Marvel Universe Black Widow & Avengers Comic Series 4-Pack Review

I've been wanting Black Widow for my 3 3/4 in. Avengers, but Marvel Universe's first go at her I felt was not very accurate, and was hoping Hasbro would re-release her in better colors later. I got my wish when Hasbro released the Avengers Assemble Comic Series that came with light-up inter-connectable stands, not only did was she now in all black with gold gauntlets and belt but she's also sporting a gorgeous brand new head sculpt which is very highly comic accurate. Sadly Natasha doesn't come with any weapons and her only accessory is her light-up Avengers base, but when you know she is a Femme Fatale she really doesn't need any.

This four pack was my Holy Grail for a while when it came out, I was searching Wal-Marts and Ebay daily, luckily a close friend of mine noticed and found it and got it for me as a birthday present. If you were like me and didn't have any of these figures then this set was a godsend from the Toy Gods, three figures only available in other exclusive sets and one not even released on single card yet, answer to my prayers.

Hawkeye: Previously only available in a Secret Wars 2-Pack, Clint comes with his trusty bow and one arrow. The Avenging Archer is a straight re-release from that 2-pack, portrayed in his classic and long worn costume.
Hulk: I never thought I'd get a Marvel Universe Hulk, didn't like any of he's previous sculpts, but this 2012 brand new sculpt is extraordinary with his textured skin and jeans, and tons of articulation, and best of all he was first available in this set before he's scheduled single card release.
Iron Man: This classic "Horn Head" Iron Man was another Wal-Mart exclusive Gigantic Battles Set with Goliath. Tony comes with two of those "funnel" Repulsor Blast I hate.
Loki: Like Iron Man he too was a Gigantic Battle Wal-Mart exclusive packed with a Frost Giant. No accessories but it's nice to have a classic God of Mischief to torment my classic Thor.

Yes I tracked down Black Widow and the Avengers 

4-Pack to complete the Movie/Avengers Assemble Team.

Thor: The Dark World Trailer

Our first trailer for Thor: The Dark World doesn't reveal much of the story other than a The Darkness that existed before our Universe has survived and seems to be the power behind Malekith The Accursed, I am wondering if The Darkness is gonna be Those Who Sit Above In Shadow. I'm also interested in who that is in at 0:26 seconds, looks to be perhaps piloting whatever is crashing in to that city because you see a picture of Earth in front of him. And who couldn't ask for more of Tom Hiddleston's Loki, can't wait to see what mischief he'll cause for Thor this time around.

The first teaser poster for Thor: The Dark World if you haven't seen it:

All New X-Men #1-4 & Uncanny X-Men #1-2 Review

All New X-Men #1-4

I have been an X-Men fan since I was six years old, and have been following Marvel's Merry Mutants almost non-stop for the past twenty-three years, my entire comic book collection is mostly composed of X-Men, and nearly all other X-teams and X-related spin-offs, in short I love the X-Men. I've been a fan of writer Brian Michael Bendis ever since New Avengers, and he does not disappoint here, straight out of the events of Avengers Vs. X-Men, Professor X is dead and Cyclops is a fugitive starting a revolution while gathering new mutants as they appear around the world which makes Beast have the crazy idea to bring the original five X-Men from the past to the present to shock and try and convince Cyclops in to stopping his dangerous crusade. Over two decades of reading X-Men comics has made these characters like family to me cause I been with them through all their ups and downs, and Bendis perfectly portrays them in his writing and wording of exactly how each x-man is dealing with the new status quo and with Beast's unique response.

