Friday, December 30, 2011

Secret War Captain America and Crossbones

Crossbones is Red Skull's protege, so he's a mass murdering neo-Nazi. He's also one of the few Captain America villains they've made a minimate for. I think Crossbones brings the total number up to three.

To be fair there aren't that many memorable Captain America villains period.

Meanwhile, to get Crossbones I had to also get this Secret War Captain America. Not Secret Wars, the groundbreaking miniseries from Marvel. No, this was Secret War, Brian Michael Bendis' masturbatory spy thriller where a bunch of superheroes went to Latveria because it was revealed all the super villains got their super technology from the same place and not from the way shown in their actual origin stories. Oh, and Captain America wore a darker version of his costume because he was going into Latveria secretly. And that makes sense to someone somewhere.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Thanos (Marvel Universe)



Two weeks ago I visited a collectible toy store in Sacramento that was having a sidewalk sale featuring independent vendors. I scored some sweet DC Universe Classics and McFarlane NFL deals for my brother, but I wavered quite a bit when it came time for me to pick out my purchases. I ultimately settled on this Marvel Universe figure of the cosmic villain Thanos, which was available for a pretty favorable seven dollars, about a buck cheaper than at retail. This was quite a catch, given the figure has been particularly difficult to track down in stores during the year or so it's been out.

I'm very glad I chose Thanos, as it's a superb figure. Sharing a basic sculpt with the earlier Juggernaut figure from the line, the Mad Titan is a very hefty offering for the price point, coming in at around twice the size of my Tony Stark Iron Man, the only other Marvel Universe toy I own. He's very well-articulated, though his hips are difficult to pose. In addition to the standard display base (he really doesn't need it--he has no trouble standing fine on his own), Thanos comes with a proper accessory: an interchangeable Infinity Gauntlet! It's easy to swap out with the standard gloved fist, and given the figure's size, its inclusion makes this purchase all the more satisfying. I'm not hankering to collect Marvel Universe beyond a few standout items (I've already got enough Marvel toys in 5" and 6" scales), but this well-sculpted and totally fun Thanos is definitely one of those. Track it down if you can find it.

Guess what came in the mail!


It's the Palisade's Animal figure I ordered! Yay! He comes with growing pills, like from the movie. The first one, not the one that just came out and all the veteran Muppet performers are disavowing.

Oh, and he's got corporate branding because he's an exclusive figure with a drum featuring the sponsor's logo on it! Because CAPITALISM!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Thor and Lady Loki


So there was a short period where Loki was reincarnated but accidentally ended up in Sif's body. For that short period in the comics Loki went around as a sexy woman. So, yes, for a while Loki was a transexual, but of course because it's comic books, they ignored this aspect of the character and Loki just went around as a femme fatale until he got his original body back.

And now I have a minimate to commemorate that time.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

He has a hat.


I bought another 11th Doctor figure! This one has a cowboy hat! That's it. That's the only different thing.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 24





Day 24:
So apparently the gestation period of the Bensaurus is about a day. Which is why this morning we were awoken to the sounds of a baby Bensaurus cracking through its shell and being born. It's certainly an adorable little guy. No idea if its a boy or a girl, since apparently I'm really bad at guessing that. Either way it is adorable. And large.

It is a very large baby dinosaur, especially in relation to the parent. And that egg looks bigger than the ones from yesterday.

I really hope this is really a Bensaur baby and Ben Jr didn't steal another dinosaur's egg. It's hard to tell at this stage. Charlene says we'll love it either way, but really? What if it turns out to be a dinosaur that spits acid at people. Well, as long as Ben Jr. can keep it under control, I guess it should be fine.

Hmm, no more holes left to dig up. I guess Ben Jr. dug up the last ones. Is that where this baby came from? This is so confusing. I'm going to have to get Charlene to start doling out answers. Otherwise I'm going to have to just guess my way through my weird existence with my dinosaur family. Actually, that doesn't sound too bad when I put it that way.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 23

Day 23: 
Well, now I know why Ben Jr. was so excited. It turns out Ben Jr. isn't a "he." Also, she's got some eggs now. She was really proud of them too, she kept showing them off to me and Charlene. Fortunately Ben Jr. trusted us enough to let us get close to her nest. It was fascinating. Charlene might be even more excited than Ben Jr. She kept saying that we were going to be grandparents.

You know, this is all pretty weird, but I really hope she means we'll be grandparents in a proud pet owner kind of way. If it turns out that we're actually Ben Jr.'s real biological parents I'm going to just stop trying to understand how any of this works anymore.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Snowmiser

I never watched the special that Snowmiser was in (The Year without a Santa Claus... where Mrs. Claus and the elves try and grant a Florida kid's Christmas wish to see it snow in Florida.) but I've seen the youtube clips of his big song and dance number, and it's been stuck in my head since 2002.

