Idle Hands

Toy Fair 2012: McFarlane Also on HALO 4!

2012-01-27T17:54:00.007-05:00

Hell, we might have all our details banged out before the US Toy Fair actually starts, leaving us to just post a billion pictures! Wouldn't that be swell...

Not much of a shocker here as McFarlane seem to love cranking out those Master Chiefs in every color imaginable. Here's the skinny...

This fall, Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries are releasing Halo 4, the highly anticipated video game expected to be one of the top entertainment launches of 2012. McFarlane Toys is proud to announce that its best-selling line of Halo action figures continues this fall as well, with figures from Halo 4.

Halo 4 brings back the most popular character of the Halo universe, the Master Chief, and kicks off an all-new trilogy of games. Dubbed the "Reclaimer Trilogy" by 343 Industries, these new games explore the characters of the Master Chief and Cortana, expand the Halo fiction in bold new ways and bring even more of the innovation that the Halo series is known for to the gaming world. McFarlane Toys Halo 4 action figures bring the all-new characters, weapons and vehicles of Halo 4 to video-game fans and action-figure collectors worldwide.

"Each new Halo game is a significant entertainment event," says Todd McFarlane, CEO and founder of McFarlane Toys. "Halo 4 marks the return of the Master Chief and Cortana, plus the introduction of new characters, weapons and locations sure to excite long-time fans."

The Halo 4 figure series continues in the 6-inch size introduced with their Halo: Reach figures. They're also introducing a series of larger, boxed figures. These deluxe items are in scale with their 6-inch figures, but include larger accessories, such as Master Chief's Cryotube.

McFarlane Toys is part of a select group of licensees with Halo 4 products available at game launch. Halo 4 Series 1 kicks off this August with four carded figures and one boxed figure set, and expands to include even more figures later in the fall.

August 2012

Carded Figures
• Master Chief
• Secret Figure 1
• Secret Figure 2
• Secret Figure 3

Boxed Figure
• Frozen Master Chief and Cryotube

November 2012

Carded Figures
• Cortana
• Secret Figure 4
• Secret Figure 5
• Secret Figure 6

Boxed Figure
• Secret Boxed Figure 1

Halo 4 Series 1 will be launched in August 2012, and will expand around the game launch in fall 2012, continuing into 2013. Available at Walmart, Target, Toys "R" Us, GameStop, local comic book stores, drug stores and other retailers. MSRP is $12 for standard carded figures and $25 for deluxe boxed figures.

HALO UNIVERSE

In addition to its all-new Halo 4 action figure line, McFarlane Toys is continuing its popular Halo: Anniversary series in fall 2012. Since the franchise's tenth anniversary has now passed, the line is being rebranded as "Halo Universe."

Halo Universe continues to bring fans the classic, fan-favorite characters from the earlier Halo games, and even includes "expanded universe" sources such as novels, comic books and the animated feature, Halo Legends. This series also continues the popular "build-a-figure" feature of our Halo: Anniversary lines, bringing collectors an extra bonus item such as the Difficulty Plaque or UNSC Logo.

Todd explains, "Halo 4 brings fans figures from the latest and greatest Halo video game. But Halo is a franchise with over a decade of incredible games, movies, books and comics. With our Halo Universe line, we can continue to offer long-time fans the classic characters they know and love."

Halo Universe Series 1 consists of five figures and one 6-inch-scale vehicle:

• Frederic-104 (Halo Legends)
• Romeo (Halo 3: ODST)
• Elite Commando (Halo 3)
• Brute Captain Major (Halo 3)
• Spartan (Multiplayer)
• ODST Drop Pod

Halo Universe Series 1 debuts in October 2012. Available at Walmart, Target, Toys "R" Us, GameStop, local comic book stores, drug stores, and other retailers. MSRP is $12 for figures and $39 for vehicles.

McFarlane will also be releasing a line of stylized mini-figures called Avatars...

"Rather than make up our own style of mini-figure, we decided to take advantage of the style that Xbox LIVE has established with their avatars. Since each avatar represents an individual gamer, players have a strong personal connection to their avatars. When you choose a Halo Spartan helmet for your avatar, that helmet becomes more than just a piece of some fictional character's clothing—it becomes part of your online persona. Avatars have become the mascot of the Xbox brand. To represent the customization options available for online avatars, McFarlane Toys' avatar figures feature interchangeable heads, torsos, and legs. Collectors can mix and match pieces to create their own custom avatar figures, much like they can with their online avatars. In addition to human characters and apparel, Halo Avatars also include various "prop" items such as Warthogs and Banshees.

Each 2 1/2"–tall avatar figure is randomly packaged in a small, Halo-themed plastic cylinder. The top and bottom of each cylinder can be removed, and each piece can be used as a display base. The tubes can even be connected, stacking to form a multi-level display. The MSRP of a single avatar figure is less than three dollars.

Halo Avatars Series 1 consists of eight random figures:

• Master Chief
• Carter
• ODST
• Flaming ODST Helmet and ODST T-Shirt
• Green Operator Helmet and Reach T-Shirt
• Elite Costume
• Warthog
• Metallic Gold Master Chief

Halo Avatars debut in fall 2012 and continues into 2013. Available at Walmart, Target, Toys "R" Us, GameStop, local comic book stores, drug stores, and other retailers.

And finally, we have MICRO OPS!

This all-new series consists of miniature figures, vehicles, and locations from the entire Halo universe, at roughly 1:100/15mm scale.

With its smaller size, Halo Micro Ops covers the Halo universe, from the tiniest Grunt to the largest Scarab. With such a wide range of product sizes to cover, Micro Ops is available in four different packages. Small carded sets include small vehicles like the Warthog and Ghost. Larger carded sets offer bigger vehicles such as the Falcon, or small buildings like the Bunker from the Halo 3 multiplayer map High Ground. Larger buildings, including the Tower or Gate sections of High Ground, are packaged in small boxes, while large vehicles such as the Elephant will be packaged in an even larger box. With UNSC, Covenant and Forerunner forces, the entire Halo universe is yours to command. The only limit is your imagination.

The initial Micro Ops lines cover the Halo trilogy, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Wars, and Halo: Reach. Later lines will add figures, vehicles, and environments from Halo 4. Series 1 includes:

Small Carded Sets
• Warthog and Mongoose
• Banshee
• Ghost vs. Wolf Spider turret
• ODST Drop Pods

Large Carded Sets
• Falcon
• High Ground Bunker with Shade turret

Small Boxed Sets
• High Ground Gate with Warthog
• High Ground Tower and SAM Launcher

Large boxed sets will be available in 2013.

Halo Micro Ops debuts in August 2012 and continues into 2013. Available at Target, Toys "R" Us, local comic book stores, and other retailers. MSRPs range from $8 for the small carded sets, $18 for large carded sets and $29 for the small boxed sets.

Toy Fair 2012 : Jada Toys on HALO 4

2012-01-27T16:53:00.023-05:00

I figured we would segway from NECA's video game figures into one of the most massive gaming licenses out there today. HALO!!! Jada Toys are known for their incredibly detailed die-cast vehicles, so who better to tackle an expansive universe like HALO in a format we've not seen before!

Jada Toys, Inc. announces a brand new, officially licensed Halo die-cast vehicle line featuring a unified scale approach. Jada is developing all vehicles and accessories in proportion to each other, keeping it real with the Halo series of video games! The line will feature vehicles and characters from the upcoming Halo 4 video game being launched in the 2012 holiday season.

Casual to hardcore fans of the Halo series will appreciate the exquisite detail and quality. Jada is known to produce high-quality die-cast vehicles at affordable prices. Combining that with the awesome vehicle and character design from the upcoming Halo 4 video game results in a legendary toy line.

“We're excited to be partners in the Halo franchise. Jada will bring their phenomenal ability to replicate a brand's essence in die-cast, which will extend the Halo experience,” says Marlene Cuesta, VP Licensing at Jada Toys.

Also announced as part of Jada’s Halo lineup is a 14-inch Halo 4 Warthog replica. This will be the largest die-cast vehicle Jada has ever produced, taking Jada to another level. This massive vehicle will have many features, making this a must have for the die-hard Halo fan.

The Halo die-cast line will be hitting shelves in August 2012, with prices ranging from $6.99-$39.99.

For more information about Jada Toys and all its other innovative products, please go to www.jadatoys.com.

Want a sneak preview of the line? Of courrrrse you do! Let's rumble...

(NOTE: All products include die-cast vehicles with moving parts, articulated figures and the previously mentioned unified scale across the line. The scale should be relatively small.)

UNSC Mongoose with 2 figures (Master Chiefs)
Covenant Ghost with 2 figures (Grunt & Elite)
UNSC Warthog with 2 figures (Marine & Master Chief)
Covenant Banshee with 2 figures (Elites)
UNSC Hornet with 2 figures (Master Chiefs)

14 inch Collector Grade UNSC Warthog (separate series from above, of course) - Includes a heavily detailed body and interior, working steering wheel and working shocks.

Badass.

Toy Fair 2012: NECA's New Jasons & More

2012-01-27T12:08:00.030-05:00

NECA have been dream makers for some time now, and if you think that opening sentiment is silly, you are NOT a hardcore horror fan! What other company would do the leads from Lost Boys, Robocop, the first Terminator AND an entire line of Gremlins in both cute n fuzzy and mean n scary forms?! Now NECA get back to the core horror icons with a new release of a 7 inch action figure of Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th part 3! We expect him to start surfacing around June of 2012. Since Freddy Krueger got a full line of figures all to himself, we can expect Jason to get the same love. Further evidence of this comes from NECA's own twitter where they revealed a head for one of their Jason figures that looks more from Part 4 than Part 3!

NECA will have tons of new plastics to show off at the NY Toy Fair in around three weeks. Their lineup includes...

(highlighted bits are links for lots of eye candy!)

Three Hunger Games Action Figures (Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark & Gale Hawthorne) and various nicknacks
Bioshock - Infinite figures
Valve figures (from Portal, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead & Half Life)
Borderlands
Assassins Creed - Revelations
Gears of War 3
E.T. figures and other awesome collectibles
Gremlins (and also HERE)
Evil Dead
Rocky (with future releases of Ivan Drago & Clubber Lang)
...annnnd the show stopper...NEW licenses for quarter scale figures including Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Alien & Bioshock Infinite!

Keep watching Idle Hands, where it is going to be Toy Fair all damn day for the foreseeable future!

Pre-Order the Evil Dead 2 Series 1 7-Inch Action Figure Set!

The Amazing Spider-Man Lizard FULL Reveal!

2012-01-27T03:52:00.004-05:00

And you can add "The Full Monty" as our scaly friend lacks purple pants.

Have you been keeping track? We first saw Lizard's face on a Pez dispenser. Then MEGABloks accidentally revealed his full look (albeit in tiny MEGA-figure form) along with plot details including SWAT LIZARDS!! Then your buddies at Idle Hands showed you the face of evil via a remote control for a Lizard Attack Quad which had the creature himself riding. We suggested he looked like Gadzookie (Godzilla's son, natch) but the consensus across the interwebs was he must be a Koopa Troopa from the Super Mario Brothers live action film. Works for me.

NOW Bleeding Cool brings things full circle with a reveal a reader literally stumbled across at his daughter's swim class. Love it.

SwimWays® Dive Characters™ featuring kid's favorite Marvel® Spider-Man™ characters!

Play action in and out of the pool.
Soft and flexible design.
Three characters per package: Two action-posed Spider-Man™ characters and one Lizard™.

Will there be anything huge left to reveal by the time Toy Fair actually starts? Probably not. Probably....not.

Toy Fair 2012: The Avengers Movie SHIELD Helicarrier

2012-01-26T05:10:00.005-05:00

We finally found three spare minutes to take a better look at our materials from UK Toy Fair and were able to coax the digital gods to spit out a bigger picture of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier! It's still not brilliant, but it is good enough to drool over until the NY Toy Fair at which we will take 300 more pics that will make you lick your screen. When I was a kid, the fine folks behind G.I.Joe decided your collection wouldn't be complete without a giant aircraft carrier to launch your jet off of. Now Hasbro makes the dreams of Marvel Zombies come true, using the upcoming Avengers film release as the perfect excuse to unleash this vehicle/playset. While it doesn't look a lot like the comic version (or at all), at least it shows Hasbro is willing to try the big stuff for the Marvel line! We've been getting the shaft for years in favor of Transformers..G.I.Joe..Star Wars ONCE A YEAR ..basically everything BUT Marvel has gotten an expansive universe. Here's the info again...

S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier - The Biggest ever Marvel vehicle at 3 ft long! Features heavily in the upcoming Avengers movie as our heroes' base. Comes with a Captain America 3.75 inch figure and has 4 projectile firing deck cannons.

You'll remember Michael Meyers (the artist, not the stabby killer or the Wayne's World dude) first showed us the concept art for this vehicle back in August. (as revealed on ScreenRant)

It's a shame Hasbro isn't using the release of The Amazing Spider-Man to give us more characters from the vast comic Spideyverse. We hear that whole toy line is packed with Spider-Man, Lizard and not much else. Honestly I'd forgive 20 variations on Spider-Man including "Gone Fishin", "Wrestlemania Fan" and "Stamp Collector" Spideys so long as we get that Helicarrier. Thank you bro!

Toy Fair 2012: Bane's Catch Phrase

2012-01-26T04:31:00.003-05:00

The Dark Knight Rises should be awesome, if the last two films were any indication, but the overly complicated outfits send up a red flag and cause flashbacks from a more horrific time when the Batsuit...had......nipples. ~sheds a tear~ Now I allow myself a diversion from all this Toy Fair business and ponder..what if....WHAT IF...BANE HAD A CATCH PHRASE??!! This will be more popular than "I'm Juggernaut, Bitch!" I'll bet money on it.

Toy Fair 2012: Marvel Select Avengers Hawkeye

2012-01-26T02:28:00.004-05:00

As is the trend as we get closer to the big show (ie; Toy Fair), the biggest scoops get given to humungous websites that have very little to do with action figures. (but I'm not bitter...much.) Ain't It Cool got this first look at Diamond Select's Marvel Select Avengers Movie Hawkeye, which I stumbled upon by accident through a narcissistic search for websites running our Batman news which lead me to an Italian website. Gotta love it.

