Hot Topic & Sailor Moon

I love me some Sailor Moon! When Xena went off the air, I quickly searched around for something, anything to take my mind off the painful ending of my hero. I had already become a huge Anime fan through shows like Gatchaman, Robotech, Starblazers, Project A-Ko and more. I can't remember what channel it was that started showing Sailor Moon, maybe Cartoon Network, but I was hooked.

Of course I'm a big original language subtitle kinda girl. No dubs for me. So once I decided I loved it, I was off in search of uncut, undubbed versions. I learned early on what America does to Anime & I knew Sailor Moon was better than what I was getting to see on American TV. I wasn't wrong. Especially when it came to Haruka & Michiru. T & I were on the edge of our seats & soaked in tears at one point. I'm not even kidding. Sailor Moon Super had us. 100%.



It's been a while since Sailor Moon has come & gone. I miss it. T & I started watching the series again a couple weeks ago. I realized I was missing the movies that come between each series. BAH! How did I do that?!? Then I remembered...I had them once. On VHS. Crap in a hat.



So I started looking around. That's when I discovered an exciting line of Sailor Moon apparel at Hot Topic. Yep, clothes, bags & belts all with the Pretty Sailor Soldier herself! Awesome sauce!



So, I am passing on the info to you. Sailor Moon at the Hot Topic. Get it quick because Hot Topic merch changes fast.

Vintage Carded Wave from Phantom Menace

Available at: Entertainment Earth

Brian's Toys

If you missed Qui-gon in other waves or little Anakin, here's your chance! I love the retro looking cards.

Riusuke Fukahori, Technique, & Supplies

Holy wow! I love finding painters or crafts people that you can watch & be amazed by. Amazed at their patience. Amazed at their practice & dedication. Amazed at their technique. This fellow in the video below is amazing. He paints goldfish. Nothing really amazing about that, right. Wrong. He paints them in layers between resin. This makes them look real & 3D. The amount of time & practice it took him to be able to perfect this is impressive.

"Goldfish Salvation" Riusuke Fukahori from ICN gallery on Vimeo.

So many people don't understand time when it comes to art. Artists use time differently than almost anyone. Processes are repeated again & again to hone & perfect technique. It takes years to be able to lay paint down in brush stroke after brush stroke properly...or improperly, whatever your going for. The planning stages, the sketches, the reworks, the priming of the surfaces. Even in Mr. Fukahori's work, the resin must be mixed properly, the wooden boxes built & sanded smooth. An artist must have a composition in his/her mind. Everyone is different. When you see a work of art & the price tag confuses you, remember this. You aren't just paying for paint on a canvas or paint between layers of resin. You are paying for the work. All of the work that the artist has gone through to finish this one piece.

That and all the materials. Paint isn't cheap. Neither are brushes. If you haven't ever bothered to look, go to your local craft store & check out tubes of oil paint & acrylic. Not the cheap-o boxed sets either, but the single tubes of color. Then look at brushes. Not cheap brushes that look like they are made of straw & will flake off in the painting, but REAL brushes. Then check out gallery quality canvas. It gets pricey.

I guess my point here is, "WOW! Look at this guy painting Goldfish!" and don't be a cheapskate when it comes to shelling out money for good art. Look at it like you would look at supporting your local farmer's market or local restaurant. You are getting something of quality & in return are helping someone create more of that & possible helping them afford new carpet in their house, not bonuses for some jack-hole that could give a crap about the struggles of middle or lower America or the world.

Deep Breaths & Baby Steps

Okay, well, this has been a bit of a surreal & insane year already. Xena Con 2012 & the moment this Xenite fangirl has waited her whole life for, followed very quickly by the untimely & rather sudden death of one of my family. Not blood related family, but family family. You know, those people that love you because they want to, not because they have to. For me, this person was one of my rocks.

T & I have learned we don't do real well with this type of thing when we are both connected to the person we've lost. It's always been one of us being strong for the other. This time...damn, I tell you what, my eyes feel bruised from all the crying, & I still don't know which way is up & I'm not sure if I have helped her at all.

So, Saturday we are going to celebrate our friend, laugh & cry some more & try to figure out how to find up.

I feel like I haven't been able to get my footing at all this year.

T has her final project to get her Master's due & is so stressed out she's started having panic attacks.

This really isn't the way I expected things to be going.

We've got quite the fight on our hands.

That's just the way it goes sometimes though, right? I remember why I tell myself never to make plans. Something always happens. I don't care though. I am already making new ones.

Looking to the future. Which right now seems rather ominous & frightening & less fun. I'm sure once we break through this dark cloud, the sunshine & rainbows will still be there.

