Superior Spider-Man (Marvel Legends Infinite Series)

Otto Octavius' brain in Peter Parker's body is... the Superior Spider-Man!

In a very interesting storyline running through the Spider-Man titles a few years ago Dr. Octopus escaped his dying body by taking over Spider-Man's. With his newfound access to Parker's memories Otto decides that he can use his genius to become an even better Spider-Man. He added some extra technology to a redesigned costume. This figure sports new lenses on the mask and talons on the fingertips along with the darker colour scheme but sadly no robot arms. The articulation is typical of this basic Spider-Man body ie. awesome. The snarky, darker, edge of the Superior Spider-Man was fun while it lasted but eventually had to make way for the return of the original.

The Reaper (DC Multiverse)

The Reaper is a character who first appeared in the "Batman: Year Two" story arc by Mike W. Barr from Detective Comics #575-578 with art by Alan Davis in the first issue and a young Todd McFarlane on the latter three. The Reaper was a killer vigilante in Gotham City 20 years before Batman but he returns with a vengeance. There's some interesting ideas in this storyline but my interest in this figure is based largely on his design which clearly must've influenced the Phantasm 5 years later (though both are based on the classic Grim Reaper from folklore). The skull helmet is awesomely creepy and his leather armour is studded with spikes and other details that perhaps look better on the page than in plastic. The hands and scythes switch out quite easily and the way the cape attaches at the back leaves a nice place to store the blades in a manner similar to the comics which is pretty awesome.

Pigmon Spark Doll Sofubi

Pigmon is a friendly little monster who first appeared in "The Lawless Monster Zone" episode 8 of Ultraman though the suit first appeared as Garamon on Ultra Q. This figure came from the Ultraman X line of spark dolls but is certainly a must have for any Ultraman Ultra-fan. Pigmon usually befriends a small child or is otherwise a gentle presence in the Ultraman universe(s) though his bone-like fingers can look quite creepy as they wiggle about. Mrs. ISMOTU remarked that he looks like he belongs in a nightmarish dark reboot of the "McDonaldland" characters. His hands spin freely but there is no waist or leg articulation.

NECA Godzilla 1985

And we're back! With the King of the Monsters, the grand-daddy of all kaiju, Gojira, the ape-whale himself... GODZILLA!

NECA has released a variety of Godzilla figures each based on a different look from a different era of the films. Choosing the right Godzilla for me took some thought but I settled on the version from "The Return of Godzilla" which was released in the Western world as "Godzilla 1985."  This film renewed Godzilla's presence on screen after nearly a decade of dormancy and is considered the first of the Heisei era films even though it was still the Showa era when the movie was mad. NECA's original 1954 version was too grey and the later versions were just not the definitive Godzilla in my mind. This guy scales pretty well with the SH Monsterarts figures but at a much lower price point. I would love an "atomic breath" effect part but I can deal. Articulation is inherently limited with monster figures and I find the difference between this guy and the Monsterarts dudes I have is not that great. But zero accessories.