Pic of the Day > Saved Photos-444 by *Jawa
Pic of the Day > an action figure a day 1/365 by lamont_cranston
Pic of the Day > Saved Photos-444 by *Jawa
Odds ‘n Ends > SDCC Day 1: Super-deformed MOTU, 6″ Star Wars(!?)
- Not quite as much awesome toy stuff revealed today–preview night is always the big one, aside from panels–but apparently Mattel did put the above figs in their display case today. They appear to be super-deformed MOTU toys in the style of the DC Action League (or Galactic Heroes or Superhero Squad or whatever line you prefer). Mattel certainly seems interested in trying some new styles with MOTU–and that can only be a good thing. Anyway, I’m definitely in for these. The above pic was taken by Pixel Dan, who’s covering SDCC for PopCultureNetwork; check out this link for a larger pic of the minifigures.
- DC Direct had their panel today. I was primarily interested in their Arkham City figures, but they still haven’t revealed anything beyond Harley. I’m speculating this is because the other figures are of characters who haven’t been revealed yet, i.e., Nightwing. They’re also making figures based on the JLA in their Brand New DC looks. I have to say the figures look rather uninspired, and what’s more, you won’t be able to buy the first one for another thirteen months.
- In Poe-Could-Go-Bankrupt news, ThreeA toys had some 6″ Star Wars prototypes that they’re evidently trying to pitch to Takara. Why Takara? I don’t know. I only know I don’t want these to be made because I want to have a house and kids and so forth someday, and I won’t be able to afford it if I’m buying these. Head over to ActionFigurePics for more info and photos. Poester and Star Wars pedant misterbigbo informs us that apparently the Stormtrooper head sculpt is based on the F/X 501st helmet and is not screen-accurate; I’ll take his word for it.
- Marvel Legends are back! And…could it be true? Am I finally getting the 6″ Constrictor I’ve wanted since I read a backup story about him in Marvel Comics Presents #74? I find it a bit amusing they’ve got Steve Rogers there in his “Super Soldier” costume–has Marvel really not got him back into the red, white and blue for the movie release? Good for them for sticking with story over marketing, I guess. Anyway, check out ActionFigurePics for pics and info on the ML relaunch.
- Evidently Mattel’s WWE line is becoming a Mattycollector exclusive for 2012. That’s–kind of weird, right? WWE figures seem to have been perennial sellers for the last decade. Is this a.) due to waning popularity of the WWE and wrestling in general; b.) due to the waning popularity and market oversaturation of wrestling figures in general and the WWE in particular; c.) due to the waning popularity of action figures in general among youngsters, the WWE’s main demographic; or d.) Mattel actually managed to bungle a surefire seller like WWE? Anyway, the good(?) news for wrestling fans is that they get to vote on five of the figures to be released in 2012. UPDATE: Commenters correctly pointed out to me below that it’s only the Legends sub-line that’s going Mattycollector-only. The regular line still sells well.
- Should I be covering Voltron? Do people care? I never watched the show, and the only toys I had were the old diecast 6″ figure and, believe it or not, the vehicle Voltron.
- The Mattypalooza panel happens at 2pm PT (5pm ET) Friday, thus bringing this farce to a close (I hope). The DC panel is two hours later–here’s hoping for some more Batman Legacy awesomeness. Apparently Matty himself might stop by! To quote Hudson, “He’s coming in. I feel safer already.”
Guest Post > Interview with Spy Monkey Creations
I recently had the pleasure of talking first hand with the three-headed weapon-making machine known as Spy Monkey Creations, Inc.
Team members Jeremy Sung, Brian Stevenson and Bill Murphy are the minds behind some of the coolest custom-produced weapons and accessory packs for action figure collectors today. And as a fellow collector it’s always a bonus when you can find top-notch items that compliment your figures perfectly. From energy-based accessories to swords and shields, Team SMC has amped up many of our action figure arsenals and have made playing, er, posing that much cooler.
Be sure to check out their store if you haven’t already to pick up some of their current available stock.
