The Consumer's And Collector's Choice For The Latest Product Tests And Reviews. Family friendly, informative and posted often.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Ferrari 599 GTO
A descendent of the original 1962 Ferrari 599 GTO the newest addition to the Ferrari family boasts the highest price tag of any car, a 661 horsepower V-12 engine, a lightweight frame that helps the car reach 60 MPH in an impressive 3.5 and the style and prestige known the world over.
The model kit comes in solid white and requires expert paint, glue and assembly expertise. This ain't no little kid model! Recommended for modelers 12 years and older, the Ferrari 599 GTO model parts come attached to nine part trees. Easily detached, the parts have minimal or zero flashing and fit snuggly together with glue with no gaps.
Follow the paint and decal application guides and soon the beautiful Ferrari 599 GTO model will look just like its original namesake. Rubber tires, clear windshields, windows and lights and chrome wheels, trim and accents bring the Ferrari 599 GTO model to life.
Look for full interior and exterior details including a highly-detailed engine that can be viewed under its open hood. Are you ready for a "real' car? The Ferrari 599 GTO is the set of wheels for you!
Frankenweenie
Long before he
changed the face of superhero movies with Batman. Years before he revolutionized and popularized stop-motion animation
with his The Nightmare Before Christmas, James And The Giant Peach, Coraline
and Corpse Bride. Decades before re-envisioning classic movies and novels like
Planet Of The Apes and Sleepy Hollow and introducing totally unique characters
like Edward Scissorhands and Peewee Herman, director Tim Burton produced a little
independent film called Frankenweenie.
A small film chronicling
the love a boy had for his dog which he brought back to life soon became a cult
classic and now after so many years it is a major stop-motion animated film brought
to movie goers in 3D.
Walt Disney Studios is proud to
present the 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy release of an updated Frankenweenie as
envisioned by its creator Tim Burton.
Follow young Victor
as he brings his beloved pet back from the dead and soon discovers that not
everyone is pleased by his success. Family,
friends, school mates and townspeople soon discover that defeating death has
monstrous consequences.
50 Years Of James Bond And Totally MAD
It is totally astonishing to me that the James Bond film franchise is
celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Not bad for a paperback book character
written by an ex-Intelligence Agent with British Intelligence during the Cold
War.What started out as a fictionalized dream fulfillment for its author blossomed into a best-selling book series and transformed into popular movies and an entire mass media empire.
I recall seeing my first James Bond movie when I was around ten years old. Back then, during the early 1960s, James Bond movies were considered risqué and unfit for youngsters to watch. Which made it irresistible to any young boy or teenager.
From that first encounter with the spy with a license to kill I was hooked and through its ups and down over the years I followed the cinematic adventures of James Bond 007 as portrayed by various actors.
Time Home Entertainment celebrates James Bond's Silver Screen adventures with its LIFE: 50 Years Of James Bond hardbound book.
On its cover the first movie James Bond (and my favorite) Sean Connery is shown with gun poised and framed by the famous Bond gun barrel.
Inside readers are led through five decades of film-making magic with spotlights on the various Bonds, the movies, villains, ladies, gadgets, vehicles, collectibles and even Bond wannabes.
Filled with archival photos, behind-the-scenes tidbits and photos and synopses and critiques of each film, the book is a complete dossier on the spy every man wishes he is and that every woman wishes she is with. It's a sure bet that once you look over this book you will be shaken AND stirred!
For a totally different kind of fantasy be sure to check out Totally MAD
that celebrates 60 years of humor, satire, stupidly and stupidly that is MAD
magazine.First published as a comic book, MAD soon transformed into a black and white magazine to avoid the infamous Comic Book Authority censorship police.
Through six decades the totally wacko studio of MAD artist and writers have parodied and poked fun at movies, TV shows, politics, advertising...just about everything imaginable.
Totally MAD is brimming with black and white and color art and photos seen in MAD magazines over the decades. Lovingly reproduced on high quality coated paper stock and bound in hardback, with an Introduction by Stephen Colbert and Eric Drysdale, Totally MAD is an insane trip down Memory Lane with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Spider-Man Vault And Gift Box
I remember buying the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15
off a magazine rack way back in the early 1960s. I was around eight years old.
Hard to believe but later this month I turn 60! Time flies!
