Mixel Madness!!: Series 3 to the MAX

The month is coming to an end, and Mixel Madness is coming to a close, so there's nothing else to do but break the Mixels down and move on...

Wait a minute, that's not right. I did break them down, but I put them right back together... to the MAX!!

So if you're unfamiliar with the Mixel lore, combining three mixels from the same tribe creates a MAX; a giant mixel that has the powers of all three combined. Or they're just building toys, whatever. I've never seen the Mixel shorts so I'm not really sure what they're powers are supposed to be, but I do know about the combinations. Lego has the building instructions for all MAX mixels, as well as ideas on how to combine mixels from different tribes. 

Now you do have to go online for this, and I honestly think Lego dropped the ball here a little. They could have included the MAX instructions with the instructions for regular mixels. It's kinda lame that I have to get online to view/download the MAX instructions, but I suppose it isn't that big a deal. I do like that there is a good amount of unused pieces after the builds are complete. This allows you to change the build if you'd like.

Anyway, let's get on to the official builds and see how they stack up.

Wiztastics MAX

If you've been following my Mixels write-ups, you know that I wasn't too happy with the Wiztastics. I just didn't think there was a lot of playability there, especially when compared to the other sets. Now, the MAX makes up for this, but just barely.

There's a lot going on here, with the wings, the tail, the arms, and the mouth all being on either hinge or ball joints. The glaring problem with this figure is that almost all movement is hindered by another part of the build. Depending on how the wings are positioned, it can prevent the mouth from fully opening or hinder the tail movement. This MAX has four arms, the front two on hinges and the back two on ball joints. The front two work well, but the full range of motion of the back arms are completely hindered by their placement. The wings and front arms actually keep them from moving up and forward. 

I found the tail particularly frustrating. It's attached with one ball joint, and combined with it's wide construction, this hurts how much it can move. I didn't measure it, but it probably has about 130 degree range of motion up and down, and 90 degrees left to right. You can also see that the stinger is attached to the cone via a lightsaber blade. It looks fine, but the cone falls off almost every time it's repositioned. This can easily be fixed by pushing the blade in completely, but I'm reviewing this build as it is designed, and it fails in this regard.

Glorp Corp MAX

Just looking at this guy, my first thought went to Pey'j from Beyond Good and Evil (great game, btw, totally play it if you can). He kinda look like a pig standing upright.

This MAX has a lot going for it. The shoulders, elbows, hips, and ankles are all ball joints, and the mouth and tail are on hinges. It's a squat figure, but there's still a good amount of motion to be found. At least there would be if the "snot" wasn't in the way. Honestly, I see a theme here with the Series 3 MAX Mixels: restricted movement.

And just like the Wiztastic MAX, there's something here that just really hurts the build. The hand/arm piece falls off with almost every movement. And the worst thing is that there are more than enough extra pieces to correct this problem, Lego just decided to leave it be. At least with the Wiztastic MAX you could slightly modify the build to fix it. Here, there's no way to modify it with the pieces used in the build.

I know it seems like I'm hating on this figure, mostly because I really did not like the way the hands turned out, but overall the Glorp Corp MAX is a very middle of the road figure. Not great, but no terrible either. 

Spikels MAX

    

So by this point it's probably obvious that I'm nor caring much for these MAX Mixels, but thankfully the Spikels MAX is a great figure, and my favorite of the three hands down.

As you can see based on the figure's pose, there's a lot of movement here. And most importantly, it's unhindered movement.The shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and tail are all ball joints. The mouth, and each finger and thumb are on hinges. Now this MAX is a bit top heavy, but there are enough ball joints on this figure to compensate. And the big feet certainly don't hurt. As a result of all this, there's a huge variety of poses to put this guy in. The figure is also very expressive since each finger moves independently. If you wanna have him giving a thumbs up, or shooting the bird, you can easily do it. There's just a lot going on here, and I can easily see him becoming everyone's favorite. 

The Verdict

Overall, this is the weakest set of MAX figures out of the three series that have been released. But the Spikels MAX may be the best individual figure out of the nine available. So if you had to choose on set, you absolutely can't go wrong with this build. There's a lot to play with here.

With this being said, there's still a lot that can be done with these Mixels. While I'm not one for building my own creations, but if that's what you're in the mood for, there are some great pieces here. And I'm sure you can modify these builds to work better. I can already see places where adjustments could be made, and who knows, I may build and post them sometime.

