Poisunday Ivy :: Infinite Crisis MOBA

DC recently announced a new MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) video game: Infinite Crisis, and apparently Poison Ivy will be a playable character:

The graphics look pretty basic but the main draw is the huge online world you roam around in and interact with other superheroes I suppose. I've never played a MOBA game so I couldn't say if it really appeals to me or not, but I did sign up for the Beta, so we'll see!

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS

INFINITE CRISIS

First Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game Based on DC Multiverse to Debut Fall 2013

Players Can Register Now for a Chance to Participate in the Beta

BURBANK, Calif. – March 25, 2013 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Infinite Crisis, an all-new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Turbine, the award winning studio behind free-to-play online games including The Lord of the Rings Online™. Infinite Crisis is a free-to-play game that features a deep roster of DC Comics characters and is scheduled for release in 2013 for the PC.

Infinite Crisis is a new entrant into the wildly popular MOBA genre that delivers a heart-pounding competitive player vs. player battle experience set in the legendary DC Multiverse - a world in which familiar DC Comics characters have been reimagined in startling ways.  Featuring a wide variety of DC Comics heroes and villains, Infinite Crisis puts players in control of twisted incarnations of their favorite characters throughout the Multiverse such as Nightmare Batman and Gaslight Catwoman, playing in league with well-known characters including Green Lantern and The Flash.

“We are thrilled to bring Infinite Crisis, a truly competitive experience featuring the DC Comics lore and characters, to the MOBA genre,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  “Turbine is a pioneer in online gaming and combined with the amazing world of DC Comics, they are executing on a game concept that expands the MOBA genre.”

“The Turbine team is very excited to reveal Infinite Crisis to the world and extend the MOBA genre with new features,” said Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer, Turbine.  “We are utilizing years of experience in the online game space to deliver innovations to the MOBA genre with a game that features fast-paced action, a major story arc, destructible environments, catastrophic events and a deep roster of iconic DC Comics characters.”

For more information or to sign up for a chance to participate in the beta visit www.infinitecrisis.com.

# # #

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is a premier creator and operator of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming communities. Turbine is wholly owned by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and has created some of the world’s most popular and award-winning online games, including The Lord of the Rings Online™, Dungeons & Dragons Online®, and Asheron's Call®.  For more information on Turbine, its products and services please visit www.turbine.com.
INFINITE CRISIS software © 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Turbine. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.  All rights reserved.
DC LOGO, and all characters, their distinctive likenesses, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics © 2013.

TURBINE LOGO, WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.    

Fuerza T Tekno!

I now have a Fuerza T action figure collection of two! A hero and a villain!

Fuerza T is the Argentinian toy line that, by using cast-away Masters of the Universe molds purchased from Mattel and re-purposing them, created their own funky universe of Space Aged Barbarian heroes and villains!  

Destructor first came to me via a toy trade with Freak Studios many years ago. I later did an art trade with FS and received a Mint on Card Tekno for that transaction! I decided I needed to bust Tekno open but the card pics are below for anyone interested in seeing it and the character descriptions etc.

Tekno is basically a Zodac/Trap-Jaw hybrid The blue/silver coloring, furry boots and smooth shorts set him apart from a mere kitbash however. His eyes also glow in the dark, which is a cool feature.

Tekno comes with all the same attachments as Trap-Jaw did - the hook, the claw and the laser gun. The quality on these Fuerza T figures is sub-par to the MOTU they emulate, but still better than most bootleg toys.

"So you're saying my Dad...and a brief shore leave in the South Pacific..."

"...he had a few drinks...met a guy named Zodac...and...?!?!"

Zodac was always a favorite MOTU character of mine, so Tekno really appeals to me. His color scheme, robot arm and Cosmic Enforcer helmet go great together and make for an iconic alien hero.

"...you...and my dad...did what?!?!"

"Dad! Dad! I heard rumors...shore leave...the South Pacific...cosmic enforcing..."

"You know, son, I always loved your mother and was faithful through and through. Why, I never would have..."

"Umm...err...no resemblance! No resemblance whatsoever!"

Below is the card Tekno was freed from, and all the character descriptions from the back as well! Enjoy! And special thanks to my 2000 Commemorative Edition Masters of the Universe Trap Jaw and Zodac, and my MOTUC Trap Jaw for helping make this post possible!

Fuerza T: Defensores de la Tierra! by Top Toys.

I see a Robin and I want it painted black...

Stealth Robin, Shadow Robin, Ninja Robin...? I don't know.

It's just a Teen Titans Robin action figure cast in all black. Only the whites of his eyes are painted...well...white. It would be cooler if his skin was painted so it would be an all black costume, but if I wanted I could paint him I suppose.

