I love covering Super7’s ReAction figure line. Being a kid of the ’80s, these limited possibility 3.75″ action figures were a staple of that decade’s childhood. From ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Robocop’ to ‘DC Superpowers,’ they were all on the same scale. We’d have giant battles with Batman flying the Millenium Falcon or with Doctor Doom driving the Batmobile.
Ah, scale consistency is a boon for people obsessed with uniformity.
Anyway, the ReAction line has encompassed nearly every pop culture franchise under the sun. If you loved it in the 1980s, it probably had a figure or two from Super7. Hell, even bands like the Misfits and Slayer have their one toy in the line now.
What I’ve been grateful for in this series, though, is the oddities. Toys that would have never really been super popular but would warm the heart anyway. One such property would be ‘The Munsters.’ Yes, a CBS series from 1964. It may sound strange, but if you’ve ever watched the show, you’d know why the Munsters family would make great action figures.
They may not have been as popular as the Addams Family, but the good-natured show has earned its place in pop culture. Whether it’d be Fred Gwynne’s lovable Herman or Al Lewis’s feisty Grandpa, I want them on my display shelves.
The only figure of this line I’m hesitant about is Lily Munster. Yvonne De Carlo was a stunning woman with amazing eyes. Her plastic counterpart is … off-putting. It’s not easy to capture fine details in this line because that’s the point of it. However, the paint application on her eyes needs to improve.
There are no plans for Super7 to make the Munster Koach or the Dragula, but I’d buy them if the company made ’em. Hopefully, Eddie Munster and Marilyn Munster are in the works.
Do you have a favorite show from decades past that you’d like to see get the ReAction treatment? Let us know in the comments section.
The Munsters Family ReAction Figures Available Now!
Riot Games To Record and “Evaluate” Voice Comms in ‘Valorant’
Riot Games updated the privacy notice and terms of service on April 30th. Starting with the title Valorant, these tweaks will roll out to other games eventually. The changes laid out came down to the following:
- We’re updating our Privacy Notice to allow us to record and evaluate voice comms when a report for disruptive behavior is submitted, starting with VALORANT. If a violation is detected, we’ll take action and remove the data when it is no longer needed for reviews.
- We’re implementing a new Terms of Service update with an updated global refund policy and adding language around our anti-cheat software for current and future Riot titles.
- Please keep reading to get the full details on why we’re doing this, what’ll happen to your data (and how we’re keeping it safe), and how this will impact you.
The refund policy change is fair enough. Recording someone’s voice, though, is where things get slippery.
There’s doesn’t appear to be a way around the in-game voice communication monitoring. Even those who live in states that require two-party consent for recording sign away said consent with the TOS now. You can either use it or not. There are plenty of other ways to voice chat with your fellow players, either through Discord or another program.
What worries me is the phrasing regarding what will happen with the recordings. Riot Games states, “We’ll take action and remove the data when it is no longer needed for reviews.” What is keeping a Riot Games employee from making these recordings public?
In regards to privacy concerns, Riot games said the following:
“We believe we should collect the absolute minimum data to effectively run our games and continuously improve your experience. When we collect data, we’ll be transparent, we’ll keep it for only as long as is necessary, and we’ll protect it as if it were our own.
We know collecting voice data is a concern for many of you, but be assured that we would never ship anything if we weren’t comfortable having our own data treated the same way. And if you prefer to not have your voice chat captured, you may turn off voice chat.”
As much as I’d like to believe that, I don’t. It was only a few years ago when claims surfaced about Riot Games helping China monitor players. This comes from someone who has worked in tightly monitored security spaces for large companies. It only takes one jerk with access to create giant problems. One thumb drive and a couple of clicks can easily make that data public.
When will Riot Games show us this transparency? Given we live in an age where people are obsessed with outing others for wrong think or inconsequential stupidity, this sounds like a PR nightmare waiting to happen.
Right now, the statement says they’ll be “as transparent as possible.” That doesn’t tell us a whole lot. What’s the bare minimum of transparency at Riot Games?
MotU: Origins Castle Grayskull Available For Pre-Order Now!
The ‘Masters of the Universe: Origins’ line is one of Mattel’s greatest things with the series for many years. Don’t get me wrong. The ‘Classics’ line was cool for collectors, but not so much for kids.
When my kid first saw some ‘Classics,’ she wanted them, but the price tag, $19-$30 apiece if you’re lucky, was too much to swallow. The thing I remember fondly about the old ‘MotU’ figures was the beatings they could take.
