Tuesday, June 30, 2015

"Chameleon" Hulk and Sherlock and Watson Custom Funko POP!'s


This blog is quickly becoming a Funko POP! site. I've recently acquired three more awesome custom pieces for the ever-expanding collection, "Chameleon" Hulk, Sherlock and Watson figures from eBay and Etsy. For those looking to expand or start a custom collection, I would highly recommend sites like eBay and Etsy for some great deals. There are some artists on that will even take commissions and create a custom of your favorite character.

First up is this "Chameleon" Hulk that I was lucky enough to snag on eBay. I picked up this gorgeous piece for the low price of only $14.99 plus shipping. It was so cheap that I felt like I was almost stealing it from the seller! He used an Age of Ultron Hulk as the base for this custom and included the original box. The seller, mati1269, has had several auctions of custom figures just like this one, featuring figures like Harley Quinn and Star Lord. The seller packs securely and ships quickly and I had a pleasant experience with him.





Next up, I received these amazing BBC-inspired Sherlock Holmes and John Watson POP's from POPperfulWeak on Etsy. The artist did a great job turning these guys into Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman; the likeness is outstanding. I'm not sure which figures were used as bases, but whatever they were, this artist transformed them into some of my favorite pieces in my custom collection. They currently have more great-looking customs in their Etsy store and they ship quickly and securely. 







Monday, June 29, 2015

Unboxing June's Cosmo-Cube: Predators



Another geeky subscription service, Cosmo-Cube, has just joined the marketplace. With so many monthly boxes to choose from, how can a geek choose just one? It seems impossible, which is why you've seen so many popping up on this blog this month. With my Funko POP! addiction, and Cosmo-Cube's promise of a "Funko or vinyl related item," I had to give this service a shot. The price is just a few dollars above others at $24.95 (shipped), but I'll be damned if it wasn't worth every penny. So how does Cosmo-Cube work? "When you sign up for a subscription, every month from whatever plan you chose you will receive a "Cube" of carefully selected amazing presents and will always include a Funko or vinyl related item, T-Shirt and Poster from the winners of the ArtWork Contest."

This months Cosmo-Cube was packed with some of the coolest items I've ever received in a subscription box. The Funko item was a Dorbz, which is a new line of collectibles Funko has just started releasing. This is my third Dorbz figure after the Marvel Collector Corps Ultron from their May box and Batman from June's Super Geek Box. Also included were items from the Alien franchise and World of Warcraft. The Alien ring is one of the coolest items I've ever received in a box. The tail wraps around your finger, while the Alien's body rests on top. Also included was a mutha-effin' shark tooth! As awesome as this box was, I'm still undecided as to whether or not I should order next month's box, as the theme, "Steampunk," is not exactly my cup of tea. For more info on subscribing, check out Cosmo-Cube's website.

Inside this months Cosmo-Cube:

- Wolverine/Predator T-Shirt
- Marvel/Predator Mini-Poster
- Guardians of the Galaxy Ronan Dorbz (Funko)
- Alien Ring (Dark Dream)
- Alien Neklace
- World of Warcraft Keychain (TV Tokyo)
- Shark Tooth 



Alien Necklace

Alien Ring

Marvel Poster, WoW Keychain

GotG Ronan Funko Dorbz

Wolverine/Predator T-shirt







Sunday, June 28, 2015

Unboxing June's Loot Crate: Cyber



Loot Crate goes binary with their June crate, "Cyber." Once again, Team Loot Crate has put together a box that well exceeds expectations. Included in the box are items from some of the biggest geek franchises around, spanning movies, television, and video games. Not only does it come with all of the cool swag inside, but the crate itself can be turned into a display for your Terminator Genisys Endo Skull replica. Also included is the monthly Loot Crate magazine featuring interviews with Sam Esmail (creator of USA's Mr. Robot) and Zachary Levi (creator of Nerd HQ).

For those that don't know, Loot Crate is a monthly subscription service which delivers a box of "Geek and Gamer Gear" straight to your door. For roughly $21.00 a month (shipping and taxes included) you'll get a box of goodies valued at $40+. You can visit Loot Crate for more info.

