Vlog 07.10.2011 – A Rose-Tinted Funk

I’m tired, I’m rambling, and I’m in a weird funk right now. The weather’s gotten warm, and the apartment’s warmer than it is outside. I worry what it’d feel like in here if it were as hot as it is in my old stomping grounds of Southeast Kansas; it’s consistently been 100+ for the past several days. And as you can probably tell just going back and watching the YouTube channel, I’ve been in this reflective mood, spending a lot of time thinking back about where I’ve been and what I’ve done; it winds up being a tour of all the toys I’ve owned and the cartoons I’ve watched, since I steadfastly refused to grow up in my teenage years. But this week I’ve hit upon a theory as to why the childish end of geek culture keeps on keeping on with this generation.

I also spend a few minutes grousing about what little I heard happened at the Robotech panel at Anime Expo. I read a write-up of the panel by some dude I’d never heard of and, while I was at work one day, watched a little bit of Steve introducing one of the new tracks from the shoulda-would-coulda-been-the-25th-Anniversary soundtrack on YouTube from my phone. I also caught a snippet of what I presume to be the latest panel presentation footage from the new animation project which, based on what I could make out, actually looks pretty snazzy. I am so hoping this stupid thing winds up being cool and worthwhile. I seriously hope the last Robotech project Carl Macek’s name is attached to doesn’t suck. I swear, if it does, if this thing winds up being as half-baked as The Shadow Chronicles …

I don’t even want to think about that.

As I say at the end of the video, here’s hoping next week I’m in a better mood.

Anime Capsules: Life Is Too Short To Watch Any More Voltron Force.

So it’s the usual U.S. robot cartoons — a good episode of Transformers and a really irritating episode of Voltron that made me think twice about watching the next one — plus I started plowing through the Tiger & Bunny episodes I haven’t seen yet, ending with a big turning point that’s got me charged up to start through the next few. But the big one this week is the dramatic return of Utena director Kunihiko Ikuhara, the premiere of Mawaru Penguindrum. Thoughts on all of the above below.

Vlog 06.29.2011 – Standing in the Dark of the Moon

I recorded this one the evening after watching Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 3D; those are the 3D specs you see me pulling off in the opening seconds. Most people appear to like this one better than Michael Bay’s previous outing with the sons (and occasional daughters) of Cybertron, though I imagine due to the feeling of getting burned by 2009′s Revenge of the Fallen this isn’t going to do quite as well as that film in the box office, even with ticket price inflation and the premium price of the 3D experience. No matter, as it’s probably still going to crush everything in its path short of, say, the final Harry Potter film. Not a great movie, and I still like the old 1986 animated flick better, but certainly a neat experience if you can catch it in three dimensions, and I contend that it’s a much better Transformers movie than the previous two, even if not a better movie, full stop. There’s something very tacked on about the elements of the mythology of the old toys, cartoons, and comics that appeared in the previous film, while the use of such artifacts as the Matrix of Leadership and Space Bridge technology here felt like logical extensions of their use in the 1980s vintage material. Call me a giant Transformers nerd — and easy to please — but I liked that.

Anime Capsules: Eye Beams, Claws, Lasers, Grappling Hooks, Robots, And More.

Man, this week it started getting warmer and I spent a whole lot of time snoozing my days away, lethargic, unwilling to move. Thankfully I spent a lot of this past Sunday watching the middle third of the recently completed (in its home nation of Japan) X-Men anime series and catching up on the two 1980′s throwback robot cartoons, so I’ve got those to talk about.

Vlog 06.25.2011 – Catching Up With Comics

Thirty long minutes of talking up and discussing my reactions to a handful of comic book series I’ve been reading and getting caught up on. The four series I talk about are all ones I’m pretty pleased with as of late; the only one I’ve been waffling on is IDW’s Transformers, and honestly, it really is the least of those discussed; I started reading Uncanny X-Force because of good buzz, while Transformers is something I’m reading because, eh, it’s Transformers. To be fair, these past two issues were especially well crafted, mostly a result of Guido Guidi’s always strong artwork. (Honestly, I think he’s a better Transformers artist than everyone’s favorite Pat Lee ghost-artist Alex Milne, and there are times I prefer him to king of the fan faves Don Figueroa.) And, as I say above, it pushed my nostalgia buttons pretty hard; I’m always a sucker for Rodimus and Galvatron.

Anyway, watch & comment. It’s a long one, like I said, so I don’t expect a massive amount of viewers and hits and stuff, but I’d be interested in seeing what other people have been reading out there comics-wise.

Anime Capsules: Or More Like Two Robot Cartoon Capsules With A Side of Anime.

