BootLEGO New 52 Poison Ivy Minifig

Another BootLEGO minifig for my collection, the New52 version of Poison Ivy!

I've never been a fan of the face-vines on this iteration of Poison Ivy. They just make the design look too busy. But I like the foliage-on-black body suit. This Poison Ivy minifig captures that effect nicely. She also came with a single vine accessory. Found on eBay for CHEAP!

LEGO Plantmobile MOC

Taking cues from my past build: the Poison Ivy Man-Mower, I designed a new ride for my LEGO Poison Ivy this past weekend: The Plantmobile!

I picked up the plant-man minifigure specifically so he could act as a Poison Ivy goon. His scared facial expression isn't the best for the purposes of being Ivy's driver, but I haven't yet swapped it out for something more appropriate.

More Batmobile inspired than the Man-Mower, the Plantmobile even has leaf-wing fins...

...and a rotating plant after-burner! Good-doers beware!

It Came from The Dolly Aisle! Monster High Venus Mcflytrap by Mega Bloks

This blog is being overrun by dollies! Be afraid, be very afraid!

Actually this Venus Mcflytrap (Hello, Mcflytrap? Hello!) came from the Mega Blok aisle, not the dolly aisle, but that doesn't sound nearly as scary.

I wonder if she has a brother named Marty?

And she's not a dolly, she's a buildable minifigure! She's a Monster High buildable minifigure yes, but a buildable minifigure nonetheless. So I get a free pass here, ok?

Also, she's a pretty good stand-in for Poison Ivy. If only her hair were red and not pink. Oh well, perhaps Poison Ivy went through a punk phase in High School.

These Monster High minifigures are pretty cool. The parts interchangeability really enhances the monster theme. Collect them all and make your own wacky creation!

Venus Mcflytrap breaks down to a hairpiece, head, torso, vest, skirt and legs/hips (the legs seem like they'd pop on and off the ball joint pretty easily too, but that's not an advertised feature.) She also came with a tomb shaped cell phone or journal or whatever, a bracelet and a base piece to stand on. Quite a nice dolly minifigure for your dollar, since at the same price as LEGO minifigures you're getting quite a bit more bang for your buck here.

If you like Monster High dollies, you pretty much have to get some of these. If you like buildable minifigures, you'll have to decide if you're man enough to admit you need some of these.

I am.

When the Gotham Bunnies come hop-hop-hopping along...

Okay, we're all used to sexy Harley Quinns and Poison Ivys and Catwomen...but did you ever think Scarecrow could make you feel all tingly in your nether-regions?  Or possibly Mr. (Ms.?) Freeze?

The cosplayer team Skirts and Swords is here to make all your embarrassing-dreams-you-dare-not-admit-to come true: Playboy Bunny versions of all of Gotham's Finest Villains!

Inspired by the art of Milkydayy (Oskar Vega) and photographed by Greg DeStefano, cast your peepers at Batman's Rogue Gallery: Playboy Bunny style!

Playboy Bunny Poison Ivy. I be-leaf I am in love!

Riddle me this, Playboy Bunny Riddler: What's incapable of rational thought because all of the blood has left it's brain? Answer: me.

Playboy Bunny Penguin. Is that a trick umbrella in my pocket, or am I just happy to see you?

Playboy Bunny Harley Quinn. Too stunned to come up with a pun.

Playboy Bunny Mr. Freeze. I'd take a frost-bite of that!

Playboy Bunny Joker. Don't forget your rubber...chicken!

Playboy Bunny Catwoman. Purrr-fect!

Playboy Bunny Two-Face. Head's up!

Playboy Bunny Scarecrow. Scary hot!

This photoset was discovered via The Mary Sue

Preschool Week :: Poison Ivy Playmobil Custom Figure

Wrapping up Preschool Week is a closer look at my custom Playmobil Poison Ivy figure. This is one of my simplest kitbash customs, because Playmobil released a Lady GaGa inspired Fi?ure which was pretty much all there in terms of the perfect Poison Ivy costume. Better still, the Lady GaGa head was the one with the domino mask, so I had to have it anyways so that head could be used for Harley. I merely had to give this body a more basic head and properly colored hair and, along with a flower headband: voila! Playmobil Pamela Isley.

The crossbow came later, when I found a bunch of Playmobil knights and weapons etc at a garage sale. And the lily came from the Hula Girl from Series 4. It looks unassuming, but I'm sure it's a poisonous mutation. Don't sniff it!

Well that does it for Preschool Week. Time to stop all this childish nonsense and grow up to play with toys meant for the 6-12 age bracket! What are you all, a bunch of babies?!?!