So keep all this in mind if you're on the fence about breaking down your mixels to construct the MAX figures.

Vinnie's Weekly Haul: September 26, 2014

End of the week, end of the month, and another bunch of comics to add to my ever-growing stack. I decided not to provide any pictures today (partly because my work space is covered in Lego, mostly because I'm too lazy to move things). I didn't buy anything other than comics this week, so I'm just gonna jump into that.

• Batman Eternal #25
• Chew #43
• Cyclops #5
• Guardians of the Galaxy #19
• Inhuman #6
• Loki: Agent of Asgard #6
• Magneto #10
• New Avengers #24
• Red Sonja #12
• Saga #23
• Secret Avengers #8
• Storm #3
• Superman Doomed #2

So Superman Doomed #2 finally came out, after about a month of being delayed. I really enjoyed the ending, even though the journey to get here was a little wonky and inconsistent (I'm looking at you, Scott Lobdell). And the implications with the DC Multiverse are really exciting. I don't want to go into much detail, but it looks like Superman, somewhere, is wearing his underwear on the outside!

And that's all I've read so far. I'm going back to playing Destiny and building the Star Destroyer I bought last week. And wearing my Pikachu beanie, cause I'm a boss like that.

Lego Review: 75054 AT-AT

After posting my review for the Mos Eisley Cantina last week, I'm officially into the big leagues with the 75054 AT-AT.

The set clocks in at 1137 pieces with five minifigures. The AT-AT itself is pretty big, measuring in over 12" (33cm) tall, 12" long (32cm), and 4" (11cm ) wide. I normally don't focus on the actually measurements, but felt it was warranted this go around due to it's size. The minifigures included in this set are two Snowtroopers, a Snowtrooper Commander, the AT-AT Driver, and General Veers. As a heads up, there are no "good guys" in this set, but it is very much a companion piece to the 75049 Snowspeeder, so you might want to pick that up so your Snowtroopers have someone to beat them. And if you're interested, check out my Snowspeeder review to see if it's worth the extra cost.

The Minifigures

In terms of color, the minis in this set aren't that dynamic, being mostly different shades of white and gray. So I'll start with the AT-AT Driver since he has the most going on visually.

I love the driver's helmet. It's the helmet seen with the Tie-Fighter but molded in gray with black, red, and shiny silver highlights and decals. The torso also has some shiny printing, which looks pretty cool under the right lighting. I'm a bit disappointed the back of the torso doesn't use shiny printing, but I suppose it's the result of the mini spending most it's time hidden away in the cockpit. That being said, there is a lot of fine detail on the torso and legs, printed in light gray to add wrinkles and creases to the driver's suit. The face used is menacing, and reused throughout this set for all minis with helmets. This minifigure also comes with a blaster pistol.

The two Snowtroopers are the same figure found in the Snowspeeder set, so there isn't that much to say. Both figures also have shiny silver print on their front torso. The backpack is a separate piece, adding depth to the mini but makes it easier to knock the figure over. They are solid figures, and my only complaint is the way the clothgoods skirt stick out once folded. Along with the helmet and backpacks, both minifigures come with a blaster rifle.

Upon first glance, it's easy to think the Snowtrooper Commander is the same as the Snowtroopers, but there are a good amount of difference, particularly in the detail. There is no gray on this figure. Where the snowtrooper uses gray hands and hips, the commander is all white. The printing on the front torso is different on the commander, showing his higher rank over the left part of his chest. There is no shiny silver details on the commander's front, but there is on the back. And overall, there is more wrinkle and crease detail on the both sides of the commander. He does not come with a backpack, but he does come with a helmet and blaster rifle.

Finally we have General Veers, the only named character in this set. In line with movie outfits, the color of this mini is a very dark, mute gray. The details are well done, of course, but the front is more plain than the back, which features clothing wrinkles and some shiny silver printing. The face used is different than the other figures in this set, with lots of lines that make Veers look a combination of worried, tired, and inquisitive. It's a good look for someone that isn't supposed to make it out of the Battle of Hoth alive. He also has a headset printed on his head, and comes with a pair of binoculars as his accessory.

