Life-Size Boba Fett!

This month we went back to Bigtop Collectibles to see their big surprise they told us about last month. I was shocked when I saw this life-size figure of Boba Fett standing with the imposing look of a bounty hunter. We also wanted to see what else was new at Bigtop and maybe more in our price range.

Item:

Boba Fett Life-Size Figure by Sideshow Collectibles & Star Wars Black series actions figures.

What it is:

6-1/2′ tall Boba Fett designed by Sideshow Toys crafts people and Lucasfilm artists.

Newly released Star Wars Black series 6″ tall figures with amazing detail.

How Much it Costs:

Life-size Boba Fett retails for $8000. From what Carlos told me, all of the production models are spoken for so that means on eBay, you are looking at closer to $10,000.

If you want the 6″ version in the new Star Wars Black series, that’ll only set you back about $20.

More Star Wars Black Series.

Is It Worth It?:

You bet! Well, if you have the pocket book for the life-size version. I image the most fanatical of Star Wars Collectors would buy up all the life-size versions of Star Wars characters if they could. This would make an awesome piece in a home theater or display in your amazing toy collector room.

The 6″ version is really awesome in it’s own right. They are great to play with, have great detail, and display very well. On top of that you could buy 100 of these and still be way under the purchase price of the 6′ versions.

Boba Fett and Jango Fett, for that matter, are one of my top 5 favorite Star Wars characters. As much as I would love the life size one, I’l be buying myself the 6″ version for $20.

Bottom Line:

If you want the life size one, good luck! They are all spoken for and those willing to sell will probably want a lot for it. As for the more affordable 6″ figures, Bigtop has plenty in stock of all your favorite characters.

Star Wars Rebels – “Out of Darkness” S1E7

Coming into this week’s episode of Star Wars Rebels, I had low expectations.  Previews from last week showed a few of our rebel team “stuck” on a foreign planet and fending off attacks by local, dangerous creatures.  I was prepared for an action packed, but ultimately pointless episode.  Once again, Rebels pleasantly surprised me.  The episode was fairly action packed (as expected), but more importantly, the focus of the episode was centered on the greater plot – why are the rebels doing what they’re doing?  Who is handing out their missions?  How does the team feel about all this?  “Out of Darkness” addressed some of the bigger questions that have been hanging out there and it made for a great episode.

Hera’s a good pilot… But could she hang with Han Solo? 

The episode wastes no time upping the octane level.  We enter to find Hera piloting The Ghost’s dropship, The Phantom, in a hair-raising escape from chasing Imperial TIE fighters.  Ezra and Sabine are nervously strapped in tight alongside Hera while she shows us her mad skills.  During the cat-and-mouse routine Hera confidently boasts, “There isn’t a pilot in the Imperial fleet that can outrun me!”  The first thing that hit me after Hera’s bragging was, “I wonder how she would fair against Han Solo?!”  For those of you who didn’t know, Han Solo used to be part of the Imperial military – initially trained as a TIE fighter pilot, but quickly promoted to Lieutenant due to his unmatched skills.  Hera blows the chasing TIEs to slag, but I wonder if the result would have been the same if Han Solo had been in one of those TIE cockpits.

At first glance this opening appears to be pointless action – we don’t even know why the rebels are being chased!  Everything becomes apparent when Sabine confronts Hera regarding the ever increasing danger that’s associated with their missions.  Sabine pushes Hera to tell her where their intel comes from and why they’re continually put in harm’s way.  Hera quickly shuts Sabine down and simply asks that Sabine trust her.  To know that all the rebels aren’t privy to key information adds much needed depth to this show.  It was also apparent that this would be a heavy Hera and Sabine episode, which is a good thing – it’s long overdue.

Today’s forecast is sunny with a bit of asteroid-cover

Once all the rebels are reunited back on The Ghost they quickly prep for their next mission.  Sabine, not willing to continue blindly following orders, demands to know more about the mission.  Hera throws Sabine a bone and reveals that their information comes from a contact known as Fulcrum.  No one but Kanan and Hera have ever made contact with Fulcrum.  Sabine pressures Hera into arranging a meeting with the mysterious informant at the drop site of their next supply run.  Fulcrum, via encrypted radio communications, hesitantly agrees.