The first plan I have made is to go to this: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live



They have a Social Media Site page as well, if you wanna click on over & check that out.

Two artists that really inspire me are going to be there. Brom & Mike Mignola.

As well as Android Jones.

There will be talks & portfolio reviews & hob-knobbing & such. I have nothing this year, but I can go this year & look, observe & understand. Research what & how & get fully prepared for next year. I can ask questions in order to help set myself up for success. For real.

I have already set myself a goal of three new works completed & posted to my website BEFORE the Convention.

THIS is the year. No matter what I get thrown at me. Things change this year. I change this year. I become who I was meant to be.

What day is it?

Hello.

Xena Con 2012 was awesome.

I wasn't able to keep up with the blog like I had hoped due to the lack of free wi-fi. I refuse to pay $14.00 a day. Especially when I'm already paying for everything else.

The final highlights of the Con were:

Lucy & Renee on stage. Lucy & Renee reading Katherine Fugate's little script she wrote that Renee & Claudia Black had read the day before.

Gabrielle asking Xena to marry her right there in front of my eyes. :o Holy Hera!



The Video above was our vantage point. In fact, if you look, & are familiar with the backs of our heads (*snicker*) then you will see they make an appearance.

For me, this was absolutely amazing. It was almost like the last two episodes were fixed immediately. It is still making me smile.

Right after that moment T & I were scrambling madly through the crowd to get to the Lucy photo op line.

That too, was awesome. She was warm & friendly & I still can't believe it all happened. Best 15th Year Anniversary present EVER!



We loved Southern California. The weather was so nice & everyone seemed very friendly & smiley. We even saw a guy see his car get bumped in the parking lot. Hey ran over to check it out & once he decided it was no big deal, he came strolling back to the Starbucks with a smile on his face.

THAT guy taught me a bunch. He witnessed, he reacted, he investigated, he let it go. I have a very hard time with the "letting it go" part. I don't want to anymore. So that is what I am practicing since I got back. Letting it go. I do not want to hang on to emotion that should have passed anymore. I want to feel in the moment & move on. So far, so good.

So, we've been back for a week now & I still have not adjusted. In fact, I'm not sure I ever will. I feel different.

Xena Con Day 3 - Saturday!

Saturday finds us up early & nervous. Renee O'Connor's photo op is bright & early at 8:45am. We are hoping she has on the outfit we want, otherwise we will have to wait until Sunday. She's wearing two different outfits on two different days. Will it be the BGSB or the Red Outfit or the Little House on the Praire Outfit or what!?

I am totally expecting T to freak. LOL.

We get in line. Finally word comes down the line that she is indeed in the classic Gabby attire of the BGSB (Big Green Sports Bra).
Once we get in to the room where we can see her...T starts to feel weird. To be honest, I was taken aback a little seeing Renee for the very first time in her classic Gabby outfit. It was a bit surreal. I mean, holy Hera! There was Gabrielle! It was like someone plucked her out of ancient Greece & plopped her in Burbank just to take pictures. LOL.

She seemed pretty sleepy still. It was cute. She's so shy. I am amazed she does this for her fans. It must be incredibly hard for her.

T cried. It was so cute. She waited until we got back to the room, and she will absolutely hate me for telling you this, but she cried. She met the Bard of Bards! Her idol! The person that plays the character that helped her realize she wanted to be a writer & helped bring us together. It was adorable.

It really is neat being surrounded & immersed in the Xenaverse & being part of the experience we have always heard about.

Being there though, you could feel...it's a little too late for a Xena movie. This broke T & I's heart...just a little. we expected it was a possibility, but we had hoped that with the interest & fervor of the X201MC & other things we had read & watched, that maybe there was a resurgance. Nope. The Con room has yet to be a little more than half full. This is THE Xena con. If they can't fill that up...well, the market for the film looks pretty damn slim to me. Still, It'd be awesome if it ever happened.

So there were a few tears. T worked so hard on that script. However, at the same time, we are having so much fun. Even if it is the tail end of the grand experience, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

We got to see Claire Stansfield, Tim Omundson, Brittany Powell, Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, & Jacqueline Kim. Whew! That was a whole lot of awesome in a short amount of time. We also got autographs from all of them as well as Renee's autograph.

Later that night at around 10:30pm we headed on over to the cocktail party. Dancing, music, & drinks. Hudson showed up. She was on the dance floor with all of us. There were several dance offs. She is HI-larious guys. Brittany was there as well. I got hugs. Good, strong, happy hugs. Such wonderful hugs. *sigh*

Many of the stars asked us about the Con. They asked us if we were having a good time. They asked why we decided to come. Was it because it was the LAST con? It was neat, because we got to tell our story to most everyone. The people that helped bring us together. Some of them genuinely thought it was freaking cool. Everyone was very sweet. It was amazing. Brittany even told other people. Can I just say, I liked Brittany's character on the show, but man, I LOVE the real Brittany. She is crazy fun. Also cool & drop dead gorgeous.

Jacqueline Kim was also fantastic & so warm & lovely to meet. Gods, we had such great experiences. The stars were all so incredibly warm & friendly & funny. I have never been to a fan convention where all the stars are so relaxed & friendly & giving & warm. A big thank you to all of them.

After the party, we crashed.

Sunday is next. Lucy Freakin' Lawless day.

Xena Con Day 2 - Friday

Wow. What an amazing first day! We slept in until around 10:30am because we opted not to pay $120.00 to do Yoga with Hudson Leick. It was nice. We needed it. We stumbled over to the Starbuck's, grabbed some coffee & relaxed a bit before rejoining the swing of the Con.

Steven L. Sears talked first. He was a writer for the series. One of the main writers. T got up & asked a question. I filmed part of it. I was proud.

Then Adrienne Wilkinson, the woman who portrayed Xena's daughter, Eve/Livia, was up next. She was very fun.

David Franklin was up next. He was everyone's favorite Brutus in the Rome episodes of Xena. The man is like a combination of David Tennet and Hugh Jackman. Hey, BBC, I think I found your next Doctor. This guy would be awesome!

Rob Field followed David. He was an editor on Xena. He was very Hollywood. It was pretty cool seeing such a stereotypical Hollywood type.

All of this lasted for hours. Finally, at 4pm, Ted Raimi is introduced. Ted played Joxer the Mighty & is Sam Raimi's brother. It was cool seeing Ted. He was funny & pretty much what I expected from a Raimi. Those guys are awesome, sarcastic & funny as hell!

After Ted came the Con legend Hudson Leick. Hudson scares me. She always has. She has this presence about her. It's like she could suck out your soul before you knew what was happening. LOL. Turns out though, that she's really pretty cool. Although I still think she might suck out my soul. After her talk was her photo op.

I was pretty terrified to stand next to her. Seriously, she scares me. So, we get up there, and she looks at T & says, "Hi!" in a high pitched friendly voice. Then she looks at me & says in a lower sulty voice, "Why Hello." Panic. She.Is.Going.To.Eat.Me.
I bravely returned her greeting with my own low confident, "Hello." & she raised her eyebrows & replied to my hello with an even sexier "Hello."

Um,...gulp. Hawt & Scary.

After the picture was snapped it was dinner time & then off to get some of our many autographs. After autographs we attended the special cabaret with Michael Hurst & Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Fun, fun, fun! We were signed up for Karaoke afterwards, but man, we were exhausted. So we went back to the room & crashed.

We had a great first day & did manage to meet some cool people.

We came to grips with the fact that the X201MC people were snubbing us. Very strange after having been on their FB & talking for so long. I thought I had built some pretty cool friendships there, but man was I wrong. Apparently the X2011MC operates like a small junior high school. Of course, being the weird kid & having people treat me like I'm the weird kid is the story of my life. So, feel free to go UNLIKE that page.

Next up, Saturday & Renee!!!

Xena Con Day 1 - Thursday

Awkward.

That's the word for Thursday.

We got up around 5am to start the journey from Oktaha (My Brother's place) to the Tulsa airport. Our flight was on time & despite my mini panic attack & tears upon the first take off, I managed pretty well. There was quite a bit of turbulence on both the flight to Denver & the flight from Denver to Burbank. I sort of like turbulence though. For the first time ever, I did not throw up after the second fight. THAT was awesome.

Once in sunny Burbank, we walked out of the airport, took a deep breath & T started crying. (To be fair, I cried when the plane landed) Neither of us could believe we finally not only managed to get a vacation, but that we managed to afford one. It didn't even matter what we where doing, or that there was a con at all. We were free. Free from all that mundane routine crap. Just me & T.

We looked around & decided to walk rather than to take the complimentary shuttle bus to the hotel. That's how we roll. We wanted to feel every bit of California sunshine.

As we entered the Hotel, the noise grew loud, and there were obvious Xenites filling the lobby already. Many of them very large robust type Xenites. We checked in, smiled shyly & ran up to our room.

We weren't quite sure what to do. I'm completely lousy at being social & T hasn't done it in years. So we stayed up in our room for a little while. Finally, we decided to go down & explore. Find where & when everything was supposed to be. Once we returned to the lobby, we were overwhelmed by the fact that the Xenite number had doubled & people were screaming joyously & hugging & so excited. No one seemed to notice us. It felt like it would be interrupting to walk up & say hello. So we headed toward the convention part of the hotel.