While I'll say this is the best Hawkeye figure I've seen to date...and go so far as to say Marvel Select blew the doors off of Hasbro's version, I still don't think the likeness is there. I'd also like to make a snarky MEH face at the costume which is completely uninspired, gives ZERO nods to the classic comic look and just smacks of real world X-Menified leathers. Blaa. While I didn't expect them to deck him out in purple tights, I was just hoping for...well...more. Oh well. That said, more kudos to Marvel Select for packing this dude with articulation..something the line is not really known for! Now the final question will be how Hawkeye looks next to Widow, Cap, Thor, etc. Marvel Select is also not known for putting their figures in scale with each other, deferring to a 7 inch standard save for those extra big monsters.

Ain't It Cool reports we'll see the Gentle Giant crafted Hawkeye this May, sporting 16 points of articulation, his bow and arrows and a detailed base that locks into the base of the Mystery Villain of the Avengers film. Now we wait for Hulk to pop up on E or some such movie site. (yes totally bitter.)

CLICK HERE to see more Avengers Action Figures!

Order Marvel Select Avengers Movie Hawkeye Action Figure from Entertainment Earth!

Toy Fair 2012: Star Wars Air Hedz

2012-01-25T13:52:00.014-05:00

INNOVATION!! It's what separates the hum drum average toy maker from the likes of McFarlane Toys who make a zombie figure you can tear apart and re-assemble! BLUW is one such company who like to put a little extra zazz in their plastic with products including wind up grannies battling wind up Daleks...and Air Hedz, the inflatable costume hat!!

We are deadly serious.

Blow up your own piece of super-sized fun! Air Hedz's giant inflatables are the super-sized way for kids to dress up. Each set comes with a giant piece of headgear and accessory. Take your pick from a range that includes a cowboy, pirate, nurse and fairy princess. Just blow them up and put them on - they're a gigantic load of fun!

Their creations include a Cowboy with a gun, Robot with a blaster, Pirate with a sword, Alien with alien hands and Fireman with an axe. This is one company that knows adults (or closest approximation) want to get in on the fun, so they've got a Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Skeleton and Axe to the Head sets as well!

Now BLUW joins in on the Star Wars celebration with blow up Lucas creations you'll be sporting at San Diego Comic Con this year fo sho. The lineup includes Darth Vader Inflatable Head & Armor, Clone Trooper Inflatable Head & Blaster & Yoda Inflatable Head & Cane.

AMAZING. Bluw is also cranking out some Transformers and Ben 10 Air Hedz, so keep watch for those if you're a fan! More Toy Fair news coming soon..same bat time..same bat channel.

Toy Fair 2012: Mezco's Living Dead Dolls

2012-01-25T12:36:00.017-05:00

Horror toys seem to be staple in the Toy Fair parade of plastics every year, and few are able to pump every ounce of their horror love into their products quite like Mezco toys. We caught up with our creepy buddies at UK Toy Fair and got an eyeful of Living Dead Dolls art for 2012! On tap...

Rotten Sam & Sandy: Rotten Sam and Sandy, creep from your toy chest at night, They hide in the shadows of your bedroom after you turn out the light, They giggle and whisper in darkness, just in the corner of sight, They speak of candy and razors, and things much too horrid to bear, And if you peer ‘neath your bed tonight, you can be sure they’ll be there. They just want to have fun with you, playing all day and all night, your screams are like candy to them, ...pray you can get to the light. - Shipping this month!

Living Dead Dolls Series 23: Introduces Teddy, Quack, Agatha, Jennocide and Betsy: these little terrors fancy a cup of tea, with a twist of terror and a pinch of arsenic. They invite you to come play “tea party”, each comes with their own skull shaped tea cup except for Betsy, who comes with a skull shaped teapot with removable lid. Of course one can’t have a tea party without a table, so each doll with a tea cup also comes with a table leg. Snap the legs onto a Living Dead Doll coffin lid and you have the perfect tea table for a party beneath the moonlight…just watch out for the taste of almonds. - July 2012

Scary Tales Volume 3: Hansel & Gretel - April 2012

Scary Tales Volume 4: Snow White & The Evil Stepmother/ The Queen - May 2012

..and no Living Dead Dolls lineup would be complete without a modern horror icon, so we present to you...CHUCKY!! He's sewn up, battered, tattered and beaten down...but he won't stop killing until his batteries run out! You'll find him on store shelves this October.

Since Universal Monsters seems to be dishing out the licenses this year (as you'll see when we scare up some LEGO pics), it was a no-brainer for Living Dead Dolls to join in the fun. CLICK HERE to head over to DREAD CENTRAL to see pics of the new Living Dead Dolls DRACULA!

Mezco is sure to explore the entire universe of Universal Monsters as they are massive horror fans just like us so we expect more surprises to come out of the NY Toy Fair in a few weeks. Damien Glonek of Mezco said "We have been wanting to do Universal Monsters for a very long time, so when an opportunity comes along to pay homage to something you love and grew up with it is always a real treat." He also mentioned that Dracula, the first piece from the Universal Monsters lineup, will not surface until 2013.

Stay locked in to Idle Hands for all the Toy Fair news you can handle!!

CLICK HERE for images of Mezco's Living Dead Dolls from New York Comic Con!

CLICK HERE to order the Living Dead Dolls Rotten Sam and Sandy Set!

CLICK HERE to pre-order the Living Dead Dolls Scary Tales Hansel and Gretel Dolls Set!

TAKE ME TO HELLBOY CAMP!!

2012-01-25T12:12:00.004-05:00

Yet another place discriminating against us old bastards. If only I'd had access to Hellboy Camp when I was a kid. In place of "Potions and Charms 101" we had "avoid the broken glass" and instead of "Telepathy Training" we had "sure hope that rusty, jagged piece of metal I just accidentally jabbed into my leg doesn't kill me!" Ahhh...to be young and in Brooklyn. Here's the skinny on a camp that only pretends you could be killed...

Do you or someone you know have a penchant for the supernatural? Do you like spending time in the great outdoors? Are you between the ages of 9 and 17? Will you be in Portland, Oregon, from July 16 to July 20? If so, Trackers Earth has the ultimate summer-camp experience for you!

Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce a partnership with Trackers Earth offering officially licensed B.P.R.D. and Hellboy camps, made possible through the generous permission of Mike Mignola, creator of B.P.R.D. and Hellboy.

“Trackers Earth is part of what makes Portland such an interesting place to live, and the most fun place in the country to raise a kid. This year my 6-year-old did Trackers camps focusing on forest ninja skills and stealth archery, and attended a school of magic. I wish he were old enough for B.P.R.D. camp, and I can’t wait to participate myself,” said B.P.R.D. editor Scott Allie.

Trackers Earth is looking for a few good recruits that have got what it takes to join an elite team of paranormal investigators combating the forces of darkness from all across the globe. They immerse you in tactical training of all forms, including survival skills in any environment (both earthly and non), martial arts and self-defense specific to preternatural entities, hand-to-hand weaponry (foam swords, bows, and more) and forensic investigation. All these are key skills that every agent must have; plus, you will be steeped in the history of the Bureau and the legacy of paranormal research.
Call to Action

Recruits get actual field time during the entire camp. Learning is hands-on, with essential survival skills such as shelter building, stealth, and tactical and martial-arts training.
Younger Recruits

Ages 9–10: Younger recruits train in survival and field skills in local green spaces. They also spend their day investigating the haunted history of our city, piecing together the larger mystery revolving around the legend of Adolph Aschoff.

Older Recruits

Ages 11–13 and 14–17: Older recruits also investigate nearby “haunts,” then finally travel to Camp Trackers near Sandy, Oregon, to investigate reports of dark figures and strange happenings at the remnants of the old, defunct town of Marmot. Here they search for a legendary and lost pioneer cemetery (true story) to ask local specters and spirits about the town’s history and the legend of Adolph Aschoff, the man who is said to have sealed away an ancient evil upon the founding of the town.

Wednesday–Friday Overnight: Older recruits culminate their week with a two-night stay at Camp Trackers’ outdoor wilderness site in Sandy, Oregon. This is the perfect opportunity to focus on many of the skills taught at the camp.

The B.P.R.D. Training Camp includes:
• Tactical training
• Survival in any environment
• Martial arts and self-defense specific to preternatural entities
• Hand-to-hand weaponry (foam swords, bows, and more)
• Investigation and forensics
• Folklore and mythology
• Potions and charms 101
• Telepathy training
• Gadgets of the occult: EMF detectors, polarized lenses, and other paranormal investigative gear
• Comparative analogy and physiology of monsters
• Construction of your own quality foam swords and training weapons
• Meeting with the artists of the comic book that documents the adventures of the B.P.R.D.
• Bureau history and paranormal research

To find out more about B.P.R.D. Camp (AKA Hellboy Camp), head over to the official website: http://trackerspdx.com/youth/summer-camp/day/hellboy-camp.php.

Toy Fair 2012: Hasbro's Star Wars Show Stopper Vehicle

2012-01-24T16:01:00.007-05:00

I'm amazed that every year Hasbro fails to keep their MOST AWESOME, MIND BLOWING Star Wars vehicle of the year under wraps!! We had been speculating on this year's mega-vehicle and knew it would be Episode 1 oriented, since the 3D film releases soon. A bunch of us were betting on the Naboo Royal Star Ship, which we haven't seen since the original release of the film and could be a brilliant remake. Well, today Hasbro knocked us out of our shoes and fulfilled the dreams of army builders and scene completists all at once with the announcement of the Multi Troop Transport Droid Carrier!! You'll remember this was the long ship that dropped the hundreds of Droids on the battle field at the start of the Gungan vs Droids conflict. Start perfecting your Pew Pew noises...

Multi Troop Transport Droid Carrier - The most iconic vehicle from Episode 1 comes to life with 20 combat-ready droids and full battle action sounds, weaponry and motorized droid deployment.

If this is anything like past releases, expect plenty of phrases squawking out of this vehicle as well as projectiles and other snazzy bells and whistles, as well as a $90 and up price point. More news soon from Toy Fair 2012!!!

UPDATE: My Star Wars freaks point out that while the ship comes with 2o figures, only 4 are actual "action" figures and the other 16 are pre-posed set pieces. Do they at least unfold? Are that stuck in the ship? This would suck loads as we are told the latest droid figures at retail do fold up, so it would be killer to fill the ship with these. We'll find out soon enough!

NOTE: Our image above may have originated at http://theredshadows.proboards.com/, though the book these images appear in is available to all at UK Toy Fair. We'd just like to cover all bases.

Toy Fair 2012: MORE Avengers Movie Toys

2012-01-24T15:28:00.007-05:00

I can only imagine these tips are coming in from UK Toy Fair at this point, since that show is underway as we speak. This round, we get a beautiful (albeit tiny) look at the vehicles from the Avengers movie line which confirm both a Quinjet AND a S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier!!! Here are the press blurbs...

Hammer Strike Thor - This Thor electronic figure is ready for any battle. Thor boasts an electric sound bank and signature projectile play - Thor throws his hammer. Features great try me action on the shelf.

Gamma Strike Hulk - This 10" Hulk is ready for any battle. press his chest to hear powerful phrases and sounds from the upcoming Avengers film. Watch Hulk hero up on shelf with a dynamic new battle smash try me!

Battle Chargers Assortment - The Avengers assortment of battle chargers come packed with features. Either pull back motors to fly into action or projectile firing weapons to take down the enemy.

Stark Tek Battle Vehicles - The Avengers battle the bad guys in high tech vehicles! Designed by Tony Stark himself, these sleek 4x4's and jets (AKA the Quinjet!!) are outfitted with lots of weapons and projectiles for a great hero play experience! Includes a 3.75" hero figure.

Avengers Quinjet - (..Which looks less like the Quinjet than the other Quinjet, but who cares as long as we get the damn thing!) The "Quin" tinsential Avengers vehicle! (yesh..i see what you did there.) This flying fortress can convert into battle mode and take the Avengers into the fight with plenty of firing projectiles and play features- like a sky cycle! An absolute must-have for kids and Marvel fans. Includes Iron Man figure.

S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier - The Biggest ever Marvel vehicle at 3 ft long! Features heavily in the upcoming Avengers movie as our heroes' base. Comes with a Captain America 3.75 inch figure and has 4 projectile firing deck cannons.

Avengers Hero Chest Light - (Yes..chest lights. Welcome to the future.) Just attach Iron Man's Arc Reactor or Captain America's Mission Star to your shirt and become the hero. Each hero light features heroic phrases and sounds.

Hero Mask Assortment - Every kid wants to be an Avenger! Choose your favorite hero and join the battle with Avengers movie masks! (what..no Black Widow wigs?! Jip. I'd also like a Black Widow Hero Chest Light. 2 of them. It's just sexist not to.)

A quick note on the alien army of The Avengers: My money WAS on Frost Giants who are now leaderless, but what is up with the purple laser blasts we see in the trailer? I guess it would be easy enough for Loki to outfit his army with weapons. Here's another point though..if it IS the Frost Giants, why is everyone looking and shooting upward? Def seems like some invading force complete with ships. Why else would the Avengers need Quinjets?

CLICK HERE for images of action figures from Hasbro's Avengers movie toy line!

NOTE: Our images above may have originated at http://theredshadows.proboards.com/, though the book these images appear in is available to all at UK Toy Fair. We'd just like to cover all bases.

Toy Fair 2012: DC Direct Rises

2012-01-24T13:18:00.051-05:00

We haven't heard much from DC Direct in the last few months. At first we'd thought DCD was given the shaft in a deal WB made with Mattel, allowing Mattel to snap up all the key characters and events, leaving the scraps for DCD. Then we slowly realized, for some odd reason, both companies were being put in direct competition with each other! Both crews showed off lines of Batman: Arkham City action figures in collector friendly scales with all the sculpting and paints we love. While it still seems DC Direct is down to a virtual trickle in regards to their action figure releases (compared to past years), they've still got plenty to offer fans of DC Comics...and especially those digging on the new 52! Here's a run down of upcoming products from DC Direct for 2012...

(NOTE: As a bonus for the new folks, we've provided links to pics from past cons that some of these items were shown at, so click the links for more eye candy! Enjoy!!)