She’s more than a pretty face with crazy-colored hair 

As the episode progresses we learn more about Sabine’s background and why she is so adamant to be in-the-loop.  Sabine is of Mandalorian descent, that much is known.  But if Boba Fett has taught us anything, it’s that Mandalorians rarely have allegiances beyond direct family and the highest bidder.  So what makes Sabine different?  As it turns out, Sabine, at one point was training to join the Imperial Army.  The Empire established a recruitment camp on Mandalore in an effort to add to its ranks; Sabine joined in.  After some questionable and uncomfortable assignments that left Sabine with a very bad taste in her mouth, she left her home to join the rebel band she’s with now.  We don’t get specifics, but it’s enough to really give some genuineness to Sabine.  This lady Mandalorian is sharp, deadly, sexy, and she’s not afraid to think for herself.  I really appreciated the internal strife she brought throughout the episode.  It really elevated the plot!

What can rip through steel and likes to eat rebels?… This guy!

In The Phantom, Hera and Sabine touchdown on an isolated, asteroid-laden planet home to a deserted military base used during the clone wars.  This is where their supply drop and meeting with Fulcrum is to take place.  Thanks in full to Ezra, Zeb and Chopper’s horseplay, the damage suffered by The Phantom from the last mission was never fixed.  This resulted in all the fuel from The Phantom leaking out and stranding the two rebels – problem #1.  Shortly after realizing that they won’t be leaving anytime soon, Hera and Sabine make contact with some very unfriendly and creepy beasts – problem #2.  Unable to take refuge in The Phantom until help arrives – these vicious little monsters can rip through armored ship hull!! – the two lady rebels are forced to make a stand against wave after wave of the killer creatures.  Sabine formulates a solid strategy at keeping them alive just long enough for Kanan and The Ghost to come to the rescue.

Rebels to the rescue!

The rebels make a safe getaway with the supplies, but it feels like we’re missing something… OH YEAH!  Where is Fulcrum?!?!  He was supposed to meet Hera and Sabine at the drop point, but never did.  Was he eaten?!  Did he bail at the onset of witnessing an army of the hungry critters?  Did he even intend to stay and wait?  All these are questions I had at the end of the episode and that’s a good thing!  I’m drawn in and I want to know more.  This is how it should be with a well formulated story.  The catch-22 here is that now expectations have been set.  If next episode rolls around and no thought or mention of Fulcrums status is provided, it will be a severe let down.

But as far as this week goes – “Out of Darkness” earns a B.  By concentrating on the overarching plot, dedicating screen time to lesser known rebels and keeping things exciting, viewers can enjoy this week’s episode of Star Wars Rebels.

Shut Up and Take My Money: Toilet Sarlacc

The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don’t can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, “Shut Up and Take My Money!”

Item:

Star Wars Toilet Sarlacc decal set

What it is:

It’s a crap!!! Based off the scene in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi where Boba Fett is famously swallowed into the Great Pit of Carkoon, these toilet bowl decals allow you to recreate the scene over and over again using your own poo! Complete with tentacles, barbed teeth and poor Boba himself, it’s a hilarious recreation of the scene.

How Much it Costs:

You can only buy the Toilet Sarlacc decal set from toiletsarlacc@gmail.com – and the cost is $25. It’s currently sold out, but the maker is taking pre-orders for a new batch of prints. I can’t imagine that Disney is cool with this, so get one while you can, before Disney slaps the site with a good ole cease and desist.

Is It Worth It?:

Ashamedly, yeah, this is kinda worth it. At $25, it makes for a great gag gift (or at least you can tell your friends that) and, fortunately for you, it’s only available online, so you don’t have to explain yourself to the smart-ass sixteen year old behind the counter.

Bottom Line:

The Toilet Sarlacc won’t make you cooler, per-say, but it will definitely leave a lasting impression on anybody fortunate enough to sit upon your toilet. The application process doesn’t look like too much fun – draining the water out of your toilet and manually applying the decals to the inside of your bowl – and I can only imagine what this thing would look like after a few months, but it’s a clever idea and I’m hoping it will spawn an entire line of nerd-themed toilet accessories. Who needs a girlfriend when you can poop into a Sarlacc’s mouth?

Written by Sherif Elkhatib

Diggin’ Through the Crates: MC Chris “Fett’s Vette”

Artist: MC Chris

Song: Fett’s Vette

Album: Life’s a Bitch and I’m Her Pimp (2001)

Lyric: THE WHOLE FREAKING SONG IS A REFERENCE – Pick a lyric; any of them will work

Character Reference/Meaning:

Better strap yourselves in because today is going to be a doozy. Take whatever ship you like, the X-Wing, Millennium Falcon, Slave 1 – any will do. Personally, I’m going to take the Soulless One. Where are we going you ask? Well we are going to go to Marvel Comics of course. As many of you may have heard on January 3^rd, Marvel has purchased exclusive rights to create and publish Star Wars comics beginning in 2015. Yes, the very same Marvel Comics that has Iron Man visiting Eminem in his childhood home (Mighty Avengers #3 variant cover) and Wade Wilson dressed up as mega-MC Deadpooly will be bringing The Force next year. Side note: Eminem raps like Yoda, voice and all, in his new album, but that is for a future segment of “Diggin’ Through the Crates.”