Stuart Immonen is now one of my Top Ten favorite comic book artist, not only are his covers the very definition of "attention getting" but also his interior work is gorgeous, anything from action-packed fighting to dramatic conversations are highly energetic and cinematic that really conveys emotional and physical struggle. To me All New X-Men is the best comic coming out from Marvel right now, and if you read any one X-Men book then this is the one pick up. I am not kidding or over-exaggerating about Immonen's artwork, this page from issue #4 is one the most mind-blowing pages I have ever seen in a comic:

   

Uncanny X-Men #1-2

Dammit Marvel! You just renumbered Uncanny X-Men twenty issues ago, this new #1 should be Uncanny X-Men #565, you can see my original rant about the renumbering here, I'm still betting in three years it'll be renumbered again when it's reaches #600. Uncanny is the sister book to All New X-Men also written by Brian Michael Bendis showing Cyclops group as they recruit emerging young mutants and continue to evade S.H.I.E.L.D. and other heroes of the world, but what Cyclops doesn't know is that S.H.I.E.L.D. has an informant within his ranks who wants him to pay for his crimes. So just like All New the writing is great, I was thoroughly surprised to find out who the informant was, but I have to say I am not a huge fan of Chris Bachalo's art, never have been, I just find his artwork too free-hand, undisciplined, and unproportionate, and I don't think his style ever fitted the X-Men, but it is an X-Men book and Bendis's writing is top notch, so it looks like I have to grudgingly sit through his run on the book and pray he gets moved to some other title soon.

DC Universe Classics Triple Flash Review

I've had three DC Universe Classics Flash figures to review for quite a while now, so instead of doing a review for each one I've decided to review them all at once.

The Reverse-Flash

I never read anything with Reverse-Flash in it until I read Flash: Rebirth which finally cemented him as more then just "Bad Guy Flash", that he is a truly evil bastard and true nemesis of Barry Allen. Thane's figure is mostly cast in yellow plastic with his stripes and symbol painted on, along with a nice over-spray of dark yellow to bring out detail and help not make him a bright yellow. Professor Zoom's boots are darker then I would like, I would of like them to match the red on his costume, but it's my only gripe. Eobard has a new menacing sour mugged head and a open left hand to hold his Lightning Rod accessory that is straight out of Rebirth which greatly pleases me. 

White Lantern Flash

Now I love repaints to create alternate costumes for characters as much as the next collector, but come on, Flash was only a White Lantern for one page, and besides White Lantern Hal Jordan I highly doubt Mattel is gonna make any other White Lanterns to recreate that splash page, but hey I got him for cheap and needed his build-a-figure piece. Barry is molded completely in a very light gray plastic with his stripes and symbol painted on, and his boots and head wings painted silver, while his unmasked facial features are painted on very nicely. A hilarious thing about this figure is the clip-on electrical energy effects are reused from Series 2 Electric Superman here cast in mostly clear with a hint of blue, but they didn't even bother to remold it or cut out the Superman "S" Symbol on the back. I want to call laziness on Mattel's part, though I do got to say the electrical effects do look pretty cool from the front, and how often do you see your figures back on your shelves?

Golden Age Flash

Jay Garrick The Golden Age Flash was a figure I was waiting to show up in a DC Classics Universe series for a long time, and was excited to learn he'd be the first DC Signature online exclusive release. Jay uses the leaner male buck which I think fits perfect for the older speedster rather then the standard muscled super-hero physique. The original Flash has new lower legs to give him new boot tops, but uses previous Flash figures treaded boot feet and I can't tell you how glad I am his belt is a separate soft plastic piece instead of just painted on.

Mr. Garrick's upper body is molded in red with his lower molded in blue, both are given a nice darkening and detail defining over-spray, with his lightning bolt symbol, neck, and flesh neckline painted on. The real standout piece on this figure is his awesomely sculpted smirking head, truly the best detailed mug ever to come from Mattel, perfectly and literally topped with a shiny vac-metal silver helmet, shame it's not removable though. I am highly pleased with this figure, and greatly joyed and thankful Mattel finally got around to making him to add my and other collectors Justice Society of America display.

Still Alive/Random Thoughts

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, I assure you I am still alive. It pains me and I kick myself every day I don't post something, but the combination of barely having time to sit down to assemble a post of any kind and my current computer keeps on dying on me, and I keep on bringing it back to some resemblance of working life to get basic file holding and internet usage out of it. Today I'm just gonna type out things that's happened or interested me in the last month and a half.