Soon I saw members of the X2011MC. T tried to make conversation, but was brushed off rather quickly, or so it felt. I smiled with recognition at a couple of them that I have been FBing with for 6 months & they looked right through me. No hello, no nothing.

Awkward.

I had no idea what to do. So we sat in the lobby for a couple hours watching people come & go, hugging, screaming, being excited. Then Hudson Leick walked by. T was whispering to me, "Hudson, Hudson, Hudson! Hudson Leick!" I was all, "What? Oh, Callisto. Yep, that's Hudson. Damn. She looks hot."

So we explored a little more, went back up to our room, came back down, attempted a few more times to initiate conversation & went to get in line for Pre-Registration.

No one seemed interested at all in hanging out with us or including us. As we walked to pre-registration, I looked over & saw Bill Shatner sitting next to the pool with a cameraman & boom mike guy. Ha! Cool.

As we stood in line, Bill's TV crew came down the line & the girls behind us started doing the Xena war cry. The camera stopped & there we were. Us the the girls behind us on camera for Bill Shatner's show Fanatics. LOL. If we end up in the final edit, I'll be pretty stoked about that. 'Cause if anything fits me well, title of fanatic is pretty close. I mean, you guys know this.

We did manage to talk to the people in front & behind us & finally feel like we were no longer invisible. So that was good.

We Pre-registered, got our 8 x 10's t be autographed, a new coffee mug, and a couple of scripts & headed back to the room. We were so exhausted. For the first time in my life I was asleep before 11pm.

Now, it's Friday. We're at Starbucks. Free w-fi. The hotel charges $13.00 a day for internet that works. We've got about a half an hour before the festivities start. So glad we passed on the 8 am Yoga with Hudson. LOL.

And so it begins....

Friday, Saturday & Sunday of this week are going to be a little different here at the blog. I will be blogging from what is being called the FINAL Xena Convention. Of course, it won't be the final one, but it might be the final US Creation sponsored one.

Anyhoo, this space will be filled with all sorts of exclamations of joy and pictures as me & my Amazon Bard trek to Burbank to hook up with the tribe & stand in the presence of our idols. Plus, we get to have our pictures made with them!!!

O.M.G. I have been practicing my "Not Stupid Face" for a month.

We begin travel on Thursday. So far the tribe is undecided on when to meet up. Imagine that?! A bunch of Amazons having trouble deciding where to meet & when. LOL. The Australian & European Amazons are ready to party, as are some of the newbies, but this Warrior is feeling a little too old to go tear up LA the night before the big festival starts. LOL. However, the call to Starbuck's in the wee hours of the morning Friday is looking like a go & I am sure the party gals will need some coffee after their crazy night.



Friday will be the start of the festival with Joxer (Ted Raimi), Callisto (Hudson Leick), La Mao (Jacqueline Kim), Brunnhilda (Brittany Powell), and Xena's daughter herself, Eve (Adrienne Wilkinson. Saturday will be the arrival of the Amazon Queen & Battling Bard of Potedia, Gabrielle, Renee O'Connor & the evil of all evils Alti (Claire Stansfield). Eli (Tim Omundson) will also show up on Saturday, as well as Hercules' best bud Iolus (Michael Hurst). There are so many people showing up on Sat.! The costume contest, which I sadly will not be participating in due to lack of boobs to fill my borrowed breastplate, will also be Staurday.

Then...TheGreat Creation Celebrity Cocktail Party. For GOLD members ONLY. Which we are. I can't believe we are, but um, yeah, we totally went for it & we got golden tickets!!!

Then it's Sunday. Sunday. Sunday!!!!



Sunday is the day the Warrior Princess herself shows up. Callisto (Hudson Leick) runs the charity auction breakfast that morning.



Now, in between all the scheduled stuff & after the scheduled stuff & before the scheduled stuff, we are doing other stuff. We are going to Graumann's Chinese Theatre. We might even catch a show there. We could possibly be going to drunk Karaoke with other Xenites. We are hoping to get to play in the charity softball game which pits Xena's hometown Amphipolis against team Potedia, Gabrielle's hometown. There's pool time with some of the other Amazons & more. Oh, and T pitching her script. Look for the Xena film to be out sometime in late 2012, early 2013. ;)

We are so ready for this.

New Ladyhawke album

Don't Blink

I don't know why, but I want these.


They are electronic googly eyes. They blink. How cool is that?

I simply adore googly eyes. ThinkGeek has them for $29.99 on sale.

