The First Marvel Store: Marvel Collection Enter-6

marvelcollectionhottoysstoreFor all you Marvel fanboys and fangirls your next destination might be Seoul, South Korea.  The first official Marvel store, the Marvel Collection Store by Enter-6 will have lots of Hot Toys products and official Marvel gear.

marvelcollectionhottoysinside [Read more…]

Dawn of Justice Batmobile

batmanvsupermanbatmobileDC All Access gets an in-depth tour of the new Batmobile from the upcoming Batman v Superman:  Dawn of Justice flick.  All Access interviews production designer Patrick Tatopoulos about Batman’s new ride and design-style.

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S.H. Figurarts Bruce Lee

bruceleeshfiguartsThe iconic legend Bruce Lee gets a super detail action figure from Bandai’s S.H. Figuarts lineup.  The nicely sculpted 6″ figure features various points of articulation, his signature weapons, different hands and head faces.  Check out Paik4Life review on the Bruce Lee figure:

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Jada Toys: Metals Die Cast Armored Batman (M11)

batmanvsupermanarmorbatmanFrom upcoming DC blockbuster Batman V Superman flick, here’s Jada Toys super cute big head figure, this is the Jada Toys: Metals Die Cast Armored Batman (M11).  The figure is wholly diecast standing 6″ tall with included battery for the light-up LED eyes and detachable Bat-armor.

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Big Boys Toys: Street Fighter The New Challenger Figures

bigboystoyskensfplaysetThe new offerings from HK toy company Big Boys Toys with their super deformed big head Street Fighter series figure playsets.  This is the Street Fighter The New Challenger Figure 02 – Ken and Street Fighter The New Challenger Figure 03 – Chun-Li.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Figure Playset

starwarsawakensfiguresFans of Star Wars The Force Awakens who collect figure statues might want to check out this new item exclusive to the Disney Store.  This is the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Playset which features a collectible box and 10 statue figures.  The figures stand 4″ and made from PVC.

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Food from the World of Harry Potter

3broomsticksrestaurantWith the official launch The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, a must stop is the 3 Broomsticks restaurant.  Butterbeer!

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Massive LEGO Star Wars Death Star

legolandukdeathstarukOver 500,000 LEGO bricks took to build one of the world’s biggest Star Wars diorama, the Empire’s Death Star.  Fifteen LEGO builders took 3 months to build this special effects laden LEGO diorama/playset for Legoland Windsor in the UK.

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Japan: 2016 Sapporo Snow Festival

onlyinjapansnowfestivalOnly in Japan takes us on neat winter trip in Northern Japan.  Since 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival takes place every February in Sapporo, Hokkaido.  You will tons of ice sculptures and of course eat wonderful snacks and food.

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Takara Tomy Toy Story Alien Playset

alientoystorypizzacontrolIf you’ve been collecting the Tomy line of Toy Story action figures from Japan, then this will be a cool addition, the Alien Pizza Planet Playset.  The 12″ tall Alien converts into a Pizza Planet playset with various play features and requires 3 AA batteries which are not included.

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LEGO Batman Classic TV Series Batcave 76052

classicbatcavecoveroneBatman fans of the 1960s TV show will now get a LEGO Batman Classic TV Series Batcave 76052.  The playset comes in 3 different sections along with the iconic Batmobile, Batcopter and Batcycle.  You will also get 9 minifigures this set:  Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Batman, Robin, Alfred Pennyworth, The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler and the Penguin.

classicbatcavecovertwo [Read more…]

Japan: Vending Machine Restaurant

automatdinercoverJapan is known for it’s high tech and advance vending machines where you can just get about anything.  There’s a restaurant with no staff and only vending machines serving food and drinks.  Located in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture which is 2 hours from Tokyo, there is a restaurant that uses only food vending machines – the Automat Diner.

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Enter the World of Harry Potter

harrypotteruniversalstudioscoverI have fond memories of family trips to LA for spend a weekend at Universal Studios and Disneyland.  Now you don’t have to go to Florida to check out The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  This past week, special lucky visitors of Universal Studios Hollywood got see World and rides in the Harry Potter-themed area.

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Takara Transformers Masterpiece Ironhide MP-27

takarampironhidecoverOne of my favorite 1980s G1 Autobots was Ironhide and Takara just released a Masterpiece version of Ironhide.  This is the Takara Transformers Masterpiece Ironhide MP-27.

ironhide3waylook [Read more…]

Silicon Valley Comic Con 2016

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We are happy to announce that we will be attending Silicon Valley Comic Con doing what Retrenders does best! So join us in March 18-20 at the San Jose Convention Center as we do coverage of the first ever Silicon Valley Comic Con, where we will meet and interview some of the attendees and guests, check out some awesome panels, and even do a little shopping in the dealers room.
And did we mention Stan Lee is gonna be there?!

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Tons of amazing guests already confirmed and more to come!

Be sure to check out their site at http://svcomiccon.com/ for more information and get your tickets now while you still can!

