The military display at Pauls Valley's Action Figure Museum, shown here, will get a companion in a display dedicated to GI Joe: A Real American Hero.

Check out this link to see Time magazine’s write up as the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley as a one of “50 Authentic American Experiences.”

Time writes: “The Toy & Action Figure Museum opened in 2005, and it has displays dedicated to all kinds of colorful plastic through history, including G.I. Joe, Transformers and other properties that Hollywood has unwisely decided to make into movies this year. Visitors will also find exhibits honoring local cartoonists, including Dick Tracy creator Chester Gould.”

If you have a chance, pop by the museum this weekend to see the debut of its latest exhibit, a room dedicated to the “GI Joe: Real American Hero” toy line.

The Toy & Action Figure Museum is located at 111 S. Chickasaw in Pauls Valley. General Admission is $6.

- Matt Price

SAN DIEGO — Mattel is previweing the Avatar line of action figures at Comic-Con International.  The figures are based on the upcoming film by James Cameron.

The figures from “Avatar” incorporate augmented reality technology, marking the first time this technology will ever appear in a retail toy product, according to a Mattel release.

Here’s how it works, according to information from Mattel:

Each action figure, vehicle and creature in the product line will come with a 3-D web tag, called an i-TAG, which consumers can “scan” using a home computer’s webcam. Scanning the i-TAG will reveal special content onscreen unique to the corresponding product. Exact content varies for each item, but could include biographical information, additional images and animated models of the figures. When the i-TAG for deluxe figures, vehicles or creatures are placed under a webcam, animated 3-D models will “come alive” through engaging, evading or defending moves. Place two i-TAGs from the “Battle Pack” together and the 3-D images will interact with each other.

“The development of our ‘Avatar’ toy line with the integration of the augmented reality technology marks an entirely new level of innovation in toys,” said Doug Wadleigh, Vice President for Boys Action Play Marketing, Mattel, Inc., in a press release.  “Boys will be able to play with the ‘Avatar’ figures and vehicles in ways that previously could only be imagined.”

The i-TAG technology was developed by Total Immersion.  According to the release, Total Immersion’s patented augmented reality technology integrates real time interactive 3-D graphics into live video. Once the object is recognized by the webcam, the product comes to life on screen.

“Augmented reality is a software solution that has significantly gained momentum and popularity with advertisers, retailers and marketers over the past several years because of its unique ability to engage consumers in their experience with a brand,” said Bruno Uzzan, CEO and co-founder, Total Immersion, in a release. “The launch of Mattel’s ‘Avatar’ toy line is truly groundbreaking, as this marks the first time augmented reality has been featured in a mainstream consumer product line.”

The Mattel line of “Avatar” action figures, creatures and vehicles is scheduled for October 2009.

Kevin Eastman signs during Preview Night at Comic-Con International

SAN DIEGO — I didn’t schedule anything major for tonight, so I could wander the floor and check in with people.   While traffic is lighter than it’ll be during the full days, it still felt pretty full once the show got in full swing.

Among things seen at Preview Night:

* Saw Mark Waid signing at Boom! Studios and thanked him for giving me an interview back in the mid-1990s when I was starting my own comics zine.   He was friendly and gracious about it.   I encourage everybody to check out his Irredeemable, which is a dark and intense comic.

* Saw Alex Ross artwork that costs more than my car.  By quite a bit, actually.

* Saw some Heritage auctions items that also were quite pricey – a 9.8 Incredible Hulk 181 had an estimate of $17,000.

* Lots of new toys in the Mattel booth – Captain Marvel has a figure upcoming in the “Brave and Bold” line, so I hope that means we’ll see him on the show.

* Got a “Nexus Army” T-shirt from the Rude Dude booth.  They were going fast, according to Rude Dude’s Jaynelle Rude, so if you want one, get over there quick!

* Also purchased a new “Scott Pilgrim” shirt from the Oni booth – really getting excited for that movie, and of course the comic remains among my favorites.

* Kevin Eastman was drawing a large line with his new “TMNT” book – congrats on the 25th anniversary of that indie hit!

