Darth Revan

Presenting Darth Revan from the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic Video Game. Darth "I make Vader look like a baby Ewok" Revan was released as part of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary Coin Collection set - that took me more than three years to complete - along with his best friend, later apprentice, later betrayer and first ever "Meatbag", Darth Malak. They both came with very nice coins.

The funny - and oftentimes kinda  sad part about this figure is that... well I always though Darth Revan was a woman. She certainly was a woman when I played KOTOR, and she was still a woman when she was referred to in KOTOR II.

Somewhere down the line, someone in either Dark Horse Comics or Hasbro - or perhaps George Lucas himself - decided that Darth Revan was a man.

My Coffee tasted a little Fishy this morning

The Avengers: Captain America Goliath Assault Tank

Presenting Captain America's Goliath Assault Tank from the Avengers Movie Toy-line. No one knows if he'll actually be driving one in the movie.

Whenever someone mentions the name Goliath, the image that immediately pops to mind is not anyone from the Marvel or DC universe, but a very deep voice that goes "Goliath On-line" followed by the appearance of a menacing anti-aircraft/anti-personnel bipedal walker (Ain't Starcraft cool?)

So I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed that Captain America's Goliath is so.... small - though size doesn't matter (So they say).

Transformers Powercore Combiners: Bombshock & the Combaticons

Presenting Bombshock and the Combaticons from the Transformers Powercore Combiners toy series. We first showed Bombshock and his Combaticon drones when we showcased Grimstone and his Dinobots, but we only used him as a reference comparison between the two Power Core Combiners.

But since we'd already shot, him, why not showcase him?

Unlike Grimstone, Bombshock does exist in regular Transformers lore. Originally he was an old, bitter, backstabbing Decepticon Micromaster - literally tiny fuel-efficient Transformers. Although later on in the "Return of Convoy" Manga he was a childlike, joyous Autobot. He again reverted to being a bitter, old Decepticon with "Fight till I die" (And he did at the hands of Optimus Prime) in the novels.

Powercore Combiners do not exist in the regular lore of the Transformers so like Grimstone, Bombshock is a figment of someone's imagination at Hasbro. However, unlike Grimstone who I saw as a juvenile Autobot out to prove himself, Bombshock is still pretty much the same little Micromaster - which fits because some Micromasters are Combiners (Only Bombshock combines with Drones - who won't backstab him - and not other Micromasters) - especially after you read his blister card.

Though when combined, he looks like a wannabee Bruticus - or his younger brother.

Marvel Universe Spider-Woman

Presenting Spider-Woman from the Marvel Universe toy-line. Spider-Woman is has one of the most convoluted origins in the Marvel Universe - with an origin that's more complicated than Wolverine's.

Jessica Drew AKA Spider Woman was born sometime at the turn of the 20th century in London, England (Today she's American by naturalization). She was exposed to radiation from Wundagore Mountain - home of the High Evolutionary and his Knights. Dying from the radiation, her father injected her with an experimental Spider Serum which had no affect on her till the High Evolutionary put her in a genetic accelerator. She was released decades later at the apparent age of only 17. Leaving Wundagore Mountain, she was recruited by Hydra and all the brainwashing and manipulation between Hydra and SHIELD began.

The problem is, there's another Origin Story about her that Marvel released which did away with the radiation story and instead said that while her mom was struck by a laser beam with trace Spider DNA while Jessica was being conceived. The manipulation and brainwashing after that is the only constant.

For a while it was even established the Madame Hydra was really her mother.

Today Spider-Woman is one of Captain America's Avengers - the premiere public team, not the street level team of Luke Cage.

G.I. Joe Retaliation figures in packages.

Our friends at Toy News International have posted two photos of the upcoming G.I. Joe Retaliation ToyLine.

I have to say that I'm starting to have mixed feelings about the toy-line. The packaging is less military and more movie based - I suppose we can let that slide, the Rock has to be paid after-all.