Dark Knight Rises 6 inch Figures - HOLEEE DAMN!! This has to be the shocker of the year, as the one thing holding back most collectors from popping on the superior sculpts (out of production) of DCD was the 7 inch standard scale. This announcement of a 6 inch scale changes the game. (Yes..I am being overly dramatic. I am a geek. This should not surprise you.) Will they have limited articulation or match Mattel's offerings..or have any articulation at all...and will Mattel stay clear of the collector segment and just focus on mass market shiny plastics? QUESTIONS!! I HAVE SO MANY!!!! Whatever the game plan may be, this June will see Dark Knight Rises Batman, Bane & Catwoman action figures in comic shops.

NOTE: After staring at these pics for a while, we noticed there are bases involved for each, lending further proof that these may be pre-posed pvc type figures, like the Ame-Comi line. I wouldn't hold out hope that these are 6 inch action figures. Mattel seems to have a lock on that.

Dark Knight Rises 12 inch statues - This July - Bane, Catwoman (shown above) & Batman

Dark Knight Rises Busts - June: Bane, Batman and Catwoman

Batman Arkham City Action Figures - Series 2 April 2012 - Catwoman, The Riddler, Hush, Batman in Detective Mode & Jervis Tetch AKA he Mad Hatter. Series 3 September 2012 - Clown Thug, The Penguin, Ra's Al Ghul, Batman & Azrael.

Batman Arkham City Deluxe Collector Action Figures - This June: Killer Croc Deluxe, Mr Freeze Deluxe and in November Titan Joker Deluxe. This wave kills all comers. Seriously. HUGE scaled figures with amazing sculpts (save for the smaller Freeze who is no less mind blowing) all around. ..and THAT is the best Killer Croc we will ever see. (CLICK HERE for pics from NYCC!)

Superman & Batman Bronze Patina Statues - Batman in February & Superman in May

Justice League Action Figures - Superman in January, Batman in May, Green Lantern in June, Aquaman in June, Cyborg in October & Wonder Woman in October. (CLICK HERE for a bonus pic of Hawkman!) -more JL pics in the link at the bottom of the article. It is a little odd Hawkman was left out of the image though...

MAD Magazine Just-Us League of Stupid Heroes - Series 1 in July with Alfred as Superman, Green Arrow and Aquaman. Series 2 in September with Alfred as The Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. Series 3 in November with Alfred as Batman, Robin and The Joker. Whom ever did this pic is a genius. LOVE the cardboard Hall of Justice!! GENIUS. (CLICK HERE for more MAD Pictures!) -another link at the bottom of this article

MAD Magazine Spy vs Spy Vinyl Assortment coming May 2012 with both Black and White.

Ame-Come Girl PVC Figures- White Canary in February, Wonder Woman as Star Sapphire, Wonder Woman in March, Raven (Dark and Light) in March, Hawkgirl in May, Black Lantern Flash in June, Arisia in August, (and not shown) Brainiac in September, Harley Quinn V.2 in October & Holiday Catwoman in November!

Batman: Black and White statue series - Sergio Argones Batman in stores NOW, Mike Mignola Batman this February, Sam Keith Batman in March, Jim Lee Batman in March, Darwyn Cooke Batman in July, Jock Batman in August, Brian Joker in September & Kelly Jones Bane in October (CLICK HERE for more images of the Black & White series and more statues!)

Green Lantern The Animated Series statues - Atrocitus in March, Green Lantern in May and Saint Walker in August

Cover Girls of the DC Universe: The New 52 Statues - Raven in May, Wonder Woman in July, Catwoman in September & Poison Ivy in November.

DC Comics The New 52 Busts - Cyborg in July, Batgirl in August, Grifter in August, Wonder Woman in September, Blue Beetle in September, Element Woman in October, Superman in October, Supergirl in November and SHAZAM! in November.

Batman 1:4 Scale Museum Quality Statue - September 2012

Catwoman 1:4 Scale Museum Quality Statue - February 2012

The Dark Knight Returns Batman vs Superman Battle Statue - August 2012

Green Lantern VS Parallax Battle Statue - March 2012

(CLICK HERE for more images of the Black & White series, Ame-Comi, MAD, Justice League and more!)

Not sure if this is already widely known, but I found it interesting they've ditched the forced use of Selina Kyle in favor of straight up CATWOMAN! There are even children's books coming out that use the name, so there you go, for what it's worth. Maybe we'll hear the name spoken in the film...maybe it is just being used for merchandising for obvious reasons. Still no word on those 3 and 3 quarter inch Green Lantern Comic action figures, but we'll keep our ear to the ground for info! Keep your eyes GLUED here for the next month!!!

Pre-order the Batman Arkham City Series 2 Action Figure Set from Entertainment Earth!

Another Amazing Spider-Man Lizard Teaser

2012-01-20T18:39:00.010-05:00

This time we get a look at the shape of Lizard's body, courtesy of Diamond Select's Marvel Select Amazing Spider-Man Action figures! Here's the blurb...

Designed and Sculpted by Gentle Giant! A new movie means a new villain for Spider-Man to battle, and Marvel Select is there to bring the Lizard to life! Capturing the top-secret movie look of Dr. Curt Connors, a.k.a. the cold-blooded Lizard, this 7-inch-scale figure features 16 points of articulation, for endless reptile-on-spider action! Figure comes displayed in oversized collector packaging, and is only available on the specialty market.

You'll recall the last time we saw a toy featuring the Lizard, he was without his signature Lab Coat or Hulk active wear for the professional monster (aka Purple Pants)...or clothing of any kind. Take a look...

This new image seems to give further proof of this naked appearance, though it would be easy enough to hide ripped shorts in the silhouette above. I doubt it though. The Mega Bloks image back up this image to the left. My money is on naked Lizard as the core look for the film.

CLICK HERE for more images of Amazing Spider-Man toys!

Quick notes since there is a debate raging on IMDB: Traditionally, a licensee (ie; the toy maker in this case) will only make a toy capturing the look the character has for the bulk of the film. In the case of Hasbro and MEGABloks, since they have an entire line focusing on this and few heroes and villains to fill it up, there's a chance we'll get 2 looks, but most likely not regular humans (except maybe in the MEGA lines since they can crank out tiny figures til the cows come home.) Anyway, my point is, the blacked out figure and the figure on the quad are probably what you will see Lizard looking like for the bulk of the film..little bit of a snout, no clothing and a tail. Do I think they will show him in the lab coat and purpley pants as a nod to his classic look in comics? Yes, but it will probably be when he first transforms. The MEGABloks sets show him in a lab coat and no pants, and there is no reason for them to make that unless it is in the film. Sure, he is on a jet ski at the time, but we'll just chalk that up to Toy Fun! I certainly don't think Lizard and Spider-Man will have a cataclysmic quad battle either, but I do hold out hope for a dirt bike race. Do I think Lizard will transform further? Absolutely. I think he will be full on raging monster by the film's finale, forcing Spider-Man to make a though choice in how to stop him since he still remembers the man inside. We shall seeeee...

Toy Fair 2012: Marvel Reveals The Avengers Toy Line

2012-01-20T14:31:00.010-05:00

Even thought they did this at New York Comic Con...and still this kept Diamond Select from being able to show off their Hulk and Hawkeye figures...and even though Toy Fair is barely a month away. ~sigh~ Some days it is just easier to cover movies!

At any rate, Marvel "revealed" The Hulk with an awesome photo by Ed McGowan and promise more later in the day, so bookmark this page and we'll update when new images are available. Here's a run down of the info given by the Hasbro Toy Development Team...

- We worked closely with Marvel to capture the likeness of each of the characters from the movie.
- The Hulk figure is actually a little bigger than the rest of the figures in the product line!
- Regarding HULK detail --- he is slightly shorter than the Destroyer, but definitely a wider character sculpt. He comes with a HULK SMASH feature!!!
- I think you will be pleased to find that the AVENGERS line contains several scales of action figures...we know our collector community appreciates the 3 3/4in scale, and I think you will LOVE our new 6" Legends figures.
- We have planned over 15 different figures in our AVENGERS 3 3/4 in product line, however we have many more within MARVEL UNIVERSE -- as well as figures at other scales within the AVENGERS line.
- Regarding articulation --- Across the AVENGERS 3 3/4 in line, you will find approximately11 to 17 points, depending on the figure and their feature/function
- It can be challenging to capture actor likeness at this small scale, but these days we often start from 3D scan data provided by Marvel. Even so, to get the figures to look correct at each scale, it requires a sculptor's finesse...something a computer can't achieve on it's own!
- Most of our AVENGERS figures will be movie series, but we did mix in some 'classic' for Marvel fans. Regarding variants....our lips are sealed!
- There WILL be exclusives this Spring.
- We'll have more vehicles than ever! The new AVENGERS movie has given us some great material to work with...watch out for more news at New York Toy Fair !
- We don't have Agent Coulson planned for the 2012 line, however you will see many new characters that you've never seen before in our line-up.
- For SUPERHERO SQUAD fans...yes we have new packs and figures in our movie lineup!

I'll add that NONE of my questions went across, but a question about Thor's hair did. If I sigh anymore you'll call me emo ...or asthmatic.

CLICK HERE for plenty of pics of the Marvel Avengers Movie Line!

Capcom Unleashing Resident Evil 6

2012-01-19T19:42:00.005-05:00

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is very proud to announce that Resident Evil® 6 is in full development and scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 ® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on November 20, 2012 with a Windows PC version to follow. Blending action and survival horror, this latest instalment in the multi-million selling franchise is the most ambitious, immersive and feature rich title of the series to date and promises to be the dramatic horror experience of the year.

It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President’s side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world’s population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left.

In a first for the franchise, Resident Evil 6 sees series favorites Leon and Chris come together to face this unprecedented threat. They will be joined by new characters, each with their own unique perspective and involvement, in this relentless dramatic horror experience enacted on a global scale.

“Resident Evil 6 represents a giant stride forward in the evolution of the series,” commented Katsuhiko Ichii, Head of R&D and Global Marketing. “The development team, led by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, is working tirelessly to deliver the most impressive Resident Evil® title ever both in terms of scope and production values. We are all genuinely excited by the title and cannot wait to share it with the world.”

Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Resident Evil 6 Executive Producer added: “From the outset the team’s intention was to create an experience that delivers a gripping storyline, tense single-player and co-op action all set against a constant theme of horror. We are calling this fusion dramatic horror and are confident it will resonate with both existing fans of the series as well as newcomers.”

In conjunction with the announcement of Resident Evil 6, the retail pre-order campaign also kicks off today. GameStop, Best Buy and Amazon.com will each get an exclusive map that will function with various modes in the game. Further details on the maps and modes will be revealed at a later date. For details on how to pre-order, please visit www.facebook.com/residentevil .

Toy Fair 2012 : NECA Takes on Borderlands

2012-01-17T15:16:00.007-05:00

Yes, you get 2 previews today because you've been very good and your mom says you're special. Back at San Diego Comic Con, NECA gave us a taste of things to come with a teaser board showing toys coming from a new Valve license including Team Fortress, Portal 2, Half Life and Left 4 Dead, but no additional details on Borderlands action figures among their video game displays. Pre-orders for Claptrap popped up with the following info...

From the best-selling video game Borderlands comes this highly detailed poseable replica of everyone's favorite robot, Claptrap. The figure stands 4" tall and includes a display base that "speaks" phrases from the game. Claptrap comes with posable arms, wheel, retractable drawer, and antenna.

CLICK HERE for more pics of our little robot buddy. Now we are happy to report Claptrap will have a buddy. PSYCHO BANDIT!

From Wikia : Psychos are bandits who have gone insane with a freakish obsession for the Vault. Shirtless, wearing a white mask and dressed in orange pants, these outlaws can be immediately identified by their homicidal cries, psychotic laughter and constant desire to get into close combat.

So if these guys are a group, people may want to army build, making this the perfect opportunity for NECA to release this dude with alternate weapons and/or blood splatter/battle damage. We'll see if they take advantage of this fact at Toy Fair this February!

Note: NECA's action figures come in a 7 inch scale.

Want a closer look at the Boomer Deluxe Action Figure from Left 4 Dead? Did you know it SPLITS IN HALF??!! CLICK HERE to check him out at Dread Central!!!

Toy Fair 2012 : NECA's E.T. Collectibles

2012-01-17T13:32:00.011-05:00

It's preview time!! Toy Fair 2012 is almost upon us, offering hundreds of isles filled with thousands of toys from across the globe. Can you come? Well...yes..if you pretend you are a comic shop, collectibles retailer or the easiest...PRESS! So..get crackin' on that. For the rest of you, you'll be depending on Team Idle (which doesn't sound very action packed but Team Hands sounds like a pedophile connection group) for all your plastic eye candy..and we will deliver. Oh yes..there will be toys...oh the toys you will see. What we are trying to say is there will be lots n lots of toys. Yesh.

At any rate, this article's focus is NECA's new line of E.T. collectibles!! It's E.T.'s 30th anniversary and NECA wants to celebrate with you..and your wallet. Here's the announcement...

The National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Inc. (NECA) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to produce consumer products around the 30th Anniversary of the film E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial next year.

An unforgettable adventure filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, E.T: The Extra Terrestrial, follows the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends 10-year-old Elliott. Director Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming masterpiece is one of the brightest stars in motion picture history, and it continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Merchandise will include action figures, plush, toys, bobble heads, giftware, and more. Initial product launch will begin in March 2012.

“We’re very excited to bring E.T. back to toy shelves and to new generations of fans and collectors worldwide,” said Randy Falk, Director of Product Development at NECA.

To kick off this alien dance party, we've got...

E.T. Action Figures Series 1 - with Galactic Friends E.T. (with his towel and bag of Reese's Pieces) & Dress Up E.T. (in full on old lady battle gear). I strongly recommend making a deluxe E.T. with a glowing belly!

E.T. in his Space Ship - This seems to be a reproduction of the 1982 LJN E.T. Space Ship you could clip on your belt like a Pokemaster and deploy your E.T. to battle Pikachu!! The gimic was you open the space ship door and a ramp drops down. Then you hit the switch and E.T. comes flying out like a leathery, inarticulate projectile. owwwwch indeed.

