Sideshow Collectibles

Look, it's time to face the reality that you'll never be Batman IRL. Aside from the fact that you're not a billionaire industrialist whose parents were murdered in an alley, it's super dangerous to be a vigilante. That doesn't mean you can't have some cool things that show off how much you appreciate the Dark Knight. Why don't you let us help you out with that. We're going to give away a Hot Toys Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Batman action figure. We want you to win it. You've earned the chance to do so, and you deserve it. Sure we're talking to thousands of you, but every one of you should get the opportunity to get some swag this sweet for the low, low price of free.

Few games have brought the world of Star Wars to life quite like Star Wars Battlefront. DICE's most recent entry in the franchise is arguably one of the most beautiful games of the past year, let alone one of the best-looking Star Wars video games. It's fitting then that Hot Toys, purveyor of some of the best-looking Star Wars figures, would take the chance on bringing some of those Battlefront characters to life in toy form. Rather than focus on the more familiar faces of the original Star Wars trilogy however, Hot Toys has honed in on crafting some of the best Stormtrooper figures money can buy. After already releasing a figure based on Battlefront's Shocktrooper, the Hong Kong company has now turned its detail-oriented eye to the Jumptrooper.

I did not particularly care for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. As a film I found it rather lacking, but there were elements that I would agree had some merit. Wonder Woman was cool, the fight choreography was solid, and some of the practical design work was very sharp. One element that I just never got on board with however was the new Bat-suit. I know it was more authentic to the version on the printed page, and wasn't quite as bulk or overly realistic like previous Bat-suits, but it just didn't work for me. It looked like it was cobbled together from duct tape and not befitting a superhero. With that in mind, it's still possible to appreciate the work that went into creating Batman's new look. That's just as true for the on-screen version as it is the miniaturized action figure versions that have been circulating since the film's release. This month, Hot Toys takes its pass at the Batfleck, and even though I'm still not sold on this particular design, it's arguably the most authentic version of Batman you'll get without stealing one of Ben Affleck's suits.

Exercise is hard, but if your fitness goals tend to line up with the way that characters in the cartoons of the early '80s looked --- all stout muscles shown off by chest harnesses and loincloths --- then I have a plan for you. Instead of working out, just remove all mirrors from your home and replace them with Sideshow's new high-end statue of He-Man, the Grayskull-powered warrior from Masters of the Universe.

Sideshow Collectibles doesn't often venture to New York Comic Con, but when it does, the company manages to roll out more than enough surprises for fans. While the booth at NYCC was decidedly smaller than that at San Diego Comic-Con --- which was a bit of a relief, to be honest --- that doesn't mean there weren't some great new statues and figures on display. This NYCC in particular was especially good for Sideshow's Premium Format Figure line, which debuted a half-dozen new pieces.

Ever wanted your own personal Sith Lord to do thy bidding? Need an astromech droid to record your day-to-day dalliances for the Galactic Empire? Both of those things can be hard to track down, but lucky for you, we just so happen to be giving those exact things away. That's right, you can take home your very own R2-Q5 Imperial Astromech Droid and Return of the Jedi Darth Vader sixth-scale figures just because we like you. Sure this Darth Vader won't actually be able to Force Choke anyone that's giving you the business, but you can pretend he is. That's close enough, right?

Just as a new Netflix Marvel hero is about to burst onto the scene --- well technically, I suppose Luke Cage already arrived in Jessica Jones, but this upcoming series is his own personal show now --- the first streaming super is getting his high-end action figure due. After two successful seasons, the Man Without Fear is officially a Hot Toys collectible. We saw a prototype at San Diego Comic-Con this year, but these new images give a much better idea of what to expect from the final product. Daredevil isn't often considered a man known for blazing paths, but his arrival at Hot Toys bodes well for Jessica Jones, Mr. Cage, and the rest of the supposed Defenders.

Sideshow Collectibles has long been providing the collecting world with sixth-scale figures based on Star Wars. In fact, until Hot Toys jumped on the bandwagon ahead of The Force Awakens, Sideshow was pretty much the only place you could find high-end figures based on George Lucas’ creation. Still, in all that time, there haven’t been a tremendous amount of these figures released, with Sideshow carefully curating its collection with some unexpected choices. Of course, you can’t have the Star Wars license without putting your own spin on the Sith Lord Darth Vader. As one of the most recognizable entities from the saga, Vader is a prime choice for an action figure. In fact, he’s such a marquee character, it’s the second time Sideshow’s released a figure for him. However, there are plenty of improvements with this revamped edition of Sideshow’s previous Return of the Jedi Darth Vader to make it more than a simple repeat viewing.

Droids are the unsung heroes of the Star Wars universe, and that holds true in the toy department too. Though the bigger droids of the franchise have been honored numerous times throughout the years, but those that have only appeared a few times across the saga haven’t had quite as much figural success. Yeah, you’ve got your GNK droids and your interrogation droids, but it’s rare these days for any true Imperial droids to get any play. Where at least the droids that pal around with the Rebel Alliance have had some adventures beyond the 1/12 scale, it’s rarified air for anyone that doesn’t know a Skywalker personally to get any love --- particularly at sixth-scale. Sideshow Collectibles appreciates the little guy, and with the release of the R2-Q5 has finally given the 1/6 bad guys a droid all their own.

For the most part, Hot Toys doesn't stray off the path when it comes to its sixth-scale action figures. With the company's figures coming at such a premium, fans appreciate the attention to detail and screen accuracy Hot Toys offers. That's why, when something like this new Joker figure comes along, it's a bit of a surprise. Based on Batman's appearance in Suicide Squad and the Joker's latest cinematic incarnation, the Joker (Batman Imposter) figure is definitely a unique interpretation of the Dark Knight and his most famous of foils. It's also something that will haunt my dreams for weeks.