While I’ve found my assortment of the McFarlane stands to be more than adequate to the task of supporting my DCUC collection, I thought it would be a service to you, the discriminating toy collector, if I were to order a set of the official Mattel stands and review them.
Here’s my one-sentence review for those too lazy to read after the jump: unless you decide you really need that “DC Universe” logo, buy the cheaper, flatter and more attractive McFarlane stands. (more…)
I really don’t want to do an “intereview” for this toy, for many reasons–not the least of which is having to deal once again with the pain of having drafted Tom Brady as my first-round pick in my fantasy football league this year. I can’t imagine interviewing him–or even his robot toy avatar–without breaking down into tears or a bitter rant against the unfairness of life.
I saw these last week at Toys ‘R Us. Predictably, they didn’t have Brady, since he’s the local favorite, but I was able to order him from TRU’s website. You can see the other figures on the packaging photo.
When I saw them, I initially assumed they’d been made by Foamheads, makers of the excellent Fox Sports Robot. But after looking at the package, that doesn’t appear to be the case–these figures were made by a company called Toy Quest. (more…)
Oh man, am I finally on the last one of these? I think I’ll go back to the round robin format next time. That, or spread the intereviews out over a longer period. Anyway…
My intereview today is with Despero, one of the Justice League’s oldest and most formidable villains–
Puny human! What do you want? Explain to me now or die!
Oh, great–this is going to be one of those interviews. (more…)
Welcome back to my week-long series of “intereviews” with the members of DC Universe Classics Wave 4. For those unfamiliar with the format, I basically pretend the figures are real and “interview” them, sneaking in my review in the process.
My guest today is Ares, the Greek God of War. Thanks for being here, Mr. Ares. Can I call you Ares?
Well, you own me, so it’s not like I have much choice, right?
I was only trying to be polite. Now, I’ll be frank–
–and I’ll be Ares! (more…)
In the early 1980s, the New Teen Titans were DC Comics’ answer to Marvel’s enormously successful X-Men, and both series sold very well. One of the new Titans introduced during that era was Cyborg. After an accident in which Victor Stone’s mad scientist father accidentally released a gelatinous extradimensional horror that killed Victor’s mother and mutilated Victor himself, his father grafted a number of cybernetic enhancements onto his son to ensure his survival. Initially repulsed by his new appearance, Victor eventually learned to accept it and became a superhero. (more…)
Welcome to the latest installment of my week-long series of “intereviews” with the line-up of the fourth wave of DC Universe Classics. My guest today is the bold and beautiful Princess Diana, a.k.a. Wonder Woman.
WW: Thank you.
Thank you, Princess. And let me add that it’s great to finally have the third member of the DC Universe Trinity in a 6″ figure from Mattel.
WW: Yes, it’s been a long time coming. But they’ve done a great job, I think. (more…)
Every knight needs his trusty steed–even a Dark Knight.
As I’ve related twice already, I had the good fortune to find the Target-exclusive Movie Masters Batpod over the weekend, just a couple days after the first few sightings across the country. I don’t think I can stress enough how unlikely it is to find a new mass market toy in Massachusetts this early–because we’re so far from where the ships from China arrive and the warehouses their cargo is stored at, we get everything dead last. Really, the only explanation I can think of is that the MM Batpod had a street date and had been sitting in the back rooms all over the country, waiting…waiting… (more…)
Welcome back to my week-long series of “intereviews” with the members of DC Universe Classics Wave 4. For those unfamiliar with the format, I basically pretend the figures are real and “interview” them, sneaking in my review in the process. Writing genius or borderline psychosis? You decide!
My guest today is Batman Beyond. BB, you’re an interesting choice for a DCUC figure, given that you were originally created for your eponymous cartoon and have only made a few brief cameo appearances in the DC comics universe. Why do you think you were added to the roster?
Well, I’m pretty popular among fans of the DC animated universe. And I did get a figure from DC Direct in their Superman/Batman line a couple years back, though it was a ‘roided-up Ed McGuinness version. And obviously there were tons of figures based on the cartoon.
But, if we’re going to be candid here, I suspect the real reason I got in is because I’m an easy retool. I’m the basic large male body with new head, belt, and forearm sculpts. (more…)
Welcome to the first of a week of “intereviews” with the members of DC Universe Classics Wave 4. My first guest is Captain Atom. Captain, please tell us a little about yourself.
Certainly. I was originally created by Charlton Comics in 1960. I was working on an experimental rocket when it exploded, atomizing my body but giving me superpowers that allowed me to re-form my body, in addition to many other powers. After DC Comics bought the rights to the Charlton characters in the early 1980s, I was re-introduced as an Air Force officer in the Vietnam War who had been framed for a crime I didn’t commit–shades of A-Team, no?–and rather than being executed, I was allowed to participate in an experiment that threw me into the future and gave me superpowers, including the ability to grow this nigh-invulnerable silver metal shell and to control energy. (more…)
OK, I’m late to this party, but it fits the horror/Halloween theme I’m pushing this month.
Due to the fact that Predators don’t speak English and really don’t have any sort of defined culture or individual character, I can’t do the whole “interview” gag, so this will be a straight review.
There are some action figures I see and must buy. Usually they’re some sort of incredible combination of sculpting and articulation. For instance, I didn’t think twice about buying NECA’s Alien Warrior from the Alien vs. Predator colon Requiem line, because it was well sculpted and had great articulation and actually managed to surpass, in my estimation, the Aoshima Alien. The NECA Ninja Turtles are another good example.
Other times, though, I’ll see a figure and decide to pass on it for some reason. I forget about it and it sells out at retail. Then, a few months or a year or two later, I start looking at it again online. I start doing searches for it on eBay. And finally, at some point, I break down and buy the damned thing. (more…)