So with a merger like this, what could it mean for the future of Star Wars? Will we see an Avengers/Rebel Alliance crossover? Could Loki join the Sith order? It’s all very possible, but how cool would it be to see Lupe Fiasco A.K.A, “Lupe the Jedi” as an actual Jedi in a comic book? With as many comic books fans as there are in the Hip-Hop community, bringing Star Wars into the mainstream comic book community could have great results. The move back to Marvel from Dark Horse Comics isn’t just a popular one, but a sentimental one for some. Star Wars is returning back to its original home with Marvel, which published the first ever Star Wars comic back in March 1977, STAR WARS #1.

With all die-hard Wars fans out there dreading cross-overs, there is one person out there who is very excited about this new owner ship and his name is Patton Oswalt; the man did an 8 minute long filibuster for the TV showed, Parks and Recreation, where we talked about this exact subject matter back in April of 2013. He introduced what he believes should be the movie plot for Star Wars: Episode VII, which involved some of our old favorite characters as well as a huge melding of the Marvel Universe. Before I saw this video, I thought I wouldn’t appreciate merging these two universes; however, if there was a movie to come out or a comic that showed Patton Oswalt’s ideas, I would definitely have to check it out. Maybe we could even here MC Chris write a new rap about it.

October Comics and Collectibles Preview

At Hush Comics, we will be starting a new monthly piece reflecting on Diamond Comics Distributors’ monthly PREVIEWS issue. For those not in the know, PREVIEWS is a monthly magazine (almanac-sized each month) that shows you all the ways that you could lose your money through comics, collectibles and games. With the thousands of items to throw money at, we figure we’d make it a little simpler and suggest five comics and five collectibles that will definitely be on our shelves when they are released.

Comics & Books

1.) Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett is one of the coolest piece of Star Wars memorabilia I’ve seen in a while. At only $60 and releasing October 29th, Bounty Hunter Code is part collectible, part book, but all awesome. To unlock the goodies inside, you actually have to insert your bounty hunter data card into the slot, ensuing some sweet lighting and sound effects – I wish more books that I read gave me this level of presentation when I opened them. There are plenty of removable documents loaded with easter eggs and fun facts. Each book encased in the Files holds some significance to something in the Star Wars universe; for example, the Death Watch booklet inside, given to Boba by his father, features hand-written notes from Jango himself. I tell ya, when Star Wars does a specialty book like this, they never half-ass it, and I’m sure we can expect the same quality of thoroughness with Bounty Hunter Code.

The case includes:

• The Bounty Hunter Code
• The 48-page memoirs of Cradossk, former head of the Bounty Hunters Guild, with an inscription from the author to Boba Fett
• A Kamino saberdart
• Boba Fett’s captain’s license
• Boba Fett’s arms permit
• Slave I’s official operating license
• An Imperial wanted poster for Han Solo
• An inventory slip from the Rebel Alliance forces who discovered and seized Boba’s property

2.) Batgirl #26 written by Gail Simone and drawn by Fernando Parasin and Johnathan Glapion is going to be a fun one. Although comics, DC specifically, have been trending towards a lot of crazy covers that don’t exactly depict what happens inside of them, Simone’s Batgirl has been a cut above the rest and I’m sure it will be epic either way. After recent events have led Commissioner Gordon vowing to personally take down Batgirl for committing murder (Yeah, you need to read that story, Batgirl #20), Barbara Gordon has retired as Batgirl, but she keeps finding a way to don the cowl when her dad is in trouble. Is this the moment we’ve been waiting for? Does Babs finally reveal herself as the Batgirl to her dad? I may have to wait until December 11, but I’m psyched to find out.

3.) The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Kevin Eastman Cover Gallery collects some amazing work from the legendary TMNT creator, Kevin Eastman. In a single-issue priced book, you can ogle at the turtles in all their glory. This is a no brainer for any fan of the TMNT and, at only $3.99, you don’t need to be a baller to get it. You can find all Kevin Eastman’s cover art for the new series here. Hopefully this will suffice for you until the December 4th release date.

