Countdown to Twisted ToyFare Secret Invasion: 2 Days!

Aunt May. Goliath. Man-Thing. Sue Storm. Wolverine. Red Skull.

In two days, one of these Megos will be revealed to be a SKRULL!

That’s because November 12 sees the release in comic shops of ToyFare #137 and “Invasion of the Mego Snatchers,” when Secret Invasion reaches the Twisted ToyFare Theatre Universe.

We are totally not jerking you around. One of these major Mego characters will be revealed to have been a Skrull since the beginning of the strip. And NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME!

Come back each day for the next week (except on the weekends, when we have better things to do) to see three more characters with a Skrull hidden in their midst. Who will be revealed as a Skrull next week? The answers may shock and annoy you!

Post your theories about who’s a dirty Skrull at the Wizard Universe Message Board!

Countdown to Twisted ToyFare Secret Invasion: 5 Days!

Thing. Tarantula. Spock.

In five days, one of these Megos will be revealed to be a SKRULL!

That’s because November 12 sees the release in comic shops of ToyFare #137 and “Invasion of the Mego Snatchers,” when Secret Invasion reaches the Twisted ToyFare Theatre Universe.

We are totally not jerking you around. One of these major Mego characters will be revealed to have been a Skrull since the beginning of the strip. And NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME!

Come back each day for the next week (except on the weekends, when we have better things to do) to see three more characters with a Skrull hidden in their midst. Who will be revealed as a Skrull next week? The answers may shock and annoy you!

Post your theories about who’s a dirty Skrull at the Wizard Universe Message Board!

Fanboys Trailer!

Okay, I wanted to embed the trailer here, but I can’t seem to figure out how to do that, but I wanted to let you guys know that Fanboys is finally coming out on February 6th (which is also my birthday AND the first day of the New York Comic Con). The oft delayed flick also finally has a trailer you can check out here.

For those of you who might not know, the original story focused on a group of friends, one of which is diagnosed with cancer and might not make it to the premiere of Star Wars Episode I, go on a road trip to break into George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch to watch the finished product before it’s released. There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes, one of the most reported being that some of the higher ups wanted to get rid of the cancer plot. I’m not sure where all that stands, but I’ll be checking it out on February 6th (well, probably 7th or 8th) to find out.

I’m personally very excited about this movie as I’m a big Star Wars fan (who isn’t?), but I’m also a fan of the cast. WOO!

–TJ

Collector’s Corner Part III

Hey Gang, it took a while but Esbat from the Wizard Universe Message Boards came through with some pics of his collection, so let’s jump on in:

Do you know how many figures are in your collection? Can you give an estimate?

Hmm, good question, depending on size I’d have to say from the 3 inch to 5 inch range I’d have about 40. The 6 inch scale figures I have about 70. And 7 inches and larger scales I’d say roughly 30 or more. And all that’s just loose. I have well over 300 figures in box, most of them are mint, others are in roughed up boxes waiting for me to get more shelving to display them before I crack those suckers open.

What got you into collecting and how long have you been at it?

When I moved from my home area of the Rio Grande Valley about six years ago I came to Laredo, TX and it was purported to have comic book shops. It didn’t. So instead of buying a comic or three once a week I ended up buying Marvel Legends and Spider-Man figures to fill that collecting void in my life. And then I found ToyFare and it taught me there was money to be had from my once useless knowledge of comics and toys.

What’s your favorite current line? All time?

My past favorite line was the ToyBiz Marvel Legends but that quickly changed when I started seeing the new DC Universe Classics, I am just going gaga over the upcoming Adam Strange/Starfire 2-pack online exclusive set. Definitely picking up one to open and one to stash.

My favorite line of all time, jeez talk about Sophie’s Choice. I’d have to say, and I really don’t own that many, is the McFarlane Movie Maniacs line. As much as I’m not a fan of the lack of articulation, McFarlane gave me 6 inch and 18 inch Army of Darkness Ashley J. Williams figures, a movie accurate Robocop and Corporal “Michael Biehn” Hicks. Whats not to love?

If you could only keep one figure from your collection what would it be?

This line of questioning is quickly becoming cruel, but since I can’t resist answering, I’d say it’d be the Hasbro Spider-Man Origins Spider-Man 2099. I really really love that figure. I loved the comic growing up. Lamented it cancellation. And now I own 3 versions of him, the Hasbro version being the absolute best.

Do you have your full collection displayed? If not, how do you decide what makes it to the shelf?

