If you're like me and you've always wanted to see the BCA line fairly represented on YouTube, look no further than Pop Culture Network's "That New Toy Smell" review of the earliest Jakks Pacific wrestling figures.
Suine Hallock narrates the 11 minute, 15 second video posted back on November 20, 2010, and he does a great job illustrating the main points of the line for casual fans and hardcore collectors alike.
Between this video and the hands-on review hosted by Pixel Dan and Devall, there aren't many inaccurate statements to point out.
Superstars Series 1 and the launch of Jakks Pacific's WWF figure line was ready well before the end of 1996, contrary to what is said in the video.
Some say as early as the end of 1995, but I have it on good authority that the late spring time, such as May, of 1996 is when most stores nationwide received their shipments.
On the other end of the spectrum, the BCA line was indeed phased out for TTL figures, but the review’s diagnosis of “by the end of 2000” is, well, generous to say the least.
If you don’t take into account the KB-exclusive Backlash series (which began in the fall of 2000 and was stretched out through 2001), the last new BCA product to hit the shelves goes back to the Signature/Special Edition Series 6 assortments released in March 2000.
I was pleasantly surprised, though, by the BCA “surgery” conducted in the video, as well as the mention of “hit or miss” sculpts, scaling issues, the lack of stands for many of the retail exclusive series, no Bone Crunching Action for the Ringside Collection series and the height of the LJN ring’s ropes being changed to accommodate the 6-inch BCA figures.
All in all, there is a lot to enjoy with this particular BCA line review, and I would give a golden stamp of approval if, you know, I could do that sort of thing.
One other correction I want to make for Pixel Dan from the second video is his mention of Lex Luger as he was namedropping guys like Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon who were released in the earlier Jakks series.
There is no BCA Lex Luger out there, in case any of you were wondering.
That would have been mighty impressive considering he left for WCW in ’95, but having three runaways in Series 1 would have been a disaster for Jakks right from the get-go.
I do have to agree with Devall on one comment of his: that Austin figure is awful.
Who am I kidding, long live Vampire Steve Austin from Live Wire Series 1!!!
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
LVJR - Box of Champions
If you're still singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas", someone should punch you in the face.
If you're waiting for the twelfth installment of the "Latest Vintage Jakks Receivings" series of posts, wait no longer...and watch out for that guy's fist.
My latest purchase, as always, comes from eBay in the form of a four-figure boxed set. It's not just a Championship Title Series boxed set, it's a Championship Title Series #2 boxed set.
At least that's what I like to call it, considering this one was released in October 1999 and the first one arrived two years prior to that with the first ever Jakks Pacific title belts.
It should be mentioned that all BCA boxed sets with title belts, which consists of the five listed in this week's poll to the right of your screen, were exclusive to Toys"R"Us stores.
I've waited a while to get my hands on this one again, after a previous purchase years ago resulted in my receiving the first CTS boxed set by mistake from an eBay seller while another buyer kept mine.
I felt that it was the right time to try again, so I nabbed the set shown above for a Best Offer of $16 shipped (which was originally priced at $20).
The figures included are all re-releases except for one: X-Pac, whose yellow/green/black palette is only available in this 4-pack. Not to be confused with Syxx-Pac.
Austin is a re-release of the previous month's 2 Tuff Series 5 assortment, while Kane dates back to Fully Loaded Series 1 and The Rock comes courtesy of the Road Rage Series (a.k.a. Shotgun Saturday Night Series 4).
Three of the four title belts, the Attitude Era "Big Eagle" WWF Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championships, were released in the previous Off The Mat boxed set, whereas Stone Cold's Smoking Skull WWF Championship can only be found here.
The Championship Title Series #2 set also marks the first time that an Intercontinental Championship belt was not included in a themed set such as this.
It would prove to be the last time any BCA figures were released with title belts around their waists since the line was not far off from its conclusion by the fall of 1999.
My take: The second Championship Title Series boxed set doesn't quite live up to the standards of the first version, but it provides everything a wrestling figure collector could want or need.
