We’ll be sure to highlight the Minimates robots auctions when the first auctions start in [...]]]> This is an extremely cool event in support of a great charity. If you’re a Minimates customizer and love robots, or just someone who wants to help out, reach out for luke314pi at the Charitymates 4 thread on the Minimate Multiverse.

We’ll be sure to highlight the Minimates robots auctions when the first auctions start in April, as well as the main event starting in June.

Customizers Supporting Convoy of Hope

Our 4th annual Charitymates customizing event has begun! Charitymates is an annual charity event held at the Minimate Multiverse. During this event, Minimate customizers (veteran and novice alike) create and donate a Minimate custom based on a theme chosen by the community. These one-of-a-kind creations are then auctioned off on eBay with 75% of the proceeds going to a specific charity (also chosen by the community) and the remaining 25% helping with the operation costs of the Minimate Multiverse.

This year’s theme is A Convoy of Robots Supporting Convoy of Hope. Customizers will create unique robot Minimates limited only by their imagination. If you are interested in participating, head on over to the Charitymates 4 thread at MMV. We already have 21 customizers who have pledged to make a custom, and we are hoping we can get even more participants before the June 1st deadline. Most of the artists who have participated in the past are returning again this year, providing an all-star line-up of talented customizers. And our charity of choice, Convoy of Hope, needs donations now more than ever. They are currently providing food, clean water, and supplies to victims of the earthquake in Chile. You can read more about Convoy of Hope on their web site here.

The finished customs will be posted on our brand new web site at Charitymates.com. This site will also feature information on the upcoming auctions for this annual event, where you will have a chance to own an amazing custom and help a worthy cause at the same time. And while the annual Charitymates event will be our main focus, our web site will also auction off one custom Minimate each month for charity. The first of these smaller auctions will be coming in April. We hope that you will stop by our site from time to time and check out the cool customs the Minimate customizing community is creating for a good cause.

For more information, please visit Charitymates.com.

We learned at Toy Fair that the second series of Retro-Action DC Super Heroes would include Batman (masked and unmasked), Two-Face, Aquaman, and Black Manta. I read on Raving Toy Maniac this morning that Amazon has the 3rd series listed – if these Retro DC Super Heroes listings on Amazon are correct, series 3 will [...]]]>

We learned at Toy Fair that the second series of Retro-Action DC Super Heroes would include Batman (masked and unmasked), Two-Face, Aquaman, and Black Manta. I read on Raving Toy Maniac this morning that Amazon has the 3rd series listed – if these Retro DC Super Heroes listings on Amazon are correct, series 3 will include:

• Wonder Woman
• Cheetah
• Flash
• Captain Cold

I was chatting with some of the guys about taking pictures of action figures – a hobby near and dear to my heart, in case you hadn’t noticed. We got onto the subject of backgrounds. I’ve used plain dark backgrounds for dramatic lighting and plain light backgrounds to highlight the figures. And there’s guys like [...]]]>

I was chatting with some of the guys about taking pictures of action figures – a hobby near and dear to my heart, in case you hadn’t noticed. We got onto the subject of backgrounds. I’ve used plain dark backgrounds for dramatic lighting and plain light backgrounds to highlight the figures. And there’s guys like Sandman, who build elaborate sets for his photo shoots – see Sandman’s recent pictorial reviews for some mind-blowing shots.

There’s another type of background – the photo backdrop. A simple photo backdrop can provide the effect of a three-dimensional environment without having to build one. That’s the subject of this how-to article.

What you’ll need:

• A photo that includes a portion of the ground or floor
• Photo editing software, like Photoshop or Gimp
• A color printer
• Cardboard
• Tape

To start us off, we want to find a suitable picture to use as the basis for our background. For this one I did an online image search for “sewer tunnels” and came across this image by designer Chris Drysdale. I didn’t ask for permission to use the image, so I hope Chris doesn’t mind. What makes this picture work is that it’s got an interesting background, but it also includes some of the sewer tunnel floor in the foreground. To create the 3D effect, we need some of that ground showing.

First, in the leftmost picture, I cropped the image to keep the portion of it I want to use as the backdrop. There were some additional supports that continued on the left side that I thought might look odd on the part of the image I want to use as the “floor,” so I cut those out.

I show in the middle picture the area of the shot I am using for the “floor” in red. A general rule of thumb that I’ve found to work is that you want the “floor” to consist of about the bottom third of the overall background.

The picture on the right shows the image after I used the photo editing software to stretch out the “floor” – since the “floor” is going to be perpendicular to the background portion of the picture, by stretching it out you will be using perspective to create the illusion of a continuous background. It’s like recreating the third dimension from the 2D image you started with.

To make this easier to print, I set the image size to be 8 1/2 by 11-inches (letter size) in landscape mode, and then double the canvas height. The background portion (the part not shaded red above) is what I put into the top half of the image, then I stretch out the “floor” portion to fill the bottom half of the image. Then I split the two halves and print each onto a letter-sized page.

After you print out the top and bottom halves, it’s onto assembly. First, trim the white borders off the edges where the backdrop will come together. Then tape the two halves together on the blank backside.

Cut some cardboard backing – this can be either two pieces you can tape together or a single piece you can fold. Then tape your printed images onto the cardboard. You will probably need something to prop up the back of your backdrop – I just use whatever carded figure I have sitting around from that pile of unopened figures that my wife hates. And that’s it – you’re ready to add some figures and take pictures.

Here’s some more shots using this backdrop. Now go make one of your own and send me some pictures!

I think the direction they’re taking this fall with the Pursuit of Cobra line is interesting, but the Sarge here has me jonesing for more classic-styled figures.

