Just wanted to share with you something on my “must buy” list.

This figure is awesome!!!

I’m a sucker for tan-bikini lines too…. Rawwwwrrr!

It’s not cheap, though… Am currently saving up for this, a little below $100.

But methinks it’s well worth it!

Peace!

Get a closer look at the newly released TF Masterpiece, Grimlock!

It’s been a 2 years since news started leaking out of a Grimlock Masterpiece release from Takara. And during that time, all the anticipation that Transformers Masterpiece collectors built up has now finally been realized. Released just last month (March 2009), collectors have been on their toes to get ‘im. I’ll review Grimlock in a general approach, just to point out the features and fun factors you can expect…

Packaging

As with any Takara Masterpiece boxes, Grimlock’s is no different – all sealed up in a big black box that’s about 18 inches tall, just a glance will really make you do a double-take. Photos abound on the front, sides, and back of the box. Features are well-documented on the back as well. Surely just seeing this in your favorite (or any) toy store and looking at the photos on the back will make you reach for your wallet to say “sorry, but you have to lose weight…NOW!”

Upon opening the box, you’ll see Grimlock in robot mode, encased in a transparent plastic casing, with all the accessories neatly spread around him. The manual and the tech specs card are also inside, sealed in a thick plastic bag. This is probably the next thing you’ll open after you get Mr. Grimlock out of his encasement. And yeah, you’ll probably have him stand somewhere, looking over you while you’re reading the manual, and you’ll maybe catch a few glimpses of him very once in awhile. Yiheee…. :p

Robot mode (sculpt)

Speaking of glances, this bad boy really commands attention – he has an icy stare (probably because he doesn’t have the usual humanoid face, duh!). Quite bulky, robot mode Grimlock has over-sized shoulders around his head. This is due part to his shoulders being his legs in dino-form. Broad chest area has a plastic panel over his Autobot insignia – though what’s notable about his gold chest is that it’s diecast. This, along with the pelvic area (this maintains the center of balance), and the gold claws on his arms.

Notice the load of parts on his back – with the weight that they’re all packed back there, the compensation of the diecast pelvic area definitely helps carry these for balance. There were no problems in having the big guy stand in robot form.

FEATURES:
1. You can change the eyes/visor color from red to blue and back – there’s a little switch on the back of his head to do just this
2. Right hand has a LED power-up contact – you put in the gun or the sword on his right hand – both of which have LED’s built into them – and voila! Either one lights up red when you press the button under his right arm. Now that’s just neanderthal!

Paint
No repaints here – this is the new Masterpiece sculpt – Grimlock will be the only one using it, unlike the previous Starscream and Optimus repaints (Thundercracker, SkyWarp, and Ultra Magnus respectively). Paint apps kept to a minimum, as always. You’ll see gray plastic parts for legs, arms, and back, black for the head and legs, red for the diecast pelvic area. Gold-colored parts are diecast – the chest and the claws. Chrome is used for the tail, and dino-arms and teeth. Needless to say, the gold and chrome parts act as magnets for thumbprints, with their shiny finish. Overall, the paints serve their purpose.

Articulation
Hmm, where do I begin? Let’s start with his robot mode: He’s got a balljointed neck, which can turn 90 degrees easily. His shoulders are ball joints as well, so his arms move freely, which help him in dino-form also. A swivel-cut is also present before the elbows. Elbows are – egad! – double-jointed! Wrist swivel is present on the inside of his ‘sleeves’ as well. As mentioned in the FEATURES above, his right hand has a contact point for making the weapons light-up – so this hand is fixed on the open-grip, no articulation. His left hand has a ball-jointed thumb and hinge grip – no individual fingers though.
His hips have swivel, with thighs having the swivel-hinge combination so he move his legs forward, at the same time, able to do leg splits (there’s also a swivel there so you can turn the leg orientation around)! Knees are single-joint and are very stable – they have click-locks (like Revoltech joints) so they don’t crumple under the weight easily. A hinge joint is located underneath the knee for transforming purposes. His feet are connected by a ball-joint on the front and prove to be totally stable, allowing for tilting ankle support poses.

This guy’s like a beefed-up, over-scaled Revoltech with all the articulation. Quite impressive (all Masterpiece editions are!).

