Toy OTD: Character Options Ltd. Doctor Who 12" Action Figure: Cyber Leader (2007)

Since I've been writing on Facebook about my long-delayed introduction to Doctor Who (some of the older episodes and some of the new ones), I thought I'd write here about one of the toys I bought two years ago, long before I'd ever seen a single episode! Of course I bought one of the robot characters, since I don't need to know anything about one to like it.

The Cybermen have been part of Doctor Who for quite a while, so it makes sense that they'd be revived when the show returned to the airwaves. It follows too that, if there were going to be any Who toys, that the Cybermen would be naturals for new merchandise. So they're here, and boy, do they look spiffy!

I haven't seen the re-design on the actual program yet, but I'm still impressed with the new look - updated with a richer sense of detail without losing the overall feel of the original. There's an odd taper in the leg pieces that lend a knock-kneed look, but otherwise it looks cool! The plastic pieces are well-sculpted/cast, and the manufacturers went the extra mile for quality.

Rather than simply sculpting the limbs as pieces that mimic the body shapes, the 'metal body' parts are made to be hollow and 'worn' on an inner figure like a costume. This also allows for articulation that's better concealed than a solid action figure, and for more posability than it would have if it were a hollow vinyl one. There's even a fabric leotard to boost the costume feel!

The 'metallic' finish on the outer shell looks nice, and there's some light airbrushing to add a bit more texture. Other than that, there's very few paint apps on the toy. The chest plate opens up to reveal some inner workings, and it also comes with a small hand device of some sort. I'm assuming both of these are accurate and relevant to the show, since most of the figure seems fairly meticulous in execution - the casting in particular is tight and clean.

Balance is a minor issue - the toy stands well on its own, and you can always buy a doll stand to increase stability. I'd love for the figure to be packaged with one, but at least it's not as critical here.

The packaging has most of the pluses and minuses of a typical toy box - there's plenty of viewing space to check for paint glitches or casting problems, but the design itself is somewhat cluttered and not all that compelling. At least the inner clamshell is sturdy enough to protect the figure from damage.

There's also a standard Cyberman figure, too - there's not a lot of difference between them, aside from the lack of a removable chestplate and black helmet accents. For whatever reason, they're almost ten dollars cheaper than the "Cyber Leader" version.

Since this isn't a particularly old toy, finding one for sale isn't hard at all. There's multiple eBay auctions for this figure right now, with a price range of $30-$40.00. Toywiz.com also has one for sale that'll set you back $31.99 + shipping. Have fun!

EXX-TERRR-MINN-AAAATE--

TELEGRAPH.CO.UK: Dr. Who Dalek found in pond
Last Updated: 8:34AM GMT
04 Mar 2009 - Photo by SOLENT

The group had already fished out an old table football game and a skateboard when they bumped into the Dalek head, which was covered in weeds.

Sales executive Marc Oakland was pushing a rake around the bed of the shallow pool when he found the object with its distinctive eye stalk.

The 42-year-old said: "I'd just shifted a tree branch with my foot when I noticed something dark and round slowly coming up to the surface.

"I got the shock of my life when a Dalek head bobbed up right in front of me."

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Doesn't this feel like the ending of a time-loop Dalek story? Dude, smash that thing before it reactivates!

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Toy OTD:Wesco Tardis Four-Port USB Hub (2006)

It's not exactly a toy, but I though this accessory was nerdy and frivolous enough to merit a Toy OTD post. For those of you who don't know, it's like a power strip for your computer - plug it in to a USB port on your machine, and you can plug four cables in, rather than just one. There isn't an overwhelming amount of detail, but it looks nice, and gives your computer desk a touch of geeky fun.

The decals get a little crooked, so if you're bothered by such things, you might want to check a few of them before purchasing. Otherwise, the unit works fine.

The only minuses: the bright blue light stays lit as long as it's connected. That might not seem like a big deal, but it gets distracting. I'd vote for the light to come on when you plug it in, along with softer, back-lit windows. The blue light could go out, leaving the windows on as a sort of power light.

The other minus is that it makes a horrible noise when you first connect it. Die-hard Who fans will be happy to know that it's the actual sound the Tardis makes when it's dematerializing. So it's a bug or a feature, depending on how you look at it. You don't have to have to hear it all that often, so it's not a big deal. I'd suggest a variety of randomized sounds - some dialogue, other sound effects, maybe a bit of the title music.

I bought mine last summer at Comic-Con, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. Forbidden Planet has them for sale for £17.99 + shipping, which is about $36 USD + shipping.