Custom LEGO Build: One Huge SHIELD Helicarrier

ultimateshieldhelicarriercoverOne of the most iconic large playset toys from the 1980s was the G.I. Joe USS FLAGG aircraft, a monster 7-foot long toy of joy.  If I had the room I would own one and another iconic ship, is the SHILED Helicarrier.  Only LEGO has come close to making a identical carrier from the Marvel’s Avengers flick, but it wasn’t scaled well enough and to be able to move planes around.  From Taiwan, LEGO builder and fan ZiO Chao and his friends Dada, Kimura, Kuan-Wei, Stephanie, Tiger and Will from Formosa LEGO club builds the ultimate SHIELD Helicarrier.

ultimateshieldhelicarrierteambuilders [Read more…]

Teaching Young Architects with Arckit

arckitdesigncoverMore than just playing with LEGO bricks, Arckit winner of many toy and design awards in 2015, Arckit is about making kids learn design elements, modifying structures and free-form thinking to build amazing houses or buildings.

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Funko Mystery Minis Blind Box: Batman Arkham Games

mysteryminibatmanarkhamJust dropping into stores for 2016, is the Funko Mystery Minis: Batman Arkham Games series of 3″ vinyl figures.  The set includes various Batman vinyl figures – Arkham Asylum Batman, Arkham City Batman, Arkham Knight Batman, Joker, Red Hood, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Robin, Nightwing, and Arkham Knight.

robinfunkomysterymini [Read more…]

Jpop: Song for Eating Steak

yukoandomcmisosoupWhen I heard first this track I thought I was listening to funky Jpop rap group HaliCali from years back, but I was wrong.  This cute catchy Jpop track is by veteran Jpop singer Ando Yuko who teams up with DJ Miso Soup and MC Rice.

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Yummy Food @ the Gundam Cafe

gundamcaferestaurantgundamsquareI’ve been to Tokyo several times, but have never traveled to Osaka.  Now I have a bucket list item to do, travel to Osaka for Gundam Square and eat some food at the Gundam Cafe.  I’m not the most hardcore Gundam fan in the world, but I do like many of the animations and bought lots of the snap-on model kits as a kid.  But what I really want to do is eat the “anime inspired” food!

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Vinyl Pulp #12: Fad Dunny Signing with J*Ryu

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Kidrobot recently released the 8in FAD Dunny and host a signing with its creator, J*ryu!
Join us as we interview J*ryu and talk about the meaning of the name FAD and what went behind creating the dunny.

For more on Jryu check out:
Jryuart.com

 

Vinyl Pulp #11: Jeremy Dale aka ValleyDweller

JeremyDaleArtOneHere we are, the first episode of Vinly Pulp for 2016!  Our team was at Woot Bear with artist Jeremy Dale aka ValleyDweller and his #AlphaSketch art exhibit.

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Skullbunnies by Ben Seto

skullwarsIf you’re a vinyl toy collector looking for something cool, then check this out by artist Ben Seto, his tribute to the Star Wars Stormtrooper!  Ben is known for his Black Sheep Comics‘ Usagi Jane and the Skullbunnies creation, has turned his Skullbunnies into Skull Wars Buntrooper.

skullwarstwo [Read more…]

Rebel Galaxy Review

Rebel Galaxy

Rebel Galaxy came out on Steam in October, but it just recently came out for the PlayStation 4 at the beginning of the month, January 5th.  I had never heard of this game before it came to the PS4 but the opportunity to be a “Space Cowboy” was too much to pass up.  The game played a lot like the naval side of Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag.  You sail the ocean of space in a straight line, not being able to pitch up or down, however your opponents are given that option and the smaller crafts will often fly above and below you, while the larger ships are stuck flying on the same level that you are.  Think of it as a less maneuverable version of the “Freelancer” game.

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Most of this game will be you flying your ship from one end of the solar system to the other, complete a mission and head back across the solar system again.  One of the best way to make money in this game will be doing missions that you can pick up during your stops at different space stations; however, after you jump to the next solar system, you will be able to join the mercenary guild which will give you a lot more money but for a lot more risk of course.  This means you will be going back and forth in one system just to scrounge up enough money to to buy upgrades or new weapons/armors for your ship.  Speaking of the stations, the game will automatically save your game when you visit one so always remember to stop by one before heading off to a difficult mission.  Missions and mercenary work aren’t the only way to make money in this game though.  You can also scavenge for parts scattered around space, which to be honest will probably take the most time since you can barely find cargo floating around, look around the space system for bounties to collect or mine asteroids for goods.  Everything you find can then be sold at the commodities market, but be warned as the price for different goods fluctuates.  Then once you get enough credits to buy the new spaceship you’d been eyeing, you’ll be doing missions, mercenary work, scavenging for parts, hunting down pirates and mining asteroids all over again to get more money for new upgrades.  In other words, you will probably be spending most of your time trying to make enough money to use on your ship than actually going through the games story.

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So is this game fun?  Should you try it out or pass on it?  Well I’ve been having a blast with it myself, though it really depends on if you have the patience to play a game like this.  You won’t be getting into space battle after space battle unless you are actively looking for them.  Most of your time will be flying through the emptiness of space.  For a game created by a two man team, this game is amazing.  Still it would have been better if you could fly up and down because there are times when your enemies or certain asteroids are above or below you that your guns can’t seem to shoot at.

In the end, I give this game a solid 8/10.  The price point of 19.99 may drive off a few customers, but for those who enjoy these types of games, I say go for it.  It’s a good PSN game to pass the time with.

CHOGOKIN My Melody (Red)

chogokinmymelodyredcoverFor fans Sanrio-style Chogokin robot toys, Bandai and Sanrio will be offering more of these collabs in the year 2016.  The first to drop is the CHOGOKIN My Melody (Red) robot toy on January 18, 2016.

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