E.T. Bendy Figure - This one seems to be a reproduction of the bendy you'd get with a box of Craft Macaroni and Cheese back in 2002 for the 20th anniversary of the film.

E.T. Replica Hand with Light Up Finger - Finally...an E.T. hand you can wear. Your boy/girl friend asks where you'll be later? You hold up your E.T. Hand and say "I'll be riiiight heeeeere". Perfection. The hand features a light up finger, activated when pressed (which is a shame as I'd love to walk around in the dark using it as a flash light..maybe it stays on? we shall see.) and an adjustable strap so kids from 8 to 40 can have alien adventures with little boys. hm. Everything is coming up pedophile today.

E.T. Head Knocker - Your standard bobble head with a slightly larger cranium for maximum bobble factor. ..but LOOK! He has his Speak & Spell! I'd say this is the number 1 accessory the action figure is missing...mainly because you'd be able to take pictures of your other action figures playing with a Speak & Spell.

That's all we've got for now! Word on the street is these products will hit this March, so keep a look out for pre-orders online any day now.

A Brief History of Friday the 13th Collectibles

2012-01-13T03:59:00.006-05:00

In honor of our high holy day..the elusive Friday the 13th..we thought we'd share with you a bunch of images that were earmarked for an archive on a Friday the 13th documentary DVD that sadly never happened. We've got images of product from Mezco, NECA, McFarlane, Wiz Kids, Gentle Giant, Funko and Sideshow Collectibles to drool over. I believe we are missing some Mezco figures we could not locate good enough pics of, not to mention a whole universe of licensed product we have yet to unearth, so if you've got items to add, shoot us an email and help make this archive awesome!

Happy Friday the 13th! Be sure to watch some awesome horror movies tonight!!

CLICK HERE to check out A Brief History of Friday the 13th Collectibles!

DC Comics Announces Second Wave

2012-01-12T18:36:00.003-05:00

And my beloved OMAC gets the ax. ~sniff.

In May of 2012, DC Comics will release a “Second Wave” of titles as part of its historic DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 initiative. Six new, ongoing series will build on the shared universe and bold concepts introduced in September 2011 with the renumbering of DC Comics’ entire line of comic books. The titles are...

BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

On the chopping block are Blackhawks, Men of War, Hawk and Dove, OMAC, Mister Terrific and Static Shock, which will end with their 8th issue this April.

Gone is the possibility of seeing everyone in the DC Universe in Kirby style. I'm gonna go mope now.

A Brief History of Green Lantern Action Figures: 6 Inch Corps

2012-01-12T03:34:00.004-05:00

AT LAST!! I feel like we have been doing these Green Lantern features for a year...and we may have been. At any rate, the articles have been rolling out longer than the buzz on the actual Green Lantern movie, so without further delay, let's wrap this up.

Both Mattel and DC Direct had a stellar year squeezing the Green Lanterniverse for all the characters they could crank out in beautiful, shiny plastics. Being an army builder, I too caught the Lantern bug and when I couldn't get enough characters to satiate my great hunger, I created some of my own. The battle raged across my living room and in the end, Eileen succumbed to the Green hunger as well. When last we saw her, she was hitting dollar stores for those 4 inch movie figures screaming "BRING ME YOUR CONSTRUCTS!!!" She'll be fine. Next week she'll be back to hunting tiny flocked unicorns. Perfectly normal once more.

Before we begin, some notes for the uninitiated (ie; the non toy freaks) Mattel's figures tend to be more articulated and available in more locations like Toys R Us where you can just walk in and pluck your goods on a whim, though these days the pickings are slim. DC Direct offers superior sculpting detail and paints for the more hardcore collector, sacrificing some of the posability and at times, the ability to stand on their own without a stand included in the package.

Like the mighty Skittles rainbow, Lanterns come in many a color. Some have seen a great deal of love from the plastic gods. Some..not so much. Our journey into Lantern land had Team Idle scouring local comic shops and ebay to round out teams without breaking my bank account. Here's what we turned up...

(Click lead title for lots more pictures from each set!!)

THE BLACK LANTERNS

How can you not instantly love a story line where dead super heroes come back to life and rip out the hearts of other super heroes to create an army of nearly unstoppable zombies? You can't, so stop trying. Unlike Marvel and their fear of having their supers dead on the pegs to frighten children, the great and powerful Warner Brothers noted the popularity of zombies, comics, and zombies in comics and allowed DC direct to dive head first into their slimy waters. Our profile includes...

Earth 2 Superman (DC Direct) : Older, more decaying Superman
Aquaman (DC Direct) : Now he can only summon dead fish..like your x girlfriend!
Hawkman (DC Direct) : The barren wings give this one some extra points
The Black Hand (2 versions from Mattel and DC Direct, respectively)
Abin Sur (Mattel) : who eagle eye fans will point out looks more like his son, Amon Sur, due to a costume kerfuffle
Nekron (DC Direct) : Leader of the zombie hordes with an exposed heart and a twikle in his eye sockets

We are missing Batman (though we got his flaming skull in there!), Deadman, Hal Jordan, Superman & Wonder Woman (who aren't very zombie looking anyway), Firestorm, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Hawkgirl and Terra (with Scar). All are DC Direct, except Hal. At $16 a pop when new to retail, you can see why rounding up the lot would have had me eating Ramen noodles for weeks. Luckily, a lot of this stuff has since dropped in price, so you can build your zombie army for around 8 bucks a piece if you search hard enough.

THE RED LANTERNS

Feuled by rage, blinded by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance and spitting acid blood across the galaxy, the Red Lanterns make the perfect characters for a plushie kid's toy line, no? Our profile includes...

Atrocitus (DC Direct) : Leader of the team
Mera (DC Direct) : Aquaman's squeeze sporting a killer scaly sculpt you can't pass up
Dex-Starr (DC Direct and Mattel) ..you will soon realize this is a kitty of dooom
Skallox (Mattel) : Horned warrior
Nite-Lik (Mattel) : Freaky Night Breed looking alien cooked up by Mattel & named after one of their own. Skallox & Nite-Lik come as one figure with extra parts to make the other.

Since 5 wasn't enough, we conjured up some more...

Bloedbad (Mattel with a head from SOTA toys) : Blue ape looking humanoid with the cape whose savagery was well suited for the Red Lanterns. CLICK HERE for a mini bio!

Küçük ölüm (Mattel with head and hands from SOTA toys) : Monk-like humanoid with blank eyes. CLICK HERE for a mini bio!

A Red Lantern Guy Gardner was just released that will be mine. Oh, yes...

THE YELLOW LANTERNS / SINESTRO CORPS

Every hero must have an opposite. For Hal Jordan, that nemesis is Sinestro. In the beginning, Sinestro was your text book baddie who flipped on his Green Lantern brethren to embrace a power he felt was more suited for bringing order to the universe....FEAR. These days, Sinestro is painted more like Magneto, with wide gray areas in his thinking...but his palling around with killers doesn't earn him any sympathy points. Our profile includes...

Sinestro (Mattel) : Leader of his own corps, of course. We've got the silly blue and black suit and since Mattel won't do a suitable wide release, in scale Sinestro Corps version, we kit bashed one. You'll also find him in a Green Lantern Corps outfit in an exclusive Walmart 5 pack.
Romat-Ru (Mattel) : Tomar-Re's evil cousin, perhaps? Came in the "Color of Fear" 2 pack.
Karu-Sil (Mattel) : the female half of that same 2 pack
Arkillo (Mattel) : a collect and connect powerhouse
Low (Mattel) : Blue slug-like monstrosity
Maash (Mattel) : 3 faced killer whose third face is an innocent forced to watch the horror!
Despotellis (Mattel) : He looks more like a construct, but we assure you, he's a card carrying, people slaying member!
Mongul (Mattel) :Old school Superman baddie who knows power when he sees it
Cyborg Superman (Mattel) : Go look up the bio on this guy. It's pretty epic.
Manhunter Robot (Mattel) : Not really a Sinestro Corps member but they follow Cyborg Superman, so this was the best place for him.

And my original contribution to the lot...

Vaikne Raev (Mattel with SOTA toys parts) : Consciousless killer missing half his face, courtesy of Lobo! CLICK HERE to read his mini bio!

I'd like to pick up the DC Direct Sinestro Corps Sinestro at some point. His larger head makes him more alien, so he'll stand out better. The detailing is miles better as well. Mattel has also put out a Yellow Lantern Scarecrow and Batman, for those who want the WHOLE CREW even though these two were only involved for half a second, if at all. DC Direct also released a mind blowing Kryb figure! I'm still hunting this one but the prices are psycho at the moment.

THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Called from hundreds of planets to vanquish evil, protect the innocent and keep order in turbulent times, the Green Lantern Corps will fight to the very last soldier. A handful of humans are counted among their ranks (ya know..because we're special) providing ample opportunity to tell storied we can relate to, even if the cast is filled with crazy looking aliens. It may be those same crazy alien designs that have kept the number of action figures made to moderate numbers, but between DC Direct and Mattel (and bolstered by popular comics and a little movie) have done a fine job of filling out our ranks! Our profile includes...

The Movie Crew, whose alien designs are often so different from the comic source, you can put movie and comic versions together in the same team.

Hal Jordan (Mattel)
G-Hu (Mattel) : the dreadlocked looking alien
Rot Lop Fan (Mattel) : the sluggy, poo looking alien with the Taco Bell symbol on his chest
Naut Ke Loi (Mattel) : A brilliantly colored, bendy parts fish figure!
Tomar-Re (Mattel) : Is he a fish? A bird? It's craaaazzzyyy!!

Missing from my movie squad is Morro, Bzzd (who is actually a wasp-like accessory that comes with a maskless Hal), Green Man, Isamot Kol and Galilus Zed..mostly because stores stopped carrying them. They are currently in route to dollar stores. Normally, I'd be shocked that a company made so many aliens, but I'm positive we have Geoff Johns to thank for that! Each 6 inch figure came with a piece of Parallax, which is a complete mess. Honestly this has to be the worse build a figure in creation. Very sad..but it's not like the movie version looked much better. It is also worth mentioning that the 4 inch movie figures came with constructs that work fairly well with 6 inch comic figures! SCOOORE.

The comic figures...

Hal Jordan (Mattel) : This one comes with or without the white stripe in his hair and a third version with a metallic costume. We stuck with the older looking one.
John Stewart (Mattel) : He comes single packed in his standard uniform or part of a 5 pack exclusive to Walmart, redeco'd, which is the version we focused on to keep some diversity in design.
Guy Gardner (Mattel) : Not very fond of the face sculpt of this figure you'll only find in the Walmart 5 pack
Kyle Rayner (Mattel) : Great looking figure that actually came with his own construct!
Tomar-Re (Mattel) : They just popped a new head on a standard GL body to make this figure you could only get in the Walmart exclusive 5 pack.
Sodam Yat (Mattel) : This same body is used for this human looking alien
Nautkeloi (Mattel) : Another fish alien! This one came in a Green Lantern Classics wave. Just a new head and new feet on a standard body, but we luvs him anyway.
Medphyll (Mattel) : Broccoli can be brave too! Medphyll shares a body with Nautkeloi, as each comes with parts to transform the figure into the other.
Katma Tui (Mattel) : A very underwhelming female action figure, especially when u compare her to...
Budika (DC Direct) : Killer sculpt..translucent parts..how can you say no?
Arisia (DC Direct) : Leave it to DC to take the young lady of the squad and make her slutty looking. This figure's downfall is scale. She towers over the 6 inch figures..mainly because she is 7 inches.
G'Nort (DC Direct) : He's the puppy avenger and you can bet cash money Mattel will nevvvvvver make him!
B'dg (Mattel) : Hell, if you can have a acid spitting kitty, why not a squirrel hero? B'dg comes in a 3 pack with Dex-Starr and Despotellis.
Stel (Mattel) : A collect and connect robot you can build from Green Lantern series 2 bits
Kilowog (Mattel) : Another collect and connect piece, this time from DC Universe Classics wave 11. It is the scale of these bigger guys that makes the whole team look excellent. DIVERSITY IN SCALE PEOPLE!!!
Alan Scott (Mattel) : The original Green Lantern
Star Sapphire (Mattel) : Technically, she's not a Lantern, thought the Star Sapphires carry violet power rings. They do it all with the power of LOVE!! No, they can not care bear stare.

And my creations...

Carioca of 1 (Mattel with Hasbro and McFarlane parts) : From a robotic race with a hive social structure and an urge to learn. CLICK HERE to read his mini bio!

Mandeep Mahtab (Mattel and a head from Toybiz) : Energy based life form. CLICK HERE to read his mini bio!

Ubril (Mattel and a head from Mcfarlane) : From a dragon-like race. CLICK HERE to read his mini bio!

Latvany (Mattel with robes from Toy Vault) : I found this being with the giant eye in the background of a massive shot of GL's taking off. I haven't been able to find his name anywhere, so I gave him one! He is someone else's creation, so I didn't write a bio.

I am also missing Salaak, an alien from DC Direct that is a little pricey for me at the moment, and the recent release of Arkkis Chummuck, from DC Direct as well. At some point I'll also pick up a DC Direct Guy Gardner because that Mattel version is just...ugly as sin.

Honorable mention goes to the sole Orange Lantern member Larfleeze, whose DC Direct figure still alludes me..and costs too damn much. DC DIRECT!! RE-RELEASES PLEASE!! Hope you have as much fun pouring over these images as we did making them! Special thanks to Mattel for the movie figures and Eileen for help in hunting down some of the pieces we needed for the shoots.

CLICK HERE for an overview of the first releases from the 4 inch movie line!
CLICK HERE for our look at Green Lantern Justice League Unlimited offerings!

G.I. Jason Storming Your Closet

2012-01-10T14:11:00.004-05:00

Ah.. Friday the 13th. For some, it is mini Halloween. As a kid, my mom would throw us Friday the 13th parties with horror movies playing in a darkened basement and traps rigged in the dark to spring scares as simple as slime on doorknobs or a lanky toy monkey with matted hair staring you in the face. As we grow older, one thing becomes abundantly clear. Friday the 13th belongs to a man named Jason Voorhees..and now he's going into battle...for freedom.

