HALO 4 Warthog

Presenting the HALO 4 UNSC Collector's Edition Warthog.

Okay! This is the M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, Warthog (or simply Hog), as it appears in HALO: 4. Now we should point out that when this blog started a lifetime ago in 2010, we featured the HALO Reach Warthog. Till today, that Warthog remains one of our most valuable Dungeon displays.

But this puts it to shame.

Over the past ten years or so Bungie has really made it a point to refine the graphics that went into the HALO games, but what here is more than a polish or design enhancement.

No.

This is a completely different vehicle.

Marvel Universe Rhino

Presenting the Rhino from the Marvel Universe Series 5 toyline.

To the uninitiated, the Rhino is Russian enforcer Aleksei Mikhai-lovich Sytsevich. He was chosen by the mob to undergo radiation and chemical experimentation because... get this.... "They thought he was stupid so they could control him"

Anyway, like the Hulk, the Marvel Universe's Rhino is Gamma Radiation born. Like the hulk, the Gamma Radiation gave Aleksei enhanced strength, endurance, resistance to injury and speed. To give him even more strength and resistance to injury the Russian mob bonded a suit to his skin that made him stronger, faster and more resistant to injury. The suit was later destroyed and the Rhino today uses a suit that isn't bonded to his skin.

Marvel Universe Thanos

Presenting Thanos from the Marvel Universe Toyline.

We acquired Thanos roughly the same time we got the 3D Game of Thrones Puzzle of Westeros - hence the Iron Throne (Duh!) - and we couldn't help but wonder "Would Thanos covet the Iron Throne of Westeros?"

Eventually we decided on "No." Yes, Thanos would be amused that such a trivial icon could drive men to homicide, patricide, genocide and practically any kind of homicidium. Yes, Thanos is no stranger to matricide - having skinned his own mother alive to satisfy "A curiosity."

But we believe that Thanos is not given to a need to rule. He's driven by love. Love of Death - a lover who has more than once - spurned his advances.

But we do believe he'd sit in it.... and like it.

STAR WARS Black Series StormTrooper

Presenting a Star Wars Black Series 6" StormTrooper!

The Black Series Stormtrooper is actually one of the more coveted pieces to be created in the series because of its troop-building potential and we at the Dungeon were extremely lucky to find this on retail.

We have never seen it on retail again, and those that do have it do not seem keen to part with it.

We've always felt sorry for the way StormTroopers were depicted in the movies i.e. the inability to hit anything; being taken apart by little teddy bears. These are the Emperor's elite troopers! Inferior to their Clone counterparts for sure (Commander Cody hated them), but still no pushoevers. So we're glad that books like Allegiance and Choices of One by Timothy Zahn gave us a better look at what just a handful of StormTroopers can do. This "Hand of Judgement" would go on to form Grand Admiral Thrawn's new 501st Legion.

We hope that the new movies will redeem the StormTrooper name - assuming the Imperial Remnant from the Expanded Universe survives.

Marvel Universe Wasp

Presenting the diminutive Winsome Wasp from the Marvel Universe Infinite Series.

Born Janet Van Dyne; Once married to the most unstable of Avengers, Hank Pym - who was soooo sick he used her dead and literally bloated carcass as a Headquarters for an Avengers team (Not really quite sure we understood how that happened); Chairwoman of the Avengers during which the Avengers Mansion overrun by the Masters of Evil; eternal flirt (she actually once used the code-name Pixie); and fashion icon - We don't believe we've ever seen her with long hair (Janet Van Dyne has keptm- short hair in style since  1963).

The Wasp was the single biggest casualty of the Skrull Invasion series where she was unwittingly transformed into a pym particle powered bomb. She died, but apparently just shrank down and entered the microverse. It took a while for her to contact the Avengers and for them to bring her back to the real world.

So she's back.

Batman Arkham Origins - Batman Unlimited Action Figure

Presenting the Arkham Origins Batman from the Batman Unlimited Action Figure Series. 