It's a fun little song. So when I saw the vinyl figure I passed because I'm not a huge fan of vinyl figures.

But then I saw it sold out and I realized I was a little disappointed. I mean, a little decoration of Snowmiser to remind me of how much the song has stuck with me over the last decade wouldn't be a horrible thing.

And then I saw it on sale so I figured what the hell. So I bought it. I think I'll keep it in the box and display it that way. Somehow it feels like it would be a little more tacky to display it out of the box. The box adds a touch of class... or structure... or something.

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 22

Day 22: 
When we got back to the land mass, we found that Ben Jr. had already dug up one of the remaining pits and pulled out a large straw nest of some sort. He's very excited about it. It's understandable, now he has some bedding to sleep on.

Man, I hope one of the other pits has a sleeping bag or a cot or something. Even a pillow would be nice.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 21


Day 21:
Charlene found her magnifying glass, which for some reason she kept separate from her other tools. She says this is the last thing she remembers having on her before she blacked out. There's only a few pits left, so I'm not entirely sure what else we're going to find. So far everything has been so vague. I guess I'm a Paleontologist... either that or a game warden in a Dinosaur Park where they have living Dinosaurs. Would those two things be considered the same field of study? I'm so confused.

Charlene isn't very helpful. She's being coy and guarded with her answers. She says it's adorable to watch me stumble around like this. That makes me think we knew each other before this whole mess started.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 20

Day 20:
Charlene captured a turtle. I like turtles, so that was kind of cool. Charlene even agreed not to cut it open and kill it. I really hope that means she isn't going to cut it open and keep it alive. Charlene says she has some suspicions about wherever it is we are, but she wants to wait to make sure she's absolutely certain before she tells me.

Could it be that Charlene is a better scientist than me? Probably, I'm betting that remembering science is necessary to be good at science. I really hope I can get my memories back.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Articulated Monster, Episode 23: Apologies to Vince Guarardi

Episode 23 of the Articulated Monster is now up.



It's our Christmas episode. If you want to follow along during the news segment, here are the links.


2012 MOTUC updates
http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/main/mattel-pours-on-the-motuc-updates

Internal Devastation Mortal Kombat 6"
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=141&itemid=18064

GI JOE retaliation trailer
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=9&itemid=18062

dc direct arkham city
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=10&itemid=18066

Minimates Classics
http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/main/kickstart-your-minimates-collection-with-marvel-minimates-classics

Men In Black Figures
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=137&itemid=18082

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 19


Day 19:
Yup, Charlene's really good at this. She found her tools right away, including a scalpel which I suppose means she's going to cut the lizards open. She saw that I was looking a little squeamish at the prospect and promised to do it somewhere I couldn't see. That was nice of her. She also thanked me for digging up her things, even though she chose the spot to dig. She might have just been trying to flatter me,  but it was still a pleasant day of hard labor.

If I'm that squeamish then I think we can safely assume I wasn't a biologist.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 18

Day 18:
Charlene dug up another pit and wow, two lizards came out. Two! That makes the one lizard I found a couple weeks ago seem rather lame. Charlene decided to trap the lizards. She thinks that maybe the pits served some sort of purpose that might have affected us in some way. She wants to study the lizards.

She says that she had a set of tools before she was taken, so she wants to dig around and try to find them. She's a lot better at finding relevant things than I am, so I'm going to let her pick where to dig next. She seemed to appreciate that.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 17

Day 17:
Charlene used my shovel to uncover her animal trap. She suspects the pits are filled with all of the things we had with use when we were taken. If that's true she was travelling with an animal trap and I was travelling with a motorcycle, dinosaur, and dinosaur skeleton. I'm not sure if I fully accept Charlene's theory, but it's better than anything I've come up with so I'll hold my tongue for now.

I admit I was afraid that Ben Jr. would get jealous of Charlene, but he seems to like her. I like her too, although for all I know I could be married to someone in the world. Or she could. She doesn't recognize me so we never knew each other before this world of holes, so what possible reason is there for us to be buried in the same area?

Friday, December 16, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 16


Day 16:
Big news, we dug up another pit and it was a woman! I'm shocked that she was buried for 16 days. If I had known I would have dug her up earlier. Her name is Charlene and she says she's a biologist. I was surprised to find that she wasn't at all put off be Ben Jr. In fact she seemed to take it in stride. What kind of world is this? Are dinosaurs commonplace?

