Toy Aisle Trolls > White Out Whiteout

August 16, 2010 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com. Also, please note: I’m deliberately being over-the-top with my condemnation of these people–I don’t actually wish bodily harm upon them. Just severe mental anguish.

Poester Mysterious Stranger sends in this gem:

I was at Toys R Us last week, searching for the new G.I. Joe figures and vehicles.  This particular store didn’t have the figures yet but they did have the vehicles.  They had about 3 or 4 of each and this particular specimen was hidden behind some old DVD packs.  Yeah, some dick took the figure (White Out) and replaced it with a Rise of Cobra Neo-Viper, and not even a complete one either, just the figure with no webgear or weapons.  That’s just cold.

His punishment? Forced to wear a chastity belt lined with Icy Hot until he finds a woman who will love his Cheeto-stained soul.

–Mysterious Stranger

Review > Mo-Larr & Skeletor (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

August 16, 2010 | Poe

I’m way behind on my SDCC exclusive reviews, so I’m going to make up for it with a full week of reviews! Not everything will be SDCC-related, but most of them will.

Where to start with Mo-Larr, Eternian Dentist?

As you can see above, Mo-Larr was created for a Robot Chicken sketch. And in a surprising move, Mattel decided to make an SDCC exclusive based on the skit.

I’m trying to think of more to say on the subject, but I can’t…so on to the review, I guess! (more…)

Happy Whiplash Day

August 16, 2010 | Poe

Although part of me feels like I should really be saying, “Happy Trap Jaw Day II.” How many of you who missed TJ the first time around are going for him today?

Anyway, here’s the link to the all-in-one page.

Pic of the Day

August 16, 2010 | Poe

Bat Shark Repellent

Bat Shark Repellent by graznador2

Jon Stewart evidently not too short for a stormtrooper

August 14, 2010 | Poe

This is kind of neat. One of the special events during today’s Star Wars Celebration V was one-hour interview between Daily Show host Jon Stewart and George Lucas. To honor the event, Hasbro created a one-of-a-kind Jon Stewart action figure, complete with alternate goatee head. Pretty awesome.

Mattel MOTUC updates (No 200X Grizzlor head)

August 14, 2010 | Poe

First off, it appears we won’t be getting Grizzlor’s extra Millennium face. Scott Neitlich:

He-Fans,

Many of you may have picked up the latest Toy Fare magazine (check out the cool Legion cover!) and have seen an image of Grizzlor with a second head as an accessory.

To clarify, the Grizzlor shown at SDCC was final. It was there in package. He only has one head as officially announced at SDCC.

Magazines often need images well in advance and many times the only images we have available are the first pics of the Horsemen sculpts.

Because the Horsemen sculpt more then we ask for ( a good problem to have), sometimes these PR images wind up having extra parts pictured that do not get tooled. This happened with Batman Beyond’s wings and Lex Luthor’s skirt pieces as well.

Our tooling budget is finite and we can’t always afford to tool everything the Horsemen sculpt (especially when they throw in unrequested parts not accounted for in the budget – not that we want them to stop! A lot of things the sculpt wind up getting used later. The Kandor they sculpted for Superman in DCSH wound up getting used in JLU in 2010!)

Back to the point: Because we did announce Grizzlor in full at SDCC, hopefully this image was not too misleading. But to be clear, Grizzlor has one face only. The figure is tool’d and in production so no changes are being made at this point.

Sorry for any confusion gang!

Scott

I–hmm. Well…hrm. Forget it. I’m not even going to bother.

Neitlich also posted a lengthy update on the MOTUC figures seen at SDCC. There’s some good news and some not-so-good-news. (more…)

Poe’s First Podcast

August 14, 2010 | Poe

My first-ever appearance on a podcast is now live. I want to thank the great folks at OrccaCast for what was a very fun and easy introduction to the world of podcasting. Topics of discussion include MOTUC/DCUC/Mattel, my background in collecting (including some childhood anecdotes), H.P. Lovecraft movies and more.

OrccaCast Episode 25

The whole episode is great, but if you just want to hear me, I come in at the 15-minute mark.

Doc Thomas Probes > Winning with Bargains

August 13, 2010 | Doc Thomas

For Doc Thomas, it’s all about winning. Not winning in the traditional sense, like coming first in a race or plowing through the Tour De France in a monster truck, but winning in the sense that you’re doing what you love, and freakin’ loving doing it. Toy collectors know that when you’re finally buying that most beloved, most waited for, most coveted toy, you are winning. When you’re opening that action figure up and changing accessories, posing it, switching interchangable parts, you’re absolutely winning. And when you’re putting your toys on display, or preposing them in battle, you just can’t stop winning. (more…)

Eddie Wires, 1972-2010

August 13, 2010 | Poe

I never met Eddie Wires, but like many of us, I certainly knew his work. His passing earlier this week was a shock to the action figure industry. To say he will be missed is an indequate understatement. Chances are some of your favorite toys were painted by Mr. Wires, as his portfolio shows.

My sincere condolences to Eddie’s family. (more…)