Looking Back At 2009

Merchandizing tie-ins has proven especially profitable for Hasbro Toys-especially movie merchandizing.  2009 proved a banner year for Hasbro Toys with the release of the new Transformers, G.I. Joe and Wolverine films.  Earlier movie tie-ins like Iron Man, Star Wars, Spider-Man, the Hulk and Marvel Comics see toy shelves filled with Hasbro Toys.

Despite the first Star Wars movie being made over 30 years ago, the franchise proves as popular today as ever.  Star Wars toys from all of the films and the Clone Wars continue to line shelves and are eagerly snatched up by fans.

In 2009 Hasbro Toys released its Star Wars Legacy Collection featuring figures taken from the first Trilogy.  Each 3 1/2 inch figure comes with an additional Droid part that when collected with other allowed collectors to assemble their own custom Droid.

Some of the figures included are Utai with staff, Cody with rifle, helmet and Emperor hologram, Colton with pistol and headpiece, Bacara with rifle and utility belt, Agen Kolar with Jedi Lightsaber, IG-88 with twin blasters and Plo Koon single and twin Lightsabers.  All of the figures are nicely scaled and sculpted, features tight paint application, hold their weapons and accessories firmly and boast multiple articulation points,  All of the figures stand easily on their own.  All come in full-front bubble packs with full stats on the back of each card.  Hasbro notched up the quality on these figures in every area.

G.I. Joe made its way to the movie screen and proved a big hit.  For the younger fan comes the Snake Eyes G.I. Joe Tough Troopers figure sculpted in a more 'cartoon' style.  With oversize hands and feet, bulky arms, a large chest and overemphasized arm gauntlets, throwing stars and belt, Snake Eyes is not fully articulated but is its sheer bulk allows it to pose easily, especially for smaller hands.

Push the dog tags on Shake Eyes' chest and he makes some funky kung fu music sounds while pushing the lever on his back causes his right arm to swing up accompanied by fighting sounds.  His face visor also lights up.

Two 3 1/2 inch figures taken from the movie include Storm Shadow dressed in white with swords, knives, hover board and nanobite weapon launcher.  He is fully-articulated, easy to pose and has no problem holding his arsenal of weapons.  Snake Eyes is dressed in solid black, comes with a sword and scabbard, automatic rifle, knife, handgun and attack dog.  He too is fully-articulated and like Storm Shadow is tightly sculpted, features clean paint application with no slop-over and looks as if he is dressed in real cloth due to his clever sculpting.

Slashin' Action Wolverine is in the same cartoon style as the Snake Eyes Tough Trooper figures with roughly the same degree of articulation.  However, Wolverine has a right slashing arm that activates by a button on his back,  his right hand claws also pop out when a button on his lower arm is pressed.  A slashing sound is also activated.  Press his belt buckle and he spouts numerous famous Wolverine phrases.  Twist and release his waist and he performs a spring-loaded attack.  "Back off bub!"  Wolverine comes dressed in gray boots, blue jeans and his trademark yellow and black shirt.

Another large figure is the Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen Megatron Decepticon figure.  This monster of a machine is partially articulated and looks exactly like the movie Megatron.  He transforms into a Alien Tank with a firing fusion cannon that lights up.  In robot mode he has a flip-out sword and light up eyes and chest with moving chest pieces.  His head also turns left to right.  This is an awesome figure and it easily transforms thus giving it a higher fun factor for young children. 

Another Transformers fun item is the Bumblebee Voice Mixer helmet.  Don the helmet that looks like Bumblebee, peer through its blue visor and activate the three buttons on its side for various Bumblebee sounds and voices.  Go for conversion mode, battle phrases and voice mixer that allows you to remix your voice in six different music styles.  "Go Transformers!"

The Ironman Torpedo Armor is a metallic blue with deep gray under armor.  The figure comes with a torpedo launcher and three torpedoes.  The figure is fully-articulated. tightly sculpted is just plain fun to play with.