I've been a fan of Spider-Man on and off again over the decades depending
who is writing him or drawing him. Steve Ditko is my favorite Spidey artist
with Todd McFarlane, John Byrne, Mark Bagley and John Romita, Jr. coming up
close behind.
Over the past years Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, has been joined
by other "Spider" people and even other alternate universe
Spider-Men. Peter is my favorite.
There's a new "Superior" Spider-Man starring a new "Peter
Parker" (sort of) but somehow I can't wrap my mind around the whole
storyline. Comic books are known for shaking
up the status quo and embracing change.
I guess I'm too "old school" to go along with some changes.
Give me Spidey as I know and love him and I'm as tickled as can be. That's why when Running Press
came out with its "The Spider-Man Vault" I got excited.
Peter David and Robert Greenberger have assembled A Museum-In-A-Book with
rare collectibles spun from Marvel's web.
The deluxe hardbound book containing spiral bound pages is a real Webslinger
fan's treat with pages packed with Spidey memorabilia and memories.
Color-filled pages recount Spidey's long and illustrious career since his
creation by Stan Lee/Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko all those years ago.
Contained within its pages are sketches, art, archive photos, recreations of
Spidey collectibles and memorabilia neatly wrapped up in a complete history of
the Webslinger.
Each decade is examined along with books, movies, magazines, toys, TV shows
and every other conceivable type of mass media merchandize imaginable.
The book is the ultimate Spider-Man collector's dream come true all wrapped
up like a fly in a spider's web. I especially
enjoyed looking at the art and archival pieces and reading about the creation
of everyone's favorite arachnid hero.
For even more Spidey fun check out The Amazing Spider-Man
gift box that contains a one-of-a-kind Spider-Man miniature, a Spidey metal pin
and a small booklet that gives a quick lowdown on Spidey and his friends and
foes. It's Spidey in a box!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Heian Maru
Parts detach easily from part trees and with the easy-to-follow assembly instructions you'll have your very own Japanese WWII passenger liner/cargo/submarine depot ship assembled, painted and decaled in no time. Choose from two decal options (1st or 8th Fleet).
The photo-etched parts are molded in either gray or clear and fit together snuggly with no flashover of rough or loose edges.
Originally built to be a passenger line and cargo ship the Heian Maru was outfitted and armed just before the outbreak of the war and became a submarine depot ship. Mainly used as a transport and cargo ship the Heian Maru was sunk in the Truk Lagoon after being struck five times by explosives.
The model kit duplicates the functional ship right down to its deck plating with guns, railings, cargo hoists, cables, a windowed bridge, scaffolding, anchors, lifeboats and all the other equipment included on the original ship.
The Limited Edition ship model comes in large box with a full-color painting of the ship in port tending a submarine.
The single smoke stack ship model also comes with dual gold display stands so model lovers can view the entire ship stem to stern and below the waterline. The Heian Maru model is sure to become a prized addition to any modeler's collection-it is to mine.
Friday, December 21, 2012
The "Quotable" Star Trek Voyager And Warehouse 13 Season 3
Two Trading Card Sets spotlighting science fiction/fantasy TV shows: one old series and one new series, have just been released by Rittenhouse Archives/Sci-fi Hobby.
To be perfectly honest I wasn't that impressed when Star Trek Voyager first
aired. The premise sounded promising: a
starship transported to the far side of the universe and even at top light
speed it would have taken the captain and the crew nearly 75 years to return to
Federation space.The first year or two the stories were good, but none of them really stood out. However, by the third year Voyager caught its breath and picked up steam and as a result the TV series found its creative legs and consistently turned out excellent episodes.
Looking back Voyager had a lot of firsts: a woman Captain, a half Klingon/Human woman as chief engineer, a holographic doctor, an alien Cook and Morale Officer, a Borg Science Officer, a black Vulcan First Officer, a mixed crew of renegades and Federation personnel, an alien telepath whose lifespan was only seven years, a Helmsman/Weapons Officer who was an alternate universe version of the original Helmsman/Weapons Officer, a bad boy Federation washout as a Navigator and a spaceship with a biopac brain.
Voyager and its crew took on the Borg, Q, hostile aliens, alternate timelines and dimensions and even had time for some retro-Holographic adventures.