Preschool Week :: Gotham Girls

Just a pair of pictures featuring everyone you've seen this Preschool Week, together with their respective toyline teammates: Gotham Girls - Imaginext and Playmobil style!

Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, official members of the Imaginext DC Universe lineup, and custom members of the world of Playmobil.

I have yet to come up with a way to give Catwoman cat ears (without her looking like a cheap custom job that is.) I keep hoping Playmobil will make a cat ear headband or hood or something for some Halloween themed figure or somesuch. Like I said before, these are just kitbash customs, no paintwork or part modification whatsoever. Just parts swapping. Doing these customs is challenging and fun, and while I am sure I could do all sorts of paint work or craft custom parts, I like to keep these things simple yet creative. At least for now. Who knows what the future holds?!

Preschool Week :: Imaginext Poison Ivy and Scarecrow by Fisher Price

Another theme week!

This week, we look at a bunch of toys intended for toddlers! So stick your thumb in your mouth or your finger in your nose and take a nap or throw a tantrum and don't eat your peas and be in bed by seven, because Preschool Week begins NOW!

Only the fourth female character to have made it to the DC Super Heroes Imaginext toyline line-up (behind Catwoman, Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn) - I present to you the chlorophyll cutie herself: Poison Ivy.

The detail on Poison Ivy is incredible. Her bodice and shoes are sculpted with all sorts of little details that could have been ignored in the design phase. Fisher-Price could have just given her a flat green oufit and called it a day. Her hair is nicely sculpted too, and the little plant details painted on her help her stand out as something more than just a green skinned gal. Of note: her arms are also much skinnier than the previous female Imaginext figures. It makes sense in a way because Ivy is not wearing sleeves/gloves like Catwoman or Harley, but I hope it doesn't mean female Imaginext figures are going to have a different body type moving forward. The line has lasted so long there are already design changes that make them a bit inconsistent when put together as a group (for instance, the previous sculpted faces vs. the latest painted-on faces.) And with the about-once-a-year female character releases Fisher Price seems to be keeping to, there will be massive design differences by the time we even get a handful of gals in our DC Imaginext collections!

Although Imaginext has been going strong for many years now, it's hard to believe Poison Ivy is only the fourth female character from the DC Comics line-up to make an appearance. More surprising, all three Batman themed females that they have made are villains! Sure, they made Wonder Woman, but considering other such no-brainers as Batgirl and Supergirl have yet to make the Imaginext roster of female characters, Poison Ivy is a welcome addition indeed, but does leave one wondering what goes on behind closed doors at the Fisher-Price offices!

Actually, as odd as it sounds, I honestly believe the primary gauge used for Batman themed character selection are the Arkham video games of recent years. Crazy, because this toyline is aimed at a fanbase much younger than that of the video games, but it makes sense considering that the Arkham video games have introduced Batman and his rogue gallery to a much larger audience than the comics and movies alone. It also makes sense because these toys are aimed at a young audience not familiar with the archaic mediums of entertainment their parents grew up enjoying. Like, basically, anything that doesn't have a screen!

When you consider the Arkham video games as a template for the Imaginext toyline, it makes sense to have Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy, who all make prominent appearances in the games and not, say, Batgirl, who does not appear in the video games (okay, she appears as Barbara Gordon/Oracle, but that is different, especially for the non-comicbook geek.)

Anyways, that's my theory, and I am sure there are many other factors that play into Fisher-Price's character selection. But I think my theory is pretty solid, and may also be reinforced by the character Poison Ivy is packed with: Scarecrow!

Scarecrow also plays an important part in the Arkham series, and is apparently lined up to play an even bigger part in the upcoming Arkham Knight game set for release later this year.

Scarecrow is incredibly detailed, you can tell a lot of love and attention went into his design. He even has a noose sculpted around his neck - or at least a rope with a knot in it - I'd love to talk to the designers and hear if they are ever asked to tone their designs down or if they are given any specific 'no-nos' when making these kiddy toys.

Scarecrow comes with a scythe that I do not believe has made a previous appearance anywhere in the Imaginext toyline, and Poison Ivy comes with a vine that seems designed to hook on other Imaginext figures' necks or heads or whatever.

Fun for the whole family!

Wizard World Sacramento 2014 and Happy Birthday Natalie!

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday (Happy Birthday Natalie!) and to celebrate, we all ran up to Sacramento last weekend for the first annual Sacramento Wizard World Comic Con!

Here's Natalie meeting Posion Ivy.

And here I and my intern meet our favorite superhero Batman. Or as my intern calls him 'Super-Batman.'

I am somehow both taller than Batman and shorter than Dark Helmet! Am I back at the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot?

