Monday 29 July 2024

Alien: Monday



Alien: Romulus is only a few weeks away from bursting onto cinema screens worldwide.

Paul "OtaKing" Johnson has released Alien: Monday, a 20-minute animated short film taking 6 years to produce, in tribute to Ridley Scott's original Alien.



Johnson previously produced TIE Fighter (2015), an animated short film set in the Star Wars universe, to critical acclaim. It was an homage to LucasArts' seminal video game from 1994.

What did you think of Alien: Monday? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 26 July 2024

HasLab takes to the sky with Cobra Rattler



Hasbro announced the G.I. Classified Series Cobra Rattler Ground Attack Jet HasLab campaign during Thursday's G.I. Joe panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

Here's the official word from Cobra:

"Your antissssipation is finally over! The Cobra Airborne is readying for launch but needs your assistance to fund its crowning achievement of aviation ingenuity. M.A.R.S. Industries, in concert with HasLab, has developed a 6-inch scale G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Rattler Ground Attack Jet. In order to initiate our takeoff sequence, we are in need of 9,000 backer orders by the end of the Campaign. For each HasLab vehicle you pledge, you’ll receive a Cobra Rattler jet along with an action figure of Flight Commander Wild Weasel featuring premium deco, detailing, and articulation for poseability."

The Cobra Rattler with Wild Weasel action figure looks amazing and, as I never owned the original fan-favourite toy, I've already backed it. The folding wings and included flight stand will make it easier to display.

The only fly in the ointment is the first tier at 11,000 backers! It's a set of Cobra Airborne Squadron patches, which should have been an action figure (Destro?). More so given the HasLab campaign is £324.99 in a cost of living crisis. The Cobra H.I.S.S. HasLab was £299.99 with 4 action figures. 14,000 backers unlocks a Cobra Rattler Gunner action figure and 18,000 backers unlocks the pilot Baroness action figure.

Hopefully, Hasbro will respond to fans' (myself included) concerns on social media. How about an early bird SDCC exclusive tier?

Given the number of backers needed, the latest G.I. Joe HasLab should be fully funded this weekend.

Will you be backing the G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Rattler Ground Attack Jet HasLab on Hasbro Pulse? Are you going to wait and see if all the stretch goals are met? Let me know in the comments below.

Wednesday 24 July 2024

Batman: Caped Crusader teases spooky Dark Knight



First announced in 2021, Batman: Caped Crusader was originally in development for HBO Max but was shelved in August 2022 by Warner Bros. Discovery as part of a larger cost-cutting strategy following the merger of the two media behemoths.

The hotly-anticipated animated series, executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series), JJ Abrams (Star Wars) and Matt Reeves (The Batman), was picked up for two seasons by Prime Video in early 2023.

Prime Video has dropped an official trailer for Batman: Caped Crusader season one.



Read the official synopsis:

"Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications."

Starring Hamish Linklater as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including: Christina Ricci, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Minnie Driver, Mckenna Grace, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Tom Kenny, Jason Watkins, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment and Toby Stephens.

Batman: Caped Crusader premieres exclusively on Prime Video (affiliate link) on 1st August.

Are you looking forward to Batman: Caped Crusader? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday 23 July 2024

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Disney+



The world's fate is at stake when the stunning new entry into the Planet of the Apes franchise makes its streaming debut on Disney+.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has thrilled audiences worldwide, becoming one of the biggest global box office successes of the year and marking the beginning of a new era for the epic Planet of the Apes franchise.

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Before Star Wars hit the big screen, I vividly remember watching the Planet of the Apes television series and playing with Mego action figures. My parents took me to a local county show that featured a special appearance by the characters from the series.

Later, I discovered the original movies when they were repeated on television. Composer Jerry Goldsmith's innovative soundtrack for the Planet of the Apes remains a touchstone and its influence can be heard in his later scores including Alien.

In addition, Disney+ is currently streaming all nine prior films in the Planet of the Apes franchise: Planet of the Apes (1968), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), Planet of the Apes (2001), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes streams on Disney+ on 2nd August.

Are you looking forward to the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Monday 22 July 2024

Hasbro at SDCC



Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding brand and partner panels at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the 40th anniversary of Transformers, and the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

The Hasbro booth (#3213) design has been updated to better engage fans and create a more immersive space. The Hasbro Pulse Toy Store is back, and this year's design by Tom Whalen includes an impressive second story for live interviews.

There are four exclusives at SDCC this year. Marvel Legends Death's Head, G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Once A Man), Transformers Legacy United Voyager Class Fractured Friendship 2-Pack, and Star Wars: The Black Series Darth Maul & Sith Speeder. Limited quantities will be available to pre-order on Hasbro Pulse after the convention. While supplies last.

