sdcc 2016

Ghostbusters, Street Fighters Steal the Show at Bluefin
Ghostbusters, Street Fighters Steal the Show at Bluefin
Ghostbusters, Street Fighters Steal the Show at Bluefin
Bluefin doesn't actually develop any products of its own, but it is the chief distributor for a number of smaller companies here in the US. The likes of Sen-Ti-Nel and Hero Cross don't have a large enough footprint to display on their own, but with Bluefin acting as a host to these brands, along with Blitzway and Storm Collectibles, we're still able to get a glimpse at these wares. That's a good thing too because some of the collectibles are just outstanding. The biggest presence at Bluefin's booth actually belonged to Blitzway, which introduced a line of both 1/6 and 1/12 scale Ghostbusters figures to the masses for the first time. We'd heard rumblings and seen some developmental teasers, but it wasn't until seeing the original four Ghostbusters in person (don't worry, 2016 iterations are in the works, too) that it really hit us. We've been without elite level figures in any scale for the 1984 film for far too long, and both of Blitzway's lines look supreme.
Hasbro Digs Into Transformers History for Some New Figures [SDCC 2016]
Hasbro Digs Into Transformers History for Some New Figures [SDCC 2016]
Hasbro Digs Into Transformers History for Some New Figures [SDCC 2016]
Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Serie typically get all the headlines from Hasbro at San Diego Comic-Con, but that doesn't mean Transformers gets left out in the cold. In fact, this year, despite having a bit of smaller showing compared to other shows like Toy Fair and even 2015's New York Comic Con, Hasbro brought out some rather big guns for the Transformers line. We're not just talking about the exclusive Fortress Maximus either. The Combiner Wars have been running through the Transformers toy line (and through the IDW comics and Machinima animated series), so it only made sense that a new Combiner would make its triumphant debut at SDCC. Liokaiser is a massive Transformer, and one that pays tribute to an oft-forgotten Japanese animated series and that will finally see the character released in the US after more nearly 20 years.
QMx Loads Up on Star Trek, Starships and Itty Bitty Superheroes [SDCC 2016]
QMx Loads Up on Star Trek, Starships and Itty Bitty Superheroes [SDCC 2016]
QMx Loads Up on Star Trek, Starships and Itty Bitty Superheroes [SDCC 2016]
Quantum Mechanix, more succinctly known as QMx, has been in the miniaturized replica game for a while, but has only recently started dabbling in the realm of sixth-scale figures. The Star Trek figures for Kirk and Spock were nice surprises at this year's Toy Fair, but QMx really rolled out the star-spangled carpet for the crew of the USS Enterprise at San Diego Comic-Con this year. That's not to say Star Trek was the only thing on Quantum's mind this SDCC. The Q-Pop line will be expanding with a number of new pieces featuring your favorite Marvel and DC characters, particularly from the cinematic side of things. There were also a number of nice new replica ships on hand that would turn any living room or den into the perfect starport.
DC's Cinematic Universe Makes a Stand for Tamashii [SDCC 2016]
DC's Cinematic Universe Makes a Stand for Tamashii [SDCC 2016]
DC's Cinematic Universe Makes a Stand for Tamashii [SDCC 2016]
If you thought the SH Figuarts Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated figure set was ending with all four turtles, you couldn't have been more wrong. The evil Shredder made his full color debut at San Diego Comic-Con, and he looks just as perfect as the sewer-shredding do-gooders. It's amazing how well the animated show has translated to the SH Figuarts line from Tamashii Nations, and if these five figures are as successful as they're likely to be, there's a chance we could see the likes of Casey Jones, April and even a Krang (in the Robot body obviously). A guy can dream, right? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles weren't the only incredible Figuarts toys on display at SDCC, however, and there are plenty of other reasons to look forward to Tamashii's presence in 2017. Namely, all the fantastic DC and WWE Figuarts that debuted last weekend.
Ashley Wood is Having Fun With Nostalgia at ThreeA [SDCC 2016]
Ashley Wood is Having Fun With Nostalgia at ThreeA [SDCC 2016]
Ashley Wood is Having Fun With Nostalgia at ThreeA [SDCC 2016]
Though the floor presence for ThreeA was much more condensed at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, there were still some very nice surprises hidden away in the Lucite displays. During the show, ThreeA announced new partnerships with Hasbo, Geof Darrow, and Giannis Milonogiannis, as well as debuting an all-new Spider-Man figure for Marvel. The 2000 AD license is still rocking and rolling as well, with new products digger deeper into the British comic magazine's history. ThreeA is still focused on its own original ideas, but the injection of these outside brands has given the company some new ground to explore with its signature style. "The bottom line is it’s fun. As ThreeA grows, it’s fun to bring people in," said Ashley Wood, co-founder and designer at ThreeA. "Geof Darrow, Paul Pope, even the Hasbro stuff, it’s all exciting. This is my way of being a fanboy. The nostalgia of the Hasbro stuff is exciting, and I’m a fan of the artists. I know them. I’ve known them for years. To be able to create these totems, these 3D abstractions of their ideas, it’s a very difficult process, but it makes it fun. With the Hasbro stuff, the idea is to twist it, maybe push it to the edge a bit."
