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PRAISE FROM MY MOM:
"Your Site is Awesome."
Wow! Thanks, Mom!
March 31st, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Another Great Month of Toys Gone By

Well, friends, it’s been a load of fun celebrating plastic frivolity with you. Thanks for your comments and feedback throughout the month, and always be sure to check Figures.com and SuperHeroTimes for my published toy reviews, Graphic Novels in Focus articles, daily updates on toy news,and loads more. You guys rule. Thanks so much for reading.

Below is a pic of an upcoming custom to be added to the mix–a custom of yours truly, researching, eating, and preparing more great posts for all of you!

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THANKS AGAIN FOR READING!

C

March 31st, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Timeless Battles: Roadblock vs. Shelob

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“You wanna put me in your web.
Then I’m gonna bust you in your head.”

March 31st, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Toy of the Day, March 31 - Super Powers Dr. Fate

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(Kenner’s DC Super Powers Dr. Fate Figure)

Dr. Fate is the first action figure I ever remember purchasing at the store personally. Well, he’s the very first figure I ever picked out for myself. I think what sold me on him was his blue-gold color scheme, and his face mask, which echoes that of a medieval warrior. The figure had chopping action when you squeezed his legs together, an action-feature which I overused long ago. He also featured a wonderful yellow cape which now rides the fore winds of lost toys. But he still rules. I never had a Batman figure until I was seven, and until that time, Dr. Fate was my hero. Oddly enough, in all many travels through life, I have not sought out the true nature of this character–his special powers in the comics, his nemeses, none of it. I just think of him as the first toy I ever picked for myself off a peg in the toy aisle. For that, no matter who he is in the comic, he will always be a favorite of mine. I would like to extend, to my mother, a great basket of thanks. Getting this toy made me superbly happy, and he is proof my mom set me on the right path early in life. Thanks, mom!

March 30th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Timeless Battles: Aslan vs. Sauron

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Ultimate Good vs. Ultimate Evil.

And though Sauron should strike Aslan with his mace of evil malcontent, so too shall Aslan bite the villain’s jugular, that his black blood will run without end.

March 30th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Toy of the Day, March 30 - Kenner Jurassic Park Velociraptor

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(Kenner Jurassic Park Velociraptor)

This Velociraptor hunts men of all ages. She cares not if they wiled an axe, shotgun, or grenade. She will outsmart you. She will bite your face off. She is the ninja of the animal kingdom–a heartless, stealthy assassin who will bathe in manblood and lick the bones of her prey for the sheer pleasure of it. Her claws run through flesh like a hot knife through butter, and her battle cry is a scream that summons your doom. Velociraptor. Fear her, for though she are dead, yet shall she live in the dreams of children across the world, haunting them in their sleep. Pray she never returns, lest all mankind shall be her buffet. Velociraptor. One Dino that must stay dead, for the good of mankind.

This toy is powerful.

March 29th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Top 7 Toys I’ll Always Want and Never Own

Well, like all people, I dream. But unlike most people, I dream of toys. I dream of collectibles far above my paygrade, and I look upon them as unattainable trophies. Below are the top 7 items (in no particular order, less number 1) that I’ve seen that make me say, “WOW, THAT is PHENOMENAL. HOW CAN I GET IT?” Then upon looking at the price tag, I realize, “there is no way.” Keep dreaming. So I do. BElow, check out the Top 7 Toys I’ll Always Want and Never Own

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7. Lego Death Star - This enormous and amazing lego replica of the hailed home of villainy from Return of the Jedi is amazing, and I do long for it often. It’s an spectacular piece, and to own it would be crazy. If I did own it, I would require myself to purchase loads of Micro Machine X-wings, TIE Fighters, A-Wings, TIE Interceptors, and Y-Wings, to fight around it. At $300, I would either have to win the lottery or slay a golden moose to get it.

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6. Lego Millenium Falcon - This is the only complete Millenium Falcon fullyin-scale with the figures it includes, and it is a sight to behold. In fact, this may be Lego’s most awe-inspiring piece to date. The ship is huge, beautiful, and a piece to fulfill the dreams of fanboys of all ages. It’s just one of those pieces that makes you realize how cool toys can be. This piece is about $500, I believe; and it’s more likely that they choose me to play Lando Calrissian in a Star Wars re-make than for me to see this beautiful ship in my own home.

