Minecraft Minifigures S2

A mere four months after releasing Series 1, Mattel returns with another set of sixteen Minecraft minifigures. Series 2 is called the Stone Series, whereas Series 1 was called the Grass Series.  Exactly as the first time: Four figures are exclusive to carded 3-packs, while another four figures are exclusive to blind-boxed single-packs.  The other eight figures are available in both package types.

Electrified Creeper, Wither, Zombie, Zombie Pigman

Bats, Chicken, Ocelot, Iron Armor Steve

Magma Cube, Silverfish, Villager, Fishing Steve
These are exclusive to the 3-packs.

Tamed Wolf, Steve with TNT, Zombie Horse, Saddled Pig
These are exclusive to the blind-box 1-packs.

I have to commend Mattel.  Sometimes I think they are the only toy company actually interested in making money -- at least in a way that does not completely exploit their fans.  

First, they got Series 2 out fast.  You have to strike while the iron is hot. Toy fads are fleeting.  A year or even six months is too long to wait on something like this, especially if you are trying to warrant the release of Series 2 based on the measured success of Series 1.  Get Series 2 out there ASAP.  Simply seeing a Series 2 immediately increases the desirability of Series 1.  

Second, they gave us a unique selection of characters.  Some are derivative or repaints, but that is the nature of the franchise.  Overall, the selection is interesting.  I am looking forward to Series 3.

Third, they made the set easy to acquire.  I do wish they would not double-up figures in package types.  However, most companies would have put all 16 in blind-boxes or some other convoluted system forcing fans to buy many duplicates.  There is, in fact, a way to get the whole set with

no duplicates.  Buy the four 3-packs, and then just buy the four blind-boxes coded for the exclusive figures.  I have included the box codes (look for the code stamped into the bottom of each box) for each figure.  This is also the way to get duplicates of only the figures you like for mob building.

Find this sequence and look only at the last letter:

3174MOBM = Chicken

3174MOBN = Ocelot

3174MOBO = Iron Armor Steve

3174MOBP = Zombie

3174MOBQ = Electrified Creeper

3174MOBR = Zombie Pigman

3174MOBS = Bats

3174MOBT = Wither

3174MOBU = Steve with TNT*

3174MOBV = Saddled Pig*

3174MOBW = Zombie Horse*

3174MOBX = Tamed Wolf*

*Exclusive to blind-box 1-packs.

There you have it.   Series 1 information is here.

Love Potion Pop Fizz

Pop Fizz is one of the most interesting Skylanders because he's nothing but an endorsement for the use of performance enhancing drugs.  All his power comes from the "magic potion" that he constantly drinks.  His "beast mode" is nothing but a tweaker frenzy.  Well, this Valentine's Day he mixed up a particularly potent batch and became Love Potion Pop Fizz.  VH-1 takes a behind-the-scenes look at the troubling past three years of this addict's life in "Skylanders: Downfall."

Fateful First Drink Pop Fizz (2012)

Full Endorsement Pop Fizz (2012)

Big Gulp Pop Fizz (2013)

Fizzy Frenzy Pop Fizz (2014)

Love Potion Pop Fizz (2015)

Love Hugs

Love Hugs are 2-inch figures made by The Hug Factory. They are designed to look like handmade clay figures that you'd pay $30 for on Etsy.  However, they are indeed mass-produced, made-in-China, painted resin for 1/10th the price.  They come glued to little folded-paper stands that have both a cutesy poem and and a convenient to-you-from-me spot to write some names.  The Hug Factory makes dozens of versions for all kinds of holidays, occasions, and occupations. 

Love Hugs have been around since 1996 -- in fact, several of these sculpts have (c) 1996 stamped into their backsides. I have only encountered them in real life one time. Walgreen's took a chance on them for Valentine's back in 2012.  I ended up having 11 different figures given to me -- from all 11 of my lovers!  Haha, just kidding.  No one loves me.  Also, apparently, no one loves Love Hugs. On February 15th (approximately) I bought all 11 for pocket change.

Sincerely, though, I think they are cool.  I like the consistency of design, the details in the assortment, the retro-pseudo-homemade look, and their positive messages.  I've torn them apart from their poems to take these pictures. Granted, these are not really intended to be toys, but I wanted to let them live anyway.