Charlene is experiencing some memory loss too, but not as much as I am. She remembers her name, most of her life. In fact the only missing piece seems to be how she got buried in a hole. The last thing she remembers was trying to catch some small lizards to run some tests on and then- nothing. I asked if she knew me, but she said she didn't. She did say I was kind of cute and that she liked my hat. That pleased me even more than I would have thought.

She did wonder where her equipment had gone. I showed her the items I had already uncovered, but she didn't recognize them. She did seem interested in the lizard and snake I mentioned, but we couldn't find them. Me and Ben Jr. showed her our bit of land and she thought it made a lovely home. I hope she decides to stay with us.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 15

Day 15:
We found some tree branches so we jammed them into the stump we already had. Now our land is a little more green. Ben Jr. really likes this. Now we can truly consider our patch of land a home. I think I'll hold off on putting up the skeleton I found earlier. I'm afraid it might spook Ben Jr. He's not old enough to confront his own mortality.

And I shudder to think what kind of trauma he would experience if it turns out the skeleton is his mother or something like that. (The dead one is a fair shot better than Ben Jr. Although maybe female Bensaurs are always bigger.)

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 14

Day 14:
After a day of digging, Ben Jr. and I were overjoyed to find a tree for our area of land. The hardest part was bringing it back and planting it, but we both feel it adds something to our home. I noticed that it seems like the tree has the possibility for growth, so hopefully it will grow or we'll find something to jam in there.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 13

Day 13:
We found a lizard. A tiny, small lizard. Compared to everything else I've found this has proven a bit disappointing. Hell, even the scorpion was found with a video camera.

Fortunately Ben Jr. didn't seem to mind. He was fascinated by the little creature. I think he might step on it and eat it later.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 12


After some careful digging, Ben Jr and I were able to find a rather nice bit of land. It even had various fauna growing out of it. Ben Jr. was very excited by it and I must admit to admiring the beauty of it myself. So far the landscape has been rather dry and garrish. The holes I've been making in the ground hasn't helped matters. I think Ben Jr. and I will call this place home for now. We'll set up a base camp... or would if we had any supplies to create a shelter. As it is, we'll just return here repeatedly to sleep.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 11

Day 11:
I uncovered another dinosaur today. But this time it was alive! My memory may be spotty, but I'm pretty sure that there shouldn't be anymore living dinosaurs. Where the hell am I?

I think I must be a paleontologist, because right away I realized that based on the bone structure of the dinosaur I encountered, he must be a Bensaurus. I have decided to name him Ben Jr. Despite being a clear carnivore, Ben Jr. seems rather placid. Almost friendly. I believe he is a carrion eater. How do I know this? I suppose the science is still in my head somewhere.

Also I saw him eating an animal we found dead in the ground. Yes, I was with him. He has taken to following me around. At first I was worried, but I am glad for the company and he is very effective at scaring away the snakes, scorpions, and other dangers in the jungle. (I'm pretty sure I'm in a jungle.)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 10


Day 10:
I don't know who buried these things, but why would you bury a video camera with a scorpion. It makes no sense. Were they just not paying attention, or did they think this was clever? Did someone film scorpion fights? Was it me?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 09


Day 9:
Today was rather harrowing. As I began to dig into the ground, what should emerge but a snake! I will need to be more careful in the future. I don't know what dangerous creatures might be dwelling beneath the surface of this strange place. I have no weapons to defend myself, except perhaps the ax.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 08


Day 8:
While testing out my new shovel, I happened to dig up some dinosaur bones. The ease at which I did it supports my theory that I am a paleontologist. Based on what I dug up, I realized that I had enough bones to construct a complete skeleton. I quickly went about this (again, supporting my paleontologist theory).


The result is an impressive specimen. Larger than a man, this bi pedal dinosaur resembles a bird in so many ways that it seems obvious that dinosaurs are the ancestor to our avian contemporaries. I have decided to name this dinosaur the Bensaurus.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

7th Doctor (Again)

I've already purchased two figures of the 7th Doctor, (one I mentioned here and the other was part of the 11 Doctor set) but they both had his darker jacket, the one he wore during the last season of the show when he was trying to give off a vibe of being more mysterious and manipulative. But when the 7th Doctor first showed up he was more clownish, and his suit was cream colored, reflecting his lighter approach.

So if you're going to do a figure of a smiling Doctor, I prefer that it be one of him the cream colored suit. That's why the one that came with the Electronic TARDIS never sat right with me. Also, I didn't like how badly his hat clashed with his jacket. I don't know why.

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 07



Day 7:
I have found what appears to be a set of tools that have been fused together. These are digging tools, although ironically I had to dig them up. If I can figure out how to separate these tools then digging should prove much easier. That would be nice.

