SUPERMAN'S GLASSES: WHAT A SPECTACLE!

I stumbled across a piece on the RPF forum about Superman's glasses as worn by Christopher Reeves in his Clark Kent movie guise.

Turns out they're these I think.

Who knew!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404803762326?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=d-j4tsoospu&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=TaqCDb0LSF6&var=674823957051&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

DC McFarlane Newer Video

https://youtu.be/Lo8rth0gzi8?si=D1i2QpwzuyMf7Lxd  

Hi Woodsy,

This will give you a better taste of the new McFarlane Toys  Super Powers,

I hope you like it!

Regards 

MJ

Southcoast Base 

DC Super Powers, McFarlane.com :: The home all things Todd McFarlane

https://mcfarlane.com/toys/brands/dc-super-powers/  

Check this out!

Regards,

MJ

Southcoast Base

Super Powers Rule!

On holiday I've been reading about Kenners DC Super Powers figure line from the 80's in an old Tomarts Action Figure Digest mag.

Despite not owning any of them It's one of my favourite action figure ranges ever, simply because they're so beautifully made and look incredible.

It's often cited as the best action figure series ever made.

I've only ever seen the figures at the NECs Memorabilia show when I used to go there in the Noughties, a brilliant sight to see when the entire range is lined up.

It's one of the few figure lines I've never found anything if at car boot sales over thirty plus years. They must be quite scarce in the UK.

Do you have Super Powers readers?

 

A BOY WITH ANTLERS AND SHARKS IN PARIS

Watched a few things of late on the telly. Here's a few thoughts. Wonder if you've seen them?

1. Travellers - the Missus and me really enjoyed this, like we did Manifest. A longer box set challenge with lots of episodes, the central premise of time travel was really interesting. Its talky for sure but the characters are worth it. Quite an old series now, pre-Covid.

2. Eric - this is a recent production. A sort of adult Sesame street set in a dingy 1980's New York, its quite a sad tale of loneliness and decay. Not everyone's cup of tea, we sort of enjoyed it, if that's the right word. The 1980's American sets and props were fabulous though and the acting was brilliant.

3. Sweet Tooth - our current watch, a long series about a boy with antlers. A sort of dystopian viral fairy tale, we'll see how it goes. Enjoying it at the moment.

4. Under Paris - a film. The title should have been Sharks in the Seine because that's what it is. A novel idea but a complete Jaws rip-off [can a shark movie be anything but?], even including yellow barrels being dragged forcibly through water. Having said that, the Missus enjoyed it.

5. DC - my own late night telly watching when the Missus is in bed are currently DC flicks. I do love the modern Superman trilogy. For some reason I'm re-watching it in reverse order. Zack Snyder's 4 hour epic The Justice League is simply phenomenal; Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice in the middle is a real diamond and the film I'll watch again next week, Man of Steel, is goosepimple perfect. My favourite Super Hero trilogy.

What are you watching readers?

THE PENGUIN'S PARASOL: TOY BIZ UMBRELLA

Rain, rain, rain .....

Where's my umbrella?

One from the 80's was that fishy foe of Gotham, The Penguin, who had a brolly [is that the same as an umbrella?] I recall when cast in plastic for the DC Super Heroes range by Toy Biz.

Here's an image of one I saw on Ebay.

In fact around 2004 I once bought a whole bag full of around twenty loose ones to sell on my old vintage toy stall!

*

Since writing this on MC in 2017 I was chuffed today to find this picture, below, in my archive of one of my old loose Toy Biz Penguin umbrellas that I bought a bag-full of! You can see the central hole, so they must have been the missile firing version.

According to DC in the 80's "Toy Biz released three different versions packaged with different variants of the umbrella weapon: an umbrella that shot a 3/4" missile, an umbrella that shot a 1 1/2" missile, and an umbrella that simply shot off it's umbrella top. Wizard Magazine reported that the 3/4" missile variant was the scarcer one in the early 90s, so at the time that was the one selling at the highest value."

Reading this I wonder if the above carded Penguin has been mis- carded? It says 'missile firing' but there's no hole in the umbrella. Strange! Anyone any the wiser?