4.) Wolverine: Origin II #1, written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Andy Kubert, looks to pick up right where the original Origin left off, which I’m not going to tell you about because it’s an amazing book (and now a Marvel Knights DVD). It visits more of Wolverine’s primal back-story, and teases to even highlight another character’s secret origin. The main bad guy in the story seems to be Sinister as of now. I hate that asshole, but he makes for some interesting stories. I’m a sucker for Kubert art, and this looks to be visually striking, regardless of storyline. Look for Origin II #1 to be in stores this Christmas Eve.

5.) Justice League 3000 could be something special. Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMattels , with art by Howard Porter, Justice League 3000 looks to be a pretty sweet futuristic look at the Justice League. With no connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes, a series that takes place in the time period, nor any connections to the current Justice Leaguers, it’s difficult to say what to expect with book. DC Comics has made a habit of putting out new series and themes for more of a cash grab than substance (ala “Villains Month” this month or even the new Batman “Zero Year set to drop next month). For now though, we can revel in the awesomeness that is Green Lantern and Flash’s character design. Expect mixed responses when 3000 hits stores on December 4, 2013.

Collectibles

1.) Revoltech Yamaguchi Metal Gear Solid Snake and Raiden action figures

You may think you’re too old to play with action figures, but that is a bold-faced lie! At $55 a pop though, these beauties are not for children. They are some pretty nice collectibles, if you can allow yourself to keep it in the box. Unlike the norm for this kind of figure, this Reevoltech Yamaguchi figure is completely poseable, making for some really cool shots like the one below. It’s nice to know that sometimes you don’t need to keep everything in the box to get value out of it. With both Snake and Raiden having a release date of 11/15, this will make some nerd very happy come this holiday season.

2.) Square Enix DC Comics  Variant Batman Statue – Red costume

On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with admiring a well-sculpted statue still in the box. The Square Enix DC Variant line, the first pieces of which just recently released, are a sort of exaggerated Japanese superhero twist on the Justice League characters. While, of the original releases, Green Lantern was my favorite, the new red costume variant of Batman takes the cake. He has some weird kinda gun thing, he has this weird flowing cape with harpoons at the end… it’s like Flashpoint Batman had a love-child with Megazord. This bad boy won’t be out til February 2014, but its a pretty cool exclusive to add to the closet of other things you never take out of the box… Hard sell lol.

3.) Batman Arkham Origins Firefly action figure

The Batman villain Firefly has been very seldom used  throughout video games, television and movies, despite having been created over sixty years ago. That all changed when Firefly made an appearance on the live-action Arrow series earlier this year. The character was now a demented pyromaniac with a revenge plan, instead of some guy with a flamethrower. In the new Batman videogame, Batman: Arkham Origins, the Dark Knight is set to take on Firefly head-to-head. Although Firefly is a more obscure villain, I have no doubt that comic book rookies will know his name after battling him in the game. He looks like he belongs in Killzone or Mass Effect, a testament to just how bad-ass this figure looks.  Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your hands on it until next March, when the game is but a distant memory as a PS3/360 swan song.

4.) The Walking Dead socks

Don’t judge me! Socks are awesome. A lot of women don’t understand what socks mean to a man. Socks are to men what lingerie is to women. You don’t wear cool socks with the intention of showing it off, but you need to be prepared for that moment that somebody special might get a glance at your feet. “Why yes,” you’ll croon. “These are  officially licensed socks from AMC’s The Walking Dead.  Yes, I suppose I can let you touch them.” Anyway, my imagination got away from me.  Releasing near the start of the mid-season premiere in January 2014 and at $8 per pair, which is pretty decent compared to any other pop-culture branded socks (yes, I’m an expert in that field), you won’t have to break the bank for some of the coolest designs they could choose from in both men’s and women’s sizes. You can find the other designs here. Just a bit of advice to everybody: don’t let your feet smell as bad as the dead things on them.

5.) Firefly Captain Malcolm pistol replica

Bang, Bang!  Ok… It’s been out for a while, but who doesn’t want one of these?!  For one its cool.  For two, its Captain Mal’s freaking gun!  If the world goes the way that Joss envisions it in Firefly and Serenity then don’t you want to be prepared for that?  You won’t get very far without this beauty.  It should go on you coffee table.  It is the perfect art piece to discuss.  This does mean however, that I will need to get a coffee table to match my new pistol.

written by Sherif Elkhatib and Adrian Puryear