The "Quotable" Voyager Trading Card Set consists of 72 Base Cards ( I assembled one full Set and put a huge dent in a second) that come in 24 Packs with five Cards per Pack in one Box. One hundred and forty four memorable quotes come on the Cards along with full color photos of the characters who said them.
Three Autograph Cards are guaranteed in each Box (mine are Leigh McCloskey, Kathleen Garrett and Don Most). All of the Cards are printed both sides on heavy coated card stock.
Randomly inserted Cards include:
- 9 Best of the Holodeck Cards (1:12 packs) (2 for me)
- 9 U.S.S. Voyager Ship Cards (1:12 packs) (2 again)
- 10 Starfleet's Finest Cards (each sequentially numbered to 399) (1:48 packs) (zip)
- 9 Star Trek Voyager Communicator Pin Cards (each sequentially numbered to 225) (1:96 packs) (3 per case) (zip again)
The Warehouse 13 Season 3 Premium Pack Trading Cards come with six Cards per Pack.
Each contain two Episode Cards, two Relic Cards (mine were worn by Aaron Ashmore and Jaime Murray), one Artifact Card (Pavlov's Bell is mine) and one Autograph Card (Kate Mulgrew is mine).
Only 200 Boxes of the Cards have been produced so hurry up and get yours before it is too late!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Book Ends and Terry Cloth
Schiffer Books just published
two new books that as a graphic designer I find especially fascinating.Robert and Donna Seecof take a visual look at what many would consider mundane everyday objects: book ends.
But, as a designer who is familiar with the long history of industrial and decorative design book ends are anything but common.
While it's true that book ends serve what appears to be a simple function: holding up books, their functionality is far outshone by their elegant designs.
Book ends are a visual barometers of the times in which they were created. Social and popular likes and dislikes are reflected in each set of bookends.
By simply looking at each book end design it's easy to spot from which time period they originated and the art styles that influenced them.
The book contains dozens of color photos of book ends accompanied by price ranges and descriptions.
Each time period is examined as well as the manufacturers, materials used and rarity. Art begins with book ends.
Terry Cloth was once only though of as fabric used for kitchen and bathroom
towels and occasional for robes and slippers.
But, as the fabric's popularity grew so did its uses until today Terry Cloth
can be seen used in everything from
shoes to dresses and more.Terry Cloth, by Monique Combes, traces the history and uses of the colorful cloth. From early advertisements to full color photos of Terry Cloth fabric designs the book is a comprehensive and thorough examination of the colorful fabric.
I plan on using the book to instruct my art students about patterns and color.
Heroes & Heroines
Love 'em or hate 'em Japanese Anime and Manga are here to stay. We Americans tend to think of ourselves as
innovators and inventors. While it is
true that American artists and writers created what is referred to as modern
comic books and animated films and shorts, it took the Japanese to turn both on
their collective ears.Ironically two art forms that were introduced to the Japanese after their surrender in WWII would be conquered by talented Japanese artists and writers. Even more amazing is the fact that Anime and Manga have influenced, reshaped and revolutionized American animation, video games and sequential art.
It's easy to spot the changes in the way animated TV shows, movies, video games and comic books are being created. With more attention given to detail, movement, emotion and visual atmosphere it has transformed simple 'funny cartoons' into works of art.
In Heroes & Heroines: Japanese Videogame And Animation Illustration, publisher PIE International showcases the very best character art from Japan's best artists. Incredibly diverse in styles each page bursts with close-ups, stagnant and action poses, clothing and weapon designs and much more.
You can literally spend hours looking through its pages and marvel at the technical and creative brilliance it took to create each and every illustration.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Star Wars : A Galactic Pop-Up Adventure
Stars Wars can now add Pop-Up books to its pop culture conquest. Scholastic/Orchard/Lucas Books has just released the pop-up book of all pop-up books: Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-up Adventure by Matthew Reinhart.
Measuring in at nearly 2-inches thick the hardbound book with Yoda gracing the cover and large Star Wars type printed in gold foil immediately grabs your attention when seen on book shelves.
Inside readers are treated to fold out Podracers, Stormtroopers, Droids, aliens, planets, cities, monsters, villains, heroes, spacecraft and a spectacular fold-out of Anakin Skywalker transforming into Darth Vader. As Anakin his Lightsaber glows a Jedi green and as Darth Vader its changes to deadly red glow.
The book is a printed 3D adventure that brings the Star Wars universe and its characters to life in clever folded and cut images.
