Stargirl Bombshell

Comic companies make a lot of money making pictures and merchandise of sexy women.  That’s the industry and I don’t really see that changing any time soon.  There have been times when a comic’s cover made me mildly embarrassed to purchase it, but for the most part I don’t think about it.  Most the statues I own are male, so it’s possible I was subconsciously a little creeped out by statues of mostly naked women in action poses.  For the past couple months DC has been doing a series of “Bombshell” statues.  They are of current DC women in retro pin-up style and even have a bit of airplane nose art on their bases.

The most recent solicited is of Stargirl.  I love the character of Stargirl.  I love airplane nose art and vintage cheesecake.  The combination of these two things had a very different reaction.  It made me uneasy.  The statue is very well done, but reading about Courtney growing up changed the way I look at this.  I feel like I’m seeing a sister or daughter posing for a pin-up and I don’t think I like it.

The strangest thing is the costume she is wearing in the statue shows just about the same amount of skin her actual costume shows.  Normally her midriff is exposed, that’s covered on the statue.  The statue shows more of her arms and back though.  There is no logical reason for my reaction.  It's probably a good thing I have a son and not a daughter.

To show my hypocrisy knows no ends, I think the Black Canary Bombshell is one of the sexiest statues I’ve ever seen.  I can’t say I’ve ever cared about the character and I almost ordered that statue.   

Flash Friday: Flash Chess

Happy Flash Friday everyone!  Flash Friday is the semi-regular feature here at That F’ing Monkey that looks at upcoming merchandise or otherwise shines a spotlight on my favorite superhero.  Today we have a couple of items that you should be able to find for pre-order at your favorite online retailer or in Previews at your friendly local shop.

If you look through the Flash Friday archives it will become obvious that I was a big fan of the Eaglemoss line of DC lead figures.  They weren’t expensive, they looked good, and they didn’t take up much space.  For me, they were the perfect collectable.  Well they’ve decided the pieces work better in chess sets.  In September they will be releasing their first Flash themed chess pieces. The pieces below are part of the Justice League chess set.  Eaglemoss started their chess sets with a Batman one but it must have been popular enough that they are doing it again with a less batty theme.

 We’ve gotten an Eaglemoss Flash before but this one is definitely representing the New 52 version of the costume.  So it has all the required extra lines the costume needs sculpted into the piece.  While I might not be a fan of the new costume, I love the pose of this one.  The last pose had his arms crossed and looked pretty cocky; this new one is practically taunting his foes to come attack him.

Available that same month is the Captain Cold chess piece.  I won't go into the old Captain Cold vs. new Captain Cold argument  I figure we've probably done that enough here.  The Flash piece counts as a Bishop but Captain Cold only ranks as a Pawn.  I would have thought in the Justice League chess set that each hero and their villain would hold the same rank.  Maybe we’ll see a new Reverse Flash as a Bishop later in the line. 

While not related to Eaglemoss or chess I did want to point out that there are sets of 4 inch pvc figures coming out soon too.  I only saw two sets currently listed.  The first set is all bat related with Batman, Robin, and Bane.  The second set is a little stranger; it contains Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Reverse Flash.  I don’t normally question Flash merchandise when we get it, but I do think it’s an odd villain choice considering the heroes in the pack.

Flash Friday: Eaglemoss Mirror Master

Happy Flash Friday everyone! Once again we’re going to be looking at something I’ve had on my desk for a little while. I had really meant to have pictures ready and put his up last week, but real life had other plans. Today is all about the Eaglemoss Mirror Master.

Eaglemoss produce action figure sized lead statues that are hand painted. The statue is shipped with a magazine that details the history of the subject. You get a couple pages of their most known stories, information on their friends and enemies, and other things like that. It isn’t a lot, but it is very nicely put together.

I’m always happy to have another Rogue to add to the group, so Mirror Master was an instant buy. The proportions are a little wonky but I think the three still look pretty good together. Mirror Master’s paint job looks like it was given some kind of shading wash; it makes the suit look a dirty. It also saves the costume from being super bright. I think it is a pretty good look for him.

