Odds ‘n Ends > Cruelest Month Edition

ODD: T.S. Eliot’s famous poem The Waste Land begins with the lines, “April is the cruellest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain.” One interpretation of this is while the cold winter keeps us numb and forgetful, the regeneration that comes with spring is painful, reminding us of happier times, now long past.

I know this is certainly true for me. Spring arrived in New England last week, and whenever I found myself walking down a sunny street, the birds chirping and the smell of fresh blossoms in the breeze, I was instantly treated to a series of nostalgic sensations ranging from my childhood to just last year. I remembered “playing guns” in the forest behind our old house on Silva Street; setting up Transformers in a living room lit by the afternoon sun; trekking with my old dog Friskie through Miles Standish State Forest. I hear the cry of a seagull and I’m stepping across the large stones of the Plymouth Jetty, listening to the water lapping at the rocks.

For me, nostalgia is almost a way of life. One of my favorite books, The Lord of the Rings, is largely a work of nostalgia. But I’m also constantly creating new nostalgia–I can find myself fondly remembering a time of my life that occurred just a few years ago (such as the year I lived in San Francisco). But few things make me nostalgic the way toys do.

END: On that note, I must admit I was taken aback by the announcement of Masters of the Universe Classics. It is exactly what I wanted the 2002 revamp to be–a series of six-inch, well-articulated action figures geared primarily toward collectors. Nonetheless, it surprised me Mattel is willing to take another crackat the franchise so soon after the previous line’s demise.

But I believe this is a good sign. If there’s anything to take away from this year’s Toy Fair and New York Comic Con, it’s that Mattel has seen the value in pursuing the collector’s market for action figures. I imagine the success of Hasbro’s 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line–and Mattel’s own DCUC–were strong factors in motivating Mattel to give a collector-oriented MOTU Classics a shot.

ODD: On a similar note, I am still trying to process the Brobdingagnian awesomeness of what we will see from DCUC in 2008. Despero was my most-wanted BAF, but I never thought I’d get him this year.

(Incidentally, some fans are displeased the figure is so similar to the Total Justice figure (based on his appearance in Justice League Task Force) rather than his more recent look from the “Enemies Among Us” storyline in Superman/Batman. I suspect this decision was made because DC Direct is putting out a figure of that Despero around the same time this year, and since both lines are collector-oriented, there’s no point in Mattel and DC Direct duplicating efforts. However, I highly doubt DCD had any hand in the decision.)

And then there’s the Lobo SDCC exclusive. Again–what is there to say, other than: “wow.” I just hope I can get my hands on one.

END: I completed a new article for ToyFare this weekend. I can’t provide any details, but it was possibly my favorite article to write so far.

ODD: Mrs. Ghostal-to-Be and I have been playing a lot of Super Smash Bros. Brawl lately. It’s the first time I can recall the two of us playing a videogame we both really enjoy (and can play at the same time). The couple that plays together, stays together!

END: There will be both a new Toybox and a new Batman vs. Predator comic this week. We’re starting to get past the introductory material in Toybox and shall soon be seeing some real character interaction (including the introduction of a great character created solely by Red Kryptonite). In Batman vs. Predator, the mystery of the Predator’s bizarre northern pursuit will continue to unfold as a strange new figure hires a mercenary to hunt down the alien menace.