Coming Soon: Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6 Trandoshan Bounty Hunter Bossk 12" Figure

The dreaded bounty hunter Bossk's reputation as a killer began at birth, when he clawed his way out of his own egg and, moments later, devoured each and every one of his unhatched siblings. This display of savage dominance impressed Bossk's father and earned him his name, which, in his native Trandoshan, translates to, 'devours his prey.'

As he matured, Bossk developed a reputation for slaughtering and skinning Wookiees a Trandoshan tradition that threw him head-to-head with Chewbacca and Han Solo on several occasions. Their continued run-ins developed into a long-standing rivalry, and when he was approached by Darth Vader to hunt down and capture the Millenium Falcon, Bossk eagerly accepted the opportunity. That particular bounty was denied to Bossk, however, when Han Solo and his friends were tracked by Boba Fett to Bespin's Cloud City after the Battle of Hoth.

Despite this significant loss, his tenure as a bounty hunter was mostly successful, spanning the time period from the Clone Wars and the Dark Times, all the way through the Rebellion and beyond. A true renegade, Bossk's lengthy career found him toe-to-toe with Jabba the Hutt, the Galactic Empire, the Old Republic, and the Jedi Order. Bossk eventually even killed and devoured his own father for leadership of the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

Kotobukiya 1/7th scale Jaina Solo ARTFX Bishoujo 9-inch Statue Coming Soon

A Kotobukiya Japanese import! It’s been a long time coming, but Star Wars is now officially joining Kotobukiya’s lineup of Bishoujo (Japanese for “beautiful girl”) statues! Get ready to see the lovely ladies of all eras of the ultimate science-fiction powerhouse reimagined like never before. First up in the new Star Wars series is ace pilot / Jedi warrior / daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, Jaina Solo!

One of the most popular characters in the Expanded Universe, Jaina has appeared in numerous novels and comic books that take place after the events of Return of the Jedi and now comes to you in a fantastic Bishoujo statue based on an illustration by master Japanese illustrator Shunya.

Incoming: Hot Toys The Amazing Spider-Man: 1/6th scale Spider-Man Ltd Edn Collectible Figure

One of the most popular superheroes is back on big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy. To celebrate the launch of The Amazing Spider-Man movie, Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Spider-Man Limited Edition Collectible Figurine from this summer blockbuster. The movie-accurate Spider-Man collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker in the movie, highlighting the newly developed head sculpt, highly detailed costume and accessories. Please refer to the attached photos and spec below for your reference.

Hot Toys MMS179 (Movie Masterpiece Series) The Amazing Spider-Man: 1/6th scale Spider-Man 12-inch Limited Edition Collectible Figurine specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker in the movie with Two (2) heads, including head sculpt of Peter Parker and Spider-Man plus TrueType body with 30 points of articulation which is Approximately 30 cm tall. Also includes Five (5) pairs of interchangeable palms with silvery cobweb pattern including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) pair of fists, One (1) pair of palms for cobweb shooting, One (1) pair of palms for cobweb swinging, One (1) pair of palms for climbing

Peek at Sideshow Collectibles SDCC 2012 Exclusive G.I. Joe Lt. Falcon 12-inch figure

1/6th scale Green Beret LT. Falcon will be a Sideshow Collectibles Exclusive for the SDCC 2012 i.e. San Diego Comic-Con 2012, just one of the biggest, most happening conventions and one could say "the mother of all comics conventions" where toy and collectibles designers sell "Comic Con Exclusive" products. Such companies have included LEGO, Hasbro, Mattel and Sideshow Collectibles. Most such exclusives are licensed properties of movie, comic book, and animation characters.

Lt. Falcon is a G.I. Joe character in the A Real American Hero series. Of the officers in the Joe Team, Lt. Falcon is somebody who tries to be your friend. He is of the opinion that just because you're an officer doesn't mean you're respected. Respect has to be earned. Whether mingling with the rest of the enlisted men or training native insurgents, Falcon proves to everybody he is ready to get down and be one of the boys. He would even bite the head off a snake just to be on your side.

His real name is Vincent Falcone, and his rank is that of 1st Lieutenant O-2. Falcon was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. As a Green Beret, his primary function is special operations. His father was also a Green Beret, who served with the 10th SFGA (Special Forces Group Airborne), making Falcon a second generation Green Beret. Falcon briefly served with the 5th SFGA's "Blue Light" counter-terrorist unit as an "A" Team executive officer. He has been cross-trained in demolitions, and is fluent in Spanish, French, Arabic, and Swahili. Falcon is also an expert with most NATO and Warsaw pact small arms. [source: wiki]

New from Art-figures – AF008 1/6th scale Raging Police OR old man Steven Seagal 12-inch figure

Steven Frederic Seagal (born April 10, 1952) is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan. He became the first foreigner to operate an Aikido dojo in Japan.

He later moved to the Los Angeles, California, area where he made his film debut in 1988 in Above the Law. By 1991, he had starred in three successful films, and would go on to achieve greater fame in Under Siege (1992), where he played Navy SEALs counter-terrorist expert Casey Ryback.