There is a reason you see a lot of Eaglemoss on That F’ing Monkey. They and Action League are my two favorite merchandise lines. I got bored of the action figure lines. DC Direct, DC Universe, Infinite Heroes, and whatever else all do the same characters. Sure the scale and quality differ, but you end up with 15 action figures of the same figure. I think the mini statues offer something a little different while still being around “action figure prices.”

I like to think in this picture that Mirror Master is gloating about what a criminal genius he is without knowing that he has two Flashes behind his back.

Last but not least, it has finally been announced how to get the Lego Villians Pack in Lego Batman 2. Gamestop is giving it to all of its Powerup Rewards members that pre-order the game. So not only will get the Hero pack, but you’ll also get the Villain one. I love the Lego games. It doesn’t take me long to finish them, so this was not going to be a day one buy. But that Captain Cold may make me change my mind.

Starman Week: Statues

Today is the last entry in our first ever Starman week. I hope you’ve had a good time. I had a good time. Today we’re talking about some collectables a little nicer then action figures, we’re talking about statues. There aren’t a whole lot of Starman statues, but what is out there is worth tracking down if you’re a fan.

We’re starting off with the Eaglemoss Starman. I’ve already talked about how much I love the Eaglemoss line in my numerous reviews of the Flash related releases. Hand painted lead figures. They aren’t very large, but that makes them affordable and easy to display. They are quickly my favorite way to get a collectable of a character I like. As you can see Jack looks fantastic.

I was even more impressed with the piece when I got a look at the back of his jacket. The Starman symbol is a little more complex than most of the designs I’ve seen recreated on the Eaglemoss stuff so far. I think the picture speaks for itself. Unfortunately there isn’t a Golden Age Starman in this line. The good news is that they are adding a Stargirl though, she was just recently announced.

Then we have the statue DC Direct released in 1999. Sculpted by Tim Buckner and based on Tony Harris’ designs I’ve had this piece in my collection for a long time. The pose makes it an interesting piece. The base on the statue is sized normally but since Jack is kneeling it takes up much less space than if he was standing in some kind of dynamic action shot. It is cold cast porcelain, so it has some heft to it.

The tip of the staff is a separate piece, which makes it much easier to transport. It fits into the staff snuggly though; I’ve never had any issues with it falling out. The Starman zodiac is also nicely painted on the back of Jack’s jacket on this piece too. Despite it being older, you can find this popping up on eBay pretty frequently.

That’s it for Starman week. I’d like to do it again some time. As always there is a “Contact Us” button on the right hand side if you have any suggestions, complaints, etc.

Replica Normandy Review

From looking at the articles on the site, there is no denying that I am a huge BioWare fan boy. I love their games. Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Dragon Age, and we can’t forget Mass Effect. Mass Effect is something that consumes my thoughts. I become obsessive about the designs, the characters, the story, and the ships. It was heartbreaking to see the Normandy torn apart in the start of Mass Effect 2. I was cheering when the Normandy SR2 was revealed.

Because of these feelings I was very excited when Dark Horse announced that they were doing a replica of the Normandy SR2. I quickly pre-ordered and counted the days until it showed up at my local comic shop. With all of that setup you’re probably expecting a glowing review. I really give it one in good conscience though. Unless you are a crazed die hard, the replica just isn’t worth 35 dollars.

The Normandy measures just under seven inches in length. It is cast out of resin, so the details show through the mold, you just have to be careful it doesn’t take any dives off where ever you display it. It also comes with a display stand. The bad news is that the Normandy looks like I painted it. That is not a good thing. Seriously. The paint applications are sloppy and ugly. It really detracts from the model and makes it look cheap.

So in my opinion, the Normandy is a big letdown. I really wanted to love it. I was all ready to make ship noises and zoom it all over the house. Unfortunately it is the only replica available. Well there is another version of the Normandy, it’s identical to the one I bought but painted in the Cerberus color scheme. If you must have a Normandy on your shelf/desk/etc… this is sadly your only option.

