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M'Kyuun

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Everything posted by M'Kyuun

  1. M'Kyuun
    If they're going to do everyone in core class, so be it. I imagine I'm not alone in hoping that SS86 will give us a better set of vanette bros than the ER retool of the Siege mold. And hopefully, they'll hide the feet better. Yeesh!
  2. M'Kyuun
    This design makes far more sense in the context of Diaclone, and he's really a two-fer so far as the toy goes. That said, I'm surprised that Hasbro wanted to use this mold in their TF line, as it strayed quite noticeably aesthetically from the rest of the car-bots. I prefer Floro Derry's extensive redesign for the series, although it made the toy less appealing, at least to me (I had Ratchet) b/c of the extent of the differences between toy and toon. The toon version looked much better to me, and it's only been within the last 5-10 years that we've actually got toys that approximate the G1 design well. A modern update of the Diaclone Vanette within the Diaclone universe would be neat to see, especially the mech portion.
  3. M'Kyuun
    True, and bottomless yes. Die-hards will be die-hards, but I think once the rest of Macross becomes readily available in DVD/Blu-Ray, and RT fans see how much the OG Macross Series has grown and expanded both in terms of story and visuals, many of those RT fans will change their preference. I despise Harmony Gold, but that's for the stranglehold they've held over Macross in the West for decades. I don't hate Robotech, though I do recognize it as a censored and poor amalgamation of three separate anime into one weird series. However, although I was aware of Robotech as a kid, thanks mainly to the good ole Sears and JC Penny catalogs (likewise Voltron), for whatever reason, neither Voltron nor RT were broadcast in my area, so I never got to watch them. I remember watching the odd ep of RT when I was stationed in FL in my mid-twenties, but never the whole series. In '94 or '95, I picked up a copy of Hobby Japan magazine and inside there was an ad for the upcoming Yamato 1/72 fully transformable YF-19, and my heart was set ablaze. Not since the VF-1, which was ubiquitous in the 80s, had such a magnificent and streamlined transforming jet existed. I believe the Macross Plus OVAs released on VHS later in '95. I bought them and watched them with absolute amazement. Other than Transformers: The Movie in '86, and possibly Ghost in the Shell, I hadn't seen animation at that level before, and the story of M+ sang to my heart of hearts, as only four or five years prior, the YF-21 was competing against the glorious and in-every-way-possible superior YF-23 for the ATF contract. This was an obvious nod to that RW contest, and in M+, IMHO, the deserving plane won, if only b/c Guld sacrificed himself and the YF-21 to stop the X-9. I digressed a bit there, but had I been able to watch RT in my youth, I no doubt would have glommed onto it too, and I understand fully the draw of nostalgia. Too, it introduced the West to Macross, and even in its abridged form, I can't fault HG for seeing an opportunity to bring something cool from Japan and making it available. It's everything they did afterwards to secure their hold on it that makes them despicable as a company. Had they the good grace to be satisfied with the success of RT and move on, allowing Big West, Bandai, Yamato/Arcadia to bring Macross outside of Japan 30 years ago, Harmony Gold would likely be looked upon favorably for having introduced generations of kids to Macross and opening the door to that world. But greed, poor management of the trademark, and lots of empty promises earned them much-deserved vilification and derision, especially by fans of the real Macross Saga. I honestly didn't think I'd live to see the day in which all facets of Macross would become available in the Americas, so tenacious did HGs grip seem. I'm only 51 (tomorrow actually), but I'd about given up hope. It's understatement to say I'm ecstatic to see Macross slowly taking bloom here, and I hope to see it continue- all the media and all the lovely toys. It's been a long wait, but better late than never. Glad it's w/in my lifetime.