G.I. JASOOOOOOON!!

no..i'm not singing. I'll let the ukulele girl make up a song for this one.

Fright Rags celebrates the man in the hockey mask with a brandie new, limited edition T shirt! The G.I. Jason T shirt goes on sale this Friday (the 13th, natch) and will be available for order for only three days. Come Monday, the curse is lifted and it goes poof. FreddyinSpace is reporting you'll be able to buy t shirts in men's and women's sizes as well as a hoodie most horror loving geeklings will not be able to resist. Assume your online purchasing stance!

Disney XD's Marvel Block Lands this April

2012-01-09T17:30:00.002-05:00

Disney XD will launch Marvel Universe, a dedicated Marvel programming block, with the new series "Ultimate Spider-Man" as its centerpiece, on SUNDAY, APRIL 1, it was announced today by Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, California. Marvel Universe on Disney XD will be the ultimate place for fans to find exclusive Marvel content, including new animated short-form series, live-action interstitials and the series return of "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes." The block will be home to Marvel's biggest superstars, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America and many more to introduce dynamic stories of action, adventure and heroism to a whole new generation.

Marsh said, "Iconic Marvel heroes and villains and stories with core values of accomplishment, discovery and growth make Marvel Universe a perfect complement to Disney XD and a destination for parents and kids to experience together."

"Marvel Universe block is an incredible animated ride filled with fantastic action and adventure," said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television. "The spectacular team of writers and animators capture stories with all the dynamic fun you can imagine. Disney XD is the perfect place for families and Marvel fans of all ages to come together every Sunday."

Acting as the keystone of the Marvel Universe block, "Ultimate Spider-Man" features a teenage Peter Parker juggling the typical growing pains of high-school with the not-so-typical growing pains of being a Super Hero. As the newest member of Nick Fury's S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, Peter finds himself on a team with four other teenage Super Heroes.

Produced by Marvel Animation, the series' award-winning creative team includes Joe Quesada (Marvel's CCO), Paul Dini ("Batman: The Animated Series," "Lost"), the creative powerhouse Man of Action Studios (creators of "Ben 10" and "Generator Rex"), comprised of lauded creators Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; and Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man comic series).

CHECK OUT THIS CAST!!

The voice cast includes Drake Bell ("Superhero," "Drake & Josh") as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride ("Boston Public," "Pushing Daisies") as Nick Fury, JK Simmons ("Spider-Man") as J. Jonah Jameson, Stan Lee ("Spider-Man") as Stan the Janitor, Clark Gregg ("Iron Man", "Thor," "The Avengers") as Agent Coulson and Steven Weber ("Wings") as Norman Osborn.

Labyrinth Gets a Prequel

2012-01-09T14:19:00.003-05:00

Don't get too excited (and/or upset)! This is only in graphic novel form. Entertainment Weekly is reporting Archaia Comics (who have a pre-existing relationship with Henson Studios via their Fraggle works) will be putting this tale together over the next year. So far, company editor-in-chief Stephen Christy will only say this is a prequel, so no Sarah or Toby. Rather, this will be the story of the Goblin King Jareth, exploring how he came to be in the labyrinth and ultimately, rule over it. Fans shouldn't have any fears they might muck it up as the Henson crew is heavily involved with character designs and covers by Brian Froud himself. Christy also mentions they are involving David Bowie in the process as well, though that involvement is, as yet, undefined. They are absolutely getting his blessing on the story, approvals on his look (as the character will be a young Bowie) and perhaps an introduction. Christy also mentions the use of music within the book, but this seems like a device that may come off badly, so I'd expect they will abandon the idea. They do mention that the price for Bowie to create one song for the book is the same as the budget for the entire project, so that is immediately out the window...unless we beg? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease??

Expect Archaia to be making a big noise about this book at San Diego Comic Con before the book drops sometime toward the end of the year.

Quick Star Wars Burgers Inject You With The Force

2012-01-09T13:55:00.007-05:00

Force you to do what...I could not say. I've never had a Quick burger so I won't make any bowel movement jokes today.

From across the great waters comes the most awesome merchandising tie in since Hello Kitty lent her face to a vibrator. It's STAR WARS BURGERS!!! French website MintInBox got the scoop on these force infused sandwiches, but not much info. It seems this February, to coincide with the release of The Phantom Menace in 3D, Quick will release three burgers.. The Dark Burger (red), the Jedi Burger (green), and the Dark Vader Burger (black).

February 10th is the set date for The Phantom Menace to drop on theaters in 3D, so I'd expect a flurry of product tie ins to start...right about...meow.

100th Episode of Robot Chicken Brings Robo Sex Cam

2012-01-09T12:52:00.005-05:00

Though...is it really robophilia if the individual in question eying up the robot for sexing is a chicken?? DISCUSS! Robot Chicken gives back to the community on their birthday with a live webcam of everyone's favorite Humping Robot taking a break from juke boxes and washing machines to show a little tender metal love to...a chicken. This is particularly hysterical if you turn the cam on and get back to work, intending to check back periodically. The music plays sensual sounds of pre-love makin' while the chicken clucks away. This is sure to draw the attention of all your cubicle neighbors. See??!! Robot Chicken brings people together...and robots...and chickens.

The 100th episode of Robot Chicken, the Emmy Award®-winning series, premieres Sunday, Jan. 15 at 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Adult Swim. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and their Stoopid Monkey Productions banner, Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format.

“I'm proud and a bit shocked that we reached this milestone,” said Green. “It's great to work with people you like and we are thrilled that the show's fans continue to support our show and that our guest stars still like to come and play with us.”

To celebrate this momentous milestone for the series, Adult Swim has launched a five-day live action web cam event that asks and answers the probing question: ‘What happens when a robot and a live chicken are left alone in a motel room?’ Fans can watch all the action online starting today at RobotChicken.com, as a sweeping soap opera style romance unfolds before their eyes. The event will feature special guest star appearances throughout the week and viewers can have a say in what happens in the story via Facebook voting and posting comments, including naming the chicken. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter (#chickencamlove). Green, Senreich and Robot Chicken head writers/executive producers Tom Root and Douglas Goldstein, writer/producer Mike Fasolo, writers Zeb Wells, Matt Beans, Jessica Gao and executive producers Eric Towner and John Harvatine IV will be sending in their reactions via Skype all week long.

“Adult Swim always seems to venture into new territory with their promotions and we love to follow them down every crazy road or in this case, to a chicken-sized motel room,” said Senreich.

In the 100th episode, the creators imagine what the movie Sex and the City 3 would be like if made more guy friendly, Yogi Bear battles with the Power Rangers from Jellystone Park, find out why no one cares about Woody Woodpecker anymore and see the nail-biting, hair-raising, super big finish of season five in Robot Chicken’s 100th episode finale!

One thing we can promise about the season finale...

Bitch Puddin Y'all.

Invader Zim Fans Conquer LA in 2012

2012-01-08T14:14:00.004-05:00

Before you say something like "This will never draw a crowd"...there is a JemCon every year and they have a good ole outrageous time. Surely, Invader Zim can draw in the fanatics from across the globe..and apparently, it has happened before and no one told us!

Behold...the INVADERCON COMMETH!!

By popular demand, the convention will happen “one more time” and features the voices of Dib, Gaz, Gir, and Zim along with series creator Jhonen Vasquez.

(Los Angeles, CA, September 15, 2011) InvaderCON II: DOOMCON will take place at the Torrance Marriott South Bay (in Southern California) July 28-29, 2012. The convention is a sequel to the “one time only” InvaderCON that attracted one thousand Invader ZIM fans to Atlanta, Georgia in March of 2011. It will feature voice talent and production staff from the popular cartoon along with the series creator: Jhonen Vasquez.

Scheduled to appear are the voices of the four main characters from Invader ZIM: Andy Berman (Dib,) Melissa Fahn (Gaz,) Rikki Simons (Gir,) and Richard Horvitz (Zim.) Joining them will be series scribe Eric Trueheart and (in a rare convention appearance) creator Jhonen Vasquez.

Tickets go on sale Sunday, September 18, 2011 on the website: www.invadercon.com. Weekend admission to the event is $50, but discount passes can be purchased in advance. One day passes will be available at the door for $30 (Saturday) and $25 (Sunday.) Tickets for premium events such as The Dinner of DOOM! and the I’m Makin’ Waffles! Breakfast will go on sale later in 2011.

For up to the moment information, please follow InvaderCON on Facebook (www.facebook.com/invadercon) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/invadercon.)

While I'd immediately love to just run off to this show, there are several things on the website that give me red flags. 1 being that they have 6 guests (but may be adding more) and the site states "not all guests will be available for autographs." The website goes on to mention they have tacked on some fees to each guest's autograph price to "keep the door prices low." Since there are currently no events listed beyond a diner and breakfast that you have to pay for separately (and in addition to your entrance to the con), I'm not sure what you actually DO all day at this show. Someone please clue me in?

BBC's Luther 2 Reviewed

2012-01-06T15:23:00.003-05:00

I could say I'm not into cop dramas. I don't eagerly await new seasons of TV shows centered around the brave men and women in law enforcement, the scientists who analyze evidence or even the lawyers who prosecute the suspects. I will say I've watched the holy hell out of Law and Order, to the point where I knew where a character's argument came from in the movie "Horrible Bosses" when he admitted to it. That is the exception, not the rule. That said, selling me on a cop drama from the UK, even with all the praise coming from my journo friends, was going to be a steep hill to climb. Done and done.

Some insane things must have gone down in Luther 1, as our title character is a very beaten down man as we join him in his daily routine. Luther is the "hard but caring" good guy who would break every rule if it means saving a life. In this day and age, it is entirely believable this is what a successful detective WOULD have to do to be the most effective, as all the politics in play make getting justice served nearly impossible. He is also willing to hang his fellow detectives out on the wire for a bit to serve the greater good. His rationale is "this is the job they signed up for...they knew the risks." Again, this may not make him the most popular guy, but no one can argue he isn't at the top of his game...and ultimately right.

Our story breaks down into two chases and a wrap around central story more centered on Luther himself. The first follows the exploits of a serial killer looking to become the stuff of nightmares for an entire generation. He believes there is not enough to fear in this world and would set this matter right. We see a sort of cat and mouse game unfold with the killer addressing the police directly to assure everyone knows what is being done and challenging them to stop it. The killer himself is not very charismatic, a point the show does not gloss over in an attempt to convince you otherwise, and his character flaws wind up being the chink in his armor. The second case (and more interesting of the two in my opinion) follows a man who creates chaos on the roll of some dice. When he arrives on the scene, anything from destruction of property to random, violent killing is a possibility..and often, both occurs. These moments are jarring and starkly real. The police need to figure out some pattern to this madness before more people die needlessly, so the story takes on a very intense tone and Luther and company race against the clock and fight past mounting frustrations to stop the madness. The wrap around tale explores the limits of Luther's calling. In his line of work, he is surely told "you can't save everyone", but can he repeat this to someone in dire need to save himself? When do you say no, go home and attempt to be a "normal" person with a life outside of the job? ...and can you live with this choice later? We have a hell of a time finding out which path Luther takes. The man could easily be a master criminal, so we are left feeling glad he's on our side!

You can say the clever writing in this show is king, but it wouldn't have such an impact without the cinematic vision cast over a vibrant city overflowing with potential targets. Through both stories, you get the sense that the city is very much a character as each setting, vastly different from the previous, sets a definitive tone. A well lit, modern office building blemished by sudden, unspeakable violence. Alley ways and abandoned buildings providing many a shadow for a human monster to leap from. The execution is excellent.

Of course none of this can be accomplished without a killer cast. Idris Elba plays Luther as a practically remorseless detective living life on the razor's edge. He comes off like the type of man who would answer a snarky remark with a puch in the face, and at times, this may be the case, but ultimately, Luther is a chess player. He knows the game, the players and the board and can navigate through it all with crackerjack timing and nearly flawless grace. It is Elba's acting brilliance that makes is all seem as if it all were a masterful stroke of brilliance conjured mere seconds before action. This is insanely fun to watch! Warren Brown plays DS Justin Ripley; the sort of man whose trust in Luther is unfailing. Nikki Amuka-Bird plays DS Erin Gray; a detective who wants to see justice done, but not perverted at the same time. Gray and Ripley seem as two sides of the same coin. Brown plays Ripley as a very likable man, always backing up a friend and willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He knows some may have to bend the rules but he is always a professional himself. Bird plays Gray full of tension and doubt, as if every negative moment reflects back on her own performance. Looking into her eyes, you can just about see her potential to explode. High marks also go out to Luther's boss (whose name I can't decipher at the moment from IMDB) who is the source of countless enjoyable scenes, weather from a knowing glance, an offhand remark or putting his years of experience to work on a suspect.

The downside of Luther 2? It is over in a flash. 4 hours seems like 1 when dragged along at breakneck speed through Luther's gritty streets. With this knowledge in mind (and the fact that the show is incredible) you should probably just go ahead and buy Luther and Luther 2 together, stretching your entertainment over a weekend instead of 1 day..or one afternoon for the film fanatics. Trust me. Once you start watching, you won't stop until there is no more.

Nab Luther HERE and Luther 2 HERE and buy together for free shipping!

Square Enix on God of War 3 Action Figures

2012-01-06T14:50:00.011-05:00

Sure we've gotten a Kratos figure before, and since it was NECA, it was brilliant. Hell, we even got one from DC Direct, so that marks two of the best toy companies on the planet, known for great detail and paints, tackling your favorite blood thirsty god killer. Now Square Enix steps up to make you weep tears of joy.

Kratos from God of War 3 is set to hit this April as part of Square Enix's Play Arts Kai line, known to combine excellent sculpting, paints and articulation to create a product comparable to a Hot Toys 12 inch figure..without the doll clothes. Kratos comes in at around 9.5 inches tall and is packed with his Blades of Exile and Claw of Hades as well as a set of extra open hands.

The Steve Jobs Action Figure

2012-01-02T15:48:00.019-05:00

No, it won't have pouches or giant guns to mow down the competition, though you could add them later.
No, it will not come with rape face action.
No, it won't glance over at your inferior non-MAC products and snicker, though he is so realistic, you might think he is.

What it will do is have all your Barbies swooning and make your super sized Incredible Hulk feel inferior. IT HAS THAT POWER.

