WWE 2009

Are you ready to rumble!?  Get set for the roughest, toughest back-busting Set of wrestling cards to come down on the mat in years.

Topps Trading Cards presents WWE 2009 that throws in so many extras you'll think you won the world wrestling championship!

Seven Cards come per Foil Pack with 24 Packs per Box.  Ninety Cards make up the Base Set (I got a full Set) and every Pack comes with a special Legends OF The Ring Card.  Every sixth Pack contains a Reign Of Honor Card and randomly inserted throughout the Packs are Ringside Relics (I got a piece of The Miz' shirt), Autograph Cards (make mine Ricky Steamboat), Dual Legacy Autographs (rats!) and Signed Mat relics (rats again!).

The cards have great collation, brilliant color photographs, crisp, clean trim edges and lots of cool inside info and facts. Look for coded Cards that let you go online for special Virtual Cards.

Topps graciously provided an unopened Box as a giveaway.  For a chance to win, send me your email at bamcomics@juno.com.  A winner's name will be drawn at random.  The winner's name will be announced here next month.

Up

From Disney/Pixar comes a delightful tale of an old man's love for his deceased wife and his promise to go on one last adventure.

Seventy eight year old balloon salesman Carl Fredrickson has lived a long and peaceful life with the love of his life, Ellie.  For over 50 years they lived together in a cute little bungalow content to share in their love for one another despite being childless and living a rather 'dull' life.

All that changed when Ellie passed away, leaving Carl lonely, somewhat bitter and determined to fulfill his wife's last wish to move to and explore the wilds of South America.

Carl hatches a plan.  When an old folks' home comes to take him away, he launches his home into the wild blue yonder held aloft by thousands of balloons.  He plans to fly to South America and live out his last days in the place his beloved wife always wanted to visit.

When he picks up an unwanted passenger-Russell, a local Wilderness Explorer who happened to be under his porch looking for a Snipe.   Carl had sent Russell on a fool's errand to find the fictional beast in order to get him out of his hair.

Together they arrive in South America and bump into a large native bird-a bird the unscrupulous explorer Muntz wants for his very own and he'll stop at nothing to get it.  Even if it means killing Carl and Russell and anyone else who gets in his way.

Carl and Russell and their new ally, a talking dog (Dug) owned by the explorer, who defects, set out to save the large bird, its family and stop the explorer in his tracks.  It's thrills, spills, chills and lots of sentimentality in Up-an uplifting film about love and family.

A DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Copy come in the DVD set.  Look for lots of extras like story concepts, art, featurettes, games and more-so much more! 

Up In Flames

Are you ready to put a little sizzle in your saddle?  How about some flame in your fanny?  A little butane in your behind?  Then get ready for Greenlight's Limited Edition 1:64 diecast, Up In Flames, Muscle Car Garage vehicles.  Now that's a mouthful!

Six revved up mean machines on four wheels come packaged in attractive bubble packs that include full vehicle stats on the back inset panel and they're rugged enough to take some serious punishment-just like the vehicles they contain.

Each vehicle: five cars and one truck, feature killer paint jobs from flame burst front hoods decorations to full side and body checkerboard flame decor.   Hot, hot, hot!

Vehicles include Compresso 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T painted in a bright blue with white hot flames, large chrome wheels and full interior details, Chain 1969 Buick GS 400 convertible in deep orange (including the interior) and oversize chrome bumpers and wheels and Traditional 1971 Chevrolet C-10 truck painted black with yellow front flames, red wheels and silver trimmed cabin.

Tribal Hatchet 1970 Plymouth Road Runner is a bright metallic purple with chrome wheels and trim, black interior and full window details, the 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Swiss Cheese painted a bright red with yellow side flames, white walls and a huge interior and Serpentine 1967 Chevrolet Corvette painted a deep red with wraparound front and side flames, chrome running boards and oversize chrome wheels.

