MOTUC Catch-up: He-Man, Scareglow and King Randor

With Mattycollector.com’s international shipping taking ever so long to reach the sandy shores of Oz (for some reason it always seems to come via New Zealand??) my Masters of the Universe Classics are hardly breaking news by the time I get to open them, but I still thought I’d post a few pics and thoughts about the most recent arrivals.

He-Man and Scareglow took an extra long time to be mine due to a combination of an extended shipping time which I assume was due to Christmas and then my own holiday absence. Randor took a full month to arrive despite the Christmas rush dying down.

Scareglow is not a character I owned in the MOTUC days of my youth, but he’s great fun. I’m not really wild about glow-in-the-dark bizzo, but his zany aesthetic is easy to appreciate. The skeleton design works fairly well across the figure, although the legs look a little to zebra striped. His funky purple cape has a ragged edge at the bottom, and his accessories fit easily and work well. Probably not going to end up in my Top 10 for the line, but fun all the same.

I didn’t pick up He-Man when he first came out, so once I started collecting the line, my hopes were firmly pinned on picking up the re-issue. Sculpt and paint are excellent. The red-eyed appearance of the original has been corrected here, and the only concern I have with the figure is that the ankles, like a few of the figures in this line, are a tad loose, which matters when they have to support a figure of this bulk. Great range of accessories, although I don’t quite get the one-sided sword that comes as an extra. Overall – great to finally have the centre of the collection filled!

The Burger King joke about poor old King Randor has well and truly been played out, so I won’t repeat it, especially since it doesn’t apply here in Oz – we have “Hungry Jack’s”, not BK. This is a serviceable rendition of a necessary, if not terribly interesting, character. A couple of customised bits cover up an otherwise fairly cheap re-use of the basic buck. He’s also very colourful, and he kinda looks like Jesus. Did I manage to stretch that out to a paragraph? Phew.

That’s the MOTUC Wrap for the moment. I have the 2010 Subscription, but I’ll be looking to grab Beast-Man and (ulp) Battle Cat next month. Wish me luck….

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Enter the Mini-Statues: DC Direct Shrinks Flash vs. Gorilla Grodd

In a new trend that is sure to be kind to wallets and shelf space, DC Direct is revisiting some of it’s popular statues and reproducing them as Mini-Statues. First up is Flash Vs. Gorilla Grodd, which I picked up a couple of weeks ago.

“Mini” really means mini with this piece. This is 1:2 Scale to the original which was 12” in height. Check out the Facebook photo album for a scale comparison – Flash and Grodd in total come up to about the same height as a DCUC 6” figure. While the size is much smaller, there doesn’t seem to be any skimping on detail – photos of the original and the mini side by side are hard to tell apart.

Flash and Grodd come packaged separately and Flash inserts into Grodd via steel pegs in his feet. Unlike most statues assembled by this method, this one felt the tiniest bit wobbly when I picked it up to display it. It’s not in danger of falling out in any way but it’s definitely less firmly stuck than others I’ve had.

This is a Michael Turner-inspired sculpt, and if you didn’t like Turner’s unique take on anatomy you won’t like this. The waist is impossibly thin, the arms a tad too long and the hands a bit too big. I was never a great fan of the late Turner’s art, but Flash is one character he drew I never minded so much (and the only IDENTITY CRISIS figure I could tolerate), so I can look past this here. The paint apps are very solid, and the pose is quite dynamic front on, although I’d have to say Flash’s stance doesn’t hold up well from all angles. Best of all, it joins my collection without taking up half a shelf.

I’m all for the idea of these Mini-Statues as less expensive way of picking up some of the larger statues I’ve missed along the way. The upcoming Alex Ross Superman and Batman mini-statues will be welcome additions to my shelf, but I’d really love to see them reproduce some more two-character statues such as Green Lantern Vs. Sinestro whose initial release prices were just too cost-prohibitive. I also wonder if the mini-statue idea is something Bowen or Sideshow would consider to make their products more accessible.

