Joker

He’s known by a variety of names: The Clown Prince of Crime, Harlequin of Hate, the Ace of Knaves, and the Jester of Genocide.

But to Batman fans he is known as the Joker--Batman’s arch nemesis.

The Tonner Joker figure comes in a special, black display box with the DC Stars logo.

Inside the figure is secure in the box with silk ribbon tie downs and foam rubber.  Accessories are in separate Ziploc bags and packets of silicon chips keep the moisture out of the box preventing damage to the figure.

A sheet of tissue paper gatefolds over the figure for protection.  A special circular base and wire support are also inside.

What I really like about this figure is it reminds me of the Joker when he was first introduced.  It looks very much like the Golden Age Clown of Crime.

Comic book readers need to remember that originally the Joker was a maniac and a ruthless killer.  It wasn’t until the Comic Book Code Authority was created and a decade later the Batman TV series came about that the Joker was played more as a buffoon did.

Thankfully that all changed when Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams returned the Joker to his originally mad state in the late Silver Age.

The Tonner Joker features a grimacing, red lip, death white face with a long hooked nose, a pointed chin, deep set eyes, large sweeping eyebrows and a slicked back green mane of hair.

He wears a black strip bowtie, a bright green shirt with buttons, a gaudy orange knitted vest, a light purple waist coat with large cuffs and collar and purple pants with black pinstripes.

His entire body is ghostly white including his bare feet and hands,

Included with the articulated figure are black shoes with white spats.

Everything about this figure screams high quality from its beautifully sculpted face to its finely tailored cloths.  This is the Joker figure collectors need to get their hands on.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Freedom Fighters #1

Get ready for obscurity.

You’ve heard of DC Comics Justice League of America, The Legion of Superheroes, The Justice Society, The All-Star Squadron and even Infinity Inc.

But, have you ever heard of the Freedom Fighters?  No?  Thought so.

The Freedom Fighters consisted of some of DC Comics Golden Age heroes: Black Condor, Uncle Sam, The Ray, Doll Man, The Human Bomb and Phantom Lady.  All were introduced in issue #1.

The Freedom Fighters pop out of thin air as they appeared on earth having left their alternate earth where the Nazi won WWII.

Immediately upon arrival they confronted a malicious madman hell-bent on obtaining ultimate power.  How convenient and timely.

OK, so the story was corny, the art below par and the concept overdone but it was still a fun read.  It certainly wasn’t as sophisticated and relevant as many of the comic books today.

The ‘relevant’ dialogue was forced and the dialogue was as cliched as it gets, still there was something about seeing heroes from yesteryear trying to fit in today’s society.

The Freedom Fighters lasted a good number of issues but like so many titles introduced during DC Comics’ ‘Explosion’ it soon fell and vanished when DC’s ‘Implosion’ hit in the mid 1970s.

Both Marvel and DC Comics had greatly increased the number of its titles in the hopes of garnering more readers.  Part of their strategy was introducing a number of larger page count books (some containing reprints) and jacking their prices up to 25 cents-some titles even selling for 50 cents.

The strategy backfired and instead of gaining titles both companies lost titles-in DC’s case nearly 50 percent of them.  Marvel fared slightly better.

Both companies cut back, reduced their prices and somehow managed to survive.

It was a bold move on for both companies-especially DC that had fallen in numbers behind Marvel Comics.  

DC never quite recovered until the mid-1980s when it basically reinvented itself and became one of the most progressive and innovative comic book publishers of all time.

Crisis On Infinite Earths, Watchmen, Vertigo, The Dark Knight Returns and The Killing Joke were just a few of the ground-breaking titles that turned the company around and made it a powerhouse of creativity going head to head with Marvel Comics.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The New Teen Titans Against Drugs

Back in the 1980s when DC Comics’ The New Teen Titans comic books were written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by George Perez the title was a hot commodity.

So hot in fact that two very special anti-drug books were produced with the proceeds going to drug prevention.

The first The New Teen Titans drug awareness comic was issued by the IBM Corporation in cooperation with The President’s Drug Awareness Campaign. Marv Wolfman provided the story with art by Adrian Gonzales.

In it a new superhero: The Protector and The New Teen Titans team-up.

The story centers around two brothers dealing with drugs.  The younger is encouraged by his older brother who is an addict to take drugs.

