Silver Surfin'

I bought these two cheap rotary display bases off Amazon a couple weeks ago, and gave them an inaugural spin with a couple of my Silver Surfers. They have solar power, but if you want the lights to really blare, a double A plugged into the underside helps a lot- I picked up another pack of Rayovac Platinum  rechargeables, which have worked great with my camera. The rotary direction, which spins about 4.5 revolutions per minute, can be reversed by braking the turntable- it's a nice slow speed that's just about right. They turntable is only 3 1/2" wide, so they won't hold everything in my collection, but they will hold any 6" figure with a tight footprint stance, any mini figure, my Brave & The Bold figures, and Marvel Universe- all of which I have many. They are about as inexpensively manufactured as they could be, but spin evenly and will work fine for my videos, like this one...

 *See my post on the 4" Marvel Universe Silver Surfer.
 *See my post on the Marvel Heroes & Villains mini Silver Surfer.
 *See my post on the ToyBiz 14" Cosmic Power Galactus.

MORE Later- Make It FUN!

Marvel Universe Silver Surfer

I was almost shocked to find this one on Sunday afternoon- decided to switch things up & check out what Target had of these Marvel Universe figures- they had several I would have bought on any other day, but I wasn't feeling it, so I only walked off with this Silver Surfer. 

Like a lot of these, Silver Surfer could have used a cut joint in the calves or thighs- this would have helped with posing on the surfboard, though he does okay. I'm not sure how you could go wrong with such a simple character, really- he looks like you'd think. Though I'll say, I think they did a good job on nature boy's... ummm, ...face.  He really does look like the Sentinel of the Spaceways.

Silver Surfer came with a "Top Secret" S.H.I.E.L.D. files- at one time you could enter a code at furyfiles.com, but the web address just takes you to Hasbro's site now- I'm always late for the dance... We already know he was Norrin Radd, an astronomer from the planet Zenn-La before pledging to serve as herald for the planet-consuming Galactus in exchange for mercy on his people. Boy did that cause him some trouble!

I had a couple Silver Surfer's already, so I could play BIG TOY/little toy with this one :D   Marvel Universe Silver Surfer with ToyBiz 10" Deluxe Edition Silver Surfer and Marvel Heroes & Villains mini Silver Surfer:

My interest in Silver Surfer only goes back a few months, having read Marvel Essential Silver Surfer, Vol. 1, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted to read more, but was quickly overwhelmed with a reading list that seems to have grown  exponentially. Getting back into comics after twenty years off has been a fun, but insurmountable endeavor- I have neither the money nor the time to read everything I want to, everything I missed. That is both frustrating and oddly comforting.

Though printed in only black & white, the artwork is GREAT in this book (John Buscema)! The moment of truth, when Norrin Radd is transformed into The Silver Surfer...

And while on the subject, we shouldn't forget my 14" Cosmic Power Galactus- I know they've made more modern, superior toys of this character since ToyBiz pooped this out in 1997, but I kinda like THIS one. He's simple and fun, like a toy SHOULD be  :D

A short video of Galactus & I sharing a little snack last night...

Be a Good Kid- Go Play With Your Toys!

Marvel Essential Fantastic Four Vol.3

I finished reading Marvel Essential Fantastic Four Vol.3 a month ago, and thought it would be appropriate to stop and say a word or two about it since you-know-who was just killed off (laughs). I love how pissed everyone is getting: "I'm not buying these big comic companies' cheap sensationalism! They just bring them back to life later!"  Yeah well... so what? Do you think they care if you know they are pullin' stunts to (laughs) make money off ya?? They are a business, and like any other business they want to make more money. And they will.

Like most people, as soon as I heard I figured it would be Johnny- he's the hot-headed kid, and I think some people were (laughs) glad! Johnny is a whiny crier in this volume I just read- when he falls in love (at first sight) with Crystal of the Inhuman clan, he obsesses over her to the point of comedy. Equally annoyingly teenage complaining, moodiness continues throughout each chapter. It was pretty realistic (laughs)!  It's okay Johnny, we were all annoying teenagers at one time, and like yourself most of us had our really admirable qualities as well, yours being loyalty and heroism. 

I want to tell you up front the Marvel Essentials series have no color- just black & white. While some find this a real letdown, I was reading for the story mostly, though I'm a big fan of Jack Kirby's artwork, and his use of line weight and negative space take on a really admirable quality when stripped of color. His style is immediately recognizable to me, and I think it's swell. While it's easy to forget the importance of their craft, inkers Joe Sinnott and Vince Coletta did a clean job, contributing a lot to Kirby's work.

Vol. 3 is an eventful ride That's worth a look: a battle with Black Panther turns into a team-up against Klaw, The Inhumans are forced to accept aid from The Fantastic Four in order to escape the tyranny of Black Bolt's evil brother Maximus as well as the Seeker. DragonMan, Blastaar, The Beyonder, Sandman, Dr. Doom all make an appearance, along with a host of other baddies.  Reed & Sue Storm get married in front of an All-Star Marvel cast- The X-Men, The Avengers, Daredevil, & Spiderman sweep in to save the nuptials from sabotage by Doom. And the event present within the pages of this hefty adventure, the main reason I hunted it down- the first appearance of Silver Surfer and his conflict with Galactus, resulting in the Sentinel of the Spaceways' exile on Earth.

