Weekly Action Review

Silky & Batty

2010-04-19T22:36:00.006+10:00

Name: Stealth Jumper Batman, DC Direct
Theme: Batman - Hush Series
Height: 7"
Name: Silk Spectre II, DC Direct
Theme: Watchmen, The Movie Series
Height: 7"
Finally got around to open these. I had no idea that the Watchmen figures comes with a small diaroma. Very nice.

Big Daddy Vs. Batman

2010-04-15T17:07:00.000+10:00

More to come

2010-04-08T15:23:00.007+10:00

I know I have a lot of catching up in terms of action figure reviews. But just because I've been quiet doesn't mean I have stopped buying. The purchasing part is still constant each month. It's the opening, reviewing and blogging thats a bit difficult at the moment.

As usual, Star Wars is still on top of my list of things to get. I still have these unopened.

4 vehicles : Obi Wan's Starfighter, Trade Federation AAT, General Grievous Starfighter & Anakin's Starfighter.

Clone Trooper Jek, Jedi Nahdar Vebb & Commander Stone(don't mind the Star Case, it's just temporary)

An Evolutions pack: Vader's Secret Apprentice from the Force Unleashed video game.

And of course with the new Iron Man 2 movie coming up, the shelves are packed with IM2 figures. I've only grabbed these 2 but hopefully more are coming. There are some minor paint app issues with the figure so I'm taking my time picking through them.
Last but not least, I found this at TRU. A Marvel Legends two pack. It is Captain America and I'm a sucker for any Captain America merchandise *sigh*.I'm not sure which to open first. Maybe I should wait until I've gotten all the IM2 figures...

Wonder no more...

2010-04-06T16:03:00.004+10:00

I finally decided to open the Wonder Woman figure I got ages ago. This is from the WW Series 1.

Sci-Fi Brunei - Lord of the 12 Rules

2010-03-11T11:56:00.002+11:00

Freakin' hilarious!!! and educational might I add.

The Story So Far...

2010-03-09T23:39:00.007+11:00

This are Lil' Lobo's Toy Story figures so far. I do think I'm spoiling her at an early age but I just can't help it. Every time I tell myself that this is the last T.S. toy I'm getting her, the following month some new figure would be displayed on the shelf. The latest one I got her last month was this.
A Mr. Potato Head!! It's true that Lil' Lobo is too young to appreciate toys but for me, as long as it's safe for her to play with I don't mind. Though these toys aren't really cheap, what is sad for me is that compared to my S.W. figures, her's look like its worth the $$$.
Don't you agree?

Pic of the Day : Deunan

2010-03-07T15:33:00.004+11:00

Deunan by Lobo

Target, how I hate thee...

2010-03-05T23:35:00.004+11:00

for doing a sale on toys at the moment. I had told myself that the Ghostbusters gift set would be my last purchase for now because I'm trying to organize my eBay store. Yet, this is what I bought just a few hours ago at Target.
G.I. Joe - R.O.C. : Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger by Hasbro @AUD 4.87
Marvel Universe: Daredevil by Hasbro @AUD 18
WWE - Build & Brawl : MVP by Jakks @ AUD 4.87

Daredevil was a must for me cos he's one of my fav Marvel Heroes. The first & last item was on clearance with an additional 20% off. Cover Girl was a no-brainer(no pun intended) because I like to provide my male action figures on the shelves some company. Yeah, I'm a regular action figure pimp.

I admit I'm not a huge wrestling fan ever since Goldberg quit and I have no idea who MVP is. Why I picked him up? He was next to Cover Girl in the clearance bin. As simple as that. But he might come in handy some day if I do get around to making my "Magneto against the world" diorama. He could be the one crushed under a pile of metal bars. That would be cool wouldn't it?

What else was he supposed to say?

2010-03-05T01:22:00.005+11:00

This is a clip from Family Guy's : 'Something, something, something Darkside'. Don't try this on your other half.

Ghostbusters 1 & 2 Limited Edition Gift Set

2010-03-04T17:03:00.006+11:00

I received this in the mail today. Snagged this on eBay last week for AUD 15. I got this primarily for the Stay Puft statue. The statue is 6.5" in height and made by Sideshow Collectibles(sweeettt!!)
Also included was a small container of green slime and trading cards.
And of course the Ghosbusters 1 & 2 DVD.
All in all, in my opinion, $15 well spent. A definite must have merchandise for the die-hard Ghostbusters fan.

Pic of the Day : Ultra Magnus

2010-03-02T21:16:00.000+11:00

Ultra Magnus by rodpowley952

I would gladly be her fulltime Arch-Nemesis...

2010-03-02T13:51:00.005+11:00

Seriously...if you had to fight her all the time...wouldn't you? This is the latest Premium Format Figure statue from Sideshow Collectibles. The estimated time of release is December 2010. Sideshow is selling two versions. One version(above) is the standard edition. Below is the exclusive which features a switch-out portrait for alternate display. The exclusive is available for pre-order at USD 269.99. A long way to go right? Wrong. It's already SOLD-OUT. Only the standard edition is available and I'm guessing it'll be sold-out soon.

Damn!!

Name : Ms. Marvel
Height : 19"
Product Type : Premium Format Figure
Toy Company : Sideshow Collectibles
Price : USD 259.99 (standard edition)

Source: www.marvel.com

Clone Trooper Fives & Rys

2010-03-01T15:31:00.013+11:00

I finally managed to get these two clone troopers last year in December. I was really annoyed that Hasbro didn't release CT Fives or CT Rys as a single pack. And worse, made it a Walmart exclusive. That just means that if you're outside the states it is hard to predict where those 'exclusives' will turn up. I was fortunate to grab Fives at TRU. It came with another Captain Rex. I think Rex has been the easiest figure to find for the Clone Wars series. Come to think of it, he was the first figure to be released, a Mail-Away figure nonetheless. Fives has a distinct tattoo of the number '5' on the right side of the head. Him and fellow CT Echo were inducted into the 501st Legion by Captain Rex.

Name : Star Wars - The Clone Wars, Clone Trooper Fives
Assortment : Under the Helmet, 2-pack, based on the Clone Wars Animation Series "Rookies"

CT Rys was another Walmart exclusive 2-pack and came with Lt. Thire(released as Commander Thire in single pack). I never saw this pack here in Canberra but luckily I found a cheap one on eBay. He is part of the Coruscant guards under the command of Jedi General Yoda.

Name : Star Wars - The Clone Wars, Clone Trooper Rys
Assortment : Ambush, 2-pack, based on the Clone Wars Animation Series "Ambush"

# 54 : Toy Story - Ultimate Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear Deluxe Figure by Mattel

2010-03-01T10:00:00.003+11:00

That's a mouth full isn't it?
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Name : Toy Story - Ultimate Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear Deluxe Figure
Height : 12"
Toy Company : Mattel
Price : AUD 50 - 75 (the lowest price was on sale)

Packaging
"Buzz Lightyear has just landed in Andy's room. The only problem is he doesn't realize that he is a toy. Buzz thinks he is a real Space Ranger on an intergalactic mission to defeat the evil Emperor Zurg!"

I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to get this version instead of the TS Collection from Thinkway Toys. After thinking about the cost difference and the fact its for Lil' Lobo, I don't think I can bear to see her throw/drag a $100 toy around the house.

The packaging is similar to the Sheriff Woody I reviewed earlier. The box has a window display to showcase the whole figure. Buzz is shown in a greeting sort of pose.

Details/Sculpt/Accessories/Articulation
This is the 2nd best Buzz Lightyear action figure in the market in terms of likeness to the movie. He has the right height, the articulation, phrases, wings and laser. The only thing missing is the flip wrist communicator on his left hand. I really thought they could have just added that in. The paint is spot on. I've gone through the whole thing and couldn't find a fault. If there is, its probably minuscule. The one problem that annoyed me is trying to get the figure to stand. Due to the massive upper body, posing it is a bit tricky because you don't want the legs to be too straight and close apart.

The sculpt is very good. Details were given to every curve and what-not. My fav is the face. I'm glad they went with the smiling and cocky look that Buzz had when he still thought he was an actual Space Ranger.

The buttons work like in the movies. The big red button will make the wings pop out. The 3 small buttons activate the phrases Buzz but are not specific to a particular saying. You can just press one color to get all the sayings which are: "To infinity and beyond!", "I am Buzz Lightyear!", "I am Buzz Lightyear, I come in peace", "There's a secret mission in uncharted space. Let's go!", "I protect the galaxy from the threat of invasion from the evil Emperor Zurg". The helmet does retract and closes but no 'whoosh' sound(wouldn't that be really, really cool??). The laser makes two noises. Unfortunately, you cannot pose him pressing the laser with his left hand.

Articulation is good but not not great. Due to the design of his space suit some of the movements are limited. He has a swivel neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, hinged elbows, swivel wrists, hinged finger/s, swivel waist, swivel-hinged hips, hinged knees and swivel-hinged ankles.

Overall
This toy is a great addition to your Toy Story Collection. Surprisingly its quite durable even with heavy play(I don't promise it'll survive a fall from the top of the stairs though). Lil Lobo has dragged it around(because it's heavy) and once in a while she throws it to the floor while watching the movie. So far, so good. The price is not bad if you think about the amount of plastic and electronics that you're getting. If only Mattel had thought of making the box re-usable as a diorama.

Score : 3.5 out of 5

Not another meat eating Dinosaur...

2010-02-27T22:40:00.007+11:00

"What's that noise?? Another meat eating Dinosaur??"

"Oh it's just lil Lobo!!"

Name : Toy Story Collection - Rex
Height : 13" (Actual Movie Size)
Toy Company : Thinkway Toys
Features : Poseable arms, legs and neck. Responds to your voice.

The World Breaker has arrived!!

2010-02-17T23:18:00.003+11:00

I just finished watching this movie. For those who have read the comic I'm guessing you'll want to bitch about the many changes made in the movie. For those who haven't, I'm hoping you'll want to read the graphic novel after you've seen this. Personally, I found it entertaining. Not 'great' but just so-so because I wanted it to be longer. Anyway check it out guys.

