Howdy howdy!  Welcome to another edition of the Super Powers Highlight.  Today I’ll be focusing on one of the latest additions to my collection, the Firestorm 33-back carded sample used at Toy Fair in 1986 to sell that year’s product to retailers.

This also debuts a kind-of change for the highlight.  I have so many things to showcase that I’m being daunted a bit on coming up with a lot of text for each article.  I’ve decided that it’s easier to just caption the pictures and take as many pictures as I can.  If there’s anyone still reading my blogs, please pipe up if you like, dislike or have a different suggestion that would allow me to blog more with less effort yet still remain entertaining and informative.  I’d certainly appreciate it.

Now, on to the subject-at-hand…

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I must start this with saying the questions asked were extremely biased upon what I wanted to know in regards to DC Direct and possible future product offerings. And that this report is based upon the notes I took and my memory, so there is some paraphrasing. With that out of the way…

The promotion for the White Lantern Hal Jordan figure was interesting to say the least. You had to line up in one location and buy the figures in another. I went to both places twice before I got my figures. But I did get them.

The Graphitti Designs booth was right across the isle from the DC Booth and in one corner of the DC Booth was a massive display of DC Direct product. There too, was Georg Brewer (GB). I introduced myself, Erik ‘superfriend’ Skov (ES) of ActionFigureInsider.com. "If you have a few minutes, Daniel Pickett has some questions he would like me to ask you." "Sure."

Actually, Daniel had only given me one question. DP: "What is the future of DC Direct?" Meaning: How is your team impacted by the recent announcement of realignment of parts of DC Comics to California?  GB: "This is an evolving process. What you need to know is that for now new product will continue as is."

With that out of the way, I went on to ask about my favorite stuff, the product!

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Masked Avenger’s "Toy Diet" blog from last week got me thinking about life. That made me realize that I haven’t made a blog post in over a year. I will attempt to rectify that now.

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I’m not a very prolific toy blogger, mainly because toys and subculture have taken a backseat to life. My philosophy on life has always been, “Life is a series of disappointments with achievements spread thin throughout.” No grand philosopher said that, maybe Spock, but I’m pretty sure I made it up jogging one night. In the past 3 years I’ve had some high highs and low lows. I have some regrets, but I can always count on toys and this site especially for always being there when I need it. Toy and geeky movie news will always remove whatever pall may be on my mood even if just for a moment. So I just wanted to say thanks guys! I’m glad the site is still going strong and for being a much needed pick-me up in this otherwise overwhelming maelstrom we call “Life”. I’ll try to write more here, I have a few interviews I’m working on and maybe some movie reviews. See you guys later! Happy Hunting!

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We’ve been given some exclusive images of Y-MSF’s upcoming Ebirah vinyl figure! Shown here is the prototype before the casting stage. For those who collect Godzilla vinyls, this marks the very first time a realistic Ebirah (The Sea Monster!) has ever been offered in over 40 years. These will be available along with the other Y-MSF Godzilla friends & foes at www.temptingtoys.net.

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Howdy folks!  Welcome to a (very lazily delayed) new edition of the Super Powers Highlight!  Today I’m focusing ATTention (heh) on a very rare piece…something that only one of which exists, and something where the subject matter never ended up being produced by Kenner before the line was canceled.  It took some begging, pleading and dangling some rare foreign carded Marvel Secret Wars like fresh meat to start the process…until finally, the result is here.  It took well over a year of negotiating to land it in my collection, but I now have the All-Terrain Trapper cromalin in my grubby little mitts. 

For the casual Super Powers collector, you may ask…"What the hell is that?  All-Terrain Trapper?  The name sounds familiar…but I just can’t place it."  Well, friend…it’s simple.  Take your carded Orion or Tyr or Cyborg and flip it over.  Ta-dahhhh!  There it is!

Now that you know what the vehicle is…your next question is probably, "What the hell is that?  Cromalin?  Is that one of the Red Lanterns?"  (As much as I’m joking around, I KNOW there’s at least one modern comic fan that probably thought that.  Ugh.)

