The award-winning fashion line of tech-driven accessory backpacks has launched a unique collector backpack collaborated upon by none other than DC’s own Jim Lee!
We’ve all been there! Deciding upon the perfect backpack can be a real hassle especially for the upwardly mobile among us who traverse the most densely populated urban jungles or the tightly huddled cosplay aisles of Comic-Cons coast to coast! Keeping your gear safe and accessible and all in one place is a priority, certainly, if you want to make sure those particularly priceless collector items are protected from the elements — and in style!
HEX® the high-end innovators in fashion accessories including all-weather backpacks and cases inspired by fashion, music and art and empowering creators to explore the outer limits of their potential have collaborated with DC’s own Jim Lee for innovation in urban travel cases with the uniquely cool HEX x Jim Lee Collectors Backpack. Retailing for a modest $139.95 the limited edition case is aptly sized at 16”H x 12”W x 6”D with a padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15” computer and iPad inside a water-resistant exterior PU coating.
The case is multi-functional but it’s designed with the comic-collector/designer in mind and features fleece-lined comic carrying pockets to keep your collection safe and intact, with pockets for organization and room for your Overstreet Price Guide and side pockets for your smartphone, sunglasses and poster tube holder. Designed with Jim Lee the interiors feature custom-designed lining starring Batman and sports the HEX® promise of durability and styling. HEX® believes in “equip the creators” and this bag is ideal for anyone in the comic industry.
This HEX Is For You
HEX® prides itself on quality products and teaming up with Jim Lee to give collectors this one-of-kind carry all experience is the perfect way to validate and celebrate the comic enthusiast in a unique and exciting way.
HEX x Jim Lee Collectors Backpack | retails for $139.95 | Goto the HEX® website and get yours.
Straight out of last season’s “Elseworlds” crossover event Icon Heroes delivers a stunning collectible reproduction of The Flash (Earth-90) to add to your book shelf!
Last season’s CW, DC TV primetime crossover event “Elseworlds” left an indelible mark on its audience! Over the course of the 3-night event that brought the casts of Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl our heroes found themselves in the midst of an adventure unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. Certainly the annual event that marks the winter hiatus for The CW series has become the network’s most anticipated spectacle of the year. In the past, the show’s heroes faced an alien invasion, and fended off Nazis from an alternate-earth.
This past year, the shows’ show-runners decided to focus on the three bigger stars of the “Arrow-verse” Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist and open the door to a bigger crisis facing their future, all the while opening the playing field and introducing Gotham City’s enigmatic Batwoman (portrayed by Ruby Rose), but the crossover’s greatest moment came with the reintroduction of an original primetime favorite — The Flash as he was originally played by actor John Wesley Shipp was introduced into canon as “The Flash” of Earth-90!
Blast from the Past!
After the success of Tim Burton’s theatrical imaging of Batman in 1989, Warner Bros. was in search of the next DC Comics property to exploit. The answer came in the form of The Flash which was realized as a primetime series by television producers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo and starred John Welsey Shipp as the titular character, Central City’s Scarlet Speedster, CSI investigator Barry Allen — The Flash! Although the series only lasted for one season on CBS in 1990, it made a considerable impression with fans.
With the success of Smallville and subsequently Arrow the time seemed right to reintroduce the super-powered character into primetime. The Flash returned to television in 2014 starring Grant Gustin in the lead role, and would feature Shipp as Henry Allen, Barry Allen’s father. In an interesting twist, in the same season that Henry met an untimely end at the hands of one The Flash’s enemies, Shipp was reintroduced into the mythology as another speedster — the Crimson Comet, Jay Garrick — The “Golden Age” Flash.
Standing Tall
The “Elseworlds” storyline gave the writing staff the unique opportunity to push the envelope of the Arrow-verse’s multiverse, and integrated Shipp’s “Flash” from 1990 (hence, Earth-90) into the story arc to face off against a strange interloper, a threat known as The Monitor! Icon Heroes an innovator in creating quality license pop-culture collectibles has captured The Flash (Earth-90)as the hero appeared in “Elseworlds” in a stunning 8.6 inch Limited Edition statue available exclusively through GameStop here.
Icon Heroes is also promising a statue of “The Flash” (Grant Gustin) as the hero appeared in Season 5 of the hit series, sporting his new, very streamlined outfit that harkens back to the 1990 series design.
THE FLASH (Earth-90) Collectible Statue | Icon Heroes | $79.99 available through GameStop or on the website here.
The third in a series of designs from the high-end collectible action figure designers at Mezco examines the legacy of the Dark Knight, the Batman: Sovereign Knight is fully articulating the hero for the 21st century
With everyone knee-deep in celebrating the 80th Anniversary of The Batman, the iconic DC property continues to stagger the imagination and inspire limitless iterations of the Dark Knight as he continues to evolve year-after-year to take on the most nefarious forces of Gotham City’s criminal underbelly. Whether in story form or animation, live-action big screen blockbusters or primetime dramas, the Caped Crusader’s always at the ready.
