Happy Holidays!

I can’t believe we’re already at the end of December! I’d had great plans for at least five other posts this year (reviews of two Barbie releases, a modern versus vintage Cabbage Patch doll post, a vintage Star Wars post, and a travel-related tourist dolls of Vietnam and Cambodia post). But I suppose they’ll all have to wait for 2020!

If you’re celebrating Christmas this week, I hope it’s a happy one! 🎄
And if I don’t post again until January, Happy New Year! 🥳

The Fresh Dolls Mia from Positively Perfect

I vaguely remember reading some reviews of the Fresh Dolls line back in 2017.  While I did think about picking one up, since I was on a semi-hiatus when it came to toy collecting at the time, I never got around to it.  Fast forward two years, and while checking out the toy selection at Dollarama (the Canadian discount chain), I noticed three different Fresh Dolls on the shelf.  Remembering my earlier interest, I picked one up.

The Fresh Dolls line are a fashion doll (11.5"/29.5cm) brand within the World of EPI umbrella who previously brought us the Positively Perfect line of 14.5" (37cm) soft-bodied dolls for toddlers. The Fresh Dolls line consists of seven jointed fashion dolls, each of which is differentiated by their unique outfits (a range of formal to casual) skin colour (a range from medium to dark that's described on the official website as "deep mocha, caramel, latte, and even blended") and hair colour/texture (smooth to curly, long to short, and blonde to black).  There has since been a release called The Fresh Squad, which consisted of three male dolls, also fashion doll size.

The particular doll that I picked up ("Mia") has curly hair, medium-dark skin, and wears a patterned jumpsuit and faux-leather jacket.  This doll is one of the basic releases and originally retailed for $10.99USD, but the Dollarama price was $4.00CDN. The deluxe releases originally retailed for $17.99USD.

Let's take a closer look!

Funko POP Constantine DC Super Heroes 255 (Free Comic Book Day Edition)

If you've read my posts for a while, you'll know that I'm an avid collector of all things Hellblazer.  So when Hellblazer main character John Constantine started showing up in both the TV series Legends of Tomorrow and in the DC Animated Universe, I naturally readied myself for a stream of new merchandise.  And while there's certainly been some (as my archives can attest), there hadn't been a Funko figure until just a couple of months ago.

It was much to my irritation that the figure ended up being released as a limited run edition of 20,000 (sold in comic shops on Free Comic Book Day, 4 May, 2019), because while I'm happy with my one Pop of Constantine, with a minor paint job, the design would also be perfect as Pete Wisdom (a Marvel Comics character with a similar style but with black hair and coat).  And while I'd be happy to customize a regular release, the idea of paying extra for a limited run figure just to turn it into something else just isn't something I'm comfortable doing.

But either way, let's take a look at this one!

Barbie Fashionista #121: blue dress & prosthetic leg

As promised in my post about Fashionista #133 (the new release with the wheelchair) weekend before last, today I'm unboxing Barbie Fashionista #121.

Fashionista 121 is distinguished from the rest of the line by her prosthetic left leg.  Unlike 133, who came on a multi-jointed body, this doll has the standard five points of articulation that most of the Fashionistas have by default, however there is some rotational movement to the hip on the left leg that we don't see in the standard bodies (or on the right leg of this doll).  Some dolls in this line are noted by being shorter, taller, or chubbier, but (leg aside) this particular model is on the standard height/size body.

This doll is in a medium skin tone and has long brown hair and green painted eyes.  Her accessories include a sleeveless sweatshirt dress, hoop earrings and white flat shoes.  Her prosthesis is an above-knee one, and seems to be sculpted to resemble one with a microprocessor-type knee. I'm mildly surprised that they went with an above-knee style, since below-knee amputations are so much more common, but either way it's an interesting design.

Let's take a closer look!

Barbie Fashionista 133 & her blue wheelchair

Earlier this year I saw the announcement that the Barbie Fashionista line would be adding three dolls featuring visible disabilities: Two in wheelchairs (both in the same outfit, but one white with her blonde hair down and one black with her shorter hair up) and one with a prosthetic leg (in a medium skin tone and a different outfit). As someone who specifically looks for disability representation in children's/playline toys, I knew I'd be bringing at least a couple of these home. Today I'm opening up #133, one of the wheelchair-using dolls.

