McFarlane Toys revealed a bunch of kick ass toys, that I think will be of interest to many of you. I'm gonna be showing you pics that I took from two toy lines of from there that fall under that category: The Walking Dead and WWE statues.
First off it is worth mentioning that the man, himself, Todd McFarlane (left with me) was there! I got talk to him for a bit, and told him how I had met him back in the 90s when he signed Spawn figures at a Toys 'R' Us (or was FAO Schwartz? Don't remember since it was ages ago...). He told me an awesome and funny tale of a fan he met recently who told him that he had met him 10 years ago and had a pic of it. They got a new pic, and McFarlane told him that they should get a pic together every ten years, take a new pic, and keep comparing them. Till the day he dies, then McFarlane can pose next to his grave, cause he will outlive him. Too funny! McFarlane is an awesome and real nice guy, in person.
Anyways, on to the toys!
There are two new and amazing WWE statues that will be coming out. Both are WWE legends and former world champs who achieved their success during the much loved (and missed) Attitude Era: HHH and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin! They are both amazing looking. The detail and closeness to their subjects is incredible, as is the cool pose that they each have. My only complain? I wish Austin was flipping the bird!
McFarlane will also be releasing more figures based on the both the AMC show and the comic-book. Must of these will be out in the Fall. You can also see some other statues in the background of the figures, including a preview of a Michonne (first picture directly below this paragraph) statue that is coming out!
Finally, in what might the best playset ever, the prison from TWD is coming out with mini-figures that will help you have THE ultimate display at your house! This has to be a TWD fan's wet dream come true. Well, the one that doesn't involve naked Maggie, Tara, Rosita, and hot lesbian sex, anyway! It should also be noted that despite their small size, the detail is fucking amazing on them!!
Do any of you recall an 80s Saturday morning cartoon by the name of Thundarr the Barbarian? Obviously, I do. If any of you don't, you should check it out. It airs at 11PM on the Boomerang network. I loved this show as a kid. It was pretty cool and freaky. Without a shadow of a doubt it had THE best intro, possibly in all of cartoon history. I know it freaked me out as a kid!
Now clearly this did not happen in 1994 (thank God!), but that was enough to get me interested. Thundarr was a badass, even if he was a clearly "inspired" by He-Man and Conan and his sun sword a rip-off of the light saber. his companion Ookla the Mok was a rip-off of Chewbaca, but he was fucking cool! And, Princess Ariel was a hottie with magical powers. In this future where magic and "super-science" ruled, Thundarr was the hero that whooped the baddies' asses. The bad guys including: monsters, mutants, aliens, robots, etc. But, he really had an issue with wizards. I am guessing The Wizard of Oz would be better off not meeting him, well for his sake anyways!
Thundarr also loved saying his catch phrases like "Demon dogs!" (uhh, maybe he once had a bad run-in with the Terror Dogs, from Ghostbusters?) and "Lords of light!" (which sounds like a really crappy techno band or shitty power metal group, you choose). While, he never killed anyone in the cartoon (duh!); I would like to think that he would have. I mean he is a fucking Barbarian for crissakes!
I loved the fact that our civilization was in ruins and it's remnants, like world famous buildings and structures, were featured predomintally. It added to the coolness factor.
Anyways, I've been thinking about this, how's about making this into a feature film? Now, if I could make it, I would make as badass as possible. I would cast the following for the lead roles:
HHH as Thundarr- I ain't sure if his age is right, but he has the right look for the character. Besides didn't he wanna play Conan the Barbarian? Well, this is the next best thing!
Nyomi Marcella as Princess Ariel- Now, I realize that no one would ever hire a porn star to play a role based on a kid's toon, but fuck 'em! This is my fucking cast! I am a long time fan of the beautiful Ms. Marcela (her sister is, of course, the beautiful Jade Marcella, who is retired from the biz), and she has THE perfect look for the role! I mean she is damn enchanting without using any magic. And, she'd look AMAZING in THAT outfit!!!!!!!!!
Vin Diesel as Ookla the Mok- His best role is still voicing a robot in The Iron Robot so this could be his second best role! But, make it a suit, like Chewbaca. No CGI Ookla, that would suck Mok cock.
So, there you have my cast. I doubt that Ruby Spears (who made and put out the toon) would approve of it, but who the fuck cares? And, I do realize that this cast would never win any Oscars, but it's not meant to be Citizen Kane. It's a fantasy/ sci-fi story about a barbarian with an energy sword who is friends with a large, fuzzy man-monster (and, no I don't mean the A-Train or Ron Jeremy!) and a hot witch princess. In other words, it is pure fucking gold! At the very least can we please have the complete series released as a DVD set?!
Last night was a tear filled farewell from Shawn Michaels, born Michael Shawn Hickenbottom on July 22, 1965, as the Heartbreak Kid officially retired from pro-wrestling. This is my tribute to him. But, I should warn you that while I respect Shawn, I am not a fan. I am, though, a wrestling fan, as such I know what he contributed to this great sport. So, I think because of that this one will be a little different than other tributes.
