IGN Best of SDCC 2010

I know that you are probably seeing SDCC pics and articles all over the web, and if you are like me and were unable to attend, you might have even watched some of it on G4.  (I do every year.) 

Robert pointed to some exciting news, and IGN provided a "Best of SDCC 2010".  Both were great, as are all of the pictures floating around.

Won't bother you with anything else, as I know you are probably preoccupied with other more interesting items.

SDCC ‘10 | John Byrne’s Next Men return at IDW | Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources – Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment

SDCC ‘10 | John Byrne’s Next Men return at IDW | Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources – Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment

This is some of the best news to come out of SDCC. John Byrne's Next Men was one of the best series ever.

Can't Get Here Soon Enough: Diablo III

I have enjoyed the Diablo series since day 1.

I'm not a die-hard Diablo fan, but it is one of the few games that I have enjoyed time after time - after time.  In fact, I was thinking of downloading 1 and 2.  Though, I tend to prefer 1 over 2, and I really wasn't that thrilled with the extension packs.  

I just watched some video's of the final battles for both 1 and 2, which was something that I have never done before.  It was interesting to see how other people finished their battles - what spells and weapons they used.  Interesting enough, I tend to use defensive spells offensively.  Never realized it before, but it is something that I tend to repeat in a lot of the games that I play.

You have probably already seen it, but here it is again:

Diablo III 'Cinematic' teaser HD

Bowen Designs: Tigra

Distributor Bowen Designs
Sculptor Mike Cusanelli
Size 13"H
Type Statue
Release November 2010
Price $175

Zimm's Two Cents

I thought the fur kept her warm. Okay, never mind.

This is a pretty piece.

Points in Favor.

• Incredible colors and paint job.
• Little pieces of detail that stand out. (e.g. claws, belt, pendant.)
• For a museum based statue, the base is nice.
• Long Hair on statues tends to be a difficult thing, but this one doesn't look that bad.

Points Against

• Could she really go into battle with a wedgie?

Recommendation: Buy. This one would stand out. Colors, pose, and something different.

Robert's Two Cents

Sorry, I'm late to the game on this one. I was a huge West Coast Avengers fan back in the day. Tigra was one of my favorite characters. Then again I even liked Wonder Man back then. There's no accounting for taste.

Points in Favor.

• Awesome paint job.
  
• The stripes, color and paint are fantabulous.
  
• It looks like Greer. I'm amazed at how good the face and hair turned out.
  
• Her feet. They even have her walk perfected. She was prone to walk on the balls of her feet. It was a cat thing.
  

Points Against

• I don't really have anything. It's a great piece.
  

Recommendation: I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm giving it a HOT BUY! It's simple and yet the details are great. I'm a fan of the character. Tigra may be tied with the first Black Widow statue for best female sculpt from Bowen Designs.

Bowen Designs: Yellowjacket

A digital sculptor. "Digital." Still an artist - just a new medium.

Distributor Bowen Designs
Sculptor Jason Smith
Size 12"H
Type Statue - Museum
Release Dec 2010
Price $185.00

Zimm's Two Cents
Not a big Yellowjacket fan. Is anyone really a Yellowjacket fan?

Points in Favor

• Great colors. Even the 'shadows' are a little more subdued on this one.
• Clean lines - but is that due to the 'digital' piece?
• Muscles aren't really overdone.

Points Against

• How many ribs can a person show?
• Don't see much of a base.

Recommendation: Neutral. There is really that much to talk about on this one. It looks like a good piece, and Jason Smith looks to have done a really nice job. It just didn't launch off of the page and yell, "ORDER ME NOW!"


Robert's Two Cents
Um, I'm a Yellowjacket fan. More correctly, I'm a Hank Pym fan. He was originally a separate personality of Hank Pym's. then he beat his wife and it rolled downhill from there.

Generally I'm opposed to male characters wearing yellow as their primary color, especially their pants, but for YJ, I've made an exception.

Points in Favor

• I think Bowen's team may actually be understanding how the paint job should be used to provide texture and tone. The colors on this is dead on.
  