Inside this months crate:

- June Loot Crate Button
- June Loot Crate Magazine
- Exclusive Glow-in-the-dark Circuit Gadget Pouch (Loot Crate Labs)
- Battlestar Galactica Cylon Target Poster Set (Quantum Mechanix)
- Future Replicant Corporate Logo Patch (A-B Emblem)
- Exclusive Terminator Genisys Endo Skull Replica (Chronicle Collectibles)
- Exclusive Terminator Genisys Brain Chip Keychain (Chronicle Collectibles)
- Exclusive 10" x 12" Borderlands Zer0 Game Mat (Loot Crate Labs)
- Exclusive Prime T-Shirt (djkopet designs)
- Exclusive Nerd HQ Sticker Sheet (The Nerd Machine)


Terminator Genisys Endo Skull Replica

Prime T-shirt

Patch, button, keychain, and pouch

Game pad and magazine

Nerd Machine stickers

Battlestar Galactica Poster






Friday, June 26, 2015

Unboxing June's Super Geek Box: Courage




Every month seems to bring us another new subscription service aimed at geeks. The newest service I came across is Super Geek Box. As a subscriber to several other services, I just had to try this one out. Like other subscription services, Super Geek Box focuses on a theme and within that theme, delivers a "monthly box of epic geek and gamer gear" which includes "$40+ box of goodies in each box. Every month features a mystery collection with a guaranteed exclusive Ultra-EPIC shirt!" June's box was so epic that it took TWO boxes to hold everything! This months Super Geek Box theme was "Courage," and featured some awesome goodies from Kidrobot, Funko, Nintendo, and more! The selection in this box was definitely a pleasant surprise and I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store next month. Check out the Super Geek Box website for more info on subscribing.   

Inside this months box:

- Batman Dorbz (Funko)
- Legend of Zelda Mastersword Candy (Nintendo)
- South Park: Stick of Truth Cartman Figure (Kidrobot)
- Bravest Warriors Keycover 
- Superman Air Freshener
- Dragon Ball Z Chrome Card Pack
- Super Geek Box June Button
- Exclusive "The Triforce Within" T-shirt







Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Fionna & Cake Return with Their A-Game in ‘Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake: Card Wars’

Main Cover by Jen Wang

KaBOOM!, an award-winning imprint of BOOM! Studios, and Cartoon Network Enterprises, the licensing and merchandising arm of the network, are pleased to announce the return of Fionna & Cake to comics in the all-new limited series Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake: Card Wars. Writer Jen Wang (In Real Life) and artist Britt Wilson (Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake) come together for a new adventure as Fionna & Cake seek out a worthy opponent for Card Wars champ Cake. As a bonus, each first-printing copy of issue #1 will come with an exclusive Adventure Time: Card Wars card, playable in the Cryptozoic Entertainment card game that itself was created based on an Adventure Time episode of the same name.

“Adventure Time is some of the most fun we have creating comics, and telling new stories with Fionna & Cake is a treasure in and of itself,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Rejoining this fierce duo has us giddy with excitement, especially with Jen and Britt on board, and with an exclusive card in the first issue, we’re inviting readers to play along as well!”

Cake is a Card Wars champ who can’t be beat, and Fionna...is really tired of getting beaten! They set off in search of a challenger who can really test Cake’s mettle. When they stumble across some gamer slugs, they think they’ve hit the jackpot, but these guys have never heard of Cake and refuse to even play with her!

The highly anticipated first issue in a six-part limited series, Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake: Card Wars #1 arrives in comic shops on July 15th with a main cover by series writer Jen Wang for the price of $3.99. Also available in a limited quantity is a subscription cover by Wyeth Yates, a 10 Years incentive cover by Jeffrey Brown (Star Wars: Jedi Academy), and a retailer incentive cover by John Kovalic (Munchkin). Every copy of the first printing of issue #1 includes an exclusive Adventure Time: Card Wars card that can be used in the Cryptozoic Entertainment game.



Sunday, June 21, 2015

Kiora Atua Funko POP! Prototype



This Funko POP! addiction may be getting out of hand. I recently picked up my first POP! prototype figure from Gemini Collectibles. These can vary in price, but can go for even more on the secondary market, like eBay and collector forums. Kiora Atua is a character from the card game, Magic: The Gathering from Wizards of the Coast. I'll admit that I never got into card games and was slightly familiar with the character, but I loved the design and decided to pull the trigger and pick up my first proto. Kiora Atua is, according to the MTG Salvation Wiki, "a blue and green-aligned merfolk planeswalker who made her debut in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012." 

