C.I.Boys
Jan 25
I was trying to post this last night, but Flickr and WordPress weren’t getting along. Given Sarah’s post, I thought it appropriate to try again.
They’re kind of hard to explain – their name is a reference to their grimace, which is supposed to be one of going to the bathroom. Let me put it this way – there was one series that was modeled after Capcom’s Street Fighter characters and was name "Shit Fighter." So… y’know.
Anyhow, as is popular with Japanese/Hong Kong vinyl figures, artists and designers are invited to create their own series, and this series is all 80s inspired, including Tattoo from Fantasy Island, Flavor Flav, Tron, and The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
Well, in three boxes (at $9 a pop I might add), I got my Stay-puft. Why three boxes? Well, also popular with these toys is to package them in blind boxes – you have no idea what’s inside. So, to get one in three is pretty good. And the Tron you see, is one of the rare chase figures, so I made out AOK.
Cute Overload
Jan 25Apologies for my recent absence in the world of Alert Nerds. I was struck down by the fiendish Los Angeles Death Cold in early January and was then shipped off to the fucking freezing climes of Sundance. I spotted the totally awesome Paul Rudd in Park City, by the way, which made my year a little. He is short, but still oozing with awesomeosity.
Anyway. I’ve been thinking about we geeks’ endless need to collect things and how this can become a bit of a problem. It must be said that I have learned to control myself — I no longer buy every single shiny action figure that catches my eye and I recently went through a major Stuff Purge. I am now trying rather desperately to not buy new toys, unless it’s something that’s totally made for me, like those Galactica block figures. But every so often, an item comes along that tests my iron resolve, and right now, that item is Lea Hernandez‘s homemade Cactus Bunny, Prickle. I looooove that Lea has finally made Prickle, her alter-ego, into a stuffie. And seriously, LOOK HOW CUTE.
But I already have four Ugly Dolls and a pink Gloomy Bear and a Catbus and Stitch and…and… Can I really justify another stuffed animal purchase? SIGH.
When's National Pie In Face Day Again?
Jan 25This is an important message that needs to get out. Please share with your friends.
Checking In With Checkmate
Jan 24Going into the title, Checkmate was probably my most-anticipated spinoff of Infinite Crisis. I’d first grown to love Greg Rucka’s work by picking up some back issues of his Wonder Woman run, which demonstrated his gift for marrying superheroics to detailed, precise storytelling. Broad strokes when it comes to the action, but finely-tuned intrigue when it comes to characterization.
Which made him the fella perfectly suited to bringing his spy book gifts from Queen and Country over to the DCU, merging guys ‘n gals in tights with guys ‘n gals in form-fitting jumpsuits that have zippers up the front.
In spite of all that, at first, I wasn’t blown away by the book. I think it was because it seemed to be trying a bit too hard to bounce off the “new DCU” and shoehorn in characters like the Great Ten. It also sunk readers straight into the deep end of complex intrigue, and maybe I’m just stupid, but I need some time to get used to that shit.
Now I’m finally in this title’s unique groove, and what a phat slab o’ groove it is. A few single-issue “breathers” have allowed me to get to know the characters a bit more and to get used to the intricacies of Rucka’s spies-meet-spandex vibe. The two-parter with the Suicide Squad gave us Amanda “The Wall” Waller doing what she does best: Stirring up shit.
And the latest issue I’ve read, number 9 (…number nine, number nine, number nine…), finally seems to connect with the concept’s full potential, miring Checkmate deep in the modern DCU by dragging in the US-based Department of Metahuman Affairs, Kobra (depicted as a radical terrorist cult), and even Shadowpact for a fun extended cameo.
I also like how Rucka’s sticking with shorter stories so far, since I think that helps with following things, too–again, I don’t want stupid comics, but the floppy format doesn’t always lend itself to following an intricate cloak-and-dagger spy storyline, and the smaller portions make for a more satisfying reading experience.
If you like getting your espionage mixed up with your superheroic action, then Checkmate is at last the book for you.
Shameless Pimpage
Jan 24This season, I am writing weekly reviews of 24 for iPodObserver.com. Make with the clicky to read them all.
End pimpage.