Big names (Austin, Rock and X-Pac and Kane, who were former tag champs), a few exclusive elements (X-Pac repaint, Smoking Skull belt) and accessories that are relevant to the theme of the boxed set (in this case, Champions = Championships).
Fun fact: On January 23, 1999, Figure Zone relayed information from Jakks Pacific which stated the possibility of an Off The Mat #2 boxed set.
The contents included Road Dogg (with new Hardcore Championship), Jacqueline (with new Women's Championship), Christian (with new Light Heavyweight Championship) and X-Pac (with new European Championship).
The rumored 4-pack was never released.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
If you're waiting for the twelfth installment of the "Latest Vintage Jakks Receivings" series of posts, wait no longer...and watch out for that guy's fist.
My latest purchase, as always, comes from eBay in the form of a four-figure boxed set. It's not just a Championship Title Series boxed set, it's a Championship Title Series #2 boxed set.
At least that's what I like to call it, considering this one was released in October 1999 and the first one arrived two years prior to that with the first ever Jakks Pacific title belts.
It should be mentioned that all BCA boxed sets with title belts, which consists of the five listed in this week's poll to the right of your screen, were exclusive to Toys"R"Us stores.
I've waited a while to get my hands on this one again, after a previous purchase years ago resulted in my receiving the first CTS boxed set by mistake from an eBay seller while another buyer kept mine.
I felt that it was the right time to try again, so I nabbed the set shown above for a Best Offer of $16 shipped (which was originally priced at $20).
The figures included are all re-releases except for one: X-Pac, whose yellow/green/black palette is only available in this 4-pack. Not to be confused with Syxx-Pac.
Austin is a re-release of the previous month's 2 Tuff Series 5 assortment, while Kane dates back to Fully Loaded Series 1 and The Rock comes courtesy of the Road Rage Series (a.k.a. Shotgun Saturday Night Series 4).
Three of the four title belts, the Attitude Era "Big Eagle" WWF Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championships, were released in the previous Off The Mat boxed set, whereas Stone Cold's Smoking Skull WWF Championship can only be found here.
The Championship Title Series #2 set also marks the first time that an Intercontinental Championship belt was not included in a themed set such as this.
It would prove to be the last time any BCA figures were released with title belts around their waists since the line was not far off from its conclusion by the fall of 1999.
My take: The second Championship Title Series boxed set doesn't quite live up to the standards of the first version, but it provides everything a wrestling figure collector could want or need.
Big names (Austin, Rock and X-Pac and Kane, who were former tag champs), a few exclusive elements (X-Pac repaint, Smoking Skull belt) and accessories that are relevant to the theme of the boxed set (in this case, Champions = Championships).
Fun fact: On January 23, 1999, Figure Zone relayed information from Jakks Pacific which stated the possibility of an Off The Mat #2 boxed set.
The contents included Road Dogg (with new Hardcore Championship), Jacqueline (with new Women's Championship), Christian (with new Light Heavyweight Championship) and X-Pac (with new European Championship).
The rumored 4-pack was never released.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Top Ten List #3 - Least necessary to the BCA line
Who are the least necessary characters to be included in Jakks Pacific's BCA figure line?
It's a question that I've often pondered, but never really put a lot of thought into until now.
Why now? Ehh, I don't know, it just seemed like the right time.
So, I thought I would compile (or stretch to make it) a top ten list of the personalities that I consider least necessary to the BCA line.
The criteria? I've focused mainly on the length of time each individual spent with the WWF during the BCA figure era (mid-'96 through late '99).
This isn't about the least popular figures during that period, because we all know Dr Death and Jacqueline would be duking it out on top if that were the case.
Instead, the purpose of the list is to showcase poor timing on Jakks' behalf as the names listed below aren't needed quite as much as the rest.
I guess you could call them The Expendables, just without the steroids and fledgling movie careers. ...Okay, half the steroids.
Starting with...
