Martian Nativity

Pictured above is my submission to this year's action figure nativity photo contest at Hey, Look At My Toys! Reis put the word out a month ago, and I sent my submission this past Saturday night! I knew I didn't want to do anything with a manger, hay, animals, etc... I just wanted it to be completely reimagined. While I'm unsure if it was successful as a nativity scene, it was certainly different   :D    But it's a Martian Nativity, so who knows what that looks like?? I thought the colors were sufficiently "Christmassy", and had fun taking pics on Saturday night  :)    Here are a few outtakes from my photo session:

Swing by Hey, Look At My Toys!, check out all the really fun entries, & vote for your favorite  :)

Merry Christmas!

Marvel Premiere Editions!

Precipitating my creation of the Super-DuperToyBox, my childhood love of comics was rekindled- a passion that has only accelerated over the last 14 months, my shelves now spilling over with trade paperbacks & back issues of everything I can get my hands on. As much as I love action figures, I don't just collect plastic over here- I want to read the stories, know the characters, and enjoy the art that these toys are based on. I study my comics more diligently than most college students do their coursework. I take it seriously, and not a day goes by without reading them.  I found a little comic shop down in South County the other day that had gone undetected by myself: Comic Headquarters at 4352 Telegraph Road- they've been in business over two decades! There was a 50% off hardback editions, and while I had a respectable pile of back issues to read, I wasn't going to pass up these ten dollar Marvel Premiere Editions!

*The New Fantastic Four

In the aftermath of Civil War comes Reconstruction, the beginning of a stunning new era of fantastic adventure. The team has been rocked to its foundations by the controversial events of the last several months. Now Reed and Sue have announced their plans to take some time off to work out their martial problems, leaving Ben and Johnny to hold the fort. But they won't be doing it shorthanded. The newly married Black Panther and Storm join the team for all new adventures featuring Silver Surfer, Galactus and... a new Quasar? Collecting Fantastic Four #544-549.

*Future Foundation Vol.1: Tomorrow

Before his death, the Human Torch made his wishes known: If anyone were to replace him in the Fantastic Four, it should be his best super-hero buddy, Spider-Man. but even with the addition of Spidey to their ranks,Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Woman and the thing are now so much more than four. Welcome to the FF - the Future Foundation! Marvel's First Family has moved beyond the simple pursuits of super heroing into a bold new era of discovery. but to make tomorrow today, they'll need to expand their ranks even beyond Spider-Man and their genius children. What does the future mean when it depends on the likes of the Wizard, the Mad thinker, A.I.M. and Dr. Doom? Collecting Future Foundation #1-5.

*Cable: Homecoming

From the moment Cable jumped into the time stream with the infant "mutant messiah," he's had only one goal: keep Hope alive until she can choose her own destiny. But now, stranded on a planet in its death throes, eating fried rat on a stick for the millionth time, Hope turns to Cable and tells him she's ready to go home. Thus begins "Homecoming," the penultimate chapter in the X-Men saga that began with "Messiah CompleX." It's not only zero hour for Cable and Hope, but also for the mutant hunting them, Lucas Bishop, who is rapidly running out of chances to save mutantkind and the world. Because if Hope does make it back to the present, everything changes for the X-Men. PLUS: Duane Swierczynski and Steve Dillon bring you four thrilling, untold tales from Hope's future past as she grapples with vicious snipers, robot wolf packs, mutant rats, and even Cable himself. Collecting Cable #21-25 & X-Men: Hope.

*Defenders: Indefensible

Wong possessed by Nightmare! Dormammu and Umar in unholy alliance! The Hulk and the Sub-Mariner at each other's throats! The Silver Surfer... uh... surfing. Can Doctor Strange reunite the Defenders and save "Reality As We Know It?" Only the Ancient One knows for sure! Collecting Defenders #1-5.

*Publication summaries/descrptions taken from Amazon.Com

I haven't been able to post much in December due to my heavy workload at the day job- a small, high-end retail establishment in a VERY busy shopping mall. Needless to say, we have been extremely busy! Additionally, I had to halt work on the 15 canvases I'm working on for my show next February in order to crank out a painting commission and a few other paintings as Christmas gifts for some family members. AND... another art gallery in the city recently expressed interest in my artwork, so I'll be reworking my resume, preparing a presentation, and wrapping up some work for a Sunday delivery to them- when opportunity knocks, answer the door! 2012 is shaping up to be my year, and I will be ready!

So if you don't see me before, I want to take this moment to wish each & every one of you a Joyous Holiday Season! I am most grateful to all of you who come to this happy place where we share toys, comics, and a love of all things FUN!

Excelsior!

Hey, Mr. Postman!