Darth Vader told my intern that the force is strong with her. I was somehow able to control myself and did not call him 'Annie.' The force must be strong with me too.

Norman Reedus aka Daryl from the Walking Dead was buried in hugs and bras. My Mrs. wanted to see him, but was wise enough not to spend the $45 or so bucks it cost for a signature, so we just held up the camera when we walked past and I got this shot. If I photoshop my wife into the shot I shall become obsolete.

Here's Natalie and a great looking Rule 63 classic Joker! She had the smile down perfect! Probably the best looking Joker we saw, Rule 63 or otherwise.

Me, the intern, and a nbunch of Mandalorians (I think.) The guy on the left might be some sort of RC Trooper or something. My Star Wars knowledge doesn't venture far from the films. Regardless, these folks all looked great and it was hilarious to hear one of them say  to another 'Hey, check it out, Black Cat incoming' in his helmeted speaker voice when a Black Cat cosplayer walked by.

We only attended one panel: Michael Rosenbaum. Natalie and I love Smallville and the Justice League, so listening to Lex/The Flash was a no-brainer. Michael Rosenbaum is hilarious and very friendly with his fans. He jumped right off the stage and spent the whole talk interacting with folks in the audience. What a great guy!

We didn't really meet Sheldon, just a cardboard cut-out. Come to think of it...what's the difference? HAR HAR HAR!

Another great group of Star Wars cosplayers. It's amazing how accurate these folks get with their costumes!

Natalie and a Stormtrooper. I was really happy with how Natalie just jumped right in to get her pics with these great people. Nothing like seeing your daughter with her arm around a Stormtrooper to warm a geek-daddy's heart!

Last but certainly not least - Velma!

We had such a great time at the convention. We only attended on Saturday, but it was small enough to see on just one day trip. Plus, chasing a toddler around a comic convention gets pretty tiring! Natalie picked up a couple art prints by some great artists in attendance, and I didn't run off with any Harley Quinn cosplayers.

But there's always next year!

Imaginext Poison Ivy and Scarecrow available NOW

The brand new Imaginext Poison Ivy and Scarecrow two-figure set is available RIGHT NOW on Fisher-Price.com

Who knows how long these will be in stock, so I suggest if you want one you should order it fast. As crazy as it sounds, I'm personally going to wait until they hit stores so I don't have to pay for shipping. I just hope I don't regret missing out on these by passing right now!

Go to Fisher-Price.com to order Poison Ivy and Scarecrow. And be sure to check out the newest Imaginext Batmobile and the brand new Imaginext Batpod Batcycle which are also available now!

Poisunday Ivy :: Imaginext Poison Ivy and More Coming Soon!

Action Figure Insider recently revealed some exciting upcoming Imaginext DC Super Friends sets, and the biggest highlight was this two-figure set that includes Poison Ivy! In a series with only three females so far (Catwoman, Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn) another female is BIG NEWS, and Poison Ivy is a welcome (if surprising) fourth female choice to add to the line-up. The set also includes Scarecrow, both brand new figures and both figures I will buy the second I see them available!

Also revealed is a new Batmobile with an all new Batman figure included. This new Imaginext Batmobile joins the roster as the fourth or possibly fifth Imaginext Batmobile design, and is clearly influenced by the Batmobile from the Arkham Asylum/Arkham City video games. I need this one!

Batman's Batpod Batcycle is also all new, as is the New 52 influenced Batman included with it. Geez, I need this too!

A Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle and Beetle-Mobile was also revealed...

...as well as a New 52 version of Martian Manhunter and a bendable Plastic Man! This set is also very tempting. Looks like I'll be adding a handful of new Imaginext toys to my (and my daughter's) collection very soon. Some of these are labeled as Target exclusives in the images, and although the Poison Ivy/Scarecrow set isn't labeled as such, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being a Target exclusive as well. I'll be sure to post as soon as I find it and let everyone know!

Via ActionFigureInsider.com

Harley Qwednesday :: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! May you awaken to find all the things on your wishlist beneath the Christmas tree.

As for me...well...my true Christmas wish is not likely to be under my tree:

So I'll just ask Santa for world peace or somesuch.

Cosplayers Ryoko Demon as Harley Quinn and Rei Doll as Poison Ivy.

Pic via Ryoko Demon at deviantArt.

Poisunday Ivy :: Poison Ivy Cosplay by Crystal Graziano

This Poison Ivy cosplay by Crystal Graziano is stunning.

I really like the purple velvet interior of the dress part (I know that part has an official name, but what do I know?) - the effect is very flower-esque and a neat touch. And I don't generally think of purple as a Poison Ivy color, but it really works!

Via CrystalGraziano at deviantArt.com