But here we are again with those huge weapons that are just a waste of plastic that most collectors simply pack away in a box.

And what's with that orange gun?

For a view of Cobra Commander, visit our friends at Toy News International.

G.I. Joe Renegades Airtight

Presenting from Airtight the GI Joe Renegades Hostile Environment Specialist. The original Airtight is the second G.I Joe to come into my possession way back in the 80s and I was in love with him because of the "Spaceman" look of his uniform and gear - till I realized that he was walking around with a vacuum cleaner. Thirty years later Hasbro reintroduces Airtight in the same environmental suit, but with an entirely different history as they tie him into the G.I. Joe Renegades cartoon.

Corporal Kurt Schnurr CBR (Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warefare) and Ordnance specialist AKA Airtight is now Doctor Kurt Schnurr, a civilian Biochemist. Both are from New Haven Connecticut.

The civilian Dr. Kurt Schnurr actually starts out working with Cobra in the G.I. Joe Renegades cartoon. Together with Dr. Monev (Really? Couldn't figure out that there was something wrong with his name huh?) they develop the Anaconda Strain virus which turns mammals into reptiles. Dr. Monev infects Airtight and the Joes come to rescue him on the behest of Airtight's daughter, Elena.

They rescue him and administer the cure to the Anaconda Strain. The bad news is, the Joes were fooled into rescuing Airtight. Unbeknownst to all... it's a trap! Airtight had been infected for too long a period that he was no longer showing symptoms but was spreading the virus. The Joes rush again to rescue him and Airtight is forced to permanently wear his containment suit while he struggles to find a permanent cure for Anaconda.

The Bat Vader

I came across a very interesting Facebook page called  Let's Go Gamers - a home for hardcore gamers, and they presented this very interesting concept - "The Bat Vader!" And I just had to share it. It is soooo cool!!!! :)

After the jump, check out a VERY nice concept art that we can hope will one day happen to the game "Assasin's Creed" AND a very humorous piece also from Let's Go Gamers.

Green Lantern Arisia - Blackest Night Series 3

Presenting Green Lantern Arisia from wave 3 of the Blackest Night Action figure series. As I thought about what to upload into the Dungeon this sleepy early morning, I realized that it's St. Patrick's day on the other side of the world. Hence giving the majority of the readers of this blog something Green.... well mostly Orange... and hot... seemed the appropriate thing to do.



So here she is! Arisia Rrab, the golden-skinned teenager who was one of the original members of Earth's Green Lantern Corp who subconsciously commanded her ring to age her because the love of her life Hal Jordan would not give her the time of day (Because statutory rape is statutory rape in any part of the galaxy). This infatuation  - or a teen fetish in her DC creators: Mike W. Barr (Reverse Barr and it's her surname), Len Wein & Joe Staton - probably explains her desire to go around with almost as little clothing as a Star Sapphire.


It worked though and Hal Jordan and the buxom force-blossomed woman with the mind of a 13 year-old became a couple (In the recent words of Prince Namor and Hope of the X-Men "Ick, Ick, Ick!" I suppose movies like Lolita and Sabrina were in fashion at the time.). Eventually they would break it off and maintain a strained friendship till her death at the hands of Major Force.

But no one stays dead forever and Arisia would rise again as apparently her body had just send her into a form of healing stasis.  Arisia would eventually re-establish her position as a member of the Green Lantern Corp - still dressed as she is but with a more mature, womanly, disposition and is actually assigned to baby-sit Sodam Yat, the next host of Ion, the embodiment of the Green Lantern Corp who seemingly perishes saving his home planet of Daxam.

Till the events of Brightest Day - as predicted in a dream by Arisia.

Transformers 3rd Party Xovergen TrailerForce-01 God Ginrai

More-and-more images of the upcoming 3rd Party Xovergen Trailerforce-01 upgrade for Transformers G1 and Classics/Henkei Optimus Prime to transform them to something akin to God Ginrai, are filling the market.