The AT-AT

So let's get this out of the way, if you are looking for color, you've come to the wrong place. And if you're looking for a build that isn't incredibly tedious, you've definitely come to the wrong place. The build is time consuming, and somewhat boring, BUT the end result is worth it. What you get with this set is a great build that really shows off the scale of the Imperial AT-AT Walker.

The AT-AT is also pretty detailed, making up for the fact that this set is nothing more than gray on gray on gray. Just look at how imposing the head looks. It's fantastic. My only complaint with head is the lack of up and down motion. The side to side motion is great, on the other hand, and if you open the panels that cover up the walker's innards, you can get an even wide range of motion. The two spring-loaded shooters are located on the underside of the head. It's not the ideal location, but it's movie accurate.

The cockpit works well, but it isn't very spacious. Once you seat the driver, it get's pretty cramped in there, leaving little room for Veers to stand in. Of course both figures do fit, you just can't do much with them in terms of poseability. It isn't that big a problem, but it is something that sticks out.

The sides of the walker opens up to allow access inside the build. You could probably fit about seven minifigures standing upright inside the AT-AT. It's not an ideal situation, but it can work if you want to use the build as troop transport (or just to house your minis, whatever).

The AT-AT also has a trap door on the underside of the body, activated by the plunger pictured on the right. It's a good addition to the set, and something I really wasn't expecting. 

Once you get inside the set, you can see there are a lot of technic pins and pieces holding this thing together. It's well done, but sadly helps add to the tediousness of the build. 

The legs are also constructed of technic pieces, allowing them a good range of motion. Due to the size of the walker, and the fact that it's very top heavy, I was concerned about this build's stability. Thankfully, there's nothing to be worried about. There are a few poses that can't be maintained, but you really don't have to worry about it tipping over. I gave it a few pokes, and it seems like the AT-AT will stay upright unless you're really trying to knock it over.

The Verdict

Apart from the tediousness of the actual construction of this set, I'm really happy with it. It's big, imposing, and looks the part of the AT-AT. The minifigures aren't anything special, but considering the source material was designed to have the Imperials look similar, I can't fault Lego for that.

So do what I did: get this set, start watching the original Star Wars Trilogy, and build this set. At the very least, get some background noise going when building this thing. That aside, the 75054 AT-AT is worth the $109.99 price tag.

Mixel Madness!!: The Wiztastics Review

We're approaching the end of our Mixel journey with the Wiztastics. And after enjoying the Glorp Corp and being pleasantly surprised with the Spikels, I was hoping that I had left the best for last. Sadly, this was not the case.

So let's get the technical stuff out of the way. The Wiztastics are Mixels that are based around magic, hence the use of purple bricks. For the whole set, you'll be getting 195 pieces, which is a pretty good deal for the $14.97 (or $4.99/Mixel) you'll be spending on this set. As per usual with the Mixels, there are lots of horns and ball joints that can be used in a variety of ways to customize your Mixels or construct your own builds.

Magnifo

Looking at Magnifo, I really love the figure's look: somewhat of a classic wizard look that really looks great in purple. And there are some good ideas here. The use of clear blue bricks throughout the body and purple lightsaber blades as wands really helps sell the "based on magic" feel of this set. The cape also looks pretty cute.

But the look isn't all this figure is about. When it comes to play and poseability, Magnifo is lacking. The ball joints used to make his legs actually limit the way you can pose the figure. There is no back and forward motion; only side to side. And the arms are on a hinge joint, so they also have only one plane of motion. There are two more points of articulation. The cape swings up and down, kinda giving it the illusion of wind flowing through it; and his hat can move slightly, although I feel that's more of a design flaw than something done on purpose.

Even though there's a lot going on with Magnifo, I just feel it's one of the least dynamic Mixels, at least as far as Series 3 goes. He looks great but doesn't quite play great.

Magnifo also comes with this set's Nixel.

Wizwuz

Wizwuz is definitely the goofy one of this bunch. his bulbous eyes and tongue sticking out really sells that. And there's a lot of movement with this figure. Both his upper and lower lips are on hinges, as are each of his six legs. Wizwuz.s tail also consists of two ball joints. 

While the tongue helps his look, I'm actually not a fan of it. I love that the mouth can open so wide, but the tongue jutting out just hurts what you can actually do with it. The legs, on the other hand, are great. I love the large horns Lego used as claws, as it really lets Wizwuz get a good grip on anything he can wrap his legs around. On the other hand, having these claws hurts the way the figure can be posed. It's hard to balance the figure if either the front or the back legs are up because Wizwuz is both front and back heavy. The tail looks great but seems to break apart easily, especially if you're trying to play with it. The two back legs also have this problem, as the rounded tops run along the side of body, causing them to pop off easily.

