gone is the swamp dreadnok, to be replaced with Arnold Vosloo in a regulation Joe BDU uniform, going undercover. How does he stack up? Is he worth picking up? Read on… Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 21% [?]

On Tuesday, we reviewed the Joe leader. Today, let’s do the Cobra leader. With a radical change in design, we’ve seen a Cobra Commander unlike anything we’ve seen before. Let’s take a look at what the figure is comprised of. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 30% [?]

The week of ROC continues! This time, we’re jumping allegiances, and taking a look at a Cobra member. Let’s all take a look at our favorite bad guy in white, Storm Shadow! We’ll be taking a look at the unmasked version, the Paris Pursuit figure. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 24% [?]

As the Week of Rise of Cobra continues, we shift the focus to the head honcho of the G.I. Joe unit, General Hawk. He comes in two forms, he comes with a jacket and the PIT Playset, and he also comes as a single pack, “Attack on the PIT”. Today, we’ll be looking at the “Attack on the PIT” version. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 29% [?]

If you’ve been to stores in the past couple of days, you might have noticed that G.I. Joe is back on the aisles in preperation for the movie, The Rise of Cobra. At One-18th.com, we will be celebrating by having a review a day of some of these figures.

In starting off the week of G.I. Joe, it’s only fitting that we start off with Duke, the poster boy for G.I. Joe for so many years. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 29% [?]

The answers are in from Marvel’s June Q & A.  See below for responses! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 13% [?]

One of the big questions for long time collectors since the advent of the Marvel Universe line is should collectors keep the old Super Hero Showdown versions or grab up the new Hasbro versions. Truth of the matter is there is no clear answer. Sometimes the Hasbro venison is greater, sometimes the Toy Biz one is. So this series is an attempt to show both lines merits and flaws so that they can make informed decisions about their collections.

This time I will look at Aunt Petunia’s favorite nephew: The Thing.  Ben Grimm is a classic character and while we realize there would be no way possible for a man made entirely of rock to really exist he is still a great deal of fun on the merits of his looks alone.  The Toy Biz SHS version was released in a two-pack (Or starter pack for those who actually played the game with this) while the MU version came out this year in a single pack. 

Articulation:

Of course the SHS version will win this hands down.  The poor MU version only has 13 points (and that is taking the term liberally to add in the hips, just a second on that).  The Toy Biz Thing is articulated nearly as well as most of the smaller MU figures which is pretty significant when you think about it.  But to take the articulation a bit further Toy Biz had articulation in the feet and left hand. 

Conversely MU Thing barely gets as much articulation as a DC Infinite Heroes figure.  In fact technically they have more.  The MU version cannot move his hips up and down (just swivel).  Talk about disappointing, you can’t even put him in a good running pose with that. 

Also the MU version cannot bring his forearms all the way up into a 90 degree angle.  This seems to be a huge problem with Hasbro of late (effecting both this line and the GI Joe Line for the most part). 

Sculpt:

This is the category that really separates these two figures.  One of the major praises of the MU Thing is that his left hand is open to grasp other figures.  The SHS Thing’s left hand is not only open but can be closed allowing more versatility in grabbing other figures. 

The MU version does have some nice details with the rocks that make up Thing’s skin.  However when you compare the skin to the much more detailed SHS version the MU one falls very short.  Articulation does not destroy the SHS mold (which is a rarity within the line).  The SHS’s face is just superb with a gritting teeth sneer that looks like Mr. Grimm just said “It’s Clobberin’ Time.”  The MU face however is almost expressionless and that works for many figures, however for the Thing it just doesn’t work.  SHS Thing looks ready for a fight and honestly when you have the toy out that is what you want him to look like. 

Also the SHS version is broader, which works great with The Thing.  SHS also appears a bit taller and his arms appear to have more girth.  All of this contributes to a much more menacing looking Ben Grimm, and that is how I like it. 

I should point out too that the MU version has been plagued by reports of “space” in the knee, and the same goes for mine as well.  In the package (with the knees bent) this is nearly impossible to see.  I am not sure if its all the figures but its common enough that two other people have reported the same problem to me, which tells me its either a design flaw or a major quality control issue. 

Also the costume choice, call me old fashioned but Thing in the trunks is how I was introduced to him, and while I never really disliked the long tights and boots look, if I was given a choice I would go with the trunks.  They just look right on him.  Plus the fact he would run around with bare feet is kind of interesting. 

Paint:

The MU thing looks like the designers were leaning more towards the Fantastic Four movie palette.  Which is perfectly fine but it must be pointed out that the colors make the figure resemble the “Oatmeal” look of Thing’s early appearances.