So I finished Batman Arkham Origins over the Holidays, and I have to say that it does not disappoint. Arkham Origins is an excellent video game utilizing the same engine that we've all come to love from Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City.

Set during Christmas Eve in Gotham, it really felt apropos to play the game over the holidays. But seriously there is no way that Batman did all that in one night.

It was also quite a treat to take on Deathstroke, Shiva, and a brand new genderbended Copperhead.

I was however a bit disturbed when I had to take the Joker down. The guy had clearly had enough and the game wanted me to hit him again. I was like "seriously?!!!!" It was excessive.

Still taking down the 12 assassins was fun.

Human Alliance Bumblebee

Presenting the Transformers Human Alliance Bumblebee.

It actually did take me a while to get this particular Transformer that's been out in the market for quite a while now - I think two years. While I admired the design and heard great things about it, I was a) Not a Bumblebee collector, and; b) Severely turned off by the price - it was being sold locally for something like PhP 3,200 (Roughly US$ 73), which was waaaay too pricy for another Bumblebee - especially since it included a Sam Witwicky figure.

I hate Sam Witwicky. All he does in the movie is run around, screaming like a little girl and yell out "Optimus!!!" everytime Optimus Prime makes an appearance - like his herald - despite the fact that everyone can already see the big lug barreling down the road - or soaring across the sky.

But when the price dropped.... BAM!!!!

Toy Kingdom Toy Warehouse Sale Year 7

It's the Toy Kingdom Toy Warehouse Sale Year 7! And it's happening this November 1, 2 & 3 at the Megatrade Hall 1 & 2 of SM Megamall!

If you're a toy collector, you know that you ABSOLUTELY have to go to this event lest you miss out on potential bargains on those drool worthy items that you've always coveted.

Come early because we expect a deluge of shoppers coming over to beat the Holiday rush.

Get up to 70% off on branded toys, gadgets and games during this event.  For more information, like Toy Kingdom a on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram  or call their hotline at 638-TOYK (638-8695).

See you there!!!!

Black Widow - Avengers Assemble Series

Presenting the Black Widow from the Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Series - AKA the Inferno Cannon Black Widow.

No the Avengers Assemble 3.5"  Black Widow does NOT come with that rifle. That's courtesy of a GI Joe Retaliation Crimson Guard figure that's waiting for its photoshoot - it just looks cool in her arms.

Natalia "Natasha" Alianovna Romanova is the soviet super-spy turned Avenger, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, lover of Daredevil, Winter Soldier and, get this, Hercules (never really saw that coming), the Black Widow.

This version of the Black Widow is off the Avengers Assemble cartoon that features a team consisting of the Hulk, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Captain America, the Falcon, & the Black Widow.

Transformers Generations Trailcutter

Presenting the Trailcutter from the Transformers Generations toy-line.

Now to the confused, Trailcutter is also known as the Autobot Trailbreaker who is also known as the Autobot Trailblazer. The three names have been used to describe one single black hued Autobot that transforms into an SUV and is known for projecting Force Fields.

I also have to point out that the Transformers Generations Trailcutter design is based upon Alex Milne's "More than meets the eye" comic book series which is why you may be confused as to who this guy is given that he deviates from the original look of Trailbreaker - which was bulky, top heavy and had a cannon for a left. The only traits the two share in common is the black and orange color scheme and the sensor projection at his back.

I think you'll find the design to be better conformed to the overall look of the Transformers Generations line.

Orion Pax

Presenting Orion Pax from the Transformers Generations toy series. 

There are actually two origin stories as to what Optimus Prime was before the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons began. It really depends upon which continuity you are following. One has him as a librarian, but the most common tale has him as a dock worker who actually idolized Megatron and was heavily damaged by an attack by the Decepticons when they came for the Energon stored in the docks. Orion Pax were taken along with his two friends Dion and Ariel to Alpha Trion where they are rebuilt.

