Captain America Stark Tech Assault Armor

Presenting Captain America's Stark Tech Assault Armor from the Avengers Movie Toyline.

You gotta love a good exoskeleton - yes, this is technically not Armor, this is a Powered Exoskeleton. While both Armor and an Exoskeleton may protect the wearer, enhance their natural abilities and increase mobility and firepower, an Exoskeleton has a more "vehiclular" feel to it than simply armor and has more akin to the APUs of the Matrix Movie, the Exosquad E-Frames, the G.I. Joe Steel Marauder, and the Avatar AMP Suit.

But unfortunately Marvel doesn't see the difference.

Anyway this is one of two Stark Tech Assault Armor released into the market. The two are virtually identical and vary only in color. This is Captain America's, the other one belongs to Iron Man and has that garish super pretentious gold and red paint-job. both came with action figures, this one came with Captain America.

The Captain America Stark Tech Assault Armor came with spring-loaded weapons, but I think it looks better without the missiles jutting out, and such will be the case for the majority of this review.

I've often wondered if this was meant to be the movie version of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Mandroid Power Armor.

Star Wars Memorial Day

As the world turns tonight, the United States is celebrating Memorial Day. I came across these really cool artworks from StarWarsFanGirl on her Facebook page. I'm not an American, but I do have some Filipino friends who are now Americans who have served in the United States Army. For fighting and dying to keep world peace, I salute you.

Toni Darling - AKA: Lady Thor

Presenting Toni Darling: AKA Lady Thor. A few weeks ago this image of a female Thor came out following the Avengers movie - but there wasn't much as to who she was or if there were more photographs.

So I looked it up, back-traced the published photographs and eventually found out who she is. Lady Thor - not to be confused by the way with Thor Girl (This is obviously a woman, not a girl. Perhaps in a few Marvel Universe years. But then we all saw how Cassie Lang - daughter of the now back in the land of the living Ant-Man (Scott Lang) who grew from a 6 year old to a sexually active teenager overnight - so it could be tomorrow for Thor Girl).

But I digress. Lady Thor is Cosplayer Toni Darling - known for dressing up not just like a version of Thor that makes us drool as much as Kat Dennings did when she saw Chris Hemsworth trying on a pair of jeans in the Thor movie - but as a red-neck bad-ass member of the Department of Zombie Defense and as, ironically, a Cowgirl Zombie (She's from Arizona).

The Lady Thor at the beach shoot was arranged and shot by talented people behind C.A.S. Photography.

Click on their names to visit their Facebook pages.

Transformers Super-God Masterforce: God Ginrai

Presenting the Transformers Super-God Masterforce God Ginrai. With the pending release of the Xovergen TrailerForce TF-01 Robot Mode (Third Party Powermaster Optimus Prime), I thought that it would be nice to take a look at this classic Autobot before he became obsolete.

It took me a while to figure out whether or not my God Ginrai was the 1988 release of God Ginrai or the more popular 2002 re-issue of the Transformer. Search the web and you'll find wikis telling you that the difference is in the eyes of the smaller Ginrai - with the 2002 re-issue having blue eyes - 1988 had red eyes.This Ginrai had baby-blue eyes indicating it is the 2002 model.

It got confusing because I had purchased Ginrai loose and had to purchase Godbomber separately - which makes my Godbomber a 1988 model as the 1988 Godbomber was sold in a separate package. The 2002 Godbomber was sold as a set with Ginrai.

  

We're not going to debate the pros and cons of this particular Transformer because it's a classic which means it can't really do much but rocks our socks off.

Black Cat Cosplay

Photo by Kris Ezergailis of whatabigcamera.com:

Presenting the Australian Cosplayer simply known as Black Cat. I got to know about her through Ardella Cosplay's Facebook page where the two appeared side by side as Power-Girl and Super-Girl. I unfortunately don't know much about her. other than she's still quite young - probably a teenager - has a very messy room; likes the Ghostbusters; is into expressionist painting, and; is a firm advocate of the magical abilities of the wonder-bra.

G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra: Night Raven

Presenting the G,I. Joe Rise of Cobra Night Raven S3P. Inspired by the Lockheed Skunk-Works SR-71 Blackbird spy-plane that was retired in 1998 (Trivia: only 32 were built, 12 were lost to accidents. None were ever lost to enemy action).

The Cobra Night Raven is actually more than a simple retooling of the original Cobra Night Raven that was released in 1986 which was a bit more angular in comparison with the sleeker image of the modern Cobra Night Raven. Also gone from the modern Cobra Night Raven is the Drone Reconnaissance Scout Pod that piggy-backed on the rear of the Cobra Night Raven.

