FLASH GORDON

POWER STARS (BOSS FIGHT STUDIOS)

Well, I got a nice little kick of additional Longbox Heroes the last two weeks to help keep me on that Super Powers-inspired high, but now I’m out of those again, so it’s time to turn to the next best thing: another Super Powers-inspired line!  In fact, this one came first!  Boss Fight, whose HACKS lines I’ve previously reviewed a bit, decided to give the style a try, launching things with an assortment of characters from King Features, which means I get to kick things off with Flash (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Savior of the Universe!) Gordon!

THE FIGURE ITSELF

Flash Gordon is part of the four figure launch assortment for Power Stars, which hit in the fall of 2022.  There are a lot of Flash looks to choose from, but they’ve gone with a more classic comic version of the character, which fits pretty much perfectly with the style.  The figure stands a little over 4 1/2 inches tall and he has 9 points of articulation.  There are two tweaks to the articulation to deviate from Super Powers here.  Firstly, there’s the knees, which use the same general assembly as the Longbox Heroes (which is not entirely coincidental; LBH‘s designed Jason “Toy Otter” Geyer noted how impressed he was with the knee joint when still working out the knee assembly on LBH), and secondly, there’s the neck joint, which, instead of being a straight cut joint, is actually a ball-joint.  They both keep the same general look as the vintage articulation, while providing slightly better motion.  Flash’s sculpt is unique to him, and it’s a solid offering.  There’s I think a little more of Boss Fight’s in-house style bleeding through here, so they’re not quite a pitch perfect Kenner style, but also I think it still works very well, and he very much feels like Flash.  His color work is all pretty bright, clean, and bold, which exactly what you’d hope for in such a line.  I have no issues with any sort of slop or bleed over on mine.  Flash get’s an extra head without his headgear, as well as a sword and a gun, which can be placed in the designated spots on his belt.  Storage for weapons isn’t much of a Super Powers thing, but that’s another one of those innovations I don’t mind so much here.  My only real issue with the figure is that the size of the handles being so different between the sword and gun means that you kind of have to pick a hand for each and stick with it, otherwise the gun will fall out of any hand the sword has been in.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

I remember when these were announced, and I was quite excited, and…then I just totally forgot to get around to ordering them.  Admittedly, I had a lot going on in my life, so I’m giving myself a pass.  Flash was the one I wanted the most, because he’s Flash Gordon and he’s just got such a classic design.  I particularly appreciate them just going straight to the classic Flash and not making me get a weird cartoon version I don’t really want as much first…sorry, I’m trying not to be too bitter with NECA.  Anyway, I was able to snag a few of these guys at the same time as the Super Powers and Longbox Heroes from the last few weeks, when they got traded in at All Time.  Unfortunately, Flash here was missing the main head, but it happened to come through on its own a week or so later.  He’s truly a fun little figure, and I’m glad I finally got one!

Thanks to my sponsors over at All Time Toys for setting me up with this figure to review.  If you’re looking for cool toys both old and new, please check out their website and their eBay storefront.