SDCC 2014 Hasbro Marvel Highlights

Now that San Diego Comic Con is over, it’s time to pick out some of the best news from the convention. Though I wasn’t in attendance, I was glued to my Twitter feed catching updates as they poured in. The next best thing to actually being at a convention is connecting with friends and strangers on social media to circulate news.

As a huge action figure collector, I tried to catch all the news I could from the usual suspects. Judging by everything shown, it’s easy to see how hyped collectors likely were. But none stood out more than Hasbro’s Marvel Legends and Avengers Infinite Series (3.75”) figures. I’m still unsure of what the new name is for the 3.75” line, formerly known as Marvel Universe. It’s either Avengers Infinite Series or Marvel Infinite Series. I was thrilled to see some of the characters that will get the action figure treatment come 2015 and beyond. The Marvel Legends line will produce an Avengers series as well as a Spider-Man set. Here are my highlights from Hasbro’s Marvel display.

Avengers Infinite Series (3.75”)

Beast (‘90s)
Oh my stars and garters, mutant lovers and toy collectors, Beast from the ‘90s is finally here. This isn’t the first Beast figure Hasbro has produced for this line but it’s the first in this costume. He appears a little slimmer than you’d expect but come on, it’s Beast. Of course you want him.

Bishop (‘90s)
I must admit being surprised to see Bishop on display. He’ll definitely have a good home here though. One aspect of his design I can already see limiting rests in his legs. For those familiar, he appears to share the legs with earlier figures such as Moon Knight and Mr. Fantastic. Still, it’s great to have another X-Man and Black action figure.

Black Cat
Black Cat isn’t a character I’d have given much priority for this line. But she’s a welcome addition in a line with few women figures, one of which being Mary Jane. I expect to see a lot of dioramas featuring Black Cat and the web-slinger once she’s released.

Sandman
Though Sandman doesn’t make my top-5 in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, the character is cool enough and I like his powers. Collectors have been treated quite well in terms of Spidey villains and this figure adds to that. He’ll also have a variant which depicts him in fully covered in sand.

Spider-Man (Big Time costume)
The Big Time costume now comes in 3.75” scale to match its Marvel Legends counterpart. Though it didn’t see long-term use, it does look good. Now all we need is another Hobgoblin figure, this time matching the design of Phil Urich’s costume.

Speaking of Hobgoblin…

Marvel Legends Infinite Series

Hobgoblin
When I saw Humberto Ramos’ newly designed Hobgoblin in Amazing Spider-Man #649, I was ecstatic. After reading it, I flipped back and forth through the issue to take in the visuals. It’s a fantastic design. So you can imagine the grin on my face when I saw this figure. My initial joy waned when I discovered he’ll be a Build-A-Figure constructed by pieces paired up with several figures, some of which have yet to be revealed. I would’ve liked to see more scales across his top to match his comic look more but I’m still more than pleased.

Scarlet Witch
I’m not particularly invested in Scarlet Witch’s character but I don’t have any problems with her. Well, except for that whole “No more mutants” episode. I do acknowledge and appreciate her place within the Marvel Universe and she makes for some decent action figures.

Captain Marvel
As a proud member of the Carol Corps, I couldn’t contain my excitement upon spotting Captain Marvel on Instagram. My love for the character has grown in recent years and I’ve been a big supporter of her books. Seeing this figure (with interchangeable heads!) geeked me up more than I can describe.

Ms. Marvel & Radioactive Man
These two figures will be packed with yet another Captain America. This one is a repaint of the previous Ultimate Captain America. But he’s nowhere near as important as Ms. Marvel and Radioactive Man. I’ve wanted a good Ms. Marvel figure for some time and while we’ll have Carol in her Captain Marvel costume, her previous one is still worth picking up. Seeing Radioactive Man yields some hope that he won’t be in action figure limbo for too much longer after being revealed last year. Also, I just want more villains in my collections of both scales. Initially I thought, and still do to a degree, that it was odd for these figures to be packed together. But as an Avengers vs. Avengers baddie pack, it has extra appeal.

