Welcome back to Fantastic Plastic, the collector-friendly column spotlighting some of the coolest collectibles from across the toy industry. Each month, professional toy photographer and noted pop culture journalist John DeQuadros – whose work has appeared everywhere from Toy Tales to ToyCollectr and even The Toy Book – introduces readers to his favorite new releases, spanning mega manufacturers and indie design houses alike. Did your favorite make the list? What was your standout release from May 2026? Sound off in the comments below and let’s talk toys...
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation — Captain Edward Jellico
Stern, decisive, and clearly not a fan of fish, Captain Jellico may not be everyone’s favorite commanding officer, but he sure makes one heck of an action figure! Crafted in 1/10 scale and clad in classic colors, this debut release in The Nacelle Company’s all-new Star Trek series is ready to take charge of your collection with sharp sculpting, strong paintwork, and a stack of awesome accessories – including Livingston the lionfish – inspired by the legendary TNG two-parter, “Chain of Command.” While its been more than a minute since the last collector-friendly Star Trek line successfully left drydock, with Brian Volk-Weiss and The Nacelle Company now at the helm, I think it’s safe to say this legendary brand is back and ready to return to the final frontier once more!
4. Super Mario S.H. Figuarts — Yoshi
Mario Mania continues this month with another rad re-release courtesy of Bandai Namco! Pristine, poseable, and just a touch prehistoric, Yoshi is back and sporting all of the 16-bit brilliance that made the original release such a hit nearly ten years ago! While he’s not the freshest figure around, Bandai’s beloved mount still strides leaps and bounds ahead of most domestic releases, delivering game-accurate charm, expressive articulation, and a touch of timeless Nintendo magic in one compact package. Better yet, this double-back dinosaur gives fans a second chance to add him to the game room without having to fork over a glut of gold coins to some seller on the secondary market. Seriously, it’s a total win/win!
3. Transformers x Zoids x Diaclone Synergenex Series — Shield-D-Prime
While the name may not roll off the tongue, Takara Tomy’s Synergenex Shield-D-Prime is a combination as cool as cookies and milk! A one-of-a-kind crossover between Transformers, Zoids, and Diaclone, this fantastical fusion takes everyone’s favorite Autobot and gives him a serious overhaul, complete with a slick Shield Liger alt mode, motorized jaw, LED lighting, and even a pair of articulated Diaclone crew members. Sure, at almost $300 a pop, this ain’t no rock-bottom robot destined to be snagged on sale at your local big box retailer. What it is, however, is an electrifying slice of import engineering that embraces everything awesome about Japanese pop culture and high-end design. To quote Ferris Bueller: “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.” It’s so choice!
2. Plunderlings — Plunderfrogs
Perhaps Lone Coconut’s cutest critters to date, Plunderfrogs are anthropomorphized amphibians with a flair for trade and a pretense for potion brewing! Be it the brilliantly bizarre Tinker Makoh, the cheerful wanderer Nomad Koqui, or the wise and powerful leader Cursed Dendro, each of these brightly colored boffins stands 4.5 inches tall, comes fully articulated, and is loaded with innovative extras and interchangeable bits that make them just as much fun to play with as they are to display. From their expressive designs to their richly imagined lore, Plunderfrogs are sure to add just the right amount of tropical whimsy to any action figure display!
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Garfield — Ultimate Garfello & Odie
Jim Davis’ fat cat returns this month, this time with a fun little deep cut courtesy of NECA Toys! Based on the 1992 crossover comic from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Magazine, the Ultimate Garfello & Odie figure set celebrates one of those wonderfully wacky paper and ink team-ups from back in the day. It features pop culture’s tubbiest tabby decked out as his hungry, half-shelled alter ego – complete with turtle-inspired gear and that unmistakable attitude – while loyal Odie tags along in a far less convincing disguise. Each figure comes with accessories and interchangeable parts, including a stack of pizzas, extra hands, swappable heads, and Garfello’s trusty pizza cutter. It’s a playful mash-up that leans hard into ‘90s nostalgia, delivering a tongue-in-cheek tribute to both franchises that collectors and fans are sure to appreciate!
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