UPDATE:  So after posting my review I see that "Antique" version of the Normandy has been solicited.  "This version is offered as a limited edition of 1,500 pieces, with a custom base treatment (not pictured) that is different from the regular edition."   It is retailing for 50 dollars  So now you can pay more for a model where they don't even bother to paint details.

Flash Friday: Eaglemoss Boomerang

Happy Flash Friday everyone! Today we’re talking about Eaglemoss again. I say again because this is the fourth time I’ve talked about their figures. I am a huge fan of the line and I’m always happy when I hear one of my favorite characters announced. For those of you who haven’t seen them before; the Eaglemoss line are hand painted lead figures who come with a magazine that talk about the character, their friends, enemies, and important story lines.

Today we’re looking at Captain Boomerang. This is the new and updated Boomer, reflecting the look he’s been rocking since Blackest Night. I have to be honest, I like his new look. It’s mostly the look his son wore, but I won’t turn this into an article about how Junior was mishandled. The figure sculpt is good, although with the outstretched arm and boomerang it is a little more fragile than most.

We’ve been seeing a lot more Boomerang merchandise since he got a makeover. The Action Force figure, the DC Universe Classics figure, and now the Eaglemoss figure. The more old school look showed up in the JLU three pack though. Captain Cold might be my favorite Flash villain, but I love all the Rogues, so I’m happy to see Boomer getting so much attention. When placed next to the Cold Eaglemoss, Boomerang seems tower over him. I know that is partly to the poses but I wish the line was scaled a little bit better.

Since we are talking about Eaglemoss I wanted to mention that they are doing a chess set with the Bat family of characters. I’m jealous and happy all at the same time. I’d love to have a Flash chess set with Eaglemoss figures but I’d hate to pay for it. I’m not exactly thrilled with their choices either. I’d want the pawns to be multiples of the same generic character; like Gotham cops and nameless henchmen.  Maybe when I'm not in the middle of painting armies, video games, and 18 other things I'll make my own chess set.

Flash Friday: Professor Zoom

Happy Flash Friday! As I posted earlier this week, all my plans on redoing my Flash display fell through when I found out the Detolf cases at Ikea are out of stock. Luckily there are still plenty of Flash related topics out there to talk about, including the Eaglemoss Professor Zoom figurine that arrived on my doorstep Wednesday evening. The Eaglemoss Gorilla Grodd I talked about recently had been out for a long time, Zoom on the other hand is one of their newest releases.

Incase you’re unfamiliar with Eaglemoss figures they are made of lead and hand painted. Zoom is no where near as heavy as Grodd was, but he still has some heft. When you pick him up you know you aren’t picking up plastic. The lightning pointer in his hand makes it very obvious he was sculpted after Flash Rebirth. It’s too bad for Eaglemoss that he hasn’t really used it since that series. The magazine he came with was extremely up to date too. It didn’t cover Flashpoint, but it did cover his most recent origin issue.

Ignoring the pointer for a moment, his pose is a pretty dramatic one. When you put him next to the Eaglemoss Wally you can also see that he is just a bit larger. I thought it was just the pose, but even the head on the Zoom figure is larger. You really have to study them side by side to notice it though. There is also a tiny bit of sculpting on the back of Zoom’s foot to make it look like he just rushed up at super speed.

At this point the Eaglemoss Flash collection consists of Jay, Wally, Captain Cold, Gorilla Grodd, and now Professor Zoom. I won’t lie; I’m a big fan of the line. A Captain Boomerang is scheduled to be released in January.  The current rumor is that the series is going to end with its 100th release. Hopefully that isn’t the case, I can think of a lot more characters I’d like to see them tackle. The above picture was me hitting the button on the camera by mistake, but even with the blurriness it looked too evil not to include.

Oh yeah, it looks like we’ll be getting a new Flash related Action League two pack. This one will be Professor Zoom and Flash. I can’t wait. Until then…Kapow.