Love Hug #1 -- Flowers

Love Hug #2 -- Framed Photo

Love Hug #3 -- Balloon

Love Hug #4 -- Chocolates

Love You Hug -- Ribbon

Cupid Hug -- Arrows

Valentine Hug -- Present 

Red Hot Hug -- Flames

Well, technically, that's all the Love Hugs -- because the rest are Kisses.  As you have noticed, Hugs have no arms.  Kisses -- also lack arms -- but they have feathers!  They basically look like Sy Snootles.  Pucker-up!
 

Kiss #1 -- No Pupils

Kiss #2 -- Glasses

Sexy Kiss -- Rose

It seems that the 12th one in what I am calling "the Valentine's series" is called a Love Bug Hug.  It's another fully painted Hug (like my favorite, the Red Hot Hug) that has little antennae making it kinda look like an insect (or an alien). It must have been the most popular one at Walgreen's the year that they carried these. I can get it through the Hug Factory website for $3.75 plus another $5.75 shipping.  Maybe I will do that. Or maybe my Valentine will order it for me.

Ha!

Lego Love

Party Animals

Party Animals are collectible toys made by Moose of Australia and distributed in North America by Spin Master.  They came out in 2011 and were the girls toy equivalent of the Mighty Beanz. 

Party Animals are hard-plastic bears wearing rubber costumes.  The bears are about 1-inch tall and the costumes are about 1.5 inches.  The bear/costume combos are always the same and they each have a cute name.  The bears are dressed as people, other animals, food, and inanimate objects.  Besides being cute and girly, I always thought there was something odd about bears masquerading as squirrels and surfboards and scissors and such.

There were ten groups with seven figures each.  These were available in blind-bags and multi-packs.  The groups were: Safari, Farm, Pets, Beach, Fantasy, Beauty, Arts & Crafts, Fast Food, Fruits, and Sweet Treats.  Five additional figures were available in playsets.  A final twelve figures were available as connecting pairs in carded two-packs.  So that puts a total of 87 figures in Series 1.

There was a briefly released Series 2 which saw an extremely limited distribution.  This series featured much more interesting costumes including Halloween monsters and Travel related objects and landmarks.  I don't think there were as many figures in the second series, though I am unsure, and I don't have a checklist.

Originally I was only going to post the heart-shaped connecting pair called "Friend & Forever" (above) as a Valentine's Day treat.  After thinking about how cute/weird they are, I decided to post a few more, especially the other connecting pairs because they're all kinda Valentiny. 

Lucky & Sunny

Romeo & Juliette

Fifie & Frizz

Cubs & Nook

Pom Pom & Hank

some nekkid bears

Pedro the Taco and Rocco the Pizza
somehow seems racist, no?

Fries with That Shake

just kidding -- it's Chips and Shakes

Fries and Shake gettin' nekkid

and the Chompies move in!

Chompy Valentine's Day!

Unicorny

Unicorn Girl meets Unikitty.

Lego has gotten unicorny.

Not to mention Lego Movie sets are still being produced.

Hot Dogs

Mega Bloks: Skylanders: Hot Dog

Mega Bloks: Skylanders: Molten Hot Dog

Lego: Minifigures: Series 13: Hot Dog Guy

Mega Bloks: Hot Dogs (accessories)

Ranger Danger

Ricardo Medina Jr., who played the Red Power Ranger (Wild Force) was arrested on Feb 1, 2015 for killing his roommate... with a sword. 

I know I used the wrong series ranger in this picture.  The red Wild Force ranger actually exists. It is part of Mega Bloks' newest blind-bag series.  Weird.  If I come across it, maybe I will re-shoot the picture. That is, if they still allow its release.

Left Shark

Just look it up.

XLIX Small Pros

The New England Patriots win Superbowl XLIX!

Patriot's tight end Rob Gronkowski clears an angry mob of Seattle Creepers.

This is a 2-inch blind-bag Small Pros figure from McFarlane Toys.

Tom Brady is also in the series, but I don't have him. Sad face.