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the January AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Dude, Where’s My Face?? - Aquaman Blammoid

A “Blammoid” sounds like something that is going to hurt. As of today, I can tell you, it does.

I thought the upcoming Black Lantern Aquaman was going to push my love of all things Aquaman to the limit, but that was before I saw the new DC Direct Blammoids! in person. I visited the “other” comic shop in town today (they had a sale, okay??) and along with a trade I’ve been looking for, I picked up the Aquaman Blammoid! (The exclamation mark is part of the title and does not indicate any excitement on my part.)

These little buggers are about 4” tall and quite wide and deep. it’s lighter than I expected, and not as steady on it’s funny little feet as I might have thought – not that it topples over or anything, but it isn’t quite as sturdy as I might have thought. There are just three points of articulation here – the two arms and the neck, so that Aquaman can get a good look at his surrounds with his non-existent eyes.

The long and the short of it – these ain’t my thang. I would have much preferred to see DCD work on a wider range of Minimates than start down this road. There’s something quirky about these little blobs of plastic that I am sure some people are going to find appealing. I can see people buying their favourite character either out of loyalty for for the novelty factor, but the hefty price tag would keep all but the most dedicated of fans from collecting the lot.

You can see more pics (including packaging and scale comparison) at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the AFB January Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

Let the Sideshow Begin!

Seeing as my 6” and below collecting is looking slim this year (I’m finished with JLU and Infinite Heroes, DC Direct has little of interest this year) I’m planning ahead in terms of some statue purchases. One thing I’ve been keeping my eye on is the Sideshow X-Force Diorama. After nearly doing the deed, I finally went ahead and pre-ordered it.

Featuring the original New X-Force line-up of Wolverine, X-23, Wolfsbane and Warpath, this is a beautiful piece I can’t stop looking at. Coming in at a whopping 14” x 8” x 10’, this is going to be by far and away the biggest piece in my collection to this point. It’s also probably going to be the most expensive thing I’ve ever had shipped to Oz, but as it’s expected in 3rd Quarter 2010 it’s going to part of my birthday present, and this one is a big one (it has an “0” in it…) so I decided I could spring for it.

Anyway, I’ll save the review for a time when I’m looking at the real thing, but I wanted to mark to occasion of my first Sideshow Pre-Order with a post. Now I just need to stop looking at all the other beautiful things on the Sideshow website……….

Until next time!

Enter the Green Lanterns – DCUC Wave 11

Mattel has been churning out wave for DC Universe Classics faster than Tiger goes through his ladies at the moment! I’ve only very recently managed to get all of Wave 10 together and reviewed, and The first part of Wave 12 is shipping to me tomorrow, so I realised I’d better get my Wave 11 review together before they arrive.

Of all of the recent and upcoming waves, this one probably excited me the least in terms of the line-up, and I wasn’t very excited about the Kilowog Collect & Connect, as I was happy with my DC Direct Kilowog and thought he was sufficient. I don’t usually start with the C&C in reviewing these waves, but Kilowog has to be the starting point here – he’s not just huge, he’s excellent in every way. Scale-wise, he’s probably a bit big compared to his Green Lantern compatriots, but who cares? He’s freaking amazing!

As for the regular figures, John Stewart is the surprise standout for me. I’ve been waiting for a decent Modern Age version of John, and have been disappointed with DCD’s efforts. This blows them all out of the water with a perfect headsculpt that captures the character in every way. The fantastic ring construct, which fits snugly on his fist, seals the deal. Excellent.

