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Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Coming This Fall

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Published on: May 17, 2013

Starting with Iron Man, Marvel has unleashed five year’s worth of incredible superhero movies on the world, culminating in last year’s Avengers and heading into phase 2 with Iron Man 3 which released this month.

Keeping the momentum alive, this fall, on ABC, we’ll be treated to “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” a new drama that will follow Agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, and a group of agents as they investigate newly identified superheroes.

Ming-Na and J. August Richards, along with a young cast of relative newcomers, make an appearance in the pilot and can be seen in the trailer below.

Although I haven’t gone through all of the Upfronts yet, “Agents of SH.I.E.L.D.” looks to be about the best new offering of any network so far.  It promises action, superhero appearances and more of Agent Coulson’s humor that made him a fan favorite in the movies that spawned this series.

As a side note, I’ve never been a huge fan of Ming-Na, maybe it was the characters she played, but she looks ridiculously hot in this trailer while kicking some serious ass.  Also, she’s gonna be 50 this year so, right on!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the trailer below and get ready to tune in on Tuesdays this fall.

Iron Man 3

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Published on: May 2, 2013

Iron Man 3I have a tendency to run off on movie reviews, either picking apart a film or getting too detailed and kinda spoilerish.  I’m not doing that this time because everyone needs to go see Iron Man 3 and no matter what I can, will or won’t say here, that’s a fact that can not be argued.

Iron Man 3 is not its predecessors.  It has a different feel to it, thanks to Shane Black’s directorial hand, no doubt, but at the core it’s still Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark with all the humor and brilliance that you’ve seen through three movies (Counting The Avengers).

Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow are back as James Rhodes and Pepper Potts respectively, Jon Favreau has a cameo as Happy Hogan and Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall and James Badge Dale join in and may or may not be the antagonists.  One of the fun additions to the film was Ty Simpkins as Harley Keener, Stark’s young helper.

Unlike the first two films in the trilogy, we don’t see a lot of Iron Man for large chunks of the film.  Iron Man 3 pits Tony Stark, the man, against an enemy who is not only targeting the United States and his closest friends, but also him personally.  It’s also a story about Stark dealing with some leftover demons from his encounter with the aliens during the invasion in The Avengers.

But even with all the attacks going on, the humor that this franchise has become known for is there, even after the credits.  So hang around, there’s an excellent cameo at the end that you can’t miss.

I would recommend skipping the 3D showings of Iron Man 3, there’s not one point in the movie where I thought that added anything to the experience and the only reason I saw it that way was because it was originally the only option for my theater for tonight.  Other than that, the movie looked excellent, the acting was spot on and there were some twists that I never saw coming…although there was one telegraphed early just due to casting.

Even without Iron Man, the film is full of action from beginning to end and everyone gets in on that from Stark to Rhodes to Happy and even Pepper.  The FX in the film were well done as always, and the sheer number of armor versions that have cameos in the film will blow you away.

Iron Man 3 advanced the story of Tony Stark and while it did fit in well with the previous Iron Man movies, there wasn’t as much of a tie in to Phase 2, as it’s called, of the Avengers universe.  But that’s fine.  We still have Thor, Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy films to get through before we get back there anyway.

Other than skipping 3D, I can’t recommend this movie enough.  It’s a fun an interesting story and it’s driven by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark…armor optional.  Five wheels of cheddar out of five.  Now, bring on the Thunder!

Marvel Select Nightcrawler Now Shipping

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Categories: Diamond Select Toys
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Published on: May 1, 2013

Marvel Select Nightcrawler BoxFrontThe new Diamond Select Toys Nighrcrawler figure from the Marvel Select line is now shipping and he’s a pretty impressive figure.  Check out the new action shots of Nightcrawler in action with Storm and Colossus in the Danger Room.

