Poe’s Point > A call for help (DCUC 5)

November 23, 2008 | Poe

It pains me that I’m reduced to this, but I must ask you, dear readers, for some assistance.

As you know, I’m an avid collector of DC Universe Classics. And as you may also know, there is a wave exclusive to Wal-mart currently in stores. I had a deal arranged to get a set, but it fell through.

You can’t order the wave online, unless you’re willing to pay outrageous eBay scalper prices. And for some reason, there simply are none in Massachusetts. I’ve visited seven different Wal-marts in the past week and found no sign of them. I did find one Sonic Arm Cyborg at Kay-Bee Toys, which I’m happy to trade, if anyone’s interested.

So I’m putting the word out: if you live near a Wal-mart and come across this wave, would you be willing to pick up a set for me? I’m willing to pay cost, shipping + a bit extra for your effort, or alternatively, I’ll make you an excellent deal from my trade page. (more…)

PGPoA on Facebook

November 23, 2008 | Poe

Facebook is trying out a new blog network app, and I’ve added a page for PGPoA. Check it out when you have a chance. And if you’re a Facebook member, please join my blog network! I need at least fifteen fans for the site to start excerpting my blog.

PGPoA on Facebook

Pic of the day

November 22, 2008 | Poe

Robocop from Tons-of-Toys.com (Robocop and the Ultra Police, Kenner, 1988)

Poe’s note: One of my all-time favorite action figures. As a kid, I was very concerned with making sure the figure looked accurate to the movie, so I colored his visor, gloves and pelvis with a black Sharpie. After Robocop 2 came out I also played around with Testor’s paints until I gave my figure a blue sheen. That was also when I learned that enamel paints leave a tacky feeling on most action figures.

Pic of the day

November 21, 2008 | Poe

Drawing of the Sword by TCM Hitchhiker

Poe’s note: For some reason, this picture made me think of the Magic: The Gathering card Ernham Djinn. Go figure. Anyway, amazing work here by TCM Hitchhiker. I love the intensity of color.

Review > Artemis (DC Universe Classics)

November 21, 2008 | Poe

(Click on any photo for a larger version.)

In the early 1990s, DC Comics was losing a lot of ground to Marvel Comics and its X-Men juggernaut. There was a perception that DC’s heroes–particularly their top three, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman–had gotten a bit long in the tooth and weren’t relevant to neither younger nor older readers anymore. And so DC did what most companies do in such a situation: they shook things up.

Superman was famously killed off in the Death of Superman, to be replaced by four “edgier” characters: the Cable-like Cyborg Superman, the “tough kid” Superboy, the ruthless Eradicator, and Steel. Batman’s back was broken and the cape and cowl went to Azrael, who had no compunctions about breaking Batman’s “no killing villains” rule. And Wonder Woman got her mantle swiped by Artemis, an errant Amazonian who proved to be–wait for it–more ruthless than Wonder Woman. (more…)

Pic of the day

November 20, 2008 | Poe

Oh No! There’s two of him by Ronsrandomstuff

Poe’s note: Magnokor was one of those great random figures you sometimes get from a line you don’t actually collect. I never had any other Inhumanoids, but I remember my mother picking up this guy for me at the now long gone Rich’s department store in Plymouth, MA. I always loved the guy–he made for a great generic monster to terrorize the Turtles. He’s also one of the few childhood toys I’ve never gotten an eBay replacement of.

News round-up, 11/20/08

November 20, 2008 | Poe

—New G.I. Joe 5-packs on the way “[…] bringing characters back to the fold that new collectors may have missed the first time around” including Snake Eyes. Did anyone miss Snake Eyes? I don’t even collect G.I. Joe and I own Snake Eyes. Looks like it’s a different sculpt, though.

—2008 “Worst Toys” List They’re all just toys with safety issues–talk about boring! I miss Reverend Rose’s list of “warped toys” that will condemn your soul to eternal torment.

–Figures.com has a Gears of War toy giveaway going on. You’ll be able to enter once the site finishes loading tomorrow morning (seriously, the ads on that site are out of control). On a side note, can anyone tell me where the series 2 Marcus has more articulation than the series 1 fig?

–CornerStoreComics is having a big sale on DC Direct figures.

–With the economy sliding down the tubes this year, there are going to be more than a few kids going without toys under the Christmas tree. Do your part by donating to Toys for Tots.

Pic of the day

November 19, 2008 | Poe

Captain Power by – c a r l o s o r o z c o –

Poe’s note: I’m sad to admit I never got into the whole Captain Power thing (except for Soaron Sky Sentry, of course). Kids could interact with the TV show using the toy vehicles, which could take damage or score hits based on flashes from the screen. Pretty innovative, especially for the time, and I’m kind of surprised the whole “light gun” technology never grew beyond its application to 1980s toys and a small niche of the videogame market.