Each and every vehicle is tightly crafted, boast clean, crisp paint application precise chrome accents and incredible interior details.

Domo

Domo, that lovable fuzzy body, gaping mouth, sharp teeth cutie is a big hit in the U.S. after its introduction from Japan.  Dark Horse Deluxe and Qee present their 2" Qee Collectible Figure that also includes a Limited Edition Mystery Domo Qee carefully hidden in a box along side the visible Qee in the set.  What's mine?  Aww, that would be telling.  Let's just say it's awesome!

The Qee Domo brown figure is a short, partially articulated plastic figure with a large gaping, tooth-filled mouth, rectangular body with rounded corners and short stubby legs and slightly longer arms with two-digit hands.  It's so Qee-ute! 

Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist

Exactly what is illusion?  How does one go about creating illusions?  Illusion and the art of perfecting the use of illusion is Japanese director Satoshi Kon’s expertise.

Considered one of the most innovative and daring animation directors in the world, Kon’s influence can be seen in not only Japan’s movie industry but in movie making all around the world.

Beginning his career as a manga artist, Kon developed an eye for pushing the envelope of visual story-telling and soon made the transition to animated film or Anime.  Teaming with visionary animator Katshiro Otomo, the creative team produced such notable and ground-breaking anime as Perfect Blue, Paranoia and others.

Each film examined individual characters, their aspirations, motivations and most of all their tenuous hold on reality and illusion.  Writer Andrew Osmond and Stone Bridge Press examine the long and illustrious career of Satoshi Kon from his humble beginning as a young manga artist to his phenomenal success as a director.

Part of Stone Bridge’s Visual Media Masters series, Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist is an in-depth look at Kon, illusions, anime and the human condition.

The Batman Vault

With the resounding success of the recent Batman movies, the animated series, the comic book series and the current Blackest Night storyline, Batman is more popular than ever.

In Running Press’ new book, The Batman Vault, by Robert Greenberger and Matthew K. Manning, readers learn everything there is to learn about the Dark Knight.

Follow along as the writers examine the Caped Crusader's roller coaster ride through the decades, starting with his first appearance in Detective Comics.

Through archive reproduction of art, text and collectibles, you’ll thrill to the exploits of Batman beginning with his dark and vigilante days to the introduction of the Joker and Robin, his wartime team up with Superman, the frivolous 1950’s fantasy and science fiction adventures, his television show phenomena, retuning to his dark roots and to his current rank as the #1 fan favorite superhero-without super powers!

Not bad for a man traumatized by his parents’ death, who dresses up as a bat, lies in cave, has all the latest high tech toys and who has even gone one-on-one with Superman and won!

This is a phenomenal book packed with artifacts, rare photos and art, interviews, observation and so much more.  It’s enough to drive you batty!

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron

Rated T for Teen, the new Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron video game for PSP delivers upfront Empire/Rebel action and adventure as only LucasArts can deliver.

Elite Squadron allows the player to go it alone, team up with other gamers, battle on the ground or in the air.  On ground and in air battle affect one another so the dynamics of the game shifts depending on what events are happening on either level.

You can design and outfit your own character, choose weapons and species and search for and obtain items and bonuses.  Each of the classic movie battles can be recreated from Hoth to Endor.  Choose you mode of transportation form ships to ground vehicles, choose Modes such as Heroes and Villains (to play classic Jedi or Sith characters), track stats and battle your way through 12 campaign levels, multi-layer battlefronts.

Elite Squadron also presents new characters form battlefront, Renegade Squadron and The Force Unleashed.  Play is full 360 degree with full detailed environments, excellent character vectoring and textures and sound effects and sound track that makes you feel as if you're deep in the action as portrayed in each  movie.

Take Star Wars around in your pocket.  you never know when you might meet up with aliens, Sith or the Empire.   

