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Diamond Select Toys This Week: Alice, Dr. Strange, Mallrats & More!

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Graphic Policy Team

This week, your local comic shop has become a wonderland of magic and excitement, as Diamond Select Toys ships a ton of new products from Alice Through the Looking Glass, Doctor Strange, Mallrats, Marvel Comics and Alien! From Select action figures to Gallery PVC dioramas to Minimates mini-figures, there’s something for every type of fan, so read on for details, and reserve your favorites at your local comic shop!

Alice Through the Looking Glass Gallery PVC Figures

A Diamond Select Toys release! Gallery figures just went through the looking glass! Based on the new big-screen sequel to Alice in Wonderland, Alice Kingsleigh and the Mad Hatter are now featured in the hot new Gallery figure line from DST, capturing heroes and heroines from the world of pop culture as 9-inch scale PVC statues! Each 9-inch figure features high-quality paint applications, and each stands atop a sculpted base made out of clock gears – interlock the two bases to form one combined diorama! Each figure comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios!

Alice Gallery Figure (Item #JUN162362, SRP: $45.00)

Mad Hatter Gallery Figure (Item #JUN162361, SRP: $45.00)

Alice Through the Looking Glass Select Action Figures Series 1 Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys Release! For the first time ever, DST is offering fully poseable 7” scale action figures based on an Alice in Wonderland movie! These 7-inch figures of Alice Kingsleigh and the young Mad Hatter, based on their appearances in Alice Through the Looking Glass, feature the likenesses of Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp, and have up to 16 points of articulation. Each comes with a diorama background depicting a building from Wonderland – connect the bases to build a larger town! Figures are individually packaged in the display-ready Select packaging, with spine artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios!

Alice Figure (Item #JUL162616, SRP: $24.99)

Hatter Figure (Item #JUL162617, SRP: $24.99)

Aliens Deluxe Minimates Space Jockey Figure Set

A Diamond Select Toys release! When a Minimate set gets this big, it can only be called Deluxe! The Aliens Deluxe Minimates line continues with a third Deluxe release, the Alien Space Jockey, as seen in the 1979 film that started it all! This Minimates-style diorama piece measures over 4 inches tall and comes with an exclusive 2” Minimates mini-figure of Nostromo crew member Kane, wearing his environmental suit with melted face plate, plus multiple alien eggs. Kane is fully poseable with 14 points of articulation, a removable helmet and interchangeable parts, including a facehugger alien! Fully compatible with all Alien and Predator Minimates. Packaged on a full-color blister card. (Item #OCT162586, SRP: $14.99)

Mallrats Select Action Figures Series 2 Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! They’re not here to shop, they’re not here to work, they’re just here! Finally, after 22 years, fully poseable action figures of the cast of Kevin Smith’s sophomore(ic) masterpiece Mallrats have arrived! Joining the previously offered Jay and Brody, Silent Bob and Renee are in Series 2, each with character-specific accessories – grappling gun, utility belt and alternate head for Bob; shopping bag, purse and video tape for Renee – as well as diorama bases depicting different stores in the mall, Popular Girl for Bob and Fashionable Male for Renee! Each figure features approximately 16 points of articulation and the actor’s likeness. Packaged in display-ready Select packaging, with spine artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Patrick Piggott!

Silent Bob Figure (Item #JUL162627, SRP: $24.99)

Renee Figure (Item #JUL162626, SRP: $24.99)

Marvel Gallery Doctor Strange Comic PVC Figure

A Diamond Select Toys Release! By the Vishanti! The Marvel Universe’s Sorceror Supreme, Doctor Strange, is now the latest in DST’s new line of 9-inch-scale Gallery PVC figures! Depicting the sorcerer hovering in mid-air over a giant Eye of Agamotto and casting a complex spell, this comic book-inspired figure features a detailed sculpt and collectible-quality paint applications. Figure is in scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures, and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Phil Ramirez!

