From the universally loathed film, Daredevil.

Series:
Movies/Film

Recipe:
This is a repatined NECA Sin City Manute figure.

Accessories:
Kingpin included Manute’s interchangeable fists and a cane.

Reasoning Behind The Effort:
I found Manute figure at a Hot Topic for $3.70, so i bought it without knowing what to do with it –before I was married, i could do things like that. Eventually, when i ahd to really star getting rid of parts, I felt the best use of the figure would be for a Kingpin based on the Daredevil movie.

Additional Thoughts
I’m the only person I know who really liked the Dardevil film. Sure, it was imperfect–and by imperfect I mean “bad”–but I thought the attempt and goal of the film, as poorly executed as it was, was a solid one, and I appreciated the attempt, even as bad as it was. Back when i had a Daredevil movie figure, i thought this Kingpin would be nice to have so that I could display them together. But with time and purging came the removal of this figure from my mighty halls, and I do not miss him. Frankly, he had too much paint on him to move and pose much–which really killed him for me. Oh, well, way it goes for some figures. He looks alright, though, I think–not that anyone cares since he’s from a movie pretty much nobody liked. (Figure completed in Fall 2006)

Because I have found loads of wonderful content at Hulu.com that I intend to share with all of you, I have added a new category entitled, “Gifts of Hulu” to the site. The inaugural video is a masterpiece first introduced to me by Dean McCarthy, and I now present it to all of you from the stage! If you haven’t seen this before, it’s amazing. If you have seen it, let it touch you again, in your heart…

inspired by various appearances of the character in both Angel and Buffy, The Vampire Slayer

Figure:
Angelus

Series:
Angel

Recipe:
This Angelus figure was made very simply by putting a DST Season 3 Vampire Angel head on an Angel Season 5 body, then painting the shirt maroon.

Accessories:
Because this figure was so basic and nothing more than a parts user, I loaded him with accessories. He includes a mansion base, an axe, a sledgehammer, a sword,a stake, blood in a bottle, and a stake–plus rubber bands for thim to be able to hold the weapons well.

Reasoning Behind The Effort:
Parts user, nothing more. I think he was made during the phrase wherein I was just dying to get rid of parts and make room in my closet. In fact, if memory serves correctly, the parts were pre-painted for another figure that I retired previously. It’s been a while, so I can’t be sure, so I’ll just say it was a parts user, reagardless of if they’re used before–sorry for this odd, long explanation.

Additional Thoughts
I am pretty ashamed of my blatant “parts users” like this, but it’s a good figure. The paint on his arms and shoulders took some of his articulation, which sucks; but I still think overall, he’s still a pretty solid custom variant. (FIGURE COMPLETED in FALL 2007)

Friends, there are many toys I want in my life, and below are 7 I may at some point actually be able to get!!!! They are not in any order of priority!

1. Lord of the Ring’s Cave Troll
This toy absolutely rules, and I once had him but sold him to pay for living expenses after graduating from college. I yearn for him to return to my collection. He usually rocks it for $30 on ebay, so it shouldn’t be a problem regaining him with Christmas or birthday money at some point. If you are into trolls from Lord of the Rings, check out this awesome wikipedia article.

2. Micro Machine Star Wars Armada
I used to love Star Wars Micro Machines as a kid, but as I aged, I foolishly got rid of them, feeling they were too small to enjoy. Oh, How wrong I was. These beautiful, tiny replicas of some of Star Wars’ greatest ships are fantastic, and they usually run $1-2, making an armada relatively affordable!!! You can see loads of Micro Machines, both from Star Wars and other properties at the Micro Machines Museum

3. “Stan” Eminem
This figure’s fantastic, and he captures the likeness of an individual I believe was one of the best wordsmiths of the last 10 years. Nothing much more to say other than I respect Eminem, and I dig this figure.

4. Shaun of the Dead Winchester Two-Pack
Shaun of the Dead was one of the best Zombie movies ever, and this 2-figure set captured the mayhem and humor through the film’s two central protagonists, Shaun and Ed. I totally dig this set, particularly the gruesome Shaun (The Ed I could take or leave), and I really want it!

5. Exosquad JT Marsh and Phaeton
Loads of Exosquad pics are available at Check out an Exo-Squad Toy Database Here
In my humble opinion, the Exo-Squad cartoon and Toys are the highlight of the toy-toon-tie-ins of the 1990s (arguably tied with the original, Batman: The Animated Series). No other cartoon at that time carried the weight and drama of Exo-squad (again, less Batman, arguably), and I can recall NO U.S. toy from that early-90s era that featured this level of playability AND detail (again, the argument can be made against this). The show totally jumped the shark in the second half of the second season and sucked up through the finale, but the first half of the series is just outstanding, as are these truly amazing toys. J.T. Marsh and Phaeton were the main central characters, so at some point, I’d like to pick them up (as well as others, if i can find them on the cheap).

6. Jinx
You may remember this G.I. joe Ninja from the Stunkpod, wherein Dean counted down his Top ten, and she was his number one. I thought I had her as well, but I do not. She’s usually $15 on ebay, and I have to pick her up–she’s the last “rawhide” I need from G.I. Joe the Movie, so I hope to get her soon to complete that set!

7. Master Shake
After a few denizens from The Simpsons, Master Shake may be the funniest animated character of all time. he is cruel, foul, selish, arrogant, and hilarious; and I need this figure on my shelve, if only to bring me happiness in times of woe. I totally and completely love this figure, and I think I can eventually land him!