• I'm glad they didn't go the goggle route. The two lenses is definitely my preference.
  
• Good standard super hero pose. Normally, I'd be mocking this, but it seems appropriate for Yellowjacket.
  

Points Against

• The base is the standard bland base.
  
• There really should be a tiny Wasp on the base or flying around or something.
  

Recommendation: Neutral. Why a neutral? Like Zimm said, there's nothing screaming "Gotta have it!". It's a standard depiction of Yellowjacket. Plus it needs a Wasp piece to go with it. Without the Wasp, Yellowjacket was not that interesting.

New Red Trailer

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Warren Ellis's comic book work. one of the more interesting pieces of recent history is the 3 issue series Red pencilled by Cully Hamner (I almost typed Hammer just to mess with him if he ever read this).

Warner Brothers is releasing a film loosely based on this work. If you've read the series and have seen or read anything about the movie, you know the film is definitely not the comic. It looks like it will be fun just the same. Plus Ernest Borgnine appears in it, so it has to be good.

Enjoy:

SyFy Sharktopus

San Diego Comic-Con

If you are one of the lucky ones who made it to the San Diego Comic-Con, congratulations. If you are like me, you will be skimming the web for pics and watching G4 TV coverage.

I really need to set my prioritize my vacations a little more.

If anything, I really miss out on seeing some of the big reveals.

Sideshow: Colossus

Just as a starter: "Drool, drool, drool."

Distributor SideShow Collectibles
Artists
Rudy Garcia
David Igo
Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team
Size 19"H x 19"W x 11"L
Type Statue
Release 1st Quarter 2011
Price $289.99

Zimm's Two Cents

Wow! I have a small Colossus, and I have been considering getting another one because of it. And this piece would be a "Wow."

Maybe I am coming off of a Silver Surfer high, but this piece is looking really cool.

Points in Favor

• The coloring. I really like the coloring.
• Great pose. Have to give them something there, as it is a little different from what I have seen.
• Loving the costume. Not classic, but striking.

Points Against

• Not quite that sure about the face. Seems off.
• Size. Seriously, it would be another massive piece in my rather small office. However, I could really get into a couple more of these.

Recommendation: I am going with a "Buy." Sideshow is really kicking it up a notch. Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Colossus, and Thanos.....to name a few.  Update:  I'm going to have to agree with Robert.  The face is horrible, as is the one on Nightcrawler.   Definitive Pass! 

As a side note:  The pics from Comic-Con were spot on.  I wish they provided more of those types in the future.  Nice catch, Robert.

Robert's Two Cents

Very nice. I actually like that costume. I don't normally like that costume.
Update: I have seen a close up photo of the face on Statue Marvels and have to say I hate it.

Points in Favor

• Nice paint job. It has that splotchy effect that I bitch about too much, but it's used to great effect here.
  
• The metal textures are very nicely done even though it's not chrome.
  
• The pose is OK. Again it's not classic, but it works.
  

Points Against

• It's not the costume I'd prefer.
  
• The face looks too scrunched up.
  

Recommendation: I'll give it a BUY. It's not a classic Colossus and definitely not my favorite costume. Also, as Zimm said, the face is a bit off. Still it's a very nice Colossus piece.

Update: I am going to change my review from BUY to Pass. The face is awful. This isn't Colossus. It's Robo Colossus. See this close up pic from Statue Marvels for more info: http://www.statuemarvels.com/f226/san-diego-comic-con-2010-gallery-9389-5.html#post252447

Sideshow: Silver Surfer Update

My Sideshow Collectibles Silver Surfer showed up at the door - the other day. (I got it as a Birthday gift from Jamie, who ordered it from my good friend Tommy at Best Comics.)  

The phone pic (shown here) does not do this piece justice. The pictures at Sideshow do not do this piece justice. He is BEAUTIFUL. This piece is simply incredible. He is massive. (When I put in that he was 24", I didn't register the fact that he was that tall.) This Sideshow piece has me looking at other Sideshow Collectibles - which tend to run on the pricey side of collectibles. 