From Harley to He-Man, There's Nothing Mondo Can't Do Well [SDCC 2016]
From Harley to He-Man, There's Nothing Mondo Can't Do Well [SDCC 2016]
From Harley to He-Man, There's Nothing Mondo Can't Do Well [SDCC 2016]
Mondo's been king of limited print and soundtrack game for years, but it's only recently that the Austin-based company has expanded its reach to the realm of figures and statues. For the last two San Diego Comic-Cons, Mondo's managed to surprise a lot of collectors with what its been able to accomplish in such a small timeframe. This year's new products were no exception, and once again showed Mondo knows what it's doing when curating limited collectibles. One advantage Mondo has over other companies in this oeuvre is having a massive library of art from its print side of the company. Though there are plenty of original statues and figures coming from Mondo, new prints just might catch Brock Otterbacher's, Creative Director of Toys and Collectibles at Mondo, eye and inspire that arm of Mondo to craft a new piece. Such was the case for the Matt Taylor Harley Quinn print from SDCC 2014. The work so perfectly showed off Harley in a new way that was still right in line with her character.
Muhammad Ali Takes on NECA's Superman, Aliens, and Terminators [SDCC 2016]
Muhammad Ali Takes on NECA's Superman, Aliens, and Terminators [SDCC 2016]
Muhammad Ali Takes on NECA's Superman, Aliens, and Terminators [SDCC 2016]
A lot of companies bring out the biggest surprises at San Diego Comic-Con, but you can always count on NECA to outdo itself (and most of the competition). This year was no exception, with some incredible announcements and showings like the Muhammad Ali vs Superman set and the rest of the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1/4 scale. And that's all on top of the continuing excellence of the Aliens and Predator lines, which are digging even deeper into the Kenner classics this coming year. We have to talk about the Neal Adams-inspired Muhammad Ali vs Superman set though. A total left-field pick for an action figure pack, but one that perfectly suits NECA's unique brand of classic cuts mixed with fan-favorite characters. The DC license is a tricky one for NECA, since most of the merchandising is handled by Mattel at the mass market level, but exceptions are made once in a great while, and they tend to work out in collector's favor. With this set, not only are we getting a throwback Superman, rendered in comic-style coloring, but also a figure of the greatest boxer of all time, a even rarer feat. Who will win? Only you can decide.
Square Enix Mixes it up With the Play Arts Figure Line [SDCC 2016]
Square Enix Mixes it up With the Play Arts Figure Line [SDCC 2016]
Square Enix Mixes it up With the Play Arts Figure Line [SDCC 2016]
There are few action figures on the market that have as unique an aesthetic as Square Enix Play Arts. While the company does make some fairly faithful recreations of video game, movie and comic book characters, the Variants portion really pushes the boundaries of these characters. Some have maybe diverted too far from the beaten path, but Square's willingness to experiment and give us versions of Spider-Man and Batman that we'd likely never have seen otherwise is what makes them such an interesting company. There weren't very many new Variants on hand at San Diego Comic-Con this year, as it was a fairly light showing overall for Square Enix, but the new Deadpool and Wolverine joining the existing Avengers and Spider-Man look nice in prototype form. Where Square really made a statement though was in the new Variant Batman Rogues. These mash-ups mix Batman and a foe together to deliver a whole new character, only filtered through that trademark Square Enix lens.
Titan Launches Its Hammer Horror Line With 'The Mummy'
Titan Launches Its Hammer Horror Line With 'The Mummy'
Titan Launches Its Hammer Horror Line With 'The Mummy'
Of all the shocking announcements that came out of this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the one that surprised me the most is that the first comic out of Titan's upcoming Hammer Horror line is The Mummy. Don't get me wrong, Hammer produced four Mummy movies between 1959 and 1971 --- including the awesomely titled Blood From The Mummy's Tomb --- and that's four more Mummy movies than most people made. Still, I would've bet the farm on leading off with Dracula. But then, I suppose I always do. Either way, the line is starting off with an all-new story of Ancient Egyptian horror from Peter Milligan and Ronilson Freire, with a cover by John McCrea. Check out a few pages from the announcement!
'Rick and Morty' Reenact Insane Vulgar Court Transcript
'Rick and Morty' Reenact Insane Vulgar Court Transcript
'Rick and Morty' Reenact Insane Vulgar Court Transcript
Rick and Morty has yet to set an official return date for Season 3, likely eyed somewhere toward late 2016, but never you fear for lack of new material. A new video from Comic-Con 2016 has emerged, featuring creator Justin Roiland acting out one of the most insane pre-trial transcripts in recorded history, complete with animation.

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