Christmas 2012:  For Christmas my girlfriend got me V For Vendetta in trade paperback and a cool Star Trek book by William Shatner, my mom found me an awesome Star Trek 25th anniversary pewter mug, my brother got me the extended Avatar blu-ray and an 8-Pack of Iron Man 3 3/4 in. figures I didn't have, and my grandma got me the set of Chucky movies on DVD.

J.J. Abrams Directing Star Wars Episode VII: When I first heard Disney bought the rights to Star Wars and that they were planning to make a new movie to be out by 2015 I was a little skeptical on the creation of a new film, fearing it could come out worst then the prequel trilogy, but now with J.J. Abrams on board I have faith and greater hope for the new adventure. The questions are: Is he gonna direct more then one? or even all three of the new trilogy?, and is he still gonna have the time to direct a third Star Trek film? Also Disney if you going to have him direct, please also let him do any rewrites he wants to the script.

Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series Cancelled: What the Hell DC and Cartoon Network? Young Justice and Green Lantern are the two best TV series to feature DC Comic characters since the original Batman: The Animated Series. Young Justice out does the superhero team dynamic of action and drama that original Justice League cartoon never came close to, and Green Lantern is a perfect adaption of the Green Lantern mythos, simplifying without stupefying, a series that still has plenty of tales left to bring to life. Seriously DC and Cartoon Network what are you thinking? That you have to cancel two shows to make room for two shows, why can't you have four DC shows on DC Nation? DC should has boo-koo bucks right now to put in to animated shows to get their characters out there, and I am still doubting Beware The Batman is gonna be any good.

Now: I'm currently in the middle of writing a toy review, and I've got plenty of figures in the last few months for upcoming reviews and still want to write reviews of DC New 52 comics I've been reading. I am reassuring you Temporal Flux is still functioning and new post are coming. Hopefully when I get a new computer with my Income Tax Return I will start back to a regular posting schedule.

Star Trek Into Darkness Teaser Trailer

"When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.

With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew."

The waiting to learn who the villain is in the this movie begins, a mystery that's going to be killing me 'til May or until it's leaks on to the net. My personal belief along with many others is it is Khan Noonien Singh, my theory is in this new timeline the Federation found Khan and his ship full of genetically engineered followers years before James T. Kirk took command of the Enterprise and has been using him to do off the books black ops mission until he is betrayed and left for dead which leads him to return with a grand plan to destroy the Federation. My evidence is in the trailer as we see the villain jumping down from an extremely high height, swinging around a very big weapon effortlessly, and showing superior and powerful martial arts abilities, and then in the extended Japanese teaser trailer he has the additional quote of "Is there anything you would not do for your family?" which I think is talking about his fellow genetic augmented brethren being held by the Federation as leverage for Khan to do their dirty work.

The official synopsis even says: "Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction." , sounds like a genetically engineered super warrior to me. "an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization" I believe points toward the shadow cabinet of higher-up Federation officials that's behind all the darker and secret events that keeps the Federation as a major power but still appear peacekeeping and exploring, perhaps Section 31. I also believe Peter Weller plays a member of this cabinet, perhaps maybe Commodore Decker, Weller did say in an interview he has his own ship.

Gundam 00 Qan[T] Complete

Finally got around to building the weapons for 00 Qan[T], and now armed and ready for combat he is complete. The next kit I have begun construction is the Real Grade Gundam Mk.II, which is my first Real Grade and has so far been a very tedious undertaking to say the least. Also I want to apologize to my followers for my lack of post as of late, but a combination of busy off-line life and a dying computer that I pretty sure is on it's way out giving me constant trouble it has been difficult to do anything on the computer or internet related, but I assure I am still here and have not forgotten or ignoring my blog.

