Avengers vs. X-Men (Baby Version)

Avengers Vs. X-Men (Baby version). Midtown Comics.com came out on their Facebook page with a fine representation of the Avengers Vs. the X-Men in baby form as conceptualized by Marvel artist Skottie Young.

It's just too cute not to share. And when you think about it, Avengers going toe-to-toe with the X-Men is kinda childish.

It's just that we want to see it happen :D

DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 - Wonder Woman

Presenting Wonder Woman from Series 1 of the Wonder Woman toy line released by DC Direct.

There has been a plethora of Wonder Womans that have come and gone over the years, but I have to say that this is my favorite. It even tops the version made by DC Direct during the relaunch of the Justice League of America in 2006.

I've seen versions of her that make her look less like an Amazon and more like a pro-wrestler on steroids, and I've even seen a version of her (Wonder Woman Infinite Crisis series 2) that's so anatomically incorrect that she can't stand even with the leg-peg stand that comes with it. Nothing that gave her the sultry allure that belied her strength of body and character. Till this came along from the mind of Terry Dodson.

The only version I can't compare this particular Wonder Woman to would be her latest incarnation courtesy of the, again, relaunch of the Justice League of America series 2011 and perhaps the upcoming Justice League: Heroes & Foes Series 1 both of which features Diana in her controversial modern garb.

Marvel Universe: Iron Man Bleeding Edge Armor (Modular Armor)

Presenting the Marvel Universe Iron Man Bleeding Edge Armor - which they called Modular Armor for some strange reason (Maybe the name Bleeding Edge came in late in the development of the product).

I have to say that I was not a fan of the Extremis armor that preceded the Bleeding Edge Iron Man armor because the Extremis basically transformed Iron Man into a cyborg. And despite the speed, strength, regenerative powers (Hey Wolverine! I can heal faster than you!) that accompanied the Extremis Armor, Thor still handed him his ass (But I suppose he had it coming).

The Bleeding Edge Armor is not as presumptive as the Extremis Armor even though it is, as Tony Stark put it "... What comes next." Instead of making him the pinnacle of humanity and more of a prime example of what nano-technology can do in terms of shapeshifting which I have to admit is pretty cool. Which is probably why it's also referred to as the Modular Armor because whatever Tony Stark needs, the Armor can adapt to - whether that means assuming the form and look of clothes, or forming boxing gloves, or forming a laser sword.

Though I have to admit that I'm pretty disappointed on how easy it was for Norman Osborn's Hammer group to take over his armor - and therefore control of Tony Stark himself.

Just realized that this Marvel Universe Bleeding Edge Armor is brought to you by Disney.

Optimus Prime Armored Weapons Platform

Presenting the Optimus Prime Armored Weapons Platform from the Transformers Dark of the Moon Toyline - by Denis del Callar.

Basically it's a combination of the roughly 3" tall Legends class Optimus Prime and his trailer - which is a triple-changer that transforms from a trailer, a mobile weapons platform to a weapon's base - not bad for a little guy.

The Optimus Prime is no different from the other two or three Legends class Primes released in this series - including the Jetwing Prime and the Battle Steel Prime, save for the Armored Weapons Platform Prime being slightly lighter colored and his being sans the flame-detailing that only the Legends Jetwing Prime has.

Unfortunately the DOTM Optimus Prime Armored Weapons Platform did not make an appearance in the movie - it doesn't even come close to anything that appeared in the movie. It would have been interesting if Hasbro comes up with a trailer that appeared in the movie - the one that transformed into a weapon's storage unit that Prime drew his blade and his shield from when he first encountered Shockwave.

Manny Pacquiao Custom Art

Presenting a custom art-work by Creative Manila of Manny Pacquiao - Legendary Creature.

If you haven't figured it out on this blog by now, I'm Filipino. So I, too, do take pride on the accomplishments of the "Pambansang Kamao" (National Fist).

Now I don't play Magic: The Gathering though I once took a fancy in the Star Wars version of the game, so I do know a little bit about this card. I have to say he's quite impressive: He goes in, your opponent can't block, he has double strike, trample and haste abilities, AND! "Whenever Manny is dealt damage, untap him" Which means he can attack again!

Sound like him.

Custom Chromes from GIJoe Carlos

Presenting G.I. Joe Chrome Custom creations courtesy of GIJoe Carlos from sunny California . I have to say one of the nicest things about blogging is that you get to meet a whole new world of people and ideas.

I met - well I've never really met him - GIJoe Carlos in a Facebook group for G.I. Joe Collectors aptly named  G.I. Joe Collectors, look it up. And I have to say he is afine example of what you can experience if you socialize: you get a plethora of ideas that you may have never ever thought of; and you get to stand in awe at the effort that some people would go through to make their custom toys distinct and even more collectible.