Flash Friday: Grodd

Happy Flash Friday everyone! Writing about the Flash every Friday can be a strange experience. Sometimes I’ll have two or three weeks planned in advance, while other times I’m scrambling to come up with a topic at the last minute. Today’s Flash Friday has been planned since last Saturday. I went to an anniversary sale at my local comic shop and came home with today’s topic, Gorilla Grodd.

More specifically it is the Eaglemoss Gorilla Grodd lead figurine. I’ve talked about how much I like the Eaglemoss figures in the past when I talked about their Wally, Jay, and Captain Cold figures. Although Grodd is new to me, he has been available for a long time. So what took me so long to pick him up? The standard figures from Eaglemoss usually only run about 15 dollars, Grodd is a deluxe figure and costs double that amount.

So the price had kept me away from the figure, but that is only because I’ve only seen it in pictures. The first time I picked Grodd up my opinion had changed. Eaglemoss figures are made of lead and Grodd uses up a lot of lead. He has some heft to him, I believe he weighs in around 3 pounds. There is no reason why something being heavier makes it seem like a better deal, but in my mind it did.

Like the other Eaglemoss figures, Grodd comes with a magazine detailing his history. The quality of these always surprises me. Grodd’s magazine talks about his origins and summarizes the big stories he’s been in. In addition to highlighting the big Grodd story arcs they also devote a couple pages to the other famous primates in the DC Universe. Anytime Sam Simeon shows up I’m a happy monkey.

So even though I was able to pick up Grodd at a discount, I do believe he is worth his full price tag. If you collect the Eaglemoss figures but have been holding off on the big ones, I say go for it. And just because I haven’t done it in awhile….KAPOW!

Bookends

I spent part of my Sunday morning looking over a local comic shop’s statues when I got into a conversation with someone there about bookends. It seems like a perfect display combination. I like having nice versions of my favorite books and I really like a nicely put together statue of my favorite characters. I’ve seen some really nice setups too, especially with all the slip cased hardcover books coming out lately. But as of today I don’t own any bookends and I don’t see that changing.

The biggest reason I haven’t jumped into, is I’m way too paranoid. I could just see myself accidentally using too many books or a book that is just too heavy and coming home to a bookend that has be either crushed or launched to the floor. It’s no big deal when your 10 dollar action figure takes a dive off the shelf. When half of a 150 dollar set shatters to pieces it is a whole nother ballgame.  I already have to be careful with the Flash's ear wings on his statues and I'm not constantly moving them to get to a book.

I do have to admit that I am probably being hypocritical. I haven’t really been tested in my beliefs yet. There are plenty of bookends for Superman and Batman but so far nothing strictly Flash related. Sure you can get the JLA or JSA sets, but that is just like getting a mini-bust collection. They aren't really Flash releated even if he is included.  Would a reworking of the Flash of Two Worlds cover be enough to help me get over my fears? They just released the last Starman Omnibus, I’d be pretty tempted if they released bookends for them. Would I buy them though? I honestly have no idea. Even if I did, I’d probably chicken out and only put one or two books between the ends.

So has anyone already taken the plunge on the high price bookends? What did you get and more importantly I suppose, do you actually use them?

Flash Friday: Flash Figure Thoughts

Did Blackest Night leave you swimming in fake plastic rings? DC isn’t finished yet. It was just announced that in June Flashpoint #2 will ship with a Flashpoint edition ring. The release of Flashpoint will also have a set of pins to go with all the mini-series. So those cool little icons for each series can now be used to accentually stab yourself in the chest. Toy Fair is this weekend so we may be seeing a lot of Flash related toys being released.  In fact the first set of Flashpoint figures has already been revealed.

It starts with a nice looking Barry figure, I’m not sure how different it is from the Barrys that DC Direct has already released. If it is an upgrade I may have to purchase it. The other figures are the Flashpoint versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg; easily skipable for me. It is awesome to see a Flash line of figures, but what about all the members of the Flash Family that still don’t have figures of their own this isn’t the line up I was hoping for. So what am I hoping for? Glad you asked.

