Review > Sickened Joker NYCC Exclusive (Arkham City, DC Direct)

October 18, 2011 | Poe

There are times I regret my rash oath to collect every toy based on Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. For one thing, I still have to cough up the cash for that Battle-Damaged Batman from a couple SDCCs ago. Then there are the disappointing figures. And then there are the figures I’m not that excited about, but get anyway. Case in point is the subject of today’s review: Sickened Joker. (more…)

New Joker & Robin prototypes surface on eBay

September 27, 2011 | Poe

Some recent eBay auctions have revealed some details about Arkham City-related figures.

DC Direct has only announced Robin, Bruce Wayne and Harley Quinn for their Arkham City line, but this week eBay has a slew of so-called “zombie Jokers” from China. There are so many it seems unlikely they’re fakes or customs (though they could be discarded prototypes for a figure that won’t be produced).

As the trailers for the game have made clear, the Joker is in rough shape in Arkham City, suffering from some sort of ill after-effects from the Titan formula in Arkham Asylum. This vomit-inducing prototype captures that a little too well, frankly. Moreover, he’s obviously just the Arkham Asylum Joker with a new head.  I’d been intending to buy every Arkhamverse toy that’s made, but this one may test that…it will depend on his accessories, I suppose.

Next up is a prototype Robin from Mattel’s Arkham City line. Nothing new here, just a better look at the production figure.

 

Odds ‘n Ends > July 26, 2011

July 26, 2011 | Poe

  • Saw Captain America with Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and Red Kryptonite this past weekend. I enjoyed it–more than Thor, and probably more than any Marvel flick since X-Men 2. We knew Joe Johnston could direct period pieces, and this was sort of a sideways sequel to The Rocketeer anyway. Chris Evans was great, Tommy Lee Jones did a great job being Tommy Lee Jones, and the Red Skull was Red Hulk to Jim Carrey’s The Mask. (I did find the Red Skull make-up a bit too cartoony, but I realize that–as well as the German-accented English among the foreign bad guys–was done to make the film accessible to kids, and that’s fine.) Did I think it was better than Batman Begins or The Dark Knight? No, but it was unquestionably more fun than those movies, and a nice set-up for The Avengers.
  • Speaking of Nick Fury & the Avengers, this spoof is cute. Love the slow clap.
  • As you may know, Mattel is bringing the DC Retro Action line to a close soon. Some fans have a petition up to save it. I wish ’em luck!
  • I received an email from a company called Geek Design, who create high-end furniture for storing and displaying collectibles.
  • Looks like I’ll be attending NYCC this year. I keep hoping more of SDCC’s hype will spill over into NYCC as SDCC becomes more crowded; maybe that will start this year, with the show moving back to October. The Tuesday after the show, incidentally, is the release date for Batman: Arkham City, the Arkham City trade paperback, and the Blu-Ray of Batman: Year One. Busy day for Bats.
  • In case you missed it, there were a couple small MOTUC news bits out of SDCC. First off, the Wind Raider will have real box art, painted by the same artist who did it thirty years ago.
  • Also, here are all the new bios that were revealed. Battleground Evil-Lyn’s is a doozy; Demo-Man’s disappointingly contains nothing about Demo-Man himself, nor explains what happened when Keldor merged with him (i.e., did any of Demo-Man’s mind merge as well, etc.).
  • Finally, it looks like there very well may be an exclusive at PowerCon: a pedestal for King Grayskull’s Orb of Sparkle Crest Toothpaste. The PowerCon part is speculation but seems likely.

