LVJR - S.T.O.M.P. Series 1 Buys

The second installment of my "Latest Vintage Jakks Receivings" posts is finally here after making few purchases in recent months.

I bought these three 1997 S.T.O.M.P. Series 1 figures (Brian Pillman, Crush, Ahmed Johnson) on eBay 7 days ago for $8.19 shipped (or $2.73 per MOC figure). This imaginary line of wrestling figures in military-style gear is partly in scale with the regular BCA figures, although the parts are made entirely of hard plastic.

The six figures in the set use the same body mold, but with different sculpts for their color-coordinated accessories.

Prior to the second series of the Slammers line, Pillman's only Jakks WWF figure was his S.T.O.M.P. Series 1 creation, which isn't a terrible likeness and the closest to his actual wrestling attire.

Crush had been previously released in BCA form, but the S.T.O.M.P. line offered his last new figure with the company (until the CS line), and it's worth noting that the tattoo is removed from his forehead (from his days with the Nation of Domination) on this particular figure.

Ahmed Johnson features a new head sculpt, but everything else is fictional (as was the majority of the S.T.O.M.P. figures). The accessories for all of the figures are unique and fun to display, but not exactly what one might picture when thinking about professional wrestling.

My take: If you can find these figures for relatively cheap and enjoy the fictionalized nature of the line, than go for it, but pass on these if you're looking for actual likenesses of the wrestlers.

Fun fact: Four of the six figures in the first series use new head sculpts (Crush and Steve Austin are from previous BCA figures).

Thanks for looking, and have a nice day!

- Alex

Mini Review #1 - The Rest of DTA Tour Series 2

So, since I reviewed the Blue Blazer figure from the DTA Tour Series 2 set in a previous post, I thought I would get the others out of the way and make a miniature review out of it.

Essentially, this mini review skips all of the background and excess details and summarizes everything I would normally say.

Here goes nothing (almost literally!)...

Al Snow - 13.5/25

While I'm not that fond of the bleach blonde hair or inaccurate singlet top/arms with elbow pads, I love the text written on Snow's forehead, for one. Also, I applaud Jakks for creating Head, one of the best accessories produced by Jakks in the last 13 years. The trashcan and lid that were included contribute to a bulk of the score in the accessories department, but the figure itself is hardly worth mentioning (Head - 2.5, Torso - 2, Arms - 2, Legs - 2.5, Other - 4.5).

Steve Blackman - 17.5/25

A fairly good head sculpt and torso are used for "The Lethal Weapon", but the arms could do without the elbow pads. I absolutely love the detail of the boots covered by the pant legs, and a half-painted ladder is better than nothing. It is a very good representation of Blackman, for the most part (Head - 3.5, Torso - 3.5, Arms - 3, Legs - 4.5, Other - 3).

Edge - 13/25

I don't mind the head sculpt too much, but everything else is way too thick for Edge or just flat-out inaccurate. Everything above the waist needs to be less bulky, and the part choices for the legs (and for most of Edge's BCA figures) are wrong. There are some designs on the sides of his tights, but not nearly as many as he actually wore. It is a very disappointing figure from top-to-bottom, but it does come with a brown crate and silver chair for accessories (Head - 3, Torso - 2.5, Arms - 2, Legs - 2, Other - 3.5).

Undertaker - 21/25

Truly, this is one of the best overall figures that Jakks produced during the BCA era. It doesn't even matter that this mold for 'Taker was re-released so many times, because it is excellent. My only gripe is that the designs on the torso and legs are not to scale, but the sculpts of the head and arms are phenomenal. Not to mention, it comes with three different weapons, too(Head - 4, Torso - 4, Arms - 4.5, Legs - 4, Other - 4.5).

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett - 10/25

Don't make him mad, or else he'll turn into a terrible figure! ...Oh wait. The head sculpt is decent at best and everything else is pure garbage. There is very little detail on his trunks, and the accessories are the saving grace from this receiving a horrible score. Terrible, garbage, and horrible? I didn't know we were talking about Jeff Jarrett! But, seriously, avoid this at all costs (Head - 2, Torso - 1.5, Arms - 1.5, Legs - 1.5, Other - 3.5).

That's it for now, but thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex

Top Ten List - Best BCA Boxed Sets

Life is so much simpler in list form, isn't it?

Anyway, here is my list of the top ten absolute best boxed sets from the BCA era.

I used a formula based on my own judgment and included little to no personal preference. I narrowed my sample by excluding box sets with fewer than three figures, except for one, the Ultimate Collection 4-pack (all Slammers figures), which I haven't seen in a long time, if ever.

