November 21st, 2024
58 comments
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B&M 2024 Friend & Foes of The Doctor
Character Options’ Christmas Doctor Who new offering for B & M stores unveiled
The new sets will make the perfect gifts for fans of the legendary Time Lord
Just in time for the big day and due to be at B & M Stores throughout the UK, Character Options is proud to reveal two new Doctor Who figure sets. Each comes in the ubiquitous celebration packaging designed with the fan collector in mind.
The first set is a trio of 5.5” (14cm) scale figures entitled: Friends & Foes of the Doctor.
This set comprises Professor River Song as seen in the 2010 episode The Pandorica Opens, the Cyberman with Heavy Weapons as seen in the 2011 episode A Good Man Goes to War, and the Gold Clockwork Droid from the 2006 episode The Girl in the Fireplace.
The River Song figure comes decorated in her black ‘stealth’ outfit briefly seen in the part where she is breaking into Liz 10’s secret archive to locate a Vincent Van Gogh painting. She sports a revised head sculpt with ponytail which appeared in that scene, and completing the outfit is her utility belt and holster with detachable blaster accessory.
The Cyberman is presented in the standard livery of a silvered armour over darker silver joints and come with the somewhat incongruous ‘Reaper’ heavy blaster weapon seen in this episode while the ‘Gold’ Clockwork Droid is a variant never released before but has as usual the removable mask with hair, arm mounted utility weapon, and the internal clockwork parts as seen inside the transparent clear head.
The next new set is the 19th in the history of the eminently popular History of the Daleks series.
This new chapter for the series is a celebration of black and bronze and features Daleks from the 2005 episode featuring the Ninth Doctor called Parting of the Ways.
In the episode, Rose Tyler has been captured by the Daleks and the Doctor must do some fancy flying to find her. Emerging from the TARDIS, he taunts the Daleks to find out information and is staggered to find them worshipful of something or someone. The source of this enthral is revealed to be the self-proclaimed ‘Emperor of the Daleks’, a survivor of the Time War. This set includes a black and bronze Imperial Guard Dalek and a fully bronze Dalek – all part of the massive Dalek army that has been created by the Emperor over the centuries.
The two new Doctor Who sets will be available from B & M Stores from early December.
Categorised under: Doctor Who 5" scale figures, Toys
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Mouth on legs
December 16th, 2024 - 5:38pmTwo Cyberleader ones on the shelf at Pallion, Sunderland
Andy Dodds
December 15th, 2024 - 12:22pmSt James Retail Park Newcastle had the Friends and Foes about 7 on the shelf that was this morning at 11.30am no Daleks.
Anthony Fagn
December 11th, 2024 - 11:24pm6Sek already complaining on his YT channel about clockwork man in the middle of the Irish Sea.
Walter Hardback
December 12th, 2024 - 1:33amMaybe that was what caused the curious lying accusations – someone hired a yacht to get an Emperor Davros from the middle of the ocean, only to find there wasn’t even a floating B&M store (“There was just more water!”).
Dalek fred
December 14th, 2024 - 7:48amCan’t even find the place this year as there’s no map!,poor cyberman he’ll be all wet now
Toygazer
December 9th, 2024 - 4:44pmJust found both versions of the 3 pack in Northumberland Retail Park B&M
mick
December 8th, 2024 - 1:31pmThese have now arrived at the warehouse don’t know how long it will be before they start sending them out to stores
Snowman
December 9th, 2024 - 5:03pmJust One Day, by the looks of the Spotted in Store posts Mick.
mick
December 9th, 2024 - 6:55pmI find that is really quick. Will check on the movement when I’m next at work. Usually go to Bedford then central warehouse which takes around a week to do.
Anthony Fagn
December 10th, 2024 - 9:40amIf you’re in the South you won’t get them till the new year. Internal distribution issues at the warehouse means the North will get stock NOW and the South will get thiers in the New Year. Usually Bedford DC gets stock first which is why usually the new sets appear in the South before they appear in the North. Irrespective of where they appear now at least stock has started to show THIS side of xmas
Tom Williams
December 11th, 2024 - 3:57pmNot true as I live in south and didn’t find any stock in the Bedford stores on the previous ones (davros etc) but instead went too my local st Neots and they had them which I brought the dalek set one straight away as it was harder after too get it now I went there last week and they had lots off stock so they do get them early but wouldn’t be till next week this rate
Jay
December 8th, 2024 - 12:40pmAre we getting a map for this release?
Anthony Fagn
November 27th, 2024 - 6:50amTotal of 4 sets as each of the 2 sets has a variant version.
Martino
November 25th, 2024 - 12:06pmThis is one of those rare releases which doesn’t quite ‘fit’ in my collection – there’s no theme uniting the three figures, and tbh I was hoping they might at least be from the same story. The Clockwork Droid variant is very nice, I might pick up a loose one later, but generally not much appeal. My B&M didn’t stock the Davros/Dalek releases, so I might not see them anyway.
toptimelord
November 24th, 2024 - 1:08pmI won’t be getting these. More varient figures we’ve already got when we should be buying new figures from the 60th specials or new season.