If these are my tools then why would I fuse them together? How would I fuse them together? Maybe they were struck by lightning.

I don't know if I'm a scientist, but if I am, I wonder what field of study would require a pick ax, a shovel, and an ax. Do I study mining and lumberjacks?

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 06

Day 6:
I have found two radios and a flashlight. The flashlight affixes to the front of the motorcycle, which is convenient but odd. As to the radios, why are there two? Am I meant to be partnered with someone? If so, then where are they? The questions continue to mount.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Episode 22: Hulk Dong


Aaaand, Episode 22 of the Articulated Monster Podcast is now up. Go download it from Talkshoe, your RSS feed, or iTunes. Or you could use this handy embedded audio player.



To follow along with us as we go over the news segments, look to the links below!

Reign of the Superman figures
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=10&itemid=18020

QEE USB drives
http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/main/new-from-toy2r-qee-usb-drives

Marvel Select Avengers Movie figures
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/13278.shtml

Doctor Who Vinyl Figures
https://www.bigchiefstudios.co.uk/big-chief-announce-dynamix-vinyl-figurines/

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 05

Day 5:
Oh thank god. In the next pit I found some cases that fit perfectly on the motorcycle. Why they didn't bury them together, I'll never know. The tracker and binoculars fit fine in the cases, but the map has proven a bit large. It will go in, but the case will not close. It doesn't matter, I'm glad to have these things.

The dinosaur printed on both cases makes me wonder, am I a paleontologist? I could be. Or I could just be someone who likes Triceratops and puts pictures of them on his vehicle. If I had the chance to do it over, I'd emblazon the cases with big bold letters that say the name "BEN" or whatever my name really is.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 04

Day 4:
Some celebration is in order. Today I found a motorcycle in one of the holes. Hooray! I do not know why anyone would need to bury a motorcycle, but very little of this burying strategy makes any sense. If there is a strategy. Unfortunately there is nowhere to put my map and tracking device. But regardless, my ability to travel among this strange land should now be much quicker and less exhausting.

Ben's got himself some wheels.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 03

Day 3: 
Since I do not know my own name, I have begun calling myself Ben, after Benjamin Franklin. He too was a scientist, although I assume he was never buried in a pit. I can't be certain though, my memory is still gone.

I dug open another pit today. It was difficult with my bare hands, but I was able to unearth a map and an electronic tracking device. I hope that both prove useful, although I have no idea what the device is tracking. For all I know it could be something in one of these holes, or even me! That's an unsettling thought.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Cyclotron


Because sometimes when you see a DCUC robot with removable chest plate that reveals the metal workings underneath and it cost under $4 new in box, you just have to say, why not?

Also, his eye visor makes him look like he's wearing sunglasses from a dystopian future.

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 02

Day 2:
I have opened one of the pits and have found a pair of binoculars and a hat. The hat fits me and its general style seems to indicate that I was correct, I am some sort of Indiana Jones-esque explorer. I probably study a science of some type that leads to adventures. Or I am a scientist who desperately wishes he were a scientist like Indiana Jones. Either one is possible. I continue on...

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Playmobil Advent Calendar Day 01



Day 1:
I awoke and found myself in darkness. I had to force my way out of what turned out to be a pit in the ground. Now that I had more time to reflect, I realized that I had no idea who I was or what events had transpired that had resulted in my burial. From my dress I appear to be a suburban adventurer or a park ranger of some sort.

All around me are pits similar to the one I had to pull myself out of. I will endeavor to dig them up. Perhaps they will give me clues as to my identity.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Playmobil Nativity Scene


I've been thinking about buying a Playmobil nativity scene for years. So why now?

I resisted buying the last Playmobil set (which came with Wise Men) because the manger was made completely out of cardboard. My plan had always been to include new and wacky characters into the Nativity scene, so the manger was the primary reason I wanted to pick up a Playmobil Nativity. (Playmobil baby Jesus in his crib was the second reason.) If the manger was just cardboard... well I could do that at home so why would I buy a playset?

Then this new version came out with plastic manger and ground. No wise men (you can buy them separately) but the major players are still there. Sure the backdrop is cardboard, but I can live with that. The important bit is solid plastic. It gives it a more tangible quality.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

DC Superfriends Pack

I wonder why they called this the Superfriends pack even though Batman is the only Superfriend to be featured on it. Really, they should have called it the "Batman's Rogue Gallery" pack or something to that effect. Although I guess Batman isn't a rogue, but it still makes more sense.

