Of course, merchandising for this new sensation (based on the old sensation) is always in high demand. Diamond Select, not long after releasing a series of Minimates (small, blocky action figures about 2.5 inches in height) based on the metallic Cylon robotic war machines, has now released a series consisting of two more metal Cylons and two versions of a humanoid Cylon, along with four major characters of the new series.

We are reviewing three of the new wave's two-packs, which are packaged in small, attractive bubble cards.

The first pack holds Lt. Dualla (Dee) and Capt. Apollo (Lee Adama). The second holds Adm. Cain and Lt. Starbuck (Kara Thrace). The third pack contains a metallic Cylon along with one of the humanoid Cylons known as Six, to denote that she is the sixth of the humanoid models.

Minimates are very small figures, but each of these has fairly robustly articulated body parts. They're similar to the small, blocky figures that come with Lego sets, but more detailed and better painted, with far more articulation for better posing. The arms are typical of the line—ball-jointed shoulders with hinged elbows ending in pivoting wrists. The hands look practically identical to those of the aforementioned Lego figures, the cubic torsos connect to small abdomen sections that swivel, and the legs are similar to the arms in their joints. The feet swivel but do not tilt.

Each pack comes with two figures and some small pieces of equipment.

A blocky new sensation

First up we have Lt. Dualla. "Dee" is depicted in military green bridge duty uniform. She is wearing a silver headset over dark brown hair in a ponytail on her cylinder of a head. Dee comes with her hexagonally shaped clipboard.

Lt. Apollo is in his flight suit, complete with Colonial insignia painted on. His Colonial jacket has molded detail rather than just being painted on flat. A utility belt fits around his abdomen, and his holster is strapped to his thigh. He comes with a blaster pistol that fits snugly inside the holster and a Colonial Viper pilot's helmet. The helmet fits over the head after the hair is removed. Beware, though: The helmet is a snug fit, and removing it can be a chore.

Adm. Cain, whom we meet in a chance encounter with a second surviving Battlestar, tries to convince Adama that the human race's best chance of survival is to return to the destroyed homeworlds and take the Cylons on full-force. She is depicted wearing the blue uniform of a fleet admiral, with molded details. She has light brown hair down past her shoulders (making it difficult to turn her head.) As a plus, she even has the small mole that the actress, Michelle Forbes, sports. A nice touch indeed. She comes equipped with a book.

Lt. Starbuck is practically identical to Apollo. She has a different head and hair, but otherwise is the same.

The next pair consists of a Cylon, which is identical to one of the Cylons reviewed here recently.

With him is Six, the humanoid Cylon who seduces Gaius Baltar into betraying the human race. She is seen in her sexy red dress. Her torso is flat and painted but has no molded detail, which is kind of sad, considering that she is supposed to be a voluptuous woman, not a brick. Why they molded detail of a Colonial jacket but not the obvious detail on such a beautiful woman is beyond me. Oh well—in this case, paint will have to do. Her torso is a red, flexible skirt. She has yellow hair. This pair comes with no accessories.

I have to confess the Minimate revolution mystifies me a bit, but it has swept the world, with just about every licensable figure now available as a blocky mini character. Still, they do have a leg up on the original Lego figures.