What is a POP! protoype? 


Brian (COF/Owner) explained once ..

"We make 2 White Prototypes (some might get hand painted by artist for licensor), and we make 5
Colored Plastic Prototypes of each item. We do not exceed those numbers. Once in a while we do
a color variation Prototype, like with Red Saucerman to honor the chase piece. Again only 5 made."

"Sometime there is a legal line stamped on bottom and sometimes not, but that has no bearing on anything.


Once in a while we get one or two weird protos like the Crystal Clear Daffy Duck." Brian added.


Scroll down to check out pictures of my newly acquired Kiora prototype.










Friday, June 19, 2015

J.G. Jones and Mark Waid Draw on History and Legend with 'Strange Fruit'

Strange Fruit #1 Main Cover by J.G. Jones


Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is pleased to announce the July debut of prolific creators’ J.G. Jones (52, Wanted, Y: The Last Man) and Mark Waid’s (Irredeemable, Superman: Birthright, Kingdom Come) deeply personal passion project, Strange Fruit. Beautifully hand-painted and set during the historic Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Strange Fruit is a provocative examination of the heroic myth that confronts themes of racism, cultural legacy, and human nature through a literary lens, drawing from Southern folklore and tradition.
 
It’s 1927 in the fictional town of Chatterlee, Mississippi, and the rain is heavy. The Mississippi River is rising, threatening to break open not only the levees, but also the racial and social divisions of this former plantation town. A fiery message from the skies heralds the arrival of a visitor, one that will rip open the tensions in Chatterlee. Some will see him as a savior, others will see him as a threat. All the while, the waters are still rapidly rising…
 
“J.G. Jones and Mark Waid are two of the most beloved creators in our industry—working with them on a passion project of this magnitude is such an honor,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “This is a complex, challenging narrative that’s pushed both creators to deliver their best work. Anytime creators this talented crank their craft in overdrive it’s truly something to behold.”
 
“I have always had a passion for history, as well as the tales told by the old folks when I was a kid growing up in Louisiana,” said J.G. Jones. “The River usually figured in there, somewhere. It was the lifeblood of the Delta, as well as the sleeping giant you hoped would never rouse. When I tossed out the idea for a historical drama to BOOM!, I was half expecting them to say, ‘Interesting... what else you got?’ Instead, they were really excited about the concept of Strange Fruit. Since I was batting pretty well at that point, I figured I’d buttonhole my old pal Mark Waid, a fellow Southerner, and bring in one of the finest writers in comics to help steer this little boat through the swamp with me. I couldn’t be happier with the results, and I’m thrilled to have such a great team to bring Strange Fruit out into the world.”
 
“I’ve been listening to J.G. tell me about his fascination with this chapter in Southern history practically since the day I met him, and I guess he finally got tired of me yelling at him to write it down. But he knew, quite rightly as a fellow Southerner, that I was just as spellbound by the true story of what was, at the time, the greatest natural disaster ever to hit North America,” said Mark Waid. “Together, J.G. and I have introduced a new element to this historical drama that turns it into what we hope becomes a timeless tale. It’s a very risky venture, creatively—and BOOM! has backed us right down the line.”​
 

Strange Fruit #1 arrives in comic shops on July 8th with a main cover by series artist J.G. Jones for the price of $3.99. Also available in a limited quantity are a Jackpot variant cover (1 in 100 intermix), a BOOM! 10 Years incentive cover, and a retailer incentive cover, all illustrated by J.G. Jones.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

June Japan Crate Unboxing



Being a fan of monthly boxes, I couldn't pass up the chance to try out Japan Crate. What is it? It's a monthly box of Japanese candy handpicked by the team at Japan Crate that is delivered straight to your door every month. There are three different boxes you can order; Mini: 4-6 candies ($12.00/month), Original: 8-10 candies + DIY Kit ($25.00/month), and Premium: 12-14 candies, drink, 2 DIY Kits ($30.00/month). More info can be found on the Japan Crate website.