Friends, if you have not been to Hulu.com, please go. This site rules the world with awesomeness. It features a great deal of TV shows in fantastic resolution, and it’s free! Sure, you get a few adds but there’s only one add per commercial break, about 25% of what you get during the broadcast. Seriously, HULU’s a great resource for those without cable,TiVO, or the time to catch shows as they happen; and I highly encourage you to use it–at least until I find out it is illegal…if that happens, i discourage it!

I discovered Hulu about a week ago, and I’ve already used it to re-watch nearly every episode of The Office, Season 4 and new eps of BattleStar Galactica (both of which I’ll be buying on DVD, for certain)! Click the link above to get to a variety of shows!!

Blending Buffy’s Xander and the X-files’ Fox Mulder

Figure:
Agent Xander

Series:
Crossover Buffyverse

Recipe:
This figure was made by putting a DST Season 7 Xander head on the body of a DST “Bad Girls” Wesley Body. The jacket was then cut down the center to appear open, and paint was applied only to the tie, the base, and the flashlight.

Accessories:
This figure included a custom base, a gun, and a flashlight, made from a DST microphone.

Reasoning Behind The Effort:
This was a commissioned custom for my greatest customs patron, Mari Anne; and it was part of her full line of one-of-a-kind Buffy and Angel characters crossed with various characters from different universes including Marvel & DC comics, TV, Movies, and more.

Additional Thoughts
This was not one of my favorite customs in the “Crossover Buffyverse”, but it was one of the best, I think. This Xan totally looks like he’d fit in with the government agency crowd, and I totally dig him. He’s dull, but good for what he needs to be. (FIGURE COMPLETED IN SUMMER 2007)

A week ago, in the recent G.I. Joe Looks Awful post, two commenters stated that the costumes looked strangely reminiscent of Universal’s mid-1990s video-game-adaptation, Street Fighter. Could the G.I. Joe movie be a latent sequel to that universally loatehd film??? No. Not directly. However, it is interesting to note that it may in fact be a “Indirect sequel” in that it will share many similarities to the mid-90’s film and could actually serve as this decade’s Street Fighter in terms of fan backlash, underperformance, and overall legacy as a “Guilty pleasure” film by those that enjoy it. Here’s a top 7 reasons why:

1) G.I. Joe like Street Fighter is an adaptation of a beloved, popular property full of interesting and unique characters.

2) Both films will follow a military team vs. a maniacal terrorist and his colorful henchmen.

3) Both films involve arms dealers: G.I. Joe has Destro, the Street Fighter film had Criminal underlord Victor Sagat.

4) Both films have costumes that look less than stellar…

5) Both films seem geared for the PG-13 “please everybody including fans and non-fans, alike” demographic.

6) Both films appear to involve old scores that will be settled in mano-a-mano combat (Street Fighter had like 4 of these, G.I. Joe has at least Storm Shadow vs. Snake Eyes)

7) Both films are taking extreme licenses with the original properties for seemingly no reason (in Street Fighter, the T-Hawk character who is really an enormous Mexican brawler in the game, is a pasty popsicle-stick of a military man with a headband. in G.i. Joe Ripcord is a black dude in “Ripped off The Dark Knight” body armor while the original character is a redhead in a loose green jumpsuit).

Ripcord Movie vs. Ripcord Figure/Comic

Now, for me this creates a terrible problem because…I LOVE Street Fighter. It’s a movie from my youth that continues to be a guilty pleasure on my movie shelf. I have a great time watching it. I love it in its ludicrous C-level production; and (for some odd reason that plagues me daily) I cannot get enough of it…so does this mean I may also love G.I. Joe? Could G.I. Joe be MY next Street Fighter –the next awful film that I embrace unabashedly despite itself… in the words of my good friend, Christopher Charles Chandler, “I don’t know, guys”.

First, Tuesday my site crashed for 15 minutes…I almost wept openly. Got my personal WORD archives updated through last week.

Second, Iron Man hits next week, and I am most pleased.

Third, A week from Today, two of my lifelong friends, Brenda and Dave, will wed; but I am unable to attend the wedding. For this, I apologize and feel like a loser and deserve to be wounded by the kick of a mountain goat.

Fourth, things continue to move forward with the Boys of Summer DVD Boxset, and I hope to have it done by the end of the year, marking the 7 year anniversary of the first film’s creation! Of course, now that I have made it known on the internet that I want to accomplish this it will not be accomplished, and I apologize to all who wanted it before year’s end.

Fifth, the feedback on the podcast that I have received from everyone has been amazing. Dean and I are very encouraged and have another coming soon!

Movie Moment of the week: When Eric stabs Ursala with a FRIGGIN’ BOAT in the Walt Disney animated feature, The Little Mermaid.

Quote-of-week. “This is foolishness, shenanigans…nerf.ball. … You up here, sittin’ on your biscuit, never having to risk it.” - Daryl on The Office episode, “Safety Training”.

REASONs-MY-WIFE-IS-AWESOME-OF-THE-WEEK: She continues to excel at her job. She let me take all of Monday Evening to complete the podcast that went up Wednesday, so it is her as well that you need to thank.

Song of the Post: “Please Don’t Tell Her” by Jason Mraz Mr. A to Z.

Get your Stunkpods right from Itunes with this link

Check out the feed set up by brother-in-law, who has been the mastermind behind the podcast’s success since the very beginning!! His tech-savvy skills have been the so-called recipe behind the stunkpod’s preparation, and thanks to his initiative, the above link will now allow you all to get the casts right through Itunes!!! Just click, and the latest podcast begins to download into your podcast queue. Then you can “get” the rest as well! Awesome Stuff, guys, and thanks so much for your kind comments and support this last week!

Check out my latest Graphic Novel in Focus Article over at SuperHeroTimes.com. This week, I write about the awesome 5-part limited series, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear!