Good Things Coming Out of Blackest Night

I haven't made it a secret that I don't care for the current direction of the Green Lantern titles. Also, I haven't had any interest in the return of the Barry Allen Flash. However, I love this new t-shirt. It's the Blue Lantern Flash logo.

DC Comics Blue Lantern Flash T-Shirt DC Comics Blue Lantern Flash T-Shirt This is an officially licensed DC Comics t-shirt in which these DC Comics shirts have been screen printed with an official DC Comics image on the front. These DC Comics tshirts are usually made from heavyweight preshrunk 6oz. cotton tee shirt blanks. Check back often for some of our new DC Comics clothing and other DC Comics merchandise at great prices only at - www.StylinOnline.com.

It's sharp and I want one.

Shazam! Maquette Statue

From the "Superman/Shazam: Return of Black Adam" DVD, DC Direct offers up Shazam!

Distributor DC Direct
Sculptor Derek Miller
Size 9"H
Type Maquette Statue
Release November 2010
Price $99.99

Zimm's Two Cents
What is it about these Maquette pieces that I like so much? Robert probably knows better then I do.

Points in Favor

• Colors. Great colors.
• Cape is awesome. I like how it flows.

Points Against

• It's Shazam. I'm not a big fan. You have to understand.
• Seems incredibly simple - even for a Maquette.
• Hair looks to be painted on.

Recommendation: Pass. Not because I am not a fan. I have bought a plenty of statues and busts of characters that I don't like, but I have to like the work.

Robert's Two Cents
I really like the balance between simplicity and detail of most of the DC maquettes. This one missed that mark.

Points in Favor

• The colors are nicely done.
  

Points Against

• The cape should have the detail at the edges and is not posed for a semi iconic piece. His cape should be too short to wrap around him like that.
  
• The hairline looks more like Black Adam than Captain Marvel.
• The seam on his chest is too thick. Am I picking nits? Probably.
• I'm not even sure they got his boots right.
• He should have more of a Fred MacMurray look to his face.
  

Recommendation: Pass. I like Captain Marvel. I'm not his number one fan, but I enjoy the character. His cartoon was on the air when I was a kid. He's an interesting character. One of the things that make the Big Red Cheese interesting is he's a kid, but he has all of this responsibility and power on his shoulders. Can you imagine? I can't.

This piece doesn't look like Captain Marvel to me. It's more of a Superman pose with the Captain Marvel costume. This character has a very iconic look and this piece doesn't fit that look to my eye.

What the .... A Snuggy for Geeks?

I never wanted one of these. I still don't think I want one.

BUT - you have to give them credit. How often do you see an item perfectly tailored for the geek. The individual most likely to spend half - if not all - of his day playing a video game, reading, watching a movie, or configuring his RPG character.

I wonder which ones they will release next. You have to wonder.

Robert: I may need to get the one on the right for my 3 year old and take lots of pictures for future blackmail material. I wonder if my mother-in-law lets my father-in-law wear the Snuggie we bought him last year?

Ame-Comi - Series 2: Wonder Woman

Okay, I've been busy.  I guess we all have been a tad bit busy.  School starting and all.  I will try to make some of it up, but you know how it goes.  

Distributor DC Direct
Sculptor Sam Greenwell
Size 5"h
Type PVC Mini Figure
Release April 2011
Price $49.99
Sale $39.99 

Zimm's Two Cents
I bought my sister-in-law the Wonder Woman from the first series, and the piece was AWESOME..  (You have to say 'awesome' in an awesome way.)  Only hard part was trying to figure out how to put the sword on.

Points in Favor

• Great addition to the series
• Always great colors with Ame-Comi.  (Ame-Comi don't make me eat my words.)
• Still has the great swordMini-Figures = Smaller but Affordable.
• I think Sam Greenwell has done some great pieces.  I think there is some research required.

Points Against

• In relation to other Ame-Comi pieces, this one doesn't have much wrong with it.

Recommendation:  Buy it - and put it next to your other Wonder Woman.

Oh Yeah! A Nerf Sniper Rifle!

Once again: "Where were these toys when I was a kid?" 

35 Five Foot Range.   You could sit on the roof of your house and pick off your older brother in his "I am so special" convertible.  