I decided to try out the Mini box for my initial order. For $12.00, Japan Crate delivered a great value for the price. I may not have liked all of the candy included, but this isn't a big deal because I'm not a fan of everything that comes in the other subscription boxes I get every month. I will definitely pick up a couple of White Chocolate Big Bar Z's the next time I find myself in Japantown in San Francisco. This month's Mini box came with five candies, a flyer with a description of everything inside, and a bonus toy. That comes out to only $2.00 per item! I imagine you could pick them up for a comparable price in any Japanese specialty store, if not a couple of bucks cheaper. Scroll down to take a peek at everything inside the crate!




In this month's box:

Ramune Marble Gum- "Citrus-y and delicious ramune flavored gumballs. These pack a small hint of fizziness just like a real Japanese ramune soda."

White Chocolate Big Bar Z- "A big wafer bar similar in texture to a giant Kit Kat. A once crunchy bar soaked in smooth, decadent white chocolate. Oishii!"

Little Gang Grape- "This pouch is packed with grape fun. Gum that starts off with a Pop Rocks-like crackle and ends as tangy grape gum."

Red Potion/Black Potion- "How do you chew gum? Find out where gum first hits your tongue with this mouth painting gum. Red and black cola gum that changes your tongue colors."

Snow Pea Chips- "Crunchy snow pea chips made from real snow peas."

My Neighbor Totoro figure.







Sunday, June 14, 2015

Sith Yoda and Anti-Venom Custom Funko POP! Figures


The custom collection is getting bigger with the addition of Sith Yoda and Anti-Venom. I picked up Yoda from Mostly Harmless Vinyl Customs. This is my second custom from this artist (the first being Silver Surfer) and this one is one amazing piece. The artist put in some work on this little guy and the quality is spectacular. His store can be found here and you can also follow him on Instagram (mostlyharmlessvinylcustoms) where he posts pictures of newly added items to his store, commissions, and codes for discounts.

The second custom comes from eBay seller dkile57. This is also the second custom I've purchased from this artist (the first was a "Crazed Batman"). A Walgreen's exclusive Venom was used as the base for this guy. The mouth and the eyes are what drew me to the piece. I like the original Venom figure, and am a bigger fan of the character than I am of Anti-Venom, but the awesome paint job makes this guy look much more menacing. The seller seems to consistently have custom POP's up for auction, so be sure to check out his eBay. 


Sith Yoda from Mostly Harmless Vinyl Customs

The detail on this guy is amazing!

This is one mean-looking figure!






Friday, June 12, 2015

San Diego Comic Con 2015 Exclusives for Pre-Order at Toy Wars

Toy Wars currently has some great SDCC 2015 exclusives up for pre-order on their site. Head on over and check out these and other exciting exclusives! Be sure to put in your order now before they sell out!



SDCC 2015 Funko POP Flocked Ravagers Rocket Raccoon

A PREVIEWS Exclusive! Based on the blockbuster film Guardians of the Galaxy, this flocked POP! Vinyl Figure depicts Rocket Raccoon as he appeared in the film's climax. Standing 3 3/4" tall, this figure, available exclusively through PREVIEWS, features an urban, stylized design. Window box packaging.





SDCC 2015 Exclusive Star Trek Green Lantern #1 Cover B Comic Book

Two iconic franchises collide for the blockbuster crossover event of 2015! The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise meets the Green Lantern Corps for the first time in an all-new adventure that spans the cosmos! Don't miss the thrilling first chapter of THE SPECTRUM WAR, as Kirk and Spock make a most unusual discovery on a lost world... igniting events that will change the fate of empires! LIMITED TO 3,000 COPIES!




SDCC 2015 Exclusive Bob's Burgers Ongoing #1

Bob's Burgers is back for more! Join the Belcher family for the second-ever series of the Bob's Burgers comic book! Brought to you by the producers and animators of the hit TV show, this series brings back your three favorite Belcher kids, along with some brand-new stories from the minds of Bob and Linda. Each comic includes new installments of Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction, Louise's Unsolved Mysteries and Curious Curiosities, Gene's Rhymey Rhymes That Could Someday Be Songs, Linda's Attempts to Take a Nice Family Picture in Front of the Restaurant (And How It Always Goes Wrong), and Bob's Fantasy Food Trucks (If Money Were No Object). This SDCC 2015 edition is limited to 3,000 copies.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Funko POP Darth Vader "Galaxy" Custom



I picked up yet another custom Funko POP figure for my ever-expanding collection. This time it was from the user malti1269 on eBay. The Darth Vader POP came well-packaged and looked just gorgeous when I took him out of the box. The pictures don't do it justice, but I tried to capture it by photographing him outside. The "Galaxy" paint job is super glossy and the metallic flakes make this guy really stand out. If you're looking for some high-quality repaints this seller is definitely recommended. 





