Sunday, November 21, 2010

You are the wind beneath my nightwings

Quick superhero toy update: For quite some time now I wanted a new Nightwing figure for my Batman display. The one I had was the Superman/Batman DC Direct figure based on the art of Ed McGuinness.

And he looked like this:



As I said before, I like Ed McGuinness style for some characters, but I don't think it particularly works for everybody. The second after I bought this figure I regretted it, 'cause Nightwing (in my geeky mind) is not a super muscular guy, he's more like an acrobat. Plus, I didn't buy (and never will) an Ed McGuinness Batman figure, so Nightwing was actually bigger than Batman and that makes no sense. NO SENSE I TELL YOU!!!

My wife tries to tell me these are not real people, so I shouldn't care that much... I know, she's crazy, right?

The Nightwing I really wanted was the one that came with the Hush series 2 in 2004, but that figure was so good that sold out quickly and I couldn't find it anywhere in Argentina. The only time I saw it on sale was incredibly expensive. So I had to pass. And wait.

This year, DC Direct decided to reissue that figure (along with the First Appearance Nightwing from 2005) for a series of two-packs called DC Origins. And buying those two figures was actually cheaper than getting the original 2004 Hush NIghtwing. The rest, as they say, is math...



Both figures were repainted with the metallic colors DC Direct discovered recently (they think that by using those color we forget that these are actually used sculpts, no DC Direct, we don't forget). But in a character like Nightwing, I think the shinny paint is kinda cool.



This is the Nightwing I won't be using for the Batman display. He's wearing the original costume, and for a while, in the 90s I thought that costume was cool. Why? Basically, because it wasn't his old Robin costume with the pixie boots and green speedos. So, a bag of potatoes would have been a cooler costume than that (for a guy in his mid-20s or so).

Still, I like this figure, because it's silly, and it's smiling and has an almost innocent feel to it. Not a bunch of articulation, but stands well on it's own and that's all I really care. No issues with the paint either.



Now, this is the figure I wanted. I really like this costume and Tim Gunn approved it too, so, hey, if Tim Gunn says it's OK, then who am I to argue? The figure is basically one color except for the face and the light blue stripe. The sculpt is great, but now he's a serious, serious guy. The paint is quite accurate, but not perfect, and that's a shame. But he still looks great.

Dc Direct is not announcing a lot of things that interest me, so I'll continue to cherry pick their lines as I cherry pick most of my toys... Hmm now I want cherries... Cherries were not my favorite fruit when I was a kid... But well, time changes us... And speaking of that:



Until next time.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Dunny by artist: Zukaty

Bad news everyone: I caved in and started to buy another line. Like Action League before this and MOTUC before that and Super Hero Squad before that and Futurama before that and JLU before that and TMNT before I even knew I was collecting toys. OK, OK, considering my personal history, I can't really say this is "news", but it certainly is "bad"...

I just got sucked in another money-wasting-nerve-wrecking-blind-boxed toy line: Dunnys

It all started with George Gaspar's Skull Dunny and continued with other random figures until I decided to start getting them in a more build-a-collection way. I don't pretend to be a completist, that is impossible, there are millions and millions of Dunnys out there. What I'll do is try to get Dunnys done by specific artists (both official and custom). I'll try to be a completist with the regular ones: I.E. every dunny by Doktor A or Frank Kozik.

But today I'll show an awesome custom created by UK based artist Paulo a.k.a. Zukaty. Some time ago, he decided to recreate the (almost) complete Dunny 2010 series. Here's the result:



All of these are great, but since the beginning of his quest (posted in the October Toys Forum), the one I really wanted was the Poison Dunny. And guess what?



After sending him a mail, I got what I wanted!



It looks great, and it is just a fun concept. The sculpted parts look good and he was able to be very accurate with the paint in a very small scale. It's a simple design but incredibly effective, proof that you don't need to be over complicated as long as you can create something truly original. Zukaty did.



