Open Your Toys Cast

Without a bunch of activities to go to I have had a ton of time to open and sell toys. I’ve been enjoying my toys more than ever. Especially since the last Toy Fair, while not too much originality, really delivered on some nostalgia feels. Mattel made a strong Master’s Origins showing right after our last show. However, I think I’m most interested in their new Mega Contrux. What’s crazy is we got...

I have to say that it was a pretty good Toy Fair. Nothing jaw-dropping amazing, but consistent. As usual, most things were spoiled in some form or fashion ahead of time. However, some things caught us unaware. How about the vintage reissues of the Ghostbusters? That got a lot of people excited. Much less so for their new Plasma (i.e. Black) Series counterparts. The Turtles made another huge showin...

The big new in Transformers this time around is MP 50 and 51, e.g. Tigatron and Arcee. Here’s hoping the Arcee is mistransformed. Also big, for 3.75″ Star Wars collectors at least, the “Duck Boat” was revealed to be The Mandalorian Imperial Troop Transport. This stuff is what keeps it fun for me. Will the new Origins line keep it fun for Masters collectors? With what looks to be a great line-up, I...

Is there anything today you see as being truly nostalgic for kids 20-30 years from now? We are getting figures exactly as we remember them with the new Empire Strikes Back Retro Collection. They’re even striking the nostalgia feels with the box for the $600 Snake Mountain that’s literally too big almost everyone’s collection. Speaking of toys too big for your collections that strikes the feels, Un...

Especially in this day and age with companies finally acknowledging that action figures are becoming an adult-driven industry, there is just too much. It’s not as bad if you focus on one franchise. If you’re a Joe fan, there’s next to nothing. Even when stuff is available, it’s literally a tiny amount. MOTU has the second least amount of collectibles right now, but even it is shipping $350 worth o...

Right before 2020, the biggest news for Transformers Masterpiece is going to be a throw-back to mostly old school trains. Probably the most popular thing to come out of our community in 2019 is The Child, The Asset, or most commonly, yet incorrectly known as Baby Yoda. However, Hasbro/Lucasfilm was not on their game and we won’t have anything in our hands until 2020. Masters is on track to have a...

Not often a statue makes into this part of the post, but if you feel like indulging, the new Rancor statue from Sideshow is a good start. Something you still have a chance to splurge on is Super7’s Snake Mountain. The new video shows just how amazing this piece is. If the Studio Series Devastator is not doing it for you, maybe a 3rd Party, $800 version, will satiate you. While probably on the oppo...

Let’s see how quickly we can do this. Eighteen bucks is too much for a 5 PoA figure, even a Transformer, just saying. The Super7 Snake Mountain is too big, just saying. The Mandalorian is as amazing as everyone is saying, ask Lotus, just saying. As much as I actually liked the first two Joe movies, rebooting with Snake Eyes is probably not a bad idea, just saying.

The “big” news this time around was the TFCon 3rd Party panel. However, I think Matthew “Deluxe” Baldwin sums it up well with his latest t-shirt offering. Hasbro shows off its latest level of packaging QC, with multiple errors of perhaps the most popular proper noun in toy history. While not a fail, more so a WTF, Super7 comes out of nowhere with Deluxe (i.e. $45) Japanese Wrestling figures. Lastl...

All right, enough bitching about my life lets bitch about toys. The only thing to bitch about in regard to Ed’s Galaxy Edge toy run, is the sheer amount of stuff. I can’t wait until our visit next year. I bitch plenty about these Masters of the Universe skate decks from Super7. When it comes to G.I. Joe joining the Transformers Earth Wars game the only reason to bitch is the fact that it is the on...

The big news, well outside of Unicron being funded. Oh and yeah, I spent $600 on a toy a week before getting laid off that I won’t see for over year. Let that sink in :). Hasbro announced War for Cybertron: Earthrise. Talk about nothing new and just wishing it could be a little different. The big news for Masters was the shipping update Super7 sent out. Unfortunately, there is no link to it. I’ve...

Something I don’t think we’ll soon forget is the new Masters Origin line. I think they’ll be milking this for all it’s worth. Unfortunately, the UCS Star Destroyer is pretty forgettable. Not too different from it’s last UCS treatment, it appears to be another cash grab. How fun is a Lego set with 2 colors anyway? Usually, I’m not a huge fan of transparency for no reason. However, any bots involved...

