5. Transformers Generations GDO Wheelie - A crazy redeco that doesn't make any sense, but between the almost terrifyingly friendly headsculpt, the terrific colors, and the fantastic quality of the base figure (Reveal The Shield Jazz -- yes, they turned a Jazz into a Wheelie, you see how nuts this is?) this is one Transformer I couldn't pass up or put down.

4. Transformers Prime Ultra Magnus - While this figure has some obvious weaknesses (literal ones: unless you modify them, he's got some WAY weak shoulder joints), I really dig the look of this take on the classic Autobot City Commander, and the giant gun that transforms into his Transformers Animated-style hammer is the spring-loaded, LED-charged icing on the cake. Not, like, a super-great figure, but one I was way looking forward to (the original Ultra Magnus was my very first BIG Transformer back in Christmas of '86) and, once in hand, didn't disappoint.

3. Mattel Voltron - Even with the leaning, the occasional sloppy paint, the crooked stickers, and the Green Lion legs that won't stay in, this thing has PRESENCE. It's huge, it actually poses, I way dig the "blazing" Blazing Sword it comes with (why in heaven's name would you use the plain metal Blazing Sword if you have that one?!), and while the pilot figures aren't great, I'm glad we have them. It could have been so much more, but it's enough that it's still an impressive piece of work. If only it hadn't cost so blasted much ...

2. Beast Saga (line) - Takara, the original creators of the toys we called Battle Beasts, went back and did their own 21st century take on the property. Instead of a simple Fire-Wood-Water thing, they now shoot dice out of their chests as part of a game. But that's not why they're here. They're here because they retain the absurd charm of the original line. My favorite so far? A turtle wearing a captain's, or maybe an admiral's cap. He's even got little ribbons on his chest. BigBadToyStore is selling these guys for about eight bucks a pop, which based on the level of quality of product -- flawless paint applications, tight joints, and solid heft -- and the fact that these are imported from Japan doesn't feel like a rip-off. I foresee a pile of these dudes in my future, and I'm not complaining.

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Raphael - The psychotic grimace, the crack in the shell, and the fact that hey, he's been my favorite Turtle since 1987 means he gets the top spot, but the four Turtles all got fantastic figures in 2012. The thing is, I wouldn't have scooped up the other three if I hadn't fallen for this one. He really looks like he's going to take those sais and stab you, and he's got the articulation to go ahead and do it.

Just got in Black Lion, assembled Voltron -- and y'know, all the little nagging things that had been bothering me from month to month about this set of toys washed away for a few moments (most of all, nasty crooked stickers in the Blue Lion cockpit -- Blue & Green had the most problems for me) in the joy of assembling this titan, arming him up, and posing him for battle. In the end, it seemed to be all worth it.

On the one hand, I'm glad I didn't have a big nasty stray yellow slop mark like you had on Black Lion's leg, but I did have a nice white slice of paint wear across the edge of Black Lion's nose. Also, he was way dusty right out of the box! Weird! I will say, yeah, balancing Voltron is a huge pain. Wish the knees bent a little farther. I've actually stressed the plastic in the joint of my Black Lion's left knee a bit trying to bend the knee just a smidge more to adjust the toy's weight. I've got him standing up perfectly straight when in a totally neutral stance, but the minute you start articulating the arms, or add the weight of any of the accessories, suddenly he wants to tip forward.

The worst for me isn't the spring-out legs in the Blue & Yellow Lions. Those are a bit of a pain, and y'know, it did become less of a problem when I bent the feet per the instructions like you did here in the follow-up video. For me, though, it's the hind legs of my Green Lion. They were duds from the minute I got it, and I worried and fretted about how it would be when I assembled Voltron. Well, it was as bad as I feared. I've actually got an elastic hair band around the legs to prevent them from popping out. I don't even have to DO anything for them to pop; they explode out generally within seconds of me moving my hand from them. I probably should have gotten on the horn to Mattel about it, gotten my money back, and turned around and bought a new one off of eBay for a little more ... but I didn't want to do anything that might, maybe, possibly prevent me from completing Voltron. Now that I've got him assembled, I might still hit eBay and buy a second Green Lion and cross my fingers and hope it's not as bad. (Did anyone else have problems like that with their Green Lions? This was just a one-off thing, right?)