Mesmo

Finally, we have Mesmo. The wings are a nice addition, and a departure from what we normally see with the Mixels. And in this case, the limited movement works because wings are supposed to flap up and down. I don't much care for short legs, but they work well with this figure. He also has a small tail, with a small range of motion.

Mesmo face is very expressive, thanks to the way the eyes are crafted. The use of witch's hats as eyelids are brilliant, and because they're supposed to fit somewhat slanted, you can make him look as angry or dopey as you like. His mouth is on a hinge, and can open a little more than 90 degrees. I also like the use of a small horn on his bottom lip, giving Mesmo a soul patch. 

The Verdict

After building the Wiztastics, I was ready to rip into the set. My first impression was there just wasn't a lot to like here, and it was one of the worst, if the not the worst, set of Mixels I had come across. But coming back to them for this review has somewhat changed my initial reaction. I still think this is one of the weakest Mixel sets, but it isn't completely worthless. The problem is that Mesmo and Magnifo work best when they're simply standing still, as there isn't much dynamic motion to be found out of these two. My favorite of the three is Wizwuz, but having multiple legs has been done better in the past, specifically by Kraw and Tentro of the of Flexers.

Ultimately, I cannot recommend the Wiztastics if you're planning on following the instructions. I haven't built the Max Mixel, so I can't yet say if my feeling on this set will change. But I'm basing this review on what I see in front of me, and I'm feeling is disappointment.

Next week, I'll be showcasing the Max Mixels for each of the three tribes of Series 3, so be on the look out, and thanks for reading!

Vinnie's Weekly Haul: September 19, 2014

This week wasn't anything spectacular in terms of releases. Didn't see any toys that struck my fancy, and while I'm always excited about comics, nothing sticks out as being an absolute must buy.

So let's get on with it.

Here's what I bought in the way of comic books:

• All-New X-Men #32
• Avengers #35
• Avengers World #13
• Batman Eternal #24
• Daredevil #8
• Elektra #6
• FF vol 2 #1-16 (digital)
• Multiversity
• Original Sin #5.5
• Superior Spider-Man #33
• Thor: God of Thunder #35
• Uncanny Avengers #24
• Uncanny X-Men #26
• Unwritten: Apocalypse #9

Thor: God of Thunder #25 marks the finale issue of the current Thor series before Thor starts up again with a new number one issue in October. It'll still be written by Jason Aaron, so I guess it's an unnecessary relaunch, but you know Marvel, they love their number ones.

Avengers #35 is the first issue of the latest Avengers crossover "Time Runs Out." Based on Jonathan Hickman's previous work on the title I'm expecting great things from this Avengers/New Avengers crossover, which could end in a line-wide Marvel reboot, similar to what DC did with the New 52 a few years ago. Hopefully, this isn't the case, but we'll see what happens.

Superior Spider-Man #33 continues our look into the Marvel multiverse as Spider-Ock and a collection of other Spider-Men from various dimensions team up to take on a big bad. I'm just excited about this because Christos Cage is a co-writer and he always does great work on Spider-Man.

I also picked up FF vol.2 on Comixology this morning. Marvel is running a sale on the series today only with each issue only costing 99 cents. Word of advice, only pick up FF, do not get Matt Fraction's Fantastic Four run. It's hot garbage and I'm really surprised he pumped that shlock out.

Apart from the comics, I also picked up a Pikachi laplander hat.

Look at that debonair mother fucker. And the hat looks good too,

And I did buy some more Lego this week.

Expect the review on this set in the next few weeks. I'll be reviewing the AT-AT soon, then the Star Destroyer after.

So that's it. Catch you guys next week!

Lego Review: 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina

The 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina is the third release (at least according to price) of Lego's Classic Star Wars Collection, fitting in nicely between the Snowspeeder and B-Wing, and the AT-AT and Imperial Star Destroyer.

Buying this set will set you back $69.99 and get you 616 pieces, including eight minifigures with assorted accessories. As far as I can tell, the three Bith musicians are the only minis in this set that haven't been seen before, with updated versions of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Greedo, and a Sandtrooper rounding out the ranks.

