"Future's Mend."

Eight years running, and no one's traveled back in time to stop me yet. So we'll probably keep going a while longer.

I'm looking forward to seeing X-Men: Days of Futures Past this weekend, although I thought I remembered Claremont or Byrne saying they regretted that story for the damage it did: instead of learning from the example of a tight, two-issue story; other creators followed the example of a seemingly inescapable horrible future and to kill off characters whenever possible for the sales boost. I don't think DC's the New 52: Futures End is bringing anything new to the table. In fact, the "Batman builds Brother Eye, and is pretty much responsible for the OMAC's killing a ton of people" plot was done a few years before the reboot, sometime after Identity Crisis, and it was just awful then.

First time I've had my DC figures out for a bit, then. I would've had this done earlier, but it took me forever to find the DC Direct Batman Beyond figure--which is a little oversized for use with DCUC, but I still like it. Makes him seem tougher.


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"Display options"

Over at his Points of Articulation site, Poe Ghostal had a post a while back, on the subject of multiple Batmen: "I view my toys not as collectibles but as characters, and to have two Batmen next to each other, well, it breaks the illusion that he’s Batman and not just a toy."

Of course, two days after I finished "principal photography," I found another in-scale Batman. Hell, there's always room for one more, but these things happen.

The scale is a little up and down: The Batman from the most recent animated series is a little short to fit in with everyone else, as is the Movie Masters one, at least when compared to the DC Direct scale. The yellow helmeted one fits with the Total Justice/JLA of a few years back, so he's far too short to mingle, but he was the star of the first homemade post strip here. Yeah, I'm sure that makes up for it. I may have completely lost his accessory: he was, I don't know, like Bat-Tron or Internet Buzzsaw Batman or some such. The accessory ran on a AAA-battery, I know that much.

The one with the ears that mentions his cape (and the cape shows up later, but not all of it: there's two more pointy bits, it would've stood up at least another inch or two) was from the Legends of the Dark Knight line. He's in a Kelley Jones style, and was my default Batman for years. Oddly, I tried to find him on eBay just now (sorry, 'right now' means two weeks ago, when I started this post), and didn't find a single one. That was a great line for it's time, the Man-Bat still holds up, and I've always wanted that Batgirl.

Fanwank! had a strip a while back that really, really made me covet that Armored Batman. And at least a couple local stores still have, at varying levels of clearance, that DC Direct four-figure set, with some versions I don't remember...what does that one have? First Appearance, 50's style, Jim Lee version, and...disco? That can't be right. I'm almost positive it's not Robot Batman, I would've bought that already.

All these Batmen, and would you believe, I don't own a single Joker figure? Just not a fan. Luckily, I know someone who does.

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Getting what you pay for, sort of.

No Snow Day today, but I'll see about getting at least one more tomorrow or Sunday. The googum family went out to dinner, and when you're able to go out with the Youngest and keep his casein/gluten-free diet under control, it's a special occasion.

I did make it to the local Spencers, which had some clearance figures marked down a further fifty-percent off. I didn't have any Pirates of the Caribbean figures, so I thought five bucks for a Captain Jack Sparrow would be well worth it. Well, almost: Jack comes with a pretty impressive palm tree base, but both shoulders broke within moments of opening.

The weird thing is, both shoulders are still tight enough in their sockets that they will hold a pose. So, it's not a total loss: he certainly wouldn't hold up to any play without the arms popping off, but I can get him into a good pose and call it good.

The Batman Beyond is from DC Direct's Superman/Batman line, and it's the second figure I've bought with the Ed McGuinness style body type...although I don't love it. (Captain Atom was the other one, and BB and the Captain have only gotten DC Direct-scale figures in this style.) Compared to the DCSH Classic Detective Batman, Batman Beyond is virtually unposeable; but does have a hefty, solid feel that seems like it would seriously hurt if thrown at someone. BB had a slightly bent left Bat-ear, which is why I hadn't bought it before. Well, that and the price, but again, five bucks covers a multitude of sins.

There's another day or two left on their sale, and I have a few bucks as well. Do I need a Silence of the Lambs Hannibal or Elizabeth Swann or more Grindhouse figures? Hmm. Read more!