The PoP! Stars give their take on the latest and greatest in Action Figures and Toy Lines in eight (succinct) parts.

There are no preset categories to pigeonhole contenders into. There’s no voting by committee. This is one man’s gut reaction as to who the best and brightest of 2010’s New York International Toy Fair were. Be warned… they’re not all action figures. In fact, few are. Instead, these are eight products and properties that - more than any other - catch the eye and capture the imagination. Without further ado, I give you the best of show:

MP3 Character Speakers (Funko)

Available - TBA / Price - TBA

What fanboy or fangirl wouldn’t want to wake up to the Imperial March blasting out of Darth Vader’s head? Funko’s making dreams become reality with their new line of MP3 speakers which feature highly detailed likenesses of a handful of Star Wars characters and a certain iron-suited Marvel superhero, no less! Each speaker features a digital clock face built into the character’s torso and a head resembling a lamp shade, the top of which functions as the actual speaker. Cool and compact with broad appeal for kids and collectors alike, these should be popping up on bedside tables and office desks everywhere.

Evolvems (Flying Monkey)

Series 1 Available - Now / MSRP - $20
Series 2 Available - Fall 2010 / MSRP - TBA

There’s not too much I can say about Evolvems that I didn’t already cover in our Outside the Longbox earlier this week. Simply put, these toys deftly combine education and entertainment in an adorable plush toy. Evolvems teach the science of evolution with 8 different animals available in four individual toys. Series 2 will bring four new animals in two exciting new Evolvems - featuring the sabre-toothed Smilodon and Tyrannosaurus, lizard king.

Iron Man Helmet (Hasbro)

Available - Spring 2010 / MSRP - $34.99

When I walked out of seeing Iron Man in 2008, my first thought was “I want that suit.” Of course, my second thought was “Oh, yeah, it doesn’t exist.” Now, as Iron Man 2 gets ready to repulsor blast its way into theaters, Hasbro gets me once step closer to realizing my goal of suiting up in the red and gold. Sure, I’m 29 years old, but I can still appreciate the need to play dress up every once in a while, and kids of all ages are going to love this helmet with slow-release visor, light-up eyes, and sound effects in the form of missions straight from Jarvis.

Freerider (Brooklyn Workshop)

Available - Now, for preorder / MSRP - $150.00, presale - $130

Looking vaguely like a pair of futuristic ankle shackles and inspired by the hub-less wheels of the Tron Light Cycles, this newest entry into the world of extreme sports is designed specifically for snowboarders in the off-season. The design is so cool, however, that I found myself lamenting my complete lack of background in the extreme arts. The Freerider’s innovative design may be enough to get me on the slopes, just so I can have an excuse to order one once the snow melts! Be sure to visit the manufacturer’s site for video of the Freerider in action.

Lightsaber Chopsticks (Kotobukiya)

Available - Now / MSRP - $19.99

For all the licensed goods that have come from the Star Wars property over time, chopsticks in the shape of Lightsabers may just be the single most brilliant idea ever. And let me just tell you, Kotobukiya has paid excrutiating attention to detail here, with each blade’s handle perfectly representing the original’s design. Yoda’s blade is appropriately short, as well, and Darth Maul’s twin blades connect together to perfectly capture the Sith’s signature saber. Granted, that may force you to turn your sushi into shish kabob, but this is the price we pay for unmitigated awesome.

Air Hover Hockey (Feldstein and Associates)

Available - Now / MSRP - $20

Who doesn’t love air hockey? If you raised your hand, you’re likely a liar. But who has a couple of hundred dollars to drop on an air hockey table? Good news! Thanks to Feldstein and Associates, not only is air hockey affordable, but it’s also portable. The battery operated puck generates its own cushion of air, allowing for quick convenient play on any flat surface. Plus, its soft sides and heavier construction mean you’re far less likely to break a lamp than with the old standard. Headed over to a friend’s for dinner? Bring it along. Each set comes with two paddles and two goals, giving you everything you need to get your game under way.

WWE (Mattel)

Available - Now / MSRP - $9.99 & up depeding on assortment

For years, Jakks was the source for WWE figures, and when they lost that license to Mattel, I was shocked. I didn’t know what to expect. My fears have been put to rest, however, as the product we’ve started to see from Mattel has been head and shoulders above their predecessor’s - quite literally! Never before has there been an action figure line with such a sense of scale. This isn’t limited only to the height of the figures, but is seen throughout, from the thickness of Triple H’s thighs to the cut of Kofi Kingston’s chest - and nowhere is this more evident than in the series one box set which features wrestlers from Evan Bourne to Big Show to Triple H to Kofi, each with a unique body type!

But the attention to detail doesn’t stop there. No, there’s much more going on here. Look at the face sculpts on some of these characters, and you’ll see the wreslter’s personality shine through instantly. Christian’s signature smirk, for instance. Or what about the Dusty Rhodes figure who - when you lift up his shirt - actually has Dusty’s instantly recognizable birthmark? That’s right, I said lift up his shirt. Above and beyond the basic assortment, Mattel’s offering figures with authentic ring gear, and some decked out with specific entrance attire and bases that play their theme music. Seldom is a licensed property handled with such care as this line, and it’s only just begun.

Creationary (Lego)

Available - March 2010 / MSRP - $34.99

To quote PoP!’s Lee Rodriguez “How is it already 2010 and this has only just happened?”If you haven’t figured it out from the name, imagine Pictionary, but with Legos instead of a pen and paper. With each turn, players roll the dice and draw a card in one of four categories - vehicles, buildings, nature, or things. Then it’s a race to build what’s on the card, while your teammate(s) tries to guess your word. The concept is so simple, yet so brilliant all at once.

This list was meant to be in no particular order - there was no “winner.” But I can’t help but recognize Creationary on a separate level from the other items to make the list. While each of these products and properties is impressive in its own right and sure to find success, Creationary is the one item from this year’s Toy Fair that I truly believe will stand the test of time. Like Stratego or Battleship, I feel it will become a mainstay of the board game aisle. It is the flagship of a new board game line from Lego, and while the other games may be hit or miss, Creationary is certain to become an instant classic, and well deserving of the title Best in Show.

Honorable mention:

Bear Hands (BearHands)

Available - Now / MSRP - $12.99 & up depending on size and style

I know it’s called Figure 8, not 9, but then some of our entrants were pretty far removed from being figures, so I thought it only right to include our honorable mention here. Not quite mittens and not quite gloves, Bear Hands are shaped like paws and come in either faux fur or fleece. They offer greater warmth than gloves by keeping your fingers in one compartment instead of separated, but offer a superior range of motion over standard mittens and rubberized “pads” for added grip. And, when the necessity arises, the chilren’s and adult’s size Bear Hands can flip open to free your fingers for increased dexterity. What’s not to love?

That wraps up our 2010 New York Internation Toy Fair coverage with our nine Best of Show winners. A special thanks to all of the above featured exhibitors, as well as everyone else who helped make our first trip to Toy Fair such a success. Didn’t make the Best of Show this year? Don’t worry, plans are already under way for PoP! to have an even stronger presence next year. And for those of you who did make the list, congratulations! We expect to see great things from all of you! Finally, to our readers, don’t be surprised if you see our Best of Show recipients in future installments of Figure 8 and Outside the Longbox. I guarantee you, the first time I get to play Creationary, you’ll hear about it!

-Kerouac