Open Your Toys Cast Slick McFavorite (OpenYourToys.com)

Winner for brevity... this guy!

One of the main differences I’ve noticed with the pandemic entering its second year is my tolerance for small talk has just about been exhausted. And not the small talk with a rep on the phone or a clerk in a store. I actually still really enjoy that. No, it’s the chit-chat with friends. I’m not sure if I think we should be talking about deeper topics, I’ve just become a reclusive curmudgeon, or what. I find myself thinking, get on with it already. I know these can get wordy at times, so I think I will just get on with it too :) Here are my four favorite things: Magic Square (not Newage) Devastator, G.I. Joe Minimates, Kir Kanos, New Jurassic Park Jeep.

With the stimulus coming, let’s talk about higher-end stuff. For Joe, the announcement of a Mezco 1:12th Destro was huge, with an appropriate price to surely follow. Next up, you can buy essentially a life-size Child with a pram from Mattel for $400. Masters has got that beat by about $700 with their Life-size Skeletor bust. Transformers towers above all of them put together. Don’t pass up your chance to purchase an actual G1 Prime from the Bumblebee movie.

We talked about a lot of toys that are not in the “big 4” this time around. Instead of my favorite item from each of the “big 4”, I thought I’d highlight some items that kind of correlate to our favorite franchises. First, for Masters, we have the Four Horsemen’s All-Star Round 4 Vote. They continue to kill it with this line with some of the most active and ravenous fans out there. For Joe, the Final Faction line at Dollar Tree is definitely interesting. Backed by its own cartoon, backstories, and a dedicated page on their website, this line has potential, especially at $15 for the whole set. Since Black Series is dominating Star Wars, how about the “Black Series” of Jurassic Park. I’ve been impressed with the Amber Collection so far. Do you need 5 raptors, probably not, but they’re slowly introducing new molds. In probably the biggest reach, for Transformers, how about an Official Robo Force release. Built from the Glyos System, this is more of a building set, but at least they’re robots right? Well maybe, this should have been for Joe, as this drop, they’re featuring a Flash homage.

I've been cutting corners, literally, as I'm on a model kit tear lately. I’m really interested in the new Flame Toys Furai Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. I never really liked unarmored humanoids, but I’m in at least for Storm Shadow. In another way to cut corners, Hasbro has yet another seeker repaint on deck, but this time it’s a must-buy for me. I absolutely love the G2 Ramjet deco. Want a deep cut? No, not of the corner persuasion, but in the Black Series line. Look no further than the rumored Marvel Comic’s Jaxxon. Who doesn’t need more bunnies in their action figure collection? Not that I care, as I’ve never been a big fan of this vehicle, but I’m sure most people hope that Mattel doesn’t cut any corners with the new Origins Wind Raider.

As we’ve been seeing for a few years now, what was old is new again. This time around is no different. MOTU’s throwback Origins line just released to all stores and announced a ridiculous amount of news and pre-orders. We get a few more coded listings for a wave 4 of the “retro” Joe line, including at least one trooper. While not necessarily vintage for me, for someone just ten years younger this might be their Transformers. We get a great look at a concepts document for Beast Wars McDonalds premiums from 1995. While Star Wars has seen its fair share of vintage homages, none this time around, so here’s a Centurion project.