The comic accurate Steppenwolf is a shining light for the line. Great detail in the sculpt and fun, different accessories make him a real winner. The Super Powers version is a pass for me. The Bronze Age version of Shark is my other favourite in this wave. Great headsculpt – the only niggle here is that – due to the use of the standard buck, he looks a bit like he’s wearing a mask. A thicker neck would have worked better here. Still this is an exciting character addition to the line and perfect in a GL-themed wave. Cyborg Superman is a yawn for me personally as a character, but again is a nice inclusion thematically here. Not a big fan of the headsculpt on this one – a bit too much Cyborg and not enough Man, and it makes the head look too small on the body.

While a figure of John’s lost love Katma Tui was long overdue and it’s exciting to see her included here, she is still addled with my usual complaints about the DCUC female buck – the stick thin arms that make her look oddly proportioned. The other niggle here is that the way her hair on her face has been painted makes it look more like sideburns than strands of hair. Like Stewart, Katma also comes with a nice pair of constructs. Oh, that sounds wrong…

Fan Poll Winner Question is another good inclusion in the line, and the figure is very well done, although a DCD-style removable mask would have been fun. Hopefully this sculpt will lead to some other trenchcoat-ed characters in the waves to come. Rounding out the wave, is Deadman, The thinner, scrawny buck used here opens up possibilities for some other characters as well – thing is, it really isn’t a great match for Mr Brand himself – he’s generally been presented with a normal build. The screaming face has attracted criticism elsewhere, but I don’t mind that touch – it’s something different at least!

Overall, this wave has been a very pleasant surprise. Kilowog, John Stewart and Steppenwolf are standouts in the line overall. This line truly keeps getting better and better!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the January AFB Comment of the Month Contest.

Until next time!

Quite a Legacy: DC Direct Power Girl & Huntress Statue

More than a year ago I posted a list of my personal collecting holy grails, and I’m report that I’ve managed to strike one off the list.

When I first saw the DC Direct Power Girl and Huntress Legacy Statue, I was pretty set on getting it. Unfortunately, the price was pretty steep, and the AUD was nowhere near as strong against the USD as it is now, so I had to let it go. However, the dream lingered, and I’ve always kept on eye out on the Bay of “E” for a somewhat reasonable price on this, and recently, helped by a better exchange rate, I found one. I had planned this to be a Christmas gift to myself but a postal strike in Oz delayed it, and I only recently got to pick up my parcels post-Christmas due to a very relaxing holiday.

Needless to say, this was well worth the way. The thing that drew me to this statue from the beginning, besides the classic pairing of these two Earth Two icons, was the dynamic poses, and this sculpt  does not disappoint in person. The statue comes in three pieces, the base and each heroine, and assembles easily. Either character would make a great piece on its own, but together its’ pure magic. The sculpt is beautiful – the flow of the capes, the construction of the characters, everything works. The paint work is nearly spotless - one of PG’s eyes is a little off-center. It doesn’t take much away from an amazing piece that I am so proud and happy to have in my collection.

So that’s one holy grail down and nine to go – I’ll try to make one next year’s Christmas present!

And now, I am officially on the slippery slope of these larger type statues. I’ve already put the DC Direct Wonder Woman vs. Ares Statue, and the X-Force Diorama coming up from Sideshow is sooooo tempting……

You can see more pics at Facebook, and comment on this post to enter the AFB January Comment of the Month Contest.

Until next time!

And we’re off – AFB’s MOTUC Subscription Journey Begins

After some of the challenges of acquiring Masters of the Universe Classics figures from Mattycollector.com in 2009, not to mention the middle of the night get-ups for this timezone-challenged Antipodean, I decided that signing up for a MOTUC 2010 Subscription was a prudent move. Today’s Adora sale was the test case for how this process was going to go, so I was watching with anticipation to see how things worked out.

I didn’t get Beast-Man the first time around, but decide to skip getting up in the middle of the night and hope he’d last until the morning. I was pleased to see he did, but really surprised to see that Adora was already sold out – apparently in under 30 minutes. I was grateful for my subscription – assuming it would work. Happily – I received shipping confirmation for her tonight. Mattel gets an “A” for the first part of the process.

