MisterPL

Thank you, Ady.

There's some strange rumor going around the DC board that the next two will be She-Hulk and Wonder Man.

I've obviously not seen the updated trek stuff, but I remember reading that all they were touching up were the ship models and special effects. By special effects I'm assuming they mean transporer shimmer/ Phaser blasts that kind of thing. I can't imagine seeing a wobbly cgi Gorn fight Kirk in Arena. Would I be right in my assumptions?

Somewhat.

It's actually pretty scary seeing the CG-1701 flying in the same wonky path as its predecessor. They were a little TOO faithful to the source material as far as I'm concerned. I'd have taken a few more liberties when it came to establishing shots, but you can tell there's either a profound reverence for the original or a fear of upsetting a 40-year-old fanbase.

They've done a very good job replicating certain shots, but even to a flaw. There are shots of the Enterprise that always bugged me because it looked like the ship was skidding along a strange axis, no doubt due to the more primitive effects of the day. But like Yoda's jiggling Muppet ears, the animators have duplicated it as if to say to the fans, "See? All we did was replace it. All the flaws are there, too, it just looks better." I'm still hoping that greater leeway will be given in future episodes.

I'll say this for the space shots, though: The planets look stunning. And the aztec patterns on the ships are perfectly subtle, as if you're simply noticing something that's always been there because your prescription lenses changed.

As far as transporter and phaser effects, I've noticed very little in the way of change. It looks cleaned up but nothing looks like a 2006 effect misplaced in a 1966 TV series. No CG Gorn but I'm kinda hoping for a CG NOMAD to replace that shaky martini mixer. Removing the wires may not be enough.

But if you want to see for yourself, click here for before and after images. These pics are worth a thousand words.

I'm buying them all. I like movie 'mates. I hope to see Batman Begins 'mates from DCD eventually.

Jeff's back!

If DC Direct eventually dedcides to do boxed sets like they did with the Pocket Superheroes line which teams or groupings should they do?

See, when you mention "Pocket Superheroes" in the same sentence as "boxed sets," I can't help thinking "last ditch effort." :tongue:

That said, I can see DCD offering sets based on Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern no problem.

Historically, here's what DCD has invested in when it comes to boxed sets:

The Endless

Legion of Super-Heroes

JSA

JSA 2

JSA 3

JSA Villains

Preacher

WildC.A.T.S.

The Dreaming

Green Lanterns

Gren Lanterns 2

New Teen Titans

Flash

Danger Girls

Silver Age JLA

Metal Men

Smallville

Dark Knight

And that's just PVC sets.

Big thanks to Joe Acevedo for creating and maintaining such a damn fine resource!

Sure, they can offer a bearded variant but not an Ultimate variant.

Unless of course this turns out to be an all-Thor wave. That'd be quite an apology.

What I find really interesting is the backlash leveled at Lucas for tweaking the original SW trilogy, but I don't see similar complaints against Trek. Is it because the Trek changes are more cosmetic vs character as seen in SW? (I'm all for the Trek changes and hate the SW changes - but when I compare the two, I'm having a tough time deciding why that is, even for myself...) Maybe it's just an anti-Lucas sentiment in the fan community?

Personally the changes to Trek make it better. The changes to Star Wars only made it different at best and in a couple instances worse.

Lucas shows a lot less respect for his own work (and the efforts of the hundreds of others who produced Star Wars) than the folks in charge of altering TOS. Of course the people in charge of this remastering are FANS. Perhaps if Gene Roddenberry had the chance Lucas did, he'd have made more sweeping changes altogether. (IE - Klingons with ridged heads because, as Lucas put it with Jabba, "That was always my intention.")

So MPL, which is harder to maintain? Your excitement for the new Trek minis or sobriety?

Considering I don't drink, I'd have to go with keeping my Trek up.

Just wondering how Minimates collectors would like to see the inevitable character variants handled.

One of the things that is KILLING interest in DCD's standard figure line is an overabundance of DC's most popular characters in contemporary, artist-specific designs. They've offered Superman in the same classic costume about 16 times over seven years. Some of these were artist-specific (Frank Miller, Michael Turner, Ed McGuinness, et al), others were generic and simply featured resculpted noggins (stern, angry, or just plain different), while one was a weird hybrid (John Byrne head on an Alex Ross body).