Orion Pax becomes Optimus Prime, Ariel becomes Elita One. No one is sure what happened to Dion, but fan speculation suggests that Dion becomes Ultra Magnus. 

Ultimate Storm Shadow

Presenting the Ultimate Storm Shadow from the GI Joe Retaliation line.

Now off-hand that's really a big packaging boast - to go claim that it's "the Ultimate." Reminds me of the much celebrated POC Snake-Eyes Ninja Commando which had so much gear and stuff. Snake Eyes was near perfect... ultimate... then I just had to comment: "Where's Timber?" I'm pretty sure that somewhere out there, a Hasbro Toy maker started building a voodoo doll of me.

And let's face it, other than the new hand-grips and foot articulation (Which we've seen before thanks to the Retaliation Ninja Showdown Set), what could Hasbro possibly give Storm Shadow that would be an improvement over the previous Storm Shadows? Especially with the presence of the Desert Battle Storm Shadow which I absolutely love and is nigh perfect!

So yeah: Ultimate Storm Shadow? Let's see.

STAR WARS Black Series R2-D2

Presenting R2-D2 from the Star Wars Black Series.

Now note that this is supposed to be a part of Hasbro's new 6 inch series, but R2-D2 is still to scale so he's about 3 inches tall instead.

Even his box is smaller.

So you might feel that you're being cheated out of buying a smaller figure in what it supposed to be a 6" series of toys.... and it does feel a bit that way... but can you imagine what you would be scrambling for if they decide one day to release an X-Wing fighter big enough for the Black Series Luke Skywalker to sit in?

I guarantee you'll be scrambling then for a Black Series R2-D2.

And if they never bother....well.... R2-D2 makes for a nice paperweight.

Star Wars Black Series Luke Skywalker

Presenting Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars Black Series.

Now before you go balistic NO THE BLACK SERIES DOES NOT INCLUDE A LIGHT-UP LIGHTSABER - that's Photoshop (because I think it's cool).

Anyway, this is Hasbro's most recent and quite interesting venture involving the release of 6-inch tall figures to accompany their regular new 3.5" figure line. Luke Skywalker Rebel Pilot is one of four figures involved in series 1 of the Black Series line that includes R2-D2, Darth Maul and an Imperial Sand Trooper (Troop builders start drooling, they Sand Troopers look awesome).

Anyway, as I understand it, Series 1 has yet to reach International Distribution levels (But they're already available in HongKong and the Philippines), and there is much debate as to whether we should embrace Hasbro's move to the larger format or curse them to the high heavens, so here's a peak at the Black Series Luke Skywalker.

Beast Hunters Ultra Magnus

Presenting the Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Ultra Magnus.

He is not to be confused with the Transformers Prime Ultra Magnus which we reviewed back in October of last year - seems just like yesterday, oh how time flies.

Ultra Magnus: The hammer wielding leader of the Wreckers is back this time literally with a Hammer and his trademark huge shoulder pauldrons (Pads :) ).  Alpha Trion in the Ultra Magnus wiki describes him as: "Daring, strategically ingenious, and courageous to the point of recklessness, Ultra Magnus hammers back the Decepticon forces — literally"

In Transformers Prime, Ultra Magnus both commands and demands respect (the Autobots have to call him "Sir") and he is the second-in-command of Optimus Prime. He takes over leadership of the Autobots when Prime is "killed" following the destruction of the Omega Lock - which we talked about when we blogged about Dr. Wu's Sky Breaker / Star Saber. He leads the Autobots in a charge on Darkmount and nearly gets all of them killed as his ass is handed to him by Megatron. The timely revival and reconstruction of Optimus Prime through the efforts of Smokescreen saves them all.

After that, Ultra Magnus returns command of the Autobots to Optimus Prime and decides to takes the now defunct Forge of Solus Prime Hammer as his primary weapon declaring that the hammer should be put to "practical use".  Though even with the mighty Hammer, Ultra Magnus fails to take down Predaking.