However both On Deadly Ground (1994, which he directed) and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) did poorly in theaters. During the later half of the 90s, he starred in three more theatrical films and a direct-to-video The Patriot. Aside from Exit Wounds (2001) and Half Past Dead (2002), his career shifted almost entirely to direct-to-video films (often low budget productions and shot in Europe or Asia). Between 1998 to 2009, he appeared in a total of 22 of these. [source: wiki]

Dragon WWII 1/6th scale US Army Ranger Private First Class "Cappy" (Vin Diesel) Review II

Having already seen packaging and contents of this Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6th scale Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger (2nd Battalion, France 1944) 12-inch military action figure in the earlier post, it's now time to see how everything comes together :)

As mentioned previously, Vin Diesel stars as Private First Class Adrian "Cappy" Caparzo in "Saving Private Ryan" and this DML 1/6th scale WWII US Army Ranger 12-inch action figure is obviously modeled after Diesel's character.

Dragon Models Limited (DML) has been releasing movie-related figures of late. There was the pair of Asian actors Jay Chou and Nicolas Tse in the Hong Kong action film "The Viral Factor" (posted earlier HERE and HERE), the preview of their soon-to-be-released trio of Agent J, Agent K (old) and Agent K (young) from MIB3 plus these "Saving Private Ryan" figures. See my post HERE for preview pictures of the figures that Dragon will release :)

Preview Hot Toys DX11 The Dark Knight 1/6th scale Heath Ledger The Joker 12-inch Figure

Hot Toys announcement:
Dear all,
The Hot Toys DX Joker Collectible Figure has been very well-received since its launch in 2009. In view of fans’ expectation, Hot Toys is proud to present his advanced version – The DX Joker 2.0 Collectible Figure from The Dark Knight movie, specially crafted based on the image of Heath Ledger as The Joker in the movie, highlighting the highly detailed head sculpts crafted with the latest sculpting and painting technique by our chief Korean artists Yulli & JC. Hong and the costume customized by the extraordinaire 1/6th scale figure costume artist Kato, which best fits his advanced body. The Joker 2.0 is definitely a must-have for fans!

The DX Joker 2.0 Collectible Figure is truly movie-accurate, equipped with our patented Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS), highly detailed accessories and weapons.

Please refer to the attached photos and spec below for your reference.
Hot Toys – DX11 - The Dark Knight: 1/6th scale The Joker 2.0 Collectible Figure Specification~ DX Series ~ specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) movie, is approximately 31 cm tall, has Two (2) interchangeable head sculpts, including one (1) smiling face and one (1) non-smiling face, with non-smiling face with patented Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS) + TrueType body with over 35 points of articulation and upper body with more closed to humans’ features with Detailed hair sculptures, Highly detailed make-up, gesture and wrinkles. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted. Also includes Eight (8) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair for holding gun, One (1) left palm for holding The Joker cards, One (1) right palm for holding knife, Two (2) right and one (1) left posing palms, One (1) left relaxed palm, Six (6) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, Two (2) right and one (1) left posing palms, One (1) left palm for holding The Joker cards

Review 1: Dragon Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger 2nd Battalion

The 1998 American epic war film "Saving Private Ryan" was directed by Steven Spielberg who wanted to show audiences the powerful, realistic re-creation of WWII's D-Day invasion and the immediate aftermath. The film is noted for its graphic and realistic portrayal of war, especially for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depicts the Omaha Beach assault of June 6, 1944.

Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) is given the assignment of finding a paratrooper, Private First Class James Ryan (Matt Damon) behind enemy lines and he chooses a translator, Corporal Upham (Jeremy Davis), skilled in language but not in combat, to join his squad of right-hand man Sergeant Horvath (Tom Sizemore), plus privates Mellish (Adam Goldberg), Medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), cynical Reiben (Edward Burns) from Brooklyn, Italian-American Caparzo (Vin Diesel), and religious Southerner Jackson (Barry Pepper), an ace sharpshooter who calls on the Lord while taking aim.

Having previously experienced action in Italy and North Africa, the close-knit squad sets out through areas still thick with Nazis. After they lose one man in a skirmish at a bombed village, some in the group begin to question the logic of losing more lives to save a single soldier.

This is Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6th scale Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger (2nd Battalion, France 1944) 12-inch military action figure. The box description reads: "Cappy was a US Army Ranger that came ashore with the 2nd Ranger Battalion in the early hours of 6 June 1944 on the Normandy coast. His weapon is wrapped in a black plastic cover to protect it from seawater and sand, and he carries an M5 Assault Gas mask in its M7 rubberized bag. On his arm is a Gas Detecting Brassard. In an amazing piece of realism, his Service Boots are even coated with gritty sand from the beach at the foot of the cliff. Looking like he just waded through the surf, Cappy takes realism to a whole new level."

