Funko Pop! Figure - Hot Topic Exclusive Dean Winchester from Supernatural

Jess and I are huge fans of the show "Supernatural". We've been following the monster hunting exploits of the Winchesters Brothers since Day 1 and we're probably not going to stop watching until the show is finally done. So, when Funko started making Pop! figures of characters from "Supernatural", you bet we were all over them! The latest addition to the lineup, surprisingly, isn't a new character. Instead, Funko decided to make a Hot Topic Exclusive version of Dean. What do we think of this figure? Watch our video to find out!

I hope you enjoyed the crazy opening and the review afterwards. If you would like to see more fun opening sequences in our videos, please let us know in the comments.

And, that's all for now. Thank you for reading and watching. Stay tuned for more In Box coming soon!

~ Mike

Funko Pop! Figure - Eleven from Stranger Things

Jess and I love "Stranger Things". In fact, Jess cosplayed as Barb last year at FanExpo! So, when I found Pop! figures from the series at 401 Games in Toronto, I had to pick one up. Believe it or not, the Chase version of Eleven with her blonde wig is $75! That's why the following review is only for the regular version, which has her holding her beloved Eggos.

Well, I hope you enjoyed that. More is coming, so stay tuned!

~ Mike

Funko Pop! Figure - Gaston from Beauty and the Beast

Did you know I speak French? No? Well, I do. It's my third language. But, isn't French Canada's official second language? Why, yes, it is. So, why is it my third? It's because I'm of Chinese descent and my parents taught me both English and Cantonese Chinese before I learned French in school. Why is this important? Because I speak some French in the following review of the Funko Pop! figure of Jess' favourite Disney villain - Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast". Enjoy!

C'est tout, mes amis! Merci beaucoup!

~ Mike

Masters of the Universe Action Vinyls

Happy New Year! During my first visit to Silver Snail Comics in 2017, I happened upon a case of Masters of the Universe Action Vinyls. As you know, I loved the Power Rangers Action Vinyl I got from Hot Topic last year, so I just had to pick up one of these. I hope you enjoy the impromptu review I shot using my cell phone. ^_~

Thanks for watching and stay tune for more In Box coming soon!

~ Mike

Captain America: Civil War Mystery Minis

Hey, peeps! Mike here, and now that Jess and I are back in Canada, it's time to get back to reviewing things in boxes. ^_~

So, I was at Silver Snail Comics in Toronto just the other day when I happened upon a case of Mystery Minis featuring characters from "Captain America: Civil War". As I was quite blown away by that movie, I just had to pick up one of these blind boxes!

On the back of the box were the possible characters I could get. 

I really wanted Black Panther, Winter Soldier, or Agent 13 and quickly opened the box to see who I got.

What I found was the black packaging shown above. I think it's there to protect the figure's paint job, which I appreciate. So, who did I get once I opened the bag?

Oh, phooey! It was Iron Man. Here's a closer look.

First off, the figure looks great. I love overall "chibi" design of it and the pose is classic Iron Man. The plastic has a sturdy feel to it and the paint was applied quite well. I didn't find any misaligned paint anywhere on the figure. The head is attached via a spring that isn't easy to pop off the body. My only criticism is that if you turn the head, the spring "pops" from position to position instead of allowing for a smooth turn. This is a little annoying because when I tried to align the head to an angle I liked, it took turning it around over and over and over again until finally, after about 5 minutes, I got it just right.

Overall, despite not getting any of the figures I wanted, I was still quite impressed with the quality of the one I got. I can definitely recommend picking one up if you're into Mystery Minis.

~ Mike

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Action Vinyls - Stealth Edition

Hey, everyone! Mike here, and on a recent visit to Hot Topic, I came across something that got me very, very excited. Here, have a look.

That there is a Hot Topic Exclusive Power Rangers Action Vinyl by a company called The Loyal Subjects from Los Angeles. I had never seen a Power Rangers blind box toy before, so I just had to pick it up. Here's a better look at the design on the front of the box.

On the sides of the box, I was shown that there are 8 possible figures I could get. Here they are.

Personally, I really wanted either the Yellow Ranger or the Green Ranger. However, I would have been happy with anyone.

When I opened the box, I found a silver bag with great Power Rangers designs on both the front and back. Check'em out.

So, who did I end up getting? Here's what I found when I opened the silver bag.

YES! It was the Green Ranger! Woohoo! Here's the figure with all the accessories laid out.

Yes, Tommy's ponytail is removable. Ha ha! And, here's a better look at the figure from the front and the back.

The details are phenomenal for such a small vinyl figure. The black parts that make up the "Stealth Edition" components look great. The build quality is also pretty high as the figure and its accessories feel quite sturdy. I especially love that the helmet actually fits on the figure's head and is not just another head, making it an actual helmet for the figure.

My only criticism is that despite there being quite a few points of articulation, which is great, I found the knee joints to be a little poorly thought out. They just allow you to turn the bottom half of the legs horizontally, but do not allow for any bending, making it awkward when trying to stand the figure up. This is very evident in the shot of the back of the figure above.

All in all, this is an incredible collectible vinyl figure and I would highly recommend you get one if you're a fan of Power Rangers.

~ Mike

Minecraft Mini-Figure Netherrack Series 3

Hi! Mike here, and for the past few months, I've been seeing cute little Minecraft figures for sale at Walmart that come in blister packs and blind boxes, the latter of which are definitely of interest to me since I'm a fan of the game and I certainly love blind boxes. But, the $3.49 + tax price tag made me hesitant... until today!

I bought 2 of these suckers and brought them to the office with me to take photos during my break. Here are a couple more pics of the box, showing what figures are in Series 3... Wait! There were 2 other series before this? Wow, I definitely didn't pay close enough attention to these toys.

Based on the non-random 3-packs they also sell at Walmart, I already knew the size of the figures in these blind boxes. Considering their size, I honestly wondered how many figures there would be in them. I mean... they're kind of big. They wouldn't use such big boxes for single figures, right?

Yes. Yes, they would. Here's another shot of the Iron Armor Zombie I got in front of the large-ish box.

Despite the wasteful size of the packaging, I have to admit that the box design is very nice. I also like how, according to some web sites I found, you can tell what figure is inside the box if you look at the code underneath...

Yeah, that's apparently the code for an Iron Armor Zombie underneath the bar code numbers. Just Google "Netherrack Series 3 Codes". It's ridiculous how these are false blind boxes.

Moving on, the Mini-Figure itself is pretty nice. I like that it's designed as a "chibi" version of Minecraft. The plastic feels sturdy. The paint job is mostly good with some smudging on the helmet. I'm impressed.

In my second box, I got a Skeleton Horse.

I love the details on this figure, especially the vertebrae.

I also like putting the Iron Armor Zombie on its back.

Adorable! I'm having a cuteness overload right now!

The thing, though, is that in the end, I honestly don't feel that the toys, cool as they are, are worth the price tag. LEGO Minifigures are just $0.50 more and you get multiple pieces, articulation, and... It's LEGO. I know Minecraft is super popular right now, but I feel like they're charging $1.75 for the figure and $1.75 for the box. These Mini-Figures should cost $2.00 plus tax each at the most.

All in all, the Minecraft Mini-Figure Netherrack Series 3 blind boxes are pretty awesome toys, but a big waste of packaging and not worth the price. Get them on sale or if you don't mind spending that kind of money.

Thanks for reading and I'll be back soon with more reviews!

~ Mike

ZBox - July, 2015 - Ghosts & Ghouls

Hi, hi! Mike here, and I couldn't help myself after receiving the awesome June ZBox, so I ordered the July one as well. Today, I finally received my long-awaited shipment! Here's a first look at what's inside:

For those of you who haven't heard of ZBox, it's associated with a web site called Zavvi, which sells all sorts of media and memorabilia. This isn't really a "subscription box". There's no actual subscription. Instead, each month, you have to go on their web site and pre-order the box for the next month. The advertised price is ₤19.99 with free UK delivery. Being Canadian, this means I had to pay extra for shipping. What's convenient about Zavvi's site is that it allows you to browse in Canadian Dollars, so I could see exactly how much I would be paying before ordering. My order came to $36.57 CAD with shipping included.