I have to admit that when news first started coming out about the Trailerforce-01 upgrade, my eyes were rolling thinking that I would need to go buy another Classics/Henkei Optimus Prime - what with my Classics busy wearing my Parallax upgrade and my Henkei Prime wearing my TAW Sword Upgrade. I really don't feel like acquiring another Classics/Henkei Optimus Prime.

Happily, this particular Optimus Prime Upgrade accepts the G1 Optimus Prime. Though I probably would have to get another one because my G1 Optimus Prime is currently busy with my BTS-03 Prime Matrix Upgrade.

Check out the other photographs of the Xovergen TrailerFOrce-01 God Ginrai upgrade courtesy of Planet Iacon - from Singapore - after the jump.

Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship

Presenting the Star Wars Republic Attack Dropship - No. We are not going to call it the Star Wars RAD.

The Republic Attack Dropship is... a "Shock-and-Awe" troop delivery vehicle that gives the Republic Grand Army a vehicle versatile enough to deliver a point of heavily armed crack-troops (Dare I say suicidal troops); and transform to provide that point with the vital air support as well.

You can clearly see the Mandalorian influence in it's design as it is reminiscent of Jango Fett's Slave 1 freighter.

I have to admit that I was hesitant about the practicality of this vehicle at first. I mean what can this do that a more heavily armored and  heavily armed Low Altitude Assault Transport/Carrier (LAAT/C) can't? Answer: It's not a lumbering forty ton rock in the sky.

The Republic Attack Dropship is probably faster and has the sleeker width of a human being so it's definitely harder to hit; What it loses in terms of the number of troops it can deliver, it makes up in providing them with portable firepower; and, if you remember the craggy terrain of Geonosis and Utapau - and even the rain forests of Kashyyyk, then you can see the need for a smaller, lighter vehicle that can maneuver in tight spaces and deliver troops in areas that would be considered too tight for the LAAT/C.

Star Wars Identities The Exhibition

On April 19 of this year, there will be an Exhibit entitled "Star Wars Identities The Exhibition" in Montreal Canada (No offense to Canada, but why Canada? I hope this exhibit travels). The exhibit is meant to project the idea that you are the sum of your being and experiences by showing popular Star Wars characters as they are "assembled" by popular iconic star wars scenes and vehicles.

Take Darth Vader here for example who looks like a fading image from afar, but when you look more closely at him, he disintegrates into the Void of Space, the Death Star, several Imperial Star Destroyers, shuttles and tie-fighters, tie-interceptors, a few lost Y-wings, and an X-Wing fighter taking prominence near his chest plate or as close to his heart as you can get probably symbolizing the "good in him" that his son Luke Skywalker felt.

I've included two more iconic collages after the jump, the rest can be viewed on movieweb.com

Star Sapphire: Green Lantern Series 3

Presenting Carol Ferris as Star Sapphire from the Green Lantern Series 3 collection. She's obviously very gracious in sharing her assets with the rest of the world, but I have to say that I'm disappointed with this figure because she actually wears less in the comic books so I don't understand why DC Direct decided to keep her so modest.

What is it with DC and their heroines having to constantly expose their cleavage? None of the current X-Men or Avengers are as "Exposed" as Star Sapphire or Wonder Woman or Power Girl.

I'm not complaining by the way.

This particular incarnation of Carol Ferris as the Star Sapphire is from the Green Lantern Series 3 collection, hence and it is not to be confused with the sterner looking, just as well dressed, more purple than pink, slightly translucent and star speckled version of Carol Ferris as the Star Sapphire - which also came with more billowy hair - that came out with the Green lantern Blackest Night Series.

It also means that this particular Star Sapphire did not come with a lantern OR - get this - a ring. If you want a Carol Ferris as the Star Sapphire that has a Power Ring, a Star Sapphire base and a Violet Lantern, get the Blackest Night Series version - though this particular variant is prettier and more feminine.

