Catwoman Purrrsday :: Oh ye of little faith...

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman WITH EARS AND A MASK As seen everywhere on the internets this week.

Harley Qwednesday :: Suicide Squad

I bought and read the new DCnU 'New 52' Suicide Squad #1 merely because it includes Harley Quinn on the team and I figured it'd make a good Harley Qwednesday post regardless of what I ended up thinking of the comic. I seriously didn't expect to enjoy the comic, but I really did, and I plan on following the comic for a while and giving it a chance.

Harley's new look is nothing like her iconic costume. But it works with the type of story Suicide Squad is trying to tell. I love her multi-colored hair, but I hate the KISS-esque eye make-up. She needs a domino mask!

I understand the costume changes, trying to bring Harley more in line with what kids/teens know from the Arkham Asylum video game. And with this gritty storyline, her iconic costume would just look too cartoony and wouldn't work in this comic (although something much closer to it than this costume would and could work.) Regardless, I can get past all that and enjoy Harley Quinn making little quips in the face of danger as long as the comic delivers a good story.

So here's to more Harley Quinn in the pages of Suicide Squad, and maybe an action figure of this version of Harley Quinn sometime in the near future!

Comic Book Zen :: Make Like a Banana and SPLIT!

From Captain Marvel (no, not that one, or that one either!) Volume 1 Number 4, November 1966.

BONUS Comic Book Zen, from the same issue:

Haha 'Tinyman.' Best villain name ever. Is it any wonder he went back to school to become an attorney?

My few of DCnU's 'New 52' Review

The internet is full-to-bursting with talk of DC Comics' New 52. There has been a lot of talk about this and that and what makes fans happy or more often disgruntled. Which is good. And the experiment seems to be a success, with sales records being set with each new release. There has been some outrage as well. I admit, my handful of choices had already been pretty well pre-filtered before anything was released, and therefore complaints about certain titles (the art of Leifeld on Hawk and Dove, the softcore porn of Catwoman and the misogyny of Red Hood and the Outlaws for example) do not affect me because I was clearly not the target for those comics, having decided long before they were published that I wasn't on board with them.

Now that I have read all the titles I had held for me at my local comic shop, here is what I dipped into, and some thoughts about what I got out of each title.

Action Comics #1:
Why did I want to read it?
Because it's written by Grant Morrison first and foremost, and because it appears to be taking Superman back to his 'champion of the oppressed' roots.

Does it succeed?
Beautifully. Great art, great Superman, Great Clark Kent. I like that Clark is young, he's got a crap apartment, he's working freelance etc. My daughter even looked over my shoulder at one point while I was reading it and asked 'Is that Peter Parker?' which is a compliment when you are trying to take a young Clark back to basics.

Favorite Moment:
Superman is jumping and not flying. He bleeds. His powers are still developing/he's not at 'full strength.'

Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes.

Most curious about...
A phone booth. Will he change in a phone booth, at least once? I hope so.

Wonder Woman #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
Because Wonder Woman deserves a good comic and I deserve to to read a good Wonder Woman comic. I am willing to give this title a shot in hopes that DC can deliver.

Does it succeed? 
In spades. I really love the art in this one, and the story is well written and suspenseful. It's the comic book Wonder Woman deserves. She's majestic, beautiful, strong, smart, everything she should be. I loved this one!

Favorite Moment:
Wonder Woman coming up off the ground by gripping a Centaur with her legs and then flipping up into a head-butt.

Will I keep buying and reading?
Hell yes!

Most curious about...
Zeus as Jesus-like man-God. That should be fun.

Suicide Squad #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
Because the team includes Harley Quinn.

Does it deliver the goods?
Surprisingly so. I didn't think I'd like this one, and only got it as Harley Qwednesday fodder. But surprisingly I really liked issue one and I enjoyed Harley Quinn's characterization. Her costume is a huge departure from her iconic look but a) I don't hate it and b) her iconic look would NOT work in this storyline. It's just too...cartoony (which isn't a bad thing, but counter to the themes represented in this comic.) The art is really good and the story is exciting with a little twist at the end as the action amps up for issue two! I won't let this Harley Quinn look replace her iconic look as THE Harley Quinn in my mind, but I'll get over it for this comic and enjoy it all for what it is.


Favorite Moment: 
Harley Quinn: "...I've seen scary, and you ain't got his smile."


Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes. This one ends with a bang and a promise of a very exciting issue #2. I'll tread with caution, but I do look forward to more of this title.
  
