Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To help celebrate, here's a happy Leprichaun!

"I told ya, jerk-face... I ain't no Leprechaun!
I'm an ELF!"

"An ELF... with a GUN!" *

Ah. Well... nevermind then.

Stay out of harm's way folks!
If you drink, do so responsibly!

And keep the firearms safely locked away.



* The "Elf with a gun", ladies and gentlemen!
From several issues of the DEFENDERS vol 1
(this pic from # 25, written by Steve Gerber (natch), art by Sal Buscema)
More info on the ELF can be found at the Marvel Universe Appendix site (HERE)

CURSE ME FOR A NOVICE! : 03-16-09 The Forgotten Things...

From Marvel Premeire # 12
Steve Engelhart & Frank Brunner

Alas, I too have been so fixated upon the multitudes of weightier matters as of late, that I let myself lose sight of the basic, structured order of things around here.

Besides being far behind on 2 major posts that I'm eager to get in the can soon, I ALSO missed announcing when I had my 100th POST (several posts ago) - but to top it ALL off, I find myself having to squeeze in some RETRO-POSTS in between older ones (thusly screwing up further which post truly was the 100th - not that it was anything specially prepared for the occasion), in order to correct a mistake in the chronological nature of my "Idol Pursuits" series.

Somehow, I had skipped over two items that needed to be blogged about before my last batch of entries (of the Dr. Strange PVC, the "Man-Thing" rubber figure & the assorted Marvel PVC's).

Those forgotten items are: the 01984 Marvel / TSR r.p.g. metal figures - & - the standees for the same game!

So, now that I have made sure that the forgotten posts have been placed in their rightful order, and renumbered the entries to make right the error, I'll have to make THIS post the official "gatekeeper" for them - by using it to direct you kind readers there.

• 01984 Marvel / TSR Metal Miniature figurines (HERE)

• 01984 - 01991 Marvel / TSR r.p.g. standees (HERE)

Hope springs eternal that it will be quite some time before I err enough to exclaim;
"Curse me for a novice!"

The "Magic" of Video - part II-(annex): Spider-Woman animated series: episode 2 - Realm of Darkness -featuring DORMAMMU and Mindless Ones

Yet another SANCTUM SANCTORUM VIDZ Presentation
and a "6-Dimensions" Joint.

This entry in the "Magic of Video" series, (which looks into the many incarnations of Doctor Strange in the medium of video) takes a side-road, from the previous "Spider-Man & his Amazing Friends" universe into a linked dimension, where SPIDER-WOMAN had her own animated series (from September 01979 to January 01980).

However, since this blog isn't dedicated exclusively to Dr. Strange, but also to what I have often described as the "6-Dimensions of Doctor Strange", this entry casts an eye on one of Strange's most dangerous and powerful enemies;
Ruler of the Dark Domain, Lord of the Dark Dimension...

the Dread... Dormammu.

While his appearance is drastically altered from his comic book counterpart, his modus operandi is much the same;
Invade Earth and cast his evil over the entirety of the world!

You'll ALSO note that some of the denizens of the dark dimension also make their screen debut;

The MINDLESS ONES!

Those stone-figured hoards of destructive chaos are also altered from their comic counterparts, with their eye-blasts turning flesh (and costuming) to stone, however they are still thrilling to see on screen as they are now mountainous GIANTS.

This episode is "darker" than most Saturday morning fare; with cultists, demonic rituals, flaming pentagrams and spells of possession.

---

And now, in another "Sanctum Sanctorum Vidz" presentation, is the featured episode. *

-ROLL FILM-

-------------

The Sanctum Sanctorum Comix blog

presents a Sanctum Sanctorum Vidz presentation

- of -

"Realm of Darkness".
(Season 01, Episode 02)

---------

part 01

---

part 02

---------

You'll note the many style similarities in editing and animation of Spider-Woman's cartoon with that of the "Amazing Friends" series.

One major difference, however, is that, aside from this appearance by Dormammu, her series had no other Marvel guest-stars (except for Spider-Man, who appeared in two episodes), so I guess it would be pointless to wish that Dr. Strange (or at the very least the Ancient One) would have made an appearance here.