Guten tag! If you’re anything like us, you learned all of your German (and Russian, and French) from comic books, and the international members of the X-Men were your professors. Today, Diamond Select Toys is shipping their latest 7-inch Marvel Select action figure, the teleporting German acrobat Nightcrawler, to comic shops and specialty stores across the U.S., and it is unglaublich! (That’s German for “Incredible.”) With 16 points of articulation, he can strike all sorts of dynamic poses, and a wire-poseable tail allows him to hang from the nearest Danger Room obstacle. The figure comes packaged with a purple teleportation base in the Select line’s shelf-friendly display packaging. And it will look amazing crouching alongside the rest of your Select X-Men, nicht wahr? Check out some action photos below, and pick one up today!

Diamdond Select Announces Iron Man 3 Minimates

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Categories: Diamond Select Toys
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Published on: March 20, 2013

While The Wolverine may be the mysterious release from the Marvel Universe, Iron Man 3 is probably the most hotly anticipated.  Hasbro already has a lot of product on store shelves and Diamond Select will be adding to it, at Toys-R-Us and your local comic shop, with new Minimates releases.

The latest Iron Man 3 trailer has everyone talking about what kind of products we’ll see on toy store shelves as the movie’s release date approaches. And while they still need to keep some of their figures under wraps, Diamond Select Toys has unveiled two more Marvel Minimates based on the film!

The first, “Suit Up” Tony Stark, will be one of four Toys “R” Us-exclusive Minimates, and will come packaged with a mystery figure to be revealed later. He is shown wearing parts of the Mark 42 armor, which can be summoned and controlled via mental link in the film, as seen in the trailer. The boots and gauntlets will be removable, and Tony will also come with regular hands and shoes.

The second is an Extremis Soldier, who comes packaged with Iron Patriot and will be available at comic shops and specialty stores as well as at Toys “R” Us. These super-strong operatives are shown receiving the Extremis treatment in the trailer, and the Minimate will come with a removable vest, a pistol, and interchangeable hair pieces to create different looks.

The other Minimates that have been revealed are Iron Man Mark 42 with The Mandarin (shared between specialty and Toys “R” Us), the specialty-exclusive War Machine with Maya Hansen, and the specialty exclusive Cowboy Disguise Tony Stark with Aldrich Killian. Three Toys “R” Us figures remain unrevealed.

Minimates are 2-inch mini-figures, each with various interchangeable parts and accessories, and the Iron Man 3 assortments will be out in April. To pre-order the specialty assortment, contact your local comic shop or your favorite specialty toy retailer!

Diamond Select Announces Toys for The Wolverine

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Categories: Diamond Select Toys
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Published on: March 20, 2013

Marvel has three hotly anticipated movies coming this but The Wolverine may be the one we know the least about at this point.  But we do know that Diamond Select will be releasing a set of Minimates along with an incredible looking Marvel Selection action figure of Hugh Jackman as the title character.  With three heads and six hands, this looks to be an incredible release.  Photos and press release below.

The Avengers. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The Amazing Spider-Man. The Marvel cinematic universe is constant source of great characters and costumes for the Minimates mini-figure and Marvel Select action figure lines from Diamond Select Toys. This year three films based in the Marvel Universe will make it into Select form, and while all three films are highly anticipated, one has been shrouded in secrecy, leaving fans to only guess at what toys the film might bring. But now DST has unveiled their newest Select figure, for 20th Century Fox’s The Wolverine, and announced an assortment of Minimates, as well!

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, The Wolverine finds Logan, the eternal warrior and outsider, in Japan. There, samurai steel will clash with adamantium claw as Logan confronts a mysterious figure from his past in an epic battle that will leave him forever changed.

While the movie-based line-up of Marvel Minimates Series 52 is still top-secret, we can say that the 7-inch action figure, sculpted by Gentle Giant, is due out this fall and depicts Wolverine in a look straight out of the film. The figure features 16 points of articulation as well as three interchangeable heads and six hands. The figure also comes with a sword and a detailed display base in display-ready Select packaging, with movie art on the shelf reference panel.

Check out the photos and video below, and pre-order from your local comic shop or your favorite online specialty toy store!