As for when she’ll arrive, that’s another question. Mattel really needs to get the international shipping happening in a timely fashion. I’m not about to pay the mega-bucks for UPS shipping, but Digital River’s version of “First Class International” is what you might call the Mega Extended Version. My order on 15 November (Colour of Fear, He-Man, Scareglow) arrived at the start of the New Year. This was a bit longer than normal, but not by much. My 15 December order (Justice in the Jungle, King Randor) is yet to arrive. By comparison, another e-tailer I use regularly uses FCI and it generally takes 5 business days. Dunno what the deal is with this, but from winding my way around the web, I am finding that other international customers, even my friends in Canada, are experiencing similar delays. I’d really love to see something done about speeding this process up.

As for Adora selling out so quickly – that was a surprise. One might have expected that Mattel would have produced a good amount of product beyond the subscription items – was there really that much demand for her? Makes me dread the upcoming Battle Cat sale!

Still, Step One of the subscription process worked, so Mattel has full marks for the moment. I’ll keep you posted!

Have a subscription story of your own to tell? Discuss it at the AFB Forum!

Until next time!

New Poll – Your most anticipated upcoming release

We haven’t had a poll for awhile, so I thought I’d ask what upcoming release you’re most looking forward to. DC Direct is putting all of its eggs in the Blackest Night basket, DC Universe Classics is churning out Waves left and right, and Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Classics has a number of great released coming up. What’s got you most excited?

For me, DCUC Wave 13, just edges out Battle Cat thanks to the amazing looking Trigon C&C. He’s been near the top of my list for a long time and I can’t wait for him.

What about you? The poll is on the right, and you have until the end of the month!

Bishoujo to you too! Kotobukiya’s Rogue PVC Statue

I have never been fully into Anime, but it seems that Anime-styled Superheroines are a different matter. I’ve already added a few of DC Direct’s Ame-Comi figures to my collection, and now Kotobukiya’s Marvel Bishoujo Statue line has caught my eye, and I fear my wallet.

I missed out on pre-ordering the Rogue statue and also missed out on a couple of eBay listings as well due to sellers not getting back to me in time about international shipping (grr!), so I was very happy when I saw this in my LCS right before Christmas! I was so excited in fact that I didn’t notice as I was buying it that this was the variant edition with the long trenchcoat – even better!

The first thing I noticed here was the size – being used to the Ame-Comi figures which are around 9” – 10” plus base, this is smaller at around 7” including the base (which she is attached to). That’s not an issue, just an adjustment. The detail doesn’t suffer at all – the sculpt and paint work is perfect. The PVC really lends itself to this style – the shinier sheen adds to the Anime feel, and the soft plastic used for her flowing hair and coat allow for adding texture without overbalancing the statue – it stands very firmly but is very lightweight.

This is a more literal adaptation of the heroines to the Anime style than the DCD version, which takes more artistic licence and as a result has some fun but also some failures (and yes, electric blue-haired Zatanna, I mean you). There’s room for both, but seeing as we’re a bit short on avenues for getting our fix of Marvel ladies at the moment, I’m glad they’re presented in their more classic form here.

This is a line I can really see myself collecting. One of my gripes about the Ame-Comi series is that the giant bases make them take up a great deal of room – these on the other hand are easy to slot in amongst a display, and the smaller scale allows for dynamic poses without the awkward plastic stand system some of the DCD figures require. Another huge plus of this line for me is that the packaging is reusable – the interior is a plastic clamshell so the statue can be stored or packed away safely for moving.

So – make mine Kotobukiya! I’m after the Black Widow statue now and looking forward to Scarlet Witch and whatever else may come!

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the January AFB Comment of the Month Contest.

Until next time!