We need an updated Wally West figure. The straight across Walter cowl and the Justice League Animated symbol work better then I ever thought they would. We haven’t seen a lot of this costume, but it has really grown on me. I know there is a ton of old style Wally stuff out there, but his new look is more then a year old now. It is time for an updated figure.

The Rogues. If we are just talking the DC Direct line, the Rogues need some serious love. If you’re a long time collector you probably have the DC Direct Captain Cold and Mirror Master. Maybe the Grodd or Boomerang Jr. That’s it though. We need a Weather Wizard and a Heatwave. Give us a Piper in his hooded look. Newly revived Captain Boomerang? Yes please. Axel Trickster with a clear base to make it look like he was walking across the air would be fantastic. We don’t have to stop at the current Rogues either, I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one buying a Golden Glider figure.

Flash Rebirth gave a new costume to more then just Wally. His daughter took up the mantle Impulse and got a new costume in the process. Now I’m not 100% sold on the new look, to be honest I really liked the yellow and white costume she wore when she was rapidly aging. But then she’d be more of the Kid Flash and I’m not going to get into any Impulse/Kid Flash debates here; those get way too heated. I like Irey and I’d love to have a figure of her to put next to her dad.

Iris and Linda. There hasn’t been many figures of non-powered characters, but I’m pretty sure Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and even Alfred have had DC Direct figures. I want Iris and Linda. I’ve joked for years that I was going to buy the 13 inch Batgirl, pose her next to the Barry, and tell everyone it is Iris at the costume party. These women play an important part of the Flash’s adventures and I’d love to have them represented in my collection.

I could go on and on asking for more figures. Eventually I’d just start getting more and more obscure. Trust me; it took all of my willpower not to bring up wanting a Walter West figure. I guess I just did bring it up, oh well; there will be no green rings in my future. I wanted to end with this thought. DC Direct has been doing build a scene statues. Could this be the Flash’s year? I’ll start saving my pennies just in case.

Flash Friday: Wings at the Speed of Sound

I’m switching things up a little for this Flash Friday. I’ve gotten into the rut of just showing off things in my collection. Today I’m wanted to bring up one of the untold problems with being a Flash fan. It all comes down to those damn wings. What am I talking about?

I moved in April. Moving is never fun, especially when you have a large number of breakables. Most of my statues I could carefully wrap up and load up into a box. As long as I didn’t throw the box around, I was reasonably sure that everything would come back out intact. Not so with the Flash statues. A number of them were driven to their new home with my wife hold then on her lap. You guessed it, it all had to do with the wings.

Those tiny, delicate pieces look so good in comics can be such a pain in real life. My animated maquette snapped a wing off a few years ago. I actually have the piece; I just haven’t super glued it back together yet for some unknown reason. I think I’m afraid I could somehow mess it up even worse.

During this move I discovered my 13 inch Flash had a crack on one of his wings. This is even more distressing because I found it before any actual moving was done. The figure comes with a stand; he’d be standing in the same running pose ever since I first unpacked him. He’d never fallen over, so that could only mean the cracks were there all along and I just never noticed them before.

I’m sure Bat fans have problems with the pointy ears. Lots of collectors probably have cape issues. But at least for this Flash collector, wings are my private pain.

DC Comics Super Hero Collection

Welcome back to Flash Friday, my weekly look at the things in my collection that I thought others may find interesting. Last week I left off saying that what I’d be discussing would involve Jay Garrick, Wally West, and Captain Cold. So today I present to you Dc Comic Super Hero Collection issues 5, 30, and 52.

What is so cool about these magazines? Check out after the jump.

Flash Friday: Young Justice Edition

ng Since last week was about a piece of art that celebrates Bart Allen I figured I’d take a look at something a little earlier in his career. Today I’m going to be talking about the most recent addition to my collection. My local comic book shop has a giant collection of older toys, statues, and mini-busts. The day after I noticed today’s subject sitting on the shelf the store had a giant sale where you could get one item 30% off. I wasn’t looking to buy an expensive statue, but it was like fate. I couldn’t resist.

So what is it? Check it out after the jump.