Doctor Stu
November 24th, 2024 - 6:24pmZero interest in anything from the new season. A total flop. But the 60th would be good. A proper Donna, Meep and toymaker. But that’s about it. At least the River is somewhat new
demdike@Cult Labs
November 23rd, 2024 - 5:06pmThe more i look at the River figure the more her head seems too small for the body.
HS
November 24th, 2024 - 2:53pmLook at side images if the figure. It looks better and you can see her ponytail.
beef
November 23rd, 2024 - 3:22pmAnyone else notice how the hemispheres on the NSDs are poorly aligned towards the front? The columns are slightly lower down.
They never used to be like that, it’s quite annoying and really obvious to me
The Destroyer of Worlds
November 23rd, 2024 - 10:17pmFrom photos of it in hand, it looks much better colour wise.
beef
November 24th, 2024 - 8:47amIt’s not the colours that I have an issue with, it’s the weird alignment of the hemis. Although, I do wish the rings around the hemis were painted. Probably too finicky of a paint app, but then, the die-cast dalek figures from 2005/6 had them painted and as a result those remain the best looking new series dalek figures to date imo.
Charlie
November 25th, 2024 - 9:00pmFor some reason they have been this way on the NSDs since the Crucible Dalek release back in , though oddly on the Supreme Dalek / Davros / Ironside releases they have a more level set of front hemis! A mystery!
Walter Hardback
November 26th, 2024 - 12:37amThey did a “more accurate” new Dalek mold, didn’t they, adjusting some of the proportions? Presumably this was when the hemispheres changed, although I’m not enough of an expert on the toys to know exactly when the new mold was introduced.
Neutrobyte
November 22nd, 2024 - 7:02pmI’m going to bring it up because nobody else has: If the Cybermen are supposed to be from “A Good Man Goes To War”, then why did CO give the Cyber Leader the head from “Army Of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”? When Rory is speaking to him at the start of the episode, you can clearly see that the Cyber Leader has the later head introduced in “The Next Doctor” (with the black face-plate and visible brain). If CO can afford to remake the Assault Dalek’s flamer, then they can afford to give the “A Good Man Goes To War” Cyber Leader the correct head!
Doctor Stu
November 23rd, 2024 - 12:26pmThe black handles are a variant I believe, the standard release in this set is accurate with the silver handles. Black handles are an easier rare variant to slip into the release than an entirely different head. They did it with the scarecrows, cracked angels in series 5 etc. but that’s when we actually had a show people adored with merchandise effort to match
Hewy
November 22nd, 2024 - 12:18pmWhat I find interesting is that B&M want a fixed price to sell, obviously Daleks & Cybermen do well, but to any casual buyer, River Song and especially the Clock Work robot are ancient history. Why not a reissue or varients of the “fam” etc.. something a little more current & modern?
Dalekoddjob
November 22nd, 2024 - 12:52pmThey have already done a shelf warming Fam set.
Walter Hardback
November 22nd, 2024 - 2:51pmI ended up with one of those ‘fam’ sets as an effective freebie with something else – they basically forced me to have one if I wanted the good stuff on the cheap. I’m thinking I’m going to make a custom ‘Bradley Walsh on The Chase’ figure and give what’s left to someone I don’t like at Christmas.
Harry Oldman
November 22nd, 2024 - 2:57pmThe classic waves are all shelf warmers at my local stores. The amount of time lord sets in the clearance is astounding.
Doctor Stu
November 23rd, 2024 - 12:28pmTo be fair, the droid and riversong are the only reason I’m getting the set. I Want to see the yellow droid alongside the black, blue and purple. Would be a lot better if it was the red version with larger gown so there’s a different shape to the silhouette we’ve had four times now but it’s better than nothing
mick
November 22nd, 2024 - 11:18amDue at central warehouse around 2nd december
The DR.
November 22nd, 2024 - 2:08pmThanks Mick, Much Appreciated.
Lucinda
November 22nd, 2024 - 9:21amWould like a dan lewis figure in the future
Ian
November 22nd, 2024 - 8:32amLooks like the attachment of the claw arm is the same from the first release. I’ll get the Daleks that’s all. Underwhelmed by these.
Doctor Stu
November 22nd, 2024 - 7:54amI’ll be getting the riversong but it’s a bit lazy to just paint her entire body black. It’s nothing like the outfit she actually wears. Could have used a Peri from the caves of androzani for the body, even the Sarah Jane white and brown jacket figure painted black. Just anything a little more accurate than a big old winter jacket painted black.
Snowman
November 22nd, 2024 - 1:58pmDon’t think RiverSongs body will be painted, would be much easier just to inject Black Plastic into the Mould, then jobs a good un.
Jamie
November 22nd, 2024 - 3:04pmI just watched a review and River Song is fully painted. Matt and shiny black and the silver bits on her belt.
Snowman
November 22nd, 2024 - 5:18pmWhat Colour plastic are they using Jamie?
Seems abit odd using a random colour plastic for the body then having to paint them all Black?
The Ergon
November 21st, 2024 - 6:15pmThe variant friends and foe set i will pick up. Not so much the bronze daleks. All my favourite daleks were from the classic series.