* Dan Parent, “Archie” writer/artist, was doing a commission of Archie marrying Betty – giving the Betty fans some retailiation for the upcoming Archie/Veronica wedding, it seems!

- Matt Price

As of 1 p.m. ET today, MovieTickets.com is reporting over 350 sold out performances for “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” Of those sellouts, 115 are midnight performances.  “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” accounts for 41 percent of tickets sold at MovieTickets.com this week.  “Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen” is directed by Michael Bay, and stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox.  It opens June 24.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price talk to Jason Henry, who creates a show called “Superhero Muggs” on YouTube.

With the Oscar success of “The Dark Knight,” the Christopher Nolan-directed film is again in the public eye. Mattel, the toy licensor for “Dark Knight,” has launched new toys in its “Dark Knight” line of toys, including playsets and role-playing items.

Rob Novickas, spokesperson for Mattel, spoke to the success of the “Dark Knight” line, and the method of translating a somewhat dark film to a successful all-ages toy line.

Q: How successful has the Dark Knight line of toys been?

A: Batman is considered an evergreen property. While “The Dark Knight” was not a movie seen by most kids, the fact that the character is so popular and has been with many generations made the toy line very popular with kids and especially adult collectors.

Q: Was it difficult creating a line of toys that was true to the dark themes of the movie, and yet still play-friendly?

A: For years, Mattel has created a variety of Batman toys that bring this perennial super hero favorite to life for fans of all ages – from action figures and role-play toys, to playsets and games. Our close-working relationship with the filmmakers and Warner Bros. on this film allowed us to be an active participant throughout the entire process. This presented a unique opportunity for Mattel to demonstrate its distinct ability to translate what viewers see on screen into child-appropriate, fun toy line that captures the spirit of the Batman characters.

Q: Tell me about some of the special features of the Dark Knight toys.

A: Mattel has developed an exciting collection of innovative and fun products including role play toys that allow kids to transform into the Dark Knight and fight crime just like Batman, cool vehicles straight out of the streets of Gotham City, realistic action figures and interactive playsets that capture the action, drama and thrill of the movie.

Q: What about Batman has made the character and accessories so popular over so many years?

A: It’s all about the gadgets and the ultimate cool car – what’s cooler than the Batmobile? The cape and cowl is also extremely popular with boys. Batman has entertained and inspired generations of people, and is truly considered an evergreen property between its multiple films, comic books, television series, and consumer products. He’s embodies the “good triumphing over evil” that makes super hero play so appealing to children of all ages.

Q: How much of an effect does the success of a film, in dollars or awards consideration, have on the success of a toy line?

A: At Mattel the success of a toy line comes from creating innovative and fun toys first and then over laying of a license. In the case of Batman, we make the ultimate in action figures and vehicles, and the role play items allow a kid to really feel like he’s the best of the super heroes – Batman.

– Matthew Price
From Tuesday’s The Oklahoman

The following toys are recent releases in the “Batman: The Dark Knight” line.

Batman: The Dark Knight – The Rapid Fire Utility Belt: This role play toy includes a cape and features a rapid-fire motorized blaster with foam projectiles that feeds into the buckle.

Batman: The Dark Knight Mega Cape: The cape can rapidly expand to a 5-inch wingspan, or retract into a convenient back harness for run-around play.

Batman: The Dark Knight Gotham City Battle Playset: This playset transforms into four different environments, as well as a Batmobile.

Batman: The Dark Knight Shift Attack Sports Coupe: Bruce Wayne’s sports coupe can transform to an attack mode. As the car changes, the four-inch Bruce Wayne driver figure changes to a Batman figure, and out come battering rams, missile launchers and massive turbo engines.

WORD BALLOONS

“Watchmen,” the Zack Snyder adaptation of the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, hits theaters next month. In the meantime, DC Comics and Titan Books have created books and merchandise to take fans into the alternate 1980s world of “Watchmen.”

First, the story itself. Named one of Time magazine’s 100 greatest novels, the “Watchmen” graphic novel is available in a variety of formats.

