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.

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.

Noble Team (Complete)

Presenting the complete original Noble Team from the UNSC Special Warefare Command Group Three.

From left to right: Chief Warrant Officer Jorge-052 (Noble 5); Lieutenant Commander Catherine "Kat" B320 (Noble 2); Commander Carter-A259 (Noble 1); Warrant Officer Emile-A239 (Noble 4); and replacing Lieutenant SPARTAN-B312 (Noble 6), Warrant Officer Jun-A266 (Noble 3).

It took me a while to realize just how "Bio-Man" this image is: You have a leader, a cocky shorter female, a heavy guy that carries a big gun and a silent but deadly guy.

The above arrangement is based upon a very popular promotional art released for the video game Halo Reach as seen here.

What's so iconic about this image is that it also portrays Noble Team in the order of their deaths. 

Halo Reach: Jun-A266 Noble 3

Presenting from McFarlane Toys: Warrant Officer Jun: Spartan-A266, call sign Noble 3 from the video-game Halo Reach.

If you've played the game, then you know that Noble 3 Jun was the recon specialist and sniper (Really? Is that what that big gun is for?) of UNSC Special Warfare Command Group Three AKA Noble Team, an elite-Spartan-Commando team that wa a critical fighting force during the Fall of Reach.

The entirety of  Noble Team  - including Noble 6, the guy you play in the game, is wiped out in the Fall of Reach, EXCEPT! (Supposedly ) this guy, Noble 3 Jun.

Under the orders of Commander Carter-A259 Noble 1, Noble 3 Jun is last seen escorting Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, the creator of the Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor  away from Sword Base to Castle Base.  That's the last time that Noble 3 Jun was seen as Carter-A259, Emile-A239 and Noble 6 Spartan-B312 ran off to deliver the A.I. Cortana to the Pillar of Autumn - which would kick off the 1st Halo game featuring the Master Chief.

STAR WARS Legacy of the Force: Imperial Knight Masters Sigel Dare, Antares Draco and Ganner Krieg

Presenting Imperial Knight Masters Antares Draco, Sigel Dare and Ganner Krieg from STAR WARS Legacy of the Force.

Imperial Knights are an order of Force Sensitive Jedi that served the Empire-in-Exile (Formerly known as the Fel Empire) - a long, long time ago after Luke Skywalker had become one with the Force. They were formerly known as the Knights of the Empire till Darth Krayt's One Sith Empire came to power and kicked them out.

They were founded because Jagged Fel - squeeze of Jaina Solo - thought that it would really be great if the  Imperial Remnant had Jedi Knights.

In essence, Imperial Knights are trained Jedi who instead of being loyal to the ways of the Force, swear fealty to the Emperor of the Empire BUT with the clause "As long as he serves the Light Side of the Force." Because of this they were rejected by the Jedi Order and considered "Gray Jedi" - or Jedi who rejected the Dark Side of the Force but did whatever was necessary to bring "Order and Peace to the Galaxy" (Very Anakin Skywalker, but think of them a bunch of Qui Gon Jinns who "Do what they must" with or without the council's permission).

With the fall of the One Sith Empire and the rise of the Galactic Federation Triumvirate led by Admiral Gar Stazi, Jedi Master K'Kruhk and Imperial Knight and heir to the Fel Empire, Empress Marasiah Fel, the Imperial Knights remain separate from the Jedi Order, but now consider them allies - for now.

Toy News: 2011 SDCC Marvel Legends upcoming figures

Marvel is bringing back Marvel Legends in a big way (Finally, I was thinking of shifting to Marvel Universe) and thanks to actionfigurepics.com we have them here (Do remember to visit them, it's a wonderful website and check out their facebook page here). Though I probably shouldn't hold my breath as the release dates are not mentioned in the presentation of Marvel in the recently concluded San Diego Comic Con.

Toy News: Transformers Reveal the Shield G2 Optimus Prime Maketoy Trailer Upgrade

Dash Bonagua of Transformers Philippines recently tagged the Dungeon on Facebook on an artist rendition of the Transformers Reveal the Shield G2 Optimus Prime with a trailer upgrade. The artist rendition was from Maketoys, a Japanese toy firm (Their website is in Japanese). I looked it up and found out that Maketoys actually has some actual renditions of the soon to be released Trailer upgrade.

