infallible

Oooooh, I'm hyped! I rather like that Starbuck, but the uniform looks a bit bulky. It looks like they're making the tops removable, probably to hide those black and gray underclothes. I'd probably prefer just painted on uniforms, but I'm not going to complain. (I do rather like how panic-stricken Balter seems, just by putting his hands up.)

24 'Mates look great! Funny enough, I think Jack looks the worst of them all. I'm pretty sorry that Terri isn't pictured, since she wouldn't fit into any other season of the show. I wonder if there will be a variant... Maybe that's where Terri can come into things. :-)

Long ago, I decided to quit buying everything except for my most loved lines. That was MiniMates, Stikfas, Star Wars 3.75 figures, and LEGO. I'm only a completist with MiniMates and Stikfas (and even then, I don't get everything; I pass on the blanks with the logos in both lines).

Lucky for me, I just got a new job with a big raise, so I'm not having to give up anything new for all these MiniMates. Dodged a bullet with that one!

Gah! Already sold out on both of them. Damn. :-( I guess I'm stuck getting them from the overpriced local place.

Well, I wouldn't be getting so many MiniMates if they didn't have such great licenses.

Marvel and DC are naturals, so I'll be getting those. Love modern BSG, so I'm hitting those as well. I grew up on TNG, and have been a lifelong Trek fan, so those are a natural. 24 is one of my favorite shows on TV (along with BSG), and they'll make awesome 'Mates. Rocky has been a guilty pleasure of mine since I saw number 4, and considering their more limited release, I'll snap up those.

I'm surprised that I'm not so much interested in Street Fighter, but I haven't gotten those. Also not interested in Kellogg or Speed Racer. I can't imagine the I, Robot ones coming out, but if they did, I'm not interested there, either.

Personally, I just hope that AA is able to keep up with all these lines. Hopefully they will, and this will be a banner year for MiniMates.

I like that on the Diamond site, they're listed as "Rocky 1 Minimates." Hopefully, this means we'll get 'Mates from all the movies.

I'd like to order from Stuckakid or AFX, but the sets with the chase are already sold out there for BSG and the X3 waves. (I would have gotten a preorder in sooner, but by the time I found out my LCS wasn't going to get any more MiniMates, it was too late.)

There's a local toy collector place that can get them, but they'll hit me for $9 each for regular sets and probably $19 for the chase. That's $46+tax. Not a terrible price, all things considered, but if I can get them cheaper online, I'd be doing better. I guess I trust these more fan-centric places more than with a place (local or online) that does all sorts of other stuff. (I'm the same way with Stikfas, but they don't have these damn chases.)

I'll be going with Stuckakid for future releases, but if anyone has any ideas for the immediate future, then I'd appreciate it.

Posted on DST today:

Countdown Begins for 24 Toys

Diamond Select Toys is very pleased to announce the latest addition to our growing library of licensed properties, 20th Century Fox’s hit series, 24! In a recent agreement, DST and Art Asylum will produce Minimates and 12†figures expected to hit shelves in 2007.

24 burst upon the television scene in 2001 with its innovative storytelling. Each season of the action-adventure series occurred in real time during a period of 24 hours in the life of anti-terrorist operative Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). Over the years, Jack has tackled international terrorist organizations, back-room government conspiracies, secret double-agents and more in his efforts to make the world a better place.

24 marks the latest addition to Diamond Select Toys’ growing portfolio of diverse products - including sci-fi hits such as Star Trek, Stargate and Battlestar Galactica, Marvel Comics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Street Fighter and films such as Spider-Man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, Ghost Rider, Joss Whedon’s Serenity and Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky series.

Oh, god, yes! This is wonderful. I love 24, and can't wait to get my hands on these. So long as I can assemble the power team of Jack, Tony, Curtis, and Chloe, I'll be happy, but I'll take anything I can get. Can a Kim and cougar two pack be more than a dream?

Found these at a Target on Sunday. They had reset their toy aisle with a bunch of new stuff. Picked up Daredevil/Ghost Rider (like the updates to both) and a second Kitty/Beast pack (to make non-phasing Kitty). Had I known Target would have had them, I wouldn't have gotten them at the local toy store. But it was good to see them. My Target, however, put out the Minimates on the shelf like before, rather than hanging them up.

While picking up my comics yesterday, I was informed by the store manager that the owner didn't want to order any more Minimates because they weren't selling as well as before. (I'm wondering if he took into account that it's been ages since the last wave came out.) I wish I had been informed earlier, so I could have gotten my orders into an online shop for 12, 13, and Cylons. Now I'm probably going to have to eBay for the chases. Grrr.

I got the unfortunate news that my LCS wasn't going to be getting any more Minimates. (I wish they had told me this BEFORE waves 12, 13, and Cylons came out...) Luckily, a specialty toy store near me just got them in. They overcharge for them, but they were having a post-holiday sale, so I got them at normal retail prices.

Snagged up 2 regular Centurions, 2 cannon Centurions, 1 bloody, 1 downloaded, and 1 battle damaged.

I'm glad I was able to get them.

1) Modern Cylon Centurion

2) Astonishing Cyclops

3) Astonishing Emma Frost

(I loved all the Astonishing figures, though Wolverine would have probably made that list if he had his mask. I also love all the modern Cylons, but the basic Centurion is best of all.)

Called my LCS, and had them get me a case of modern Cylons. Hope I'm not too late to place the order.