Interestingly enough, this set seems to be a remake of the 4501 Mos Eisley Cantina released back in 2004. I didn't have this set, but I do have access to Google, hence me learning this little tidbit. Both sets contained a version of the Cantina, the Landspeeder, and the Dewback, so it's neat to be able to see how the set has been improved over the previous release.

I was on the fence about this set at first. I'm not a huge fan of playsets because I don't do much playing with these builds. And I already had the previous version of the Landspeeder, which I have pictures of below. I also have more versions of Luke and Han than I can shake a stick at. But in the end, the set won me over. Read on to find out why.

The Minifigures

As I said before, I have plenty of Luke's, Han's, and even a few Obi-Wan's. I also have at least 20 Stormtroopers, so that certainly wasn't the driving factor behind me purchasing this set. That being said, I did want the other minifigures, especially Greedo, so I'll start things off there.

So here we have Greedo, scourge of the underworld, and bane of Han Solo's existence. Naw, just kidding. Greedo can really only be summed up in two words: super chump. And I don't care what Lucas says, Han shot first.

Now that that's out of the way, lets talk about this minifigure. This isn't the first time we've seen Greedo, as he was part of the Cantina set I mentioned above, but this is the first time he's been released in almost a decade, so I'd consider him a new figure. Greedo is a solid design, despite not completely matching the movie counter part. The blue is a little bright for my tastes, and I'm disappointed he doesn't have the yellow stripes running down his arms and legs. But it does work as a facsimile, because it'll be hard to look at this figure and not know it's supposed to be Greedo. The head is well sculpted, I like the belt printed on his legs, and I think the vest looks great. Greedo also comes with a standard blaster pistol.

Next up is the Cantina Band. You get three identical minifigures, and while it wouldn't hurt if Lego had decided to make slight differentiations around the torso, ala the Ghostbusters,  I can't fault them because the characters are supposed to look identical to one another. I like the way they turned out, and the sculpt of the head is fantastic. Two of the three come with accessories: a wind instrument and what I think is a microphone. The third band member is supposed to be the drummer, and his drum kit is part of the Cantina build.

This is definitely the most detailed version of Luke Skywalker in his Tatooine outfit that we've seen to date, although whether this is a good or bad thing might depend on your personal preference. I like the outfit. It has a lot of detail, and I like the printing on the back. What I don't much care for are the use of excessive lines on Luke's face. It's supposed to look more detailed, but really just makes the figure look older. Not that I'm not a fan of detail, I just think it takes away from Luke's youthful appearance if he looks world-weary before he even goes off-world. Luke also comes with his blue lightsaber and a pair of binoculars. And if you were keeping track, this is the same figure that came with the UCS Sandcrawler.

Since we're on the topic of too much facial detail, Obi-Wan Kenobi looks rough. The extra lines on his face makes him look more haggard than he needs to be, as if I couldn't tell he was supposed to be an old man by looking at his gray hair and beard. The two-tone beard is a great touch, but I wish Lego would update his hairpiece. Or this hairpiece in general. Obi and Han have had the same hair since 1999, and I think it's time for a new do.

As far as Obi-Wan's body goes, I think it looks fantastic. I was shocked it didn't come with a cape, but integrating his Jedi robes into the printing really works well. The printing on the back is very detailed, and the front looks even better. It's funny that this is both the best and worst Obi-Wan has looked. He also comes with the blue lightsaber pictured. And of the three main minifigures, Obi-Wan is the only that doesn't come with a double-sided head.

If we have a Cantina set featuring Greedo, then of course Han Solo isn't far behind. And he looks pretty damn good. As far as I can tell, this is the same minifigure that came with the 75030 Microfighters Millennium Falcon (which is worth the $10, btw). The detail on the body is well done, I like the belt on his legs, and unlike Luke, I think the extra detail on his face makes Han look the part of the smuggler we all know and love. There isn't much else to say, other than he also come with a blaster pistol.

As great as the other minifigures in this set are, the Sandtrooper stands out as being the best. It's great to see the evolution of the Stormtrooper, and I have a lot of them, so I may one day do a piece on the change in their looks. The detail on this figure is amazing and really matches what we see in the movies. I suppose I could do without the tan highlights that represent sand, but overall the look works well. The scowl on his face also looks rather menacing, a feature that could've been left out since most people would use the sandtrooper without his helmet. The minifigure also comes with a long rifle and staff (both of which are pictured with the Dewback) and his backpack.

