Toy OTD: DC Direct Action Figure: Metamorpho (2003)

I wasn't a big fan of DC Direct's action figures at first. The sculpts weren't all that great, the paint apps were sketchy, and much of the line consisted of comic characters from the '90s that didn't push my "spend" button. The toys must have sold well, though, because the line gradually improved as time passed.

One of the first "This is getting interesting" moments that I've had with this series was the appearance of the Metamorpho figure. As I remember it (though my chronology might be utterly wrong), the Element Man wasn't in any comics at that point, nor had Bruce Timm re-introduced him to new audiences. I was blown away that anyone would remember this character, much less want a toy of him! I'd only read one issue of his title myself. After the toy's release, though, his stock in the DC universe seemed to grow by the day.

I'm still not wild about this scale of figure, but this is a nicely made toy! The sculpt is great, the color uses a lot of dyed plastic rather than paint, and the articulation allows for some posing without being too intrusive. The packaging is straight-up Silver Age, complete with the classic logo and '60s checkerboard cover banner. You even get a few extra appendages, in case you want to depict Rex in mid-transformation! Nice.

As usual, there's no display base, though using the water column accessory may help the toy to stand better than on its 'regular' legs. Still, a base would've been a good idea here.

This figure has been sold out for some time, but you can still buy one online. There's a loose toy on eBay with all the extra pieces going for $15.99 + $5.20 shipping. I thinks that's cheaper than it was originally... good luck!

A Catalogue Of Things I Was Determined Not To Do At My Wedding

Still, I love the Super Mario cakes! Enjoy.

Thanks to uberreview.com, and geekologie.com.

Toy OTD: Toy Biz 13" Raging Hulk Figure (2003)

Let me say up front that I've never been a big fan of Toy Biz in general or the Marvel Legends line in particular. While I understand that fans enjoy the poseability, I've found the sculpts and paint work to be consistently wanting, and the abundance of joints winds up making the characters look more like robots than people. This figure, though, is a nice exception.

It was released in conjunction with the Hulk movie, and was left stranded on store shelves for months afterwards. Ironically, it's one of my favorite Toy Biz items. I like the sculpt, and the real cloth pants. The articulation isn't staggering, but you can pose it in a few different ways.

There were a few variants - two head sculpts (calm and raging), and the pants came in a bluish-purple, or redder like the comic. It was never terribly expensive, and I got it remaindered for about seven or eight dollars. The only places that I can find it for sale are at toybiz.com, who has it for $34.99 + shipping; and eBay, who has it for $22.95 + shipping. I'd say keep looking, considering how many of these there were around.

Where Was This Stuff When I Was A Kid? - Part 1

Pottery Barn Kids has Batman and Superman bedding, and it looks really cool! No bland style guide crap for these sheets - check it out! Wayne Boring and Dick Sprang drawings for today's kids. Awesome!

Actually... these might fit our beds....

Captain America 'Dies'

YAHOO! NEWS: Comic book hero Captain America dies
Wed Mar 7, 8:52 AM ET

NEW YORK - Captain America has undertaken his last mission — at least for now. The venerable superhero is killed in the issue of his namesake comic that hit stands Wednesday, the Daily News reported.

On the new edition's pages, a sniper shoots down the shield-wielding hero as he leaves a courthouse, according to the newspaper.

It ends a long run for the stars-and-stripes-wearing character, created in 1941 to incarnate patriotic feeling during World War II. Over the years, an estimated 210 million copies of "Captain America" comic books, published by New York-based Marvel Entertainment Inc., have been sold in a total of 75 countries.

But resurrections are not unknown in the world of comics, and Marvel Entertainment editor in chief Joe Quesada said a Captain America comeback wasn't impossible.

Still, the character's death came as a blow to co-creator Joe Simon.

"We really need him now," said Simon, 93, who worked with artist Jack Kirby to devise Captain America as a foe for Adolf Hitler.

According to the comic, the superhero was spawned when a scrawny arts student named Steve Rogers, ineligible for the army because of his poor health but eager to serve his country, agreed to a "Super Soldier Serum" injection. The substance made him a paragon of physical perfection, armed only with his shield, his strength, his smarts and a command of martial arts.

In the comic-book universe, death is not always final. But even if Captain America turns out to have met his end in print, he may not disappear entirely: Marvel has said it is developing a Captain America movie.
___

Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com

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Soon to return with:

* Tiny, temporary uptick in sales

* Mullet

* Living costume

* Second-base relationship with Watcher/Beyonder

* All-metal/energy creature/red/alternate universe/clone variations

* Big-budget film version set in LA, miscast to arty director, shot entirely on green stages

* Snowboard, star-spangled iPod replacing shield

DrawerGeeks Preview

Here's this week's drawing, for the Captain Marvel theme. I'm really happy with this one!