I wish I could display my full collection. I got a literal garbage bag full of Star Cases I bought from a goodwill store years ago for my Revenge of the Sith collection. I was really proud of nailing all the Single carded and Deluxe figures (including many of the variants and exclusives) and wish I could display them appropriately.

I set up a few shelves around my room and desk, including some on top of my television and monitor to showcase my absolute favorites that I dared loose from their plastified prisons. Basically whatever is on display is about 75% chance of ending up in my photocomic (inspired by ToyFare’s own Twisted ToyFare Theater, natch). So that’s how I choose, via necessity and vanity good sir!

What room in your place is your collection displayed?

My boudoir! Due to it being off limits to the cats. I brokered a treaty many moons ago that keeps my accessories and spare limbs from appearing in the litterbox or under the couch. What I can’t display I keep in various closets around the house or in a giant shed in the backyard stored in various tubs and sturdy boxes.

Where do you get most of your figures? stores? eBay? Flea markets? Stealing?

I love bargains so I get it wherever I can. Due to eBay fees being so insane I haven’t done any shopping on there in years, but Amazon.com and Hasbro Toy Shop are very good to me. Oddly enough living a literal stone’s throw from the border allows me to partake in a lot of import toys and stuff at least a decade old from the old shops in downtown shopping district. Twenty bucks goes a long way on early Saturday morning shopping sprees. I also do a lot of figure trades on FigureRealm.com. Since I customize figures I need parts or accessories to complete my projects, and of course I trade to nail those hard to find figures like the X-Men Classics Red and Blue Rogue or Marvel Legends Deadpool (whom I snagged off Kyle Robinson of ToyFare fame).

What percentage of your income would you guess goes towards toys?

ACK! The horror! Hmm, I’d say out of a month’s earnings. Maybe 12 percent in straight up purchases and shipping costs of trades. So I’d say its not that bad.

What’s your Holy Grail? That one figure you want, but haven’t been able to get just yet?

Sweet tiny jeebus, I’d have to say its the Spider-Man Classics KB Toys Exclusive Scarlet Spider figure. I totally missed that sucker as the local KBs at my mall had closed shortly before that sucker came out. So I didn’t even knew it existed at the time. Now I pine for it… like the fjords.

Thanks again Esbat. Who else wants their collection shown on this here blog? You can post your pics on the WUMB or E-mail me at tdietsch@wizardent.com.

–TJ

Collector’s Corner 2

You keep snapping the pics and we’ll keep showing them. Thanks to Shaun Wong for stepping up and letting us show off his killer collection.

TOYFARE: Do you know how many figures are in your collection? Can you give an estimate?

SHAUN: Maybe over 300? I lost count quite a while ago, so I can’t provide a fair estimate.

TF:What got you into collecting and how long have you been at it?

S:The year was 1999 and the movie, Star Wars Episode I. Guess wanting plastic incarnations of cool characters I liked got me into the hobby.

TF: What’s your favorite current line? All time?

S: Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece’s my favourite current line. Their 12-inch representations of popular movie figs are just amazing. They’re coming up with 1:6 scale Batmobile and Iron Man too, which are figures that I really am looking forward to. My all time fave line would be Transformers.

TF: If you could only keep one figure from your collection what would it be?

S: Masterpiece Optimus Prime. It’s the perfect rendition of a childhood icon.

TF: Do you have your full collection displayed? If not, how do you decide what makes it to the shelf?

S: I have about 75% of it displayed. Whatever’s my flavour of the moment/month/year gets displayed.

TF: What room in your place is your collection displayed?

S: My toys have a room of their own, cos my wife rocks.

TF: Where do you get most of your figures? stores? eBay? Flea markets? Stealing?

S:I get them from local stores. We’re really lucky here in Singapore to be able to get both US and Asian toys without extreme fuss.

TF: What percentage of your income would you guess goes towards toys?

S: Currently, it’s about 10%. When I was younger and without a care in the world, most of it.

TF: What’s your Holy Grail? That one figure you want, but haven’t been able to get just yet?

S: A 12-inch Christopher Reeve Superman with interchangeable Clark Kent head and outfit, similar to Hot Toys’ Superman/Clark Kent 2-In-1 figure. I understand the issues with Christopher Reeve’s likeness, but just wish it could happen one day.

Shaun Wong’s idea of playing with his toys involves taking lots of pix of them. Some are good, most are bad, and all are documented on his blog at http://testicular-fortitude.blogspot.com.