Hmmmmm....should I change my existing orders with Tommy to other Sideshow Statues? 

Anyway. Originally, I wasn't a 100% certain about this one (click here to find out more), but now that he is sitting in my office and I have taken a good look at him, this Silver Surfer is awesome! I have to change my recommendation. He's a Hot Buy!  

Sadly, I know not who I will leave it to in my inheritance.

Robert: Yeah! I think it would look good in my house. I know I dissed it before, but I may need to print a retraction.

Inception

After Titanic, I took a strong moral stance against Leonardo diCapiro. Surrounded by thousands of drowning freezing, screaming, struggling men, women and children, the old broad and the director and the audience remember only the supremacy of her love (even the beloved is disposable). The movie is a monument to the narcissism of romantic love. Titanic put me off of diCapiro.

Having seen the trailers of Revolutionary Road, I knew to avoid the story of a self-absorbed, wannabe artist who had to find his way to Paris to realize his full potential (Talk about advertising. Read some Stevens, Faulkner, McCarthy, and Cisneros, guy.)

Of course, Blood Diamond and The Departed drew me back--cautiously. I was surprised, but unconvinced. In my mind, DiCapiro was still a pretty boy tied to Hollywood romantic propaganda.

This weekend, the wife and kids drug me into Inception. We arrived early, giving me plenty of time to question my decision. The hot dog my wife bribed me with held me over to the start of the movie. Once it began, I stopped wondering.

Nolan has created a beautifully demanding masterpiece. A tight, complex narrative. Stunning imagery integral to the storyline. A tortured, broken protagonist uncertain of where to keep his past. And as much as I hate to admit it--spot on casting. DiCapiro was perfect.

Stand in line if you have to. This one is worth seeing.

Sideshow Collectibles: Morgul Lord

I promised you more TLOTR, so here is another one. Well, I promised, and Bayard liked this one. At least, he said that he did.

This one has been out for a bit, but it is still worthy of a review.


Distributed By Sideshow Collectibles
Artists
Kevin Ellis
Martin Canale and The Gore Group
Joe Allard
Heath Hammond
Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team
Type Premium Format Figure
Size 29"H x 14"W x 17"L
Release 4th Quarter 2010
Price $289.99

Zimm's Two Cents

What is a "Premium Format Figure?" For almost $290, I think they should call it a statue. Definitely, a statue.

Points in Favor

• Black cloak is actually material. Looks GOOD.
• Paint job is incredible. Check out the dirty boots.
• Again with detail. Take a close look at everything from the gauntlets, to the sword, and mace.

Points Against

• Who is "Morgul Lord"? And what did he have to do with the endless walking of the trees? Seriously, those trees walked way to much.

Recommendation: For those TLOTR fans, this is a nice piece. Buy.

Bayard's Thoughts
All of the pieces in this series are evocative. They capture the world of the novels, as well as the character. I like the pose on this one; he is a predator, watching potential prey. If I could juggle the books to slip the $300 past the wife, he would be perched on the shelf, waiting for an opportunity or a Hobbit. BUY.

Robert's Two Cents

I agree that at that price point, it should definitely be a statue. Then again have you seen some of the Tonner Dolls?

Points in Favor

• I agree with Zimm about the attention to little details. This is a well made piece.
  
• He's very evil looking if a toy can be evil looking.
• It's a great companion piece to the previously mentioned Gandalf.
  

Points Against

• I know it's sacrilege, but I'm not a big LOTR fan. I love the Hobbit, but the sequel(s) never really did much for me. As a matter of fact I gave away two sets of the books before I could finish reading them. Plus where's Beorn?
  

Recommendation: I'm going to rate this purely for myself: Neutral. It's gorgeous, but it doesn't appeal to me.

Bayard's Response to Robert's Sacrilege
I agree--to an extent. I did enjoy LOTR (both the movies and novels). But it did not move me like The Hobbit.

