I should say that these sets feel like even more of a treat than usual. Because of the crisis and lockdown, and all the unpleasentness that this year has brought so far recieving news of brand new Doctor Who toy sets just feels like a life raft has come in and keeps you going in these difficult times.
I must say I am very excited and impressed to see what new figures we are going to be getting and character options do not disapoint. Six new sets in total are lined up and those are - with prototype images:
Set One: The Second Doctor and his TARDIS from 'The War Games'
Set Two: 'Friends of the Fourth Doctor' which includes: Sarah Jane Smith from 'Revenge of the Cybermen', Romana 1 from "The Pirate Planet", and Romana 2 from "Destiny of the Daleks"
Set Three: 'The Claws of Axos UNIT' set including: The Brigadier, Captain Mike Yates, and Sergent Benton. (Amazing!)
Set Four: "Friends & Foes of the Thirteenth Doctor" set which has: The Thirteenth Doctor's companions Yasmin Khan and Ryan Sinclair both from 'Arachnids in the UK' and a Judoon Trooper from 'Fugitive of the Judoon' with new blaster gun accessory.
Set Five: 'The Daleks' Dalek Twin Pack - Two Daleks from the first Dalek story 'The Daleks' for those who missed out on the orginal figure that was released back in 2008.
Set Six: 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth' Dalek Twin Pack - Two Daleks from The Dalek Invasion of Earth - The Dalek Supreme Controller and Dalek Trooper. For those who missed out on the orginal figures released from 2009 and 2013.
Now that we know what sets are being released, I will very quickly express my thoughts on what I think of each of the sets and let you know which ones I will be looking to buy.
I'll start off with the Second Doctor and TARDIS set.
So first off, The set uses a standard Second Doctor figure that we've seen before with the same articulation, but with a few tweeks and repaint applications applied to the figure.
Noticable differences are that the shirt has been repainted white, and the handkerchief is now a bright red, this second doctor has no recorder accessory from what I can see in this prototype image and with this figure being from The War Games, a tear in the Doctor's trousers has been added perhaps to replicate a tear from barbed wire in the 1917 zone.
The TARDIS is the same sculpt as other TARDIS figures, this one reuses the 1970's model but with a darker navy blue and new light lamp on top to replicate the on screen accuracy of the actual prop. I have been after a model of a 60's TARDIS for some time. I can't seem to find the First Doctor one anywhere, this makes a nice welcome addition.
So Yes, I think I would be interested in buying this set.
The Second set - Friends of the Fourth Doctor
Even though the head scultps are definetly new, I'm sure that the bodies of all three companions in this set are all used from Primeval figures. With articulation at the arms, biseps, hands, and legs, no thigh articulation from what I can see.
The likness of all characters seems to have been done well. The Sarah Jane figure looks like Elisabeth Sladen, just as the Romana 2 looks like Lalla Ward. Romana 1 does resemble Mary Tamm is some way, but with the image being a protoype its hard to tell for sure. Having it in hand will make a difference. As far as the paint apps are concerned the Romana 2 looks gorgeous. I love the pink coat with the red outline and the white scarf to resemble her costume from Destiny of the Daleks. Romana 1's costume is from The Pirate Planet and although there isn't much accuaracy to the actual costume as it is seen on screen, character do good with what they have in trying to get it as close as possible.
The Sarah Jane figure I struggle to think is the body is a new sculpt or not. It's defiently the first figure we've had of Sarah from the classic series and an interesting costume they've chosen. Worn in Revenge of the Cybermen, but also in Genesis of the Daleks. I personally would have gone for something more contemperate, perhaps her costume from The Seeds of Doom or The Hand of Fear. It's an interesting costume to choose so well done to character for being bold. The paint apps are done well on this with nice shades of greens, greys, and browns to replicate a military type feel.
Sometimes I only like one or two figures in a set and have to out source them seperatly on eBay, but in this instance. I'd like to have all three. So this set is a thumbs up from me.
Set Number Three, probably my favourite set to see as it is a UNIT set!
The Brigadier and his right hand men. Captain Mike Yates and Sergant Benton. All from The Claws of Axos. If I'm not mistaken the body on Yates and Benton are new sculpts. I suppose with Benton you just have to add a different head and reuse the body to make two seperate figures but WOW! Something I never thought we would ever be getting has actually happened.
All figures have full articulation at the head, arms, biseps, elbows, hands, thighs and waist.
There some slight changes to the Brigadier in terms of the paint apps, the gloves have been repainted, and the trousers are a different shade of green.
The figures don't seem to come with any accesories.
The Yates and Benton figures are brilliant. There is a likeness that captivates Richard Franklin and John Levene really well and it is very exciting to have the UNIT team very much complete as it were.
I can now have UNIT battling the Cybermen, or the Axons, or The Sea Devils.
It's really cool.
Big Yes from Me to this set!
Set Four, is the only new series set to be released in this line of B&M sets.
Never the less, it's Ryan and Yaz and the anticipated Judoon Trooper we were expecting to go with the Captain that was released earlier this year.
Ryan and Yaz's base figures are primeval characters so they have articulation at the head, arms, biseps, elbows, hands, waist, and thighs. Their costumes Yaz's is from 'Arachnids in the UK' and Ryan's is from 'Rosa' and if you compare it to various production images it's not a bad match. The likenesses look like Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole, the figures have been repainted to match the costumes seen on screen.
The Judoon is a standard Judoon trooper from before, molded in a black plastic with one noticeable difference which is the gun accesory. It's a new gun from 'Fugitive of the Judoon'.There is no articulation in the head and the helmet is not removable. Articulation in the arms, biseps, elbows, hands, waist, and knees.
I've already got Graham, so I would like to complete the 2019/20 TARDIS team with Ryan and Yaz and the Judoon trooper is an added bonus with the addition of the gun accessory. #
So I would be up for getting this set.
Sets 5 and 6 - The Two Dalek sets complete this line of set releases.
These are the figures I'm not going to rush to get, simply because the first Dalek set from The Daleks is an army builder set and I do have one of these Daleks already. The Dalek Invasion of Earth set, I don't need another Supreme Dalek and the Dalek trooper doesn't seem worth the extra addition. I know you can never have too many Daleks but I wouldn't necassarily be adding anything new to my collection with these sets as apposed to the other four.
Not that I'm saying these sets are bad, they're not. They're just not all that appealing to me.
Another thing to point out about these sets is that they're going to be released in the USA as well as the UK.
Al Dewar, Character Options, Creative Director, said. “This will be the first time in almost a decade where there will be parallel launches of the same product in the UK and the USA. Hopefully this new wave of toys will contain a few surprises for everyone. As always, the Character team has tried very hard to bring something new to delight, and hopefully exceed the expectations of fans and collectors alike. This time we are bringing even more to the table with six new products!”
The new figure sets are due to be released in the summer - around June time, and priced at the retail price of £19.99 each.
Any other additional news as to when these sets will be released and ordering them will be released at a later date.