The Protector and The New Teen Titans step in to help the siblings and in the course of the story finds themselves affected by drugs and eventually confront the drug dealers who market the deadly narcotics.

Keebler and DC Comics present The New Teen Titans in story by Marv Wolfman and George Perez that once again teamed with The Protector  and The New Teen Titans in a tale of several teens struggling with drugs and their effort to stop.

Both issues stress the importance of listening to young people, identifying the symptoms of drug abuse and contacting the proper authorities to help individuals and to stop the drug traffickers.

In this age of out of control drug abuse by young people and people of all social strata these two issue bring the message home.

Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Marvel Legacy: The 1960s-1990s Handbook

Get ready for a trip down Memory Lane as Marvel Comics presents its famous character Marvel Legacy: The 1960s-1990s Handbook written in the styles of those decades.

What makes this book such an enjoyable read is the way it is written and presented.

Beginning in the 1960s both the writing style and the artwork reflex the look and context of that decade.  

Prevalent characters are presented as they were seen during that time.  Characters created in each particular time period are shown.

The book makes for a great resource when it comes to tracking a particular character’s origin, storyline, etc.

So it goes for the decades of the 70s, 80s and 90,s.

Each decade has an opening character group shot done in the appropriate style of each decade.

The oversize softbound book it is not particularly thick or massive.  But, the information contained in it is a great asset to any serious comic book collector.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Things I Want For Christmas

I haven't hit Old Saint Nick up for anything since I was a kid.  So, I thought, what the heck, here's my Christmas List:

• A new Laptop/Tablet
• A Generator/Inverter with Solar Panels
• Lots of old comic books
• Lots of old toys

Hey, I can dream can't I?  So, cough 'em up Santa!

Seriously I am blessed.  I have more than I need.

• I'm saved
• I'm married to a wonderful wife going on 42 years
• I have great kids and grandkids
• My wife and I have a lovely home, food on the table, cloths on our backs, our health, a great church and so many other things that I can't possibly list them all which God has so graciously given us. 

My desire is that the hungry will be fed, the lonely will have friends, the homeless given a home, the hurting to be healed and for our nation to honor God.

But, most of all I wish that people would get saved and give their lives to God.  He's so good, kind and loving.

St. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

All you have to do is ask.

https://www.allaboutgod.com/how-to-be-saved.htm 

I:P Masquerena and El Dorado

It’s that time again.  Just around Thanksgiving and just before Christmas Konami releases its special Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game Card Sleeves, Card Case, Game Mat and 9-Pocket Duelist Portfolio’

This year’s subject is I:P Masquerena.

The Duelist Portfolio holds 180 Cards, the Card Case holds over 70 Sleeved Cards, the Card Sleeves Packs comes with 50 Sleeves and the Game Mat  is cushioned, rubberized and measures 24” X 14”.

All sport dazzling art and are made of high quality materials.

Also released is the Maximum Gold: El Dorado Box featuring the first support for "Numerounius" archetype to the TCG and each Maximum Gold Box contains 4 Packs with 7 Cards each: 2 Premium Gold Rares and 5 Gold-letter Rares.

Now these are some Christmas presents to wake up to.  So be sure to write them down on your Santa Want List while there’s still time.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Philippians 4:4 (KJV) “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Look & Find X-Men

Leave it to Marvel Comics to come up with its own unique take on ‘Where’s Waldo?’ with its Look & Find X-Men.

The oversize, slim hardbound book features an X-Men full color montage on the cover with a short explanatory text piece on the back on how to use the book.

Imagine yourself an X-Man and you and your fellow mutants are tasked with finding objects that will help you complete your missions.

Huge two page spreads layout the action in the Danger Room, Genosha, The Shi-ar Galaxy, the Sentinels’ Base, The Savage Land and many more locations.

Get ready for some all-out action as you try to find the objects you need in illustrations so full of details you’ll need your wits, sharp vision and cunning to find each.

It’s the Ultimate Look& Find Book from Publications International, LTD.

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Showcase Superman

During the Silver Age of comic books DC Comics did some really strange things with its characters--specifically Superman.

During that period it was discovered that there were various types of Kryptonite: blue, gold, rainbow, etc.

Red Kryptonite had the strangest effect of all on Superman.  It would physically and mentally change him to beasts, monsters, mutations, his size, abilities-the list went on and on.

DC Direct, in homage to Superman’s Red Kryptonite woes, released a Showcase Presents Series 1 Action Figures Superman that pays tribute to said changes.