The high-end toymakers at Mezco have always developed the most sought after collectibles on the market; the fully articulated action figure line is among the more expertly crafted, with highly detailed accessories and carefully crafted cloth uniforms that enhance the creative playability and solidify the bragging rights of an avid fan on the scene. The One:12 Collective line remains one of the most revered of the adult collector toy lines to watch, and stands out among the rest, especially due to the 6.5” manageability of the figures themselves.
In celebration of the fandom of the DC comics hero, Mezco released its latest figure in an evolving line commemorating the evolution of the Dark Knight. Batman: Sovereign Knight realizes a very contemporary 21st Century look and feels to Gotham City’s most battle-hardened defender. The action figure appears modeled after DC Comics legendary artist Jim Lee’s reinterpretation of The Batman for “The New 52” publishing wide reboot, which remixed the established pantheon of heroes with a very modern twist.
Battle Up
The perfectly crafted action figure is heavy articulated with over 30 points of articulation giving collectors the ultimate in posable playability. Mezco warns collectors that they should play carefully, especially given the cloth overlay costume which is crafted to fit over the proportionately sized body frame, but it could pull or wear out depending on how the figure is positioned. The Batman: Sovereign Knight is ready for battle, in sturdy all-terrain boots and gauntlets, with a suit to simulate a protective kevlar armor and an all-purpose utility belt with a clip for a grappling gun.
Expertly packaged in a window box for proper display the figure comes equipped with an array of weaponry including multiple batarangs, grappling gun with hooks, a sonic gun and even a kryptonite-knuckled glove for mixing it up against an unruly Man of Steel, if necessary. The packaged also includes 3 different expressions: a battled damaged cowl, Batman unmasked as Bruce Wayne and an alternate version of the cowl with shorter ears. Mezco also includes an emblemed display stand so that you can pose your Sovereign Knight properly.
As far as collectible figures go, Mezco has (again) hit out of the ballpark with this release, which matches anyone of their others in the line. What sets this particular one above is its attractiveness to Batman fans, especially those happily in the midst of the 80th Anniversary hoopla, will be over the moon at the care given to bringing this Batman to the masses. It’s an awesomely looking design and has enough gear in the box to keep any of the Bat’s notorious rogues at bay! Mezco’s promise to quality is also met in spades which helps to validate the ticket price of this item.
Out Of the Box
It’ll be impossible to resist taking this handsome figure out of the box, though Mezco does make it easy to keep all the accessories intact and in the same place. The grappling gun attaches to the back of the figure’s utility belt for display and playability, and the cape is sturdy enough that it hangs securely from beneath the hood, though it does not have an inserted wired frame in case you are attempting to make that a part of the display story. The cloth coverings that simulate the character outfits maintain their durability but try to keep them out of direct light.
If you are concerned or deterred by the Mezco One:12 Collective ticket price, rest assured it’s worth every penny and can be purchased some certain retailers at a competitive price. The heavily sought after figure line is historically known for selling out online, and the toy makers do not immediately begin manufacturing additional quantities unless they have a sufficient demand via a Wait List. With Batman mania sweeping the social conscious at the moment, this may be one of the best ways to pay homage to Batman. 80 years later, he’s still kicking major ass!
Batman: Sovereign Knight from Mezco One:12 Collective is available now. Visit their website to order yours.
The classic encyclopedic compendium gets the digital treatment and helps to save countless amount of shelf space by providing fans with a directory to comic’s biggest players!
Feeling nostalgic yet? You will be once you deep dive into Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe released on DC’s and digital comics reader app. The full 26-issue initial run released in 1984 of the encyclopedic tome coincided with the publishing giant’s 50th Anniversary and was a invaluable companion piece to the world-changing Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-seres which would ultimately redefine and arguably alter many of the guide’s inaugural entires.
Imagine the task set upon by creatives to catalog and chronicle the various histories and power sets of an immeasurable cast of characters that had been accumulating for more than 50 years. That was the mission faced by the editors, writers and illustrators of the Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. In 1982 Marvel Comics had led the way with their itemization of their cast of characters with the 15-issue Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. With a much more profound publishing history, DC had a Golden Age as well as a Silver Age to invest in.
Over the course of its 26-issue releases Who’s Who alphabetically detailed both major and minor characters from the DC multiverse, including Golden Age characters like the Superman of Earth-2 and the full roster of the All-Star Squadron, alongside their Silver Age counterparts including The Flash and more contemporary heroes like Nightwing the original Silver Age Robin. Who’s Who ran consecutively as Marv Wolfman and George Pérez begun the huge undertaking of redefining and streamlining the DC Universe in the now classic Crisis on Infinite Earths event.