I'm sure there was a reason for this figure, but I didn't follow the Teen Titans cartoon or the toyline closely enough to know on sight. I found this guy a while back at the flea market and had to have him though. He's odd and cool and Robin is a great character so he's in my collection now!

"Fade...to black!"

Catwoman Purrrsday :: Google Image Search.

And wrapping up the week's theme, (Poisunday Ivy, Harley Qwednesday), here's a screencap of Catwoman Cosplay via Google Image Search.

11th birthday, 11th Doctor!

As I previously mentioned in my Doctor Who Microfigures post, my primary goal in squeezing through the blind bagged microfigures was to get The Doctor and Amy Pond for my daughter's birthday cake.

Now I freely admit I am no Ace of Cakes, I'm not even a 2 of Spades of Cakes, but I have always enjoyed making themed cakes for my kids.

So armed with strawberry cake mix, white frosting, The Doctor, Amy, a Dalek and a generic Medieval Knight I already possessed (to add time travel relevance,) I whipped together a TARDIS out of frosting, food coloring and graham crackers and viola - the coolest cake an 11 year old girl could ever ask for!

We had a little pizza party before our roller rink party and the girl who brought out our pizza exclaimed 'Is that a Doctor Who cake?!?! WOW!'

But most importantly, my daughter loved it!

After we gobbled up the cake and pizza we went to the roller rink, where I roller skated for the first time in my life. And I didn't fall down at all!

Own one of Reis' Pieces...of custom Batman Funko goodness!

Everyone's favorite Funko flunky Reis O'Brien (also of Lair of the Dorke Horde fame) is selling his custom Batman the Barbarian Funko creation over at that eBay site everyone's talking about.

The auction ends Apr 03, 2013 10:03:21 PDT and I've already been outbid! But this custom Batman is super awesome and one of a kind, so I might bid again, and you should too.

Good luck to the winner!

Harley Qwednesday :: Harley Quinn Image Search

A Harley Quinn Google image search screencap - like with my recent Poison Ivy screencap, I thought it made for a fun visual.

Blue Beetle :: Brave and the Bold Style

The Brave and the Bold action figure line released a few versions of the 'new' Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes during it's short run, each with slight paint mods. This one originally came in a two pack with Kanjar Ro and I believe was given to me by Jboy of Revenge From the Cosmic Ark years ago.

I liked Jaime's characterization in the show and think his Blue Beetle is a great character as well, so I am glad to have a Brave and the Bold version of him in my collection. The 'hex holes' concept really works for his mech-suit-like Blue Beetle costume, as he was constantly 'transforming' or creating weapons with his suit in the show.

As with Metallo, I wouldn't consider Blue Beetle one of the best of the line, but he's a good figure and a great character and I imagine he appealed to kids quite a bit, which is probably why Mattel saw fit to release him so many times.

Poisunday Ivy :: Google Image Search

Just a screen cap of Google Image Search for 'Poison Ivy Cosplay.' I thought it made for a pretty neat visual.

Brave and the Bold Metallo

When I put together my post on my favorite (non-Batman) Brave and the Bold action figures,  I really wanted to include Metallo.

From a character design perspective, he's beautiful. 'Beeautiful' in that mad Silver Age 'every color on one costume' way, but beautiful nonetheless. The Brave and the Bold Metallo represents the Pre-Crisis Roger C. Corbin, who took up the mantel (if not his fashion sense) of his brother, the first Metallo, after John Corbin's apparent death.

Visually, this 'action figure' is a force to behold. He even has a cool action feature similar to that of the Battle Armor He-Man and Skeletor of the eighties...

Push in on his chest window and it spins to show cracks...

...more cracks...

...and finally, Kryptonite!

Sadly, as awesome as all of that is, I just couldn't include Metallo in my Brave and the Bold 'Best of.' His great Kryptonite Heart action feature is shadowed by his terribly thought-out (if thought-out at all) left arm which is stuck permanently in 'left turn' mode. His grasping left hand would have been fine on a normal arm, but it's obnoxiously large and just hangs out in space always into infinity. If the arm had a joint to swivel it forward it would have been fine too. Sadly, it just sits there, forever pointing East.

Finally, his body is hollow lightweight plastic akin to a Happy meal toy and just feels cheap. I've considered taking him apart and flipping the arm around so it rests on his hip but I'm worried if I take him apart (he's simply held together by a handful of screws!) his Kryptonite heart will go 'sproing!', therefore I have yet to do so. I imagine when apart I could also fill his hollow legs with some clay or something to weigh him down so he doesn't feel so light and top-heavy, but again the effort just doesn't seem worth it at the moment.

