Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Starscream

My "Transformers phase" of 2015 lasted only four months, so by the time this Generations Leader Class Starscream arrived, I'd already moved onto other things. I caught up with one on the secondary market recently, drawn back by his cool jet mode, and fantastic crown atop his very G1 head. The crown is an homage to the "Coronation of Starscream", when the Decepticon crowned himself leader during the Battle for Autobot City, thinking Megatron was dead. Cyclonus and Galvatron arrive on the scene and promptly destroy him for this insurrection! Check Out the video:

Starcream shares some parts with my Combiner Wars Jetfire, my favorite Transformer, but is different enough to complement him as a pair in both robot and jet mode. I love their color schemes and their opening canopies really make the jet mode fun!

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Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Megatron

I've said before that 2015 was my Transformers year, but I'm always looking at what's out there, and had a few saved back from when I got into them, including this Generations Combiner Wars Megatron. This Leader Class Transformer in 9" tall, covered in beautiful silver paint, that turns into a huge tank with rolling rubber treads and missile firing turret! Check out the video:

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Marvel Legends Avengers Endgame Black Widow, Hawkeye, & Ronin

I've had this Avenger Endgame Hawkeye/Black Widow 2-pk for a year now, but only ordered this Endgame Ronin from Amazon recently. I'd intended to buy him for awhile, but could see after several months that he would be available for awhile, and that his price would come down. Those factors combined with some points I'd earned saved me about 60%. I admire Marvel Studios' interpretation of the character, heavily inspired by the comics version. The detailed sculpt is fantastic, with a lot of great texture throughout.

The hood is removable for one option, and the Clint Barton head from the Hawkeye/Black Widow 2-pk fits on this figure- a fantastic bonus. Ronin came with two swords that sheathe onto his back, and an additional "throwing stars" left hand.

The Endgame Hawkeye/Black Widow 2-pk really excited me when it came out- yes, the outfits don't match the movie outfits, but they make quite the visually appealing pair nonetheless. I love the detailed sculpts with matching Avengers insignia on the breast, and the outstanding facial portraits of actors Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner.

Hasbro including extra heads of other characters is a neat idea- the Ant-Man head looks fantastic on the Hawkeye body, and I was surprised how much I like the Nebula head on the Black Widow body. The pistol included in this set is the same included with the Guardians of the Galaxy Nebula, which had a slightly different head than this one, which spots a panel of copper/orange on the left side of her head.

Below, Nebula with my Capt. Marvel Starforce Edition Menerva...

Black Widow came with the same collapsible staff the the Infinity War Black Widow included...

Below, Endgame Black Widow and Hawkeye with Endgame Pepper Potts Rescue, 

Mark LXXXV Iron Man, Smart Hulk BAF, War Machine, and Infinity War Thor...

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Marvel Legends Black Widow Deadly Origin

I preordered this Marvel Legends Black Widow Deadly Origin from Target this winter, right after it was announced. I'm only starting to read Deadly Origin, so I don't have a great deal to offer regarding that story arc, but I would say it's turning out pretty interesting. I really enjoyed the 2016 Waid Samnee arc I read awhile back however, more so than what I've read of Deadly Origin thus far. Regardless, I loved this figure at first sight, and am even happier with her than I anticipated. She came armed to the teeth in one of the best looking Marvel Legends boxes I've seen- the panel featuring alternate cover art from the second issue of the original 2010 series , by Bosnian artist Adi Granov. Fantastic!

I was thoroughly impressed by the accessories included with Black Widow. including two unique pistols, a rifle, and both muzzle blasts and wisps of barrel smoke that universally fit all the weapons. Rarely do we get this many realistic weapons in one package, and I hope Hasbro continues to include weapons effects accessories. At the price of a regular Marvel Legends release, I found this a great value. There is a little gappage where her neckline meets her collar unfortunately, but it's a minor gripe considering an otherwise killer action figure...

Black Widow can hold her rifle pretty well, a trait that a lot of Marvel Legends often fail at. The muzzle blasts an barrel smoke blast accessories also fit the rifle, which comes with a functional shoulder strap- very cool! See my January post on the Marvel Legends Demogoblin Wave!

Below, Deadly Origin Black Widow with my Samnee/Waid Black Widow 

that came with a motorcycle, which the aforementioned looks fantastic on!

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FEXT System Sci-Fi 03 Display Module

I bought this FEXT System Sci-Fi diorama off BigBadToyStore for more than I should have, but it was in stock and I paid with PayPal money I'd saved from selling off stuff in my own collection. Check out FEXT Hobby's website to see other sets they make. The set can be configured 10 different ways, several of which measuring 10.86 x 10.70 x 14.72", which fits in a standard detolf display cabinet- a great selling point for a lot of collectors, but not how I will utilize it.

