Story of this fiction

Song on repeat.

The song that describes how to 'move forward'.

There is no reward to reap, only debt to pay… But smile. It's the true testament of hope to take in all the things that you aren't responsible for. 

ML Sentinel BAF: Omega Red

Saving the best for last is what one can usually say, and let me just say that Omega Red is a favorite of mine in the bad guy genre! Red, Wolverine rival, cool name, and yes the bondage innuendo that goes along with him, all in all Omega Red is just a win for me! Have always wanted him in 6' version and alas, here he is in full form as a part of the Sentinel BAF. How does he hold up to expectations? Too excited to wait! He is freaking awesome!

I was slightly worried that Omega Red's right shoulder pad is bent due to the case. I was almost positive that it had remained that way for so long that when he comes out of his case he will have a permanent distorted design. Luckily, that isn't so.

I'm not sure if Wolverine being Canadian has anything to do with one of his rival's color scheme to concur with the Canadian colors but, we here we have the dangerous, tentacle whipping, and awesome villain Omega Red in his action figure version. I am very pleased with how this guy came out and he is pretty accurate to his comic book/animated series version.  He's got the red, he's got the Omega sign, he's got the tentacles, and he's got the mean face! Unlike Hasbro, there are a lot of paint details that goes along with this figure and it's really hard not to be impressed with how much effort they used to put way back when! The mold is pretty decent, a little on the skinny with the lower body but it's not a big deal really, it still does justice.

I'm really surprised that he didn't come with a Sentinel Arm instead of the hip because Sentinel comes with his own tentacles that are the exact some ones as Omega Red. Maybe that's on the lazy side, but it's not a major gripe to tally against the toy and the BAF itself. And yes, Omega Red comes with a stand also and an awesome comic book with Jim Lee's art!

Let me just say that he is flawed in some areas of articulation. First off, he has a very small ankle pivot which make some poses inadequate. He is missing the wrist or forearm swivel, his head is a bit impeded with the shoulder pads and his gorgeous locks, and lastly, his ab crunch doesn't work that great. But his tentacles has enough articulation to make up with that because…. how can you have a villain whose weapons are solely based on(aesthetically) to wrap people with their tentacles and have an action figure version of them NOT have articulation with their said tentacles?! Like Constrictor!

I believe inside these tentacles are bendable wires so it gives it the ability to be stable for certain poses or what not. It really gives him an Omega Red ambiance being able to pose with his trademark tentacles pose able like his body! Again, that's another thing that Hasbro misses the boat on these days.

Oh yes! We can't have an Omega Red without a Psylocke and Wolverine bondage, can we?! Well to my defense, during the Jim Lee days, this DID happen… well not exactly like this but something to this affect, more or less. Actually, I wish things happened like this(of course, Less Wolverine and more Psylocke in distress).

At the end of the day, Omega Red is not a perfect Legend, but given to the age of this toy and what it is still capable of, I'd say it's still one of the best out there. I don't think Hasbro has yet to make a toy that would be on par with some of the details that Toybiz paid attention to. Going through this whole set, I say it's just reaffirms just how much Toybiz was ahead in some departments compared to Hasbro. But here I am talking about the two companies when I should be delving into Omega Red… yes this figure is awesome! Honestly, it's all I truly have to say. BAF is great, the figure is great, and he is a pretty interesting villain in the comics to say the least.

ML Sentinel BAF: Mr. Sinister

Mr. Sinister is probably the second figure in this set that I was really excited for! And for any X-Men fan that knows about Sinister and happens to be a toy collector, there is a lot of nerd factor into this guy's plastic adaptation! I had high expectations out of him so did he meet up to it? Let's find out.

He looked really cool inside the box; everything about the intimidating visage that he carries sure transferred over to his toy version and it's obvious even through his container.