Scale

Ok, here is the part where most collectors are in contention. Looking at the size difference between Grimlock and Optimus Prime, some do not agree with the latter’s smaller scale. No need to fight over it though…

However, it’s Takara’s tribute to the Autobot leader that he be the biggest MP there is – as with Megatron being the biggest among his ‘fleet’ (of repainted air boys). So it’s really up to collectors if the scale ticks them off vs. all the features and neat extras we enumerated here. We’ll get to that later, so read on…

Accessories

1. Grimlock’s blaster – which lights up red when in the right hand. It can also be held on his left hand.

2. The notoriously hilarious mind transfer device from the old Transformers animated series episode “Grimlock’s New Brain”. To view part 1 of that episode, click here.

3. The bow-tie and apron from “Madman’s Paradise” – the series after the Transformers movie. Click here for part 1 of that episode.

4. Complete with the glasses and waiter’s tray! Don’t ever miss a tip for this waiter!

5. Grimlock’s big-a$$ sword – which lights-up when in the right hand. It can’t be held in the left hand, though, pegs forbid it. You can dual-wield his gun and sword, but the sword should always be in the right hand when doing so.

Though as originally rumoured, there should have been a crown for king Grimlock somewhere, but it’s not included anymore. That would’ve been a nifty addition – but all the accessories above prove how adorable the big guy’s been in the animated series.

On to Grimlock’s fondest transformation: his T-Rex dino-mode…

Much like how the other renditions of Transformers G1 Grimlock have been released through the years, it’s still pretty much the canon (sorry it’s not in order!):

1.His chest area flips down to become his dino-belly, leaving his head in its place.

2. His “wings” have the dino-arms, close over his head and become the thick dino-upper neck.(Note that the head is not as further in on his chest as per other G1 renditions, which had the head totally away from the front of his chest).

3. “Boots” flip outwards to become the massive lower area of his body, and his underside.

4. From his boots, you can flip out the middle-portion of his dino-tail.

5. The very tips of his dino-tail also flip outwards.

6. Lastly, the dino-head, still hinged on his back, will flip over.

7. Yep his arms serve as the dino-legs, his hands retract inwards, leaving the claws for support.

Sorry about typing in ‘dino” over and over, but that’s what he is! :p

FEATURES in DINO MODE:

1. You can change his eyes (yes, the eyes themselves) – to change their color from red to blue, and vice versa.

The designer for this feature must’ve been one heckuva genius to even think of how this would work!

You lift the forehead, and pull out a rotating wheel, matching which color you want his eyes to be…

2. Rotating neck – when you first handle Grimlock, don’t be alarmed if the dino-neck is a bit loose. It turns very loosely and can only be fixed on a certain position by really turning it to one side. In dino-mode, his neck will rotate from side to side by either swinging his tail or rotating it. Nice, huh? Rawrr, hehe.

Other nifty stuff in dino-mode? He’s got ball-jointed dino-arms, with a swivel in the middle and individually hinged fingers (yes, all 3 talons). His dino-palm has a hole to accomodate the peg on the waiter’s tray, but to get it into position, you have to rotate the entire arm around and use the swivel. Looks weird, but the result’s priceless with Grimlock being your waiter for the evening…

You can also see that when you open his sharp-teethed mouth, there’s his flamethrower muzzle.

Whew. As you’ve read – Grimlock’s loaded with enough features, accessories, articulation to make him a true winner in any aspect in considering TF-MP purchases. The overall form in robot mode and dino-mode is impressive, with no compromise by the/on the articulation – needless to say, that with great articulation comes great transformability!

The features are fun, ingenius, and surprising. The inclusion of several accessories (to bring about nostalgia from watching the animated series, breeding familiarity) and providing light-up battery-powered delight makes this a complete package.

Note that Grimlock is about US$ 130, especially on ebay. My friend got his (yes, I’m reviewing what’s not mine…but someday…) for about US$ 125 in the local toy shop. Pricey? Maybe… and wait a while till the prices go down? Up to you…

Worth it? Hell yeah!

More photos for your viewing pleasure….

Let’s see how these little guys take over the legends…Hasbro will be focusing on this new line of 3 3/4-inch action figures, dubbed Marvel Universe. The first series has already been released, comprised of Daredevil, Silver Surfer, Iron Man, Spiderman, Punisher, Human Torch, Black Panther, Wolverine (X-Force), and Bullseye.

Series 2 releases are hinted in the photos below: Green and Gray Hulk, Iron Fist, Ronin, Green Goblin, and Captain America (Stever Rogers).