Happy 2012

Hey there! Glad to see you back here. I'm going to reflect a little here. 2011 rocked. I mean, it was awesome. So many cool things happened in my life. I also set up so many cool things to happen in 2012.

When I started this blog, action figures were an obsession of mine. I couldn't wait to see what was next to be molded into plastic! Now, I've found other things. I've gravitated back toward my art more. Also, back toward really understanding what I love.

The blog will still have lots of action figure news, but be prepared for more posts on artwork I am working on, things I'm doing, places I'm traveling, and Xena. Well, Xena for a while. I'm sure a few months after the Con, the Xena stuff will wind down. It's just the thing I'm most obsessed about right now.

This year I've been able to write quite a bit. I discovered I really love writing. I'm not nearly as good at it as T or some of my other friends, but I enjoy it. So, if I can stick to my guns, you will have a chance to read something I've written other than a blog post sometime this year.

I also have decided to stop taking the world so seriously. It's ridiculous. No more news. No more NPR. No more headlines. No more papers. I'll do my part when I should & I will make informed decisions, but I am done being upset & angry. I'm not a protester, a marcher, a person that is in any way shape or form made to go out in crowds & change things. Neither is T. We change things in other ways. We create. She writes, I write. I paint and she paints. We write music. We just haven't ever gotten it OUT there before. THAT is what we are going to change. We are putting it out there. All of it. That is how we change things. Through our creations. If anything we create touches one person, then we have met with success. We don't even have to know it has.

There needs to be more beauty & positivity in the world. Like just then, positivity showed up in my spell checker. That's a little crazy, isn't it? It underlines positivity in red because it doesn't think it's a word. However, type negativity & it has no problem recognizing it. That says something about our world right there.

Life is too short. Way too short. Being a person who doesn't necessarily believe in an afterlife where we all retain our conscious selves makes THIS life the only one I've got & way too precious to be worrying over the state of the world. If the world is bad or on the verge of collapse then it makes what I need to do all the more urgent.

I'm blessed with love & laughter & comfort & friends. It's time I make my focus my art. My dreams. In turn, making those things my reality. Hopefully, changing someone else's for the better.

I really feel like 2011 was the first step of a new journey. 2012 is going to be even more fantastic. The path is in front of me. I am taking it. The recent past might have beaten me up, chewed me up, pummeled me & kicked me while I was down, but I am standing back up. I'm brushing myself off. I'm geared up, sword in hand, or paintbrush, and ready to go.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


William Ernest Henley

New Years Party Fun!!!

Sometimes, on New Year's, to get things rolling, it's fun to start off with a party game. This year, you could try this: Star Wars Mad Libs. Mad Libs have always cracked me up. Mad Libs had been the cause of some of the hardest laughing I have ever been a part of. Who doesn't want to end one year & start the new one with laughter. ThinkGeek has them in stock now & for only $3.99!

Swiftwind

Okay Masters of the Universe & She-Ra collectors, listen up! You absolutely have to have this one! It's She-Ra's faithful steed Swiftwind from the Master's of the Universe Classics line!

You can order it from the Big Bad Toystore for $47.99 plus S&H, Brian's Toys has it for $79.99, Amazon has them from $42 - $60, Ebay has them listing from $17.00 on up. Some of the Ebayers have Swiftwind combined with the MOTU Classic She-Ra.

I would also like to point out a cool shirt you might want to snag if you are a big She-Ra fan. ThinkGeek has it & I think it is exclusive through them. It's a two-sided She-Ra Costume Babydoll. It ranges from $20 to $21 depending on what size you need.



If you play your cards right, you could be a Princess of Power this holiday season!

Sick

Hello viewers! Welcome back. Here at Art, Love & Action Figures we have been experiencing the bacterial infection from hell for nearly a month. It has been traded back & forth, subsided & then returned like a screaming Valkyrie from Vahalla. While I feel better than I did last Thursday, Friday & Saturday, I have learned that the nasty little bugger might just be laying another clever trap for me, or it knows it doesn't have to work as hard to destroy me, since the old people faculty do a great job of that themselves here at my j.o.b., and that it will make another victorious return & try to conquer me once & for all. It's been quite the battle. I'm exhausted.

To make matter worse, my sweet puppy is also sick.



She went to the vet today. I am anxiously awaiting results.

So, if you've noticed a lack of Action Figure related posts lately, now you have an explanation. As soon as I can kick this things ass, my puppy is all fixed up, and my house is in order, I promise I'll be right back to posting as much as I can.