Well, I didn’t expect for another show without me to be so forthcoming, but here we are. I’m personally excited. I get to listen to two Open Your Toys Casts in one month. With the holiday weekend falling on our recording weekend, these guys got to have a lot more fun than I did. As they talked toys, I drove 6 hours through holiday traffic. Now I sit here watching my Saints lose their opening game....

Super7 is really balancing listening to their fans and doing their thing. Just like MOTUC, Pixel-Dan and Stina did an amazing job covering them at Power-Con. The biggest news in Transformers for a while now has been Unicron. Did the new trailer video change your mind? Star Wars has kinda been a no-show now for a few months and in preparation of Triple Force Friday. However, SDCC exclusives are com...

I never thought this day would happen. Of all the hosts we have had over the last 11 years. There have been many occasions where I was not able to record. I have always offered co-hosts the opportunity to run their own show. This even includes Mrs. McFavorite a couple of times. I thought what would be better than the wifey just going off on my collecting. Still no takers, until now! That’s right f...

One change I have dug is Hasbro’s approach to SDCC when it comes to the product pre-orders. Being able to order most of what they reveal the day of is nice. I’m sure they’re excited too as it prays upon the excitement of the moment. I knew I bit on the Reflector/Refraktor G1 3-pack and now I’m having second thoughts. There are absolutely no second thoughts when it comes to the new Mondo Hordak. I...

A lot of people think Newage is doing it right. While I love my Cosmos, the price is still killing me on these things. As an example of hard work, the finalists of the Lego Star Wars Greatest Battles killed it. Netflix’s Princesses of Power is on to that next level. Everybody associated with that show has been putting in work, and it’s paying off. Even Joe is working it this year at SDCC.

Something that’s got a lot of people being negative is Mattel’s SDCC exclusives. Announced at the last minute, presale in the middle of the night, then a misleading new process. It’s Mattel, what do you expect? I think I’m the only one feeling negative about the new World’s Smallest Joes. Just feel those cards could be more accurate. Speaking of accurate, no one can be negative about this new Tran...

Okay, I sat down ready to do a full post, but nope. Nothing is wrong, in fact, things are great. I just don’t want to spend a bunch time writing one right now. Had a weekend of 14 hours driving, non-stop family time and really just want to watch a movie and crash.

To take the easy way out this time around, I am going to highlight some great sales at my favorite online store. Big Bad Toy Store has some amazing prices on Star Wars, Masters of the Universe, and of course, Transformers. For G.I. Joe, just a warning, beware of buying from Marauder Gun Runners. After more than 10 years of patronage, they are no longer standing behind their orders. Sad when a fan...

I think Hasbro found a good balance with their SDCC MP-10 Ghostbusters crossover. Previously thought to be a waste of resources, the full reveal killed it. Super7 almost gave some useful information in the Q and A this month. However, Brian was a lot more forthcoming in an hour-long talk with Roast Gooble Dinner we recap. Another goal not met this weekend was scoring the new Retro Collection of St...

I’m going to break from the norm yet again because while I wanted to get the above out, I also did want to shout our special co-hosts for this show. We had the one-and-only Engineernerd back on. John hails from the prolific Action Figure Blues Podcast. We are also joined from down under by first-time co-host, long-time listener, regular on the Facebook group, and most importantly, good friend, Mar...

Did you miss out on the Barge? It’s okay, so did I. Mine was literally by a timezone issue, but do you know what? It doesn’t matter. It will be available again, somehow, someway. Do you miss Action Force? I guess Hasbro didn’t. They let the copyright slip away and a fan group has picked it up and are doing some amazing things with it. Here’s something that should not matter to one single person, b...

Wanna see the good and not so good of 2018, check out Michael Crawford’s Poppies. It features Michael’s choices, but even better, a curated list voted on by industry standouts, and even a community vote. Don’t know what you missed last year? Now you will. Hasbro Pulse posted an eBay listing many thought was too good to be true. For some, it was, at least for people in the states and Canadia. The B...

I’m not going to write about my top news from each brand like I usually do. If you haven’t ever noticed, as Lil Ms. McFavorite likes to say, it’s a pattern. I’d rather end this with a plea. Quit being so oblivious. Pay close attention to the world around you and how you affect it, especially your loved ones.