Now, I didn’t purchase one of these figures just to review them or even try them out. I borrowed it from a friend and tried comparing, specifically, Iron Man with the rest of my collection. And with quite the collection I easily amassed of Marvel Legends (easily I mean because they were pretty cheap back when Toybiz handled them…), I couldn’t help comparing the quality and price of this new line with the current Marvel Legends. Oh, and yes, I’ve also put DCUC into my benchmarks.

These little guys cost about US$ 7.99 at SRP. Not bad, considering that the series is already quickly populated even at the onset (series 1). Sculpts are often like Marvel Legends, only scaled-down. The weight is just right – not too light, and nothing to increase its weight as well. Heck, with Hasbro’s sculpts, it seems like both scales share the same number of articulation! Speaking of which, articulation is set at an average of about 20 – 22 points. Swivel neck, ball-joint shoulders with swivel biceps, hinge elbows, swivel wrists, ball-torsos, swivel waist, ball-thighs, hinge knees (others have double-joints), swivel shins, and ball-ankles (in some, just hinges). For Iron Man, paint is good, with metallic red and gold for his armor. At this point, this line does seem alright, especially for Marvel collectors with a budget.

It’s quite clear that Hasbro is following the road they took with their Star Wars and G.I. Joe toylines – a smaller scale to accrue for more characters to fill-in the lines. They’re currently holding-off the next line of Marvel Legends (after the Holocaust/Nemesis series) for several months to focus on this new line.

But for me, I’ve stopped with the G.I. Joe line long ago when I was kid. Earning on my own now, my preference is more plastic, more articulation, more detail. Bigger, for better appreciation. Note that I’m also into scale models and would know the differences in scale and that not everything is built big. But coming from 6-inchers…I’m still not convinced why Hasbro had to scale down, given that the bigger line had more of everything for the money. Oh, and given that the quality of what they churned for Marvel Legends was real crap.

So what did my Marvel Legends do to the new (short) guy?

Even Timmy thinks the line is too small :p

My Revoltech Transformers had a fun time dissing their newly found playmate…

With that…I conclude that this new line from Hasbro/Marvel – just won’t fit into my collection. Nor is it welcome. I’m sticking to the 6-inchers even if I have to customize the rest of the line. Hasbro hasn’t convinced me with their Marvel Legends run, more so with their new line…

Warning: If you’re not an Akira fan…note that after reading this review you’ll be out looking for the Akira manga and animated movie! Both are part of the whole sci-fi, bleak futures history and you may experience a terrible urge to get INTO IT.

I know it’s been awhile since this series came out – but it was only recently that I was able to get my hands on this set. Yeah, the series came out waay back in 2000, under McFarlane’s 3D Animation from Japan – Series 1. The set includes Kaneda, Tetsuo, and Kaneda’s bike. Just about the only two characters that really mattered. Anyway, this’ll just be a short and sweet review of this series, unlike my usual long-winded articles.

Let’s start with the packaging – all figures are in blister packs with cards. Akira is boldly spelled at the front, right next to artwork of the encased figure. A catalogue of the series can be seen at the back. Nothing special here, but the design looks neat, conveying all you want to know at the first glance.

Kaneda

At 6 3/4 inches tall, the detail on Kaneda is superb – the jacket is well-endowed with folds and creases, from the big collar down to the folded sleeves. There are wrist straps that are sculpted away from the sleeves – you’ll notice straps like these down on the boots as well. Kaneda’s face is a careful but great translation of his anime and manga origins. Quite Asian, caught in a stern look of determination. It’s like he’s about to breathe the first syllables when shouting out “Tetsuooo!”.

Paint application is great – red is properly applied, with some shades of dry-brushing that are subtle but effective so the details come out (and not flat). Skin tones are perfectly captured (it’s just the face, neck and forearms). Paint on the accessories is passe though, they’re colored the way they are – all the attention is focused on Kaneda himself.