This isn't Dormammu's ONLY appearance in animated cartoons... as we'll see in a future entries of this feature!

-------------
All previous installments of this feature:
- The "Magic" of Video -
can be found HERE
-------------

* My apologies for the lesser quality of the clips.
I have a good, crisp original video, but am trying to get a handle on encoding for uploading to YouTube.

Idol Pursuits: 6-Dimensions: PVC addendum 2: Mystics, Muck Monsters, Monarchs, Mutants and Many More Marvels

As noted in today's earlier post of the pseudo-Man-Thing figure (seen HERE), I'll be posting two back-to-back entries, as they are interlinked to each other.
They are also linked to my last entry for the Dr. Strange PVC figure (as seen HERE).

This 2nd addendum to the Dr. Strange PVC figure entry is merely to show some of the many other Marvel PVC figures that were released in that series of late 01980's - early 01990's PVC figures.

This first pic replicates (basically) the way that a few of these figures are displayed, in a display case, among the many figures in my "Sanctum" collection.

MY (PVC) Defenders!
Clockwise from far left:
Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, (faux)-Man-Thing,
Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer

----------

A similar themed image, re-staging something from the
INFINITY GAUNTLET.
(a little something for Monique at Comixtravaganza)

Left to right: Silver Surfer, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man,
(faux)-Man-Thing, Thanos (in extreme foreground),
Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, Dr. Doom

---------

And lastly some other figures I had lying around...

Left to right:
Back row: Daredevil, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, (white) Vision, Iron Man, Thor
Mid-ground: Ghost Rider, Captain America
Foreground: Sentinel, Gambit, Magneto

"Daredevil going the wrong way and tripping over Nightcrawler" is the easy go-to joke.
(Yes. I took the low road on that.)

Thor smacking Iron Man in the junk with his hammer is an ode to 10-year old kids (in mind or body) the world over.

Gambit kicking Magneto in the face was all for Chris Sims at the-ISB.com.
(The-ISB; where kicks-to-the-face are a trademark of quality)

The Sentinel about to blast Gambit's head clean off is a favor to EVERYONE.
(You're welcome.)

Oh. I had done a basic (read; BAD) "re-paint" on the Cyclops figure (with Sharpie Markers).
He came in his blue and white "X-Force" outfit, that I just loathed, so, at some time, I gave him a re-deco to the Jim Lee era costume.

That last pic is filled with assorted figures that I really have no use for in my collection (with the possible exception of "white" Vision - which was my favorite incarnation of that character).
They were just extra items that I had added to my order - lo those 17 years ago, when I placed an order through a by-mail comics retailer.

I only added some of them to make sure I made the minimum order requirement - since I desperately wanted the Dr. Strange figure (as well as the Doom, and Scarlet Witch figures).

The saddest part of the tale is that after I pre-paid for them all, the order arrived with NO Dr. Strange figure!

I looked for one for a few years, finally thinking that his was one that was dropped from the assortment (as Doc items tend to do).

It wasn't for a few years later that I eventually FOUND the Dr. Strange PVC and bought a BUNCH of them. (I think I still have at least 3 or 4).

To that extent, now that I've dug these out of my boxes of spare figures, I'll have to load them up onto eBay or something sooner or later.

I mean... I can't keep everything that's even remotely affiliated to my "6-Dimensions of Doctor Strange" philosophy, can I?
No. I really can't. *



*(well... at least, that's what my wife keeps telling me.)

Idol Pursuits: 6-Dimensions: PVC addendum 1: The 01982 muck-encrusted mockery of a MAN-THING PVC figure

Today, I'll be posting two back-to-back entries, as they are interlinked to each other, but are also linked to my last entry for the Dr. Strange PVC figure (as seen HERE).

The item that I'll be showcasing in this post may LOOK like a PVC/Rubber figure of...

The
Macabre
MAN-THING

However, it (sadly) isn't. One look at the bottom will give that away.

(c) TSR Hobbies Inc. 1982
All Rights Reserved
Made in Hong Kong

I've been dying to present this item for quite awhile now, but I wanted to wait until I got to the stage where I was featuring the Marvel PVC figures (and feature this as the unofficial Man-Thing tie-in).