Most impressively, the oversized “Absolute Watchmen” ($75) features 48 pages of supplemental material beyond the 12-issue series. It contains the series proposal, pages from the original script, and additional art. The art was remastered and recolored for the original printing of “Absolute Watchmen,” and it’s now used for all of the “Watchmen” reprints.

Also available are a “Watchmen” hardcover ($39.99), a “Watchmen” trade paperback collection ($19.99) and a single-issue reprint of “Watchmen” issue No. 1 ($1.50).

In addition to the book, DC’s toy division, DC Direct, has created action figures, busts and props of the “Watchmen” characters.

Titan Books, meanwhile, has released four tie-in books surrounding the “Watchmen” film.

“Watching the Watchmen,” written by Dave Gibbons, comes in two editions. The comic-store exclusive edition has a cover featuring the character “The Comedian” and additional pages. It’s also signed by Gibbons and comes with exclusive prints. This edition retails for $50. The standard edition retails for $39.95 and has a cover featuring Dr. Manhattan.

“Watchmen: Portraits” ($50) features black-and-white portrait shots of people in the film, ranging from stars to extras, and was shot by official movie photographer Clay Enos.

“Watchmen: The Film Companion” ($29.95 hardcover, $19.95 softcover) was written by Peter Aperlo and explores the behind-the-scenes making of the film. Aperlo also writes “Watchmen: The Art of the Film,” ($40), which features storyboards, photography and preproduction art. Possibly most intriguing for comic-book fans will be the new art created by Gibbons, as well as alternate takes on the characters by comic-book artists John Cassaday, David Finch and Adam Hughes.

All of the Titan Books releases contain spoilers for the film and graphic novel, so read the book or see the film prior to reading the ancillary material.

Judging from the books, Snyder and company look to have created a rich alternate world, and tried to respect the graphic novel, which has engrossed readers for more than 20 years.

– Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

It’s good to see one of Oklahoma’s meccas of cool stuff being noticed by the outside world!  Congratulations to curator Kevin Stark.

– Matt Price

Game developer EA has announced the company is working on “G.I. Joe” games for all major console and handheld systems, tying into the release of this summer’s “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” film.

A sneak peek of the game will be shown at Toy Fair next week in New York City.

The G.I. JOE video game picks up where the live-action movie leaves off, according to the release, and will feature 12 Joe characters.

The full release is after the break.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., February 11, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that development is underway to bring Hasbro’s legendary G.I. JOE® brand to all major console and handheld gaming platforms in summer 2009 to coincide with the theatrical release of the G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA live-action movie from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, in association with Hasbro, which opens in theaters August 7, 2009. EA will unveil a “first look” of the G.I. JOE® video game at Hasbro’s Showroom at Toy Fair on February 15-17, 2009 in New York City.

“As Hasbro and Paramount Pictures reignite the G.I. JOE® property this year with an all-new toy line and film, EA is excited to play a major role in bringing this icon of pop culture history to a new generation of enthusiasts through interactive gaming,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Vice President of EA Hasbro. “G.I. JOE® offers exceptionally rich storylines and a cast of characters that lends itself incredibly well to creating an over-the-top action adventure video game that will thrill gamers as well as G.I. JOE® fans.”

For fans of all ages, 2009 is gearing up to become another watershed milestone in the timeless franchise by introducing even more new ways to engage, immerse and play within the G.I. JOE® universe. The G.I. JOE® video game will feature an exclusive storyline that picks up where the live-action movie leaves off, allowing players to re-create and re-live the greatest moments from the film, cartoon series and action figure toy line. The game will feature 12 G.I. JOE® characters, each with unique abilities and weapons. Adding to the adrenaline rush will be an intense single-screen co-op mode allowing two players to easily unite as a team in a classic struggle between good and evil as they work together to defeat the powers of the COBRA organization. The G.I. JOE® video game is under development for Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii^TM, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), Nintendo DS^TM, and mobile devices.

“G.I. JOE® has been an icon of action for 45 years,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro. “EA has tapped the legacy of the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA saga to create an amazing interactive experience inspired by the movie, comic books, animated series and iconography that we hope will resonate with millions of fans.”

