Superman The Movie Magazine (1979)

One very special Christmas gift from my sibling this year was a Superman The Movie magazine, published in 1979- very cool! I have some vintage comics and Christopher Reeve memorabilia in my collection, but have never seen this! Chris was a hero in real life as well as on the silver screen, co-founding the Reeve-Irvine Research Center to develop stem cell research in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. And back in 1978, at the age of six, I thought Chris Reeve really was Superman! 

The book features interviews with the actors, producers, and designers, insight on the sets of Superman's world, and the comic book themes that informed the movie's characters and their story told in the blockbuster film. I'm not sure there was much within the pages I didn't really know, but I loved this movie as a kid, there's plenty to read, and the pictures inside are fun!

The back cover features a favorite promotional photo of Christopher of mine in front of the American flag- he was the Superman of my generation and still my favorite. I've appreciated other portrayals, including Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill, but we all tend to favor early experiences and childhood heroes. And who can deny Chris Reeve's sincere portrayal ...?

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Lego Star Wars X-Wing Microbuild, Anakin & Obi-Wan Minifigures

More of my fascination with Lego and Star Wars, after finding these loose Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan minifigures on eBay, I ran into a peg of Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens microbuild bags. There was also a Tie-Fighter, but I opted for Poe's X-Wing Fighter, the orange and black color scheme of which appeals to me. These are simpler than the Lego Microfighter Series, without projective missiles and unable to seat a minifigure, but the wings are articulated on this fun little microbuild. Very cool!

Before seeing the recent Star Wars movie, I'd again watched the prequel trilogy, and while the fan community bemoans their mention, I think there were some good things about the movies, including actor Ewan McGregor as the young Obi-Wan. These genuine Lego minifigs feature my preferred costumes for the two characters, and metallic lightsaber handles...

Anakin and Obi-Wan with my Force Awakens C-3PO minifigure...

BootLego Gray Hulk Vs. Lego Obi-Wan & Anakin ...!

May The Force Be With You!

Lego Star Wars A-Wing/B-Wing Pilots, C3PO, & Microfigs!

I just loved these Lego A-Wing and B-Wing pilot minifigures with visor helmets I found on eBay! The seller had an assortment of blasters listed as well, so I picked a couple up for them, too, so they can battle my Lego Stormtroopers...

I found the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens C-3PO minifig single at TRU a couple weekends ago, with the freaky red arm. His tampos are great, even running down both arms...

While scoring the A-Wing/B-Wing pilots above, I discovered Lego Microfigures- wow! I didn't know these existed, and can't quite explain why such a tiny, simple figure could fascinate me so, but they do. Perhaps it's just the meta delight of my toys having toys of their own ...!

Threepio and the microfigs now live in my new Lego minifigs case, next to my translucent  BootLego Rebel Pilot...

May The Force Be With You!

Lego Star Wars Series 2 Microfighters Snowspeeder & ARC-170 Starfighter

After putting the Lego Imperial Troop Transport together, I found it hard to resist getting a couple Rebel ships to go with, these Lego Microfighters being the perfect size! These were easy and fun to put together, and oly about ten bucks each. Check out the video:

May The Force Be With You!

DC Collectibles Earth 2 Hawkgirl

I bought the Earth 2 Hawkgirl at the end of 2014 with a bunch of other DC Collectibles, opening her only recently to discover she had two left hands! I contacted DC Entertainment concerning the issue, and a very nice Kevin Kiniry said he'd do his best to find me another, which surprisingly he did! This was a relief, as she was a character I enjoyed in Earth 2, with a great update to the classic Hawkgirl...

The wings are hinged, pegging securely into two holes in the figure's back- they can be swiveled without falling out because of their tight fit. The ponytail is a separate piece with no articulation, which prefer draped behind the wings. Her pistol and knife sheath onto the figure securely and fit in her hands nicely. Hawkgirl has a fair amount of articulation, but the true appeal of a DC Collectibles figure are their artful aesthetic, for which this one is a particularly fine example. These are not toys for little kids, they're art and to be handled with care. That said, they're also poseable and fun, evident in the pictures below...

As if finding me a new Hawkgirl wasn't enough, Kevin went out of his way and sent an additional Batman figure I had confessed to have admired- wow! I really enjoyed artist Greg Capullo's work on Batman: Zero Year, and the visual homage to the Caped Crusader's origins with the flanged cape and purple gloves. I look forward to busting him out of that package and getting some photos. It's true we live in the Golden Age of action figures, and DC Collectibles are responsible for that with their groundbreaking work as DC Direct, producing figures based on the art from different DC Comics stories. This tradition has continued in DC Collectibles production of  figures of rare specialty as heroes of Earth 2. Se my post on DC Collectibles' Earth 2 Flash and Green Lantern...  

Thanks to Kevin Kiniry at DC Entertainment 
for giving me a great experience!
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Dargo Translucent Thor

I'm unsure why so many Asian BootLego dealers are manufacturing/selling minifigs in translucent plastic, but perhaps even more so than the Star Wars Clone Troopers from my last post, Thor seems like a natural for this treatment. If it's due to his association with lightning, would be my guess, but I love translucent plastic toys indiscriminately, so maybe it's just me. Thor came with a collector card- I love using these as bookmarks for the number of trade paperbacks I may be reading at any given time. Check him out...

My translucent Dargo Hulk makes a perfect adversary for this Thor ...!

God of Thunder ...!

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LeLe Translucent Star Wars Clone Trooper Minifigures

More BootLego figures from eBay, these translucent Clone Troopers, Rebel X-Wing pilot, and Ezra Bridger figure. I'm mad for translucent toys! They came with clear stands, each outfit with a hinged sort of minifig schematic panel.

Looks like a battle between the old Republic and Darth Vader and his Imperial Stormtroopers ...!

I've enjoyed the handful of episodes of Star Wars: Rebels recently, and really like the Ezra Bridger character, who does have skirmish with Darth Vader in one scene, from which he and his Jedi master, Kanan Jarrus...

I'm really excited about the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie coming out next weekend, the nostalgia it rekindles showing in my toy interests of late. I was five years old when the first movie came out, and obsessed like any other boy at the time...

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Marvel Knights X-Men: Haunted

Like Batman:Dreamland from my last post, I enjoyed the expressive art of the Marvel Knights X-Men: Haunted recently, which reminded me somewhat of Darywn Cooke stylistically. Artist/Writer Brahm Revel made his big league Marvel debut in 2014's Haunted, otherwise known for his Guerillas book from Oni Press, I was fascinated by his sketchy,dynamic art, and the interesting tension created between X-Men Kitty Pryde, Wolverine, and Rogue. Revel has a lot of talent, and I look forward to seeing more of his great work!

In a backwoods Virginia town, the X-Men search for the murderer of a young mutant, running into two young mutants reluctant to accept help, an isolationist cult using mutant blood to amp up their drugs, and a crooked sheriff pulling all the strings. Things get pretty surreal as the X-Men physically battle the subjects of their self-loathing and regret, come to life through the powers of one of the young mutants they are trying to save. I remember seeing these released as single issues, but I'm glad I experienced it in this TPB format, which found used at a much better price. I've said before that I'm not qualified to judge or review literature in the conventional sense, and while this will never be an essential book, it was a good read.

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