Play Mysterio For Me

If there were a country called Youlookstupidsylvania, this would be their King:

This is Mysterio. He looks like a moron. Ever see that show What Not to Wear?
This. Do not wear this. Ever. End of show.

He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko did drugs. Mysterio is the proof.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love Mysterio. I love him precisely because he looks so amazingly idiotic. The salad bowl helmet, the lantern wrist bands, the green spandex, the purple cape, the metallic golden boots. What's not to love?

This figure came out in 2005 as part of the Spider-Man Classics figure line. He looks so goofy I couldn't pass him up. He came with a cloud/smoke-like base which fired a couple missiles, but I have those packed away. Their absence in no way detracts from his goofyness. He was also later released as part of the Spider-Man Origins figure line, without the cloud base and with a more metallic paint scheme.

Mysterio has tons of articulation, as is standard for these Marvel Legends/Toy Biz figures, but it's pretty pointless and excessive for his character. Like DCUC figures, it's also worthless because his plastic cape inhibits his range of motion.

But Mysterio has another trick up his sleeve:

When you push a button on his back, a light shines to reveal his face! Keen!

But wait, there's more:


Push the button again and his head rotates to reveal the face of a monster! Yipes!

Push it once more and his head rotates to show the face of an Alien! Egads!

Let's look at that action in the dark, shall we?

Grrr!

Klaatu, barda, nikto.


Would you like fries with that?

Deathstroke of Genius

I was able to add another elusive DC Universe Classics figure to my collection on my birthday, thanks to my daughters who got me Deathstroke!


Deathstroke is from DCUC's Series three. I am now only two figures away from completing this wave (Nightwing and Sinestro) and once I have them all I will also have all the components of the Collect-and-Connect Solomon Grundy!

And to think, some people are already finished finding series four and (the Wal-Mart exclusive) five! Sheesh - I am so behind!


Deathstroke is extremely well armed, which is apropos of his full moniker - Deathstroke: The Terminator!

With a name like that, you can be sure this guy doesn't groom poodles.


Deathstroke comes with a large assault rifle, a staff, a sword and a handgun. The rifle has a strap so it can be slung over his shoulder, the staff can be locked into place on his removable bandoleer, his sword has a sheath connected to his belt (which may or may not be removable, I didn't want to risk breaking it,) and his pistol can be slipped into a holster which can actually be snapped closed!

This guy means business! Yet he's predominantly a villain for the Teen Titans. All that firepower and he can't take down a bunch of kids? Okay, so they're all superpowered kids (except the one or two who were trained by none other than Batman!) so I guess we'll let that slide.


Deathstroke is one of those comic book creations you just can't help but love - due to the "11" he registers on the Goof-Factor. The colors, those boots, the Rambo-envy - and he does it all with only one good eye!

I Don't B'wana Grow Up

Finishing my review of the new Target JLU "Legends of the League" six pack (skipping over the re-released Superman,) I have saved the best - I mean Beast - for last.


B'wana Beast that is! Boooyaaaaah!


This guy's appearance in animated form was completely out of left field. B'wana Beast gives new meaning to the word "obscure" - he doesn't even have an entry in the DC Comics Encyclopedia - yet he not only had a small but cool speaking role in an episode of Justice League Unlimited, but he now has an action figure as well.

Unbelievable, and a true testament to the line.

B'Wana has only appeared in a handful of comics since his creation and subsequent "cancellation" one issue later in 1967. He wouldn't appear anywhere in the DC universe again for almost twenty years!


The cartoon and figure design are spot-on to his comic book look, all the way down to the loin cloth.

B'wana Beast's power comes from his magical helmet which allows him, among other things, to merge two animals into one...making him the perfect companion piece to my Mixed Up Zoo Animals!

Win!

"Cat and alligator, merge to form Catagator! Now go forth and scratch up some furniture...in the sewer!"

"Horse and Cat, merge to form Kittiorse! I'd bet on you to win the Cat-Tucky derby! Haw!"


"Dachshund and deer, merge into Dachseer! I shall dub thee horn-dog!"


"Rabbit and alligator, merge to form Rabbagator! Wait until Zatanna pulls you out of her hat!"


"Together, we are invincibly cuddly!"

Crimson Fox(y Lady)

Another new JLU release from the exclusive "Legends of the League" six figure set mentioned yesterday is Crimson Fox.


Crimson Fox is not crimson, nor does she resemble a fox in any way, shape or form. That's okay; Spider-Man looks nothing like a spider, Robin looks nothing like a robin, and Wolverine looks nothing like a wolverine, among countless others.

Then again, Green Lantern is green, Blue Beetle is blue, Red Tornado is red...and Crimson Fox is brown.


Maybe she's color blind.

Oh well, she's a fun and obscure character and a welcomed addition to the JLU action figure roster. She is also, like the Deadman figure I posted yesterday, currently only available in an exclusive Target six figure set.

The good news: five of the six figures are brand new, so you only get one redundancy (Superman.) And for $19.99, that's cheaper than buying them at the individually carded price point even if you factor out Superman.

So stay tuned to Toyriffic all this week as I post the remaining figures from this great set!

Turn me on, Deadman

Another birthday has come and gone. Time to pick up the wrapping paper, slap some saran wrap over the leftover He-Man cake, throw the ice cream scooper in the sink, and take a look at all the loot!


We'll start with Deadman, who comes from the Target exclusive "Legends of the League" six figure JLU set I got with Grandma's birthday money.


Deadman, aka Boston Brand, was a circus performer who died and now exists in a state of limbo. He can, for short times, possess other peoples' bodies and minds.

Deadman is one of those funky comic book creations that you just can't help but love. Pop that collar, Deadman!


Deadman is also a fan of French techno:

Superman Never Made Any Money...

Where were you the day Superman died?

In 1992 the world was shaken to it's core when it's mightiest hero fell.

Thankfully Supes' "death" was only for a short time, and soon the Last Son of Krypton rose again to continue his never-ending battle for Truth, Justice, and the American way.

When he returned he had a mullet.



In 1995 Kenner produced this figure of Superman in his black and silver Kryptonian containment suit. Superman wore this costume for a brief period after his resurrection, as his power was not quite up to speed and it in some way channeled the sun's energy or enhanced his weakened state or helped him get season tickets to the Raiders or something.



The figure came with this silly weapon, which fired a red crystal-like projectile. A second projectile is stored above the firing projectile, giving the gun a double-barreled look. Intimidating!



A clever design, but Superman doesn't really need, nor would he use, a giant gun.



His arms are posed to hold the gun with both hands. I guess this is to reinforce his weakened state. Superman needs to use both arms to wield that bad boy! Whew!



"Yo, Adrian!"

Clark Kent, now there was a real gent.



"Superman's Song"
by Crash Test Dummies

Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm
Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle
But Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sittin' around in no
Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing

[Chorus:]
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him

Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job
Even though he could have smashed through any bank
In the United States, he had the strength, but he would not
Folks said his family were all dead
Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself
To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going

Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes
But he could hardly string together four words: "I Tarzan, You Jane."

Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back
On man, join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes
In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home.