For more than four decades, G.I. JOE® has been one of the premiere brands in the history of boys’ toys. Originating the term “action figure” in 1964, Hasbro’s G.I. JOE® brand ushered in a new play pattern that forever changed the scope of the toy industry. The G.I. JOE® brand made another revolutionary introduction in 1984 with the release of the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA toy line, which introduced a generation of boys to the heroic G.I. JOE® forces, led by Duke, and their epic struggle to defeat the evil COBRA organization. The G.I. JOE vs. COBRA saga featured a diverse cast of characters – both good and evil – that became a part of pop culture through Hasbro’s toy line, an animated television series and best-selling comic book franchise.

For more information about the G.I. JOE® video game and to sign up for updates, visit gijoe.ea.com

Toymakers are aiming for the next generation of “Star Trek” fans with a new line of toys based on the J.J. Abrams film. Gareb Shamus, publisher of Toy Wishes (www.toywishes.com), says director Abrams will bring a contemporary feel to a classic property.

“For this brand especially, by bringing in somebody like J.J. Abrams, who has been an amazing contemporary director-producer in this decade, with hits like ‘Alias’ and ‘Lost’ … he’s able to appeal to today’s core fan, and (the) masses, as somebody who’s … innovative and exciting in what he does,” Shamus said.

“What they want to do is introduce Star Trek to a whole new generation of kids, and also appeal to the core fans they’ve had all these years.”

The Playmates Toys’ products, coming to stores this spring, will be available in three different sizes – 3 ¾ inches, 6 inches and 12 inches. The company is also teaming with Mattel to offer “Star Trek” Barbies.

The 3 ¾ inch line is expected to retail at around $7 and feature the characters from the new film, including Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

“Especially in today’s economic times, there’s definitely a trend for all toy companies to offer less expensive price point items,” Shamus said. “There’s no question that especially with the ‘Star Trek’ line, they want to create an entry point that can get as many people interested in and excited about the toys as possible.”

The smaller line also makes it more affordable to build sets and accessories, like playsets for the Bridge and Transporter Room of the Enterprise.

“‘Star Trek’ has history that can be built upon, so that when you see it for the first time, you feel like it’s a very rich, exciting franchise,” Shamus said. “This is a great chance for them to introduce the movie to a lot of kids that haven’t been exposed to it.”

– By Matthew Price
From Wednesday’s The Oklahoman

PAULS VALLEY – Oklahoma cartoonists and famous toy lines were among the honorees Saturday as the Toy and Action Figure Museum, 111 S. Chickasaw, celebrated its third anniversary.

Joining the museum’s action figure Hall of Fame were two action-figure lines that took the 1980s by storm: Masters of the Universe and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

Masters of the Universe were supremely muscled characters who lived on the planet Eternia. The star of this line was He-Man, who gained his strength when he held aloft his magic sword and repeated the phrase “by the power of Grayskull.”

“G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” was a 1980s update of the classic Joe action figure, which had been a 12-inch figure. “A Real American Hero” was in the 3 and ¾-inch size and introduced G.I. Joe, a special missions force for the U.S. military, who defended freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Rather than just one “G.I. Joe,” the brand now introduced a line full of characters, developed by comics and animation writer Larry Hama, including the ninja Snake-Eyes, leader Duke and counter-intelligence specialist Scarlett.

Introduced into the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection Hall of Fame were four cartoonists – and it came as a surprise to one of them. Museum curator Kevin Stark, creator of the comic strip and comic book “Geezer,” was named to the Hall of Fame. “Geezer” ran for seven years in the Pauls Valley Daily Democrat, and further comic books are in development.

Also honored:

Russell Myers, the creator of “Broom Hilda,” who was raised and attended college in Tulsa.

George Storm, who created adventure strips “Phil Hardy” in 1925 and “Bobby Thatcher” in 1927. He co-created The Hangman for MLJ and drew Bugs Bunny for Dell. He died in 1976.

