Hasbro JLA Figures

Now let's take a closer look at these Hasbro JLA figures JBoy sent me in his generous and much apprectiated care package yesterday. These figures originated from the Total Justice figure line made by Kenner, cut short after the third wave but revived by Hasbro with repaints/repackaging as The JLA line at the end of the 90's. These are all "five point gang" toys with pretty limited articulation by today's standards, but a lot of character. They are made for play and FUN, like toys should be!

*Martian Manhunter

*The Flash

*Superman Red & Superman Blue

*Zauriel

*Steel

Again, Thanks JBoy- I had a lot of fun taking pictures of these toys- their highly stylized anatomy combined with their bright colors make for a FUN subject! I have to say: of all of these, Flash is my favorite! Yes, I'm really into Martian Manhunter, but I like Flash's gold boots- call me disco  :D

Care Package from JBoy!

I've made a lot of cool friends through The Super-DuperToyBox, and most all of us get around to each others blogs to say hello, we trade toys, and we share in each other's triumphs in finding that special thing we've been looking for. I'd think it's fair to say that we all think of JBoy as one of our favorite fellows- his enthusiasm for what we/what he does never flags... and he knows intimately what toys/characters each one of us are into. While I was surprised at what a generous package JBoy sent me, I wasn't surprised at how each toy was something he knew I'd really appreciate...

*6 Hasbro JLA figures! JBoy knows I've been getting into JLA, and Martian Manhunter in particular- these are a ton of fun!!

*Hot Wheels Batmobile... JBoy knows how much I love Batman, and I'm really loving this sleek, modern version of his car. It's in mint condition, just perfect!

*Brave & The Bold B'wana Beast! Again, JBoy knows how much I love Batman, and I love the way they designed these toys for play... this is a hilarious character that will stay out on the desk 'cause I can't stop playing with it! LOL!

*DC Universe Battle Armor Lex Luthor & Superman! JBoy is more than aware of how much I love Superman and that I'm mad for Mattel's DCUC figures. He also knows that I've been working on a modest collection of Lex Luthor toys that until now did not include this totally rad action figure- Bitchin'!!

*Deathstroke Collector Button! I recently posted about a DCUC All-Star Deathstroke figure, and JBoy knows how much I love these buttons! Damn, that was like the cherry on top, Bro  :D

And that was just out of the kindness of his heart- that was just 'cause he loves toys that much. Like I said, I've met some great people on here, the kind of people that reaffirm your faith in humanity- people like JBoy. I can't say thanks enough for how much fun that was, Pal!  CHEERS!

*JBoy's Revenge from The Cosmic Ark blog!
*JBoy's Invader from The Cosmic Ark blog!

NEXT UP: More photos of JBoy's JLAs!

Hey, Mr. Postman!

Ran into my lean, blond Post-lady at the door today, dressed in her shorts for the warm weather ;D  So delightful to chat with....

*Series 6 Justice League Armored Batman! I have had my eye on this guy for awhile now, and was certain I would never see him again for the paltry sum of $12.99 (price included shipping). Not bad. This got a rather nebulous review at OAFE.Net, that pointed out some good things about the figure, then unceremoniously dismissed it at the very end- what's up Yo Go Re? Didja like it or not?! Anyway, it had not got past me that artist Alex Ross was tipping his hat to the 60's television Batmoblie. Really cool...

*JLA: Year One (DC, 1999) Saranga made a  reference to this book in relation to Smallville character origins over at New readers...start here! blog, so when I found it at under five bucks how could I not try it? I am really into the whole "superhero team" graphic novel now, particularly The League. Some good reading for this evening!

Super Reading!

Some things I've been reading...

*Superman: Last Son (DC, 2008)
This was an interesting book that I read in one sitting. General Zod, Ursa & Non  Written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner (director of the 1978 Superman motion picture), General Zod, Ursa & Non are the primary antagonists in the story, along with Bizzarro and Lex Luthor. I was surprised upon learning the origins of  the other Kryptonian child who fell to Earth... very interesting.

*Kingdom Come (DC, 1996)
Alex Ross paints superheroes with the blend of realism & fantasy usually found in a Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece- just beautiful! I found the story interesting as well- Superman and friends have to come out of retirement and right a world gone terribly wrong. Lessons are learned along the way, and Kal-El must learn that to be a man means that he must sometimes put aside being Superman. I really enjoyed this!

*Superman: Brainiac (DC, 2008)
I'm interested in reading the New Krypton series, and Saranga over at New readers... start here! suggested I get started with this. I haven't cracked it yet, but I probably will this week... nice lookin' cover on this puppy... kinda Alice in Wonderland, huh?

Saturday Swag

Was running around town doing some clothes shopping today and picked up some cool superhero shirts at Target today, then stopped by Toys 'R Us to pick up a couple of those bitchin' Retro-Action dollies by Mattel...

Captain Cold!

The Flash!