DC Hot Wheels: Batman, Catwoman, Bane, Robin

https://youtu.be/F6Y1IVT86sw?si=KADOzCyN1kZrP52R

Holy Batmobiles!

Regards

MJ

Southcoast Base

The Flash: Fwoosh!

I watched the Flash the other night in the Hull Ferry's cinema. 9pm till Midnight. The Missus was fast on in the ship's cabin and I couldn't sleep so Barry Allen's alter ego it was.

I like the idea of the Flash - it made me think of Hermes with his winged helmet and feet when I was a kid. I enjoyed reading the comics.

It's great that lesser DC heroes get the Hollywood treatment. Flash, Black Adam et al. The same for Marvel. Venom, Carnage etc.

As for Flash the movie, I enjoyed it. I like the DC world with the different iterations of JLA, so it's nice to see a nod to them on screen. Even Nic Cage as Superman got a look in! Go figure!

The film has it all: time reversal, speed force, many Flashes and best of all, Batman. Not just anyone but Michael Keaton no less! The Bat section is fabulous and makes the movie come alive. For me it was 1989 allover again! Like I said, time reversal!

I can't decide if the actor playing the Flash is just very geeky or intensely irritating but I can live with it. They need Billy Cruddup back as his Dad tho for some class. Oh and more Michael Keaton's Batman and his incredible toys!

Have you seen the Flash?

DC: DISTINGUISHED HOT CARS!

I picked up a set of Hot Wheels DC Superheroes models from the 2022 range. 

In a rare stroke of luck, I managed to get the whole lot in one shop, no need to go on a hunting expedition to several shops to find the last one or two models needed to complete the set.

These models are from another of the Hot Wheels premium lines, this time the Character Car series. The series name now appears on the card itself, making them easier to identify. This time there are six models in the set - but they form two distinct sub-groups. Some have a working Action Feature.

The first three models come on dark red and black cards, and are tied-in with The Batman movie.

Batman - with the new-style Batmobile that looks like an ordinary American road car, except for the suggestion of a cape at the rear. Black with grey interior, and tampo-printed lights. New model 2022.

Selina Kyle - no mention of her Cat Woman name. Another ordinary looking road car. All black. New model 2022.

The Riddler - Off-roader in two-tone green, with a brown canvas tilt. Black patch on the doors, with a white question mark. New model 2022.

The next three models come on much brighter, light blue cards. Each car is decorated in a scheme that matches the costume of the character depicted.

Superman - Red and blue, with a touch of yellow. Originally released in 2019.

Wonder Woman - Red, blue, yellow, and white. Originally released in 2019.

The Flash - Red and yellow. Originally released in 2012.

All the models are of mixed metal and plastic construction, with tampo printing. Made in Thailand.

The card is wider than a normal Hot Wheels card, and is printed in colour on both the front and back. The back has a panel showing all six models in the series. Copyright date 2021.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

There was a time above... a time before... there were perfect things... diamond absolutes. But things fall... things on earth.

Yesterday evening  I watched my Zack Snyder's Justice League movie again, which I bought on You Tube last year for £15. Its a 4 hour marathon of DC goodness that's hard to beat, certainly far superior to its shorter namesake shown in the flicks and worth every penny.

Watching it again I can easily say that DC's Henry Cavill Superman trilogy is one of the finest set of films I've ever seen and one of my favourite superhero story arcs. Stretching right back to the supremely brilliant Man of Steel ten years ago, then to the utterly fabulous Superman v. Batman: Dawn of Justice and finally the Cavill conclusion Justice League, they are in the words of Bruce Wayne at the start of Dawn of Justice, "... perfect things! diamond absolutes"

I have many many good things to say about them, The Superman Man of Steel musical motif is simply wonderful and enhances all three movies. Ben Affleck's Batman is consistently terrific and the appearance of members of DC's wider universe like Amy Adams' gentle Lois Lane, the brilliantly-named Desaad, the mighty Darkseid himself, the axe-wielding Steppenwolf and League member Cyborg just add to the 'distinguished competition's' dark and fascinating world.

I had to look up the soldier character who boards Lex Luthor's boat towards the end of Zack Snyder's League cut and its not one I know at all, but I won't spoil it.