Well, okay, I would have used a paint gun if I would have had one.  Right when he was heading out to hang out with his friends.  By the time he figures out where you're at, you could have popped a few more at him and the freshly washed car.   Oh yeah!  

If you think about it, you're going to get in trouble one way or another, so you might as well make it worthwhile. 

But back to the Nerf Longstrike Sniper Rifle.  Definitely my kindof a Nerf gun.  This - or the Nerf Vulcan Automatic Heavy Blaster.

So, I guess the real question is:  Do I buy this for the neighbors?  They have already hinted at a water balloon battle.   Do they not know what they are getting into?  Seriously!?!

......time to look up the balloon launcher.....

What the .... Batman Funko Force ?!

Like the Blammoids weren't bad enough?  Now we have these 3.5" tall creatures from some "creative development team".

WHO, exactly, is their target audience?  Where and why did someone even create these things?

Apparently, I'm not the only one to spot these damn things, but I may be the only one who wonders what the frack is going on. 

• PopHate (which seems to be a tad bit harsh) seems to actually like them. 
• Entertainment Earth is actually trying to sell them for $7.99 a character. 
• While Comics Alliance is shilling them for Entertainment Earth. 

After actually seeing Boba Fett Computer Sitter Bobble Head at work, I shouldn't say a thing.

Bishoujo Emma Frost

I was looking for something different - other then a statue, and I kept coming back to this one.

Distributor Kotobukiya
Artist ???
Type Bishoujo Statue
Size 8" Tall
Release December 2010
Regular $59.99
Sale $49.99

Zimm's Two Cents
I think the Batgirl was the first Bishoujo that I really liked, but I'm getting a kick out of this one. Also, she is not as 'trampy' as some of the other Emma Frost's statues out there.

Points In Favor

• Price. With the economy the way it is, people may be able to handle the $50 a little easier; thus, it makes this one a good gift.
• Good colors - especially with the shades of blue and gray to contrast the white.
• Don't mind the face or hair.
• It's a good pose. I'm tired of all the same poses and facial expressions.

Points Against

• That's a base?
• Not really a statue for the younger X-Men fans.

Recommendation: For the price point, it's a buy. If you do buy it for the younger fan, just wait a while to give it to them.

Robert's Two Cents
At first my hangup was the "floozy factor", but actually after reflecting a bit, it's not that bad and there pieces where Emma Frost looks more like a hooker than she does here.

I think I actually like this one. They've done a good job integrating her two classic looks. There's the Hellfire Club Emma frost wearing a bustier, panties, boots, and a cape. And there's the X-Men Emma Frost where she basically almost looks like a street walker with the white too low cut pants and corresponding top with white lip stick.

Points In Favor

• The lip stick color. I hate the white lip stick that Emma Frost wears these days. Nothing says hooker like white lip stick.
• Her face. They made her look appropriately japanimation enough, but with her curled brow they kept her dark side. There is just enough balance of detail and cartoony to make the face work.
  
• While lacking the finer detail of a Bowen statue, the hair is nicely posed and conveys the movement this piece calls for.
  
• The pose is a classic Emma Frost pose without being an over used tired pose. I'm not sure what she's doing with her left hand, but then she does the same thing in the comics.
• The clothes, while trampy, are a good blend of her two looks. The boots and the bustier are definite throwbacks to what she wore when as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club and the pants and jacket are from her current look. The gloves, jacket/cape, and boots help make the transition between the two eras of her career.
  

Points Against

• I don't think I could carry it to the office, nor should it be in a room where my kids will be. But that's Emma Frost for you.
  

Recommendation: It's a Buy. I like it. I

Bronze Superman

Distributor DC Direct
Sculptor Unknown
Size 10"
Type Bronze Statue
Release August 2010
Price $400.00 Sale $339.00

Zimm's Two Cents
I've been looking for a Superman piece, and I have been looking for a 'solid bronze' piece.  This 'kills two birds with one stone.'

Points in Favor

• Solid Bronze is guaranteed to go up in value. 
• I like the rendition of superman.  Clap flapping and on the verge of taking to the sky.
• Little details always make the statues - and the wrinkles in his clothing are part of it.
• No painting was done, as all of the coloring and shades are left to the bronze.

Points Against

• Pricey - but it is solid bronze.  So well worth it in the long run.
• DC Direct does love simple bases.