I was seriously planning on watching some more anime this week, but my sleep schedule’s still way off, so it wound up being two flashback robot cartoons and the first of several episodes of Tiger & Bunny I needed to get caught up on. And of the lot, I’d say the past week’s Transformers Prime was the best, even if I’d like one particular member of its human cast to get squished. Thoughts on the remainder of the Voltron Force pilot three-parter, the return of MECH to TF Prime, and a month-plus-old anime half hour below …

Vlog 06.18.2011 – Generation Lost and Found

This week I could easily have spent some time pondering the September renumbering and relaunch of the entire DC Comics superhero line, or complained at length about the dozen or so ways that Marvel’s X-Men “Regenesis” event is stupid. But instead I decided to focus on one of my shining lights of last week, the arrival of a long-awaited Transformers toy on the front porch of my apartment building.

Vlog 05.21.2011 – The Definition of Insanity

Heaven help me, I’m almost feeling optimistic about the latest installment of Michael Bay’s not-very-good Transformers movie franchise. I’ve bought too many of the new figures and I’ve caught a bad case of Dark of the Moon fever. In this week’s vlog, I explain why. I also accidentally rip Shockwave’s arm off, so that’s fun.

Vlog 04.30.2011 – In The Beginning …

Through thick and thin, there are three multimedia sci-fi franchises that will always garner a look-see from me, three never-ending sagas I’ll always be curious about whenever they rise again. This week I look inward and try and explain exactly why these three, echoing out from my earliest days, still speak to me on some level. If you know me at all (or check the tags for this post) you know what three they are. You might even be able to guess why they still fascinate me so. Regardless, give it a look and let me know what you think.

Did this week’s video in 4:3 because I wasn’t too keen on cutting the top of my own head off again. Trimmed a few digressions here and there, but I still clocked in at a hair over twenty minutes. If everything goes according to plan, next week’s will be much shorter, albeit similarly self-indulgent. Should still be interesting for fellow Robotech fans, though.

In other news, I got caught up with the X-Men anime this week and thought this particular shot of Cyclops from episode four was amusing.

This just isn't turning out to be Scott's day.

Second part of the first Doctor Who story of the season airs today and, same as last week, I’ll have some thoughts on it up here on Sunday. I’m going to try and craft those thoughts into a more coherent shape this week, as I wasn’t too keen on the rambling ramshackle form of the first “Eleven For Eleven.” We’ll see how THAT goes. And of course, the week ahead will bring another five days of Robotech, as Minmei’s movie premieres, Zentraedi soldiers take to the streets of Macross City once more, and the first steps are made towards peace between man and alien.

Vibrant villains.

 

I am in love with the hot pink on knock-off Metrotitan. It really makes that figure for me.

Say hello to a match made in mecha-hell, the already vibrantly neon Generation 2 Combaticons (which I’ve had since their release eighteen years ago) and the not-too-difficult-to-procure KO Metrotitan, renowned for the fact that where the hard-to-find genuine article is a more fire engine red, mister bootleg happens to be HOT PINK.

I probably wouldn’t have been interested in the KO Metrotitan if NOT for the hot pink. Remember, I lived through Generation 2 and LIKED it, and I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to snag last year’s G2 Botcon set for the blinding colors alone. (And the G2 insignias, which I have a soft spot for.)

These guys look so great together I’m half tempted to go non-canonical with Metrotitan and buy some Generation 2 Decepticon insignias to slap all over him. While the original Generation 1 version was rejiggered to house Micromasters, this brazenly 80′s neon version really looks brilliant with the ridiculously purple-camouflaged Generation 2 Scramble City team. Seeing how well they match makes me weep that the even more ghastly Generation 2 Stunticons were never released. (Catch an eyeful of what those would have looked like at the Transformers wiki here.)

Metrotitan city mode + Onslaught battle station mode = Urban Sprawl.

My only problem with my Metrotitan is the fact that his chrome is way messed up on the face. Take a nice close look at him: you’ll see a distinct lack of chrome on his nose. Not long after I bought this, I got an Animated Rodimus with a face slightly marred by a line of paint drizzle beneath the top silver coat of paint. It’s hard to describe, but the result is what looks like a weird scar on the right side of his face. Then after THAT I got the Battle in Space two-pack featuring a gorgeous pale purple Cyclonus and a more cartoon-accurate Classics Rodimus. Guess what: Rodimus is missing some paint on his nose. What is with my recent string of Transformers acquisitions and facial deformities?

There’s also the issue of the left side of his torso not locking, but I’ve heard that’s a problem with the entire run; I knew that would be a problem going in. It doesn’t actually bother me that much. As you can see, I bought this to play with more than anything. If he doesn’t display perfectly, oh well. Besides, nobody’s going to be looking directly at him long enough to notice the torso thing unless I point it out; they’ll be too busy shielding their eyes from the blazing hot pink. Still, I’ve been looking into repainting his face with a coat of silver, and if I do go through that trouble, I might as well make with the G2 insignias to make him “mine.”

Despite his build and detail issues, Metrotitan’s definitely one of my fave recent purchases — a unique and eye-catching addition to my Decepticon forces!