I've been meaning to pick up a few more Batman Imaginext figures, but haven't because the prices have been a tiny bit more than I was willing to pay, espeically since I didn't really like the accessories that they came with. (Although I was really tempted by the Riddler Biplane.) However since I got this set with a gift card, it only cost me about $1. THAT IS WELL WORTH IT.

Especially since I can now show you what Batman looks riding a dinosaur.

AND THEY GAVE HIM A CLOTH CAPE!!!!!

Featuring Mike Haggar in the role of Galactus.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Heralds of Galactus


Of the actual Heralds in this set, also known as the guys who find Galactus planets that he can eat, I'm only familiar with Frankie Nova and Terrax. Frankie Nova was pretty much the "nice" herald of Galactus. All the others have been very much "DESTROY DESTROY DESTROY!" Hell, Terrax's full title is Terrax the Terrible.

But this is a pretty awesome set. Terrax doesn't just get a rock to stand on, it's a flying rock. (Yeah, he has Earth Bending powers.) Frankie Nova's fire hair can be altered so it fits on a fire base that simulates her flying trail of flame hair. The other guy gets an axe. Screw him. Let's focus on Galactus.

So definately not to scale. Since the Marvel license restricts Art Asylum to producing minimate figures that are 2 inches or smaller, Galactus has to be 2 inches tall. I dunno, maybe he's been exposed to Pym Particles. But Who cares.

2 INCH MINIMATE GALACTUS WITH TINY IN SCALE SILVER SURFER!


'nuff said.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Infinity Gauntlet box set


I already have a minimate Thanos with Infinity Gauntlet. Sure it's one of the older, less detailed minimates, but I kinda prefer those ones. It's more cartooney, which is what you wouldn't expect an action figure of a madman who is in love with Death so he assembles a glove that gives him godlike powers that he then uses to kill half of all life in the Universe.


But when they announced this set I knew I would have to get it one day. Because of Mephisto. They made a minimate of the Marvel Universe's substitute for the Devil. You know the guy Spider-Man made a deal with to save his aunt at the cost of his marriage. That guy. THEY MADE A MINIMATE OF THE DEVIL.


Don't get me wrong, I also like that they included Drax and Adam Warlock. I loved Infinity Watch. (It was a 90's comic about the guardians of the Infinity gems, the bits that powered the Infinity Gauntlet. It's a comic book. Live with it.) But comeon - MINIMATE DEVIL!

Oh wait, when I pulled it out of the package and tested out the joints, the ball snapped off the hip and embedded itself into the socket of the peg. It took me an hour to get it out. THE DEVIL IS BAD!


Actually this set has been out of stock for ages, and on the secondary market it goes for like $50, but there are a few stores on the internet that haven't marked it up, and thank heavens I found one. Because nothing is so ridiculous as a minimate Mephisto that I can use to try and tempt minimate Spider-man to sell his marriage.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Hey, Free Legos at Target.


Oh look, it's a book. No wait, it's a deceptive envelope-slash-box thing to hide a giftcard.

Remember last year Target had those Lego gift cards, where in addition to a gift card you got a Lego version of the Target mascot? Well they're back this year, but even better. Because now they've added additional bricks. So now you can make either the Target dog, a snowman, or a Polar Bear. And it's all technically free, since the only thing you pay is the amount you put on the gift card, which you can then later redeem at Target. You lose no money, you get a bunch of Legos. How is this not awesome?



WAIT! It's even awesomer. Last year the gift card you brought in to redeem the credit was the plastic box the Legos came packed in. This year it's a much bigger box... so the gift card is an actual card that detaches from the plastic case. It's now incredibly convenient to bring the cards with you. Which is great for someone like me who will put the bare minimum on each card ($5) so I can get as many Legos as I feel is not abusing the system. The card even says "Building Permit" on it.


Is there a downside? I guess the Polar Bear looks rather suspicious. But that's about it.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I got another TARDIS

So that makes the fourth TARDIS I own in the 5" line. And I've got another one on order, so man, I'm collecting a lot of these things. But let's take a look at my latest TARDIS.


Yup, it's Idris. Or the TARDIS in Idris' body after HOUSE transferred her soul to a human body. So as far as I'm concerned, this is a TARDIS figure. It is noticeably different than past TARDIS figures in that it is not a big Blue Police Box. Thank you for reading completely Obvious things, the blog.


Hey, a row of TARDIS... how do you spell the plural of TARDIS?
So, interesting side note, while the dress makes it hard to pose the TARDIS's legs, you can twist the waist around and because the way the bustle is designed the TARDIS can look pregnant.


And I'm going to stop writing now before I start making inappropriate jokes. Because the TARDIS is a woman and it can be assumed that the Doctor has genitals.