Accessories abound – the big blaster is fixed on his hips, with a belt extending from it, up to around Kaneda’s shoulder. You won’t be able to equip it in his hand though – he’s not meant to in this pose, so don’t try prying it or you’ll have to do some Xacto knife cutting. Kaneda is posed to hold something though – and unfortunately it’s NOT the blaster, just the hose extending from it towards the other accessory, the power cell. Weird enough, the power cell is the removable accessory, which you can sling over Kaneda’s shoulder opposite the blaster. The thin, black rubber hose can be connected to a hold in it to insert on a small peg on the blaster. Then there’s Kaneda’s orange-rimmed goggles which look great and is a welcome addition. The ‘glasses’ are clear and Kaneda just looks adorable (no I’m not fagging out) when you slip it on his forehead, or better when you slip it down further so it’s on his face on how it’s worn. It can even be slipped down to his neck, hanging down.

Articulation is a total let-down. He’s got about 8 points of articulation -  swivel neck, shoulders/arms, hips, and shins/boots. That’s about it. But then again, they weren’t meant to be articulated. He’s find just standing there….until you see his bike (scroll down LATER for the bike’s review and you’ll see what I intend to say next here).

Tetsuo

If I said that Kaneda’s detail was superb – well Tetsuo totally surpasses him. All 6 1/8 inches tall of Tetsuo is ripe with detail: from the spiky hair (ala Dragonball Z’s Vegeta or such), red cloak, cybernetic arm, everything you need to appreciate the PVC representation of Tetsuo is here. By detail I mean all the small cyber-organic thing going-on with Tetsuo. He has some scratches underneath his facial cheeks (yes I had to specify which cheeks!), proof that he’s ‘going down with the sickness’. His facial expression is one of anger with a tinge of pain (oh yeah I’m an empath for PVC’s) – you’ll have to judge it from his expression.

Clothing is terrifically detailed. His red cloak is separately sculpted and wraps around his neck, with enough room for it to move around sideways. Rips and tears are loyally applied, supplemented by the folds and creases on his clothes. These abound, making the sure you spend lots of minutes counting ‘em. Hmm, do you actually do that? LOL.

Paint is perfect – the cel shade on his clothes works for me. Dark gray spots run across his clothes, right against the gray ‘fabric’. That goes for hair and cloak shades. Where the painting really excels is on his arms. And I mean this for his two accessories: his cybernetic right arm that’s removable and replaceable by the bigger cyber-organic mass of  goo that stands as heavier and almost as tall as Tetsuo himself.

The metallic grays run awash with some shadows and blacks of wiring and ribs. Same goes about the extra arm that is the overgrowth of cyber-mass. That’s fleshy goo encrusted by steel cables and wires. Each muscle, vein, membrane, welt, and swelling is beautifully sculpted and painted. That’s gooey flesh tones for you, Fangoria fans. Steel and electric parts mesh perfectly with these, especially paint-wise.

Articulation is at 5 points – swivel neck, swivel shoulders, swivel wrist on the cybernetic armand swivel shins. Nothing much here, but he’s got everything he needs.

Overall, Tetsuo’s pretty pissed-off. He’s got a painful overgrowth of teenage funky flesh, really bad wardrobe plus the bad hair day. And just from his facial expression, this is easily and perfectly conveyed.

Kaneda’s bike

This plastic and rubber piece of history is loyally sculpted to give tribute to its origins. Why plastic and rubber? ‘Coz there’s a die-cast version of this bad bike. Except that this one is satisfaction at the fraction of the price! I don’t have to explain how this is one of coolest bike designs ever conceptualized. You just have to look at it to appreciate it. Well, maybe seeing it in action in the manga and movie will convince you. Still, the bike is cool. Accept that. And this is the toy review. We’ll take forever drooling over the design.

First off, the bike’s at about 10 inches long. It’s at bright red, as what it is in the source material. It has spinning rubber wheels, so you can actually “voom-voom” it back and forth. The windwhield is sleekand clear, covering the headlight, which is just colored silver. The handlebars are of short plastic and look as though would turn the entire front area/wheels when turned, but they actually don’t.

The driver console on the handlebars, down to the seat console, are all greatly detailed, with buttons, panels, and switches. There’s a big sticker for the digital speedometer though, which is bit of turn-off, but seemed like the best solution for it.

The seat area is really low, as it really is with brown paint which makes it look like leather. The trademark crazy decals abound – completing the entire look. There’s also a side support stand which you can flip from underneath the middle section. Another moveable part is the engine cover, underneath the handle bars. You just lift it up so you can see the detailed engine parts. Just a lot of bric-a-brac resembling the engine, with sculpted lines and panels, painted and washed by muted silver and black, respectively.