(Item #JUL162621, SRP: $45.00)

Marvel Gallery Medusa PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! All hail the queen of the Inhumans! Once a member of the Frightful Four, now monarch of the Inhuman race, Medusa is the latest PVC diorama to join the Marvel Gallery line. Wearing one of her most recent costumes, she hovers above the ground, suspended by her own prehensile hair! This PVC figure is sculpted in 9-inch scale, making it in scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures. Packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Alejandro Pereira! (Item #OCT162587, SRP: $45.00)

Marvel Select Doctor Strange Movie Action Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Sorcerer Supreme and soon-to-be-cinematic superstar is the next Marvel Select masterpiece! This 7-inch action figure depicts Dr. Stephen Strange as he appears in the upcoming Marvel feature film, with a screen-accurate costume and the likeness of actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The figure features 16 points of articulation, and comes with a diorama-style base capturing an environment from the film. Packaged in the display-ready Select packaging, with spine artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! (Item #JUN162396 , SRP: $24.99)

Choose Your Side. Which Side Will Medusa Choose?

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

The Marvel Universe is at a crossroads. A new power has emerged, one that can predict the future—for good or ill— and the heroes of the Marvel Universe are faced with a choice: Wield the power of “predictive justice” to change the future as they see fit, or reject it and allow tomorrow to unfold unaltered.

Protect the future. Change the future. Which side will Medusa choose?

Marvel Comics & ESPN The Magazine Release Exclusive Body Issue Insert: The Body Issue: Super Heroes Edition

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

ESPN The Magazine presents Marvel Comics’ pantheon of heroes in a way they have never been seen before – in a special insert inside the magazine’s annual Body Issue on newsstands Friday, July 10^th. The custom edition, entitled The Body Issue: Super Heroes Edition will feature Iron Man, She-Hulk, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Medusa, Hulk, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage.

ESPN.com will also offer fans an exclusive digital sketch book featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of these powerful images. The exclusive digital sketch book will show how ESPN & Marvel Comics, along with some of the premier artistic talents in the world, worked collaboratively honoring and illustrating the male and female form through detailed anatomical drawings. This exclusive online gallery provides readers a behind-the-scenes look of how these unique concepts, designs, and masterful illustrations came together to produce this one of a kind Body Issue insert.

Every day, all over the world, Marvel’s top comic book artists flex their creative muscles to illustrate the world’s mightiest Super Heroes. In the spirit of ESPN The Magazine’s visual celebration of athleticism, dedication and strength, a mix of those same artists took to their drawing boards to craft bold images of Marvel’s characters like never before. From the ferocious and powerful Hulk to the brawny but diminutive Ant-Man, the results represent a partnership—not only between sister companies ESPN and Marvel but between physical power and sculpted beauty.

In their own words, illustrators describe their experience creating such characters for The Body Issue: Super Heroes Edition:

DAREDEVIL

“My goal is to make super heroes more human. We look to see ourselves in many masked vigilantes. Not only with Daredevil, but many characters I draw are based on real people. —Alex Maleev

CAPTAIN MARVEL

“I work to combine correct proportions and powerful muscle shapes with a commonly accepted idea of beauty.” —Sara Pichelli

MEDUSA

“Women are more delicate in muscle mass definition, so the secret is to not define each muscle too much.” —Emanuela Lupacchino

LUKE CAGE

“I tend to gravitate toward athletes when it comes to getting a reference for my artwork. Particularly MMA fighters, who have a more functional physique.” —Leinil Francis Yu

SHE-HULK

“She’s a character of power, so I keep her upright: shoulders back, chest out—just a very commanding presence.” —Frank Cho

IRON FIST

“I do tons of reference. I try to get a variety of artists from different time periods to see how different people represented the character. —Russell Dauterman

IRON MAN

“Drawing super heroes? Well, they have to be perfect. They are like modern gods.” —Mike Deodato

HULK

“When I’m illustrating such dynamic figures, background explosions help sell the impact the character is having on the environment around him. The toughest part is trying to show the kinetic energy in a static image.” —Jim Cheung

