BootLego Atom (DC Comics)

 I felt like this BootLego Atom deserved his own post- I loved the colors, deco, and helmet on this imported minifig. I have a few Atom figures I love, and though the character is third tier character among the DC pantheon, I was always a little more into him than Marvel's Ant-Man. Maybe the whole Atomic Age theme the character evokes appeals to my interest. At any rate, I found this one to be unique and fun!

Ray Palmer, a physics professor who created a belt to shrink himself down to sub-atomic size while maintaining his mass, was the Silver-Age Atom. According to DcWikia.com, Palmer's first appearance was in Showcase #34 (1961).

Below, BootLego Atom with my BootLego Flash- what a pair of DC Comic's finest ...!

See my January 2013 post featuring the DC Action League Atom and Flash!

More Later- Make It FUN!

New DC Action League 2-packs

I've seen only one set of these new DC Action League figures in one dumpy K-Mart across the county- no where else. At $8.49 a pop, up from seven bucks when I first started collecting them, they had understandably lost my interest (ouch). These two were too cute to pass up however. The packaging has been updated, which I am quite fond of. The previous design, was fine mind you, but these have a likeness of the "main" character included across the front, warmer colors, and an even splashier, open feel. The character/characters are announced as part of a titled adventure, like in a comic or animated feature, with no further elaboration or explanation. In my opinion, Mattel/DC should include a mini-comic with these a package set, perhaps detailing Atom's escape with Plastic Man against "the Flying Creature of Doom",  especially if they are going to charge $8.50. 

Mattel's corporate machinations aside, this Atom/Plastic Man 2-pack is a triumph! Plastic Man in form of a hand glider, his tiny partner latches tightly onto his arms to ride out and save the day. This set could not be more whimsical and fun!

Plastic Man's arms move on a swivel at the shoulders, and his head is on a ball joint that also enjoys an added swivel at the neck, allowing him to look in almost any direction. I was pleasantly surprised by his expressive quality. His sculpt is simple but thoughtful, the bands at his waist actually incised into the sculpt, not just painted/tampographed onto the plastic.

I've come to appreciate both Plastic Man and the Atom a lot more as an adult comics reader- they aren't marquee heroes in the DC Universe, but their function is important. Their powers are as unique as their personalities, the Atom bringing his fluency for sub-atomic science, and Plastic Man providing comic relief.

Atom enjoys hinges in his shoulders in addition to the swivel joints like some of the newer Action Leaguers have, which he need to hitch a ride with Plastic Man. Other than that, his neck and waist are the only other points of articulation- very simple. His buck is also smaller than the standard Action League male, which was thoughtful, and an atomic symbol is neatly tamped onto this forehead and tiny belt buckle. While these are atrociously overpriced, they are wonderfully designed and cuter than a bug's ear! Love!

Atom has the dynamic running pose like the DC Action League Flash does, whom he pairs quite nicely with...

 I have a couple other Atom figures, including this very cool Justice League Unlimited Atom. I love action figures with a fun, cartoony sculpt and color as much as those with a realistic treatment. Mattel's JLU line was a lot of fun...

Larfleeze has a fun sculpt, clutching a small orange lantern to his chest. He doesn't have shoulder hinges like the Atom, so his insignia are not uninterrupted. He has neck and waist swivel, and a left elbow swivel that really adds to the lanky arm gesticulation his character is known for. Nice! And word to DC Direct: DC Action League Larfleeze has a neatly tamped lantern symbol on his tiny orange ring.

And though the holidays are behind us, I was reminded of the Larfleeze Christmas Special (Feb. 2011) in my collection when I started playing with him. Cheezy, but still fun  :D

Larfleeze's 2-pack partner is Glomulus, one of Larfleeze's creepy bouncing minions that bring Slimer from Ghostbusters to mind. He's bigger than Larfleeze which is fine because of their elastic physicality, generated by the orange Lantern's energy. He has no articulation, made of an translucent orange plastic with rubbery arms. He has a, ummm... cavity in his posterior where Larfleeze can put his ringed fist. Hard to get him to stand this way, plus it's embarrassing  :D

DC Action League Larfleeze & Glomulus 2-pack with DC Direct's Blackest Night Larfleeze & Glomulus...

