Ultimate Spider-Man & Capt. America MiniMates

This was fun little set of MiniMates to find- I wasn't expecting to see these, and am pretty sure this Spidey is new to the MiniMates line. While I'm limited in my knowledge of Marvel's Ultimate Universe, I did enjoy the first twelve or so issues of the new Ultimate Spider-Man, featuring middle-schooler Miles Morales as the new webslinger- great stuff!

 

I haven't been thrilled with Hasbro's recent offerings of Miles Morales since they made no effort to make a new buck to accommodate the boy's smaller build. This is a shame since Miles' character makes for a great story, bringing Spider-Man back to his roots, the conflicted teenager as reluctant hero. Oddly, I somehow accept this scale indiscretion with the MiniMates Miles, likely due to the saving grace of it's removable mask that reveals a pretty fair likeness of the boy. The MiniMates designers more often than not successfully boil down a character's essence to a few simple features that are enough to emulate a reasonable likeness. I'm often surprised at their ability to do this within the seemingly limited MiniMate design parameters, and that's what I find so fascinating about these cool little action figures!

The paint on Miles' body is simple, but perfectly executed- it's cool to see Spidey back in black, and exciting to see another face under the mask! His accessory is a web, which while appreciated is coiled, and therefore hard to pose wrapped around an opponent, like Imhotep here...

 

 

Ultimate Captain America's mask is void of the trademark wings the character sports in regular Marvel continuity, but he does get the nifty star patches on each shoulder that I like. His torso also features the grey kevlar underlay beneath the blue portions that individualize the Ultimates version of Cap.

 

Cap has good accessories- an assault rifle, hairpiece for unmasked display, and of course his iconic shield. There's some paint slop on the shield, it's concentric rings decorated in metallic red, but it's largely unnoticeable just sitting on my desk. The verso of the shield is painted silver with tiny sculpted detail in the straps- impressive! It fits securely onto a peg protruding from Cap's wrist.

  

 

 There are several versions of both Spider-Man and Capt. America in the MiniMate lineup, but this one may float you boat if you've missed out before. I'm a big fan of variant outfits on iconic favorites, so this was an enjoyable discovery. I have several sets of MiniMates unopened that I'll try to schedule into posts here on the Super-DuperToyBox. I'm crazy about these tiny action figures- while there are many repeated characters, a surprising amount of variety is present for a mini figure line. These are fun toys  :) 

 

*Check out the online MiniMates Database!

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DC New 52: Earth 2, #4

I got so caught up in the 90's X-Factor issues lately that I kinda left you hanging on that last time I wrote about the New 52 Earth 2. In reality, the last post about this book only drew jeers about Grundy's kinky leather dress!  But hey- I was curious  :D   No seriously- I'm not sure why Hawkgirl is the cover girl on issue #4. I mean, she looks cool, but this issue is really about Captain Al Pratt of the World Army, also known as the Atom. It opens with a vague, brief bit of Pratt's history, before we find Flash and Hawkgirl nearly overwhelmed by Grundy's creeping death. Alan Scott bullets in to save the struggling wonders, but fares no better, Grundy's injuries quickly healing after each of the Green Lantern's ring blasts.

Pratt has been preparing to neutralize Grundy in the meantime however- leaping from a cargo plane, his atomic transformation completed as he stomps the evil creature into the ground before the astonished heroes... !

Kendra seems to know Pratt, confused by his larger than life arrival- his orders are to take her back, ordering Jay and Alan to stand down by order of the World Army Council. There have been many characters named Atom, but Al's size changing powers here are those of Atom-Smasher (Al Rothstein), godson of Pratt, whom I read about recently in some recent JSA trade paperbacks this year. Wikipedia compares the New 52 Earth 2 Pratt's costume to the one Damage wore, (son of the original Al Pratt), which I can definitely see. I was excited to see this revamped Atom-Smasher show up in Earth 2, in which Nicola Scott's gets a seamless assist from Eduardo Pansica on the penciling. While this book has felt a little light in content/thin, I've kept buying it for the art and have been pleased overall with the hero's wardrobe updates. My hopes of seeing more Superman, Batman, & Wonder Woman's cool new outfits were dashed uopn their deaths in the first issue of this book, but I do appreciate the JSA-inspired roster.