John Carter from Mars

I had a surprisingly fun afternoon watching the new John Carter from Mars movie.

I just wanted to pass the time and I thought what I then perceived to be a "B" movie would be a nice way to do it.

I wasn't expecting an Oscar winning performance and I was bracing for an epic failure like the Reboot of the Conan the Barbarian movie.  I was also quite familiar with the Traci Lords/Antonio Sabato Jr pukefest "Princess of Mars" released in 2009" so I was expecting a nice nap in the movie theatre. And! The opening credits revealed it was a Disney film, so there would be no gratuitous nudity (BOOOOOO!!!!!) which we've come to expect from almost anything from Edgar Rice Burroughs - who, by the way turns out to be the nephew of John Carter.

Boy was I in for a surprise!

Spoilers here, so don't read on it you haven't seen it.

Transformers Power Core Combiners: Grimstone and the Dinobots

Presenting the Mighty Grimstone and the Dinobot Drones from the Transformers Power Core Combiners series. While wiki-ing this particular Dinobot combination for this article, google revealed that I had previously endorsed a review by a fellow blogger on a group blog that I also write for: Transformers Philippines.

The write-up, written by Slangards - the infamous Hippopatami on the Lam, now presents a unique dilemma for me because ... well he didn't like Grimstone and the Dinobots. I chanced upon a set, and.... I do.

So this is the dissenting opinion.

G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Sci-Fi

Presenting the G.I. Joe Elite Combat Trooper Sci-Fi from their 30th Anniversary series. I find it slightly amusing that Hasbro released Sci-Fi (Green), Airtight (Yellow), Law & Order (Blue) and Lifeline (Red) all at the same time. All we need now is the Pink Ranger.

What's interesting is that three of those four Joes are my favorites, particularly Sci-Fi and Airtight. I was a fan of Sci-Fi's uniform back in the 80s. I used to pretend that he was actually a super-hero and he had the ability to fly and crash through things like Cannonball did - and the X-Men's Cannonball did sport a similar helmet back in the day.

Twenty-years later, I look at him and wonder what kind of idiot walks into a battlefield asking to be shot? That uniform is so gaudy I bet that it glows in the dark.

No way is G.I. Joe Sci-Fi a front-line trooper. But given his description, he really is someone who hangs back and releases an unrelenting beam of light. Which probably explains the uniform - even from afar, the Cobras just need to follow the light-beam back to where he's shooting, so maybe that's why he doesn't bother with the camouflage.

Or Sci-Fi just wants to be a power-ranger - especially with that new blast-shield helmet.

McFarlane Halo 3 Warthog

Presenting McFarlane toy's Halo 3 Warthog. Sometime in 2008 with the launch of the third installment of the X-Box's premiere kick-ass game Halo, McFarlane toys launched a toyline for the game.

McFarlane released a comprehensive and highly detailed and articulated  series of Covenant and UNSC characters including various variants of the SPARTANs that were between four point seventy-five and seven inches tall.

McFarlane also decided to create and distribute highly detailed - down to the weathering, no battle damage though - Halo 3 vehicles which included the Covenant Ghost, the Brute Chopper and this UNSC Warthog.

Ralph McQuarrie: One with the Force, march 3, 2012

Ralph McQuarrie, the concepctual designer of the original Star Wars trilogy - where he started (Uncredited) as General Pharl McQuarrie (Empire Strikes Back, fall of Hoth) -  the original Battlestar Galactica TV series, ET and Coccon - for which he won an Academy Award, passed away yesterday, March 3, 2012 in his California home.

Without McQuarrie, Lucas' vision for Star Wars would never have come to light and characters such as Han Solo, Boba Fett, Yoda, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, the Storm Troopers and even R2-D2 and C3P0 would probably look very different today - if they were made at all.