Now enough of my rambling, let’s get to the interview! (more…)
Toys R Us Announces SDCC Exclusives
Toys R Us has announced their SDCC exclusives for this year, and they’re kind of awesome.
Did I say kind of? I meant totally.
- Exclusive 8″ Classics Thundercasts Lion-O with metallic finish
- Bizarro vs. Faker MOTUC 2-pack
- Jazwares 6″ Mortal Kombat Dark Raiden
- Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Minimates
- And more that I care a bit less about, but you can see for yourself below.
Best of all, these figures will be available on TRU’s website as well as SDCC. Check out all the pics after the jump! (more…)
Toy Aisle Trolls > Lando’s Gone-Missing-An
Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.
Colt 45 not included.
Submitted by: President Juggernaut
The Problem: A Vintage Collection General Lando Calrissian has been swapped with a Power of the Force version from the 1990s.
What It’s Supposed to Look Like: This
President Juggernaut writes:
Here’s another one from the Framingham, MA Wal-Mart, the same store which was featured in Toy Aisle Trolls a few months back with some similarly swapped Star Wars Vintage Collection Sandtroopers. This time it was a Vintage Collection General Lando swapped out for his POTF2 counterpart. This one really hurt, I was excited to finally see this hard to find figure on the pegs, it really made my day. And then it really ruined it when I actually examined the figure. May their punishment be severe!
Karmic Payback: Ugh, that post title is terrible. Sorry.
This is the closest Walmart to my own house, but I have to say I’m not surprised this was found there–it’s easily the worst, most horrible Walmart I’ve ever seen. If the Framingham TRU is the “magic” TRU (though I’ve recently considered giving that title to the Dedham TRU), then the Framingham Walmart is the necromancer of Walmarts. No, necromancers are competent and kind of cool; the Framingham Walmart is messy, depressing, and never offers anything worthwhile. Ever.
So no, it’s no surprise that a troll got away with this at that place. Nonetheless, I am duty-bound to curse him. I got lazy about it, so I asked Poester Sped, who came up with this: “May he get jumped by cosplayers at his next convention and have the video go viral on YouTube.” I suggested changing the “j” to an “h,” but whatever, works for me.
On a side note, seriously, what were we all smoking when we thought the POTF2 figures were great? That Lando is only slightly less ripped than the earlier POFT2 version, but it still looks like Barry Bonds has been spiking his Colt 45 with creatine.
Toy Aisle Trolls > Galactic Zeroes
Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.
Today’s TAT comes from none other than Jazwares product developer and customizer extraordinaire Joe Amaro.
What it’s Supposed to Look Like: This
The Problem: Writes Joe, “Someone took out most of the figures and replaced them with C-3P0s.” They seem to have stolen Uncle Owen, that creepy bug-version of a C-3P0 droid, both Jawas, the Gonk and left a couple extra C-3P0s, Garindan (why?) and a Yoda in their place.
Karmic Payback: Who steals from a little kids’ toy set? What human being is so petty, so selfish, and so uncaring that they would do this? Assigning karmic payback to someone so obviously bereft of any joy or positive emotion in life just seems sad, but I’ll do it anyway: may he pass a kidney stone for every toy he steals.
Poe’s Thoughts: Y’know, the title of some of these Star Wars sets weirds me out a bit. The titles create an odd parallel in my mind with those pieces by Renaissance artists that depict some famous scene from the Bible, such as the Last Supper or The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Four hundred years from now, will “Purchase of the Droids” be gawked at by tourists in the holodeck equivalent of the Louvre?
Toy Aisle Trolls > Rodian Deadeye
Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.
Phil of Battlegrip found this sad sight at Target.
Supposed to look like: This
Problem: Rodian was swapped with…some military dude. Is he G.I. Joe? CORPS?
Karmic payback: The offender accidentally swallows the loose Rodian figure while wolfing down his post-trollage-celebratory Taco Bell dinner, causing an intestinal blockage and resulting in a hospital visit that costs him approximately 150x the price of the toy if he’d just paid for it like a non-worthless member of society.