We’d drop Skeletor from the second floor down the stairs or launch Stratos into the pond via a slingshot. You’d pick them up, bend the legs back into place and keep on trucking.
The ‘Origins’ line retains that playability meant for kids. The arms and legs of most figures are interchangeable. They easily pop off and are sturdy enough to … play “house” with my daughter’s Barbie dolls.
What this figure line really needs is Castle Grayskull. Not the overly priced Classic version, but a good old-fashioned simple fortress to battle over. Or … play “house” in for some reason.
Well, some websites aren’t allowing scalpers to run the show. Forget Amazon or Walmart. Entertainment Earth is currently taking pre-orders at the original MSRP of $79.99. Sadly, the shipping date through this site isn’t until August. The castle has been showing up at some retailers in-store, but right now, due to COVID, it’s a crapshoot.
This new version of the playset has many of the same features as the original. It even includes the weapon rack, laser turret, and even the flag. Though this flag didn’t come into play in the cartoon, it was meant as a way of showing which faction currently had control of Grayskull. You also get an exclusive all-white version of the Sorceress.
From Mattel:
- Large Castle Grayskull® is a thrilling MOTU® playset for fans who love to play out Masters of the Universe® adventures!
- Exciting diorama style set folds out to reveal four rooms – so much space for creativity and adventure. And fans will love the working elevator and trap door!
- Fits all 5.5-inch Origins figures and comes with a special edition Temple of Darkness Sorceress® figure unique to this playset.
- Includes multiple accessories, so Masters of the Universe® will have all the supplies they need to craft countless tales of the battle between good and evil!
- Authentically designed playset stays true to the traditions of this thrilling action and adventure franchise. A great gift for MOTU® fans ages 6 years old and up who love action and adventure.
Head on over to Entertainment Earth now and secure yours before the collectors market scoops them all up!
Monogram’s New Blind Bags Include ‘ALIEN’ and ‘Predator’ Characters
Who doesn’t love a good blind bag? My kid does. She doesn’t care what franchise it’s for as long as there’s an element of surprise. Where did I go wrong as a parent?
Maybe it wasn’t my fault. The local Winn-Dixie indoctrinated me because of all those quarter vending machines. Each month, a new trinket is encased in a small plastic bubble that cost fifty cents a pop. You just can’t resist.
Another thing the ’80s taught me was that all horror franchises could be made kid-friendly. I had Freddy Krueger footy PJs, for God’s sake! Eventually, the ‘ALIEN’ franchise got that treatment, too. And it still continues to this day.
While checking out Figures.com, I saw that Monogram, known for a variety of blind bag lines, has announced a new collection based on ‘ALIEN,’ ‘ALIENS,’ ‘Predator,’ and ‘AVP.’ Yes, we even get poor dead Kane with a newborn xenomorph bursting out of his chest. Ah. I can’t wait for my kid to find that gem!
We’ve collected quite a few of Monograph’s previous releases. While they do make cool-looking keychain accessories, they do collect dirt and smudges really easily. Do yourself a favor and build a key rack to hang all these little dudes on.
- Xenomorph
- Attacking Xenomorph
- Facehugger
- Chestburster
- Kane with Chestburster
- Egg with Facehugger
- Ellen Ripley
- Dallas
- Ash
- (2) Mystery Varients
The blind bags are available at Hot Topic, but if you’re still wary of traveling to the mall, you can order the bags right from their website.
Monogram’s YouTube channel posted a video showing off all the pint-sized characters. Check it out below:
Which figures are you going to hunt for? Personally, I just want a bunch of Tom Skerritts. A whole mess of ’em. I want my keychain to be a basketball-sized mass of Tom Skerritt. Let us know in the comments.
[Source: Figures.com]
Doctor Who’s Noel Clarke The Subject Of Multiple #MeToo Allegations
Award-winning actor and director Noel Clarke is the latest person in the entertainment industry to get called out for alleged incongruity. The allegations are not just from a single person but 20 women.
The Guardian reports that the former Bafta recipient is being accused of a range of incidents of harassment. The alleged harassment happened both during his time in the relaunch of ‘Dr. Who’ and afterward. This isn’t just a case of inappropriate contact, but of all-around scumminess, which sounds like an abuse of power.
Among those bringing the #MeToo label to Clarke are actress Jing Lusi, producer Gina Powell, and art director Helen Atherton. During a fifteen-year period, the 20 accusers claim that Clarke perpetrated the following:
- Sexual harassment.