Finally, we have the Dewback. It's a good-sized figure that only moves at the mouth. The back consists of studs which can either be covered by four rounded plates or the Dewback's saddle. The saddle is pretty neat, designed to look as if it's draping over the animal's back. There are also two holster on the saddle to hold the rifle and the staff when not in use by the Sandtrooper. 

The Landspeeder

From what I can tell, this is the fourth version of the full-sized Landspeeder released by Lego, and the second released in this color, which closer matches the movie version. 

The Landspeeder is a solid build that feels good to play with. I like the additional detail the stickers on the engines and hood add to the build, giving it a more used and beat-up feel. The use of nine clear slide shoes on the underside of the vehicle also gives it a floating appearance and allows it to slide around without worry of hooking on to something on you table or base plates. The top engine is removable, revealing a storage compartment to house Luke and Obi-Wan's lightsabers and binoculars.

Now there's nothing wrong with this build. I think it's well done, but ultimately my problem with this Landspeeder is that it was a well done build when it was released four years ago. 

I just don't think enough has changed between these two builds to warrant a second release so close to the original (especially since I already owned it). And since the is a Mos Eisley Cantina scene, the Landspeeder isn't necessarily integral to this set. As much as I like this vehicle, I would much rather have preferred more minifigures, maybe the bartender and other patrons to fill out the scenes this set represents: Obi-Wan slicing that dude's arm off, the Han/Greedo shootout, and the first meeting between Han, Chewie, Luke, and Obi-Wan. Actually, this could've been a perfect opportunity to gives fans of the Original Trilogy the newest version of Chewbacca, since it's only currently available in a set based on Episode III.

The Cantina

As you can see, the Cantina scene itself is pretty big. And what I love the most about it is that it can be folded up to be stored compactly, if space is a problem (which it is for me). When folded, it kinda looks like a building from the outside. Along the back, there is a trough for the Dewback, and what I think is a power converter. Whatever it is, it looks cool.

On the interior, you get the bar, some seating, the stage for the band, and the domed entrance of the Cantina.

The bar comes well stocked, with a few pieces acting as glasses and beer mugs, which is a nice touch. It also comes with what appears to be a cash register and has a couple drawers to hold all the coins being tossed at the bartender to clean up all the grisly murders. The stage is also well done, able to house all three members of the band (although they won't all fit when the set is closed up), along with their instruments and the drum kit. The table and chairs are there to recreate the showdown between Han and Greedo. Now a great built in feature is the stage and the showdown scene slide out of the Cantina, which allows you to easily position the minifigures in place. Great forward thinking on Lego's behalf. 

The last room in the entrance of the Cantina, which has a dome that can open and close, and a sliding door. The door is neat but kinda pointless since the entrance is completely open on one side, two if you leave the door folded out.

The Verdict

When I first bought this set, I wasn't expecting much. But after I built it, and spent some time with it, I've realized how much of a value you get with this set. It's true that you're getting a little over 600 pieces for $70, but when you break it down, you're getting eight minifigures, a regular-sized figure, a vehicle, and a playset that has plenty of features. 

And as far as gripes go, almost all of them stem from how this set compares to other sets I own. If this is first Star Wars set you've purchased, or you only recently started collecting, you will be getting a hell of a deal. This is a fantastic set, and you shouldn't be disappointed by it. 

So to wrap this up, I'll sum up my review in three words: GO BUY THIS!

Mixel Madness!!: The Spikels Review

Last week I highlighted the Glorp Corp and today I'll be reviewing the Spikels, which I have to say, are by far my favorite of the two sets.

So let's get to it!

It isn't that hard to infer that the Spikels are based on spikes, since it's pretty much in the name. Also, the color tan. There's a lot of tan bricks here. Literally. The average piece count for this set is 70 bricks, which isn't bad considering they sell for $4.99 a figure, just like every other Mixel. I suppose the down side to this high brick count is there are a lot of spikes, or horns, but as evidenced by these builds, they can be used in a variety of ways.

Footi

At first glance, I didn't think there would be much to get excited about with this Mixel. But as I continued to play with him, and pose him, I realized how great the build actually is. 

