IDOL PURSUITS : "TOYS NIGHT OUT". A RECAP and PRELUDE EDITION

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IT FIGURES... this is going to be a multi-purpose post.

No, I'm not complaining or being sarcastic about anything.

"IT FIGURES" was the name I originally used as a subject header / tag-line for a continuing series of blog-posts that deal with "Action Figures", figurines and statuary. I soon realized that in keeping with the mystic nature of this blog's focus (i.e; Doctor Strange and the various magic characters which I collect), that "IDOL PURSUITS" would make more sense, since I am often in pursuit of these plastic (plaster, resin, rubber and/or paper) "idols".

One of the first series of posts when I began this blog were the "Idol Pursuits", wherein I started an extensive look into every action figure, figurine and statue of Doctor Strange, Man-Thing, Rom; Spaceknight and assorted other "6-Dimensions" characters.
However, somewhere in my 2nd year I got sidetracked into other posts (many epic essays and in-depth looks into the comics) and never got back to the "Idol Pursuits".

While I've been meaning to get back to it, I've sadly neglected to do so.

UNTIL NOW...

Since, as of late, I've been spending what (little) free time I have working on fixing up my "Sanctum Sanctorum" (man-cave), I've been surrounded by all of the many, MANY assorted "idols" that are stored within.

And so I feel compelled to light the candles on those alters and continue to pay homage to them here once again.

Just a glimpse of a VERY FEW of the many figures to be showcased in the weeks to come.


Since it has been a few years since I last posted an entry in the "IDOL PURSUITS" category, I feel it best to give a recap / run-down on what has come before with some pics and links to previous posts.

But then, make sure to continue on and read the comic story "TOYS NIGHT OUT" which was first printed as a back-up story in MARVEL FANFARE # 56 - and then come back next time for an IDOL PURSUITS SPECIAL EDITION deluxe entry!


So now in preparation of the continuance of the "IDOL PURSUITS" series, here's your recap of the posts dedicated to presenting detailed and comprehensive histories of DOCTOR STRANGE (and "6-Dimensions" characters) figures/statues/standees etc...:

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Part 1) - 1979 Ben Cooper “dangler” figure – [HERE]

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Part 1a) - ADDENDUM:  The pre-“Action Figure” figures
(Marvel World standees and "Rub-n-Play" standee) – [HERE]

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Part 2) – The DOCTOR STRANGE MEGO figure that almost was – [HERE]

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Part 3-A) – Gaming figures: TSR Standees – [HERE]

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Part 3-B) – Gaming Figures: TSR Metal Figurines – [HERE]

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Part 4) – The PVC Figurines: DOCTOR STRANGE – [HERE]

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Part 4a) The PVC Figurines - addendum 1: “MAN-THING” – [HERE]

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Part 4b) – The PVC Figurines  - addendum 2: “DEFENDERS” – [HERE]

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Special Editions:

Idol Pursuits: ROM SPACEKNIGHT "action figure" toy – [HERE]

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Idol Pursuits: ROM SPACEKNIGHT model kits: full size and bust - [HERE]

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Idol Pursuits: DR. ORPHEUS bobblehead - [HERE]

Of course, there were OTHER entries in the IDOL PURSUITS series (mostly ancillary and preview posts), but if you want to see ALL of the entries in the series (in reverse order) just click [HERE].

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Well. Before you go up and start clickety-clicking all those links, and (re)reading those previous entries, I'll post a special comic story here for you!

Originally printed in MARVEL FANFARE # 56, this is a story of a kid who can't seem to get his room in order and it's because he spends too much time playing with his... (NO, you filthy-minded people!) Action Figures.

But don't fret... there's a very good reason this story is being showcased here!

But don't worry, I won't spoil it here. I'll recap at the end...

Written by BILL MANTLO with art by DON HECK, enjoy...

 "TOYS NIGHT OUT".

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So, did you figure out WHY this is on my blog?

Not only is it a pseudo-biographical tale of my working on my "Sanctum" (well... except I don't have a mother breathing down my neck about it, and my wife is smarter than to threaten to "take my toys away") but it also comes down to DOCTOR STRANGE (and Dormammu) to save the day!

If only MY action figures and statues would do that.

I've got HUNDREDS of them... it would be a snap for them.