  4. M'Kyuun
    Comic precedents notwithstanding, I'm iffy on the prospect of someone new taking on the mantle of Black Panther. Chadwick Boseman did such an excellent job portraying the character; that leaves some big shoes to fill. The next actor to fill the role is certainly going to feel the pressure, as comparisons are a forgone conclusion. It's the nature of the beast, delicious pun intended.😛 Personally, I didn't really feel the need for, nor expect a sequel to the first film. Given the unexpected and far too early loss of Mr. Boseman (RIP), I thought it fitting to let it stand alone within the current MCU franchise. If they want to make another Black Panther film 10 years down the line, apart from the current MCU series, great! I think a tv series detailing T'Challa's upbringing and growth into the man, and ultimately the leader, he becomes would be a cool project for Disney to contemplate in the interim.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Magic Square's take: AFAIK, no pics in jet mode have been released. I looked, but didn't find any.
  6. M'Kyuun
    I agree, Skyfire looks good. I like a number of TT's solutions/features- the extra hip joint, the knee design, the extending feet, the collapsing backpack & Respect mode 😉, the folding wings, the gorgeous landing gear. I'm surprised they didn't try to give him more abduction range in the shoulders through yet another clever solution. Too, waist swivel. It is a cool fig, though, and if I didn't already have Phoenix, which I still prefer for various reasons, I wouldn't have hesitated a second getting an order in for this guy. I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't still tempted. Not sure where I'd put him, though- I'm outta space, especially for these larger figs. To have an official Skyfire, aside from Siege Jetfire, is something I wished for for a long time, and now that it's here, and done well, not getting him seems a missed opportunity. Sigh.
  7. M'Kyuun
    'Preciate the review, Mike. I believe my copy is on its way to me. I generally don't go in for repaints, but I thought the changes between Wreck-Gar and Junkheap differentiated them enough to warrant having both. Too, there's the idea of one riding the other like we saw in the film. Lastly, while I'm not a huge fan of the Junkions per se (I thought they were a little too ridiculous, even by 80s standards), I have a thing for transforming motorcycles (I'm not even a fan of the real things- go figure), and Wreck-Gar is one of the notable molds from SS86. Makes getting a repaint/retool more justifiable, in my mind anyway.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Just got back. As with my viewing of false songstress, there were about seven in attendance including me. I only recognized three people from the previous film's screening; sadly, not the best turnout. I wish they'd do more to promote these films. We were treated to the same opening stuff as related by @kajnrig and like the first film, we experienced no glitches or issues, at least that I detected. Following up on Kajnrig's observation, I never noticed how much blatant innuendo is present in Sheryl's lyrics. Too, I was surprised by how much the story changed. Anyway, since I've never seen either film before, I'm glad I had the opportunity to see them for the first time in the theater where they were intended to be seen. I do have to say, though, in spite of all that screen, most of the aerial combat scenes happen so quickly and have so much going on that I found it difficult to track what was going on at times. I get that they want to make it dynamic, but I think those kinds of scenes were handled better in Zero and Plus, where the flight scenes can be followed much more easily. Maybe my age is showing. After the film, the vids for Gorgeous, Good Job, and Wings of Farewell played- a blend of fanservice and cutesy weirdness as only the Japanese can deliver. I didn't mind; May'n and Megumi are both talented singers on their own, but they complement each other well when performing together. I prefer Megumi's voice personally; I'm all for more Ranka songs. As I said earlier, I wish turnout and support was greater for these; I want Bandai to get a strong message of support, but sadly, that's not the reality, at least not by the low attendance at my theater. I'd love to be able to walk into a store like Barnes & Noble or even Target and pick up the newest valk toy, but I think that day is still way off, if it ever happens at all. I keep hoping, though.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Likewise, and I'm going to see Sayonara no Tsubasa tonight. I'd like to see them do the same with Macross Zero. I didn't care for Delta, but I'd probably go see a movie from it, too, if only to support the franchise here in the States.
  10. M'Kyuun
    That Mirage is very impressive, but well out of my price range. I'm guessing the various bits are held on with magnets? The way he took the foot and head off and just put them back into place one-handed with no pushing to seat them on a ball joint leads me to think so. Very cool; appreciate the post, @no3Ljm.