Littlest Pet Shop
They are so cute!
When Blythe Baxter and her dad move to a new apartment above The Littlest Pet
Shop she has a shock in store. For some
inexplicable reason she can communicate with the animals in the shop.Together they keep the pet shop open and running for its eccentric owner, Mr. Twombly. If only it were that simple!
Join Blythe and her new furry, finny and scaly friends as they embark on some exciting adventures and learn the bond friends have despite their differences.
Six episodes are include on the DVD collection from Shout! Factory along with two extras: a look behind the doors of The Littlest Pet Shop and coloring pages.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Seeds, Forest, World, Cats And China
Earth Aware Editions has
just published five beautiful books that celebrate this big beautiful world we
live in. Each hardbound book boasts exquisite
full color photos and art, first-rate printing and binding, heavy coated paper
stock pages and slipcovers and tight binding.
These are top-of-the-line publications that would do anyone's library proud.
Some of the smallest living things that exist seeds are the well-spring of all vegetable life. Their diversity, beauty and structure rival any manmade creation and far surpass them.
Seeds: Time Capsules Of Life, written by Rob Kesseler and Wolfgang Stuppy, with a preface by the Prince Of Wales, examines nature's marvel of genetic blueprints. The sheer variety of the seeds will boggle the mind and please the eyes.
India's Tale Of Kindness To Animals is chronicled in The Peaceable Forest as written by Kosa-Ely and illustrated by Anna Johansson. This beautifully drawn and colored book will thrill both young and old with its stunning art and lesson-laced text.
It's too easy to become complacent and satisfied by our immediate surroundings. Too often, as human being, we tend to see things form only our point of view and seldom, if ever, venture out to explore new cultures, countries and people.
A Day In The World does just that with its photo-packed pages that take readers all over the world and immerse them into divergent cultures and countries.
The oversize hardbound book contains hundreds of photos of people, places and things spanning the globe accompanied by short information packed tidbits explaining each photo.
For armchair travelers this is the book to look through and may, just maybe, it will provide just enough inspiration to get out of one's chair and comfort zone and discover the world and its people.
I have two cats, both female. they are as different as night and day and I love them both dearly. Although domestic occasionally I spot a hint of the wild big cats they are related to.
In Fierce beauty: Preserving The World Of Wild Cats, author Bhagavan "Doc" Antle and photographers Tim Flach and Barry Bland explore the diminishing world of the big cats.
As man encroaches on the territories of the big cats they are slowly disappearing. Shown in all their feline glory all of the wild big cats are given their due with large color photos, up close and intimate profiles and poignant text. You'll never rook at your housecat the same again.
China. It is a mystery to those of us raised in the West. Both fascinating and frightening China and its people are enigmas to most of us. Mysticism, communism, ancient, mysterious and yet compelling-hose are just a few of worlds that best describe Chine as seen by the West.
In China: An Intimate Look At The Past and Present readers are invited to take a photographic journey of the new long march and to discover for themselves the people, places and culture of China.
After looking through and reading the book I came away with a new understanding of China and its history. Full-color photos showcase the struggles, strength and cultural pride of a people who have endured hardships few Westerners can only imagine.
Hold your I-Pad over certain pages and images and suddenly the book comes alive with moving pictures, music and more! China comes alive in an interactive experience like no other!
Furniture, Propellers And Jets
Chances are if you are a model maker you also collect 12-inch figures-probably military figures. I collect figures too but I always find myself facing a problem. Figures need to be in an environment, especially if I create a diorama. Action poses are easy.
Have you ever tried to make a figure diorama that involves a more 'placid' theme? Ever try to find 'to scale' furniture for your figures? Weapons-yes. Foliage-no problem. Vehicles-piece of cake. Furniture? Not so easy.
Thankfully Hasegawa Model Kits has solved that problem with its new line of 1:12 Scale furniture models.
Two new pieces are the easy to assemble desk with swivel chair and the fold-out wooden table with two folding chairs.
Follow the easy directions and in no time at all you have two sets of miniature (working) furniture suites that will make your 12-inch figures jump for joy-if they could jump-and if they were real-well, you get my point.
For more conventional models check out four new Limited Edition model aircraft from WWII and contemporary.