Flirty Girl Collectibles 1:6th scale EMERSON 12-inch Female Figure Character Set REVIEW

This is the Flirty Girl Collectibles 1/6th scale EMERSON Female Character Set. NO 1/6th figure is actually included with this set - just the outfit and accessories plus a 1/6th scale female head sculpt. I've been disappointed with a lot of the female head sculpts that have been offered by a lot of toy manufacturers but this particular one caught my eye and her outfit was also rather interesting. She wasn't dressed like any of the trampy vampy female figures I've seen of late. She was dressed more like a bounty hunter / zombie killer / post-apocalyptic warrior and NOT like some babe pretending to be macho or cutesy. She's almost believable as a real character and could probably partner Alice from Resident Evil ;p

Flirty Girl Collectibles 1/6th scale EMERSON Female Character Set comes with female head sculpt, sleeveless combat vest, crop jacket hoodie, midriff tank top, dog tags x 3, faux lizard one-piece chaps / pants, belt with scorpion buckle, single kneepad with small bolt pattern design, one pair of Western style boots (designed for ankle cup attachment i.e. boot feet), ammo holder, secondary ammo holder, post-apocalyptic designed shotgun, shotgun cartridge shells, survival backpack, dagger and cigar. It all comes in a very plain white box without any identification, not even a picture to show what's inside the box.

Preview Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars 1/6th scale Utapau Airborne Trooper 12-inch figure

From Sideshow:
The Utapau Airborne Trooper Sixth Scale Figure will be available for Pre-Order through the Sideshow Newsletter on Thursday, June 21st, 2012, which is typically published between 2PM and 3PM (Pacific Time). For those of you who can’t wait to see the full reveal of this Star Wars collectible, we’re posting the product gallery and info a bit early (see below). The Exclusive Utapau Airborne Trooper Sixth Scale Figure, which will include a 2nd Airborne Company Base with ‘Parjai Squad’ Emblem will be priced at US$134.99 while the regular edition, without the 2nd Airborne Company themed base will be priced at US$134.99. Make sure you log into your newsletter account on June 21st, 2012 to secure this piece for your collection.

The 2nd Airborne Company was a division of the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars that consisted of clone paratroopers. The 2nd Airborne was subordinate to the 212th Attack Battalion of the 7th Sky Corps of the Third Systems Army led by Clone marshal commander Cody and High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi. [source: wookiepedia]

The clone troopers of the 2nd Airborne Company were outfitted with heavy armor suits and helmets designed for high altitude drops. Their armor was marked with two orange slashes across the chest.

Inflames Toys 1/6th scale 齊天大圣 The monkey king limited edition 12-inch collectible figure

Sun Wukong (simplified Chinese: 孙悟空; traditional Chinese: 孫悟空; pinyin: Sūn Wùkōng), also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West (Chinese: 西遊記; pinyin: Xīyóujì) written by Wu Cheng'en. In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven and being imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha, he later accompanies the monk Xuanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India.

Sun Wukong possesses an immense amount of strength; he is able to lift his 13,500 jīn (8,100 kg or 17,881 lbs) staff with ease. He is also superbly fast, able to travel 108,000 li (54,000 kilometers or 33,554 miles) in one somersault. Sun knows 72 transformations, which allows him to transform into various animals and objects; he has trouble, however, transforming into other people, because he is unable to complete the transformation of his tail. [source: wiki]

Coming soon from Inflames Toys will be this 1/6th scale 齊天大圣 The monkey king limited edition 12-inch collectible figure of the monkey king Sūn Wùkōng fully dressed in Chinese military garb, most likely inspired by the painting shown in the picture below. Scroll down to see more images / pictures of Inflames Toys 1/6th scale monkey king with its amazing details and multiple layered outfit :)

Preview Magic Cube MC Toys 1/6th scale MOSSY OAK Camouflage Hunting Apparel Suit

Obsessed with the notion of getting closer to critters, Mossy Oak’s founder and CEO, Toxey Haas, gathered up a bag of leaves, sticks and dirt from under his favorite hunting tree, walked into a fabric factory and dropped it on the counter. Facing an audience of startled faces he made a bold request, “Can you print fabric that looks like the stuff in the bag?” People snickered, shook their heads and probably contemplated calling security. Little did they know he was on to something big.

Toxey realized that the key to developing natural looking camouflage was to use natural elements: dirt, leaves, bark and limbs, along with their natural colors to allow the wearer to blend in perfectly with their natural surroundings. Before then, most camouflage patterns simply obscured the outline of the wearer, which made the person more difficult to see at a distance. [source: mossyoak.com]

This is another camouflage outfit that Magic Cube will be releasing soon and it looks like a keeper for sure :) It is the MCM-005 1/6th scale MOSSY OAK Camouflage Hunting Apparel Suit. The suit will consist of MOSSY OAK Camouflage Jacket, MOSSY OAK Camouflage Pants, MOSSY OAK Camouflage Belt, MOSSY OAK Camouflage Cap, MOSSY OAK Camouflage Tee, MOSSY OAK Camouflage Neck Gaiter.

Lim lau peh or "Who's your daddy?" i.e. Happy Father's Day to all toy collectors who are dads

This toy blog post / entry was published earlier on June 21, 2009 but is just as appropriate today as it was three years ago :) Wishing Happy Father's Day to all fathers and fellow collectors. As long as fathers are not shy to play with toys, we'll always stay young at heart and connected to our children. It doesn't mean that when you become a dad, you have to stop playing with toys. In fact, it was when I became a father that my passion for toys was rekindled and that happened in 1994 ;p

First posted on June 21, 2009:
Today being Father's Day, I thought this post would be most appropriate. It is dedicated to fathers everywhere, me being a dad to two rascals, Jared who is 15 and Javon who will be 12 in December. The joy of fatherhood cannot be explained or understood unless you become a father yourself and experience the joys of bringing up your very own.

"Lim lau peh" is hokkien for "your old man/father" just as the popular phrase "lim peh ka li kong" means "let your father tell you" or "listen to your father" - a phrase meant to put you in your place, used even when the speaker is not actually the addressee's father. (source: the Coxford Singlish Dictionary - a good read, "sure damn funny one!")

We all remember the following scene from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" where Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) is captured together with his father Professor Henry Jones Sr (played by Sean Connery) after being betrayed by Elsa when Indy goes to rescue Jones Sr at a castle on the Austrian-German border.

[Indiana and Henry are tied up]
Indiana Jones: Come on, dad. Help me get us out of here. We have to get to Marcus before the Nazis do.
Professor Henry Jones: But you said he had a two day head start. That he would blend in, disappear.
Indiana Jones: Are you kidding? I made all that up. You know Marcus. He once got lost in his own museum.

Under the Sea and all that jazz - 1/6th scale divers, sharks and other creatures in the ocean

Was cleaning up the display cabinet the other day and decided to take some pictures as I put things back in place :) This particular display cabinet has the "Under the Sea" theme as this is where I put everything that I have that is water-based / ocean-based i.e. anything to do with the sea.

Sharks! I've always been fascinated with sharks and NOT because of shark's fin soup. In shark fin soup, the fins themselves are virtually tasteless. The taste comes from the soup, while the fins are valued for their texture. The delicacy was coveted by emperors because it was rare, delicious, and required elaborate preparation. Holding both culinary and symbolic significance, the dish is popular at important occasions such as weddings, banquets, and important business deals. I am all for taking shark fin soup off the menu entirely as well as the ban of shark finning because it is a very cruel thing to do when fishermen cut off the sharks' fins and then throw the often still-living sharks back into the sea to make room for more of the valuable fins. In the ocean, the sharks either die from suffocation or are eaten because they are unable to move normally. So when we stop eating the fins, demand will drop and that will force fisherman to stop shark finning.

The term "shark" has also been used for extinct members of the suborder Elasmobranchii outside the Selachimorpha, such as Cladoselache and Xenacanthus. Under this broader definition, the earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago. [source: wiki]

Preview Hot Toys The Avengers 1/6th scale Black Widow Limited Edition 12-inch Figurine

In The Avengers movie, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor's adoptive brother Loki from subjugating Earth. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow and Clint Barton / Hawkeye also join the Avengers to defend Earth from the alien invaders.

Scarlett Johansson stars as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow: A highly trained spy working for S.H.I.E.L.D. About the character, Johansson said, "Black Widow is definitely one of the team. She's not in the cast simply to be a romantic foil or eye candy. She's there to fight, so I never felt like I was the only girl. We all have our various skills and it feels equal".

Hot Toys is proud to present MMS178 (Movie Masterpiece Series) The Avengers: 1/6th scale Black Widow Limited Edition 12-inch Collectible Figurine with the following specifications: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in the movie The Avengers, Newly sculpted head with movie-accurate facial expression and make-up, Real fabric hair implantation in brownish red short curly hair, Newly developed TrueType body highlighting her prominent body shape, Approximately 28 cm tall, Over 28 points of articulations, Eight (8) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of palms for holding pistols, One (1) pair of fists with real-like tazer effect, One (1) pair of fists, One (1) right palm for posing on waist, One (1) right palm for throwing discs. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

ZCWO Presents Mens Collection MH (Mens Hommes) Vol. 6 - The Gambling Gangster v.2.0

Having already seen the preview pictures of ZCWO Mens Collection MH (Mens Hommes) Vol.005 - I call it "The Gambling Gangster" – in the earlier post HERE, this is the gangster's partner OR rival, depending on how you want to play it :)

This is ZCWO Mens Collection MH (Mens Hommes) Vol.006 and it's another gangster in suit. Why do they all wear such ugly print shirts? The scarf doesn't really help either. Especially with the recent case in Singapore involving some a$$h%le wearing a scarf on the public bus pushing an old lady off it? Is that some kind of gangster dress code or something? To try to get the other person to stare at one's ugly togs and then to confront the person staring and say, "Whatcha looking at? You wanna pick a fight?" In local slang, it's "Kua Simi?" Staring incidents are not pretty, especially recently in Singapore with hooligans and no-class gangster types (no code of honor and no respect for decent human behavior) trying to show off something they don't even have!

