This is for the December 1 round. Questions are due by 12pm ET on Monday, November 14.
Odds ‘n Ends > Poe’s Neglect, Selling Out, Battle Babies, Skyrim
- I swear this paucity of updates is not going to go on forever, or even my choice. Bachelor parties to Vegas, new pets, sick pets, and other non-toy-related responsibilities have been cropping up consistently, but I think things will be able to settle down now. I’ve got lots of ideas for posts, I just need to find the time and energy to get them written down.
- Mattel unveiled the first four figures in their new DC Universe All-Stars line, the retail replacement for DC Universe Classics. The figures are the previously-revealed Larfleeze, Superboy Prime, Flashpoint Plastic Man, and a reissue of Batman Beyond. I think I can safely join most fans in a collective “…huh.” My understanding was the new direction of the line was to be synergistic with the current depiction of the DCU and would feature the better-known characters. Flashpoint Plastic Man is a relatively minor character from a very brief storyline wearing an outfit he’ll never wear again. Larfleeze is fine, if not exactly better-known, but Superboy Prime seems a both obscure and dated…does he even exist in the Brand New DC? Doesn’t he represent everything they’re trying to get away from? Still, at least he’s a new sculpt. As for Batman Beyond…it’s nice they’re reissuing him for those who missed him, but couldn’t we get some wings this time? Or at least a properly-colored batarang? To be honest, this is probably a better line-up than anyone was expecting for the new line, which makes me wonder if these particular figures had been slated for DCUC, not DCAS–much as the all-unique Demon and Penguin from wave one of DCUC seemed better suited to DC Super Heroes than the reuse-heavy DCUC.
- New toys I’ve picked up recently: the Arkham City Robin/Joker 2-pack, the 6″ Walmart Captain America (movie version). Reviews forthcoming.
- Check out this awesome guide to creating custom action figure backgrounds and dioramas by Matthew K at the Fwoosh. I tried to get Matt to write this up for PGPoA, actually, but the Fwoosh one was already in progress. Thanks to Battlegrip for the tip.
- You may have noticed some new ads on the sidebar…or maybe you didn’t, if you use Adblock. Anyway, after several years of running this site entirely at my own expense (aside from some associate accounts and Google Ads, neither of which are particularly lucrative), I’ve decided that if I want to be able to support my hobby and keep up this blog, I’m going to need some sponsors. The one thing I can promise you is that I’ll only have advertisers whom I use myself and support. So please welcome BigBadToyStore and Thwipster, and welcome back EnchantedToyChest (who have a great-looking new site). If you would be kind enough to turn off Adblock on PGPoA I’d really appreciate it (I do that for the sites I visit regularly, believe it or not), but I’ll totally understand if you don’t want to.
- Weirdo Toys has a great article on Brad Rader’s Battle Babies. Battle Babies are a line of custom toys featuring babies writing cyborg animals, Dino Riders-style. You can see more at Brad’s Flickr account, and even buy them at his Etsy page. Incidentally, Brad’s wife, the Geeky Vixen, is the editor-in-chief of Pendragon’s Post.
- You may recall my cousin Ed and his reviews of Bif Bang Pow!’s Lost figures. What you may not know is he’s also a videogame reviewer for the Adrenaline Vault. He’s got a new review of Elder Scrolls: Skyrim out today–check it out! I’ll be getting my copy tomorrow. I hated Morrowind, but I got really into Oblivion, and it sounds like Skyrim only gets better.
BBTS has Arkham Asylum Wave 1
Apologies for the lack of updates, been in Vegas for a few days. Fear not, PGPoA will be back at full bore starting later this week!
Anyway, I know a lot of you like the DC Direct Arkham Asylum figures, which have been hard to come by–well, BBTS has the full set available right now. This is apparently the last time they’ll be in stock (until DCD reissues them, if ever), so if you want them, now’s the time.
Check out my reviews of the AA Batman, Joker, and Scarecrow.
Sponsor News > DCU 19, Walking Dead, Halo, Hot Toys, TF, Imports & More at BBTS
Here is a quick update from http://www.bigbadtoystore.com about some great new arrivals, more new preorders, and 2 sale menus:
——— SALE MENU ———
We’ve reduced pricing by 15% on all the older items on the menu below. Menu will be updated daily to remove items as they sell out.