One reason that I had wanted to post this earlier is because a reader (George) had emailed me several months ago (in December!), inquiring if an item that he had in his possession (an identical figure to the one seen here) was a Man-Thing figure, and if so, if I had any information on it (seeing as how I'm something of a "Man-Thing guru" - *blush*)...

I had informed him that I had the same item and that it (sadly) wasn't actually MAN-THING, but a TSR Dungeons & Dragons character. Some kind of bog-beast.

If it WERE a Man-Thing figure it would, by law, have to have a copyright mark, like;
(c) MARVEL stamped somewhere on it.

His email got me thinking, so I did a little extra digging * and found that it was a character called; "The Shambling Mound", produced for TSR by a company named "LJN".
LJN was a toy company that had also produced such big-time media properties as;
E.T., Dune, and Brooke Shields.

(Hmmm... E.T., Dune, D&D, Brooke Shields... yup. LJN sure cornered the market on making plastic monsters.
badum-bum! Tss! Don't forget to tip your waitresses!)

LJN manufactured TSR's Advanced D&D figures from 01982 - 01984, with many characters and beasties from the role-playing game, not from the cartoon series that was popular at the time.

I've had this guy in my collection for many years - BECAUSE it resembles the Man-Thing so much!
As such, I have no problem whatsoever incorporating it in my Man-Thing collection, as a prototype item of sorts (which is precisely what will tie it to the NEXT post).

It's a sad thing that the first "Man-Thing" item that I'm posting on this blog isn't even really Manny; a muck-encrusted mockery of a man, but a muck-encrusted mockery of the Man-Thing.

Still, I wanted to feature this as a stand-alone item, because, like the Dr. Strange PVC figure last entry, Man-Thing IS one of the main focal points of this blog, and as such, deserves to have this item featured by itself.

How do I say the words "this rubber Man-Thing is only 4 inches" without it sounding just wrong
Again, like the Dr. Strange PVC, the lack of articulation placed this somewhere more along the line of figurine or even "rubber-statue", than anything even remotely like an "action figure".

That's OK though, because Man-Thing DID eventually get some of those as well.
(which we'll get to soon enough)

er... anyway, here are some turn-around pics.



With intricately detailed leaves and roots all over it's surface, the detail more than makes up for the lack of any articulation.

By "articulation" I am, of course, referring to the lack of any moving joints or pieces...
not the fact that, as a mute muck-monster, the Man-Thing is incapable of "articulating" via speach.

If Man-Thing could speak he'd say
"kiss my soggy green ass"

* For more information on this line of figures check out the fun little article found at Figures.com (HERE).

And don't forget to come back for the NEXT entry in this series - later today!

***UPDATE*** 

That 2nd entry can be found below this one, or - if you're not reading this blog consecutively - at this link :
Addendum 2 : Mystics, Mutants & other Marvel PVCs
***END UPDATE***

Idol Pursuits : Master of the Plastic Arts - Part 4 : 01991 Dr. Strange PVC figure

While still hip-deep in research for a big informative post, I saw no reason to leave my readers (and Doc fans) without some valued content for today.

And as such, I present to you the next installment of:

"Idol Pursuits"

which, as you may recall from the previous installments, details the many figural collectibles within my "Sanctum Sanctorum Comix collection".
This would be things like standees, figurines, action figures, statues, busts, model kits, etc... all of which will be detailed - in time.
(Previous entries in this series can be found at the links found at the end of this post). *

The sub-header of "Master of the Plastic Arts" specifies that the entry is about a Doctor Strange item. Predominantly, something "action figure-y".


The next such item (as I've been handling these in chronological order) is the:

01991 Dr. Strange PVC figure.

This 4.5 inch (11.5 cm) tall figure is based upon the stylized artwork of artist Mark Badger.
Note the jagged "arms" and the askew positioning of the "demon" chest-symbol, as well as the bent lower ends to Strange's mustache. All Badger.

