Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I really hope Superman dies in the new Batman vs. Superman movie.  It’s not to say I hate Superman, rather I want to see the myth of Superman reach a whole other level.  (Spoiler Alert)

Lego Super Heroes Batman Superman

Ever since I started playing Lego video games I have been a fan of Legos.  The first game I played was Lego Batman, and I played that game for hours.  It has many of the things I love in a video game; it can be simple or difficult (depending on what you want to accomplish), it has cool and cute graphics, it’s fun to play so it doesn’t get boring, and Lego is able to combine many of the pop-culture genres and movies that I like (Batman, Star Wars, Indiana Jones).   The ideas are endless as to what other games they might come up with, but I would love something like Lego Back to the Future, Lego Pulp Fiction (I’m dreaming, lol), and Lego the A-Team.

As I was playing Lego Batman I got the urge to buy some Lego minifigures of Batman.  I went online to look for some but unfortunately they had come out a few years earlier and were now very expensive.  I wanted to kick myself because a couple years ago I had seen the Batman sets on clearance and I passed on them.  Fortunately as time passed I was online one day and read the news that Lego was going to re-release Lego Batman, and other Marvel and DC Superheroes as minifigures.  That made my day, and I couldn’t wait to collect them all.

Lego Superheroes officially released in early 2012, and the first characters I bought were Batman and Superman.  Batman is featured in a grey and blue costume, while Superman has a regular blue, red and yellow costume.  Both Batman and Superman have two faces, so you can pose them however you like, and they both come with capes.  I didn’t want to buy the whole set for each character, so I bought them separately online.  I highly recommend these figures, they are top quality and stand out pretty nice on a desk.

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBE1UYg9nn4

Mr. Potato Head Spider-Man

I never owned a Mr. Potato Head when I was a kid.  Even the daycare I would go to, never had one.  So when I saw this Spider-Man Mr. Potato head it was my first Mr. Potato Head I ever bought.  I loved it as soon as I saw it because it was so cool to see a Spidey suit on Mr. Potato Head.  This version of Spider Spud was released in 2006 by Playskool.  Accessories included are a spider suit, spider web, a pair of glasses, and spider shades.  The version I have is the Canadian version of the box.

I love the art on the box, it has this sort of comic book feel towards it.  I also like how it comes with some clear plastic panels, so I am able to display the toy without having to remove it from the box.  Yes, I’m a mint in box collector, lol.  Since buying this version of Mr. Potato Head Spider-Man I have now started to collect more special edition Mr. Potato Heads, (such as the Transformers and Darth Vader versions) but I give them to my nephew to play with.

Playschool:

http://www.hasbro.com/playskool

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d-xfw6BgIo

The Avengers

This summer, the one movie I wanted to see most of all has been Batman.  My growing anticipation started 2 years ago when pictures of the actors in costumes started to appear online.  Then a few months later the trailer was released and the nerd in me exploded with excitement.  As more trailers, pictures and news were released I took the decision to stop cold turkey, and wait until the movie came out.  I didn’t want to know about any more spoilers, so since that time I have turned away wherever something new appeared.

In focusing only on the Dark Knight Rises, I unintentionally ignored the new Avengers movie.  This was a decision that I now believe was worth it because after seeing the movie I have to say it blew my mind.  I thought this movie was fantastic and that coming into it without knowing any spoilers made it much more enjoyable.  The story was great, the jokes were funny, the action was entertaining, and the actors were exceptional.  There wasn’t one single thing I hated about this movie.  Unlike a Michael Bay film, that has so many parts that make it cheesy, the Avengers was a thrill ride from beginning to end.

I have to give credit to Robert Downey Jr. first for making a superhero like Iron Man appealing.  I never thought he (Iron Man) could be a popular superhero until he (Downey Jr.) made the first movie.  He brought excitement to the role, and was responsible for getting the ball rolling in the Marvel franchise (I also have to acknowledge Jon Favreau).  Before him I hated superhero movies like the X-men, Batman Forever/& Robin, Daredevil, Superman Returns, and many more.  The first Iron Man film illustrated the formula for a great superhero picture; an actor that fits the role (i.e. that is likable) + graphics that are outstanding and realistic + a story that is easy to understand and follow + staying faithful to the actual comic book heroes + building continuity from one movie to the next = a box office winner that the fans and general public will like.

I saw the Avengers in 3D AVX, and while it was much more expensive I think you have to treat yourself to a film like this once in a while.  There’s something that makes the movie better when you go to a theater that is packed, put your 3D glasses on, and munch on some really expensive popcorn.  I swear this was the first film I have been to in a while that the audience laughed out loud, cheered, and clapped at the end.  Like most people, I will probably see it again once it comes out on DVD.  The best part of the film was that it ended with a clip that hints at a sequel, so I can’t for that.

Superman

If there is one toy series from the 80’s that I think really lacks the nostalgia fan base appreciation today, it is the Kenner toy line of Super Powers Collection.  This to me was one of those ultimate toys that every kid had to have.  They came in these really bright colors that made them very eye catching.  I guess you can say that’s where my infatuation with something as simple as colors on toys or sneakers first developed.  Another benefit to the toy line was that they were very affordable.  I don’t remember the prices, but I do remember my parents buying me a ton of these figures.