Overall, the bike’s great. Too bad the Kaneda included in this series has no articulation to make it sit on the bike. But then you’ll find out on other Kaneda+bike releases that there are ‘seated’ versions. But those don’t stand-up anyway. Makes for a making a custom Kaneda that can sit and stand, donnit? I have this planned as well

The next photos may prove to be disturbing and is not meant for the weak of heart…

Capt. Marvel (Marvel Legends 6-incher) steals Kaneda’s bike!

Since Kaneda doesn’t have the joints to sit on his bike properly, our good ol’ Capt. Marvel most vigorously demonstrated the benefits of having the proper scale and articulation to ride the legendary red bike.

We salute you, Capt. Marvel for coming back from Marvel limbo and providing us with this simple demo (and still looking good at it)!

There’s a 2nd series from McFarlane’s 3D Animation from Japan featuring three more Akira figs which came out 2001. You can go search for them in Ebay – just be mindful not to get ripped-off by high prices. I got series 1 for about US$ 45 from a local Ebay reseller. Can’t say I got the best deal, but I’d definitely claim its worth it.

Overall, if you’re a fan of anything related to Akira – the animated movie or the original manga, these are the best PVC representations that can invade your workstation or collector’s cabinet.

“Tetsuoooo!!!!”

It’s been quite awhile now since I first saw the animated film, Jin Roh: Wolf Brigade. Released in 1999, it was a second installment in the 3-part saga – the first two being live-action movies. Aside from the convoluted storyline, what really caught my attention was the armor design of the Protect Gear. Based on Mamoru Oshii’s manga of his 3-part Kerberos saga, the Protect Gear refers to the distinct armor worn by the Wolf Brigade / Panzer Cops in a 1950′s setting of Japan. The design, by Yutaka Izubuchi, borrows a lot from German World War II helmets, as well as the gas masks, the Mauser side-arm, etc. There are also mecha influences, too, as per Izubuchi’s style. Oshii also worked on Ghost in the Shell, directing it’s animated movie incarnation, so everything’s pretty reliant on the stunning visuals.

Anyway, with the number of 12-inch “dolls” out there featuring the Panzer Cops wearing their Protect Gear, I’ve always been confused as to which one to get – there’s versions from Medicom, Takara, and Dragon. But being tight on a budget, I’m really glad that Kaiyodo released a Revoltech version – a toy line I’ve been following for a while now.

Packaging

Typical of the Revoltech series, the box hard-sells the entire action figure on the front, shielded by the clamshell, with all weapons in separate ares of the tray. Other accessories are packed in small plastic bags behind the figure in the box – they’re not highlighted until after you open the box – which will add to the surprise and excitement when you get to them. Neerd!

The back of the box is also quite fun to look at, as it shows photos of your Panzer Cop in different poses, acting as guides for when you’re tinkering with your little soldier. Giggles.

Sculpt

This little guy, at a standard Revoltech 5-inches, fits in the Humanoid category of the series (others are Super Robot, Real Robot). Details abound, loyal to the Protect Gear armor in the movies. Quite impressive is the helmet, housing the red spectacled gas mask.

The bric-a-brac (small details) on the mask and neck area are accurate, with cloth wrinkles and such. The shoulder pads on the right and left look sleek, covering the rubber hoses running across each arm. The chest plate is studded with impressive details as well, like a digital calculator on the left chest, which would make Darth Vader proud.

The armor parts are made of black shiny plastic, with the cloth parts running underneath, properly emphasized with a different shade of plastic/rubber gray. The belt area houses several pouches, including a holster for a non-removable gun. The pants balloon a bit, like an army officer’s pants should during some by-gone era. The knee and shin pads look sleek, down to the boots.

Wait…the boots do look a tad small. But then again, amidst the armor and clothing, it may still be proportional. So, nothing wrong there…

Articulation

The Panzercop can pose in any way he wants to, what with the 37 points of articulation given him. Revoltech “Revolver” technology allows big freedom of movement, and there’s no disappointment to be expected here. Though the leg joints aren’t given the full treatment especially underneath the ‘skirt’, it still works to suit its function.

Paint

Blacks and grays dominate the Protect Gear – the armor and metal getting the semi-glossy black, the cloth parts the matte gray. The red spectacles also have semi-gloss, and will stand-out when light hits them (as seen on the pic above, when the camera flash shone on them). Weapons are painted well also, with shiny gray for metal parts and a dash of brown for wood finish where appropriate.

