SDCC'12 Standouts Pt.2: More Marvel, DC, and MotU

All right sorry for the delay, here's is the other part of my personal favorite unveils of SDCC'12.

Marvel Universe:

90's Rogue! Yes! Can not wait to get this 3-pack, Longshot is a plus, don't mind the Wolverine at least it a mold I don't already have. Wonder if Cyclops is the first in more X-Babies to come.

Marvel Select:

VENOM! Coming out in January next year we are getting the original Eddie Brock Venom, an according to a press release with photo he'll be coming packed with multiple interchangeable heads and hands to display him with. Definitely a must own for me.

DC Universe Signature Collection:

Finally being made available as a Matty Collector Club Infinite Earths monthly exclusive available in May 2013 next year, the long fan demand Wally West Flash. Now we just need 90's original costume Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and long haired harpoon hand Aquaman and we can complete the Morrison-era JLA.

Watchmen:

Wow! Something I thought would be cool, but never thought would happen has happened, DC Universe Classics scale and style Watchmen. My only dislike is only one figure is released every other month in 2013 thru Matty Collector, so it'll take toward the end of the year to get all six main characters, talk about dragging it out.  

Masters of The Universe:

Some cool figures revealed, but the only real surprise for me was seeing Keldor's/Skeletor's split-blade sword from the 2000 MotU series made in the "Classics" style coming out in a Weapons Pak in October. Also in the set will be Man-At-Arms' 2000 series blaster to give him an additional weapon to his arsenal.

The Dark Knight Rises Review

 

epic adj

1: extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope

epic noun
1: a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero
2: a work of art (as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic

Epic! The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion to director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, and is one of the most epic movies I have ever seen that not only completely meets the definition of the word, but also sets the bar on how to end a trilogy, that one last tale that connects all three parts in becoming a full circle. Genuinely one of the greatest movies I have ever seen or will ever see in my entire life, I have never before been so emotionally invested in a movie from beginning to end, when the credits rolled I was literally choked-up, physically unable to speak, and nearly on the verge of having tears run down my face. I mean the closet I can attest this film to is a religious experience, this final story touched my mind, body, and soul, and will forever hold very special meaning to me for the rest of my life.

Each and every actor in this movies is phenomenal, because it is through their character's journeys that we witness the destruction, the chaos, the pain, and the struggle to rise above those things be it physically or philosophically. Tom Hardy's Bane was everything I could of hoped for, I was thoroughly impressed with every nuance of his portrayal and couldn't ask for a better page to screen translation. Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle who is miraculously never once called Catwoman, gives the best live action representation of the character ever, and does it without clawed hands, a whip, cat-like movements, or meowing, instead gives us a smart, capable, and motivated woman who may not be very law abiding but has a strong moral core.

The true standout star, the absolute greatest scene stealer is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's John Blake, who's journey and evolution is just as important and at the center of the narrative as Bruce Wayne's is. I do have to say I highly enjoyed that this is the most comic influenced of Nolan's trilogy, taking ques from or sharing similarities with storylines like The Dark Knight Returns, Knightfall, Legacy, and No Man's Land, some intentional and others more likely by coincidence. Nolan gave us mind-blowing character reveals, perhaps immensely predicted by many but more then likely complete shocks to a lot of movie-goers.

Now this movie is to be held up as a masterpiece, a history making prime example of cinema, but can not and should not be compared to any other blockbusters such as it's predecessor The Dark Knight or Marvel's current winning superhero achievement The Avengers, because it is a complete different kind of film. Avengers may hold the title of the greatest super-hero movie right now, but The Dark Knight Rises is not a super-hero movie, like what Batman strives to become and succeeds in doing so, it is a modern legend, a mighty tale of a hero's deeds that will transcend time and inspire others not just in the film but also in the real world. My highest praise and endless gratitude to Christopher Nolan for his astonishing achievement, for he has given us something that we never thought was possible, a satisfying ending to Batman crime fighting career, truly something we will  never see anywhere else, be it in the comics or a future movie, so that is a major accomplishment in on it self.

SDCC'12 Standouts Pt.1: Marvel Legends

The 2012 San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone over the weekend and since Thursday night to this afternoon I have been scrolling through pictures of the new unveiled action figures.

Marvel Legends Series 3: Epic Heroes

First time seeing Mystique and Moonstar in plastic, and a five o'clock looks to have been added to the Punisher. Deadpool and Dr. Doom both revealed to have variants/running changes, proud to see Hasbro giving us Deadpool in his classic colors since the two-pack he was in is rare and expensive. The last series of the year will not have a build-a-figure.

Marvel Legends Series 4: Hit Monkey Series (2013)

 This series looks awesome, not too excited for Protector and also highly disappointed that Iron Fist still has Spider-Man's web-shooting hand, what the hell Hasbro? Didn't expect to see Ultimate Captain America getting a new figure, his original figure was and still is a superb example of Marvel Legends greatness, while a comic accurate Sentry has been long awaited, but Hyperion is the absolute must have for me and a personal check off my want list. Extremely glad to see Archangel in both his 90's and X-Force colors and X-Force Wolverine in this series, meaning if you miss out on the Con exclusive X-Force three-pack your only short Psylocke, perhaps she'll get a single card release later too. Can't say I am in any way happy what so ever for the new micro build-a-figures initiative for the 2013, or the choice of Hit Monkey, never saw his appeal, think he's stupid as hell personally.

Marvel Legends Series 5 (2013) Sneak Peek

Behold the final member of the 90's Jim Lee X-Men Blue & Gold Teams finally made. Jean Grey has long, long, been on my and every other X-Men loving Marvel Legend collectors wishlist, soon the team shall complete. Wrecker looks good, a lot of collectors have been waiting for him and the complete Wrecking Crew for a long time as well.