Chroming something - electrolysis - is not an easy process. For lack of better words, I believe that these are no longer toys or collectibles, these are painstaking works of art.

And they're for sale!

More photos after the jump

Transformers Dark of the Moon: Ark and Roller

Presenting from the Transformers Dark of the Moon Toy Line, the Autobot's Ark with the Autobot Roller.

If you've watched the movie, then you've seen the DOTM Ark as the vehicle used by Sentinel Prime to break free of Cybertron. The Ark was damaged and drifted for ages before crashing into the moon. The discovery of the Ark by the original Apollo 11 team helped kick off the creation of Sector 7. The Decepticons eventually found the wreckage of the Ark and made off with hundreds of Space Bridge Pillars except for five Space Bridge Pillars and the Control Rod which were locked away with Sentinel Prime in the vault.

I've actually had the DOTM Ark for some time - all the way before Christmas where it's retail price dropped from over PhP 1,5000 (US$ 34) to PhP 700 (US$ 15) to PhP 500 (US$ 11.36) which it still retails for today in practically all Toy Kingdom and Toy's R' Us stores here in the Philippines. Kinda makes me feel sorry though for whoever bought him for PhP 700 because it was only at that price for a week before dropping to PhP 500.

I have wanted one ever since the previews for the DOTM Toy Line started appearing. But I always assumed - well, dreamed - that it would be bigger. So I was disappointed with the reality that it was meant for Legends Class Transformers and left it on the shelves. But when the price dropped to such a low, I had to grab it.

BBI Elite Force Nightstalker MH-6 Little Bird Helicopter

Presenting the Elite Force MH-6 Nightstalker Helicopter from Blue Box International (BBI).

I have to admit that I've been in love with the MH-6 Little Bird ever since I saw Delta Force troopers deploy from them in the movie "Black-Hawk Down." The MH-6 Little Bird's power lies in it's simplicity. It's a maneuverable, fast, light-weight vehicle that can wreak havoc on enemy troops and armor darting in and out of enemy fire, or - as in the case of this particular Elite Force Nightstalker - it can drop a four-man fire-team on a rooftop or even slide down between buildings and deliver troops down to street level in seconds before scooting out of harm's way.

Marvel Select Colossus

By Denis del Callar Presenting Marvel Select: Colossus from Diamond Select Toys. Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin AKA Colossus, the stalwart unflinching giant with the heart of a painter that shields the X-Men from harm.

I was first introduced to Colossus all the way back in 1986 when I first picked up a copy of the Uncanny X-Men which was currently embroiled in the "Mutant Massacre" story-line. The first issue that I read with Colossus, was also the issue where Colossus was sidelined. His powers were straight forward and easy to understand - turns into steel and bashes things. But in that one issue Colossus showed how he differed from other heroes.

He was hurt.

He was hurt not because he went toe-to-toe with a villain but because in an effort to save as many Morlocks and X-Men as possible from the assault of the Marauders, Colossus stood as a wall bearing without complaint all the damage that the Morlocks could throw at him. In the end he realized that he would die if he changed back to human form but told no-one that he was - as Magneto put it - "bleeding energy through damage points. Magneto healed him, saving his life. but he was subsequently paralyzed. Colossus would return in time to save the X-Men in the "Fall of the Mutants" saga.

I'm Sexy and I know it

He would later kill himself by using the cure for the Legacy Virus, sacrificing himself to save millions of mutants around the world. But of course, no one stays dead forever in the Marvel Universe.

Unfortunately, today, he's the freakin Juggernaut - or a pale imitation of one. While I agree that Colossus is long over-due for a power-upgrade (His sister Magik, is a Demon-sorcerer who rules an alternate dimension, while his brother is an Omega class Energy Manipulator and all Colossus does is shunt mass from another dimension to give him height, mass, strength and a steel form?) but I really don't like what he is now. It's the anti-thesis of what Colossus is - and I blame Cyclops for that.

Avengers Shield Helicarrier - Actual Photo

Slowly but surely, the web is starting to fill with news and images from the NY 2012 ToyCon but the biggest "Thing I will kill for" that I've seen come out of New York - both literally and figuratively - is this image courtesy of marvelousnews.com that showcases the toyline from the upcoming Avengers Movie.

Have you seen it yet?

Let's assume that the blonde guy is five feet tall, the Shield Helicarrier is more than half his body length, I'd put it between three and four feet long!

I want one.

I don't know where I'd store it, but I want one. Worse. I want TWO!!! One for my Marvel Universe characters - this Helicarrier reminds me of the Helicarrier that was in the opening scene of the Marvel Ultimate Alliance video game. The other one will be repainted and used by my G.I. Joes.

But where the hell would I keep two toys that went combined are as tall as I am?

Oh yeah, the Quinjet is there too.