Terry Tidwell, who was born and raised in Claremore. He worked on “The Green Hornet” and “Conan.” Tidwell, who was in attendance at the ceremony, also co-created the Tulsa-based hero “The Twilight Avenger.”

– Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Marvel has announced what those promo pictures recently sent out are for — the “Super Hero Squad: Hero Up!” one-shot.   Based on the action figure line, the one-shot will be written by Paul Tobin and drawn by Marcelo DiChiara and Chris Sotomayor.  Still no word on who the red guy is.

From Marvel:  

Marvel is proud to announce that SUPER HERO SQUAD: HERO UP! One-Shot will be released in January 2009, based on the successful Hasbro action figure line featuring Marvel’s greatest heroes & villains. Written by fan favorite scribe Paul Tobin (Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes) and featuring art by the can’t-miss team of Marcelo DiChiara & Chris Sotomayor, this extra-sized one-shot features all your favorite Marvel characters. Experience the Marvel Universe like never before, as the heroes & villains of Super Hero City clash in epic confrontations! Take a stroll down to the Xavier Institute, past the FF’s Baxter Building…but don’t stray too far, because dastardly Doctor Doom’s domain is the next block over…! Plus, learn more about your favorite heroes with bios and more! This issue ships with two covers-one featuring the heroes of SSH and the other featuring the villains!

Everybody, feel free to be a big dork with me and celebrate the release of Matt Trakker in the G.I. Joe line. Bonus points if you know all the words to the song.

Toy News International shares the above picture of Matt Trakker, previously of the M.A.S.K. toy line, making the jump to G.I. Joe as part of wave 7 of the 25th anniversary figure line.

Now, just make his car in G.I. Joe scale and we’re set.

– Matt Price

Chris Price returns to review the latest DC Universe Classics wave! 

My DC Universe Classics series 4 figures finally arrived so I thought I’d give a quick rundown on the wave. For those of you out there who shop at retail, yes this is the fourth wave. Those leftover series 1 figures at your local Target or Toys R Us are a thing of the past. If you want to get caught up on these amazing figures from Mattel it might be time to consider searching for these guys outside of the mass retail avenues. I have received all of my cases from my local comic shop who orders waves directly from Mattel. There are also some very good online stores supporting this line such as Enchantedtoychest.com and cornerstorecomics.com both of which I can personally recommend.

On to the review! The fourth wave in the DC Classics series contains Wonder Woman, Captain Atom, Cyborg, Batman Beyond, and Ares who each include a piece of the Collect and Connect figure Despero.

After wave 3, Mattel decided to switch to a new factory to produce these figures stating the desire for better quality and paint applications. I can say of the 5 cases of figures I inspected that quality of paint has certainly improved. Aside from some very small splashes of random paint on most of the Wonder Woman figures (not all that noticeable), the entire batch looked pretty clean and crisp.

Wonder Woman:
Might as well start with the biggest and best of the wave. Wonder Woman sports an all new 4 Horseman sculpt and she looks great. Beautiful face sculpt that truly captures Diana’s Amazonian appearance. With her new larger female frame than previous female entries in the DC Classics line, she also has all the articulation of her DCUC brethren.

The Horsemen have designed an all new hip articulation for WW which maintains the range of motion but hides the joint for a more aesthetic female design. WW comes with two accessories, her battle axe and sheild. The sheild snaps on to her wrist and has no trouble staying in place. My WW has difficulty holding on to the axe so it has to be pretty well balanced in her hand to keep from falling out.

The Horsemen sculpted a staff to go along with this figure but it apparently didn’t cost out so it was not included. Also, Diana’s famous lasso has unfortunately been sculpted onto her waist and is not a removable accessory. Another negative would be the restricted amount of movment in the waist joint due to the sculpt of Diana’s belt. There have also been some complaints and discussion about the inclusion of the mid-thigh cut joint and whether or not the pros of the joint outweighed the breaking up of the Horseman sculpt. I would say it is certainly a bit of a distraction to the sculpt, but having the joint certainly helps get Wonder Woman into some more dynamic poses. There is a variant to Wonder Woman available in the form of Artemis. Looking forward to finding this figure as well, but out of the five cases I looked through there were none to be found.

