5/25/09

I'm a Sweet Little Bird in a Gilded Cage...

First, a toy-collecting-public service announcement. If you have a Ross store in your town, check their (notoriously disastrous) toy section. DC Infinite Heroes 3 packs are showing up there and are selling for $4.99!

I had read this news on various toy forums but did not realize until last weekend that a my town close to me actually does have a Ross! So I went there and was lucky enough to score the Hawkman/Thanagarian warrior three pack!

At $4.99 this set is phenomenal! (Sword did not come with the set - I stole it from a Schleich knight.)

Hawkman alone is worth that price (and maybe even a bit more IMO.) I usually prefer the classic Hawkman look but I really like this barbarian take on him too.

And considering the fact that I couldn't find this set at the usually (gouging) price of $15 - $20 (depending on where you buy them...or where they shelf-warm) I was doubly excited!

The more DCIH figures I get the more I like the series. They aren't nearly as bad as many toy collectors make them out to be. The price is high (especially without accessories,) and the scale between characters isn't as consistent as it could (should) be, but I imagine that'll all adjust itself in time. In the meantime I'm just picking up the ones I can't live without...and a nice sale doesn't hurt either!

Here's one of the two Thanagarian Warrior figures that come in the set. Both are exactly the same so I only photoed one. They are also weaponless, and I added the mace myself, also taken from a Schleich knight. It looked kind of fancy and official, so it seemed appropriate for this guy.

Hawkman's wings don't move at all but are very well sculpted and surprisingly they do not tip Hawkman backwards.

The Thanagarian is a cool addition and melds the "old" with the "new" in the Hawkman mythos - one could imagine this is actually Katar Hol of Hawkworld if one wished.

Their builds are vastly different and make Hawkman look a little short in comparison, but DCIH figures have scale issues and I'm over it ;)

Hawkman's helmet is well designed and more primal than his classic superhero looking mask.

His boots are really cool too, with birdlike feet sculpted in and not just painted over.

This is a good set no matter what but at $4.99 it's phenomenal! DC Infinite Heroes need more accessories though - at least for the characters who it makes sense to have them...like Hawkman and his Thanagarian warrior pals. Good thing I have toys laying all over the place from which I can borrow.

For those keeping track, Hawkman and his cronies cause our DCIH goodguy-to-badguy ratio to soar into the stratosphere:

Infinite Heroes: 9

Infinite Villains: 1

5/19/09

Matchbox Monaco

This is the new for 2009 Matchbox 1978 Dodge Monaco Police Cruiser.

Criminals and fuel efficiency beware!


This old school police cruiser reminds me of the intro to Hill Street Blues.


It would also be fun to modify one of these into a Bluesmobile (which was a '74 Dodge Monaco.) If I ever find a mini loud-speaker to strap to the top I'm doing it!


Pull over!


The only thing that isn't exactly accurate is the light bar, which is the same light bar Matchbox uses on all it's recent cop cars. It has been molded thicker, however, to give it a little more of a period accurate feel.

The details are great too, with car numbers and a nice looking police emblem.


And a Mopar era Dodge insignia and a shout out to the Matchbox police department's "Commitment To Service!"


Another cool thing to look for on Matchbox cars are the interior details - this cop has a CB radio...

...and a shotgun riding shotgun!