Pick of
the Week � JLA/Avengers # 4
That�s right.� You can stop calling.� You can stop asking.� You
can stop trying to name all the characters on the cover to issue # 3 to pass the
time.� Why?� Because JLA/Avengers #�4 is finally here.
After recovering from a hand injury sustained while drawing that absolutely
mind-blowing cover to JLA/Avengers #�3, George P�rez is back in the
saddle and dedicated to drawing every single character connected to the JLA and
Avengers that you could possibly ever think of � and then some.� The wait was
certainly worth it, people.� When you see every single panel filled to the brim
with different heroes than the last, you�ll know what I mean.
This series has been a heck of a lot of fun, and the last issue is no
exception.� Kurt Busiek has provided a script that adds reason to the vast
madness of a crossover as colossal as this.� The story so far has been like
reading the comics of my youth.� Big, colorful super-heroes hop between dimensions
in search of items of power and, of course, in typical super-hero fashion, beat
the heck out of each other at the drop of a hat.
In this final issue, the heroes have put aside their differences to
fight off the end of both of their universes.� And standing in their way is
virtually every villain either team has ever faced before.� I kid you not.
One of the things I�ve enjoyed most about this series is how Busiek points out
the differences between the heroes of the DC and Marvel universes.� The JLA seem
to Captain America to be fascist dictators who force people to worship them �
and to Superman, the turmoil throughout the Marvel universe shows that the
Avengers aren�t doing enough.� It�s a really nice contrast between the two
companies and their heroes.
If you�ve made it this far and haven�t rushed down to Heroes
and Dragons to pick it up, I
don�t know what else I can say to make you do so.�� Well, there is one thing:
Batman vs. Batroc the Leaper!
Hey, where�d everyone go?
For more of Tug's
recommendations,
click
here.
Toys of the Week � Marvel Legends Series 5
 
Welcome back once again, toy fiends.
This week�s review covers Marvel Legends Series 5.� This
continuation of the popular Marvel Legends line includes Blade;
Sabretooth; Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Mr. Fantastic;
Silver Surfer (with Howard the Duck); Colossus; and a chase figure
of the Red Skull.
Again ToyBiz presents us with super-articulated, well-executed
figures of everyone�s favorite Marvel characters.� Sure, ToyBiz has made
some odd choices, but that is nothing new and nothing that is going to change
anytime soon.� ToyBiz has a successful line and they show no sign of
letting up.
Admittedly, I put off buying this series.� Why?� I�m
not completely sure.� I hate chase figures.� (I understand why ToyBiz
continues to produce them, but I don�t like them.)� When the series first
appeared, Blade was absent, and that annoyed me.� And since I�d mostly
picked at the previous assortments, I wasn�t sure I wanted to get completely
involved.� I�m glad I did!� I found Red Skull and later Blade, and
once I started I couldn�t stop.� These things are addictive.
If only ToyBiz wouldn�t reuse body parts from one figure to
the next.� But after years of seeing poor product cranked out by ToyBiz,
I�m just happy they�ve started producing toys that actually try to compete with
the rest of the market.
But I can�t be too hard on these.� ToyBiz has come a long
way over the past few years, and if a little bit of the sculpt is sacrificed to
enhance the articulation and the fun factor, then that�s all right.
Every figure in Marvel Legends Series 5 has at
least one accessory, its base.
Sabretooth comes with another chunck of a
destroyed Sentinel, this time a foot.� He looks great displayed on it, and
it�s great to have another chunk of Sentinel.
Mr. Fantastic comes with part of the Fantasticar, which is well-detailed, has a folding seat,
and looks just as it should � like a flying bathtub.
Colossus has the chest piece of a Sentinel, but
it looks too small compared to all the other Sentinel pieces.� If you were
hoping to piece together a complete Sentinel, you had better start looking
elsewhere.
Nick Fury
comes with his jetpack and a trail of smoke that suspends him in mid-flight.�
He looks much better that way.
Silver Surfer comes with his cosmic surfboard and
attaches to it via magnets in his feet.� This means that, just like last
year�s magnetic Spiderman, Surfer can hang out on your fridge!� And as a
special bonus, Surfer comes with a figure of Howard the Duck.� What
more do you want?� He�s a well-sculpted and painted representation of
everybody�s favorite wise-cracking duck.
Blade
has the most accessories.� His base is his motorcycle.� While not as
impressive as Ghost Rider�s bike, it still serves its purpose.� Blade also
has a faux leather coat, sword, gun, sunglasses, and a throwing weapon.
The Red Skull has a repainted base from the
Series 1 Captain America but also comes with hand gun and his hat.
With a suggested retail price between $8 and $10,
Marvel Legends are a great buy.� You get a lot for your money, and compared
to some other super-hero toys. they seem like a steal.
This
is a line of super-hero toys you can actually play with.� They can pass any
Articulation test you toss at them:� They can sit in chairs, lay on
operating tables, do a split, and look great mid-stride.� If there was ever
a line that took playing with your toys to a new level, it would be Marvel
Legends.� The whole line deserves a high score, but due to a few
inconsistencies here and there, they get a respectable 4� stars as a whole.
Now if you�ll excuse me, I have to break up a
fight between Silver Surfer and Silent Bob!
For the Toyman's complete review,
click here.
Coming
Events
Lord
of the Rings CCG League meets this Tuesday, March 30 at 4:00pm.
Hellboy
opens in theaters this Friday, April 2.
Comic Club plans to organize a Columbia, SC viewing of
Hellboy at Dutch Square AMC Theaters.�
Contact Chad if you're interested.� The tentative plan is
for Saturday afternoon, April 3.
Comic Club meets to discuss Hellboy: Seed of Destruction
and Hellboy: The Corpse on Thursday, April 8 at 7:30pm.
Site to
See
The future is here!�
Researchers at the University of California's Mechanical
Engineering Department are making shocking strides in human
strength augmentation through the use of mechanical
exoskeltons.� With Dr. Octopus making his film debut in
May, now seems the perfect time to direct you to UC
Berkeley's
Bleex Project:
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