Review > Dragon Blaster Skeletor (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

October 31, 2012 | Poe

The photos for this review were taken by toy photographer extraordinaire Ed Speir IV. You can see more pics of many different toy lines at his Flickr page.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that I didn’t actually own all that many vintage MOTU figures when I was a kid. In fact, off the top of my head, I believe they were limited to He-Man, Skeletor, Mer-Man, Teela, Ram Man, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops, Buzz Off, Man-At-Arms, Man-E-Faces, King Hiss, Mekaneck, Hordak, and Leech. Long after I’d lost interest in MOTU, I did somehow end up with a Sorceress, Rio Blast, and Optikk. So at this point in MOTU Classics, we’ve gotten deep into the characters I never owned and perhaps never even saw.

Dragon Blaster Skeletor can definitely be counted among those figures I don’t remember. I did pick one up about ten years ago during the Millennium era when I decided to try and put together a vintage collection (which I eventually abandoned because the rubber bands holding most figures’ legs together were too weak, and they would never stand). So DB Skeletor is one of those figures that has to appeal to me in despite my lack of nostalgia. I realize I often am biased in this regard, so I’m going to try to evaluate him fairly as a MOTUC figure without that nostalgic connection. (more…)

Sightings > Sideshow Collectables G.I. Joe Pit Command Center Giveaway

October 30, 2012 | Poe

Nick of ActionFigureFury sent me this notice about a big contest they’re holding, and I’ve been remiss in not posting it. The prize is the incredibly awesome Sideshow G.I. Joe Command Center envirionment. There are multiple ways that you can enter the giveaway (follow AFF on Twitter, like AFF on Facebook, sign up for the AFF newsletter, tweet about it, blog about, post it on Facebook, and refer your friends). It expires at midnight tonight, so head over to AFF and enter the contest ASAP!

Bill White, 1961-2012

October 29, 2012 | Poe

It’s with some shock that I just discovered that artist Bill White has passed away. A wonderful member of our community (by which I mean geeks at large, not just PGPoA) has been lost. He will be greatly missed.

I didn’t know Bill that well, but Newton Gimmick of Infinite Hollywood did, and has a touching tribute to Bill that you must read. Bill was an active member of many sites’ communities and seems to have been an all-around great guy.

Bill’s greatest contribution to PGPoA was this submission for my old “Ask Matty” posts.

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Review > Metaluna Mutant (Universal Monsters, Diamond Select) w/ Sculptor’s Commentary

October 29, 2012 | Poe

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, Universal Studios built their reputation on horror films. The “canonical” Universal Monsters are Dracula, Frankenstein(‘s Monster), the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and the Gillman from Creature from the Black Lagoon. However, there are other Universal Monsters who aren’t quite as well known; Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame; the Invisible Man; and the subject of today’s review, the Metaluna Mutant from the 1955 science fiction extravaganza This Island Earth.

I have watched This Island Earth many times – far more times than any other Universal Monsters movie, even Creature. However, I’ve never seen the “official” film – the version I’ve watched is the one found in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. Partly due to the film’s mocking at the hands of the MST3K crew, I have a hard time thinking about it as a good movie, but it’s a fun, colorful film featuring a monster straight out of the pulp comic covers of the era. [Fun fact: the Outer Space Man figure Orbitron was based on the Metaluna Mutant.]

There have been a few Metaluna Mutant toys and model kits over the years – in the Universal Monsters TMNT line, there was even a “Mutant Raphael” figure. But for some time now, the gold standard for the under-12″ scale has been Sideshow Toys’ 8″ figure. Now that Diamond Select Toys (DST) has taken over the Universal Monsters license, there’s a new contender in town.

You can get your Metaluna Mutant in two flavors. There’s the specialty store version (the subject of this review), which includes the “Interocitor” device from the film. It will run you about $19-$20. Then there’s a basic version with no Interocitor that’s available as a Toys R Us exclusive for $16 and comes with a small display stand. Given the meager price difference and the fact that the TRU version doesn’t appear to differ in any other way other than lacking the accessory, you’re certainly better off with the specialty store version.

I’d like to thank sculptor Jean St. Jean for sending along this figure to me, and for agreeing to add his “sculptor’s commentary” to the proceedings. His comments can be found in the blockquotes. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends n’ Weekend Discussion Thread

October 27, 2012 | Poe

That’s right – Odds ‘n Ends is back! I’ve just got too much stuff to write about and don’t want to spam your RSS reader with a slew of Sightings posts, so instead I present the return of O&E.

Also, because I eliminated the discussion board, I thought I’d try creating a “weekend discussion thread” and see if it appealed to anyone. So feel free to post about any (toy-related) topic you want in the comments below.

Anyway, on the odds and ends.

Sponsor News > Join DASH and Win a Chance at a Sideshow Snake Eyes (& Timber)

October 26, 2012 | Poe

I nearly titled this post, “Snake Your Eyes on This Timber.” Sometimes one has to ignore the imp of the perverse. –PG

DASH is Giving Away the New Sideshow Snake Eyes and Timber

In the latest contest from Collector-ActionFigures.com, we decided to give G.I. Joe collectors some love by giving away a figure based on one of the most beloved and iconic character in all of action figure history. One lucky winner will be taking home an incredible Sideshow Collectibles Snake Eyes and Timber sixth scale figure courtesy of DASH. This exclusive figure is limited to 1000 copies, is valued at $200, includes a bundle of extras including a fully-articulated Timber figure, and it could be yours. (more…)