The Showcase Presents Superman is fashioned after the art of Wayne Boring and Curt Swan as seen during the Silver Age.

The slightly heavyset figure features the characteristic Superman with a square jaw of that period and the overemphasized curl of his black hair.

The face of the figure has classic features with a high brow, straight nose and deep set eyes and determined lips.

The heavily muscled torso showcases Superman’s impressive chest, powerful arms, slim waist and muscular legs.

It's painted bright blue and red with yellow highlights on the Superman ‘S’ insignia and yellow belt and buckle.

The figure wears the classic (pre-52 and pre-Rebirth) outfit with a long flowing red cape, red trunks and high top boots.

The figure features full articulation easily hid by the cloth folds and bright colors.  It’s secured in place by heavy wire and like its accessories it is cocooned in a form-fitting plastic shell and protected by the package’s clear plastic bubble shape.

Accessories include a lion’s head with full mane and deep set eyes, lion paws, a blade huge cranium Superman head, and extra set of open hands and an insectoid head with separate attachable antenna.  

I remember the classic Red Kryptonite tales and they were always fun to read.  A little strange, but enjoyable, just as this figure is.

Color application is bright, crisp and clean. Also included is a special Showcase base for posing the figure.

Matthew 24:42 (NKJV) “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

Star Trek The Next Generation Collector Cards Behind The Scenes

Have you ever wondered what goes behind the scenes of making a popular science fiction TV show like Star Trek: The Next Generation?

I don’t know about you but whenever I get a DVD set about a TV show or a movie Blu-ray or DVD I love watching the featurettes and special.

Watching a TV show of movie is one thing.  Knowing how they made it is another.

In Skybox’s Star Trek: The Next Generation Collector Cards Behind The Scenes Set of Cards Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series is examined behind the cameras.

Cards examine set designs, costumes, music scores, special effects, scripts, pre and post production and so much more.

Learn what it takes to turn out a weekly sci-fi TV series.  It requires the work of dozens of professionals, serious spanning and with a constant eye on the budget.

The Set of Cards was limited to 50,000.  I received Set number 26,346.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Comic Books

OK, I know that some of the things I’m going to say are going to upset some people.

But, I believe they need to be said.

I’ve been collecting comic books for over 60 years.  I collect them to read and reread.  What they are ‘worth’ means very little to me.

When I spot Youtube sites that so called ‘collectors’ host they only talk about ‘key’ comic books and what they are worth and how much they paid, for them I have this to say:

Paying huge prices for comic books, having them graded and boasting about how much they are worth is not collecting, it is investing. Two separate things.

The CGC: Certified Guaranty Company, is a joke.  Most of what they grade is wrong, even by their own standards.  And speaking of standards-who set them up to be the authority?

I don’t recall there being a vote.  Who’s really making money on grading comic books?  The CGC!

How is the value determined by sealing a comic book in a plastic box and sticking a label on it?

If a comic book is a 9.8 graded raw and 9.8 slabbed, why the huge price difference?

Whoopee-you have a sealed comic book.  The minute you open the seal the price drops to the raw price.  Why is that? It’s like buying a new car in the dealership, driving it one block off the dealership and the value drops by 30%!

And what’s with wanting a ‘perfect’ comic book that is 50 years old?  It’s sealed, stamped and you never get to handle it or read it.  What’s the point?

It’s a scam and a HUGE one at that!

How is it possible that a book less than a month old can escalate in price to hundreds of dollars?  Reality has taken a big leap out of the window!

And what about comic book storage and protection?

Let me make this clear.  You can store comic books in a box (yes a regular box or plastic tote) in a closet or cool dark place (without bags and boards) and they will be just fine.

You should protect your books just as you would any property you have, but don’t go overboard.  If you want to bag and board them go ahead and do it.

There a few companies that make good collecting supplies.

Buying new bags and boards for comic books and replacing them every ten years is a joke.  I have comic books from thirty years ago in their original bags with boards are they are perfectly fine.

Remember, cool, dark and air circulation-simple.

And another thing.  How dare a comic book shop offer me a fraction (usually 10%) of the value for a comic book that I know they will turn around and sell for over 1000% of that price.

I may not collect for money, but I'm not going to let myself be scammed regardless of what the object I'm selling is.

You want to play the 'value' game with me, have at it.  I'm wise to your strategy.  You play nice, so will I.

