Happy to report that my Batman Collection photo got published in Discovery Channel Magazine :)

Benefits and privileges of blogging :)

Some weeks ago, someone from Discovery Channel magazine contacted me and asked me for a high resolution photograph of my Batman collection which she had seen on my toy blog that I had taken some years back. She said she wanted to publish it in the Discovery Channel magazine. So it was quite a nice surprise to receive the magazine in the mailbox today with the picture of my Batman collection in it as part of an article titled "Toy Story". I've scanned the pages in their entirety and have posted the pictures / pages here in my toy blog for those of us who can't get hold of the magazine. It does make for quite an interesting read and I think most of us will enjoy it :) Click on the pictures for a bigger and better view, especially if you want to read the text.

Some of the text:
CAUTION: ADULTS AT PLAY - As borders blur between young and old, more grown-ups now find that the pleasures of youth aren't necessarily just for the young anymore (written by Eric Talmadge of Discovery Channel magazine). Scroll down to read more.

Youth, they say, is wasted on the young. Who hasn't looked back on their younger days and wished they could somehow experience once again the pleasures of play. The sheer enjoyment of winning a game, no matter how silly or pointless the game might be. The thrill of having a box full of TOYS, or a collection of marbles, and the joy of sharing and comparing these prized possessions with their friends. Whatever happened to these simple pleasures? Could we ever feel that way again?

Time to grow up? Not so fast! Researchers are finding that one answer to the eternal question of how to stay happy longer lies in rediscovering the very things we took the most joy in as children. Forget about the Peter Pan Syndrome, these researchers say. As such, for millions of people throughout the world, toys and games are just what the doctor ordered.

Amazing Parent-child Cosplay

Old Hobbies, New Joys + Robots and Ray Guns

274 Transformers Toys (101 Autobots, 81 Decepticons and 92 licensed products) sold for USD $1 million, or nearly US$3,650 per toy!

And here's why my humble Batman collection got featured :)
Rise of the Fans: Collector Alex Teo, alias Toy Haven, tells DCM he has turned his Singapore home into a mini toy museum, with his collection proudly displayed throughout the house.

To give you an idea of the size of Alex Teo's collection, the selection of Batman collectibles pictured comprises less than five percent (5%) of the items he has displayed in his home.

Attendees dressed as Hourman, Atom and Flash during the 40th Annual San Diego Comic Con in 2009

The article goes on to say that "Toys, games and nerdy collections are officially okay, and no longer just for kids. The time has come for you to get your vinyl, comics and Wii on."

Yuji Ueda, who produced a 2013 documentary "Tokyo Toy Guy" visited six cities to feature some of the world's top Batman memorabilia collectors says it best:"At some point, every kid in the world has played with a toy. What really counts is merely experiencing the joy of a toy. It's the natural, childlike pleasure you get from something."

Recently I came across this definition someone shared on Facebook on the two kinds of model kit and figure collectors (based on attitude):

The Happy and Passionate Collectors who really enjoy the hobby. They enjoy buying the stuff because of the happiness it brings to own them. Often times they are eager to share their knowledge and experiences to co-collectors who are most likely walking down the same path. Seeing other collectors finally getting the stuff they were looking for makes them happy. They are sincere and very open-minded individuals who love to share a laugh :)

Then there are the Competitive and Too Proud collectors who think collecting is a contest. They love to look down on others who cannot afford the hobby, as if they are not on their level. They do not really love the hobby, but they only love the attention the hobby gives them. They cannot take criticism lightly and talking with them might end up in an argument especially if the topic is against their beliefs. Sharing is mainly bragging rights for them. They would not even share info or tips to help collectors. If you meet them personally, they don't usually have a friendly aura. They love to make jokes at the expense of others.

Sadly I've come across both kinds. Some of the latter (ugly collectors) seem to be the new generation Hot Toys collectors who only buy Hot Toys, think highly of themselves and their Hot Toys collection and have no interests in any other collection of toys, unless it's Hot Toys! They give a bad name to toy collectors because they don't seem to enjoy the toy. They are just out to show off that they have the means (money) to buy the toy and multiples of the same Hot Toy if it's an exclusive and they will flaunt it in your face so that they can brag about how many very limited edition Hot Toys figure they have! They do not even open the box to appreciate the toy. It stays sealed the day they got it because they want it MISB (Mint In Sealed Box)! It's different from carded and clam shell figures because for those, you can still see the figure inside the packaging. One cannot see a Hot Toys figure in its sealed box unless one opens the box to examine and appreciate the figure and its intricate details. Where's the joy? I pity them.