Master plastic chefs In Icons have cooked up this beautiful 12 inch Steve Jobs action figure; a piece certainly worthy of Hot Toys fandom praise. Your Steve Jobs: Super Soldier comes packed with...

-One realistic head sculpt & Two pairs of glasses
-One highly articulated body & Three pairs of hands
-One black turtleneck & One pair of blue jeans
-One black leather belt & One chair (wood + metal)
-One pair of black socks & sneaker
-Two apples (One with a bite.)
-One piece of "ONE MORE THING” hard backdrop

Sadly, he does not come with an Ianything to show off to Batman and mutter "WayneTech my ass" as he saunters away. Steve retails for 99.99 without shipping and can be ordered HERE! They are set to start shipping late February, so this one is on the fast track and most likely is being made to order, so don't wait or risk being...umm...Jobless. yesh. That will do.

2012 Preview: Marvel Legends Action Figures

2012-01-02T13:32:00.058-05:00

For fans of Marvel Comics action figures, Hasbro's 2012 return to the 6 inch line we loved best is monumental. We have one request...

Don't screw this up.

Things we are looking for:
Scale - If a dude is 6 feet tall, another is 5 foot nuthin with claws and another is 7 foot plus, please show us that difference.
Likeness - Most of us have an iconic look in our heads for our heroes and villains. You know what it is, since you are fans too. That is what we want. Not silvery robots with belly buttons.
Quality - When Marvel Legends last graced the shelves in two-pack form, the feel of the figure was excellent. No wobbly joints, substantial plastics used, nice paint applications and a superior attention to detail. As I open my Walmart exclusive 6 inch Marvel Movie figures, save for Nick Fury, all I can think is these were rushed and made as cheaply as possible and it all shows. The knees are wobbly, the paints are uneven, you can see the marks where the plastic over-pour was broken away and WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO LOKI??!! It's like no one wants to make this guy the way we remember him...basically NOT a menacing, roided out monster. More importantly, if this is a movie line, why isn't he Tom Hiddleston Loki to match your new Chris Hemsworth Thor?! The mind boggles. End of rant.

If we are going to be spending 16 bucks a pop on these guys, we want them to be something YOU will be proud of, just like the awesome and endless Star Wars releases and the mind blowing newest G.I. Joe waves. We will accept nothing short of awesome.

That said, lets take a look at the 2012 Marvel Legends Action Figures series 1: The Terrax wave!!

Seven figures make up the first wave including :

Heroic Age Thor

Steve Rogers Captain America (there was said to be a variant of this guy coming with his Photon Shield, but we haven't seen or heard anything more about it.)

Extremis Iron Man (with a Stealth Armor variant)

Constrictor

Ghost Rider (with an orange flame variant, since most fans don't know who the hell this blue guy is)

Marvel's Klaw

X-Men's Hope Summers

These are showing up overseas at the moment, so I expect them to be everywhere VERY SOON! Collect all 7 (or is that 6? I'm confused by the imagery below) to build the somewhat larger Terrax the Tamer..former herald of Galactus himself!

I'll go on record as saying it is a good thing the line has at least 4 figures fans want; the last three (being Thor, Iron Man and Ghost Rider) won't sting so badly as we will all be after a Terrax figure. This is a must have for Marvel Legends fans and while he is not the MASSIVE build a figure we remember fondly from days gone by (my army of Sentinels take a bow), I expect people will be chomping at the bit for him. For my collection, if I could live without Terrax (which I can't), I'd just be buying Klaw and Constrictor, full of happiness that Hasbro understands we want bad guys to fill out our collections, even if we have to suffer through more Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Wolverine and Spider-Man to get to them, to appease the retail gods. Honestly though, with all the 6 inch Iron Man we've been getting, I expected that Extremis armor to be miles better. The line is called Legends, folks. Let's see some LEGENDARY figures. Re-sculpt that sucker already. I want to see an Iron Man figure that looks like there's a full sized human being in there.

We didn't want to go too crazy in this article, so we'll stop at series 1, but I'll mention that Series 2 is set to include Heroic Age Captain America (AKA Bucky Cap), Thunderball (with a Piledriver variant), Dark Wolverine Daken (with swapable maskless head so it doesn't just look like another regular Wolverine figure), Madame Masque (with Lady Hydra variant) Fantomex, Drax and "Big Time" Spider-Man (who really should have pinky rings with a name like that.) Arnim Zola is the Build A Figure in this series. CLICK HERE for a detailed look at these figures and HERE for a second helping!

Got a list of characters and a BAF you'd love to see in a series? Use the comments below for your geek wish list! Maybe someone will be watching...

2012 Preview: DC's New 52 Ever Expanding

2011-12-31T02:32:00.006-05:00

Just like the "Big Bang" pushing the edges of our universe ever outward, DC Comics' New 52niverse has been expanding every month, and by the look of these sneak peeks we've just received, they aren't slowing down going into 2012!

The titles I've been reading have reached major peaks that provide a sort of cliff hanger leading into the new year...or rather a launching point for a higher level of action to start the year off right. Animal Man has been confronting The Rot and will soon need the strength of Swamp Thing to come out alive. Batwoman has had a major shakeup in her nightly Bat-tivities, forcing her to make a choice that may put her at odds with big poppa bat himself. And the Justice League? Ohhh..they have just started their battle with the being known as DARKSEID!! Can you dig it? I knew you could. There is zero chance of me abandoning any of these titles, but since you may be aware I read just about all the 1st issues of the new 52, here's a run down of what I abandoned and what I'm sticking with.

Action Comics - This had a strong start with a Superman I really enjoyed watching in action, but there was just something missing in the story to grab me and hold me past issue 2.
Catwoman - Batsex. hm. I'm not a prude or anything, but if I wanted to watch Batman have sex, I'd search for those freaky Anime sites where budding young artists spend their nights drawing lurid pictures of their favorite comic characters entangled much like a Kama Sutra with bad comic art. Not for me.
Batwoman - The sheer beauty of this book would keep me coming back for a while, but this story is so interesting and original, I look forward to the next book more than any others. Batwoman pushes the boundaries of what you have come to expect from a "Bat Family Book" and I wish the other Bat titles would soak up some of that raw energy.
Batgirl - I loved the first issue, so why didn't I buy number 2? This may have come down to expense. I could only afford so many books a month so only the ones I absolutely couldn't live without made the cut. While watching Batgirl in action was a blast, it just wasn't enough.
Nightwing - I read Nightwing for years and have a stack of trades to prove it. Out of the gate, the direction the book was taking didn't make me want to continue. I'm an old dog not looking for any new tricks, admittedly, but in this case, it seemed the creators were trying to capture that old feeling and it showed.
Justice League Dark - Too many characters I was unfamiliar with sort of leering at each other or shooting the unholy stink eye. Way too heavy for me with too many characters I care nothing for...which is funny because I love the hell out of Hellblazer. That may be my consistently favorite book of 2011!
Deadman - Zero interest in following this story. Just very unappealing. On top of that, one comic suggested Deadman was still alive while this one brought back that old body jumping story line. Confusing!
Hawk and Dove - I can't handle pages upon pages of people bearing their gums at each other. Sorry, Rob. Dick comment, I know.
Swamp Thing - You know, I wish this comic were grabbing me more, and the visuals are cool enough to keep me coming back every month, but I'm on the edge. If things don't pick up soon (which they look to be), I'll bow out.
Animal Man - Hooked. Completely. It's vicious and interesting and fun and oddly real all at once. Did I ever think I'd be reading Animal Man??!! NOPE!
Men of War - I stuck around for three issues but there doesn't seem to be much interest in setting up a unified story line, so there isn't much to keep me plugged in every month. I might go back if I have some extra cash to spend, but as of now I'm onto other books.
Red Lanterns - Read issue 1 and wasn't compelled to continue. The characters are so different from what was set up previously, and I felt the changes weren't for the better. Not sure what I was expecting from the monthly tale of blood acid spewing aliens, but I'm not into what I was handed.
Batman - Allllllmost hooked, but I keep falling off. It may be my love for Batman and Scott Snyder that makes me come back after missing a month, but something is keeping me at bay. I think the focus on one bad guy I'm not familiar with who has little personality is playing a big part in my apathy.
Wonder Woman - The horse beheading in issue one turned me off. I write for a horror website as well, so It definitely isn't my own timid nature holding me back. It's just a little red for what I've come to expect from WW.
OMAC - Ridiculous...fairly formulaic...over the top...and I'm loving every minute of it. It could be that I'm just revisiting my youth with the style in which these tales are written and certainly the art applied to every panel..and that seems to be enough for me! If there were several more titles done in this style, I'd probably get bored very quickly and ditch the lot. The promise of mainstream characters appearing in this book in the future will surely keep me coming back for the time being.
Red Hood and the Outlaws - Love the art, love the writing, love the take on all three main characters. If this book had lips we'd be making out. Non stop fun at every turn with a dash of sexy thrown in, but not over done. It also amuses me that the characters seem to not give a crap about each other on the surface, but they can't seem to walk away. The dynamic is excellent.
Justice League International - Held on for two issues and just got bored. Nothing more to it. If I'd cared more for this group of characters, it might have helped.
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE - I really thought this book was trying way too hard to be Hellboy and the BPRD. Strike one. I'm also reading Marvel's Legion of Monsters which is 10 times more fun..so strike two. That's all I need. 2 strikes. I don't play sports.
Suicide Squad - I don't think i made it past issue 1, and me not remembering if I even got to issue 2 isn't a good sign. Catman's team was just way more fun, engaging, and better written than this.
Justice League - My love of this team is the only thing holding me in. The snappy banter is becoming a little repetitive, so I hope DC notes this and picks up the pace now that Darkseid is on the scene. They've probably got me for 2 more issues before I get distracted by shinier things.

These are the titles I had any strong feelings about. Honorable mentions go to Aquaman and I, Vampire which had great first issues but lost to stronger titles that lurched at my pockets and nabbed my cash before I knew what was happening. Gotta be quicker, boys! Other books I've been reading (in sigle issue format) include Legion of Monsters, PIGS and Buffy Season 9. Last year I was all about Marvel, and while I still pick up trades of Deadpool, I seem to have completely gone over to DC when buying single issues. Never thought that would happen!

File Under Ew: Zombie Skin Seaweed Snack

2011-12-30T15:36:00.004-05:00

Got the gout? Pains in yer back? Corns on your toes? Wee little creatures chewing up yer neathers? Well we got the cure for what ails ya!

ZOMBIE SKIN!!

Actually, I'd like to see a similar fake commercial for this product staring Vince the ShamWOW guy. Instant viral hit.

"Through years of death and being buried in the ground, this crunchy product is bound to satisfy. The dried Zombie Skin, made of seaweed, is vegan, all-natural, and gluten-free."

Of course, ThinkGeek has your hookup.

"Now, before you undead rights activists get all mad, Edible Dried Zombie Skin isn't really made out of zombies. It's actually crunchy dried seaweed. And it's delicious! It's all natural, gluten free, and perfect for vegans (no people parts - promise). Just make sure to eat Edible Dried Zombie Skin out of the bag; that way you'll get all the tastiness of the "skin" and all the joy out of the funny looks of others."

2012 Preview: The Amazing Spider-Man Movie Merchandise

2011-12-29T18:45:00.037-05:00

Oh yea..there IS another super hero movie in 2012! Let's take a quick look at that calendar...

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - February 17th
Avengers - May 4th
Amazing Spider-Man - July 3rd
The Dark Knight Rises - July 20th

July 3rd is a long ways away, but images of licensed movie merch are already surfacing. The first surprise came from MEGABloks which revealed the first pieces for their upcoming construction kits. We recently wondered how the LEGO Marvel license would effect the future of MEGA's involvement with Marvel. It's looking like LEGO will handle anything under the Disney flag (Marvel movies and comics) while MEGA snaps up any film revolving around that massive planet (not verified, just speculation). So far, I think they missed an awesome opportunity with X-Men: First Class, but just about everyone expected that film to under-perform, which explains the lack of product. Maybe they'll pick up sets for The Wolverine and Magneto in 2013! At any rate, sets we've uncovered include Lizard Man Showdown, Oscorp Tower FX Battle, Sewer Lab HQ and FX Spider-Room Stunts.

As expected, there will be a slew of merch bearing the almighty Spidey-Symbol. Among the goods we found include a number of remote control Mini-Quads, a Sewer Chase Submarine, Transforming Racer, Pro Wheels Power Surfer (like our Rip Stick Caster Boards), scooters, skateboards and mooore. As is generally the case, the new merch has revealed the look of our scaly Spidey nemesis. Want to see his lovely face?!

Never say we don't love you. Here's more eye candy...

Hasbro is in on the game with their new Marvel Universe scaled (3 and 3 quarter inch) action figure, boasting 20 points of articulation and extreme attention to detail that not only recreates the new costume down to every stitch from shoulder to the soles of his feet, but displays the leaner physique of the new Peter Parker, Andrew Garfield. They've even enhanced the figure with new semi-metalic paints that make the figure pop and even create a bit of illusion with eyes that appear white but turn gold when the light strikes them a certain way.

Want something a little larger for your shelf? Diamond's Marvel Select line has the answer with a 7 inch Amazing Spider-Man action figure boasting 16 points of articulation, alternate fists for "bust-in-the-chops" action and a wall crawly base you can actually hang on your wall via a handy dandy screw hole on the back! GENIUS! Readers should note the lighting at these shows is craptacular, so the colors of this particular figure will be off a bit. The blues should be way darker, but I had to flash to get the shot.

Matt adds: Fairly obvious they'll make a Lizard action figure as well, as previous movie releases included their big bad. The real question...will Lizard be riding a quad...

Using our crack team of dorktectives, we've extrapolated the following movie plot points from the toys we've shown today. The Lizard's mind is a mess after the accident that changed him into the creature he is today (which at time resembles Godzookie, if you saw that mini-quad figure with the smiley face.) He plots in his sewer laboratory before lashing out against the people he blames for his misfortune with a toxin that changes ordinary people into LIZARD MONSTERS!! (which would explain the SWAT Lizard) Now, only Spider-Man stands between The Lizard and the innocents of New York City. Can he defeat this new horror and maybe even restore him to his former, human self?

