Hey, everyone! Mike here and I'm going solo today to bring you all something a little different. Back in May, I entered the Geektropolis Star Wars Day Contest on Twitter and ended up being one of the winners! The prize? A Star Wars button pack! Fast-forward a little and I recently received an envelope with the following inside:
Geektropolis Business Card
Who knew something as simple as a business card could be exciting? Geektropolis' one has a freakin' fire-breathing dragon with a frog hanging from its mouth on it. How cool is that? What a great design!
Geektropolis Logo Button
Admittedly, this is the only button in the "Button Pack" and it is pretty sweet. I've always been impressed with the Geektropolis logo and it looks amazing on a button.
R2-D2 Pin
The first of 2 Star Wars pins is of R2-D2. It's made of metal and plastic with a rubber pin back. Outside of the geekily phenomenal design, the pin itself is sturdy and well made. I'm definitely going to have to find something to put this pin on!
BB-8 Pin
This pin helps to round out the pack as R2-D2 was something old and BB-8 is something new. I like that! The pins go together as a pretty sweet pair that should be worn together. The only thing missing? A C-3PO pin.
Overview
Look, make no mistake - This button pack is something won in a contest and I am very, very happy about it. But, I've seen bad prizes before, so it feels great to win something awesome. Props to Geektropolis for putting some thought into a Star Wars Day Contest prize.
Now, before I conclude this post, I want to mention that I also uploaded a video review of this button pack onto Youtube. You can watch it here:
And, that's it for now. Many thanks to Geektropolis for the amazing prize. And, thank you all for reading this entry. More is coming soon, so stay tuned!
Hey, peeps! Mike here, and what kind of review blog would we be if we didn't cover some of the latest crazes every now and then? LOL If you've been anywhere near kids lately, the term "Fidget Spinner" most likely popped up more than once. Well, Jess and I are here to fill you in on what that's all about! That's right! We're in the know and we're going to toss some knowledge at ya... Okay, I'll stop trying to sound cool and just give you the video now...
You know, I am amazed at how something so simple could become such a huge fad. This honestly reminds me of my Pog days. Yes, I said Pog. Do you remember Pogs? I remember Pogs.
ANYWAY, I hope you enjoyed the video. I'm actually gearing up to do some actual written reviews in the near future, so stay tuned for some Vintage In Box coming soon! ;)
HAPPY CANADA DAY! Mike here, and it's July. Yes, it is July. So, why am I writing this blog post about the June Loot Crate in July? It's because I received my Crate yesterday. I am not happy about that. My buddy Ryan got his box over a week ago. Usually, mine shows up either a day before his or 2 to 3 days after. When I checked the USPS and Canada Post web sites, they both originally said my box was to arrive on the 26th. However, on the 26th, the date was changed to a shocking July 2nd! I was extremely close to writing a letter to Loot Crate when my box finally showed up. I may actually still write them, but at this point, I'm just glad to HAVE a Crate. Anyway, I'm sure you guys have already read some other blogs or Tweets about people's unboxings, so if you do take the time to read through my post, thank you! I appreciate your support very much. :)
For those of you who haven't heard of Loot Crate, it is a monthly subscription box that caters towards "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a themed box of 6 to 8 items. What's interesting is that Loot Crate has different subscription programs. Here's a breakdown:
1 Month Plan - $19.37 USD / $29.95 CAD per month
3 Month Plan - $55.11 USD / $84.00 CAD per 3 months
6 Month Plan - $105.99 USD / $162.00 CAD per 6 months
JUNE 2014 - TRANSFORM
With Michael Bay's fourth "Transformers" movie opening in June, Loot Crate's decision to make the June theme "Transform" was a no-brainer. Plus, with Nerd Block giving its subscribers a set of Transformers KREO figures back in April, it was only a matter of time when my current favourite subscription box responded with some robot love of their own. Here's a list of what I got:
- Loot Crate Mini Magazine ($2.00 CAD)
- Loot Crate Theme Pin ($0.75 CAD)
- Crossover T-Shirt ($15.00 CAD)
- Transformers Vinyl Figure ($10.99 CAD)
- Transformers Hexbug Nano ($7.99 CAD)
- Transformers Sticker ($0.50 CAD)
- MLG Wrist Sweat Band ($4.99 CAD)
- MLG Sticker Sheet ($0.75 CAD)
- MLG Voucher ($5.00 USD Digital Value)
- Lemon Warheads x 3 ($0.75 CAD)
Loot Crate Mini Magazine
Last month, Loot Crate decided to go digital with their mini magazine. I'm guessing people didn't like that because they switched back to a paper edition this month. Personally, I don't mind either way. If it's digital, it saves space. If it's physical, it adds monetary value and is cool, but over time, I don't know what I'd do with it. Still, it's the content that matters, and this little booklet has that in spades.