Collector’s Corner Part 1

Ask and ye shall receive. We’ve heard your calls for a showcase of fan toy collections and now we’re delivering. Up first we have Jason Knize (a.k.a. Silent K on the message boards), who offered up his collection and answered our questions. So enjoy the interview along with the gallery pics of Jason’s collection. Want to show off your collection, drop us an E-mail or head on over the ToyFare message boards and show us what you got (in the topic called “Show Us What You Got”)

TOYFARE: Do you know how many figures are in your collection? Can you give an estimate?

JASON: I would venture to guess 500+, that includes those on display and others in storage.

TF: Do you have your full collection displayed?

J: I do not currently have my entire collection displayed. The pictures shown were taken in January of this year, so I’ve undoubtedly made some additions since (Iron Man movie figures, some eBayed Legends, Mezco’s Heroes, DC Universe Classics Series 1, more GI Joe 25th Anniversary figures and The Dark Knight Movie Masters series). On top of that, I still have my old Star Wars, Super Powers, Ninja Turtles and Toy Biz Marvel collections in storage.

TF: How do you decide what makes it to the shelf?

J: Besides those figures I have in storage (and plan on selling away on eBay), most everything gets displayed, one way or another. Space is always an issue.

TF: What room in your place is your collection displayed?

J: My massive Marvel Legends diorama, as well as my “Clown” collection and G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary figs are all located in my home office. I did, however, convince the girlfriend to allow the NECA/McFarlane Movie figures in the Family Room/Entertainment Room, as well as my Marvel Legends Icons. Our collection of NECA 18-inchers have a home above our kitchen cabinets.

TF: What got you into collecting and how long have you been at it?

J: I’ve been collecting since I was a kid. My parents kept me flush with Star Wars, G.I. Joes, Masters of the Universe, Super Powers, etc., then I eventually moved onto Ninja Turtles and later the old Toy Biz X-Men/Marvel line, and now into my late 20s, Marvel Legends, NECA, DC Universe Classics, etc.

There’s a cute story involved with my parents’ helping me collect as a child. Whenever I was a good kid for an extended length of time (which was common), we would come home from going out, and there would be a brand-spanking-new action figure sitting in the middle of the carpet. My parents dubbed this phenomenon “The Carpet Fairy”. I always imagined a crusty old man with wings and a wand hiding out in the basement with peg-hooks filled with the latest toy-goodness.

TF: What’s your favorite current line?

J: As for my favorite current line, I would have to go with Marvel Legends, even after the move from Toy Biz to Hasbro. My collection of Legends is displayed the most prominently and intricately out of everything I own. The articulation, sculpts and diorama bases got me hooked on the line, the build-a-figure concept kept me around, and now my yearning of some of the more obscure characters Hasbro has coming down the pike is keeping my interest.

TF: All time favorite?

J: At the risk of getting weepy, I would have to say my all-time favorite line was G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The scale of this line really lent to Mattel being able to do some awesome things with accessories and vehicles. Also, the figures themselves, at the time, were pretty inexpensive, so it was much easier for a kid like me to amass an army. Alas, I recently sold off my entire RAH collection on eBay, and while it snagged a pretty penny, it left a hole in my heart. Enter Hasbro’s 25th Anniversary line.

TF: If you could only keep one figure from your collection what would it be?

J: Choosing only one figure to keep from my entire collection, although cliche, would be like choosing my favorite child (that is, if I had any children). Let me talk this out. Out of my Marvel Legends, I would probably keep either Juggernaut or The Blob, two of my favorite characters, and awesome representations to boot. My 18-inch Marv from the Sin City movie was a birthday gift from my (ex) girlfriend, and he is pretty brutal. I really love my Rancor Monster from the old Return of the Jedi line. But because it is so fresh in my mind, and the performance was so captivating, I might have to hang on to my Mint In Box Movie Masters The Joker. RIP Heath.

TF: Where do you get most of your figures? Stores? eBay? Flea markets? Stealing?

J: I attain most of my collection from your Targets, Walmarts and Toys’R'Us’, and sometimes my local comic shop has some things I need, but when I was first getting heavy into the Marvel Legends line, I did have to fill some holes by searching eBay, and I still do to this day.

TF: How much would you say you spend on figures a month?

J: I would venture to guess that I drop an estimate of fifty bucks a month.

TF: What’s your Holy Grail? That one figure you want, but haven’t been able to get just yet?

J: I really love the highly detailed movie versions of The Joker, Batman and Iron-Man from Hot Toys. I’ve only seen pictures, but if The Joker figure is under $300 and I can snag him, I would. Also, where the hell is DCUC series 2 around here!? Someone needs to come out with a Venture Bros line, already.

Thanks again to Jason for showing us his collection, who’s up next?

–TJ