Some Random Thoughts

I wish I had the guy that intro'ed SNL's Deep Thought's back in the 90's to intro this for me. 

Anyway, There was a few topics from some news items this week that I wanted to kick things off with:

Gal Godot is Wonder Woman in Batman Vs Superman

Personally, I am not too crazy about this.When I look at her, I don't see Wonder Woman. Yes, she has the height to pull it off, but not the weight, which she can gain. The question is, how fast. I think they start shooting in Feb and she is going to have to not only put on weight, but muscle too. People can point to Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman and and say she didn't have muscle and she pulled off the role and I would agree, but this is a different time. I want Wonder Woman to look like she can stand toe to toe with any villain, including Batman and Superman. 

I understand that she can put on the weight and she can be taught how to fight with a sword and her fists (if she doesn't already now how), but the perfect candidate was already out there in Jamie Alexander. She too has the height for the role but, unlike Gadot, has already proven she can be a convincing ass kicker and already looks the part.

I just want Wonder Woman to be done right. She is one of the three pillars of the DC Universe. There has been so many attempts at getting a Wonder Woman TV series or movie done and she is one of the characters in comics I feel deserves a movie. If done right, Wonder Woman could be a great movie.

I am willing to give Zach Snyder and the WB a break though. They picked a great Superman (although I will pass my judgement on Ben Affleck when I see the movie) and if they think Gadot will be a good Wonder Woman then so be it.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Dropped This Week

So, I got to see the trailer the morning Sony released it upon the masses and I have to say there is a lot I like about it. That said, there are a couple of things I didn't like about it. If you haven't seen the trailer just yet, you probably should stop reading this right now.

Still here? OK, I warned you...

I love the new suit. It looks more like the classic Spidey costume, which is what I was hoping would happen after the first movie. I will be honest, when I first saw the first costume, I despised it, but after viewing the film it grew on me. But I really didn't want it's return in the second movie, so good job on taking care of that.

I LOVED seeing Doc Ock's tentacles and the Vulture's wings in that one scene in what I assume to be a room in Oscorp. This must mean that we could possibly get the Sinister Six in part 3. We have the Goblin, Rhino, Electro, Vulture and Doc Ock. Who would be the 6th? A returning Lizard? Personally, let's get Venom in this group and have him done right.

Also, in one scene, if you pause it, there is a Venom file in the Oscorp computer files. (shrieks like an excited girl after seeing One Direction)

Dane DeHaan looks like he is going to be great in this. I've never seen anything he's done before, but sometimes you can just tell when someone is going to be good and I just have that feeling about DeHaan in this.

 I was initially bummed when Chris Cooper's name was dropped from the cast list, but I was elated to see him in the trailer. As much as I liked Willem Defoe as Norman Osborne, Chris Cooper is the type of actor that can take a role like this and run with it and make it his. 

Another initial casting choice that may make me regret doubting it is Jamie Foxx. I'm sure we will get the fans complaining he doesn't look like Electro or snicker at his voice, which fans are already doing, but after seeing the trailer, I think Foxx is going to prove that his inclusion in this movie is a good one. 

I also liked seeing the Daily Bugle all over the trailer. I am hoping for a J. Jonah Jameson cameo. If it's J.K. Simmons, I would really like that too.

I didn't like the Rhino-Dino in this movie. Really? Rhino is a machine in this movie? You couldn't CGI the Rhino suit on top of Paul Giamatti? Plus he's a Russian Mobster? Come on, I'm all for a tweek of a character, but not this. I am a big Giamatti fan, but I think he is all wrong for this role. 

I would have preferred they kept the Goblin until the 3rd movie and it be Norman Osborne. From the looks of the trailer and movie poster, DeHaan is going to be the Green Goblin. It seems they still didn't get the outfit right either. Green armor and no mask. What, is he going to be deformed to look like a Goblin? I'm not really sure how I feel about the Goblin in this. I guess I will have to see for myself and then make a decision. 

We geeks got a couple of things to talk about this past week. Now, maybe you agree or disagree with me on the points I made. Leave them in the comments section. I would love to read them. Maybe you might change my mind about a few points I made previously. I mean, I have been wrong before and it wouldn't be the last time I'm wrong either. Just be nice about it. I'm fragile. 

Dark Knight Mez-Itz Pickup

Sometimes, It's worth waiting on picking up an item for your collection.

Case in point, I have been wanting to pick up the Dark Knight Rises Mez-Itz figure. I had seen it in Toys R Us all last year for 12.99. I would always think about picking it up, going as far as holding it in my hand before putting it back. Then I couldn't find anymore. One week it was there and the next, gone. 

