London Toy Fair 2019: Funko

Check us out! I got to go to London Toy Fair this year (good for me) and, along with people from the toy and retail industry- looking to see what might be this year's big seller. So I had a little look  and took some photos of stuff you might be interested in, including some things you may not be aware of yet.

The toys of Christmas passed

Well it's 2018 (yeah, I'm bad at this), I hope you had a fine Christmas and got everything you wanted. I did alright, but when you get to my age (39), your  gifts tend to be socks and body soap sets.  It's during Christmas II tend to reminisce on childhood memories, littered with the elation I felt at opening life-long favourites like Stinkor, Manta Force, Ultra Magnus (with the rubber tyres on the white Optimus Prime), and that crocodile guy from The Get Along Gang. But everyone and their sister does that sort of thing, so allow me the indulgence of treading into more sombre territory by focusing on the toys that never made into my, or your, or anyone's stocking. The toys that didn't appear on the shop shelves because of lack of demand; that one missing character in an otherwise popular line; the toy company going under; or the tie-in media getting cancelled etc.

Cancelled/unmade toys is a subject that's been written about- by people more qualified than I- before, so I wont cover the more well known ones like rocket-firing Boba Fett, Niko from the Galaxy Rangers, and that mountain playset where the Visionaries were supposed to go on their holidays. Instead my list of toys are the never were, almost was, and could never be, so the following is a  more personal and esoteric list than an encyclopedia of toylines/companies that went out of business, or digging up painful childhood memories. Let the disappointment commence!

Hot Toys Cosbaby Ellen Ripley review

Well this was a bit of a surprise. I knew Hot Toys- they have cornered the market on high quality, high price action figures- had branched out into vinyl figures with their "Cosbaby" line. But I had no idea there was an Aliens series in the line. More so when I chanced upon them on the shelf of my local Forbidden Planet. "Well", I thought, "it is an anniversary year. Get that Sigourney in!" So how does this vinyl figure float in a sea of Pop Vinyls?

Cult Vinyl Judge Dredd review

When Dredd 3D came out in the cinemas, one thing that was sadly missing (apart from box office success) was the lack of  merchandise one comes to expect from a comic book movie. But recently, there's been a statue of Karl Urban's Dredd, an unofficial 1/6 scale figure, and now a vinyl figure. Take that, Judge Dredd bubble buddie! There's just one catch...

Zombo action figure review

When it comes to 2000AD, the galaxie's greatest comic, we've always been lacking for merchandise compared to the big two. So how could I not pick up this retro-styled figure of Al Ewing and Henry Flint's friendly, zombie/human hybrid, crime fighter, Zombo?

I don't give a fudge about your war... or your president

Sorry Barack, you're gonna to get your own chocolate treat. Maybe Jack Burton has a spare curly wurly?

Pop Vinyl Captain Phasma Review

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back. Three rotten prequel movies, and a uninspiring CGI spin-off show put paid to my Star Wars fandom, and then JJ Abrams had to go try and make a good one. What can I say? You put sweeping shots of X-Wings and a chromed stormtrooper in your trailer, I'll go see it. So, I'm passing a Disney store and see all the new Force Awakens toys on display, and I grab the last Phasma Pop Vinyl there.