“We are thrilled to return to 2024 San Diego Comic-Con with an evolved booth design and even more exhilarating experiences for our fans,” said Tim Kilpin, President of Toys, Board Games, Licensing & Entertainment at Hasbro. “This year, we are particularly excited to celebrate our upcoming film, TRANSFORMERS ONE, and bring an immersive and interactive showcase that will truly spotlight the creativity and innovation behind our iconic brands. We can’t wait to reveal fan-favorite products from BEYBLADE, TRANSFORMERS, G.I JOE and more to create countless unforgettable memories alongside our dedicated fanbase.”

HASBRO BRAND AND PARTNER PANELS

Attendees are invited to learn more about Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE brands and MAGIC THE GATHERING’s Mark Rosewater and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS with premier collaboration brands, Star Wars and Marvel, through special panel experiences featuring new product reveals and major updates, along with other partner presentations.

Thursday, July 25
· PARAMOUNT PICTURES: TRANSFORMERS ONE: July 25 at 11:45AM – 12:45PM | Hall H - Paramount Animation & HASBRO Entertainment bring a panel discussion and exclusive footage presentation to fans with talent Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key, along with the Director, Academy Award® winner Josh Cooley, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

· Hasbro G.I. JOE Brand Panel: Thursday, July 25 at 5:00PM - 6:00PM | Room: 25ABC - Join the G.I. JOE development team for a LIVE launch of the new Classified Series HasLab! This behind-the-scenes look will also feature additional new product news, including never-before-heard stories, digital character renders, in-hand figure prototypes, pre-order launches, and maybe even a special guest.

Friday, July 26
· Marvel Legends Panel with Hasbro: Friday, July 26, 12:30PM - 1:30PM | Room: 5AB - The Hasbro and Marvel product experts will discuss exciting news about Hasbro’s ever-popular Marvel Legends product line! Attendees will also get a sneak peek of upcoming, never-before-seen items, followed by a Q&A for your burning Marvel Legends questions.

· Hasbro Star Wars Panel: Friday, July 26, 2:00PM - 3:00PM | Room: 7AB - Join members of the Hasbro Marketing & Design teams as they discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars line, including the Black Series and The Vintage Collection. Attendees will get an in-depth look at Hasbro’s latest action figure offerings from throughout the saga. Word on the Holonet is there may also be a few surprises. May the Force be with you!

· Hasbro TRANSFORMERS Panel: Friday, July 26, 6:00PM - 7:00PM | Room: 25ABC - Join the Hasbro TRANSFORMERS Toy Development team as they take you behind the scenes to unveil the latest character figures from across the iconic brand. Plus, time permitting, there will also be a Q&A session filled with trivia and more!

· Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid: Friday, July 26, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM| Room 5AB - After 8 years and over 120 issues, BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers universe is coming to an end… but not without a few final surprises! Join Melissa Flores, writer of the climactic “Darkest Hour” event, alongside the iconic Ryan Parrott, the original Pink Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, and the original Black Ranger, Walter Jones, for a behind-the-scenes peek at the final issues of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers… and an exclusive look ahead at what’s next. Moderated by Matt Hotson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return).

· TRANSFORMERS & G.I. JOE The Energon Universe is HERE: Friday, July 26, 4:30PM – 5:30PM | Room 5AB - WELCOME TO THE HOTTEST COMICS IN THE WORLD! TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, and Void Rivals from Skybound have taken over the comic book world and we’ve got the top secret reveals you can’t miss. Superstars Robert Kirkman (Void Rivals), Daniel Warren Johnson (TRANSFORMERS), Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), Tom Reilly (Duke), and Sean Mackiewicz (SVP/Publisher, Skybound) deliver the panel that will have everyone talking!

Saturday, July 27
· Celebrating 50 Years of Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday, July 27 at 10:00AM - 11:00AM | Room: 6DE - Dungeons & Dragons is celebrating 50 years! From countless hours of adventures and storytelling, new editions and book releases, to the rising tabletop entertainment and pop culture takeover. Come listen to industry experts as they share how Dungeons & Dragons has taken its place on top of the pop culture dungeon

· Magic: The Gathering Panel, Blogatog Live: Saturday 6:30 pm -7:30 pm | Room 24ABC Magic head designer Mark Rosewater presents this one-man program in which he re-creates his daily blog, answering the audience's questions about the making of the popular trading card game and revealing new, never-before-seen cards, mechanics, and more!