The six categories (worth up to five points each, totaling a maximum of 30) that I used consist of Display (the outer portion of the box), Selection (the wrestlers chosen), Effort (repaints or re-releases, how many?), Uniqueness (self-explanatory), Relevance (relevance to WWF programming of the time), and Extras (any added accessories or weapons, how many?).

I look forward to hearing reader's opinions of the list, and any changes that they might make to it (remember, only BCA boxed sets with 3+ figures each).

The order will be decided by the scores, and any ties will be re-arranged as I see fit.

Starting with number 10...


10. Bad to the Bonz (1998) - 24/30

Despite a three-way tie with two other boxed sets, I figured this was the best way to kick off the list with one that features some of the first cloth t-shirts and the most popular wrestler of the WWF's Attitude era. Very unique idea for a set, and the t-shirts are the major selling point here, which comes as a surprise to no one.


09. WrestleMania XIV (1998) - 24/30

The underrated pick of this particular list features removable sleeveless jackets for the two DX members (as well as new repaints for both), a repainted street gear Steve Austin, and the same-old Undertaker figure of which Jakks couldn't get enough. Again, the accessories make this set, but the introduction of new repaints makes for a great collectible set.



08. Badd Blood (1998) - 24/30

Great selection of characters here, and a few exclusive repaints, too ('Taker and Bearer). The concept behind creating the set is excellent and this represents a classic feud in the WWF from the year of its release.


07. Faces of Foley (1998) - 25/30

Three gimmicks brought together in one boxed set is the dream of every collector, and Foley's personas are presented in one of the best looking sets to display. Had there been more accessories and non-Slammers versions of Mankind and Dude Love, this set would have been perfect.


06. Perfect 10 (1999) - 26/30

If one were to just begin collecting BCA figures, this set is/was the one to have. I can't think of a better assortment of figures than what's available here and, despite there being only one repaint (Billy Gunn) and the rest as re-releases, Perfect 10 is still one of the best due to its sheer massive size (it once retailed for $49.99, by the way).


05. Hardcore Champions (1999) - 27/30

Another tie of scores separates the fourth and fifth selections, which could go either way since they scored the same in all of the six categories. This set offers four exclusive Hardcore title belts and four great figures of former Hardcore champions; you can't go wrong here.


04. Championship Title Series #2 (1999) - 27/30

The introduction of the Smoking Skull title belt and repaint of X-Pac in yellow attire are the only new items on display here, but this scores high on principle alone with the great selection of champions and uniqueness of bringing them together in one package.


03. Buried Alive (1997) - 28/30

One of the most valuable sets in the history of Jakks Pacific wrestling figures (not so much now, but for many years it was) represented a classic feud between Mankind and The Undertaker, a highly-sought after figure of The Executioner and, of course, Paul Bearer in all of his beauty. It is truly one of the best sets produced by Jakks, even by modern day standards.


02. Off The Mat (1998) - 29/30

The second boxed set to feature WWF title belts (with printed-on details this time around) also introduced four brand new figures of Steve Austin, The Rock and the New Age Outlaws. If the box art was a little more appealing, I would have given this a perfect score, hands down. Still, it is a great effort by Jakks to showcase what they were capable of at the time, and it certainly paid off.


01. Championship Title Series #1 (1997) - 30/30

This little gem gave us the first Jakks Pacific title belts, Rocky Maivia with entrance attire (long before the CS11 figure), and excellent new repaints of Owen and Davey Boy, as well as a new mold and sculpt for The Undertaker circa Survivor Series 1996. It should come as no surprise that this is my favorite BCA boxed set and I believe it deserves more than any other to be considered the best of its time.

Well, that's it for now, but thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex

Variant Spotlight - Signature Series 2 B.A. Billy Gunn

Back when facsimile signatures were all the craze (not really), the following Billy Gunn action figure was a hot item from the second installment of the Signature series line.

Gunn's debut figure, alongside his tag team partner Road Dog Jesse James in the 2 Tuff Series 2 set, led to this repaint with a sparkling blue attire and the same detailed boots as was seen before.

(Credit: eBay seller Robozone)

However, a variant was produced of Gunn with purple knee pads, and both variations have still yet to be added to my collection (but hopefully will soon).

For its time, it was an interesting repaint that likely would have been fun to search for on store pegs.

It would have been great if the trunks had been repainted, too, but the purple pads stand out with the excellent blue attire, so it's all good in my book.

By the way, I'll have more posts coming in the next few days.

Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex