With this online art community, we have a unique opportunity to connect with our kindred. We must avail ourselves of this experience, for it may never come again.
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Hello, folks! Apologies for my active presence being so scarce in these here parts. I yet live, but work is keeping me busier than expected, though not hoped. It's good to be wanted, and employed.
A shout out to my pals and work-mates, Phillybee, Dusty Abell, and Jon Suzuki. For those interested, here's a sneak peek at one of the projects we've been working on together at WB Animation (Thanks to Brohawk for the link!):
[link]

I needed to give a joyful outburst. This comes from my inner child, who still gets excited by fun movies, games, comics, and toys that are well-made. Yea, for the BIG kids... Todd's Toys USED to be the collector's rage. There's a new sheriff in town. Sideshow Collectibles/Hot Toys is producing stuff that crowns them the new and reigning elite. Pricey, but supreme. Honorable mention to Medicom. But the contest is now over. LOL!

My limited collection currently includes these superb SC/HT figures:

- PREDATOR- Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer. "Ahnuld" Schwarzenegger should still look so good!

- TERMINATOR: SALVATION- John Connor. Dead-on likeness again! This time it's Christian Bale. The accessories and minute details are a-maz-ing! Scary, even. I haven't seen the film, which I hear is disappointing. But this figure is well-worth having if only as a sharp bit of character/soldier reference.

- ALIEN- Captain Dallas. The Tom Skerritt is sharp enough (I won't get a collectible of anything if the primary likeness fails to make a certain standard. Further, I prefer toys that do not LOOK like toys. Sorry, Mattel, Hasbro, Kenner. etc..). But again, the details are so incredibly faithful, demonstrating a profound respect for the source material. To call these "toys" is somehow demeaning. The bonus feature here is the dazzling spacesuit lights!

- STAR WARS- Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker (ROTJ), 2 Stormtroopers, and Lord Darth Vader himself. Splendid articulation and costume detail. The 12" scale is apparently ideal for showcasing this sort of excellence in craftsmanship.

- THE DARK KNIGHT- Batman. Several figures in this line were worthy of snatching up, but I just had to have The Batman.

- BATMAN BEGINS- The Tumbler/Batmobile. By far, the highest achievement in toy vehicles based on television or film that I have ever seen. Ever. It is not flawless, but dang near. It's a veritable monster at 1:6 scale, and it's fairly heavy even though the parts are plastic. The Batman action figure fits inside! The working LED lights are quite bright, blinding even.

Now, I'm not one to be a corporate shill, and I shrink from plugging any commercial product. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THAT ANYONE BUY THESE PRODUCTS. I don't approve of tacky commercialism, so please recognize this for what it merely is, an exuberant sharing of opinion among fellow geeks. This is what I feel, and this is what I have. Done deal. Do as you will.

I think my collecting is finished for the moment. Running out of space in my humble art studio! I know there's a jaw-dropping Iron Man figure set to come out soon. But I think I'll pass.
What I probably wouldn't resist is a figure of this standard and scale of the Christopher Reeve Superman! "You will believe a doll can fly!" Oops! I mean, action figure!


***In other news not so new--
My talented, smart, and wonderful niece is online here, and if you'd like to welcome her, go say hello to her here: [link]

Please be cordial, and clean. Proud parents and older relatives are very protective of the younger ones among us. Give us no cause for worry or wrath. Thank you so much!