Thanks again Jason V. for inspiring me to talk about comics, both comics from my youth as well as what I'm reading now. Thanks to Saranga over at New Readers... start Here! for all the advice on what to read so I (laughs) understand what I just read! You wouldn't believe the piles of comics/graphic novels I have ordered in the past week- this is going to be expensive, educational, and FUN!

*Pictured above: 14" Galactus by ToyBiz (1997), 10" Human Torch by ToyBiz (2000), Mini Marvel Heroes & Villians Silver Surfer.

14" Cosmic Power Galactus by ToyBiz

This is a good time to talk about my 14" Galactus by ToyBiz (1997) because I'm in the middle of Marvel Essential Fantastic Four, Vol.3.  I purchased this hefty opus back in October because I was looking into learning more about Galactus' herald, the Silver Surfer, who first appeared in Fantasic Four issue #48 (included in this compilation). And of course, who is not far behind the Sentinel of the Spaceways? Galactus!

A Silver Age Marvel character, the god-like Galactus travels across the cosmos consuming all the energy out of planets, rendering them withered and lifeless. When Ben Grimm's girlfriend Alicia convinces The Silver Surfer that humankind is worth saving in the dramatic trilogy climaxing in Fantastic Four #50, Galactus' faithful servant betrays him. Unable to destroy his beloved fallen angel, Galactus relents and leaves Earth, but not before exiling The Silver Surfer to Earth forever.

Galactus came with his box in very clean condition. Two AA batteries were already inserted for me, as well as two free issues of Fantastic Four (that's nice). For $32.90 (priced included shipping), I found this toy to be a good value- especially considering I've seen him go for anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00. Not bad...
I was SO EXCITED the day I got him that I couldn't stand it and opened him right there to play with him! He lights up and bellows "I HUNGER!"  I am entertained! I still take him out and push his button to listen to him talk to me almost every day, like a (laughs) little kid! I LOVE him- what a FUN toy!

*Galactus at Marvel.Com
*Video review of this toy on YouTube!

*Video review of a 19" Galactus by Hasbro!

*Marvel Legends Series 9 Build-a-Figure Galactus
*Review of my 10" Deluxe Edition Silver Surfer by ToyBiz

Hey, Mr. Postman!

I know I just did a segment (or double-surprise segment, rather) of Hey, Mr. Postman, but I swear that FOUR boxes of toys arrived the very next day- Hooray!! Things just get more entertaining by the day here, Friends- what can I say? Let's take a quick peek:

It was a pretty good haul, Kids...

*14" Cosmic Power Galactus by ToyBiz (1997) - he lights up and bellows "I HUNGER!"  I am entertained! Two AA batteries were already inserted for me... more pics of him later! (...also received two free issues of Fantastic Four with this guy, that's nice) $32.90, priced included shipping.

*Another Marvel Famous Covers 9" figure for my ever-growing collection, The Scarlet Witch will keep Storm company and safe from all the boy dollies... ok, now I feel like a sissy (laughs)! BubbaShelby is really gonna razz me...  Got her for a song ($16.99, price included shipping- but you can usually find her for not much more, so be careful), and I really enjoy her retro-looking outfit- FUN!

*10" Marvel Universe Black Panther by ToyBiz... I could not believe how little they wanted for him ($14.00, price included shipping). He is quite the rarity, and could only find one of him on E-Bay. I saw him for $60.00 on Amazon, but never for less than that. He's in such good shape that I'm afraid to open him... MIB, Folks...   ...sorry about the crappy picture...

*10" Marvel Universe Polaris- I recall very little about this X-Men Heroine, donning her 90's X-Factor outfit in this version. Honestly, I bought her because she is one of the  more obscure X-Men, the price was so great, and I have been in a rock band named Polaris for 24 years... she has green hair, People...

Could it get better than this, friends?? As it turns out, yes it can...

SURPRISE! Double Dose of "Hey, Mr. Postman!"

That's right- this very morning, the postman plopped another box in front of my door! My PRIZE FROM THE COMMENT CONTEST on Action Figure Blues...  D.C. Universe Classics Starman!! Very retro-cool!

A very special thanks to Action Figure Blues and Mike's Comics 'N Stuff in Anaheim, CA for the extremely cool action figure- I LOVE IT! You guys are Awesome!

Join Mike and myself at the Action Figure Blues Forum- some really fun people congregate there to talk about what you love most: comics and action figures!

Before we go I just want to tell you something important, something that has been on my mind:  It's healthy to enjoy toys, most especially if you are an adult- this tough old world has failed to strip you of your joy, your playfulness, and your imagination. And with your imagination you can do anything- don't ever let anyone tell you any different! Now look at this overflowing cornucopia of toys in the corner... gonna (laughs) need another case!