I understand retailer costs but, come on, I’m not stupid.

How is it possible that a comic book that sold for, let’s say, $50 ten years ago is now selling in the 5-figure range?  Ridiculous!

The majority of people who attend comic book conventions are not true collectors.  They are following a fad.  As soon as it fades and there is no money to be made, they’re gone!

Talk to most new collectors and they have no idea about or knowledge of comic book history.  Veteran comic book artists and writers (with a few exceptions) have few people visiting their booths.  It’s a shame.

Everyone is clamoring for the latest ‘hot’ comic book celebrity.  We’re talking comic book writers and artists-not movie stars or politicians!

Here’s my advice.  Buy comic books to read and reread. Collect them because you like them, not for what they are worth as dictated by the marketplace.

If they go up in value, that's a bonus.  Don’t buy into the hype.  Buy and read what you like.

If you don’t like a particular book’s political or social stand-don’t buy it.  It’s a free market, buy what you want, not what is ‘popular’.  Crap is crap no matter how much you decorate it with bright colors, art or social relevance.

Too often those that promote certain comic books on the Internet declaring them to be ‘hot’ and worth a great deal of money have a huge backlog of those issues they are trying to get rid of.

Don’t fall for the ‘collector’ and 'investor’ scams.  Be smart, think things through and ignore trends.

Trust me, it is a lot more fun to hit yard sales (forget flea markets) or used bookstores to pick up past issues.  It’s cheaper and more challenging.

Anyone can go online and buy comic books or pay inflated prices for issues at comic book shops. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Our Trespasses

Two brother-twins: Matthew and Jake.

What one feels so does the other; pain, pleasure and fear.

Matthew moves to New York City to break the connection.  Jake stays in his small hometown: selling drugs and God knows what else.  Someone murders him.  But who?

Matt returns home to his brother’s funeral.  Suddenly he feels the connection again-only this time much stronger, so much so that it nearly incapacitates him.  So much pain!

With the aid of an old friend he discovers his brother’s soul is in hell and a demon has deduced the connection between the two brothers.

As time passes the demon attempts to enter our world through Matt.

Matt’s only hope is to find the person who killed Jake and have them forgive him for whatever he did to them.

But, can Matt stay awake long enough before the demon takes over his body?  The demon's attacks on his family and friends escalates as it grows stronger and stronger.

Can friends, family, faith and forgiveness save Matt and the world from the demonic forces?

Part detective and part horror story Our Trespasses, by author Michael Cordell and released by TCK Publishing.com, successfully blends suspense with the supernatural.

Characters are well defined, the setting is memorable and the story holds your attention with dark hints as to what will transpire.

The story keep me intrigued and curious as to how the tale would culminate.

Ollie’s Ten Comics Books For A Little Over $6!

Ollie’s does it again!

A few days ago my wife and I went shopping at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.  We were there to take advantage of a 15% Off Discount Coupon Ollie’s mailed us.

As my wife traversed the store I contented myself looking at the books-specifically the comic book and graphic novel section.

I spotted several 10 DC Comics for $6.99 packets.  There looked to be some real gems enclosed.

Nether one of us wound up buying anything but a couple days later I visited my local used bookstore where I had some credit.  I cashed it out and took some of the money and bought one of the packs of comic books at Ollie's.

With my discount and counting tax I only paid a little over $6!

Boy, am I glad I did!  You will not believe what I got!

Without going into detail on each title I’ll just provide a list:

• Action Comics #1000 80-Page Giant-$7.99 Retail
• Superman Leviathan Rising #1-$9.99 Retail
• Batman Detective Comics #1000 Landmark Issue-$9.99 Retail
• The Joker 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular (Jim Lee Variant cover) $9.99 Retail
• Wonder Woman Diana Princes As Wonder Woman 60s #750 (J. Scott Campbell Variant cover)-$9.99 Retail
• Nightwing #75 Extra-Sized Anniversary Issue!-$5.99 Retail
• 3 DC Dollar Comics:
• Batman #13 Death Of The Family
• Watchmen #1
• Batman Hush #608
• DCeased Unkillables #3-$4.99 Retail

The total original retail cost of the ten issues is: $61.93.  Not bad for just over $6!

It’s like I tell both veteran and newbie comic book collectors, “If you wait long enough eventually ‘hot’ comic books come down in price.”

