Well I'll be

LOOK WHAT I FOUND AT TRU:


FINALLY. A year and a half later, these have finally started showing up at retail. I still need Dent, Two-Face and Survival Suit Wayne to complete the series. The one good surprise is that Battle Damaged Batman's eyes glow blue, not green-- a nice touch. The Joker bazooka is just one flimsy piece of plastic that doesn't shoot anything.

I called 3 other TRUs in the area to see if they had any in stock, and-- of course-- no one knew what I was talking about. I think perhaps this weekend I'll go on a big hunt to find the rest. Here's hoping!

Retro Action Real Ghostbusters?!

Huh.

Well, it looks like one of Mattel's big reveals at SDCC (though I'll qualify this by saying that they haven't officially released this info yet) will be 8" Retro Action Real Ghostbusters figures. It appears, from the photo, that it has a voice function, but I can't see any proton pack or accessories or anything. The other Mego-style figures Mattel is producing come with accessories, so I suppose there is hope. Interesting. I like the look of the package, though, as it truly does capture the look of the old RGB cards. The figure itself, however, does not really look like animated Peter.

But the Mego Toy Company produced this type of figure during the 1970's, and filed for bankruptcy in 1982-- a whole 4 years before the RGB began. So why would a 1970's style be used for a late 80's show? It doesn't make sense to me.

While I will gladly have any sort of Real Ghostbusters product, I just don't quite get this one.

So on the 19th I will hopefully have my 12" movie Venkman safely ordered. I'm afraid this is going to be the figure everyone wants, even if they don't care about Ghostbusters or haven't been collecting the line. If I lose him to some rando on the intertubes, I will be quite annoyed. I bet the eBay prices for this particular one will be absurd. We'll see.

A day of ghosts

Well, finally, all of my recent online winnings and purchases have arrived! Let's right into it, shall we?


Ghostbusters Minimates Series 3: Pictured are the two Scolari Brothers packs because those are the shortpacked ones from most TRU shipments. I managed to score these online, and they were sold out ONE DAY LATER. Sadly, I think the scalpers got most of them. I also got the other 2 packs and the video game assortment, but the photo didn't turn out and I am feeling lazy. Suffice it to say that Egon comes with a GIGA meter, World of the Psychic Peter comes with a hairless cat, and Vigo is just awesome (plus comes with an extra demon head).

Slimer from the 2nd wave of RGB ghosts (circa 1988) with the red variant proton pack: there are 2 versions of this guy, one with a blue proton pack and one with red. The blue one is the only one in all of the promo pics, so I was pretty excited to get the red one. Either way, though, this was another GB toy my cousin had that I always coveted. How could I not? It's Slimer! The package is a little beat up, though, with a dent/crack in the bubble and one corner slightly detached, but I think it's good enough for display purposes. Part of me really wants to open him up, but I've transformed into one of those weird MOC people... at least for the vintage carded things I own.

I also got the zombie monster, the only classic monster figure we didn't have as kids. His package is in pretty good shape, which is nice since I paid a whopping $6 for him. That's actually only a dollar more than what he would have cost in 1988. Awesome.

Finally, I have completed the Gobblin' Goblins series by finally getting Nasty Neck. I did open him up but forgot to take a picture, so you get the stock photo of his packaging! This was a good find, too. I had a saved search on eBay for him, and he was the only one (aside from a Buy It Now from someone who thinks he's worth $50... nope).

As far as toys go, the Gobblin' Goblins are pretty useless (though Terror Tongue is pretty great). Nasty Neck's action feature is that he becomes tall, and "towers over the hero!" Despite that, I love the way they're designed. I guess "useless" is the wrong word, since all of these wonderful things I have are useless. Maybe I mean... they don't really do anything, and the things that they do are... lame. There, that's the word. Lame.


So there you have it: my new material possessions that bring me joy and love me when no one else will! (Just kidding, I swear I'm normal.) Which actually reminds me, I find it interesting that any time my friends come over (none of whom collects toys, by the way), they make a bee-line for the collection and stare at it, or pick stuff up and play with it a little bit, while my brother (who DOES collect toys, but not really in the same hardcore way that I do) only makes fun of me. Maybe my friends aren't comfortable making fun of me? Or maybe they, somewhere deep down, think it's a little bit cool? I don't know. I don't care, either. I love this goofy hobby. :)

New York Toy Fair 2010

I've been lamenting the Ghostbusters line for a little while now, which is sad considering how excited I was just one year ago. Don't get me wrong; I am super happy to be getting these toys, since I've loved Ghostbusters my entire life. But I feel justified in my disappointment, because there is just so much I thought would be happening that is not happening.

