Odds ‘n Ends > New Sponsor, Facebook Question, Turtles Classics Pics

April 9, 2012 | Poe

  • New Sponsor: Please join me in welcoming our newest sponsor, Xenon Project. Xenon Project sells remote control and replica vehicles such as the Hawkspy Helicopter w/ Spy Camera, the Destroyer RC Boat, and the 1:18 Dark Knight Tumbler. I don’t collect RC stuff myself, but every year my family sponsors a family in need for Christmas, and this past year all the kids wanted RC helicopters, so if you’re into RC or know any kids who are, check out Xenon Project. And remember, my sponsors keep this site going, so the more you check out (and if the mood strikes you, order) their wares, the more you support PGPoA.
  • I’m trying to think of a way to add value to PGPoA’s Facebook page (without moving the site exclusively to Facebook which, fear not, I will never do). It’s the place I share any interested toy-related news I come across from my Facebook connections, but I’d like to make it more worth a visit. Anyone have any ideas? I was considering moving one of the regular features over there – maybe Toy Aisle Trolls – but I’d rather come up with something new. Something that would be worth checking the page out for if you’re on Facebook, but not so good that the people who don’t want to use Facebook feel like they’re missing out.
  • This came up in my post on the new DC MOTU comic, but I wanted to reiterate here that the new miniseries is a brand-new canon, and writer James Robinson is free to use any character from any of the various canons. So we could see the likes of Draego-Man or Vikor. It almost makes me wish they’d gotten Paul Dini to write it, as you just know he would have brought back Plundor and made him all badass.
  • If you haven’t seen them already, head over to Infinite Hollywood and check out the new close-up pics of the Turtles Classics Raphael. These come from Dave Cortes’s studio, so there’s no guarantee at all that the production figures will look this good, but there are some nice turnarounds that show off the articulation.

Poe’s Point > Teenage Alien Ninja Turtles

March 26, 2012 | Poe

I suppose I should comment on the Teenage Alien Ninja Turtles controversy, which has had a ridiculous amount of media coverage, with articles appearing in major newspapers and parody videos popping up on Conan. I was a HUGE Turtles fan from 1989-1991, so I feel on fairly solid ground in expressing an opinion. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > Funko POP MOTU?, a TMNT Preview, Rise of the Beasts

February 17, 2012 | Poe

  • On their Facebook page, Funko posted the following note on Wednesday: “Today, I just feel like, “I have the POWER”!!!” Could Funko POP Masters of the Universe figures be in the works? I think it’s a definitely possibility, for two reasons. First, we already know Mattel and Classic Media are making a big licensing push for the franchise’s 30th anniversary. And second, I suspect it might only require a deal with Classic Media for the Filmation cartoon rights to make the POP figures. I’m thinking this is happening. And I’m thinking I will buy them all.
  • Pixel Dan has an extremely early preview of Playmates’s new cartoon-based Michelangelo figure (not the Classic figures, just to be clear). I don’t think the figures themselves are due out until late summer.
  • PGPoA sponsor DinosaurToyVault has a big lot of G1 Transformers on sale. He’s going to be doing a big marketing push for these, so be sure to buy what you want now before the rush. And don’t forget, I’ve still got plenty of stuff at my own e-store. Ahem.
  • I was contacted by Plastic Dreams regarding a new Kickstarter project: Rise of the Beasts, a line of Battle Beasts-like  figures that will have movement at the shoulders and removable weapons. They look pretty neat, though I remain a cautiously wary of these indie projects that look so much like licensed toy lines. Best wishes to them, they all seem like great folks doing good work, but I’d feel better supporting something more original. (Yes, OMFG is very similar to M.U.S.C.L.E., but it’s not like there weren’t little PVC figures before M.U.S.C.L.E.–e.g., army men or Marx figures. These other lines are clearly inspired by the iconic designs of Crystar and Battle Beasts.) I’m much more interested in Backyard Legends’ plans for figure dioramas.