Toy News: Toys R' Us DOTM Toy Launch at Robinsons Galleria

Here's me at the Toys R'Us/Hasbro DOTM Toy Launch at Robinsons Galleria yesterday evening. When I first saw it on the internet, I swore that I would not purchase the Ultimate Optimus Prime because it looked like a "Paru-parong Bukid" (Provincial Butterfly - an old Filipino folksong that negatively compares a provincial butterfly to the actions of an extremely vain woman), but I had received potentially life-changing negative news that day so I was really depressed. 

Toy News: Win a Jetwing or Ultimate DOTM Prime at Toys R'Us Philippines

Toys R'Us gives you a very good reason to get out and drop by Robinsons Galleria this weekend, July 9 and 10! Every PhP 500 single-receipt purchase of Transformers Toys done this weekend in Toys R' Us Galleria, entitles you to a raffle coupon where you can win

• A six inch limited edition Transformers Silver Bumblebee
• One of Two Jetwing Optimus Prime Supreme Class figures
• One of Two Ultimate Optimus Prime Figures.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!!!!

Noble Team

Presenting Noble Team from the UNSC Special Warefare Command Group Three.

From left to right: Chief Warrant Officer Jorge-052 (Noble 5); Lieutenant Commander Catherine "Kat" B320 (Noble 2); Commander Carter-A259 (Noble 1); Warrant Officer Emile-A239 (Noble 4); and Lieutenant SPARTAN-B312 (Noble 6).

It took me a while to realize just how "Bio-Man" this image is: You have a leader, a cocky shorter female, a heavy guy, a silent but deadly guy and a "Kid" (Noble 6). The only Spartan from Noble Team I have missing is the survivor, Warrant Officer Jun-A266 (Noble 3) who escorted Dr. Catherine Halsey to safety while the surviving members of Noble Team went to their deaths.

The above arrangement is based upon a very popular promotional art released for the video game Halo Reach as seen here.

What's so iconic about this image is that it also portrays Noble Team in the order of their deaths. 

Halo Reach: Carter A259 Noble 1

Presenting from McFarlane Toys: Commander Carter: Spartan A259, call sign Noble 1 from the video-game Halo Reach.

If you played the game, then you know that Commander Carter was the head of UNSC Special Warfare Command Group Three AKA Noble Team, an elite-Spartan-Commando team that was a critical fighting force during the Fall of Reach. All of Noble Team - including Noble 6 (Whom you play in the game) died at one point or another. Only Noble 3, Warrant Officer Jun A266 - the sniper - is supposedly alive.

Carter-A259 was critically injured towards the final chapter of Halo Reach (He smashed against the windshield of a crashing pelican - which is why you should always wear your seat-belt). Noble Team was tasked by Dr. Catherine Hasley - mother of the Spartan Program - to deliver a package to the Pillar of Autumn. The package turned out to be Cortana - thereby triggering the events of Halo 1-3 and the adventures of the Spartan Master Chief.

Dying, Carter-A259 dropped Noble 6 and Noble 4 (Emile A239) onto the ground allowing them to proceed to the Pillar of Autumn on foot while he distracted the Covenant air-forces. Unfortunately Noble 4 & 6 were blocked by a Covenant Scarab.  With no other solution in sight and aware of his inevitable death, Carter-A259 broadcast his final words "You're on your own Noble, Carter Out" and crashed his damaged Pelican into the Scarab allowing Noble 6 and Noble 4 to complete their mission

Place single tear here.

Marvel Legends: She Hulk SDCC Exclusive

Presenting Marvel Legends: She Hulk - an exclusive released in the San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC) in 2007. The Sensational She Hulk is actually a re-paint of the Marvel Legends: She Hulk released in 2006 along with the "Build an Action Figure" Blob Series

You probably remember the Marvel Legends: She Hulk from 2006 as the She Hulk having a bad hair day that sported her modern white-stripped jump suit. And also as the She Hulk that had that hideous smile that reminded everyone of what happens when someone inhales "Joker Juice.".