Hawkeye (classic costume)
Another figure we’ve seen before only to be hidden away by Hasbro is Hawkeye in his classic costume. He was originally set for release as part of Hasbro’s train wreck of a variant program in 2013. This entailed figures being swapped in for others during production as “running changes.” I’m not exactly sure how well it worked. All I know is there are plenty of characters sitting in a Hasbro prison waiting to be freed. The only Hawkeye to hit the market featured his modern costume. So let’s hope this one sees release as I’ve held a spot for him in my collection.

What did you think of the toys shown at Comic Con? Which figures stood out to you? What toys disappointed you? Were there any you expected to see that weren’t shown? Sound off below.

*All photos courtesy of ActionFigureFury.com. You can find more images on their site here, here and here.

SDCC 2014: The Presence of Comics

As I look back at San Diego Comic Con and remember struggling to keep up with all the news that poured out over the four plus days, I was left with a revelation: comic publishers REALLY showed out. I don’t know how true that is compared to last year because I simply don’t remember last year’s show or when I went in 2011. My point isn’t to judge the past but to reflect on how we as comic fans, or perhaps just myself, look at Comic Con.

There’s no denying that Hall H, which I’ve never seen, is the big attraction. It’s all about the movie companies pulling their casts together to represent whatever big blockbuster is coming and the hottest movie trailers. The best news to come out of there this year was that image of Gal Gadot dressed as Wonder Woman for Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

While all of this was happening, comic publishers and creators were representing their brands to the fullest. Tons of new comics were announced for this year and next. This included books from mainstream and independent publishers. Some of the news flew under the radar. This gave me pause to wonder: has it always been this way or is the show returning to its former glory?

I’ll admit I’m one of the people who think Comic Con isn’t as much of a “comic” convention as it once was. That’s debatable. The amount of publicity comic books receive, however, might not. Despite this, as a comic fan, I was excited. Leading up to the show, publishers rolled out numerous announcements such as BOOM! Studios dropping a new story on us every day for 15 consecutive days up to Comic Con. Marvel Comics of course went to other outlets to reveal Falcon will take over as Captain America in All-New Captain America and that a woman would become the new Thor.

Dark Horse Comics held nothing back either when they revealed the titles and creative teams for 12 new series to be released later this year and throughout 2015. One of those, by Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra, will be Colder: The Bad Seed. It’s a sequel to their hit mini-series Colder which I highly recommend. Dynamite Entertainment surely excited fans with the news of a crossover written by Gail Simone which will focus on the women characters in their library. Keep in mind all of this was occurred BEFORE the convention. Comic fans had plenty of reasons to geek out before stepping foot on the show floor.

Once the doors opened, the industry didn’t lose a step. Image Comics kicked off the show with the stunning news of 13 new titles. One of those I’m anticipating is Dustin Nguyen and Jeff Lemire’s Descender. Another big news item from the indie publisher, especially interesting as a long-time Spawn fan, was Todd McFarlane revealing that with December’s Spawn #250, fans will see the return of the original Spawn, Al Simmons. Besides that and being the monumental 250th issue, it’s also notable because the creative reins will change hands to an as yet to be announced team.

Action Lab Entertainment, publishing home of Jamal Igle’s Molly Danger graphic novel, joined in the fun during their panel when they revealed they’d be publishing a comic based on the classic film series Puppet Master. This is a franchise I mentioned on Twitter some time ago as being more than capable of holding its own in comic form. The series will be written by Shawn Gabborin. The names of the artists have yet to be revealed.

I’ve used more examples here than intended due to the excitement of all the awesome prospects. Yet I’m okay with that as it actually serves my point about the perception of comics at Comic Con. Though the comics and their creators might not receive as much attention as they did several years ago, they’re still around. The difference now is people may have to seek it out or pay extra attention to the publishers and creators. Comparisons are often made between mainstream and indie comics, but during the convention, publishers of various sizes made their presence known. Some may have made a bigger splash than others. In the end though, we all win. Publishers and creators get to keep publishing comics and of course making money, while fans can continue to read good comics.