Over 600 items have already sold out on this sale, be sure to check through the remaining items for some great deals.
————- NEW PREORDERS ————-
The second assortment of figures from the Walking Dead TV Series will includes Shane, Andrea and two new Zombies. Each figure is listed at $14.99, or you can grab the set of 4 at $54.99, saving $13 off the MSRP.
The second assortment of comic-based figures is also listed. This group includes Riot Gear Glenn, the Governor and two different Zombies. Like the TV figures, these are listed at $14.99 each or $54.99 for the set, saving you $13 off the MSRP.
BATMAN LEGACY SINGLE SERIES 03 – SET, SINGLES
The third assortment of Batman Legacy singles includes classic versions of First Appearance Batman and Catwoman, as well as Arkham City versions of Harley Quinn and Nightwing. Each figure is listed singly at $17.99, or as a set of 4 for $67.99, saving you $12 off the MSRP. (more…)
Vintage Toy Ads > Talking Pee-Wee
After watching this ad, I realized I must have seen it a hundred times as a kid because the insipid theme song was way too familiar.
Notice how the ad says “For you and your kid” at the end there? A tribute to Pee-Wee’s generation-crossing appeal? Or a warning that any kid given this toy should be supervised at all times lest the doll drive the child into madness?
Yet another new list at Topless Robot
I’ve got another new list up at TR:
8 Reasons Why The Monster Squad is Better than The Goonies
For the record, my original title was “8 Reasons Why The Monster Squad is More Fun than The Goonies” but I get why Rob changed it–“better” is much more provocative. I’m not sure The Monster Squad is a better film than The Goonies, but I definitely find it more fun.
I expected to be vilified for this one, but so far I’m surprised by the support Monster Squad is getting in the comments.
Follow up to the Alien review, or THE HORROR
MechaShiva mentioned that he’d seen a different version of the “Alien Power” figures, and lo and behold, eBay gives us…
AUGH AUGH AUGH THE HORROR THE HORROR–!!!
Just what every kid wants, a fetus with ichthyosis. What is with that awful head? Pardon me while I throw up.
Odds ‘n Ends > November 2, 2011
- Yesterday Warner Bros announced they had extended their master toy license deal with Mattel. Hardly a surprise with Dark Knight Rises and Man of Steel on the way, but good news for those of us who love Four Horsemen sculpting on DC toys. Speaking of, I sincerely hope the Horsemen will be working on the DKRises Movie Masters toys. Not sure if that’s been confirmed yet.
- BigBadToyStore has the next (and final?) wave of Batman Legacy figures up for preorder. Enchanted Toy Chest should have them soon as well.
- Pics of the upcoming G.I. Joe Zombie-Viper surfaced yesterday. (And some guy named Edwin “Lifeline” Steen.) The zombie looks incredibly awesome. This is how it’s done, Todd.
- I hadn’t even heard about this until yesterday, but NECA is offering an incredible in-scale Da Vinci Flying Machine from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. It doesn’t come with an Ezio figure, but if you have one it will fit in the machine. It’s only available via preorder from Gamestop.
- Due to NYCC, I forgot to submit a Q&A to Mattel for November 1, but you can see a roundup of the rest of them here. I didn’t find any answers particularly earth-shattering, but it’s interesting to see they’re committed to continuing Ghostbusters past 2012. The prop replicas are selling out and are apparently pretty cool, but the figures seem to be tanking.
- The fully-painted “Infinity Edition” of Outer Space Men phases three and four will go up for preorder on 11/11.
Review > Alien (Alien Power, JPW International)
Hope you all had a happy Halloween, and that your workplaces are glutted with the remainder candy the trick-or-treaters didn’t score. I actually didn’t do anything fun this Halloween–no parties, no costumes–and I live in Halloweentown USA (i.e., Salem, Massachusetts). Just a bit too busy. But that will not happen next year. Next year, I go for the gusto.
A few weeks back, many of us were enamored of Talyn’s Pic of the Day, which featured a surprisingly cool-looking dollar store alien toy. I was so intrigued I asked Talyn to pick up one up for me–or rather two, since there are two color schemes. Part of their appeal to me is they reminded me of those “Roswell Alien” figures that showed up in stores in the mid-1990s (I’ve still got one). (more…)
Pic of the Day > Slimer! by (Talyn)
