War Monsters Fan Art

Here you go! More fan art! Remember waaay back when how I showed off this one particular type of Battle Beast bootleg/knock off? Yes? Well, some company in Canada released three two-packs of these weird rip-offs of Battle Beast toys and called 'em "War Monsters". I currently own three of the six, but without weapons. Here's the bat. Hmmm...did I post pics of the other tow on this blog? Gotta check! Can't remember.

I'm still oddly in the mood to yammer about my life for some reason...

I'm gearing up for my next theatrical performance in the coming week. In other words, I'm probably gonna be busy between work, rehearsal, and set building/painting. I don't mind helping with set stuff, but it is a little bit too much like work. Since it's community theatre, you don't get paid...it's volunteer. I mean, I don't necessarily want money for it, since I like acting...BUT...staying up until 2am for the last week before opening night is kind of a scary thing. I don't think I've ever been in a show that didn't seem "scary" that last week before it opening. Last minute shit, lemme tell ya! Other than that, looking forward to Bye Bye Birdie. I do have top billing, after all!
Work still sucks, as usual...I'm probably gonna be stuck helping out a lot with back-to-school junk until God knows when. Man, do I hate any kind of stationery stuff, ESPECIALLY back-to-school. Such a huge friggin' fiasco that stuff is! We get tons of that junk in to the point there's nowhere to store it, no one to put it out or sort it...BAH...always a huge mess, and it never gets better all the years I've been working retail. Eh...aw well.
Love life? Still none. I had really high hopes of something happening between me and a certain someone, but once again...my over-active imagination saw something that probably was never there. Well, maybe I thought it, 'cause I wanted it so bad. I was slowly getting used to using Facebook and trying to get with the times. The girl I liked is really into that kinda crap and I noticed the other day she updated her relationship status with some...guy! UGH! Bah! There that goes, I suppose. The whole damn week I was feeling really good about stuff until that. My heart almost stopped when I found out she was seeing someone and finally made it official. I mean, I could go into detail, but it took me a while to fully come to grips since I was privately upset as all Hell about it. I honestly really liked this girl, but like I said, my imagination tends to make me see things. Oh well. I still really like her and all. Naturally, part of me is inclined to wish she'd break up with whoever the heck that guy is, but I'm certainly NOT gonna wish any ill on any person I like. If someone or something makes someone happy, I have a conscience enough to not even wish that thing would be taken away form them just to make me happy. I just hope she's happy and assume she is since I think she's had a longer, deeper friendship with said person than she has had with me. Eh, I'm a damn freak-o, mildly inbred, genetic freak with personality problems anyhow. Admittedly, I never looked to see whom my one follower on this blog is...I'd freak if I found out it was her, or someone I know that found this...but if so? Oh, well!
Oh yeah, and thinking about finally getting a cell phone...a "fancy" one. I was always behind in anything. Any trend...always behind. Especially with technology. I've hated phones, in general, for as long as I remember. I've hated cell phones for years...texting...and all that jazz. Well, I've been thinking about taking the plunge, finally. I'd been nervously asking around and getting advice...AND...I'm still confused as all Hell!!! I think I know what I want, though. I might go and get one later today since I'm off work. We'll see. I just feel that I need to essentially force myself to get with the times...my life is waaaay to stagnant. It's hard to keep in touch with people, and friends often complain how much of a pain it is to contact me. I still have a freakin' land line fer Pete's sake! I actually hate talking on phones, so I'd probably mainly be texting. That's something I always have hated. Texting...bah! I'm turning into a sell-out hypocrite! BUT...seems my only hope to fully join organized society and maybe feel somewhat normal.
Next step, though? If you've read any older posts, you know I'm the stereotypical dork still livin' with mommy 'n' daddy...well...I WANT OUT!!! I need to move out and be on my own. No one crampin' my style and bugging the shit outta me! I was holding out on moving out until I either got a "good" job or fell in love, but since neither of those are happening, I kinda just wanna move out for the sake of moving out and being on my own...I suppose it would make me feel more grown-up and adult...er...like a real man...YEAH, that's the ticket!

