Mattel’s Masters of the Universe New Eternia Masterverse line of 7″ tall figures is growing. Surprisingly, considering the toys never seem to move from the shelves, I thought this line was dying out. However, recently, many new figures were revealed that signal that this line will keep trucking alongside the Origins figures.
At the Big Bad Toy Store, we spotted He-Ro. This character was initially intended to be part of a sequel line that told the story of He-Man’s ancestors and Preternia. Unfortunately, only a few figures from the roster made it to market, but He-Ro eventually got a release as part of Mattel’s Classics line and in his retro form years later.
He-Ro’s Masterverse figure is accurate to the original toy, but he’s not as square-jawed. He comes with his magic staff, but he is missing the Sword of He, which was included with the Classics figure. Expect the most powerful wizard in the universe to arrive in October.
[Source: Big Bad Toy Store]
He-Ro, Jitsu, and Sun Man Join The Masterverse
Checkout Mondo’s Cool and Expensive Batman TAS Figures!
More Batman: The Animated Series merchandise is coming to market? Yes, please! I was somewhat disappointed by the McFarlane Toys version of the caped crusader. Something about those figures didn’t look right. It’s a good thing Mondo is producing two premium figures based on the legendary Bruce Timm series!
Mondo has announced that it is producing 1/6th scale Batman and The Joker figures. Each character will feature 30 points of articulation, multiple interchangeable parts, and loads of accessories. The initial figures are based on their appearances during the first 85 episodes of the show that debuted in 1992.
Batman’s price is set at $220, while the Joker’s is $225. The expected ship date for both characters is this August.
- Regular GID Eyes Portrait
- Angry GID Eyes Portrait
- Smiling GID Eyes Portrait
- Bruce Wayne Portrait
- H.A.R.D.A.C. Portrait
- Folded Cowl
- X 2 Batterangs
- Gas Mask
- Goggles
- Spray canister
- Grapple Hook
- Extended Grapple Hook
- Binoculars
- Bat Star
- Figure Stand
- 9 interchangeable hands.
- Regular Portrait
- Smug Portrait
- Laughing Portrait
- Sad Portrait
- Smiling Fish x2
- 12 interchangeable hands
- Joker Bomb
- Joker Dynamite stack
- Joker Card
- Ice Pick
- Figure Stand
This version of Batman has previously appeared in this scale from Mondo. From what I can gather, he has a new paint job that is more in line with what we saw on screen. Rather than all black and gray, this one includes the blue highlighting that makes all the difference.
While having a new Batman is fantastic, the real scene stealer here is Joker. The face sculptures are perfect. You can almost hear Mark Hamill’s voice whenever you look at him. I wish he included one head with a missing tooth, but that’s because I loved the climax of Mask of the Phantasm.
What do you think of the figures? Let us know below.
[Source: Mondo]
[Source: Mondo]
Godzilla and Ghidorah Duke It Out In This 5 Points Box Set!
Another 5 Points box set? Yup! This time Mezco is bringing us two legendary monsters, Godzilla and King Ghidorah. This boxset is based on the 1991 Kazuki Ōmori picture Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. The Limited Edition Radioactive Battle Box comes with both previously mentioned kaiju molded in translucent “radioactive green” and “atomic amber.”
Each figure will have five points of articulation, but it’s hard to tell where those points are on King Ghidorah. I think all three heads move as well as both legs. That counts as five to me. On the other hand, Godzilla has the expected articulating limbs: head, arms, and legs.
Usually, these 5 Points figures are 3.75″ or thereabout, but I think Ghidorah may exceed that height a bit. Regardless, you’re getting two awesome-looking monsters for $50. Sadly, neither creature glows in the dark. Expect the box set to ship between August and September.
5 Points XL Godzilla vs King Ghidorah Limited Edition Radioactive Battle Box! A limited edition boxed set that can barely contain this monstrous melee! Godzilla in a clear, radioactive green color and King Ghidorah in a translucent, atomic amber color! It’s a no-holds-barred brawl of seismic scale! The 5 Points XL Godzilla vs King Ghidorah (1991) Boxed Set is packaged in a collector-friendly box, designed with collectors in mind.
This film marked King Ghidorah’s first appearance in the Heisei era of Godzilla films. The Golden King’s origin story was reworked for the 1991 film, but it also gave us Mecha-King Ghidorah. I’ll take a little retconning if it means more mecha-kaiju! During this era, Ghidorah would undergo more changes to his history, but the character’s design remained primarily intact.
