Hot off the release of ‘The Suicide Squad’ and its miniseries spin-off ‘Peacemaker,’ director James Gunn is gearing up to jump back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’ Gunn gave an update on the film during an interview with Collider.
“It’s going great,” he explained. “Chukwudi [Iwuji], who plays Murn in Peacemaker, is one of the main characters in the movie and people are freaking out over how good this guy is. Literally freaking out. I think that I’m really happy. I gave a bunch of scenes to Marvel right before Christmas break. Kevin went… They were all really, really, really stoked. But also, it’s not going to be the movie people… It’s different than what people are going to expect. It’s a hard road, but I’m really happy with it so far.”
The sequel sees the return of Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis.
When asked about the “holiday special,” Gunn acknowledged that pandemic issues slowed the progress.
“It’s still upcoming in the shoot,” he said. “We were supposed to shoot one day in LA, and there’s too much Omicron around, so we couldn’t do it. We’re going to have to fit it in. I haven’t started yet. I’m excited to. It’s fun. The holiday special is… I’m almost jealous of it, even though I wrote it because people freak out so much on how much they love the script for the holiday special that I’m almost like, “Well, wait. I’ve got this movie here I’ve been working on for two years. You love the holiday special that I literally wrote in a very short amount of time.” But, it is really funny and really good.”
Marvel Studios plans to release the movie on May 5, 2023. Gunn serves as director and writer for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’
James Gunn Gives Update On ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
Marvel Comics Announces New Comic Book Releases For January
Moon Knight, Silver Surfer, Avengers, and the X-Men are getting some new releases for Marvel Comics in January. The Masters of Evil will be making a return to battle the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with Ben Reilly taking over the webs as Spider-Man once again. She-Hulk will no longer be savage and will return to her life as usual.
“Lights, please! The one and only She-Hulk is ready for her spotlight as she makes her grand return this week. Find out who else she’s bringing to the party as new comics get ready to drop,” Marvel Universe explains. ” Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk’s got a career to rebuild, friends to reconnect with (and maybe represent in a court of law) and enemies to…well, she may not want to connect with them, but they are DEFINITELY going to connect with her.”
The announcements for regular releases include:
- AVENGERS (2018) #52
- BEN REILLY: SPIDER-MAN (2022) #1
- DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE: X-MEN/BLACK KNIGHT (2021) #1
- DEFENDERS (2021) #5
- DEVIL’S REIGN: X-MEN (2022) #1
- DEVIL’S REIGN: VILLAINS FOR HIRE (2022) #1
- ETERNALS (2021) #9
- HULK (2021) #3
- MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN (2018) #34
- MOON KNIGHT (2021) #7
- PHOENIX SONG: ECHO (2021) #4
- SHE-HULK (2022) #1
- SILK (2022) #1
- SILVER SURFER REBIRTH (2022) #1
- STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA (2020) #18
- STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC (2021) #13
- STRANGE ACADEMY (2020) #15
- THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) #86
- VENOM (2021) #4
- X LIVES OF WOLVERINE (2022) #1
Graphic Novel collections include:
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND VOL. 1 TPB (2022) #1
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB [NEW PRINTING] (2020) #1
- HAWKEYE EPIC COLLECTION: THE AVENGING ARCHER TPB (2022) #1
- MILES MORALES VOL. 6: ALL EYES ON ME TPB (2021) #6
- REIGN OF X VOL. 8 TPB (2022) #8
- SPIDER-WOMAN VOL. 3: BACK TO BASICS TPB (2021) #3
Marvel Universe digital releases featured are:
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #76
- AVENGERS #49
- BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS #1
- ETERNALS FOREVER #1
- GAMMA FLIGHT #5
- IMMORTAL HULK #50
- IRON MAN #13
- KANG THE CONQUEROR #3
- KA-ZAR LORD OF THE SAVAGE LAND #2
- MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #31
- SHANG-CHI #5
- STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #15
- STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC – TRAIL OF SHADOWS #1
- STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS #5
- SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN: CROSSROADS #4
- THE DARKHOLD: IRON MAN #1
- WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE #3
- X-FORCE #24
- X-MEN #4
These comics will be released on January 19th both digitally and physically.
This Metal Slug Statue Is Ready To Liberate Some POWs!
General Donald Morden is dead set on sending hundreds and hundreds of soldiers to their doom as you pilot the Metal Slug. So now you can capture the iconic gameplay moments of the classic NeoGeo title in statue form.
Big Bad Toy Store currently has this statue from Beast Kingdom up for pre-order. The stubby tank and base stand at roughly 16cm tall. Unlike a lot of other collectibles we cover here, this one won’t break the bank. The Slug is priced at $39.99 and will be out during the fourth quarter of 2022.