DICE

Another G.I. Joe Collector's Club subscription service figure. Here we have Dice, the wave mate of Jinx. She and this guy were the first two released. As much as I liked Jinx, this figure is generally far superior. They did great job updating this classic ninja while updating him a tad. I never had the old, original Dice figure but I always remember him. In my opinion, after Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, Dice here is one of the more iconic martial arts characters from the G.I. Joe mythos...but that's just my opinion.

One of the best new things about this character's modern figure is the removable mask. The original had no such thing. Just a nice touch. They reused the head mold form some other figure...but I actually forget what one they used! What kinda fan am I, huh?

As you'd expect, Dice comes with a slew of choppy/stabby ninja gear. He has these two bitchin' claws (just like Wolverine!), and a nice battle axe.

He also has these two, tiny shuriken which are oh so easily lost and/or swallowed. Hey, this is an adult collectible! Plus, he also has a big ol' double bladed staff weapon. This type of thing probably has a name, but I can't keep track of all that kinda stuff.

So, you can have a nice little ninja battle with Dice and Jinx. We just need an official new version of Dice's partner, Slice! Technically, this one unnamed generic ninja form the movie line three pack kinda resembles Slice, sooooo maybe we do have one. Darn! I forgot a pic! BAH! Next time.

Kim Arashikage aka JINX

Toy talk time! It's been a while, and if you read or have read this, you know one of my favorite toy lines is G.I. Joe. Well, I had been thinking about joining the G.I. Joe Collector Club for a while, despite the fact it goes against what I stand for. See, the Club produces toys with Hasbro's blessing, pretty much. Hasbro owns G.I. Joe and can do what they want with it. The Collector Club has the okay to make and release toys that essentially pander to dorky adult collectors like myself. Yeah, those figures also tend to cost a lot more and are not available at retail. Hasbro seemingly can't give collectors all their hopes and dreams, so the Club steps in a does it...for a...price. Hee hee hee! Anyway, I joined the club to get a special convention set, but missed this thing they have called a figure subscription service. They ship these to you two at a time. If you didn't subscribe, and are still a member of the club, you can basically buy any extras on their site...just for a bit more money. Eh, I caved! I'm not getting EVERY figure since they are mondo expensive, but I've gottena few so far.

I guess this makes me a hypocrite since I've always bashed the idea of any type of collector club, huh? DAMMIT!!!

Anyway, first is Jinx. Well, they call her by her "real" name since I'm sure Jinx had a copyright by someone else. I'm calling her Jinx for the remainder of this review since it's shorter than Kim Arashikage. Honestly, the only real problem with the toy, is the head. It's kinda small. Aside form that, I love it. The club reused an old Scarlett body and an even older head form another Jinx figure. A lot of fans already hated the head. Thankfully, since G.I. Joe is a smaller scale toy line, you kinda might not notice...eh...kinda.

Jinx, ideally, looks great. The new version is probably the best yet. I mean, the old original was a woman in almost solid baggy pajamas and a full face mask. Kinda boring. Modern Jinx rocks...aside from the kinda small head. True, there were two versions released just before the second Joe flick at various conventions, but I like this one. I've seen fellow fans add the head from one of those to this figure to improve it.

Anyway, aside form the usual articulation, Jinx comes with a bunch of tactical ninja gear. She has her removable blindfold, some nunchaku, a hun with silencer, and a grappling hook.

She also comes with those tow little arm blade thingies...I forget if they have a "special" kind of name, and a sword. The sword fits in a removable sheath on her thigh. Yeah, it does tend to slip down her leg sometimes. Not that bad, though.

Well, there you have her. We are supposed to get a retail version of the movie version of Jinx, but it's still not out yet. I can't wait to do a comparison. I really like this one, but the movie one is pretty much totally different. We'll see.