Batwoman Comic

I've read quite a few comics in my life. I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but probably somewhere above an amateur comics reader. Not quite a Professional comic reader, but close. I don't know a bunch about certain artists & writers, but I do have a few favorites. Probably the first comics writer I ever paid attention to was Ed Brubaker. I mean REALLY paid attention to. I had read Daredevil for years, but Brubaker made him more than a comic. He made Daredevil a real person. Deep, emotional, with real world problems. Mr. Brubaker was at the last Wizard World Texas Con I went to. I skipped his workshop, something I really regret, to get or see something else. Luckily, T went to the workshop, so I got a pretty good account of his workshop from her. I think it was Mr. Brubaker that really put the writing bug in T's ear.

There are few comics that really grab me. I like great writing & complex characters combined with good to freaking fantastic art. Brubaker's Daredevil had both. They were top notch. I really miss them. Mike Mignola & Eric Powell are the other two who light my comics fire. I have yet to ever pick up a B.P.R.D., Hellboy, or Goon that I haven't loved. I have almost everything Mr. Mignola & his team have ever made. I'm catching up on Mr. Powell's Goon.

So where does Batwoman fit into all of this? I'll tell you what, for me...she is right up there with these guys. DC's new 52 relaunch didn't really change anything for Batwoman, other than her issue number. She was just re-launched Spring of 2006. There was tons of media hype about how DC had made the character a lesbian & blah, blah, blah. I actually avoided picking it up at first because I didn't want anyone thinking I was buying it just because she was a lesbian.

Once I did pick it up, I was awed by the art. It was gorgeous. Stunning. I had to see more. The writing was pretty good to boot. With the new 52 Batwoman, not only is the absolute beauty of this title still intact, but the writing is better. It is co-written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman, with the art also being composed by Mr. Williams III. I say composed because that's what it feels like as you move across the pages. Mr. Williams had been the artist on the Batwoman graphic novel "Elegy". Personally, I hope he never leaves. This guy is a master.

I realized, after reading Batwoman, that it was really refreshing to see that even though there was tons of media hype about Batwoman's sexuality, it didn't really translate into the comic. It's written much like Brubaker's Daredevil. Real world problems & real world situations. How refreshing. A strong female lesbian character that isn't being forced. I know women just like Kate (Batwoman). Her sexuality doesn't define her, it just happens to be part of who she is. No big deal. Batwoman has a thing for cops & Batman has a thing for cat burglars. It isn't the main thread of the story.

If you haven't picked Batwoman up yet & you enjoy great writing combined with fantastic art, I suggest you go grab the first three issues. I can't wait to see where these guys go with this. I think it's going to be one of the best comics of 2012.

New Xena Fan Video

Dutch Schaefer Sideshow Figure

Now available for $349.99, the Dutch Schaefer premium format figure from Sideshow Collectibles. This figure is available with the flexpay option, which means you can pay it out in installments of $105.00 a month. The piece is 20.5 inches tall & weighs in at 13lbs. The exclusive version comes with a separate head or "additional portrait with cigar for alternate display" as listed on the Sideshow page under the summary tab.

Funko Maleficent

These aren't my bag, but quite a few people are really into the Funko type toys. Here is my favorite Disney Villain of all time available through Entertainment Earth for $9.99. Looks like they have her available in December, but I bet you might be able to get your hands on one before then if you just google around a bit.

Adventure People by Fisher Price

Here we have a cool picture that my Flickr buddy Skip the Frogman put together of the complete line of Adventure Time figures released by Fisher Price from 1975 to 1985. I loved these figures. Skip helped me finally identify a figure I have kept all these years. I always wondered where he came from, but wasn't positive that he was with this line because he was a robot.



He fit right in with my Star Wars collection though. Anyone else out there have any of these awesome figures?

Slideshow

A Bit More Progress on the Xena Painting

Well, I've really started in on the metal work on the painting now. This should be interesting.

Xena Painting...Finally, Two Eyes!

Whew, man, there was some serious anxiety about getting that second eye done. I was sure I was going to screw up the whole painting. Nope, in fact, the second eye looks better than the first! Now, back to work! She's getting there!

Captain America

I just finished watching the latest Marvel movie Captain America. Two thumbs up, five stars, excellent job Mr. Johnston! I was never a huge fan of Cap, but let me tell you, I LOVED this movie! Marvel has perfected their superhero movie. DC really needs to take a cue & learn how to keep a character true while still making the hero accessible to everyone. Red Skull was perfect, as was Cap & the rest of the characters and cast. The pacing was good and the climax was satisfying. I would have liked to see Cap punch Red Skull in the face though. That's my one complaint. It was a beautifully shot film and also had an excellent score. I cannot wait for the Avengers. I expect it to break all previous box office records.

Xena Painting Update: Hello November!