Pic of the Day : Lara Croft

2010-02-14T17:26:00.000+11:00

Lara Croft by bigflytrap

# 53 : Appleseed Saga - Ex Machina Snap Kits by Hot Toys

2010-02-14T13:24:00.003+11:00

These are definitely not your average 1/20 figure. These are waaayyy better.
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Name : Appleseed Saga : Ex Machina
Height : 4" - 10"
Toy Company : Hot Toys
Price: AUD 130

Packaging
On the left is the box it came in with. Inside are 10 individual boxes.Its really a waste IMHO. The box is just too damn big for a small figure. The idea of the 'Snap Kits' is that the figures are disassembled in their boxes. I'm unsure as to why they did this. It's not that we had anything to paint or that we could mix & match one figure with another. Maybe I'll never know the answer to this...moving along...
Details/Sculpt/Accessories/Articulation
There are 5 characters in this series and 1 mecha suit. But in order to complete the mecha suit(The Landmate), you need to get the whole box containing 10 little boxes. Confused? The big box contains 2 x Deunan, 2 x Tereus, 2 x Briareos, 2 x Rhoetus and 2 x Manuel Aeacus. Why? Because each character and its double comes with different parts of the Landmate e.g. Deunan comes with right arm and her double comes with the left arm. Bastards aren't they? LOL. I don't mind having extra Deunans or Briareos but the rest...let's be frank. We don't care right? Also it claims these are 1/20 in scale...yet they're larger than the average SW figures.

The details are AMAZING! For such small figures they are bloody well made. If only they were the same size as my Star Wars or Marvel Universe figures...*sigh*. The paint app is spot on and the sculpt is terrifyingly accurate. One thing I would like to point out is that these figures feel very light as compared to my SW or MU collection. Yet they are very sturdy with the exception to Deunan's wrist which I feel are very fragile.

The Landmate is worth every cent. The sheer detail and the huge gun...don't forget the huge gun looks like something that could make Robocop pee in his metal pants(oldskool reference!!) . The bad thing about it is it's catered to fit Deunan's head ONLY. Sure you can try fitting the other figures on to it. But I tell you, it'll look like their head is about to explode.

Accessories are a plentiful for the main two characters. The left is Deunan's and the right is Briareos. Ok, maybe I exaggerated a little bit. But it's still more than the accessories for the other 3.

Posing them is a cinch. All the figures comes with 14 points of articulation. Ball-jointed neck, shoulders, hinged elbows, wrists, swivel waist, ball-jointed hips, hinged knees and ankles.

Overall
This is by far in my top 10 of all my collections. Hot Toys just live up to their reputation, even for smaller scaled figures. I'm glad I decided on getting these instead of the 1/6 figure. I just really, really wanted the Landmate.

Score : **** out of *****

Some extra pics:

The Walls Are Closing In

2010-02-13T14:01:00.000+11:00

I'm just speechless...someone please get me this for an early birthday gift!!

Star Wars Death Star Trash Compactor Bookends Statue

Pic of the Day : winterized colonial marine

2010-02-12T14:57:00.003+11:00

winterized colonial marine by resistence827

# 52 : Toy Story - Sheriff Woody Talking Figure by Mattel

2010-02-12T11:39:00.005+11:00

I'm back after a long holiday. Sadly, despite my extensive search for action figures in Brunei, it was not as productive as I had hoped. In fact it was down right embarrassing. I have nothing to show because all my toy expenses went to fixing my car.

Anyway, it's been almost 2 weeks since I got back here in Canberra and I'm still getting my act together. So I thought I'd start off the blog with something light. I know the Toy Story movie has been around for ages but Disney Pixar is re-releasing the movie in 3D at the cinemas in anticipation of TS3 this June, the store shelves are packed once more with TS merchandise(it has been there for the last 3-4 months I think). Lil' Princess Lobo is so into Pixar movies as of late and TS is her fav. So I thought it was fitting that her first action figure/doll to be this.

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Name: Toy Story - Sheriff Woody Talking Figure
Height: 14"
Toy Company: Mattel
Price: AUD 45 - 60

Packaging
The packaging is very TS theme-ish. A big window to display the figure with Andy's wallpaper design in the back. There is a hole in the back of the box for you to pull Woody's string to hear his signature sayings. For some reason I've always liked that cloudy wallpaper. It looks so innocent and calming.

Details/Sculpt/Accessories/Articulation
"Woody is the town Sheriff and Andy's favorite toy. All other toys look up to Woody until a certain Space Ranger lands in Andy's room." (forgot to put this in earlier -- ed). Whilst this figure is not really movie accurate(because the company claims the Sheriff Woody 'Toy Story Collection' is), it's good enough.

They can't really go wrong with the sculpt because I'm assuming they're using the 3D model used in the movie to create these toys. The head, hands and boots are made out of soft plastic. The shirt and pants are cloth and the only accessory it comes with is the hat which is made out of soft rubber.

But the first thing I checked about this figure was the name under the right boot. I'd feel really cheated if 'Andy' was not printed there. Also worth mentioning is the pull string. The string is not as long as the one in the movie. The reason behind this is that this figure is electronic and the 'pull string' at the back is realistic purposes only. There are 7 sayings which are: "Draw", "This town ain't big enough for the two of us", "There's a snake in my boot!", "You're my favourtie Deputy", "Somebody's poisoned the waterhole", "Yeehaw, Giddyup partner!" and "Reach for the sky". Personally, I'd prefer this figure to have more sayings.

Articulation wise is a definite no-no. This figure does not stand on its own and the arms and legs just flails around when you carry it. Maybe that's the real appeal of the toy? Honestly, my daughter just loves to carry it around.

Overall
This is a very nice toy to get for yourself or you kids. I would suggest you get this if its for your kid. If you're the toy collector/enthusiast, like I said earlier, there is the 'Toy Story Collection' version which will cost another $20 - $30 more. That figure is slightly taller than this, has more sayings(a LOT more) and comes with an authentication certificate. In other words, things that a kid could care less especially the certificate. I've also bought a Buzz Lightyear to accompany Woody. I'll do the review for that next. Till then, keep collecting guys!

Score: ****1/2 out of *****

Update : Figure Hunting

2010-01-02T17:24:00.000+11:00

I've been back for a week now. I've managed to visit most of the shops other Brunei toy bloggers have mentioned in the past. So far I'm impressed and appalled at the same time. The selection is growing because 2 years ago they weren't any Star Wars figures sold anywhere. It was as if it was unheard of. Now, Hua Ho, Bebeland, Chong Hock and GoFi6ures are selling them.

The price on the other hand, let's just say some shops need to check with each other what the price range should be. If you're going to compete with each other, a $2 price difference is somewhat pushing it. A $5 - $7 difference? You should be shot out of a canon into an active volcano which just erupted. I'm guessing some shops still feel they can get away with it because they assume toy collectors don't talk to each other?

If you're going to be serious about supplying toy collectors then act serious. We know it's the norm for you to jump on the bandwagon because action figures are the 'in' thing at the moment. But at least do some research. If the boxes are starting to gather dust...it could be a). you're shop is dirty and you're staff is lazy to dust the place OR b). It's been there for quite some time because nobody wants to buy it due to the price.

And lastly to some of the shops(you know who you are), LABEL the prices of the Goddamn toys properly! Enough ranting...Its good to be back in Brunei!!

Winners of the 1st W.A.R. Competition

2009-12-28T01:26:00.002+11:00

And the results are in:

2nd Runners Up:

Photo Title: Crash Landing in Endor
Description: This is what happened when an AT-AT Driver piloted a stolen Tie Fighter
Submitter: Double H
Note: I really like how the Driver looks like he's struggling through the grass. Superb!

Photo Title: Twilight
Description: Based from the Twilight movie.. modeled by Duke and Baroness from G.I. Joe ROC
Submitter: Khai Yussof a.k.a. Mr. Bokz
Note: I was really torn about this photo and the one below. The effort to include the sky in the background makes it look as if they are really high up in a tree. Nice.
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1st Runner Up
Photo Title: Who's Dying?
Description:This Alien has been terrorizing the American Secret base of Area 51. A lot of people are dead while some are being harvested.This picture shows a soldier whose uniform is already covered with dried blood that clearly shows he's been through hell just to survive,being lifted by one of the alien infesting the base,he lost his primary weapon but luckily he is armed with his sidearm but will he pull the trigger in time or will he be like the rest.....
Submitter: Faris/Garuda5
Note: What can I say? This is just intense. Good choice in action figures. Good choice in additional lighting.
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Winner
Photo Title: Help from a Stranger
Description:Spidey seeking for help from Dr Strange
Submitter: Fadle Salim
Note: The subtle glow, the way Strange faces the camera instead of the crystal ball and the addition of Spidey being strangled in the the crystal ball. Its just to cool. In fact I had to take out my own Dr.Strange figure to compare and mine still doesn't look as mysterious as this.

Congrats to all the winners. I will contact you all shortly. Thank you to all for participating.

Update : Competition

2009-12-25T00:35:00.003+11:00

First and foremost I'd like to thank all that have submitted for the competition. I purposely did not put a result date because I was not sure when I could really sit down and have a good look at all the pics submitted. Tentatively I'm looking at the 28th December to announce the 4 winners(names and pics will be posted here). Yes I said 4. There will be 2 spots for 2nd runner up. Yay!! I will contact all the winners via email to confirm which prizes they choose. And in case you're wondering, the Winner will of course have the honour of selecting then 1st runner up will select from the remaining prizes and so on.

I'm in the middle of doing some last minute preparations to go back to Brunei on the 26th. Hopefully all the winners could meet up with me to collect their prizes. Cheers and stay tune to this blog for the results.

Pic of the Day : Leaders

2009-12-17T19:59:00.000+11:00

Leaders by Lobo
Note: Two more to go, Commander Bly & Commander Stone...for now.

# 51 : G.I. Joe, ROC - Mole Pod with Terra-Viper

2009-12-17T17:45:00.000+11:00

The Mole Pods were the vehicles Cobra used to infiltrate the Joe's headquarters. The Cobra team was led by the Baroness and Storm Shadow. This is a great time to grab yourself G.I. Joe : ROC merchandise because its Christmas sale and most shops are trying to clear out the figures to make way for other new figures. For the most part I do think that shops overstocked on the G.I. Joe figures because it is after all, a well known brand. Yet there were a LOT of the figures on the shelves, even when some shops were selling them for a reduced price of AUD 10 each. The vehicles on the other hand, is another story.