Which version of Ghidhorah is your favorite? Should Mezco continue to make more of these 5 Point box sets based on classic Toho movies? Let us know your thoughts below.
[Source: Mezco]
LEGO’s New Video Game Console Set Is The Atari 2600
The retro video game scene may be on a downward slide, but the collectibles market these decades-old machines spawned is still going strong. Not long ago, we saw Nintendo’s Entertainment System get the LEGO brick treatment. Now, the most important home console in gaming history is joining the NES.
The Atari 2600 will soon arrive in stores via a 2,532 brick set from LEGO. The company famous for its interlocking brick system has chosen the classic black and wood-paneled version of the Atari console to replicate, along with three well-known cartridges and the iconic joystick. Like many other niche sets, OK, any LEGO set, the Atari 2600 isn’t on the inexpensive side. Expect to pay $239.99+ for this latest addition to the ICONS line. That price includes the console, three carts double as dioramas, a cart shelf, a joystick with cord, and a small Minifig diorama. I can’t wait to see modders turn this into a functioning 2600.
The LEGO 2600 will ship out starting on August 1st. While it may not be as feature-driven as the NES kit, this one is a bit more eye-appealing, and you don’t have to assemble a LEGO TV.
The “system” will come with the following features:
- Front panel mimics the console with functioning switches.
- Relive the thrill of Asteroids™, Adventure, and Centipede™.
- Build 3D vignettes for each of three classic ATARI® games.
- Each game has a matching cartridge inspired by the original.
- Brick-built ATARI® joystick moves and feels like the original.
- Store the games in a cool 1980s-style cartridge holder.
The Atari 2600 was a “Video Computer System” launched by Atari, Inc. in 1977. Although it was not the first home video game console, it had the most significant impact on the market then. Development and publishing of 2600 games continued into the ’90s, and today new titles are still being made for both the physical console and emulators.
Did you own one of the various versions of the 2600? What were your favorite titles? Let us know below.
007 Film Actress Ana de Armas Says There’s “No Need” For A Female James Bond
Gender-swapping is all the rage in Hollywood these days. The Marvel villain Ghost, known as John Morley in the comic books, is changed to Ava Starr played by Hannah John-Kamen in the MCU feature ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp.’ There was also a push to cast a female lead to portray Alfred Pennyworth in the Matt Reeves’ adaption ‘The Batman,’ though the role eventually went to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ star Andy Serkis.
Another cinematic character that has become the subject of much debate is MI6 agent James Bond, a traditionally male role since the onset of the novels and short stories written by British author Ian Fleming. According to a ‘MovieWeb’ article, one actress appearing in the long-running stated there was “no need” for the character to be “stolen” by a female celebrity.
‘The Night Clerk’ star Ana de Armas appeared in Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond ‘No Time To Die’ as CIA Agent Paloma. She shared her opinion to ‘The Sun’ on the subject and why she thinks it is okay for the character to remain as a man.
“There’s no need for a female Bond. There shouldn’t be any need to steal someone else’s character, you know, to take over,” she said. “This is a novel, and it leads into this James Bond world and this fantasy of that universe where he’s at. What I would like is that the female roles in the Bond films, even though Bond will continue to be a man, are brought to life in a different way. That they’re given a more substantial part and recognition. That’s what I think is more interesting than flipping things.”
The topic of gender-swapped roles has been debated by Hollywood and audiences. The 2016 all-women remake film ‘Ghostbusters: Answer The Call’ was so poorly received that the studio rebooted the reboot with ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ in 2021 reuniting much of the original cast with a new cast. It became the official third film in the original 1984 supernatural comedy franchise.
James has been portrayed in the main franchise by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig respectively. Unofficially, David Niven once played the role in a 1967 comedic adaption of ‘Casino Royale.’
‘The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated’ English Dub Cast Announced
‘The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated’ is a paranormal comedy manga written by written and illustrated by Wakame Konbu. The series was published by Square Enix that began in 2017. It was adapted by the Japanese animation studio Silver Link which ran for twenty episodes in 2021 directed by Mirai Minato. Crunchy announced that they will be producing an English dub of the show.
They revealed the cast on their website:
- Lisette Monique Diaz (Eevin in Skeleton Knight in Another World) as Jahy
- Natalie Rose (Vanilla in Nekopara) as Boss
- SuzAnne DeCarma as Landlord
- Monet Lerner (Hellko in Love After World Domination) as Druf
- Ray Hurd (Gazef in Overlord) as Narrator
Jonathan Rigg is working on the project as the ADR Director.