Started in on the shoulder guards & some of the metal. Finished up the background. Not sure I want to keep it. I almost want something more abstract & geometric. We'll see.

Wonder Woman & the New 52 from DC

DC Comics recently decided to revamp their entire comic line. All your beloved favorites get re-hauled, re-tooled, etc. The one I was most looking forward to was Wonder Woman. For years, DC has shied away from who the Amazon Princess really is & where she came from. They've been uncomfortable with what it is to be an Amazon. They have hesitated to play with the mythologies laid out in front of them. Unlike Marvel's Thor, who has always been in touch with his Gods, DC always tries to stick Wonder Woman in our time & strip her of any link to her past & her culture. I was happy to find that Writer Brian Azzarello, so far has NOT decided to follow in those past footsteps.

There is a costume change. Honestly, I like the change. Not too dramatic, pays homage to the old, and doesn't try to apologize by adding pants. Thank you for that.



Now, there are a few problems I have with the New 52 Wonder Woman, but not many. Of course, we are only 2 issues in. Okay, you MUST get your mythology right. Sure, you can play around with it, but make sure you have a damn good reason for changing it & don't just change it to change it. For example, in the picture above, you can bear witness to a female Centaur. *sigh* Alright, alright, there were very scarce references to female centaurs, but generally speaking Centaurs are thought of as an all male species. I'll let that one slide, since, technically there are both males & females. They did get the female one right on, though. She was considered to be a white Centaur. So that one is just nit-picky of me really. Let's not screw too many myths up though, okay?

The next thing though really chaps my ass. Hippolyta has, was & should ever be dark haired, raven tressed, possessing of locks as dark as the night. NOT BLOND. OMG, WTF. Wonder Woman's mom is now blond. Seriously? I'm blond myself, but the Queen of the Amazons is not. First of all, how many blonde Greeks do you know? I don't like it. It cheapens Hippolyta. CHANGE IT BACK.



I also dislike it when characters take control of humans to do their bidding & then without any reason kill them, when it's obvious that they might need them again for the same purpose. I call it Gratuitous Death. We already have this in issue 1. Really? Look, have the god take them prisoner in his giant mansion of a penthouse, or keep a godly spell on them, but to just have him lure them up, use them & kill them without any sort of care in the world, well, honestly that OMG impact you wanted in the story you were writing...yeah, didn't happen. I didn't get to know them enough to give a crap. So really, the whole scene ends up completely pointless emotionally. Yeah, I got the info, but man, was that a completely overdramatic way to deliver it or what?



The writing is not bad. It could be a little tighter. There are a few pages where I had to read twice because the dialogue seemed really choppy. The panels didn't seem to pull off exactly what was being told either. The art is average. Nothing to be awed by, but not just puked out either.

Things I love? Diana's attitude. Diana NOT shying away from WHO she is. The naughty Amazon jokes. The feeling that this time, DC is going to embrace their Amazon Princess & let her be who she should have always been. Push the boundaries a little.
Make her mythology part of her story. Take us into her world rather than plucking her out & putting her in ours and making her forget where she came from.




So, if you have ever wanted to read Wonder Woman & didn't really know where to start, please go grab issue 1 & 2 of the New 52 Wonder Woman at your local comics shop. Go on! It's 15 to 20 minutes of fun each month for $2.99 a comic. I think this could possibly end up being the best Wonder Woman run ever. You wouldn't want to miss it would you?


(All images in this post copyright by DC Comics)

3:30AM-ish and I'm still at it. Xena Painting.

More progress made. Got one of those baby blues done. I have to admit, the eyes on this painting have got to be right on or it isn't going to look like Lucy. Xena/Lucy has very well known eyes. You can't achieve the Xena look without them. So, lots of anxiety trying to get these eyes right.

Xena Warrior Princess Painting Update

Work done as of 10.29.11 16 x 20 Acrylic

New Xena Fan Video

Yep, I made another one.

Happy Birthday (you sexy statue you).

The Lady Liberty was unveiled on October 28, 1886. Her image was created by the Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.



The Statue was a gift from France to America to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. Benefit theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights assisted in providing needed funds in America, while the French used public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery as methods of building money to complete the project.






Lady Liberty was built in France, then transported by the French ship "Isere" to New York Harbor & arrived in June 1885. It took 4 months to assemble her on her pedestal for the whole world to see.



I love this statue. I'm sure their is some bias in my love for her since I was born American, but the whole idea of her is romantic. A beacon of hope for those who struggle to be free. The torch lighting their way to a land of Freedom & Opportunity. Can you imagine what the sight of her standing in that harbor has meant to millions who have managed to reach her shores?