Comic conventions can be what you make of them. The schedule was filled with panels and events held for publishers and creators to discuss current comics and announce new projects. Comic Con’s programming schedule allows you to separate items by filter and I found all the panels referencing comics. You can find the list here. Expand your boundaries when a convention approaches. Dig through the programming to find the appealing panels. Don’t let the lack of publicity deter you from soaking up all the comic book fun.

SDCC 2012 – Sunday Highlights

Today is the final day of San Diego Comic-Con. Even though I wasn’t able to attend or read the updates on time, it was fun catching the news when I could. My little experiment didn’t work out as planned due to the busy week I’ve had, but I learned a few ways to improve upon it for the next convention. Even though this is the last day of the show, it doesn’t fall short of fun events for the fans.

Marvel: Women of Marvel brings together several women at Marvel to discuss their work for the publisher and what the industry holds. Editors Jeanine Schaefer and Sana Amanat will sit on the panel. You might want to make your way to Room 5A at 11:15 to catch this conversation.

1 p.m. is the starting time for Image Comics’s 20th Anniversary. Twenty years ago, this publisher was formed by creators who wanted more control over the work they created. Moderated by Eric Stephenson, the panelists include some Image’s founders and top talents. Room 6A is the home of this celebration.

Zombies have a hold on our imaginations and it doesn’t look like they’ll loosen their grip anytime soon. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. Max Brooks: Zombie Survival 101 takes a look at the author’s work with zombies. The zombieocalpse begins at 2 p.m. in Room 7AB.

Making Comics for Kids at 3 p.m. in Room 11AB will detail what goes into making comics for the younger readers out there. Neo Edmund (writer/editor for Silver Dragon Books), Joe Lefavi (editorial director for Jim Henson Co), Tim Beedle (Fraggle Rock), Paul Morrissey (editor of Eisner award-winning Mouse Guard), and Adira Edmund (JumpStart’s Windy Hollows) lead the discussion. This is a conversation that needs to be had by others as more “mature” titles emerge and books for young fans and all-ages material decrease in quantity.

John Rogers, president of the Comic-Con board of directors will be there for Comic-Con Talkback. He will listen to fans about their concerns for the show. Even though it may not matter to everyone in the room, I’m sure one of the topics will be about their ticket system. Room 23ABC at 3 p.m. is a place you might want to check out.

Here’s the sad part ladies and gentlemen, we have to wrap up Comic-Con. I’m sure it was a blast for everyone in attendance. All of us at home have been tuned into the internet to read all the news and eagerly await the post-con reports to hit the net. I wish I could’ve made it this year, there were several events that would have entertained me. Enjoy this final day and maybe I’ll see you next year.

SDCC 2012 – Saturday Highlights

So it’s Saturday. Anyone who’s ever been to a convention knows this is the busiest day. San Diego Comic-Con will be no exception. The show floor will be packed. The area around the convention center will have constant traffic. On foot and otherwise. Here are just a few (of the many) events happening today you should keep an eye on.

At 11 a.m. comiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital will be led by comiXology cofounders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts. You can join the conversation on the subject of the digital realm in Room 23ABC.

Writer and publisher Paul Levitz will host Kickstarter Changes Comics. Joined by Cindy Au (director of community, Kickstarter), Vijaya Iver (publisher, Cartoon Books), Batton Lash (writer/artist, Supernatural Law), and Jimmy Palmiotti (writer, Queen Crab, Retrovirus), they will examine how Kickstarter has changed comics. This will take place in Room 26AB.

If I were in San Diego, I would definitely hit the 4 p.m. Hasbro: Marvel panel. Adam Biehl (senior director, global Marvel line at Hasbro), Jesse Falcon (licensing director, Marvel), Dwight Stall (senior Marvel product design manager, Hasbro) and Kristin Hamilton (senior manager, global Marvel line at Hasbro) gather to discuss Hasbro’s Marvel Comics’ action figure lines. These include two of my favorite, Marvel Legends and Marvel Universe. Someone save me a seat in Room 24ABC.

