INCOMING: Boy Wonder's Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog!

INCOMING: Boy Wonder's Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog!

After collecting several dozen of the world's most famous diecast cars, I've decided to dedicate an entirely new satellite blog to my newest collecting fascination- race on over and join in on the fun!

DC Imaginext Batman, Scarecrow & Poison Ivy

I have a hard time passing up any DC Imaginext characters- Fisher-Price tickled my fancy back in April with Brainiac, Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man so much that not long ago I hunted down some of their blind bag series figures that weren't even DC related... and loved them too! 

Scarecrow and Poison Ivy are the real items of interest in this post, being totally new characters from Fisher-Price, who delivered on design and sculpt on these two. Neither are a particular favorite from Batman's gallery of rogues, but Fisher-Price's unique take on these two DC villains is plainly admirable... 

Scarecrow's tattered outfit has so much detail, including holes in his patchwork cape, and ribbons of tattered pants running down the legs. Fisher-Price thoughtfully included a scythe the figure can hold with both hands. And there's more paint apps here than a lot of recent 6" Mattel figures, some of the patches in his chest subtly toned in green and purple-red, and dark washes over the entirety of the figure to pronounce all the great detail. Really nice! While Scarecrow may not be at the top of my villain favorites, he is a perfect nemesis for the Dark Knight, both using fear as a weapon against their adversaries and one another.

Poison Ivy rivals here partner in crime with her fantastic deco- a highly detailed sculpt in the boots and bodice, and ivied tattoos down the limbs. Her neatly painted face also has ivy accents beneath her eyes, and contrasting red hair frames her cute little face- she's delightful to behold! Her vine staff is crooked near the top to help her handle with both hands, and topped with a large bud. It's nice to see another female among my Imaginext collection, something I think most all of us can agree we'd like to see more of in the future!

I found this single carded Batman at Big Lots a month or so before finding the Scarecrow/Poison Ivy 2-pack at Target, of interest to me due to his more traditional deco. I have a couple other Imaginext Batman figures, both all-black, but I compulsively picked this one up for five bucks- a comparatively great value considering I got the 2-pack for under eight, though he does have three nice accessories that save the deal. This figure and his accessories were originally packaged as a Target exclusive awhile back, both of which list for an unusually high number on eBay, so I guess he's more desirable that the all-black Bats selling in lots of ten or more from several sellers.

...with my coveted, all-black "1989" Imaginext Batman, which also ended up in my last post on the DC Multiverse "Keaton" Batman...

As I said, Batman's accessories add a lot- armed with two giant batarangs and a grapple hook, things seem more exciting! Likely contrary to some collectors, I love that Fisher-Price cast them in red, I only would have made the grapple clamp onto the figure's arm for a more convincing look, though he grips it well enough...

Now it's time to play...

Robin swoops in on his cycle for the assist...!

My personal Batman gallery of rogues has grown since I picked up Joker, Penguin, and Mr. Freeze back in 2011! Scarecrow and Poison Ivy also join ranks with Catwoman and Croc...

More Later- Make It FUN!

DC Multiverse '89 Batman

I have fond memories seeing this new DC Multiverse Batman, modeled after actor Michael Keaton's portrayal in the 1989 motion picture Batman. Excitement was in the air outside the small town theatre on opening night, and Bat-mania was in full swing, our childhood hero vindicated on the silver screen in all his dark glory! It was a special time, recognized by action figure makers like NECA and Hot Toys most recently in their 1:4 and 1:6 scale releases, and now Mattel with this 4" DC Multiverse Batman. The variant features an unmasked Keaton, but I only found this cowled version, which suits me fine. I scored mine at Target for under ten bucks, which seems high, though I've seen asking prices well north of that on the internet. This demand further clarifies nostalgia for the film- a VHS copy of which I nearly wore out years after it's release.

I have to admit that Mattel nailed it on this- the sculpt is excellent, even at this scale. Further cementing the illusion is the scalloped cape cut from pleather fabric, emulating the character's thick, leathery cape in the movie. So thick is the pleather sewn over the shoulders in fact, that it can be positioned in a flowing pose behind the figure- just great! He includes a nicely detailed grapple gun that would have been better if made of more rigid plastic- too rubbery. There's not a lot of paint detail, which is mildly sloppy around the otherwise film accurate insignia on the figure's chest. I can't comment on the unmasked variant, but this one really looks like actor Michael Keaton to me from certain angles.

The articulation on this is limited to some degree, but serviceable- no bicep swivels, but swivels above the knees and DCUC styled hinge-swivel hips. The waist has a swivel above the belt, which is fine, but the figure could have been more expressive with a ball joint. That said, Keaton couldn't turn his head in that outfit, and would likely argue that the figure is no less articulated than he was on set.

