An Aqua-fan in Crisis……

Oh, bleeding heck.

They would have to go and make a Black Lantern Aquaman, wouldn’t they? As if poor Arthur hasn’t suffered enough indignity being turned into a bizzarroid fish dude before finally being offed, now we have to not only see him as a Black Lantern Zombiefreak, but have him in plastic as well?

Thanks to IGN’s reveal of DCD’s Blackest Night Waves 3 and 4, we know the answer is yes. Blankety blank, blankety blank, rude words, etc….

While I am looking forward to quite a few of the figures in this line, and have to give DCD props for finally making an Arisia figure, this one is a killer….

So, what is a loyal, completist, possibly OCD, and okay, totally anal-retentive Aquaman collector to do? At the moment I am naturally saying there is “no way” I will buy this piece of plastic sacrilege, but time will tell – all I can say is that if we don’t get a resurrected Arthur / Odin out of this, there’s going to be major throwing of stuff around the toyroom here at AFB!

As I await my final decision, help me out by telling me what you’re buying or not buying in the poll to the right.

Until next time!

AFB Comment of the Month Contest – July 2009

First off, thanks to everyone who made an effort to comment on posts from June here on AFB. It’s very heartening to get feedback and have some discussion going on the blog as well as the forum.

Congratulations to Freak Studios for winning the June 2009 Comment of the Month Contest. His comment was randomly selected by a random number selector (of which I have discovered there are many on the internet!) and he now gets the choice of either the classic Dr Fate from DCUC Wave 8 or Livewire from Superman / Batman Wave 7 which FINALLY comes out this week! One he’s made his choice his prize will be delivered courtesy of AFB and Mike from Mike’s Comics N’ Stuff. Well done Freak Studios!

For July, the two choices on offer are either the Batman figure from DC Direct’s History of the DC Universe Wave One, or both the Classic and Modern Ms Marvel figures from Marvel Universe Wave 3.

Here’s a reminder of the basic contest rules:

• every genuine comment on a post from the calendar month will be eligible for receiving the prize. I’m going to stick to my own time zone and call it at 23:59:59 Australian Eastern Standard Time – best to comment often and comment early
• if my super scientific randomizer comment selector system chooses an Anonymous comment, I’ll skip it and go again – you need to leave a name, a link, your AFB Forum username or email addy so that I can contact you if you are the winner. Blogger comments allows you to do this.
• you will be given a choice of one of the two figures on offer from the month’s contest – figures will be in their original packaging
• figures will be sent by first class mail within the US (Mike is sending them, remember) and first class international to any overseas winner. An overseas winner can elect to chip in for Priority Mail or Insurance, but otherwise we can’t take any responsibility for a parcel that doesn’t arrive – after this is coming out of AFB’s  not dreadfully deep pockets!

Once again, thanks to Mike for making this all possible for us, and here’s to another happy month of commenting!

Until next time!

The Animated X-Men Ranks Grow….

Just a quick update tonight to show some additions to the Wolverine and the X-Men collection: Cyclops, Magneto and Iceman.

AFB has international visitors at the moment (thus the bit of silence) and one of them had a camera that required fixing. Well, darn, the camera shop was right next door to the “other” comic shop across town so I had to have a gander, and found the missing figures of the first wave that I wanted (I’m passing on Avalanche and Toad).

These figures are very stylistic and I imagine ones that people either will love or hate. They’re very true to the animation and fun to have around, although they’ve been relegated to my bookshelves at work as I don’t have room for them at home.

Cyclops and Magneto are both great representations of the cartoon versions. Cyclops’ trench is particularly well done. Cyclops has a optic beam that can be inserted into his visor and Magneto has a long chain link that inserts into his palm. I like these because unlike some of the Marvel Universe figures the attachment can be used and posed without knocking the figures over.

Iceman is a great figure, firstly because he really captures the look of the  cartoon version, and secondly because he’s sculpted in a running (or sliding) position with an ice skateboard with foot pegs that actually work.

Again, these figures aren’t for everyone and definitely geared towards the kid market (although the cartoon is really on  the darkish side for the retail toy set) but they’re fun to have around. I do really hope that we get at least the key female characters (Kitty, Rogue, Emma and Storm) to balance out the group, although I don’t hold out alot of hope.

It sucks to be a girl superhero sometimes, eh?

You can check out more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post for one of your last chances to win the June AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Marvel Universe – Enter the Ladies!

Well…… lady, but in two forms. I’ve finally added the two Ms Marvels to my Marvel Universe collection. These are much anticipated for me for two reasons, firstly because I love the character and secondly because it’s the first female character in the line and obviously important to see in terms of how the female buck for this line is going to turn out.

Overall, the result is outstanding. The detail on these figures really do leave DC Infinite Heroes for dead, and these two figures are a perfect example. The articulation is amazing for this scale, and the level of detail in terms of hair, uniform pieces, is amazing.

Classic Ms Marvel shines in her headsculpt and torso which really captures Carol in her classic mode. Unfortunately, mine has a bent right leg, in fact wonky legs in general – not sure if this is a packaging issue or not, however it doesn’t effect her stand-up-ability, just her look. I haven’t had a really good fiddle with them as I’ve just taken them out of the pack, so I may be able to make her look a bit better than she does at the moment.

Modern Age Ms Marvel is a real standout. For starters, her legs are non-wonky, which is a plus. The sculpt of her hair and sash is great for this scale. The paint apps on this figure are a little fuzzy at the edge of the boots and the yellow insignia on her chest, but she cuts a fine figure and looks excellent (and in scale) next to her male compatriots.