10. Ultimate Warrior (Superstars Series 2, Survivor Series 4-pack repaint)
Figuring out how the list will begin is always a tough decision for me to make. I chose Warrior to go here because there aren't really any others after him and his is a good place to start.
His debut Jakks figure in Superstars Series 2 came at just the right time since he had parted ways with the WWF in the summer of 1996. However, his on-screen appearances were sporadic before leaving and I'm not sure Jakks had an effective way of leading in to his new figure's arrival with all that was going on behind the scenes.
09. Razor Ramon and Diesel (Superstars Series 1, Superstars 2-pack)
The same could be said for the then-soon-to-be Outsiders. Hall and Nash skipped town to go where the big boys played (no, not MacFarlane) and their debut Jakks figures and subsequent releases came AFTER they had left.
Now, the reason they aren't ranked higher is because their inclusion in the breakthrough first series of the Jakks Pacific BCA figure line was crucial then and they remain among the most sought after to this day (among their BCA contemporaries). That being said, maybe it was the WWF's fault for allowing Jakks to continue production on figures for two gimmicks without faces to represent them (until, of course, the fakes arose from the ashes).
08. The Executioner (Buried Alive 4-pack)
I want to tell you a story about a place you don't wanna be and, no, I'm not talking about Badstreet, USA. It's being called upon to don a ridiculous gimmick for yet another gimmick feud between the Undertaker and a mid-card heel (Mankind) during mid-90s WWF.
None other than Terry Gordy of Fabulous Freebirds fame answered the call and would be immortalized in one of Jakks Pacific's finer boxed sets - Buried Alive, alongside Mankind, Paul Bearer and Undertaker. His lone BCA figure commemorates the Buried Alive pay-per-view event from October 1996, but The Executioner would be disposed of rather quickly by Undertaker at the December '96 In Your House PPV, It's Time, spelling the end of Gordy's tenure with the WWF.
His wrestling action figure, much like Razor and Diesel, would be a hot topic among collectors due to its limited run, but the gimmick itself lasted just long enough to qualify for a footnote in WWF history. A smidge...and, yes, I'm using my fingers to demonstrate this point.
07. The Sultan and Bob Backlund (Managers Series 1 2-pack)
Yes, another grouping or sharing of the same spot in this list, but why split up the pack that gave us pre-Rikishi and post-Backlund in a Pee Wee Herman suit?
It's a wonder that Jakks didn't try to squeeze in an Iron Sheik since he was a co-manager alongside the equally-crazed Backlund for The Sultan. He had a somewhat memorable feud with Rocky Maivia (pre-The Rock) culminating at WrestleMania XIII in an Intercontinental title match, but that's all there is to it.
Nothing more, nothing less from this flash in the pan gimmick, and maybe it's better that way.
06. The Jackyl (2 Tuff Series 2 2-pack)
His managerial stint in the WWF did not last very long, but it was enough to earn Don Callis his one and only wrestling figure in a 2-pack alongside Kurrgann. It's a great sculpt, as I mentioned here, but it came long after the two had split and, presumably, The Jackyl was managing the early tandem of Farooq and Bradshaw.
That doesn't mean the figure wasn't worthy of being made, but Jakks Pacific likely had a rough time keeping up with the ever-evolving WWF landscape.
05. Honky Tonk Man (Ringside Collection Series 2)
When your most memorable moment from a late 90s WWF run is managing Rockabilly and doing color commentary while dressing in full character like everyone's favorite drunk uncle at Christmastime, that probably isn't a good sign for future action figure releases.
Don't discount the desperation of Jakks Pacific, though! Honky's first and only Jakks BCA figure came in the Ringside Collection Series 2 assortment and, while it's an adequately detailed figure, its mid-1998 release date still doesn't make a lot of sense.
That's to say that a guy with a goofy 1980s gimmick wasn't already behind the times when the Attitude era rolled around, but even moreso with his BCA figure.
04. Blackjack Windham (Tag Team Series 1)
Barry Windham is the son of Blackjack Mulligan, in case you didn't know, and Bradshaw's storyline relation to Blackjack Lanza is what brought the two together to form The New Blackjacks.
