BEST TOYS OF 2008 (imho of course) They are listed in no particular order and are mostly action figures really.
Best Marvel:
Hulk Classics Fin Fang Foom BAF (Toy of the Year candidate IMHO), gigantic, well sculpted and painted, not too hard to find, so much better than the old Toybiz Iron Man series Foom.
Hulk Classics Savage She-Hulk - besides having the head of Fin Fang Foom, Shulkie was perfectly sized for the 5" scale.
Hulk Classics Wendigo - I wasn't planning on getting him but after a Hasbro Toy shop sale I was glad to get this figure since it's more in-scale than the old Toybiz version (and as a result, I had to track down the old Toybiz Marvel Legends 12 Sasquatch and White Sasquatch variant).
Hulk Movie/Video Game Grey Hulk - good size, sculpt and paint for a 5" scale first appearance Hulk.
Two-Pack Elektra and Ronin - I thought the interchangeable heads and hands were really cool and useful.
Best DC:
Mattel DC Universe - the whole line looks great but due to budgetary contraints (and just simply being able to find them) I only got Wonder Woman, Artemis and Deathstroke
DC Direct - I didn't buy as much this year as before, I did get and enjoy the New Teen Titans set (finally a Terra and Jericho to complete that Titans era)
Best Transformers:
Universe Classics Cyclonus - just spot on and they even went and included the Targetmaster. Henkei version looks good too.
Universe Classics Hound - packed with Ravage, man this is just a fan's dream series.
Universe Classics Sideswipe and Sunstreaker - the way they engineered the mold to represent the two Autobot brothers is clever and appropriate, should have been done that way for the Alternators Dodge Viper mode. Silverstreak (Bluestreak) was a nice repaint of Prowl too.
Universe Classics Inferno - just made it out in 2008, nice update and it even sorta works well with the Alternators. Kinda wished they included his "wings" and replacement missile/nozzle hand though. I see that there is already a custom ladder set being made for this.
Japanese Henkei Skywarp and Thundercracker - though expensive still better than paying Botcon prices.
G1 Robot Heroes - continues to be such a fun line
Fansproject City Commander Trailer (Ultra Magnus armor) - this was such a necessary add-on to the Transformers Classics Ultra Magnus, seeing the progress from concept to final sculpt was incredibly fascinating. Awesome engineering.
Music Label Ipod Prime - though yet another Prime, the ability to dock and recharge your Ipod, the new head and neck articulation for the figure makes this a must-have, especially once it went on sale.
Best of the rest:
GI JOE 25th anniversary is a strong contender for line of the year. Comic pack Beach Head, comic pack Firefly, Cobra Snow Serpent and the new Cobra Paratrooper are the figure standouts to me. I especially like how they are re-releasing all the old vehicles, I just had to track down the Target exclusives Cobra Rattler and the huge Ultimate Battle set!
Did not buy yet but plan on getting (again depending on the budget)
Hasbro Marvel Legends Ares BAF - he does look awesome with the big sword accessory
Giant Millenium Falcon - maybe if it is discounted after Christmas and then I'd get it I'd have to get an X-Wing, Tie Fighter and Darth Vader Tie Fighter too!
Transformers Universe Classics Onslaught
Quintessons - Executioner, Baliff, Prosecutor, Scientist
Transformers Japanese Encore Omega Supreme - with remolded cartoon head. If only the Guardian Robot repaint was cheap, that would have been an impressive army builder!
Biggest Dissapointments:
Transformers Universe Classics Ironhide - some annoying issues, like the recessed head and bright blue windows but not a real deal breaker since I just repainted those parts.
Transformers Universe Classics Powerglide - don't like the colors, maybe a bit too big as well. I do plan on getting the Henkei version. The colors for Silverbolt are a bit garish but it was on sale for $9 at amazon so I couldn't resist.
Transformers Universe Classics Galvatron - the common complaint regarding this figure - too small. The good thing is that the old Energon Galvatron works as a replacement.
1:24 scale Land Rover Defender Roadbot - I thought this was going to be a good stand-in for a Transformers Alternators Brawn, but the toy has some ugly skinny legs (which they try to cover up with the garish add-on armor) and an elongated torso. Vehicle mode looks ok though.
ML 4 (Beast, Nova, Tigra, Nemesis etc.) teased but never released, slotted now as a 2009 Wal-Mart exclusive release
Hulk Classics Valkyrie was never released.
Hulk Movie Ironclad and Bi-Beast - though the scale works well with the 5" figures, they were based on the video game designs and not the classic comic appearances. The
No 5" scale Iron Man movie figure - I know most collectors wanted a 6" scale Iron Man, but out of so many repaints, they should have at least thrown a bone to us 5" scale holdouts, especially after making 5" scale figures for the Spiderman, Fantastic Four and Hulk movie series.
Green Hulk from that line could have been great if only it wasn't just a too short to work with the 5" scale.
End of the NECA MOTU Stactions line - I wanted statues of Spikor, Ninjor and a Horde Trooper to finish out the line. The upcoming throwback line is cool for the old fans but I prefer the newer designs.
Toy Company of the Year
Has to be Hasbro, from Transformers to Marvel Universe to new favorite GI JOE, they got some of the best lines covered. Hasbrotoyshop.com for me was so convenient, saving me many trips to the stores, they even had San Diego Comic Con exclusives available as well as getting everything I ordered from them to me before Christmas.
Looking forward to most in 2009
Botcon 2009 (finally back on the West Coast this year) and the Transformers 2 movie sequal
Hasbro Marvel Legends Shield Agents/Hand Ninjas 2 pack. No love for AIM???
Hasbro Legends Spiderman Tarantula, Juggernaut and Thunderbolts Venom (with scorpion tail). I'm kinda on the fence for the 3.75" scale Marvel Universe figures (i never got the Toybiz Superhero Showdown figures in that scale either) though the assortments look really good
The other Hasbro Marvel Legends 2-packs, like classic Iron Man, Maria Hill, Sharon Carter and Dum Dum Dugan
Transformers Japanese Masterpiece Grimlock
Transformers Henkei Thrust and Dirge - to finish out the jets.
Transformers Universe Classics/Henkei Smokescreen, Ratchet and Red Alert
GI JOE Ghost Hawk (Sky Hawk) and Sting Raider (Water Moccasin) vehicles.
Custom Ultra Magnus Head for the custom trailer - say this on Ebay
WSTF Tracks - from Hong Kong company Heroestoys (they also made some nice WSTF Dirge and Ramjet), saw the proto on Ebay hopefully they will make one available soon.
WSTF Wheeljack - rumored to be coming from Justitoys (makers of the great WSTF Dinobots)