Packaging
I really like the packaging for the ROC line. They're nice and compact unlike the SW deluxe figures. It has a front window to show the vehicle, pretty straightforward marketing. There is one issue though. The Terra-Viper figure at the back of the box is different from the one you get. The figure in the box is a darker shade of blue with black vest.

Details/Sculpt/Accessories/Articulation
"Cobra Mole Pod vehicles drill through the walls of the underground G.I. Joe Pit headquarters. Using a composite carbon steel drill bit that chews through solid rock, these powerful drilling machines are just one of the attack vehicles masterminded by Destro, The head of M.A.R.S. industries."

The overall design of the vehicle is superb. The drill spins if you push the vehicle. My only complaints would be the red and unattractive missile/rocket at the tip of the vehicle. I know that Hasbro couldn't make the tip of the drill sharp like in the movie because then it would be a hazardous toy.

Secondly would be the interior. It's nice and all but I wished there was more stickers for the screens instead of just making it look too plain.

Accessory wise there's none. No diorama, no extra weapons. The figure that comes with the vehicle looks very cool. I didn't think about it much when I first got it but now it's starting to grow on me. He just looks like a badass.

The articulation for the Terra-Viper is the usual ball jointed neck, swivel hinged shoulders, hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel waist, ball hinged hips, hinged knees, swivel hinged ankles.

Overall
If you see this vehicle I suggest picking it up. If its on sale, even better. Imagine having more than 5 of these vehicles. That would be a sight. And it would look great with your normal Joes(other than the ROC) or your 1:18 figures.
Score: **** out of *****

Update : One More Figure to the Loot

2009-12-05T10:26:00.002+11:00

I've added one more action figure to the prize loot. A Star Wars action figure, Asajj Ventress from the Clone Wars series. Don't forget guys, you all have less than 3 weeks to send me a pic for the competition.

Pic of the Day : They Came From the Dark

2009-12-02T01:26:00.006+11:00

They Came From the Dark by Avanaut
Note: This guy has some of the best close up photos of Star Wars figures. I especially like the SW Lego figures. The above pic looks as if it was taken from a scene in a SW movie. Cool.

# 50 : X-Men Origins - Wolverine by Diamond Select Toys

2009-12-01T15:43:00.008+11:00

Another Wolverine figure hits the shelves a few months ago. This figure was supposed to coincide with the Wolverine solo movie. There are two figures of Wolvie released by DST. This version and the usual comic blue & yellow version(and the comic version has another variant *sigh*). I opted for this one because I'm a sucker for so called 'exclusives'.

Packaging
I don't think DST will change their packaging any time soon. They seem intent on using the oversized carded box to distinguish themselves over their competitors. Currently their only competitor is the Marvel Legends line by Hasbro and I'm not so sure Hasbro is keen on continuing the 6" M.L.

Details/Sculpt/Accessories/Articulation
"Shrouded in mystery, Wolverine's past is filled with secret government programs, memory manipulation and more death than is dealt in most wars. With his mutant healing factor, heightened senses and adamantium claws at the ready, Wolverine will stop at nothing to hunt down those responsible for his vicious treatment and make them pay the ultimate price. With the odds against him, can Wolverine do what it takes to save the future?" - taken from the back of the box. First off, this is what you call being lazy. What adamantium claws? Clearly the description is about Wolvie but this is just Logan. He still sports his bony claws. Secondly, save the future from what? I thought he was out for revenge. Is it just me or is everyone else as confused as I am?

The sculpt is decent at best. The paint app nicely done. I'm not going to touch if he looks like Hugh Jackman(he doesn't!!! lol) but the sculpt overall is good. The claws are a bit too smooth for me. It should be with more ridges and not too thin and curved. But at least the claws are not made out of soft rubber that will warped over time. And in case you're wondering as of now there are 5 Marvel Select Wolverine to date. They must be taking notes from Toybiz. LoL.

His accessories is a base that resembles stone pavement and what to me looks like a beaten up trash bin. Maybe I'm wrong on that one. But I'd like to think it is because Logan here looks a bit like a homeless person, if you dirty him up. Well at the very least, I can reuse the base.

Articulation is the usual. Ball-jointed neck, ball-hinged shoulders, hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel waist, ball-hinged hips, hinged knees and swivel ankles.

Overall
I am not recommending this figure. Usually, the sculpt for figures are a bit tricky when its based on an actual person compared to comic or cartoon based characters. Yet, there are times when you can see the person it is based on if you look at the figure from afar or maybe from the side. This just doesn't cut it. To be honest he reminds me of one the Backstreet boys. LoL. So while the body sculpt and paint app is nice, the face sculpt just fails.

Score: **1/2 out of *****

Things to look out for in 2010

2009-12-01T01:45:00.009+11:00

We all know that the movie, Iron Man 2 will be coming out next year. This of course, will also mean we will get to see cool action figures. Hasbro will be doing a majority of the distribution and there has been pictures and news that most of the I.M.2 line by Hasbro will be in the 3 3/4" scale. Personally, I don't have a problem with this. In fact the ways things are going with the increase in cost of goods I expect that this is the size where action figures are headed to in the near future.

What surprised me is that Diamond Select Toys are also releasing a Marvel Select figure based on the I.M.2. It will be in their usual 7"-ish scale. From the pic it looks very, very promising. They did a decent job on Logan based on the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie(I'll put up the pics soon).

And there is more good news! DST is also doing War Machine!! The bad news is that these figures are expected to come out May 2010. But it's something to really to look out for. To pre-order yours click here.

And there comes a time when...

2009-12-01T01:23:00.004+11:00

...I need to face the fact that doing toy reviews as I've did before is just getting harder and harder for me to do simply because of lil' Princess Lobo. Basically I did ZERO reviews in November. The most time consuming part of the review is taking the pics and editing them.

So maybe I should just take one or two photos for each review and see how it goes from there. I'm glad I'm not getting paid for this or I'd be a out of a job already. Since I'm constantly learning on how to improve this blog I've summed up what the usual categories that I'll regularly blog about which are:
- Reviews
- Pic of the Day
- Random news

Let's hope this month will be a good one and for those who wants to win free action figures, don't forget to join the 1st W.A.R. competition.

Pic of the Day : Pocco touch the Sun

2009-11-28T00:58:00.002+11:00

pocco touch the sun by esper zero

1st W.A.R. contest begins today!

2009-11-23T02:11:00.011+11:00

As some of you might already know, we are having our 1st competition this month. First off I'd like to thank the bloggers who have mentioned about this in their blog. I hope you guys(and other bloggers) could spread the word again.

For now, I'd like to share some tips to those who would like to join. For the rules & regulations please go to the 'Competitions' tab above.

What's it about?
This is a photo contest. involving your action figures of course. You can use any figures(Barbie dolls or anything associated with that brand are NOT action figures - I will hunt you down it you say otherwise).

Tips
- Don't rush. Take your time. You have almost a whole month to come up with ONE photo. Experiment with different figures and settings. We're looking for an artistic value.
- Quantity doesn't necessarily mean value. Don't put in a whole bunch of figures in your shot(unless you were doing a battle scene I guess).
- Make sure your photo title matches the actual picture...or the very least, makes sense. It does help by giving a brief description.
- Create your own settings. Don't go for just a plain wall for the background. You could go outside and use the buildings, garden, trees OR make your own diorama.
- You don't really need an expensive camera to take great shots. It just makes up 30% of the shot. Most of it comes from your own ingenuity. But if you must insist...you could always borrow one.
- Don't know how to use photoshop to edit your pics? There's always the online photo editor www.picnik.com. Trust me, it's the best photo editor for beginners and it's free!
-If you have any questions, do it in the comment form of this post. Thanks.

I've been a big fan of the pictures available on flickr and it has given me the idea of doing this contest. Below are just some of my favorite photographers on flickr. Have a look at how they've taken photographs of their action figures. Click on the pic or their name to go to their flickr page.

Isaac Renteria (check out his Hitman series...*chills*)

Vader9900 (his G.I. Joe set is the best I've seen)

Soyboy7

Good Luck!!

Pic of the Day : Konata at the Office

2009-11-17T21:51:00.004+11:00

Not my usual choice for 'Pic of the Day' but it was just too damn cute I had to share it.

Konata at the Office by Sasha's Lab
Note from Sasha's Lab: "Konata joined me at the office today and found a spot on the stapler to open her laptop. She spent the day (what else) playing web games. While I worked on reports, she and her web cohorts invaded another virtual country".

Appleseed: Ex Machina

2009-11-17T20:31:00.006+11:00

Remember the G.I. Joe tagline "When all else fails, we don't"? They did fail didn't they? Cobra was able to attack their base and take the Nanomite. Well it should've been "When all else fails, we don't...but if we do, we'll bring in ES.W.A.T!". LoL. (You do know I'm just kidding right Joe fans?? So don't start sending me hate mails).

Appleseed is probably my favorite Anime despite the fact I don't really watch them. That is why ever since I found out that Hot Toys made the snap-on 1/18 figures I knew I had to have it in my collection. The problem was the timing and the cost.
This arrived yesterday and I am very happy with them. They are every bit what I expected and more. They are 5 figures in the series but I needed 10 figures(basically the whole box) of them in order to complete the ES.W.A.T. Landmate.
More pics and a proper review soon. I'm currently busy packing my stuff and cleaning the house because we're leaving in December. That's why this blog has been quiet lately. Hopefully I'll be able to upload some reviews this week. Cheers guys and keep collecting!

The W.A.R. Competition Update

2009-11-12T22:25:00.003+11:00

The 'Competition' tab on this site has been there for quite some time. Well, now is the time. Details on the competition will be revealed soon. For now enjoy the pics I've uploaded here.

Pic of the Day : El Domo

2009-11-12T01:18:00.004+11:00

El Domo by ElDave

Something for the weekend

2009-11-08T15:26:00.002+11:00

I came across these old collection of Hellboy II promo videos. It sure made my day.