Sunday, July 28
· Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern Panel: Sunday at 11:00AM | Room: 32AB Taliesin Jaffe (Critical Role) moderates a panel about the hit off-Broadway theatrical experience Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern which includes co-creators David Carpenter (producer, Puffs) and Sarah Davis Reynolds (game designer, Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern), Set/Costume/Prop Designer KC McGeorge (Dimension 20) and other special guests. The panel will discuss the creation of the show from idea to page to stage and include a Q&A session with the audience.

Hasbro’s booth at SDCC this year is #3213. The booth is next to the Star Wars pavilion, Mattel Creations, LEGO, and other SDCC hot spots.

Are you looking forward to SDCC? Which panels are you excited for? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 19 July 2024

Alien: Romulus final trailer



On Thursday, Twentieth Century Studios dropped a final trailer for Alien: Romulus.



Read the official synopsis:

"While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

The upcoming Alien franchise movie, directed by Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe), is set between Alien and Aliens and is a hybrid of both.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), Aileen Wu. Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (Don’t Breathe 2) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

Alien: Romulus is produced by Ridley Scott (Napoleon), who directed the original Alien and produced and directed the series’ entries Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Michael Pruss (Boston Strangler), and Walter Hill (Alien), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (Charlie’s Angels), Brent O’Connor (Bullet Train), and Tom Moran (Unstoppable) serving as executive producers.

Tickets for Alien: Romulus are on sale. AMC Theatres is offering xenomorph and facehugger popcorn buckets.

Originally intended to go straight-to-streaming on Hulu and Star on Disney+, Alien: Romulus is only in cinemas on 16th August.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Romulus? Let me know in the comments below.

Monday 15 July 2024

Jodie Whittaker returns to Doctor Who



Jodie Whittaker is reprising the role of Doctor Who for Big Finish. This is the first time she's played the titular Time Lord since The Power of the Doctor.

Whittaker said: “I’m over the moon to be joining Big Finish for more adventures in the TARDIS. Recording the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz is a really lovely thing to revisit. One of the things Mandip and I used to love on Doctor Who was getting in, doing a new episode and meeting a brand-new cast. I just can’t wait to step back into the boots, pull on the coat and get cracking. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be brilliant.”

Mandip Gill is back aboard the TARDIS as companion Yaz.

Gill added: “Doctor Who has been a huge part of my career and personal life and I am looking forward to seeing how I can further enrich my character through this exhilarating series. To be able to work with Jodie again is a dream come true, we have such a special friendship, I’m sure the recordings will be filled with laughter.”

Are you looking forward to listening to the Thirteenth Doctor's audio adventures from Big Finish? Let me know in the comments below.

Saturday 13 July 2024

Doctor Who x Star Trek



Ruby Sunday's (Millie Gibson) reference to Star Trek in Space Babies wasn't a throwaway line.

Doctor Who series showrunner Russell T Davies and Star Trek franchise executive producer Alex Kurtzman will headline an Intergalactic Friendship Panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). An exclusive creator-to-creator conversation about the art of storytelling in alternative universes and to celebrate the power of friendship.

Doctor Who has captivated audiences since its launch by the BBC in 1963. With Ncuti Gatwa currently portraying the 15th Doctor, the series continues to break records, including being the UK’s most-viewed scripted show on Christmas Day 2023 for under-35s. Meanwhile, Star Trek, with its 60-year legacy since being introduced by Gene Roddenberry, remains a beacon of cultural diversity, scientific exploration, and boundless imagination. Today, it spans 11 TV series, 13 films, and over 900 episodes, available in more than 200 markets worldwide.

In related news. The TARDIS will be materialising at SDCC this year for a Doctor Who Hall H panel with Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and Russell T Davies, as they discuss all things season one and more.

The beloved sci-fi franchises have a storied history including the Doctor and the crew of the Enterprise battling Borg and Cybermen in IDW comic books.

Would you like to see a live-action Doctor Who and Star Trek crossover episode? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 12 July 2024

Alien: Romulus featurette



On Thursday, Twentieth Century Studios dropped a behind-the-scenes featurette for Alien: Romulus.



Read the official synopsis:

"While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

The upcoming Alien franchise movie, directed by Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe), is set between Alien and Aliens and is a hybrid of both.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), Aileen Wu. Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (Don’t Breathe 2) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

Alien: Romulus is produced by Ridley Scott (Napoleon), who directed the original Alien and produced and directed the series’ entries Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Michael Pruss (Boston Strangler), and Walter Hill (Alien), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (Charlie’s Angels), Brent O’Connor (Bullet Train), and Tom Moran (Unstoppable) serving as executive producers.