When I saw it, the "Final Condiment" line made me laugh out loud, that's because the original Dunny used to create this one is the Ketchup (or Sket-chup) Dunny by Sket-One.



There's also a Sweet Relish Dunny, a Mustard Dunny and a Mayo Dunny (And no, I'm not joking here people). But it doesn't end here, you see, Paulo didn't just send me the Dunny, he went the distance and included a mini canvas original painting.



Why did he do this if I only wanted the Dunny? Because he's an awesome guy, that's why.

Zukaty is selling the rest of his creations here. Check them out before they are gone!

I'll start posting more Dunnys soon, but first I have some superhero toys, more customs and a ton of MOTUC posts to go. Busy busy busy.

Until next time.

Monday, November 15, 2010

The adventures of Tiger Batman around the World - Part II

Hey everybody! I'm back from my honeymoon, and do you know what that means?

Yes, more Tiger Batman around the World pics for you!

This time I went to my neighbor country of Uruguay and two cities: Montevideo (the Capital) and Punta del Este (roughly translated as Eastern Point, a coast city). I love this country very much as I spent several summers with my family there.

There's not a lot of pics because, well, it was my honeymoon dammit!



Tiger Batman and the four meat mistery dish in the Hotel Buffet with Montevideo in the background. Holly Cholesterol Batman!



Tiger Batman in the Punta del Este pier, the high season is yet to begin so, not a lot happening right now, but imagine this filled with luxury yatchs I'll never be able to afford.



Tiger Batman and the pool of our Hotel, not too shabby I must say...



And finally, Tiger Batman and the Drowning Man's hand in Punta del Este. You can't save everybody Batman!

There was also a pic of Tiger Batman and the Casino Slot Machine that was avoided by Casino Security. My hysterical screams that he was the Goddam Batman, therefore, not a threat to the Casino didn't impress them at all. I still won a shit load of money, just to show them.

I'll resume regular posting on the blog now that the wedding is done.

Until next time.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Spooky Halloween post is not spooky and late

Hello guys and girls. First of all I want to apologize for not posting anything in the last month. The fact is (here's where I open my life to you oh anonymous Internet crowd), I'm getting married tomorrow. And planning the party (that's happening this friday, baby) was terrible. I had to order a whole crate of Soylent green and also had to buy some plutonium from some Lybian terrorist (we can't get plutonium in any corner drugstore like in 1985, y'know?) and also bringing that Goddamn Bruce Wayne back to the present so he can attend. It's really hard work, let me tell you.

But after this, everything will be good and back to (almost) normal.

I wanted to make a Halloween post so, today I'll be reviewing The Mummy from the Universal Monsters line...



Hey. Wait a minute... That's not the Mummy... Wait here, I have to go slap an intern.

...

(Slap!)

OK, I'm back. So, like I said, today I'll be reviewing Negative Man from DC Universe Classics wave 13.



This figure is simple, the base buck with a few minor alterations and new head and hands. Negative man had to use the bandages because he was radioactive (like that plutonium I mentioned, and you thought I was rambling). I love the Doom Patrol, being kinda freaky myself I just love the idea of weird and strange looking heroes defending a world that fears them while taking orders from a guy in a wheelchair... Yep that doesn't sound familiar at all.



Jokes aside, I love this group (and yes, they were created before the X-Men), I thank Mattel for the chance to get them in figure form for the first time. Now all I need is a C&C Elasti-girl and a Chief in wheelchair. And I'd like to point out that if I don't get them I'll be pretty pissed off.

I hope that the inclusion of the Doom Patrol in Batman: The Brave and the Bold boosts the chances of a complete Doom Patrol soon.



By the way, if you're not watching Batman: The Brave and the Bold, do it. It's awesome!

In conclusion, Negative Man is a nice figure, simple and to the point. On his own is not mind blowing, but as a potential part of the Doom Patrol he's great!

Oh, and for those of you who asked (nobody really asked), here's a Halloween joke with an obscure reference for you!



Until next time.