Another unusual character in Zack's cut is the tall lady with the sceptre stood next to Darkseid seen briefly in his lair with Desaad at his other side. Again I had no idea who she was and given that she hasn't got an important role in the movie I think I can reveal her name having looked her up, the oddly titled Granny Goodness. She is an immortal and a force to be reckoned with for sure!

One final DC character to grace the screen right at the end of Zack's cut is the Martian Manhunter and I really hope we see more of the intriguing green Leaguer in future films.

DC is more interesting than Marvel in my opinion and I will really really miss Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman. In my opinion the best yet.

What do you think readers? DC or Marvel? Cavill or Reeves? Affleck or Keaton?

WHAT IS THE RUNNING TIME OF THE ZACK SNYDER CUT?

I'm confused and wonder of you can help readers.

I would like to get DC's Justice League The Zack Snyder cut as an online streamed movie as a Christmas  gift for me from my Missus. I need to send her a link so she can rent it for me!

However, there's different running times given for the Zack Snyder cut. Some say 4 hours and Amazon Prime's is 8 hours!

What is the actual length of the Justice League Zack Snyder cut? Anyone actually know?

THOR LOSER

Being a big fan of super hero films I had a bash at Disney +'s new THOR: Love and Thunder entry, as I am keen on the Asgardian god and was a comic-reading kid.

Alas, despite an obviously large budget, Love and Thunder has done what I personally dread in super hero flicks. Its descended into a parody of itself, with comedy the main thrust of the plot. Not even Christian Bale's creepy God Butcher could wrestle the thing out of cosplay cheese for me.

Such a shame. I won't spoil it as my cinematic tastes won't be universal so I'll leave Love and Thunder at that [except to say what an awful title!]

Oddly enough, I saw an earlier Chris Hemsworth fantasy tale last week, The Huntsman: Winters War. I saw the first Huntsman: Snow White years ago. I get them both mixed up in my mind with the two Malificent movies for some reason. Hemsworth clearly cut his teeth for future Thoring during these Huntsman flicks.

I also caught Jason Momoa, he of DC's Aquaman, in Wolves, an early vehicle for his action style. It was on Legend here on TV in the UK last week. For Legend [nee the Horror Channel] it wasn't a half bad bite at a werewolf picture, without filling the screen with teens too! I enjoyed it.

Have you seen any of the flicks readers?

PERFECT THINGS

I watched Man of Steel and Justice League again this week. DC stuff is just ace.

I must admit I adore Man of Steel. I think its a masterpiece of filming. The global hope that Superman brings is palpable and maybe its because the last two years have been a covid nightmare I am noticeably susceptible to beacons of hope, even when they're on film.

Snyder, Cavill, Adams and company strike just the right tone to make this a serious bash at bringing Supe to life on screen. No high camp, no daft jokes. Its like entering a glorious Alex Ross painting. 

And the score is just terrific; the snarling world-engine rev keeping us on our toes and the two-note Superman melody reminding us not to give up. Its just superb.

Justice League is good but not the icon that is MoS. Having said that I haven't seen the JL Director's Cut.

Absent here is Dawn of Justice, as its not on Netflix. I saw it several times last year though on Prime I think. It is without doubt one of the finest Super Hero films ever made and as Batman says in the first minute, it is a perfect thing.

What do you think readers?

Have you any DC toys and games?

Hot Wheels Wonder Woman 84 Jet

Hi

          The film Wonder Woman 1984, or WW84 was released in late December 2020.

Hot Wheels have included a die-cast Wonder Woman Jet in their Replica Entertainment line for 2020. This is the Panavia Tornado strike jet, which was a joint British/German/Italian design from the 1970s. It is a two-seater, with swing-wings. The Hot Wheels model has its wings fixed in the forward position, for take-off or landing, but no undercarriage. 

The model is provided with a clear plastic display stand. It seems to have been modelled as a single-seater. There are large fuel tanks beneath the wings. The colour scheme is overall dark gunmetal grey, with a black nose tip, and smoke-tinted canopy. The only markings are a USAF style serial number in black on each side of the fin, and above the starboard tailplane. 