With a little pertinence you can pick old comic books at yard sales and garage sales (or in this case a discount store) for a fraction of the cost of what it being asked online or in stores.

Job 19:25 (NKJV) “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;”

What The..?! #2

Artist/writer John Byrne has a wicked sense of humor.  It shows in his writing and art.  

His humor was demonstrated in full swing in the second issue of Marvel Comics What The..?! #2 humor comic book title.

Leave it to John Byrne (with ink assist by Jerry Ordway) to come up with a tale where Superbman goes one on one against The Fantastical Four.

For you that are unfamiliar with John’s work John both drew and wrote the adventures of The Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics and Superman for DC Comics.

This is a way for John to take a jab at both.

Of course if you make fun of Superman his archenemy Lex Luthor can’t be far behind.  In this case he’s Rex Ruthless.  The Fantastic Four’s longtime enemy is parodied as Doctor Bloom.

Fred Hembeck and John Severin show what happens when the they look at The Retirement Of Knick Furey, Ex-Agent Of S.H.E.E.L.D.

Fury has his hands full with The Hydra Ladies Auxiliary

Terry Austin invites readers to the Famous Inker’s School and Al Milgrom and Mike Mignola poke fun at everyone’s favorite mutant Wolverine in Woof ‘R’ Eam!

Last but not least Doctor Strange gets his fair share of being made fun of in Doctor Deranged and his confrontation with DC Comics supernatural heroes Dr. Feet, Dead Man, Zatan-Nana, Spatula and Fandom Stranger as they battle Aunty Monitor.

What The..?! harkens back to the early years of EC Comics MAD magazine.

It’s ‘Marvel’ously funny and ‘D’elightfully ‘C’razy!

Psalm 16:8 (NKJV) “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

Prometheus #1

Only one criminal had the gall to take on the Justice League and almost win.

When Prometheus hacked Batman’s computer he discovers Batman’s contingency plan to take out the members of the Justice League should they go rogue.

Prometheus uses that knowledge to do just that.

The one-shot Prometheus New Years' Evil #1 special delves into Prometheus’s origin-or does it?

In a rather convoluted story that examines the line between good and evil readers are witnesses to one of the most unusual origin setups in comic book history.

It seems that his parents were hippies, who had the talent to rob, steal, kill and specialize in mayhem.

Although his parents were degenerates he still loved them and as most children do he followed in his parents’ footsteps.

His parents are finally surrounded and killed by the police.

Devastated the young Prometheus used his parents’ ill-gotten gains and through the clever manipulation of gang bosses, a new identity, a hunger for knowledge and martial and spiritual training at secret hidden monetary in Tibet hones his body and mind.

While there he discovered the secret of the monastery: a long hidden spaceship in its lower depths.

The surviving monks bestowed upon him the Cosmic Key-the key to the void.

He used the power to kill his young sidekick and took his place to exact his revenge on the Justice League of America.

Quite a story and quite a character.

It’s too bad DC Comics hasn’t capitalized on his uniqueness. It’s understandable since the state of DC Comics that has been devastated by the Woke Generation and a boatload of bad editorial decisions that has left the company a mere shadow of its former self despite stating otherwise.

News has come down that DC will be severely limiting it roster of titles, revamping its characters and basically obliterating its legacy and forming a new universe.  Count me out.

Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”

Burst Of Destiny

Have you ever daydreamed about one day hearing a mysterious voice telling you, “It is your destiny!“? It would be awesome!

Other than the evil Emperor announcing to Luke Skywalker that it was his ‘destiny’ to become the new Lord of Dark Side of The Force in Star Wars I can think of no other instance where I’ve heard that phrase.

In Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game’s Burst Of Destiny you have the opportunity to experience the thrill of discovering your true destiny courtesy of boosted Borrells!

It’s time to discover just how powerful you can become in the latest release from YGO.  Are you prepared to harness incredible power and face equally powerful foes?

Just look at what you get:

Includes Cards used by Yusaku Fujiki and Jaden Yuki.
    
Introduces new members/support for the:

Borrel, Branded, Destiny HERO, Despia, Drytron, Evil Twin, Gunkan, Ki-sikil, Lil-la", HERO, Machina, Magikey, Magistu", Penguin, Reptilianne, Rokket, Starry Knight, Sunavalon, Sunvine, Ursarctic, Sunseed, Swordsoul, and Topologic archetypes, and Cupid, Dog Marron, Man-Eater Bug and Star series.

