Indominus Rex Jurassic World Mattel

Jurassic World Brachiosaurus from Mattel Jurassic Park Legacy Collection

Toy Story 4 Mattel 7 Inch Figures

Mattel have released a fantastic line of 7 inch figures based on the characters appearing in Toy Story 4. Looking like they have been taken straight from the screen these figures feature a good range of detail and articulation that will please older collectors as well as being play friendly for children.

Action figures for the previous three films have all been the 5 inch scale so hopefully Mattel will gradually expand the new 7 inch line to include characters from older films in the franchise such as Zurg and Lotsos gang from Toy Story 3.

It would also be great to finally get some decent action figures based on the Battlesaurs from Toy Story That Time Forgot. The figures released for that line in 2015 were only 4 inches tall so didn't even fit scale wise with Mattels previous toy Story figures from the third movie. So much wasted potential as the Battlesaurs were given great designs in the movie short that would appeal to 80s kids who loved Thundercats, He-man and Skeleton Warriors. 

Mattel have really improved upon their efforts from Toy Story 3 and Toy Story That Time Forgot. The third movie figures looked good but had minimal articulation and the Toy Story The Time Forgot figures were quite small and cheap, wasting the potential of the designs. Much like Mattels Jurassic World toyline they really seem to be putting the effort in now to create good quality toys that will appeal to adult collectors and children alike with great sculpts and articulation at a decent size too.

I'd also love to see the inclusion of characters from the nigh on forgotten and underrated Buzz Lightyear of Star Command series. 

Batman Legends Ends

After 15 years and four volumes, the UK Batman Legends comic title has sadly come to and end.

In 2003, almost ten years after the last Batman comic ended in the UK, Panini picked up the license for the character and gave us Batman Legends. The comic was styled like the popular Marvel collectors edition comics Panaini have published in the UK since the mid 90s, collecting three issues of the American comics in each issue, starting with the popular Hush story line. The comic lasted 41 issues till Panini lost the license to Titan Magazines. Titan relaunched the title as Batman Legends volume 2, keeping the same format as Panini had used. 57 issues later the title was relaunched yet again as volume 3. Simply called ‘Batman’ the comic was relaunched to tie in with the release of Dark Knight Rises in cinemas and the launch of the New 52. It primarily reprints the US Batman and Batman and Robin comics. In September 2016 the title was again relaunched in it's 4th volume as Rebirth Batman, later dropping the Rebirth to simply be Batman again. It was during this time that the title, along with all of Titans DC reprints became bi-monthly releases. An indicator of poor sales. Batman having been the only Titan DC reprint series to show any level of success. Others Such as Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, Green Arrow etc had all fallen by the wayside after only a few issues each. Even the Batman title had begun to suffer after poor distribution from Titan. A title change in one of the Batman comics had caused it to totally disappear from the W.H Smith database. A mistake Titan never seemed to rectify despite multiple customers informing them that their local Smiths no longer stocked the Batman comic.  The poor reception of most of the recent DC shared universe movies also can't have helped matters. 
Finally, at issue 14 of what was essentially Batman legends volume 4, the title along with all the Titan DC comics were cancelled. 

There was little send off for the DC universe from Titan. Not even an editorial inside the front cover lamenting the end of the series or thanking the customers for their loyalty. This really reflects Titans attitude towards the comics they produce. Little real care or passion seems to go into what they do. With little to no customer interaction on social media or through editorials. 

15 years isn't a bad run for a UK comic, however it is sad to think that there is once again no Batman comic in the UK. There was a span of 9 years between 1994 and 2003 where the UK had no Batman title on the shelves. Hopefully it won't be as long this time before another publisher picks up the license. Perhaps Panini will regain the rights to publish Batman as they had in 2003. 

Mars Attacks Toys and Action Figures

Over the years Mars Attacks has had a few different action figure lines based on the property. The most well known being the Trendmasters line from 1996 that tied in to the Tim Burton movie and was based on the films designs. The was followed up by a wave of Martians based on the 90s Topps comic book designs which were far more EXTREME!!!! with viscious looking fang filled faces, overly muscular bodies and dynamic yet hard to stand poses.
Mezco produced a figure based on the original Topps trading card art work which is at a more adult collector standard to fit in with the likes of NECA toys.

Mars Attacks has also had multiple comic books published over the years. The 90s Topps comic which featured far different designs to try to appeal more to a 90s audience. The in the 2010s IDW picked up the license and gave us comics based far more on the original art and concept. Most recently Dynamite comics has launched their Mars Attacks comic book also using the iconic original designs. 

Masters of the Universe Adventure Magazine

                     Masters of the Universe issue 8 from 1988 published by London Editions.

Weird Science Transforms to Mars Attacks