The SHS Thing has a ton of detail in the paint.  While the MU one does as well its no where near what SHS accomplished.  MU looks like it was added for detail, SHS looks like it was there the whole time, like it was destined to be the look of Ben Grimm.  I think the paint on the SHS even looks better than most of the work I have seen artists do in comics.  When one looks at how the tiny rocks appear almost individually painted you can’t help but be in awe of the level of craftsmanship.

Even the eyes look better on SHS version.  On the MU they look like a cartoon drawing while on SHS they look quite natural.  And of course in both cases they are blue. 

Playablity:

SHS hands down.  The extra articulation really adds to the play.  Tiny things like the little bit of articulation in the hand and feet just add so many levels of “fun to this character. 

In all seriousness I would have to recommend the SHS Thing over the MU line.  While he is a bit tougher to find I know that stores had him for months after SHS was put on sale, so he is out there. 

Up next: The Silver Surfer

Score:

MU 1

SHS 1

Popularity: 6% [?]

One of the big questions for long time collectors since the advent of the Marvel Universe line is should collectors keep the old Super Hero Showdown versions or grab up the new Hasbro versions. Truth of the matter is there is no clear answer. Sometimes the Hasbro version is greater, sometimes the Toy Biz one is. So this series is an attempt to show both lines merits and flaws so that they can make informed decisions about their collections.

First up is the Icon of Marvel: Spider-Man.

Articulation:

Despite the fact that some claim Hasbro hit some new gold standard in articulation with this line, Toy Biz surpassed it years ago. Spidey’s SHS venison sports an impressive 25 points of articulation (Neck, Shoulder, double Elbow, Forearms, Wrists, Chest, Waist, hip, thigh, double knees, calf, ankle) against Marvel’s 18 (Head, shoulder, Bicep, elbow, wrist, chest, hip, double knee, ankle). On top of that most of the articulation on SHS Spidey has a much greater range of motion as well.
This is similar to how Toy Biz Marvel Legends compare to Hasbro Marvel Legends in that Toy Biz really raised the bar for the articulation while Hasbro did what it thought it could get away with. This is not to say the articulation of Marvel Universe Spidey isn’t good, but not nearly as great as SHS.  However the fact is articulation isn’t everything.

Mold:

Both MU and SHS versions are excellent molds.  While it would have been easy (and cheaper) for either company to have just painted the details of Spider-Man’s costume both went one step further and actually molded the webs into the figure.  This molding helps the design to show that much better on the figure.

The SHS mold is a bit thin.  It looks almost as thin as the Ultimate Spider-Man comic portrays (perhaps a bit more even).  SHS figures are notorious for this, but with Spider-Man it works as his alter ego (Peter Parker) is supposed to be a skinny science nerd anyway (which helps to make Spidey easier to identify with as well). 

The MU version is also thin, but less lanky.  He looks as one would think Spider-Man might look (compared to the others in this line that is).  Thin but not too thin.  At this point it should be pointed out the major advantage for the MU version is the  fact that his lesser articulation makes his sculpt look a pinch better overall.  The exception would have to be the head sculpt.  While there is not a great deal different that can be done with Spider-Man’s head the SHS version look just a slight bit more accurate.  The MU version is good, I would even say great.  However side by side the head on SHS is far superior. 

But head sculpts do not a figure make totally.  Really this is a neck and neck race, but the MU version does win by a nose.  The torso is the deciding factor as the MU version just looks a tad more realistic than the SHS one.  Also the hands and feet are a bit out of proportion on the SHS version while the MU version doesn’t have that problem. 

Paint:

I would have to call this one a dead tie.  The apps are dead on and exactly as they look in the comics.  The red, blue and black combo is highlighted by white eyes on the face.  Really there is little else to say other than great job on both.  While the darker colors on the SHS version might be more appealing to some, the same can be said for MU.  Of course there is a darker repaint for the MU version so the point is moot really.

Playbility:

Excellent on both fronts.  Spider-man is one of those characters you love posingin near impossible ways and of course you can do that excellently with the SHS version.  The MU version, despite the lowered articulation, has the same ability and is just as fun.  Dead tie again. 

The only other comparison of the two could be accessories.  The MU venison does come with a web but it is kind of awkward looking and doesn’t add a great deal to the figure.  In fact it looks like Spideys web shooter got clogged and is back flowing to his arm.  Not sure what the designers were thinking here. 

Overall this is a close match.  Both are excellent figures and probably the best of their respective lines.  But in the end I would have to lean to the Marvel Universe version, just barely though.  Honestly I would say if you already have the SHS version you don’t need to grab a new one.  However if you have been on the fence grab the Hasbro version as it is much easier to find than Spidey is on the secondary market. 

Score:

MU: 1

SHS: 0

Next up, The Thing.

Popularity: 4% [?]