Lobsterman

Sorry, my mistake. It's called "Alternate 1985 Biff Tannen" on the package. I'm fired.

Dang. I was hoping to snag that Kubrick on ebay before too many other people got the same idea... Well, let the bidding wars commence.

Just got these today, and I have to say, DST is winning me over with the EntertainMates (I just made that up. Chuck, have your people call my people). They're really stepping it up in terms of detail and volume of accessories on these to make for really fun sets. I also find myself liking the four-pack format a lot. You get a good fix without the glut feeling a six- or eight-figure wave can give you. Okay, who am I kidding, I have no problem shoveling over for eight figures at a time. But the four-pack is still nice. Sorry in advance for my crappy camera. I really need to invest in a better rig... Future Marty Really fun figure. The hoverboard is awesome. And yes, it has sculpted detail on the bottom (forgot to take a pic of that, but you can kind of see it here). Accessories also include jacket and high-top sneakers. This is the face that actually comes with this figure; I like the Marty in Disguise face a little better, so I swapped it for display, as seen in the first pic. I'm really impressed with the tampo detail on this figure in particular. They even got the imprint on the elbow rivet. All in all, my favorite figure of the bunch. Future Doc Brown This was my least favorite of the set. Mostly because it's going to take a bunch of PIA customizing to make him right, and it's going to nag me until I do it. Doc comes with glasses and a coat – and it's a new sculpt, not just a repainted wave one coat, to which I tip my hat. However, I would have preferred the shirt and tie to be tampo'ed details rather than sculpted, so the shirt could have had the cool kanji symbols all over it. That's mod number one. Mod number two is the sculpted head. I just can't abide it. So, I'll have to dremel it out and fit it on a real head, thusly: Such will be the fate of every other sculpted head you throw at me, DST. Do you hear me? I won't abide them. Anyhoo, they tried to do something sort of cool with the glasses by making them removable. Close, but no cigar. When they're off, he has two big ole' holes in the sides of his face. When they're on, the tampo doesn't line up quite right: Marty in Disguise Not much to say about him. The face is better than Future Marty's face. And the leather jacket will be handy if you plan on doing a Danny Zucco custom for your Grease diorama. Which I don't. But maybe you're into Grease or something. Hat and jacket, that's about it. ...and the surprise second-favorite of the set Future Biff I was all ready to call Doc my second favorite, and probably sell or trade off Disguise Marty and Future Biff. But then this stone cold fricking pimp comes in and eats Doc's lunch. He's got muttonchops. Yeah! Muttonchops! Sculpted right on there! And a stylin'-and-profilin' butterfly collar! And a Rolex! Come on. This guy rules, does he not? Oh, yes, Biff will show you the pimp hand if you disagree. What? You want to see the pimp hand? Yeah, you better run.

The yeti I did for the Monstermates project and the Gundam mate I did for Reideen are two examples that came out particularly well.

Also, if you have a well-stocked hobby store nearby, you may be able to find laser- and inkjet-printable decal paper -- I've had a lot of success with this stuff. If you're familiar with decals from modeling, they go on almost microscopically thin, and don't have that slight haze the Avery labels do. Then, you use a decal sealant, and the substrate actually dissolves, leaving only the toner or ink bonded to the surface.

I wouldn't be surprised if, with the new movie coming out this year, they jumped straight to the Daniel Craig incarnation of Bond...

MGM owns The Princess Bride. Just watched it today, and had forgotten what a great movie it is. I think DST could easily squeeze two four-packs out of that movie, but I would be immensely happy with: Westley as the Dread Pirate Roberts (with removable mask, a la Iron Fist, of course) Inigo Buttercup and... wait for it... 3" Fezzik! Come on, DST, don't make me start on these customs...

[sean Connery voice] I'll take The Rapists for one hundred! [/sean Connery voice]

SM3 Kubricks are out. Specifically, SM3 Kubrick New Goblin's glider is out. Stuckakid was kind enough to comp this up for me... I don't think I need any more convincing.

Lookit all those guns! Wheeee!

Not sure, really. It's a freebie promo piece that's only distributed at one time, at one place. I can't imagine them making thousands of them, but I could be wrong.

My question is: what parts would they use? If it is a Toy Fair promo, history would suggest they won't go to the expense of tooling new parts for a couple-hundred-run giveaway. She's got some pretty crazy hair in that movie; I can't think of any existing parts that could be easily swapped in. Ma Hunkel's poofball? Ultimate Sabretooth's/Sentry's shaggy mane? Michelle Dessler's (from 24) locks? Would they just use a generic Marvel female hairpiece? Okay, quick custom experts, there's your homework assignment...

After all of our loyal support, I think it's the least they could do.

* There's a grain of salt for ya... I'm highly skeptical they would release that much info before they've even officially confirmed TNG waves. Right off, as pointed out, wave four sounds likely to be another TOS lineup -- we'll no doubt see at Toyfair. But we're probably talking a good four months before we'll even see solicits for wave five. Six, seven and eight (!) are six months to a year off, easily. But, you're right, Jatta... the rampant speculation of the last few weeks has been a fun roller coaster ride.

So... January 30 is next week. Any bets on Marvel 19 and 20 coming out on time?

I'm a little disappointed, too. Guess that means only three waves of DC this year.

I'll throw my hat into the ring with a big "meh." I am, and will probably always be a fan of the superhero mates. More sci-fi/action/adventure fare like BSG, BTTF and the Dollars trilogy are cool and all, but stuff like Lambs, and now Susan feel like they're really taking mates in a weird direction. I guess they're trying to diversify to hit a larger audience with these movie mates. I just hope that's not the entire future of the brand. Here's hoping they score the Columbia/Tristar license. Ghostbusters mates, anyone? Yes, Ivan, I'm talking to you.

Thanks for the Death's Head, Dinobot! He's standing proudly among his Marvel cohorts as we speak.

No! No optimism here! Only despair! DESPAAAIIIIR!

It's possible they haven't said anything because there's nothing to say yet. Granted, if there were no change in the situation with Marvel mates, it seems likely that they would have said something to put this wild speculation to rest. Based on the information we have, I'm operating under the assumption that: yes, the entire Marvel license is in question; no, they're not certain they'll be able to hang onto the rights for minimates; yes, they're doing everything in their power to keep the license. From my experience meeting them at Comic Con last year, the DST gang loves these little guys as much, if not more than we do. I'm sure they're fighting tooth and nail to keep this line alive, and simply don't have a solid answer for us right this second. But, yeah, being in the dark is frustrating as hell...

You think so? We usually hear about stuff before it shows up in Previews, don't we? Why would the absence of new minimates in this month's issue confirm the rumor?

I'm boggled as to why they would do sculpted heads for the Doc, but have a balding hairpiece for Biff...

Question for those following recent stuff with the character: I notice that this US Agent seems to have tampo'ed on combat boots rather than the Cap-style buccaneer boots. Is this a newer, "modern" version of the character? Would it be on-model to put the lace-up boots from the Rocky sets (resembling combat boots) on him?

Please, for the love of god, don't take away DC mates, too! Please, they're... they're all I have...

what I want to know is, where'a the wacky Twilight Zone ending? Mephisto doesn't give this stuff away, he wants a good laugh out of it. "Sure, I'll save Aunt May... but... She's an evil robot zombie! She just got eaten by bears! She got run over by an ice cream truck!" C'mon Joe Q, what are we paying you for? Excitement!