DC Universe Online, the long in-development MMO, was given a release date yesterday of November this year. The game, developed by Sony Online's brand-new Austin studio, will be available for the PC and PS3 and allows fans the ability to fight alongside (or against!) a wide cast of DC heroes. It's an exhaustive list, but screencaps and videos have shown the likes of Superman, Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Flash, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, Green Lanterns Hal and Jon, to name a few. The villains cast stretches on just as long with Solomon Grundy, Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Bizarro, Riddler, The Joker, and Doomsday.
Character creation will require you to align yourself to a side and take on missions through communication with Oracle to gain XP, which can be traded in for powers and armor. Your equipment seems to play an important role in leveling up, as tech demos have shown players gaining a power boost after defeating mission boss Harley Quinn and plundering her hat. While most demonstrations show custom characters with funky, spiked armor, the powers gained through your spoils can be absorbed, allowing you to ditch the jester cap and fight crime in nothing but your undies, if that's your thing.
Early reports show disappointment in the game's overall polish despite the creative efforts plugged in directly from DC. Jim Lee contributed to character design, and Geoff Johns acted as scriptwriter, which sounds like a proper deal for me, given that most missions are centered around fast and loose villain-beat-em-ups. Fortunately, we'll be able to try it out for ourselves before the holiday season, and more details will surely emerge at the upcoming E3 and Comic-Con screenings.
deviantART is a treasure trove of fanservice gems, some more special than others. I'll leave you to decide where The Batman Dress Up Doll resides on that spectrum, but it's a fun distraction at least. It's got a few mix-and-match options for the playful (Bruce Wayne in a Steve Jobs turtleneck? Yes please!) but most of all, it should tide over your need to see Gotham's son in his skivvies until The Return of Bruce Wayne, or that Batporn parody that Bleeding Cool likes to tout around, if that's your kind of thing.
Ah, Wednesdays Thursdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the almost of the week that makes us want to scream "Why is it still Thursday?!?". Wednesdays Thursday also has new toys this week, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
A very small week this week, though the one new set of figures is a long time coming. Seriously, they were solicited for a frakking year ago. They would be the second series in the (new) Battlestar Galactica line of figures, including: Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, Louanne "Kat" Katraine, Cylon Centurion, and a Previews exclusive Carl "Helo" Agathon in flight suit. The Helo figure looks odd, they made him look considerably more gaunt than he looks like, and the paint is weird for his face. Plus, he has blackish hair, rather than brown. The paint job in the photo is what I was expecting, but what we got was unfortunately disappointing; I'll still buy him though. As a warning to fans of the figure line, Kat is one per case, and you can't order her individually, so let your shop know now that you want it. My shop has technically sold out of her before they even were put on shelves (via pre-orders).
For new items, there's one I missed from a couple weeks ago, which is the Anti-Venom from Marvel Select. I really wish they'd make some other characters that are more established before making something like Anti-Venom; but I guess I'm not surprised they're cashing in on the new character. There's also a Prince Namor, Sub Mariner comiquette polystone statue slated to come out in early 2009 from Sideshow collectibles.
Diamond has just announced a 1:4 scale Indiana Jones figure from Art Asylum, the first announced in one of many lines of Indiana Jones figures. It may be a little late to cash in on the movie, especially since the official toys looked so horrible; but it's sure to get fans into it. There's no release date now, but then they never stick to them anyway.
That's all for this week. If I missed any or there are some in the future you want me to talk about, send me an email.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
This week is the release of the Harley Quinn 1:6 scale figure, and the release of the Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura Star Wars mini-busts. Just as a note, the mini-busts may have come out earlier, but my store just got in our shipment. I can't find a release date for them that I'm sure is the official one.
I missed them last week, but Marvel has several busts solicited for, including classic Cyclops, classic Havok, Daredevil movie, and Punisher movie (upcoming movie). They've also announced a 1:6 scale Mark II Iron Man figure; which looks very cool. All are imports, though, so make sure you let your shop know you want them as imports can be difficult to get after they've been released.
That's all for this week. If I missed any or there are some in the future you want me to talk about, send me an email.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
This week is the third full week, which means new solicitations. DC has quite a few this time around, so it'll be a bit of a list. But first, the new stuff.
Hasbro releases more of its Marvel Mighty Mugg line, including Black Costumed Spidey, Doctor Octopus, and Ghost Rider. As always, they're cute as hell even if they are a bit odd looking; they sell out pretty quickly. For whatever reason, Diamond doesn't keep them in stock, even though Hasbro seems to still sell them.
Justice Series 8 is also out, featuring Batgirl, Supergirl, Toyman and Captain Cold. I kind of like Supergirl and Batgirl to a certain degree, but their faces are very weird. The site's pictures show a better paint job than the good forty I saw at work; they all look very vacant. Well, more vacant than action figures should look.
DC has solicited a LOT this week. First up is the Justice League New Frontier boxed set which has Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern and Superman in it. Other than Wonder Woman not looking like she's constipated; the rest of the figures look the same as their original releases.
Speaking of Alex Ross based figures (y'know...before...), they've announced some based off of covers from Justice Society of America: Golden Age Green Lantern, Golden Age Flash, Sandman and Starman. I'm a bit surprised there isn't at least one female character in the mix. I mean, there's about as many women as there are men, you'd think at least one of them would be in each wave.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
This week we have the second wave of Final Fantasy VII figures, based on the likeness in the game; but with detail rather than blurry faces. This wave has Vincent Valentine, Red XIII & Cait Sith, Yuffie Kisaragi and Sephiroth. I can't actually find just a product page for it, but click here and you'll get a Google search result.