Introduces the Floowandereeze and Icejade archetypes and new members/support for the Beetrooper, Cynet and Danger! archetypes, as well as the D.D. series.

There are 9 Cards per Pack and 24 Packs per Box. The Set contains 101 Cards:

5 Starlight Rares
10 Secret Rares
14 Ultra Rares
26 Super Rares
50 Commons

Psalm 118:24 (NIV) “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Batman Year One Commemorative Edition

Way back in 2012 I reviewed the Batman Year One Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo from Warner Bros.

Here’s the link to the original review.

https://bamcc-bam.blogspot.com/2012/10/batman-year-one-and-young-justice.html

In this new DC Universe Movie Batman Year One 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/Digital Copy Combo from Warner Bros. Commemorative Edition look for some new special in four featurettes.

If you missed the first go around this is your chance to relive the Dark Knight’s first year fighting crime in Gotham City.

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

James Kirk

James Tiberius Kirk is by far my favorite Star Trek starship Captain.  He’s also my favorite Star Trek character overall with Data from The Next Generation coming in a close second.

Kirk set the standard by which other Star Trek starship captains are compared.  No one could match his passion, cleverness and resourcefulness.

There was no such thing as a no-win scenario as far as Kirk was concerned.

The Kirk statue is fashioned after the captain as he was seen as in The Original Series.

He wears black, flared at the ankles, bell-bottom pants, black boots, a yellow long sleeve shirt with a black turtleneck collar, yellow rank strips on each wrist and a Federation symbol on his chest.

The statue, with the base, stands about 10 inches tall.

The base is shaped like a honeycomb section and looks like striated gray rock (slate like),

One area is a slightly raised.  Pink pointed crystals pop up from the rock.  The are 18 of them in various sizes.

The Kirk figure stands with its legs slightly spread with one foot on the upraised rock base.  Kirk holds a Phaser in his right hand as if ready to fire.  He’s slightly crouched with his left hand pulled slightly back as if prepared to jump into action.

The likeness to actor William Shatner’s face is pretty impassive right down to Kirks front hair curl.

Coloration is superb with slight tonal variations.  The sculpt work is solid with a nicely balanced feel and realistic body twists and clotting folds.  The head and hand sculpts looks realistic.

The heavy base and pose of the figure make it very stable.

Included with the figure is a Certificate Of authenticity from Diamond Select and Art Asylum.

Of the 1,700 statues released I have number 91.

The large box that contains the statue has Kirk photos on all sides.  Opening the flip lid reveal a Styrofoam container split in the middle and is secured by tape.

Opening the container reveals the figure snug in a Styrofoam cocoon and wrapped in clear plastic. It's extremely well done figure and it packaging keeps from damage.

Doctor McCoy and Mr. Spock figures are also available with bases that interlock with Kirk’s base.

Matthew 5:10 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Reminiscence

Imagine a future (the setting is around the coast of Miami) where the earth is ravaged by climate change.  The days are too hot so much of human activity is at night.

Private investigator of the mind: Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) and his assistant navigate clients’ minds to access more pleasant past memories.

When a new client shows up (a crimson clad, sultry and sexy Mae) she wants him to access her memories to help her find her lost keys.

What Bannister discovers is far more than a lost set of keys.  His client disappears and suddenly he finds himself caught up in the underbelly of the underworld of crime.

While there he discovers a violent conspiracy.  He must confront a disturbing choice-to enter the memories of the dark world to save the one he loves.  Just how far would you go?

Reminiscence, from Warner Bros., on Blu-ray/Digital Code, also includes several featurettes, a music video and more.

Blending reality with dreams and memories the film pulls you into a strange new world with visuals achieved by cutting edge computer effects and animation complemented by a moody soundtrack.

Matthew 24:42 (NKJV) “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” 

Twisted Tales #1

Pacific Comics paid homage to the late great EC Comics line of horror comic books with the release of its Twisted Tales #1 anthology series.

Great art and scary stories combined to make a win-win collections of stories that were guaranteed to send shivers up your spin.

Richard Corben contributed a scary cover as well as the Infected interior art. Alfredo Alcala got a little Out Of His Depth and Brett Blevins takes A Walk In The Woods.

Artist Tim Conrad and writer Bruce Jones discovered that sometimes Halloween really is about scary things in All Hallows.

