ChocolateFrogs

No problem! I'll send you a message. (For anyone else following, Detective Comics #36 is part 2 of a 2 part story, Supergirl #36 is starting a new story arc and new creative team, Batman/Superman #16 is a new story arc and has been consistently good, Sinestro #7 starts a new story arc, Flash #36 is (I think) the concluding issue to a story arc, Superman/Wonder Woman #13 starts a new creative team, and Wonder Woman #36 is a fantastic jumping on point as the old creative team just left after a great run). Marvel and LEGO did variant covers last year, which I covered. They're super-cool, but are slightly expensive (unlike the DC covers). That said, I got 2 on Ebay at prices I was willing to pay (about $10 each). -CF

If someone sends me it on Steam I'll do it, otherwise I'm waiting for a Steam sale. I doubt LEGO would just give me a copy though for a bit of publicity. That said, maybe another staff member is already playing it? -CF

That visor! -CF

I'm having way too much fun with the new Skull Spiders: I plan on putting these out among MOCs at a LEGO display on Saturday. Hehe. -CF (My favorite is the radioactive one.)

DOZENS. O_O There are seven in all: One of each Toa and one featuring the Mask of Creation. -CF

Between all the great comic writers and artists at New York Comic Con last weekend, there were more than a few I wanted to meet. I was able to get some great artwork and even a few autographs, all of which make some of my comics prized possessions in my collection. I first saw Ben Hatke's book Julia's House for Lost Creatures at work two weeks ago, and have since been hand-selling it to customers and I even requested some of Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl graphic novel series with the popular rise of kids' graphic novels. I was delighted when I heard he would be at NYCC, and even more so when he gave me this small sketch planning out a page in the picture book before doing the larger painting. Awesome! Another artist I've greatly enjoyed for a about two years is Yale Stewart and his webcomic JL8, with 8-year-old Justice League members. I picked up some prints for my siblings and myself, and commissioned him to draw on my blank Swamp Thing cover. We haven't seen Alec Holland's green avatar in the comic, and as far as I know this is the only JL8-version of him around (so far). It's definitely a favorite. I was debating the logistics of standing in line just to get an autograph, but there's something rewarding in meeting someone you appreciate on an entertainment level in the form of a signature. I stood in a few lines, but for the most part simply had to say "hi" at a booth in Artists' Alley. And man, it's really cool being able to do that. I couldn't get some of the big names (Scott Snyder, Dan Slott, Geoff Johns, Matt Fraction) since they weren't signing or their lines were too long, but I was able to get some stuff from writers and artists I really like: Jeff Lemire is my favorite writer at DC Comics, so meeting him was amazing. (Better yet, the next day it was announced he'll be writing Hawkeye for Marvel in March 2015!) Swamp Thing is also one of my favorite characters, and I was able to get artist Yannick Paquette's autograph on Issue #0 and rising writer Charles Soule's autograph on a great cover of his Swamp Thing run (he's set to start a Marvel exclusive contract early next year). Other creators I met were Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato from The Flash, Andy Lanning from 2008's Guardians of the Galaxy, Ben Templesmith of The Squidder (his own title), artist Ivan Reis from Aquaman and Blackest Night, and Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder from Rocket Girl. Finally, the LEGO events on Thursday yielded me some quality time with some CEE Team members, including Julie's business card minifig and some great building parts! The pioneer Duplo came from the new Flatiron LEGO Store's opening weekend celebration! Of course, the best thing I took away from the weekend was the memories made by hanging out with good friends. (Or is it the LEGO? Priorities, hmm...) -CF

Marvel: No secret identities!* DC: This small piece of fabric covering their eyes protects their identity! Marvel: Legacy characters! DC: Maybe some legacy characters. Marvel: New tone in character, new costume! DC: The same costume for 50+ years. Accurate? Or am I being too harsh on DC? Have any more? -CF *To an extent

So true! Thanks! I agree! I made sure to get some background posters in to show off my nerdiness. [wink.jpg] -CF

Haha, too true. It's plenty high up. And above my dresser, so no chance of my head being under it. -CF

Usually I build a set and take it apart a few days later for the pieces. And while the Milano has plenty of great pieces I want to use, I decided to spare it for a while and show it off. While usually any sets I decide to keep around are displayed on my shelf, the Milano is pretty big. Luckily I've got this plant hook in my ceiling to take advantage of! I've hung stuff before at the LEGO Store displays I've done, so I knew fishing line would work and the best way to coordinate it. Looks good! -CF