  11. M'Kyuun
    I had a couple of the Playmobil Space sets as a kid, and I thought they were glorious. That shuttle is still an impressive toy after all these years, and I loved the blue Astronaut figs with their domed helmets and red jet packs.😍 Good stuff for sure. Unfortunately, my mom gave my Playmo stuff away when I went to the military. I still have the box for this shuttle, but not the actual toys. 😭
  12. M'Kyuun
    Indeed. I'm a huge champion of Hasbro's decision to upsize the minibots to deluxe scale. Hard to believe this is the only G1 Cosmos they've released since '85. I hope Windcharger, Gears, Brawn, Seaspray, Powerglide, & Beachcomber get the same treatment. As for Tonkanator- interesting way to market a Devastator recolor. No interest here, but for those who enjoy collecting the G1 toys and variants thereof, it's a unique take for your collection. If we end up getting a new team of Constructicons via either Legacy or Studio Seies '86, I wonder if they'll do the same with those figs? Nice way to milk the molds and offer a modern Tonkanator variant.
  13. M'Kyuun
    And maybe the Earth will start rotating clockwise on its axis, water will stop being wet, gravity will start to repel instead of attracting- all distinct possibilities in a diametrically opposed parallel universe. Let's just say I have little faith in Has/Tak when it comes to TFs with jet alt modes. I think Maverick was a one-off- the most absolute of absolute exceptions.
  14. M'Kyuun
    No, I didn't figure it was even an option. I bought some JB Weld for plastics, including nylon, today, and tomorrow I'm going to try and affect a repair. The fig is still serviceable as-is, and could probably even still be transformed, but knowing that it's broken bugs me. The fact that my own incompetence is the cause bugs me more. Anyway, I'm going to try the repair route, and if that fails, I may just rebuy it. It's such a beautiful fig, and if I end up botching the repair, it's worth a second purchase.
  15. M'Kyuun
    Magic Square is just knocking it out of the park. Both of these clean up better than the MP figs, especially in the sides of the upper torsos. I so wish they'd upscale their stuff to match mainline scale.
  16. M'Kyuun
    Query for the repair experts here: I broke the hinge to which the arm linkages attach on my Magic Square Doomsday(Megatron). It's sculpted to match the side vents, and there's not much real estate with which to attach it. I tried Gorilla Glue, which had zero effect. Been thinking of trying JB Weld, but I'm casting about here to see if there's a better glue or method to use. Appreciate any suggestions.
  17. M'Kyuun
    That's pretty sharp. As a building experience, I think the A-10 would be more fulfilling, especially if you and your kids are aircraft fans more than Transformer fans. I've never bought any of these independent kits, but some of them are really well done, case in point.
  18. M'Kyuun
    LEGO Con just wrapped up and there were a number of cool reveals: Nearest and dearest to my heart is the long-rumored update to the perennial Classic Space favorite, the venerable Galaxy Explorer (10497): (POs are up on LEGO.com- got mine already!) Classic Space fans have long clamored for a return of CS in some form, and when LEGO put out a number of themes for fans to vote on as the winning theme for the 90th anniversary set, CS was a close contender behind Classic Castle. This is a wonderful love letter to us CS fans, and the only thing that would have made this better is if it had included a base plate with a little radar station like the original set. But given that the ship model is about twice the original's size, and a very faithful update at that with all the original's play features plus more, I'm just super thrilled that this is happening. I can only hope it paves the way for a renewed interest by LEGO in original space themes. However, Classic Castle was the ultimate winner of the 90th anniversary vote, and LEGO outdid themselves with an ambitious set that pays homage to a number of CC sets, especially the Black Falcon's Fortress: Coming in at a whopping 4514 parts, The Lion Knight's Castle (10305) promises to be an impressive centerpiece to any castle layout, or just as a stand-alone set. Features include a working drawbridge, which when closed will unceremoniously drop any hapless fig on the bridge into the dungeon below; a working waterwheel that spins a grinding stone, a working portcullis; the ability to close it up for a fully walled fortress or open it up to reveal a fully detailed interior. It's a thing of beauty, and a great tribute to Classic Castle. The Galaxy Explorer and Lion Knight's Castle will both be available under the new LEGO Icons theme on their Shop site. For Marvel, LEGO unveiled a modular styled Sanctum Santorum (76218): As with all the Modular series, this one has Technic bricks built into the base of the building to readily incorporate it into a layout. Too, it's jam-packed with features and Easter-eggs. As a Modular fan and collector, this is a cool and unique addition