Odds ‘n Ends > Super G Edition

February 22, 2010 | Poe

  • It shows how out of touch I am with the DCUC scene that I completely missed the fact that the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle on display at Toy Fair had double-jointed elbows and knees. A very interesting development–has Mattel said whether this signals a new direction for the line, or if this is just something they’ll do occasionally for some figures? (I’d guess the latter, knowing Mattel.) More importantly, what do you think of it? I always thought the double-jointed elbows and knees tended to make many Marvel Legends figures seem a bit too gangling (unless they were supposed to be like that, i.e. Spider-man). Shocking from a pro-articulation guy like myself, I know.
  • My Trap Jaw should arrive today, perhaps by the time I finish typing this post. Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I will also find out just how much of our tax refund is going to repairing the car this afternoon as well. It amazes me how often tax refunds and emergency expenses coincide. It’s like your car, house, kids etc. just know you’re going to have windfall. I assume the same goes for bonuses, though I’ve never worked at a job that awards them. Anyway, long story short, I’ll get the Trap Jaw review up this week. Probably.
  • If anyone can identify the gun in the chair in the new Odds ‘n Ends pic, I’d really appreciate it. If it helps, it attaches into this weird silver backpack-thing via some cords.
  • Over at Infinite Hollywood, Newton Gimmick has been doing retro reviews of Mezco’s Popeye figures. I own the first wave’s Popeye and Bluto, and they’re great figures.
  • Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I saw Avatar finally (in 3D at an Imax theater). I was underwhelmed, and DMG was very much not a fan. I liked the overall message of the film, though. But frankly I’m glad I didn’t love it, because I didn’t want to have to buy the toys.
  • As I surmised, it looks like DC Unlimited is making God of War III figures, and as I suspected might happen, they’re going to have extremely limited articulation, a la DC’s World of Warcraft figures. And of course, as with DCD’s Mass Effect 2 figures, they’ll be striking when the iron has been doused with liquid nitrogen and shattered with a soggy breadstick. (On a side note, I no longer care about God of War III or whether it gets figures, because by the end of the second game I’d realized it was just not my cup of tea.)
  • On the other hand, I would happily buy a figure of Nathan Drake from Uncharted if it was as articulated as, say, Nathan “Rad” Spencer. Which it wouldn’t be, since DC Unlimited would be the manufacturer.
  • You probably all saw this, but Mattel issued a pretty extensive semi-mea-culpa on their Facebook page. If you’re interested, you can read the entire note as well as my response on the PGPoA forums.

Review > Jason Voorhees (Cinema of Fear, Series 4)

July 17, 2009 | Poe

A few years ago, I did a “Halloween Month” on my other blog where I wrote a  review-length post every single day of the month–mostly movie reviews. The following year, the theme was going to be slasher movies–I would review my way through every single Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween movie. (more…)

Review > Peter vs. Giant Chicken

July 16, 2009 | Poe

I hope to have a review of an actually-new figure tomorrow, but in the meantime, please enjoy this short-lost review from my days with The Toy Pirate, a short-lived Web venture between myself and Shocka of OAFE. It was originally published on July 9, 2005.

My photos are gone, but the kooky pirate method of grading the figures remains. Also, please remember that the thoughts written here reflect Poe circa 2005; opinions may have shifted during transport.

fam-2pk-002-1

When it first came out, Family Guy kind of flew under my radar. I was in the middle of my college career and hardly watched any television. I remember catching it once or twice and thinking Stewie was pretty amusing, but it didn’t become a must-see for me. It wasn’t until last summer, when I moved into an apartment with two television-addicted roommates, that I caught the show regularly on Adult Swim.

I found the show funny, but to me, it didn’t have anything to distinguish it from other cartoon sitcoms like The Simpsons–until the infamous Chicken Fight in the episode “Da Boom.” Spoilers for those who haven’t seen the show: the fight occurs during one of the show’s many cutaways (“Remember that time…”) when Peter gets a bad coupon from a giant chicken (or maybe a guy in a chicken suit–it’s not clear). Peter attacks the chicken, and for the next two minutes (an eternity in cartoon sitcom time) Peter and the chicken duel it out, parodying many action-flick cliches in the process. (more…)