Another trait of gangsters? It seems they like to gamble ;p It's okay if they win but when they lose, they behave like Chewbacca and will tear you limb from limb. We have seen enough movies to know what's it like? While the previous gangster had Eastern / Japanese origins with the Japanese wooden sandals and Chinese dominoes, this one appears more Western in his MO (Modus Operandi) - a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "method of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning. In English, it is often shortened to M.O.

Incoming: ZCWO IMINIME 1/6th Air Force Pilot "Carson" or Tom Cruise "Maverick" in Top Gun

Top Gun is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, in association with the Paramount Pictures company. The film stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt. Cruise plays Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Edwards) are given the chance to train at the Navy's Fighter Weapons School. The film depicts Maverick's progress through the training, his romance with a female instructor (McGillis), his overcoming a crisis of confidence following a fatal training accident, and the killing of several enemy pilots of unlisted nationality in a dogfight.

The primary inspiration for the film was the article "Top Guns", by Ehud Yonay, in the May 1983 issue of California magazine, which also featured aerial photography by then-Lieutenant Commander Charles "Heater" Heatley. The article detailed the TOPGUN fighter pilots at the Miramar Naval Air Station, located in San Diego, self-nicknamed as "Fightertown USA". [source: wiki]

This 1/6th scale "Carson" Air Force Pilot 12-inch figure or Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as seen in Top Gun is going to be released by ZCWO and IMINIME (from "I-Mini-Me"). Quite a good resemblance to the actor, especially with the photoshopped background :) Brings back a lot of memories. Great film and the soundtrack at the beginning was just AWESOME!

DC Comics New 52 Batman costume / Bat-suit good or bad? Just accept it :) It's a done deal

The New 52 is a 2011 revamp and relaunch by DC Comics of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero books, in which all of its existing titles were cancelled, and 52 new series debuted in September 2011 with new #1 issues. Among the series being renumbered are Action Comics and Detective Comics, which had previously retained their original numbering since the 1930s. Touted as a large publishing event following the conclusion of the "Flashpoint" crossover storyline, DC's relaunch entails changes to both the publishing format and fictional universe to entice new readers.

Much of Batman's history and timeline remains intact. With the exception of Stephanie Brown, all of the Robins have been accounted for and Barbara Gordon has spent time as Oracle, recently returning as Batgirl. The stories build on recent developments, and Bruce Wayne is again the only Batman.

BUT Batman does get a new costume.

The new Jim Lee designed Batman costume / Batsuit will be featured in the popular DC Direct Batman: Black & White statue series. The 5.5" statue will retail for US$80 when released (USD69.99 if you pre-order at BigBadToyStore). The only "Batman Black and White" statue I have is the Mike Mignola inspired version which I had posted earlier (pictures HERE) and that particular version has become very sought after :)

Hot Toys 2008 The Dark Knight Heath Ledger Joker 2.0 – How will the suit fit? Just fine :)

Hot Toys announcement:
Dear all,

Following The Joker 2.0 announcement last week (see post HERE), many of our fans should have been expecting more news about him!

Here we are proud to present our specially tailor-made costume, which is finely customized by the extraordinaire 1/6th scale figure costume artist Kato. The Joker 2.0 costume would be the best which fits this advanced body, with well tailored movie-accurate cutting and materials.

More details will be unveiling soon! Stay tuned!

ZCWO Presents Mens Collection MH (Mens Hommes) Vol. 5 - The Gambling Gangster

ZCWO has been on a roll lately. Fresh from releasing the Mens Hommes MH Vol. 3 Boxing Legend set (reviewed earlier HERE) and the MH Vol. 4 Protective Work Wear + Tools Set (previewed earlier),  ZCWO has now released pictures of their next Men's Fashion -  Mens Hommes Vol. 005. Looking at the contents and pictures, I can only deduce that this set is best suited for an Asian since the inclusion of Japanese wood sandals are a dead giveaway ;p that and the Chinese Dominoes with dice (NOT a very Western thing I gather although ZCWO chose to pose a Caucasian figure wearing the suit and sandals).

Do note that the 12-inch action figure shown posing in the pictures is NOT included and you are only buying the 1/6th scale outfit and accessories (a lot of that popping up lately). The figure shown but NOT included bears a striking resemblance to American actor Jeff Bridges who played Obadiah Stane in the first Iron Man movie, who later became the Iron Monger! That kind of tells you that this outfit is designed for a bad guy / villain although you are free to choose which figure you wish to clothe the outfit with or dress the figure in.