This is another figure that really shows off Toybiz's attention to detail. While Sinister doesn't have a whole lot of intricate details to him in the comic books and the animated series, Sinister does have signature style that definitely stands out to the majority of comic book fans. First and foremost, Sinister does have a very unique look that is a combination of dark red, blue, and white. Why he has certain designs like the ghastly white face and the red diamonds on his chest and forehead still remains an enigma to me, but regardless, Toybiz captured that quite well. Another thing that really impresses me to his detail is the frayed Dracula-like cape.  The cape isn't stiff it is indeed a pliable plastic that really gives a 'cape flow' to it! Of course Sinister is very well painted with some shadowing, some good sculpting, and again, he looks sinister!

To my knowledge, Nathaniel Essex(what an awesome name! Sure sounds a lot better than John Ulysses Klaw; But then again, Klaw Sucks!) doesn't fly. Unless they changed it in the recent issues of the comic books(and there is a female version of Sinister these days so you never know), Toybiz didn't need to add the figure stands but they did. Still loving Toybiz and their grace from way back when.Of course the BAF piece and the comic book comes along with him.

Where Sinister exceeds in detail he comes shorthanded in the department of articulation. It may not be Toybiz's fault because of Sinister design but his leg doesn't shift as fluidly as the figures before him in this wave. He lacks proper shoulder movements and no wrist swivel. To be terse with my critique in here, he is just awkward and it's hard to get him anywhere 'natural' except for "I am supreme" poses such as the one above.

All in all, he isn't a bad figure. He is probably the most disappointing one for me because I put a lot of expectation out of him. Articulation may not be elating but with great details, the figure stand included, and the BAF he is in, he is sort of a must. That and if one is really adamant about completing the 90's X-Men animated series, he is sort of a whole season bad guy. Yes, I'm aware that I'm missing the Jim Lee Cyclops in this pic. Jean Grey still fits well with X-Factor Cyclops, doesn't she? 

ML Sentinel BAF: Angel

If you want to talk about a mutant power that is really cool in thought, we have Angel! Why is that you say? He has wings! He can fly! His body is mutated for the idea of flight! Basically as humans, we aren't meant to fly. There are a lot of factors as to why(I'm no expert so I won't try to sound like one) we can't but Angel's mutant genes gave him those perks to give him flight and to handle wings. It's cool, right? No, not really because… well we have villains who can fly and shoot out beams out of their whatever. So flight is cool but he is pretty useless against a lot of enemies! But as a figure, I have to say, this is Toybiz still demonstrating that they were damn good and Legendary material!

And yes, this box wouldn't stand so I had to resort to lying him down!

So giving credit where credit is due, the paint job on his suit is pretty good. It has some shadowing on the white area, the dirty blonde hair makes him rich white angel man material, and over all there is a vibrant and almost 'angelic' feel to his tights. This is by the way the variant of the red one which I wanted to get but what a bit to pricey compared to this one. So talking about details on paint and sculpt:

It's in his wing that we get the most impressive look on the paint detail, the sculpting, and just over all what Toybiz was about. I mean there is a new Angel coming out for Hasbro for the original X-Men and from the pics I have seen his wings is NOTHING like this one(I could be wrong). As you can tell I had to separate my usual collage because his wingspan is HUGE. Cutting this pic into the others wouldn't have gotten the point across that his wings are majestically sculpted, painted, and given some great amount of thought! His wings MAKE the figure!

As you can tell a stand is a must for him. Not only is he a flier but his wings makes him pretty heavy, so that is the downside of having such a perk. I'm not going to complain that much since the stand is durable enough to stabilize Angel. Oh yes, a Sentinel boot and a pretty aged comic book comes with Angel.

Missing the ankle pivot, Angel is a great articulated figure. Pretty standard mold with lots to offer in terms of articulation. I didn't find myself posing him too much into acrobatic poses or whatsoever because of the wings making some pics look awkward.

The one thing is that the stand sometimes falls too short to truly magnify his flight capability, but there are ways to go about making his flight more believable.