I have a host of Tolkein's other works squirrled away around the house, waiting in the que to be read. None, though including LOTR, capture the gentle beauty and power of The Hobbit. If I could explain the difference, the reason The Hobbit lives and LOTR entertains, I would be a novelist.

(And just for the record--my attempts to get jiggy with the family funds have failed.)

Stardust

A friend of mine used to have an old Irish proverb on his door: "Throw your cap over the wall." It really is kind of simple, clever. Once your cap is over you have no choice but to give climbing the wall a shot.

I watched Neil Gaiman's Stardust this weekend. Claire Danes was charming, fresh as Yvaine. And Charlie Cox was notably nondescript as Tristan Thorn. The plot moved nicely; the FX was not intrusive. Goldman and Vaughn captured the whimsically titled cosmos of The Wall.

Most importantly, though, the movie reminded me gently and consistently of an old notion: all that separates us from heroism is the willingness to step across the threshold. Of course, the guardian will warn us and maybe even do a double back flip to cut us off from crossing, but he is really no match for simple determination. Campbell explains it; Malory, White, Melville, Lucas, and a host of others illustrate the truth of it.

Gaiman's works capture, remind, teach. Caps are there to be tossed; walls are there to be crossed; naivete is the source of heroism.

Magneto - Legendary Scale Bust

But of course it's from Sideshow Collectibles. It is 'legendary'.

Distributor Sideshow Collectibles
Artists
Idol Workshop
Seth Rinaldi
The Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team
Size 13"H x 17"W x 7"D
Type Legendary Scale Bust
Release 4th Quarter 2010
Price $199.99

Zimm's Two Cents
Actually loving these pieces. If some of them were not so damn scary, I would have ordered them a while back. Okay, honestly. I couldn't afford them at the time.

Points in Favor

• Beautiful colors. Vibrant, crisp, and spot on.
• Loving the detail on the costume. If I remember correctly, his costume is composed of metal so that he always has a weapon on him.
• Great detail.

Points Against

• I wanted an angry face. While he looks to be using his powers, he has no expression whatsoever. Magneto is emotional.
• What is it with Magneto and dimple chins. Robert probably knows what artist started all of that.

Recommendation: Neutral on this one. I like it, but there is something about the face that doesn't set right with me. I should spend some time hunting down Apocalypse.

Another Trailer - Primal

Pro: Looks a little nerve racking in some parts.
Con: Another group of college students in trouble.
Pro: I'm not a college student, so I don't have to worry about these things.
Con: College students aren't that naive. At least, I hope they aren't.

Blackest Night: Black Hand

2nd bust in a mini-bust series based upon the Blackest Night series.

Distributor DC Direct
Designer Ivan Reis
Sculptor Jean St. Jean
Size 5.5"H
Type Bust
Release February 2011
Price $70.00

Zimm's Two Cents
I really enjoyed the Blackest Night series, and surprisingly enough, I am enjoying the Green Lantern character - something that I never did as a kid.

Points in Favor: Still enjoying the base.

Points Against

• All of the 'sketch' lines in the face, skull, and arms bother me.
• Colors aren't as vibrant as I would want. Black can still be vibrant.
• Never liked the whole "Bruce Wayne" skull thing. (Why green horns anyway?)

Recommendation: Passing on this one. Originally, I thought about getting the entire series; however, this piece really doesn't cut it for me. I am second guessing myself on that idea.

Junk for the Office: Runaway Mickey

and Julius Kubrick from Disney - a 2-pack action figure set.
Reaction: The only problem I have this is that someone is likely to take it. While you get a lot of comments and questions on where you got it, everyone would realize that they don't want to go to all of the trouble of ordering it.

And one night, they would simply disappear.

Are you willing to take the chance on losing $18.99 just to have these two characters on your desk?

Junk for the Office: Peter vs the Chicken

I am going to try and start another series of posts dedicated to junk you should consider for your office desk.

This isn't going to be stuff that I find on "Think Geek" - though they have some REALLY cool stuff.

Instead, this is stuff that I would want on my desk for some unknown reason or another. Something that I wouldn't mind losing or people playing with.