Of course, none of that is confirmed...but wouldn't it be funny if it was all true? Stranger things have happened. I've left out the parts where Spider-Man chases Lizard across the state on mini-quads, submarines and racing cars. Can't spoil everything.

P.S...that Lizard Quad will be mine...and probably the submarine.

2012 Preview: NECA Hunger Games Action Figures

2011-12-28T17:03:00.008-05:00

And now that the holidays and all that damn NON STOP PRESENT WRAPPING is done, we look forward into 2012 and all the fantastical toys we will find there. First stop is at the house of NECA, where they excel in translating movie monsters and heroes into excellent action figures, all in a relatively similar scale meaning you can finally have Rocky going into battle against Voldemort. Killer. Now NECA take on what is gearing up to be the most popular license of the new year...HUNGER GAMES!!

NECA recently confirmed the coming of Hunger Games action figures to compliment the line of jewelry, slap bracelets and other nick nacks they are already producing, beginning with Katniss Everdeen (as portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence). And now..a sneak peek!!

So here's my bet...you are looking at Katniss Everdeen (as was previously noted), Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth).

UPDATE: YES!! 3 for 3! The pre-orders just went up and these are indeed the figures we though they were. Each figure stands roughly 6 3/4" tall and comes with their own character specific accessories, all in a Clamshell packaging.

Here's the movie synopsis:

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in The Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

American Battle Royale much? “The Hunger Games” hits theaters March 23rd, 2012.

Mr Incredible..The Super Posable Action Figure!

2011-12-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

Revoltech is the action figure line from Kaiyodo which utilizes a revolving joint system that clicks into place when it hits a point. This lets you pick a pose and have it stick until you shift it yourself...something you don't see in a lot of toys today. Other key features generally include extra hands, faces, key accessories, flight stand (for jumping or take off poses) and sometimes, creepy eyes you can position! Since Revoltech comes from Japan, the line has enjoyed many diverse licenses an American company would probably not be able to handle, or afford. Some time back, they put out a Woody figure from Toy Story that became an internet sensation with his rape facey charm. ( you have to click that link to get what I'm saying. no amount of explaining will do it justice.) NOW, Kaiyodo takes on the super family we've wanted new toys of for YEAAAARS!!

It's Mr. Incredible!!! This figure features fists and open hands, growling or smirking faces, eyes you can position, many many many points of articulation, a flight stand AND an Omnidroid to battle!! On the down side, the figure is 4.3 inches tall, making it taller than 3 and 3 quarter Marvel Universe and G.I. Joes but way smaller than 6 inch Marvel Legends and your DC Universe Classics. There's also the scale of the Omnidroid to take into consideration...because that roboguy is tiny. Then there's the nearly 40 dollar price tag. Yikes. IF you can get past all these minuses, you can own the very nearly ultimate Mr. Incredible action figure this February.

Holiday Geekbook: A Very ThinkGeek Christmas 2.0

2011-12-24T14:02:00.010-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! ThinkGeek always want to get in on a good time and this year was no different as a box arrived like clockwork right when we were starting the GeekBook articles. Let's start with the traditional gift of book ends and see how dorky ThinkGeek can make them when they become...

PORTAL BOOK ENDS!!

There are a lot of manuals for employees of Aperture Laboratories. But you don't necessarily have to read them. Being honest here. We used to hire smarter folks, but our ~~death~~ turnover rate is so high that we've had to lower our standards to the less-than-literate. But here's your Employee Manual and the various books on radiation poisoning that the government requires us to give all new hires.

But really, don't bother reading them. It's not necessary to do your job. Just follow Cave Johnson's voice and you'll be fine, okay? Take these bookends, they'll hold the books up. Why yes, they do look exactly like a test subject going through a portal on one side and out the portal on the other. Pretty clever, isn't it? Now let's get you off to your first testing assignment - I hear you're in the control group.

With rubber padding on the bottom and Tonka-tuff aluminum construction, this is no piece of junk bunk gift! Unfortunately, everyone loves them so they are out of stock at the moment, but keep checking back for availability. The site says there's a restock coming this February!

Other uses for Portal Book Ends...

Ball De-rollifier
Action Figure Diorama: Placing the figures back to front, it will look like your little portal guy is running right through them!
Doorstop
Awesome headgear (just add duct tape)

Captain America Hoodie:

Sometimes when you're a super soldier you just wanna sit around the house in something comfortable. Body armor doesn't really work when you're ready to put your feet up at the end of a long day. But maybe you don't want to lose your iconic look. That's where this product comes in. It has the look of the first Avenger combined with the comfort of your favorite hoodie.
Our previous version of this hoodie had all the details printed on in plastisol, which made it a bit stiff. This new, improved version has the details sewn on and embroidered. It makes for a much softer hoodie with better movement.
Long-sleeve, full-zip hooded sweatshirt is 60% cotton / 40% polyester. It has two front pockets and ribbed cuffs and bottom. Note that although there is a design on the hood, the zipper extends only to the neck and does not include the hood. The eyes on the sides of the hood are cut out. The A and the wings are stitched on.

My brief comment would be "excellent but odd construction". Eileen was the tester for this one and as you can see, while the hoodie keeps you warm in the rain and is comfortable even while running into battle, the hood itself is oddly put together, making the wearer look like more like a Troma hero than a Marvel one! Heeeesterical. For some, this will be a selling point. The spot where the A is stands up, creating a sort of Shark/Human effect. Maybe this is what you've been hunting for all along? Perhaps you are a shark creature and this is just the ticket? SOLD! Sadly, this is also out of stock for now.

Iron Man Light Up Arc Reactor T Shirt:

This may look like a standard t-shirt, but it's actually the Iron Man Mark IX suit. This latest version is much lighter than all previous versions, featuring a flexible interior with knitted cotton exterior. Unlike the Extremis version, the movement with your body does not require you to inject carbon nanotubes into your brain. The chest-mounted uni-beam is powered by photons, which it collects and then disperses when the wearer enters a dark area. For all body parts covered by the Mark IX's new form factor, the suit provides protection from adverse weather conditions, UV rays, and temperature extremes. It is designed for up to two days of use inside Earth's atmosphere, although after the first 12 hours of use its effectiveness is reduced. After 24 hours, it begins to act as a repulsor.
The Iron Man Arc Reactor Shirt has three components: the t-shirt, a light panel with a long cable, and a battery box.

Did you run out and buy that toy Arc reactor that clips to your shirt? Throw it out. Immediately. It is for a hobo costume. ThinkGeek's comfy T Shirt is required attire for any would be Tony Starks or anyone looking to add a little cosplay to their adult dress up clothes. I will be wearing this to every formal event from now on! The Tony T Shirt is available now!

and the best for last...

WI-FI DETECTOR T SHIRT!!

Here at ThinkGeek we're pretty lazy when it comes to technology. We expect our gadgets to do all the busywork while we focus on the high level important tasks like reading blogs. That's why we hate to have to crack open our laptops just to see if there is any wi-fi internet access about... and keychain wi-fi detectors, we would have to actually remove them from our pockets to look at them. But now thanks to the ingenious ThinkGeek robot monkeys you can display the current wi-fi signal strength to yourself and everyone around you with this stylish Wi-Fi Detector Shirt. The glowing bars on the front of the shirt dynamically change as the surrounding wi-fi signal strength fluctuates. Finally you can get the attention you deserve as others bow to you as their reverential wi-fi god, while geeky chicks swoon at your presence. You can thank us later

We took the Wi-Fi T Shirt out for a test drive and it worked perfectly. Did anyone suspect that in the future, all McDonalds locations would have Wi-Fi?! What a tweest. No Wi-Fi at Hallmark or Walmart and very little at Toys R Us. We ran up to a random house with a giant Santa on a Motorcycle on the lawn and they had a couple of bars. We returned to the Idle Cave where we were sure to have excellent Wi-Fi but couldn't get it past 2 bars until I summoned the spirits of my ancestors to boost the bars to full! So...this means...the shirt doubles as a spirits of your ancestors detector as well. Don't quote me on that...but do buy it.

Happy Holidays!!

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer....Animated!

2011-12-23T15:04:00.002-05:00

No words needed. Just drink it in.

Holiday Geekbook: Build Your Tiny Kingdom

2011-12-23T12:44:00.029-05:00

Recently, LEGO (the most widely recognized building block company on the planet) announced that they would be releasing a line just for girls ages 5 and up. The resounding response from older female fans was "LEGO already has a line for girls...it's called...LEGO!" On the strength of this statement, I can assure you that building kits still make an awesome gift for your children age 16 to 40. Today, there is such a variety of subjects to choose from between the three companies making these toys, you can't go wrong. Here's a quick run down of some of their more exciting licenses...

LEGO: Star Wars, DC Super Heroes, LEGO City, Ninjago, Alien Conquest, Pirates of the Caribbean..and next year, Lord of the Rings!

MEGABlocks: HALO, Dragons Universe, Power Rangers, Hello Kitty, Moshi Monsters, Smurfs, Marvel Comics and Movies..and in 2012..Warcraft and Starcraft!! (i like to think I had some input on those last 2..or I delude myself on this at the very least.)

With LEGO taking on Marvel as well in 2012, I suspect MEGA will stop making theirs, which is a little sad considering how much people love their single figure mystery packs.

...and new to the brick battle is KRE-O, who are currently only doing Transformers, but since this is a Hasbro in house project, we drool at the prospect of G.I. Joe sets in 2012! I suspect they'll fold some girl licenses in their as well after LEGO's girlie-announcement, so don't be surprised if you see blocky My Little Ponies on the shelves as well. February is so close now, and with it comes TOY FAIR, so look out for our coverage there and all will be revealed.

UNTILL THEN...we have EYE CANDY!! On tap...

Kre-O sets for Jazz and Sentinel Prime: Each kit features Kreons; little LEGO minifigure like guys that are really the most sought after part of any kit on the planet. Considering these Kreons embody the style of the Generation 1 cartoons we were raised on, you could see why Transformers fans have been eager to crack open these sets. Jazz comes with a mini Jazz and a Race Car Driver while Sentinel Prime (who is an Optimus Prime variation and should not be confused with the movie version. Robots with facial hair. Maddness.) comes with mini Sentinel Prime, Soundwave, Thundercracker and a Fire Chief. Since I am a huge dork, I instantly ditched the human figures in favor of shooting your favorite bots. Would you have done any less? I think not.

The kits were fairly easy to assemble (but of course I had assistance from my ace builder Eileen), though I will point out both kits had a minimum of two missing pieces. Since these were not integral to the completion of our task, they get a pass. Time was of the essence, so we stuck to robot modes and found the posability fairly good, but the joints are so loose, trying to get them to stay put in any pose beyond standing straight up is a risky situation. That moment where your new creation begins to topple over is akin to watching your fragile toddler sized child slip off the couch. Obviously, I have no kids. My only other gripe would be Jazz's hooks for hands, which make for great campfire horror stories but not much play fun. Over all, I can see kids digging these kits and even adults flashing back to their youth while building their favorite Autobot or Decepticon (and more likely snatching out the Kreons immediately to put on a shelf), but Transformers toy fans will miss the actual transforming aspect.

MEGABloks HALO UNSC Falcon with Landing Pad: I was in a comic shop the other day where some kids were talking about how awesome LEGO is. They posed the question "does MEGA make anything cool??" Eileen, from across the room yelled "HALO!" Indeed, HALO is a title that attracts fans across the globe to my Flickr account to slobber over all the images from last year's Toy Fair. The UNSC Firebase alone has drawn 10k views! With countless vehicles, environments, weapons of mass destruction and a legion of figures to charge into battle, it's no wonder why fans await every release with wiggly, feely fingers and eager wallets.

The Falcon was assembled in one night (by Eileen, natch), with no missing pieces, easy to follow instructions, and two little Spartan soldiers to pilot the ship and man the side mounted heavy machine gun. What's not to love?! The cockpit opens, the blades rotate, the guns swivel and you can do all this without the damn thing falling apart every two seconds. Amen for the little things, yea? Adding a landing pad is one of those things were you say "they didn't neeed to put that in there, but I'm very happy they did." It's a nice, class final touch that makes the ship sparkle on your shelf. The downside? MEGA has 3 kabillion more HALO kits out there, and after building the Falcon, you'll be hooked. It's like crack I tells ya. Eileen is still in recovery. Those blind packaged single figures are particularly hard to kick.

Speaking of plastic crack...

LEGO MINI FIGURES!!! : Both the light of my life and bane of my existence. Each figure comes single packed and are available in more retail stores that carry toys with prices ranging from $2.50 to $3. Since the bulk of our readers are casual fans of toys (as in you love the idea of them but you probably don't buy many), you may balk on the $3 price tag (as do we all), but considering a 6 inch figure has sky rocketed to $16, it makes some sort of twisted sense. You'll find series 5 in stores at the moment with characters including Fitness Instructor, Lizard Man, Lumberjack, Gladiator, Small Clown, Egyptian Queen, Evil Dwarf, Boxer, Ice Fisherman, Graduate, Royal Guard, Cave Woman, Detective, Snowboarder Guy, Zookeeper, and Gangster! Looking for a Zombie? Series 1 has it. Need a Rapper fighting a Samurai Warrior? We direct your attention to series 3. Desire a Disco Stu? HE LIVES HERE!!

Now here's the maddening part. IF you hate the idea of blind packaged figures, assuring that you will score no less than 3 Tennis Players in your lifetime, then you Google "LEGO Mini Figure Codes". The first couple of series had two bar codes, one of which allowed you to scan with your smart phone (since we live in the future) and reveal who you were getting. Later, the evil overlords of LEGO decided to make it more difficult and instituted a dot code system. On the bottom of each package you'll find little round indents. Look verrrrry closely. The placement of these dots tells you who is inside. Of course, if you are ace Minifig master Matt Booker, you can feel up the package and know who it is in seconds, but not everyone possesses such groping powers, so there we stand in the isles of Toys R Us, phone in hand, struggling to find the dots that will reveal an Evil Dwarf. Pray for us.

CLICK HERE to score a Sentinel Prime, but keep in mind he was just on sale for about half the price, so keep watch!
CLICK HERE to nab your HALO MEGAbloks Falcon with free shipping!