Originally intended to go straight-to-streaming on Hulu and Star on Disney+, Alien: Romulus is only in cinemas on 16th August.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Romulus? Let me know in the comments below.

Thursday 11 July 2024

Sunny summer on Apple TV+



Apple TV+ continues to build on its reputation for prestige television with the stylish sci-fi murder mystery series Sunny.



Read the official synopsis:

"Sunny stars Rashida Jones as Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. As “consolation” she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company. Though at first, Suzie resents Sunny’s attempts to fill the void in her life, gradually they develop an unexpected friendship. Together they uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie’s family and become dangerously enmeshed in a world Suzie never knew existed."

Sunny is a far cry from my original Omnibot, which was a Christmas gift (circa 1986). Tomy's programmable toy robot was an attempt to capitalise on the popularity of Star Wars' R2-D2. With its built-in cassette deck, remote control and tray, Omnibot hinted at future app-enabled devices that are now commonplace and pose a security threat.

Are you watching Sunny on Apple TV+? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday 9 July 2024

WandaVision spooky spin-off Agatha All Along



On Monday, Marvel Television dropped a teaser trailer for Agatha All Along on Disney+.



Read the official synopsis:

"In Agatha All Along, the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…"

The upcoming WandaVision live-action spin-off series, starring Kathryn Hahn as the titular witch, seemingly focuses on resurrecting Wanda Maximoff AKA Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in time for Halloween.

Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along premieres in the UK on 19th September, with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Agatha All Along? Let me know in the comments below.

Monday 8 July 2024

Cobra Commander (Once A Man) at SDCC



San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) returns later this month.

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding exclusives from G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series and Transformers.

G.I. Joe fans (myself included) will be excited to know this year's SDCC exclusive is from G.I. Joe: The Movie.

G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES #130, COBRA COMMANDER (ONCE A MAN)

(HASBRO | Ages 4 and Up | Approx. Retail Price: $39.99 | Available: Summer 2024)     

New to the G.I. JOE Classified Series line, Cobra Commander (Once A Man) comes ready for adventure, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability. Inspired by the character’s mutated appearance in G.I. JOE: The Movie, this 6-inch action figure contains 9 character-inspired accessory pieces including 4 alternate hands, alternate helmeted head, cracked faceplate, dagger, backpack, and weapon accessory.

Includes an additional figure of Cobra Commander degenerated and mutated into primitive snake form. A transparent sleeve guards a phenomenal lenticular image depicting the horrific fate of Cobra Commander. Inside, the windowed display showcases the figure, accessory loadout, & dynamic digital renders.

Look for other G.I. JOE figures and toys to build your roster of heroes and Cobra villains (each sold separately, subject to availability). Available exclusively at 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Attendees can request a time slot to purchase Hasbro products at the Hasbro Booth (#3213) at the Hasbro Pulse Toy Store through the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Portal.

Limited quantities will be available to pre-order on Hasbro Pulse after the convention. While supplies last.

Are you excited about G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Once A Man)? Are you looking forward to SDCC? Let me know in the comments below.

Saturday 6 July 2024

Doctor Who: Empire of Death



Following The Legend of Ruby Sunday, Empire of Death, the second and concluding part of the season one finale was more Scooby snack than Thanos Snap!

Seeing the Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) allies reduced to dust by Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) looked impressive in 4K UHD on BBC iPlayer, but had no jeopardy as season one wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger.

This was further compounded by the preceding Tales of the TARDIS omnibus edition of Pyramids of Mars on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer for fans in the UK. A classic serial where the stakes are stark with Tom Baker (Doctor Who) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) at the peak of their powers against an alien masquerading as an Egyptian God. My octogenarian dad remembered Sutekh and his robot mummies - watching the Fourth Doctor adventures is a profoundly poignant childhood memory that makes me misty-eyed.

Escaping the destruction of Earth, in the Remembered TARDIS, afforded a glimpse of a timey-wimey crew featuring Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford). Langford's first foray aboard the TARDIS is a nadir in the history of the beloved BBC sci-fi series. Here, we see just how great Langford is and let's hope Mel returns in future spin-off series.

Gatwa's grief at the cosmic destruction wrought by Sutekh due to the Doctor's actions is palpable and could have been an unforgettable season cliffhanger.

The Doctor's detour to a desolate planet, lifted from Dune or Star Wars, was jarring and forgettable - I was more interested in setting up a new iPad Pro (M4) and would never dream of sticking a spoon in its charging port.