Marvel Universe: Storm

By Denis del Callar

Presenting the X-Men's Storm from the Marvel Universe Series 17 toy line. Ororo Iqadi T'challa nee Munroe (Ororo Komos Wakandas), AKA Storm, AKA Wind Rider (Hmmm, haven't heard anyone call her Wind Rider in quite some time - Probably because till recently Storm took a backseat to Cyclops), AKA Weather Witch; Former Goddesss; 2nd in command of Cyclops' X-Men; Leader of one the X-Men teams; Member of Captain America's Avengers; former member of the Fantastic Four, Lady Liberators and Hellfire club; Former Leader of the Morlocks and reigning Queen of Wakanda by marriage to T'Challa, the Black Panther, and; One of the most influential and important African characters ever to be developed for comic books and the big-screen.

A Marvel Character with a history almost as colorful as Wolverine's.

Personally I was disappointed that she decided to stay with Cyclops despite the clash of values simply because Cyclops begged her that he needed her from a PR standpoint.

I was also disappointed when the Schism happened because there was a third option for leadership - Storm - who has led the X-Men for almost as long as Cyclops has (And kicked Cyclops' ass without powers for the leadership of the X-Men in a classic battle between the two in X-Men # 139, November 1980 - I was 7 at the time). But I suppose with the clamor for Rogue to come into a more prominent leadership position, two strong leaders with Wolverine seemed ill-balanced.

Green Lantern Stel and Green Lantern Arkkis Chummuck

Presenting Green Lantern Stel and Green Lantern Arkkis Chummuck from the DC Direct Green Lantern Series 4 and the latest additions to my Green Lantern Collection.

I'm not quite sure why DC Direct decided to do these two particular characters especially in light of the fact that there are far more popular characters that they could have tapped. At best these two are minor secondary characers and Arkkis Chummuck is dead having last been seen in the Darkest Night Series, and while Lantern Stel has become the new Green Lantern Drill Sergeant, he's by no means as popular as Lantern Kilowog.

But the two do have a "motiff" in common. Lantern Arkkis Chummuck is, in every sense of the word, literally an Emerald Knight while Lantern Stel is a walking tin-suit. And both have died - although Lantern Stel made it back alive (pun intended)

Toy News: Marvel Legends Bucky Cap

Presenting some of the first images of the Marvel Legends Bucky Cap that's supposed to be released this year (2012). I have to say that I'm not a fan of Bucky Cap. I always thought that he was a pretender to Steve Rogers' shield and that he didn't deserve the mantle. It's no wonder that he never got to lead the Avengers nor was he looked upon as an inspiring figure to rally behind.

And I was so happy when he got killed.

Only to curse Marvel when it turned out that it was a Life Model Decoy of him because Bucky wanted Steve to re-assume his rightful place as Captain America (He couldn't hack it).

G.I. Joe Retaliation 2012 Toy News

Hasbro is all set for next week's SDCC 2012 where it will reveal this year's G.I. Joe Retaliation toy-line up. And I have to say I absolutely love what I see! The full line-up of toys can be seen here at Hasbro's site.

But here are some highlights that I'm looking forward to including the SDCC exclusive Kim Arashikage (White Ninja on the Right) - which makes me wish I lived in San Francisco (If anyone reads this blog and is going to the SDCC, please do PM me, I'd so love to have one sent over.The Kim Arashikage on the left is the retail version.

Marvel Universe: Psylocke

Presenting the X-Men's Psylocke from the 17th Series of the Marvel Universe action-figure line.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock, AKA Psylocke and former Captain Britain, is the X-Men's resident psionic Japanese Ninja by way of English birth who recently declared her intention to be in as many X-Men teams as Wolverine used to be hence making her currently a member of the covert X-Group X-Force, a member of Storm's X-Men, and Cyclops' Extinction Team taking the place of the recently injured White Queen (She lost an arm).

I'm going to break tradition now here and point something out that's REALLY BAD about Marvel Universe Psylocke - her sword! You see that pink flimsy bent excuse for a "focused totality of her psychic powers?" It sucks. I won't even bother using it past this point because she can't really hold it and I have to keep maneuvering it around just to get a shot where it looks straight.  I initially replaced it with a 25th Anniversary Storm Shadow blade, only to realize that she has trouble gripping any blade similar in size to her original blade. Happily, the G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra Storm Shadow figure has a thicker hilt on his katana.

Avengers Movie: Shield Helicarrier (UK Toy Fair Image)

Presenting one of the first high-resolution images of the Shield Helicarrier from the toy-line that will be accompanying the New Avengers Movie - as first seen in the recently concluded UK Toy Fair. The image is courtesy of comics.ign.com via MarvelousNews.com.

MarvelousNews.com goes on to say that the Shield Helicarrier to be accompanied by a Captain America figure and features four projectile firing deck cannons. We're definitely looking forward to the results of the New York Toy Fair for more news.  Click on the image to see a larger version of the Shield Helicarrier.