Can't believe it's been two weeks since I updated this...WOO...time flies! See? That's why I rarely seem to update this thing...well, one of the reasons. Anyhow, my vacation was okay. I REALLY wish more people would have went to give it more of a party atmosphere. Eh, oh well. Also, I was kinda sick for most of the time, but not bad enough to ruin the trip. I actually got worse as soon as I got back. Hmph, not a surprise. The shock of not being on vacation and having to go back to work must have really worked on my illness. I'm still kinda coughing, but almost back in fightin' form!
Work was odd this week...very...desolate. I mean, I was kinda sick and in a medicine induced fog, but it really felt weird this whole week. Weather-wise it was kinda foggy too...no, maybe hazy and overcast all week. I actually sorta liked it. It wasn't even that busy at work either. Seems to be a sign of change. I've noticed a steady deline in business for all the years I've worked. Kinda depressing, really. Hey, but at least it wasn't a full-on, annoying shit storm! By Friday and Saturday, I kinda felt more awake and less sick and started to notice all the things I hate about my job again. UGH! I'm really trying to let go of all my anger, hatred and frustration with my job. Not sure how long it's gonna hold since part of me feels this year is probably gonna suck. Oh yeah, we already have back-to-school crap up in our store. Second week of July and all that crap is up. Man, retail sucks on account that it just rushes EVERYTHING along at such an annoying pace. The world just needs to learn to...uh...chill out, no? Yep.
Also, this one girl I kinda...sorta...maybe like at work is on her vacation this week. Aw! DIdn't get to see her for a whole week, saw her for a few days...now she's gone. Bummer. One of the only real reasons I even have to trudge into work every morning! Bah, I've said too much already. Don't wanna seem like a creeper. I probably have no chance with her anyway. Oh well.
OOH! And finally got to see a "summer movie". Go see Pacific Rim! Great flick. I won't give away any spoilers, but it was really cool and made my week. I'm kinda considering going seeing it again IF I get time. But I doubt it. I've got a lot of theatre practice these next few weeks. Anyway, that's been my so-called life the past couple a weeks!

Fantomah Fan Art!

Ooh, you know what? Just thought of something to blog about...and after my last, whiny post about my life sucking, I gotta get the taste outta my mind. It dawned on me. I had been doing some artwork recently. I had just gotten the second collected volume of a book featuring this old artist named Fletcher Hanks. I had heard about him in an article form Wizard magazine years back. I eventually got the book and later finally got hold of the second volume. Dude, the guy was not a good guy...Fletcher Hanks, I mean. Not much is known about him on a personal level, but he was apparently a spoiled jerk. He was a good artist, but his comics work kinda were his worst, in my opinion. He was probably just pumping out comic stories for money. Fletcher hanks was supposedly a big drinker, and often abused and neglected his family to pursue selfish pursuits. Not exactly Mr. Role Model. He allegedly even got a way with murder! Yikes! Though I have no personal respect for Hanks as a man, his art is nice. His comic work, like I said before, is much "cheaper". A lot of hipster types view his old work as "outsider art" 'cause it's odd, but it's really just because it's badly written and poorly drawn. Eh...my own opinion. Also my own opinion: his most interesting work is a character named Fantomah. She was this woman who could become this spirit of vengeance. She looked like some pin-up girl who flew around the jungle in a nightgown. She had incredible, almost godlike abilities. and could turn into a skull-faced fiend to strike fear in the hearts of various evil-doers. Weird, huh? Fantomah was also, but technicality, the FIRST female super hero!

Yeah, so I got inspired and busted out the ol' sketchbook for a few drawings of fan art. I'd tell you more about the character and her adventures...but...I'll leave that to your own whims, readers. I think it's kinda more fun that way!

Fantomah has a real gem of a rouges gallery as well. Out of all the Flecther Hanks characters, her foes are by far the most interesting and weird. My favorite is this guy: Arco. He's an immortal mummy guy with both magical and scientific knowledge, and an army of fellow mummies! Awesome! Eh, remember, though...Hanks was a jerk to his wife and kids...the only respect he gets from me is for his art...and even that's shaky at best.

Long time since and update...

Wow...has it really been that long AGAIN since I updated this thing? Jeez...nothing for 2013...and it's halfway over! Hey, I may not have much of a life, but it doesn't revolve around blog updates and such. Anyway, just "waiting" so I figured I'd try to get my interest back up for this thing. I think I tried to put up some reviews a little while back, but my pics had trouble uploading or something. Eh.