ANT-MAN

“I always try to have the musculature of something that could possibly exist. Even though everything looks extremely exaggerated, I still want him to look like he can move and be functional.” —Greg Land

Review: A-Force #2

Posted on July 1, 2015 by

The Secret Wars universe has been a strange playground for the creative minds behind Marvel Comics. While some series are tied to the comic book crossovers which inspired them, some are free from such restraints and get to become essentially whatever they want and thus to establish some interesting scenarios that we have never seen before. One series that has thus not really suffered has been A-Force, the assembly of Marvel’s best superheroines into one place on one team. Although this is not really the first time that this has been attempted, it is a fairly big application of the concept to the overall story of Secret Wars.

Thus far the story has to deal mostly with the characters trying to deal with portals and what comes from them and what is not allowed to go beyond. After the loss of America in the last issue another heroine was found, this one with no name, but evidently one which Nico could make a fast friend with. This issue, which is relatively heavy on action, deals with what this stranger brings, both the good and the bad, and the team’s reaction to her. This series has been one which has focused more than the others on the politics of Doom’s Battleworld, and while this might not have worked so well in the first issue, its place here is a bit more substantive, which gives overall better weight to the entire series thus far.

The idea of an all-female superhero team, essentially a female Avengers, is one which appealing to many, enough to make this series one which will be revamped beyond the end of the crossover. In the meantime this second issue salvages and reuses what seemed a bit stunted in the first issue and gives it a new direction. It is maybe not as imaginative as the creative team could have gotten with these characters, but this is still a necessary series for the wider story arc, one which explains the inner workings of the system which will presumably be quickly torn down.

Story: Marguerite Bennett and G. Willow Wilson Art: Jorge Molina
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Inhumans Attilan Uprising #2

Posted on June 11, 2015 by

Secret Wars has thus far been somewhat of a mixed bag, but it is a mixed bag which is easily explained. There have been some standouts, and even some surprise standouts, and also a lot of misfires. The easy connection of good quality vs. bad quality is that the good stories don’t dwell too much on the setting of Battleworld, while the weaker series overly dwell on those concepts. The first issue of the Secret Wars Inhumans series established itself as very much the latter of the two, as it took its own story into the overall approach to Secret Wars. While the plot of an Inhuman insurrection against the system established by Doom is dependent on the scenario, it also mostly avoids dealing with it.

This is even more the case in this second issue. While the first issue involved some movement between the established zones on this planet, this second issue deals primarily with the infiltration of Medusa’s agent into the establishment of Black Bolt, ostensibly to see where his loyalties reside. What follows is a sequence of interactions as the espionage team tries to figure out what exactly is going on. The issue focuses primarily on these interactions, although there is a bit of action towards the end as Medusa finally shows up.

This issue is proof that the Secret Wars setting need not be too constrained in its outlook and approach as long as the writers are willing to take a few chances with it. As it stands this story doesn’t really depend on the Secret Wars setting at all, rather at the moment could be set in any kind of time and place which involved these particular Inhumans. It is really not the plot that stands out here either, but rather the well established characters, especially how the two groups of Inhumans deal with one another, almost like watching a chess match without the pieces. While some other series from Secret Wars are not reaching the goals they are aiming for, this series is hitting all its marks, and it is still one of the standouts from this universe.

Story: Charles Soule Art: John Timms
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Inhumans Attilan Rising #1

Posted on May 27, 2015 by

What has been interesting about Secret Wars thus far is the context in which the creative teams behind the individual series seem to be let loose to tell their stories. Although the overall concept of a world controlled by Dr. Doom is a fairly stringent limitation, the stories themselves are being told in vastly different ways. Some choose to focus on the concept, whereas others seem to want to ignore it completely. The Inhuman addition to Secret Wars ends up mostly on the ignoring side, and it is likely to its benefit.

