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Toy Maniac: Last Look at the SDCC Toys
By: Robert T. TrateDate: Thursday, August 14, 2008
The dust has now settled on the San Diego Comic Con. Prices have already begun to rise on eBay for a lot of the exclusives. Cobra Commander in the Blue Suit is already going through the roof. There was almost too much to look on the showroom floor at the SDCC. Did anyone else notice that there was this strange hint of Star Trek products here and there? The new movie being delayed probably was the reason there were only a few items at the SDCC. If its release date hadn’t changed I wonder if Star Trek would have put the Star Wars The Clone Wars to shame. I guess we’ll find out at the New York Comic Con just how much Paramount is willing to invest in all the hype.
There were a couple of great Star Trek figures and one must have game at the SDCC. There will be a two pack Kirk and Spock from both the “Amok Time” episode and Star Trek the Motion Picture. The “Amok Time” episode does not come with that great battle music but fear not, you’ll hear it in your head as you look at these really sweet figures. The Kirk and Spock from Star Trek the Motion Picture are in quite possibly the worst uniforms in the history of Star Trek. There is undoubtedly a retro appeal and a satisfaction that finally there are figures from that film worthy enough to join your collection (see gallery for pictures of both).
Entertainment Earth acquired the property rights to, arguably, one of the best/ worst films of all time, Flash Gordon (1980). Their sculpts of Sam Jones and Max von Shadow as Flash Gordon and Ming Merciless reflect that. Ming possesses the cruelty and awesomeness that Max von Shadow brought to the role. Flash on other hand looks like a cardboard cutout, fitting for Jones’ career ending performance. There is another figure in the line worth checking out and is that of Ming’s right hand man Klytus. Check out all the figures at Entertainment Earth.
The Rocketeer was Disney’s stab at a Batman type franchise during the comic book hero craze of the late Eighties and early Nineties. The film is a classic and a great missed opportunity by Disney to have a classic hero and great cast return to the screen. Sideshow Collectibles has made an incredible bust of Cliff Secord as the Rocketeer. The perfect collectible for any fan of this underappreciated film. In the same vein of classic heroes from the Forties comes Will Eisner’s The Spirit. DC Unlimited will release a 1:6 scale figure of Gabriel Macht as the Spirit from Frank Miller’s film. If it wasn’t for seeing some god awful clips of The Spirit at the SDCC I could get a little more excited about this figure. Trust me, the clips shown made Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy look like Sin City.
Star Wars the Clone Wars will begin soon and already the toy shelves are beginning to fill up with new animated versions of Anakin and Obi-Wan. If you have moved past action figures and feel the need to pick up something from the original trilogy check out Gentle Giant’s A New Hope animated Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is the best likeness of Alec Guinness that has ever been done.
Weta has really been giving the likes of Gentle Giant and Sideshow Collectibles a run for their money. Their Dalek Warrior from Doctor Who is hands down perfect creation of the creature brought to life. If only they would make a full scale version of this great science fiction villain.
Trekkie, Trekker or Maniac will have to have Star Trek Scene It next spring. Finally, a trivia game that will encompass more than a couple of movies. This will be the granddaddy of all Scene It games and a true testament to any fan that calls himself a Trekkie. Sure most people know the original series but what about Deep Space Nine or Voyager? Can you go toe to toe with a fellow Trekkie about the animated series or the unwatchable last season of Star Trek Enterprise? Star Trek Scene It is my must have now game. Unfortunately I’ll have to wait till the spring.
See this week’s gallery of pictures by clicking on the photo below:
The Toy Maniac Column will return to normal next week with a look at Guitar Hero Aerosmith. In the following weeks, I will spotlight Maniac worthy Hallmark Holiday Ornaments, Farscape figures and the worst figures of all time.
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