# 49 : Star Wars, Clone Wars - 501st & BARC Speeder

2009-10-30T17:15:00.000+11:00

Another repaint of previous figures but this time a welcomed addition.
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
Like the SW Crab Droid, it's basically the same type of display box but with a different diorama. I'm guessing its Felucia in the background.
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
"Clone troopers ride Biker Advanced Recon Commando (BARC) speeder bikes on scouting and escort missions. BARC speeders give the troopers greater range, speed, mobility and firepower than foot patrols. They prove so useful to elite units like the 501st Legion that they are soon made available to the entire clone trooper army."
|Sculpt|
Hasbro decided to make a correction in the sculpt of the helmet to resemble the animated C.W. series. I think they started making this correction with the 212th Clone trooper in Wave 4.
The blue decals on the trooper has also been made to match Captain Rex's colors(about time). I had 2 of the Wal-Mart exclusive 501st trooper issued last year. The color(see pic below) is nice but it just looks so out of place with their captain. The new helmet sculpt is the inclusion of the small gap at the 'chin'. This is supposedly where the breathing apparatus connects for space missions.
|Accessories|
DC-15 Blaster rifle
*************************************************************************************
Articulation
|Clone Trooper|
No changes to the articulation. It's still the same as previous basic white clone trooper.
|BARC Speeder|
It still has the same retractable landing gear and 'exploding' bike gimmick(trust me, just leave it at that. It's not worth asking)
*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
I currently have 3 BARC speeders from the ROTS Treachery on Saleucami battlepacks. So it's really sweet to have it all lined up. Plus I can use Rex for the blue BARC speeder and the other 3 501st for the red speeders.
I didn't have a pic of them on the bikes mainly because of their leg stance. Their articulation(swivel hips) aren't exactly the best to use unless you want to permanently ruin your figures. But there is a solution to this problem(I think). The ARF trooper has a sort of ball-jointed articulation in the hips. So if you could swap these with the 501st, you're good to go.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
I'm glad I decided to pick up this deluxe figure. The BARC speeder is nothing new but the 501st trooper with correct helmet sculpt and with the matching blue decals to Rex is a worthwhile addition. I just hope Hasbro will decide to reissue the trooper in a single pack.

Score: ****

Related Posts:

Pic of the Day : Ravage and Soundwave

2009-10-30T17:00:00.000+11:00

Ravage and Soundwave by Gogdog

Stormtroopers in Brunei

2009-10-23T10:14:00.002+11:00

These guys rock! Long live the Empire!

# 48 : Star Wars, Clone Wars - Crab Droid

2009-10-19T17:27:00.000+11:00

The LM-432 or Crab Droid is not the most sophisticated piece of machinery within the Separatist Droid Army. It's design is pretty straight-forward. Get a laser cannon and attach legs to it so it can move over uneven terrain.
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
This is one of the new deluxe figures for 2009. The box converts into a diorama or so I've been told. From the looks of it, the diorama is a picture of the planet Christophsis.
Once you've open the packaging there's not a lot of assembly and best of all, no stickers!!
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
"LM-432 crab droids are armored infantry units that easily move over rough ground. Their legs work independently of one another, allowing them to move with agility and speed as they track their targets and take aim with their blasters. Also known as Muckracker droids, they threaten Republic forces on many planets during the war."
Personally I don't really recall seeing the C.D. in either the C.W. animated series or movie. Maybe I wasn't paying attention enough. I do remember that the first time I saw this droid in the ROTS(a bit smaller) and in the 2003 CW Series(twice the size).
|Sculpt|
The sculpt and paint is good. No real problem there. I especially like the scratch marks or paint scrapes on the legs. It looks as if the paint was really scraped off and the metal underneath was showing.
|Accesories|
No accessories though I thought a battle droid would have been nice. There is a push button at the back of the C.D. to launch the laser cannon projectile. Standard Hasbro stuff, no surprises there.
*************************************************************************************
Articulation
None of the legs are articulated despite the description as "Their legs work independently of one another". There is a button on the side that if you push continuously will make a sort of movement of all the legs.
A sort of crawling type movement. A decent attempt but it WOULD have been better if each legs had movable joints.

*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
I'm not sure if kids will enjoy this figure. It's as dull as a figure can be. Don't get me wrong. I still like it 'cos I get to display the C.D. being attacked by my clone troopers.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
I don't really recommend this figure. It's nice to have if you're a clone army builder and you want to add to the Separatist army. 'Cos lets face it, the Clone Army needs something to shoot at while you're displaying them on your shelves. Still the lack of articulation really bugs me because it means we can't display them doing gymnastics and stuff. Lastly, there is the issue of price. This cost about AUD 30. Twice the price of a regular SW figure and less the satisfaction. If this had been a vehicle where you can put a SW figure in than I would recommend getting it. For now if you really want to add this to your collection I suggest you wait it out for a clearance sale or grab one off ebay.

Score: **1/2

Related Posts:

Get ready for something, something, something...dark side

2009-10-16T18:17:00.004+11:00

I'm really looking forward to the release of the sequel to Family Guy: Blue Harvest. The sequel entitled Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side will be a parody of Episode V: Empire Strikes Back.

A kick-me-in-the-nuts kinda funny. Expected release date is 22nd December 2009. Just in time before I go back to Brunei.

Pic of the Day : Public Service Announcement

2009-10-16T11:41:00.005+11:00

Public Service Announcement by Lobo

"Remember kids, don't do crack!!"

# 47 : Astro Boy, The Movie: Astro Boy, 3 3/4"

2009-10-16T01:09:00.001+11:00

Some things are better left on the shelves. Some things are best shot out of a cannon. Some things are meant to be praised But I'm not sure where the new Astro Boy figure based on the new movie falls into. I picked up this figure yesterday at TRU for AUD 10. I haven't seen the figures anywhere else except TRU.
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
The front packaging is your normal blister card with pics from the A.B. movie I guess.
They were 6 figures on the shelves and I picked Astro Boy with the black short-shorts and the red boots(damn, a man shouldn't have to say stuff like that). The back of the packaging is a bit too plain for me because there's no info about Astro Boy.
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
A.B. is in the 3 3/4" scale. These line of figures are from Jazwares Inc., the same people who brought us Sonic the hedgehog figures. A.B. is also available in 6" and 10" but I have yet to see those at TRU. Maybe I'll pick up the 6" because it looks promising. For some strange reason I find the figure is lacking in terms of quality. I just can't pinpoint what it is. Whether its the paint app or the plastic used but I felt cheated and a little violated. Ok, maybe not violated.
|Sculpt|
The sculpt is decent. Frankly, I don't know how they could've gone wrong with the sculpt anyway. A.B. is as simple as you can get when it comes to design.
The face is slightly different from the 80's cartoon that we know and I think they made him a bit taller in the movie. But the iconic hair style remains the same minus the eyelash...remember his eyelashes back then???
|Accessories|
Interchangeable boots. You can swipe the normal feet for the flamed-in-mid-flight boots.

*************************************************************************************
Articulation
Here is where I'm a bit dissapointed. Just a bit. The figure has a ball-jointed neck, Swivel-hinged shoulders, hinged elbows, Swivel waist, Swivel Hips, Hinged knees and swivel ankles. I'm dissapointed there's no articulation in the hands(swivel hands? or maybe interchangeable hands? him flipping us off? anything man)
*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
I wished they had provided a stand so we could display A.B. when he is in flight mode because I really like him displayed like that. In terms of having fun with A.B. I found that I couldn't find the right figures for it to go with. Its too big for the S.W. or G.I Joe figures. It could go with my M.L or DCU but the size of the head looks a bit off. I'm tempted to get the rest of the figures in this line but the price is a bit of a let down. We'll see how it goes.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
While I thoroughly enjoyed the cartoon series in the 80's I find this figure is lacking in terms of value for money. At AUD 10, its normal considering you pay more for a S.W. or Joe figure. But the thing is that THIS is Astro Boy. Even in the 3 3/4" size I was expecting cannon arms. To be fair they have another version in the wave with the cannon arms. But that A.B has a different outfit. In my opinion, this line has potential. The Peacekeeper and Soldier looks very nice and those might be in my list next. I'm just hoping TRU will have them on sale soon. Anywho, the new movie will be released on the 23rd in the States but here in OZ for some reason it hits the cinema yesterday. I'm not sure if this figure will be received well by A.B. fans. But for me, I got it mainly for nostalgic reason. Plus, when I go and see the new movie and it turns out to be really good, I can say to myself "I got the figure at home".

Score: ***

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Pic of the Day : Silver Tachikoma

2009-10-13T13:05:00.004+11:00

Silver Tachikoma by Tasayu Tasnaphun

# 46 : G.I. Joe, Rise of Cobra - Steel Crusher AVP

2009-10-13T09:01:00.000+11:00

I have a secret. I have not seen the movie. The good thing is, this is not a movie review.
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
There's a small window to display the 'bonus' figure, a Nitro-Viper. Typical Hasbro packaging.
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
"The Steel Crusher Armor Plated Vehicle (A.P.V.) tears through the Paris streets on a mission of destruction: To release the Nanomite weapon and destroy the Eiffel Tower! The Nitro-Viper blasts through traffic at top speed and smashes past obstacles in his way, but he can't shake the G.I. Joe team that's determined to stop him!"
The vehicle comes with stickers(oh how I hate those) of Cobra logo and whatnot. This was aimed for kids of course. We all know how silly it would be for an actual Cobra vehicle to have have its logo on the hood and driving around Paris(ermm...right?). That would be like Cookie Monster announcing his arrival at a bake sale.
|Sculpt|
This vehicle is a licensed product from General Motors so it should be fairly accurate to the real deal. Since I said it 'should', the scale is a bit off me thinks. Just a tad smaller. Then again maybe I'm wrong. Overall the paint looks spot on. It still looks plastic-ish though.
There's a small issue of the door handles not being painted like the one in the box. It's minor but it got on my nerves. I might try to paint it but the handles are so small I might end up with a mess.
|Accessories|
If you can count the bonus figure as an accessory.

*************************************************************************************
Features
Opening doors, sliding roof canopy, removable 'iron plow', missile launcher, fits 2 figures in the vehicle and 5 - 6 figures outside.
Slide back the roof to conceal the missile launcher and take off the iron plow to get a regular Hummer.
*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
How can a collector NOT have fun with this vehicle? Let alone a kid. When I first bought it I didn't plan on getting any other G.I. Joe figures. Then it looked kinda plain on its own so I got a Baroness and Snake Eyes figure. So that I could do this
and this.
This vehicle is just superb for playing and display.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
A value for money purchase. Kids will have hours and hours of fun with it and collectors will be glad for a functioning vehicle for their Cobra figures. When it first hit the shelves this was AUD 50. That was a few months ago. I bought it for less during a sale last month. AUD 30 and the extra figures were AUD 10 each. Sweet right?