I think Wikipedia says it all with this description: "The team never reached the success of their predecessors."
Windham would later join Jim Cornette's NWA invasion of the WWF in early 1998, but neither re-incarnation could be considered a success by any means.
03. Dr Death (Superstars Series 7)
I touched on the Brawl 4 All tournament in a previous post, and it's safe to say that this destroyed any and all chances Steve Williams had of getting over.
If anything, Bart Gunn deserved a BCA figure that neither Jakks nor WWF ever planned on making. According to former Jakks employee Serge, Titan Sports did request a Dr Death Steve Williams figure to be included in the main Superstars line.
How did that go? Well, since you asked politely, let's just go with "not good" and assume that Jakks learned their lesson...for the time being.
02. Yokozuna (Special Edition Series Exclusive, Red and White attire)
Nobody was more intimidating in an early 90s WWF squash match on Superstars than Yokozuna. I guess you could say the same if you were to be on opposite sides of the ring as an even larger Yokozuna circa 1996.
Sadly, the sideshow element of his appearances became more of a factor as he grew in size, and not even not-so-subtle attempts at encouraging him to lose weight (carrying him out on a forklift because of a storyine broken leg, anybody?) worked with the Polynesian monster.
His most memorable moment came with a planned spot during the Summerslam 1996 Free-for-all match against Stone Cold Steve Austin where the middle rope broke during a Bonzai Drop attempt. Did it send a message to fans that Yoko was morbidly obese at that point? Sure, but it had little effect on the man himself.
Jakks still gave their best effort with a limited edition Special Edition Series figure in 1998, and an exclusive repaint, but their choice of Yokozuna to headline the KB Toys-exclusive series at that point in his career was...odd.
01. Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw (Superstars Series 4)
There's barely a paragraph to be squeezed out of this portion of Bradshaw's career on his Wikipedia page, so what more is there to be said?
His debut Superstars Series 4 "Bad Boys" figure doesn't quite fit in with the likes of Steve Austin, Faarooq and HHH's debuts in the WWF line, so maybe Jerry Lawler is better in comparison.
Not to say that Lawler belongs on this list with all that he went on to do in the WWF vs. ECW feud a year later, but he DID pour Jim Beam down Jake Roberts' throat in King's most prominent feud from 1996.
What did Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw accomplish in '96? Well, he lost to Jake Roberts at the May 1996 In Your House PPV, Beware of Dog, and he defeated Savio Vega in his only feud of note at the next In Your House PPV, International Incident, in July.
Yep, Savio Vega.
Jake Roberts > Savio Vega
Pouring Jim Beam down someone's throat after a match >> Branding someone in ink with a "JB" symbol. Oh, and feuding with Savio Vega
Jim Beam >>> Savio Vega
Wait...how the hell did we get here?!?
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
It's a question that I've often pondered, but never really put a lot of thought into until now.
Why now? Ehh, I don't know, it just seemed like the right time.
So, I thought I would compile (or stretch to make it) a top ten list of the personalities that I consider least necessary to the BCA line.
The criteria? I've focused mainly on the length of time each individual spent with the WWF during the BCA figure era (mid-'96 through late '99).
This isn't about the least popular figures during that period, because we all know Dr Death and Jacqueline would be duking it out on top if that were the case.
Instead, the purpose of the list is to showcase poor timing on Jakks' behalf as the names listed below aren't needed quite as much as the rest.
I guess you could call them The Expendables, just without the steroids and fledgling movie careers. ...Okay, half the steroids.
Starting with...
10. Ultimate Warrior (Superstars Series 2, Survivor Series 4-pack repaint)
Figuring out how the list will begin is always a tough decision for me to make. I chose Warrior to go here because there aren't really any others after him and his is a good place to start.
His debut Jakks figure in Superstars Series 2 came at just the right time since he had parted ways with the WWF in the summer of 1996. However, his on-screen appearances were sporadic before leaving and I'm not sure Jakks had an effective way of leading in to his new figure's arrival with all that was going on behind the scenes.