Overall, probably my favorite Wonder Woman figure yet. Beautiful sculpt and awesome accessories. It has been argued that Mattel had a lot to lose or gain with this figure and I think they definitely should get kudos for a job well done here. Hopefully this opens the door up for even more DC female figures in the line’s future.

 Cyborg:
My second favorite figure in the line. Perfect realization of the Perez era Titans Victor Stone. This guy is awesome. I love that Mattel went with the classic version of Vic in all its goofy looking glory. Mattel even included two added accessory hands in the form of a claw grip and laser attachment. They snap on and off easily and add some really nice play and posability options. With a classic Kid Flash coming in wave 7, hopefully even more of the Titans of this era are to follow (there is a Starfire figure being offered through Mattycollector.com in her Modern costume coming soon!).

Captain Atom:
Another nice classic design on a staple of the DC Universe, Captain Atom is a nice addition to the ever growing list of the Mattel DCU. CA uses the larger male body design previously used on figures like Red Tornado, Detective Batman and Superman Red/Blue. He also gets an all new heroic face sculpt which suits him well.

Like many of the figures in this line, once you move his shoulder joints the paint rubs off the joint itself almost imediately. Probably a bit more noticable on CA with his metallic paint. Those disappointed with some of the range of motion issues on the neck joint that they exerienced with wave 3 will be happy with a return to superior motion with wave 4.

The Captain is also shipping alongside a variant wearing his Kindom Come duds. It’s a pretty garish Red and Gold combo that I’m not all that fond of but hopefully I’ll actually see one at some point and decide whether I need one or not then.

Ares:
This guy is huge. almost like getting two Collect and Connect figures in the same wave. Not only is he big, he has probably the most detail in sculpt we have seen yet from a DCUC figure. The level of detail in Ares’ helmet, gloves and armor is amazing.

He includes two accessories, an axe and a sword, both of which fit easily in his grip. Mine were both a bit warped as they were made of a really soft grade of plastic much like Deathstroke’s weapons from wave 3.

His cape however, is made of a much more firm plastic making it rigid and weighty. Hopefully Mattel will move to a softer grade for capes in the future. It doesn’t affect Ares as much due to his larger size but smaller figures could certainly use the change. I thought they were moving in the right direction with Robin in wave 3, as he had a bit of a softer cape but we’ll have to see where they go in the future with this.

Another issue with Ares is in the design of the skirt in his armor. It is also made with the rigid plastic and renders his hip articulation fairly useless. Mattel should have either went with a softer plastic here as well or incorporated some slits into the skirt to allow for movement. I will probably end up cutting out some slits myself (much like was necessary with previously released Darkseid and Lex Luthor) to hopefully provide an easy fix. Even with the plastic issues, the sculpt on this guy alone makes him a winner. He really has to be seen to be appreciated as pics (or at least ones I take) just don’t do him justice.

 

Batman Beyond:
Many of you probably are aware of Terry McGinnis from the popular animated TV series Batman Beyond. His inclusion in this line has brought about a lot of discussion about the characters who should be considered for DC Classics mostly focusing on whether or not it should be strictly comic based or if the animated DCU should also be considered.

Fortunately, Batman Beyond made a couple of brief appearances in the mainstream DCU pages so I guess he can now be considered part of DCU canon. Myself, I was never too big into the animated series but what I did see of it seemed enjoyable enough and this figure certainly represents the source well.

My only issue is with the base body Mattel went with. I would have preferred they used the slimmer buck build previously used for figures like Green Lantern and Black Manta as opposed to the larger frame (Captain Atom, Batman, etc.). Terry comes with one accessory in the form of a Batarang. Again, this piece is show accurate (in form but not color I believe) and fits in his grip well. Early shots of Batman Beyond indicated that he would include his red wings but apparently they did not cost out either.