Score: ****

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Why Do You Collect?

2009-10-12T12:27:00.003+11:00

This question was Tagged by Double H. I did a similar blog post about this here. But lets give his questions a go shall we?

Why Do You Collect?
To balance between the forces of good and evil on my shelves.

Do you collect to play or decorate?
Last I checked it was to fill that missing gap in my childhood. At the moment, I buy, open them up and display. There are times when I find my figures in fighting poses and I don't know how they got that way. So I could be sleepwalking and playing with them in my sleep.

Do you get a new one just for something to review?
I GET what I can afford at the time. Reviewing them is just a bonus and my excuse to the powers-that-be(Mrs. Lobo) to fiddle *ehem* touch *ehem* play with the figures.

Are you collecting to complete your collection or will always add on to it?
It's just financially impossible for me to complete my collection. Honestly for me, trying to complete a collection is the equivalent of getting hooked on crack. You're happy when you get it but the next day you want more. So I try to just be happy with what I have. Plus I'm already on crack.

Do you collect something just since it is valuable and will sell for a lot of money one day?
Another subjective question. Ever since I started a year ago I have been buying and selling my action figures on ebay. My valuable figures are usually those that have a special meaning to me personally and not necessarily reflect the overall demand of the market. These would be(amongst several) my first custom Wolverine figure and the AT-AT Walker I stumbled on for a damn good bargain.

Do you ever think you will stop collecting?
Yes, eventually I will outgrow it(again). But I'm hoping my kid will pick up where I left off.

Toy Society Collector on Facebook

2009-10-11T12:31:00.004+11:00

For all Bruneian Toy Collectors. Spread the word. Join the group now.

(Click on pic to go to the group page)

Pic of the Day : Bad Trooper

2009-10-06T13:56:00.001+11:00

Bad Trooper by legojeff

# 45 : Star Wars, Endor AT-AT Walker w/ Biker Scout & Pilot

2009-10-06T09:00:00.002+11:00

This vehicle has got to be one of my fondest memory when it comes to toy hunting. I bought this last year in December. My family and I had just gotten back from Melbourne and I was disappointed as hell for not finding a single action figure. Well, to be fair there were a number of action figures but none that I was compelled to buy.
So the day after we got back I dropped by Target just to browse the toy aisle and I spotted the AT-AT walker box. It took me a while to figure out what I was looking at because it just looked out of place. The reason is because I had often visited this particular Target outlet and I've never seen the AT-AT. Plus, this is part of the Saga Collection which has been sold out for months. And there is also the issue of its pricing. On ebay this vehicle costs on average AUD 80(bidding start price) and not inclusive of shipping. This particular AT-AT was AUD 60! I was so ecstatic I managed to shout a small Homer "Wohoo!".
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
I've always wondered why Hasbro decided to go with the Endor AT-AT walker instead of a Hoth version. We didn't really get to see the Endor version in action. I mean if you wanted to go for the big bucks you'd issue a badass Hoth version that, even though it was issued in the POTF line(which I never got). But I digress.
The packaging is from the Saga Collection: Return of the Jedi(Episode VI).

I thought it was funny at first when I saw they showed one foot of the walker. The two bonus figures, not so much 'cos I'm used to it. But it doesn't really matter right?

(Pics above obtained from www.rebelscum.com. I was too lazy to go into the store room to look for the box. Well at least now you know I'm THAT lazy.)
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
The All Terrain Armored Transport or AT-AT Walker or Imperial Walker was one of the vehicles used by the Galactic Empire to scare the crap out of the rebels during its reign. The overall design is pretty simple if you think about it. It's like a camel without the hump. LoL.
The feet have brown paint to indicate having walked on the forest ground of Endor or your backyard. The legs are a bit wobbly if you lift up the Walker but its pretty stable once it stands. If it does topple over, then it would just be true to the movie now wouldn't it? *snickers*
There is a little gimmick to this toy.
Inside the cargo bay there is a handle which you use to move the head. There are two compartments: the head or cockpit and the cargo bay.
|Sculpt|
The sculpt is more or less accurate with the movie version. With exception to the actual scale of course. We all remember how the Walker crushed the Snowspeeder in Ep. V. The foot alone was massive. Have a look at how big the foot is compared to the Scout Trooper.

In the movie the foot was at least 3 or 4 times the size of the trooper.

|Accessories|
Aside from the 2 bonus troopers, nothing. But I'm not upset by it. I'm just glad to own one.
*************************************************************************************
Articulation
The legs move at the 'hips', knees and foot. The head could be moved by moving it manually or by using the control stick inside the cargo bay.
The chin guns move and simulate firing sound.
*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
A definite must for Star Wars collectors of all ages. I mean its just a must if you can grab one isn't it? Playing with it(not that I do...I swear!!) would just be awesome but if you're the buy-and-display type, then it will definitely be the topic of the day amongst you and your friends. Its like having a party and your woman is the hot babe with long legs. Your friends would oogle at her when you're not looking.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
I never dreamed I would be lucky enough to find one of these, let alone for a bargain. If you're looking for an AT-AT walker with some minor action poses and sound effects this would be it. If you want something purely for display I suggest you get a Revell AT-AT Walker.

Score: ****1/2

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Retro T-Shirts : Ghostbusters

2009-10-05T00:03:00.004+11:00

To top it off, it's glow in the dark!!

Pic of the Day : Tender Moment

2009-10-03T09:36:00.004+10:00

Tender Moment by Lobo
Note: Sorry guys. I just couldn't resist putting up this pic. LoL. - Lobo

# 44 : Revoltech Fraulein : Sweet Dreams Pocco

2009-10-02T16:23:00.002+10:00

Before I start, I'd like to apologize to all the die-hard Anime fans who regularly visit this blog in case I've made the wrong reference to this figure. I'm not a big Anime fan(though I'd like to be) and as I'm making this review I'm Googling(yes I said it, get over it) info about Pocco.
For my other regular visitors, if you're wondering when I started to collect Anime figures, I didn't. I got this from a fellow collector here in Canberra whom traded this for one of my Marvel Legends figure.
But rest assured Anime fans, I'm impressed by this figure(so you can delete that hate mail/comment you were about to send me LOL).
*************************************************************************************
Packaging
Pocco arrived last week but I've only opened it yesterday. In all honesty I never bothered to really look at the figure cos my friend gave it to me in a plastic bag and I just put it aside. He told me it was a Revoltech figure and I just took his word for it. I'm not trying to sound like an ass and pretend I wasn't curious. It's just that lil Lobo has started walking so that was more interesting at the time.
The box is nice with a window to show the figure. The moment I saw the figure I just smiled and thought to myself, "Damn! where's the rest of her clothes??".
The package is simple with a window to show off the figure. Since its mostly written in Japanese I have no idea if they provided a description of the character.
*************************************************************************************
D.S.A.
|Details|
The figure stands at 6" in height with tons of articulation. The paint app is clean and I can't find any major flaws. Even the details on the boots were carefully detailed and painted. This figure was created (here is where my googling goes to work) Shunya Yamashita and is based on his Art Book titled Sweet Dreams: The Art of Shunya Yamashita.
|Sculpt|
It closely resembles the art on the back of the box minus a scarf on the left hand that was in the pic. Its also a shame that this figure is not based on any Anime movie or series 'cos by the looks of her I would've made an effort to watch it. The silver/grey wings on her back makes them look like mechanical so I'm really not sure what to make of it. I wish it was removable in a way it wouldn't ruin the appearance. So for now they stay.

For some strange reason I'm really drawn to her goggles(on the head!).

|Accessories|
Pocco comes with 2 sets of extra hands, a sword and a display base.
*************************************************************************************
Articulation
As I've said it has tons of articulation. Enough to rival the standard M.L. by Toybiz. What I like about the articulation is that it is neatly hidden. But don't get me wrong, an action figure, no matter how good will have its faults. I find that the elbow joints tend to pop off easily if you move it too much. This is because they don't utilise a pin joint. That and combined with the soft type of plastic they used for the figure I'm guessing if it keeps coming off you'd have to glue it. Unlike my usual review I'm not going to list the articulation points because I'm not familiar with the Revoltech joints.
*************************************************************************************
Fun Factor
The really, really cool thing for me with this figure is that it fits perfectly well with my M.L. and DC figures(Mattel).
This might seem trivial for some collectors but for me I try to keep my collection along the same scale. That's why I guess I still haven't moved on to 1/6 figures.
*************************************************************************************
Overall
It's a fun figure to toy with(in a good way). Though my first impression of the lack of clothing material made it look a bit 'naughty' it doesn't really cross that line. If anything, this figure is cute. It also has that biker kind of look as well. In any case I'm looking forward to collecting more Revoltech figures but preferably based on Anime that I'm familiar with.
Score: ****

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He's My Rock Star!!

2009-10-01T14:18:00.003+10:00

"Sue" me, Please!!

2009-09-30T13:28:00.007+10:00

Sue Storm a.k.a. the Invisible Woman has always been portrayed as hot. But this 9" statue by Japanese artist known as Rockin' Jelly Bean is something else. I also happen to see these pics at www.hlj.com and it was going for 8,476 Yen.
Heck, if you're not gonna say it, I will. Sue looks like a MILF...and a damn good one.

Pic of the Day : Superman/Batman

2009-09-29T10:00:00.000+10:00

Superman/Batman by Lobo
Note: Don't forget to check out the new direct to DVD DC animation, Superman/Batman : Public Enemies.

"What did you do Ray?"

2009-09-28T22:22:00.002+10:00

An 8" vinyl Marshmallow Man bank to keep your your coins(or marshmallows) safe.

Read More...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from NECA

2009-09-28T14:44:00.001+10:00

I'll be brief with this post. I'm not gonna talk a whole lot about the TMNT. This is the one set of collection that I have that was not decided entirely by myself. I came across a review for these figures at another site. In all my time of collecting figures I am usually unbiased when it comes to choosing the figures. Unfortunately, this was not one of those times. Never had I read a review that was so moving and full of passion that made me think "Wow, I must get those figures". Damn you POE! LoL.
The sculpt and articulation is really wonderful and these are fast becoming my fav figures on the shelves. Even though their bandana is the same color, their facial expressions shows exactly each character.

