I have a terrible time finding anything I want at retail. I’m not sure if it’s my luck or what, but if there’s a toy I want I’m most likely going to have to work very hard at trying to get it. This last weekend was a bit strange, in the fact that I managed to find a bunch of stuff I wanted. I’m not here to brag about finding toys that everyone else has, but to drop some of my thoughts on my plunder. Now, let’s do this!
Paul’s Peg > I Needs a Spider-Woman Bad
Now that we’re a couple of waves into the 3 3/4th inch Marvel Universe line from Hasbro, what’s everyone’s thoughts on them? I’ve been sort of happy with the line except for one big problem, the cost. It sucks paying eight bucks for one figure. It’s really limited what I get. Instead of buying a bunch of ninjas for Wolverine to fight, I have zero and I’m super picky about what heroes and villains I do pick up. I’m still on board with the line though, and I’m looking towards the future for some of the upcoming figures. The next comic wave in particular has got me school girl excited.
Odds ‘n’ Ends > Pre-SDCC Edition
- The Fwoosh has a first look review of Egon. The glasses don’t look as bad as they did in the packaging shots. Looks like he is indeed in the same scale as Movie Masters, so you can have Egon duke it out with the Joker. I will say that while the new Slimer is nice, I’m glad I have the NECA one.
- Early images of the Hasbro SDCC booth, including some Marvel Universe figures. (Apparently you have to register to see the bigger pics.)
- Too soon? But I kid the toy industry. Frankly, it’s MJ’s own fault for making such a famous zombie video. And I think he’d be amused by the whole thing, honestly.
- Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I watched the pilot and first two eps of Warehouse 13 last night. It’s not as quirky as Eureka and the two main characters aren’t (yet) as appealing as Scully and Mulder, but I like Saul Rubinek’s nutty professor, and the “haunted objects” are an interesting hook–sort of like a reverse Reaper. They need to drop the whole Secret Service angle, though–it’s just too hard to explain what the hell they’re doing at crime scenes. In any event, I’m willing to give it a try–so many of my favorite shows (like X-Files and Star Trek: The Next Generation) started with fairly weak first seasons, particularly when viewed in retrospect.
SDCC Exclusive Reviews Roundup
Some early reviews of SDCC exclusive toys are starting to pop up. Here are the ones I’ve come across:
- Wonder Twins & Gleek at Fwoosh
- Destro Set at Hisstank
- 12″ Baroness (Kastor’s Korner) (Articulated Discussion) (Hisstank)
- 12″ Baroness, 3 3/4″ Movie Destro 2-Pack, Marvel Universe Invaders 4-Pack, My Little Pony, Optimus Prime Mighty Mugg, Soundwave, Star Wars 3 3/4″ Luke and Stormtrooper at Topless Robot
- 3 3/4″ Buzz Lightyear at Fwoosh
- DC Infinite Heroes Anti-Monitor at Fwoosh
- JLU Green Lantern 3-pack (Fwoosh) (AFI)
- Non-SDCC bonus: Tri-Klops preview at Fwoosh
I’ll update the list as I come across new reviews (or as you point them out in your comments).
No sign of the review I want to see–Egon Spengler.
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Terminator Salvation Endoskeleton T-700 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Hard to believe it, but somehow Hot Toys continues to improve.”
Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Autobot Skids, Deep Desert Brawl, Autobot Wheelie and Chromia figures. Excerpt: “… pop a wheelie’ sounds just wrong in the context of the rest of this wave …”
Darren Cilenti reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Henkei C-16 Dinobot figure from Beast Wars. Excerpt: “A very good update …” (See also.) (more…)
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Sideways, Sideswipe, Rampage and Breakaway figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Breakaway) It may end up being a pegwarmer, which is a shame, as it’s probably the best overall TOY (i.e. thing for a kid to play with) of the wave.”
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Scout class Ransack figure. Excerpt: “… a mightily impressive effort for the first Transformers biplane.” (See also.)
Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Classic Series Legends class Jazz figure. Excerpt: “… Jazz’s biggest failing is an injudicious lack of paint in some areas …” (more…)
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Corey Tincher reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Hall of Heroes Firefly figure. Excerpt: “… this is my early favorite for most fun 3.75 inch figure of the year.” (See also.)
Wes reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends The Incredible Hulk Limited Edition Hulk Target exclusive figure. Excerpt: “If it weren’t for the fact that you could buy a much better Hulk on eBay for the same price as this guy, I’d have no problem recommending him.”
yo go re reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Wolverine figure. Excerpt: “Wolverine’s X-Force costume may be graphically interesting, but it’s murder on the paint apps.” (See also.) (more…)
5 Questions With > Rustin Parr
Today we have an interview with a good friend of mine, Rustin Parr of OAFE. Rustin and I first met through OAFE in the early 1990s, and despite living on separate coasts, we’ve met in person many times since then. An passionate if idiosyncratic movie buff, Haunted Mansion enthusiast, and King Leonidas look-alike (well, maybe not the abs, but the face, anyway), Rustin has agreed to bare just a bit of his soul to us here at PGPoA.
Code name: Scott McEachen, alias Rustin Parr, alias Gunstas von Artlefuasdensein, D.D.S.
Specialty: Dreaming Big and Accomplishing Small
Base of Operations: Monterey, CA
History: Began the adventure in gorgeous Hermosa Beach, California, whence an egregious lust for action figuring took hold. A lack of sculpting ability and painting prowess propelled him into the world of Motion Picture production whose frivolities spat the man into the cutting edge of Neuro Marketing during which a healthy imbibing of toys and movies keeps the life juices flowing. It was a hot and sunny day when a close personal friend, the self-titled Lord of the Nazgul, brought together Rustin with Yo Go Re and Poe Ghostal, all posters at the formerly awesome and important/relevant spawn.com message boards, the latter two being founding members of oafe.net. After one particularly long and laugh-riddled evening in which Rustin performed his then-constant desperate rage upon the unprepared Yo’n’Poe towards falsely accused inept waitresses and rightfully, if not righteously accused George Lucas and his modern films, Poe’n’Yo dragged the Froce’o’da’nature into the fold at OAFE where on Rustin continues to this day to be less entertaining than that first eve and less consistent in producing reviews than his editor would prefer. Rustin is survived by his collection projected to consist of over 2,000 individual action figures, 500 hundred vehicle and location replicas 9in varying scales) and hundreds of plus-sized and resin collectibles, not to mention a DVD collection of some 1200 discs.
Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)
Monkey Boy reviews the NECA Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 (Pescadero Escape) figure. Excerpt: “Despite the dearth of accessories and the lack of mobility below the waist, this really is a fine figure.”
Poe Ghostal reviews the NECA Terminator 2: Judgment Day T-800 (Pescadero Escape) figure. Excerpt: “NECA’s Kyle Tankman’ Windrix once again proves he’s one of the best in the business when it comes to detailed sculpting and high-quality likenesses.”
yo go re reviews the Diamond Select Toys Marvel Minimates Punisher War Zone Punisher and Jigsaw Toys R’ Us exclusive two-pack. Excerpt: “We normally try not to gush in our reviews, but this time, I just can’t help it.” (more…)
Paul’s Peg > Finally, a Cap I Can Stand Behind
Marvelous News has got some images of the Marvel Universe Secret Wars comic two packs that will hit shelves later this summer. They simply look fantastic and if you’re a MOC collector you shouldn’t be disappointed. I’m just happy that I will be able to get the chance to get my hands on a Captain America with wings on his head. I’m sorry, but the newfangled wingless Captain America is not my Captain America. My Cap has wings on his head and the constant ringing of Star Spangled Banner in his ears. I’m also really excited to get a Klaw figure for my superheroes to beat the crap out of.
I’m also looking forward to the Wolverine coming in this series. The brown costume one from the Origins series of figures that I picked up was horribly painted and I returned him to the store. Hopefully this one will be a little bit better in both the paint and articulation departments.
The Spider-Man pack is basically Hasbro telling me that I can save a few bucks.