Well...maybe I'll just talk a bit about my personal life. I know I said I'm trying not to...buuuut...I semi feel like it. I still have my same, crappy retail job. I still hate it. Seriously, I'd love a new job, but there are none out there. Everything sucks. It's either retail, food service, or factory work...at least it seems. Truth be told, I'm slowly losing what little motivation I have to shamble through day-to-day life. I do community theatre for fun. I've been hard at it for about a good year now! What can I say? Makes me feel like I belong somewhere and gives me a sense of accomplishment. It's fun to work with other people for something that isn't just some work-related cause. True, it can be taxing for various reasons, but it's genuinely all good. Too bad there seems to be very few people in my general age range that are involved with this particular theatre group...especially ladies! Dang. I'm actually going to another theatre today to see a show and try out for one of their fall productions. I really, really hope things turn out well. I gotta drive further and all, but I'm hoping I can meet more people I can truly relate to...maaaybe some gals, too!

I've actually also started hitting up...*groooan*...[grits teeth] Facebook a lot, too. Yeah, I never was really that into social networking. I don't even do the whole cell phone thing. I only got a Facebook account years ago because...well...because a few girls at work coaxed me. I thought it would bolster my social life and maybe...just maybe get me a little luck with the ladies and change my life for the better...but, no. I lost interest. I occasionally checked it out, but forgot the password and never cared to recover it. Maybe about a month ago (or longer), I decided to have another go at social networking. I've been updating my status daily and trying to keep up a desperate bid to keep in touch with people. Friends are so hard to come by and even harder to stay in touch with. I guess part of me felt I'd try Facebook again. I dunno...my own little "social experiment" still hasn't really bore fruit. Honestly, life seems to get more and more boring for me. The few friends I have are either physically distant or emotionally so. I have had zero romance in my life...I'm a HUGE dork, and people think I'm weird. I'm kinda immature, but I try not to be. I really think people are afraid of this perceived weirdness, so I'm always left a sort of social outcast, even when I'm part of a group. I'm actually going on vacation later this week...the beach...going with a depressingly small group. I don't really ever go on vacations. A few years back, my friends talked me into going on a beach trip with 'em...and I went and had a good time. We had a really big group and it was great. Next year, we went again. Smaller group, yet still not that bad a time was had. I skipped last year, 'cause I was in the middle of a show (theatre), and was unable to attend the beach trip...not sure how it went...well, can't remember what they told me when they got back. Anyway, this year, only two of my chums are going with me...and one of their girlfriends. That's it. I'm just worried it's gonna be awkward and not very fun. I feel bad for feeling that way, but I guess we'll see.

At the risk of being even more of a downer...I'm gonna bring up a subject I really feel I can't talk to about with anyone in the "real" world...so I'm semi-anonymously express my feelings to the vastness of the internet. Honestly, one of the main reasons I hate my life? It's loveless...completely devoid of romance. I hate it. Yeah, I'm kind of a stereotypical dork/geek/nerd...but does that really make THAT big of a difference? What the Hell is wrong with me that I  can't find love? Yeah, yeah...this whole thing is gonna make me look like a big ol' sap, but it's damn true. I'd love to find someone, and I've tried...but no one seems to really be interested in me on a romantic level. I'm thirty one, and no girl has ever so much as batted an eyelash at me! This is the type of thing a guy half my age should be worried about! Jeez! I feel like such a freak. I feel like and even bigger freak for posting my dorky-ass feelings on the internet. Eh...whatever. I feel like it. All the girls I've ever liked or crushed on...gone. Many were already "taken"...some never knew I even existed, others genuinely had no interest in me, and some just...eh...I dunno. My outlook is getting bleaker by the moment. I really think my whole world is riding on me finding love. I have NO inspiration to do anything until I find someone special. I don't wanna send up some red flag...I'm not suicidal...I WANT to live because I want to be happy and see others happy. It's just that, without real love, it's hard to keep going. I don't wanna become some old, bitter person. My interests are the only things that sort of keep me afloat these days. However, I'd gladly give up all my dorky little possessions for a chance to find REAL happiness. Sadly, intangible concepts are harder to obtain compared to physical objects. You can't buy love. I really need to find out what I'm missing...what I'm doing wrong that no love has ever come my way. God, all this stuff I just typed is so friggin' sappy! But, if you think that about me, then go blow it! I am who I am, and I feel how I feel!

......incidentally, I'll try to get some posts of more fun things than my own emo feelings up sometime. Promise!