Goofy

Angry

Thoughtful

Fierce

Unfortunately, the figures doesn't display well with my M.L and DC figures. It does however looks nice with my Hellboy and Gears of War figure.
If you've managed to get hold of the 25th Anniversary TMNT figures, these would really compliment those figures.
But don't let me persuade you, have a go at Poe's review over at OAFE.net.

"Where's the Flux Capacitor?"

2009-09-25T22:23:00.004+10:00

This just brings out the geek in me. I've seen the DeLorean from the first movie. Now they've done it again and have brought us the DeLorean from Back to the Future II. Sci-fi fan or not, this is one of those items that is sure to impress your friends. If the lights doesn't win them over, I'm sure the wheels in flight mode will.

Read More...

Retro T-Shirts : Sesame Street

2009-09-24T13:30:00.003+10:00

Cookie Monster...this has to be the funniest and coolest. A parody of Nirvana's album cover.

Pic of the Day : What Would Happen?

2009-09-23T18:03:00.003+10:00

What Would Happen? by Sasha's Lab

Collector's Edition DVD

2009-09-23T16:58:00.010+10:00

Last month I mentioned about getting 3 collector's edition DVD. I picked these up last week. Apart from the 2 Disc set, all 3 DVD have a bunch of pics taken from the movies. Those pics look really cool and I can imagine putting them in an album or something.

300

Batman Begins

The Dark Knight

"Hey fool, this ain't no football game!"

2009-09-22T19:36:00.002+10:00

Do you freaking remember this awesome series back in the 80's? My cousins and I sure did. This was the highlight of evening entertainment, followed by MacGyver and Airwolf. Those were really the good old days. But good news to all the fans out there. It turns out there is an A-Team movie currently in progress and set to be released in June, 2010. Below is a pic of the infamous A-Team van during filming of the upcoming movie.
Pic is courtesy of Splash News.

Pic of the Day : Supergirl Batgirl - DC Anime Heroine Series

2009-09-20T10:41:00.001+10:00

Supergirl Batgirl - DC Anime Heroine Series by chanchan222
Note: Trust in Anime to turn an already iconic sexy character into a sinfully lustful babe. *sigh*

Selamat Hari Raya to All!!!

2009-09-19T22:23:00.002+10:00

Bender's Raya Loot

2009-09-19T00:00:00.000+10:00

W.A.R. # 43 : Spider-Man Classic Heroes, Green Goblin

2009-09-15T22:04:00.002+10:00

Another Spider-Man Classic Heroes figure. The more well known villain, Green Goblin thanks to the Spider-Man movie. Rightfully so, since he is the craziest of the lot. Think of him as the Joker but without the constant laughing and a more ridiculous outfit.
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W.A.R. Contents:

Packaging
Detail/Sculpt
Articulation
Pricing

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Packaging

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Detail/Sculpt
The face sculpt has more of a cartoon-ish look rather than a comic look. Norman Osbourne is mad and obsessed with Spider-Man but the look on his face is just pure nutter. My interpretation of G.G. is that he's suppose to be damn scary. Maybe its because these figure was intended for kids or maybe some sculptor was high and used himself as the sculpt.
The head kinda looks small for the body. Plus considering that its suppose to be a mask just means that Osbourne has a very small head. The details on the armor looks good and as expected very minimal paint app problems.
The messenger bag is to carry those extra homework because he kept on ditching classes.
The packaging says pumpkin bombs(plural). Yet we only get one...hmmm. Bish!
The glider is simple but effective. It's easy to place the G.G.'s leg into the foot hold and you can display him easily enough on it without toppling over. The feet...oh my...what big feet you have. You know what they say about guys with big feet right? Big shoes.

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Articulation
Decent articulations all around.

Ball-jointed neck
Swivel-hinged shoulders
Swivel biceps
Hinged elbows
Swivel wrists
Swivel waist
Swivel-hinged hips
Swivel thighs
Hinged knees
Hinged ankles

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Pricing
The going price were AUD 15. These figures are difficult to find now since it has been quite sometime they've been around. They used to be a lot at all the shops like Target, BigW, K-mart & TRU. Now I can hardly see them.

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By comparison this figure looks a bit goofy compared to the ML series by ToyBiz. But I was thinking of getting the Hobgoblin and Demogoblin so to have all 3 figures in a row would look nice and sentimental. Like showing the Goblin through the ages. If you're a bit lost on where this character(Norman Osbourne) is in the current Marvel Universe here's the situation. He's still mad as a hatter and he's leader of the Thunderbolts working for the government. Yeah, I agree, even that lil bit of info is too much to take in.

Related Posts:

Pic of the Day : Benetton ad?

2009-09-15T19:26:00.000+10:00

Benetton ad? by Lobo

Superman/Batman : Public Enemies

2009-09-15T17:02:00.001+10:00

The latest preview of the upcoming Direct to DVD Superman/Batman movie. Set to be released at the end of this month. The list of characters looks explosive especially with Power Girl in the mix(what?).

So far this is the third animated movie by DC this year. The first two were:
Being a fan of WW, one would expect that I highly recommend the WW movie. Well, I think fans should watch both. Both movies gives viewers a new look at both their origins in the Superhero world. If you're watching GL, keep an eye out for Arisia, one of the GL Corps. Why? 'Cos she's cute - nuff said.

Who's in your Superhero Squad?

2009-09-14T21:54:00.008+10:00

I have to admit these figures are cute and fun to collect.

Pic of the Day : Directive 4 is Classified

2009-09-10T09:10:00.001+10:00

Directive 4 is Classified by pairadocs
Even when the movie first came out I thought it was awesome...and this was before CGI was big and commonly used. Something to think about -- Lobo

The Iron Monger Cometh

2009-09-10T00:10:00.004+10:00

How badass can you get to have 'Iron Monger' as your name? Very bad of course. Although the Obadiah Stane character in the Iron Man movie has no relation to the comic version, he's still a great villain. In fact, we only saw a fraction of Obadiah's viciousness in the movie. But we're not here to talk about the movie are we?
This is about the action figure. It seems I still haven't gotten enough out of the Iron Man movie action figures. Truthfully, I have but fate has other ideas. Target was having a clearance for these figures for the past month or so. I think it's all gone by now. These figures were going for $6 - $8 each from their original price of $16. So I thought there was no harm in getting another figure.
There are currently 4 types of Iron Monger figure that I know of. The first version is in the pic below(right) and sports a different color scheme. The color looks almost brown edging towards bronze. This figure has a spring loaded waist. When you put the legs together the waist will swivel creating a 'punch' action. This unfortunately takes away the articulation in the hips.

The other figure(left) is the one I got last month. This figure has the opening cockpit to reveal part of Obadiah's body and his head.

A decent sculpt all around. The colors are better than the first version. At least this comes close to the metallic look of the figure in the movie. There are signs of black wash all over the body and gives it a bit of greasy look.

Articulation is definitely better than the first figure simply because there articulation in the legs.

The only minus point about this figure is the center piece on the armor. Compared with the first version, this has only a sticker...a STICKER? Why couldn't they just stick with the same blue plastic they used in the first version? Maybe I'll look around on how to customize this problem.

Side by side with the Iron Man Mark 03.

Farewell Crystal IV

2009-09-07T16:36:00.001+10:00

I've had this habit of naming my computer "Crystal" ever since I got my own in 1998. Those who are into retro cartoons will probably figure out why I chose the name. The notebook that I've been using for the past two years has been my 4th computer, hence 'IV' and when it comes to using my Pc or Notebook I REALLY use it.

The first 2 Crystals had been Desktop PC's. The first is still my favourite(throw in "because she was my first" joke here) because my 2 pals and I built her ourselves. By 'built' I meant we bought all the parts and put her together. And it was amazing and sad at the same time. Amazing because we were really into overclocking back then and this was before you could buy all the sorts of cooling fan including water cooling. So Crystal I was a desktop PC running on AMD K6-2 266MHz processor and overclocked to run at almost 400MHz. Sad because this meant it was a system that was constantly on the brink of shutting down due to the heat. A big hole on the side casing with a video fan attached was the solution(like I said it was sad). It was a big thing back then with computer enthusiast. Who could overclock their system and not have the damn thing crash.

Well enough history. So now, my Dell XPS M1210 has served me well. Heck, she's traveled with me everywhere for the past 2 years. From K.L. to Singapore to Manila to Ho Chi Minh and lastly to Australia. Now, probably a burnt video card but also her way of saying I should move on to another. Thanks babe. We will miss you.

Pic of the Day : Ms. Marvel

2009-09-06T00:10:00.001+10:00

Ms. Marvel by Lobo

Half the size of the M.L. line yet twice as good. Finally, a decent Ms. Marvel figure. Thank you Hasbro -- Lobo.

Speed Racer : 3" Die-Cast Figures from Art Asylum

2009-09-06T00:05:00.000+10:00

Art Asylum : "Psycho Toyz for Crazy Kidz" - gotta love that slogan.

I got these for $9 each last month. At the time I didn't give it much thought. Now I think I really should've bought something else. It was one of my weak moments when I wanted to buy something but it was out of stock. Still, a nice item for fans of the classic Speed Racer series.

Pic of the Day : Rescue

2009-09-05T01:42:00.004+10:00

Rescue by Lobo
Captain Rex : "Get them out of here now!"

Transformers RPMs

2009-09-03T16:58:00.005+10:00

I spotted the Transformers RPMs(Robot Powered Machines) at Target today. I took a few pics of it using my mobile phone so don't expect too much out of the quality.

I only brought up the topic about this product because I noticed the cars are almost similar in size with Hot Wheels/Matchbox 1:64. So I'm guessing this will be a big hit amongst die-cast car collectors.

The cars are available in 1 pack or 2 pack. I think the 2 packs are worth it for collectors. I might pick these up if its on sale. Currently they are going for $9(1 pack) and $18(2 pack). I like the Optimus Prime and Barricade. I also saw the two nut-heads Mudflap and Skids. Those look awesome.

And as always, there will be a gimmick to these cars. In this case is the 'track' with the Transformer theme. Yeah, like Hot Wheels. : )

While you can't convert these cars into their robot form, from a collectors point of view, having these side by side with your Hot Wheels will look nice. That's my opinion anyway.

