Star Wars – Force Friday Toy’s: Elite Speeder Bike

Next up we have the Elite Speeder Bike with a special edition Storm Trooper and side arm. I have to say I think this is the coolest vehicle in the series. For a speeder bike this one has a lot of updates. “Reserved for the most experienced scouts and high-risk missions, these Elite Speeder Bikes have been upgraded with heavy blasters and powerful new engines.”

The Pros:

• (5) Blasters, (2)Heavy Blasters: mounted, (2) Medium Blasters: adjustable, (1) Light Blasters: adjustable
• A bedroll behind the seat(non removable but its so cool that its there!)
• Very detailed toy
• Unique Storm Trooper with bendable legs(at the knees) and arms are molded differently than the standard storm trooper
• Open the instrument panel to reveal the engine(maintenance time!)
• Awesome paint scheme: Gloss Black, Red-orange, greys and Silver and a painted instrument panel
• The Speeder also separates in the middle to continue the exploding theme for the vehicles

The Cons:

• The figure doesnt fit very well on the speeder, kind of a half standing pose
• Like all of this series of Storm troopers his legs dont move very far and you wont be able to sit (L  shape position)
• The figures hand doesn’t fit on the speeders handle controls (I think I got one hand to hold on but didnt want to push it because it might break a thumb off like the old days)

Ratings:

Rodney – 4.5 out of 5

Is it perfect? No it isnt, but over all I really like the design of this speeder and the look of the storm trooper. From a collectors stand point this will look awesome on a shelf with the storm trooper threatening some poor deluded alien.

My son – 4.5 out of 5

From his point of view he thinks its a cool speeder but was a bit annoyed at the trooper not fitting on the bike. It was fun watching him load a trooper on to the front of it like a stretcher. I think he wants a troop transport!

#forcefriday #forceawakens

Episode 58 – Animation 101: Teen Titans

 

Episode 58 – Animation 101

On this weeks episode the Rambler and Greenloontern review the Titans animated universes.

 Ratings –

The Rambler – 4.5 out of 5

Greenloontern – 4 out of 5

 

 

 

Ratings –

The Rambler – 4 out of 5

Greenloontern – 4.5 out of 5

 

Episode 56 – September Comics

Episode 56 – September Comics

 

Pick #1 – Futures End: Booster Gold #1 (one shot)

Publisher: DC comics

Art: Dan Jurgens and 10 other artist

Writer: Dan Jurgens

Cover: Jurgens, Rapmond & Hi-fi

Characters: Booster Gold, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle

Ratings –

Art – 5 out of 5

Story –  4 out of 5

 

Pick #2 – Dresden Files #4

Publisher: Dynamite

Penciler: Carlos Gomez

Colors: Mohan

Letters: Bill Tortolini

Writer: Jim Butcher & Mark Powers

Cover: STJepan Sejic

Ratings –

Art – 4 out of 5

Story – 2 out of 5

Pick #3 –  Usagi Yojimbo – Senso #2

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Art: Stan Sakai

Writer: Stan Sakai

Cover: Stan Sakai, colors by Tom Luth

Characters: Usagi, Jotaro, Lady Tomoe, Lord Hikiji (enemy army), Lord Noriyuki, Chizu (neko ninja),

Ratings –

Art – 5 out of 5

Story –  5 out of 5

The Sakai Project

Pick #4 – Constantine #17

Publisher: DC

Colorist: Richard & Tanya Horie

Letter: Taylor Esposito

Inker: Jay Leisten

Penciller: Edgar Salazar

Writer: Ray Fawkes

Cover: Juan Ferreyra

Ratings –

Art –  5 out of 5

Story –  4 out of 5

 

 

TMNT Annual 2014

Written by Tom Waltz

Art by Kevin Eastman

Publisher – IDW Publishing

Pages – 48

$7.99

PREVIEW

Rating – 4 out of 5

“The Turtles are whisked away to another dimension by a stranger – Renet! Forced to fight for their survival in a tournament featuring the greatest warriors in the universe, the brothers will have to master new fighting techniques and forge new alliances. But with the deck stacked against them, their chance of survival is slim!”

I finally started reading my ever growing stack of new comics and decided to start doing a couple reviews. First up I had to discuss the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 Annual, which was a lot of fun to read. Eastman brings Renet, the time traveler, back to the TMNT universe. Renet’s first appearance was in TMNT #8 (the original series) and just like the original she is just as absent minded and goofy as ever!

He also introduces a new character/love interest for Renet named Baltizar, a barbarian clearly designed after Barry Windsor Smiths Conan (marvel Conan #1 1970). The turtles and Baltizar are imprisoned in a Roman style arena forced to fight to the death for the “Council”, a group of all powerful beings that have held these battles for a very long time. But most of the members dont agree with the contest and end up siding with Renet and her master.

There are a couple cool references: first Renet makes a time travel comment about weather or not the Turtles have met her yet and their adventure together. (I like the reference but it threw me off because I remember the original stories and got them mixed up with the current Turtles in time story line) The second references the Battle Nexus, which is a yearly event for warriors from around the galaxy to battle each other(and gamble). They basically replace the prison arena for a tournament.

 The Pros & Cons

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Eastmans art is amazing as always and brought me back to the old days reading TMNT in my bed room as a kid. Eastman makes his “Baltizar” character a BWS Conan tribute, with horned helm and funky tribal necklace. Throw in the Triceraton “Zog” for another throwback to the old days and you get a really fun book to read. The story was kind of a rehash of the original, but the new addition of a couple characters mixed it up a bit. The only real drawback to this book was the price tag. $7.99 kind of hurt the wallet at the register, but the book had no ads and high quality paper to compensate for the price tag, not to mention 48 pages of Kevin Eastman art!   My recommendation is to go out and buy this book. You wont be disappointed. =)

My Way Miniatures – Weapon Team Collectors Pack

My Way Miniatures

“The bundle offer, containing the whole weapon team of Ninjato, Bo, Sai and Nunchaku along with a scenic display specially crafted to house and show off those miniatures in a cool and convenient way. The scenic display is made from resin and has slots for mini bases for each character. This display base is only available as a part of Collectors Pack bundle and cannot be purchased separately.”