This doll is currently retailing for just under $15CDN online and locally. And while that is higher than the average price for most dolls in the Fashionista line (which usually retail for $10-$12CDN), considering the size and detail of the wheelchair and the fact that this doll comes on a much more elaborately articulated body, I was impressed that she isn't being sold at double the price.  Considering the additional cost of Monster High's wheelchair-included doll, and the extra cost of wheelchair accessories for American Girl type dolls, I was pleased to see that this doll will be affordable for a wide range of families.

Now let's take a closer look!

Retro Week: Fraggle Rock Doozer Wind-Up Toys

I noticed the existence of Fraggle Rock Funko Pop figures while watching one of YouTuber Lawn Gnome's Funko review videos.  My first thought was that I should try and pick one (or two, or more) up. But then I remembered that as children, my sister and I had several of the plush Fraggles and the plastic Doozers that were released in the early '80s during the tv series' original run. And because of that I realized that there were probably old Fraggle toys still living in my mother's basement.  And indeed I found some!

In 1983 Tomy released a series of four wind-up Doozer figures, of which I had two.  Each one had slight variations in their hair and features (and helmet colours), and each came with a removable tool belt. Apparently most of the figures that show up on the second hand market are missing those belts. Luckily enough both seem to be complete with their accessories and in complete working condition.  So let's take a closer look!

New Arrival: Volks Yo-SD Tinatsu/Chinatsu v. 2

I was browsing Mandarake (the Japanese second-hand chain) looking at doll outfits the a few weeks ago when I came across a listing for a YoSD Tinatsu (also called Chinatsu, but I'll be using the former since it's what appears on her paperwork). While I debated buying her, she sold.  But a few short days later another Tinatsu was listed, this one at 3000¥ less because her eyes had been swapped and were no longer the default brown.  Since I can't resist a good deal, I decided to add her to my cart.

Unlike some of their larger dolls, there are no standard dolls in the Yo-SD size (26.5cm), so all of the releases have been limited run for the various Dolpas ("doll parties") and other events.

Retro Week: Happy Valentine's Day from Tenderheart Bear

Since I've done the traditional collage of action figure couples and doll couples in years past, I thought that this year I would mix it up by sharing a 1980's Care Bear (in both his plush and figure forms) who is covered in hearts!

SooSoo Toys Paranormal Detective (John Constantine by another name)

Being unboxed today is a non-licensed (but clearly brand-inspired) figure from SooSoo Toys. SooSoo Toys produces 1/6th scale multi-jointed action figures (the same scale as both the similar style Hot Toys figures and standard Barbies). Their bodies general have between 15 and 17 points of articulation, generally come with multi-piece fabric outfits, and retail in the range of $130-$160 USD.

The figure I bought is named "Paranormal Detective" but is clearly meant to be the DC Comics character John Constantine.  The box art and head sculpt are very clearly designed to resemble Matt Ryan, the actor who plays the character on the TV series "Legends of Tomorrow" (and who played him in the short-lived series "Constantine" and who voices the same character in the animated films "Justice League Dark" and "Constantine: City of Demons"). If you've followed the blog for a while you'll know that I'm always drawn to Hellblazer/Constantine collectibles.

DC Comics Bombshells The Batwoman from Funko's Rock Candy line

Being unboxed today is the final figure that I mentioned in my "incoming toys of 2018" summary, A vinyl figurine of Batwoman (in her DC Bombshells form) from Funko's Rock Candy line.

The Rock Candy line is a series of 5 inch/13cm character figures which are more detailed and more proportional when compared to the Funko Pop line. T line was originally dedicated exclusively to female characters (at launch the tagline was "“the most powerful women around" and consisted of superheroine and Barbie characters). The line has since expanded and some recent releases in the line have been male. Each single-piece figure comes with a clear circular stand.

I mentioned the DC Bombshells version of the DC Universe characters when I reviewed my Tonner Batwoman Doll, but for those who are unfamiliar with the sub-brand, these are essentially 1940s-style pinup versions of the characters.

The figures are generally offered for sale at prices between $10 and $15 USD.

Let's take a closer look!

2018 in Review - Doll and Figure Entrances and Exits

2018 was quite a dramatic year for me personally and included relocating back to Canada.  As a result, I ended up selling and donating more dolls and figures than I have in years.  But let's start with the dolls and figures that joined us!

In February, I was joined by  Disney's Couture De Force 20th Anniversary Esmerelda from Hunchback Notre Dame. When I first posted about her I hadn't planned to keep her, but in the end she stuck around.