Kastor’s Retro Reviews

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Kastor’s Retro Reviews

come check out the new column on Kastor’s Korner

Finally the new home is OPEN

Hi all just wanted to give all an update.  Kastor’s Korner has a new home @ http://www.kastorskorner.com/   This week will see the long over due HML3 final review as well as DCUC wave one.  We should also have some Mattel answers soon

My First DCD 13 Inch Figure

This week I get my hands on the new 13″ Nightwing figure from DC Direct.  Come back this weekend for a full review. What I did notice, they rescuplted the head, it looks amazing. 

The Many Faces ofNightwing

      

I’m a Nightwing nut and over the years we have seen some great and some bad figures come out for the figures.  During the animated times we saw many colors of Nightwing figures. Here is the start of my look at this wonderful character and what DC and Mattel hvae given us.  Coming soon the Hasbro years. 

           

I’m Back

So, I have been gone for about 2 weeks and I’m getting a lot of support, thank you all.  We have had a few deaths in the family in the past few weeks and it has turned our lives upside down.  As things start to calm down I’m coming back to this blog.  Now the family issues are not the only reason I took time off.  The message boards have been a source of stress for me over the last few weeks, to the point that if I had to choose hunting for toys or going home, I went home.  I just wanted a break.  I have been working a lot on taking pictures and writing my ideas down some fun and some serious.  I have though long and hard and decided that if I want this blog to become my soap box, I have to voice my opinions even if others don’t’ agree with them.  After losing on Fwoosh and feeling alone on AFI I am coming back to talk about all that and toys of course.  So stay tuned it will be an interesting ride. 

Time off

Thank you all for reading this Blog and taking a look at the Hunt with me.  I think i will be back maybe soon maybe later im not sure yet so rory has helped me move it back in the closet, and the book cases are empty again.

 

Toy Fair

Well it’s TF07 and will we see anything to blow off our socks…. i don’t know check out all my links in my side bars for stories.  Also these have pretty good pic folders for the show.
SuperHero Times
Toynews I

 So to add we saw 2 new figures fomally for DCSH ManBat and Clayface, and got a hint that we will see 22 new figures( not all new sculpts). 

Here is what we know:
1.clayface
2.manbat
3.kal-el
4.sups(black costume)
5.cyborg sups
6.bizzaro(dark)
7.darkside(dark)
8.Batgirl(cassie)
9.twoface
10.catwomanok and we know the two-face wave has a repaint 11.joker, and 12.bats
and not sure if the steel wave is counted in 07( 13.steel, 14.parasite, 15.blue SG, 16.cheetos DD, 17.Mongrul) if so then we are up to 17 so what are the other 5????

Pull List…Save File……Collection…Hobby….Addiction

          Ok so if you collect comics you have a pull list at your local comic book store and after being obsessive about it I have not kept track lately, mostly because I trust my store.  My wife and I joke about where we want to more and the subject of my comic book store always comes up.  My rule is that I like my store so much I won’t move more then 30 minutes from it.  Well although it seems extreme its true I really don’t want to more then 30 minutes from this store.  Alternate universe is a small comic shop in New Haven Ct, and these new owners know how to treat their customers.  This shop has been around for almost 20 years and is actually the first comic store I ever visited when I was little.  My father after a long day on the road took me in and it was heaven.  Rows and rows of comics, cards and toys it was like a whole new world for the 5 year old me.  Almost 20 years later I revisited the store and started to go on a weekly basis. 

                           Though I had a comic book store which was only 10 minutes from my home I was not happy with the service.  After being on the fence about joining their store and having a pull file I made the decision to move my orders to Alternate Universe.  Since then I have had all my books on time in great condition, a member discount, and a birthday discount.  The owners make sure if I’m looking for something they do their best to get it for me or find one for me and always are willing to help in any way.  They know me well and when friends or family come in to get me a gift they go above and beyond to be polite and helpful to them. 

Collecting is my hobby and my passion and Alternate Universe makes sure that all I have to worry about is reading and enjoying my books. 

This is a Link to a local article on the store and its history.

 

My pull List

DC Comics

52

Batman

Detective Comics

Robin

Birds of Prey

Nightwing

Flash

Green Lantern

Firestorm

Green Arrow

Justice League

Teen Titians

Outsiders

JSA

Justice

Superman/Batman

Not on pull list but reading

Tales of the Unexpected

Creeper

Trials of Shazam

Catwoman

Martian Manhunter

Ion

Wonder Woman

Super Girl

Super man

Action Comics

Marvel Comics

Sensational Spiderman

Amazing Spiderman

Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman

New Avengers

Wolverine

Daredevil

Exiles

Astonishing X-men

Ultimate Spiderman

Ultimate X-men

Ultimates

Ultimate Fantastic Four

Not on pull list

Civil War

Ultimate Power

Wolverine: Origins

 

Blah…..

                  I’m bored in general with comics today.  There is not one story line that I can’t wait to read.  Why?  Have I out grown comics?  Have I immersed my life so full into them that I don’t find them exiting, but rather the most normal part of my life? Are they no longer magical because of my age and more a quick fix to end boredom for 5 minutes?  I don’t know really. I think part of the problem is the lack of focus from the comic companies in general.  Between the relaunches (how many times can we see “new #1 issue), drawn out stories (can anyone say the crisis of 52 identities), and late shipping (the real civil war was quicker to unfold) how is one supposed to be excited about this medium. 

                   I was excited when the idea of Civil War was introduced but after waiting months for the books to come out on time, my interest in the story is no longer there.  Part of that problem was reading other books set in the same continuity and same universe not handling the same story.  I mean how Wolverine can be in one book doing one thing and in 5 others doing something different.  I mean if you going to plan an event of this size shouldn’t they make sure all their books line up?  I have to say my favorite publisher DC is guilty of the same crime, with 52 and One Year Later.  I have so say now that the initial phase of OYL later is over all the mystery and excitement is gone.  Most books feel the same and the same old stories all over again. 

                    Another problem is the ignoring of continuity in the comic universes.  I mean I know death is nothing in the superhero world but still what happened to not over using a foe or idea.  I’m right now reading the Watchmen for the first time (yes I know it’s a crime), and I see the same types of characters and story lines that are part of my current pull list.

I ask myself over and over why do I keep reading the same books that bore me.  Well for the first time in many years I have canceled things on my pull list.  Both X-men main titles were getting too confusing and the revolving door of characters was to the point that I would read them in 3 minutes and never even care pay attention to the story. 

                   I know that this will all change and I will be back into comics like a rabid fan but for right now I’m in a comic lull.

Though there are 2 books that I do love.  One is canceled as of April and the other is one which is loved and hated in the comic world. 

 Firestorm– I think the character is well written and the only book to pull off One Year Later. 

 Ultimate Spiderman– I think it’s a fresh look at Spidy and does what Rami tired to do now 3 times and failed( I hate the Spidy movies almost as much as I hate Burton’s Batman).

A Great Google Find

I was just bouncing around Google and stumbled on this..

 Nightwing Beyond

It’s work by an artist and makes me wish this really happened in Batman Beyond

Here is some more work for this artist on deviantArt