And finally, Larfleeze with the rest of my DC Action League Lanterns- see more of them at all these embedded links. Freshly back into comics as an adult around the time of Geoff John's Blackest Night story line, I became a huge Green Lantern fan, a character whose toys and books I now own a great deal of.

More Later- Make It FUN!

DCUC Indigo Lantern Atom

I picked up this DC Universe Classics Indigo Lantern Atom last weekend at BAM!, a great store my brother turned me onto that sell books, comics, used CDs & DVDs, and toys. There were some great DCUC & DC Direct action figures there, including a version of this character by both Mattel and DC Direct! I chose the Mattel version due to a renewed interest in the DC Universe line, and while not always the case, I felt the Mattel looked better. Weird, I know- a lot of times the DC Direct trumps Mattel on aesthetics, case in point, the DC Direct Arkham Asylum Batman I got awhile back. In this instance however, Mattel's attention to detail, sculpt, & paint won me over- and I have several of DC Direct's Blackest Night series.

From the Green Lantern Blackest Night storyline, Ray Palmer underwent the most drastic transformation when several of our DC Universe heroes were temporarily selected as deputy members of the emotional spectrum to save the day during this epic tale.

One of the most brilliant men on Earth, Professor Ray Palmer became The Atom after creating a belt that allows him to shrink to microscopic size. After his best friends Hawkman and Hawkgirl were murdered and transformed into Black Lanterns, Ray was granted an Indigo Power Ring to assist in defeating the Lord of the Dead, Nekron.

According to Yo Go Re over at OAFE, Atom's bare chested costume is reminiscent of his days as a barbarian in Sword of the Atom, which explains a lot to a guy who initially scratched his head upon beholding this unusual figure. There are so many pieces of new sculpt on this figure, laden with intricate detail that make this a standout in the DC Universe line- simply awesome! I put him up there with my DCUC Deathstroke. If the detail of the shoulder harness with the Indigo Tribe necklace draped over it isn't enough, there's also the new buccaneer style boots with soft rubber tassels, belt emblazoned with the Atom insignia, and two different gold wrist guards. And that tiny sculpted power ring- DC Direct doesn't do that! The drybrush highlights in Ray's hair, subtle paint washes on the skin & legs, and tattoos throughout the arms & torso make this a real work of art! Bravo!

As the Green Lanterns weild the power of will, The Indigo Tribe employs the power of  compassion through their staffs, as opposed to traditional power batteries employed by other lanterns of the emotional spectrum. Their understanding of all these other emotions allow the mysterious Indigo Tribe members to conduct their powers as well as their own compassion, making them quite powerful. This was both deep & smart on part of the creators of this fictional band of heroes (Geoff Johns & Ethan VanSciver): compassion is truly a all-encompassing & effectual attribute.

I find this action figure & what he symbolizes personally meaningful, and while pondering him I thought to myself "if this tribe really existed, how much better the world would be".  I quickly realized they really DO exist: all the good people of the world- the doctors & nurses, mission & rescue workers at home & abroad, peacemakers & poets....  That gave me a good feeling inside  :)

Here's to You & Yours- Have a GREAT Weekend!

Weekend Haul

My brother turned me onto a great store, BAM!, this weekend that sell books, comics, used CDs & DVDs, and toys. They had all kinds of vintage figures of assorted variety, boxed/carded & loose which is something I don't see here a lot. They also had new & vintage comics, some pretty old collector's items as well. I loved it!  I picked up the two Batman Beyond animated movies pictured above with my DC Direct Deluxe Batman Beyond dolly, a Rush CD (Counterparts), 80 page Brave New World #1 comic (DC, 2006), and a DCUC Indigo Lantern Atom.

I'll be keeping an eye on that place, let me assure you  ;)  I also hit some other places this past week and found some great stuff, but I'll save that for future posts- let's just say this wasn't the half of it. It was a weekend full of great weather, shopping, social gatherings, and a 25th anniversary performance by my longtime rock band- way too much fun! I hope you took some time to relax and enjoy your life- more later!