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X-Factor #102: Polaris and Random

 

Comicsfan commented on my comparisons among Marvel's X-Teams of the 90's in my last post on X-Factor #100, comparing then newcomer Random to Wolverine. Like Wolvie regards Cyclops' leadership, Random defies Havok's principled approach, standing just outside the group dynamic. I was thinking about Lobo's similar dress, but Comicsfan is right. To further illustrate, Random has a painfully obvious attraction to Havok's girl Polaris, not unlike Wolverine has to the X-Men's Jean Grey.

 

X-Factor #102, "The Polaris Plot", 1994

 

 Initially hired by the government to test Lorna's abilities, the mercenary is refused payment for failing to kill her. Disenchanted with his ex-employer, Random is bribed by Forge to expose their dark machinations and join forces against them. after X-Factor exposes Colonel Malone's secret plans to brainwash Polaris to use her like a weapon against Magneto any other threat. Lorna felt Random held back in his initial attack on her, and her female instincts weren't wrong- he was definitely sweet on Lorna  :D  He tries to be cool dropping her off at the airport, claiming he did it all for the money and the car, but Lorna knows there is more to his tough guy front than Random will reveal....

 

 

I enjoyed Jan Duursema's drawing in this issue, particularly in the splash page at the top of this post where Polaris & Random take on Col. Malone's goons, Avalanche & The Commando! Jan (wife to fellow comic book artist Tom Mandrake) is an artist I was unaware of, now two years into my rediscovery of comics as an adult, ironically having read way more comics now than during my entire youth. There is of course more to issue #102, which you will have to seek out yourself- the purpose of this post was merely to share the dynamic between these characters I found interesting, come to terms with my own fascination with green-haired comic book vixens, and scan that killer battle scene for you little weirdos  ;D

 

*See my posts on ToyBiz's 10" Deluxe Polaris action figure from 1997, and Diamond Select's MiniMate Polaris!

 

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X-Factor #100: the Death of Multiple Man?!

 

Sure, this X-Factor #100 from March of  '94 has the flashy foil embossed cover, a not so subtle sign of the type of hubris prevalent during this time, but I like it  :)  I've enjoyed reading the thirty of so issues of  X-Factor spanning from 1986 to '96 I picked up this summer. The 90's team with Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, & Multiple Man is both like X-Force and the X-Men. Alex fits the role of reluctant young leader that X-Force's Sam Guthrie was at the time, and shares his principled sense of responsibility (not unlike Alex's brother Scott, leader of the X-Men for that matter). Feral and Wolfsbane share obvious comparisons of course, Strong Guy shares physical might & comic relief with Beast, and Alex & Lorna share a similarly dysfunctional love that Scott & Jean do. Hey, why not publish another X-Book since the others seem to be making so much money, right- who could blame Marvel? Who else could replace all the original team members in a book and still be able to sell it- maybe that's what X-Factor needed, not unlike Len Wein & Dave Cockrum's 1975 revitalization of the X-Men with Giant-Size X-Men #1.

 

 

Haven was the best-selling author of a book about the new humanity that would be the result of humans and mutants evolving into one race. However, her true goal was to bring about this change by destroying three-quarters of the world in a Mahapralaya, or 'Great Destruction', as foretold in her Hindu teachings. In spite of X-Factor's opposition, Haven was able to sway Wolfsbane by curing her of the genetic engineering that had turned her into a mindless Genoshan mutate, allowing her to once again assume human form. Havok insisted the confused girl rejoin ranks, and when she refused all hell broke loose. After Haven sends the team into an interdimensional limbo in attempt to bend their will, X-Factor comes back slugging. Insiders Monsoon and Valerie Cooper alert the team to Haven's satellite, which only Havok & Polaris' combined powers at full tilt can eliminate, foiling her fanatical plan. SsshhaaaKOOM!