Button
November 21st, 2024 - 6:07pmNow I wonder why the Cyberman does not have the properly moulded chest symbol from the ‘closing time’ Corroded Cyberman, if memory serves it was a separate piece that was glued onto the figure.
Dalekoddjob
November 22nd, 2024 - 8:18amBecause its from a Good man goes to war probably!
Snowman
November 21st, 2024 - 4:59pmBoth Sets look Nice, I think the packaging from the last Couple of Years really sets them off. The Clockwork Droid looks Great, I think it’s one of my Favourite Villains from Nu Who.
Doctor Stu
November 24th, 2024 - 11:32amThat’s not what he’s saying, the closing time cybermen had a better head sculpt and the chest piece moulded on. It looked a lot better. This is just a painted black ring like the original release of the closing time cyberman with the series 2 head. It’s probably the one figure in this set with the least effort put into it. It’s essentially a direct rerelease with black veins and silver paint
Snowman
November 24th, 2024 - 12:32pmEeeehhhh? I only said I liked the Sets (and the Packaging).
MattY
November 21st, 2024 - 4:40pmClockwork Droid variant and River Song are ok – not exciting but nice to add to the collection. The Dalek set is disappointing. Another bronze Dalek – why not an updated version of the Assault Dalek? And the black and gold Dalek….why? Was really hoping it would include the Imperial Guard Dalek with the black top and large gun that is seen on screen for substantial amount of time (not blink and you’ll miss it) that was only released as a 3.75” figure. Hey ho. It doesn’t bode well for the Doomsday set which can only be a bronze Dalek and Dalek sec. With the variety of Dalek designs much more limited in NuWho than the classic era, this could have been something more relevant to the story and different. The one plus of this is the money I will save. : )
The Destroyer of Worlds
November 21st, 2024 - 5:16pmThe Assault Dalek is the variant of the Dalek set, it’s gonna have the claw arm from the original modified for the new ball joints. They just haven’t shown pictures annoyingly.
Doctor Stu
November 24th, 2024 - 11:37amThey won’t release Dalek Sec again, they did him last year. They covered doomsday and Dalek. So the next set will have to be daleks in Manhattan. Or if they want to cram in the cult of skaro, they can release Jast and the genesis arc and then Caan and damaged Thay from series 3. Then everyone will be covered, despite them releasing Dalek Sec with the completely incorrect ID tag
Jay
November 21st, 2024 - 4:37pmI assume B&M already have the stock? I see no chance of them being ready this side of Christmas otherwise.
Snowman
November 21st, 2024 - 5:12pmAvailable from Early December, Since that’s only just over a week away, they must be in the UK already I guess.
Loobop p
November 21st, 2024 - 4:27pmthe names of these sets got leaked months ago they sounded alot more exciting than they actually are. A perfect for december release would have been robot santa and 2 pyjamas doctor variants or donna in wedding dress with jacket less doctor. Arn’t b and m sick of dalek repaints yet. At least one modern doctor figure would be better than all this.
Jamie
November 21st, 2024 - 4:50pmOver a decade of B&M sets and people still think we could get new figures like Robot Santa or Wedding Dress Donna?
Paul
November 21st, 2024 - 5:34pmIf my grandmother had wheels, she would’ve been a bike.
It’s B&M, what you’re expecting is way too much for their budgets! Dalek sets DO sell, so of course B&M and Character aren’t going to stop producing them, especially if they’re improvements on the original figures from 2005.
Snowman
November 21st, 2024 - 6:31pmB&M are selling Three figures for £22 when the going rate for one Figure is £20, has shown by the recent Ruby/15th Doctors Exclusive/Retail Figures.
Honestly the B&M figures are only Dirt Cheap because there basically repacks that cost nothing Tooling Wise.
B&M could make 3 packs with New Figures included that people keep asking for, but they will cost over £60. ( I have to ask Will anyone buy them)?
Snowman
December 1st, 2024 - 4:38pmTo be Honest I would pay £60 for a Triple Pack of New Dr Who Figures. ( I’ve been used to paying these prices for years with being a Star Wars fan). But since I’m just One Fan, would CO make these sort of sets just for me?
Tom Williams
November 21st, 2024 - 4:05pmDefo love both sets especially parting of the ways it would be best with the recent 9th dr/10th doctor regenerated set but the clock work man is also stunning 🙂
Tom Williams
November 21st, 2024 - 4:08pmMent too say the set I brought off eBay the original realise from 2005 lol
Jamie
November 21st, 2024 - 3:50pmIts fun to get some modern series variants like this. I really like the River Song, and its nice to finally get a Cyberman with the underwiring painted darker. I believe the Cyberman also has a non leader variant.
Doctor Stu
November 22nd, 2024 - 7:53amI’ll be getting the riversong but it’s a bit lazy to just paint her entire body black. It’s nothing like the outfit she actually wears. Could have used a Peri from the caves of androzani for the body, even the Sarah Jane white and brown jacket figure painted black. Just anything a little more accurate than a big old winter jacket painted black.