Who’s driving the Metal Slug? Marco? Tarma? Fio? Eri? It’s up to you. This statue can handle any of your weird video game fantasies. Personally, I like to think that one of the various bearded POWs you save throughout the series finally took charge and is throwing shells at the enemy.
Recreated in 360-degree glory, the SV-001/II Metal Slug is seen in the midst of climbing a seriously unsteady looking wooden bridge and firing its famous canon! The diorama showcases detailed touches such as canon smoke, battle damage and streaking missiles! The D-Stage SV-001/II Metal Slug is one of SNK’s signature battle tanks, a cute but deadly machine that deserves its spot on a desk near you.
Metal Slug has been an ongoing series from NeoGeo for decades. I remember seeing the original game on a multi-cart machine in a Walmart. It was such a unique run-and-gun game, and that’s not an easy task considering arcades were usually filled with these types of games from Capcom, Konami, and Midway. However, the art style and humor set the game apart from the plethora of “run right and shoot everything” games.
Since the first title launched in 1996, several sequels and variations have appeared in arcades and consoles. But, for whatever reason, it took decades before we started getting action figures, too.
[Source: Big Bad Toy Store]
Garbage Pail Kids Crawl Out Of The Can To Reclaim Former Glory
The Garbage Pail Kids are back again. The gross tikes are now ready to make the scene with new figures and vehicles. Messie Tessie, Evil Eddie, Blasted Billy, and other staples of the Topps property want a crack at your wallet.
Figures.com brought us this story. The standout in this brand refresh is the Garbage Pail Krashers figures. Similar to Rat Fink, the Kids are now driving exaggerated cars, and hot rods themed to their particular gimmick. Nasty Nick has a coffin with wheels. New Wave Dave has a spray can car. You get the idea.
Walmart has several GPK figures available, above and beyond what we’re showing here. Some of these are going well above the latest figures’ $16.96 price tag. Some of these kids can also be picked up at Entertainment Earth too.
Much like MadBalls, some things were only good for one particular time period, and that’s it. There are brands out there that have a shelflife, and no matter how many times these companies try, they can’t make it fresh again.
What do you think of another GPK resurgence? Given the things we’ve all seen and lived through since 9/11, can the gross kids ever make an impact again? What would really shock today’s consumer base?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
[Source: Figures.com]
[Source: Entertainment Earth]
[Source: Walmart.com]
Exo-6’s Q Figure Is Ready To Pass Judgement On The Enterprise Crew
There are some frontiers humans should not explore. The Q know this, and it is up to the collective to judge the crew of the Enterprise D. Upon his floating throne, clad in peculiar court attire, Q can be Captain Picard’s savior or jailor.
Exo-6‘s latest high-end Star Trek figure is priced at $205.
In “Encounter at Farpoint,” which introduced the entire TNG crew, Q styled himself as a 21st Century Earth judge during a time in history where anarchy and chaos ruled. He challenged Picard to prove humanity had moved beyond their barbaric past and were not a threat to the entire galaxy.
This 1:6-scale figure re-creates this iconic character in exquisite 1:6 detail. Standing approximately 12 inches tall, every element, from his judge’s robes to his chain of office are authentically reproduced. The original portrait sculpt of John de Lancie as Q has an authentic, hand-painted likeness.
Q, not known for his humble nature, of course, comes with all sorts of lovely features and accessories:
- Fully Articulated Body: More than 30 points of articulation allow the figure to be displayed in multiple dynamic poses, approximately 32 cm tall.
- Realistic Portrait: Q’s portrait is lovingly rendered by top artists, with an excellent likeness of John de Lancie. Each head sculpt is specially hand-painted.
- Judge’s robes: Meticulously researched, this costume represents Q as a judge from 2079, a dark time in Earth’s history.
- Chain of office: The bejeweled gold necklace Q wears as a symbol of his judge status.
- Boots: Soft plastic boots sculpted to match the cut and style of the original series footwear.
- Hands: A total of six interchangeable gloved hands are included.
- Display Base: A hexagonal display base featuring the grid Q uses to hold the Enterprise in place.
- Autograph card: An informational LCARS card that can used to get an autograph from the performer and displayed with your figure.
I’m apprehensive about what John de Lancie’s Q will end up being like in the second series of Picard. NuTrek hasn’t been all that faithful to the established characters, timelines, or anything really. At least companies like Exo-6 are keeping the classic things everyone loves about Star Trek alive.