  

 

A final ploy to make X-Factor accept her maniacal delusions, Haven brings a deathly ill Jamie Madrox before them, revealing his until then hidden infection by the Legacy Virus- the viroid and was released by Stryfe which targets organism's mutant gene sequence. Something goes wrong however, and to the shock of both Haven and his teammates, our troubled hero dies ...!

 

 

As we all know, even a nasty case of death rarely keeps a Marvel hero down, and it would later be discovered that Madrox escaped the Virus by containing it in one of his duplicates, the shock of its death causing Madrox to lose his memory. Jaimie would later be found by and rejoin X-Factor, until the team's disbanding after the apparent death of its leader, Havok. But that's another story  :D

(Sources: Wikipedia, Marvel.com, X-Factor #100 Vol.1)

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Imhotep & Sarcophagus MiniMates

 

I can't remember if I saw this on the Cosmic Ark or another fellow toy-blogger's site, but I knew I'd have to pick up this Imhotep & Sarcophagus MiniMates set if I ran across it. Most of my interest in MiniMates involve their Marvel figures, but this was a fun little set to photograph during the season of All Hallows Eve.

 

The rest of this wave carry no real interest for myself, and let's face it, this set is great for the included Sarcophagus, face and arms sculpted is that familiar MiniMate style- great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bottom of the  sarcophagus is sculpted with cracks, painted in a stone gray- a detail I appreciate. The lid is painted in nicely muted base gold tone, with blue & red detailing- looks great! Imhotep fits easily into his sarcophagus as he should, though I'll not that the lid doesn't close very securely- missing is that satisfying "click" of lids that snaps shut. It seems to stay on okay for display however, so it's a minor quibble in my book.

 

 

Imhotep was special in his time, one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death. A chancellor to the Pharaoh, he was considered to be the first architect and engineer and physician in early history, as well as revered poet & philosopher among his contemporaries. Imhotep's name was adopted by the title character of the 1932 Universal Studios film starring Boris Karloff, The Mummy. (Wikipedia)

 

While the Imhotep is a rather simple figure, his face does resemble the iconic features of Karloff in spite of the design limitations of the standard MiniMate buck, How do they do that? Some texture added to the bandages would have made it better, but with the cool little sarcophagus it's hard to complain much.  I felt he'd make a good opponent for my Beta Ray Bill, whose animal head topped in winged helmet almost feel Egyptian next to Imhotep   :D

This is a fun MiniMates set! I reluctantly passed on the Creature From the Black Lagoon set a couple months ago, but may have to pick him up if I get another chance. While I've grown somewhat distanced from past interest in monster movies, I was really into those Remco Universal Monsters figures from the 80's, and this little guy made me think how much I loved Halloween as a kid.

 

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X-Factor #87, 1993

 I'd been reading assorted issues of X-Factor Vol.1 found in the dollar bins for some time now, up through where Havok, Polaris, Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, and Quicksilver took over for Beast, Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Archangel in issue #71. This new X-team wasn't as popular as X-Force or the X-Men, but has some good writing, popular culture references, and interestingly conflicted members. In X-Factor #87, "X-aminations", the team is required by government agent Val Cooper to submit to a counseling after any mission the government deems "traumatic"- part of their occupational obligations to their employer. This made for a fascinating little issue...

Rhane (Wolfsbane) is the first to be analyzed, telling of her strange dreams, the doctor offering her sense of self seems absent in them, such as in her "Ren & Stimpy" dream where she and Feral are morphed into the 90's cartoon characters. Joe Quesada did a fun job aping the Spumco style on the penciling here! They go on to discuss her attraction to her authority figures, including Havok, and Rhane turns ugly when Reverend Craig is mentioned- the abusive pastor who tried to kill her, later revealed to be her biological father. Talk about issues!

Quicksilver is as obtuse and fascinating as ever, clamming up when confronted about his loner status among his team mates, if he feels affection toward any one of them. "None of your business." Finishing the doctor's puzzle during their talk, Pietro compares his loathe of everyone's seemingly sloth-like speed to the incompetence of watching someone who can't operate a cash machine. Now we can begin to understand why he's always crabby  :D  Guess it's all relative! 