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The Young Justice panel started with a preview of the new show.  Two clips actually, run one right after the other.  "Today is the day,"  they all kept saying as each sidekick and hero pair fought an ice themed villain.  Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash.  The new Aqualad.  More on him later.  Every scene brought out oohs and aahs from the audience, but none as much as the appearance of the Hall of Justice.  The second clip is a "mission".  "This is too dangerous for you younger heroes," the older heroes say.  Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad go on their own.  Cadmus.  Where they find … Superboy.

Panelists: Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman.

1 hour pilot broadcast November 26, 2010 (the day after Thanksgiving).  The series itself premieres in January 2011.

Earth 16.  There will be a monthly comic book which is in continuity with the show.  Comic starts in January.  Written by the award winning writers of Tiny Titans.

The series covers the entire DC Universe.  This is a young universe.  Heroes are new.  Sidekicks are even newer.  Superman first appeared about 10 years ago. This is a more "grounded" series than Teen Titans go.  The villains are more organized.  The JLA has gotten so well known that their popularity gets in their own way.  Young Justice is kind of a covert operation.

Robin – Dick Grayson.  Age 13.  Youngest of the group, but has the most experience.  Been doing this for about 4 years.  (Yes, he started as Robin at the same age Ash Ketchum left home to become a Pokemon trainer, and the same age Ben Tennison got the Omnitrix)

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I have a confession to make. I don’t get excited about much in the toy world these days. Even though I think this is a fantastic age of innovation and risk taking, I keep seeing the same titles and the same molds over and over again. There’s been very little new product or properties in the past few years that I’ve looked forward to or felt the urge to snatch up. But with the release of the new TRON Legacy merchandise, I’m afraid that’s all about to change. My nostalgia for 1982 is peaking again, and so far, everything I’ve seen from the film hasn’t let me down. In fact, this entry is going to defend this newest toy world of TRON, because I just read something that kind of pissed me off.

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I’m back.  Actually, at this point I’ve been back for a day or so, but my internal clock is still a  mess.  New York Comic Con is over for 2010. The 21 hours refers to how long I was up on Saturday to get there, attend, and get back.  It was a blast, but exhausting,  Here are a few gems you can look forward to, hopefully during this week.

1. Up now,  in the AFi Gallery, a cross section of the con in pictures. AFi NYCC Gallery

2. An interview with Georg Brewer.  I finally met Georg in person and got him to talk to me one on one about some DC Direct stuff.

3. The DC Universe Panel.  I was there.  I asked a question.  Can you guess which one?

4. Young Justice Animated Series  Panel. If you liked Justice League Unlimited and Teen Titans Go, you should like this as they are trying to hit a tone in the middle of these two.

5. My loot.  Yeah, I managed to pick up a few things.  And my kids won some stuff to.

 See you soon.  Badly need more sleep.

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$2.99 Comics Make a Comeback!

I’ve been meaning on writing this blog for a while.  How I had not started certain comic series because 3.99 felt like too much (Avengers).  How I was going to drop certain titles when the current arc was over because 3.99 per issue was too high (Legion of Super-Heroes).  While I may drop some titles due to disagreement with the direction (Justice League Generation Lost), or the recent change in direction (Titans – I have already dropped this), I can no longer claim price to be the main reason I am dropping a book.

See the press release via the following link to Newsarama.com:

DC Comics listens to fans, drops prices back to $2.99 

Thanks DC!

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Mattel produced a few 3 3/4" scale, 5 POA action figure lines in the late 70’s / early 80’s. This scale and articulation mimicked the dominant Kenner Star Wars line and helped cement this as the default, iconic, and preferred style of action figure for many enthusiasts of that generation, myself included. The unfortunately short lived Clash of the Titans action figure series is representative. This movie line was created to correspond with the film released in 1981. The film was a success. Seems the toys were not.

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