Super Freaking Powers

The new McFarlane toys version of Super Powers is pretty great. So far I've gotten Batman and Superman and plan to get more. The original line by Kenner was a lot of fun back in the day. I can't help but to want all the new ones with all the fond memories of these guys I have. I hope they make more, but I should focus on getting the ones out now. The new figures are little different, but still have the same charm of the old ones. They're currently Walmart exclusive, but I hope to one day find them at other stores. Just so I can one day walk into a grocery store to find a years old Green Lantern with yellowed packaging still on the shelves. Just like in the good old days.

Avengers Assemble Mech Suits

I saw the damnedest thing Saturday morning. The wife and I made a quick run to Walmart for a few things and whilst looking around the toy section hoping to find a Mechagodzilla (man that movie sold some toys) I saw something new. Avengers MECHSTRIKE! There was NERF role play themed toys and two of these new MECH suit sets. Captain America and Ironman. I grabbed a Captain America as I was just blown away by it all. 

A quick Google search later and I discovered MECHSTRIKE is a new major event in Marvel comics that's getting a bunch of merchandising including these new toys I found. My days of heavily reading comics has been over for awhile, so I had no clue. The action figure line though has really captured my interest. There's the MECH suit sets I've mentioned as well as regular action figures. The standard figures have a more sci fi look to them to fit the theme and have nifty shields that I'm sure play into the story.

There's an obvious comparison to Transformers Pretenders when you first look at the toy, but it's a little different. The front opens with a hinge on the top of the suits head and you load the figure in. The figures arms hang out the sides of the suit as well. That's not a deal breaker for me, but maybe for some.The figure is pleasantly articulated and you can put it into a bunch of poses. The suit... not so much. It has basic articulation in the shoulders and elbows. Once again that might be a deal breaker for some, but once again not for me. I really liked my Captain America MECHSTRIKE toy and plan to get more.

There's a variety of ports on the suit, so I assume the idea is to attach things from other toys and deck out your MECH. This isn't the first time Marvel characters have been given this type of gimmick and it usually works well with them. The figures are the 6" scaled figures more recent Marvel figures have been, which has resonated well with me. In the suit, the toy is 9" and is pretty beefy. It's cool and even in it's simplicity manages to grab a lot of attention. It's that cross of bright colors, manga/sci fi theming, and well loved characters. So far I think it's pretty great. You may have noticed.

Toei Says Hold My Beer with TOEI TOKUSATSU WORLD OFFICIAL

Adding to TokuShoutSu launching earlier this week, Toei sprung news of their new YouTube channel featuring classic series with subtitles launching April 6th! Of the shows listed to be included, I'm most interested in various Space Sheriff and Super Sentai shows, but will be glad to take the opportunity to explore Kamen Rider and other series I haven't watched as much. I see this and TokuShoutSu working well together. YouTube would be on demand, while Pluto TV is streaming. Sometimes I just have the tv on in the background or sometimes want to watch something more specific. It's just more great news for someone who likes these silly old shows. Which I do... and I'm sure you probably do also.

The Green Goblin Is Just The Worst

Every play a game in an arcade or a store display and have that annoying kid who keeps pestering you until you lose and immediately asks if he can play now? THAT KID GREW UP TO BE THE GREEN GOBLIN!

Repost- Transform Squadron episode 1

For the Weekend Crowd:

Transform Squadron episode 1

After some introductions, Rob talks about the Dollar Tree Robots toy line! He then talks the Power Rangers 25th anniversary episode, the upcoming conclusion of Voltron Legendary Defender, and thoughts on new Transformers stuff! Robots/Monsters/Misadventure

Transform Squadron ep 1

Transform Squadron episode 1

From the files of Teletran 1, 2, 3, and more comes Transform Squadron: the podcast component of www.zonebase.org! Rob, something something awesome brings you a new podcast from the same train of thought!

This episode- After some introductions, Rob talks about the Dollar Tree Robots toy line! He then talks the Power Rangers 25th anniversary episode, the upcoming conclusion of Voltron Legendary Defender, and thoughts on new Transformers stuff! Robots/Monsters/Misadventure 

Spider-Man PS4 E3 trailer

I feel like it's taking forever for this game to get released, but man it looks like it may be worth the wait. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Jaguar Man pilot

This past weekend I watched the pilot for the un-produced  pilot for Jaguar Man, what would have been a neat-o and wacky toku series featuring a jaguar themed hero. I don't know how good an actual series would have been, but I can at least say this one shot was kooky fun.

Redman intro

I won't lie, I've been feeling a bit beat down lately. I just want to curl up in front my TV, eat some pizza (nice big glass of Pepsi to wash it down with), and watch some of my silly shows. I've been on a bit of a Redman kick lately, and ain't nothing wrong with that. Low rent, no plot, and high on crazy. Redman is a great tokusatsu series by the folks behind Ultraman and Godzilla. What makes it great? Well, like some other older toku series, episodes are just a few minutes long. The short time frame doesn't allow for anymore plot other than 'there's a monster, Redman's here to fight it'.

Fight it he does as an entire short is exactly what you watch these silly things for, the rubber monster carnage. What makes these a little more special is that... Redman kinda just randomly attacks and kills monsters the majority of the time. Like, more often than not, a monster is just existing and there he is. On a show like Power Rangers/Super Sentai, when the monster is destroyed, you get a flashy move and the monster explodes. In Redman... well... he'll stab them to death, break their necks, throw them off a cliff, sometimes just bash their heads in. Then for good measure he might just throw the corpse off a cliff. Honestly it's a little jarring to see a monster just get beheaded like a victim of Jason Vorhees. Also, part of the charm.

Just talking here about this silly show has cheered me up a little bit, so I think a marathon of episodes with a big old pizza this weekend is just what I need.

Marvel Megamorphs

In the mid 00's, Toy Biz (who were making Marvel toys prior to Hasbro) made a weird, yet fun transforming robot line based on Marvel Superheroes. They had earlier in the 90's made various 'morphing' figures (goodness that Punisher), however these were outright robot toys. The figures were rather large robots based on various Marvel characters with a smaller version of said character serving as the pilot. The pilot figure acted as the toys gimmick key as well. In fiction, the robots were powered by the characters super powers, and via various points on the toy the character would activate from being plugged in. Like others, I found them ridiculous before buying a few and enjoying them quite a bit. In hindsight, I wish I would have bought more as they were really neat.

There was a mini comic included with each toy which fell in order of each toy (so you needed them all for the complete story) as well as a Marvel mini series, which was pretty enjoyable for something so silly. Often times now, you'll see them pop up in various groups and pages with members usually getting them confused for the Hasbro Marvel Transformers Crossovers toys. Which is a shame that they don't have better notoriety. Sure they were weird and were gone almost as soon as they arrived, but they sure were fun in their own way.