Multiverse Batman with two other action figures inspired by the all-black '89 redeco of the legendary crime fighter, the 6" DCUC All-Star Batman and 2 1/2" Imaginext Batman...

While we're here together, an obligatory shot with my new Tonka, which complements Batman's wardrobe rather nicely, yes ...  :D

And to finally dispel the myth that Michael Keaton wasn't physically suitable to don the Dark Knight cowl, proof in a battle against Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow...

More Later- Make It FUN!

G.I.Joe Retaliation Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow

I don't collect G.I. Joe, though I did post on the Hundred Penny Press reissue of  G.I. Joe #1 back in April, and had a couple handfuls of the 4" action figures back in the '80s like many of us.  Like the Marvel Universe Handful of Heroes in my last post, I scored these at Five Below at a price low enough for me to venture outside my typical superhero theme. Who could resist two accessory rich ninjas for $5.00 each??

Ninja Duel Snake Eyes has the most accessories of the pair, with a rifle, pistol, and dagger in addition to his twin katanas. Both the figure's wrists enjoy a hinge-swivel that are very useful in handling the swords, and while there isn't a bicep swivel, it's not missed due to the hinge-swivel elbows and shoulders. Snake Eyes also has double hinged knees and ankle rocker joints, and a ball jointed head with a decent range of expression. I'm not crazy about the screws being visible on the inner thighs, but he is a really cool action figure.

I'm not sure why Hasbro included the larger pack/quiver in which the single katana sheath is housed, since the latter can be pegged onto the figure's back alone, which I prefer. I love that the pistol and dagger can be holstered/sheathed on the rubber belt, but wish there was a way to attach the assault rifle. While the figure is all black, there are great sculptural details throughout, and the katana handles were expertly decorated.

Storm Shadow has all the great articulation the Snake Eyes does, but none of the firearms- also a great little action figure! His set of swords features on longer katana with a shorter kodachi, the blades wider than Snake Eyes' swords, and painted silver. I like the way they can both be holstered onto the fitting in the figure's back, though a double sheath could have looked more realistic. Storm Shadow makes a great counterpart to the Snake Eyes figure- you almost have to get both!

What better action figures to christen my Power City extension pack with than a couple highly articulated ninjas, yes... ? As you saw in the figure tray picture at the beginning of the post, both include zip lines that fire projectile clamps from a pack. Adult collectors sometimes find these kind of accessories distasteful, but any child or fun soul can have a good time with these in my opinion! Let's see how the action plays out in a duel between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow... !

More Later- Make It FUN!

Handfuls of Heroes

I've admired these Handful of Heroes since Hasbro released them a few years ago, but was unwilling to pay the seven dollar retail price- a somewhat poor value. But when I spotted them at Five Below for three dollars a box, I took a few home. As a child of the Seventies, I can appreciate a 2" plastic figure in the way today's youth may not- a staple of any kid's toy box from my generation. The packs boated a "battle mat", in which as best I can tell, the players are to flick the characters from one end to the other in a sort of mini-Marvel bowling match. Pretty dumb. On the verso is a visual checklist of the characters one can collect from the series. Here's a look at what was included in each box I picked up...

 Super Secret figures from each of the four boxes: Hulk, Green Goblin, Spider-Man, and Wolverine...

Now let's break these down into group affiliation...Spider-Man related characters were plenty in this mini-haul, and included a Dr. Octopus, Green Goblin, and Venom...

Crawling Spider-Man with Punisher, a character who first appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #129 back in 1974. These Handful of Heroes figures remind me a lot of my 70's childhood, and this pairing solidifies that nostalgia all the more...

Hulk In Bulk: All Ages Hulk, Professor Hulk (with guns), regular Hulk (with bar), and three Hulk as War below...

 Bi-Beast with Zzzask- two monstrous enemies of the Hulk created by artist Herb Trimpe in 1973...

Fantastic Four related characters Dr. Doom, Silver Surfer, and Thing...

Avengers related characters: Thor with two Captain America figures...

X-Men related characters: Wolverine and Sabretooth (left), Nightcrawler with two Onslaught figures...

Iron Man related characters: Modern Iron Man, Mark I Iron Man, Iron Patriot, and Mandarin...

A few comparison pics: Mark I Iron Man with his Marvel Universe counterpart (left), Silver Surfer with Marvel MiniMate and Heroes and Villains Silver Surfer Mini figures (right), and Spider-Man with Playskool Heroes and Heroes and Villains Spidey (below)...

 More Later- Make It FUN!