Odds ‘n Ends > SDCC 2011 Preview Night Edition

July 21, 2011 | Poe

  • The Entertainment Earth/TRU exclusives are now on sale on the TRU website–here’s the link. HOWEVER: Rodimus is already sold out, and the Bizarro vs. Faker pack isn’t listed, apparently because it “missed the boat.” That’s what my pal at SDCC was told by the booth operators. Whether that means it will show up later in the ‘con, or not for another three to five weeks, is not something I know.
  • Mattel posted another MOTUC list. This one seems pretty obviously fake–Zombie Randor? Gwildor? Lodar? And Slime Pit He-Man as the exclusive, when we’ve been told the sub exclusive isn’t a He-Man variant?–but the odd thing is that one redacted bit after Sweetbee. Who redacts a fake list? Anyway, I have some limited knowledge of what may or may not be coming down the pike for the rest of 2011, and this doesn’t square with that at all, so I’m calling this fake.
  • There’s a “Project Photog” sticker next to Captain Glenn in the Mattel display case, including the names of the astronauts on the flight. The two that stick out to me are Mason–obviously a reference to Major Matt Mason, who, btw, would be an awesome MOTUC figure–and Bitner, a reference to Nathan Bitner, creator of Fearless Photog (who, until the lists popped up recently, was the frontrunning rumor for the 2012 sub exclusive).
  • NECA had most of its Evil Dead II line on display. There are three Ashes: a one-armed version, a torn-shirt version with a chainsaw, and Deadite Ash, whom I’ve wanted a figure of forever–plus Henrietta. Sixteen-year-old Poe would have LOST. HIS. S*** over this line. I’m a bit removed from that now–and bummed by the lack of leg articulation–but I’ll be buying every single Evil Dead II figure NECA makes.
  • You can also see the NECA Robocop behind that Henrietta–he looks pretty good.
  • I have to wonder, is it awkward shilling products for a failed blockbuster like Green Lantern at SDCC after the movie has come out? Still, Parallax looks awesome.
  • One of the bizarre things I’ve seen was the 1970s’-colors Arkham City Batman. It’s a TRU exclusive you get when you buy the game there, so I assume it’s going to be a skin in the game, too. Is it me, or is that head placed much better on the body than the regular version?
  • Possibly the best thing I’ve seen out of the show so far is the evidence that there will indeed be more Futurama figures. Lrrr! Morbo! Clamps! Joey Mousepad! The Donbot! And yet…NO HEDONISM-BOT. It’s a crime we’re getting the Destructor, whom I barely remember, before Hedonism-Bot. This line cannot end without that figure.
  • He is Vigo! The scourge of Carpathia!
  • Hot Toys is making a 1/6th Jack Nicholson Joker and a 1/6th Burton Batmobile; I can only assume a Keaton Batman is coming. I mention this solely because it irks me we still don’t have some Movie Masters of these in 6″ scale.
  • Speaking of Movie Masters, we’re also getting a figure of the Joker as he looked in the two-second scene in The Dark Knight where he dressed as a cop and shot at the mayor. Yay?
  • Mezco’s making a new Earthworm Jim figure. Weird, but cool. Oh, and it looks like there’s an Uncharted 3 Drake figure next to him. Square Enix is making a figure of Drake, too. Not sure I need one of those, but unless the Mezco one has articulated legs, of the two I’ll take Square’s.
  • Any photos that weren’t links to other sites were taken by Rustin Parr. Thanks Rustin!

SDCC Preview Night Pics

July 20, 2011 | Poe

Here are a few pics from SDCC, courtesy of Rustin Parr. Not as nice as you’ll find on other sites of course, but something to talk about.

First up, it appears Mattel is indeed expanding its Arkham City figures–here’s the Joker and Harley:

I can confirm that Harley, at least, was sculpted by the Four Horsemen. The Joker looks a little off, though–the head looks too small, and the hair looks too short. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > July 19, 2011

July 19, 2011 | Poe

  • Mattel announced its 2012 subscriptions: Club Eternia, Club Ecto-1, and the new Club Lion Force. (Is anyone else kind of amazed that Club Ecto-1 is still going?) Anyway, the Club Eternia sub includes a $60 item, and there’s a lot of speculation as to what that is. Many are suggesting Granamyr, though personally I’m hoping for Tyrantisaurus Rex. (Remember, vehicles–such as the Battle Ram–won’t be included in the subscription.) A three-figure army builder pack, or some sort of multi-part figure like Modulok, is also possible.
  • Mattel allegedly has five big MOTU-related announcements at SDCC…at least I think it’s five, I’ve lost track. Many people are assuming Mattel will announce the Filmation rights, though Toyguru has tried to tamp those rumors down. While Filmation rights would definitely be the shot in the arm this line needs, I can’t say I’m that certain we’ll see them. It also leaves four other announcements.
  • I’m trying to decide how to cover SDCC this year. What would you guys like? Up-to-the-second links to other people’s coverage and pics (since I’m not there), reflective posts on reveals, or both?
  • Don’t forget, you’ll be able to order all the TRU exclusives, including the Faker/Bizarro pack, on TRU’s website. It’s not clear when exactly items will become available, aside from “when the show starts,” so I’d recommend checking that page frequently.
  • So what are you most excited about at this year’s SDCC? It can be toy-related or otherwise. Personally I’m curious what new reveals we’ll get regarding Batman Arkham City, if any–perhaps a new character? I’m hoping for Nightwing in the challenge modes, at least.