There are the same aspects of Battleworld which show up here. The Secret Wars location which Dr. Doom has kept safe with his shield is comprised of different zones each which must remain separate from the other. This aspect of the series is rolled into that of the Inhumans, though it is done in such a way to use the benefits of what made the Inhumans such a standout in recent months at Marvel. As the new “mutants” at Marvel what is most important to the Inhumans is not accepting the new conditions blindly but rather to question them and challenge them, in this case in an insurrection. As Marvel has been seemingly tying to establish the Inhumans as the alternate to the X-Men this fits well within that overall tactic. There is a decent amount of action in this first issue, but it doesn’t underlie the fact that the creative team has gotten right in Secret Wars what has made them so engaging elsewhere (which is not surprising as it is the same writer for both.)

As is the case with the remainder of their stories, many will probably choose to ignore the Inhumans when choosing which titles to follow, but once again the creative team has proven that this superhero team is here to stay on the new Marvel landscape. For those that have not been following the main series, this is as good a place to start as any, and for those that have, they will be happy to see some of the familiar faces here. Overall, it is that the creative team has managed to keep the characters intact within Battleworld. In other cases it is how the heroes react to being in Battleworld, but in this rare case it seems that it is how Battleworld will react to these characters.

Story: Charles Soule Art: John Timms
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Read

Review: A-Force #1

Posted on May 21, 2015 by

It would seem as there is only one way to incorporate alternate universes together in comic book multiverses – make them fight! Although the history of such occurrences are rare, this still seems to be the only manner in which the melding together of different universes is done. It started with Crisis on Infinite Earths, and continued once again a lot later with Flashpoint. Now concurrently there are both Convergence at DC and Secret Wars at Marvel, both of which are using the same concept to destroy and build new worlds, mostly by pitting heroes against one another to figure out who will still be standing in the end to claim their existence as the only successor moving forward.

This story focuses on Arcadia, a land on Doctor Doom’s protected planet which is inhabited by normal people but protected by Marvel’s greatest superheroines. Somewhat surprisingly much of this first issue deals with the group of heroes in battle with a giant shark, not necessarily the most engaging plot line in modern comics. In the process the reader is introduced to the characters who act as champions for this small piece of the larger world, with She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Dazzler, Medusa, Spider-Woman, Nico, a female Loki and Miss America among the more prominent, as well as some of the bizarre politics which exist within this world.

The story ends up being interesting in its own way, but also begs a few questions. Is battling it out the only way to incorporate universes together? Also after the confusing reboot of Spider-Woman into Spider-Verse, is launching a new concept into a crossover a good idea? Whatever it is that those answers are it is evident that this series while passable in a sense, is also a bit of a letdown. The choice of She-Hulk as the leader of this team is among one of the more interesting and has potential for growth, but there are few other decisions such as this in this title so far. The medium of comics has been screaming for a concept like this for a long time, as a changing fan base seeks out more well written female characters, but this does not seem to be the vessel in which to do it. It is fun, but it also feels like a lot of what has come before it.

Story: Marguerite Bennett and G. Willow Wilson Art: Jorge Molina
Story: 7.8 Art: 7.8 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read

Review: Inhuman Annual #1

Posted on May 7, 2015 by

The surge of the Inhumans has been one of the biggest developments in the past year for Marvel comics, both inside of its own continuity as well in the wider use of the characters across other mediums. While this series has not exactly been the centerpiece for the use of these characters, at times it could have been with its character first approach to the story telling as well as introducing new and intriguing characters and story lines. This has all lead up to this annual, the first ever annual from Marvel to feature this team. While the momentum for the heroes is strong, annuals are a poorly defined experience in comics. Annuals perhaps work best to encapsulate what is best about the series, without necessarily forcing readers into the stories there. In this case it is the latter which this issue focuses on, finishing up the first year’s worth of stories from the Inhumans, all on the eve of Secret Wars.

The various story lines are all wrapped up here, as Medusa is forced to face the sect of Inhumans who feel as though the Terrigen Mists are the sign of a greater power and that they have been abused. At the same time Lineage has taken control of New Attilan and spills his new war against humanity directly and immediately into Kamala Khan’s back yard for a degree of revenge.