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5. Doom Premium Format Figure - The reasoning behind this figure is two-fold. First, it’s an amazing, mixed-media statue from Sideshow Collectibles that features real metal parts, PLUS real cloth goods, and a stellar pose that just captures the mindful planning of Doom. Second, this piece would be fantastic as a Statue that a 6″ Doom would have built of himself (similar to Saddam in Iraq). Picture this display. This premium format Doom, with a 6″ Doom standing either on its shoulder or on a podium in front of it, with a dozen doombots in front of it. It’d be crazy awesome.
4. Stealth Iron Man Maquette - Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is the greatest item from Sideshow collectibles that I have seen in person. This statue is absolutely fantastic,and I beleive that upon first seeing it–I did, in fact, piss my own pants. Luckily, my body temperature had reached magma-like proportions due to my excitement, adn the piss evaporated before staining my pants. It’s an amazing piece of 3D comic art, with light up features, and I am certain it serves as a centerpiece in the many collections it is in.
(Both of the above pieces clocked in over $300, whcih now means they probably run about $450 on the secondary market. Either way, it’ll never happen for me.)
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3. The Cobra Terrordrome - I had this amazing, Cobra base as a child, but I had to get rid of it due to space in my parent’s attic and my own stupidity. Looking back at my own life, getting rid of this base may be one of the top seven stupidest things I could have possibly ever done. I loved this base. It was an amazing playset, and I am certain I will never see it in my own home again. To have it again would be an amazing addition to not only my collection but my very life, for it would be the remedying of a poor life choice made by me as a child. Looking back, I would have much rather had this and slept on a bail of hay than had to have gotten rid of it for a queen sized bed. Damned be my impetuous youth. I don’t know how much it would cost to replace this toy…probably a million bucks, maybe a billion. If I owed Kuwait, I could probably get it again; but in my current life I just don’t see it happening.

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2. NECA’s Lord of the Rings Balrog - Above you will see the powerful, 18″ monster from the fabled halls of dwarven lands. It is the Balrog of Fire, and he will burn your village to the ground. i want him to burn G.I. Joes and knights aplenty. I long for him, but at a minimum $80 bucks, that ain’t bloody likely.

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1. BETA RAY BILL’S FABLED URU HAMMER, STORMBREAKER. So, here’s the bottom line. I could never afford to BUY Stormbreaker because it cost $300. But, let’s say I could. Let’s say I had millions of dollars and a whole warehouse in which to keep my beloved toys…well, even then I could not buy it. Let’s say that Santa Clause or a magical Egyptian genie came to me and said “Make a wish for the one collectible you want most, and to you it will be given.” I could not ask for it…
See, the reason Stormbreaker is my number one most wanted collectible that I will always want and never own is that Stormbreaker, whether real or in prop replica form, is an URU HAMMER, forged by dwarves and bequeathed only to those who are worthy. One cannot ask for an Uru Hammer. It is like asking for knighthood. That being said, because I am a man of morals, I could never purchase Stormbreaker for myself. It would be gesture of unspeakable pride and vulgarity–not unlike buying the Stanley Cup and having one’s name placed on it or buying an Academy Award and presenitng it to oneself in front of those more deserving. Stormbreaker is a reward, a gift, only given to those who are worthy. So, not only could I never purchase it of my own accord; but in order to possess it, I would need someone else to believe me worthy and bestow the fabled hammer upon me as a reward for my valor…and that, my friends, that, will never happen. In fact, by the very writing of this article, I have made myself unworthy of the gift, and were it given to me, I would not know what to do…

March 29th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Timeless Battles: Kraven the Hunter, Hunting The Bat Man

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If you’re gonna hunt the greatest beasts on the earth, then surely a “Bat Man” would be on your hitlist. Unfortunately for Kraven, this is one rodent who roll over without a fight!

March 29th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Toy of the Day, March 29 - Die Cast Darth Vader

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(Habsro’s Star Wars Titanium Series Darth Vader)

Behold yet another gift from the generous hands of my dear wife, Jamie. This is MY vader. If I could only have one Star Wars Toy, it would be him. He looks fantastic with his straight up Di Cast body and awesome, name-specific display unit. I really love this figure, because while he is an exceptional collectible, he is also a great toy and he could battle with 3 3/4″ Star Wars figure or Rancor monster you pit against him. Also, his die cast molding makes him a perfect weapon, as one could melt him down to make musket bullets or simply throw him at an intruder. Should he miss, he will still be an excellent diversion. Should he strike true to his target, then he will bruise him heartily. This Vader is good, man. Real good.

Special thanks to Jamie once again for this precious gift. It is a wonderful thing!

March 28th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Timeless Battles: Voldermort vs Adam West

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Can the ultimate exemplar of malicious power defeat the ultimate exemplar of mayoral prowess?
…Only time will tell.

March 28th, 2008

TOY MONTH 2008: Toy of the Day, March 28 - McFarlane’s Medieval Ogre

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(McFarlane Toys Spawn: The Dark Ages Ogre)

I’m finding that I am really, really into trolls and Ogres. Not “into them” like I want them to have my babies but “into them” like I want them to kill my G.I. Joes all day. Ogres and Trolls are awesome in any scale all the time, because they are what I call “universal scale”. You can have tiny mini ogres and trolls and make them Troll-pixies whose strike stings like a bee OR you can have big 12″ trolls that kill G.I. Joes or Knock down buildings if you have a Micro Machines City display. Ogres and trolls are awesome.

This Ogre was Christmas present back in high school from my brother, Eric, and I would take this moment to thank him. This Ogre rules.