Or ... something that I would probably use to kill some work related time.

My first recommendation: Giant Chicken vs. Peter
Reason: The battles will wage on and on and hopefully through my next meeting.

Dungeonquest

For the last year, I have been reviewing, considering, and debating which RPG game I want to buy. Most of the time, I sadly realize that I have no one with which to play the game. At other times, I do not care.

I will find some new (or old) game either at the store or online, and then I spend a day or two researching and reading all about it. In a way, I make up for the lack of having any fellow gamers who would tolerate my learning curve or my creative questions that have nothing to do with the game.

Recently, I went so far as to buy three of the most recent DandD books - on clearance. They sit quietly on my shelf gathering dust. I figure the same thing will happen to Dungeonquest when I do buy it.

Honestly, I don't care.

A newer edition is coming out (Sept. 2010), and I loved the original. So.....here is to my purchasing Dugeonquest and never getting to play it.

Robert: Or I could lend you your favorite 6 year old niece to play it with you.... Just a thought. One of her other uncles was teaching her how to play World of Warcraft.

Sideshow Collectibles: Tooned Up Spike

Or 'Ultimate' Spike.

But of course - it's part of Buffy. We have to talk about it.

Distributor Sideshow Collectibles
Manufactured By Electric Tiki
Size 10" H
Type Polystone Statue
Release 4th Quarter 2010
Price $129.99

Zimm's Two Cents
And here I thought that they were only doing a few in this series.

Points in Favor

• It's part of a complete series.
• Boots. Very cool boots. Wonder what the niece thinks of these. If she doesn't like them, then I can't show her my boots.
• Smooth design.
  
• Great colors. Black and red. LOL
  

Points Against

• While the face fits the character, I like the friendlier Sideshow Exclusive Edition.

Recommendation: Buy. This entire series is worth collecting. Or am I giving it a 'buy' because it's Buffy. Probably.

Robert's Two Cents
Spike who? Buffy? He looks kinda like the guy who played Brainiac on Smallville or one of Captain Jack's former flames on Torchwood.

Points in Favor

• Seriously though, it looks cool. I would consider it myself even though I was never a fan of Buffy.
  
• This one looks more like the actual actor than any of the others even if it is a tooned up version.
  
• The boots and the jacket are very cool. They take me back to the 90s when all of the cool characters had a trench coat and lots of buckles.
  

Points Against

• I am not a Buffy fan. I just never got into it. I did buy the trades of the 8th series from Dark Horse, but I'm a huge Georges Jeanty fan.
  

Recommendation: Neutral. I like it but it's not my thing.

No Frackin Way! They did Iron Man too!

Robert's Two Cents: This is the best looking one actually so far. It may be a candidate for my 3 year old's room.

Trailer: Let Me In

Now this has all the markings of a good vampire movie!



So the question is: "Would you help the little girl? Would you let her in?"

Oh, by the way, I am loving the soundtrack.

Really? A White Violin Statue?

And she doesn't even come with a mini-violin or something else to try and entice you into buying it.

I know that Robert loves the series, so I had to post the pic. She is scheduled to be released October 2010 and is nicely priced at $119.99. (However, one site had her listed at $95.99).

Robert - start your googling.

If there is going to be a review and write up on this one, I am leaving it up to Robert.

I'm sure he is waiting on "Gorilla-Boy". LOL. I made a funny.

Robert: Ahem! It's Space Boy. Yeah, I'd wait for a Space Boy.

DragonCon 2010

Have you booked your trip?

Have you booked your hotel?

Have you even bought your tickets?!?!

Okay, Robert and I usually buy our tickets on Sunday, at the convention.

Now, Bayard has finally promised to visit my small little abode in Atlanta, yet the reason behind his visit is not necessarily to see my home - or to even visit me. No, no. His family has no interest in seeing what I have collected and/or done over the last 10 years. No.

Instead, he (and his family) are only thinking of themselves, and their chance of attending DragonCon!!!!! bum-bum-baaaaaaaa!