Sideshow Collectibles Adam Hughes Lara Croft Premium Format Figure - cast in stone (bummer)

After the death of her mother, Lara Croft is raised and mentored by her archaeologist father, Britain's Earl of Abbington. The disappearance of Lara's father and legal battle over his estate that followed left her the Countess of Abbington. Carrying on her father's discipline, Lara travels the world seeking ancient artifacts and historical sites, but not without receiving criticism in the archeological community. Though Lara's methods are thought brash and reckless by some scholars, her findings have lead to discoveries of great historical significance. Her agility and strength give her the skill to collect well-hidden priceless artifacts while her beauty and high-society upbringing gain her many admirers in the tabloids.

Sideshow Collectibles and Adam Hughes are proud to bring you the Lara Croft Premium Format Figure, depicting the legendary Tomb Raider heroin from the game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Cast in high-quality polystone and dressed in a detailed real fabric costume, this outstanding figure is taken directly from designs by renowned artist Adam Hughes, whose critically acclaimed realistic illustration meets pin-up style art has made him a sought after artist and perennial fan favorite. Each piece is hand-painted and finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. The Lara Croft Premium Format Figure is the perfect addition to any collection.

NECA Prometheus Action Figures Revealed!

Source: NECAonline

Prometheus Has Landed!
The wait is finally over! Prometheus is now playing at a theater near you and we are proud to reveal the first of many figures we have been working on over the past 3 months.

Prometheus Action Figures Revealed!
Series 1 Engineer (Chair Suit) - Figure height will be 8.5″ tall with Ball-Jointed Neck, Ball Jointed Shoulders, Ball Jointed Torso, Swivel Biceps, Insert Molded Ball-Hinge Elbows, Ball Jointed Wrists, Ball Jointed Hips, Insert Molded Ball-Hinge Knees, Ball Jointed Ankles, Flexible Hoses & Tubes

Asmus Toys 1/6th scale Detective Somerset suit set for 12-inch figures – Clint and Morgan

Remember how I talked / blogged about 1/6th scale Man's Fashion and how the market had grown to such an extent that companies don't even bother producing figures any more (see my earlier post HERE); manufacturers just concentrate on producing and releasing 1/6th scale outfits instead, seeing as how the market is already flooded with lots of 12-inch figures. Well, here's another set of clothing to add to that list :)

Asmus Toys will be releasing this 1/6th scale Detective Somerset suit set consisting of One Brown jacket, One light orange stripe shirt, One brown patterned tie, One Dark Brown pair pants, One black leather belt and One pair of black shoes. Doesn't look like much until the clothes are fitted on a 12-inch figure :)

One of my favorite actors and directors - Mr Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. (born May 31, 1930), an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide (1959–1965). He rose to fame for playing the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy of spaghetti westerns (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) during the late 1960s, and as Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry films (Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, and The Dead Pool) throughout the 1970s and 1980s. These roles, among others, have made him an enduring cultural icon of masculinity.

Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers from "Prometheus" would be a GREAT action figure

Prometheus is a 2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. The film stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green and Charlize Theron. Set in the late 21st century, the story centers on the crew of the spaceship Prometheus as they follow a star map discovered among the remnants of several ancient Earth civilizations. Led to a distant world and an advanced civilization, the crew seeks the origins of humanity, but instead discovers a threat that could cause the extinction of the human race.

From playing the evil queen Ravenna in "Snow White and the Huntsman" (a 2012 British/American fantasy film based on the German fairy tale "Snow White" by the Brothers Grimm which was just released recently) to a employee working for Weyland Corporation in the just released "Prometheus" film (2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, originally intended as a prequel to Scott's 1979 science fiction horror film Alien but is now a separate story that precedes the story of Alien but is not directly connected to that franchise), Charlize Theron has been rather busy.

What I would really like to see is a 1/6th scale Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers 12-inch female figure wearing the really cool looking space suit from the movie ;p The sleek looking space suit coupled with that fabulous looking determined face would make an awesome display piece indeed. Now let us see if Hot Toys will be embarking on this any time soon.

MC Toys 1/6th scale SOCF - Cultural Support Teams (CST) Female Soldier 12-inch Figure

I learn something new everyday, even from collecting 1/6th scale 12-inch action figures :) didn't know about this special group of personnel until now.

Cultural Support Teams (CST) are all-female Soldier teams who serve as enablers supporting Army Special Operations combat forces in, and around secured objective areas. Their primary task is to engage female populations in objective areas when such contact may be deemed culturally inappropriate if performed by a male service member. CSTs directly support activities ranging from medical civic action programs, searches and seizures, humanitarian assistance, and civil-military operations. Primarily, CST training will focus on basic human behavior, Islamic and Afghan cultures, women and their role in Afghanistan, and tribalism. Training is conducted on Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C.

MC Toys 1/6th scale SOCF - Cultural Support Teams（CST) Female Soldier 12-inch Figure (MCM-004) come with: 1/6th scale female head sculpt, 12-inch female body, SI Assault Gloves, Sunglasses, Arabia scarf, Tactical pants, MultiCam ACU jacket and pants, RBAV Multicam Body Armor Vest, grenade pouch, grenades x 2, M4 Rifle magazine pouch, pistol magazine pouch, smoke grenades x 2, D-rings x 2, Radio and radio pouch, hydration carrier, belt, X-TAK kneepads, Combat hiker military boots.