- Unwanted touching or groping.
- Sexually inappropriate behavior and comments on set.
- Professional misconduct.
- Taking and sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos without consent.
- Bullying.
Rather than taking the accusations and scampering them off into obscurity, Clarke outright denied them. Clarke made the following statement via his legal team, “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me. If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”
Following pressure from accusers and the media, Bafta stripped Clarke of his award and membership. The Guardian goes in-depth with most of the accounts of his accusers. It’s not looking good for him. Will the truth come out? That’ll be hard since some of these allegations are from over 15 years ago.
Above all the glamorized headlines and talking heads vying for that ounce of fame during such a salacious topic, remember one thing. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Accusations are just that, regardless of the number or the appalling details contained in them. Take him to court, prove the cases, and allow the imperfect justice system to dispense its responsibility.
Please keep the comments civil.
[Source: The Guardian]
Check Out This 15-Minute Gameplay Demo of ‘Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’
The ‘Ratchet & Clank’ games are things I remember playing, but I cannot remember anything about the plots. Small rodent and robot blow stuff up. Occasionally, a guy named Quark looks like the late Phil Hartman should have voiced him.
Either way, none of that matters because there’s a new sequel on the horizon. ‘Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’ is coming out this year on Sony’s shiny new Playstation 5. So, how does it look, and how does it play?
Well, IGN has that covered. They posted a 15-minute gameplay video from Insomniac Games. Creative Director Marcus Smith narrates what we see occasionally. There are some minor spoilers throughout, so watch at your own risk:
The visuals look grand if you up the YouTube video to 4K. Make sure you adjust those settings. Sure, the series may be known for its cartoony look, but dang, is the lighting in this game beautiful.
As far as gameplay goes, it certainly looks about the same as what we’ve seen before. Smash random stuff to collect currency. Lots of platforming. There are some “new moves” sprinkled in. Wall running is there. A mid-air dash, too.
Some things in the game will have to be experienced firsthand. The new PS5 console’s and controller’s features are put to use here:
- Feel in-game actions through the haptic feedback of the DualSense™ wireless controller.
- Take full control of advanced weapon mechanics, made possible by adaptive triggers.
- Planet-hop at hyper-speed via the near-instant loading of the PS5™ console’s SSD.
- Immerse your ears with Tempest 3D AudioTech* as you work to save the universe.
- Enhanced lighting and ray tracing render dazzling in-game worlds – displayed in crisp, dynamic 4K and HDR.
- Choose Performance Mode to enjoy targeted 60 frames per second gameplay.
‘Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’ is scheduled for release on the PS5 on June 11th, 2021. The newest installment in the series will run you $69.99 and can be pre-ordered directly through Sony right here.
[Source: IGN]
Multiple Castlevania Anniversary Collection Physical Editions Coming!
Castlevania Anniversary Collection was a pretty cool release. While it didn’t cover every game in the franchise, it gave us some of the best and some weirdest. It even threw in some of the Gameboy games!
Now the once digital-only release is coming to the real world and is packing a punch!
Oh, my! Limited Run is pulling out all the stops when it comes to Castlevania. The Anniversary Edition was cool enough, but bundling it with so much swag is glorious!
We’re looking at four different versions of this limited edition release that will include PS4 and Nintendo Switch copies of the collection. Nintendo Life spotted the multiple SKUs showing up.
On top of the standard physical releases, there will be three other editions:
- The Classic Edition ($59.99)
- The Bloodlines Edition ($59.99)
- The Ultimate Edition ($174.99)
Let’s go down what all comes with each of these.
- Switch Limited Run #106: Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Throwback NES-Style Konami Silver Box printed with Metallic Silver Ink to perfectly match your retro boxes. This box features all-new art from legendary Konami cover artist Tom duBois.
- Removable O-Sleeve with Switch branding (box underneath will be free from branding)
- The Switch Classic Edition box is accurately sized to NES boxes, so it will fit perfectly on the shelf with your Konami NES games.
- Retro NES-Style Dust Sleeve sized to fit your game case.
- Physical Soundtrack CD featuring selected tracks from the games included in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Reversible 18- by 24-inch Poster
- Switch Limited Run #106: Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Deluxe Sega Genesis-style Plastic Clamshell Case featuring cover art with all new art from legendary Konami cover artist Tom duBois
- Removable O-Sleeve with Switch branding (cover sheet underneath will be free from branding)
- Physical Soundtrack CD featuring selected tracks from the games included in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Reversible 18- by 24-inch Poster
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection Classic Edition
- Switch Limited Run #106: Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Throwback NES-Style Konami Silver Box printed with Metallic Silver Ink to perfectly match your retro boxes. This box features all-new art from legendary Konami cover artist Tom duBois.