Some of his concept works can be seen below thanks to the 30th Edition Star Wars Coin Collection:
- 1st Batch
- 2nd Batch
- 3rd Batch

A great light has left us and the universe far-far-away is a bit darker. Go be one with the Force General McQuarrie.

Tamiya Laser-Gill Super XX Chassis (Personal Custom)

Presenting MY Tamiya Laser-Gill Super XX Chassis as personally modified for competition.

Sometime in the mid-90s, the Anime "Bakuso Kyodai Let's go!" became quite popular in the Philippines. Eventually little boys started walking around with tool kits that sported the Mini4WD Tamiyas and their spare parts.

And because the Mini4WDs (Called Mini4WD by the way because all four tires were powered) were technically challenging, provided a need for speed, and required tinkering, lubing and modifying like a real car, older men - like me - started walking around with tool-kits and starting bullying out the little boys from race-pits that started popping out everywhere.

This was my racer. A Tamiya Laser-Gill Super XX Chassis Mini4WD that I recently unearthed while cleaning a storage area. I was preferential to the Laser-Gill because of it's electric blue finish which was really cool. When it competed, the stickers were never applied, but since she's in retirement, it didn't hurt.

I love this car.

G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Sgt. Stalker (Erratum)

If you read my review yesterday about the G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Sgt. Stalker - and you own one - then you know by now that I erroneously stated that he did not have a machete. After cleaning my photo area where I opened the packaging, I found the machete on the floor - which tells me I should be more careful the next time I open a package.

So he has not one, not two, but three blades.

G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Sgt. Stalker

Presenting the G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Sgt Stalker. Note that we've tagged him as the 30th Anniversary Sgt. Stalker and not as a G.I. Joe Renegades Sgt. Stalker because nowhere on the packaging - which you can see below - does it say Renegades.

Sgt. Stalker is Lonzo R. Wilkinson a former street-gang member from the streets of Detroit Michigan before he enlisted in the army. Sgt.Stalker has the distinction of easily being the more recognizable and most visible African-American character in G.I. Joe history and probably one of the only G.I. Joe Characters to have a "trademark" gun - the M3A1-Grease Gun - though now he just has a gun that looks like his Grease gun. He's using a modified FPC Series "Firepit" submachine gun. 

Photo from Hotflick.net

I have a strong feeling that the 30th Anniversary G.I. Joe Sgt. Stalker was built after the actor Eamonn Walker who played Radio/Telephone Operator/Grenadier Ellis "Zee" Pettigrew in the Bruce Willis/Monica Bellucci film Tears of the Sun. The only thing missing from the stern Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (ITCS) are the long dreadlocks that Sgt. Stalker now sports - which also differentiates him from his previous crew-cut, well groomed incarnations. 

DC Direct Infinite Crisis Power Girl

Presenting Power Girl from the DC Direct Infinite Crisis toy series. Before I started the review, I was wondering if it would actually be possible to go through it without discussing her two most powerful assets. And quite frankly it's just not possible.

They're huge! They're simply huge! The Black Canary has called them a "National Treasure!" They're two ginormous fun bags that are impossible to miss and HARD to miss because of that BIG hole in the front of her uniform that's there because - in her words - "I couldn’t think of anything. I thought eventually, I’d figure it out. And close the hole. But I haven’t"

Power Girl is also quoted as saying that the hole in her uniform "shows what I am: female, healthy. If men want to degrade themselves by staring, that's their problem, I'm not going to apologize for it."

Seriously!!!???? How can men NOT stare! Take this sculpt for example. No matter how you light it, or how you look at it. The subject of this sculpt is that big hole in her uniform and the two bazookas inside. It's a wonder that one or the other doesn't pop out while she's in combat. How could they not? Maybe the pipping running up the front two sides are indicative of a support system.

Speaking of mushmellons: Did you know that there's actually a website that lists 262 slang terms for U-boats?