to the series, which has long been more representative of city life with a very 1930s-50s-ish look and feel. This joins the Daily Bugle as yet another Marvel set that can integrate with your Modular Building layout. From the upcoming Avatar sequel (of which there are four planned), the Taruk Makto & the Tree of Souls (75574) set features some good use of colored elements as well as new minifigs with new heads, tails, longer arms, and longer legs to represent the Na'vi's taller stature compared to regular minifigs, a new Direhorse mold, and a brick-built Leonopteryx. From Star Wars, Cad Bane's Justifier (75323) and a new AT-TE set (75337) are coming in August. For the artistic among us, LEGO is introducing a Floral Art (31207) mosaic set with which one can build one of three different prints of flowers from different parts of the world. For Minecraft fans, The Abandoned Village (21189) and The Skeleton Dungeon (21190) offer the ability to continue expanding their Minecraft world in physical brick. Finally, Series 23 of the Collectible Minifigures is coming, this time celebrating costumes. Credit for all pics, which I copied shamelessly, goes to The Brick Fan. Lots to look forward to in the fall. For me, the new Galaxy Explorer rises to the top of the list in terms of my excitement and anticipation. As a CS fan from the very beginning, this is truly a Holy Grail set, one that I've personally hoped for (or a rerelease of the original) for many years. Mike Psiaki, a long-time AFOL-cum- Designer notable for numerous Expert Creator sets like the Mustang, the Astin-Martin DB-5, Ferrari F-40, Volswagon Beetle, Apollo Saturn V Ideas set, Creator 3-1 Blue Power Jet, and many more, is the primary designer behind this updated Galaxy Explorer, and given his penchant for always building working features into his sets, as well as head-scratchingly impressive techniques, I'm even more excited to build this set and swoosh the ever-living bricks out of it. Aside from Classic Space, there's quite a bit of new goodness coming this fall across a number of themes that's sure to please most LEGO fans. More opportunities to Play Well. Cheers!
  19. M'Kyuun
    That's my thinking as well, and it makes sense. Unfortunately, thanks to HG, Macross isn't a well known franchise in the States due to their long-standing embargo. (Kinda shot themselves in the foot now that there's an agreement between BW and themselves which could greatly expand the Macross market) There were about seven of us at the screening last night, which isn't terrible, but not great either. It was a small auditorium fitted with recliners, which reduces the seat count by probably a third of the original capacity when they use to have the old standard swing-down seats, and there were still a lot of empty chairs. They screened it at 7 PM, which is actually a good time as most people are off work, as opposed to an earlier showing. But the fact that , AFAIK, there is literally no advertising of this playing that I'm aware of- no tv or radio ads that I've seen or heard- does little to generate interest among a wider audience. I found out either here or possibly Twitter- I don't recall which now, but suffice it to say, there's really little in the way of putting this out in any meaningful way, and they only show it once. Anyway, having watched the series through twice, I went in expecting a very condensed version of the series, which it is, in part. Like M+, they tinkered with the story, so it diverges a bit and changes things up. Honestly, I don't mind, as it made it less predictable, and new scenery, especially anything mecha-related, curries no argument from me. I enjoyed it, though- it's been about a year or two since my last viewing of the series, so the music, the valks, the three main characters all brought a warm feeling of nostalgia. The ridiculousness of the role of the singing really struck me, despite being a longtime Macross fan. Likewise the constant need in Macross for a large antagonist, relative to human stature, to justify the need for the valks (b/c cool isn't a good enough reason?) In my mental space, cool is justification enough for any sort of giant robot. Anyway, I'm glad I went; I enjoyed it, enjoyed the little bit of conversation I had with a couple other dudes there (although the conversation turned more to Gundam than Macross), and I look forward to seeing Sayonara no Tsubasa on the 30th.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Ooooh. That's more like it. Could live without all the toy decal details, but I guess it's all or nothing. Darn it- now I want to spend money. Before I do, though, I'm willing to wait for MS to show theirs for comparison. You know they will. I usually find one or the other to be more appealing to me per character, so it's worth waiting for the preferred option. This is a pretty snazzy Grimlock, but I have a feeling MS' won't have those exposed inner legs. From an engineering standpoint, I think MS are usually more refined. this does some things I dig, though, so we'll see. Gawd it's a great time to be a TF fan.