Red Lantern Atrocitus

Series One of DC Direct's new Blackest Night figures just came out and I ordered a full set from my local comic book vendor, Universe Of Superheroes.  Like most others living through this current financial downswing I have to budget my money. So, I'm purchasing one figure every one or two weeks, depending on how many comics I buy in a particular week.

Let me tell you, it as no easy task choosing what figure to buy first, considering that all of the figures are awesome.  They include Atrocitus, Earth-2 Superman, Blue Lantern: Saint Walker and Alpha Lantern Boddikka.  It was toss-up between Atrocitus and Boddikka as to which one I would purchase first.  Eventually Atrocitus won out. 

The full-articulated Atrocitus figure is a formidable as his name implies.

The Red Lantern's outfit consists of a black body suit with metallic blood red chest armor, oversize shoulder pads with attached neck protection, knee boots, gloves and lower arm armor.

Atrocitus' face is a study in rage with its open maw showing upper and lower pearl white sharp teeth, deep set glowing yellow eyes and bony face plates.  His right hand is twisted into a fist and his left with its clawed fingers grasping. 

Included with the imposing figure is a special Red Lantern base and a blood Red Lantern that can be loosely held by the left hand.  The figure is held firmly in place within a vacuum formed inner sleeve and waist tie-down covered by a full plastic bubble for easy viewing.

I especially like the black on white Red Lantern logo on Arocitus' chest and his well-defined muscular physique.  Nicely sculpted!

E-Klasse, Kafer And Anhänger

Limited to only 1,000 copies the Schuco’s 1:43 Edition metallic blue Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse Limousine "Avantgarde" diecast auto is a true miniature mechanized marvel.

Securely mounted on a custom black base and protected by a clear plastic high-impact display box, the auto is a real eye-pleaser and makes an excellent addition to any pureblood diecast collector.

This blue beauty is all detail with its miniature side mirrors, slightly protruding door handles, wraparound headlights and taillights, chrome wheels, tinted glass windows molded in bumpers and hidden antennae.

Full interior details includes a to-scale dash and steering column, luxurious leather like seats and all the extras Mercedes Benz owners come to expect.

Equally impressive is Schuco's 1:87 Edition VW Käfer Cabrio mit Wohnanhänger also mounted on a special black base and protested by a clear plastic shell.

A classic VW Bug ragtop, with its top down, togs along a customized VW mini-enclosed trailer with bubble roof, two-tone paint scheme and side windows. 

The car is painted a deep copper with cream interior, black folded back ragtop and fully chromed side upper door accents, bumpers, mirrors, light enclosures and door handles. 

The Set VW (VW T3 mit Anhänger + VW Käfer Cabrio is a light gray enclosed VW van with front side and rear windows, black bumpers and slit side windows just behind the rear window.  It hauls a VW bug ragtop on a twin axle flatbed trailer with hitch, and side extended turn and brake signals.

The ragtop VW Bug is a deep metallic blue with full chrome details and black interior.

All of the aforementioned vehicles have wheels that turn, are huge on details (both exterior and interior) and look great on display. 

Ultimate Alliance 2

Just when you thought things couldn't get any hotter than Activision's Marvel Ultimate Alliance along comes Ultimate Alliance 2.

Twice the action, twice the killer graphics, twice the special effects and twice the fun!

Based upon Marvel's Secret War and Civil War series, Ultimate Alliance pits heroes against heroes and villains against villains in a no-holds barred battle royal with the victor either free from government registration or forcing the opposition to register under the Superhuman Registration Act

Rated T for teen, the new Ultimate Alliance 2 video game is compatible to all game formats and features some of the most dynamic graphics, excellently rendered figures and blow your eyes out soundtrack and sound effects.

Assemble your four character dream teams and for the first time combine the powers of two characters for the ultimate power rush.

Look for 250 new fusing powers, character expansion with Cyclops, Psylocke and Blade and multiplayer team-ups online and off.  It's like playing the ultimate RPG with full 360 degree action, a huge selection of environments and locations, full object manipulati