Posted on January 27, 2012

By Loran

If there’s one thing I can’t stand in the video game world, is the current influx of “realistic military shooters”. I can’t explain why, but they just bug me. They all feel like the same game in a different package. It’s just soldiers versus more soldiers. It feels like if you want a first-person shooter with zombies or robots or aliens, you have to go with either the Halo series or Half Life series… and only one of those is getting new games at regular intervals… Still, the one that IS getting frequent games has some pretty cool-looking aliens, especially the ones you can play as.

First introduced in Halo 2 (to a certain degree), the Elite Ranger is the Covenant’s jetpack trooper. These are the guys you’ll see harassing you in Firefight games or guarding Zero-G sections of Covenant Battlecruisers. I’ll have to say they’re one of my favorite armors for the Elites, if only because it looks so different from the regular armors. I like the lack of exposed mandibles. One would have to wonder why a warrior race would leave their mouth so exposed in their armor…

Appropriately, the new mold for the Elite towers over the Spartans. It’s big and heavy and the blister certainly reflects that. I really like that McFarlane managed to keep all of these figures at the same price point, even if it means paying the same for a Brute as you would a Grunt. However, I’m not entirely sure I like the new Elite mold more than the one from Halo 3. While the hands are much, MUCH more manageable, they really falter when it comes to the legs. The lack of a ball joint in the hips combined with the construction of the feet make them sort of difficult to stand properly, and the added weight of the torso doesn’t help much, either. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Gaming, Loran, Reviews, Toys and Action Figures, video games | No Comments »
Tags: Covenant, Elite Ranger, Halo, Halo Reach, McFarlane, Review

Posted on January 25, 2012

By Devin T. Quin

Forget about elections, snow, wild tigers ripping at your face, bills, those same tigers ripping at your legs, problems with your girlfriend, problems with your boyfriend, problems with your tiger, global warming, house fires, the mumps, the whooping cough, rubella, zombie bites, swarms of bees, bees and tigers mating to breed flying, stinging death machines, and that crazy ending to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

SALVATION is here in the form of ace cartoonist Jacob Chabot.

WHO?!

To quote Christopher Walken, “Jacob Chabot is just like you or I…he puts his pants on one leg at a time. The only difference is, once he has his pants on He makes Eisner nominated comics.”

Mighty Skullboy Army Vol. 2, Jacob Chabot (W/A), Dark Horse

I have no problem writing that Jacob Chabot is one of the most talented cartoonists working in comics today…and the fact that he’s still working is an incredible miracle! Last time I saw Jacob’s stuff was over in Spongebob Comics Magazine where he draws an impressive amount of the material, and previous to that he had a two pager in the Fear Itself tie-in humor comic Shame Itself.

The guy is working hard to make a living in a field he loves, a field with diminishing returns and thankless hustle. Jacob caught a break when he won Dark Horse’s online comics contest several years’ back. At the time, the comics industry could see money to be made off web comics but couldn’t quite figure out how to do it. Both Dark Horse and DC’s ZUDA web comics were run as contests…I think we all won!

Thanks to this period we not only have the amazing Chabot’s Mighty Skullboy Army, but we also have Steve Ellis and David Gallaher’s Harvey Nominated and highly awesome weird west werewolf comic High Moon at DC’s ZUDA. (more…)

Category: Comics, Dark Horse, Devin T Quin, Marvel | No Comments »
Tags: David Gallaher, Fear Itself, Harvey, Harvey Nominated, high moon, Jacob Chabot, Mighty Skullboy Army, Shame Itself, Spongebob Comics Magazine, Steve Ellis, web comic, werewolf, zuda

Posted on January 25, 2012

By Chris Troy

Well okay, the title’s kind of a lie. Most of the new stuffs we’ll be looking at came in towards the end of 2011, but you know, I was busy playing catch up with the best of list and attending MAGfest (which again, was awesome). However most of the awesome new arrivals are STILL in stock (for now!), so we might as well go over what those things are just in case you the reader are interested. Which hopefully, you will be.