Oh boy, oh boy! Let's take a look at  what wonderful toy came in the mail this week...



MattyCollector released their exclusive DC Retro-Action Green Arrow again, herald of the 8" Mattel action figure line inspired by the Mego World's Greatest Superheroes of the 70's- a childhood favorite of mine! I caught the end of sale in late November, having missed him the first time around- Ollie was one of these I'd been after for some time- a really fun dolly with great accessories!

Click this link to see all my posts on these fun action figures, now sadly discontinued... there were so many characters I would have liked to have seen produced in this format, such a shame!

More Later- Make It FUN!

DC Action League Martian Manhunter/Deadman 2-Pack

I picked up this DC Action League Martian Manhunter/Deadman 2-Pack at the same time as the  Arkillo/Sinestro 2-Pack last week. There was a Professor Zoom/Flash pack as well, but I was watchcing the bucks, and I believe a Batman/Bronze Tiger was released with this wave as well. I love the packaging, on these- it looks like a squashed version of the DCUC packaging I know, but it says FUN.

Obviously a tip of the hat to Jonn Jonzz & Boston Brand's resurrection at the conclusion of Geoff Johns' Blackest Night for the following Brightest Day series,  Martian Manhunter and Deadman are paired together, Jonn having been murdered by Libra in  Final Crisis (2008), and Boston having been dead his whole career.

What can I say about this tiny Deadman? Extremely cute! I've read a few comics in which he appeared, including some team action with the Spectre & his appearance in Alex Ross' Justice, but am still hardly a novice concerning the ghost of a circus aerialist. Jonn was the clincher for me in this 2-pack, but Deadman is a great little figure, his body and collar molded in translucent, dark red plastic, a small "D" engraved into his abdomen. He stands well on his pedestal footprint, his white head able to turn to either side, looking around his tall collar. Extremely diminutive, but cool!

While my Martian Manhunter collection is becoming a nation of it's own among my action figures, this little guy is by far the shortest! I have a 7" DC Direct Brightest Day Martian Manhunter in this new outfit with black pants, the red bandoliers crossing his bare chest again, but with a new ornamental buckle at the center. I dig. He stands well, and has four point of articulation like most in this line: neck, shoulders, & waist. I'm a huge fan of Jonn Jonnz, in case you didn't know- I highly recommend The Idol-Head of Diabolu Martian Manhunter blog!

Of course here at the Super-DuperToyBox, I love to play BIGTOY/littletoy, so here are the pair with their 6" Mattel DCUC counterparts... now how is this not fun??  :D

Click this link to see all my posts on these Action League figures :)

More Later-Make It FUN!

DC Action League Arkillo/Sinestro 2-Pack

Seems like awhile since I bought any of these, but it was really only the beginning of the summer. I knew they were coming, but sort of forgot as I'm easily distracted by the next thing. Since my last post was on both a Mattel product as well as the Sinestro Corps, I thought I'd crack these open & have a look.

I love these little DC Action League figures! The articulation is really simple, but they are so much fun! They are extremely cute, and somewhat addictive. These still go for $7.99  at Wal-Mart, and yes, I think it's overpriced! That said, they character selection and scuplts/designs are really great. This line started with the Batman: the Brave & The Bold, but evolved and was rebranded under the DC Universe banner, and even branching into the Green Lantern line. At first I thought it was odd seeing these on the pegs so long after the Green Lantern movie premiered, but after seeing the movie recently, and Sinestro slipping on the yellow power ring in the last scene, perhaps the timing isn't that bad.

I was glad to finally see some Sinestro Corps members show up in the line, as there have been several Green Lantern Corps members already produced. Sinestro's drill sergeant Arkillo has a gaping mouth and pissed off look that made me really love him at first sight! I just like the whole black & yellow color scheme & design features of the Sinestro Corps uniforms period- it's contrasty & powerful looking to my eyes.

Sinestro has a similar pose & sculpt to the White Lantern Sinestro from Wave 1, but they are not the same- their uniform lines are cut into the sculpt, and the the Corps version has banded cuffs & belt. The Corps version is smaller, too, and I'm not really sure why. It's hard to see in the pictures, but I've studdied them closely. Additionally, the White Lantern Sinestro stands better, his round feet better shaped to plant together on a flat surface. It could just be mine, but the Arkillo rocks slightly on his stance as well.  

It's fun to get a worthy opponent for the Action League Kilowog, another large figure in this line. And unlike Kiliwog, Arkillo has a cut joint in his neck- nice! He made this set a must get- really hilarious  :D

Sinestro & Arkillo with fellow Corps member, Low:

Sinestro Corps Vs. the Green Lanterns!

Click this link to see all my posts on these Action League figures  :)

More Later- Make It FUN!