I mainly bought this for use in photographing 6 and 7" figures, like all the Marvel Legends I'm behind on photographing. You'll be seeing a lot of this diorama in the background here at the Super-DuperToyBox in the future- be sure to check out my Instagram! Below are some shots of some of the Spider-Man figures I got in the Marvel Legends Demogoblin Wave...

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Marvel Legends Retro Series Silver Samurai

I'm going to jump into some Marvel Legends for the next several posts, because I already had a hefty backlog of them before I picked up this Retro Series Silver Samurai. I'd had my eye on this since he was announced, and with the market flooded with Marvel Legends, I saw his price continue to drop. I eventually got him for under eight bucks shipped, after a hefty discount and some Amazon points redeemed. 

I had a 3 3/4"  Silver Samurai/Wolverine Greatest Battles 2-Pack before selling off most all of my Marvel Universe collection- check out my 2011 post on it! I'm glad to have a quality 6" replacement of this character, though the Marvel Universe Samurai had some nicer silvers and some nice washes that brought out the detail in the armor.  His neck has very limited articulation, effectively a right/left swivel, but there's little else to complain about here. I'm very happy to have finally picked him up, especially at such a great price. Fantastic!

There was a Retro Series Wolverine released in the same wave as Silver Samurai, in all-black deco w/red belt from the '88/Vol. 2 run, but I have SO MANY Wolverines. Hasbro has delivered some good ones recently, of which I have no less than SIX, so...  Below, Silver Samurai with my first Retro Series Wolverine in his original brown and yellow outfit...

I may like pairing Silver Samurai with my X-Factor Wolverine even more...

Silver Samurai would also make a great sparring partner with Marvel Legends 

Shang-Chi from the recent Spider-Man Demogoblin Wave...

And finally, Silver Samurai with the DC Multiverse Batman Ninja...

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Comics From My Youth: Marvel Super-Heroes #76, 1978

A recent run through the dollar bins unearthed this well-worn issue of Marvel Super-Heroes, featuring the Incredible Hulk, that I instantly recognized from my youth! This title contained mostly reprints of issues featuring popular characters from '69 to '82- in this case Hulk #124 (1970). I would have been six years old, and Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno were co-starring on the popular TV show, then in it's 2nd season on CBS, proudly advertised on the cover. This issue probably cemented my love for artist Herb Trimpe, whom I got a lot of exposure to as a Bronze-Age baby, and was as formative of my early love for comics as the Spectacular Spider-Man #22 issue I wrote about back in 2013. Historically speaking, Editor Jim Shooter had started to turn things around in this era, by growing the direct market. producing some classic stories, and getting books out on time. This was a relatively good time for comics, and the Hulk, along with Spider-Man, were really popular.

This was undoubtedly my first exposure to General Thunderbolt Ross, who comes to terms with his disapproval with Banner to make his daughter happy, and marry her off to him in her childhood home. It's as surely the first time I saw the Marvel villains Rhino and the Leader, the latter whom reads about the pending nuptials, and hatches a plan to undo a helpless Banner during the affair!

The Leader dispatches Super-Humanoid to retrieve Rhino, unconscious in a hospital from his recent defeat by the Hulk, and revive him using his advanced technology. Additionally, the Leader recreated the Rhino's suit, now amplifying his strength far beyond it's previous levels.

Rhino is hot to exact revenge on the Hulk, but the Leader has his own design- a shot of gamma to the unsuspecting Banner to awaken the Hulk, endangering everyone and everything in his path. Poor Betty's special day comes apart before her very eyes, the Hulk's wrath unleashed, her father injured in the melee and her childhood home destroyed in short order...

The brouhhaha escalates further when Rhino attacks, but the Leader fires 

on his impatient accomplice while trying to get another shot at the Hulk. ..

Angry, Rhino charges on the Leader, who attempts to leave in his escape module. It's jets are damaged by Rhino's attack, seemingly destroying them both in the resulting explosion ...!

We are promised a tangle with the Absorbing Man in the next issue, which I never read, but may now have to hunt down! This is probably one of the first comics I read, and all the action and emotions left a deep imprint on me, instantly recalled upon finding this treasure. Marvel must have printed a ton of these to capitalize on the TV show- did you have this issue? Below, a couple ads for toys/memorabilia within the pages, another thing I love about old comics!

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