Happy collecting guys and gals :) Don't give in to the dark side of toy collecting.

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Post #8: Daniel Picard's Stunning Photography

These are the latest pictures Daniel Picard has shared with me :) As the saying goes "A picture tells a thousand words" so I'll just let the pictures do the talking. ENJOY

The pictures are much bigger than they seem (especially the landscape ones below - scroll down to see the rest) but due to limitations of blogger, they can only be viewed in a smaller size. Click on each picture for a bigger and better view. You can really appreciate the art more!

The picture above is just awesome! The Bat-pod doesn't run on nuclear power so Batman has to pump it with petrol when the tank runs dry right? Looks like he prefers Esso fuel haha I would've thought he'll choose BP for his Bat-Pod ;p

The last two pictures are Dan's new experiment of adding human actors into the mix. He just makes all the pictures look 1:1 scale to me

You can check out Daniel Picard's website www.danielpicard.com for more pictures :) He doesn't just shoot toys. Daniel Picard takes very nice pictures of people, places and things as well. Go to his facebook page and like it as well.

Daniel Picard's pictures featured in my earlier posts:
Sept 10, 2010 - Post #1: Meet Daniel Picard, Photographer Extraordinaire
Nov 12, 2010 - Post #2: More STUNNING Daniel Picard pictures!
Jan 12, 2011 - Post #3: Popbots, MOPP, WWII, Stormtrooper and Beachhead!
May 9, 2011 - Post #4: Ninja, Star Wars Imperial Stromtrooper, Iron Man and friends
Nov 11, 2012 - Post #5: Popbot, 3A Ambush, Hot Toys Terminator, Battle Droids
April 19, 2013 - Post #6: Daniel Picard makes 1:6 figures look like 1:1
May 23, 2013 – Post #7: Daniel Picard does it again

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Who's Who of the Minions from "Despicable Me"

"POTATO!"

The minions from the Despicable Me movies are all the rage right now :) The fact that some of the best toys that are being released are the little minions aren't helping either because it's just fanning the flames. Daniel Picard sent me this great info-graphic from Collectibly which I just have to share. It's a "Who's Who of the Minions" and helps unravel the identities of the minions.

Minions are small, yellow, cylinder-shaped, genetically humanized kernels that have one or two eyes and are one of the most notable characters in the "Despicable Me" films. The minions possess one additional physiological characteristic; with a snap and a shake, they can double as glow sticks for activities in the dark, such as going through ventilation ducts (that scene was just LOL hilarious).

A rambunctious bunch of simple-minded homunculi, the Minions are a similar size and shape, but have unique features to tell them apart, such as height, number of eyes, roundness or secondary features such as hair, eye/pupil size or clothing. They choose to express themselves through actions, not words: their "language" is fairly basic, they speak in a strange jabber; except for the odd human word every now and again and occasional Spanish-sounding words like "Para tú" (roughly "for you") and "la boda" (during the second movie, meaning "marriage") as well as french in the second movie (poulet tikka masala, et pis c'est tout) , their language is incomprehensible to most humans, though they do understand English. It is also possible to isolate elements of Japanese from their speech patterns.

Their existence as artificial beings is noted by the final schematics in the little girls' room. the minions are possibly made from humans by a ray that turns humans into minions as seen in the Minions Mayhem ride at Universal Studios. This is generally considered non-canon, however. (Or just something Gru invented for the express purpose of the ride) One of the shorts in the DVD suggests they are made from a single strand of mutated DNA. The minions wear metal goggles accommodating their number of eyes, blue overalls with Gru's symbol on the front, and black gloves. They enjoy playing with Agnes, Edith, and Margo, as seen in the toilet paper fight scene.

They are impulsive creatures with little self-control, but with a wide-eyed wonder and odd innocence that endears them to viewers and makes them relatable. They can be pesky when they are doing weird interactions with other people, animals, or objects. The Minions have standard English names such as Larry, Dave, Kevin, Jerry, Stuart, Mark, Tim, Jorge, and Phil. They are fiercely loyal to Gru and Dr. Nefario and extremely eager to please, willingly helping with any evil plans, but at the same time they are friendly and funloving. Despite being relatively simple-minded, they are capable of building weapons, operating those weapons, using computers, and even driving.

