BATMAN Decides He Likes Fish Better Than Chicken

The Most Wonderful Toys: Our TOP 2 JOKER Collectibles for 2010 (so far!)

April Fool's Day is nearly over - and thank God it is, because the body count is rising here at the Springfield Home Office. Luckily, in a college town like ours, interns are a dime a dozen.  As it turns out, so are body bags at Wal-Mart. Doing good business always comes with a price tag, and sometimes, even a toe tag (or three). But we digress. 

Before the laughing died (and we literally mean, died) down around here and Joker got (carjacked) a ride back to Gotham,  the conversation invariably turned to toys and what wonderful ones Batman always has.  That conversational detour started to get Mister J a bit hot under the collar, until we reminded him that there's some great toys out there that really are all about him. Joker's got plenty of fans, and if you're one of 'em, you'll want to pay attention to our Top 2 Joker Toys of 2010.

DC Direct fashions their individual toy lines after DC Comics' fan-favorite comics and stories, and their figures come to life looking like they just leaped off the page and onto your shelf.  The Joker's no exception to this rule, and our cute Clown Prince has found himself cast as plastic fantasy several times over the last decade, including the three smiling sociopaths we've got pictured for you above.  The Joker  as he appeared in Grant Morrison's landmark story-arc Batman & Son,  Joker from Vengeance (or Superman/Batman: Series V), and what we like to call the 'Liberace Joker' from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns are just three of the Joker action figures that could be in your collection right now.  

In fact, DC Direct has sixteen other Jokers for you to choose from, too. Among our favorites: The Joker as he appeared in Alex Ross' Justice League (Series 3) and the ultra-cool (and bit more expensive) 13-inch Joker collector's figure in DC Direct's 1:6 Series of heroes and villains.  

The next Joker to hit the shelves of your local comics store with much ensuing homicidal hilarity will be the DC Origins: (Series 1)  Joker, a two-figure box set with both a Mister J then and Mister J now tucked criminally inside. It's priced at a steal, too - around the $22 mark, and you'll find it after 05 May 2010. Check out the entire DC Direct line - HERE.

DC Direct's best Joker of the year is due this November, and as you'd expect, it's also the most pricey. The MSRP is $325,  but it's a hell of a lot less expensive than training another trio of interns, that's for sure. (Sorry, we're venting now that Mister J's stepped out). Ah, well.

We think this is one dy-na-mite if not classic rendition of the Clown Prince of Crime, and well worth saving some pennies for over the summer.  At long last, DC Direct will be adding The Joker to their made-to-order, exclusive 1:4 scale museum quality statue series. Manufactured from a variety of mixed media elements from resin to fabric, Joker stands 19" high x 11" wide x 7.25" deep, and will be packaged in a 4-color box with a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity.  For more info and a 180-degree look at Joker 1:4, go HERE.

* * * * * * 

We had even more cool Joker toys lined up for tonight's blog, but  sadly we've run out of time. The clock's about to strike midnight, and another April Fool's Day will be behind us all. What can we say: we had fun, we had laughs, and, on behalf of the Office staff that's still breathing, we'd like to thank Mister J for co-hosting Make Me Laugh: April Fool's with The Joker with the blog today. 

Now if you'll excuse us, we've got another body to identify...

Figures In Action! From 'Dark Knight' to 'BLACKEST NIGHT' for The Batman

 

 'Black Lantern' Batman - Blackest Night: Series 5 by DC Direct

Abbracadabbling's favorite comics scribe Grant Morrison did the unthinkable when he presumably killed Bruce Wayne aka The Batman last spring in DC Comics' Final Crisis series. One year later, Morrison's planning to revisit Batman's death and reveal what truly befell the Caped Crusader, both in the pages of his best-selling Batman and Robin and another upcoming DC event we'll have more on soon. Meanwhile, DC's other chief scribe and newly-appointed Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, whose revitalization of Green Lantern has blossomed into Blackest Night -- one of the publisher's best-selling line-wide comics event ever, not to mention a cross-platform mega-marketing bonanza -- found use for a very dead Batman within that series as well.

Thanks to the efforts of both writers, fans of superheroes and horror can seize the opportunity to add a 'Zombie Batman' to their collection - and while we're not keen on our dear Dark Knight being (semi?) permanently 'dead', even Batman would have to admit he'd scare plenty of criminals in his undead duds. DC Direct capitalizes on Johns' Blackest Night mega-event with several action figures series - three of which are currently for sale or sold-out - but for Batman fans, Blackest Night Series Five is but months away.  

Series Five includes Blackest Night Batman as well as undead versions of two other heroic mainstays of DC Comics, Hawkman and well... Deadman -- which, given the name, might be kind of difficult to explain how he's both dead...and undead.  Nekron, the ultimate villain of Blackest Night, rounds out the Series for its August retail appearance.

 And boys and girls, should you like to take a gander on just how undead the recently and possibly departed Dark Knight Detective was amongst the many pages of Blackest Night, we've got DC's variant cover  art for Blackest Night Issue 5 just below.  Artist Rodolfo Migliari did the honors and created one of the best -- and eeriest - of the entire series. Props to the dude and his twisted sick mind -- because we're loving it long time!