Batman Arkham City Collector’s Edition is not vengeance, is not the night

July 19, 2011 | Poe

 

Rocksteady has officially announced the collector’s edition of Batman Arkham City, which will include:

  • Custom Batman statue produced by Kotobukiya
  • Collectible art book
  • Early access to the Iceberg Lounge Challenge Map and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns skin
  • Batman: Arkham City album from WaterTower Music including original songs by hit artists, available via digital redemption
  • Bonus DC Universe animated original movie, Batman: Gotham Knight (this is the same content that was a prequel for The Dark Knight)

It’s all yours for $100.

I never buy collector’s editions of videogames–ever–but I was prepared to make an exception for Batman Arkham City. Given the awesomeness of the first game’s collector’s edition, which included a replica batarang among other cool things, I figured we were in for something great. In a (now removed) Facebook poll of what users wanted to see in a collector’s edition, a replica utility belt was the winner. (more…)

Review > Batman & Two-Face (Batman Arkham City, Mattel)

July 13, 2011 | Poe

Until Batman Arkham Asylum, most Batman videogames were at best mediocre and at worst, completely unplayable. But given the character’s popularity and the way he seems to appeal to really great creators in all media, it was just a matter of time until we got a great Batman videogame*–just as we’ve gotten a great Batman movies and a great Batman TV show alongside countless great Batman comics.

Batman in Arkham CityThe “Arkhamverse” has quickly become one of my favorite incarnations of the Batman franchise. Given the presence of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker and (in the first game at least) Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn, the game was sort of a much more brutal, darker version of Batman: The Animated Series. Given the immense popularity and critical acclaim for the first game and the massive anticipation for its upcoming sequel, it’s not surprising we’re now getting plenty of merchandise from both games.

DC Direct released their first wave of Arkham Asylum figures earlier this year, and the second wave–consisting of Bane, Poison Ivy, Mr. Zsasz and Armored Batman–hits comic ships this week (they should arrive in stores today, actually). But DCD isn’t the only manufacturer making Arkham Asylum/Arkham City figures; at this year’s Toy Fair, Mattel revealed their new Batman Legacy line, which included a two-pack of Batman and Two-Face from Arkham City. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > June 24, 2011

June 24, 2011 | Poe

  • Today’s Odds ‘n Ends is mostly stuff I’ve meant to write about but never got around to it. First up: this piece over on OAFE, revealing how Toys R Us prices items higher in stores in wealthier areas.
  • October Toys is developing OMFG!, a homage to M.U.S.C.L.E. and Monster in My Pocket figures from the ’80s and ’90s. Depending on how much you donate, you can get flesh-colored and/or black sets of all five figs.
  • Mattycollector.com will be having their SDCC voucher pre-sale, which allows SDCC attendees to reserve their exclusives, on July 11. The post-SDCC sale will be on August 1.
  • The Power and the Honor Foundation is a non-profit group dedicated to creating an archive of materials related to all things Masters of the Universe. Their first project is a hardcover catalog of MOTU design art. For a donation of $55, you get 160 pages of MOTU history. This is ideal for those who missed out on the SDCC MOTU art book a few years back.
  • To my surprise, the Batman Legacy Arkham City figures are already shipping; mine are en route from BigBadToyStore. I was sure we wouldn’t see these until September at the earliest, given that the game doesn’t come out until October. These may be the figures I’m most excited about this year; we’ll see how they turn out in person. BBTS also has singles of some of the other Batman Legacy figures, such as the Golden Age Joker.
  • Speaking of Arkham City, Best Buy recently revealed that their pre-order bonus is a Tim Drake Robin. It’s unknown whether Robin will show up in the campaign (as a playable character or otherwise), but he will be available in the challenge modes and will have his own move set (i.e., he’s not just a skin of Batman). Chances are those who pre-order through Best Buy will just be able to get Robin first, and a few weeks or months later he’ll be available as DLC. But unless some other, even more cool pre-order bonus character is revealed at some other store (Nightwing maybe?), this basically guarantees I’ll be pre-ordering the collector’s edition through Best Buy, which for price alone I’d probably do anyway. All that aside, what do you think of Robin’s look? I like the outfit. Some folks are complaining about the shaved head, but I don’t really care either way.

Ask Mattel > May 1 Edition

May 3, 2011 | Poe

Damn, I love that art.

Anyway, it’s time for another round of Ask Mattel. (I refuse to acknowledge a corporate mascot by name, nor pretend he actually exists.) My thoughts are in the blue boxes/captions. –PG

1.) Poe asks: Are there any plans to do more Arkham City figures beyond Batman and Two-Face in the Batman: Legacy line?

Yes. We’ll have the next wave at SDCC to show off.

Awesome.

2.) Toyman2581 asks: What is up with those strange yellow lanterns that come with all the Sinestro Corps figures in DCUC and DC Retro action? In the comics, all the yellow lanterns look just like the green ones. (more…)