I shot Raph yesterday, so today I brought out the brains of the operation.

From an action figure standpoint, it's pretty much the exact same body as yesterday. Same sculpt, same articulation, just a different bandana and weapon. But I'll be honest, Donnie is easily one of my favorite parts of the 1990 movie, so he's a standout on the shelf.

Corey Feldman's voice work combined with the Jim Henson puppetry gave him so much personality. The whole scene where he and Casey Jones are trading insults while fixing the old truck gets me every time. ("You're a claustrophobic!")

Donnie fans: What is your absolute favorite Donatello moment from the live-action films?

I'm a big shell-head so I'm super biased, but this figure is amazing.

I feel like NECA really nailed the 1990 movie look. In hand, it feels like it just popped out of the movie and onto the shelf. The sculpt is just incredible, the skin texture and the details on the shell are perfect.

As for the articulation, it’s okay. It’s nothing out of this world, but it’s pretty good IMO and you can get him into the classic stances. And honestly, with all the reissues NECA has done in different formats over the years, it’s very hard to not have at least one version of these guys if you’re a TMNT fan.

Does anyone else have a specific release of these they prefer? (The VHS boxes, the 2-packs, the 4-pack?)

Today’s figure is the Comic Con 2023 special edition ALF.

I was originally going to shoot this dude alone, but once I got the red emergency lighting set up, I thought it would be funny to do a crossover with a Xenomorph.

The concept was just ALF traveling to "Cosmic Con" and getting on the wrong ship. You can just picture him calling his travel agent on that brick phone: "Listen, I want to complain about the accommodations. I was under the understanding there would be a cat buffet. Also, the bellhop behind me is drooling everywhere. Ha!"

Just having a bit of fun with the display today. Does anyone mix up their 80s properties on the shelf like this?

After shooting the stiff McFarlane Arbiter yesterday, I wanted to bring out something with some real engineering for today.

This is the Master Chief from Halo Infinite by 1000 Toys, and it is easily one of my favorites.

Honestly, this figure is a masterpiece. The articulation is awesome and it is super posable. One of the best parts is how surprisingly well the hands adapt to the weapons, it’s effortless to get him into a natural-looking firing stance.

As a big fan of the video game, this one was worth every penny for the display. Anyone else have this one in their collection?

Today is a real trip down memory lane for the streak.

I brought out McFarlane’s Arbiter from Halo 2. If we're being honest, by today's standards, this figure is stiff, barely posable, and the sculpt is just "okay, I guess."

But those were different times. I remember it being pretty good back then, and it was just really exciting to finally have action figures for one of my favorite games. I have a lot of good memories tied to this piece, even if the articulation is frustrating now.

Does anyone else still have their old McFarlane Halo figures on display?

After shooting the Alien yesterday, I brought out the Elder Predator (Golden Angel) today. It’s a good figure overall, especially if you're a fan of the franchise. The sculpting is solid, the joints feel good, and I appreciate that it comes with three head options (two masked, one unmasked).

It does have a couple of cons: the shoulder articulation is pretty restricted due to the armor, so you can't get too crazy with the poses. My biggest gripe is the Smart Discs, I hate that they don't actually fit securely into the hands.

Overall, a solid shelf piece, but definitely has some limitations.

I picked this up as part of a NECA bundle deal recently. I like the franchise, but this isn't a figure I would have bought on its own.

The Experience: It’s an okay figure. The articulation is fine, but the stability is a huge pain, it’s very hard to balance. I think someone who is more into the Alien line would get more out of this than I did, but it was an interesting change of pace for the daily streak.

I also struggled with the background on this one. I don't think my current setup quite fits the aesthetic of this character.

I’ve got some mixed feelings on this one.

The Cons: The suit is pleather (which always makes me worry about flaking down the line), the head has zero movement, and the built-in LEDs on the cycle and the skull are pretty lackluster.

The Pros: Despite all that... he might be one of the most photogenic figures I’ve ever put in front of a lens.

I stopped trying to make the internal lights work and just played with my own lighting through the transparent flame effects, I even experimented with some UV lights (last picture). I’m honestly tooting my own horn a bit here, but I didn't expect the results to be this good. He just looks "metal."

For those who have him, how has your pleather suit held up over time? Any tips on keeping it from peeling?

I realized I miscounted a day somewhere in the backlog, but we officially made it to Day 50 of the streak today!

For the big 5-0, I decided to shoot the Mezco 2019 Movie Hellboy.

I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of the 2019 movie, the Del Toro films are easily the best in my opinion. But I really wanted a live-action Hellboy on the shelf, and I was able to snag this guy.

The figure itself is actually really good. The articulation handles well despite the bulky body, and the soft goods are fantastic (no complaints about the coat or pants). My only real gripe is the lack of accessories. For a character like Hellboy, they really could have packed in a few more weapons or occult items.

A quick question for the sub: For those of you who have been catching my daily posts... what has been your favorite figure or shoot from the last 50 days?

We are continuing the "Occult/Magic" run with one of my all-time favorites.

John Constantine (Mezco Toyz).

I have to say, this might be a perfect figure (though I’m biased). I’m a huge fan of the DC Animated movie universe, and this figure captures that vibe perfectly.