The revelation of Ruby Sunday’s (Millie Gibson) biological mother was wholly anticlimactic and nixed fun fan theories circulating on social media. Russell T Davies was inspired by Rey’s origin story in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She was no one special before it was changed in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

However, this contradicts teases since The Church on Ruby Road. Ruby’s birth mother is a Leeds-based nurse, Louise (Faye McKeever). Okey-dokey! She's the key to defeating Sutekh in a nonsensical twist. Thanos, I mean, Sutekh was obsessed with the secret identity of Ruby's mum! Why? This fixation seemingly leads to his demise in the time vortex...

I didn’t have the TARDIS taking Sutekh for walkies on my bingo card for 2024. After almost half a centenary, the big bad’s return to television screens was comically botched - the subsequent memes on social media were a hilarious commentary on a fizzling finale.

There have been far too many tears this season!

Davies’ denouements are often rushed and none more so than here. It’s a shame, as Gatwa and Gibson are terrific together. Season one deserved more episodes (streaming services have pivoted to shorter seasons) and less reliance on Murray Gold's soundtrack to elicit unearned emotions in surround sound. I still tear up at the farewell between the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in Doomsday, so Davies can deliver.

Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) cosplaying as former TARDIS companions, is a masterstroke, and I can’t wait to learn more about her in the upcoming holiday special, Joy to the World.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season one is available for pre-order (affiliate link).

Have you watched Empire of Death? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Thursday 4 July 2024

You're gonna need a bigger shelf for LEGO Ideas Jaws



Happy 4th of July to all our US-based readers! Today the LEGO Group announced the LEGO Ideas Jaws set based on Steven Spielberg's seminal blockbuster movie featuring John Williams' unforgettable soundtrack.

Speaking about how he approached the design for the set, fan designer Johnny Campbell, reveals: "JAWS is my favourite movie of all-time, so I really wanted to recreate it in LEGO bricks. LEGO building has always been a part of my life in some shape or form but in order to get all of the finer details, I actually freeze-framed JAWS as I watched it so that I could catch a glimpse of the finer details taking notes as I went along. It is just mind-blowing that my design is now an official LEGO set. I can't wait to stand in a LEGO shop looking at the shelves and seeing a set that I have been involved with and watching someone buying it. It’s every LEGO fan’s dream!”

LEGO Ideas Jaws is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas Jaws to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Wednesday 3 July 2024

LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee



To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Transformers, LEGO Group and Hasbro have announced LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee.

Known as B-127 on his home planet Cybertron, Bumblebee is often considered the "little brother" of the heroic Autobots. He may be small, but his courage and determination are immeasurable.

Maintaining the same scale as the LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime set, originally revealed in 2022, this set presents enthusiasts with the opportunity to construct the iconic Autobot, Bumblebee, entirely from LEGO bricks.

As longtime readers know, I've been a Transformers fan since 1984. The war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons captured my childhood imagination in Marvel UK's comic. Bumblebee was one of the very first Transformers I owned and the beloved Autobot stood sentry, alongside his leader Optimus Prime, in my childhood bedroom.

LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee to your collection? Which Transformers would you like to see immortalised in LEGO bricks? I'm hoping for Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons. Let me know in the comments below.

Monday 1 July 2024

Marvel Legends Death’s Head at SDCC



San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) returns later this month.

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding exclusives from G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series and Transformers.

Death’s Head originally appeared in Marvel UK's The Transformers comic and Doctor Who Magazine (DWM)! As a fan of both franchises, this is exciting news from Hasbro's Marvel Legends. The cult-favourite mechanoid (no relation to the robot enemy of the Daleks) bounty hunter is an SDCC exclusive.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES DEATH'S HEAD

(HASBRO | Ages 4 and Up | Approx. Retail Price: $39.99 | Available: Summer 2024)     

Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with the Hasbro Marvel Legends Death's Head figure! Inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel Comics, this collectible 6-inch figure is fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Comes with 6 accessories, including shield and weapon accessories that can be displayed on his back. This premium figure comes in an exclusive window box package inspired by the character's retro collector card.

Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6-inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections. Reimagine Marvel Comics-inspired scenes with Marvel Legends action figures (each sold separately, subject to availability). Attendees can request a time slot to purchase Hasbro products at the Hasbro Booth (#3213) at the Hasbro Pulse Toy Store through the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Portal.

Following San Diego Comic-Con, limited quantities will be available to order in on Hasbro Pulse, and other select retailers, after the convention. While supplies last.

Cool, yes?

Are you excited about Marvel Legends Death's Head? Are you looking forward to SDCC? Let me know in the comments below.