There was another version of the Night Raven released in 1990 this time on the side of the G.I. Joes - a captured and re-purposed craft from Cobra - which was renamed the Sky Raven and given a metallic Chrome paint-job (Special thanks to Aaron F. West for pointing this out). The modern movie Cobra Night Raven also drops the external drop down missile ports and the twin 20mm cannons. These are replaced by voice activated twin internal rotary IRO-42X Missle launchers.

Lastly, the original Cobra Night Raven had a top speed of Mach 3. The Sky Raven topped at Mach 3.7. The new movie Cobra Night Raven tops in at Mach 6. Both Cobra versions were piloted by a Cobra Strato-Viper.

Ultra-Poseable Spider-Man (Movie Series)

Presenting the brand new Ultra-Poseable Spider-Man from the upcoming movie re-boot of the Spider-Man franchise. This particular action-figure from the Movie-toy-line boasts a whopping 20 points of articulation - making it the most flexible and poseable Marvel Universe sized action figure.

It also features Spider-Man's new costume as he will appear in the movie reboot (The Amazing Spider-Man) staring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

What do I think of the costume? Well there's the Filipino joke that basically says that Spider-Man is a "REAL MAN" because he can make a sticky-white fluid appear from his hands. This costume seems to reinforce that idea because it includes an arrow pointing straight to his gonads. I swear if the movie bombs there is going to be a lot of jokes about this costume.

“Machine Gun Preacher” Gets Boost from Sci-Fi Convention Attendees.

Sci-Fi and Speculative Fiction Fans have found a new home in the Johnstown area. Now they are working to help provide homes for Sudanese Orphans at the first Annual Sci-Fi in the Valley Con.

Sci-Fi in the Valley Con will be holding its first-ever charity auction to benefit “Machine Gun Preacher” Sam Childers’ Angels of East Africa (Yes, Sam Childers is a real person and not the figment of someone's imagination that resulted in a Hollywood movie) this Saturday afternoon at Ebenburg, PA’s North Central Recreation Center. Childers, best known from last year’s Biopic “Machine Gun Preacher,” in which he was portrayed by Gerard Butler, founded the organization to build Orphanages and provide aid to Sudan’s “Invisible Children,” affected by war for nearly the past three decades.

Marvel Avengers Quinjet

Presenting the Marvel Avengers Quinjet from the Avengers movie. I'm sure everyone here has seen the movie so there's no point in giving spoiler warnings. In a nut-shell this is the main means of transportation not of the Avengers, but of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It even uses a lot of the hover-lift technology that the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier uses - even the ability to transform. It's only associated with the Avengers because they stole one which got totaled in the movie.

We should take the time to note though that this Avengers Quinjet is roughly three times smaller than it should be. In the movie it was able to fit at least two in the forward cockpit, had a viewing window roughly at the center akin to the design of old B-17 Bombers, and could fit at least a squad of soldiers in the back. It also lacks the nose mounted fold-out mini-gun that was used in the movie.

This Quinjet is also sleeker than the movie Quinjet AND - most glaringly - this Quinjet bears Iron Man's gold trimming replacing the plain gun-metal gray of the actual movie Quinjet.

Carrie Fisher wins May the 4th be with you poll

Carrie Fisher walks away as the winner of our "'May the 4th be with you' day" poll where we asked who wore the Princess Leia Steel Bikini best. Carrie walks away as the winner from a roster that included Veronica Mars' Kristin Bell;  former America's Top Model contestant Adrianne Curry; TV host Olivia Munn, and; Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski.

The actual Steel Bikini consisted of a copper bra fastened by string - which actually popped open at one point which almost brought Carrie Fisher to tears - copper plates on the front and rear of her groin which hid a red silk loincloth, leather boots and various pieces of jewelry - plus a chain.

In reality it was made out of hard plastic and rumor has it that if you stood behind her, you could pretty much see everything - except Carrie Fisher was wearing nipple tape.

STAR WARS: Boba Fett Rocket-Firing Backpack - to open or not to open?

Presenting the Star Wars Boba Fett Rocket-Firing Backpack action figure. A few days ago we featured the Vintage Edition Boba Fett. What I did not mention back then was that next to it was this figure - a recreation of one of Star Wars most mythological figures.

So the question now is... do I open it?

To the uninitiated, waaay back in 1979, Boba Fett was released as an EXCLUSIVE special mail-order toy. Simply buy Star Wars figurines, cut and collect the tiny badges on the blister card, mail it to Kenner  and you get this through the mail a few weeks later.

However at the time, some kid playing with a Battlestar Galactica figure  got seriously injured by a spring-fired rocket (Probably either choked on it or got an eye poked - face it, we've all done that) and Kenner was forced to either idiot proof the toy ( Not going to happen) or remove the spring-loaded weapon. They opted to glue the Rocket to his back-pack.

Now for the myth...

