Toy OTD: Cartoon Network Powerpuff Girls Maquette: Blossom (Signed)

Originally, I bought the Trendmasters Powerpuff Girls action figures, but while they each had bases, stability was still a problem, so I upgraded to the maquettes (I think I bought the set at Comic-Con one year) after they were released. It's not a cheap solution, but they are well-mounted and stable.

The sculpting is fine - it's a great interpretation of the design, and the attitude is captured nicely, too. The paint work is a little rough, but not to a point where it really detracts. I'm just spoiled by the meticulous work on overseas toys!

I waited in a huge line to get Blossom signed by the show's creator, Craig McCracken. I couldn't help feeling like I shouldn't have had to - Hey, I'm not just another fan... I went to the same school, and I'm working on cool stuff, too, I thought - but I felt like I'd be an asshole if I cut to the front. So I waited for my autograph, and complimented him on the then-newly-released Powerpuff movie, which I enjoyed a great deal.

There's one for sale on eBay for $49.99 + $16.95 shipping. You can make an offer, and it might be worth a try, as I think the shipping charges are pretty steep!

Toy OTD: Cartoon Network Samuai Jack Maquette

Cartoon Network wisely started its own line of merchandise some time ago, and some of it is really great - especially their limited edition maquettes! The Samurai Jack line is terrific - the sculpts interpret the stylized designs beautifully. The paint work is simple, but precise where it needs to be. No silly branding anywhere, which helps keep it looking classy.

The only minus is that they're more expensive than a comparable Gentle Giant figurine - $150 or so, as compared to maybe $80 or $100. I'm assuming that's due in part to smaller production runs.

Jack here is sold out, and I'm not finding him for sale elsewhere online. The pieces I am seeing on eBay look about the same price as they were at the CN website, so that's encouraging. Keep your eyes open there, and at your local toys shows or comic conventions. Good luck!

When Toys, Manga & Anime Aren't Enough

BLOG@NEWSARAMA.COM: Life-sized Gigantor memorial to be erected
Monday June 25, 2007, 8:33 am
Posted by Stephanie Chan

Kobe, Japan will be the home of a life-sized Gigantor statue.

The 18 meter high, 70 ton Ironman-28 will carry the price tag of 135 million yen. The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2008.

Debuting in 1958, Tetsujin 28-gō was the first “giant robot” series, which became a staple in Japanese pop culture.

The statue will serve as a double memorial, marking both the birthplace of creator Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who passed away in 2004 in an apartment fire, as well as celebrate the revitilization of the area, which was devastated in the 1995 Kobe earthquake.

From Asahi.com

Toy OTD: Diamond Select Silver Age X-Men Statue: The Angel (2003), Marvel Girl (2002)

I'm generally not a fan of Diamond Select products, but I think this line of statues is quite good! The sculpts have a slightly rough-hewn quality that evokes Kirby's early drawing style (at least, to me). They're posed well, and the bases are nice and simple (completists will be encouraged to get the whole team, as all the bases include lettering that together spell out "X-Men"). The paint work is tight, and the colors are on-model. The only real minus of the line is Marvel Girl's face, which could use a little more delicacy (easier said than done, I know).

These statues sold for about ninety dollars each when they were first released, but it is possible to find them for considerably less now. I bought most of them for about forty to fifty dollars each (sometimes the boxes were damaged or the logo lettering was missing, but the statues themselves were fine). Mile High Comics has an Angel available for $100 + shipping, and I can't find a Marvel Girl statue online anywhere. I think if you keep your eye on eBay, though, you can get better prices with some patience.

Toy OTD: Bowen Designs Invisible Woman Statue (Half-Visible Version, 2000)

One of the first superhero comic books that I ever read was an issue of The Fantastic Four, and it's still one of my favorite Marvel creations. They hooked up with Bowen for all their statue and mini-bust needs, and DC's still playing quality catch-up. DC Direct may be improving, but Marvel's added Sideshow to their cool manufacturer list!

Anyway, I waffled for the longest time before I finally bought this statue. It wasn't too bad in terms of price (though I'm sure I could've paid less if I'd bought it earlier), and action figures just can't do the whole half-visible thing nearly as well. The sculpt is nice, and the paint work is strong, too. It has the added feature of the later statues - the figure itself can detach from the base, making cleaning and transport easier and less risky.

As you might imagine, there's two other variants of this statue - fully painted, and fully 'invisible'. To be honest, I don't know why the others even exist - the half-and-half version is definitely the way to go! Why not do the entire run that way?

At any rate, I think I paid around $200 for mine, but there's one for sale on eBay that's currently at $47.00 + shipping. Good luck!

Dark Horse Classic Comic Characters #2: Popeye (2000)

To celebrate the release of the Fleischer cartoons on DVD, here's another terrific faux-syroco statue from Dark Horse and Yo! Studios of Popeye! As usual, they've done an incredible job. The sculpt is amazing - a great, dynamic pose without sacrificing strength or balance. The paint work is perfect for the retro style of the series.

It comes packaged in a foam-lined tin box, complete with an informative pamphlet and collectible pin. While these extras are very well-done, I'd prefer simpler packaging and a lower price. I wound up recycling all the tins, as I've bought most of the statues and don't have room for the packaging, too.

Unfortunately, the only example I've found of this statue for sale is this eBay dealer, and it's pretty expensive there - $125.00 +shipping! I think you can find it out there somewhere cheaper than that. Even if you can't, Dark Horse did another Popeye statue in 2004, and it's just as good and much more affordable!

I'm A Sucker For Bubo

Remember that stupid robot owl in Clash of the Titans? I don't know if I love it because it's a such a blatant R2-D2 rip-off, or in spite of it. Even though I'm not a big fan of the movie itself, I've always wanted a Bubo toy or statue or something, and now I'm going to get my wish. Gentle Giant takes one more name off the rapidly-shrinking list of recognizable genre film characters that haven't been mechandised yet by making a limited-edition (500 pieces) Bubo statue! Cool!

You can pre-order it here - it'll cost $59.99 + shipping at Entertainment Earth.