On the left, you’ll see a picture of the Robot Damashii Wing Zero Custom (from the Gundam Wing OVA “Endless Waltz”) from Bandai. I’m not exactly how new it is on the shelves of Japan, but we finally have it in at FPNYC, so that’s all that matters right? The Winger Zero Custom joins the Tallgeese 3 as the 2 Wing-related Robot Damashiis we have in, as well as the Gouf Custom and the Gundam Unicorn from the Universal Century line. All 3 of these figures are super articulated, come with a nice selection of variant parts and weapons, and are 2nd only to the Revoltech in overall mecha quality, which is impressive for a line that hasn’t been around as long. We’ve sold out of the One Piece/DBZ/MegaMan/Tiger and Bunny releases super fast, so if you want yourself a super articulated Gundam figure, you best come get them as soon as possible. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Anime, Bandai, Christopher Troy, DC Comics, Gundam, Marvel, Reviews, Toys and Action Figures | No Comments »
Tags: Art Aslyumn, Arthur, Bandai, blackest night, Dante, Daredevil, DBZ, DC Universe Classic, Deadpool, Dormannu, Dove, Endless Waltz, Gouf, Green Arrow, Gundam, Gundam Unicorn, Gundam Wing, Hawk, Iron Fist, Iron Man, M.O.D.O.K., MAGfest, marvel universe, Marvel vs. Capcom, Matt Fraction, Megaman, Minimates, Morrigan, Nekron, one piece, OVA, Psylocke, Red Arrow, Reverse Flash, Revoltech, Robot Damashii, Shadowland, Sinstero, Storm, Tallgeese, The Phoenix, Thor, Tiger and Bunny, Trish, Universal Century, White Lantern Flash, Wing Zero, X-woman, Young Avenger Patriot

Posted on January 20, 2012

by Loran

Like its younger, better-looking Gundam brother, the GM II has gone pretty unappreciated in the model kit world. There was one plastic kit back in the original Zeta Gundam line, and at least one conversion kit made for the HGUC GM. While I do like its design overall, it’s really not that much different from a regular GM. Even technically, some of the GM II units are just upgraded One Year War stock, and even the new units aren’t that much better than the original suit. Still, it’s a GM, and every series has to have its lovable “redshirt” good guy unit.

Chances are, the average person won’t be able to tell a GM from a GM II if they just saw them in passing, aside from maybe differences in the color scheme. It’s not a very exciting design, especially if you already have a regular GM. Maybe Bandai just wanted to see what the kitbashers came up with for stuff based on the regular GM. Or they just wanted more money for B-Club, who knows.

By and large this is just the GM III kit with a few of the runners changed. Nothing wrong with that, but one thing does end up a bit odd: the hip armor. The hips still have the holes for mounting the missile launchers from the GM III, but there’s nothing to go there. It seems like a bit of an oversight, but maybe Bandai’s planning some new variant that will actually use them. What that variant is, I haven’t the slightest.

As far as articulation goes, everything that was said about the GM II holds true here, so no complaints in that department. However, while the GM III got two four extra hands (two fists and two open hands), the GM II has none of those. Strange considering the GM II is a cheaper kit, but I guess they wanted to make it as cheap as possible. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Bandai, Gundam, Loran, Model Kits, Reviews | No Comments »
Tags: GM II, GM Semi-Striker, Gundam, HGUC GM III Review, One Year War, Torrington Base, Zeta Gundam

Posted on January 20, 2012

By Loran

Like I said in the review for the Schuzrum Dias, I love it when Bandai decides they’ll throw us a bone with a kit of a suit that’s never been done before. The thing about the Schuzrum Dias, though, is that most of it was already done. There are many suits that existed solely in resin hell for the past 25-30 years and are just now getting kits. This is one that I though needed one much, much earlier on.