Accessories

This guy’s got a full arsenal for your disposal!

• 1 FG42 automatic rifle
• 1 MG34 machine gun
• 1 ammo belt
• 2 Mauser C96 pistols – one can be equipped, one is chopped in half and can be clipped halfway inside his arm-shield
• 6 pairs of hands – 2 fists, the rest can hold guns
• 1 antenna for the backpack – it’s just one thin stick so be very careful not to lose this
• Revoltech standard display base – ‘V’ base with short stand

Just be a bit careful when replacing the hands – the pegs are small and the holes are located on the hands themselves, so you’ll be focusing effort in pushing the hands towards the arms. This will prove to be a problem when all you have to grip on are the fingers sticking out.

Overall, damn, I’m so happy with this purchase – I got mine through a Hong Kong seller for about US$24 including shipping. Had to wait several weeks though because of some HK post mix-ups with the seller. No regrets whatsoever when I finally received the package. Wait was well worth it, especially since I’m a nut for the Protect Gear. It’s a quick fix compared to having to shell out about US$200 for a 1/6 doll. I’d get one of those sometime in the future but for now, having a Panzer Cop on my office desk which I can also bring home anytime is the best solution.

If you like Revoltech action figures, don’t pass up on this one. If you’re a fan of the Kerberos saga, or heck even if you just dig the cool armor design of the Protect Gear, you’d be the one to lose out if you miss this.

Me, I’m getting another pair of these so I can build my miniature Wolf Brigade ; )

More pics for your delight…

DC Comics’ Lobo is one of their characters that you’ll either hate or abhor. Based on several violent stereotypes in comic books during the 1990′s, particularly Marvel’s Wolverine and the Punisher, Lobo’s creators Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer weren’t even banking on him being a hit. Eventually, under the (mischievous) guiding hands of Alan Grant, Simon Bisley, and Val Semeiks, Lobo undergoes a major overhaul. Now as the last Czarnian – this white-skinned, hook-toting, ‘hawg’-riding, anti-hero bounty hunter finally finds a niche among comic book fans. And yes, I’m one of them.

Having waded through 60+ issues of the regular series, as well as crossovers, one-shots and other series, I’ve always wanted to get a hold on an action figure based on the Main Man himself. And none can be more deserving of a representation as by Mattel’s recent DC Universe Classics version. Belonging to no particular ‘wave’ in the series, Lobo is released as a San Diego Comic Con exclusive.

Anyway, let’s get down to the fraggin’ review…

Packaging
Front

Back

Background insert and stand

The clamshell for this guy is huge, though the form is standard for DCUC figures. Labels and small inserts abound throughout the front, with an information card at back. Note the background insert for Lobo, sprayed with artwork – you can turn this over, as a special image is printed at the back. It’s labeled as a “Wanted” poster, with a ‘torn’ opening artwork, like Lobo just entered through it. What’s special about it is it’s drawn for use with 3D glasses – so that it does look like it’s jumping out the carton.
Also, a carton stand is located under Lobo’s feet, depicted with metal artwork, labeled as ‘Spacedock 0807′ – which when turned upside down will read as Lobo. “Feetal’s Gizz! That’s so clever!”
Another fine addition to the packaging are the blister locks. Unlike other clamshells where you have to tear the sides to get to the contents, with Lobo’s, you can pop open the sides, take out everything, and leave the sides intact – you can put everything back in and claim it’s Mint on Card. Har. Scammer :p

Yeah, the packaging’s a real joy to behold, what with all the extras – you won’t want to get rid of this!

Sculpt

The Four Horsemen have definitely poured out their skills in sculpting this bastich. He’s got tons of great detail. Starting off with the head – the sculpted hair flows done liberally like a head-banger’s bad wild hair day. Note though, that Bo’s got think sideburns running under his hairpiece. Much that I’d want to speculate that he looks like he’s got a classic short hair version underneath, I wouldn’t try pulling his long hair upwards. Only problem with the hair is that it goes on too long as to hit the shoulders, impeding movement of the head.