09. Razor Ramon and Diesel (Superstars Series 1, Superstars 2-pack)
The same could be said for the then-soon-to-be Outsiders. Hall and Nash skipped town to go where the big boys played (no, not MacFarlane) and their debut Jakks figures and subsequent releases came AFTER they had left.
Now, the reason they aren't ranked higher is because their inclusion in the breakthrough first series of the Jakks Pacific BCA figure line was crucial then and they remain among the most sought after to this day (among their BCA contemporaries). That being said, maybe it was the WWF's fault for allowing Jakks to continue production on figures for two gimmicks without faces to represent them (until, of course, the fakes arose from the ashes).
08. The Executioner (Buried Alive 4-pack)
I want to tell you a story about a place you don't wanna be and, no, I'm not talking about Badstreet, USA. It's being called upon to don a ridiculous gimmick for yet another gimmick feud between the Undertaker and a mid-card heel (Mankind) during mid-90s WWF.
None other than Terry Gordy of Fabulous Freebirds fame answered the call and would be immortalized in one of Jakks Pacific's finer boxed sets - Buried Alive, alongside Mankind, Paul Bearer and Undertaker. His lone BCA figure commemorates the Buried Alive pay-per-view event from October 1996, but The Executioner would be disposed of rather quickly by Undertaker at the December '96 In Your House PPV, It's Time, spelling the end of Gordy's tenure with the WWF.
His wrestling action figure, much like Razor and Diesel, would be a hot topic among collectors due to its limited run, but the gimmick itself lasted just long enough to qualify for a footnote in WWF history. A smidge...and, yes, I'm using my fingers to demonstrate this point.
07. The Sultan and Bob Backlund (Managers Series 1 2-pack)
Yes, another grouping or sharing of the same spot in this list, but why split up the pack that gave us pre-Rikishi and post-Backlund in a Pee Wee Herman suit?
It's a wonder that Jakks didn't try to squeeze in an Iron Sheik since he was a co-manager alongside the equally-crazed Backlund for The Sultan. He had a somewhat memorable feud with Rocky Maivia (pre-The Rock) culminating at WrestleMania XIII in an Intercontinental title match, but that's all there is to it.
Nothing more, nothing less from this flash in the pan gimmick, and maybe it's better that way.
06. The Jackyl (2 Tuff Series 2 2-pack)
His managerial stint in the WWF did not last very long, but it was enough to earn Don Callis his one and only wrestling figure in a 2-pack alongside Kurrgann. It's a great sculpt, as I mentioned here, but it came long after the two had split and, presumably, The Jackyl was managing the early tandem of Farooq and Bradshaw.
That doesn't mean the figure wasn't worthy of being made, but Jakks Pacific likely had a rough time keeping up with the ever-evolving WWF landscape.
05. Honky Tonk Man (Ringside Collection Series 2)
When your most memorable moment from a late 90s WWF run is managing Rockabilly and doing color commentary while dressing in full character like everyone's favorite drunk uncle at Christmastime, that probably isn't a good sign for future action figure releases.
Don't discount the desperation of Jakks Pacific, though! Honky's first and only Jakks BCA figure came in the Ringside Collection Series 2 assortment and, while it's an adequately detailed figure, its mid-1998 release date still doesn't make a lot of sense.
That's to say that a guy with a goofy 1980s gimmick wasn't already behind the times when the Attitude era rolled around, but even moreso with his BCA figure.
04. Blackjack Windham (Tag Team Series 1)
Barry Windham is the son of Blackjack Mulligan, in case you didn't know, and Bradshaw's storyline relation to Blackjack Lanza is what brought the two together to form The New Blackjacks.
I think Wikipedia says it all with this description: "The team never reached the success of their predecessors."
Windham would later join Jim Cornette's NWA invasion of the WWF in early 1998, but neither re-incarnation could be considered a success by any means.