I understand that newbies should be able to start collecting a line like this at any time. A year or two from now anyone should be able to go into a store and find DC's most venerable characters in Minimate form and start collecting from there. Popular characters NEED to be available and they NEED to be recognizable. But how does that impact us, the veteran collectors?

Personally I'm all for costume variants. Some can be significant (Modern Age Superman Red & Blue), some subtle (Silver Age Superman Red & Blue). So long as they're based on existing source material – preferably comics – I've got no problem with a change in costume. Likewise when a different character is in the costume, it can make a difference. Green Lantern, Flash, and even Batman have had other people donning different suits to play the character. That's cool, too.

What I'm not cool with are artist-specific versions. I'm NOT looking forward to seeing another Superman Minimate but this time with line art on his face and torso lifted from art in the last story arc of Action Comics. I've little interest in collecting a line of modern Superman characters wearing identical outfits but inspired by the Artist of the Month. I'd much rather see the above costume variants.

If DC really need to infuse more Superman (or Batman or Wonder Woman or Green Lantern) Minimates into the line for late-to-the-party collectors, let it be in the form of a catch-up boxed gift set, an instant collection starter. Otherwise gimme a Black-suited Superman over a Jim Lee version any day.

Thoughts?

Sweet. Thanks.

I thought it would be nice.

So does this mean DST has finally run out of Spider-Man and Wolverine variants?

Once upon a time, the board software was set to merge consecutive posts. Is that option still available?

lol, I too am trying to get a hold of TOS HD.

Scuze the ignorance but what does the HD stand for? Is it High Definition?

Yes, high definition. And in the case of certain visual effects, Huge Difference.

I'm excited too. It would only be better if the Johnny Lightning ships would have continued for another few series.

I still don't understand why that line failed. All I ever saw were empty pegs shortly after product was released. Those ships were gorgeous and never collected dust.

DC Direct has pretty much shown me that anything goes with their line of Minimates. Aside from characters that would be almost impossible to offer (like Starro or Mr. Mind) it's pretty much a crapshoot as to what will be offered next. But hey, let's take a stab at it anyway.

Here's my guess:

Catwoman & Mr. Freeze

Atom & Elongated Man

Saturn Girl & Lightning Lad

Silver Age Superman Red & Lois Lane

I was tempted to add Apollo & Midnighter because they've been offered by DCD before but I'd actually be surprised if any characters were offered outside the DCU (which means no Wildstorm, no Vertigo, and no MAD). And it seems like they're sticking to the Silver and Modern Age for now so I think I've got some pretty safe bets.

Next?

And Kyle changes costume more often than a vegas showgirl, I bet they cant decide which one to pick.

Given that Georg Brewer is as big a self-professed Green Lantern fan as DSTChuck is a Spidey fan, I wouldn't put it past DCD to offer a Kyle 2-pack.

All I know is that there has been a small but persistent movement on the DC boards to get a Ma Hunkel figure made for YEARS. I know a couple people who will go apeshit when they see this.

I'm just happy not to see any SuperBats in there. I'm LOVING this variety!

Between the movie, the remastered original series, and the announcement of 2-inch Minimates (with pics!) I'm actually getting stoked about this property all over again.

I've been waiting years for Trek Minimates in scale with my Marvel and DC figures and it looks like it's finally gonna happen. I'm eager to see what JJ Abrams can bring to the film franchise (though I really do believe Trek's home should be exclusively TV, not cinema). And if someone told me that something as simple as updating the visual effects would make TOS must-see TV after 40 years, I don't know that I'd have believed them.

Everything old is new again! I love it!

Heh? Who's Runepp?

Runepp is unofficially to Star Trek what Ice Cream Maker Guy is to Star Wars; this really obscure character few fans even know exist who should be immortalized is plastic. Since Playmates passed on him and AA probably wouldn't consider offering him for the 7-inch line, I think a Minimate is in order.

Awesome news, and MM gets not only a mention but is part of the news release. Way to go, guys.

Hehe imagine if Runepp did get a mate!

AA does owe me.

MrPL will always be a Batman minimate to me.

Thanks Cappy. I appreciate that.

In Trek terms, I'll always be more of an Ambassador.