DC New 52 Reviews: Deathstroke #2-12 & Detective Comics #2-12 + Annual

Deathstroke #2-12

I'll be honest with you, I buy and read this book cause I'm a huge Deathstroke fan, and I'm just enjoying seeing him kill people in different ways every month. I think the Legacy story played out nicely revealing who was behind the attacks and the costumed mercenaries trying to take out Slade. Now I can't say I love Rob Liefeld's art above anyone elses but after 20 years I have become accustomed to his drawing style, his writing though could definitely be better cause issues 9-12's story featuring Lobo felt fairly plain and not thought out much past the initial basic premise, was nice seeing Zealot though, even if she wasn't written well. 

Detective Comics #2-12 & Annual #1 

If you've read my review of issue 1 of Detective Comics then you'd know this series didn't actually start out very good in my eyes, issue 2 was an improvement, the Dollmaker storyline with Batman on the trail to save Commissioner Gordon was decent. The Penguin story is painfully stretched over the three issues of #5-7, #8 is a stand-alone tale with Scarecrow having Batman take down Hugo Strange's son, while in #9 Batman takes down Talons attacking Arkahm Asylum far too easy in Night of The Owls tie-in. Guest artist Ed Benes's art in issue 10 was a welcomed sight, cause I've got to say Tony Daniel is my less favorite Batman artist right now, and I did enjoy the sci-fi elements in the Mr. Toxic story arc, even though it felt like it should been more in a Superman book then in Batman's. Then there's the boring Annual with Black Mask and Mad Hatter, don't even get me started on that, all I can say is thankfully a new creative team takes over with issue 13.

MOTU Prince Adam & Orko Review

Originally released as a San Diego Comic-Con 2010 exclusive "Orko with Prince Adam pack-in" finally gave us The Most Powerful Man In The Universe's alter ego. Later re-released and made available for purchase off Matty Collector for those like me who couldn't get to that convention. This version of Orko is the painted re-release that was only available off the Matty Collector website, the original convention exclusive Orko was made of heat sensitive color changing plastic, I prefer the painted version to better fit in with the other MOTU Classics figures.

Prince Adam is no surprise a repaint of He-Man sporting a new soft plastic vest and resculpted smiling head. Painted in colors closely following he's appearance in the 80's cartoon right down to he's purple boots and light purple tights which along with his painted-on white shirt have a nice light shadowing that brings out and really helps define the muscle sculpt. The MOTU Classics are more based off the original 80's action figures then how they appeared in the TV series, where the original Prince Adam had he's He-Man's gauntlets painted white, here the sculptors The Four Horseman gave Adam identical round gauntlets and painted them in an amazing pearl white, which is the real standout detail on this figure.

Adam comes with three accessories to call he's own, a Power Sword painted in magenta and purple, a Power Sword Half in the same colors, and an additional interchangeable head with the usual He-Man grimace. I myself would of liked him to come with a regularly colored Power Sword, but Mattel stuck with the original's sword color. The vast majority of MOTU collectors wished Mattel added a sword slit on Adam's vest to hold he's sword like his sister Adora's figure, but I'm guess they wanted to keep with the design of the original figure, and to the cartoon where you never actually see Adam wearing the sword on his back, and seems like he pulls the sword out from under the back of he's vest.

Orko is a amazing little figure in perfect scale with the other Classics figures, and adds another major cast member of the original cartoon to my shelf. Along with perfectly painted colors Orko has three points of articulation in each of he's arms, and a sweet ball shaped head on a ball joint neck which you can rotate and tilt in almost any direction. Orko's three accessories are he's scepter which I think is a scaled down revision of the one he's 2002 toy came with, a closed spellbook, and he's clear flight stand to appear floating while standing with he's fellow defenders of Eternia.

Iron Man Anime Movie & Heroes United Trailers

I still haven't seen any of the Marvel Anime yet, hear Iron Man is the best out of the bunch, and Rise of Techovore is looking to be awesome and definitely worthy of being the first feature length anime movie. I'm wondering though if this movie is a sequel to the Iron Man anime series or suppose to fit in the Iron Man/Avengers movie universe. Heroes United on the other hand is looking horrible, I was hoping for something better then Invincible Iron Man, but it look like it's on par or worse than it, I honestly don't even know if I'm going to buy it now.