The back has the (c) 1991 Marvel - Made in China stamp.
Licensed by Marvel to an non-specific manufacturer.
Some research states the company is "Applause".
I'm doubting that, as I know that they manufactured the late 1990's Marvel PVCs.
Also, APPLAUSE usually has their own makers mark stamped on items.

This figure is but one of a multitude that were manufactured in the late 1980's early 1990's - featuring many of Marvel's stable of characters (heroes and villains alike).

I'll have a soon-to-be presented series of addendums to this entry to show many of the others, but as this blog is very Dr. Strange-centric, I felt that it would be more appropriate to feature his figure alone.
(plus, as an added bonus - for me anyway -, it offers more time to work on my next big mega-post)

***UPDATE***
Those two addendums are now up on the blog.
Links are at the end of this post.
***END UPDATE***

This figure, however, due to it's lack of any articulation, is more of a mini-statue than an action figure. It's lack of a base however, (and "plastic" composition,) keep it squarely in the "action figure" (or possibly "figurine") designation.

Sadly, for a series that is to be ostensibly about "action figures", as of yet, nearly all of them are static figures, and none of the entries thus far are really ACTION FIGURES!
(OK... ONE of them - the 01979 Mego figure - is a poseable figure, but it's more of a DOLL than an "action figure".)


* Previous entries in this series can be found at these links:

part 1 - BEN COOPER Super Hero "Jiggler" Action Figure.

addendum - The "Rub-n-Play" and Marvel World standees.

Part 2 - "Dr. Strange" Mego figure.

Part 3 - 01984 Marvel / TSR Metal Miniature figurines.

Part 3-a - 01984 - 01991 Marvel / TSR r.p.g. standees.

(as well as non-Dr. Strange specific entries - like the ROM : Spaceknight model kit, and the Marvel World playset)

***UPDATE***
Those two addendums are now up on the blog:
Addendum 1 : Man-Thing (sorta) Rubber/PVC figure
Addendum 2 : Mystics, Mutants & other Marvel PVCs
***END UPDATE***

Idol Pursuits : Master of the Plastic Arts - Part 3 : 01984 Dr. Strange metal figure and 3 complete sets of TSR metal figures

Hello again, for another "Master of the Plastic Arts" installment of "Idol Pursuits".

Our entry today is but the first of TWO linked posts, both associated with the Marvel Super Heroes RPG (role playing game) first released by TSR in 01984.

In this installment, we take a look at the metal miniature figurines, produced by TSR.

*ALL images can be clicked to "embiggen"*

The Dr. Strange lead figurine (unpainted).

There were three sets of Metal Miniatures (although more were solicited, but were never released), with each figure ranging anywhere between 1 to 2 inches in height.

Set # 1 - box top

Set # 1 figures
Thor, Hulk, Human Torch
Dr. Doom, Radioactive Man, Captain America
Dr. Octopus, Captain Marvel II, Mr. Fantastic
The Thing, Scorpion, Spider-Man

---

Set # 1 - box back (with painted versions of figures shown)

---

Set # 2 - box top

Set # 2 - figures
Magneto, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm
The Leader, Rogue, Iron Man, Ariel (Kitty Pryde)
Colossus, Dr. Strange, Sub-Mariner, Kang

---

Set # 2 - box back (with painted versions of figures shown)

---

Set # 3 - box top

Set # 3 - figures
Hawkeye, Spider-Man (black costume), She-Hulk (in FF uniform)
Scarlet Witch, Ultron, Kingpin

---

Set # 3 - box back (with painted versions of figures shown)
Note the "WARNING: This product contains LEAD" notice.
---

All figures - en masse

The "Secret-Infinity-Civil-World-War-of Champions"

---

The general purpose of the miniature figures is that they were representative of your character(s) which you would then move along the included play-map as you made your way through the given adventure(s).

These were the more "high-end" authentic player figures (which could be painted to suit), as opposed to the "cheap-ass" versions that I feature in the other part of this 2-fer entry (HERE).

---------

Dr. Strange says;
"Don't forget to check out the next part of the Marvel / TSR RPG figure post entry...or else I'll turn you into a newt!"
He casts a teleportation spell that will transport you to the 2nd half of this entry...

HERE!