Sneak Peek: Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Militaries 1/6th scale Snowtrooper 12-inch figure

Snowtroopers, also known as cold assault stormtroopers, were Imperial stormtroopers trained to operate in arctic climates. Some snowtroopers were deployed under Death Squadron's Blizzard Force, as well as other arctic forces. The snowtroopers were the successors of the clone cold assault troopers and the Galactic Marines under Clone Commanders Keller and Bacara, respectively, during the Clone Wars.

This is all Sideshow Collectibles can show us at the moment but it's certainly NICE to know that a Snowtrooper is in the works :) Too many Clone Troopers as it is.

Scroll down to see screen grab of snowtroopers from "The Empire Strikes Back", the best Star Wars film of them all IMHO

Coming Soon: Hot Toys DX Joker 2.0 limited edition collectible figure – "Miss Me?"

Hot Toys announcement:
Dear all, [to quote Heath Ledger as The Joker from "The Dark Knight (2008)"] “You have nothing, nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength.” The Joker 2.0 collectible is coming soon! Stay tuned!

Another JOKER! No Penguin, no Catwoman, no Two-Face, no Riddler, no Mr Freeze, no Poison Ivy, no Bane? It may be DX Joker version 2.0 but I actually have FIVE Heath Ledger Jokers on display - MMS Joker, Bank Robber Joker, DX version 1 Joker x 2 (one in Police Uniform and one in Joker costume) + Customized Nurse Joker. Let's wait and see how this turns out.

MC Toys: 1/6th scale Man's Fashion Camouflage Suit - Bathing Ape clothes for the 12-inch figure

This 1/6th scale fashion outfit set will be released by MC (Magic Cube) Toys. It is a 1/6th scale Man's Fashion Camouflage Suit (MCF-013) which will consists of man's fashion camouflage jacket, man's fashion short pants, belt, backpack / bag and tee / T-shirt. You will notice that the camouflage suit is of the Bathing Ape kind :)

A Bathing Ape (or BAPE) is a Japanese clothing company founded by Nigo in 1993. The company specializes in men's, women's and kids' lifestyle and street wear, running 19 stores in Japan, including Bape Stores, Bape Pirate Stores, Bape Kids Stores, Bapexclusive Aoyama, and Bapexclusive Kyoto.

According to founder and owner Nigo, the name "BAPE" is a reference to "A Bathing Ape In Lukewarm Water". Japanese people typically have daily baths in water at temperatures above 40 degrees celsius (104°F). As such, bathing in luke warm water is to complacently over indulge. This is, ironically, a reference to the lazy opulence of the younger generation of Japanese, the brand's own customers. [source: wiki]

Taowan: Full Metal 1/6th scale M114 UP-ARMORED HMMWV / Humvee coming soon

The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 1⁄4-short-ton (230 kg) MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks. The HMMWV has become the vehicular backbone of U.S. forces around the world. Over 10,000 were employed by coalition forces during the Iraq War. [source: wiki]

This Taowan: Full Metal 1/6th scale M114 UP-ARMORED HMMWV is expected to be released soon – officially in July 2012. I wonder how much this beauty will cost? I wonder if the shipping cost will be more than the actual 1/6th scale vehicle ;p This is something I can only dream of and drool about haha Can you even imagine the size of that thing? I'll need another house just to put it. We don't all have garages here in Singapore. Most of us stay in apartments (American English) / flats (British English) and space is definitely a constraint but I gotta say "This 1/6th scale M114 HMMWV is a beauty." I'm totally blown away.

click for a bigger and better view :)

The HMMWV was designed primarily for personnel and light cargo transport behind front lines, not as a front line fighting vehicle. While losses were relatively low in conventional operations, such as the Gulf War, both vehicles and crews suffered considerable damage and losses during the Battle of Mogadishu due to the nature of the urban engagement. After Somalia, the military recognized a need for a more protected HMMWV and AM General developed the M1114, an armored HMMWV to withstand small arms fire.

REVIEW: ZCWO Mens Hommes Vol.003 (Boxing Legend) - Great for 1/6th scale kitbashing

This is the ZCWO Mens Hommes Vol.003 (Boxing Legend) Men's Collection Boxed Set which consists of the following items: Black Cold Cap, Black Sweater, Denim Jacket, Brown Leather Belt, Denim Jeans, Black Socks, Black Boxing Shoes, Backpack, Red Boxing Gloves, Towel, Necklace. Accessories include: Mirror, Clothes Hook, Metal Bucket x 2, Folding Chair, Water Bottle x 10, Canned Drinks x 6, Lighter, Cigarettes x 2, Stack of Banknotes x 12, Posters x 20 and Changing Room Background. Body Parts: 2 pairs of hands, 1 pair of Feet, 1 pair of Bandaged Fists. (12-inch Action Figure and 1/6 scale head sculpt NOT included).

