The Master and Axon

Series: Doctor Who Classics

Release Date: 8/2010

The Doctor Who Classics line continues with its newest Exclusive release; a Jon Pertwee era 2-pack featuring Roger Delgado’s Master and an Axon.  This two-pack comes boxed and runs $40, typical of the Doctor Who Classic releases.  Underground Toys has been on a roll with the classics line up as of late and these two figures show why this is quickly becoming my favorite toy line.  Lets get into the good and the bad of this set.

The Good:

• The package – Putting these figures in a box instead of blister carding them was fantastic.  The ‘diorama’ background with the Axon spaceship really works well with the figures.  The graphic artist did a fantastic job on this one.  If you’re a non-opener, this set will look fantastic on your shelf.
• The Master – I may be showing bias here, but the Master makes this 2-pack with the coin.  This is the Master as he was first introduced, and at his finest.  The sculpt is fantastic and the likeness among the best that Underground Toys has produced.  The figure is adequately articulated and includes his TCE.  A fantastic figure and will serve well as the 3rd Doctor’s #1 villian.

The Not-as-Good:

• The Axon – Don’t get me wrong, the Axon isn’t a bad figure.  It just isn’t great.  Or really an Axon.  The Axon started out as a build-a-figure for Wave 2 of Doctor Who Classics; but he wasn’t an Axon.  He was a Krynoid, from a 4th Doctor series.  When the build-a-figure was dropped from Wave 2, the Krynoid went on the shelf (the prototype picture was featured on AwesomeToyBlog some months ago).  Now, in real life, the Krynoid costume was derived from an Axon costume in storage – and this gave Underground Toys the opportunity to pull the Krynoid figure off the shelf; deco it orangey-pink a nd call it an Axon and release it with the Master.  Unfortunately, there are 2 drawbacks with this.  The head looks off; looks too Krynoid and not enough Axon; you can counter some of this by turning his head around…but then it looks like his neck has been broken.  Also the figure doesn’t feature and knee or elbow articulation; likely an artifiact of being a build-a-figure with a smaller budget per part.

Summary:  What the Axon figure lacks in awesome (I mean its a good figure, just not great) the Master more than makes up for.  He’s really fantastic.  As such, this set is really fantastic and is another great addition to the line.  Some fans are unhappy with the line being “exclusive” and carrying a higher price point; but if the releases continue to be of this caliber and quality I won’t be joining them.  This set is still available from Entertainment Earth (or Forbidden Planet if in the UK) and is well worth picking up.

Proving once again that Underground Toys and Character Options actually do love me, yet another new release for the Doctor Who Classics line has been announced.  Coming this November is a 3 (almost 4) pack from the4th Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith classic episode “Revenge of the Cybermen”.  This pack includes 2 Cybermen, a Cyberleader and a Cybermat.  The only pre-order that has been announced is Forbidden Planet’s, so US availability and pricing is currently unknown. When pre-orders are available for the US, I’ll be sure to pass that information along.

Back in the late 1980′s to 2001 there was a fairly successful Doctor Who action figure line from the British toy train company Dapol.  A member of the WhoNA message board posted a toy catalog from 1987 featuring the toys including a never released Whomobile.  Check out the prototype image after the jump; or head here to check out the entire catalog.  As a young toy collecting Whovian, these Dapol figures were incredible.  The TARDIS console playset and clear Dalek are two of my personal “holy grail” items.  While the Dapol figures can’t hold up to today’s great Underground Toys classic Who line; this catalog takes me back to watching PBS on a Saturday afternoon and following the Doctor’s adventures.  Thanks to forum member neogeoMk2 for the scans and the trip down memory lane.

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As expected, US pre-orders for the latest Doctor Who Classics release have been posted.  Season 18 4th Doctor and K-9 are due out at the end of September or early October.  With the release of this set, the Master and Axon set and the 3rd Doctor’s sonic screwdriver Doctor Who Classics are having a strong fall showing.  Check below for US pre-order links.  For UK visitors, head over to Forbidden Planet.

• Master and Axon Set – $39.99
• 3rd Doctor Sonic Screwdriver – $29.99
• Season 18 4th Doctor + K9 – $29.99

Today Underground Toys listed their newest addition to the Doctor Who classic line.  Following the Master and Axon 2-pack they will be releasing a season 18 4th Doctor (burgundy costume) with a K9 figure.  The release date is late September and it is expected to retail for about $30.  It is a shared exclusive with the UK distribution rights going to Forbidden Planet.  US preorders have not yet been posted, but look here for an update when they are available.  In the mean time, check after the jump for an image of the 2 figures in this set.

Note: this was AwesomeToyBlog’s 500th post!

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These products were just announced earlier this week and pre-orders for the Master and Axon 2-pack and 3rd Doctor Sonic Screwdriver have already been posted at various e-tailers.  Both of these sets are due in September, with the Sonic Screwdriver priced at $29.99 and the 2-pack at the typical  price point of $39.99.  Click on the thumbnails below to be taking to the product pages at Entertainment Earth.

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There’s a new set of rumors floating around the Doctor Who message boards about upcoming Doctor Who Classics figures.  They seem like feasible releases, but I’d take this list with a huge grain of salt.  Maybe even a shaker full of them.  However the rumored figures are:

• Master w/ TCE and and Axon (Claws of Axos)
• Brigadier and Omega (The Three Doctors)
• Jo Grant and Gell Guard (The Three Doctors)
• Linx and his spaceship (The Time Warrior)
• Season 18 4th Doctor

Of this list, I have the most confidence in the season 18 4th Doctor, as we’ve already seen the body used for the SDCC exclusive regeneration 5th Doctor.  The Axon is rumored to be a repaint of the existing (yet unreleased) Krynoid figure (for the series, the Krynoid costume was actually a repainted Axon costume); which would also seem like an economical release.

There is also a 2nd rumor that there are figures being planned from the Peter Cushing Doctor Who feature films from the 60s.

From San Diego Comic-con two of the three Doctor Who exclusives are being made available for the masses.  Word on the message boards is that BBC America doesn’t want their shared SDCC exclusive 11th Doctor + Dalek  released to retailers en masse.  Fortunately, that’s the not case for the two Doctor Who Classic exclusives!  Online retailer Entertainment Earth have posted pre-orders for these items.  Follow the links below to be taken to the product pages:
Doctor Who 5th Doctor and Master Action Figure 2-Pack – $39.99
Regeneration 5th Doctor – $20.99

In addition, they’ve also posted preorders for a ton of Doctor Who product
Doctor Who Eleventh Doctor TARDIS Playset – $67.99
Doctor Who Classics Ice Warrior – $14.99
Doctor Who Classics Earthshock Cyberman – $14.99 (That’s a great price, btw)
Doctor Who Classics First Doctor with TARDIS – $49.99

Underground Toys unveiled their new classic Doctor Who item today at San Diego Comic-con.  The reveal was the 3rd Doctor’s sonic screwdriver.  The piece is expect to ship in September, and while final pricing hasn’t been decided, it is expected to cost about the same as other sonics in the line.  Check out a full gallery of the piece below:

Underground Toys Classic Sonic Screwdriver - SDCC 2010

7 Photos