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 Art by Rodolfo Migliari (DC Comics)

Check out all of DC Direct's Blackest Night action figures at their homepage HERE. And DC's mini-site for their entire Blackest Night can be located within the publisher's website, right HERE. Dig Rodolfo's drawing skills? Check his blog - HERE.

 

Figures In Action! Sinister in Sepia Tone

JOKER

Batman and Son (Series 1) by DC Direct [via]

Figures In Action! Beware The Power of The Darkseid

Superman Vs Darkseid Statue

Designed by Walter O'Neal; Sculpted by Ray Villafane; Limited Edition Statue by DC Direct [via]

Figures In Action: Superman, The Man of Steel

Superman by DC Direct 

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Series 1 - link)

YGI: Green Arrow Is Older Than Me

After catching tonight's episode of Smallville, I realized that I've been a bad abbracadabbler by not blogging one word about that show. Grant (Grant Morrison, my patron saint and personal hero) knows I've got plenty to say about Tom Welling and Company. And believe me, I will.

I like several of the characters on Smallville, but my favorite is Justin Hartley's Green Arrow. I've been a fan of DC Comic's 'Emerald Archer' for a long time, ever since his first (and only) appearance in the "Gulliver's Gigantic Goof" episode of Filmation's Super Friends cartoon way back when in 1973.

Damn! Damn! I'm old...enough to have seen the show in re-runs, that is.

In any case, Smallville's producers didn't include Mr. Arrow in tonight's story. But given my long friendship with the guy, I thought it only right to make up for their gross oversight. Straight from the abbracadabbling archives, it's classic Green Arrow for your graphic imagination.

Green Arrow 's creators: Mort Weisinger & George Papp

More Fun Comics #73 (1941)

Green Arrow, Speedy his sidekick,

and Aquaman debut

Green Arrow's Origin: More Fun #89 (1943)

Green Arrow & Speedy in the seldom-seen Arrow Cave (1952)

Green Lantern #85 (1971)

One of the most controversial &

powerful comic book covers -- ever.

Speedy is discovered as a heroin addict

and Green Lantern is outed as an asshole.

By Denny O'Neil & Neil Adams.

Two years after Speedy shoots up, Green Arrow makes his

first and final cameo with his Super Friends (1973)

Hanna-Barbera Studios' Green Arrow character sheet

Green Arrow uses "The Speedy Method"

DC SuperHeroes Super-Healthy Cook Book

Green Arrow eats crow

and tykes eat pie for Hostess's

"Arrow in Time"

Oliver Queen reveals his 13-inches for

DC Direct's Deluxe Green Arrow (2008)

We'll see more of Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, Speedy, and Justin Hartley in the "Big Smallville Blog" appearing soon on abbracadabbling: the comics blog!

While you're waiting, pull up a chair and watch my favorite episode of the Super Friends starring Green Arrow! You'll find it right here.

Their mission: To fight injustice, right that

which is wrong, and serve all Mankind.

New DC Direct: DC Origins Batman and Batman Reborn in 2010!

I often forget that my obsession with toys -- specifically, super hero action figures -- began years before I really got into comic books. In fact, if it weren't for Mego's super hero dolls, my trusty boyhood companions, I might not be the avid collector and fanboy you know and love today.

From quality to detail, the best super hero action figures of the last ten years have come from DC Direct. As the name and logo suggest, DC Direct's collectible action figures are based exclusively on the many super heroes and villains of the DC Comics Universe, and more often than not, are sculpted to reflect their appearances from specific comic book story lines and the artistic styles of the artists responsible for those same comics.

DC Direct announced mere hours ago the debut of another new line of action figures, the DC Origins series, scheduled to arrive in stores beginning May 5th, 2010. The first wave of DC Origins will include two full-sized action figures packed together, one based on art from the characters earliest appearances, and the other based on art in the modern era. Each two-pack will also include one original trading card featuring each character's retro and modern day looks.

DC Origins Series 1 will consist of four two-figure packs showcasing the past and present styles of Batman, Catwoman, Nightwing, and The Joker.

The only unanswered question surrounding the new Origins series is that of pricing. With two figures a pop, whether the regular $17.99 price tag will apply to DC Direct's latest official series is a question even the Dark Knight Detective may be unable to solve!

Even more exciting is the as-yet unofficially announced Batman: Reborn series, also from DC Direct. Abbracadabbling hasn't received too much info on this new line of Batman action figures, but we did manage to score this page from the September 2009 issue of ToyFare magazine:

As you can tell, the line will also begin with DC Direct's customary body count of four action figures: the new Batgirl (Stephanie Brown), Two-Face as Batman, Jason Todd as Batman, and the as-yet-to-appear new Azrael.

The first wave seems to sample characters from several of the new Batman: Reborn titles, and with all the changes creators like Tony Daniel, Grant Morrison, Judd Winick, and others have brought our way since Battle for the Cowl began, it's likely collectors can expect at least one additional wave of Batman: Reborn action figures before the end of 2010.

It's also very possible that we'll see a newly-returned Bruce Wayne as Batman action figure in the Reborn series. Abbracadabbling continues to hear more and more buzz that the original Caped Crusader will indeed be returning to the DC Universe next summer.

What do you think about DC Direct's two newest Batman lines? Are they fresh and different, or is DC Direct over-doing it where all-things Batman are concerned? Leave us a Back Issue today!

Batman: Reborn Series 1 is scheduled to hit your local comics specialty retailer sometime in July 2010.