Updated: expect this set in the states late March, 2012.

As part of the initial four figures released at last year’s NYCC – The Cyberleader is the final figure to get a chance to shine in the figure spotlight. Just yesterday I raved about how awesome the Master is, how does the Cyberleader stack up?

While the Master stands out my favorite of the first group of four figures, the Cyberleader is the most frustrating. The figure is so close to perfect – but one detail just stands out and mars the figure. Using the same basic body – the Cyberleader is based on a well articulated and high quality body. The cyberman outfit is fantastic – I love the printing on the outfit at the elbows and knees giving it a corrugated look. The chest apparatus is niced sculpted with great detail. The head sculpt is amazing, it nails the look of70′s Cybermen.

Where I stumble with the figure is with the where the head attaches to the shoulders. While it maintains neck articulation, it results in the head floating up above the shoulders and just looks off. I would have happily given up the neck articulation to have the head sit closer to the body – its not like a Cyberman has ever turned his neck on screen! To illustrate my point a little better, check out this ‘what if’ picture:

If this one detail was tweaked, I’d be over the moon with this figure – which is why I find it to be the most frustrating of the first four. It could just be incredible, instead of just good. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a solid figure and definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of classic Who. Both the Cyberleader and the Master are still available from Entertainment Earth. Overall, I’m impressed with the first four Doctor Who figures from Bif Bang Pow! The have a great blend of the retro aesthetic with attention to detail and screen accuracy. The head sculpts on the Sontaran and Cyberleader are beyond top notch! I can’t wait for the next batch to be released from Bif Bang Pow! later this year.

As part of the initial four figures released at last year’s NYCC – The Master is the latest figure to get a chance to shine in the figure spotlight. While I’ve had the 4th Doctor and Styre for quite awhile now, I only picked up the Master and the Cyberleader this past Christmas – making them new to me.

Given that I’ve previously talked about the other Bif Bang Pow! Doctor Who figures, I can really get this review going. In fact, I believe the Master to be the best of the bunch released to date. I mean, he’s fantastic. The articulated body that serves as the basis for the figure is top notch, well articulated but never floppy. The costume, albeit quite simple, is excellent. The material used looks gauzy, very similar to the television costume. A nice touch is that the hood has wire in the hem, allowing you to bend and drape it as you see fit. I’ve fiddled with it a bit, and still haven’t gotten it quite right. The Sash of Rasillon also adds an essential bit of pop, but is also removable. The Master’s head sculpt is on point – with a creepy, bug eyed expression the Master looks like he just popped right out of ‘the Deadly Assassin’. Sure, if you haven’t seen the episode, the figure head sculpt might seem a little goofy, but it’s pretty close to screen accurate.

I have to say that, as a whole, the figure is so good it looks like someone got a hold of the Master’s TCE (that’s a Tissue Compression Eliminator) and shrunk him down, plopped him on a card and sent him to my house. If you want one sent to your house, you can pick him up from Entertainment Earth.

Also bouncing around the message boards are rumors of a ‘Pyramids of Mars’ set including a Sutekh figure. Finger’s crossed this one’s true – but wouldn’t a Sarah James Smith (with shotgun) and Mummy be a fantastic two pack?

The second announcement today made the rumor from earlier this week official.  From ‘Rememberance of the Daleks’ come the destroyed Dalek and Davros as the Emperor Dalek. The destroyed Dalek looks really great!  Check out images of both sets below. As soon as preorders or release dates are identified, I’ll let you know.

Let’s start off by addressing the cynics who gripe about repeat figures in the boxsets – in this set you do get another 4th Doctor figure and decayed Master figure – but each is different then previous releases. The 4th Doctor figure is most changed from previous outings as he’s taken off his outer coat revealing a fantastically deco’d vest.  He also now features ball jointed shoulders – enabling new ranges of motion. This release of the 4th Doctor really is a new figure.  The Master figure has changes that are more subtle than the Doctor’s.  Despite the Master’s appearance remaining relatively unchanged between ‘The Deadly Assassin’ and ‘The Keeper of Traken’ there were differences in the costumes and actor playing the role.  Not content with a complete reissue of the ‘The Deadly Assassin’ Master from the first wave of Classics, this release features a new head sculpt; evident by the nose.  This wasn’t something that Underground Toys had to do – but it really does add value to the set.  A fantastic touch!

The totally new pieces in the set are the Melkur statue and the Master’s TARDIS. The Melkur is a mixture of rotomolded parts (torso, head) and traditional plastic pieces (limbs). While the articulation on the Melkur is limited; one really can’t complain about this as it is an action figure of a statue.  The sculpt and deco is spot on, the only folks who could be disappointed by this figure are those who required the Melkur to do some kung-fu kicks. The Master’s TARDIS is perfect; absolutely everything you could want it to be.

The set also includes the ‘Source Manipulator Sphere’ accessory that the Doctor builds in the episdoe. The sphere is a reuse accessory from the ‘Destiny of the Daleks’ box-set and while screen accurate it also isn’t very exciting.  You’re buying this set for the Melkur, TARDIS, the Doctor and even the Master.

To wrap up; I love this set – each figure in the set is different enough that it doesn’t feel burdensome to have another 4th Doctor on the shelf. If Underground Toys other upcoming releases (Enemies of th1st Doctor, Enemies of the 3rd Doctor, The Chase) are as good as ‘The Keeper of Traken’ set – I will be a VERY happy Whovian! This set is now available on preorder from Entertainment Earth – or in stock at other fine shops.