- Retro NES-Style Dust Sleeve sized to fit your game case.
- Physical Soundtrack CD featuring selected tracks from the games included in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Reversible 18- by 24-inch Poster
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection Bloodlines Edition Plastic Clamshell Case
- Physical “The History of Castlevania: Book of the Crescent Moon” Book
- Miniature Replica Box Collection featuring all eight games from the Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Three Premium Retro Box Art Prints
- Castlevania Logo Enamel Pin
- Official Nintendo Switch Sized SteelBook Case
- Shadow Box featuring Tom duBois’ stunning new art with button activated lights and sound.
- Premium die-cut box allows you to showcase the shadowbox even if the game remains sealed.
Preorders for these will start on May 14th. Check out Limited Run to get yours! If you’re not feeling like shelling out that much dough, you can always pick up the regular version via each console’s online store.
The titles included with the ‘Castlevania Anniversary Collection’ are:
- Castlevania
- Castlevania II Simon’s Quest
- Castlevania III Dracula’s Curse
- Super Castlevania IV
- Castlevania The Adventure
- Castlevania II Belmont’s Revenge
- Castlevania Bloodlines
- Kid Dracula
Let us know you’re favorite Castlevania game. Which ones you’d like to see released if another collection gets released? Let us know in the comments.
[Source: Nintendo Life]
Overwatch MM-Mei Skin Outrage! Cornrows are ‘Cultural Appropriation’ According to Twitter?!
Blizzard announced a new legendary skin for Mei in Overwatch, and Twitter is triggered.
The skin, called MM-Mei, sees our Chinese hero sporting cornrows (a traditionally “Black” hairstyle) and Twitter won’t have it.
Put 'em up, MM-Mei is stepping into the ring 🥊
Secure this legendary Mei skin TODAY, just in time for the #OWL2021 May Melee!
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/4UFOc1uQJq pic.twitter.com/f5PnW9TQE4
— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) April 28, 2021
The official Overwatch League Twitter account made the post on April 28, and the pushback was almost immediate.
“This was not a good choice, it screams tone deaf. The skin is just bad, the idea is bad, and the only people I can imagine defending it is white people,” says one Twitter user.
Another says “Why did you give her cornrows? You should listen to the black people complaining that you gave her a black hairstyle and change this or remove it. This is not good.”
However, cornrows on non-Black MMA fighters is actually pretty common. It’s a practical hairstyle that makes it harder for opponents to pull hair, and it doesn’t come loose and interfere with rigorous physical activity.
But this is Twitter in 2021 we’re talking about, and that’s the same Twitter that was outraged over “space buns” in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Check out the peanut gallery for yourself…
WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F… OWL???
it's 2021 ya'll…
CORNROWS ON A NON BLACK PERSON IS LITERALLY NOT OK… Like you could have picked ANY OTHER MMA hairstyle…— whatshertoes (@whatshertoes) April 28, 2021
Who at Blizzard thought it was a good idea to give Mei a hairstyle that her hair texture could never pull off and would have no reason to??? Like clearly the Overwatch team is intentionally trolling Black people, cuz y'all still haven't learned.
— Raffy Regulus #NYCGaymers (@raffyregulus) April 29, 2021
can yall stop putting hairstyles made for black hair on non-black characters…like im tired of this.
— ✰ • ENRIK DAY! (@k3ybIade_) April 28, 2021
Some defenders did point out that yes, many non-Black female MMA fighters do adopt the hairstyle.
It's not a black hairstyle, it's an everyone hairstyle pic.twitter.com/WHf0x7DOG2
— Jordan D (@Jordan_Dewing45) April 29, 2021
A Chinese woman can't wear cornrows? I dare someone to tell this lass that. pic.twitter.com/v4rRPwLpKM
— Grand President Lshaunca, Male/Dude/Man (@ColonelDRat75) April 29, 2021
While others pointed out that Blizzard could’ve chosen many alternatives.
Didn't really expect this to blow up but I did come to the conclusion that specifically white people will fight tooth and nail to simply not let black people exclusively have things.
— HalfPastCakeTime 👽 (@NintendHoe_69) April 29, 2021
Some publications, like Polygon, have taken issue with the way Blizzard has handled “diversity and inclusion.”