Unlike most other criminal masterminds and their usual doctrine of abusing their henchmen, Gru gets along famously with his minions. He genuinely seems to like them and even shows appreciation for their hard work and support. He even seems to know each of them by name.

They are the official mascots for Illumination Entertainment. Minions love bananas and apples (or "papples" as they call them), and the mere sight of one of these fruits can result in complete chaos. They also enjoy fine arts and find anything having to do with butts extremely funny. There are few things these little guys do not find funny. They also love spitting, frog legs, bunnies, and building things. They love trying new things. They dislike being unsure of themselves, and when Gru leaves questions unanswered.

You can check out the full image on Collectibly site HERE

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Soul Three Kingdoms Elite General Series - Zhao Yun Limited Version 12-inch figure Preview

Zhao Yun, style name Zilong, was a military general who lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period. Originally a subordinate of the northern warlord Gongsun Zan, Zhao Yun later came to serve Liu Bei and had since accompanied Liu on most of his exploits — from the Battle of Changban (208) to the Hanzhong Campaign (217–219). He continued serving in the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period, participating in the first of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, until his death in 229. (source: wiki)

This is OS-Toy's Soul Three Kingdoms Elite General Series - Zhao Yun Limited Version 12-inch figure set with 1/6 scale horse. The 1/6 scale Zhao Yun figure includes the following items: 1/6 scale Head sculpt and 12-inch figure body, Trousers, Cloak, Cloth belt, Robes, Waist Support, Leather belt, Long belt, Armour (set), Shoes, various Hands for posing, Hat, Javelin, Sword, Horse. Limited Version includes Flag with Stand.

Zhao Yun has been featured prominently in Chinese popular culture, literature, art and anecdotes. Zhao Yun was already a relatively well-known hero from the Three Kingdoms period, as folktales about his exploits have been passed down through centuries. He became a household name due to the popularity of the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Recently, Zhao Yun's popularity has moved beyond Asia and into the Western world, through various media, including the Internet and video games.

Many of Zhao Yun's actual exploits were highly dramatised in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. In the novel, Zhao Yun is described as being almost perfect, possessing unparalleled physical power as well as unwavering loyalty to his lord, tremendous courage, keen intelligence and serene charisma. These traits have often been reflected in almost all modern material about Zhao Yun to date. The novel portrays him as a courageous, loyal, and heroic warrior, and depicting him surviving insurmountable odds many times single-handedly.

Seems like this set will go well with 303 Toys new China series 1/6 scale General Guan Yu (Yunchang) 12-inch figure (previewed earlier in my toy blog post HERE)

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Something totally different: Steam Factory 1/6 scale Knight Captain Locke 12" Steampunk figure

There's a very very long backstory that comes with this figure's preview but I wouldn't even bother going into it. You could publish a novel based on it alone ;p I've always been a visual guy so the visuals either speak to me or they don't. This is definitely a unique release. Not something up my alley at all but an interesting attempt to produce the first steampunk figure ever.

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century. Therefore, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has regained mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.

This is an upcoming release by Steam Factory and they are calling this a 1/6 scale "Dobby & Rabbog" Knight Captain Locke. Material Composite material is a metal mask which can open and will be a limited edition of 200 sets, each with a separate number, first issued 100 sets containing Dobbtis treasure map. Scroll down to see more pictures and surprises along the way (no kidding)

With a lot of steampunk, there seems to be a type of functionality to it. In this instance they seem to have glued gears and parts to the armor without them serving any real function at all.

I think putting the cat face inside the diving helmet doesn't help in any way. That and the fact that "hello Kitty" here has a mechanical piranha / guppy as a steed to ride on. Yes, he rides on the fish that's stuck on a pole to a book!

The whole getup seems rather bizzare and unreal. I've seen very cool steampunk renditions and cosplays which look totally believable but this takes a lot of getting used to.

Still, as amusing and strange as it looks, I think it's worth taking a look at it right?

Not something I'll get into but maybe some of you fancy this more than me

Related posts:
Hot Toys 1/6 scale Dark Copperhead-18 Ultimate 12-inch Deep Sea Diver Figure, released in 2007 and reviewed HERE
G.I. Joe "Timeless Collection - Deep Sea Diver: Danger of the Depths" 12-inch figure posted HERE
Bronze (metal) United States Navy Mark V Diving Helmet pictures HERE

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