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.

Basic Figures 2010
VC01: Dengar
VC02: Leia (Hoth Outfit)
VC03: Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit)
VC04: Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues)
VC05: AT-AT Commander
VC06: See-Threepio (C-3PO)
VC07: Dak Ralter
VC08: Darth Vader
VC09: Boba Fett
VC10: 4-LOM
VC11: (Twin-Pod) Cloud Car Pilot

VC12: Darth Sidious
VC13: Anakin Skywalker
VC14: Sandtrooper
VC15: Clone Trooper
VC16: Obi-Wan Kenobi
VC17: General Grievous (with Cape*)
VC18: MagnaGuard
VC19: Clone Commander Cody

VC##: Admiral Ackbar
VC##: Endor Rebel Commando
VC##: Gamorrean Guard
VC##: Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
VC##: R2-D2 (with Pop-Up Lightsaber)
VC##: Yoda (The Jedi Master)
VC##: Wicket
VC##: Wooof (Klaatu)

VC##: Anakin Skywalker (Peasant Disguise)
VC##: Coruscant Senate Guard
VC##: Jango Fett
VC##: Kit Fisto
VC##: Mace Windu
VC##: Obi-Wan Kenobi
VC##: Padmé Amidala (Peasant Disguise)
VC##: Super Battle Droid
VC##: Zam Wessell
VC##: Yoda (with Hoverchair)

SEPTEMBER

• Ghostbusters™ 6″ Egon Spengler™ with PKE Meter™, stack of books
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Chief Carnivus™ (Club Eternia™ monthly figure)
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Gygor™

OCTOBER

• Masters of the Universe® Classics Roboto® (Club Eternia™ monthly figure)
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Zodac®

NOVEMBER

• DCU JLU Parademon™ 2-Pack
• Ghostbusters™ 6″ Peter Venkman™ with Ghostbusters™ Logo Base
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Grizzlor® (Club Eternia™ monthly figure)
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Grayskull™ (with Orb)
• Masters of the Universe® Classics Weapons Pak Great Wars Assortment

The good: There’s quite a few “goods” to talk about with the GelaSkins skin I tried out but I’ve narrowed it down to 3 key items.

1.  There’s a huge number of designs.  The website says there’s over 1000 designs for over 100 devices.  As I was going through the designs I saw dozens that I liked, I didn’t have any problems and I didn’t have to settle for something that was ok.  In then end I put “Finders Keepers” on my iPad with “NYC Spidey” queued up for when I want something fresh.  I shared the design “Mod” with sometimes AwesomeToyBlog.com photographer ShutterMike.  And if there’s not a design that you like, you have the option to use your own photographs and design your own.  I didn’t try that, so I can’t comment on how it works or what the requirements are.

2.  Application of the skin was easy.  The skin definitely is sticky, but it is easy enough to move and reapply if you put it on a little crooked the first time.  Which is what I did (as I said in my AT-AT review, I’m horrible with stickers), but it proved to be no issue as I could peel it back and reapply.

3.  The skin gives the device a nice non-slippery feeling and allows me to have a better grip on the device.  It makes me feel a little less worried that I’m going to fumble and drop my iPad to the ground.

The not so good: There’s only one thing that I was a little disappointed in; the skin doesn’t cover the screen of the device.  It would have been nice if it could have served as a screen protector.  Fortunately I already had a screen protector on my iPad, so I applied the skin directly on my existing protector.  I’m not sure if this will cause me some issue when I remove the skin (namely my screen protector coming off with it); but with screen protectors being 3 for $2 on ebay, that’s not a huge concern…but it would have been nice if the GelaSkin could have covered the display / touch screen as well.

Summary: All in all, I’m really happy with my iPad skin from GelaSkins and I think its a great product.  It would have been great had it incorporated a screen protector for the touchscreen; but not having that isn’t a big deal.  The skins do run around $30 for a device the size of the iPad.  You can check out their website at GelaSkins.com.