03. Dr Death (Superstars Series 7)
I touched on the Brawl 4 All tournament in a previous post, and it's safe to say that this destroyed any and all chances Steve Williams had of getting over.
If anything, Bart Gunn deserved a BCA figure that neither Jakks nor WWF ever planned on making. According to former Jakks employee Serge, Titan Sports did request a Dr Death Steve Williams figure to be included in the main Superstars line.
How did that go? Well, since you asked politely, let's just go with "not good" and assume that Jakks learned their lesson...for the time being.
02. Yokozuna (Special Edition Series Exclusive, Red and White attire)
Nobody was more intimidating in an early 90s WWF squash match on Superstars than Yokozuna. I guess you could say the same if you were to be on opposite sides of the ring as an even larger Yokozuna circa 1996.
Sadly, the sideshow element of his appearances became more of a factor as he grew in size, and not even not-so-subtle attempts at encouraging him to lose weight (carrying him out on a forklift because of a storyine broken leg, anybody?) worked with the Polynesian monster.
His most memorable moment came with a planned spot during the Summerslam 1996 Free-for-all match against Stone Cold Steve Austin where the middle rope broke during a Bonzai Drop attempt. Did it send a message to fans that Yoko was morbidly obese at that point? Sure, but it had little effect on the man himself.
Jakks still gave their best effort with a limited edition Special Edition Series figure in 1998, and an exclusive repaint, but their choice of Yokozuna to headline the KB Toys-exclusive series at that point in his career was...odd.
01. Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw (Superstars Series 4)
There's barely a paragraph to be squeezed out of this portion of Bradshaw's career on his Wikipedia page, so what more is there to be said?
His debut Superstars Series 4 "Bad Boys" figure doesn't quite fit in with the likes of Steve Austin, Faarooq and HHH's debuts in the WWF line, so maybe Jerry Lawler is better in comparison.
Not to say that Lawler belongs on this list with all that he went on to do in the WWF vs. ECW feud a year later, but he DID pour Jim Beam down Jake Roberts' throat in King's most prominent feud from 1996.
What did Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw accomplish in '96? Well, he lost to Jake Roberts at the May 1996 In Your House PPV, Beware of Dog, and he defeated Savio Vega in his only feud of note at the next In Your House PPV, International Incident, in July.
Yep, Savio Vega.
Jake Roberts > Savio Vega
Pouring Jim Beam down someone's throat after a match >> Branding someone in ink with a "JB" symbol. Oh, and feuding with Savio Vega
Jim Beam >>> Savio Vega
Wait...how the hell did we get here?!?
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Know Your BCAs #2 - What to Buy, Consider and Avoid
Once again, it might not be your ABCs, but the content itself is still worth learning if you're (re)building a BCA figure collection.
Here's my advice on three figures to either BUY, CONSIDER or AVOID.
BUY: DTA Tour Series 2 Steve Blackman
This figure was included in the first mini review I did back in 2009, and as you can see it finished just second to Undertaker's excellent re-release in the series.
If playability is a major deciding factor in the figures you buy, there is no better BCA Blackman figure than this one-and-only retooled repaint.
His debut Superstars Series 6 figure strikes a MEAN pose, but nothing quite compares to this one actually being able to move his arms and legs in any given match.
CONSIDER: Grudge Match Series Vader vs. Mark Henry 2-Pack
It was the topic of this past week's "Do You Know It All?" sidebar and it almost never was (at least not for Henry, whose spot was originally scheduled for Goldust).
If you're in need of the Vader repaint from DTA Tour Series 1 or you missed out on Henry from his initial Superstars Series 6 release, take a second glance at this pack of behemoths.
I'm sure some people would like to forget the feud these two had midway through 1998, but the rest of you who want to relive it can ONLY by purchasing this set.
AVOID: Shotgun Saturday Night Series 1 Savio Vega
Somewhere there is a lone Los Boricuas fan who cries him or herself to sleep each night knowing that the greatest Hispanic heel stable of late 90s WWF (umm...) never got the respect it so deserved.