Loot Crate Theme Pin
One of the reasons I was really excited to get this month's Crate was because of the really cool design of the 1337 bus Transformer that I knew would be on the pin. Unfortunately, as with last month, the printing factory made the design way too dark. I had to Photoshop my photo of my pin in order for you to see more details, and even then, it's not that clear. That's 2 months now that Loot Crate has disappointed me with their pin quality. I honestly hope this doesn't become a trend.
Crossover T-Shirt
This is perhaps my favourite shirt that I have received in a subscription box thus far. It's not black (LOL) and it's a crossover of two of my favourite nerdy fandoms - "Transformers" and "Back to the Future". Awesome. Absolutely awesome.
Transformers Vinyl Figure
I have seen boxes of these Transformers vinyl figures at local stores and have been tempted on many occasions to buy one. Well, now I don't have to. Ha ha! I got Jazz, who is one of my favourite Autobots, so I'm pretty content. My only complaint about the figure has nothing to do with Loot Crate - It was very hard to get the gun into Jazz's hand. In fact, some of the black paint on the inside part of the hand scraped off onto the gun's handle before I could finally get it to pop into place. Not good! I still love the vinyl, though. It's definitely a great inclusion in this month's Crate.
Transformers Hexbug Nano
I knew of Hexbugs before, but I didn't know there were Transformers ones. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's basically a toy that looks kind of like a cockroach. When you turn it on, the little thing vibrates. This vibration allows it to "walk" on flat surfaces. I took a video to help you understand what I mean.
Transformers Sticker
This is a pretty cool sticker made by the same company that made the Transformers vinyl figure. I would have preferred getting the Autobots one instead, but this Deceptacon one is still awesome.
MLG Wrist Sweat Band
Many years ago, I attended a Major League Gaming event at FanExpo Toronto. It was a lot of fun and I even bought a long-sleeved MLG T-shirt. This wrist band would go nicely with it. Unfortunately, I don't wear my shirt nor really care about MLG anymore. LOL For fans of MLG, however, this is definitely a nice item to have.
MLG Sticker Sheet
I honestly have no idea who these MLG teams are, so this sticker sheet is definitely not for me. As with the wrist band, fans of MLG would probably appreciate this much more.
MLG Voucher
This MLG voucher worth $5.00 in site-specific currency gives people one month of GameBattles Premium Access. I don't know anything about the MLG web site, but I'm going to guess that for people who do visit it, this is probably wicked cool, especially with the "Loot Crate exclusive Badge".
Lemon Warheads
"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Loot Crate, thank you for these delicious Warheads Extreme Extreme Sour Lemon candies. YUM! ^_^
OVERVIEW
This was a very good month for Loot Crate. It had great value and great items for fans of Transformers. I'm still peeved that my box arrives one day before July, but if it's a one-time thing, I'll let it slide. We'll see what happens later this month.
Next month, the Loot Crate theme will be Villains, which sounds very exciting to me. If you're interested in learning more about Loot Crate, please check out their Web Site. If you would like to subscribe, you can get 10% off using the code VILLAINS.
Thank you so much for reading this blog entry. See you again soon!
Heya! Mike here, and I'm excited to be writing about the Marvel Munnyworld Micro set. I've seen these blind box toys online and finally tracked one down at Silver Snail Comics.