I saw these during the February toy-fast, but resisted, and Alex & Kingkaiju waved 'em in my face recently as well. They were too cool to let get away, and I'm doubly glad I got these today, as stock was down significantly upon my return. I am mad for these DC Retro-Action dollies as they remind me so much of my childhood Megos. Pure love. I also have Superman, Lex Luthor, Batman, Two-Face, Aquaman, & Black Manta. I see a photo session in my future!

And...

...my lovely Postlady brought me yet another Martian Manhunter action figure yesterday, because you know I can never get enough. I won this DC Direct Series 2 Secret Files J'onn J'onzz on eBay for $11.24 (price included shipping)- I'd only been spotting him for north of $18.00 for months, but someone finally came down to where I was comfortable. Patience wins the day...

Have a Super-Duper weekend!

DC Direct Battle Armor Lex Luthor

Mattel has released a Battle Armor Lex Luthor a couple times, but DC Direct made him so much like the old Kenner Super Powers Lex that I found him irresistable. The suit was designed by George Perez, artist for Crisis On Infinite Earths, specifically for the Super Powers toy line, first appearing in Action Comics in 1983.

Lex Luthor is, of course, archenemy of Superman, who teams up with Robot Brainiac in Crisis On Infinite Earths, taking advantage of a Multiverse thrown into chaos by the Anti-Monitor to demand control. Though he has gone through many retcons over the years since first appearing in 1940, Luthor's lack of any superpowers has left him with only his brilliant mind to foil Superman.

Here's Battle-Armor Lex with my Mattel 8" Retro-Action Lex Luthor. I love love love these retro-action dollies, by the way, and have my eye on a couple more...

I also have a most righteous Orange Lantern Lex by DC Direct that I can't believe I haven't opened yet... so many toys, so little time  :D

*DC Direct Action Figure Archive!

*Lex Luthor at Wikipedia!

*12" Mego Lex Luthor from the 70's!

*Mattel DC Superheroes Battle-Armor Lex (pre DCUC) at OAFE.Net!

*DC Direct Public Enemies Battle-Armor Lex!

DC Direct Robot Brainiac

I read Crisis on Infinite Earths (DC, 1985- Compilation TPB, 2000) awhile back, and was delighted to realize that DC Direct had released some action figures of the characters in the story! I enjoy that DC Direct creates action figures from actual comic book series and graphic novels- this makes it a fun and more tangible, all-around experience for me. Crisis on Infinite Earths is an important book if you want to understand Final Crisis (2009) and Infinite Crisis (2006), which are better books, in that the artwork and dialogue are a little more modernly streamlined. Not to take anything away from Marv Wolfman and his epic tale- for it's time, it was both creative and ambitious- a lot of work was put into it, and it shows. And as for the artwork of George Perez (who also worked on parts of Infinite Crisis), there are a lot of really great scenes with dozens of DC characters all together in one space that would have been really tough to do- comic book artists have so much more modern tools now, including sophisticated computer programs that make it a whole new ballgame, so comparisons can be apples for oranges.Crisis on Infinite Earths was just from a different time, and you need to open your mind and allow for that when reading a comic book or anything from a previous generation- you'll enjoy it more if you do :) Read Saranga's post at New Readers to help you out with all the Crisis titles in the DC Universe- it can be a little confusing.

I love the transparent plastic they used on this figures shoulders and skullcap, the latter of which to my

surprise was removable- how much fun is that ?! The blue tubing extending from Brainiac's hips to his latissimus dorsi are made of a softer plastic that flexes with his torso.

Do you imagine a soliloquy from Hamlet here, or is it just me?? :D

He's unusually well articulated for a DC Direct figure, though in a couple spots redundantly so. For a robot, he's quite (laughs) expressive, and loved the camera! :D  Brainiac was was re-imagined in this robot form by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Ed Hannigan in the 80's, and there is something cold and terrifying about it!

Here Robot Brainiac meets my DC Direct New Krypton Brainiac...

We're all sensitive extraterrestrial androids here, after all...



*DC Direct Action Figure Archive!

*1985 Kenner Robot Brainiac at the Super Powers Archive!

*DC Superheroes Robot Brainiac (pre-DCUC) by Mattel at OAFE.Net!

*BubbaShelby's Mattel Brainiac Comparison on Toyriffic!

More Martian Literature!

Hip Hip Hooray! I received more Martian Manhunter comics in the mail today from MyComicShop.Com today, my favorite comic seller on eBay. These are the second series (Vol.2) from 1998 featuring the John Ostrander/Tom Mandrake team that Bubba turned me onto. I've already read a couple, knowing I would like them as I'd already seen their work in the Year One: The Spectre Annual (1995) I read awhile back, which I loved! I am entertained... Hmmm... looks like the boys are, too...

More details on my ever-growing Martian Manhunter action figure collection at my previous post...

*One of my earlier posts on some other Martian Literature I'd recommend to any J'onn J'onzz fan

*Guide to Martian Manhunter, including list of published works at CosmicTeams.Com