Sunday, June 7, 2015

'Lumberjanes' Trade Paperback Goes to Fifth Printing; Live-Action Movie Announced

Lumberjanes Vol. 1 Cover by Noelle Stevenson

Holy Mae Jemison! BOOM! Studios is thrilled to announce that the first four printings of the Lumberjanes Volume 1 trade paperback have sold out at the distributor level in just seven weeks of release. The publisher is rushing back to press for a fifth printing of the collection that debuted at #7 on The New York Times Best Sellers list for paperback graphic books. In total, over 65,000 copies of the trade paperback have been sold into comic book stores, bookstores, and book club fairs.

Comic book fans should bear in mind that earlier printings of the Lumberjanes Volume 1 trade paperback may still be found at the local comic shop or bookstore nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

Adding fuel to this latest sellout, 20th Century Fox has optioned the film rights to Lumberjanes as a live-action movie. BOOM! Studios will produce the film, led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ross Richie (2 Guns) and President of Development Stephen Christy. Senior Vice President of Film Adam Yoelin (2 Night Stand) will co-produce.

The Eisner and GLAAD Media Award-nominated Lumberjanes was co-created by BOOM! Studios Editor Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and New York Times Best Selling web cartoonist Noelle Stevenson (Nimona), with main series artist Brooke Allen (A Home For Mr. Easter). The series focuses on five, rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they’re not going to let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! As part of BOOM!’s partnership model, the creators will share equally in all aspects of the publisher’s first-look deal with Fox.

“The entire team is excited for the opportunity to expose the comic to a wider audience and legions of young hardcore lady-types everywhere,” said Watters, Ellis, Stevenson, and Allen in a joint statement. Stevenson added, "Read our book! They're making a movie so it's probably good, right?"

In searching for the ideal screenwriter for Lumberjanes, Producers Richie, Christy, and Yoelin went out to over 30 screenwriters before 20th Century Fox Senior Vice President of Development Kira Goldberg nominated Will Widger, screenwriter of The Munchkin, a highlight of the 2014 Black List, which details the best unproduced Hollywood screenplays every year. Goldberg bought the pitch and will develop the project for the studio working with Creative Executive Ryan Jones.

“I could not be more excited to start working on a Lumberjanes movie,” Richie said. “Shannon, Grace, Noelle, and Brooke have created a wonderful comic for everyone. Bringing a faithful adaptation to the screen and exposing even more potential fans to the amazing characters of Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley is something I can’t wait to dive into with the team at Fox.”



  

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Ant-Man Collectibles Now Up For Pre-oder

With Ant-Man right around the corner, Marvel is getting set to release some pretty sweet movie tie-in merchandise featuring the pint size hero. Here are some of the coolest:




"The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings Ant-Man to the big screen! Check out this Glow in the Dark Ant-Man- Yellow jacket POP from Funko! Exclusively on Amazon! Standing 3 3/4 inches, now you can bring a part of the marvel magic home!"




"The smallest Marvel movie hero is now the next big Marvel Select action figure! From the upcoming Marvel Studios film, "Ant-Man," this 7-inch scale figure captures Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, with detailed paint applications and 16 points of articulation. The figure comes packaged in the now-famous Marvel Select display packaging, with spine artwork for shelf reference, and includes a diorama base inspired by the film. Sculpted by Gentle Giant!"





"Experience the true scale of the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the latest entry in Marvel's ART OF series. Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Stars Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas take up the mantles of Scott Lang and Hank Pym as Marvel's Ant-Man brings a founding member of the Avengers to the big screen for the first time. In this keepsake volume, explore the pages of script secrets and production designs that showcase the creativity of Marvel's talented filmmakers. With intricate concept art, full-color photography from the set and finished film, and commentary from the filmmakers, including Director Peyton Reed, this collectible will delight new and old fans alike."




This one is not up for pre-order yet, but Hot Toys gave this sneak peek on their site saying, "Stay tuned for Hot Toys collectibles based on this upcoming movie very soon!" I will definitely be putting in my pre-order for this bad boy as soon as it goes up on Sideshow.