  21. M'Kyuun
    I don't own V1, but after getting their Megatron, I needed an Optimus; V2 was being promoted at the time. and looked pretty good to me. Seeing them side by side , I have to say I prefer the V1 proportions and overall look, but since I have Light of Freedom for my MP collection, having a more MP-44 styled Optimus for my burgeoning legends collection seemed a good move for variety's sake. I like the fig, so no regrets. I haven't watched any V1 reviews, so I'm not sure how it transforms, although I doubt there's not much difference between it, Light of Freedom, and Light of Justice 2.0. The transformation is pretty cool, except for some overly tight bits, like the sliders for his wheel-well/torso sides and the extending pegs for the rear tires, both of which make me nervous every time I transform him. There are a lot of moving parts in such a small package, and when they're too tight, it's nerve-racking trying to get them to move without applying too much force and breaking something. He's a fun little Optimus toy, though, and fortunately, mine came with the repair bot thingy that inhabits his trailer (early copies were missing that bit due to some issues with the factory, IIRC). other than some tight bits, I have no complaints; Magic Square did a great job. This looks pretty good, although I'd prefer it had trans-yellow plastic around mechanical innards like the G1 toys. If they do a toy-accurate verion with metallic paint and the trans-clear bits, I may be down for a mini-Grimlock. I particularly like the way the arm expands into the dino leg and the dino tail with moving bits. Love that sort of detail that allows some expression and realism in dino mode. I'm not a big fan of the ultra-toon smoothness all over- I prefer surface detail on my bots, which is another reason I hope this gets the toy-accurate treatment. The core design is really good, though. The question remains, how long 'til MS reveal their Dinobot designs? I wish the SS86 Grimlock looked this good- he has that really awkward and chonky looking rear end in T-rex mode and a non-articulated tail. Amazing how much better this little Grim is over a leader class toy.
  22. M'Kyuun
    Getting ready to go see False Songstress at 7 PM PST. I've watched the series twice, but I've never watched either of the films, so I'm going in fresh. Part of me wishes these were dubbed, if only so I can concentrate on the visuals more without having to read subs, but there's something to be said about watching a foreign film in the original language with the inflection thereof. Anyway, I'm hoping to enjoy it. Along with Plus and SDF:M, I think it's one of the best Macross productions, and the VF-25 cemented itself as one of my favorite valks. Too, I liked the character development of both Ranka and Sheryl- Alto pretty much stayed the same broody dude throughout. 😄
  23. M'Kyuun
    New toy!
  24. M'Kyuun
    Yeah, most likely the legs aren't at the proper detent. Too, assuming the backpack tabs into the legs, that connection may not be made. You'd think they'd be mindful of such things in promo material, but there's Droopfire for all to see. All those years on ice must have exacerbated his arthritis. Hopefully, it's a simple remedy to straighten him out, and he turns out to be a really well-done and enjoyable fig. Fans have waited a long time for a proper MP Skyfire, and overall, toon-slavish lack of detail notwithstanding, he's a fine-looking take on the character. If I didn't already have FT's Phoenix, which does some things I prefer over MP Skyfire, it wouldn't even be a question of getting him. Even so, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still tempted.
  25. M'Kyuun
    Jordan has proven himself to be adept at writing a cool and interesting take on the horror/sci-fi genre, with a lot of Black perspective and a bit of humor. Get Out and Us were both well done, and Nope looks to continue the trend of dark, quirky, funny, & suspenseful storytelling. Looking forward to seeing it.
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