Yoda Studio

Everyone knows that you’re supposed to remove your lightsaber when you enter a Yoda studio.

(This blog is just a pre-SDCC test of the WordPress mobile app.)

Exclusive 2011 AFi Tee Shirt

Get yer smokin’ hot 2011 Action Figure Insider exclusive tee shirts! Just in the nick of time for the San Diego Comic Con the folks at AFi have designed a new tee shirt for all you more style conscious nerds. Be the envy of geek hordes everywhere as you proudly show off your allegiance to the most awesome action figure site on the interwebs.

Plastic Man Goes to Phoenix Comicon

For as long as I have been going to comic conventions, unassimilated friends have asked: “Are you going to dress up?” (That’s their way of asking if I was going to Cosplay.) My answer was always the same: “Pssh, no!” That is, until now. Despite my mock derision, I’ve toyed with the idea of joining the Cosfray for years. Being an “ain’t no half-stepping” kinda guy, its taken me a while to gather all the pieces. But things finally came together for a Phoenix Comicon debut of my first Cosplay adventure.

Han Shot First in my New Custom Cantina Booth

So, I’m kinda into stuff related to the cantina scene from Star Wars Episode IV. A lot of that has to do with all the kooky aliens that populated the place. But, perhaps even more than the denizens, what makes that particular segment of the original Star Wars trilogy memorable is that really cool stuff went down there. We see a lightsaber deployed in battle for the first time. Luke meets Han and Chewie. After his surprise encounter with Greedo Han Solo defines awesome by quipping: “Sorry about the mess.” How fun is it to recreate some of that magic in 3 3/4" scale?

Hindu Mythology, Yoga, and Action Figures

Its fun when worlds collide. For instance, I love action figures. And I love yoga. You would be correct in assuming that those are two hobbies that don’t have much crossover. But thanks to a company called Kridana a bridge was built between my obsessions. Unfortunately, Kridana has come and gone. But let me at least pay a little tribute to an outstanding effort, albeit a few years late.

Looking Back: Mattel’s Battlestar Galactica

At the risk of jeopardizing some geek cred I’ll admit that only just now am I watching the ’03-’09 reboot Battlestar Galactica series. Based on all I’d heard I knew it’d be one of those epic television viewing experiences and I did not want to rush into it. I decided to start by rewatching the original series. My other motivation to start in 1978 was that I had been collecting the vintage Battlestar Galactica action figures and knew I wanted to blog about them. I felt compelled to reabsorb the television series from which these figures sprang.

I Heart Silver Surfer (and Galactus, too)

There has always been something I’ve found fascinating about Silver Surfer’s origin story hinging on a wanderlust inspired act of self-sacrifice. There is something I enjoy about his less-is-more aesthetic. There is something I relate to in his unassailable yet melancholy morality. He is a loner, reclusive and suffering. At the same time he is soulful and capable of great love. I really feel that Jack Kirby succeeded in creating a character that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats in the pantheon of mankind’s collective mythologies.

Evolutions: Wicket

Recent primatological findings lend support to the theory that humans evolved, not from an ape-like ancestor, but from Ewoks. The dominant view amongst scientists concerning the origin of anatomically modern humans is the "Out of Endor" hypothesis. It is estimated that Humans and Wookies branched off from their common hominid ancestor, the Ewok, about 5 – 7 million years ago. Or, in the vernacular: a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Vintage Guilt: the Blog

Last year AFi forum member, H-Balm, started a thread called “Vintage Guilt.” This was an intriguing title. He made the point that, once a line ends, the amount of existing carded samples of a given figure are now, quite obviously, limited. And each time a collector decides to open one of these, the rarity of carded samples increases. So H-Balm posed the questions: have you ever done this and, if so, did you hesitate and did you felt guilty about it? A good discussion followed.

Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994

It was a real treat to be asked to review the second edition of Mark Bellomo’s amazing visual chronology: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994. My own childhood Joe collection only goes up to around 1987’s series IV but it was a passionate and memorable 5 years! Straight-armed Rock ’N Roll started it all. Thereafter, I clearly recall having a paper route which garnered me about $10 a week. And each week I’d go to Child’s World in Wayne, N.J. and buy three G.I. Joe figures. Good times. But this blog isn’t about me, its about a book that brings back those cherished memories.

The Fab Four

Whereas humans have been intrigued by crazy creatures for millennia, the phenomenon dubbed The Mos Eisley Invasion can be pinpointed to the late 1970’s. It was then that a band of four aliens hit the streets and forever became the most popular and recognizable creatures in the world of pop culture. Cantinamania was here. Instantly recognizable: Walrusman Lennon, Hammerhead Harrison, Snaggletooth McCartney, and Greedo Starr have come to symbolize our facination with the weird and kooky. Stormtroopers and Droids and Ewoks and Bounty Hunters were all cool in their own right, but the representatives from that Cantina capture a special slice of nostalgia.

Looking Back: Mattel’s Clash of the Titans

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.

Where the Wild Things Are Now

So I kinda lost my McFarlane Where the Wild Things Are figures in a little custody battle. That set of toys represents my favorite McFarlane product to date. The property was a fantastic choice and they hit it out of the park with the sculpts. I can’t think of another collection that brings me as much joy just to sit and stare at. And, unlike many other toy lines that eventually get taken out of the display rotation, the Wild Things stay put. Well, things got kinda shaken up for me this year and not the least grievous thing to happen was hearing this at the end of a particular conversation: “I want the Wild Things.”

My First Convention

I can feel it in the air, San Diego Comicon 2010 is closing in. There is no denying that SDCC has become the king of cons and it generates its own special kind of excitement and anticipation. But SDCC’s proximity and another recent event in my life got me thinking about the very first comic book convention I ever attended. One where I actually went for the comics!

Phoenix Comicon 2010

For the first time in its proud history, the Phoenix Comicon was held in Phoenix this year. Previously, our local con had been held at venues in surrounding cities like Glendale and Mesa. Well, we’ve finally arrived. No disrespect to past locations but holding Phoenix Con at the beautiful and impressive Phoenix Convention Center was a big deal. Everybody said the same thing: it actually felt like a convention this year! I was only able to attend Thursday’s "Preview Night" and Friday’s session. But even that abbreviated attendance provided a good geek fix!