I love the box design and appreciate that Kidrobot put some effort into it. Too often these blind box type toys get boring or downright ugly boxes. I like to keep at least one box from each series I buy and this Marvel Munnyworld box will be one that I display.
The sides of the box show the 8 figures this series has. I love Silver Surfer and the Thing. My least favourite is the Punisher, who looks like a monkey. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE monkeys. But, Punisher should look like Punisher, not an angry simian.
Inside the box, I found 2 sheets of stickers and a silver Kidrobot package. Let's see what was inside it.
WOOHOO! I got the figure I wanted most - Silver Surfer! Now, let's take a look at the stickers.
Aside from being cute and fun, the stickers are also sturdy. They're made of a stretchy foam-like material that makes them a little harder to remove from the backing, but also harder to ruin. When I was trying to put the red shorts on Silver Surfer, for example, I was able to reposition several times without issue. The variety of stickers was also very much appreciated since I could make my Surfer look the way I want and it would probably look different from someone else's Surfer. Here's my finished Silver Surfer.
I love him! My Surfer is adorable and reminds me of when Silver Surfer found peace amongst a group of surfers at a beach and refused to help the heroes battle evil in a major Marvel crossover event. (If anyone can remind me of which series that was from, it would be very much appreciated. I have been looking through my comics for months and can't find the scene!)
Overall, I'm really impressed with Kidrobot. Assuming the quality of all the other figures in the series are the same, this Marvel Munnyworld Micro set is great! It's fun for kids and adults, and it results in unique figures for display. For more info, check out the Kidrobot Web Site.
Hey, peeps! Mike here, and Jess and I are excited to bring you our first ever Loot Crate entry. As some of you may already know, I used to subscribe to Nerd Block. However, after months of disappointment, I nerdvorced them and jumped over to Loot Crate.
For those of you who haven't heard of Loot Crate, it is a monthly subscription box that caters towards "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a themed box of 6 to 8 items. What's interesting is that Loot Crate has different subscription programs. Here's a breakdown:
1 Month Plan - $19.37 USD / $29.95 CAD per month
3 Month Plan - $55.11 USD / $84.00 CAD per 3 months
6 Month Plan - $105.99 USD / $162.00 CAD per 6 months
MARCH, 2014 - TITAN
The theme of the March Loot Crate this year is "Titan", which is a combination of the Anime "Attack on Titan" and the video game "Titanfall". When I got my Loot Crate, I was a little concerned by the smaller size of the box compared to Nerd Block. However, it didn't rattle when shook like with Nerd Block, so I figured the box was either completely full or had some kind of stuffing to keep things in place. Let's see what was inside:
I was pleasantly surprised to find a full-colour mini magazine when I first opened my Loot Crate that introduces "Attack on Titan" and "Titanfall". I appreciate that the people who put this box together understood that not everyone is a fan of or even knows about the two showcased titles. But, what really blew me away was the amount of detail the magazine goes into. There are reviews, an interview, and even descriptions and photos of the included items! Here, check out this pic:
Review of "Attack on Titan"
Loot Crate Theme Magnet
You may have noticed that the cover of the mini magazine features a pretty awesome art piece that combines "Titanfall" and "Attack on Titan". Well, that art is also found on a custom magnet! I already have it on my fridge. It's too good not to display!
Loot Crate Theme Pin
As if one piece of custom art wasn't enough, Loot Crate included a pin featuring a second "Attack on Titanfall" art piece! Fantastic!
Titanfall T-Shirt
I have too many black T-shirts in my closet because of Nerd Block and you've heard me complain about it, but I was not dismayed when I received this black "Titanfall" shirt from Loot Crate since it has a pretty cool design and I'm definitely going to wear it. I just hope Loot Crate doesn't end up having the same black shirt problem as Nerd Block.
Titanfall Lanyard
I don't know what I am going to use this lanyard for, but it looks really cool. Maybe the next time I go to Disney World with Jess, I can use it for Pin Trading?