What do you think of this Q figure? Would you prefer Q in a Star Fleet uniform? Or how about Marachi Q? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
[Source: Exo-6]
It’s A Bird! It’s A Plane! It’s Revoltech’s New 52 Superman!
The iconic superhero with the iconic theme song has a new figure in Kaiyodo’s Revoltech line of figures. As he appears in the New 52 relaunch of the DC Comics universe, Superman is ready to fight crime and strike dramatic poses.
We spotted this latest addition to Superman’s long list of action figures at the Big Bad Toy Store. Kal-El can be pre-ordered now for $109.99. The Yamaguchi Revoltech No.027 figure will be released in May 2022. This Superman figure measures 6.89″ tall and is made out of ABS and PVC.
Revoltech figures typically have very tight joints, somewhat like ratchet joints. They’ll hold posts without an issue. I’ve had the Optimus Prime figure, and he could achieve the most iconic poses seen in cartoons, movies, and comic books. Check out the photos below to see how flexible the last Kryptonian is.
Based on his appearance in DC Comics’ New 52 series, Superman joins the Amazing Revoltech Yamaguchi line of figures! Measuring almost 7 inches tall, Superman comes with 4 alternate facial expressions, various interchangeable hands, and his iconic cape that can be posed dynamically on its included figure stand.
Supes comes with the following:
- 4 Alternate head sculpts
- 8 Alternate hands
- Cape
- Figure stand
I’ve not read the comics. So, I’m unsure what the difference is between this Superman and the one we knew before Flashpoint. But, I’ll admit that I like some of what New 52’s Superman brings to the table, cosmetically at least.
The legendary superhero’s traditional red and blue costume will always be my favorite, but adding the panel lines and a little more depth to his emblem makes this version of Superman look a bit more intense.
What do you think of this Revoltech figure? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
[Source: Big Bad Toy Store]
The Powerpuff Girls and Mojo Jojo Figures Are On The Way
Many of us were introduced to The Powerpuff Girls in 1996 when the pilot first aired on Cartoon Network’s What a Cartoon! showcase. Said show also brought us Johnny Bravo and other now-classic animated shows. After 26 years, the three sisters finally get action figures worthy of their status as animation icons.
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are each getting high-end action figures from Beast Kingdom. The company behind this line is also responsible for many quality Disney figures, including Darkwing Duck and many characters from Ducktales (woo-ooo).
The girls are limited to only five points of articulation, but that also means they won’t have a bunch of joint lines and get to retain their cartoon-accurate appearance. In addition, each sister comes with various interchangeable arms, legs, and faceplates, allowing for multiple expressions.
Individually, each sister is priced at $39.99. Or, for $119.99, they can be purchased as a set that includes all the accessories and a figure display stand.
Now, what would these heroines be without someone to battle? Beast Kingdom has you covered. Mojo Jojo is coming out, too. He is a bit pricier at $89.99. All these figures will be hitting shelves in November 2022.
- 4 Face sculpts
- Smiling
- Angry
- Determined
- Showing teeth
- 3 Pairs of alternate arms
- 2 Pairs of alternate legs
Buttercup figure:
- 4 Face sculpts
- Smiling
- Angry
- Determined
- Showing teeth
- 3 Pairs of alternate arms
- 2 Pairs of alternate legs
Blossom figure:
- 4 Face sculpts
- Smiling
- Angry
- Determined
- Showing teeth
- 3 Pairs of alternate arms
- 2 Pairs of alternate legs
- 3 Face sculpts
- Regular
- Serious
- Happy
- 2 Pairs of hands
- Chemical X
- Removable hat
It’s sad that the Powerpuff Girls fell out of fashion and then got that weird meme-heavy reboot a few years back. Luckily the CW live-action cringefest was canned. Phew. What do you think of the PPG franchise and where it should go from here? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Source: Big Bad Toy Store]
Mezco Resurrects Nosferatu For The Symphony of Horror
Mezco is digging up Nosferatu and giving him a little makeover. Count Orlok had a previous release in the One:12 Collective figures, donning his typical black eyes and pale skin. This time, however, the legendary vampire is seeing red, literally.
The company is paying homage to a time just before Mezco existed. Back when Aztech Toyz was the new kid on the block, changing the collectibles market just as MacFarlane Toys did in the mid-’90s.
Nosferatu is priced at $95 and will be crawling out of his coffin in the first quarter of this year. Unfortunately, the original release of this creature of the night has been sold out for a while.
The One:12 Collective Nosferatu returns with hellhounds, plague ridden rodents, and an unquenchable bloodlust. He wears a frock coat, tights, and leather-like shoes underneath his removable cloak-cape with detachable “Coachman’s collar” and cap from the 1922 silent film. The Count also features three nightmare-inducing head portraits capturing his inhuman visage.