Better go check to see if any of their hands are smoking.

So, remember to come back next time for an IDOL PURSUITS SPECIAL EDITION deluxe entry - where I present the 

DOCTOR STRANGE BOARD GAME 

(Which was OFFICIALLY produced by MARVEL)!!

that YOU can download and print out!

[HERE]

NOD - repeatedly - before ORPHEUS. An Ancillary IDOL PURSUITS Entry

Lately, it seems that I'm just a corporate shill, whoring out my blog out for "the man" to hawk his products.

Well, THIS is another of those times.

Newly arrived at my SANCTUM SANCTORUM is this sweet little item.

DR. ORPHEUS (Venture Bros) Bobble Head!

Mint in package.
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For those who may (or may not know) Dr. Orpheus is a character from the VENTURE BROS animated show - airing on the ADULT SWIM programming block on CARTOON NETWORK.

The VENTURE BROS. is a loving pastiche of the original Johnny Quest show, the original Scooby Doo and some other fantastic shows from yesteryear.

Dr. O is (and has been officially stated by the show's creators; Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, as being) an homage to DOCTOR STRANGE. And an AWESOME homage it is.

To watch Dr. Orpheus in action
it is IMPOSSIBLE to not read any Dr. Strange appearance
without "hearing" his lines spoken in
Orpheus' over-the-top melodramatic delivery.
Impossible, I say!

To help prove that point, check out this old blog post - HERE.

The swell fellows at BIF! BANG! POW! Entertainment (found HERE) are the license holders for producing the Venture Bros swag and their first releases are the bobble-heads of the various show characters:

- Dr. Rusty Venture
- Brock Samson
- Hank Venture
- Dean Venture
- The Monarch
- Dr. Girlfriend / Dr. Mrs. The Monarch
- Henchmen # 21
- Henchmen # 24
and
- Dr. Orpheus.

So, to the point of my blog and personal collection-of-all-things-Doctor-Strange, I HAD to get this one.

Here is a stock image showing what it looks like out of the package.

(No. I'm not taking mine out of the package. I truly WANT to,
but honestly have NO place to put it where its "bobble-action" could be utilized.
Instead, it will sit, M.I.P. (NRFB) in a display case. Weep not for Dr. Orpheus - he is still loved.)
*UPDATE*
OK. A buddy of mine sent me a 2nd one of these and so... YES... I busted one of the package!
So, he's still loved, but now also on full display!

The bobble heads are authentically detailed and stand roughly 7 inches tall.

The base upon which Dr. Orpheus stands is emblazoned on the front with the Venture Bros. logo, on the back with the name of Dr. Orpheus and atop with the stylized logo of Orpheus' mystic team; The Order of the Triad.

The symbol of The ORDER of the TRIAD.

The ORDER of the TRIAD includes Dr. O and two other mystic heroes;
Jefferson Twilight - Blackula Hunter (an homage to Marvel character; BLADE)
The Alchemist (possibly a Dr. DRUID homage, but not an outright one)

I can only hope to see bobbleheads of those characters soon enough.

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OK. I took a few other shots to give you folks an idea of the whole package.
Packaging is "antiqued" and "distressed" looking as a part of its retro design.


Jealous much?
Well, don't sweat it.
You'll be able to buy your very own.
They retail for about $12.00 US.

Just shoot over to Entertainment Earth and order yours online.
Or check out BifBangPow.com for a list of retailers near you!

Tell 'em PTOR from the Sanctum Sanctorum Comix blog sent ya!
(not that I'll GET anything...)

Doctor Byron Orpheus thus commands!

"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

I am FILLED with DREAD -or- The DREAD DORMAMMU bust by Bowen! (An "Idol Pursuits" post)

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GAH!!!

JUST ANNOUNCED (on Marvel.com [HERE]):
Although, I first leaked info about this piece - with work-in-progress pics - back in October of 2009 [HERE].

Interdimensional bringer of torment; The Dread DORMAMMU - scourge of the Dark Dimension and raison d'être for being the Sorcerer Supreme - is soon to be available as a 7-inch mini-bust by Bowen Designs.
Sculpted by Jeremy Lloyd.

Check out the sweet pics.



