MOTUC He-Man and Beast Man advance review

November 10, 2008 | Poe

Spy Magician over at Action Figure Insider has earned my lifelong enmity for somehow getting his hands on early samples of He-Man and Beast Man from Masters of the Universe Classics (available for order on Mattycollector.com December 1st). You can read his review here.

I think the figures look great–they’re everything I’ve wanted into a MOTU revamp. While I’d have to give NECA’s TMNT or DCUC Deathstroke the edge for Action Figure of the Year, I think it’s arguable that MOTUC He-Man is the finest representation of the concept of an action figure ever created. He’s der uberaktionfigur.

Hmmm, OK, on second thought, applying that term to what is arguably an Aryan stereotype complete with an Iron Cross on his chest is a bit un-PC. Sorry about that. But it was fun to look up the German word for action figure.

My Name is Bruce

November 8, 2008 | Poe

I managed to score tickets to a special engagement of My Name is Bruce last night (and brought special guests Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and Red Kryptonite, as well as one Seskatcheswan, a friend from high school). The showing was followed by a Q&A session with the Man Himself, Bruce Campbell.

The premise of the film is Bruce Campbell plays Bruce Campbell, a sort of alternate universe asshole/loser version of himself (a la Stephen Colbert). He’s still the star of the Evil Dead films, Army of Darkness and the epic fail Alien Apocalypse, but he’s divorced, a borderline alcoholic and living in a disgusting trailer. (On a side note: Alien Apocalypse was one of the first films Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I watched together. Yes, we both made fun of it the entire time, but how she managed to still take me seriously after I suggested we watch it is still beyond me. The mysteries of love I guess.)

Unfortunately, Bruce’s #1 fan (and that’s saying something) accidentally unleashes an ancient Chinese god of war in the podunk town of Goldlick, and the lad decides there’s only one man who can take out the warrior god: Bruce Campbell.

The movie’s a lot of fun–moreso than Campbell’s previous effort, The Man With The Screaming Brain–and it features tons of in-jokes for Campbell fans, including a few guest appearances by Campbell-based action figures such as Sideshow’s S-Mart Ash (“Don’t burn that! It’s a limited edition!”)

The Q&A session afterward was a riot, filled with Bruce’s self-deprecating humor and sarcastic banter with his obsessive fans, whom he clearly loves and is endlessly amused by. The Q&A featured a surprise appearance by Bruce’s lovely co-star, Grace Thorsen.

If you happen to live near one of the theaters on the MNIB tour–and are any sort of fan of Bruce, obsessive or otherwise–definitely check it out. And watch for the Ted Raimi cameo.

News round-up, 11/8/08

November 8, 2008 | Poe

—Larger photos of prototype Masterpiece Grimlock (Toynewsi)

—Packaged photos of DCUC Adam Strange/Starfire two-pack (Mattycollector)

—Gears of War 2 NECA figure photos (Figures.com)

—MTV wants a few good fanboys/girls (nycomiccon.com)

—Marvel Select Wolverine w/ First Appearance Variant (MarvelousNews)

—McFarlane’s Halo Wars Wave 1, still no sign of figures from first two games (Toynewsi)

—Hasbro Indiana Jones Q&A (CoolToyReview)

—Hasbro’s 63rd Star Wars Q&A (Rebelscum)

—McFarlane, NBA and Southwest want to send you to the 2009 NBA All-Star game (Spawn.com)

Future DCUC figures leaked?

November 6, 2008 | Poe

Action Figure Insider has posted a list of DCUC figures that have shown up in Wal-Mart’s computer system. Take it with a grain of salt, of course, but here are the previously unannounced figures:

We know the Question isn’t due out until late 2009 (or maybe early 2010), so we may not see some of these figures for a long time. Still, I sincerely hope we are getting all of these–John Stewart, Shark, Mantis, Green Arrow, and Deadshot!! are awesome. I can’t wait to see a Four Horsemen Shark (though I suspect it’ll be more of a classic-looking Shark than the more monstrous modern one).

And yet, still no Martian Manhunter! What’s the deal with that? Maybe he’ll be the SDCC exclusive, with alternate heads or something…