The GM III has never gotten a plastic Bandai kit in any scale. I think there were a few resin kits and conversion sets (but let’s be honest here, that would have to be one hell of a conversion set), but for whatever reason, the poor GM III always got neglected in favor for its younger brother the Jegan, even after appearing in both Double Zeta and Char’s Counterattack. In fact, it was the only new Federation model introduced throughout Double Zeta’s entire run. I guess during the 80’s, Bandai didn’t find new GMs all that profitable, though considering Double Zeta’s track record with rehashes towards the end, it makes sense that Bandai wouldn’t have wanted to take a risk on a new Federation suit.

The GM III is, more or less, a bulky GM II, however Bandai (for some reason) chose to release this one first. While it’s labeled as a Double Zeta kit, the design clearly borrows most of its influence from the Unicorn anime, not surprising considering that without it, we probably wouldn’t have this kit. It works for me, since I found the original design to be kind of… messy, at least in the lineart.

A clear visor with some great interior detailing adorns the head. I can’t wait to paint this. However, the antennae on the head look really thick, even by Bandai standards. I might sand them down to make them look a little less silly.

This kit uses a new GM joint system, not the same one originally included with the Hazels. I was a little upset at first, but this one works just as well. The arm joints are designed in a way that will be much easier to glue and paint.

The hips use stick joints, similar to the ones on the 30^th Anniversary Gundam. The skirt is designed in a way that can be split, but of course, they aren’t pre-cut.

Also taken from the 30^th Gundam are the shoulder joints, using the much more versatile ball-and-socket style. It’s nice to see this style finally becoming mainstream. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Anime, Bandai, Gundam, Loran, Model Kits, Reviews | No Comments »
Tags: 30th Anniversary Gundam, AEUG, Char’s Counterattack, Double Zeta, EFSF, Federation, GM III, HGUC GM III Review, Jegan, Karaba, Londo Bell, polycap, Schuzrum Dias, Strikers

Posted on January 18, 2012

By Unkiedev

High fives for DC! High fives for everybody! I’m high right now, and I have the emotional maturity of a five year old! What am I high on?! THIS WEEK’S COMICS! …and rabies meds.

We’re into the fifth issues of many NEW 52 titles…some of which are being cancelled, while new titles are being announced. Say what you will about DC’s relaunch, from both a story and publishing history stand point, it sure ain’t boring!

Deadman gobbles up quite a large slice of the New 52 pie, being featured regularly in Justice League Dark, DC Universe Presents; which has the brand new issue #5 on the shelf this week; as well as cropping up in Hawk and Dove as Dove’s off-again, on again boyfriend. This week he’s ALSO co-opting the Blue Beetle’s title as Blue Beetle #5 features Dove and Blue Beetle in a search for Boston Brand, a.k.a. the Quantum Leap Zombie guy.

Justice League #5 is another great DC fiver this week, as is Uncanny X-Men #5. That’s not a DC book? Tricky ole’ Marvel, publishing a number five comic this week to try and steal DC’s thunder!

TROLLING THE INTERNET

Last week I talked about comic book covers and how they can’t help or hurt comic sales. I have a new example of the former to bring to our attention: this week’s Thunderbolts #169 and the character of Troll.

Now I stopped getting Thunderbolts when the book changed it’s name to Dark Avengers , kinda’ like how the Brooklyn Dodgers became the LA Dodgers. I missed the story line where Captain America decided that the premise of the team was sounder than previously imagined, that being super heroes can have rehabilitating effects on former super criminals, and gave the team to Luke Cage to train up villains in the powerful Super Jail the Raft.

That means I also missed out while this team of Parolees in Pajamas were fighting Trolls from Asgard during Fear Itself. That means I, much like yourself, may have missed the emergence of one of the COOLEST COMIC BOOK CHARACTER TO WATCH. YOU HEARD ME.