Black Widow is in a Relationship with Hawkeye and it's Complicated

Black Widow is in a Relationship with Hawkeye and it's definitely Complicated. I found this on Facebook. Not really sure who came up with it but it's hilarious. 

STAR WARS: Boba Fett - Vintage Edition

Presenting Boba Fett from the Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vintage Edition toy line.

I've long been a fan of Boba Fett. You've gotta admire someone who - from the tragic death of his father, eked  out his own survival and established himself as an even greater Bounty Hunter than his father. At one time he was even able to fight Darth Vader to a debatable draw. Later her actually saved and sided with Darth Vader when Vader was being hunted down by Bounty Hunters. This earned Fett Darth Vader's respect if not his admiration.

Years later Fett survives being inside a Sarlaac not once, but twice (He was regurgitated the second time around). Fett would go on to becoming the Mandalore uniting his people against the Yuuzhan Vong and siding with the Galactic Empire. At this time though his health was failing due to the fact that, as a clone of Jango Fett, his aging was accelerated. Boba had already lived far beyond what he was designed to. With the help of his granddaughter he was able to find a cure, but his granddaughter ended up dead at the hands of Darth Caedus (Jacen Solo) who then used her DNA to release a technovirus that would prevent Boba Fett from ever returning to Mandalore.

Boba would later rescue Chief of State Daala (Former Imperial and not head of the Galactic Alliance) from the Jedi Council who was holding her prisoner for war crimes against the Jedi. She promised him a cure for the technovirus.

DC Infinite Crisis Wonder Woman

Presenting Wonder Woman from DC Infinite Crisis Toy Series 2. We originally mentioned this particular Wonder Woman when we featured Wonder Woman from the DC Direct Wonder Woman Toy Series 1 where I took a swipe at how bad this particular figure is.

Rather than just leave it at that, I thought I'd take the time to actually show the figure so that it could never be said that I wasn't fair.

Infinite Crisis Wonder Woman was sculpted by veteran toy-sculptor Sam Greenwell - known for his work in DC Direct, Marvel Select, Blizzard, and Diamond Select - and is based upon the artwork of Comic-book artist Phil Jimenez - who's best known for his portrayal of muscular yet feminine superheroines - think Xena, but taller versus Xena's stocky appearance - including Power Girl, Marvel Girl and of course, Wonder Woman as you can see in the image on the right.

Princess Leia Steel Bikini - who wore it best poll

Princess Leia in a Steel Bikini is one of the most iconic fanboy fantasies shared by millions worldwide. It's been worn by dozens of celebrities, models and wannabees - including one weird guy on American Idol - over the years.

Well today is May 4th which - for some strange reason - has now become "May the Forth be with you day" or Star Wars Day. So in celebration of this most auspicious of days, I have to ask: "Who wore it best?"

We have five candidates for this poll which can be found on Dark Lord Dungeon's Facebook page.

Cobra: Cobra Commander Mail Away

Presenting the G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra, Cobra Commander Mail Away. One of the only G.I. Joe Action Figures that actually comes in COBRA Packaging.

I've actually had my eye on this figure for quite some time but it wasn't being sold for a reasonable price on the black-market. Then a week ago, an entire stack of them suddenly became available at retail price in Toys R' Us here in Robinsons Galleria in the Philippines and I just had to grab it.

Especially since it wasn't being sold for US$ 34.98 to US4 41.85 like it was being sold in Amazon (Roughly PhP 1,500 to PhP 1,800 plus shipping). It was being sold for only PhP 999.75 or roughly US$ 23.25.

This is the infamous Cobra Commander that comes with the movie-edition skull-mass, crimson armor and a robot-drone miniature HISS Tank that's quite reminiscent of the G.I. Joe PAC RATs.

It practically screams "Modern Megalomaniac"

STAR WARS: Death Star Planetarium

Presenting a STAR WARS Death Star Portable Planetarium from Uncle Milton Toys. This is a scaled representation of the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station (Popularly known as the Death Star) that stands 5.45" tall (6.45" with the base) x 5.45" wide.

Anybody else notice that all photos and representations of the Death Star all have the Concave Dish Composite Beam Superlaser always slightly askew to the left or the right? Never straight on.

I can't decide whether or not it looks scarier or looks like a smiling cyclops with the Superlaser looking at me.
The Death Star Planetarium is a gift from my Brother-in-Law. I have to say that I've received a lot of gifts from relatives and friends through the years, but I really do appreciate gifts like this that make fine additions to the Dungeon.

A lot of people aren't fans of the Death Star because, well it's a sphere. A ball that just sits there. Happily the folks at Uncle Milton's Toys gave this particular ball a very creative - and I have to say, practical - new slant in life by making it a planetarium.

Powered by 3 Double-A batteries, pressing a small button that's well hidden on the lower hull of the Death Star activates a light where the core of the Death Star would be. From there, simply remove the upper hull and watch the magic happen.