Most curious about...
Sportsmaster. Was he a 'plant?' I think so.

Detective Comics #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
Because I need a Batman title in my life at all times, and since Batman began his life in Detective Comics it is only fitting I choose this title to stay on board with.

Does it deliver the goods?
Indeed.

Favorite Moment:

The last two pages. Holy heck I didn't see THAT coming!

Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes siree.

Most curious about...
What's gonna happen next!

Batgirl #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
Because it is Barbara Gordon as Batgirl again.

Does it deliver the goods? Other than reminding us on (too) many occasions that yes, Babs did get shot by the Joker and was crippled for a time (but no, she never became Oracle) I do enjoy the fact that she is now healed physically but still has many emotional scars and the dynamics those bring to her character.

Favorite Moment: 
Any moment between Barbara and Jim Gordon. I can't help it, it's the dad in me.

Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes. I have high hopes for this title.

Most curious about...
Conflict/confusion between Batgirl and Batwoman and the dynamics of both existing in the same Batverse.

Supergirl #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
 Because my daughter told me to get it.

Does it deliver the goods?
It's a good first issue. The art is great, and it takes a small new spin on Kara's arrival on Earth that we've all seen about a thousand times. It's a fun title, Kara is strong in mind and body, and it isn't too graphic or sexed up for my daughter to read. It's a Supergirl comic, plain and simple.

Favorite Moment:

Kara's super-hearing kicks in, and she hears 'lines' from other comics/superheroes across the globe.

Will I keep buying and reading? 
Yes. For my daughter. honest ;)

Most curious about...
More character development and how it will be handled. This issue was just a 'hit the Earth and smash things' issue. 

Swamp Thing #1:
Why did I want to read it?
Because I like Swamp Thing.

Does it deliver the goods?
It feels like it is getting there. It delivers Alec Holland, and that's cool. Alec mentions Abby. I feel like this is less of a reboot and more a continuation of the Swamp Thing I remember. Anyways, I'd rather have too much story than too little, and unlike Justice League, this one has more to say than it can fit in one issue and isn't just padding the pages with big punches.

Favorite Moment:

Holland talking about how vicious plantlife really is.

Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes.

Most curious about...
Superman mentions 'coming back.' Did Superman die in the DCnU? Is the whole 'Death of Superman' bit still part of his history? I doubt it will be touched on in this comic, but it is an interesting thing to bring up after the whole reboot thing.

Batwoman #1:
Why did I want to read it?
Because J.H. Williams III delivered some of the most beautiful comic book pages of all time with his Batwoman run in Detective Comics.

Does it deliver the goods?
It's like the Detective run never ended. That's a damn good thing.

Favorite Moment:

The whole damn thing.

Will I keep buying and reading?
Yes!

Most curious about...
Will the recent repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' be addressed in regards to Kate's military career? When the character of Batwoman was created and her history expanded upon, that policy was in place and had an effect on her and who she is now. It's gone now, and as comics time stays relatively stagnant yet real time marches on away from DADT, will it remain relevant, or even a part of the character's history? Interesting to think about.

 Justice League #1:
Why did I want to read it? 
Because it's 'Where it all begins.' I figured it wouldn't hurt to be in on the ground floor like all the other lemmings.

Does it deliver the goods? It was well drawn with a great bunch of action, but a little too thin storywise to hold my interest.

Favorite Moment: Batman taking GL's ring.

Will I keep buying and reading?
No. And I admit, this one was an impulse buy. It's good, don't get me wrong, it's just not what I look for in my comic books lately.

Most curious about...
Will this just be a big blockbuster bang-up title, or will it carry story weight in the new DCnU?

Justice League Dark #1:
Oops, I forgot this is on my pull list and doesn't come out until this week. Guess I'll have to do a follow up for that one!

In conclusion, I am very excited about the DCnU and really enjoyed the titles I sought out. I look forward to following them all into the future to see what is in store, and to find out what's up with that hooded girl who shows up in every title (except...I can't for the life of me find her in Wonder Woman. Is she there? If not, why not?)

Challengers of the Unknown Novel...literally

Perusing the flea market this weekend, I spied this surprising paperback novel from 1977 about, of all things, The Challengers of the Unknown!

The Challengers of the Unknown are relatively...well...unknown to probably all non comic book readers and even most casual comic book readers.