Jango Fett

Presenting Jango Fett from the Star Wars 2013 Line

I recently came to realize that I actually did not have a lot of Jango Fetts in the Dungeon. I had a lot of Boba Fetts and I was particularly smitten by the Vintage Edition Boba Fett, but not a lot of Jangos.

Probably because - like Boba Fett again - the market is flooded with crappy figures. So when I saw the 2013 Edition Boba Fett I just had to get it.

To the uninitiated, Jango Fett is the  Mandalorian Bounty Hunter who would be come the Genetic "Father" of all the Clone Troopers  (Including Boba Fett who he raised as a real son) that were used in the Republic's Grand Army. He saw not just to their genetic makeup, but to their training and even their outfitting - which explains the similarity between Jango Fett's armor and the armor of the Clone Troopers.

He would meet his fate at the end of  Jedi Master Mace Windu's blade in the Battle of Geonosis where, ironically, his Clone Prodigy would come to the rescue of the overwhelmed Jedi.

Darth Maul

Presenting the one, the only, Clone Wars Darth Maul from the 2013 Star Wars Toy line.

You have to admit that when you watched Episode 1 and saw Obi-Wan Kenobi slice Darth Maul into half that you thought "What a waste of a kick-ass villain!"

Clearly George Lucas agrees because the guy was cut in half but he was still able to crawl his way back out of a pit. Through sheer hatred - and because a lightsaber strike is cauterizing - Darth Maul found his way to another planet where he would spent a full TWELVE years fixing himself and becoming a horrifying spider creature.

Driven insane with hatred, Darth Maul would eventually be rescued by his brother, Savage Opress, returned to his home planet of Dathomir, healed, given a new cybernetic body and join his brother on a rampage across the universe.

Transformers Beast Hunters: Starscream

Presenting the Deluxe Class Starscream from the new Transformers Beast Hunters Series 2 Toyline.

On to the obvious: "Is the Transformers Beast Hunters Starscream a retool?" I'd argue that he  isn't. He's a brand new mold inspired from the designs of the original Transformers Prime Starscream.

The sharp, angular "cutter" lines from the original Transformers Prime Starscream are gone, replaced by a more jagged, armored look - reducing Starscream's sleek look and replacing it with a more aggressive and menacing exterior.

Without replacing that oh-so-lovable personality that we've all come to love and hate over the years.

Savage Opress

Presenting Savage Opress from the 2013 Star Wars Toy line released to promote the new fighterpods.com website (No I have not tried it yet).

To the uninitiated, Savage Opress is the older brother of Darth Maul (No! What gave that away?).

He's also dead

Spoiler alert.

Savage Opress was a Dathormirian tribal leader who was chosen by Asajj Ventress (After he killed his brother) to become her mate and help overthrow her master Count Dooku. The Nightsisters transformed the already powerful warrior into a true "Savage" animal of incredible physical strength, agility and edurance. He became a Dark Acolyte (Like Asajj) for the Confederacy. Strong in the Force, he was brutally trained by Count Dooku who wanted to use him to overthrow Darth Sidious (Ironic, but it was all part of the plan). Much to their chagrin it they both realized that they could not control Savage escaped from them - declaring himself a Sith Lord -   rescued his maddened brother Darth Maul and brought him home to Dathomir where his mind was healed.

Opress would become Darth Maul's apprentice following the Sith Rule of Two.

Marvel Legends: Red She-Hulk

Presenting the Marvel Legends Red She-Hulk.

Wow. Apparently it's been a while since I reviewed a Marvel Legend. I suppose I kinda stopped collecting these after I packed most of my Marvel Legends due to space constrains in favor of my Transformers and GI Joes.

So it has been a while since I picked up a Marvel Legend of the shelves. I passed on a very expensive loose version of Archangel, a cross-eyed version of Hyperion and picked up the Red She-Hulk instead.

How could I say no to such glorious Olypic sized endowments?

And to think I've never been that much a fan of Elizabeth "Betty" Ross.