The SDCC She Hulk sculpt solves her bad hair day by putting it in a pony tail and has her don her Fantastic Four Uniform. However, someone from Hasbro must have really been hurt by all the "Joker Juice" comments that most likely rained into the Hasbro Headquarters that that someone - almost sarcastically - removed absolutely all facial expression from the SDCC She Hulk.  The SDCC She Hulk is so dour she's downright zombified.

STAR WARS Ulic Qel-Droma

Presenting Star Wars' Ulic Qel-Droma from the 2009 Star Wars Comic Book 2-pack featuring Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun. Ulic Qel-Droma's story is actually an interesting one: The child of a reknown Jedi Knight, Ulic Qel-Droma is an arrogant, brash and reckless Jedi Knight who falls to the Dark Side in an attempt to avenge his fallen Master. 

He becomes an unapologetic genocidal scourge of the universe apprenticed to Rogue Jedi and now Dark  Lord, Exar Kun. 

Ulic Qel-Droma was armed with the Sith Superweapon: The Dark Reaper (later destroyed by Anakin Skywalker) that killed by draining the Force from all living things.  

Ulic Qel-Droma believed that the Republic is weak and the Sith Empire would bring in a Golden Age. He ends up killing his brother and - while torn with grief - is attacked by his girlfriend: Jedi Nomi Sunrider - who uses an archaic Jedi Technique to cut Ulic Qel-Droma off from the force. Still he ends up helping the Jedi kill Dark Lord Exar Kun.

Ulic Qel-Droma goes into hiding seeking redemption for his crimes against the universe and trying to re-establish his connection with the Force. Ends up training Nomi Sunrider's daughter (Not his) and eventually gets shot and dies.

It's a beautiful story of youthful arrogance to tempered desire for redemption - save for the pretty pathetic ending. 

Halo 3: Mongoose

Halo 3 Mongoose

Presenting the Halo 3 Mongoose! Easily one of the worst possible vehicles you can find yourself driving in that awesome video game. If you've played the game then you know that the Halo Mongoose is unarmed, tends to skid a lot - great for drifting - has a horn for an offensive weapon (Beats shouting "Get out of the way!")  and is one of the most unstable gun platforms (Even with a rocket-launcher) in the game - one of the easiest if not the easiest to overturn. I came across this particular Halo 3 Mongoose in Filbars while spending the afternoon with my wife. It cost me around PhP 1,600. It costs around PhP 1,000 on Amazon sans shipping

G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra: Rock Viper (Wave 6) AKA Rock Lobster

Presenting The G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra Rock Viper from Wave 6 of the series. I've been laying off talking about the Cobra Rock Lobster ahem... Cobra Rock Viper because I really, really don't like him. Personally I'd only suggest purchasing a Cobra Rock Lobster ahem... Cobra Rock Viper for spare parts - and even then, it leave a sour flavor in my mouth. That's how much I don't like the Cobra Rock Viper. I have to admit to being hopeful for the Cobra Rock Viper when I first bought it along with the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra Series 6 set in the black-market here in the Philippine, because it looked like an interesting figure with so many cool gadgets inside.  Since I bought him as a part of a set, The Cobra Rock Viper only cost me PhP 700 (Available on Amazon for US$12.95 plus shipping). But closer examination of the packaged figure upon reaching home started revealing flaws: that was City Strike Snake Eyes' Rappel pack! 

What's he doing with a Tactical Spear - I mean really? The only time I see mountaineers with a pointy object is when they're hiking, not climbing mountains. I'm no mountaineer myself, but I've yet to see anyone use a spear for climbing. If anything, it sounds like a spear would be more of a hindrance than a help. I mean the Cobra Rock Viper's blister card reads "Cobra Rock Vipers are mountain assault specialists trained in mountaineering and vertical assault. They are experts at climbing treacherous terrain of rock, snow or ice. They use sophisticated climbing gear and weapons designed for COMPACTNESS and VERSATILITY"  I see a glimpse of versatility, but compactness? And it gets worse.