Gundam 00 Qan[T] Status

As you can see I've got his main body put together, only painting was some gray on his feet and and his head. I didn't realize how asymmetrical 00 Qan[T]'s design was until now with his shoulder armor and forearms, almost makes me want to get another 00 Qan[T] kit just to make him symmetrical. Remaining components to build are his shield, GN Sword , and various GN blade bits.

Amazing Spider-Man Review

 WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! BEST READ AFTER VIEWING FILM!

Columbia Pictures' reboot of Marvel Comics most famous wallcrawler directed by Marc Webb and staring Andrew Garfield definitely lives up to the added adjective attached to the film title. A well earned round of applause for Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, Andrew's performance is not only the best wise-cracking Web-head with straight of the comic posing and fighting on the big screen ever but he also does a great rendition of being a modern nerd while at the same time a love struck teenager, and the beautiful Ms. Stone perfectly brings to life the smart, kind, and caring Gwen Stacy, and they have the best on screen chemistry between a couple I have ever seen and is the heart and real driving force of the film which actually I'm not surprised evolved in to a real relationship between the two actors after filming. I give The Amazing Spider-Man 9 out of 10 Web lines, if Avengers set the bar for how great a Marvel Super Hero movie can be, then ASM is just under that spectacular wise, about on par with Captain America: The First Avenger, and just like Avengers is a very humorous movie, almost every scene has a line to make you laugh.

Being a reboot that had retell Spidey's origin again albeit slightly different, not just the spider bite but also the death of Uncle Ben, which I highly enjoyed Martian Sheen as Uncle Ben, but am I the only fan still kinda disappointed he was killed outside on the street instead of in his house like in the comics again, and also I know they were trying to stay away from Raimi's trilogy, but not getting the "with great power comes great responsibility" quote right in the movie is a little blasphemous, I mean perhaps Peter could combined what his Uncle said with maybe something Captain Stacy said before he died and get the line in towards the end of the movie would of been great. I love that this film had more guy-in-costume jumping around stunts then CGI Spidey, but I felt somethings went "un-re-expalined" or not used like we never got an example of his proportional strength or any kind of display of his Spider-Sense which bugged me. One thing I feel this movie had over Raimi's first film was this origin story felt more like a Spider-Man: Begins/Year One tale, and in my opinion better showed Peter evolve from a young man with new powers looking for vengeance in to gradually learning to be the hero that uses his powers to help others along the course of the film.

Rhys Ifans as Dr. Connors/The Lizard was phenomenal, and I for one am glad they kept the split personality "Lizard's voice" in his head and his plans to turn everyone in to Lizards like him just like in the comics. A great thing about The Lizard as the villain in this film is that he is a publicly known and dire threat to the city towards the end of the movie, rather then just after our hero like the bad guys in the previous Spidey films, where the general populace only heard about the villains in the Daily Bugle Newspaper. I love the design for The Lizard, a great realistic combination of human and lizard, the one thing I did not like though was his way too quick transformations to and from Lizard, and that any time he was damaged in anyway he instantly healed almost like a T-1000, seemed like forced comic-booky/cartoony to me for a live-action adaptation.

Out of all sixteen of Stan Lee's cameos in Marvel movies, this one takes the cake and will forever be the best one, laugh out loud fricking hilarious. The one thing that did fall short in an otherwise sensational blockbuster was the score by James Horner, there was no heroic theme of any kind or any real entrancing music attached to scenes, pretty much uni-toned through out the whole film. Now the final questions: Who was that in Connor's cell in the mid-credit scene? Was is it Norman Osborn? Will we see Osborn in the next film?, and if so will become the Green Goblin or start to become him? Does he already have a psychotic split personality? Answers we can only hope to see in theaters May 2nd, 2014 when the sequal comes along.

Marvel Universe X-23 Review

X-23, a young female clone of Über-popular X-Man Wolverine, was a very controversial character when she first appeared, originally created for an episode of the X-Men: Evolution cartoon before being made an official cannon character in the main Marvel Universe a year later by the same writers that created her. I gave up watching the X-Men: Evolution after the first season, so I never saw the episode she appeared in, nor did I read any comics she first appeared in so I never got to she her in action or get a real feel for her. I can tell you I was highly against her getting a Marvel Legend action figure in 2006 because I felt a character that had barely been in the comics just under two years was unworthy of being released in a series called "MARVEL LEGENDS", but since then I have read comics with X-23 in them and have come to welcome her in the world of The X-Men and even like her a unique character.

Marvel Universe X-23 is chalk full of articulation, the first female buck to sport this much, but a flawed design of her upper thigh limits her movement at the hips, so standing and sitting/kneeling poses are possible but not side-kicks or the splits. I am glad they decided not to sculpt her with her feet claws out, and I am impressed with the slip-on soft plastic used to create the look of her boots, if you didn't know better you'd think they were completely new sculpted pieces. It's nice to see Hasbro is trying to complete the team of Wolverine's X-Force, I just hope X hasn't inherited Logan's ability to made multiple times in multiple costumes, I personally would only like one more X-23 in another costume with no mask.

Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A FUN FILLED AND SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY! 

 

Detailed Iron Man

If you remember my Marvel Universe Ultimate Gift Set 5-Pack review you saw pics of the Iron Man that came in it, and he was very plain, mostly just the base mold colors and very little paint. As soon as I got him out of the package and saw the indented lines on him I immediately thought I could fill those in with the detail marker I use for my Gundam model kits. Finally got around to doing it yesterday, and I think he came out great, and looks like he just walked right out of the old 70's comics.