It’s getting to be that time of the year again, that special time where those who aren’t going to the San Diego Comic Con wonder just how in the hell they are going to get the exclusives that the want. Hasbro’s finally got pictures of all their stuff, so let’s just take a look at their offerings. (more…)
Review > Peter vs. Giant Chicken
I hope to have a review of an actually-new figure tomorrow, but in the meantime, please enjoy this short-lost review from my days with The Toy Pirate, a short-lived Web venture between myself and Shocka of OAFE. It was originally published on July 9, 2005.
My photos are gone, but the kooky pirate method of grading the figures remains. Also, please remember that the thoughts written here reflect Poe circa 2005; opinions may have shifted during transport.
When it first came out, Family Guy kind of flew under my radar. I was in the middle of my college career and hardly watched any television. I remember catching it once or twice and thinking Stewie was pretty amusing, but it didn’t become a must-see for me. It wasn’t until last summer, when I moved into an apartment with two television-addicted roommates, that I caught the show regularly on Adult Swim.
I found the show funny, but to me, it didn’t have anything to distinguish it from other cartoon sitcoms like The Simpsons–until the infamous Chicken Fight in the episode “Da Boom.” Spoilers for those who haven’t seen the show: the fight occurs during one of the show’s many cutaways (“Remember that time…”) when Peter gets a bad coupon from a giant chicken (or maybe a guy in a chicken suit–it’s not clear). Peter attacks the chicken, and for the next two minutes (an eternity in cartoon sitcom time) Peter and the chicken duel it out, parodying many action-flick cliches in the process. (more…)
It Figures #41 – I Hope You Dance
Family Guy gets uncancelled — again.
Just a day after thinking to myself, “I’m surprised Mezco didn’t try to bring back their Family Guy line when the show took off again,” Mezco is bringing back their Family Guy line. The initial wave is all re-releases, but I assume if the line is successful we’ll get more.
While I did get the Peter vs. Giant Chicken set, I did always regret not getting the “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” Brian or the mutant Stewie.
I love you, ME GRIMLOCK KING!
Today’s awesomest T-shirt ever:
Show and Tell > Meet the Raisins
By PrfktTear
Created by the California Raisin Advisory Board, The California Raisins began as a marketing plan to sell raisins. They came up with the idea of the anthropomorphic singing and dancing raisins which would attract the attention of kids. What started as an idea to get people to eat raisins grew into a whole brand of its own complete with a myriad of merchandising opportunities. The California Raisins had their own television specials, albums, t-shirts, posters, pillows, and lunch boxes. You name it, they slapped The California Raisin brand name on it, and it sold. (more…)
Hasbro schools Mattel on how to do a toy book
Remember how Mattel is teasing us all with the SDCC-only, limited-to-1,000 MOTU art book? Hasbro’s doing something similar, only they’re letting anyone who wants one get one. Oh, and the profits go to charity. (more…)
Pic of the Day – Leonardo & Hellboy by Poe Ghostal
Leonardo & Hellboy by Poe Ghostal
Poe’s note: Despite these figures being based on the styles of two very different artists, I think they look really good next to each other. The paint applications match particularly well, and I think the scales are fairly accurate (Leo’s 4′ tall and Hellboy’s 7′ tall in the comics).
Show and Tell > Lego Minifig Astronaut
By googum
His helmet is cracked, and his head slips off now and then. He hasn’t been mint condition in over thirty years, when some errant bug spray on a camping trip faded his logo and one eye. (His teammates didn’t fare as well.) He wasn’t even on display for almost fifteen years, which he spent occasionally playing with new kids. I would have to say he’s semi-retired now.
He was one of Lego’s first astronaut minifigs, and I was probably seven or eight when I got him; doubtless for Christmas or a birthday. I don’t remember what set it was–one of the larger ones, with the classic space insignia and grey moonscape base–but I rarely stuck to the plans. He flew thousands of missions, on hundreds of ships; from Apollo-era buckets to Enterprise style cruisers to X-wings and giant robots. And he fought TIE Fighters and Saucer Animals and Klingons and all sorts of monsters and creatures; defeating them all (and boredom, on a lot of long drives.)
He is probably the best argument for ‘generic’ action figures, that kids can make their own and make their own adventures for, that I’ll ever see. Even though he only had the one helmet (which he never removed) he wore a lot of hats: he was Luke Skywalker. He was Orion Quest. He was Buck Rogers, Captain Kirk, Charlie Pizer, Steve Austin, and more. He was me. He was under two inches tall, and a giant.
The Special Edition of Monkey Island
In more Xbox Live Arcade news, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition hits today. It’s 800 Microsoft Points (about $10). It’s basically a re-release of the original game, but with updated HD graphics (although you have the option to switch to the original VGA graphics at any time).
If you’ve never played The Secret of Monkey Island, now’s your chance to experience what is easily one of my favorite videogames of all time. LucasArts set the gold standard for the adventure game with SOMI, and I can’t wait to play it again.
Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I also just finished up the first episode of Tales of Monkey Island. I recommend it to any of you who enjoy adventure games.