The action unfolds here almost too close to what would be expected, and with the series heading into Secret Wars, a rapid resolution is needed to get all the various plot points wrapped up in time for the series to head into the crossover with its full attention. As in most cases of speeding through its own plots, this does a disservice to the series, which has taken the time to build characters, as opposed to racing by them. While it is to the detriment of this issue, it still manages to succeed on enough levels as to earn a passing grade. This is after all the same series that did so well so far in its dozen or so issues to establish these characters as never before in the Marvel universe. Despite the rushed approach here, it is still easy to care about these characters because the creative team have made them approachable in previous issues, and thus while not the strongest issue thus far, this still fits well enough into the overall narrative.

Story: Charles Soule Art: Ryan Stegman
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Review: Inhuman #13

Posted on March 25, 2015 by

There is a common enough formula within comics, and especially for superhero comics. Not every issue can contain a big spectacular action sequence, as those require several issues to build up to, and equally some issue have to be set up to allow for the development of characters and to introduce new plot points to build other stories from. After the last issue of Inhuman which resulted in the attack of the Ennilux Corporation against New Attilan, it should not be a surprise to see that this issue is at a much slower pace, instead of the action packed previous few issues.

There is a change of focus somewhat at Marvel, at least is some fundamental ways, as the Inhumans have become the mutants, at least in certain applications. A few years ago, a popular character like Miss Marvel would have likely been introduced as a mutant but now she is given a background as an Inhuman. This might have some inspiration from who owns which movie rights, but it is undeniable that the Inhumans have a change of focus which examines them as people first and as superhumans second, and that is the case here. There is therefore the need from time to time for an issue to build up the characters is stronger. As this issue focuses on the development of certain characters, it comes at a good time, after Iso has been added to the mix of NuHumans. At the same time, some ground is laid here for an upcoming story arc as Lineage finally begins to reveal his true intentions.

This series maintains its same level of quality here, even if it is not as pulse pounding as some that have come before. This simply serves as an intermediate issue, though one which is necessary for the series to catch its breath after recent events. It still serves as an example of the focus put on characters as opposed to other series which rely more on a concept, and it is that which this series is best known for. This is not the issue that fans will remember fondly, but rather the one that sets up ones that will become memorable.

Story: Charles Soule Art: Andre Araujo
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Review: Inhuman #11

Posted on January 28, 2015 by

This series continues to prove that it has what it takes for a long run, despite the relative unpopularity of the main characters. So far in this series an underlying theme has been the diaspora, in trying to find out where the Inhumans can call home after theirs was destroyed and thrown into the New York harbour. While this theme is still underlying most of what is written, the story took a turn in the previous issue with the return of an Axis infused Medusa, keen on a different level of diplomacy. While the degree of Axis influence seems to vary between other heroes (for instance it is the main inspiration for Superior Iron Man), here it seems to have worn off after a couple of weeks and an honest heart to heart with a stranger in a bar in Chicago.

While the diaspora theme has been interesting in this series, what has really been noteworthy is the strong writing especially as it relates to the characters. With Black Bolt absent from his throne, it falls to Medusa to rule in his place. Her depiction has been a standout in this series, as she deals with being the apparent loss of her husband, the constraints of womanhood and monarchy and the need to lead her nation to a place of stability. While this character seemed to take a vacation for the one Axis issue, she is already back here. What is more, the interesting characters on the run from Ennilux, only introduced two issues previous, are already engaging enough to carry most of the story by themselves.

This series continues to be an unheralded standout for Marvel, one that many people aren’t talking about, but one that people should be, especially with a new focus on the Inhumans companywide. This entire issue was engaging and fun, and never in a superficial way. Everything that was here had its place, and the issue flowed so smoothly that the somewhat surprise ending came all too soon.

Story: Charles Soule Art: Ryan Stegman
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

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