The 1:48 Scale WWII German aircraft include a familiar plane recently reviewed by me. the Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/7/B 'JABO' is the colorful cousin to the Messerschmitt BF109F-4/B 'JABO'.
With its single pilot cockpit, camo paint scheme, bright yellow front fuselage, rear fuselage yellow strip and yellow tipped tail fin the heavily armed Bf109E-4/7/B makes for a formidable tri-propeller fighter with heavy armor, bomb load and wing-mounted guns. Did I mention the V12 aero-engine?
Like all of the Hasegawa Model Kits aircraft the Bf109E-4/7/B comes with comprehensive paint, decal and gluing instructions, part trees with easily detachable parts (with little or no flashing) and to scale realism second to none.
Equally impressive is the Junkers Ju87B-2 STUKA w/SKID twin passenger fighter with tri-propeller, full armament and twin front ski skids and single rear skid. Made for flying in cold mountainous areas the Junkers packed plenty of punch with its heavy armor, easy maneuverability and distinctive upswept wings tipped in yellow.
Speaking of yellow (and orange) the ACE Combat F-14D Tomcat "Pumpkin Face", 1:72 Scale fighter jet comes decorated on its top with a large leering pumpkin face and 'Happy Halloween' across its right wing. The swept back, variable sweep wings, supersonic fighter also includes twin jet engines under twin tail fins, a full weapon complement consisting of missiles, high caliber guns and enough additional firepower to make any opponent think twice about taking on this Halloween horror of the skies.
Display your Tomcat as in flight or with landing gear extended, cockpit open and wings folded.
The F/A -18F Super Hornet 'VFA-32 Swordsmen' may not be as colorful as the Tomcat but is equally impressive with its similar body/wing/engine configuration and bubble cockpit. Slightly more aerodynamic, The Hornet is one aircraft that has plenty of sting with it heavy weapon load, missile package and sophisticated electronics.
Previews, January
Here’s what you can expect in new merchandise in the
January Previews.
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
BPRD VAMPIRE #1 (OF 5)
BPRD HELL ON EARTH #105 COLD
DAY IN HELL #1 (OF 2)
SLEDGEHAMMER 44 #1
AME COMI GIRLS #1
GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #1
JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE #1
TRANSFORMERS FALL OF CYBERTRON
#1
MEMORIAL IMAGINARY FIENDS #1
EAST OF WEST #1
FIVE GHOSTS HAUNTING OF FABIAN
GRAY #1
AGE OF ULTRON
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1
WOLVERINE #1
Hawken: Genesis
Crossed: Badlands #25
Crossed Volume 5 TP
Simpsons Comics #200
Adventure Time: The Mathematical Edition Volume 1 HC
Mark Waid‘s Green Hornet #1
Kitaro GN
Helheim #1
Archer & Armstrong Volume 1 TP
Mobile Suit Gundam Origin: Activation Volume 1
BOOKS & MAGAZINES
Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine Special:
Skurge
Comic Book Creator #1
The Cats of Tanglewood Forest HC
Star Trek: The Next Generation: On Board the USS
Enterprise HC
TRADING CARDS
Bowman 2013 Baseball Trading Cards
Alphas Season 1 Trading Cards
Superman: The Legend Trading Cards
Marvel: Greatest Battles Trading Cards
Garbage Pail Kids Series 2 Trading Cards
TOYS & STATUES
Captain Action: Mission 013 Deluxe Action Figure
Captain Action: Iron Man Deluxe Costume Set
Captain Action: Wolverine Deluxe Costume Set
Marvel Universe Action Figures
Django Unchained 8-Inch Action Dolls
Deadpool: X-Force PREVIEWS Exclusive Pencil Cup Desk
Accessory
IMPORT TOYS
DC Comics: Wonder Woman “The New 52” Artfx+ Statue
A Better Tomorrow: Mark 1/6-Scale Action Figure
The Dark Knight Trilogy: Play Arts ~Kai~ Catwoman Figure
The Dark Knight Trilogy: Play Arts ~Kai~: The Joker
Figure
Halo 4: Play Arts Kai: Spartan Sarah Palmer Figure
Halo 4: Play Arts Kai: Spartan Soldier Figure
Kobe Bryant Real Masterpiece Figure
Destroyah S.H.Monster Arts Figure
GAMES
DC HeroClix: Teen Titans
Marvel HeroClix: Iron Man 3
Terra Mystica
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