I was kicking myself for not picking it up when I had the chance. I always seem to do that. I will see something that intrests me and not buy it for whatever reason and then never see it again. I figured I was doomed to picking it up off eBay for whatever the seller was asking plus shipping. I may have paid more for it then I would have had I picked it up at Toys R Us.

Funny how things work itself out.

I had decided to hit Barnes N Noble after work one day. I wanted to see if there was any books or comic trade paperbacks on clearance. What I did find on clearance shocked me.

The Mez-Itz Dark Knight figure. 

It had a 50% off sticker on it, so it was a no brainer for me to pick it up at 7.00. When I got to the register, the figure rang up at 5.00. I have never been more than happy to open my wallet and pay the guy behind the register and get out of dodge with my newest Batman figure. 

And here he is. Red Sticker and all.

On one side of the box, you have pictures of their 2 releases in this line, Batman and Bane.

Other side is the brand name, letting you know that you indeed bought a Mez-Itz figure.

The back has a cellophane window, displaying the back of the figure with the company website on top and the Dark Knight Rises logo on the bottom.

Here is Batman out of the box. Ta-da!

The figure has a very nice paint job. I like how the gray contrasts with the black to give it a real nice shading effect on the mask. He looks really Po'ed. Like I am when someone eats my nachos.

The coloring extends to his body. The artists also did a nice job with the utility belt as well. I really like the way they did the costume. Not a straight black and grey, but the artists highlighted the details of his costume that  really pop out on the figure.

I love that we get a cloth cape with this figure instead of a cape molded from plastic. I think it is a real nice touch that makes the figure even better.

On the bottom of one foot is the copyright info and on the other is the Mez-Itz logo molded onto the bottom of the foot.

I have to say I really like this figure and I would pick up more as I find them in stores. I have seen the blue and grey costume Batman that I am now yearning for as well as the Batmobile and Tumbler as well as mini two packs with Bane and Catwoman. If your not a Batman collector, fear not, I have seen Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern Mez-Itz figures. All look great and I may actually pick them up as well.

I think I really did well. I picked up a great looking Batman figure at more than half off the original price. He's going to look great with my other Batman figures and collectibles and I cannot wait to get that shelf up. I'm going to enjoy this purchase for a while.

O.K. I Want This And That And That....

It's auction time for us members of the League Of Extra Ordinary Bloggers. A time where we wish each other good luck in adding new and glorious pieces to our collections and then figure out a way to blindside each other for the same piece. It's a war and we have our war paint and fatigues on as we zero in on the pieces we wish to add to our collections and make sure we don't give up our first born to get that piece. This is eBay on steroids and I'm about to drop a few elbows to get what I want. O.K, maybe it isn't that vicious, but you get the idea.

Hake's Americana and Collectibles is holding another one of their fantastic auctions and is sponsoring this week's topic. Here is the link to Auction #209 in case you would like to drool all over your keyboard like I have so many times:

http://www.hakes.com/browse.asp?Auction=209&ListID=0

Now, I have never participated in a Hake's auction. A lot of the stuff they have up for bid is a bit out of my price range, but I do love to browse through their inventory and just play make believe in my mind and pretend I was Ted DiBiase and make a mental note of what I would buy if I was loaded. Unfortunately, once Mr. Rogers enters the dream, I pretty much end it 'cause that's just plain creepy.

For this week's topic, we are to go on an imaginary shopping spree at Hake's current auction and list what we would buy if we had the funds. I decided to pick pieces for collections I collect or picked pieces to start a collection I have always wanted. In some cases, they were pieces I had or come across as a kid or pieces that I have always longed to own. What did I pick? Well, you my dear reader are pretty nosy, but I will show you anyway.

Let's start with 2 pieces I would love to own for my Batman collection:

This is an animated cell from one of my favorite episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. Entitled "Legends Of The Dark Knight", the episode follows 3 kids as they envision what The Batman is really like. One kid imagines the Caped Crusader as something right out of a Dick Sprang drawn comic book with a heroic voice and all. Another visualizes Batman to be like Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns, complete with mud fight with the Mutant Leader. I loved how the episode showed what Batman has looked like over the years and to add this piece to my Batman collection would be fantastic.

The Mego-head that I am would never be able to pass up the chance to be able to bid on and possibly own a boxed Batman Mego. The graphics on the box just pop out at you and the figure is mint and complete inside. This would be a great addition to the Batman shelf right next to the loose, not so mint Batman I do own.

I have never seen these before. Batman and Robin Jigglers from Fun Things. They're rubber figures with removable capes that you can hang on door knobs or other spots around the house. I'll just keep them carded and on my shelf, thank you. These pre-dated the Ben Cooper jigglers by about 7 years.

I didn't find much to add to my Luke Skywalker collection, but I did see this bad boy. As a kid, I had this and loved it. I would have lightsaber battles with the Darth Vader figure I owned, had him hang from his grappling hook or just sit on my desk looking cool as he was when he blew up the Death Star...ok, maybe he wasn't Han Solo cool, but he did shot at Stormtroopers, got into a cantina fight and blew up a couple of Tie Fighters. Makes him cool in my book.

For my Beatles Collection, I found this gem:

My vintage Beatles memorabilia is pretty limited and to be able to add this awesome lunchbox to my collection would instantly make it the crown jewel of my Beatles collection. This is a pretty expensive piece to own and right now its at a reasonable bid, although I don't expect it to be for much longer.

It even comes with the thermos. I want to say the picture has them in 1965. I think they wore suits similar to this at the famous Shea Stadium show on August 15th, 1965.

The last item I would bid on is a lot of DC Comics Hallmark statues, a couple of which would fit nicely in my Batman and budding Superman collection:

I simply love that statue of Batman and Robin running with the Batsignal displayed behind them. I have always wanted to add that statue to my collection, but either it's too pricey or I'm outbid on one. The Robin beside it is also a nice piece.

Can't go wrong with Wonder Woman, classic or modern. Love the vintage Wonder Woman piece.

I love this Superman statue which has him in that iconic pose from Superman issue #11 from 1941. A must have.

A very cool piece of Superman flying over the Daily Planet which would be a nice addition to the Superman Shelf. Plus, he is sporting a sweet mullet.

Speaking of Superman, I found a really cool piece for the Superman collection:

This tin piece was a toy that you would wind up and Superman would lift it up from the bottom and flip the tank over, then start over again.

I never got why Superman is wearing a yellow suit rather than the iconic blue uniform. I know I have seen an earlier version of him in the blue suit. Still, a vintage piece like this one would be a head turner in any Superman collection.

I would like to thank Hake's for allowing us use of the pictures from the auction. I have seen a ton of other pieces that I would love to have from Monkees to Green Hornet to even goodies for my baseball collection. I could go on and on and show off all the stuff I would love to own, but we all don't have hours to read the ramblings of a poor geek.

Now, go and bid, bid, bid!

Since you're still up, check out what my fellow League Members would bid on:

http://shezcrafti.com/a-bunch-of-awesome-crap-id-buy-from-hakes-if-i-wasnt-broke/

http://brandedinthe80s.com/11435/down-with-opp

http://gijigsaw.blogspot.com/2013/07/hakes-shopping-spree.html

http://mosespa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/loeb-hakes-shopping-spree-redux.html

http://aeiouwhy.blogspot.com/2013/07/league-post-return-to-hakes.html

Tell them The Sexy Geek sent you. I'm sure they won't know what the hell you are talking about.

Package from The Cool And Collected Universe

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, I made a deal with my buddy Brian over at coolandcollected.com. I love making deals with Brian as I always get some cool stuff from him and he is really easy to work with and the packages always come quick. After initally almost pulling the trigger on a vintage Millenium Falcon and a Star Wars lot, I saw he was selling a DC lot as well as a small Joker lot, so I quickly made a deal with him.

As I mentioned before, he does get the packages out quickly. No more than a few days after paying, I got this package at my postal box

 

Inside was a veritable stash of DC toys and other goodies. It was stuffed to the top, which I always like to see. It would be impossible to show off all the goods, so I will show off my favorites in groups.

The Bat Lot. The main reaison I picked up the DC Lot was to add to my Batman collection and I think I have with some of these figures. I got some Batman The Animated Series figures, The Dark Knight and some The Batman toys as well as a cowl. I want to see if I can get some stands for these figures so when I am able to display them they wont fall over.

A couple of cool Batman Pez Dispensers.

Batmobiles and a Batcycle to add to my fleet of Bat Vehicles.

Batman was not the only one I was going for when I snagged this lot. I don't have a Superman collection and I want to rectify that. This lot will get me on my way.

Some members of the Justice League to add to the swag.

And to end things, a lot of my favorite Bat Villian. There are some real cool Joker figures in this lot, but I really like the figure of him on the cards. That will look pretty sweet on a shelf in my future man cave.

Again, I want to thank Brian for the sale. If you have not read his Cool and Collected blog, I urge you to do so. He is a great pop culture blogger and an even better friend.

Hope you all have a great weekend.