The box converts into a Changing Room Background (see picture below). How's that for saving the box packaging? Everything can be re-used including the box. Isn't that better than just throwing the box away and wasting resources. Comes with a separate card to be used as the flooring. I like this approach to packaging. DAM also did the same with their Operation Gothic Serpent / Black Hawk Down Task Force Ranger Delta Force and U.S. Ranger 12-inch figures :)

Pre-order ACI Toys 1/6th Andrew version 4.0 limited edition 12" figure "Man with a Spider"

This is the ACI Toys 1/6th scale Andrew Version 4.0 "Man with a Spider" 12-inch figure available only @ acitoys.com and limited to only 250 pcs. Item no. AB-5 is the Andrew Version 4.0 (with Tattoo) which is an acitoys.com Exclusive with limited quantities produced: 250 pcs. (limited edition). Regular Price: US$55 Shipped Worldwide. Discounted Price for acitoys.com VIP & Members. Pre-order starts: 31st May. Selling @ acitoys.com Shipping date: Mid or Late June

Why "Andrew"? Because Adam had already been taken ;p What does Adam mean in Hebrew since that is where the name first appeared in the Book of Genesis (bible)? A recurring literary motif that occurs in Genesis 1-8, is the bond between Adam and the earth ("adamah"). GOD made Adam from the earth ("adamah"), and it is from this "adamah" that Adam gets his name. As a masculine noun, adam means "man" or "mankind", usually in a collective context as in humankind, and may also refer to the individual human.

Incoming: Asmus Toys 1/6th scale Musashi's Wafuku i.e. Japanese traditional clothing

In modern Japan you have western clothing (yofuku), and Japanese clothing (wafuku). The various traditional ethnic garments worn in Japan are still in use, they are mainly worn for ceremonies and special occasions - like weddings, funerals, coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki), and festivals.

This Asmus Toys 1/6th scale Musashi's Wafuku set will include: One ocean blue robe, One under gown (Nagajuban), One pair of Samurai paints, One pair Japanese Sandals, One wooden sword and One deep blue traditional belt (Obi). NOTE: This is just the clothing set, NO 12-inch figure is included, hence the weird looking 1/6th scale head sculpt.

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age.

Preview Hot Toys The Dark Knight Rises: 1/6th scale Bat-pod Collectible - BATPOD version 2.0

Hot Toys has released pictures and product specifications of their MMS177 (Movie Masterpiece Series) The Dark Knight Rises: 1/6th scale Bat-pod Collectible. The 1/6th scale Bat-pod Collectible specially features: Authentically detailed 1/6th scale collectible, Perfect scale to Hot Toys’ 1/6th scale collectible figures from The Dark Knight Rises movie. Comes with Headlights light-up function. Other features: Machine Gun, Grappling Hook and Wheel with Hub-Mounted Engines. *Batteries are not included for collectible; 3A batteries (a total of 3 pieces) are required. Release date: Early Q4, 2012

Perfect scale to Hot Toys’ 1/6th scale collectible figures from The Dark Knight Rises movie? Does that mean that Hot Toys have to re-release the Dark Knight again? Who else can ride the Bat-pod except BATMAN the Dark Knight himself (as the pictures show) or is there another 1/6th figure that can ride the Bat-pod? 1/6th scale Anne Hathaway Catwoman? Hmmmm...

B is also for Batman: Brave and the Bold / Stealth Strike "Covert Attack" Batman figure

In a land that is devoid of anything to do with Mattel DC Batman toy action figures, these Batman: Brave and the Bold / Stealth Strike figures were a welcome sight indeed when they appeared in the aisles of Toys R Us. Like I mentioned in my earlier post HERE, you will not find Mattel DC action figures in Singapore. Plenty of Ben 10, Marvel Avengers, Disney Cars and Toy Story plus Power Rangers and most recently Thundercats but Brave and the Bold? Justice League? Nada, zilch, not a one, nil, uh-uh... you get me.

Coming off the successful BATMAN Total Armor series (it was named thus because the original Batman: Brave and the Bold series was canned when the animated TV series of the same name ended its run), this was an all-new segment that was released in the US last year but only arrived in Singapore stores just recently.

While the Mattel Stealth Strike "Gear Up" BATMAN (see pictures in my post HERE) wears a slightly modified version of the blue and gray suit worn during the Silver Age comics (1960s–70s) which was also what Batman wore in the animated Batman: Brave and the Bold TV series, this Covert Attack Batman looks more like the Dark Knight version where Batman worked alone (no Robin, the Boy Wonder and no dynamic duo) and everything was grimmer and darker, which suits me just fine.

Mattel Year 2011 DC Batman "The Brave and The Bold" / Stealth Strike Series COVERT ATTACK BATMAN 5-Inch Tall Action Figure comes with Removable Mask and Detachable Missile Launcher with Missile (X1254) for some snap-on action.