Right? Well, don't give up hope just yet as there was a repaint made by Jakks of the group's leader, Savio Vega, in what could be considered a quarter-assed (not even half-assed) attempt at his Los Boricuas attire.
The catch? It's still Savio Vega and the figure still sucks.
I don't suspect Los Boricuas' remaining fan would ever dream that the group's legacy in figure form is that of a short, stiff man in awful threads, but...hey, that sounds about right!
Take it from me, I know my BCAs and so will you.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
Here's my advice on three figures to either BUY, CONSIDER or AVOID.
BUY: DTA Tour Series 2 Steve Blackman
This figure was included in the first mini review I did back in 2009, and as you can see it finished just second to Undertaker's excellent re-release in the series.
If playability is a major deciding factor in the figures you buy, there is no better BCA Blackman figure than this one-and-only retooled repaint.
His debut Superstars Series 6 figure strikes a MEAN pose, but nothing quite compares to this one actually being able to move his arms and legs in any given match.
CONSIDER: Grudge Match Series Vader vs. Mark Henry 2-Pack
It was the topic of this past week's "Do You Know It All?" sidebar and it almost never was (at least not for Henry, whose spot was originally scheduled for Goldust).
If you're in need of the Vader repaint from DTA Tour Series 1 or you missed out on Henry from his initial Superstars Series 6 release, take a second glance at this pack of behemoths.
I'm sure some people would like to forget the feud these two had midway through 1998, but the rest of you who want to relive it can ONLY by purchasing this set.
AVOID: Shotgun Saturday Night Series 1 Savio Vega
Somewhere there is a lone Los Boricuas fan who cries him or herself to sleep each night knowing that the greatest Hispanic heel stable of late 90s WWF (umm...) never got the respect it so deserved.
Right? Well, don't give up hope just yet as there was a repaint made by Jakks of the group's leader, Savio Vega, in what could be considered a quarter-assed (not even half-assed) attempt at his Los Boricuas attire.
The catch? It's still Savio Vega and the figure still sucks.
I don't suspect Los Boricuas' remaining fan would ever dream that the group's legacy in figure form is that of a short, stiff man in awful threads, but...hey, that sounds about right!
Take it from me, I know my BCAs and so will you.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Mini Review #2 - 2 Tuff Series 1 Double Packs
In the BCA universe, what happens when you mix the Tag Team series with the Managers series?
That's right, it's too tough to call.
...Wait, no, I mean...it's 2 Tuff!
So, I thought I would put together a mini review of sorts, skipping all of the background information and getting right to the heart of the matter.
As you may or may not know, I'll be using a rating system which focuses on five major aspects of the figure - the head, torso, arms, legs and any additional accessories or extra details that should be factored in.
Before we get started, take a look at the original prototypes shown on the back carding and compare them to the finished products.
Good? Okay, well let's move on...
Truth Commission (The Interrogator and Rekon) - 17/25
Most fans will remember The Interrogator as the fun-loving Kurrgan from The Oddities and Rekon as Bossman's sidekick Bull Buchanan, but this 2-pack representing their time together in the short-lived Truth Commission stable is fairly good even without Sniper.
I reviewed Rekon before as part of my list of the top ten one-hit wonders in the BCA line, but maybe I should have included The Interrogator, too, since this figure was also never released again.
Either way, it's clear that this set is worth picking up for those looking to add another duo to their late 90s WWF tag team division.
Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz and 8-Ball) - 19/25
Chainz and 8-Ball made up one-half of the DOA stable - other members included 8-Ball's twin brother, Skull, and Crush - and were chosen for this series to defend the group well.
From the logos on the back of the vests to the tattoos wrapping around their arms, it's the attention to detail that makes this 2-pack stand out the most to me.
They didn't always put on mat classics each week against the Nation of Domination or Los Boricuas, but it's safe to say that Chainz and 8-Ball's debut Jakks figures are a worthy addition to any collection.
