This was no easy decision, and almost every toy featured here today could have been at the top of my list, but only one can win the Articulated Accolade (unless you're Wes), and without further delay, that winner is:

The Winner: DC Universe Classics The Joker

My favorite line of the last two years has been Mattel's DC Universe Classics, and its top figure this year for me was the Joker. He's a classic character that has needed an iconic 6 inch representation for years now, and this release finally achieved that. Not only does he blend a classic style with modern flair, but he's got the colors and sculpt to back it up. You can tell that love was put into this toy from people who know and respect the character's past and present, and it really does show. He includes a bevy of wonderful accessories that make him a joy to play with and a real delight to pose. Even his articulation allows you to capture some of the wild antics of the Joker without compromising his appearance.

There were initially some concerns that people weren't going to be able to find this figure because of Mattel's questionable distribution. Those concerns have been mostly quelled, making this fantastic toy available to all the DC Comics and action figure fans out there. The intense desire people were showing for this fellow only supports how great he is, as he was definitely one of the most anticipated toys of the year. And unlike most toys that people are looking forward to, he just doesn't disappoint. This is truly a figure worthy of the "wonderful toy" title he received in his review, and even though he may not be the highest scoring figure of the year, he is most definitely still my favorite. 

Honorable Mention: GI Joe The Rise of Cobra Snake Eyes (City Strike)

My first honorable mention is another figure that people have been waiting for most of the year, and he too doesn't disappoint. This version of Snake Eyes is based on the immensely popular GI Joe Resolute animated movie and captures his dark style and ninja-style perfectly. It's a well articulated 4 inch figure that comes with a huge pile of entertaining and appropriate accessories, making it the most fun figure of the year for me. He's got all the goods in technical categories (sculpt, paint, articulation), but he's also one of best values of the year, especially if you can find him at a sale price. There's no toy this year that provided more bang for the buck, and from the most intense GI Joe fan to the most casual action figure collector, this figure will impress. He's a close second place and would have taken top honors if only his paint style had matched that of the animation a little more closely. Don't miss out on this one! 

Honorable Mention: Street Fighter IV Akuma

NECA has made some amazing toys this year. With the ever-increasing attention they're putting towards articulation in their figures, NECA is taking the name action figure to heart, instead of just creating slightly flexible statues. No line captured this move towards poseability like the Street Fighter IV, which features the most articulated figures in the 6 inch+ scale all year. All these toys are an absolute joy when trying to recreate game poses and stances, but none of them look better than the Series 2 Akuma. He's well painted, well sculpted, and already based on a design I've loved since I was much younger. That's a deadly combination that makes this an entertaining piece of plastic that's quite reasonably priced and easy to find. I fully recommend this figure.

Honorable Mention: Indie Spotlight Series 1 The Maxx

This figure is my surprise pick of the year. I hadn't really considered him one of the "best" toys to come out in the last 12 months, but then I realized he always shows up on my desk and always ends up in my hands. Something about this toy makes him enjoyable to look at, and even more fun to pose. Shocker Toys' The Maxx finds his way onto this list on pure charm. There's no doubt he's a good figure that will satisfy any indie comic book collector fan, but he's also just so enjoyable to handle that he's worth every penny. If you're willing to take a chance on a figure you wouldn't normally buy, you might want to make it this one. i did the same, and don't regret it at all.

Honorable Mention: Masters of the Universe Classics Skeletor

As much as I enjoy complaining about Mattel and the Masters of the Universe Classics line, they're still putting out some amazing figures. The one that stood out more than the rest for me this year was the big bad guy himself, Skeletor. Even though I dropped the line soon after Skeletor's purchase, it was when I noticed him sitting on my shelf, impress at just how well he turned out, that I decided jumping back in may not be a bad idea. Any toy that convinces me to spend $30 a month on his companions is obviously a beautiful figure that deserves commendation. Skeletor is well articulated, a perfect update to the original, and features top of the line sculpting and paint applications. What more could you want from a toy these days? If he were $10 cheaper, there's little doubt he would have claimed the top spot on this list.

Honorable Mention: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Leader Class Optimus Prime

It's hard to ignore one of the greatest toy lines of all time, especially when the movie based on it was one of the highest grossing films of the year. I wasn't quite so down on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as were many collectors, and actually found some of the toys quite enjoyable. One such example is the magnificently engineered Leader Class Optimus Prime. I may not review or buy a lot of Transformers, but this figure impressed me based on the absolutely incredible design and transformation process. Capturing the complexity of the movie Transformers and making them enjoyable to play with is a difficult task, but Optimus Prime does just that. He's a stunning semi-truck in his alternate mode and the robot is also a cool looking toy too. He's one of the most fun toys this year, commands a presence on the shelf, and may be one of the most inspiring Transformers designs in a very long time, all worthy accomplishments that earn him this honorable mention.

Closing Thoughts

This has been a great year for toys, and even though I've  only mentioned six here today, there are a lot of creators out there who have poured their heart and soul into figures all year, and I just want to extend a great big "thank you", whether your toy was mentioned here or not, It's an honor to buy and review these toys, and even when I complain or point out faults, it's still with respect and gratitude, because every toy has something wonderful that makes it an item to cherish and hold on to.

_________

You can find more of this year's Articulated Accolades right here.