I'm going to get an Archangel toy one day and preferably the ones from Hasbro, but judging right now, this is a great testament of Toybiz Legendary glory. Again as a figure he isn't astonishing but the detail on his wings makes him really worth it. Yes he comes with a Sentinel piece, but this guy really took me by surprise with how cool he is with those wings. Pretty impressive! Glad to have him on my collection!

ML Sentinel BAF: Cyclops

People can say what they want about this guy, but Cyclops has endured, fallen, persevered, and remains to be one of Marvel's most recognizable figures. He is an X-man, an original X-Man at that, an X-Factor, a Phoenix Force, and probably an Avenger! Talking about the action figure realm, well Toybiz has made him plastic material since the greater days and during the realm of the Legendary BAFs. So here he is! The X-Factor variant of Cyclops from the Sentinel BAF wave!

Yes, the picture is crooked due to the fact I was very excited to get him out of the box and into my hands! Toybiz, got to love the way your toys smell after opening them though! Such nostalgia!

I'll admit it right now that I love this suit. Why? It's the first(or one of them) suit I remember ever seeing Cyclops wear. Seeing that one particular trading card way back when I always thought his glasses are cool, then I got to know Marvel and realize that he isn't exactly the one that I should be wishing I should be, but regardless, this figure has its victories in detail. He has a lot of paint work done to him and some good sculpting. Say what you want about the giant boots and gloves, but back then those things are cool! The combination of the white and the blue makes him look like Frozone from Incredibles, but still, it's classic.

Cyclops is NOT a flier, so why is it that he has a stand? That's because Toybiz was generous! As one noticed from the picture before the one above, Cyclops has a hole on his back and it's for this stand! He doesn't fly, yes, but it is for dynamic poses! Cyclops is pretty acrobatic to an extent. And this is standard: comic book and a Sentinel BAF piece.

For articulation, Cyclops falls short here and there. I would say it's the age of the toy and some articulation aren't given back then but that's not the case. He is clearly missing the ab cunch and the ankle pivot that Toybiz gave to some of the toys at this set. Both are pretty critical for some awesome pose, but the one thing they did get right is that he has flexible fingers/hands/arms to get his optic pose; and that's for both hands by the way!

"GENE SPLICE!"

Yes, Cyclops does the shoryuken like Ryu in the Capcom games he appeared in. For some reason he called it 'gene splice'. While he may not be adept in martial arts like Ryu is, he does add his optic blast at the end to make it more… adequate.

He isn't the highlight of the wave, but at the end of the day he wasn't the worst. If it's the costume design that people have qualms over then this figure won't please; he has the Second generation X-Men variant for this toy, but eve that may be a turn off for some people. Over all, I had fun posing him since he complied with most pose I thought Cyclops would do. All in all, I like this figure and it is my first Cyclops 6 inch! So no complaints here!

20000 HITS!!!!

I decided to take some inspiration from a source I don't usually take from(the game, not the genre). If no one gets the reference, play a little Mortal Kombat and try to figure it out!

As you can tell, it's a bit more of a scene from my preference and everything like that! So, here's to 40000 then?!

Asuka Figma
Mari Figma
Rikku Kachima pic

ML Sentinel BAF: Black Panther

Another piece of the Sentinel BAF comes prowling in and it's none other than the king of Wakanda: Black Panther! So without any need for further intros, let's dive right into the figure and all its contents, shall we?

Toybiz classic box, we all know this. Still a task to pry this thing open but it does keep the toy inside safe and sound for years and years to come.

I will go into a bit more details about the Panther figure comparison since I have two, but I will state this early on that I prefer this figure way more and not because I have a little bit more bias with what Toybiz had offered in the past but because it's just a better figure. First it is a Black Panther! What I mean is the colors adheres to the name that T'Challa's hero identity refers to, and no I'm not just flaunting the idea of the name and the color but the fact that this Black Panther has cape, the gold details on his claws, wrist, belt, and cloak… of course the details on the said cloak along with the mask is fantastic! The mold of course is more than adequate, loving this classic Toybiz detail!