One day I will stand at her feet & weep. I don't care who sees me. I will weep for the idea to create her. I will weep for the effort to raise money to make it real & those who saw to give to a cause of creating art. I will weep for those fought so hard & braved so much to get here, and for those who didn't make it. I will weep for the joy that she was not one of the targets on 9-11. I will weep for all those that made it possible for me to have the Liberties I have, even though for me, they are less than some in my country. I will weep for her as she watches liberties being stripped away from women as we descend, falling backwards, rather than moving forward. I will weep knowing that I was lucky enough to live in a time & place in the universe where she stands & where what she stands for exists.


(photo by murphydean)


Happy Birthday Lady Liberty. May you stand for countless ages to come.

Bow Ties Are Cool. (Not really, but whatever.)

Okay, Whovians, Thinkgeek has the Bow Tie of Bow Ties for you! The 11th Doctor's Bow Tie to be exact! Unfortunately, it looks as though they are already out of stock! However, you can get on the e-mail list to be notified when more show up. It fits necks 15-20" & when combined with any old tweed jacket & a sonic screwdriver, will complete your 11th Doctor Halloween costume! However, if you desire to have an exact replica of the 11th Doctor's jacket, you can fork over $329.99 for that at the same place, Thinkgeek. It too has sold out right now. Holy cow! Really?!



Lucky for you, Entertainment Earth has both as well. The jacket is available for $309.99 pre-order due to arrive in November & the bow tie is available to arrive in November for $29.99. Unfortunately that's after Halloween, but who cares, right?! You can dress as the Doctor any day!

The ENTIRE Jem Series on DVD! Outrageous!

Finally, all 65 episodes of Jem in one place! Rhino Entertainment had released 3 sets prior to SHOUT releasing this boxed set, but Rhino never finished out the series. Finally, not only do you get all 65 episodes in one box set, but this box set is also loaded with extras!

There are a few issues with the new set however. Apparently, past the third season, the master tapes sat on the shelf for 25 years untouched. SHOUT did what they could, but the quality is still less than perfect. Still, at least they are out there. Hopefully in the future, if sales are good, they can clean them up a little more.

Amazon.com has the box set ready to purchase right now here: JEM

The Power of the Future is in Your Hands!

Today I'm changing it up a little bit. I'm going to bring to your attention some Blu-ray & DVD releases. Some that you can go ahead & pre-order right now.

First up, the entire Captain Power series. Captain Power came out in the late 80's and dealt with some pretty serious issues. It was dark & gritty. It was also a combination of live action & computer animation. Also, in each episode there was a segment that included visual and audio material which interacted with toys produced by Mattel. My brother had one of the ships. It was pretty neat.



So, if you've never seen Captain Power or you just want to relive those post-apocalyptic storylines, make sure to head over to Amazon.com & pre-order your copy right now.

Another great 80's animated series coming to DVD is M.A.S.K. or(Mobile Armored Strike Kommand). It was a Japanese animation distributed by DIC Enterprises which was also accompanied by a toyline. Kenner toys produced 2 inch figures and vehicles that were really pretty cool. Again, head on over to Amazon.com to pick up the entire series on DVD.





If those weren't your cup of tea, hold on, I still have more! Also, now available on DVD, Skeleton Warriors. Skeleton Warriors ran 13 episodes and was by Landmark Entertainment Group. It originally aired in 1993-1994. It was one of those unfortunate shows that would have thrived in the 80's, but the 90's rejection of anything 80's or fantastical killed it. If you love fantasy good vs. evil stuff & never saw this one, you should check it out. It is also available over on Amazon.com.

Battlestar Galactica Viper Pilot Helmet

This retro Battlestar Galactica helmet is a replica of the helmets worn by the Pilots Starbuck & Apollo in the 1970's series.

The helmet is an exact screen worn replica. It is limited to only 500 pieces worldwide and has a numbered plaque hand signed by both Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict!

You can find them online at eFx Collectibles and over at Entertainment Earth for $599.00.

The Warrior Princess Painting

It was inevitable. I have started a Xena painting. Small 16 x 20 Acrylic on canvas. It's in the same style as my Wonder Woman painting. I'm trying to get it done for the Xena 2011 Movie Campaign's Art Contest. The deadline is the 17th. I am bound & determined to make it.

Ghostbusters Demon Dogs

Just in time for Halloween, Diamond Select has unleashed the giant demon dogs from hell in the form on light up statues. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until next Halloween to use them. They are only up for pre-order right now & showing an availability of sometime in February. However, if your sweetie is into devil dogs, this will make a great Valentine's gift! These puppies are 7 inches tall and run $67.99 ea. over at Entertainment Earth.