Lobo’s mug definitely devious – red pupil-less eyes, black paint around the ‘em. The chin area looks great, with some stubble and pore details added in. The grin is as menacing as the art in the comics as well.
Going to the body – he’s got a hefty build – wide chest and abdomen area, complimented by big arms – though they turn out a bit scrappy around the forearms. The leather jacket’s got the good texture, complete with ripped crown of the sleeves and edges. For the lower part, the pants are mostly covered by the big utility belt, eating up the entire thigh. The detail on the skull belt buckle, pouches, and straps is commendable – everything’s accounted for. He’s also got a movable pistol holster on his left side. His signature metal skull kneepads also look solid and menacing, down to the thick, metal-toothed boots. Overall, Lobo looks amazing – the heft, weight, and stature are perfectly captured from the comics. But seriously, one gripe is that he’s enormous!

This, in terms of scale. He’s over the normal scale of 6″ for the DCUC line. He’s about 9″! What a monster! Posing him beside any of your regular DCUC figures will have him towering several inches of ‘too much’. Referring to the comics – he’s depicted as a real hulk, but nowhere near his massiveness here. Not that I’m complaining though – just read on…

Paint
Unlike most of the DCUC figures, which sport little to no drybrushing, ‘Bo gets good doses – from the muscle details on his arms and torso (though a bit light – you can only notice through closer inspection), to the numerous pouches around his waist. Solid paint apps all around – on the skin, metal finishings, leather parts. Details like blood and mud (naah, must be blood!) splatters are located on the boots and metal shin-guards. Cool effects – the paint doesn’t disappoint!

Articulation

As with standard DCUC action figures, Lobo follows the same number of articulation: ball-jointed neck, shoulders, hinge elbows, abdomen, knees and ankles. Some swivel for the wrists and upper legs. A swivel for the hips, too (you just have to turn it with some effort). Needless to say, movement for the neck  are a little blocked by the hair – but you still can move it around. The belt, however, is another matter – you can’t make Lobo sit down / turn his legs up by 90 degrees. The thick belt, that’s so finely sculpted on his waist blocks the movement of the thigh swivel/hinges. If you’re thinking about slicing the utility belt from his upper belt, just be careful, as they’re not sculpted cleanly – they overlap at some angles. I might try doing this however, as I plan on giving the Main Man a custom Space Hawg No hand articulation – the grip is left as is for holding weapons on both hands. Not bad, though – all the articulation suits him just fine, but no radical movements here, regrettably.

Accessories
Here’s where the fun really picks up. Lobo’s got a load of accessories and add-ons! For weapons, the Main Man sports a big rifle – incredibly detailed as any futuristic lazzeer rifle should be, it reaches up to his shoulders when stood from the ground. From what I’ve seen from DCUC wave 4′s Despero, this is the same rifle, only with silver paint apps. His hip holster has a removable pistol, which slides in perfectly, though looks small when put in ‘Bo’s hands. Of course, not to be forgotten – is Lobo’s signature hook and chain. The hook is large and looks wicked, with a real metal chain tied on its end. You can wrap the chain on his right arm, where its tied to two holed pegs, painted the same as his skin color.

The ultimate accessory that ‘Bo comes with is Dawg – the bulldog that’s “not his”, which only “follows him around”. That’s his claim, though. But with how Dawg is built – anyone’d claim otherwise. Made of solid plastic – Dawg’s evil-toothed grin is perfectly captured both through sculpt and paint, complete with band-aid on the cheek. His only articulation is that of his swivel neck, hidden in the rubber, spiked collar. This is the perfect accessory (as always) for Lobo.

We’re not through yet – as mentioned earlier, the 3D artwork on the cardboard insert needs 3D glasses for the full effect – and TWO pairs come with the package. Yep, that’s right. TWO. One pair inside the box, and another one handed out by Mattel. Who cares if they gave out the other pair because they manufactured the lenses wrong for the one inside the package? Har, that’s a hoot!
Well anyway, with labels of Lobo’s logo (a-huh) and a note about “Th’ specs better work – or some marketin’ geek’s gonna need a new fraggin’ set o’ peepers!” – the 3D glasses are a welcome, amusing plus. Lobo’s got a small plastic version that he wears on him as well. Matching accessories for both Lobo and you – woohoo!

What can I say? This is one well-thought out tribute to the Main Man – with all the great stuff included! You can get several good deals on e-bay (where I got mine, with the extra pair of 3D glasses) for about US$20. Even for US$25, you’re still bound to get your money’s worth with this bastich!

Now to get me an Etrigan…and maybe customize my very own Jonas Glim!

Oh yeah, more pics!