Just like the first review of this BAF, it comes with a stand, a comic book, and a Sentinel BAF piece which is the arm! And not to tangent off towards the incomplete Sentinel, I do want to say that this BAF figure is fantastic just with the two pieces I have. Articulated tentacles! Eat that Constrictor!

His articulation is standard base from Toybiz's well known Legends. He has the finger articulation, the abs, etc. He even has the ankle articulation(minor) but it is still there. The cape doesn't do as much hinderance as one might think from how it looks; it does its justice well enough.

Most/all Toybiz figures come with a hole in the back to allow their trademark stand to Though it leaves a gaping hole on the back of the figure, it does deter the annoying 'clamp' fiasco that most stands I have deal with. It makes dynamic action pose a bit more doable. Part of the reason why I love Toybiz stands; their only downfall is that they are only adequate for Toybiz toys(for the most part).

Between this Black Panther and the one from the Rocket Raccoon BAF, I have to say that my dibs goes on the this one for a myriad of reasons. First it's the added details of the gold, the cape, finger articulation, better sculpting, a better BAF, the stand, and yes, the color.  While I truly do like the Hasbro Black Panther, I still feel like Toybiz has a lot more to offer. That and I'm a bigger fan of the cloaked costume with the whole regal ambiance emanating off of him.

In conclusion, I think if one doesn't have the Black Panther from Hasbro, this one is a must to complete one's Avenger line ups. But if one is truly a huge Black Panther fan then both is a must. Honestly, I could've done without the Black Panther of today and just give that roster to another character(Spider-Woman?!) since the Toybiz one isn't so bad at all. But, I have both and I can honestly say 100% that Toybiz won this character as well.

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster New Features Trailer

Can't freaking wait!

And is that Eternal Calm CG NOT Tara Strong?! If it isn't, that's freaking blasphemy!

"I suppose some bonds just can't be broken."

-Paine

Masterless and Rage

"I'm starting to think of a few things."

"Do share."

"It's not that I sit here and pay for things I have never done."

"Really now?"

"Well, that's still the case… But I also think that it's not solely on the idea that I am paying for things that was the cause of wrong doings, but I think for every good deed I have done there is also a price."

"Well that's a conundrum."

"It is."

"So I'm guessing if I ask you the question about going back in time you'd still have the same answer?"

"All the encumbering side affects, all the pain, all of the regrets, and all of these doubts, what was it all for?"

"I don't know yet because the future hasn't been told. But in your logic, I can't say that you are right or wrong. "

"Because I'm not wrong. I'm right and as much of an idiot YOU are, so am I. I pay for things I have never done and I also pay for every good deed I commit. I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have done A LOT of things."

"It's kind of sad."

"It wouldn't be if it wasn't for that ONE MOMENT IN TIME."

Marvel Legends Creator Jesse Falcon Interview at 2014 New York Toy Fair

I don't think I need to add a link to his youtube channel because it's clearly on this video. I am posting this because this is a really good interview for a myriad of reasons. 

Good job Mr. Shartimus. 

ML Sentinel BAF: 1st Appearance Spider-Man

Wow, it must be the Spider-Man season all over again! I bought another one? No actually this one's been in my position for a long time now. As I have mentioned in the past I'm still partially a 'in-the-box' kind of collector and the 1st Appearance Spider-Man of the Sentinel BAF was one of those. Not anymore! Toybiz may have stopped becoming part of the Marvel Legends line a long time ago but some of their greatest toys have yet to fill my game room and this BAF is one of those I NEED(want).

Of course the classic Toybiz Marvel Legends case: hard transparent plastic that is anti-silence when opening! These cases are probably the reason why some of my Legends figures from Toybiz stayed hanging for too long. Classic design and good for display, keeps the figures sealed in nice and safe, and they are durable! Check out the fancy stickers on the front and the informative dossier of the character on the back! Health stats, strength, etc! It also shows the figures that completes the BAF. Speaking of the figure…

Right off the get go it's quite easy to see that it's for sure a Toybiz figure with body. I'll go into the articulation in a moment here but the skinny frame, the extra details, and the sometimes awkward fingers definitely screams Toybiz! While I'm not a huge fan of the lanky frame, I do say that Toybiz adheres to how Peter was when he first donned the Spider-Man suit. In fact, everything about this figure does capture the first time appearance of Spidey way back in Amazing Fantasy! The symbol, the eyes, the color, and of course the web pitts(though not exactly the best interpretation because it looks like he is wearing some kind of cloth behind him and not just on his pitts). All in all, it's still a good piece of work, not going to gripe too much about the little things since it is an older figure.