Chicks Dig Giant Robots!

2009-09-03T00:09:00.002+10:00

Remember that line? It was the theme song from Megas XLR(Xtra Large Robot). I wonder if they are still showing Megas XLR on Cartoon Network, Astro? If you're still going the Megas-what-now, look it up on Wikipedia. It was one of my favorite shows though most of my friends didn't think too much highly of it. The show ran for 2 seasons before being canceled in 2005. But there are still loyal fans who would love to get their hands on an action figure of Megas.

What is not to love about a show where a couch potato(Coop) turned into an anti-hero by a)modifying a futuristic advanced high tech robot. b)putting a cool car as the head of the robot. c)smashing other robots to win a wrestling title belt(in of of the episodes) d)making fun of other cartoons like Power Rangers & Voltron(the funniest!). Plus it had a cowardly best-friend/sidekick and a hot babe. All thrown in for a delightful and humorous adventure.
Come to think of it, I haven't even seen the DVD anywhere. For whatever reason it was canceled it's a shame that such a good show did not stayed on for more seasons. But maybe we'll get an answer during the Dragon Con held this month when the co-writer of the show, George Krstic will have the first ever Megas panel. Let's hope for some good news.

Pic of the Day : Who Won?

2009-09-02T16:11:00.003+10:00

Who Won? by Lobo

Maisto : Ridez, Volkswagen 1951 Beetle

2009-09-02T10:02:00.002+10:00

Nice details, especially the rims. I would write up more but I won't. LoL. Cheers.

Pika, pika?

2009-09-01T03:15:00.000+10:00

Hi, my name is Lobo and I'm a Pokémon lover. There I said it and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But before you start calling on your buddies to have a look and laugh in synchronization at my blog post, read the rest of this first. Who knows you might think otherwise by the time you finish reading.

By the way those fasting might not want to click on the 'Read more...' because there are pictures which might be risky...
What? You don't care?
Whoa..Slow down buddy...are you sure?
Ok then...

I am sure everyone knows about the whole Pokémon or Pocket Monster. My favourite Pokémon is of course the ever loyal Pikachu since my first exposure was to the anime series back in 1998(it was actually in mid 1999 i think). I was a skeptic at first, like most people who was strictly into 'manly' games like C.S and Quake. Back then I was occasionally babysitting my 3 cousins who was obsessed by the anime and the game. Having 3 rowdy boys to look after was quite a task and the only way to keep them still was to put on the Pokemon show. After a while of watching it I started asking them questions about what the story was and so on. Then the would lend me their Gameboy and asked me to play the Pokémon Yellow version game. I was hooked within a week. It was not only fun but I think at a certain point educational. At the time there was only like 100 Pokemon characters and we would try our best to memorize them. Now there's close to 500 I think. The whole concept of the game was simple. You are a Pokémon trainer, you try to collect as much Pokémon as possible, train them and battle the hell out of other trainers.

So I played the game, traded Pokémon(using the Gameboy data cable), collected the 3" figures(I had close to 70) and even had the poster/checklist of the original 100 Pokemon. Then sadly, someone took my Gameboy out of my room and I never saw it again. My cousins outgrew the whole phenomenon and so I lost my 'partners in crime'. Yet I tried my best to continue watching the series though once they branched out to other arenas I started to get lost and just tried to pick up the movies only.

Now, the Pokémon Chronicles series is playing on Cartoon Network and yes, I'm back to watching the damn show. Will I outgrow it? Definitely, but not any time soon. So in closing this 3 a.m. pointless rant all I have left to say is..."PIKACHU, I choose you!"

W.A.R. # 42 : Ultimate Bumblebee

2009-08-30T14:36:00.002+10:00

I haven't done a review on a Transformer toy for some time. The main reason is I've decided to stop collecting them for now. I MIGHT pick up a leader class every now and then but only if the price is right. Such was a case when I picked this up a couple of months ago. Normal retail price is about AUD 120. I picked it up for AUD 70. This was before the release of the ROTF figures.

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W.A.R. Contents:

Packaging
Detail/Sculpt
Features/Articulation
Pricing

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Packaging

Not your usual leader class Transformer figure. Well, actually they don't state that this is a leader class but it sure is as big as as one. This U.B. is supposed to be more than that too. It's got lots of gimmicks like voice activated actions and an array of soundtrack to rival the Ministry of Sound - well, not really.

On the front of the box it says "The Movie Hero 'Comes to Life' at the Push of a Button". How I wished it was as simple as that. One push of the button and it transforms itself. Now that would be a real gimmick.

Back to W.A.R. contents

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Detail/Sculpt

Even though I've had it for a couple of months I've only transformed him once and have kept him in car mode ever since to save space on my shelves.

The detail in car mode is impressive. Forget the seams that are apparent. I'm talking about it from an overall glance. A lot of effort went into this and I wished just a little bit more was put in. You know how when your figure is in vehicle mode and you can see the interior seats, steering wheel and all the tiny details that makes you go "niceeeee". There was none here.

Still, as I said, it is impressive. This figure was meant to entertain in terms of the fun factor. That's why when you press the Autobot emblem the car starts revving its engine and as you push the car along, the engine sound continues until you abruptly puts it to a halt and braking sounds can be heard accompanied by brake lights. Now, what 30 year old kid wouldn't enjoy that? LoL.

As I transformed U.B. into Robot Mode, it all starts coming back to me as to why I decided to stop collecting Transformer figures. The transformation annoys the hell out of me. Especially this one! Some parts were easy to convert but some I feel are just there to taunt me.

Almost 15mins later...I finally managed to convert U.B. without throwing it against the wall.

Eyes light up when UB is activated

Excellent sculpt in both car and robot mode. They even made an effort to sculpt the hidden panels.

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Features/Articulation

Not a lot of articulation so chances of you posing this guy in your favourite yoga position are out of the question. Plus once you switch him on, the arms will move and do their own poses. The few articulations that it does have is somewhat obstructed by all the other loose parts of the U.B. So basically you have these:

-Hinged elbow(left)
-Swivel & Hinged hand(left)
-Hinged fingers(left)
-Swivel waist(very minimal)
-Swivel hips
-Hinged knees
-Hinged ankles

The right hand is the cannon and fires automatically by pushing a button(I couldn't find the 'missile').

The Features in Robot Mode:
-Eyes will light up.
-He will play portions of three songs. I only know one of them which is Devo's 'Whip It'. These are activated automatically when he responds to the noises in the environment.
-He will also say phrases like;"Megatron will stop at nothing!" "You're my first human friend." "We must protect the Allspark!" "Be Careful, Decepticons could be anywhere!" "Eat Plasma!" "Permission to speak sir" And..."That will teach them to mess with an Autobot!"
-If you hold down the Autobot emblem he will sing portions of the Transformer song. Leave him alone for about 2 mins or more he will say; "Hello?" and "Anyone there?" If there is no respond he will say "This completes our radio broadcast" and powers down to save battery life.

The Features in Car Mode:
-Same as the above plus extras.
-Pressing the Autobot emblem will enable the car horn.
-Pushing the car and stopping it will have sound effects.
-Head & Tail lights are switched on.

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Pricing

I've already mentioned about the price earlier but I'm curious if you can find this in Brunei. If yes, how much are they selling it for? I'd appreciate it if you could drop by the chatbox with the info or leave a comment.

Back to W.A.R. contents

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At the moment this is what U.B. is reduced to, something for my lil' Princess Lobo to play with while watching her cartoons. But whether your a Transformer fan or not, this is a very nice figure to add to your collection. He might not make you a pot of coffee in the morning but he'll sure entertain you for a month or so depending on who you are. Storage issues? He will take up a lot of space but it'll be a space that is well used up.

Pic of the Day : Ultraman Zoffy

2009-08-30T14:00:00.000+10:00

Ultraman Zoffy by boh_muse

Marvel Legends : 2 Pack

2009-08-29T11:28:00.001+10:00

Marvel Legends is BACK!!!
The new 2-Pack consists of:

Maria Hill and Iron Man
Kree and Skrull
Hand Ninja and Nick Fury

The Maria Hill & Nick Fury figures looks very interesting. It's about time collectors get to build their S.H.I.E.L.D agents.

Read more...

Pic of the Day : Serves you right!!

2009-08-29T10:30:00.000+10:00

Serves you right!! by Lobo
"This is what you get for wearing pink"

Custom Wolverine & Iron Man Mark 02

2009-08-29T09:59:00.001+10:00

Wolverine:

Finally I got to finish the Wolverine custom that I had previously attempted. This time around I swapped the claws with packing needles instead of bobby pins. I'm happy with how it turned out. I won't deny that this could have been even better in the hands of a professional customizer. But I'll let you decide if I made a decent job out of it.

Iron Man Mark 02:

This figure is from the Iron Man Movie line by Hasbro. In all honesty I HATED the figure. I only got it because I already had Mark 01 and 03 in my collection. I'm sure you've all seen the figure on the shelves before or maybe even own one. All that grey color was just bad and to top it off we had two shades of grey. One ugly grey and another more silverish/grey. Luckily I wanted to practice my painting skills so I had it hand painted.

This was suppose to be Iron Man with the sky in the background. Wouldn't you know it, not a single cloud when I took this pic. LoL.

I still hate the figure...but not as much.

Pic of the Day : Ecto-1

2009-08-27T19:00:00.000+10:00

Ecto-1 by Rocko™

Voltron : 25 years of Defending the Universe

2009-08-27T14:36:00.002+10:00

"Megathrusters are go! Let's go, Voltron Force!" *drool*

T-Shirts : For Sale

2009-08-27T12:28:00.002+10:00

It has finally come to this. Mrs. Lobo has made me clear out my wardrobe. Before you get to your own conclusions, let me clear out the air first.
Ever since we've been in Canberra I've made it a habit of mine to pick up a minimum of 2 shirts each month. It has of course accumulated to a certain point where I don't even know when I'll get a chance to wear them. So Mrs. Lobo has had enough of my unused shirts invading her sacred wardrobe space(here I thought she'd be thrilled that I was following what she does all the time with the clothes she buys - I'm so in trouble if she ever reads this blog).
So I'm offering my readers in Brunei the chance to get these unique shirts that I'm 110% sure I will never get to wear. I'd also like to mention that since I bought these shirts with the intention of getting them for me, the sizes are only 'M' size. All shirts are original merchandise.