X-Men with Googly Eyes

2011-12-22T17:08:00.012-05:00

Oh thank you, internets. Now I know what to do with my chrome covered variants the world once coveted and now shuns, banishing them to the 50 cent bin, only to be rescued by me like some shivering puppy looking up at me soulfully as Sarah McLaughlin music plays somewhere in the distance. My world of mutants shall now have googly eyes and be gifted to future generations.

You get the picture..and now you want moooore...and also you see your comic collection differently. Oh..the possibilities.

Drink in more awesome at xmenwithgooglyeyes.tumblr.com

Spielberg & Crew Talk Tintin

2011-12-21T15:31:00.009-05:00

Heather Buckley recently shared an afternoon with Steven Spielberg and crew to talk all things Tin Tin and bring back this report:

When Steven Spielberg makes a new movie we’re interested. He’s E.T.’s “father” for Pete’s sake. And his latest, Tintin, is coming to theaters in all of its 3-D glory this holiday season. If you do get a chance to see it, you’ll “get” why Spielberg has been trying since 1983 to get this flick made. That is, Tintin, the property, is a lot like Raiders of the Lost Ark on a junior scale. A fact, which was not, lost on the French press in ’81 who kept referencing Tintin in Raider’s reviews. That mention piqued Spielberg’s interest and after a quick read, he was hooked. Because Spielberg is Tintin, so to speak; ruthless in looking for stories—even if it takes him around the world; laser-like problem solving abilities and determination even in the face of a faulty mechanical shark.

Tintin’s stories frequently center around friendship and trust. Which we see again with his successful life-long collaborations with producer Kathleen Kennedy. “I could not have made this movie if Kathy hadn’t been with me for twenty eight years trying to get this thing off the ground, back in 1983, when we both went to Belgium, two weeks after Hergé’s death, to meet the widow Annie, who we got the rights from, and welcomed us as Hergé would have had he lived, and has been tenacious in getting me not to forget Tintin. All these years, ‘Don’t forget it. Don’t forget how you felt in ’83. I know now, it’s ‘95, but remember about ’83? You loved it then, why wouldn’t you love it any less in ’95!’”

Helping Spielberg finally bring Tintin to the big screen is the great and wonderful Peter Jackson, whose laid back attitude made the film loads of fun to make. During motion capture sessions, Jackson would call in at 4 am New Zealand time to help give pointers to the L.A, team—a style of collaboration light years away from Spielberg's collaborations on the Indiana Jones series with George Lucas, who would work on the script with Spielberg, come up with the "macguffin" and then not show up again until post. “George goes away, I don’t see him for six, maybe seven months, eight months, till I show him the cut of my movie. With Peter, he was on my set every day. But not physically, his head was on a TV screen… And sometimes, I would just walk over to the monitor, to ask Peter a question, and I would find Peter [sleeping] and we would go ‘Peter’ …’Peter’…’Peter’ and he would say…’Yes, and about the last take, maybe Jamie is speaking too loud’. So I had a real collaborator on the set with me”

For the look of Tintin, WETA’s Joe Letteri and team looked closely at the source material for inspiration, “…We went back to [Hergé’s] references, the family was really gracious, they opened up all their archives… So we took those ideas, and just kept going with it. Everything we saw, we tried to imagine what Hergé would have done, if he had been able to look around and see that third dimension.”

Most importantly, though, was the understanding around eye rendering. Letteri was given notes by Spielberg while working on the title character of the 1995 movie Casper, “They have to look like E.T.’s eyes.” As his work progressed to Gollum, Letteri kept thinking about what that meant. And so it hit him. “I kept that line in the back mind, about really trying to bring out the expressiveness of the eyes, and it’s been a focus ever since, because, as you say, human characters, you understand that instinctively, even if you don’t understand it technically. So we’ve just progressed that work, you know, through King Kong and Avatar, and we’re able to do the same thing on Tintin.”

Though over 25 years in the making, and with a great depth of collaboration and technical skill, Spielberg just hopes his audience forgets about all of that and just enjoys the story and experience and connection the film is trying to convey. And for the sequel? “Yeah, well, it’s being written right now, and Peter’s going to direct it, after he does the Hobbit, and I’ll produce it with him, as he produced this with me, and we have the stories, and we have the book we’re adapting from Hergé, and we can’t wait to get started.”

The Adventures of Tintin opens in theaters nationwide today.

Heather Buckley is a major contributor to our yearly NY Toy Fair coverage and writes for Dread Central as well. Thanks Heather!

Jedi Vs Sith in Times Square, NYC

2011-12-21T04:29:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, we posted an alert. All those in the NY area with light sabers were to get to Times Square between noon and 6pm. Here's why...

Yes yes...not very action packed, but damn cool none the less and probably a ton of fun on the inside! All of this is inspired by the new video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is in stores NOW. Here's the game trailer...

The Hobbit Trailer

2011-12-20T22:57:00.003-05:00

Because we love you. Happy Holidays!

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of two films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The second film will be “The Hobbit: There and Back Again.”

Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.

The screenplays for both “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” are by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Ken Kamins, Toby Emmerich and Zane Weiner, with Boyens serving as co-producer.

Under Jackson’s direction, both movies are being shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew are director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. The costumes are designed by Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor. The score is being composed by Howard Shore.

Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of weaponry, armour and prosthetics which are once again being made by the award winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital take on the visual effects for both films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production will take place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013.

Holiday Geekbook: Behold ..The Power of CUTE

2011-12-19T03:06:00.024-05:00

Let's get things straight right out of the gate. Girls have always loved comics and toys. If they did not, I would still be a virgin. Girls watch all my cartoons, build my LEGOs, lovingly pet my Mogwai, slip into my ThinkGeek Tauntaun Sleeping Bag and fondle my AT-AT's on a daily basis. Yea.

That said, please understand that the power of cute also works on a bi-sexual level. Funko's POP! Vinyl line? Fucking adorable. My Little Ponies? Ridiculously cute. She-Ra's horse Swiftwind? The most badass unipegasus that ever speared a monster through the head while still keeping its rainbow wings sparkly clean and bright. Here's my run down of key selections from the world of geek cute...

Funko Pop! Vinyl figures: Never has there been a line that was so packed with diverse licenses while still maintaining a central look. The style is hard to resist, and if their presence in just about every store that sells toys across the US is any indication...mission accomplished! Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney, Star Wars, KISS, Run DMC, The Ramones, Spooky Cereal Mascots, Elvis, Horror Icons...the list goes on and on. Just pick your poison and start filling your desk with vinyl so cute, you can practically use them as a weapon to get whatever you want out of a co-worker. HOW CAN THEY SAY NO TO THOSE FACES??!!

Want to pull out the big guns? Take the Pop! Vinyl style and put it on a plush body. Nyooooo..not the squishy terrorrrrr. It's toooo cudlyyyyyy. Funko tossed The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland onto their heap of licenses and translated them fantastically into a Plushie format. Their latest release is Chuck Norris himself, packed with a sound chip that sounds off on the raw power at his fingertips.

"Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he needs."
"Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is."
"Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo is hiding."
"Chuck Norris is not afraid of death. Death is afraid of Chuck Norris."
"Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. His heart isn't nearly foolish enough to attack him."

You know...all his greatest hits.
Funko have also recently released a line called Blox, taking a similar style and plugging it into a somewhat larger..umm...blockier vinyl piece. The format is fairly engaging and I'd say the only thing missing from it is a little wall hanger hole in the back. Think about it..you could fill a whole wall this Funko goodness! I'll be passing that tip on.

My Little Pony: Do you know what a Bronie is? It's a male fan of My Little Pony. I didn't make that up. My Little Pony is back and looks to be more popular than ever. The toys are filling many a shelf with pastel pony magic while a cartoon series is compelling folks to cosplay horses at conventions near you. YES...I SAID THEY ARE COSPLAYING HORSES! Now, the toy line is all well and good, portraying the TV characters in the classic format my lady friends grew up with, but they just don't grab the sort of stylized look of the show. Enter the Friendship is Magic Gift set with figures sporting sculpted hair instead of the usual comb-able variety, which in my opinion makes them look more like their TV counterparts. The set includes Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Spike the Dragon, Pinkie Pie and Applejack, a crown accessory and a storybook. My advice? Make more of these figures! There is a legion of fans who would buy figures closer to the cartoon series look in a heartbeat, so get crackin' Hasbro!

Masters of the Universe: Yes, this line is dominated with bulging, roid raged space barbarians, but there is also Teela, The Sorceress, Evil Lyn..and..umm...OH YEA! A chick names She-Ra! Mattel have just released She-Ra's horse Swiftwind and a new She-Ra to ride her and has promised that 2012 will have plenty more characters from the cartoon series for you to score. You can also walk into a Toys R Us right now and snap up a Supergirl / She-Ra action figure 2 pack. How can you say no?

CLICK HERE to score a Swiftwind for your incoming She-Ra figure
The My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Gift set is on sale HERE
Be conflicted over the Chuck Norris Plush's badassery and squishy cuteness after u buy him HERE
Test your willpower with this Johnny Ramone Pop! Vinyl and then see if you can resist the 300 other figures Funko has to offer HERE!

An Idiot Abroad on DVD this January

2011-12-18T00:40:00.002-05:00

I know there are plenty of readers out there waiting for this and now....KARL COMMETH!!! BBC Home Entertainment sends over the details...

"The most expensive practical joke I've ever done."- Ricky Gervais

In this hilarious series Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, co-creators of The Office and Extras, send their friend Karl Pilkington (The Ricky Gervais Show) around the world...against his will. Karl thinks he’s visiting the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but along the way the “Little Englander” must endure camel rides, jungle treks, tribal customs and local oddballs while dining on toads and testicle and searching for a clean bathroom. Will this be the trip of a lifetime, or the vacation from hell? And will Karl even know the difference? Bonus features include The Preview Show, deleted scenes, and a photo gallery.

Now..that's the friendly version. Amazon UK tells a different story and isn't afraid to go heavy on the snark.

Are the Seven Wonders really as wondrous as everybody says? Karl Pilkington doesn't think so, but then Karl is no Michael Palin. He's more of a 'Lanzarote man' to be precise, who hates travelling and prefers throwing sand at crabs or, at a push, eating English food in Spain. In his mind, Pisa is 'badly built ...it's a hazard', the Pyramids have 'a crap design ...all the space at the bottom and not at the top' and the Taj Mahal 'is probably shit at the back'. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are outraged, goading Karl to broaden his mind and visit each of these famous sites for himself. Will a close encounter with Christ the Redeemer in Brazil or a trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu be enough to change their friend? For Ricky and Stephen it is a genuine social experiment. It's full of the unusual observational skills and counter-intuitive logic that the millions of Ricky Gervais podcast fans have learnt to love.

We've also been seeing commercials for the NEW series premiering on the Science Channel January 21, 2012 which sees Karl taking on tasks other people have put on their "Bucket Lists", no matter how bizarre or death defying. Here's the teaser...

Gervais comments "We’re thrilled to return to Science for another grand experiment. It was hard work getting Karl to agree to another torture session, I mean series. It was time to give him a piece of the pie. It will most probably end up in his face. Most people think that the name of our production company, RiSK, is a combination of our initials. It’s also because there is a small chance that Karl could die."

Back to Amazon UK, which is in the future, has already seen the show and is presently selling it, so they can speak on the content...

Everyone’s favourite reluctant traveler is back in the departure lounge, but this time Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are sending Karl Pilkington around the world with a list of the ultimate things to do before you die.

Armed with this definitive bucket list, Karl will be dispatched to far flung corners of the world to swim with dolphins, travel Route 66 and stay on a private desert island, in an attempt to prove whether these so called ‘things to do before you die’ really are what they’re cracked up to be.

After seeing the Seven Wonders, Karl’s not exactly eager to travel again, so he’s only agreed to do another series if the rules change. Karl wants to choose where he goes and what he does from the Bucket List. Ricky and Steve are both happy to go along with Karl’s wishes to get him through the departure gates. Once Karl’s back on the road, they’ll be back to their old tricks though, throwing in unwelcome surprises for Karl along the way to make sure he’s always pushed out of his comfort zone.

Sold.

The Movie Green Goblin We Didn't Get

2011-12-17T04:35:00.003-05:00

As a full time geek, I'm no stranger to the 'What If..." game. What is Avatar: The Last Airbender the movie was not a fucking travesty on every level? What if movie Batman didn't growl when he talked? We sit around contemplating what could have been, what will never be, and since we are far superior thinkers than those behind the wheel, how WE would have made it all better. Today, we get a glimpse into one such alternate universe where the creators of the modern Spider-Man film were less concerned with making everything ultra realistic and more into creating a love letter to anyone who ever read a Spider-Man comic and went..."WoW." Gone is the Power Ranger-esque ultra exxxtreeeeme villain Green Goblin, ditched in favor of something more fitting for one who has gone over the edge and plunged head first into darkness. Something vile. Something to make you turn the lights on at night. In short...something to FEAR. Dig this.

New creators of the NEW new Spider-Man films...take notes.

Lord of the Rings and Hobbit LEGOs Coming Soon!

2011-12-16T14:07:00.004-05:00

Just start setting aside half your monthly income now. You know you want it all...times 500 for all the army builders!!!

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group announced today a partnership that awards the world’s leading construction toy brand exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets based on THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT™. The multi-year licensing agreement grants access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for THE LORD OF THE RINGS property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

LEGO® THE LORD OF THE RINGS construction sets are slated for a rolling global launch beginning in June 2012 in the United States, with LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY scheduled for later in the year.

“Only LEGO, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the two films based on THE HOBBIT,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties.”

The LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS collection will translate into LEGO form the epic locations, scenes and characters of Middle-earth as depicted in all three films, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

In late 2012, LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will give fans of all ages a chance to build and play out the fantastical story and new characters of the legendary Middle-earth adventures depicted in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated to premiere December 14, 2012.

“Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle with lines like LEGO HARRY POTTER and LEGO BATMAN, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “It’s particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT, not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years.”

Information about the sets and collectible minifigures from both collections will be unveiled at a later date at TheLordoftheRings.LEGO.com and tune in this February for our coverage of the NY Toy Fair where they will surely have plenty of these on display!