Odds ‘n Ends > Toy Fair Items of Interest & More

February 15, 2012 | Poe

  • A few other things that caught my eye at Toy Fair:
  • Mezco’s stylized Universal Monsters figures. OAFE reviewer and occasional PGPoA contributor Rustin Parr could not possible be more excited for these–he’s planning to get two of each. I’m in for the Gillman, of course, as he’s my favorite UM. They’re due out around September (according to at least one site). Pics at Battlegrip.
  • Jay Cochran of TNI seems concerned about the future of Bandai’s ThunderCats toys; there was nothing new at Toy Fair this year, and the staff wouldn’t comment on its future. The cartoon show has been a moderate success and reportedly renewed for a second season, and from my own observation the toys seem to sell decently, so I’m a bit surprised by this.
  • There will be Play Arts Kai Mass Effect figures, starting with Shepard, Ashley and Garrus. Garrus is great, but Shepard is less exciting since everyone creates their own character, and Ashley? Why no Miranda? Miranda was way more interesting. And–ahem–hotter, for a CGI character anyway. BBTS has these up for preorder.
  • Of course there’s also PAK’s upcoming Arkham Asylum figures. I note that Phil Reed of Battlegrip made sure to get an upskirt of Harley Quinn (prediction: that will be my most-clicked link today. You’re welcome, Phil!).
  • I have to admit to being kind of excited by Mezco’s Mars Attacks figure. I just hope it has decent articulation. It appears to have hinged elbows and knees, but the real question is whether the hips/thighs are ball joints. I’m guessing not the thighs at least, since the feet don’t appear to be articulated.
  • TNI has more pics of the classic Turtles, including the packaging, which is wonderfully nostalgic. They’re due in stores in August at about $15 apiece, so it’ll cost you $60 to put together your Fab Four.
  • In non-Toy Fair news, Poester Chris Pearce sent me a note regarding his blog Teachable Moments, which has been running a series of posts called Thrift Store Finds. He’s reviewed a number of vintage MOTU items recently such as children’s books, coloring books and magazines, all of which you can check out using this link.
  • PGPoA art director Mecha-Shiva pointed me to this neat YouTube video of a self-proclaimed “Greatest Toy in the Universe.” It’s created by a UK company called Wow Stuff, and it looks rather like the vintage MOTU toy Spydor. I dislike radio-controlled toys, but I’ll admit that thing is pretty neat.
  • Finally, I just want to thank JediCreeper again for helping out with the Toy Fair coverage this year. Maybe we can get him a real press pass next year…

Odds ‘n Ends > TMNT & More

February 2, 2012 | Poe

  • In addition to the pics from yesterday’s MTV Geek exclusive about the TMNT Classic Collection, you should also check out this video interview with a Playmates brand manager (I’m assuming). It’s got some nice shots of the figures, and the manager spells out that these are definitely based on the 1980s cartoon, that they’re intended for collectors and that the line could expand deeper in the cartoon as well as the movies and comics if it sells well. The video also shows that their shells open up as a storage area for weapons, which seems like an unnecessary but unobtrusive feature. (The brand manager also refers to them as “ten- to eleven-inch figures” which is odd, since they’re clearly 6″ and are right next to him.) It turns out the video is poorly edited, and the two previous sentences refer to the 10″ TRU-exclusive figures based on the new cartoon, not the Classics figures.
  • I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Playmates is also doing a full 3 3/4″ scale line for the new Nickelodeon cartoon, including an absolutely massive sewer playset.
  • Out of curiosity, what do people think of the format for my recent MOTUC reviews? Do you prefer the older style with the separate sections for each aspect (sculpt/paint/accessories etc.), or is this more conversational style okay?
  • If I were a wealthy man with money to burn, I would buy this in a heartbeat. I’m almost tempted to start some ridiculously selfish PayPal donation drive just to get one. But that would be better spent on creating and producing a run of Poe figurines a la OMFG…(he asked slyly, raising an eyebrow in curiosity to see what the response was).

New “TMNT Classics” Figures from Playmates

February 1, 2012 | Poe

Everything old is new again. Following in the footsteps of Mattel’s MOTUC and Bandai’s Thundercats Classics, Playmates brings us the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classic Collection. They’re basically super-articulated versions of the 1980s cartoon Turtles. They look VERY MOTUC-style. And yes, I’m on board for this line–unlike Thundercats, I actually collected TMNT (…a lot).

No news on a release date yet, but apparently we’ll see more of these at Toy Fair, and there will be a second series.

More pics and the exclusive scoop at MTV Geek. (Thanks to Joe Amaro for the tip!)

Update: On more reflection, I’m less psyched than cautiously optimistic. Playmates tried super-articulation before with their Fightin’ Gear Turtles and the results were mixed; the articulation was plentiful but poorly engineered, especially the articulated fingers which couldn’t hold their weapons tightly. Moreover, I can’t think of a single previous Playmates figure, of any line, that had quality super-articulation. [But feel free to remind me if I’m forgetting something.]

Also in the figure above, the head looks too big and the swords too small. I’ll definitely get a Leonardo–because I always buy Leonardo–but whether I end up wanting the whole line remains to be seen.