My Geekiness On Full Display
At the risk of coming off like a fanboy (or even worse, a fanman), lemme just mention that I’m really looking forward to the new Superman movie. I’ve been reading comics off and on since I was a kid and Superman has always been my favorite character by a mile. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about the movie itself as its release date gets closer, but as someone who’s looking forward to the marketing orgy that precedes Hollywood blockbusters, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Warner Brothers seems to have dropped the ball again, at least as far as their spin-off merchandise is concerned. Take a look below at action figures from Superman Returns and Batman Begins :
Superman seems to have been greased up and Batman looks like he’s holding one of those devices they have at Home Depot to keep your garden hose from getting tangled. Throwing in the fact that the complexion of both figures makes them look like drowning victims, it’s hard to believe that these are official movie tie-ins. The look more like the bootleg action figures you’d see at dollar stores and swap meets. By contrast, take a look at the offerings from the Silver Age line of figures from DC Direct :
Not only are the figures photographed in a way that makes people want actually to purchase the products, but they look much, much better. Batman comes with Robin and isn’t holding a batarang longer than a baseball bat. The Superman figure not only doubles as a robot, but he comes with a super monkey (the name’s Beppo, btw). So, if you’re looking to waste money, do yourselves a favor and skip Toys R Us and just head to the nearest comics shop.
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The best of all possible post to follow the Decline of Western Civilization.
Comment by Kamachanda — May 23, 2006 @ 4:49 pm
Touche. Did I mention that I’m watching the American Idol finale tonight too? Seriously, I can care about meaningless bullshit as well as the next guy.
Comment by greg — May 23, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Greg, you might enjoy this page (warning: use a browser that blocks pop ups) - http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/incredible-hulk-toys/default.php
Comment by ChrisV82 — May 24, 2006 @ 12:50 am
So, as a Superman fan, did you ever read Alan Moore’s “Supreme” comics?
As much as I love me some Superman, I think the “legendary” aspects keep him from ever getting much better, becasue he’s always stuck doing the same thing. “Supreme” was kind of a look at what Superman could be if marketing and sales weren’t fanatical about keeping him the same way.
And, yes, total fanman.
Comment by Dr. Pants — May 24, 2006 @ 7:44 am
My favorite heros as a kid were Spiderman and Batman. As a middle-schooler I still liked Spiderman, but really dug the X-Men.
The problem I have with Superman, is that he’s got too many goddamn powers. Super strength and invulnerability go well together, but then, he can fly (even into space), he has X-ray vision, heat vision, and super duper breath. I mean, come on! Superman has enough powers to supply an entire frickin’ team of heros.
Although, I must say, the late 1980s John Byrne reimagining of his character and how his powers worked was pretty good.
Comment by dAVE — May 24, 2006 @ 9:46 am
Me again. If you like Superman, you might enjoy “Superman is a Dick” - http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html
(it’s been around the net for a while now, but I noticed political bloggers on both sides of the spectrum tend to be at least a year behind the trendy sites, making a big fuss about them long after the rest of the web has already forgetten…which is not to say I think you aren’t digitally hip, Greg)
Comment by ChrisV82 — May 25, 2006 @ 11:45 pm