While, Shawn had been in the AWA, my first exposure to him would come when he and tag partner Marty Jannetty would first appear in the WWF. Formerly the Midnight Rockers, upon entering the WWF, they dropped the Midnight in the their name and became, simply, The Rockers. The Rockers were one of my fav tag teams growing up. They were talented and very influential on future tag teams that were to come in pro-wrestling. They would eventually hold the tag titles, but alas all good things most come to an end, as Shawn turned heel. In one of the most memorable turns in all of wrestling, he gave Jannetty a superkick through the glass on Brutus Beefcake's Barber Shop set.
That made Shawn into one of my most hated heels, of that period in time. He became a conceited asshole and soon had the beautiful Sherri Martel, no longer managing Randy Savage, as his manager/ valet. Sherri, said, was in love with the "Boy Toy". She even sang the lyrics to the original version of his entrance song, thus he became "The Heartbreak Kid". As, I said I hated Shawn during this time, but that only meant that he was doing a great job as a heel. But, he came out with Sherri, one of my biggest crushes growing up, so I looked forward to see her! He would eventually drop Sherri, and become his own man. He would even have Big Daddy Cool Diesel as his bodyguard. All of this was shaping him into the superstar he would become. He also held the Intercontinental Title. But, was destined for even better things...
One of his best matches was for the vacated IC belt in a ladder match with Razor Ramon. Again, Shawn was influencing all that was to come in the biz. He would eventually turn face. And, this would lead to his biggest push, yet. He would get his first world title against Bret Hart in their classic Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania XII. From here on many of my most memorable Michaels, including the passing out bit on Raw and the "I lost my smile" thing would occur.
As the face of wrestling changed to a more mature attitude, i.e. the WWF Attitude Era, Shawn was at the forefront with his new heel faction, D-Generation X, which was him and his real life buddy Hunter Hearst Helmsley (HHH) and his then girlfriend Chyna. The factions catch phrase "SUCK IT!" while crotch chopping and crude sense of humor was unlike anything I had every seen. This became my fav period in HBK's career. But, the Montreal Screwjob, where Bret Hart lost the title belt to him, would make me hate Shawn more than ever. But, DX was so much fun, I spent a good deal of my college life imitating him (and others, as well). My absolute fav Shawn Michaels/ DX promo:
Shawn was injured though and would have to drop the belt to Austin. He would not return till 1999 and do some on and off things with the WWF. He even joined the nWo at one point. I totally marked for him joining them! But, it was time for him to get back in the ring. And, he would do that in 2002, first having a great feud with HHH, that led to some hellacious matches. Of course, he would recapture gold, as well. Most impressive was the quality of matches that he could still pull off. And, he had it with the best of them. He even had a dream match against Hulk Hogan, in an angle I was totally marking out for.
By this point Shawn had found God in his life, so gone were the dick jokes and such. Shawn's own religious beliefs came into play when he feuded with Vince. Vince even made Shawn tag team with God in one of the stupidest things I had ever seen. Anyways, DX would return, with only HHH and HBK. HBK could not be doing the type of shit he used to, being religious and all, but HHH did. I though this return of DX was OK.
As, the WWE changed and entered the PG era the next return of DX was shit to me. Still, Shawn did, still, have great matches. I never really cared for his babyface promos, but man, he could still give it his all in a wrestling match. And, so this Sunday he lost to the Undertaker in a good match (though, I prefer their WM match from last year more).
He delivered a very emotional speech last night on WWE Monday Night Raw. And, although I sure as hell did not want him to end Taker's streak and wanted to see him go, I was still saddened. It was not as emotional for me as it was seeing Flair (who ended up not retiring, and going to TNA) leave. But, Michaels had some of my fav matches ever. And, some of my favorite moments, too.
Here is a little piece of that speech:
For that I that I say "THANK YOU, SHAWN MICHAELS!" God bless him. For he is the: THE SHOWSTOPPER THE MAIN EVENT THE ICON THE HEARTBREAK KID, SHAWN MICHAELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First off it is worth mentioning that the man, himself, Todd McFarlane (left with me) was there! I got talk to him for a bit, and told him how I had met him back in the 90s when he signed Spawn figures at a Toys 'R' Us (or was FAO Schwartz? Don't remember since it was ages ago...). He told me an awesome and funny tale of a fan he met recently who told him that he had met him 10 years ago and had a pic of it. They got a new pic, and McFarlane told him that they should get a pic together every ten years, take a new pic, and keep comparing them. Till the day he dies, then McFarlane can pose next to his grave, cause he will outlive him. Too funny! McFarlane is an awesome and real nice guy, in person. 
There are two new and amazing WWE statues that will be coming out. Both are WWE legends and former world champs who achieved their success during the much loved (and missed) Attitude Era: HHH and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin! They are both amazing looking. The detail and closeness to their subjects is incredible, as is the cool pose that they each have. My only complain? I wish Austin was flipping the bird!
McFarlane will also be releasing more figures based on the both the AMC show and the comic-book. Must of these will be out in the Fall. You can also see some other statues in the background of the figures, including a preview of a Michonne (first picture directly below this paragraph) statue that is coming out!
Finally, in what might the best playset ever, the prison from TWD is coming out with mini-figures that will help you have THE ultimate display at your house! This has to be a TWD fan's wet dream come true. Well, the one that doesn't involve naked Maggie, Tara, Rosita, and hot lesbian sex, anyway! It should also be noted that despite their small size, the detail is fucking amazing on them!!
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