The World of Capcom! will be moderated by Francis Mao (Capcom). Join some of Capcom’s producers and product managers at they reveal more information on some of their upcoming titles. Resident Evil 6, DmC, and Lost Planet 3 are among the games expected to be seen. Room 25ABC at 4 p.m. will be the stage for this show.

At 5 p.m., actress Robin Givens moderates Comics of the African Diaspora which will discuss creators and characters from various African nations. Kevin Grevioux (co-creator, Underworld film series), Lee Daniels (director/producer, Precious), John Jennings (creator, co-author Black Comix), and Damian Duffy (author, Other Heroes: African American Comics Creators, Characters, and Archetypes), will take part in this conversation. Room 4 has my name on it. Well if I was there anyway.

This is a big year for this next event. Gays in Comics: 25th Year Celebration! is longest-running panel in comics. Founding moderator and best-selling author Andy Mangels will lead the celebration. This panel looks packed to the brim with things for fans to be excited about. Tons of special guests are lined up. There’s more than I can even mention here. You just need to make it to Room 6A to check it out yourself.

At 6 p.m. in Room 5AB Geoff Keighley will moderate Reimagining a Gaming Icon: Lara Croft. Join Karl Stewart (Tomb Raider global brand director), Noah Hughes (creative director), John Stafford (narrative designer), & Camilla Luddington (voice of Lara Croft) at they explain the reinvention of iconic gaming explorer.

Room 6A at 7 p.m. will be the site for Gays in Comics Fan Mixer!. Prism Comics, the nonprofit org supporter of LGBTQ comics, creators, and fans will host this fun event.

Unlocking Arkham: The Forensic Psychiatry of Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery at 7:30 p.m. makes its return. Arkham Asylum has some interesting residents. Why do they act the way they do? Forensic psychiatrists H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D. will examine what motivates the behavior of these “disturbed” individuals and if they’re truly responsible for their action. Check in on this Room 7AB.

As you already know, Saturday will be action packed. There’s no way you can see it all and trying will certainly tire you out. Well, you’re going to be worn out anyway, might as well enjoy it. Feel free to comment on any panels or events you attend throughout the day. See you Sunday for the final day of San Diego Comic-Con.

SDCC 2012 – Friday Highlights

Friday of San Diego Comic-Con has finished and I’m sure it entertained thoroughly. I really wish I could’ve made the trip again. Here’s hoping there will be some good post-con reports up on other sites. But for now, let’s take a quick look at some panels from day 2 of SDCC.

The Black Panel returned to examine some aspects of African American pop culture. Michael Davis (The Little Bitch) moderated the panel which included Reginald Hudlin and Shaquille O’Neal amongst other guests.

Remembering Jerry Robinson and Joe Simon brought together Paul Levitz, Marv Wolfman, and others to celebrate the lives and careers of two of the industry’s greatest talents. The panel was hosted by Mark Evanier.

Spotlight on Larry Hama looked at the career of Mr. G.I. Joe. He’s been working on the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series for IDW Publishing which picked up right where the original Marvel Comics’ run ended.

Marvel: Ultimate Comics discussed the event Divided We Fall which will run through the Ultimate books as well as the future of the line. Writer Sam Humphries, Ultimate Comics editor Sana Amanat, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, and others were there were for this panel.

One of my favorite video game series of all-time made their presence felt at the con. Gears of War: Past, Present, and Future was led Cliff Bleszinski, Rod Fergusson and more to have a conversation about the franchises roots and where it’s headed.

No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics discussed the movement showcasing the LGBTQ comics community. No Straight Lines’ editor, Justin Hall (Glamazonia the Uncanny Super Tranny, Hard To Swallow) hosted this panel featuring some of the talented minds behind some LGBTQ comics which included Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Dykes to Watch Out For) and Paige Braddock (Jane’s World).

Resident Evil: Damnation Worldwide Trailer Premiere, 7-Minute Sneak Peek, and Filmmaker Q&A saw the trailer reveal for the sequel to Resident Evil: Degeneration. This included a 7-minute preview of the film.

Syfy Presents the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for its 24th year. There were some great nominees and I can’t wait to check out the winners. The Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing, and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award rounded out the annual awards show. With great presenters on tap and special guest appearances, this was a can’t miss event.