Strange Tales Minimates Box Set

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Categories: Diamond Select Toys
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Published on: February 28, 2013

April will see the release of a new box set of Marvel Minimates; Strange Tales.  It features Dr. Strange, Blade, Werewolf by Night and Morbius along with accessories.  Check out the press release and photos.

The strangest set of Marvel Minimates ever just got a little stranger! Sorcerer Dr. Strange takes the spotlight on the new packaging for the Strange Tales box set, featuring Strange, First Appearance Blade, Werewolf by Night and Morbius the Living Vampire!

Due to arrive in April, the set of four Minimates includes some new, character-specific accessories, like Blade’s wooden stakes (including one with a throwing effect), a flight base for Morbius, and Dr. Strange’s spell-casting hands. Each Minimate stands 2 inches tall and has 14 points of articulation to re-create all of the classic Marvel covers of the 1970s. Check out the comic-book-inspired packaging below!

Gentle Giant Debuts 2013 Premier Guild Membership Gifts

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Categories: Gentle Giant
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Published on: February 27, 2013

Gentle Giant has announced their 2013 Premier Guild gifts and they include three Star Wars offerings and a Marvel bust of War Machine.  All Premier Guild memberships have gone up $10 to $80 for the year.  The 2013 membership will include a 10% discount on all orders for regular releases, a $30 coupon on in-stock orders and a $10 gift certificate good on any one order, including pre-orders.

In order to guarantee your choice of membership gift, you must join the Premier Guild before June 1, 2013.  All four gifts are listed for the fourth quarter but based on past years, we wouldn’t expect them before we ring in 2014.

Mace Windu from Attack of the Clones.  One of Gentle Giant’s earliest busts, released in 2002 sans arms, Mace Windu makes a comeback with his unique purple bladed lightsaber.

Boba Fett Rocket Firing First Shot.  Shot all in blue, with no paint, the J-Slot recreation of the vintage Kenner prototype will ship in a blister card inside a polybag.

Darth Vader Holographic Mini Bust. This release is a copy of the 2005 Revenge of the Sith bust only now in clear blue resin.  The bust also lights up.

War Machine Mini Bust.  Featuring light-up effects, this new bust is based on the Iron Man 2 appearance of the armor, as worn by Don Cheadle’s Rhody Rhodes.

Around the Toy Aisle – Pre-Black Friday Edition

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Categories: Around the Toy Aisle
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Published on: November 18, 2012

Walmart Toy AisleWith the full start of this year’s Christmas shopping starting next week with the Black Friday sales, I thought it would be fun to see what’s hitting the local stores.  Over two weeks I stopped at four Walmarts, three Targets and two Kohl’s stores, KMart, two Toys-R-Us and a Toys-R-Us Express, two Five Belows and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.  There were a few sales already in place and you could also find deals with coupons and free gift cards. (more…)

Gentle Giant October Sale

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Categories: Gentle Giant
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Published on: October 19, 2012

Gentle Giant's 2012 October Sales LogoGentle Giant is offering a sale on several mini busts and statues from now until end of day November 2nd.  They are also offering free US shipping and half-priced International Shipping on all in-stock items.

Included in the sale are several Star Wars mini busts including The Force Unleashed Darth Vader, two Cantina Band members and Logray along with statues of the Clone Wars Clone Trooper and Magma Trooper.

There are also a couple Harry Potter statues, Marvel mini busts and the Sucker Punch Amber mini bust.  Head over to Gentle Giant’s sales page to see everything offered and then browse their site for other in-stock items to take advantage of the free shipping offer.

New York Comic Con – Kotobukiya

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Categories: New York Comic Con
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Published on: October 17, 2012

Kotobukiya Booth at New York Comic ConKotobukiya brought a large booth to New York Comic Con this year, showing off Star Wars, Marvel, Mass Effect, DC and other licenses.  Their Bishoujo Statue line always impresses but I think the R2-D2 and Han Solo in Carbonite business card holders.

They were also showing off the larger deluxe silicon ice trays of the Millennium Falcon, Han in Carbonite and R2-D2.

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