Spawned from the Silver Age of comic book history (debuting in Showcase #6 - Feb. 1957),  Kyle "Ace" Morgan, Matthew "Red" Ryan, Leslie "Rocky" Davis, Walter Mark "Prof" Haley and later (and included in this novel) June Robbins are a group of adventurers who formed after the original four (Ace, Red, Rocky and Prof) survived a plane crash that should have spelled certain doom; thereby devoting their lives to doing good in the face of certain death (since, what the hell, they are living on borrowed time anyways.)

Although still pretty well unknown today, The Challengers of the Unknown have recently appeared in some high profile works, including Darwyn Cooke's The New Frontier (as well as the animated adaptation) and even as a major plot point in the episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold "Revenge of the Reach!" - including getting their own cartoon 'intro:'



This novel, penned by Ron Goulart, is about a lake monster in South America wrecking an American Oil company's interests; apparently Scooby and the gang were busy on another case, so the Challengers of the Unknown are called in to save the day!

I'm only a couple chapters into it so far, but I was super excited to find this obscure publication and couldn't wait to dive right in. Aw yeah flea market!

You dirty rat!

At Toyriffic World Headquarters, whenever anyone picks up a Lego Mini-figure we like to build a little diorama around the figure's theme.

That's just how we roll at TWH.

So when I obtained the Gangster from Lego mini-figure series five I pondered all the wonderful possibilities until the future Mrs. BubbaShelby said 'why don't you have him tossing a guy in cement shoes off a pier?'

Gotta love a woman who suggests making a Lego mini-figure in cement shoes and getting tossed off a pier by a ruthless Mob Boss!

So I designed a little dockside pier with a lamppost (because if movies have taught me anything it is that this type of 'business' happens on the docks and usually at night) and put together a Construction Foreman in cement shoes who clearly wasn't willing to play along with the crooked union leader's plan.

I also designed the platform so that the Foreman can also be attached to a swivel-piece; when you lift the pier he swings down into the 'water.' The Gangster did not originally come with the Tommy-Gun, but every goog Gangster worth his salt needs a Tommy-Gun! He did come with a handgun and the violin case, which opens up and will hold the handgun inside.

So is this it? Is this the end? Is there no hope for the poor Foreman, a man whose only crime was to stand up for what is good and right in this world...?

Aw yeah JSA! The Golden Age Flash (aka Jay Garrick), in a blur of super speed is about to disarm that malicious mobster and will have the Foreman back in proper work boots before you can say 'Myeah, myeah!'

Harley Qwednesday :: Harley Quinn Burlesque

If you are in the Marrickville Australia area this Friday, check out Elise Archer aka Harley Quinn as well as a bevy of other comicbook beauties in the  “SECRET IDENTITY” GEEKESQUE! NERDESQUE! BURLESQUE! show!
   

When:
Friday September 24 7:30pm

Location :  
Midian
19 Sydney St
Marrickville, Australia

Created By:   
Gallery Burlesque, Harley Quinn, Onur Ka
  
A special Gallery Burlesque & Gotham Fatale event

“SECRET IDENTITY" GEEKESQUE! NERDESQUE! BURLESQUE!

With a Special Screening of DC Documentary “Secret Origin”

Doors @ 7.30pm (movie screening starts 8pm sharp)

More than a burlesque event...its a crazy PARTY

at the very special location the MIDIAN in Marrickville!

Tickets & Venue Info: www.trybooking.com/ssk

Table (seats 4) SOLD OUT
GA (standing) $15 - limited available

Burlesque by:

Ginger Snap as Harley Quinn
Evelyn Ellenor as Poison Ivy
Frankie Faux as Tank Girl
Cherry Lush as Elvira
Sheena Miss Demeanour as Sheena Queen of the Jungle
Defy as The Joker
Betty Grumble as Captain America
Herbie Strangelove as Howl from "howls moving castle"
Glitta Supanova as She-Hulk
Lucille Spielfuchs as Jack sparrow
Bella louche as the Vulcan vixen
Memphis Mae as Red Sonja
Baby Blue Bergman as Brigitte Bardot in "Comic Strip"

with special guest BATMAN

and hosted by Mr GB as Peter Parker (SpiderMan)

Tunes by Mike Berkley

Visuals by Insert Title

Costume & Cosplay friendly event!!!