Just recently got my hands on Marvel Select’s new action figure on the new version of Thor, God of Thunder. This rendition is from J. Michael Straczynski’s new take on the Marvel Thor character, with artwork from the series’ artist, Olivier Coipel, inspiring this action figure.

Packaging
Typical Diamond Marvel Select clamshell – with big comic artwork splashed liberally on the front, side and back of the carton flaps outside and inside. I especially like the side of the box – as it has a close-up profile of the character’s comic book artwork – you can line up your Marvel Select collection on a shelf, beside each other, much like displaying books. Well, I’m not really a packaging critique, but their line of works for me. After all, I open the boxes anyway.

Front

Back

Sculpt
Big, bulky, around 7″ tall, this sculpt is totally loyal to the new comics’ artwork. Though he looks bigger in scale, especially among his 6″ Marvel Legends little brothas and sistahs, he still looks as a good blend-in, a god among mortals. Compared to the early Marvel Legends Thor figures, he’s just as tall as them anyway.

There’s a stern expression on his face, quite what’s expected of the Odinson. Detail on cloth parts mince no detail on folds, however wide or small. The new chainmail style on his arms and legs add more intricate bumps that make him look larger and wider.

The cloth above his chest/chest armor is more prominent now, with all the realistic folds. The trademark circles are still there, only now replaced by metal-looking buttons. Har.
His only accessory, Mjollnir, is as always, looking hefty – the small details of the aged stone hammer and it’s short handle has carried this classic look from Thor’s earlier looks. He’s also got one impressive base/stand – a cross section of a part of a tower, with great cracked stone and slab details. Thor just enjoys surveying the landscape down below as he’s close to stepping-off this base.

Pretty solid sculpt, with each detail totally dead-on.

Paint
Paint is applied moderately – no drybrushing here, but none of the flat, boring Hasbro Marvel Legends-style insults. Though silver/metallic parts aren’t that shiny, they do their job to convey it. Props to the paints applied on the base – even if the paint looks too randomly applied on the stone. Flesh tone on the face is clean and smooth. The cape has enough folds in the sculpt to actually make up for the flattish application red color. Overall, clean, crisp – no problems here.

Articulation

The big guy has over 20 points of articulation – a ball neck and waist, knees, elbows and shoulders. Hips rotate, as well as the wrists. Ankles also tilt. Still no chest/torso artic, nada on the fingers and toes as well – not that he needs them anyway. Pretty good set of movement for a Diamond Select figure. He can even raise his arms to the sky unlike the old Toybiz Marvel Legends Thor of the early series. Just a note when twisting his wrists – they’re a little tight, and can easily break off if you force them. Turning them slowly while pushing his fists towards the arm can loosen them up. If not, a little heat (the blow dryer technique or hot water exposure) can soften the plastic so it can cooperate with the twisting.

Overall, this quite a superior Marvel Select rendition of the Thunder God. I’ll even go as far as saying that this is the best non-statue (read:articulated) Thor that’s come out for toys for Marvel. Retails for about US$20, though I got mine cheaper through the local ebay seller. All smiles when I purchased this dude – I suggest you grab one when you get the chance! Yea!

Now for more photos! (Hope you can bear with me – the subject IS very photogenic, hehe)

The Librarian action figure – Price: $9.99

Relive your library-visiting days with this action figure – with “Amazing Shushing action”!

Racing Grannies racing game – Price: $21.99

Two grannies. Two controllers. One track. Who wins? Who cares! Each lap takes half a day…

Radio-controlled Wrestling Sumos – Price $21.99

This will definitely be a big party favorite – and may even inspire actual sumo wrestling among attendees! Get it on!

Marie Antoinette action figure – Price: $9.99

This is a big hit among history geeks! Get to relive Marie Antoinette’s beheading via an ejecting head. No blood to keep playtime clean. Has a removable dress, too. Hmm.

Snoop Dogg action figures – Price: $14.99

Own your very own Snoop Dogg! Get rid of Ken and we’ll be sure Barbie thanks you for it – ‘coz once you go black… Well anyway, this 12-inch action figure has real cloth and a whopping 34 points of articulation. There are 2 versions – yellow jacket Snoop and bum gray coat Dogg – Bounce with these.

Whatever your fancy, or what trip you’re into, these toys are guaranteed to fill the missing void that is your childhood…or maybe, adult retardation. Heh.

Everything listed here are originally posted at Stupid.com