The Good: • The Coat: After complaining about Atticus Doom's coat a few days ago, this one redeems the line. It’s wired beautifully and holds dynamic shapes. • The Heads: The different levels of battle damage are such a nice touch. It fits the character perfectly. • The Accessories: The spell effects are vibrant and easy to swap. Verdict: 10/10. If you are on the fence, get him.

Atticus Doom Magical Enhancement Kit. I couldn't resist giving this kit its own day in the streak.

Honestly, getting this was the perfect pretext to shoot both the OG Atticus and the Necroverse version together. The accessory count here is great, new head, about 10 different magic effects, the new book, and the scrolls.

It really breathes new life into the figures. For those who have it, do you keep the effects on permanently, or just for photos?

Today's figure is Theodore Sodcutter from Gangreene Estates.

He’s a spooky groundskeeper who walks around carrying a decapitated head (some say it's his wife). The atmosphere on this figure is 10/10.

Quick Warning: For anyone looking to pick him up, be extremely careful with the elbows. It feels more fragile than your average 1/12 scale figure.

It has a light-up feature on the eyes, but I was out of batteries so I couldn't show it in the shoot.

What’s better than one Atticus Doom? Two.

For Day 44 of the streak, I’m showcasing the Necroverse Edition of Atticus Doom from Mezco.

The Good: • The Paint: The UV/Glow-in-the-Dark application is pretty good. I used a blacklight for this shoot and the colors pop like crazy. • The Vibe: It feels very necroversy.

The Bad: • The Coat: It is not wired. The original release had a wired trench coat that allowed for dynamic wind-swept poses. This one just hangs there. It’s a slight downgrade that keeps it from being perfect.

I’m deep into "Occult Week" on my streak, so today had to be Atticus Doom.

This is easily one of my top figures of all time, and it’s the specific release that made me fall in love with the Mezco brand. I know he could be a bit pricey on the secondary market these days, but in my opinion, he is one of the few figures that is actually worth the "Grail" status.

The Aesthetic: It’s basically "1930s Private Investigator meets H.P. Lovecraft." The wired trench coat allows for some incredible dynamic movement, giving him that windswept, noir detective look.

The Accessories: This is where the figure really shines. You get the standard "Atticus" head, but swapping it for the Cthulhu-style creature head changes the entire vibe of the display. The magic effects are translucent and catch the light perfectly, and the "snake fingers" hand is just creepy enough to sell the eldritch horror theme.

He just oozes style. For those who have him: Do you display him as the Detective or the Monster?

Continuing with the Occult theme. Today is The Owlman from Lord of Tears (Mezco Toyz).

Honestly, I didn't even know about the movie before getting this figure. The design just spoke to me.

The Figure: The articulation is actually surprisingly good. The head is massive and sort of unmovable, sure, but the body underneath handles poses well. He has undeniable presence on the shelf. The Victorian suit + the Owl head is a top-tier design.

The Question: Looking at my recent photos... Am I overdoing the smoke machine? I personally think it looks cool and adds atmosphere, but I'm curious if it's getting repetitive or distracting? Is there such a thing as "Too Much Smoke" in toy photography?

Yesterday I shot the Doom Slayer, so today I felt like pivoting to the occult side of things. This is Bartholomew Vex from Mezco’s Rumble Society.

I’m a huge fan of Mezco’s in-house IPs, and this guy is a prime example of why. The accessory count is overwhelming. Between the effects, the artifacts, and the interchangeable heads, I honestly feel like I "fell short" on this shoot. There is just too much personality to capture in a single session.

I tried to lean into the demonic/cultist vibe he gives off, but I’m definitely going to have to circle back to him later in the streak to use the rest of his gear.

Transitioning from my TMNT run into video games for a bit. Today is The Doom Slayer (Good Smile Company).

I really like this figure. The accessory count is fantastic and really brings the game to life. However, I have a couple of gripes. The joints on mine feel a little too loose (not a disaster, but annoying), and the sculpt on the arms is just... off. They look kind of weird if you look too closely at the elbows/biceps.

All in all though, if you like the game as much as I do, it's a must-have. It is posable as hell (pun intended) and handles the weaponry well.

We have officially completed the "Box Collage." This is the final figure of this Ronin Run.

I might hit a nerve with this one, but looking at this figure in hand... it reminds me a little bit of the Michael Bay "Hulk" Turtles. He is just HUGE compared to the others.

Because of that bulk, he is actually the most complicated one to pose. There is almost no waist movement, and he didn't come with weapons, so I had to lean into "standing there menacingly" or “contemplating” poses rather than action shots. I think I'll borrow the Armored weapons for a future shoot.

We are closing in on the end of this Last Ronin wave. Today is Michelangelo.

This figure stands out because of the expression. It’s decisive. No BS. It really separates him from the cartoon versions. Like the Donnie and Leo figures, the amor add some bulk, but he has great shelf presence.

For the photographers here: Does anyone else struggle with the real chains? I love the feel, but I really wish NECA included a static "dynamic" chain or a spinning effect. It's tough to sell an action pose when gravity pulls the chucks straight down.

I’m just going to say it: This figure is ficking amazing.

Hot take, but this army builder might be my favorite release from the entire Ronin run so far. The design is heavily inspired by the 1987 cartoon Foot Soldiers, but they leaned into the "badass robot ninja" vibe perfectly.

The features are great (extending forearms, katanas), but the poseability is where it shines. Because it's a robot design, the joints feel natural hitting extreme angles. I think NECA cooked with this one.