DCUC Wave 10 – Together at Last

As I mentioned in my Toys of the Year post, the gang at Critical Mess made “Wal-Mart Exclusive” a less scary term by helping everyone in the community to fulfil their DC Universe Classics Wave 10 dreams without resorting to Scalperville, or eBay as it is often called. Considering that I still don’t have a complete DCUC Wave 5 (still need Atom and Eradicator), the fact that I have a complete Wave 10 (minus Batman, which I didn’t want) on my shelves for retail prices plus postage is pretty amazing. Thanks again, guys!

To the figures: Man-Bat has been seen before, in white form, but his appearance in this line in his normal brown state is very welcome. It’s a very impressive figure. I love the translucency in his wings. Bit of a bugger to stand up, but with a bit of patience and elbow grease, it’s do-able. A winner for sure.

Forager is all kinds of Fourth World fun. His JLU figure was a nice treat, but to see him in this scale is a real trip. Great colours, spotless paint apps, very well executed. While I am happy to see the New Gods thread take a break to make way for other groups and teams, I do heap that we at least get Highfather and Granny Goodness at some stage – maybe even some Forever People?? At least with Kamandi rumoured to be in Wave 14 we know there’s more Kirby love on the way!

My only quibble here is with one of my favourite characters – Beast Boy. This tiny teen buck is so unsatisfying. It’s hard to picture how the Titans are ever going to really come together, what with the way Starfire and Cyborg tower over this figure. The headsculpt is great, he’s suitably buff (maybe too much), it’s just a real shame that this buck isn’t better proportioned to fit in with the rest of the crowd.

The most exciting aspect of this wave for me is the beginning of the Doom Patrol, and what better way to start it than with Cliff Steele. Robotman is a great figure – wonderful metallic paint apps, great sculpt – it is really just like he’s leapt off the page. The only quibble I have with this awesome figure is the over-bendy legs that plague some of the DCUC stuff – especially that ones that are posed squatting over big C&C parts. It makes him a  little too elastic at the hips which is a challenge to pose. But hey – it’s freaking Robotman!!! The Doom Patrol has begun, and the Metal Men aren’t far behind! DCUC is really making this little fanboy very happy!

I posted some thoughts about Joker and Power Girl earlier, but I have to mention Joker again. He’s real winner of the wave and the one figure I wouldn’t have expected to like so much, simply because he has been made so many times before. This figure, however, is the most iconic representation of the classic Joker yet, with a nice swag of accessories as well. Again, he has the extra bendy legs, but that doesn’t matter so much for a character with his physicalisation. Brilliant figure to cap off a brilliant wave!

As for Imperiex, I must say he’s a bit of a “Who??” character for me, but he is one freaky-good-looking C&C. Brilliant job with the detailing on this one, and he’s huge! Well done Mattel.

All up, apart from some extra-leg-bendiness and teensy Beast Boy, this is a well-executed, very fun wave. I’ll have my Wave 11 wrap-up soon, and then it’s on to Wave 12, 13 and whatever else 2010 has to offer us.

You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this in the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the January AFB Comment of the Month Contest.

Until next time!

The AFB 2009 Toys of the Year Awards

Another year of collecting (or at least trying to collect) has come and gone, but we can’t say a complete goodbye to 2009 until we’ve had the 2009 AFB Toys of the Year Awards. The toys listed below come from what I personally have bought / reviewed over the course of 2009, so it’s limited to my personal tastes and collection, but there’s a lot to work with there! Let’s get started!

The 6” (or thereabouts) Male Figure of the Year: DC Universe Classics Wave 9 Green Arrow: The “Hard Travelling Heroes” Ollie from DC Direct captured his iconic look just as well as this version, but the shortchange on articulation in that older figure means the DCUC version surpasses not only all other Green Arrow figures, but all other figures this year in my book. Lots of steep competition from many DCUC figures, and other contenders like MOTUC’s Man-at-Arms, Marvel Select’s Sabretooth and DCD’s Metron (what, no chair???), but in the end Ollie takes the cake, even with that puny little arrow permanently stuck to his bow.

