Archive for December, 2008

Sideshow Collectibles Weekly Roundup

Friday, December 19th, 2008

It’s Friday, which means new pre-orders from Sideshow Collectibles are up for pre-order at Alter Ego Comics.

3 inch parrott rifle civil war cannonThis replica of the 3-inch Parrott Rifle has been authentically reproduced in 1:6 scale from US Ordnance Dept. blueprints. It is cast in high-quality, heavy-weight polystone and real metal parts. All gun implements are removable to allow maximum display flexibility. The rifle barrel and wheels are also movable.

abomination premium format figureSideshow Collectibles proudly presents the Abomination Premium Format Figure, the latest addition to our Marvel Premium Format line, and the biggest Marvel Premium Format Figure created to date. Abomination is cast in high quality polystone, hand painted and hand finished to exacting standards and features real cloth costume detailing. Each piece is packed in a durable molded foam interior for safe shipment and packaged inside a beautiful full color box. No Marvel display is complete without the Abomination Premium Format Figure, depicting one of the Hulk’s most fearsome foes.

gi joe cobra trooper 12 inch figureThe Cobra Trooper 12 inch Figure features: * Fully articulated Prometheus male body with 30+ points of articulation * Cobra Trooper portrait with facemask * Helmet * Shirt with COBRA insignias * Pants * Boots * Detailed belt * Smersh rig with buttpack * AK 74 with folding stock * AK 74 magazine * AK 74 bayonet with sheath * Gun sight * Grenade launcher with round * Kneepads * Handgun with magazine and leg holster * Canteen with fabric cover * 3 sets of interchangeable gloved hands * 12-inch display base with G.I. Joe logo

Order these cool collectibles at Alter Ego Comics today and save 10% off the retail price.

Why Can’t Companies Hit Release Dates?

Friday, December 19th, 2008

I was flipping through the latest issue of Entrepreneur Magazine today, and the first part of Guy Kawasaki’s column jumped out at me.  He writes about companies with late product, (a way too common occurance in the collectibles/comics industry), and has some words of wisdom that toy/collectibles manufacturers and comic book publishers should listen to.  Click here to read the column, then wonder why our industry has no regard for release dates nor consequences for lateness.

Heroes and Villains of the Week

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

It’s been a few weeks since the last H&V post, so I’ve got a little catching up to do:

Villain: Diamond Select Toys – DST has announced a new partnership with Toys R Us which means that this formerly comic store exclusive company is spitting in the faces of the stores that helped build their business.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand that DST is a business and has to do what it can to survive, but as a specialty store, we’re not happy with this announcement.

Villain: Hot Toys – The Hot Toys Dark Knight Batman, Joker and Bank Robber Joker were all supposed to be available in the United States before Christmas.  We learned yesterday that all three of these highly anticipated figures are being allocated to retailers, shipping approximately 25% of their orders on Christmas Eve, with the balance of retailer orders shippping 2nd quarter 2009!  Now we’re hearing rumors that the allocated shipment may not show up until January 2nd.  Way to turn what should have been a Merry Christmas for retailers and consumers into Bah, Humbug.

Hero: Ethan Van Sciver – The comic book artist has a new weekly column at Newsarama that has the Alter Ego Comics staff doubling over with laughter.  He’s done five columns so far, and each one is laugh out loud funny.

Hero: Santa Claus and the Baby Jesus – It is Christmas, afterall.

See ya next time!

Best of the Week – Secret Invasion and Indiana Jones

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Secret Invasion #8 came out this week, bringing to an end Marvel’s big event of the year.  While I do think that it could have been done in 5 or 6 issues, a tip of the hat to Brian Michael Bendis for writing a solid story that was enjoyable to read.  Many of the crossover issues were also worthwhile (New Avengers, Secret Invasion Thor), but there was still some fluff, too (Secret Invasion X-Men, Secret Invasion Spider-Man).

Not only was Secret Invasion good stuff, but it’s got me really looking forward to Dark Reign, and what comes next.
Sideshow Collectibles released their first 1/6 scale Indiana Jones figure this week, Indy from Raiders of the Lost Ark.  If you’ve read my recent posts, then you know I’m a huge Indy fan.  So this one is coming home with me, too.  Cool accessories and multiple heads are just two reasons to own this collectible figure.  You can still snag it at Alter Ego Comics for 10% below the retail price.

December Previews Catalog Review

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

I took some time last weekend to go through the December Previews catalog and a number of things jumped out at me:

Marvel Comics

Agents of Atlas #1 – Really?  Wasn’t there an Agents mini series like a year and a half ago that sold next to nothing?

Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #1 and #2 (new printings) – Oh my lord!

Astonishing Tales #1 – I’m all for a good anthology series, and this might be it.

Fantastic Four #564 – “a very special Christmas issue”…shipping in January.

Models, Inc. #1 – WTF!!!!

Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 1 – Even though I own nearly everything in this 944 page behemoth, I might just buy it to have a nice, giant hardcover collection of everything.

Toys/Statues

Hellboy II BPRD Ring – Nifty!

Captain America Fine Art Statue – featuring the new costume, (and new Cap).
I’ll be back next month with a review of the January 2009 Previews.