Mattel went with a glossy black paint on this figure and from early pictures I wasn’t really digging it. In person though, he does look pretty sharp but I wonder if a flatter black ala Black Manta wouldn’t have looked a bit better. One thing for people to look out for, quite a few of the figures I inspected had misaligned belts which looked to just be rushed assembly. Some were just slightly off, while others were completely crooked.

Despero:
I was really looking forward to getting a Despero in this line…until I saw the promo pics and they had decided to go with his Justice League: Task Force armor wearing, gun toting design. Ugh. Brought back painful memories of the old Despero from the Total Justice Fractal Gear line.

Still, the Horsemen know how to do big mean scary looking dudes and Despero is no exception. He is big and he is mean looking no doubt. As most know, he shares a body sculpt with the San Diego exclusive Lobo figure from this years show. Really works well for the figure and even side by side with Lobo the body reuse really isn’t an issue. Once I had the figure out and assembled I was actually quite impressed with him. Pretty cool job Mattel.

Then I tried to twist his waist. His hip popped open rendering him pretty useless. Knew it had to happen at some point. I’ve heard all of these complaints about Mattel quality and I’ve never had any real issues. At this point I’m sure I could glue him back in place and be ok, but for right now I just have him balanced where all the pieces are precariously held in place. I’m probably going to try to track down that Captain Atom variant after all so I can replace the piece which has come undone and reassemble him.

Really pleased with this wave overall. With the exception of Wonder Woman and Cyborg I wasn’t all that excited by this wave (mostly due to the pending release of the fantastice looking waves 6 and 7!) but I’ve got to say they all turned out nicely. I think overall Mattel is really moving in the right direction as far as quality is concerned with this line (despite the Despero issue) so I can’t wait to see what figures they have in store for us in the future.

Once again, if you are a fan of DC heroes and like a little “action” in your figures you really can’t beat the DC Classics line. I encourage everyone who wants to get into these to call up your local comic shop or try one of the online vendors I mentioned to get in before the first waves are no longer available.

– Chris Price

Action figure expert and brother-to-Nerdage Chris Price takes a look at the just-released DC Universe Classics Wave 3!

Of all the waves of DC Universe Classics that have been announced so far, this is the one I was most looking forward to. I am a huge Hal Jordan fan and seeing the prototype and preview photos so far, I fully expected the Green Lantern to become my new favorite figure of all time. Did it happen? We’ll see, here’s a quick rundown..

Packaging: Most everything has stayed the same from the first two waves. One thing that I believe is different that is a welcome addition is the incorporation of a photo of the Collect and Connect piece that comes with your figure on the side of the packaging. Just a little something extra that helps if you happen to be thumbing through pegs at your local store.

Green Lantern: Might as well start out with the big one! Hal does not disappoint. My favorite GL of all time no doubt and probably now my new favorite figure. Why probably? Because after searching through 2 boxes of figures (that’s four Hals), I didn’t find a single one with quality paint on his head. All of the masks were missing in some way. Either blotchy or missing paint. No excuse for it. Hopefully I’ll find another which will solidify Hal’s place at the top of my list.

Nightwing: Solidly the best Nightwing figure ever. The DCD version is close and might have a slightly better face sculpt, but the articulation and functionality of Mattel’s Nightwing is far superior. Love the holsters on his back. Others have complained about his size, but I think he works perfectly.

Robin: Another great figure. Both the figures I saw had great paint apps. He is definitely small, but I think it works well. He comes with his bowstaff and two battarangs which he holds well. Vast improvement over previous offerings and another example of the finest figure of this character yet made.

Sinestro: Inspected two cases and both contained the Sinestro Corps version. Both had nice paint apps. Pictures I had seen before do not do this figures face sculpt justice. He is menacing (even if he is only a little guy). Speaking of that, it hasn’t really bothered me yet. I’ll have to thumb back through my GL archives to see how Kane really depicted Sinestro to see how much I will take up a charge on scale issues with him.

Deathstroke: Really not my favorite character, but man is he awesome. Loaded with weapons that he can hold perfectly. Great detail all over the sculpts on this one. One flaw I noticed is people might have to watch out for paint quality on his face sculpt much like Hal. The paint on the center of the mask was a bit faded/blurred on both the ones I saw. No doubt the best Deathstroke ever though!