Note: Robert said that he may not be attending this year. BUMMER!

Robert: Zimm, is there going to be room at your house?

Sideshow Collectibles: Spider-Man

I'm a little late on this review, but I really had to give my two cents.

Distributor Sideshow Collectibles
Artists

• Adam Smith
• Ariel Olivetti
• Martine Canale
• Gore Group
• Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team

Size 24"H x 13"W x 17"L
Type Polystone Statue
Release 1st Quarter 2011
Price $349.99

Zimm's Two Cents
Once again - props to Sideshow.

Points in Favor

• The base on this one. Wait - does it have a base?
• The gargoyles that make up the base...or wall.
• The colors are AWESOME.
• Once again - Sideshow shows us why it is and always will be about the detail. The fingers. The wall. The back of the wall.
• It fits awesome with some of the other Sideshow pieces. (see below)
  

Points Against

• Can I afford it?

Recommendation
Hot Buy. Was there ever a doubt? I am not a Spider-Man nut, or I would get this one. Sadly, I have enough Spider-Man bust and statues for my collection. Or can you ever have enough of Spider-Man?

'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' Trailer HD

I was asked if this movie was based upon a comic book or graphic novel.

Has anyone seen Fantasia? With Mickey. The cartoon. Remember? (Robert: Not to mention the semi epic story by Goethe that the Fantasia bit was based on. Just sayin'.)



They even have the mop scene:

Sideshow Collectibles: Gandalf the Grey

I've been busy lately, and I haven't seen anything that has really knocked me off of my feet.

My bad. It has been out there.

I just haven't been looking. Take a gander at Gandalf! (I'm too funny.) (Robert: Not really, you're not)

Distributor Sideshow Collectibles
Artists

• Jeff Yagher
• David Igo
• Seth Rinaldi
• The Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team

Size 17.5"H x 10"W x 10"L
Type Polystone Statue
Release 2nd Quater 2011
Price $239.99

Zimm's Two Cents
Wow. Just....."wow".

Points in Favor

• The detail alone is amazing.
• Base ROCKS. (Yes, bad pun.)
• The colors are perfect!
• Have I mentioned the detail. Seriously. Look at the cane.

Points Against

• It would not match my collection.

Recommendation: This is a Hot Buy. If I had enjoyed the series, I would have already ordered this one. This one......or the Morgul Lord.

The Morgul Lord's base doesn't rock though. Bwahahahahahaha (Robert: Make it stop!)

Robert's Two Cents
Very nice...but I don't think I love it.

Points in Favor

• Great action pose.
• It looks like the Gandalf from the cartoons, the films, and my imagination all rolled up into one.
  
• Very nice sculpt and detailing.
  

Points Against

• I'm not loving the face.
• Like Zimm said, I'd have to completely redecorate.
• I'd like to see more movement in the hair considering how much movement the rest of the statue conveys.
  

Recommendation: Neutral I'm a LOTR fan, but I don't think I need a Gandalf statue. On the other hand, it's well sculpted and looks very much like the grey one himself and if I were to want something like this, I'd like this one.

What the.....Bobble Head Monster Mashups!?!

• Darth Vader Frankenstein
• Yoda a bloodthirsty gargoyle
• Stormtrooper Skeleton - I thought of a Zombie first. Click here to find out why.
• Chewbacca Wolfman

How did this come to be? (Both you and I ask.)

• Halloween
• Bobble Head
• Star Wars

Combine all 3 and you get the Star Wars Bobble Head Monster Mashups.

Knowing some Star War geeks personally, I figured that there are quite a few of these that will add these to their Halloween decorations.

Release Date Sept. 2010
Price $11.99

Apple not another PC

Bayard

My family is making a gradual--and expensive shift--to Apple. My son gave me his Sony MP3 when he got his iPod. My daughter opted for a Macbook to drive her Bamboo pad. And I am typing this post on my wife's abandoned and battered laptop that she replaced with a Macbook Pro.

Last night, I caught all three scanning our ATT account, counting the days until they can upgrade to the new iPhones. None of them even have the old iPhones.