To sum up NY Toy Fair: Peter will come with another Slimer figure (licking his lips instead of smiling), and the next new figure in the line (coming in... July? August? I don't know) will be Ray, again, wearing his gray lab coat from the original "commercial." He comes with the "ghost sniffer" and a translucent ghost that comes flying out the subway after the containment unit explodes. (All photos come from that link above, Cool Toy Review.)

I like this variant, I like the ghost (a lot) and I like the accessory. It's just... that's it? Already? We've gotten 2 slimed variants, 2 Slimers and Ray wearing his lab coat. Where's everyone else? Does this likely mean that after lab coat Ray, we'll be getting lab coat everyone, every other month, all the way until spring of next year? I'm sorry, that's really disappointing.

Sigh. I really like the ghost though. THAT's the direction I want the line to go in: movie-accurate ghosts reminiscent of the old RGB toy ghosts. So for that, Mattel, I thank you. I just wish you'd hurry the hell up and start making the characters you should be making.

They also showed Walter Peck with the containment unit. I'm excited about this, but the only real "news" about it is that it looks like he may come with a non-opening trap that fits in the unit. More traps = good. I won't complain.

Finally, unrelated to Ghostbusters, DC Direct showed their upcoming Batman: Reborn series 1 figures, and they look super cool. Azrael looks pretty fantastic, and the Jason Todd Batman looks awesome too. However, they showed him without the lower cowl facemask, and instead he's got a bit of a semi-evil, semi-goofy smile. I liked the face mask more, so maybe there will be exchangeable heads. They also look like they've got a bunch of accessories, which is a plus. I'm excited for these.

So there you have it. New York Toy Fair 2010: highlighted by the blue subway ghost coming with a Ray variant. I want Mattel to blow me away with these, and they are not. Oh well. I'll get them, and I'll enjoy getting them, but there's so much less to look forward to than I was hoping.

Post-Christmas

Man, I've gotten pretty bad about keeping up with my blogging! I apologize again, as my excuses will have become stale at this point.

So let's see. First, my new toys! My Christmas was a good one, including (from my fiancee) season 1 of the Real Ghostbusters on DVD (she's awesome), and Matty's 12" Egon and 6" Winston from my brother. Egon's headsculpt is miles beyond Ray's, and his uniform is crisper and fits the body better. His skin tone is a little weird, though, and he sort of looks like his liver is failing. The PKE meter is great though, and he and Ray look good together. Winston is fantastic; the face is a great likeness, and I really like the trap. I wish these figures all came with traps (remember the good old days, when a GB figure came with a weapon AND a ghost? Sigh) or something else, but it's okay. I like these figures a bunch, and they go pretty well with...

ZUUL!
Damn, was this expensive. But if you look way back, you'll see I considered getting him (er... her) for $60 off of amazon.com. Well, I paid about $25 more than that (damn supply and demand) now that the NECA toys are even hotter commodities, which isn't TOO bad. A NECA terror dog can easily fetch $100+, and ToyWiz has one available on their site for an easy $175. No thanks. It's an outstanding figure though. My only regret, now that it seems I'm a MOCer (for the rare stuff) is that I can't take her out to make her eyes light up. Or to battle the 3 GB's I have. But I'll survive.

My Ghostbuster armada has also doubled, now that the Ecto-3 and the Ecto-Bomber have arrived! I now officially own all of the vehicles we did not have as kids (meaning Ecto-1, Ecto-2, the Ghost Sweeper and the Highway Haunter). I recently saw the one (that's right, one) episode in which the Ecto-Bomber appears (more than anyone can say for any Ecto above 2, I guess) and it looked pretty goofy. It's really fun to play with, though, and (of course) I got both of these vehicles still factory sealed in their boxes. The Bomber was a complete steal though, as I got it for $25-- usually they are $100+ too. Woohoo.