Titanfall Prima eGuide Voucher
For those of you who don't own "Titanfall" or don't plan on ever owning it, this is pretty useless. Me, I'm planning on getting it on PC since I don't think I will get a XBOX One anytime soon. So, the inclusion of a voucher that gets me a Prima eGuide for the game is quite welcome.
Attack on Titan - Volume 1
As if a review of "Attack on Titan" in the mini magazine wasn't enough, Loot Crate went one step further and included the first volume of the Manga. Honestly, I think this is a phenomenal intro to the series for anyone who is not into it. Me, I've watched the Anime, but have been eyeing the comics. Well, now I have no excuse not to read them. :p
Attack on Titan Wrist Sweat Band
Do you want to feel like a part of the Recon Corps while playing tennis? Badminton? Basketball? Some sport where players wear wrist bands? Well, this is the perfect item for that. I think it looks great and the quality is pretty good. I'm going to bring it to the gym with me!
Salt Water Taffy x 2
I just... I don't... I... OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM...!!!
Coupon Card
Finding coupons to save money on stuff is pretty sweet. I won't personally be using any of the ones from this Loot Crate since I already have a good gaming headset and have no need for a game system carrier or gaming glasses. But, I'm sure some of you out there would find the discounts useful, so this coupon card gets a thumbs up from me.
OVERVIEW
I was completely blown away by my first Loot Crate. In fact, I was more impressed with this box than any of the Nerd Blocks I received. The theme was great, the introduction of the theme was phenomenal, and the items were well worth the more expensive Canadian subscription price.
I honestly think having a theme every month instead of just throwing in random items is a great idea. I signed up on the 18th of this month and already knew what the theme was going to be going in. The Loot Crate site says you can cancel at least 48 hours before your next billing date (which can be found in your profile on the site). So, depending on when you signed up and which plan you're on, you may be able to cancel if there is a theme you don't like and then sign up again when a good one comes along. Brilliant!
At this time, I can confidently recommend Loot Crate for anyone looking for a nerdy subscription box. Based on this month's box and the previous boxes shown on Loot Crate's web site, I also feel it is a better product than Nerd Block. I am extremely glad that Jess found Loot Crate and that both her and by buddy Ryan encouraged me to jump on board.
If you're interested in Loot Crate, please check out their Web Site.
Mike here, and for 2 months, I had been eyeing a box at 401 Games in Toronto that contains a bunch of Dragonballs. The price of $12.99 for a single ball containing a mini vinyl statue made me hesitate, but I finally gave in to temptation and bought the Number 5 ball. Check it out!
Opening the Capsule R ball was easy. All I had to do was pull open the label along the perforated line and pop the ball open. Inside, I found a sealed package containing 3 pieces that I had to put together to make the vinyl mini statue and then a fourth piece that is used to build a special statue. More on that below.
I was thrilled to discover that I had gotten the statue I wanted - Goku chasing Bubbles. The statue itself was not hard to put together since each peg and its corresponding hole is a different shape and size. There is no mistaking where each piece goes. I found that the plastic is tough and of seemingly good quality. The paint job was what really sealed the deal for me, though. It's great for something this small. Here, take a look.
I am absolutely impressed by the quality of this mini statue and have no doubt that the other ones in the series are equally good.
You've probably noticed that the blue dragon tail piece is not part of this statue. As mentioned above, each statue comes with an extra piece. If you collect all 7 statues, you will have all the pieces necessary to make a statue of Son Goku as an angel flying over Serpent Road. Here's a scan of a Japanese product sheet found on www.kanzenshuu.com.
Man, I would definitely like to get all the statues to make the special one, but to be honest, I don't have the funds to do so. $12.99 is expensive and I can't justify buying more Capsule R balls, especially since getting a double would be a huge blow to my wallet and I'm sure I'd get one along the way. Interestingly, I noticed that my Number 5 ball came with what seems to be the Number 5 set. Look at the packaging in this picture.
