The Combiner Wars continue with one last release: the Entertainment Earth exclusive Liokaiser Gift-Set! This marks the first time the famed Japanese G1 gestalt has received any sort of official nod from Hasbro, and they went all-out accordingly. (Well, as all-out as can be given a budgetary constraint or two.) Now, let's dive in to see what the latest Transformers Platinum Edition release has to offer!
Pumpkin Spice Oreos are here to grace grocery store shelves yet again! I never spotted them during their initial run in the 2014 Halloween season, and I assumed I may have missed out entirely. Not one to let second-chances slip by, I'm pleased to take the plunge and see what these bastards are all about!
It's been over a freakin' year since we were given our first glimpse of the initial Transformers Combiner Wars line-up, and Silverbolt has remained firmly atop my wishlist ever since. Alongside his wave-mate Optimus Prime, the guys at Entertainment Earth have allowed me to finally give the iconic Aerialbot leader a look. Let's do it!
It turns out there are three sure things: death, taxes, and a constant stream of new Optimus Prime toys. One of the latest from Hasbro has the iconic Autobot leader shoehorned into 2015's Combiner Wars assortment. Thanks to the fine folks at Entertainment Earth, I'm pleased to crack one open and see how it stacks up. Cue the pictures!
Rafael Albuquerque and Mike Johnson's Ei8ht brings us the story of a time travel mission gone wrong. Stranded and disoriented, chrononaut Joshua has found himself in quite a mess. It may seem simple at face value, but it's a strong enough premise to warrant checking out.
Oh look, it's Valentine's Day. Since I'm going it alone this year, I may as well take the opportunity to indulge in a little "me time." I'll give you a moment to get your mind out of the gutter; I'm saying it's time to read some comics!
I may not be in the hearts n' kisses mood, but what the hell; let's see what Harley Quinn Valentine's Day Special #1 has in store!
Darth Vader — the icon of all icons — now has his own Marvel comic book series. The company may as well be printing cash. Despite having several problems with their main Star Wars series, I'm all in.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1, let's see what you've got!
Despite its occasionally clunky dialogue and inconsistent artwork, I felt Star Wars' return to Marvel Comics was a solid effort. At its best, the characters and overall tone were nearly perfect. If that level of quality can be maintained, the series would easily warrant a monthly purchase.
Now that the second issue is out in the wild, we may as well dive in to see how it stacks up. Let's grab a nice cool glass of blue milk and check out Marvel's Star Wars #2!
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 was one of the first comics I read this year, and I was immediately won over by its upbeat humor and lively visuals. It made far too great an impression to simply stop reading there. The second issue has finally made its way to shelves, and I'm seriously looking forward to whatever it has in store.
Alright, let's do this. Here's a look at Marvel's The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #2!
If I buy one Ninja Turtle action figure, I pretty much have to grab the remaining three. I'd bet a hefty sum of cash that I'm far from alone. After raving about Playmates' semi-recent Original Comic Book Raphael, the inevitable quest for his brothers began. First up is Michelangelo. Review mode, activate!
Boom! Studios' Cluster #1 is a new sci-fi action series wherein convicted criminals can serve the M.I.D. (Military Inmate Deployment) in place of a prison sentence. Doing so is no easy way out however. Fifteen years of strict rules, grueling physical training, and perilous war with unforgiving alien races await them.
Now, let's see how the beginning of writer Ed Brisson and illustrator Damian Couceiro's "Dirty Dozen in space" turned out!
Uncanny Avengers #1 is the start of a new volume showcasing the Avengers Unity Division in the aftermath of the AXIS storyline. While there are certainly more than enough thrown at us, there's a part of me that will always dig seeing characters come together in high-profile team-ups. Let's dive into the issue and see what's in store!
While the larger than life Cobra Commander is likely the most well known G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero character, Snake Eyes isn't much further down the list. With nearly 100 different toy releases and a role in every iteration of the franchise, he's always been a central figure of its mythos. He escalated to leading status on "rule of cool" alone. This guy is a completely silent ninja commando with katanas, Uzis, and grenades strapped all over his pitch-black attire, and he just happens to have a pet wolf. Yeah, that sells.