The 6” (or thereabouts) Female Figure of the Year: Masters of the Universe Teela and DC Direct New Gods Wave 2 Big Barda: What, no DCUC?? Sorry, but the frailties of the DCUC female buck (mainly the puny upper arms), as much as I love the line, put great figures like Black Canary and Hawkgirl just that smidge below some other favourites from the year. I’d rather my women didn’t look they’d snap like a twig in a strong gust of wind, and Teela and the wonderfully Kirby-esque Barda really fit that bill, as well as being outstanding pieces in their own right. They both just edge the glorious Hawkgirl out for me.

The Build-A-Figure of the Year: DC Universe Wave 9 Chemo: Atom Smasher was exciting just for his first appearance in this scale, and Giganta is so great that she nearly takes the cake, but Chemo wins mainly because of his unexpected awesomeness. This was one you really had to see in person to appreciate in size and quality. I had no idea how much I was going to like this. Lucky me got the “extra bubbles” version!

6” Wave of the Year: DC Universe Wave 8…. no, Wave 9…… no, 8…… no…..: It’s a tricky one. In terms of unexpected character selection, the JSA-heavy Wave 8 was a real joy to collect: Gentleman Ghost! Commander Steel! Giganta!!! Then, there’s the iconic representation of so many great characters in Wave 9: Green Arrow! Black Canary! Black Adam! Wildcat!!. I won’t choose, I tell you, I won’t!

But I think it might be 9….. no, 8! No……...

The 12” (or thereabouts) Figure of the Year: Not awarded. The field was slim pickings this year in terms of what I collected. The flaws of the DCD 13” female buck rule out the otherwise good Zatanna and Supergirl, (I’ll get to Wonder Woman later..) and I passed on all the movie tie-in figures that clogged the DCD 13” line. I do have to give DCD some credit for finally giving the JSA, and the Golden Age, some love in this line. They did a fine job with Jay Garrick, but it’s a shame the line is tanking with repetitive character choices and dodgy, inconsistent quality. No winners here – I need to expand my collection circle in this area in 2010!

The Statue (Series) of the Year: DC Direct’s Cover Girls of the DC Universe Series was the breakthrough statue series of the year for me. Wonder Woman was a great start, Black Canary was brilliant and Zatanna and Catwoman were downright incredible. The only downside is that these opened up the world of full-sized statues to me, and I’m now sliding down that slippery slope……

The Bust / Mini-Bust of the Year: DC Direct Heroes of the DC Universe Green Arrow: The pickings were slimmer than they should have been this year due to some delays in Bowen’s Marvel product, I loved having Mera and Vixen in the Women of the DCU Series, but neither of those quite hit the mark (ha ha) as much as the mini-bust version of Green Arrow, who just edges out Aquaman for me because of Arthur’s squinty eyes.

The Under 6” Line of the Year: Mattel’s Batman: Brave & The Bold: This line is firmly targeted at kids, but I am having great fun enjoying it – especially with fun additions like Green Arrow, Plastic Man and Sportsmaster! Marvel Universe comes a close second, but the plethora of Iron Man, Spiderman and Wolverine versions in every wave are a bit of a buzzkill.

The Custom of the Year: Dr Terrific’s Bronze Age Legionnaires: I love keeping great customisers in work, and I had fun doing so again this year! Lars’ GA Stripesey and MA Mr America and Jackknight’s 12” SA Colossal Boy were both highlights for me, but Dr Terrific helped start a dream come true with some wonderful custom Bronze Age Legionnaires that are the start of a much bigger project. More to come!

The Georg Brewer Memorial WTF! Award for 2009: It’s a tie, and lo and behold they both come from the hallowed halls of DC Direct! The DCD 13” Wonder Woman was simply a disaster, while DCD missed the boat once again by saddling it’s History of the DC Universe line with an utterly horrid buck. Fail, fail and fail.

And just so we don’t end on a sour note…..