JULY - GHOSTS & GHOULS

I know the photo above looks awesome and you're just dying to know exactly what was in the ZBox, so I'll get right to it. Here's a list:

- ZBox Mini Magazine ($2.50 CAD)

- Lost Boys T-Shirt ($20.00 CAD)

- Ghost Rider Keychain ($10.00 CAD)

- Pac-Man Magnets ($10.00 CAD)

- Build Your Own Zombie ($12.00 CAD)

- Rivers of London #1 Comic ($5.00 CAD)

- Ghostbusters Postcard ($1.00 CAD)

- Ghostbusters Titans Vinyl ($15.00 CAD)

- Black Jack Candy ($0.25 CAD)

ZBox Box

This is my second ZBox and it has a custom box like the first one I got. I love the Bram Stoker's Dracula quote in it. I rate this box 5 Keanus out of 5.

ZBox Mini Magazine

As you probably know, I love getting themed magazines in my nerdy subscription boxes. This little guy has some great articles, including one about vampire movies that don't suck. There was a lot of hard work put into this magazine, so I thank the ZBox peeps for that.

Lost Boys T-Shirt

I admittedly have never watched the movie "Lost Boys", but I know it's supposed to be good. This shirt's design I definitely like. It's subtle, so one wouldn't know it's a nerd / pop culture shirt unless they knew the reference. Plus, I love that the shirt is grey.

Ghost Rider Keychain

This is a very cool old school Ghost Rider keychain. I love the design! Apparently, it's a ZBox exclusive based on the sticker on the back of the packaging, which makes this even better.

Pac-Man Magnets

"Hello, my sweet, little boy. Look how big you've grown." ^_~ I can't wait to put these magnets on my freezer door!

Build Your Own Zombie

Okay, wow. This is something new and unexpected. Inside the box you get some "dough" with which to build a zombie, or whatever else you may think to make with the stuff. It's basically like Play-Doh, except that when the stuff dries, it hardens. Extremely cool and one of the best items in this box.

Rivers of London #1 Comic

I have never heard of this comic before and that's great! I appreciate being introduced to something new. Oh, and is that an exclusive cover? Why, yes. Yes, it is. Thanks, ZBox.

Ghostbusters Postcard

I love postcards and this one rocks. Sure, it's simple, but I like that.

Ghostbusters Titans Vinyl

You may recognize this from the San Diego Comic Con edition of Loot Crate, but there is one very big difference. Whereas the Loot Crate figure was just a random one, ZBox was able to get us an exclusive red Stay Puft Marshmallow Man! This is easily my favourite item in this box and one that I am happy to display on one of my bookshelves.

Black Jack Candy

Ah, what a great way to cap things off. If you like black licorice, you'll love this candy. If you don't, just pretend you didn't get one. :p

OVERVIEW

I have to hand it to ZBox. I thought their June box was going to be a one-off in terms of awesomeness, but they hit another home run with this Ghosts & Ghouls box. Every item fit the theme well and was something worth getting. Plus, several of the items were exclusives. Even better. I'm really impressed with ZBox and can definitely recommend it. So, if you're interested in learning more about or signing up for ZBox, just head on over to their site HERE.

And, that's it for ZBox for now. Unfortunately, my budget really can't allow me to keep ordering from them. But, if a theme comes along that really calls out to me, I'll be sure to pre-order and then let you all know what I get.

In the meantime, please stay tuned for my upcoming Marvel Collector Corps review! And, as always, thanks for reading!

~ Mike

Loot Crate - September, 2014 - Galactic

When I received my Loot Crate four days ago, I knew I was in Tribble. I mean, err, trouble. Work has been on the crazy side lately, and with a little less than four days to write this blog entry, I didn't think I would make it before the month ended. Unfortunately, my worries were correct in the end, so I would like to apologize for the lateness in letting you all know what was inside my personally most anticipated Loot Crate.

