DCUC: Flash and Kid Flash

Another pair of toys coming at you fucking quick-like:

The Flash
Toys’R’Us Exclusive

Because Barry here was the only figure in Wave 7 not to come with a piece of Atom Smasher (it instead includes a stand) I decided to grab this exclusive figure which is a metallic repaint of the Wave 7 toy. The reason for this is mostly because what I had seen of the regular Flash made the yellow on his boots and such look far too gaudy. But that doesn’t mean this metallic scheme isn’t flawed itself, with the gold not being a very good contrast with the red. The stripes on the belt and forearms particularly don’t look too hot, but I guess that’s just the trade-off for the metallic scheme. I have no doubt that this figure will look great when stood up against the metallic Hal Jordan from the new Hal/Sinestro TRU two-pack which I plan on getting at some point.

Beyond the paint scheme, there is absolutely no reason to fault this figure. It’s the standard male buck, which I’ve said before is fantastic, and the little extra features like the ear-thingies are not in danger of coming off and breaking without purposefully being rough.

I am unsure if I will get the regular Wave 7 version at some point. I probably will if I can find one loose and for cheap. But until then, this figure gets a central place in my collection for being quite a good Flash.

SH Figuarts: Kamen Rider Double CycloneJoker and Machine Hardboilder

Do you have the courage to ride with the Devil?

I recently watched all of Kamen Rider W (aka Double) and decided I needed some toys. Now, being a completist it probably wasn’t the best idea for me to begin a Kamen Rider toy collection whilst also buying those DC Universe toys, but I did anyway. I bought SH Figuarts Double and his motorbike.

DCUC: Aquaman and Captain Cold

WELL. Whatever. Toys:

Ocean Warrior Aquaman
Wave 7

Everything about this toy is great. I’m serious. The complex paintjob is superbly executed with clean curved lines, his skintone doesn’t suggest he has been dipping his head in orange juice and his poseability is fantastic and he even stands well with his giant trident.

I still would have preferred not to get him.

The fact is that the only Aquaman I really want is the Arthur Curry from Wave 2 with his orange scaly costume. For the most part this toy purchase for me was just a completist thing. As soon as I do manage to get one of the insanely difficult to find Wave 2 Aquamen, this Ocean Warrior paint scheme will be going in the spare bits and accessories box.

As I said though, the figure is fantastic in it’s own right. But it was unnecessary and I think Wave 7 would have been better if this figure had been something else. I mean, there’s a few Flash figures already, so why couldn’t this have been another of the much need Rogues?

Anyway, he came with the torso for Atom Smasher

DCUC: Booster Gold and Blue Beetle

Been a while. Sorry. But whatever. New toys means new posts, and here’s some guys I picked up ages ago at Armageddon Expo.

Booster Gold (Classic Version)
Wave 7

A wonderfully cheap purchase, I had a choice between the classic version with the big collar or the current version who lacks the collar and has a slightly altered costume pattern. I chose the classic version mostly because it’s something different. The articulation on this figure is good, and I had no issues with any of his joints. The Skeets attachment is light, and does not impair the figure’s ability to stand in any way. Unfortunately, the Skeets plugs into a notch on Booster’s back, and the grip is just loose enough for Skeets to fall out quite often. It’s no trouble once posed, but a knock might make it drop.

Paint application is near faultless, and the use of clear yellow plastic for the goggles rather than the solid plastic on figures that were made with cost cuts in mind (Black Lightning…) is really great.

Booster’s a solid figure, and though he may not differ from the basic buck too substantially, he’s striking enough to not blend into the background. He comes packaged with the left leg of Collect and Connect Atom Smasher.

Smiley Cable and Deadpool

I did Deadpool first and then I figured I’d do Cable as well just because I could.

-Vyperchild

Maybe

Maybe I’ve just never been a good enough friend.

-Vyperchild

** And maybe even that is giving me too much credit. **

Smiley

-Vyperchild

** Hadn’t done one of these in a while **

Preparing for Failure

This week I’m endeavouring to practice more artsy stuff. Mostly figure drawing. Drawing is something I’ve mentioned on this blog before, and it’s something I’d absolutely love to do well enough to turn into a career, but lack any talent whatsoever. And seeing that lack of talent on paper is really really disheartening.

Motivation is hard enough for me to get without examples of how bad I am presenting themselves. I know practice is important, but looking at bad work makes me doubt practice will ever help. But I really want, and need, to do this, so unless my work looks so awful that I lose all hope forever (again) then I’m going to struggle to keep going and look for even the slightest improvement.

So yeah, I have to prepare for failure, but still at least try.

-Vyperchild

My Comics Pull List

Alrighty, so to put this in perspective, these are all of the comics I am currently buying, in the order of how many books I buy from each publisher:

Real

For one week in my pointless irrelevant existence I was willing to believe that maybe, just maybe, I was a real person. But I know it’s better not to lie to myself and just accept the truth.

And the truth is I am not a real person. I’m merely an illness given the ability to speak and the sense not to.

-Vyperchild