You can watch the trailer for the series below:
MyAnimeLis describes the synopsis as follows,
“The great Jahy will not be defeated! Simultaneously combating starvation, the lack of A/C, and the unavoidable weakness of turning child-sized, Jahy—previously the second strongest being in the Dark Realm—is under great stress. If it weren’t for the destruction of the mana crystal which used to power the Dark Realm, Jahy would still be living a life of power and luxury.
And yet, at the moment, brawling with the landlady over rent is a recurring event for Jahy. Just to have a place to stay and food to eat, Jahy must work part-time. However, her immense pride will not allow her to live under such poor conditions for any longer than necessary. Vowing to reinstate the Dark Realm to its former glory, Jahy continues her journey to reassemble the mana crystal.”
Japanese singer Yui Ogura performs the first opening theme “Fightin★Pose” while the second “Life in Poverty, No Good Dinero” is sung by Voice Kit band member Sumire Uesaka.
As of the writing of this article, the show has not been renewed for a second season.
Tubi Makes Deal With Shaw TV To Bring Content To Canada
The streaming service Tubi is making moves to expand its audience after securing a deal to bring its content to Canada through Shaw TV, a service provider in Western Canada.
“Shaw TV customers now have instant access to live and on-demand content, which includes Tubi’s comprehensive library of award-winning movies and hit television shows, alongside Tubi Originals, including CORRECTIVE MEASURES, starring Bruce Willis and Michael Rooker; TITANIC 666, starring AnnaLynne McCord and Keesha Sharpe; and recently launched documentary SINS OF THE FATHER: THE GREEN RIVER KILLER. New titles available in July include “Gravity,” “American Sniper,” “The Notebook,” “Ocean’s Thirteen” and “The Town,” Tubi said on their website.
Films, television shows, documentaries, and shorts are going to stream to the Great White North with this new deal.
Tubi Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson said in a statement, “We’re excited to expand our footprint in Canada with one of Western Canada’s leading content and connectivity providers.”
“Our collaboration with Shaw and its Shaw TV offering highlights Tubi’s continued dedication to bring free, premium content to a broad cross-section of consumers,” he continued.
Shaw Communications VP Andrew Eddy added, “We know Canadians are looking to access as much of their favourite content as possible, and by adding the Tubi app to our growing library of content, we’re giving our customers even more ways to access the best and most acclaimed movies and TV shows, all at no extra charge to Shaw TV subscribers.”
The statement on the website continued, “As a result of this partnership, Shaw TV customers are now able to find any title provided through Tubi using their voice-powered remote, making it easier for them to search and discover content. This integration interface means that every available movie or episode of a show can easily be found in one place, regardless of whether it’s available through Tubi, Shaw On Demand, airing live, or recorded on the PVR.”
Tubi has been making moves to enlarge its content, including signing deals with Shout Factory and Lionsgate to expand its streaming library.
It’s Judgment Day For Marvel Comic’s New Pull List
Marvel has dropped its new pull list which highlights some key moments for the Defenders, Shang-Chi, Spider-Man, Loki, and more! Not to mention, the X-Men find themselves in conflict with the Eternals, with the Avengers in the middle of the upcoming Judgment Day.
“Judgment Day officially arrives in this week’s Marvel comics,” Marvel said on their website. “The X-Men claim they’re the planets’ new gods. The Eternals know that position is already filled. The Avengers are about to realize exactly how many secrets their so-called friends have kept from them. In Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti’s A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY (2022) #1, years of tension lead to a volcanic eruption as two worlds burn. Who has leaked the X-Men’s secrets to their latest foes? Why is Tony Stark abducting an old friend? And who stands in judgment over the whole world?”
“Judgment Day, the apocalyptic emotional event to define the summer…” they added.
Star Wars, Deadpool, Fantastic Four, Moon Knight, and Miles Morales are also getting some new releases.
Marvel revealed the list on their website.
