Hasbro Made-to-Order Figures

gpmartin414 said:
Got and opened my second Sentinel. These are really amazing. Trying to figure out if I can use some existing things I have like the Marvel Select Danger Room pieces and the original Toy Biz Marvel Legends Sentinel bases from like 2004 to create a diorama with these Sentinels and the X-Men ‘97 figures.

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Also, getting this made me dig out my copy of Wizard #33, which, in addition to having a cover of a totally non-sexualized Catwoman, is the issue from 1994 that had a report from that year’s Toy Fair that included Toy Biz’s then-upcoming Sentinel from the ‘90s line. As a kid, I was just excited a Sentinel was coming, even if I thought the execution felt less action figure than paperweight with projectile pieces.

“Night of the Sentinels,” the two-part premiere of the animated series was my introduction to the X-Men and ultimately Marvel, so the Sentinels are special to me (which sounds weird reading it aloud).

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Incidentally, this article from Wizard was the first time I realized you could learn about action figures besides just finding them in stores or seeing other figures on cardbacks and in those Kenner catalogs.


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I was just musing to myself the day my Sentinels arrived at how far we’ve come. From the old 90’s Sentinel that had its legs molded together all the way to where we are now has really been an interesting journey. We haven’t really gotten a ton of sentinel figures within the last 30 years but they are certainly still a very diverse group.


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I actually forgot, despite having it and using it all the time as a kid, that the original '90s ToyBiz Sentinel was 14 fucking inches tall. That thing was huge.
 
You could store a figure in its chest as a captive. It was pretty big, but also I recall being underwhelmed at the time. I got some summer spending money as a kid though so I bought it. Kind of hated the capture claw on the right arm. I always wanted an open palm like it was blasting away. I'm sure that guy is still kicking around my parents' basement.
 
Damien said:
I actually forgot, despite having it and using it all the time as a kid, that the original '90s ToyBiz Sentinel was 14 fucking inches tall. That thing was huge.
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Also daaaaamn can’t believe Wizard put Toy Biz on blast like that by calling that sentinel disappointing. I remember having fun with it back in the day. Nothing wrong with it considering where action figure technology and trends were like at the time


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I was definitely a kid that did not like action features on my toys, but I didn't mind the sentinel at all and it was only as an adult that I learned anyone actually found it disappointing. It was a sturdy robot mutant killer toy with blow-apart body parts and a grabby claw on a string for capturing.
I don't think I ever used the 'store a figure in its chest' feature. But I still had lots of fun with it and it did what I wanted. That being said, I also would not have complained if it was just a regular figure with the standard 10" figure articulation.
 
Fletch said:
Call me when we get the Bob McLeod version.

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I have always disliked those designs (and the colors) and the fact I think this design is in the Marvel Handbook from the time period - which I also disliked at the time.

Misfit said:
You could store a figure in its chest as a captive. It was pretty big, but also I recall being underwhelmed at the time. I got some summer spending money as a kid though so I bought it. Kind of hated the capture claw on the right arm. I always wanted an open palm like it was blasting away. I'm sure that guy is still kicking around my parents' basement.
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Re the 94/95 ToyBiz Sentinel - it wasn't great, but it also was $20 and worked well with the 5" ToyBiz figures.

Looking at those toys again, its really interesting how the ToyBiz Marvel, Kenner's Power of the Force 2 relaunch and Playmates Trek all had really exaggerated proportions...
 
fac said:
I have always disliked those designs (and the colors) and the fact I think this design is in the Marvel Handbook from the time period - which I also disliked at the time.


Re the 94/95 ToyBiz Sentinel - it wasn't great, but it also was $20 and worked well with the 5" ToyBiz figures.

Looking at those toys again, its really interesting how the ToyBiz Marvel, Kenner's Power of the Force 2 relaunch and Playmates Trek all had really exaggerated proportions...
Click to expand...

It’s not shown in the catalog shot above but the Cameron Hodge figure that was made during this time was actually drafted by JesseFalcon. It was one of his first toy designs during his introductory years at Toy Biz


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fac said:
Re the 94/95 ToyBiz Sentinel - it wasn't great, but it also was $20 and worked well with the 5" ToyBiz figures.

Looking at those toys again, its really interesting how the ToyBiz Marvel, Kenner's Power of the Force 2 relaunch and Playmates Trek all had really exaggerated proportions...
Click to expand...
I was one of those kids who never liked action features. I just wanted a fully articulated figure that looked like the character from the book or show. My ideal sentinel as a kid would have been more like the deluxe offerings they had back then - just a big figure with head, shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee articulation. Not a plastic brick on wheels with only articulated shoulders. I made do though as I wasn't going to pass on adding a sentinel to my collection back then.
 
I never had the Sentinel because while I never stopped with toys, that one always felt like pushing it.

My little brother had the Danger Room, though, and I definitely played with it.
 
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