Hopefully, Santa will spring for or show up with Macbook Airs for Christmas, so I can claim my daughter's discarded Macbook and join the Apple movement.

Zimm's Two Cents
This does not appear to be happening in one household; in fact, this appears to be a steady trend across the country.

For personal reasons, I bought Jamie a Macbook Air. He now complains about his PC desktop at home. As he sits and waits on updates, virus scans, and the system to finish processing everything else under the sun, he ponders the idea of a nice user-friendly iMac. (He has already picked out the one he wants.) Yet, his PC is not even a year or two old.

For business reasons, I bought him the iPad; however, I have been the one playing with it all weekend. I knew that this was a popular tool, but after reviewing at work the last few weeks and then playing with it this weekend, I started to realize that this is the future - this or renditions thereof.

Take a look at the Kno. Text books were already on the way out the door, but with the Kno they are truly dinosaurs - as is the Kindle. Amazon (and other sites) are already marking them down.

I'm sorry to say it, but once you have an iPad and played with it for a while, you will realize that this is the future. You will no longer need your PC or your laptop. You definitely don't need a Kindle or a netbook.

Netbook sales are on a nosedive, and I was one of the ones who bought one for my father-in-law this past Christmas. However, Jamie and I are already discussing an iPad for them this year. Anyone interested in an outdated netbook?

While this may be my first year of Apple purchases, I realize that this is only the beginning. I now understand the craze that surrounds their products. While PC focused on mass distribution, Apple focused on stability, reliability, and ease-of-use. Apple understands their customers.

And while Bayard's kids count the days to the iPhone, I count the days until the iPhone is offered via Verizon and/or T-Mobile.

What the....Kiss Mr. Potato Heads?

Oh - My - GOD!

Really? Reeeeeeaaaaalllyyyyy?

If I hadn't seen someone's collection of Mr. Potato Heads, I would have doubted the sanity behind these, but people will collect anything. Sadly, you could order them individually, if you want; however, I don't see the purpose behind that.

I think I am going to simply shake my head and call it a day on this one.

Wait. Wait a moment.

Look what else is out there - Iron Man: Tony Starch!

I'm done.

John Connolly

I have been devouring John Connolly novels.

Connolly walks a neat line between hard-boiled, straight-up noir and Dean Koontz horror. If he favors one of the two, it is the detective. He shys away from true horror at the last minute, side stepping the supernatural in favor of the macabre, the paranormal in favor of the demented.

His works remind me of the tie between the two, detective fiction and horror. They are siblings--products of a romantic vision of the world. At times, I would prefer something a bit darker and a bit less explained. As I have mentioned elsewhere, I appreciate Tolkein's and Gaiman's willingness to leave something unexplained, unexplored.

At times his characters are almost types, visiting his novels from a host of other works--films, stories, novellas, and novels. As with any noir fiction, posturing is inevitable. But Connolly never slips into parody or simplistic mimicry. Charlie Parker is distinct; he emerges as a round, complex character with a clear voice. And that in part, is Parker's draw.

Sometimes--sometimes--Parker's thoughts echo my own. (He drives a Mustang, wondering if it makes him feel 10 years younger or 10 years less mature. A distinction only a 40 something year old male would consider.) When I hear Parker give voice to my middle age follies, I flatter myself with the thought that I too could deal out some serious hurt on ghostly stalkers, trollish serial killers, and ghoulish assassins.

A good summer read.

Bayard

Ame-Comi: Jessi Quick as the Flash

Yet another one!

Distributor DC Direct
Sculptor Jack Matthews ... again
Size 9"H
Type PVC Statue
Release February 2011
Price $70.00

Zimm's Two Cents
I do enjoy this series. Ame-Comi does a good job on reinterpreting the characters.

Points in Favor

• Great Colors - but that tends to be standard with Ame
• I think my Niece would give up points for the boots, so I will for her.
• The hair - lightening bolts.
• I like the overall costume design.

Points Against

• Is that a natural poise?