Tickets & Venue Info: www.trybooking.com/ssk

Table (seats 4) SOLD OUT
*Seating will be well situated for each table with clear straight view of the stage, there is no seating chart as there is only one row of tables that will be all similar*

GA (standing) $15 - limited available

Get in early to secure Tickets!!!

Gallery Burlesque: http://www.galleryburlesque.com/

Enjoy the show!

Gorillas just want to have fun

The most impressive figures released in the animated Justice League toyline, in my opinion, were the oversized characters like Darkseid, Doomsday, Ultra Humanite and this hairy heathen here, Gorilla Grodd.

Most of the time these bigger baddies were only available as part of a store exclusive multi-pack that usually contained at least three or four figures you already owned. Because Mattel.

I won't even begin my rant about the JLU Solomon Grundy figure.

Anyways, I did not get Grodd when he was released. I did see him in the store once, but I was Christmas shopping for my kids and contrary to popular belief, I do have some self control.

So when I saw Gorilla Grodd pop up on Eclectorama's own Chunky B's ebay auction extravaganza, I knew I had to bid for him and at least get a shot at a great priced Grodd while also helping Chunky B clear out his awesome manly toys so he can make room for more dollhouses and Barbie Corvettes and tea sets. I set a bid and walked away, only to find later that I had won Gorilla Grodd and a handful of other cool toys, including a JLU Zatanna and Black Canary that were immediately added to my daughter's superhero collection! Chunky B also sent me bonus toys and some stickers and a re-usable bag depicting all the awesome art he has done for Tate's comics! A great haul from a great guy, with the highlight of course being that I now own a JLU Gorilla Grodd.

Comic Book Zen :: That's How I Knew...

From Batman: Gotham Adventures #37, June 2001.

Moose Tracks

Monty Moose is another crazy-cool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ally that I have been hoping to find in good condition at the Flea Market for ages.

Fortunately friend to Toyriffic, toy blogger extraordinaire and all around swell guy Jboy of Revenge from the Cosmic Ark and Invader from the Cosmic Ark recently surprised me with a box of toys (more on that later) and included in the pack was old Monty himself in all his Canucking glory!

I had to immediately get Monty Moose back into his natural environment. You don't want to keep an angry mutated moose (let alone an angry mutated moose on police payroll) cooped up in the house for too long!

Also, I owed him a trip to the forest. It was the least I could do, seeing as how he didn't maul me when I said 'nice rack.'

Monty first went looking for higher ground, to get a lay of the land.

Here's Monty doing his best Rocky imitation. Get it? Monty Moose...Rocky Balboa...Monty Moose...Bullwinkle Moose...Rocky Balboa...Rocky Squirrel...aw forget it.

 He crossed the creek a few times, sometimes through shallow water...

...and sometimes across fallen trees.

Although I suspect he sometimes just wanted to gaze into the water meditatively.

But a Mounty Moose can't rest all day. Back on the trail!

Of what I do not know.

Monty enjoyed his day out and was glad to get some nice fresh air on his antlers.

Although he says it's too warm in California, and a little snow every now and then wouldn't kill us.

Once again Playmates delivered in spades with this character's design. It's always amazing to look closely at these older TMNT toys and see all the little details and how they surpassed the limited paint applications - if one were to detail this guy themselves one would find all sorts of tears and folds and tufts of hair to paint and bring out of the design.

I also really do love these characters who experience partial mutations (noticed here in the differences in his legs.) It adds yet another dimension, and raises these guys from mere anthropomorphic characters to true aberrations of nature.

Monty was originally released in 1992 and came with Bob the Beaver (who I own!) and some accessories (which I do not own,) but he remains just as epic without any of that.

He's a great toy, and anyone who says otherwise is a hoser and can take off, eh.

Catwoman Purrrsday :: Mego Catwoman Dolly

If you've never checked out The Mego Museum, you should. It is the greatest Mego resource on the internet! Go check it out and get yer dolly on!

Today I borrowed a handful of images of the Mego Catwoman that debuted in 1974 (hey, me too!)

* all pictures of Catwoman dollies courtesy The Mego Museum

This version of Catwoman's costume only briefly existed in the comics, premiering in '69 and running through to the mid seventies and not getting much (if any ) play since then; but it was apparently perfectly timed for Mego's designers to choose it for their dolly thereby cementing it's place in Catwoman history.

Although not a very recognizable costume to those outside the comic book world (or outside the dolly collecting circuit), this version of Catwoman's costume did appear briefly in a recent Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode, because that show is so goddamned awesome.