By CubanZod

Hitting stores right now is the first wave of PALISADES figures based on the CARTOON NETWORK ADULT SWIM series HARVEY BIRDMAN: ATTORNEY AT LAW, SEALAB 2021, AQUA TEEN HUNGERFORCE, and THE BRAK SHOW.

For those unfamiliar with ADULT SWIM, the folks at Cartoon Network decided to take advantage of the 25-40 something audience they seemed to be attracting (mainly nostalgia buffs for the old Hanna Barbera cartoons) and provide new and irreverent cartoons with lots of adult humor (sex jokes aplenty!) to target that crowd and air them late at night. The decision paid off, and what was an experiment in 2000 has turned into a late-night line up with a cult following.

So how did Birdman, who debuted in 1967 in the Hanna Barbera cartoon BIRDMAN AND THE GALAXY TRIO, transmogrify himself into "HARVEY BIRDMAN: ATTORNEY AT LAW?"

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As we sit here on the eve of the end of an era… an almost 30 year journey for many of us. Tomorrow, just after midnight tonight fans will be able to witness the final decent of Anakin Skywalker as he becomes Darth Vader. Much has been speculated about the content of of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and many collectors have already come across several spoilers in the Hasbro toys…. But, nothing is more shocking than the true face of Darth Vader unmasked at the end of the movie. Hasbro has had to tone down and alter the look of the figures because they are too horrific for children to play with… but that is not the case with the Mexican bootleg Star Wars line "Galaxy Cops." Because they are not officially licensed product by Lucasfilm they can provide us with a look at the pure face of evil.

Seen here are packaged product shots of the figure and box, and below is the figure with the mask on… click on that image if you want to see what fate awaits young Anakin at the end of the movie…

Warning: Massive Horrific Spoilers await… Behind the Plastic!!!

Click on picture to see the unspeakable horror!

Happy Sith Day from AFI!

The most asked question Jerry Macaluso gets these days is "How does your family feel about you being in the porn industry?" To which Jerry always answers "I’m not. I just make toys." Because, while it is true Jerry is the driving force behind the Adult Superstars line of figures being made by Plastic Fantasy his main line of work is as the owner of SOTA Toys sculpting and design studio. While SOTA toys may not yet be a household name to all collectors, you have certainly seen their work, and most likely own some piece they have worked on. With licenses as diverse as: Alien vs. Predator, Battle of the Planets, Duke Nukem, Elfquest, Enter the Dragon, Final Fantasy, The Grinch, House of the Dead, Lord of the Rings, Mage Knight, Magic: The Gathering, Micronauts, Playboy, Quake III: Arena, Resident Evil, Scooby Doo, Space Channel 5, Tenchi Muyo! The Tenth, Trigun, Year Without Santa Claus, and with a resume sporting work for Palisades, Diamond and Resaurus you can see they are building quite a reputation for themselves…and not just because they make naked toys.
Their attention to detail, and spot on recreation of some of our favorite properties make them a powerhouse studio that many companies are taking notice of. You’ll be hearing a lot more about SOTA toys. They’re a company to keep your eye on.

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By CubanZod

“Say hello to my little friend!”

Yeah, for a dead guy, Cuban gangster Tony Montana is having a helluva year. Sideshow Collectibles is making a 12” version of the Miami Drug Lord; Vivendi Universal Games has licensed the likenesses of Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, and Robert Loggia for the upcoming videogame SCARFACE: THE WORLD IS YOURS, and finally MEZCO has released 3 new 7” figures based on Pacino’s character.

But things were certainly far from rosy for SCARFACE the movie when it was first released in 1983. Director Brian DePalma’s film about the rise of a lowlife thug from Cuba who became drug kingpin of South Florida was initially panned by critics. No Oscar Noms went to screenwriter Oliver Stone, director DePalma, or stars Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. You know what won that year? TERMS OF ENDEARMENT! Great chick flick sure, but WHO QUOTES TERMS OF ENDEARMENT I TELL YA?

“Make way for the bad guy!”

In fact, the movie is not just beloved by mainstream audiences, but has become perhaps THE movie in the Hip Hop world (P. Diddy has seen it 63 plus times), with rappers modeling their homes after Tony Montana’s Miami digs. Just ask Crazy Eyes Killa!

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By CubanZod & Jason Geyer

Long a stalwart of the Marvel Universe, Captain America had traditional gotten short shrift in the action figure world compared with his peers Batman and Superman, to say nothing of such upstarts as Spider-Man and (shudder) Wolverine. Thankfully that has changed in the past few years, with Toy Biz giving us nearly a Captain America figure per year. This year Cap gets his due with this fine figure from the upcoming Superhero Showdown! line. As always, click on a thumbnail to get a larger image.

Trying a brand new scale for Marvel figures, Toy Biz is gambling that kids and collectors alike will go ga-ga over these 3 3/4" figures with Marvel Legend style articulation. Not only that, but they are all part of a new game along the lines of the popular trading games such as Heroclix and Magic: The Gathering, but with a poseable fighting element added in. Part game, part action figures, Showdown! allows Marvel heroes/villains to go head to head in a contest of strength, poseability and strategy.

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by Cuban Zod
A line of Justice League figures and Villains based on the artwork of Alex Ross… A line rumored to eventually feature 30 figures, heavy on Ross’ modern interpretations of the “Legion of Doom” villains from the Hanna-Barbera series—who instead of colorful costumed crooks, will be realistic and menacing threats to humanity. The line will also see Ross’ faithful (for the most part) designs of classic Justice League characters—folks like Superman, The Flash, Batman, Aquaman, and Black Canary. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Little did DC think that this popular line, based upon Ross’ upcoming JUSTICE comic series, with the first wave sculpted by Tim Bruckner, would become a centerpiece in the “Artist Specific” versus “Classic/Generic” figure debate!

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