Personally, [...]]]> When we saw Mike Deodato’s Marvel Universe card art, it begged the question of whether we’d be getting a Norman Osborne figure in his HAMMER outfit. Now we know that he’s just one of three choices for the exclusive figure that will be offered to Marvel Digital Comics subscribers, like Nick Fury was last year.

Personally, I think that X-Force Archangel and Dark Avengers Ms. Marvel (Karla Sofen) are easy variants for Hasbro to make for the upcoming Archangel and existing Ms. Marvels, so I hope that people vote for Norman. At least we’d be getting a new Norman Osborn head (if we aren’t getting one with the upcoming Iron Patriot figure already.)

Vote for the Next Exclusive Marvel Universe Figure

We want YOU to help us pick the next action figure to be offered exclusively to Digital Comics subscribers

Last year, fans far and wide went bananas for the Nick Fury Marvel Universe action figure offered exclusively to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited subscribers. And now, for 2010, we want YOU to help decide which figure new subscribers will receive.

Your choices are Archangel in his current X-Force costume, Norman Osborn in his H.A.M.M.E.R. outfit and Ms. Marvel–the MM from Dark Avengers, aka Karla Sofen, aka Moonstone!

Cast your vote in our official poll now–voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on March 15. Once all the votes are tallied, we’ll let you know which choice won, when it’ll be available and how to get it!

via We want YOU to help us pick the next action figure to be offered exclusively to Digital Comics subscribers | Marvel.com News | Marvel.com.

Just got in first samples of packaged She-Ra. A few small tweaks but it is pretty much ready to [...]]]> Mattel posted packaged shots of She-Ra on their Facebook page. This should clear up any questions about her head. Two heads are included, with one coming with a mask that can be displayed eyeholes up or down.

Just got in first samples of packaged She-Ra. A few small tweaks but it is pretty much ready to go for June!

• She-Ra in her package. Packed out just like all MOTUC figures with the same “head look” as the vintage toy.
• Here is She-Ra’s package back with an all new bio!

via Facebook | Mattycollector.com: She-Ra in package!

Here’s the bio, for those of you whose eyes are failing them (like mine are for me!)

SHE-RA – MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE UNIVERSE

REAL NAME: ADORA OF THE HOUSE OF RANDOR

Channeling the combined Power of the Universe and the Wisdom of the Elders of Eternia, Adora transforms into She-Ra, the most powerful woman in the Universe. Her strength comes not from brute force but from sheer will and her cunning magical powers and healing abilities. She also has the power to communicate telepathically with animals. As both She-Ra and Adora, she helped lead the Great Rebellion of Etheria against the Horde invaders. Later, when Hordak found an escape to Eternia, she followed him along with several of her friends and allies. Once there, the Princess of Power joined forces with the now renegade Masters of the Universe, who without King Randor, had becomes outcasts in their own land, fighting against Hordak’s new tyranny!

We’ve had more in-depth reviews of Superman Batman Public Enemies (see the review from Buzzy Fret and a guest review from Studmuffin), but since I recently completed the Brimstone Build-A-Figure that was split over two waves of these figures, I wanted to take a few more pics. Overall, I think this series works well enough as [...]]]>

We’ve had more in-depth reviews of Superman Batman Public Enemies (see the review from Buzzy Fret and a guest review from Studmuffin), but since I recently completed the Brimstone Build-A-Figure that was split over two waves of these figures, I wanted to take a few more pics. Overall, I think this series works well enough as a standalone line. If you’re a fan of animated-styled figures and the ongoing McGuinness lines from DC Direct, you may find these complementary.

I’d have much preferred these characters done in the DC Universe Classics style. Mattel missed an opportunity to give collectors these characters in a more compatible look as well as the chance to better cross-promote DCUC to people buying figures for the animated movie. I think some of the figures fit in fine with DCUC – but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

If you missed out on your chance at the Masters of the Universe Classics Tri-Klops (see my review), you may not have [...]]]>

In my haste this morning, I mistakenly posted that Trap Jaw, not Tri-Klops, would be on sale at C2E2 – thanks to all of you who contacted me to alert me of my error.

If you missed out on your chance at the Masters of the Universe Classics Tri-Klops (see my review), you may not have to resort to eBay or wait for Mattel to reissue him. Residents of the Chicago area will have a chance to pick up Tri-Klops from Mattel at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which runs from April 16 – 18.

They’ll also have another sold out item, Ghostbuster’s Ray Stantz (see my review), available.  Both items will be in limited quantities, so stop at Mattel first!

Mattel Display at Chicago Comic Expo & Reserve Products For Sale

Toy Fans,

As you know, we hold back product from sales in “reserve” to replace damaged or lost product. After enough time has passed, the product isn’t needed any longer so we’ve decided to start offering that product to you. We’ll begin selling it at various conventions around the country and eventually offer some here at MattyCollector.com.

The first offering will be limited quantities of Ghostbusters™ 6″ Ray Stanz™ and Masters of the Universe® Classics Tri-Klops® figures in April. You’ll find them for sale at the convention sales desk at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) show running April 16-18.

Even if you’re not in the market for these figures, be sure to stop by the Mattel display. MOTU fans will find favorites like Count Marzo™, Gygor™, Tytus™, Keldor™, Whiplash™, Optikk™, and more! And if you dig DC, don’t miss the Wave 14 figures, Lobo, and Waves 1 and 2 of the Retro-Action™ line. Plus, a spirited Ghostbusters™ collection will be on hand.

That’s just a taste of some of the hot toys you can expect to see. So remember, if you’re in the Chicago area April 16-18, stop by the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo and tell ‘em Matty sent you!

−−Matty

P.S. Please don’t call Digital River asking to purchase the product. It will only be sold as described above.

via MattyCollector.com Online Store.