4 Attachment(s)
BEST OF 2010 - Best Superhero Toys
Up, up and away with our favorite heroes and villains...
For a great selection of superhero action figures and collectibles, check out fine sponsors BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, ToyDorks.com, PastGenerationToys.com, Urban-Collector.com, SmallJoes.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
The unstoppable combination of DC characters and Four Horsemen sculpts continued to dominate the 6” superhero action figure market in 2010 with Mattel's DC Universe Classics. With a well-balanced offering of Golden, Silver and Modern Age DC Comics characters, this year’s assortments have included several surprises including the long-awaited Martian Manhunter and Zatana figures. This year’s Collect-and-Connect figures have also been an exciting mix, including classic Legion villain Validus, the wise simian Ultra Humanite and the mighty Bane. Whether it is a popular 6” hero/villain or a larger Collect-and-Connect figure, the DC Universe Classics collection had something for everyone in 2010.
In 2008, Hasbro impressed collectors with a cool assortment of Iron Man movie figures. In 2010, Hasbro continued where they left off with toys from Iron Man 2... lots and lots of toys. Their 3 3/4" series was amazing, offering up every conceivable Iron Man armor (concept, comic AND movie) in fully articulated figure form. However, the 3 3/4" line was almost TOO extensive, leaving the toy aisles oversaturated with dull peg warmers. For our money, Hasbro's 6-inch Walmart exclusive Iron Man 2 action figures were the clear winner. The slim wave gave fans all the Iron Man armors they needed, including the Mark V, VI and the too cool for words War Machine. The latter proved extremely popular with collectors, and for good reason. The figure showed Hasbro at the top of their game with an affordable mass market toy ($13!) PACKED with useful articulation, awesome sculpt and cool accessories (the return of interchangable hands!). Job well done, Hasbro.
DC’s Blackest Night series was one of the biggest comic events in years, and it positively begged for a great toy line. The epic team up of SEVEN Lantern Corps against Nekron and the Black Lanterns brought with it many iconic characters on both sides in stunning art. Appropriately, DC Direct stepped up with a Blackest Night series that started up where the previous Green Lantern lineup left off. With its usual amazing sculpts and paint work, the Blackest Night series came out of the gate incredibly strong with some of the best superhero figures in years. Mixing heroes and villains and lanterns of every color of the rainbow, this line has only grown in popularity with figures scheduled all the way through Series 8 in January. And while the Blackest Night figures have been burning up the shelves in comic book stores, they’ve also blasted through the convention circuit. After 2009’s rainbow of Hal Jordans debacle, DC Direct was much more evenhanded this year with an amazing trio of Black Lantern Jordan, White Lantern Sinestro, and White Lantern Jordan! And with Blackest Night giving way to the Brightest Day, there’s no shortage of amazing DC Direct figures on the way.
In 201,0 Hot Toys revolutionized Marvel collectibles with their MMS Iron Man 2 1/6 scale action figure collection. Not only did we get new versions of Tony Stark’s mech suit models from the film, but we also got a villain and a sexy female ally figure as well. Hot Toys took full advantage of the film’s character roster to create a well rounded collection of figures. The heavily equipped War Machine took shape in the form of an incredibly detailed 1/6 scale figure complete with a set of hands that feature articulated fingers.
The electrified whip-wielding Whiplash also received the 1/6 scale treatment with a head sculpt that was a dead-on likeness to actor Mickey Rourke and sexy yet deadly, Black Widow was also recreated in full 1/6 scale goodness. Last but not least, let’s not forget the main man himself Tony Stark in his Mark IV suit with donut box and hot rod red shades that ends this year with a big bang as the final Iron Man 2 Hot Toys release for 2010. Although whips, cold steel, donuts and redheads may not be your thing, the Iron Man 2 MMS figure collection has a little something for everyone and that is why it is the best in class for 2010.