Troll is a teen gal raised by Asgardian trolls who wears a suit straight out of a Furry’s dreams, wields an axe and kicks ass like a sailor on shore-leave. She would be the result of Animal from the Muppets and Balsac The Jaws Of Death from GWAR having a love child. (more…)

Category: DC Comics, Dark Horse, Devin T Quin, Image, Marvel | No Comments »
Tags: Avenging Spider-Man #3, B.P.R.D., Blue Beetle #5, Boston Brand, Captain America, Chew, Chew #23, D.H. Presents #8, Dark Avengers, DC Universe Presents, Deadman, Duncan Fegredo, Fear Itself, Hawk and Dove, Invincible Iron-Man #512, Justice League #5, Justice League Dark, Luke Cage, the Raft, Thunderbolts #169, Troll, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #6, Uncanny X-Men #5, Vangaurd, wally wood, Wally Wood: Strange World of Science Fiction

Posted on January 13, 2012

By Loran

As my love for Power Core Combiners probably showed, I have a soft spot for toys with parts-swapping gimmicks. I can’t explain it, really! It just gives me so many hours of fun. It’s like having two (or more!) toys in one. When I heard McFarlane was doing this for the Halo figures, I thought it was one of the best ideas ever. I’m sure most players of the game would like to make the Spartans (or Elites) they use in the games, even if some custom painting is needed.

I needed a Spartan fix, so I grabbed the rust-colored Spartan CQB Custom. This figure includes armor and helmets for the Operator, Mark V, and Security Spartans, plus a bonus head for a pilot. I guess the pilot doesn’t have any distinctive armor to speak of. It is a nice bonus, however, and gives people an incentive to buy these sets. Note that this set comes in two colors, rust and steel. I might purchase the steel one to combine it with the Grungnir set to make the Spartan one of my friends uses in Reach.

Since the base body is identical to the one I covered in the “Caboose” review (save for the kneepads), refer back to that one for my opinions on the articulation and whatnot, as this will focus mainly on the armor.

The main armor set is the Spartan CQB. For whatever reason the CQB helmet never really did it for me. It looks like a Jegan from Gundam, just kind of… squashed and round. The torso armor isn’t very exciting either, just the standard Mark V with an extra piece of armor on the front. Even the shoulders aren’t anything special. I do like the addition of the ammo belt, however, though he’s not the only variant in this set that uses it. I’ll probably display mine with this armor the least. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Gaming, Loran, Toys and Action Figures, video games | No Comments »
Tags: CQB, Custom Armor Set, Elites, Halo, Halo Reach, Mark V, McFarlane, Operator, Security Spartan, Security Spartans, Spartan, Spartan CQB

Posted on January 12, 2012

By Loran

Gimmick figures tend to be kind of a mixed bag to me. By “gimmick” I don’t mean something like spring-loaded weapons or whatever, I mean something based around an idea, like say, a clear version of a character that’s supposed to turn invisible or something. Usually those tend to be cool when they have some sort of status attached to them, like as a convention or mail-away exclusive. When they end up on the retail shelves, they usually end up staying there for quite awhile. But once in awhile, a pretty neat idea comes along that hasn’t really been done before, one that makes me go, “okay, I gotta try this”.

For Halo’s tenth anniversary, McFarlane decided to put out a special Master Chief figure for it, a “low polygon count” version that emulates the graphics from the first game. Some people didn’t like this idea but honestly, I got a kick out of it. I can’t really think of any other toylines that have done something like this, and I figured it was a cute way to celebrate ten years of the franchise.

Save for the joints (which need to be round because otherwise, they wouldn’t work), everything on the Chief is angular. It’s a very cool look and under certain lighting, it looks like it isn’t even sculpted that way. Of course, it would be a bit more convincing under actual video game lighting, but that wouldn’t really work…

The most noteworthy part of him is his very square head and visor. Since computer models can’t make curves all that well (or at least, make them look natural), the Chief’s visor is made up largely of small squares. You can’t really tell in the game, but on the figure it’s more noticeable. It’s neat, but probably the most distracting part about him. He just looks “off” when standing alongside the other Reach Spartans, which I’m sure is why most people are buying him. Really makes you wish they made an HD version. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Loran, Reviews, Toys and Action Figures, video games | No Comments »
Tags: Anniversary, Halo, Master Chief, McFarlane, Review, tenth anniversary

Posted on January 11, 2012

By Unkiedev

This past weekend I picked up a back issue for a strange little 70’s monster comic called Creatures on the Loose #13 from Marvel. WHY? Because it featured a shaggy white monstrosity in a gold skirt walking out of a rainbow colored television while scaring the beejeezus out of some square. This monster then loudly proclaims “I-HAVE-COME-TO-TAKE-YOU-TO-KROGARR!!”