Grundy: He is huge. All the detail from the prototypes seem to have made it here and they nailed the paint on him as well. There is a problem with the neck peg as others have mentioned making his head fall to a downward lean too easily. A combination of a small peg and the sculpt of the coat I think.

There you have it! Great lineup and great wave of figures. I’ve heard some complaints about the quality of the plastic on these compared to other waves, and I’m just not noticing it. The paint issues still need sorted out though. If this is the new factory that Mattel switched to, I hope they get better along the way. The lack of attention to Hal’s face mask is definitely not excusable. Still, I think this is my favorite of the waves they have releases so far. Look forward to others getting theirs and reporting their opinions as well!

– Chris Price

Castle Grayskull at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO — At Comic-Con, Mattel announced a Web site for sales to collectors of exclusive figures, including a new line of “Masters of the Universe Classics” figures.   A new figure will be available every month, starting with He-Man in October.  The Web site is www.mattycollector.com.

– Matt Price

GI Joe fans at Comic-Con International in San Diego. 

Comic Book Resources has an interview with Larry Hama, in which the longterm “GI Joe” writer discusses his relaunch of the property with IDW.

With a movie coming out next year, IDW and Hama are taking “GI Joe” in a new direction.

“It sort of has to be rebooted,” Hama told CBR. “The problem with any of these things is that it builds up so much baggage. … I don’t have to stick to what happens in the movie, and I don’t have to stick with how the characters developed in the ’80s. I thought it all needed a revamping and retelling.”

SAN DIEGO — Indiana Jones was on hand at Comic-Con International in brick form. Toymaker LEGO showcased the adventurer both as a giant LEGO figure, and in displays from the latest line featuring the character.

– Matt Price

DC Direct revealed action figures and busts based on “Watchmen,” the upcoming film directed by Zack Snyder.  The world-premiere of the figures was at the DC Booth on Thursday afternoon at Comic-Con International.

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

SAN DIEGO — As part of its DC Universe line, Mattel showed off its “Crisis” series of figures at Comic-Con International.  Figures shown include The Atom, Professor Zoom, Adam Strange, Guy Gardner and Captain Marvel (called Shazam!, of course, because of Marvel’s trademark on the Captain Marvel name).  In one three-pack, the Flash faces off against two foes from his gallery of Rogues — Weather Wizard and Mirror Master.  In another, Gotham City’s Commissioner Gordon is packaged with two Gotham City S.W.A.T. officers.

– Matt Price

Welcome to Bat Valley.  

The Toy and Action Figure Museum, 111 S. Chickasaw in Pauls Valley, celebrates the history of Batman on Saturday, July 12.   The city of Pauls Valley has authorized the name of the town to be changed to “Bat Valley” for the day, and there are several events planned.  The museum opens at 10am, with games and prizes. Anyone who comes in costume as a ”Batman” character will receive free admission. 

Main Street merchants will be distributing Scavenger Hunt clues, leading hunters to items in downtown shops.Turning in either photos or a written description of all the items on the list will qualify the hunters for a prize. For more information call (405)238-6300 or visit www.actionfiguremuseum.com.

– Matthew Price

This Corvette is being raffled off to benefit the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley. 

From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
Event details: The third annual derby is Saturday at the Toy and Action Figure Museum, 111 S Chickasaw in Pauls Valley. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with races beginning at 11 a.m. Registration is $6, and includes a free Hot Wheels car and family admission to the museum for the day. The racers will be divided into two categories: ages 12 and under and ages 13 and up.

At stake: The winner receives a trophy and a Hot Wheels prize package.

Information: www.actionfiguremuseum.com.

Also: The Toy and Action Figure Museum is selling $100 raffle tickets for a chance to win a 1996 Corvette. Sales limited to 1,000 tickets. The car will be given away July 4. The raffle benefits the nonprofit museum.

The previously announced G.I. Joe exclusive for San Diego is Cobra Commander in a suit and tie, standing behind a podium.

– Matt Price