Recommendation: Buy - definitely, a good buy. Especially if you collect the series.

As a side note: John Matthews is doing a good great in this series.

Robert's Two Cents
I love this series, but I don't like this one.

Points in Favor

• The shoes. They are great and perfect for SheFlash...I mean Jesse Quick.
  

Points Against

• The face is off. Almost plastic looking. No pun intended.
  
• Weird pose.
• I don't like the costume. It's a basic Flash rip off, which Jesse Quick is not.
• The costume is also generic off the shelf spandex, which Jesse Quick is not.
  

Recommendation: Pass - Just not feelin' it.

As a side note: John Matthews is doing a good great in this series.

Toy Story 3

Every Christmas, my wife recounts the story of the Christmas Eve we arrived in Nogales without presents. We fruitlessly hit every Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Toys-R-Us in Southern Arizona looking for a Buzz Lightyear to replace the one hidden at the top of our closet back home in Amarillo. Three viewings of Toy Story on the 'portable' TV/VCR during the 12 hour drive had reinforced the importance, significance, and magnitude of the gift.

We saw Toy Story with the twins when they were toddlers. Toy Story 2 came along with Kindergarten. And now that they are poised to start their junior year, Toy Story 3 has arrived. Of course we had to take them. Neither was keen to see the movie--having long ago passed the days of Disney rapture. (They now play Pokemon as a sort of a retro nod to their 'lost childhood'--read this voice of experience reflect on the bygone days of his youth.) But The Wife and I insisted. A mistake.

The movie, as with almost all of Pixar's work, is beautiful, thoughtful, moving. It is art. It continues to move Disney animation forward. It sets a bar that other studios (perhaps excluding only Miyazki) can only watch.

But--if you are a father facing an empty nest, if you took your children as toddlers to the previous two films, if you sifted through stacks of toys looking for the last Woody doll--DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. Don't do it to yourself.

You do not want to have to explain your teary eyes to two embarrassed teenagers. You do not want your wife looking at you with that kind of pity.

Take them all to Prince of Persia. The film sucks, it goes on and on, and you will never want to play another a video game. But you will not have to run to the bathroom to wipe your eyes and regain your composure.

And yes Zimm--apparently Disney does own me.

Bayard

Ame-comi - Duela Dent as the Joker

Sigh.

I am SO sorry. My current project hasn't really allowed or provided me with the opportunity to sit down and enjoy doing what I love to do. (e.g. Geek out and write.)

Though Bayard might debate the point on whether my scribbles actually equated to writing - which is why I never share any of my short stories with him.

Talk about a critic.

Oh, sorry. I forgot why we are here.

Ame-Comi Joker!!!!! Wahoo.

Distributor DC Direct
Sculpted by Jonathan Matthews
Size 9.25"H
Type PVC Statue
Release February 2011
Price $70.00

Zimm's Two Cents
DC already nailed this one: "Steam & Sass." "...futuristic Victorian vixen attire."

I would say, "Ame-Comi, Steampunk, Joker - Oh MY!"

Points in Favor

• Steampunk style
• Great - INCREDIBLE Colors
• Lots of detail. Serioiusly - look at the costume.
• Steampunk Goggles - I want a pair, and I plan on finding a pair at DragonCon.

Points Against

• PG-13 Costume

Recommendation
Must Have! Definitive HOT BUY!

The only thing that will top this piece is that if someone actually wears it at DragonCon.

Hint, hint to whoever may be listening. Hello, DragonCon!!!!!!



Robert's Two Cents
Two words: Awe Some! This is sweet. It's the right balance of naughty and nice.

Points in Favor

• I could totally see someone wearing this costume to a con.
  
• They've nailed the spirit of the Joker while not making it the Joker in drag.
  
• I'm with Zimm. I love the goggles.

Points Against

• OK, I don't love the shoes. Still they are reflective of the Steampunkish style of the whole piece.
• $70 is getting a bit pricy.
  

Recommendation
Hot Buy! I may have to end my spending freeze to get this one.