Recommendation:  Hot Buy. It is both a good rendition of Superman and a piece that will go up in value.  Can't really miss on this one.

Apocalypse Supergirl Maquette

Based upon the Superman / Batman: Apocalypse DVD, this looks to be another great piece from DC Direct.

Distributor DC Direct
Sculptor Phil Ramirez
Type Statue
Size 11.25"
Release September 2010
Price $99.99

Zimm's Two Cents
Surprisingly, DC Direct has done several really good Supergirl statues, and this looks to be another one. However, this is the second strong statue from DC Direct.

Points in Favor.

• Like the colors - but they didn't do anything beyond the DVD.
• Unique pose. Its always nice to see something different.
• Based on the DVD, I like the face and hair of this character.
• Really clean sculpt.

Points Against

• Bland Base

Recommendation: Buy. I like this take of Supergirl, and I hope that they do a few more from this DVD. Or have they done some and I have missed them.

Hmmmm - time for some research.

Robert's Two Cents
Really sharp. It's clearly from the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse which is an adaptation of the comic, Superman/Batman: Supergirl with art by Michael Turner.

Points in Favor.

• It's simple...in a good way. Not over done. Very nice.
  
• Great pose. It's a tribute to the cover of her first appearance Action Comics #252
  

Points Against

• I don't have anything. The base is plain, but that's intentional. All of the maquettes based on the DC DVDs has the same plain base.
  

Recommendation: HOT BUY! This is probably the best Supergirl in years. I have the Kotobukiya Supergirl with the same costume and the difference is that one is a bit on the sleazy side, but this one is more tasteful. It was a great redesign when Michael Turner did it and I think it works even better here.

Vintage Marvel Lamps

Now this is the lamp that you should own! A vintage Spider-Man or Iron Man lamp! They even have a vintage look - except for maybe the stand.

Wait! Hold on!

$77.99! What the frack!!!!!

I think I could build my own 'vintage' lamps for a quarter of one of these. You're call though. Not sure which one I would choose though.

Hmmmm.

Dc Bishoujo: Batgirl

Are you tired of the statue reviews? I thought that I was, and then I stumbled upon this Bishoujo Batgirl Kotobukiya Japanese import. I had to comment.

Distributor DC Direct
Artist Shunya Yamashita
Sculpted by Atelier Bamboo
Type Statue
Size 9"H
Release Dec 2010
Price $59.99 (or for sale $43.99)

Zimm's Two Cents
This is a cool piece - a very nice piece. Look at it.

Points in Favor

• The colors are fantastic. Not simply great - but fantastic.
• Her ears are fun. Something you would almost expect from a teenage girl copying Batman.
• Excellent toolbelt, with some great gold coloring.
• What a pose! Look how the cloak highlights the pose! NICE.
• Great face. Her eyes are even glancing right at you.
• Detailed hands and gloves.
• And I haven't even mentioned the gargoyle, the lack of a 'true base', and her hair.

Points Against

• Can she really fight with that wedgy? (Click here to see what I mean.)

Recommendation: HOT BUY! For the price and simple detail, this is a definitive Batgirl for any collection. Even mine. LOL

Robert's Two Cents
Is that Batgirl or Buttgirl? Sorry! Couldn't help myself.

Points in Favor

• Nice "base"!
  
• The did a great job with the mask. I love the mask. It's almost helmet like. I almost believe it might protect her from a hit.
  
• I love the paint job. the costume almost has a clothlike texture.
  
• The hair is very believable.
  
• Overall it very much looks like the Barbara Gordon Batgirl.
• I love the belt.
• Batgirl from the TV show was one of my first TV crushes.
  

Points Against

• I'm with Zimm. Does Batgirl patrol commando style? It would seem so. This isn't necessarily a point against, but it's distracting.
  

Recommendation: HOT BUY! Me like!

Geek Geer

Finding some really cool stuff this month and working on writing up the posts to show you.

However - I stumbled across these t-shirts, and I really got a kick out of them.

Sometimes, the coolest part of wearing these type of shirt (or seeing someone wear a this type of shirt) is the fact that only you (or a fellow geek like you) can truly appreciate them.

Batman, Wolverine, Superman, and the other main stream hero t-shirts are a 'dime-a-dozen'.

These......only a geek would appreciate.  Only a geek would wear.