The translucent material in the flaming head makes it APPEAR to illuminate - but it's really just "glowing" from any ambient lighting in the room. It doesn't actually light up.


"It's a synthesis of all the different versions of the character, hopefully creating a classic look," studio head Randy Bowen told Marvel.com.

The base, while ornate and cool, seems to be misplaced on this piece, so perhaps it's just a fill-in base used for the pics.

Either way, I need to get one to keep my Dr. Strange Bowen bust "company".

It is expected to be for sale in the Summer of this year (2010).
I can't seem to find any pricing info anywhere, but I'd imagine that it would be in the $60.00 price range.
Perhaps as it comes closer to it's release date more info will be made known.

I really need to find a job, STAT!
(as if I didn't already know that)

Maybe I can sell my kidney.

DORMAMMU! by Bowen An Idol Pursuits post

A visitor to the blog sent me an email with a little bit of news;
BOWEN DESIGNS (those of the uber cool Marvel statues and such) are producing a bust of the DREAD DORMAMMU!


This pic is the one sent by AL, the owner of STATUEMARVELS site, and as such retains his watermark.
That link will bring you directly to the post about the Dormammu piece.

From what I can ascertain, Randy Bowen (or at least a worker under his name) sent the StatueMarvels site in progress shots of the sculpture being worked up by Jeremy Lloyd.

Nice to see some more love being paid to the magical side of Marvel.
Dormammu is a no-brainer since he was featured in practically EVERY Marvel Comic for the past two years.

Thanks Al.
Everyone should pay a visit to his site.

(Now I just have to start saving money by recycling cans so I can buy the statue)

Titans Three & more! This week's Auctions! An Idol Pursuits / 6-Dimensions of Dr. Strange entry.

While busily working, scanning in some (hopefully) truly cool items, for a big upcoming blog post, it came time for yet another batch of collector's items to leave my possession to go
UP FOR SALE on the eBay!.

So, allow me the opportunity to showcase a few items that WERE a part of my collection, but are now, available to YOU
(auctions ending Sunday, 08-23-09).

As with ALL of my posts, clicking pics make them larger for easier viewing.

First up... a trio of some items that I bought new in 1996 - 1997:

Marvel Comic Book Heroes
Pewter statuettes.

Limited edition, Pewter statues highlighting characters from the
GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE ages of comics.


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GOLDEN Age:

NAMOR the SUB-MARINER

In nifty windowed display box, complete with replica comic of a 1940's era issue.

(Certificate of Authenticity)

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BRONZE Age:

The Incredible HULK

(Complete with Certificate of Authenticity)
and a crazy-low production number:
N - 046

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SILVER* er...BRONZE Age:

The SILVER SURFER

* Seriously, how stupid was it for them NOT to have made
the SILVER Surfer as a SILVER Age item?
I mean, REALLY?

(The Surfer has been bequeathed to a very close friend who is a big Surfer fan and thus, is not available.)

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The reason I even HAVE these three statuettes is that when they were released (1996 - 1997), the line was in it's infancy, and I was hoping that if there was enough support for the product, that eventually DOCTOR STRANGE would receive similar treatment.

Yet one in a long line of such pie-in-the-sky hopes wherein I put my money on the line for a dream.

Sadly, the line was eventually discontinued and these items vanished into the realm of rare collectible.

Still, these three ARE indeed founding members of the DEFENDERS.
Ostensibly, starting the line-up by first forming as the TITANS THREE in two issues of NAMOR's old mag (Sub-Mariner 35 & 36).
It was their earlier teaming, that led Namor to suggest these fellow heroes as allies when Dr. Strange first sought to form the team that would be known as the Defenders.

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However, fret not, I put a Dr. Strange item up for auction as well. If for no other reason than to make the Defenders motif complete (in MY mind, anyway).

Marvel Legends DR STRANGE figure
mint in pack.

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Let's see... what else did I have added to the auctions?
Ah... as I started digging out old Action Figures to go up for sale in the next few weeks, I came across the

X-MEN : Evolution
NIGHTCRAWLER
mint-on-card

Truthfully, there really is no true tie for why this was in my collection.
I DO have a few Nightcrawler figures, purchased over the years, but that is merely because he (and Cyclops) has always been my favorite X-Man.
There IS a small link between Nightcrawler and Doctor Strange, but mostly stemming from Uncanny X-Men Annual # 4, where the X-Men have Strange guide them into a replica of Dante's Inferno to rescue Kurt Wagner's soul from Margali Szardos.