The vampire’s features and accessories include:
- One:12 Collective body with over 20 points of articulation
- Three (3) head portraits
- Hand painted authentic detailing
- Approximately 17cm tall
- Seven (7) interchangeable hands
- One (1) pair of posing hands (L&R)
- One (1) pair of holding hands (L&R)
- One (1) pair of grabbing hands (L&R)
- One (1) pointing hand (L)
- Coachman’s hat (removable)
- Cloak cape with detachable Coachman’s collar (removable)
- Frock coat
- Shirt and tights
- Hanker-tie neck wrap
- Leather-like shoes
- One (1) lantern
- One (1) eerie mist FX
- Two (2) wolves
- Three (3) bats
- Six (6) rats
- One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
- One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post
Mezco is no stranger to this classic depiction of the vampire. During the Aztech Toyz days before Mezco was created, the company produced a line of toys based on early horror icons. These included Count Orlok, Renfield, Cesare, and Dr. Caligari. The figures were highly detailed and very stylized. I hope Mezco brings back a few of these characters for the One:12 Collective.
What do you think of this variant of Nosferatu? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
[Source: Mezco]
All XBOX One Consoles Production Had Been Discontinued By 2020
According to The Verge, the XBOX One’s various incarnations halted production in late 2020. This was the same time when the XBOX Series X and S were launched and nearly impossible to find. The chip shortage caused by the pandemic only made it more difficult to meet the demand for the latest gaming console for both Sony and MS. As a result, shelves were bare of any gaming hardware, except for 3DS systems and the Nintendo Switch.
It’s no surprise that Microsoft had stopped producing the XBOX One line of consoles. However, when the company made this decision is odd. Supply chain shortages and other factors made the latest consoles very difficult to find. While Sony has decided to keep PS4 production ongoing until the end of 2022, Microsoft decided to use its resources to produce two different consoles and still failed to meet demand.
The Series X is a rare find on shelves, but the S has become more common. For example, it was a normal sight to find 5-10 Series S consoles at a Target store before December. Phil Spencer, MS VP of Gaming, stated that “We can actually build more of the Series S [chips] in the same [chip] die space as we can the Series X.”
This makes sense. The Series S feels more like a slightly upgraded XBOX One. I owned one for about a month before getting my hands on a Series X. This isn’t to say it is a bad thing, as you do get faster loading times and somewhat improved graphics, but without the 4K detail.
Back to Sony, the company sees the hole left in the market and fills it with PS4s. A Playstation 5 is just as hard, if not harder, to find than the new XBOX consoles. Until PS5 and XBOX Series X exclusive games start dominating the library, the necessity to own the newest console is not quite there. Sony has obviously seen the light while Microsoft is ignoring that market.
What do you think of the decision to either stop production or keep it ongoing while the newest technology cannot meet demand? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Source: The Verge]
Smash The Last Alliance of Men and Elves With Sauron’s Mace
As seen during the opening of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring, Lord Sauron’s massive mace made quick work of the last alliance of men and elves. The master of the One Ring could wipe out dozens of soldiers with one swipe of this mighty weapon.
Now you can own not only Sauron’s Ring but his favored mace, thanks to United Cutlery and the Big Bad Toy Store. The Red Eye edition of this weapon comes with a Mordor banner displaying the Dark Lord’s lidless flaming eye and a wall-mount complete with an oversized Ring. This set is priced at $564.99 and will be released during the first quarter of this year.
The mace is said to be 1:1 scale, but the description from United Cutlery says it is “actor scale.” I take this to mean that it’s not the size we see in the film, but proportionate to the actor who played Sala Baker.
This replica of the actor scale prop used in the movie is crafted of reinforced fiberglass-resin with an aged iron finish. Close attention to detail is a top priority in every piece, down to the intaglio-etched surface and corroded metal coloring. The oversized One Ring worn by Sauron is also included, crafted in gold plated solid metal. Displays on a polystone wall mount.
Aside from the massive mace, this edition includes the following:
- Red Eye edition
- Includes 53-inch (134.62cm) long cloth war banner with the Red Eye of Sauron and oversized One Ring crafted in gold-plated solid metal
- Mounting hardware and instructions included
United Cutlery has been making replicas of movie weapons for as long as I can remember. I’ve owned several pieces from them over the years, including a few from The Lord of the Rings collection, including Glamdring and Sting. Not one complaint.
What are your thoughts on this newest addition to United Cutlery’s armory? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Source: Big Bad Toy Store]
[Source: United Cutlery]