HD resin cast, 1/64 scale, comes in 27 pieces total.

Sculpted by Alexander Zigle and Tarasov Roman.

$65.93 us

I found My way Miniatures a few months ago and I have been waiting for this fall to order these Mutant Turtle miniatures. I have been looking to replace my old Darkhorse Miniature line of Turtles for a long time now and these sculpts are amazing!

Now obviously they dont want to get sued by Disney for using the trademark names for these iconic characters and I am fine with that. The turtles have all the correct weapons that any would be TMNT character would want to go into combat with. If you aren’t interested in the Weapon Team Collectors Pack, you can order each turtle separately for $17.86 us

Episode 54 – Character Creation

 

 

 

Episode 54 – RPG Corner: D&D 5th Edition

On this weeks episode the Rambler and Greenloontern go through character creation and review the new players handbook and we share some thoughts from a few gamers over on Facebook.

 

Episode 53 – Dragons of Spring Dawning

 

Episode 53 – We love the Chronicles!

 

Greenloontern’s Dragonlance novel recommendations:

Tales

1. The Magic of Krynn

2. Kender, Gully Dwarves and Gnomes

3. Love and War

Heroes

1. The Legend of Huma

2. Stormblade

3. Weasels Luck

Elven Nations

1. First Born

2. The Kinslayer Wars

3. The Qualinesti

Defenders of Magic

1. Night of the Eye

2. The Medusa Plague

3. The Seventh Sentinel

The Dhamon Saga

1. Downfall

2.  Betrayal

3. Redemption

Elven Exiles

1. Sanctuary

2. Alliances

3. Destiny

 

 

The Ramblers Dragonlance novel recommendations:

Legends

1. Time of the Twins

2. War of the Twins

3. Test of the Twins

Defenders of Magic

1. Night of the Eye

2. The Medusa Plague

3. The Seventh Sentinel

 

Heroes

1. Legend of Huma

Lost Legends

1. Vinas Solamnus

The Raistlin Chronicles

1. Soul Forge

2. Brothers in Arms

Dragons of a New Age

1. Dawning of a New Age

2. The Day of the Tempest

3. The Eve of the Maelstrom

 

Episode 51 – D&D 5th Edition

Episode 51 – D&D starter Set

Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks episode! So we recorded this last weekend and it went in a direction none of us expected. I have to say, we where all really impressed with the basic rules and I’m looking forward to receiving my copy of the players handbook on the 15th.

If you are interested in picking up a copy of the Basic starter set, it is available now and the Players hand book is available in select stores now, but the official release date is August 15th. I would recommend ordering a copy from Amazon.com, pre-order cost is $20 off list($49.95). If you have tried out 5th edition let us know what you think of it.

The Sakai Project

”

The Sakai Project: Artists Celebrate Thirty Years of “Usagi Yojimbo” HC

The most amazing artists in the world have come together to celebrate thirty years of Stan Sakai’s marvelous samurai rabbit saga, Usagi Yojimbo. The participating artists bring their own interpretations and their own styles to the subject, making this book a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Produced in association with the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS). All proceeds from this book will go to Stan and Sharon Sakai.”

160 pages; HC, 9”x 12”

$29.99

Yesterday I headed on down to my LCS (the Source Comics & Games) to pick up my copy of The SAKAI Project. I have to say Darkhorse out did themselves on this book. The large 9×12 Hard Cover format is the perfect size and very nicely bound.

I opened the book and went right to the Forward, I wanted to read it before I even looked at the art work inside. Granted I had seen quite a few of the images on the CAPS auctions over the last few weeks, but I felt it might enhance my experience and enjoyment of the book if I read it first.

I have to say it definitely did, the forward was written by Mark Evanier, who works on Sergio Aragone’s Groo the wanderer comic. I wont spoil the forward which is titled SHARED SUFFERING, but I will tell you that it is more than worth your time to read. Mark does a great job detailing the kindness of the Sakais and all of the comic creators that contributed to this book.

Next we have a Preface letter written by Tone Rodriguez, Vice President of the Comic Art Professional Society. This is the man responsible for this project, not just this book but also the ebay auctions of the original pieces. He did all of this just to help out Stan and Sharons medical bills (for those of you that dont know, Sharon was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004) and submissions flooded in from around the world.

This book has 157 pages of just art work, many of the pages have multiple images. It is by far the most beautiful tribute to a creator I think I have ever seen. I wanted to showcase a few of my favorite pieces but after only getting a quarter of the way through the book, I decided it would take me several hours to write up a list of creators and their submissions.

Rating: 5 out of 5

If you love Usagi Yojimbo you will love this book. If you dont know Usagi this is a great way to find out why so many people, fans and creators, love this character and mainly the man that created it. Stan Sakai

So please, contact your LCS, DCBS, book store, Darkhorse.com and order this book. You wont be disappointed and you will be helping a man and his family that have brought so many great adventures to the pages of comic for years.

Thank you Mr. Sakai

My 2008 SDCC commission!

Episode 47 – RPG Corner: After the Bomb

 

Episode 47 – After the Bomb

 

 

On this weeks episode of the Menagerie, Roy and Greenloontern review Palladium Books TMNT – After the Bomb Supplement. Along the way I have a bit of fun with Roy and share a couple outtakes! If you have this book, let us know what you thought of it!