The figure that I loved the most from the series was the Superman version. Unfortunately just like this Kenner toy line, Superman has had a very underappreciated following.  I guess it’s because DC has been investing more in their Batman series, with toys and movies.  Speaking of movies, the last great Superman film was back in 1987 with Superman IV.  I am hopeful that the new Superman movie (Man of Steel) will bring back the popularity of Superman.  Plus it will feature Amy Adams, as Lois Lane.

For now though, I am delighted that at a recent toy convention I was able to pick-up a Superman figure.  This toy really brings me back to when I was a little kid and I would play with him for hours (now I just stare at him for hours, lol).  Other figures I owned were the Green Lantern, Aquaman (yuck), Martian Manhunter, and the Flash.  I have been very hesitant to buy this toy again because I knew that as soon as I bought one, I would want to buy more and more.  But honestly, I’m glad that I picked him up (for $2.50) and now plan on collecting more figures.

Super Powers Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Powers_Collection

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlE_hs4sTwY

'Super' Fleece Pants

I picked up some more fleece pants on clearance this week ($7 each).  This time however I won the jack-pot because I found a Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern version of each.  I guess you can say, I am very addicted to the comfort these pants provide.

Spiderman Papercraft

When it comes to superheroes, Spiderman is one of the coolest out there.  I was first introduced to him back in the 80’s when his 60’s TV show would be broadcasted in the morning.  Though the animation now seems ancient, when I was a little boy it was one of the most exciting shows to watch (along with Rocket Robin Hood and The Mighty Hercules).  I loved the theme song especially, “Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can... etc.”  Then as I got older I started reading his comics and got involved in the comic collector hype of the early 90’s.  I really loved Spiderman because there were so many things I could relate to him with.  First off his name was Peter, which is also my name (that might seem insignificant but I always thought it was neat).  Second, he loved Mary Jane, a redhead which I also share an interest with.  And third, he was a web-slinging-spiderman; how could you not like that.

Spiderman’s powers are the only powers I think that are just as amazing as Superman’s.  I mean flying is cool, but so is web-slinging.  In the spirit of admiring Spiderman I decide to undertake a papercraft version of him.  The version I found was from paperrobots1999.com, the same place where I first got a papercraft version of Optimus Prime.  This website makes amazing designs that are simple to follow that can also have hidden gems.  For example I like how you are be able to remove Spiderman’s mask and reveal Peter Parker’s face.  The only difficult part of this build was attaching the chest pieces to one another.  Once put together this papercraft can be positioned in multiple stances with various moving parts and is worth the effort to build.

Papercraft template link:

http://www.paperrobots1999.com/model07.html  (no longer working)
Try this:

https://lukebwallace.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/spiderman.pdf

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jc93vje8ZI

Identity Crisis

Title: Identity Crisis

Writer: Brad Meltzer

Artists: Rags Morales and Michael Bair

Publisher: DC Comics

Boy, have comic books gotten real mature since I was a kid.  I must confess, I haven’t read many comics in my life.  I mean as a kid I did like to buy them as much as any other kid, and in high school I only read a few here and there.  But I never stayed with the scene.  The problem for me always was that I didn’t like the dreaded ‘to be continued’ at the end of a comic.  I felt almost cheated knowing that what I paid for didn’t have an ending.  Of course all of this changed when a comic book store worker recommend that I should read graphic novels, after I told him my “to be continued” issue.  He told me that graphic novels basically are a collection of comic books that do have an ending.  Ever since then I have loved to read graphic novels.  However what I didn’t expect to find in these novels was issues dealing with adult subjects.  The graphic novel, Identity Crisis is a perfectly good example of what I’m talking about.  It starts off with Elongated Man and Firehawk doing some surveillance on some would-be criminals.  Firehawk then starts asking Elongated Man how he met his wife.  He tells her the story of how they met, and why he loves her so much.

Suddenly the would-be criminals start to move and as Elongated Man expands to see, he hears the voice of his wife calling for help.  He then rushes home to her, but by the time he gets there it is too late because someone has killed her.  At her funeral almost every superhero shows up to the service.  After the funeral they all decide to split into groups and investigate the murder.  However Elongated Man and a few more superheroes stay behind because they want to go after the man they think is the real murderer, Dr. Light.  The Flash who is there then asks why they think it is him.  What follows is the story of when Dr. Light raped Elongated Man’s wife, and as a result the superheroes chose to punish him by erasing some of his mind.

The Flash becomes angry with the group because they did this, but the Green Arrow defends their actions.  Eventually the mystery of who killed Elongated Man’s wife is solved, but more importantly the Green Arrows explains his reasoning behind the decision to erase some of Dr. Lights mind.  According to him, guys like Superman and Batman get to be the big-shots when the villains are caught and they get to leave.  However for guys like the Green Arrow they have to stay behind and deal with the clean up.  In a previous story a captured villain knew their real identities, and so the “clean-up” heroes had no choice but to prevent him from ever sharing that information with other villains by erasing his memory.  According to the Green Arrow this was because it would have placed their loved ones in jeopardy.

Because of moral issues such as this one and other issues that come up during this novel, I really liked this book.  They demonstrate how comics are no longer simple stories of good vs. evil, but can really intrigue the reader and make them question a lot of things.  While issues dealing with murder and rape can be troublesome to read, it does bring a little bit off reality into comics which keeps you focused on the story.  Although the story is sad to read, I did like the ending because it was emotionally sweet and   I would recommend it to anyone that wants to read a good graphic novel.

Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_Crisis_(DC_Comics)

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Comics-Brad-Meltzer/dp/1401204589