The big question I have is whether this means that the number of the ball corresponds to the number of the statue, making it easier for me to get all the pieces to make Angelic Goku since all I'd have to do is buy the other 6 balls. If you have bought a Capsule R that is not the Number 5 ball, please let me know which statue you got. Thanks!
Overall, I love the Capsule R mini statues. I would have been happy regardless of which statue I got since they're all really cool. The price is a little high, but nowadays, a lot of vinyls are expensive and not all of them are made as well as a Capsule R statue. If you're a Dragonball fan, I would definitely suggest getting at least one of these. It'll look great on display.
Thanks for checking out this entry. I'll leave you with one last picture. :)
Hey, everyone! Mike here, and thank you for checking out this first "In Box with Mike & Jess" entry about a blind box toy product! Today, I am going to be sharing my thoughts about the relatively new Disney Vinylmation Marvel series. If you haven't heard of Vinylmation, it is a line of vinyl figures by Disney. Each figure is shaped like Mickey Mouse and painted to look like a character from the series it belongs to. They are also able to have their heads and arms rotated.
Since Disney bought Marvel Comics, I have been waiting for a Vinylmation series based on its characters. It took a while, but the announcement finally arrived and I was extremely excited. Well, that was until the launch day here in Canada. A friend of mine showed up at the Disney Store near his house before it was open and there was a huge line outside the door. When the store opened, several people at the front of the line were allowed to buy a whole case of the Marvel Vinylmations each, selling them out in a matter of minutes. Needless to say, my friend didn't get a single figure. What's worse is that those people who bought the cases would stand near the Disney Store afterwards and try to sell individual figures to shoppers at a ridiculous premium. That deserves a huge "WTF?!?!?!" Anyway. my pal soon discovered one store that is out of the way that still had some Marvel Vinylmations for sale and drove out there to get some for himself and for me. (THANKS, BUDDY!)
Okay, on to the review. The first thing people will notice about these new Vinylmations is the box. It's the same height and depth as the old boxes, but it's thinner. Personally, I like this new box because it's less wasteful. Plus, for people who like to display their boxes, these take up much less space. The Marvel box has some really nice art on the sides. One side has Iron Man and the other has Captain America. The back of the box has the usual listing of available figures. As can be seen, this series comes with the following characters:
- Iron Man
- Thor
- Captain America
- Hulk
- Black Widow
- Spider-Man
- Vision
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Spider-Woman
- Nick Fury
The Chaser Figure for this series is (SPOILER) Ultron. There are also a couple of variants. The first one is a bearded Thor and the second is a translucent version of Vision.
So, which Marvel Vinylmation figures was I lucky enough to get? Captain America and Vision! I was thrilled when I opened my first box and Cap's shield fell out. He's one of my faves and getting him made my day. The figure itself is very well designed. I was a little sceptical about the Mickey ears at first since I felt that they should have been painted with the feathers from Captain America's helmet/mask. However, seeing the figure in person, I think the "explosions" work. Vision is also designed quite well. He even has a cape on his back, adding to his really cool look. My brother-in-law drove out a few days after my friend did and got himself the Variant Vision and now I'm envious. It looks a lot cooler than the original. But, hey, getting ANY Marvel Vinylmations is a good thing, so I'm not going to complain about what I got.
As for the rest of the figures, I only question the decisions made on one of them - Spider-Man. Of all the version of his costume Disney's designers could have picked, I think the Future Foundation version was one of the worst. I didn't hate it too much in the comics, but as a Vinylmation, it just looks cheap. Plus, there's no Variant with the Classic costume, making the FF version the only version at this time. It's truly a shame. The least they could have done was given us a Variant with the Iron Spider costume or Spidey's stealth outfit. But, no. Disney went with only one costume. Well, here's hoping we get Classic Spider-Man in Series 2.
I honestly really like the new Disney Vinylmations Marvel series. The designs are fantastic, the selection is great, and the figures are also very well made (unlike series such as Robots 2, which seem to be on the cheaper side). If you actually find some Marvel Vinylmations, I highly recommend you buy a figure or two because, even now, they are selling at insane speeds. Don't miss out on this awesome set, True Believers!