Goldust and Marlena - 19/25
Goldust dons the Two-Face make-up alongside his ex-wife, Marlena, in this 2-pack remniscent of the days when their marriage was crumbling right before our very eyes.
How sad. Yet, it brings the best (or near to it, at least) out of Jakks with the incredible sculpt of Marlena, which I reviewed earlier, and the equally-impressive Goldust repaint.
However, Dustin's get-up does lose a few points for me because the silver sheen of the attire is not wholly accurate (check the prototype again to see how it changed).
You've got to appreciate the "Goldust" writing across his upper back, though, since it's the only time you'll see it in the BCA line.
Chyna and HHH - 16.25/25
Yeah, it's a weird score average, but blame it on Hunter's oft-released, if not off-putting, debut figure.
Chyna carries the load in this 2-pack and once again proves that Jakks could make an excellent female figure in those days with much more ease than a figure of a male wrestler.
Of course, HHH's frame would be better represented later on with the Superstars Series 6 sculpt, but there's still no denying the awfulness that was his Superstars Series 4 figure.
Besides, who didn't hate accidentally breaking off that ponytail and having to super glue it back on multiple times? I know I did.
Be on the lookout for more mini and full-length reviews from VJB in 2011.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
That's right, it's too tough to call.
...Wait, no, I mean...it's 2 Tuff!
So, I thought I would put together a mini review of sorts, skipping all of the background information and getting right to the heart of the matter.
As you may or may not know, I'll be using a rating system which focuses on five major aspects of the figure - the head, torso, arms, legs and any additional accessories or extra details that should be factored in.
Before we get started, take a look at the original prototypes shown on the back carding and compare them to the finished products.
Good? Okay, well let's move on...
Truth Commission (The Interrogator and Rekon) - 17/25
Most fans will remember The Interrogator as the fun-loving Kurrgan from The Oddities and Rekon as Bossman's sidekick Bull Buchanan, but this 2-pack representing their time together in the short-lived Truth Commission stable is fairly good even without Sniper.
I reviewed Rekon before as part of my list of the top ten one-hit wonders in the BCA line, but maybe I should have included The Interrogator, too, since this figure was also never released again.
Either way, it's clear that this set is worth picking up for those looking to add another duo to their late 90s WWF tag team division.
Disciples of Apocalypse (Chainz and 8-Ball) - 19/25
Chainz and 8-Ball made up one-half of the DOA stable - other members included 8-Ball's twin brother, Skull, and Crush - and were chosen for this series to defend the group well.
From the logos on the back of the vests to the tattoos wrapping around their arms, it's the attention to detail that makes this 2-pack stand out the most to me.
They didn't always put on mat classics each week against the Nation of Domination or Los Boricuas, but it's safe to say that Chainz and 8-Ball's debut Jakks figures are a worthy addition to any collection.
Goldust and Marlena - 19/25
Goldust dons the Two-Face make-up alongside his ex-wife, Marlena, in this 2-pack remniscent of the days when their marriage was crumbling right before our very eyes.
How sad. Yet, it brings the best (or near to it, at least) out of Jakks with the incredible sculpt of Marlena, which I reviewed earlier, and the equally-impressive Goldust repaint.
However, Dustin's get-up does lose a few points for me because the silver sheen of the attire is not wholly accurate (check the prototype again to see how it changed).
You've got to appreciate the "Goldust" writing across his upper back, though, since it's the only time you'll see it in the BCA line.
Chyna and HHH - 16.25/25
Yeah, it's a weird score average, but blame it on Hunter's oft-released, if not off-putting, debut figure.
Chyna carries the load in this 2-pack and once again proves that Jakks could make an excellent female figure in those days with much more ease than a figure of a male wrestler.
Of course, HHH's frame would be better represented later on with the Superstars Series 6 sculpt, but there's still no denying the awfulness that was his Superstars Series 4 figure.
Besides, who didn't hate accidentally breaking off that ponytail and having to super glue it back on multiple times? I know I did.
Be on the lookout for more mini and full-length reviews from VJB in 2011.
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
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