Brilliant! Good luck at BC! Reminds me of a button I have on a backback: -CF

All this quibbling over a reboot or a continuation of the Bionicle story has been getting overdramatic, IMO. I feel I have a much more simpler take on it that doesn't negate the 10-year story we've all deeply loved: Think of the "reboot" (as it will inevitably be) in terms of an alternate universe (despite LEGO probably not ever admitting it's like that or doing a "crossover."). Look at Marvel and DC comics. They all have a main universe for most of their stories, but then they've branched out to other universes with the same/similar characters but with a few different traits in their characterization/portrayal/origin. For example, many Marvel stories take place on "Earth 616." This is essentially our own universe but with superheroes. Every now and then we see someone hop over to another universe, with changes like other people being alive/dead that are dead/alive on Earth 616 or the social status/business position or someone (like a bad guy) being different. In 2000 Marvel started a comic book line called with the Ultimate universe, the Earth 1610 version of Marvel heroes. Things were different, but similar. Fans could enjoy the different stories now able to be told without worrying about continuity or repeating the exact stories (though sometimes the original story is retold with a twist somewhere). DC Comics currently has Earth Prime and Earth 2, and every now and then we see Earth 3, or Earth 23, etc. Earth Prime is our Earth but with heroes and stuff, and Earth 2 currently has experienced a slightly different timeline. While there are many heroes that are recognized, they are vastly different from the Earth Prime heroes we know. They are getting entirely new stories without risk of rehashing things. Similar elements still might appear though, just with little tweaks. So, I expect the same kind of treatment from Bionicle. We're going to see many similar things that remind us that yes, this is the Bionicle world we feel comfortable in. But we're also going to see many new things, from character armor* to bad guys and goals. Some of that is obvious with the whole "Mask of Creation" thing, some of it just might be wishful thinking in the hopes for change, familiarity, and some changes that are rooted in the familiar. Takua might not be the Herald of the Mask of Light, for example, but we might see the Avohkii pop up eventually. See what I'm getting at? While a continuation of the story would be a great way to take what we know and grow with it through new stories, seeing a reboot will still take the familiar and still make new stories. And it makes it accessible to new fans ready to take in the new mythology. -CF *Armor/looks isn't that big a deal. Superheroes change their outfit looks all the time. Even the Toa Nuva did it in 2008.

PortLUG wanted to do a Bionicle thing? Really? This looks great, though! Nice way to display a Kanohi. -CF

Awesome MOC! The arms are my favorite part, being thin and then armored toward the end. But it all looks great! -CF

I was able to snag these for $10 each at Barnes and Noble yesterday, which is half off and a more reasonable price I was willing to pay. I like them! They look great. I can fit two figs per section, mostly. As you can see here, I've (mostly) put custom figs up front and an official fig in the back (the more impressive fig, so to speak, shown off). They even have openings in the back to a wall-mount via screws. They also stack snugly. Unfortunately the top studs are slightly larger than 4 regular studs, so building something to fit on top will take a bit more work than just building a base with a 4x4 hole in it. This isn't the final display. I'll probably move the Firefly figs back out onto my shelf. And even when I do that I won't have room for ALL the Marvel figs (and with the chrome Star Wars figs, which definitely need to be protected from dust and fingerprints here, they take up more space from DC figs not housed here). While I would love to get more, having these kind of cases to display everything I want to show off would get extremely pricey. I think the next step is to get some small display cases, like one might have for model cars (or a LEGO DeLorean) and actually build some step-like features with staggering steps and figs, like I already do: (Also featured: Lots of figs.) However, all in all, I really like these and have no regrets purchasing them. It's just a matter of deciding which figs get to live dust-free. -CF

Ahoy! We can't be forget'n that today be International Talk Like a Pie-rate Day, aye? Be sure to put yer sea-legs on an' wave at that horizon over yonder, and don't forget to give your timbers a good shiverin'! Savvy? -CF

Wow that was fast! I really like it. Great design, great colors! Reminds me I really need to start toying around with translucent colors and blacklights. -CF

Scary? As scary as watching Blink under your covers in the middle of the night, with no-one else in your house awake, and a small Weeping Angel toy in your room? When my friend told me that he did that, I just said: "Are you crazy?!" This episode won't make you want to hide under the covers anymore. Man, what a great episode. BUT WHAT WAS UNDER THE COVERS?!?!?! -CF

Being in a LUG has its perks! My favorite portion of this is 50 white lightsaber hilts! I'll probably use the tan for another Pharaoh's Labyrinth, unless xccj and I make another Warehouse 13 collab, in which case it'll turn into a pyramid. The 1x2 grey and white slopes will probably be used on future space MOC endeavors. I also got these leftovers after our March LEGO event at work: Luckily these are sorted. I still have a large box (for me) of pieces to sort soon. -CF

The only thing? Because when I look at this I see a fantastic depiction of an iconic scene from the movie, with loads of functionality, a great assortment of parts, and an amazing grungy aesthetic. I often find that the people who think minifigures are a set's only redeeming feature are the kind of people who only care about minifigures in the first place. Thanks! Plus, as I said in my review, it really surprises you with its great playset features! -CF

Ah! That makes sense! So, about Into the Dalek: -CF

I really enjoyed Robot of Sherwood, despite it being a Mark Gatiss episode. There were many campy and unbelievable moments, but that's Doctor Who. But... -CF

Alright! Now I can officially freak out in excitement! If this doesn't make things official I don't know what does (besides LEGO making an official announcement at Thursday's LEGO panel at New York Comic Con in October). -CF

It's great to see LEGO taking the 3D printing market into account as it rises in popularity. I've seen some cool stuff at my LUG meetings and at BrickFair last month, so seeing LEGO thinking about it is encouraging. I can see some problems with this (quality issues, pieces being made), and some cool things coming about it (custom pieces, encouragement to learn the programming necessary to make those). It will be interesting to see where they go with this, if they do, in the future. -CF

Foam perhaps! Crafted onto a construction hard hat? -CF