Swords and Spaceships

'Transformers' score by Steve Jablonsky It should have been out a long while ago. But as it is, it ties into the DVD release which is rumored to be October 16th. These things usually turn out to be true, so I'm going with that. Alas, no tracklisting yet. If it doesn't have the music accompanying the Autobot's arrival on Earth, there will be pandemonium in the streets. But that would be stupid. That would be like releasing the Grindhouse films WITHOUT the fake trailers. Aw, fuck. I can understand releasing them seperately, since Grindhouse effectively tanked at the BO and they need to recoup some benjamins, but keeping the fake trailers from folks? I think they're just asking for these DVDs to tank at retail.

clicky. This stinks of something I've seen before. Man, if only I could think of what it was... Now I remember!

clicky. Man. What an odd choice for a reissue. But hey, TFs that aren't from 1984-5 are always welcome. I like my pre-movie 'formers, but they've been done to death. The TFC was starting to get interesting with Broadcast, Kup, and Perceptor being reissued (granted, Broadcast and Perceptor are US '85, but whatever...) Plus, Lynx is a pretty big TF. I wonder if I'll be able to afford this one since I couldn't afford Predaking when Takara reissued him.

I'll bet you didn't know it, but Wal-Mart, bane of the American retail landscape, has an exclusive set of 12" Adventure Team GI Joes, reissues of the ones from the 1970s. A little background. I myself have an affinity for these big guys. I bought the Land Adventurer that was a Hot Topic exclusive last year, and I was looking forward to buying a couple more. But I come to find out that they're exclusive to Wal-Mart, and more importantly, my local branches aren't going to be getting these (or the 25th Anniversary small Joes either). I ask you, what's the point of conquering the competition and taking an exclusive if you're not going to sell it to everyone who wants it? This happens all the time. Some WMs that aren't in huge cities get nothing when it comes to Hasbro exclusives, and other stores just can't get rid of them, eventually being forced to clearance them. Wal-Mart has ruined GI Joe before, and it seems like they're looking to do it again

DC Universe series 2 I really can't afford superhero toys any more (since both Marvel and DC toys cost $10 a crack these days) but I am buying Aquaman, Red Tornado, and Harley Quinn from this line. I'd buy the monkey if it was available seperately, but I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to buy Supermen Red and Blue. To me, they represent the lowest point in comics in the 90s, aside from killing Superman. But, Mattel is still doing something great. I like their DC line since the toys aren't over-articulated like Marvel Legends tend to be. Hopefully, they avoid the pitfalls that have plagued their DC Superheroes, Batman comic, and MOTU lines this time. They're doing OK on DCSH, and if you're going to offer a BAF, you have to have sane distribution. Even Mattel knows that.

Thank your dear and fluffy lord for Target doing their fall reset in the toy aisle. I was finally able to get my sweaty hands on some 25th Anniversary GI Joe 5-packs. I only found the Joe set, and it was the last one there. I scooped it up, and made threatening gestures to anyone who looked at me funny as I walked to the checkout. And people will look at you funny, since the box is big, shiny, and noisy. When you see one of these on the shelf, you know beyond any doubt that Reagan's America is alive and well somewhere. Well, not so much that. If you were to take a look at the back of the box, it should fill you with pity, especially if you're standing in the aisles of a big-box retailer as I was. You get a twinge of sadness that this new generation is allowing the bar to be set so low for themselves when it comes time for recreation. Instead of Terror Dromes, space shuttles, boats, tanks, jeeps, 7-foot aircraft carriers that can house your entire Joe collection, or toys of bike