So far I've 'isolated' these two. If they are a lot of interest I'll put up more for sale. Each are BND 35 or BND 63 for both. First come first serve basis. So if there are any interested buyers, e-mail me at: stoosh666@yahoo.com. Payment options are either bank deposit into my HSBC account or paypal. All prices are inclusive of delivery cost.

Seeing Green

2009-08-26T08:21:00.005+10:00

The Turtles are here! They were delivered yesterday morning. I'm just thrilled to finally have these guys in my collection. Now, before you go reminiscing and start singing "heroes in a half shell", these aren't the garden varieties TMNT that we're used to watching back in the late 1980's. These are the original TMNT that spawned the phenomenon who made their first appearance on paper in 1984 by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

This was the cover of the first issue.

Source: Wikipedia

The main differences between these turtles and the animated are the tails(the cartoons did not have tails), bandanna - the animated used different colors for each turtle. It also turns out the originals really kicked ass while its animated counterparts had a more PG rated violence(e.g. Leonardo never used his Katana sword to cut the bad guys). There are also two variations of these figures. The first are the same but each figure comes with a base. The other is a box set and all the figures are in black in white to reflect the original characters.

The Four Horsemen name is enough to win over any doubtful collector...well me at least.

LeonardoRaphael

Donatello

Michelangelo

I'll post up some more pics in the future of these figures. Until then, they'll have to stay in their respective plastic cages.

Pic of the Day : Rex

2009-08-25T09:27:00.000+10:00

Rex by Lobo

Short Car on a Short Card

2009-08-25T09:07:00.000+10:00

Four-1 from Hot Wheels 2009 collection.

Pic of the Day : 'X' is for X-Games

2009-08-23T09:42:00.001+10:00

'X' is for X-Games by Lobo

I'm buying it for ME!!

2009-08-23T09:13:00.001+10:00

Warning: There are NO pics is the following post...*evil laugh*.

This recently happened to me when I was browsing the toy aisle at TRU. In particular ,the Star Wars section. I was there with the missus and our daughter. As usual I would slowly drift away after a few mins of head nodding at the latest baby clothes and what-not.

Anyway, I was there admiring the new Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank. Totally immersed with the pics on the back of the box, reading it(aloud I think) when a kid, aged 6-8, came up to me. For the next bit I'll do a bit of dialogue because let's face it, I have too much free time today.

Kid: "Cool isn't it? Who are buying it for?"
Me: "Yeah, it's the coolest! I'm thinking of getting it for me"
Kid: (giving me the once-over from head to toe)"Are you going to play with it?"
Me: "Oh no, I don't do that anymore. I just collect them and display them"
Kid: "That's silly. How many Star Wars toys do you have?"
Me: "Quite a lot I think"
Kid: "That's silly because I like Star Wars and my Daddy never lets me get them. Well, maybe a few but not a lot. If I had a lot, I would play with them every day"
Me: "Well it's my money. So, get out of my face before I drop this box on your head"

Ok. I made up the last bit. Actually I just smiled and went off to another aisle. Then it got me thinking, the kid was right. Collectible or not it's a toy after all. Hasbro and other companies are Toy Makers. Their target audience are kids. Not us. Sure there are certain companies that cater to us so-called collectors. But for fans of the likes of Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Marvel, just to name a few, their collections are basically toys made for the sole purpose of having a 6 year old running around the house or in the sand box making 'BOOM', 'SWOOSH', 'POW' noises. I sure did when I was 6.

So the dilemma in being a collector is that we are actually sharing the market niche with kids, not owning our own piece of the pie. No matter how much you complain, yours truly included, on your website regarding sculpt or articulation or paint app, do you really think it really matters to toy companies? While it seems through the existence of toy sites like OAFE, Toybender and Poe Ghostal that our numbers(collectors) are many, think again. Kids are still winning in numbers. Why do you think action figures consist of mainly the good guys(sometimes the same one in different 'forms') and not as balanced as we all hoped. Sure kids need a bad guy or two for their good guy to battle but its the good guy that excites them the most. Collectors on the other hand has a different perspective. We need more bad guys in our collection because we want to complete the set or at least balance out the forces of good vs. evil which has been at war on our shelves.

So how exactly do we justify collecting toys for the sole purpose of displaying it? There are and will always people who criticizes us. Mrs. Lobo sure did when I started and thankfully she has given up and have now on occasions been known to say "I think you don't have that in your collection". *GASP*. Moving on to the subject of justification it all depends on what age group you are. If you're like me, around 30-ish, I could always use the reason that 'I have always been an action figure collector, I just didn't have the disposable income back then'. If you're younger you could use the 'It's better I spend my allowance money on this than buying drugs' reason. LoL. Whatever your reason is, nothing will beat the 'It's my money, it's not illegal and what do you care?' in-your-face response. But if you think about it., why should we justify our hobby? They don't ask people who would...say collect stamps, fridge magnets or currency.

On a lighter note, I'm glad this trend is slowly growing in Brunei. Especially for those who have been in the game for a long time, they can now look for action figures IN Brunei instead of having to order it from abroad. To those who have started, I hope they can make use of local toy bloggers like Toyzstation, Marvel-Less Talk, Shewsbery Land, House of El and dozen others. Awareness of the existence of toy collectors has already been established thanks to the sites I've mentioned. The next step is to create a pool of resources where we can share information. Who knows one day we could have our very own Brunei Toy Con or Comic Con?

I apologize if my ranting has gotten somewhat sidetracked. My point to this whole story, of course there's a point, is the next time you come across an annoying kid like that, just lie and say it's for someone. A gift for a kid of his age perhaps. It'll drive them nuts.

Pic of the Day : Commander Blue

2009-08-22T09:30:00.000+10:00

Commander Blue by See El Photo
I remembered I only had Max Ray back in the day. Man I miss these retro action figures. Gotta find me some on ebay. LoL.

POWER EXTREME!! - couldn't help myself.

Custom Choppers are Priceless

2009-08-21T17:46:00.007+10:00

Another post about motorcycles? Sorry about that guys. It's like I'm on a deadline today. Tomorrow starts the fasting month which means no more buying action figures for now(trying to save for something big...hehe). But hey, I got this today:

A 1:12 Custom Choppers bike. Die cast and customizable in certain parts. The quality is not the best but the prospect of what it can be used for was enough to win me over.

Immediately I imagined the Main Man sitting on this beast. That was before I realised just how crappy Lobo's articulation is. I tried my best and so did the Main Man to look as if he belonged in the picture. So we both gave up and I moved on to the next best thing. And you know what? I ended up with another 'Pic of the Day'...

Wanna mess with me, bub? by Lobo

For a $16 bike...it was worth it!!

Hot Wheels : Steet Power, 1:18 Motorcycles

2009-08-21T10:32:00.000+10:00

Picked these up last night at TRU. There are six in this series. I only choose 3 design which I thought are unique and would look great with my other 1:18. I honestly don't know why I'm starting to collect 1:18 bikes. It must be one of those middle age phases. Heck if I know. But I'm liking it.

There's not much detail about the bikes on the boxes except for their names. Also for the life of me I couldn't find any details for this series on the net and I'm usually good at doing research...usually. Anyway, I've open only one box to take close up pics. For each of the bikes they have different color variants. I opted for whatever was left on the shelves(it's my way of saying I saw it before but waited too long to buy it and these were the only ones left).

Rollin' Thunder

Twin Flame

Ferenzo

I bet Wolvie or Cap will look good on these bikes - right Spidey?

Pic of the Day : After Star Wars...

2009-08-20T09:12:00.001+10:00

After Star Wars... by Lobo
"This is what you get for messing with R2-D2"

Marvel Legends : Annihilus Series

2009-08-19T00:00:00.003+10:00

I'm not entirely sure about this but I think this was the first Marvel Legends series by Hasbro. Following the tradition of Toybiz they also decided to follow the build-a-figure concept. Each figure comes with a part of another 'ultimate' or rare figure. Fortunately, I'm not going to torture you with a proper review for these figures. I just happened to come across these pics as I was clearing my hard disk. I bought the whole set last year and I'll just briefly discuss them.

Before I start, I just want to know if you've had that contradicting feeling in your gut about something you were going to buy. In this case, I'm referring to myself and when I bought this set. Back then, I could see from the pics these weren't the so called best-of-the-best figures. Yet, when I saw that these were just AUD 24(for the whole lot), I went and said "$24? What is?". "What is?" is my equivalent of "its a no-brainer".

When I got the package and opened the box I wanted to scream bloody murder. Out of all 7 figures, only 4 could be considered decent figures. After a month of displaying them I decided to get rid most of it on ebay. It's true I consider myself a collector, but at the very least I'd like to display action figures that would be easy on the eyes. If not for the sake of my friends then just for myself.

Figures I eventually kept:

| Hercules |

Maybe it was the monkey grin. Maybe it was the Greek Mythology bit. Maybe it was the bulky physique. Nah...it was definitely the monkey grin.

| Ultimate Iron Man |

Ultimate Iron Man. Not really an 'ultimate' disaster. A good enough sculpt.
The best of the lot. Most people cried 'foul' regarding his roman type skirt missing. I for one don't really mind. He's my favourite of the lot. He just looks so grim and mean.
I really thought they did a decent sculpt of this. The likeness to the Beast from X3 is uncanny(no pun intended...honest).

Figures that should be shot out of a canon(or sold back on ebay, whichever comes first):

| Banshee |

Nothing against him really. His 'screaming sculpt' was scaring the other figures.

| Emma Frost |

I was genuinely sad about this figure. I still wonder why they messed up so bad on this. Was it so hard to sculpt her?? DST was able to come up with a gorgeous piece of work. Why??? And you made a 'variant' diamond form Emma? Were we supposed to be impressed? Me thinks not.

| Annihilus |

This S.O.B. is the b.a.f. for this series. Ok...here's where I don't get it. Are we supposed to find this guy scary with all that pink on his armour? I could've painted purple over it I guess. But seriously? Pink!! Is this like the George Michael of baddies?

Of course all these are just opinions from a guy who happens to be very bitter about the figures of Emma Frost & Ms. Marvel so far and watches Handy Manny all day with his 1 year old daughter.