The re-release of the classic Star Trek Mego line continues with Scotty and The Keeper. As before, they're in very similar packaging to the original line and the figures themselves are exactly as the old ones, but, 'yknow...new. Like FFVII figures, I can't seem to find a link to just a product page, so here's another search result. You can find a link without me inadvertently advertising for someone.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
Another small week this week, but some fairly expensive toys. DC has another in the Ame-Con line, this time with Wonder Woman. Which totally figures that it comes out when I can't buy it. Fortunately, I can put it on hold. The next is the 1:6 scale comic version of the Joker. The teeth on this guy are seriously weird looking. Not creepy, just weird. It looks like he's wearing dentures or something..
Diamond has put out more Star Trek Mini-Mates; and if it feels like they just did, you're absolutely right. Weirdly, Diamond's site doesn't actually seem to have them listed at the moment.
Last week, Marvel and Hasbro announced more Mighty Muggs; including Galactus, Human Torch, and Silver Surfer. I swear, the Galactus looks like Stew Griffin...
There are more Iron Man Superhero Squad box sets coming, which include: First Appearance Iron Man, Iron Monger, War Machine, Iron Man. The second set has Dreadknight, Zhang Tong, Stealth Armor Iron Man, Iron Man.
Tired of Iron Man yet? Too bad; Marvel Select has an exclusive Stealth Armor Iron Man, which includes a base that makes it look like he's blasting off. Which, you'd think, would totally kill the whole "stealth" thing.
There's also a third wave of Hulk movie figures, though at this point they're not really from the movie. Regardless... This wave includes: Bi-Beast (Not what you think), Classic Hulk, Gray Hulk, Ironclad, Abomination, Power Glow Hulk and Gamma-Charged Abomination.
And that, believe it or not is it for this week. If I missed any or there are some in the future you want me to talk about, send me an email.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
Oddly enough, this week is probably the smallest week in terms of toys and such that are out and announced. So short, I half wondered if I should just wait a week; but then this week's news would be old news.
If you're a bobble head fan, Marvel has out its San Diego Comic Con exclusive (except not really) Mark II Iron Man out. Rather than giving someone free advertisement, you can find it yourself.
Sideshow Collectibles has announced a Ghost Rider on throne maquette, based on a cover from Ghost Rider (naturally). Details in websites and magazines can be so funny and over the top sometimes, this maquette has this in its description: "ready to take a place of honor in your own hall of heroes."
Diamond has announced their lineup of Secret Invasion mini-mates, based on some of the "heroes" that arrived in the Skrull ship. To keep everything secret, each one has a Skrull head you can swap it with, or just pretend you have a Skrull head on a pike; whichever.
And that, believe it or not is it for this week. If I missed any or there are some in the future you want me to talk about, send me an email.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
It's a big week this week, but then it is solicitation time and San Diego is near, so that helps. On to what's new this week!
For those of you who are fans of mini-mates, I feel sorry for your bank accounts. This week we have the Battlestar Galactica: Razorboxed set, featuring Gina Inviere, Bill "Husker" Adama in classic pilot attire, Kendra Shaw, an old-fashioned Cylon Pilot and a Cylon Warrior. Then there's the assortment which includes: Cylon Pilot, Cylon Warrior, Cylon Commander, Pegasus Six, Gold Cylon Warrior, Dead Pegasus Six and Freefall Cylon; all sold separately at $4.99 each.
Then there is the Star Trek: Mirror Mirror Mini-Mates boxed set, which includes: Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Uhura, Sulu and Marlena Moreau.
From DC we have the Red Son boxed set for those of you who didn't pick up the Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The incentive this time around is the exclusive Bizarro. I didn't need him anyway for my Russian JLA... I guess that would be JLR.
DC also has their solicitations up for their upcoming figures, this round includes repaints some of the figures based on Ed McGuinness' works, featuring Batman, Superman, Flash, and Wonder Woman. Personally I actually like the repaints better than the original versions; which is rare.
DC has also solicited for a 1:6 scale figure of Sandman.
Ah, Wednesdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the middle of the week that helps us get through the rest of it. Wednesdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
This week we have Halo 3 figures (though it's possible they came out last week and my store didn't get them). This batch is quite large for a new wave, which includes both the series 2 for the campaign and the series 2 for the multiplayer. Since there's such a big list, and McFarlane Toy's page is actually set up by series, I'll just leave the links rather than actually typing it out. Yes, I'm lazy, what of it?
I am disappointed my store didn't get the pink version (see picture); but I am tempted to get at least Master Chief this time around. They can be pretty expensive for such small figures. Stupid oil prices...
Ah, Wednesdays Thursdays. New Comic Book Day. That little day in the almost end of the week that taunts us with the weekend. Wednesdays Thursdays also have new toys, and everyone loves toys. Except some, but I'm not talking to those people right now. They don't like toys.
This week we have a new Batman Black and White statue, this one is from the new Gotham Knights DVD.
They're not figures, or statues, or dolls; but they're comic related so it's going here. Suck it up! It's the new Fantastic Four starter set It comes with a new rule book, and a pretty decent summary of how to play on the back.
That's it for this week. If I missed any or there are some in the future you want me to talk about, send me an email.
Review: Stormwatch #1
Stormwatch #1, the first of DC's new 52 to feature LGBT characters (before the reboot, at least) is out to add a new cosmic dimension to the post-Flashpoint universe. There isn't much to be said for our beloved broship yet (though the last page shows a handshake between Apollo and Midnighter and promises a "Big Bang"), but the issue is a great gauge for whether or not you'll want to stick with the series to see the romance purportedly unfold....