I’ve had the good fortune to read a few of the old EC Comics Horror titles and Twisted Tales was a worthy heir to the anthology series.

Twisted Tales only lasted a few issues under the Pacific Comics banner, much like its sister publication Alien Worlds.

Both titles would pass on to other publishers but only for a short period.

It’s a pity that anthology series have disappeared off the newsstands.  Horror, Science Fiction, Crime and other genres are few and far between.

But, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.  Smaller publishers have taken up the challenge and published comic book series of the non-superhero type. 

With any luck as more and more of such issues see print the comic book industry will open up to endless possibilities.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow The Complete Sixth Season

Ya gotta hand it to Warner Bros. DC’s Legends OF Tomorrow TV series on the CW.  It’s in its seventh season and shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

For a show to last that long is amazing enough but when it’s a superhero series it’s even more astonishing.  It just goes to show that superheroes aren’t just for kids.  Their appeal goes much further than that.

With the plethora of superhero movies, merchandise, etc. DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow stands out.

With its ever changing roster of new characters and exciting format of time travel, alternate worlds and who knows what else it really draws viewers into each story.

Viewers of DC’s Legends OF Tomorrow The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray/Digital Code Combo will discover that it takes teamwork to save humanity.

The misfit crew of ‘heroes’ seems to jump from one disaster to another as they recruit new characters, mess with magic, fight aliens and whatever else comes their way.

Here’s just a few of the highlights of where and when the misfits find themselves: Cuba, Hollywood, London, Fist City-Oklahoma, Canada, Spain and other locations.

Lest it seem like they are taking a world tour throw in some sorcery, a nuclear showdown and other 'unusual’ events (to say the least).

Join the fun and adventure in some of the wildest, craziest and outlandish adventures ever experienced by a superhero team.

Extras include featurettes, unaired scenes and a gag reel.

Brussels, Sussex and Rome

Here in the United States we tend to have tunnel vision.  Although we (as a people) have the means to travel to other countries Americans can be a conceited lot, in that we see ourselves as the center of the civilized world.

How wrong we are.  Our history barely goes back 500 years.  There are countries in Europe that have structures five times that old!

Despite our strong sense of independence if it were not for our roots in Europe and other parts of the world our political, religious and social structures would not exist.

No country or its people are better than others are.  Every citizen of every country should be proud of his or her nation.

I recommend Americans to travel to other countries or at least read and do some research about other nations.

By doing so, it opens your mind to the world and just how big it is and how similar people are to one another, despite their location.

Jonglez Publishing is a great place to start.  Its books explore areas all over the world with insightful and useful text, stunning photos and best of all glimpses at locations seldom seen by tourists.

The City of Brussels is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of Belgium. It is also the administrative centre of the European Union, and is thus often dubbed, along with the region, the EU's capital city.Wikipedia.

Secret Brussels offers an insider’s guide to some truly amazing locations and events without all the tourist hype.

Explore gardens, cathedrals, estates, parks, museums  and other fascinating locations and more accompanied by detailed text about each that includes hours of operations, things to look for, hidden gems and other ’secrets’ known only to natives.

Sussex (/ˈsʌsɪks/), from the Old English Sūþsēaxe (South Saxons), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English Channel, and divided for many purposes into the ceremonial counties of West Sussex and East Sussex. Wikipedia.

Secret Sussex is just as comprehensive as Secret Brussels and contains similar information complemented with maps, diagrams and color photos.

Rome (Italian and Latin: Roma [ˈroːma] (About this soundlisten)) is the capital city of Italy. It is also the capital of the Lazio region, the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, and a special comune named Comune di Roma Capitale. With 2,860,009 residents in 1,285 km2 (496.1 sq mi), Rome is the country's most populated comune and the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome, with a population of 4,355,725 residents, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Its metropolitan area is the third-most populous within Italy. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber. Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city; for this reason, Rome has sometimes been described as the capital of two states. Rome is often referred to as the City of Seven Hills due to its geographic location and also the "Eternal City”. Wikipedia.

Soul Of Rome A Guide To 30 Exceptional Experiences gets a little more personal and grassroots. It showcases people, places, things, foods and more intimate experiences.  

It offers a focused and personal look at experiences that are sure to please.

All of the Jonglez Publishing guides offer the perfect way to explore and discover other countries, cultures and locations.

Fantasy & Science Fiction #758, November/December 2021