This, along with Thursday’s schedule, went up late. Timing has been off this week. However, this will be corrected for posts concerning Saturday and Sunday’s events. Be back tomorrow and prepare for the busiest day of SDCC. Well, the busiest day for any convention actually. See ya then.

SDCC 2012 – Thursday Highlights

It’s Friday people and that means the first official day of San Diego Comic-Con has wrapped up. I was unable to catch a lot of news real-time, but I’ve done some catching up. As I started Wednesday, I’ll be posting some of the panels lined up that are sure to pique your interest. As this is going up late, I should say that these panels are ones that would have received some attention…yesterday.

Censorship and the Female Artist examined how the topic affects women in pop culture and the creative industry. AdaPia d’Errico moderated the panel which featured Anina Bennett, Camilla d’Errico, and Olivia. This panel caught my attention for several reasons. One being the focus on female creators and another being how they’re affected by censorship.

This year sees the 25th birthday of the Street Fighter franchise. For the Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Celebration, producer Tomoaki Ayano and executive producer Yoshinori Ono shared their plans (and prizes) with some lucky fans. I’ve been a fan of Street Fighter since I was a kid and I would definitely have been there to see this.

Dark Horse Comics publisher Mike Richardson and some of the talent with the company presented Dark Horse: Powered by Creators-An In-Depth Look at the Best in Creator-Owned Comics. DH has been home to some great creator owned works and is probably the king of the supernatural realm. I wonder what announcements came out of this panel.

I Can’t Write, I Can’t Draw, But I Love Comics! unites several players behind the scenes in various creative industries. If you don’t possess the creative ability, there are still various methods of becoming a part of your favorite mediums.

The Future of Superhero Studies is one that definitely has my name on it. Ben Saunders and Charlie Hatfield discussed where this field came from and where it’s headed. The superhero lover in me would have found it hard to miss this one.

Spotlight on Mike Carey showcased the very talented writer of X-Men Legacy and Unwritten fame. He was interviewed by editor Shelley Bond. I’m a fan of his work and would have attended this panel to hear what he had to say.

That’s Thursday ladies and gentlemen. There was quite a bit on deck for this first full day and this was only a taste of that. If you made it to San Diego and hit up any of these panels, I’d like to hear your thoughts. Come back later as we tackle Friday of San Diego Comic-Con 2012.

SDCC 2012 – Preview Night Highlights

Happy New Comic Day! Well for some of us anyway. Many others have headed westward for San Diego Comic-Con. Yes, it’s that time of the year. I love conventions for what they offer the fans. Basking in the nerdy atmosphere is something amazing. I’ve caught coverage of the show online and on tv and have wanted to go for years. In 2011, the pieces came together and I was able to make the trip. It was quite an event. With so many interests, comic books being numero uno, I always have something to keep me busy at conventions (not including Wizard shows…RIP). For the most part, SDCC was no exception.

Programming for the 4+ day event has been available on Comic-Con site for well over a week and they have some nice panels lined up. Each day of the con, beginning with tonight’s Preview Night, I will post some highlights of the day’s schedule. This series won’t be my specific battleplan, but some panels and signings I would attend or would suggest to like-minded attendees.

Two parts of the show I would spotlight are writer Mike Carey’s appearance (X-Men Legacy and Unwritten) and the many toy exclusives I want to add to my collection. So many awesome toys. If you are doing some toy hunting while at the show, I would definitely suggest lining up for them immediately. And those do begin on Preview Night.

The show floor is only open for three hours on Wednesday, so programming is limited to some film screenings. Ballroom 20 is madness and I would stay clear of it. However, if you feel the need and happen to have already been in line already, you can catch the pilot for Arrow, Green Arrow’s television adventures will air on Wednesdays this fall on the CW. Revolution, another one hitting the small-screen in the fall on NBC, depicts a world where all the technology has blacked out.

And that wraps up Wednesday. Be back tomorrow and we can go through some of what’s on tap for Thursday in San Diego. I can only imagine how amazing the weather will be. See ya tomorrow.