My only real gripe was that the arms are a bit short, but due to their placement (above and to the front of his legs), I realized they actually help accentuate the legs on this figure, which are definitely the star of the show. Footi's legs consist of three ball-joints, allowing him to move at the hips, knees, and ankles. And because his arms are small and compact, they can easily be moved out of the way, allowing his legs to move and be bent almost completely around the body. Speaking of the body, Footi isn't that top heavy, which helps him stand upright in a wide variety of poses. The claws on his feet also help balance the figure.

Footi's mouth is held together by a hinge joist, giving it the ability to open at a full 90 degrees, as you can see in the picture above. This, along with the ease of changing his eye placement, allows for a lot of personality to shine through the figure.

Scorpi

If Glurt was the cute one of the last bunch, then Scorpi definitely takes the cake this time around. His big eyes, combined with his head's ability to turn 360 degrees, definitely add to his cute-as-a-button factor. 

Scorpi's body is very compact in design, and pretty sturdy. He has small legs, which lend to his appearance of a scorpion (hence the name), but the real star of the show is his tail. It's not quite as poseable as Footi's legs, but it still has a lot of mobility. It's designed pretty well, and I love the use of Lego teeth as the stinger. And with a bit of trying, I was able to get Scorpi to balance on his tail, which would work even better on a base plate instead of a table.  

Hoogi

Lastly, we have Hoogi, which is by far my favorite of the Spikels due to the variety of poses I can put him in.

Like Scorpi, Hoogi has a compact body design, with short, stubby legs that help balance the figure, which is necessary because of his long arms. And I absolutely love his arms. Technically, each arm has five points or articulation; the shoulder, the wrist, and each of his three fingers. which allows for a wide range of poses, especially once I realized that his long arms will let you place him in a handstand position. The arms really go a long way in adding personality to the figure, since his face/body is pretty basic. 

Hoogi also comes with the Nixel of this set. Nothing new here, and at this point, I doubt Lego will be adding any new Nixel designs to the sets.

The Verdict

Of the two sets I've reviewed, the Spikels are my favorites, and honestly, they might be my favorites compared to all three series. There's just a lot of playability here. Scorpi may be the weakest of the three in terms of movement, but his rotating head and tail make up for a lack of proper arms and legs. Footi is a great figure, and may even be the best of this set from an impartial stand point, but my standout is Hoogi on account of his arms.

From a monetary standpoint, the Spikels are absoluely worth the $15 dollars you'll be spending on this set.

See you next week with my review of the Wiztastics!

Vinnie's Weekly Haul: September 12, 2014

This is one of the lightest weeks for me in a long time. Just a few comics, one toy, and a blu-ray. 

Oh, and Destiny. I bought Destiny. I played the hell outta Desitny. I really like Destiny.

Here's a list of the comics I bought. Nothing digital this week.

• Amazing Spider-Man #6
• Batman Eternal #23
• Batman Future's End #1
• Captain Marvel #7
• Death of Wolverine #2
• Hawkeye #20
• Inhuman #5
• Magneto #9
• Ms. Marvel #8
• Superman Unchained #8

If you listen to my podcast, you'll know I talked about picking up Edge of the Spider-Verse #1. I decided to skip it this week when I learned that it isn't the actual mini-series, but a series of one-shots focusing on the different Spider-Men featured in the main storyline. Not that I have anything against David Hine's writing, but I really love Christos Gage's Spider-Man work and was expecting to get more of that here. But I will be picking up Spider-Verse once it ships in November.

As you can see, I also picked up Captain America: The Winter Soldier on blu-ray. There isn't much I can say about this movie that hasn't already been said elsewhere, but if you somehow managed to miss this release AND are reading this blog, it's one of the best movies to come out of Marvel Studios. I don't want to rank them in order of which is the greatest, but it absolutely hangs with the likes of The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy.

I also decided to pick up another Funko ReAction Figure. If it isn't obvious, these toys looks terrible but I love them anyway. Something about Kyle Reese's terrible trench coat just called out to me. I also just noticed the "Fully Poseable" tag on the front of the package. Seeing that a straight stick might have more articulation than this toy, that really tickled my pickle.

Well that's it for this week. I'll be back Monday with Mixel Madness!!: The Spikels and will have my review of the Lego Mos Eisley Cantina up on Wednesday. I guarantee it (guarantee not guaranteed).