New Comics:
- A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY (2022) #1
- ALIEN ANNUAL (2022) #1
- AVENGERS (2018) #58
- DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD (2022) #3
- DEFENDERS: BEYOND (2022) #1
- IRON MAN (2020) #21
- KNIGHTS OF X (2022) #4
- MAESTRO: WORLD WAR M (2022) #5
- MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN (2018) #40
- MOON KNIGHT: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD (2022) #3
- NEW FANTASTIC FOUR (2022) #2
- SAVAGE SPIDER-MAN (2022) #5
- SHANG-CHI AND THE TEN RINGS (2022) #1
- SHE-HULK (2022) #5
- SPIDER-GWEN: GWENVERSE (2022) #4
- STAR WARS (2020) #25
- STAR WARS: DARTH VADER (2020) #25
- STAR WARS: HAN SOLO & CHEWBACCA (2022) #4
- THE MARVELS (2021) #12
- VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR (2022) #4
New Collections:
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION: MAN-WOLF AT MIDNIGHT (2022) #0
- MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 5 (2022) #0
- MARVEL SUPER HERO CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS GALLERY EDITION (2022) #0
- NEW MUTANTS EPIC COLLECTION: THE END OF THE BEGINNING (2022) #0
- X LIVES OF WOLVERINE/X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE (2022) #0
Marvel Unlimited:
- BLACK PANTHER #5
- CAPTAIN CARTER #2
- ELEKTRA #100
- ETERNALS #11
- MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #37
- STAR WARS #22
- STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #22
- VENOM #7
- WHAT IF…? MILES MORALES #2
- X-MEN ’92: HOUSE OF XCII #1
- X-MEN #10
- X-MEN UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #44
Marvel Comics also revealed the cover for ‘Judgement Day’ issue one.
Judgment Day #1 pic.twitter.com/WOWaifu6nM
— Jukt Micronics (@JuktMicronicsX) July 21, 2022
‘Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie’ Is Heading To America
Fans of the romantic comedy anime received some welcomed news when it was announced that ‘Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie’ is heading to the United States. The animated film is developed by Shin-Ei Animation and distributed by Toho Visual Entertainment. The movie had its American premiere at Anime Expo 2022, but it does not stop there. Sentai Filmworks is bringing the feature to cinemas in the United States.
“Sentai announced today that ‘Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie,’ the feature length follow-up to the cheeky, uplifting anime series of the same name, will appear in select theaters August 14 and 15 for a special theatrical engagement,” they said on their website.
“Takagi and Nishikata’s final summer in junior high is about to begin, and it’s already off to a heartwarming start,” Sentai continued. “When the pair find an abandoned kitten, they decide to work together and take care of their adorable new companion until they can locate its missing mother. What follows is the true beginning of this moving story of young love, complete with the delightful teasing and hilarious antics fans have come to expect from this beloved series and its cast of fan-favorite characters.”
Hiroaki Akagi, who has been the director of the anime, is handling the directing with Hiroko Fukuda, Aki Itami, and Kanichi Katou handling the screenplay.
“The film reunites the series’ seiyuu including Rie Takahashi (KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, Isekai Quartet) as Takagi and Yuki Kaji (Ahiru no Sora, Attack on Titan) as Nishikata. Inori Minase (Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, The Quintessential Quintuplets) and Haruka Tomatsu (Gintama, ORESUKI – Are You the Only One Who Loves Me?) join the rest of the returning cast as Hana and Ota, respectively,” Sentai notes.
You can watch the trailer below:
‘Teasing Master Takagi-san’ is based on a manga written and illustrated by Sōichirō Yamamoto. The anime series had three seasons also made by Shin-Ei Animation.
Mattel and Skydance Are Putting A Matchbox Cars Film In Second Gear
If you were a child of the nineties, eighties, seventies, or even the sixties, chances are you played with or knew someone who played with Mattel’s Matchbox Cars. The brand of tiny vehicles has been in department and toy stores since 1953, with models based on all kinds of popular cars. After appearing in several video games, the Matchbox brand is making its way to the big screen with a live-action film from Skydance Media.
Executive Producer of Mattel Films Robbie Brenner expressed his enthusiasm for the project.
“For nearly 70 years, Matchbox has carried enormous cultural relevance and inspired generations of kids to unleash their imaginations, combining what they see in the world every day with what they dream their own world to be,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to working with our incredible partners at Skydance Media to craft a story for the big screen that evokes the same, imaginative spirit of this beloved Mattel franchise and delights fans of all ages.”
Feature Films of Skydance President Don Granger echoed those sentiments saying, “We are thrilled to be working with Robbie Brenner and her amazing creative team at Mattel.”
“Pairing Skydance’s unique brand of premium, elevated action-adventure entertainment with the incredible legacy of the Matchbox brand is a fantastic opportunity. There is a shared experience for everyone who has played with a Matchbox vehicle or playset, where they create their own inventive action sequence and we’re excited to craft a worldwide adventure film worthy of such imagination,” he added.
‘Orphan: First Kill’ writer David Coggeshall is handling the screenplay. Mattel Films execs VP Elizabeth Bassin and Creative Executive Andrew Scannell will lead the project. Skydance Media staffers Granger, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Aimee Rivera will oversee the film development.
No director has been named as of the writing of this article.