Polaris tries to be cold, but can hardly contain her self esteem issues that seem to repel those who try to get inside, ironically contrary to her mutant power of magnetism. The appointment ends in tears, her broken relationship with Havok remained unresolved.

Guido (Strong Guy) tells of the horrific moment as a nerdy teen when he discovered his mutant ability to channel kinetic engergy into mass and power. He then confesses that his wise-cracking ways are to mask the constant agony suffered due to his mutation.

 Jaimie Madrox attributes his need for attention to a fear of being alone- an odd phobia for the duplicitous nature of someone called Multiple Man, who creates a duplicate before the doctor to illustrate sarcastically.

  

 Alex Summers' inability to let down his guard are compounded by the struggle to maintain control over his team are rooted in self comparison to his brother Cyclops.  Havok shares many characteristics with Cyclops, most noticeably his sometimes overly serious and/or moody nature.

 Lorna returns later to defiantly proclaim herself free of repression, dressed in a sexy new outfit underneath the overcoat she wore, taking her counselor by surprise...

Anxious to be validated, the antagonistic Val Cooper demands their counselor reveal their psycholigical flaws...

Confounded by the couselor's answer, that the group is refreshingly human, Valerie stroms out his office. As she laments his prognosis, the indignant agent ponders resignation from her post before  being captured by some tentacled monster, and the identity of the counselor is revealed to be Doc Samson! I was delighted by this surprise! I also liked how the story title was on this last page, the credits listed on the windows down the hallway of the facility- nice touch!

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Two Years at the Super-DuperToyBox!

 

October 7th is the TWO YEAR anniversary of my inaugural post here at the Super-DuperToyBox! Whoa... has it really been two years? Here I am, 449 posts later, and loving it still  :)    I haven't been able to post quite as often, having started a new & better job four months ago that requires more of my time, but I have no plans to quit any time soon. I've met so many fun friends through my action figure/comics blogging, and had a ball taking the thousands of photos posted here. Pictured above is my 12" Kenner Superman I got in November of that first year, and below a few favorite pieces of Superman memorabilia. As you know, the Super-DuperToyBox isn't solely dedicated to the Man of Steel, nor DC Comics, but he's an appropriate representative. For after all, Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's Kryptonian creation changed comics forever, and seeing Christopher Reeve don the iconic "S" across his chest changed my young life back in 1978- it sparked my imagination and validated a childhood hero. That's important stuff for a six-year-old boy, and still important in this troubled world we live in, for every one of us must sometimes rise above and be great when challenged. I still believe in that spirit of Superman.

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DC New 52: Earth 2, #3

In continuance of my recent post on issue #2 of DC New 52: Earth 2,  Alan Scott makes his debut as Green Lantern in Earth 2, #3. As I said before, I'm uncertain if this Earth 2 fascination is a passing faze, or if it's actually good, but it inerested me enough to throw a few posts up. Personally, alternative versions of our favorite heroes, one-shot novels out of regular continuity, "what-if" stories and the like fascinate me, so this falls into that sort of novelty for myself.

When Alan Scott emerges from the train wreck at the end of the last issue, a voice tells him he was saved for a higher purpose- the fight against a great evil to come, the same warning Mercury delivered to an astonished Jay Garrick in issue #2. He is magically restored as the the Green Lantern, swearing to honor his deceased lover Sam. In Poland, as Hawlgirl tests the inexperienced new speedster, she notices the forest beginning to die under their feet.

 The spreading death Flash & Hawkgirl witnessed were the wake of  Grundy's destruction of Washington DC- an attempt to lure the Green Lantern into a fight, the only one Grundy perceives a threat to him quest for world domination.

Again, I like Nicola Scott's pencilling, nicely complimented by Trevor Scott's inking, which is most evident in the last page's illustration of Grundy. Solomon looks different here- more like Nekron than the Golden-Age enemy of Green Lantern. I'm not going to do the 31 days of Halloween here on the Super-DuperToyBox, but this last page is sufficiently creepy. Well, I guess I gave away who shows up in issue #4...

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