It’s the time of year that would normally yield large amounts of new toy reveals at San Diego Comic-Con. Instead, thanks to the second year of the pandemic, it’s all remote in 2021. NECA recently took to YouTube to reveal all the goodness they would have shown in their booth, or had as convention exclusives. Specific release plans will come later, but first, here’s the hourlong presentation of NECA summer reveals. If you don’t have an hour, fear not — we’ll describe the highlights right underneath:
Defenders of the Earth proved more popular than expected and appears in line for a massive expansion. But before they get to new characters — Randy Falk suggested Zorro and Tarzan — multiple variants of wave 1 will arrive. Flash Gordon, Ming, and the Phantom will get comic-style repaints, with some new tooling and lots of comic-appropriate accessories. Intended as Comic-Con exclusives, Flash and Ming will also get 1979 Mattel-style repaints on upsized vintage reproduction cards, and a two pack in costumes based on the 1980 movie. While NECA does not have the actor likeness rights, we noted in our review that they’re close enough to evoke them.
In horror, Chucky and Tiffany will get a retro cloth-outfit two pack. A second RJ Macready figure from The Thing with flamethrower is almost ready, and a two-pack from Halloween II featuring Dr. Loomis and a burning Michael Myers. The Lost Tribe from Predator 2 will see completion, and the Alien vs. Predator video game aliens return with movie-style realistic deco. Gargoyles continues with Demona and Goliath’s evil clone Thailog. From Gremlins 2, a demolition crew two-pack and the Brain were perhaps inevitable.
RELATED: Toy Review: Defenders of the Earth Series 1 by NECA
Next up from The Boys are Black Noir and A-Train. From Back to the Future, confirmation of Griff Tannen and a 1985 radiation suit Doc Brown, along with a separate accessory pack that will likely include Einstein.
Finally, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles added many cartoon faves like Wingnut and Screwloose, but the most notable item was this year’s shoulda-been exclusive. It’s a Channel 6 News team set, with a box that folds out into a diorama, and multiple TV studio accessories. The online panel concludes with a tease of what look like variants of Tokka and Rahzar, either from the video game or Playmates toy-inspired versions.
Will your wallet be ready for all these offerings? Let us know in comments!
Recommended Purchase: Defenders of the Earth – The Complete 65 Episode Series
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