Lobsterman

More affordable when you're buying in bulk, BHM?

Are those illustrations accurate? I thought there was like a mad scientist or something in this set?

I think we broke it.

Anyone take the plunge?

Sinestro is going to be in this movie?

Is the set pre selling well in general, Luke? Well enough to be optimistic for… another exclusive box set down the road?

Happy birthday, man! May your amazing customizing skills grow with each passing year!

And that's bad because....?

Months since my last update, and it's not even a Minimate custom... dun dun dunnnn My time in the garage with paint, dremel, and glue has been cut way down with a baby around, so I've had to turn to a more inside-friendly customizing fix. Kre-o Transformers have provided just that (although now we have the small part choking hazard issue...) I love the idea behind the Micro Changer combiners, and they're a lot of fun in person, but none of them I'm played with so far have been especially on model to the original source material. Case in point, Devastator: They got the colors right, I guess, but everything else is kind of a semi-random mishmash of parts. So, I decided to have a go: Mostly the same parts from the kit, just moved around a bit, and with a couple Lego pieces added. Now you've got Scrapper's funny "high-heel shoe" configuration for the right leg, Mixmaster's critical mixing drum (what the hell is that thing they used, like a bong or something?) on the left, Scavenger on on the right shoulder with his treads where they ought to be, and Bonecrusher on the left shoulder instead of a random purple hinge piece. Unlike Minimates, where sculpting, painting, cutting, etc is fair game, I consider it "cheating" to actually physically modify a building block piece. So, I only had to cheat once here, cutting down that bong thing a bit. It's making me a little crazy that the Lego cone pieces I used for Mixmaster's drum aren't quite the same color as the other gray pieces, but I probably won't stay awake at night thinking about whether I should paint it...

Have a great one, Great One!

Zach, does it seem likely we'll see Marvel 19 this year, or with all of the other license releases planned for TRU this fall, is next spring a better bet?

You get the Best Friend of the Day award, Erik! Thanks for taking the time to keep us updated, and we all hope to see many, many more Pathfinder 'mates!

Can you say how many of Ardala's crazy outer space stripper outfits have been tentatively designed?

I'm calling out YB to do an ALS Minimate Storage Bin Challenge. You Chicago guys know what I'm talking about.

So, lots of solicits for next spring's releases today... Zach, are we close to seeing this wave?

Hah, awesome! Hope we get a second set with Hawk at some point.

Nerv, these are different guys than the group you spoke with in Chicago, right? I remember those being more like stylized vinyl figures. Man, it's a renaissance for golden age comic characters, huh?

I know there are a couple guys on the board who are really into the vintage 1940s heroes... I thought this might be of interest: Amazing Heroes Looks like they'd fit right in with a Super Powers collection.

With the four-pack. I think these are being regarded as purely convention exclusives, like the translucent and gold Vorins for BB, or even the translucent turtles, and not a traditional "wave." Also, as I understand it, they were produced at the behest of and with the funding of Paizo, so they, not DST, get to decide who these are being marketed to. I don't think it's fair to treat this as a botched line launch just because they're not marketed first to the hardcore Minimates fans (as much as we'd like to think we are the immovable center of the Minimate universe). I also suspect this is why Zach has kept relatively quiet about these -- no sense in further provoking a hornets nest that does a good job of stirring itself up. All that said, It's unfortunate that they are all unique characters rather than (somewhat) easily-ignorable variants.

I guess I read the question as: "is this a movie with themes/values that would be appropriate for a five-year-old to consume" vs "is a five-year-old going to be scared of the talking space raccoon?" I think it comes down to what kind of conversation you're comfortable having with him afterwards.

I would blush a little at bringing a 5yo to this one, Nerv. There's quit a lot of violence in it (depending on how you feel about that), and while they're not pervasive, there's enough language and innuendo in it that could lead to some uncomfortable questions. I'd say it's been the least kid-friendly of the Marvel Studios films so far.

Got my 1984 set yesterday. Soooooo cool! It's a bit pricey on ebay, but I highly recommend if you're a classic TF fan.

Yes, this may necessitate a toy purge to scrape together some funds. Not sure my wife will go for the "it's a birthday present!" argument...

Ohhhh fffuuuuuuuuhhhh…... http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10528&mode=retail

Oh my god, that set would be amazing.