Honestly, with my out-of-this-world workload, it felt like an early Christmas when I opened this box. Now, 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

SEPTEMBER - GALACTIC

When I saw the preview for the September box, I was ecstatic. The Enterprise? The Millennium Falcon? The Serenity?! Geez, were they trying to give me a heart attack? So much awesome. So little box space. What did I get in my Galactic Loot Crate?

- Loot Crate Mini Magazine ($2.00 CAD)

- Loot Crate Theme Pin ($0.75 CAD)

- Star Wars Magnet ($5.00 CAD)

- Han Solo in Carbonite Poster ($5.00 CAD)

- Limited Edition Mal Mystery Mini ($12.00 CAD)

- Firefly Replica Money ($5.00 CAD)

- Alien ReAction Figure ($15.00 CAD)

- Limited Edition Tribble Plush ($10.00 CAD)

- Halo Digital Comics ($10.00 CAD)

- Pop Rocks ($1.00)

- Savings Sheet

Custom Loot Crate Box

After August's Heroes box, I was expecting the custom Loot Crate box designs to stop for a long while. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I was wrong. I'm thoroughly impressed with the Loot Crate Gurus since they clearly know how to make nerds / geeks happy.

Loot Crate Mini Magazine

I have been a fan of the Loot Crate Mini Magazine since my first box. The September issue has some great articles and a pretty cool cover. I love how it's almost like Ripley's trying to put her mech hand on Darth Vader's waist. Cute.

Loot Crate Theme Pin

We once again got a pin that was printed at the right brightness. I'm a little sad that the Tribbles got cut off from the design, but at least we got Mal and R2-D2 in there!

Star Wars Magnet

I love this magnet! For those of you who aren't old enough to know, this is a crossover between Star Wars and Asteroids. I remember going to my friend's house when I was a kid to play Asteroids. Fun times... Now, I feel old! :p

Han Solo in Carbonite Poster

This. Is. So. Cool. That is all.

Limited Edition Mal Mystery Mini

I love how Loot Crate doesn't just partner with companies, they also get custom, limited edition items made. The regular Mal from Funko's Science Fiction Mystery Minis set carries a handgun. The custom figure Looters received is of Mal holding a shotgun. Shiny!

Firefly Replica Money

As if a limited edition Mal figure wasn't enough shiny for one box, Loot Crate added some cold, hard space cash...

Alien ReAction Figure

I've been eyeing the multitude of Funko ReAction figures at Silver Snail Comics and 401 Games for a while now, and the Alien figure has been at the top of my Most Wanted list. Leave it to Loot Crate to actually send me one! :D

Limited Edition Tribble Plush

Seriously, how much more awesome can this Loot Crate hold?! I've always wanted a Tribble plush, but they're always either sold out or overpriced. Now, I not only have a Tribble plush, but I also have one in a colour and in a box that only Looters get!

Halo Digital Comics

I read most of my comics on the Comixology app these days, so needless to say, I'm a fan of digital comics. Receiving 3 issues of the Halo comics series by Dark Horse is a very welcome surprise.

Pop Rocks

Loot Crate really knows how to win me over with food. I haven't had Pop Rocks since I was a kid. Yummy!

Savings Sheet

Although I won't be using any of the savings on the Savings Sheet, I still appreciate Loot Crate including them. It's nice to know they are trying to help nerds save some cash.

OVERVIEW

The Galactic Loot Crate is now my absolute favourite box since I started my subscription. I liked everything. EVERYTHING! Plus, I can't decide whether the Alien figure or the Tribble is my favourite item in this box. Maybe I'll eat some more Pop Rocks and sort it out afterwards. Om nom nom nom. Seriously, though, I'm impressed. Loot Crate is getting everything right. I sincerely hope they keep it up.

Halloween is around the corner, so it's not surprising that the October box's theme is going to be "Fear". I love all things Halloween, so I am super excited! 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 FEAR

Thank you for checking out my blog. See you again real soon!

~ Mike