Now THAT is a cover you just can’t argue with!

JUDGING BY COVER

So how was this inspiring trip to Krogarr? It was alright, if you like wacky monsters. Personally I can’t get enough of em’, that’s why one of the books to watch this week is DC’s Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #5. Franky-baby is going to smack around O.M.A.C.: the One Machine Attack Construct who looks more like a One Monster Augly Contest. That was “Ugly” with a silent “A.” They’ll make slappy in the facey until one of them explodes or cries or goes home with a sniffle! YAY!

I took the chance on Creatures on the Loose because of the cover. While you can’t judge a book by its cover for legal reasons, you certainly get first impressions. This can be both good and bad. (more…)

Category: Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse, Devin T Quin, IDW, Image, Marvel | No Comments »
Tags: Amazing Spider-Man #677, Arthur Adams, Bagley, Bendis, Brilliant #2, Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5, Cobra Annual 2012 The Origin of Cobra Commander #1, Creatures on the Loose #13, Dave Johnson, Frankenstein, Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #5, Invincible, Krogarr, Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1, O.M.A.C., One Machine Attack Construct, Spawn #215, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: WAR #1 of 5, unkiedev.blogspot.com

Posted on January 11, 2012

by Chris Troy

And we’re back! By now you’re probably all expecting me to start creaming my pants over the 2011 Marvel Universe offerings, and this WILL happen, but let me address my other picks for the year first.

NECA had a rad year, releasing some really solid figures based on a variety of video games series like Gears of War 3, the Assassin Creed series, Dead Space 2, Bulletstorm, & Crysis 2, as well as several film properties. The Gears 3 figures are my favorite, as they’re a mixture of solid sculpts, accessories, and plentiful articulation. NECA also won me over with their Heroclix releases ranging from comic stuffs like Marvel & DC (including some of their movie counterparts) to game franchises like Street Fighter & Gears of War (popular series is popular), as well as sci-fi/fantasy properties like Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. Truth be told though, the NEXTWAVE figures that dropped this past year are the reason I care the most about Heroclix, and I really don’t think I can be faulted too much for my excitement .

Since I’m already on the topic of comic-related stuffs, let’s talk DC. We’ll start off with DC Direct 2011, which had a nice catalog of figures for the year, most of them being Batman, or at least Batman-related. I kid, there was a ton of Green Lantern love as well, between the Blackest Night/Brightest Day/GL proper series lines. I’m real glad that I now own a complete series of modern version of the Green Lanterns in scale with one another thanks to DC Direct. But if I’m going to have to pick a favorite DC Direct figure this year, it’s going to be the Commander Shepard figures from the long-delayed Mass Effect 2 wave, which was canceled after the 1st set because Bioware was upset with the delays of it’s release. Despite it not being NECA quality, it’s still the ONLY Shepard figure to date, something I hope changes in 2012 with the release of Mass Effect 3. NECA, Square Enix, one of you need to make this happen. (more…)

Category: Action Figures and Toys, Christopher Troy, Comics, Marvel, Toys and Action Figures, video games | No Comments »
Tags: Bioware, blackest night, Brightest Day, Bulletstorm, Captain America, CATMAN, Commander Shepard, Crysis 2, Darkhawk, DC Universe Classics, Dead Space 2, Falcon, Gears of War 3, green lantern, Heroclix, Lord of the Rings, Marvel Comic Releases, Mass Effect 2, Nextwave, Skaar, Square Enix, Star Trek, Storm, the Assassin Creed series, X-23, Zatanna