SDCC 2015: Mondo 1/6 Scale TMNT May Just Be Best in Show this Year

SDCC 2015 - Mondo One Sixth Scale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1 of 20)

I didn’t know much about Mondo for long before Comic-Con – their foray into figures had been limited to a much-favored Iron Giant figure, but it’s been mired in production complications and delayed. I think their upcoming foray into 1/6 scale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will shine an even bigger spotlight on them. From this first look at the prototypes, I think they’ve nailed the designs and how to put together a compelling package – and the more simplified (and reusable) sculpts, compared to the Iron Giant, will make the TMNT line a much smoother production.

Continue reading “SDCC 2015: Mondo 1/6 Scale TMNT May Just Be Best in Show this Year”

SDCC 2015: Hasbro Marvel Legends – Preview Night

SDCC 2015 - Hasbro Marvel Legends - Preview Night (1 of 18)

It’s Preview Night at San Diego Comic-Con, and one of my first stops was the Hasbro booth to check in on Marvel Legends. Hasbro has spent a little to upgrade the display cases throughout its booth, with clear glass cases and spotlights that provide dramatic backlighting that is bright enough to allow for clear pictures. This comes at the trade-off of less display space. What the Marvel team put out on Preview Night was mostly what we had seen and heard about at Toy Fair. But there were a few figures that we saw in person for the first time, and a couple of ones that snuck out that were surprises.

Continue reading “SDCC 2015: Hasbro Marvel Legends – Preview Night”

SDCC 2015: LEGO Exclusives and Announcements Weekly Digest

SDCC 2015 LEGO exclusives weekly digest 3

Here’s the final group of announcements from LEGO for San Diego Comic-Con. It includes new product line announcements for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Angry Birds, and another highlight that will be on display at their booth at SDCC (Hall D, booth #2829).

And, in case you missed them, here’s the previous digest and the first one from the week before that. Cheers!

Continue reading “SDCC 2015: LEGO Exclusives and Announcements Weekly Digest”

SDCC 2015: Kirk to Engineering – Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator for your Smartphone

SDCC 2015 Wand Company Star Trek Blue Tooth Communicator

It’s commonly believed that the original Motorola Flip Phone was inspired by the Star Trek Communicator. Now, we’re coming full circle, with the Star Trek Blue Tooth Communicator accessory for your smartphone. Hardcore Trekkers have been putting together their own Bluetooth-enabled Communicators by hand for years, but with this official product, you’ll be able to flip open your own Communicator to make and answer calls from Engineering (or your mom, or anyone in the galaxy), or even use it as a portable speaker for hands-free calls or listening to your favorite William Shatner spoken word album. It wirelessly charges on its magnetic stand, and it’s loaded with Star Trek Communicator sound effects and sound bites from the show.

This official replica Bluetooth device is made by the Wand Company, the good folks who make the Star Trek Phaser remote control (available to purchase at ThinkGeek and the official Star Trek site.) While I never could convince myself to pick up the remote control, because I just don’t watch enough TV, it’ll be really tough for me to resist this Communicator – I use my smartphone a lot.

The Communicator will be officially unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con and demonstrated at the ThinkGeek booth #3351, starting tomorrow at Preview Night. I’m going to stop by to check it out. For those of you who can’t wait, you can pre-order the Star Trek Blue Tooth Communicator at the official Star Trek site, and I imagine it will be listed at ThinkGeek pretty soon.

Continue reading “SDCC 2015: Kirk to Engineering – Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator for your Smartphone”

SDCC 2015: ThreeA Toys Expands Presence at Comic-Con

SDCC 2015 3A Toys - Exclusives

In past San Diego Comic-Cons, 3A Toys has shared booth space with IDW. With the clamor for their exclusives, this has led to some funny situations. At the top of the list was the year the 3A line for exclusives wrapped around the entire IDW booth, effectively blocking out a George R.R. Martin signing for IDW. This was before his fame extended into the mainstream with the HBO Game of Thrones show, so some of the guys in line were asking stuff like, “Who is that Old Man Gimli cosplayer and why is he shaking his Sharpie at us?”

That’s changed this year, with IDW helping 3A to secure nearby booth #2743 so they could have their own dedicated space. And 3A has upped their game by planning more exclusives available at the show.

One of the benefits of having his own company is that Ashley Wood gets to make what he likes. It’s great fun to see what he comes with, but as his tastes have veered to more eclectic selections like the Isobelle Pascha hyper-sexualized line or forays into new scales like the 3AGO / MEGO tribute 8-inch scale, my own tendency to purchase is down. Another case in point, for the 2000 AD line, now firmly ensconced in 1/12 scale, his choices for exclusives are the Gronk from Strontium Dog, and Judge Fish from Judge Dredd.

Personally, I’d have liked to see some of the bigger hitters from 2000 AD get made, as the line has had many fits and starts. I don’t think Gronk and Judge Fish will register with most Con-goers these days. Then again, Wood has never been concerned with mass market appeal for his toys.

Continue reading “SDCC 2015: ThreeA Toys Expands Presence at Comic-Con”

Scroll Up