Despite the inherent challenge in revolving traditionally speech bubble-driven stories around a character that never speaks, it only makes sense to capitalize on his popularity by giving him a comic book of his own. The original Marvel run was even retitled G.I. Joe: Starring SNAKE EYES at one point. The five-issue Snake Eyes: Agent of Cobra story isn't the first time IDW Publishing has slapped his name onto one of the titles, either. I imagine copies would sell on marquee value alone, but the added "heel turn" is sure to grab a bit more attention this time around. The question is, how does it hold up as the first of a series?
Disney's big-shot acquisition shenanigans over the last few years have allowed Star Wars to return to the Marvel Comics stable. While the move from Dark Horse was understandably on the controversial side, I feel it's best to give new iterations of beloved franchises a fair chance. That's a big part of what Castle Geek-Skull's Number Ones feature is all about! As such, let's dive in and see what the new Marvel Star Wars #1 has to offer.
The first assortment of toys from the 2015 Transformers: Robots in Disguise series is now in stores, and the allure of new plastic 'Bots and 'Cons has proven inescapable. I've been intrigued by the classic aesthetic of the no-nonsense character Strongarm for several months now. I purchased her Warrior Class (deluxe scale) toy without even the slightest hesitation. Let's see if it can live up to my self-imposed hype!
There was a time in my life where sugary kid's cereal was a fairly regular part of my diet, and I'm a devout follower of the gospel of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Its tiny little squares make up one of the godliest varieties of tooth-destroying breakfast you'll ever find. You'd think I would've been way down to clown with its spin-off French Toast Crunch, but I managed to miss the boat entirely.
Somehow, I'm not sure I even knew French Toast Crunch existed until it was already off of the shelves. Fortunately, it proved popular enough for General Mills to recently bring it back after an 8 year hiatus. Now, it's time to see what all the fuss is about.
With her partially squirrel blood and great disdain for injustice, Squirrel Girl is now set to kick the butts of bad guys everywhere in her own monthly comic. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 is a fun look at the titular character's attempt to balance the life of a superhero and fitting in as a regular college student. Author Ryan North sets an upbeat mood right out of the gate with our star bellowing a whimsical theme song as she beats down muggers.
Right at the top of my 14 toy highlights of 2014 was Original Comic Book Raphael from the current Teenange Mutant Ninja Turtles toyline. I hadn't given in to the temptation of sweet plastic crack for some time before stumbling across this guy. I assumed it'd be worth grabbing based on positive experiences with the 2012 series' initial assortment, and the sheer novelty of seeing the original comic series represented on store shelves sealed the deal. Now, let's take a closer look!
Hello and welcome back to Castle Soda-Skull, where we review fizzy soft-drinks up and down and all around. On our last installment, we assaulted your face with a look at the new Mountain Dew Game Fuel Lemonade. We're still (and always) feeling a bit fruity, so let's dive into a can of Sprite Zero Cranberry and see what's what.
This oh-so-festive flavor apparently debuted in 2013 but it's new to me! Sprite Cranberry is clearly an attempt to take the wind out of Pepsi's sails by directly challenging the ever-popular Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. I actually don't like that particular beverage at all, so checking out the competing version was quite a risk. Ever the daredevil, I heightened the stakes even further by opting for the diet version. (Real talk? I've hit a wonderfully bodacious level of body curvature that I wish to maintain, so I'm taking it easy on the high fructose corn syrup.)
Alright, enough flowery meandering! I'm sure you're all just dying to know my thoughts on the taste of this "other natural flavor"-fueled cranberry concoction. Enjoy a closeup of the can's amazingly simplistic logo whilst preparing yourself for the truths I'm about to drop.
Despite a lackluster experience with the mass-release of Baja Blast, I've just given in to yet another Mountain Dew flavor. Their latest vidya games tie-in promotion has delivered the new Game Fuel Lemonade, and I wasn't able to resist its alluring yellow glow. I enjoy both "Dew" and lemonade alike, so what could go wrong?