Now, onto musings about the action figure world. Diamond Select recently revealed their wave 3 of GB minimates, and they look awesome (there's even a Vigo!). While I'm happy about it, in a way it merely points out how much potential the 6" Mattel line has and how it is being effectively squandered. Where's my Vigo the Carpathian + Janosz box set, complete with replica empty painting? Where are the slime blowers, the other ghosts, anything? Bleh. Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose. Walter Peck is coming out in March, so that's the next time I'll order something from Matty. Speaking of that...

All of the Movie Masters TDK figures have sold out from Mattel's website, which makes me slightly nervous that I won't be able to find these at retail. Unlikely, but I'm sticking to my guns about it. $15 + $8 shipping is too much.

Okay, time for bed. I'll try to be better about updating henceforth.

My recent acquisitions

It has been quite the last month for me in terms of toy collection. I can't believe I haven't updated in a month, either; so here's a rundown of my new things, my thoughts on them, and anything else.

1. Ghostbusters minimates

Not two days ago, while in the comic shop in Winston Salem (I was out of town for work stuff), I stumbled upon the series 2 pack, as well as the PX exclusive GB2 Ray + glow in the dark Slimer. I was super excited, and that makes my minimates collection almost complete. All I need is the SDCC Venkman/glowing Stay Puft (the Amazon game pack doesn't excite me too much, though I LOVED the game) and that'll be it until series 3 comes out. Woo.

2. DCUC Wave 10

I know this photo has my albino Man-bat in it, so just picture him as an all-black Michael Keaton-esque Batman with a batarang and bat-puter. I love these figures. The brown Man-bat is nowhere near the quality of the albino, but I guess that's to be expected since one was an exclusive and the other a mass market repaint. The Joker, complete with his accessories (cane, mallet, cards, joker fish?!), was originally a pass for me, but then I saw him and had to get him. He's awesome. I was so excited when I found these at Walmart.

3. RGB Slimed Heroes

Last time I updated, I insinuated I'd be after the remaining Slimed Heroes figures I didn't pick up. Well, I succeeded. They are, of course, awesome, and adorn the wall adjacent to my shelf. The others I got are in great shape, and I got them for a great price off eBay. I was planning on going after (quite possibly) the original series, but that all changed when I stumbled upon my next acquisition...

4. HOT TOYS POLICE JOKER

Remember when I was at that WS comic shop? I also happened to ask if they had the new Joker in stock. Unbelievably, they did. I took one look at him and thought "pre-order be damned" (side note: I pre-ordered from Toy Rocket, who is now bankrupt, with an old credit card that no longer works... so I feel okay). This figure is without a doubt the greatest figure I own, and have ever seen. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. The box is a work of art in itself. The accessories are amazing (the pistol has a removable clip, and cocks; the knife is retractable and can clip onto his pockets [his pockets are real pockets!], and the grenades have to be pinned to his coat using tiny, real clothespins). The stand has working spotlights that can be adjusted to shine perfectly on him. I've never seen anything like it. In fact, hilariously enough, I find myself staring at him and shaking my head in disbelief. It really is that good.

There's... so many.

So awesome.

Movie Masters return??

Wow, it's been forever since I updated! I blame going to California for a month with bad Internet access.

Apparently, last night, Mattel announced that the DK Movie Masters figures will be returning to retail as a TRU exclusive, but will also be sold online at their website for a reduced price of $15. I'm really quite conflicted about this. A $5 reduction in price + $8 in shipping is still a lot to pay for these figures, and the fact that they'll be at retail makes me want to hunt for them next spring. But I remember quite vividly how horrible it was trying to find new MM figures, until suddenly they were unloaded at Big Lots for an absurd price. It was a nightmare. Add into that equation the fact that they're an exclusive line (and there's only 2 TRU's within an hour of me), it may well end up that these are impossible to find again.

They also are keeping the Joker as Gotham Thug figure as an online exclusive, probably as a last-ditch attempt to sell him out (now that he'll be the "rare" one) because he's been e-pegwarming for the last month. Something just sort of stinks here. It seems that now I've got the hedge against finding them at retail and order them online, but if they show up and overflow at TRU, then I wasted my money on all that shipping. If I don't get them online but are impossible to find in the real world, then I've missed my chance to get them. Ugh. Perhaps what I'll do is just get a couple of them at a time when a new Ghostbusters figure is released, and whichever ones I don't get, I'll hunt for.

Anyway, enough of that. I'll put up some photo updates of stuff I've gotten in the last month (namely, the Matty Ghostbuster stuff. Which is AWESOME).