I found Metallo at the flea market and paid around a quarter for him (maybe fifty cents) but would not have purchased him at full price. He's a mediocre toy at best, due to his arm's positioning. Sort of a 'one hit wonder' toy - he can...hold...someone...? Yay, for like a minute, then boredom sets in.

He's visually wonderful, yes, and as a statue of cheap plastic he fits the bill, but that arm really detracts from him being a mere display piece.

If you are an artist, maybe you can use him as a brush holder or something at your art station.

Dr. Who Micro-Figures

I've been aware of the Character Building Dr. Who Micro-Figures for a while now, but never found them at any retail establishment until stumbling onto Series 2 at Hot Topic the other day. I love Dr. Who, but not enough to spend premium amounts of cash on minifigures on eBay, and since this toyline is primarily Eurpoean, I was content with never finding them or owning any (although I would love a Weeping Angel minifigure!)

But when I did find them at retail I dug right in, employing the tried-and-true 'squeeze method' to get exactly what I wanted: A Dalek and a Cyberman (Cyberleader to be exact!)

I actually looked around online a bit and all over the packaging too - if there's a code of any sort to find out what's in these, I am not aware of it. The 'squeeze method' may be your only avenue of getting exactly what you want.

"I've just about had enough of you. Go that way. You'll be malfunctioning within a day, you near-sighted scrap pile. And don't let me catch you following me begging for help because you won't get it."

One of the charms of Dr. Who is the low budget slapdash alien design - it harkens back to the original Star Wars or Star Trek. Budgetary constraints does wonders for iconic alien craftsmanship. I love the Daleks, they are like evil R2-D2s. The Cybermen are quite C3-PO ish too, but eeeevil!

Cool evil robots/cyborgs - what would Sci-Fi be without 'em?!

When I found the blind bags at Hot Topic, I actually set out to get The Doctor and Amy Pond for my daughter. They were a little tough to find amongst the mostly bi-pedal assortment - feel for The Doctor's screwdriver and Amy's skirt (settle down!) I found them and an extra Dalek and will be making a Dr. Who birthday cake (of which I'll post pics later) for her birthday celebration this coming weekend.

The figures were buy 1 get one 50% off, so I of course snagged my two must-haves for myself!

The Cyberleader is basic and a little tough to feel for, all you have to go by is that noggin of his. Feel for those bars on the sides of his head. According to the Character Building website, he's also 'uncommon' - packed at a rate of 4 for every 36 figures - so he can take some time to find.

Dalek: The Supreme is also uncommon at 4/36, but he's very easy to find via the 'squeeze method' - just feel for that massive lumpy body!

I admit that I'm starting to get burned out on the buildable minifigure movement, but I couldn't get completely out of it without a couple Dr. Who villains. I may go back for a Silent and a Doctor for myself too, now that I've opened them up and seen how fun they are. But if I don't, I'll be content with my evil pair here...until they make a K-9 that is!

Catwoman Purrrsday :: Catwoman 1,000,000

From Batman #1,000,000

From Catwoman #1,000,000

Harley Qwednesday :: Arkham City Harley Quinn action figure

My cheap Arkham City Harley Quinn arrived last week - only two days after I ordered her!

I like my toys like I like my women - cheap and fast!

Ordering her online, I was of course nervous that I'd get 'Matteled' and end up with a Harley Quinn with three left feet or half a face, but I was either lucky or Mattel is getting better about their QC.

Because she looked flawless both in package...

...and out!

This Arkham City Harley Quinn action figure never hit the shelves in my area, or if she did she sold out in seconds because I never saw her at retail. So seeing her for under ten bucks shipped on WalMart.com really made my month! She's got all sorts of details, a far nicer figure than most DCUC figures due to their smooth bucks and lack of details. Harley Quinn is covered in details from her costume buckles and ribbing and bas relief diamonds to her tattoos and painted pony tails. This action figure really shines!

Arkham City Harley Quinn comes with a base, a bat, and a mini poster. Apparently Mattel still felt like giving us value in 2011 when this HQ was released, because nowadays you get an action figure and nothing more.

"That luscious tan, those ruby lips, and hair color so natural, only your undertaker knows for sure!"

Arkham City is of course my favorite video game ever, and Harley Quinn is my favorite femme fatale, so I'm more than elated to finally have her in my collection.

I still do not own a Nurse Harley (DC Direct's Arkham Asylum version continues to elude me at a decent price) so I am grateful I was able to get her Arkham City version for so cheap!

Her only drawback is that she doesn't seem able to pull her head up - she's always looking down. But I suppose, all things considered, that's a minor quibble and something I am able to live with. I just need to put her up on a high shelf or something.