While the BAF series of Toybiz didn't go overzealous on the accessory department, one thing I can say is that they had some decent ones to tag along the figure. A comic book, the stand(I still find myself enamored with these stands by the way), and of course a piece of a BAF(usually a huge one) that happens to be the upper part of the Sentinel. Not much to really say, though I will admit that the comic book is a good icing.

"Uh oh, somebody's been a bad lizard!"

I can't help but think that whenever I put this Spidey in a 'wall crawler' pose! Oh well, let's move on! The articulation is one of the highlights of this figure and pretty much just about every figure that Toybiz came out with! I can almost really say that this Spidey can do whatever Spider-Man can!

The basic articulation that we can all expect from Hasbro(not talking about the newly implemented ons from the Spider-Man infinite series) and then some. Some of the things that some collectors miss are the finger articulation. This Spider-Man for sure has them and I must say that his hands looks odd and having a closed fist is damn near impossible to have. There are times I can do without the finger movements and would just prefer alternate hands and this is one of those said times. He's also missing the ankle pivot that makes certain poses especially for Spider-Man more natural.

Compared to today's brand new Spider-Man toy how does first appearance Spider-Man hold up? If one just looks at the notion of 'first appearance' compared to the modern day Spider-Man, one will truly have an answer. It's not the first appearance of Spidey in the plastic form, but it is ONE of the first few Marvel Legends and I must say it still holds up. Detail wise it still has that intricate and vintage feel to him that doesn't make him look bad right next to the newest mold of Spidey. While missing a few good things in the articulation department, this Toybiz can still be a good competition to Hasbro. All in all, it's a good toy still considering how old it is!

Truthfully, I am in no dire need of any more Spider-Man toys. If he didn't come with the Sentinel piece, I probably would've kept him in the case and displayed. Now don't misconstrue, I am VERY pleased with this guy, it's just that I don't think he will be the first Marvel Legend I'll be looking for every time I go inside my game room!

The Sentinel however might be pretty high up there on the BAF line up… we'll see!

ML Infinite Series: Guardians of the Galaxy

So here we are folks! The Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Series coming this July! At first look… Yuck on Gamora. Drax and Groot looks cool but… yeah Groot is the BAF so there goes that idea. But then New York Toyfair reveals(Thank you Toyark for these pictures)…

Yes! Nova prime! I have the 3.75' of this guy and let me just say, I've been waiting for this guy for ages now! And he hits the shelf with the Guardians! As for the rest…

Do we NEED another Iron Man?! I mean don't misconstrue, I LOVE this armor. But really? Really? But who am I kidding… this guy will for sure has to be part of my collection.

I already have a freaking Rocket Raccoon(BAF) but I guess we HAVE to have a movie version, don't we? Imagine paying the normal retail price for this little guy… ouch.

Uh… I hope the face for Gamora is better in person and this model they are using is just defected.

Maybe they should have Gamora have an alternate head like Starlord over here. This thing looks pretty good though, have to admit.

We've had a Drax before and I would like to say that this one looks pretty bad ass.

And the BAF himself: Groot. He looks pretty good despite this character not really being on the top of my list. Details on this guy is pretty badass which is a testament that Hasbro is trying.

Still, the roster is lacking a bit more… villains and having another Iron Man(although he is part of the guardians of the Galaxy in the comic books) is a bit redundant. Still… it's a good looking set. Again check out Toyark for more info on upcoming toys and more pics of this wave as well as the 3.75 MU line ups for the future.