Weekly Want - Marvel NOW! ARTFX, MOTU Classics, & More!

Racer Slim

Yeah, I know the question that's been on all of your minds. "When is it Weekly Want time again?!" Wait no longer, delectable denizens of Geek-Skull; the latest batch of action figure and collectible images is at hand!

Masters of the Universe Classics 200X Queen Grayskull ($26, Nov. 15th, 2015)

Number Ones - Uncanny Avengers #1 Review

Say it three times fast: Uncanny Avengers Volume 2 #1 - "Counter-Evolutionary Part 1!"

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!

I've Been A Greg Capullo Fan Even Longer Than I Realized

I've seen this group shot almost every day for over 20 years.

Several years before taking notice of Greg Capullo's artwork in the pages of Spawn and Wizard Magazine's monthly "Krash Course" instructional features, I received this framed X-Men poster as an unexpected gift. It was hung proudly in my room where I admired it day and night, and I still have it all these years later. Behold:

14 of Castle Geek-Skull's Favorite Comic Book Covers of 2014

Batman #31: one of many beautiful comic book cover images from 2014.

Ever the rapscallion, Time did everything it could to keep me from enjoying comic books as much as I would have liked to in 2014. I'm far from out of the game entirely however, as I can confidently say that I kept up better than I have in a good while. I even finally got around to showing my face at Free Comic Book Day!

As I kept an eye out for the next must-have issue, tons of preview images fell before my smoldering gaze. The cover art is always front and center, and I often want everything I see based on the quality of the illustrations alone. Choosing a limited number of highlights is a daunting task, but please join me as I go through 14 of my favorite comic book covers of 2014!

Greg Capullo's Batman #31 cover proves yet again that the simplest layouts can be the most effective.

FanArt Frenzy - 14 of My Favorite Pieces of Fan Art From 2014!

2014 Retrospective Edition!

As we prepare to say our goodbyes to 2014, I feel it's the perfect time to dip into the FanArt Frenzy well once more. Below you will find 14 of my absolute favorite illustrations from the year. You're here for pretty pictures, so let's skip the blabber and get right to it!

Three of my favorite Transformers designs: Galvatron, Cyclonus, and Scourge by Golby2

The Only New Movies I've Seen This Year Are Marvel Movies

Leave me alone, I'm watchin' mah stories.

Despite the crowds full of people that won't be quiet or turn off their cellphones, I still love going to the movies. I'm even the sort to keep my ticket stubs. I don't even let the apparent stigma that it's somehow sad to go alone get to me. If I want to go see something, I go for it. Regardless, 2014 has been a pretty light year for me as far as theatrical experiences go.

With the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, it dawned on me that it'll only be the third movie I've actually gone to see this year. As the image up top suggests, the first two were Captain America: The Winter Soldier and X-Men: Days of Future Past. It seems only Marvel characters have enough allure to actually get me to the theater these days. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 fell through the cracks somehow, but I did at least plan on seeing it. I may have also flirted with the idea of checking out Godzilla for a moment or two, but that's honestly it.

Maybe I've been too distracted, or maybe it's just been a mostly ho-hum year for mainstream movies. Beats me. I really enjoyed Winter Soldier and Days of Future Past however, so hey — quality over quantity!

As I look through the list of films yet to be released this year, there's only a small handful I have any interest in. While it's been nice to keep the list of movies I actually attend short and sweet for a change, I miss the days of seeing them more frequently. Maybe 2015 will turn things back around, or maybe I'll only end up seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man! Shrug.

Side-note: I look damn good in a top hat. For more, feel free to check me out on Twitter & Facebook!

Marvel vs. Capcom's Attack Names Would Be Pretty Weird In Comics

Can't we all just get along?

With Marvel vs. Capcom: Origins on sale for just over $3, it was clear that there was no better time to finally make the purchase. This compilation of the original Marvel vs. Capcom and Marvel Super Heroes is a wonderful journey through mid to late 1990s arcade nostalgia. Of course, the anime style attack names shouted by the characters throughout each match comprise one of the first quirks you're reacquainted with as you begin battling your way to either Thanos or Onslaught. Just as Street Fighter gameplay is riddled with cries of "Hadoken" and "Shoryuken," Capcom's Marvel based fighters assault your ears with the likes of "Berseker Barrage," "Charging Star," and "Spider Sting!"

Hearing all of this again made me imagine how bizarre (and cluttered) mid-battle dialogue would become if comic books followed the same convention. I took to Photoshop to see what it might look like. Behold:

Magneto #7 Cover Has the Greatest "Come at Me Bro" Pose Ever

Welcome to die!