This is AF73 097. The model is a lot smaller than a Matchbox Sky-buster, more like the handful of aircraft that have been included in the main Matchbox line, such as the S-2 Jet or the F-14 Tomcat. Copyright notice on the underside says DC Comics. 

The packaging is the new style, with a small clear plastic bubble on a heavy card backing. This uses less plastic than the older style packaging, but offers much less protection to the model, and makes the models harder to stack.

     Here is a site which includes information on the whole Hot Wheels Entertainment line, the exact name of which has varied over the years.

Retro Entertainment / Hot Wheels Entertainment / Replica Entertainment | Hot Wheels Wiki | Fandom

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THIS POST NEEDS A FUNNY TITLE CAPTION! ANYONE?

 The Christmas Fairy needed a bit of extra help this iffy year so Superman stepped in.

We made sure that no Kryptonite was hanging on the tree

So Supe could do his thing and make sure the baubles don't fall.

He'll be on tree duty until the 6th January.

Superman will be available for world-saving duties after that.

THE REMCO ENERGISED 12 INCH FIGURES

I remember buying a loose Remco Batman from 1978 at an evening toy fair in the late 1990's. Normanton I think. It was an exciting find as I'd only just read about these 'action figures'.

Made of a similar hard plastic to my beloved Captain Laser by Mattel, Remco's energized toys combined great DC looks  - Batman, Spider-Man and Superman, with that universally fascinating device, the winch.

These 12 inch figures could go up and down on a nylon line and I was thrilled to find that my own car boot find actually worked. I was sad to sell it a few years later.

Here's the 1979 TV ad for the uber-cool Remco energised Spidey.

Have you got a Remco energised DC figure?

COMIC BOOK ADS

Hi Woodsy

I have just found these on You Tube. A pair of short programmes showing old comic book ads, and what you actually got in the mail if you sent in your pocket money. Very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-_vh4_4msU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqE319uNRV0

It also mentions a book called Mail Order Mysteries: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads, by Kirk Demarais, 2011. I remember borrowing this from the library a few years ago, it covers the same sort of ground.

Paul Adams 

New Zealand

THE WONDERFUL WONDER JET

I saw this wondrous beauty on Worthpoint.

Wonder Woman's Wonder Jet.

From the lustrous 1966 Justice League of America box set by Multiple Toymakers.

I love the yellow colour and the overall shape.

Wonder Woman is snug in that clear wedge canopy.

Courtesy of the CosmicTeams site here's the yellow jet in its set complete with another Wonder Woman, Colonel Steve Trevor and two DC characters totally new to me, Countess Nishki and Angle Man. Just who are they?

What a jet! What a set!

You got one?

A FLASH IN THE PAN?

 I never got into the Flash as a kid. I was aware of him as a DC comic character though and always had a fascination for the speedster. I found the yellow lightning bolt on a red background a really memorable symbol.

Whenever I saw a National petrol sign driving around with my Dad, with its winged Hermes helmet, I thought of the Flash and decided back then that the character must have been based on the greek God Hermes, the messenger of Olympus.

Since then I've had a few Flash items pass through my hands as a toy 'dealer' back in the Noughties, mainly action figures I think, and become aware of his Marvel counterpart Quicksilver, though I'm unsure who is quickest.

In the last year or so I've been in the company of real Flash fans from a new generation and leaned about many different sides to the fastest man alive. He can travel through time, has enemies in other time-zones, has alter-egos like Reverse Flash and super-foes like Savitar. There are many Flashes from different ages such as Jay Garrick the Golden Age Flash. Other speedsters include Professor Zoom and Bizarro. Perhaps the best name of a character for Flash is Godspeed!

Being attracted to the idea of superspeed and time I may have to give the TV series The Flash a whirl. I just hope they focus on speeding and not speaking. I wonder if DC are planning a movie?

Are you a Flash fan or is it a Flash in the pan? Have you any collectables?

MY OLD DC MUG

I recently re-found this mug in the attic.

I bought it with my Father-in-Law at a movie theme park in Bottrop, Germany, in 2001.

Inside the cup was the receipt.

I always loved the DC cavalcade of heroes on it. I do love DC heroes.

Alas I dropped the cup years ago. I re-glued the handle but don't trust it for big hot cups of tea!

Do you have a super hero's mug?