They point out that Dorado, a Mexican map, was based on an Italian city and that Sigma had harmful and outdated mental health tropes. Overwatch 2 will see the introduction of a Black Canadian woman named Sojourn as a playable character, but Polygon points out that there hasn’t been a Black female hero in 5 years.
Blizzard has yet to comment. But do they have to? Just… don’t buy the skin if it offends you.
But that’s too easy.
[Hat Tip: PC Gamer]Tom Cruise Reportedly Saved ‘Cocktail’ Co-Star Elisabeth Shue From Certain Death
Tom Cruise reportedly saved ‘Cocktail’ co-star Elizabeth Shue from being sliced in half by a spinning helicopter blade.
The Sun reports that the story was relayed from aerial camera operator Bill Bennett who alleges to have witnessed the whole ordeal while ‘Cocktail’ was being filmed prior to its release in 1988, he said in a Facebook post.
“I witnessed Tom Cruise save Elisabeth Shue’s life, for real,” Bennett said. “We were filming the scene from a helicopter, where Tom and Elisabeth are riding horses along the beach. We were shooting film, but I had a video recorder in the helicopter to record the camera’s video tap images. After a couple takes, the pilot would land the helicopter on the beach, and Tom and Elisabeth would come over to watch the shot recordings and get notes from the director. The only monitor was at my operating position in the left front seat of the helicopter.”
“It was also quite loud, and you had to shout to be heard over the noise of the engine,” he explained. “You have to know, when you are working around helicopters, that the area at the back of the helicopter, where the tail rotor is spinning, is deadly. The rotor is invisible when it is spinning, and if you walk into it, it will kill you instantly. It is a totally ‘no go’ area when working around helicopters.”
Bennett elaborates on how Elizabeth Shue was getting off the helicopter after a conversation with director Roger Donaldson.
“So, after we had landed for the second or third time, Tom and Elisabeth came over, I opened the side door of the helicopter and they leaned in to watch the shot on the monitor,” he said. “The director gave them a couple notes, and Elisabeth, getting quite excited, took off suddenly, running towards the back of the helicopter.”
Bennett emphasized that several crew members, including himself, were shouting at Shue, trying to warn her, but she could not hear them over the sound of the helicopter engine.
“Just at that same moment that Tom saw where Elisabeth was going,” he continued. He lunged after her, but only was able grab her legs, tackling her to the ground. He rolled her over, dragging her at the same time, and you could see the momentary anger on her face while she was yelling ‘Why did you do that?'”
“But by that time he is pointing at the tail rotor which is now a couple feet away, screaming at her that she almost died,” Bennett said. “At that point she turned white, and he pulled her back towards the front of the helicopter and they walked away.”
“Tom had, in that instant, truly saved her life,” he said.
The story was apparently relayed to ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ director Christopher McQuarrie and actor Tom Cruise, who confirmed the story to be true.
‘Mortal Kombat’ Actor Joe Taslim Discusses Possible Sequel and Prequel
‘Mortal Kombat’ took the box office by storm, making it one of the most well-received adaptions of a video game franchise despite also being released on the HBO Max streaming service. Its success comes as cinemas are just now opening after a year-long shut down due to the recent lockdowns.
Its success has already brought about talks of turning the film series into a trilogy with possible spin-offs including one about Sub-Zero, the ice-wielding assassin played by ‘The Raid’ actor Joe Taslim.
Taslim sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss ‘Mortal Kombat’ moving forward and the possibility of Sub-Zero getting his own film. Here is your spoiler alert.
On the topic of his character returning for sequels, Taslim hopes his character evolve as he did in the video games.
“Yes, that’s the next transformation of the character,” he said. “If the fans want this franchise to continue, then there’s a strong chance that the next step for Bi-Han is to play Noob Saibot. Fingers crossed, but I hope it happens because I definitely want to play that character.”
He also emphasized that he would want to play the character in a standalone film.
“The most interesting path, in my opinion, is to do a prequel,” Taslim explained. “It would be a story about Bi-Han and his training in the Lin Kuei. When he got abducted by the Lin Kuei, his parents were killed. So it would be the process of him and his brother becoming assassins … We would get to see two future Sub-Zeros in one movie, and that would be intriguing.”
“If they do a sequel, then we are probably going to see Noob Saibot,” he explained. “If they do a prequel, then we would get to see two future Sub-Zeros in one movie, and that would be intriguing.”
While a sequel has not yet been confirmed, there is no doubt it is being considered after its box office success.