The Collecting Community Class Act of 2009: The gang at Critical Mess really deserve a rap, and for once not on the knuckles.  They put in an excellent effort to confound the scalpers by helping every member of the board who wanted them to get the Wal-Mart Exclusive DCUC Products – both the 5-pack and Wave 10. A wonderful example of community spirit in such self-centred times deserves a mention – well done guys!

So that’s my 2009 wrap-up, but this is just one guy’s opinion. Hop on to the AFB Forum’s 2009 Toy of the Year Thread and have your say. Also, don’t forget you can comment on this post to enter the January AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Thanks for being on board for 2009, and here’s to a great 2010!

Until next time!

AFB Comment of the Month Contest – January 2010!

First off, thanks to everyone who commented on last month’s blog posts. Congratulations to AFB Forum member bigraj for winning the Christmas bonus prize – he gets both the DCUC Wave 11 Shark and the Marvel Minimates Infinity Gauntlet Set. Also, because it’s Christmas and I was feeling super generous, so I ran the random number selector again – congratulations to “Jasper” for being our second winner! Jasper – your Blogger profile is set to private – please get in touch with me – probably easiest to do so through the AFB Forum – just log in and message me (“Andy”). Once we hear from Jasper his choice of prize will also be on the way from Mike’s Comics N’ Stuff.

Now to January’s Contest: on offer are two great prizes, either the DC Direct JSA Series 2 Stargirl or your choice of two sets of two from the Marvel Minimates Series 31.  

• every genuine comment on a post from the calendar month will be eligible for receiving the prize. I’m going to stick to my own time zone and call it at 23:59:59 Australian Eastern Standard Time – best to comment often and comment early!
• if my super scientific randomizer comment selector system chooses an Anonymous comment, I’ll skip it and go again – you need to leave a name, a link, your AFB Forum username or email addy so that I can contact you if you are the winner. Blogger comments allows you to do this, as long as your profile is not set to private – check your settings.
•  
• you will be given a choice of one of the two figures on offer from the month’s contest – figures will be in their original packaging.

• figures will be sent by first class mail within the US (Mike is sending them, remember) and first class international to any overseas winner. An overseas winner can elect to chip in for Priority Mail or Insurance, but otherwise we can’t take any responsibility for a parcel that doesn’t arrive – after all this is coming out of AFB’s  not dreadfully deep pockets!

Once again, thanks to Mike for making this all possible for us, and here’s to another happy month of commenting!

Until next time!

Happy New Year! AFB named in About.com’s “Top 10 Action Figure Blogs”!

Happy 2010 to everyone out there in AFB-land! I hope that your ringing in of the new decade was as happy and joyous as mine! I have to say that after growing up in the freezing cold winters of Chicago, spending my adult holiday seasons here in Oz around the pool and ramping up the air conditioning is a very nice change. I could never go back to that horrible weather, even if it might make getting Wal-Mart exclusives that little bit easier!

My New Year was made a little bit brighter by a lovely reader who sent me a link to About.com’s Top 10 Action Figure Blogs, as Action Figure Blues has made it into the list! I’m not entirely sure how recent the page is, but it is still a very nice kudo. Thanks About.com! While this blog is and always has been about recording my own journey as a collector, it has been very gratifying to see it find an audience and getting feedback (in whatever form) is always very welcome!

This makes it a good time to give my thanks to anyone out there who takes the time to read the posts here. This was never meant to be high class toy reporting – there are so many sites that do that so well – rather my own thoughts and adventures, and the fact that folks seem to enjoy reading them and commenting on them is really rewarding. In the end we are all a part of the same community, and having the chance to interact with other collectors in this way has been such a great experience. Thanks for sticking around, and I look forward to another great year of blogging in 2010!

(,,,,,,and, yes, while I haven’t announced the Jan ‘10 Comment Contest yet, (that’s next) comments on this post will count!)

Until next time!