One plus for these figures is the “blast thing” accessories, which fit on her hands very easily compared to the wobbly power blast versions that came with Human Torch and Iron Fist in the first wave. These are fitted to the sculpt and stick on quite tightly. Good to see some improvements in design and quality from wave to wave, and as always with this line, good to

My main concern with this line is the number of repeat characters that seem to be coming out already – several versions of Iron Man, Spiderman, Wolvie, etc. Thankfully I seem to be able to pick and choose, but if these start coming out in too many two or three packs where you already own one or two of the figures, then it’s not value for money. Also a concern is some dreaded retailer exclusives coming up and of course the ridiculous Nick Fury scam (don’t get me started on that one!). If the character selection that’s coming out of DCIH could be combined with the articulation and quality of this line, it would be killer!

I remain drawn in to the line by the fun. the quality, the collectability and the great picture they make together as a group, plus the prospect of the wide character selection that could emerge here. Hasbro certainly seems more committed to this line than the 6”, so I do look forward to what the future holds. but with caution…..

But in the meantime, I’ve got my Ms Marvels!!!!

You can see more Marvel Universe pics at Facebook, discuss this in the Marvel Universe thread at the AFB Forum, and don’t forget and you can have a chance to win the June AFB Comment of the Month Contest by commenting on this post!

Until next time!

Some hope for Marvel Legends?

After a long dry spell, could there possibly still be life in the 6” Marvel Legends line?

Action Figure Pics (which is a great site you should check out) has some preview shots from Wizard World Philly of new 6” figures – Warpath (in a fuzzy pic but looking very Modern Age), Lady Bullseye (yawn, but a new character, so credit for that) and Madrox the Flipping Multiple Man! I’d feared that if we did get Jamie he’d be in his silly classic uniform, but this is the modern age trench coat version, and this figure, assuming it really gets made (this is Hasbro, so I’m not going to put my hopes up there) is one that I will be buying multiples (ha) of because I love the look of the character and the figure.

The other news that AFP’s insider had included:

• no retailer exclusives next year (HOORAY!)
• no BAFs next year
• they have alot to show at SDCC

Check out AFP’s page for the rest of the news, but for Marvel Legends fans this is a glimmer of hope, and we sure needed one!

You can chat about this in the discussion thread at the AFB Forum !

JLU Legion – 3/4 Worth the Wait

The old saying of the watched pot never boils is most certainly the case in terms of my JLU Legion of Superheroes figures. My previous orders from mattycollector.com have all arrived in a flash, so it’s only natural that one of my most anticipated purchases in a long time got on the slooow boat.

Being the Legion fan-atic that I am, I did something I haven’t done in a long time, which is buy two of these to keep one in the box. I also wanted to support the line as it’s been made clear that this first set needs to sell well if we want to see any more Legionnaires in the JLU.

These figures are, as the header reads,  3/4 worth the long wait. In a nutshell, the guys are fantastic and Saturn Girl is a little bit craptastic. More on her later.

I’ve read a bit of negative comment about a “less interesting” character like Brainiac 5 being included in the line, but he did have the main Legion role in the “Far From Home” episode, and he is captured perfectly here in the way he appeared in that episode. It’s just a shame that the teeny tiny JLU Supergirl doesn’t really go with him scale wise.

The three Legion founders are obvious choices for the rest of the wave, and Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy are both extremely well done. Whether or not JLU figures will stand on their own is always a precarious  proposition, but these two gents are firmly planted and easily balanced. Brainy does have a slight tilt to him. Must be all those extra brains, or it could be the frequently experienced JLU bendy-leg syndrome. Paint applications on all three gents are perfect.

JLU females are always a gamble, and Saturn Girl hasn’t fared well I’m a-feared. For starters, the one I unpacked has a black mark on the back of her head from the packaging, and then she has a face that looks like something heavy fell on it, but that’s not packaging, that’s design or manufacturing. I’m not a fan of the female JLU splayed-leg base that can’t stand up on its own, but at least Mattel wised up and provides a base with them now. Still, Imra is sadly the dud of the wave.

Still, it’s exciting to hold any piece of the Legion world in plastic, and I really do hope these sell well enough to see some more Legionnaires somewhere down the line – they are still available at mattycollector.com so you could help out the cause by buying your set today!

You can see more pictures at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and don’t forget you can also enter the June AFB Comment of the Month Contest  by commenting on this post!

Until next time!

In the blink of an eye…….

….they were gone. I was watching the DCUC Alexander Luthor and Uglyman, sorry Ultraman 2-pack to  order mine, not particularly worried about missing out since reaction to the Uglyman sculpt has been so lukewarm. I checked the mattycollector.com website before I went to work and they were yet to go on sale, and about an hour later when I had time to check at work, they were listed as unavailable and people were complaining on Facebook about how quickly they (and Hordak) had sold out.

Now, if this is a sign that DCUC is doing well and ensures we’re going to see more 2-packs online, great, and apparently there’s another lot coming so a second chance is on the horizon, but I think it’s time to take issue with the 10 per customer limit on these items. Clearly this is opening the product up for scalpers - go on eBay and see how much Hordak is going to cost you now, and check for various spellings of “Luthor” to find the two-pack as well – the guy currently has five available at a 50% profit margin. Ugh.

Wake up and smell the java Mattel – the limit of 10 is too high – make it something reasonable like three so that more of us average collectors have a chance of actually getting the product. You’re already making one out of every five waves of the DCUC line almost unattainable for most of us by surrendering them to Wally World, don’t make it worse by surrendering your online product to scalpers as well.

That’s AFB’s rant for the week!

Until next time!