This is an excerpt of David Yardin's cover for the upcoming Magneto #7. It's an incredibly striking piece of art, but I couldn't help myself from subjecting it to the "Come at me, bro" meme:

10 Weird Things From "Pryde of the X-Men"

Pryde of the X-Men's VHS release.

Many of us have fond memories of Fox Kids' X-Men cartoon from the early 1990s, but interestingly enough, that wasn't Marvel's first attempt at getting the beloved mutant superheroes onto the airwaves. In 1989, Marvel Productions (the studio behind shows like Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Muppet Babies, G.I. Joe, and Transformers) created a X-Men pilot known as Pryde of the X-Men.

While the show never made it past the first episode, it managed to inspire Konami's memorable beat 'em up arcade game and has remained a notable little piece of Marvel media history. It's quirky nature makes it well worth watching. Anyway, the proof is in the pudding; here are 10 weird things from Pryde of the X-Men!

X-Men FanArt Frenzy!

The strangest super-heroes of all!

Y'all need to hide your kids and hide your wife; it's time for the return of FanArt Frenzy! This installment features 10 X-Men sketches and scribblings to celebrate the impending box office reign of the new X-Men: Days of Future Past movie film. You came here for the art, so let's jump right in:

The Goofiest Action Figure Vehicles Ever!

It's not uncommon for toy collectors and "kid-at-heart" types to look back fondly on their action figure vehicles. From Technodromes to T.I.E. Fighters, the various pimped-out rides of our heroes and villains were often among the most coveted pieces of our collections. However, not every vehicle was worthy of such affection. In fact, some were downright nonsensical! Let's take a look at five of the goofiest vehicles (and vehicle assortments) ever:

Marvel Universe Wave 17 Image

Here's a look at the figures from Marvel Universe Wave 17 - Iron Fist, Psylocke, Storm, Patriot, Ages of Thunder Thor, and Shadowland Dardevil. It's not the best looking assortment the line has seen, especially given the lack of improved articulation utilized on recent figures the likes of Thanos, Cable, and Doctor Strange. Why improve so much only to quickly regress?

However, rumor has it that the use of old, less articulated parts in this wave is to free up money for tons of new molding in 2012. If next year's figures benefit from at least one clunker wave, perhaps that's fair enough. Many collectors will probably pick these up anyway, but we're betting this wave will be an easy pass for those of you that merely grab a figure or two here and there. If you are interested, Marvel Universe wave 17 should be on shelves by the end of 2011.

X-Men Psylocke Premium Format Figure from Sideshow Collectibles

Psylocke of X-Men and Marvel VS Capcom 2 fame is getting the Sideshow Collectibles Premium treatment! Standing at 22.5 inches tall (or 1:4 scale), Premium Format Psylocke sports a real fabric costume alongside beautiful paint and sculpt work. The Sideshow Exclusive Edition seen HERE will also feature a '90s hairstyle and exclusive fine art print.

Release is expected in the 1st quarter of 2012, but you can pre-order now at sideshowtoy.com HERE. You might need to break your piggy bank, as Psylocke is valued at a whopping $299. Being a popular character, she could still go fast. If you're interested...hop to it!

Favorite Comic Costumes: Wolverine

Hey, it's a regular installment idea I'll likely not keep up with!

We all know comic characters end up with wardrobes the size of Barbie's, and inevitably, fans will become fond of one specific look over all others. I'm going to share mine with you...and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Yeah.

Let's start with a popular damn character: Wolverine. Can you guess which of his costumes is my favorite? Is there any point in asking when the picture that shows just which one it is resides right below this text? Hmm.


Fuck yeah, man. I love the brown/tan suit. It's similar to the original in overall layout, thus keeping him familiar, but the more subdued color palette makes him look much less like a damn carnival attraction. I enjoy when comic costumes are actually a little left of the typical bright red, yellow, and blue affairs. This particular one is perhaps my favorite example EVER, making it the perfect choice for the first to highlight in this...series of blogs.

Wolverine and the X-Men Toys: Slop it up, Hasbro

The Wolverine & The X-Men toy line is pretty neat looking. It has a cool aesthetic that matches the show's animation nicely. Sure, they're small and have limited articulation, but the style more than makes up for it.

However, now that they're out and about at retail, I've noticed the line has some really inconsistent paint applications. I HEAR about such things from Hasbro, but rarely actually see it. That's a real shame. For the most part, it's just "overspray" and unclean edges, nothing terrible, but still enough to distract the eye. That's really too bad. Hopefully future production runs will be cleaner.

Oh well, I can't afford em anyway - and if I do somehow get things straight, at least if I pick up a few, they aren't quite as sloppy as the DC Universe toys can often be, bwaha