Hmm... I asked my LCS about them not too long ago, and they said I was still down to get them. They order them for one of their other stores, and hold the packs for me. But if they should be all over the US, then I guess I should have gotten them... Was it only 13 that came out, or has 12 also come out?

I still haven't seen series 13 at my LCS. Did these ever make it out nationally? I want to make sure I'm not lagging behind.

When I was at LEGO last December, they indicated they do not have the Spidey 3 license. Things may have changed since then, but based on the amount of MegaBlok product with Spidey's likeness, I doubt that LEGO will get the movie rights.

As far as I know, that is correct. LEGO got the license to Spider-Man 1 and 2 through Sony, not through Marvel. (Which is why you essentially had SM2 LEGO at the same time as crappy MegaBlocks Spider-Man.) When Marvel tightened up their licensing rules, it precluded LEGO from getting the construction toy license for SM3. So unless something big changes, I would not expect to see any Spider-Man LEGO out there.

Dragon's Lair is good for Minimates, too. I picked up an extra C3 Javelin there once. I'm surprised that they haven't gotten the new waves in yet. Like you said, hopefully this week.

They've always gotten what I need, so I'm happy to shop there. In fact, they generally charge me standard retail for the chase packs.

Called them up just now, and the guy said that he didn't see any new MiniMates. :-( Anyone else not on the west coast get them at their LCS?

Just as an update, my LCS didn't have any new MiniMates for me yesterday. I'm in Austin, TX.

Which store do you go to? Austin Books was good about getting the new Minimates in while I shopped there.

I go to Dragon's Lair. I've never had a problem getting MiniMates from them in the past, including a really fair price on the chases. I think they order them just for me, because the ones I don't buy tend to sit around for a while...

Hopefully they'll be in this Wednesday.

Just called my LCS (here in Austin, TX), and they said no Minimates today. I'll be down picking up comics later, so if she was wrong, then I'll be happy, but I don't hold out much hope. Hopefully next week, though.

Just as an update, my LCS didn't have any new MiniMates for me yesterday. I'm in Austin, TX.

I think that's a resonable policy. Only exception I'd make would be for black costume Spider-Man. I really think they should go ahead and re-release that one. I have one from when MiniMates were first released, but I know there are tons of others that would like it.

But all the people who've paid a fortune for it would be really pissed off.

Perhaps a BD Black Spidey, or as Danny suggested a grab line black spidey

Personally, I see that as sour grapes. Would you really deny all these people a black Spidey just because you paid more to get one sooner? I understand that this is their policy, and I'm totally cool with it. But if they made an exception for this particular figure, I don't think that would be a bad thing. I really don't think that folks should have to pay huge amounts for this figure.

Of course, I've never really placed much stock in the chase system. I really don't see what's so fun about it for people. I think it's really just an annoyance and a way for scaplers to make some extra cash. It's especially bad for something like the black Spidey. Sure, black Elektra or diamond Emma aren't a big deal, but this was a pretty important variant.

I think that's a resonable policy. Only exception I'd make would be for black costume Spider-Man. I really think they should go ahead and re-release that one. I have one from when MiniMates were first released, but I know there are tons of others that would like it.

I thought All Star Batman was intended to be over the top?

Yeah, it is, but there's good over the top, and bad. Look at AS Superman. That's as over the top as it gets, and it's wonderful! Every issue is fun to read and true to the characters. It can be done, I just don't think that AS B&R does it right.

PS: Your avatar is hypnotic.

But, personally, I think Miller's Batman masterpiece is Year One. That story is phenomenal, and we should have gotten that instead of the tepid "Batman Begins" last year.

We did. They used Miller's Year One story to create the Batman Begins story line. Goyer consulted with Miller when he wrote the script.

Totally agree that Year One was his best work in the Batman world. Plus I love the way it leads to the Batman: Long Halloween/Dark Victory storyline.

Maybe they consulted, but Begins was nowhere as good as Year One. Bleh to Begins, I say! Maybe if they had the cojones, they could have done Year One itself.

I still enjoy Dark Knight Returns, and I even enjoyed Strikes Again a lot more the second time I read it (but it can't hold a candle to DKR).

But, personally, I think Miller's Batman masterpiece is Year One. That story is phenomenal, and we should have gotten that instead of the tepid "Batman Begins" last year.

Not reading All Star Batman & Robin, looked too corny. (But AS Superman is freaking awesome.) If you're looking for good Batman stories, Dini's Detective Comics have been great. Good, self-contained stories. Also, Morrison's Batman is shaping to be good. (But I like Morrison, so maybe I'm biased.)

Did you know that if you ever do get into an actual fight and serious hurt an attacker, they can use that documentation to sue your pants off?

They won't have a case if you acted in self-defense. Just as you can shoot someone breaking into your home, you have the right to protect yourself. Now, if you just go off and beat some b**** up, then you should have your pants sued off, and they'd have a good case. You're expected to be responsible with your "weapons," just as I expect heroes to be held responsible for theirs.

Power registering does not stop accidents or lawsuits. If anything, it would just provide superheroes with health and property damage insurance/compensation. Is that worth the possible death and arrest of earths mightest heroes? No.

Accidents and lawsuits would indeed still happen, and if a hero were negligent and at fault in causing injury or damage, then shouldn't they be held responsible for that? If a doctor screws up an operation, then he's held responsible. (And I think some insurance for superpowered damages would be good. Presumably, they'd be federally funded as a part of the registration act. I have to imagine that personal insurance for civilians already exists as part of most homeowners policies. Such insurance would probably be much higher in New York. )