However, this incarnation of Nightcrawler is from the fairly well done animated series; X-Men Evolution. All in all, not a bad series, really, and a hip, teen-age looking version of my favorite blue mutant.

That's about it for this week.
There are a LOT more items being prepped for next week.

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OH, I guess I'll plug a few non-comic items that are up there as well:

Woodstock - Yasgur's Farm - A Day In The Garden
Frisbees!

These are items that my wife obtained when she was working as an organizer at one of the concerts being held 10 years ago, during the 30th Anniversary of Woodstock, being held on Max Yasgur's farm (the site of the Original Woodstock festival).
We were living fairly close by to the site at the time.

These were only available AT the 30th Anniversary concerts on the Yasgur's Farm site.
To that end, they are indeed a small piece of Woodstock history, of a sort.

There are a bunch of them up for sale (or Best Offer). They're not on auction. Just a straight up deal.

So, celebrate the 40th Anniversary with your very own (because I can guarantee you, we're not holding onto these for another ten years).

Yes... there IS a Dr. Strange link there too, but I'll get to the Woodstock / Strange stuff eventually.
(It's more a Haight Ashbury link anyway, but Woodstock does factor in as well.)

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Thanks for indulging my sales pitch here.

Those are the items up for auction this week.
Remember, the link for eBay sales is on the right side of the blog on the sidebar.
But what the heck...for your convenience
HERE is the link to these eBay auctions.

I'll have the next installment (featuring some interesting Dr Strange goodness) on the blog as soon as I can scan all the original artwork in.

Original Artwork? Hmmmmmmmm...... curious.

She Casts a Hex of Sex! An "IDOL PURSUITS" post

I will readily admit to a nerd crush of sorts to the Marvel Comic's character; Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a.; the SCARLET WITCH.
Long have I held that she would be a far more favorable love-interest for Doctor Strange than Clea.

Perhaps, that's just my own love of redheads coming into play, but that's neither here nor there.

I have many representations of the Scarlet Witch in my Sanctum-collection; be they action figures, busts, statues (sadly, the Bowen statue that I had ordered years ago was shorted to my dealer and I never got that one) as well as posters, 7-11 tumblers and, of course - comics.

However, there is a limit to how far I will carry my geek/nerd love of this fictional character...

and Sideshow Collectibles has reached it.


A new "comiquette" (comic book maquette) based on the mutant mistress of mysticism is lovely at first glance...


but only gets a bit creepier as you take a closer look.

Uh... what?

While this isn't the FIRST time that a female comic book character has been tarted up to the extreme, usually such representations are strictly within the realm of fan-fic fan-art and commission requests.

John Byrne is rolling over in his grave.
(Having always held that Wanda wasn't overtly sexual, I'm sure Byrne died of an aneurysm when he saw this!)

Yes. Japan HAS recently released some sexually charged versions of the Scarlet Witch, but hell... it's JAPAN! They have been doing that sort of over-the-top sexual sublimation shtick practically forever.

This, however, is the first Officially licenced such piece of girlfriend-substitution of Wanda Maximoff (that I know of anyway).

At $205.00 US it's not too bad in the cost department, unlike the $500.00 MAN-THING comiquette that I blogged about last month [HERE].

But, while I am a MUCH bigger fan of MAN-THING, and I swore off that item due to the extreme nature of the PRICE, in this instance, I will not be ordering the Scarlet Witch comiquette because... well... LOOK at it.


With her being more well-endowed than she's EVER been portrayed in the comics, and obviously enjoying controlling the "boy toy" of her life (the VISION) with a joystick, no less...
my wife will wonder what the hell is wrong with ME should I think of putting this on display.

(And for you single guys out there - the hetero ones anyway - this probably won't win you any points with the GF any time soon... y'know... unless she's into this sort of thing.
In which case... congratulations on that!)

But, even if I weren't thinking of how my significant other would see this thing, just by my OWN standards... it's a bit much.

For the REST of those out there... thinking of buying this... think of poor VISION!

Oh, the pain and indignity of it all.