Many of the heroes and villains populating the DC multiverse would inevitably become affected by the outcome of the earths-shattering event which resulted in a single DC Comics universe with a more historically fertile landscape. Some of the larger characters in the pantheon including Superman and especially Wonder Woman would be significantly affected and were among the first “revised” entries within the original volume to reflect the conclusion of the Crisis. Future installments of Who’s Who would more accurately define major arcs and changes to the timeline.
Superman as he appeared in the first release of “Who’s Who” which followed the hero’s reboot following “Crisis”.
From A to Z
An answer to the competitors massively indexed and popular Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe the two editions differed dramatically in their presentation of the material. Who’s Who attempted to incapsulate the individual entry to one page, even for its biggest players, while also elegantly adorning the entry with pin-up style artwork by the industries biggest names. It wasn’t uncommon for the most devoted fans to single out their favorite entries and pin them to their wall. Later installments of Who’s Who followed the same format.
Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985 – 1987) all 26-issues are available for digital download via the DC comics reader app at $1.99 per issue from DC Comics.
Although he would ascend to assume the role of the Scarlet Speedster eventually, Wally West began his career as the superhero sidekick KID FLASH a founding member of the Teen Titans.The most controversial of all the entries ever featured in the initial release, Wonder Girl would soon find her entire background upended by the introduction of the Modern Era’s Wonder Woman, though Wonder Girl remains a fan favorite.
Issue 4 in the series features everyone’s favorite Scarlet Speedster celebrating the herald of the Silver Age of comics with a spectacular figurine and magazine!
Flash! The name is inspirational! Barry Allen represents at his core the heartbeat of the DC Comics Universe. An everyman whose life is completely changed when on one fateful night while working on a case in his lab, his struck by lightning and attains the miraculous ability to race at the speed of sound! The Flash The Fastest Man Alive is brilliantly captured for fans in a new vinyl figurine as part of Eaglemoss Hero Collectors new line of DC All- Stars.
Rear View of “The Flash” figurine.
Side View of “The Flash” figurine.
“The Flash” Issue 4 in the DC ALL-STARS Collections.
Front View of “The Flash” figurine.
The newly minted line of figures, is the latest in the high-end collectibles featured by Eaglemoss Collections, who is also responsible for the smaller resin collection of DC Superhero Collections. Larger in presentation, each vinyl figurine measures about 5 inches in height, and is based on a popular design. In the case of The Flash, the figurine is based on the cover of The Flash #1 (Nov 2011) as the hero appeared in The New 52 relaunch, and following the events of the Flashpoint event that impacted the entire publication run.
The contemporary look of the Scarlet Speedster is captured in full-forward momentum on this figurine releases. The Flash’s current look has survived well into the now-relevant Rebirth arc that is still unraveling within the pages of DC Comics; the accompanying magazine details The Flash’s most defining moments from his long and fabled history, including the character’s impressive legacy from his Golden Age debut in 1940 as Jay Garrick, to his protege Wally West taking up the mantle following the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
The magazine also includes a detailed (if not entirely) accurate timeline that follows the hero’s more than 75 year chronology, also highlighting the 10 most “iconic” covers of The Flash through the ages. The DC All-Stars collection also chronicles a “Year by Year” in the history of DC Comics. The subscriber price is easily well worth it. Each delivery features two collectible figures, each with a magazine focused on the hero or villain. Previous releases include Batman, Superman, The Joker and Wonder Woman and future issues will focus on Harley Quinn, Robin and other DC heroes.
For more on the collection check out Eaglemoss Collections here.
The past, present and future all collide in THE TITANS “Total Chaos” story-arc fromthe 90s that continues to chronicle the enigmatic story of Donna Troy by Marv Wolfman.
During the 90s, the looks of some of our favorite heroes took the wildest turns following some of the more horrifying fashion trends including mullets as ladies bosoms became more profound. It wasn’t only the plunging necklines and enhanced codpieces of the significantly more muscular and heavily pocketed utility belts along with bomber jackets that permeated the pages of popular titles, there was also an “end of days” theme around some of the most obscure story arcs that often featured a James Cameron “Terminator-esque” theme as the future threatened to catch up with the present.
In 1992 legendary scribe Marv Wolfman continued an extraordinary run writing The Titans the all-grown-up iteration of the The New Teen Titans characters that he’d revamp with is long-time co-conspirator George Pérez. Though the artist had moved on from collaborating on the title that had made them a household name, the pair crafted many of the most defining moments in the long and illustrious history of second-generation of superheroes. Among those blockbuster moments came the celebratory issue when the team finally dropped the “Teen” in their title and became The Titans. The moment was marked with the landmark “Who is Donna Troy” storyline in Issue #50.
After the events depicted in the classic Crisis on Infinite Earths also written by the pair, among the many dangling participles was the origin of longtime Teen Titan, Donna Troy, Wonder Girl — who couldn’t have ever been the protege of Wonder Woman given the Amazing Amazon’s revamped continuity in contemporary DC Comics mythology. The pair went back to the drawing board and found a proper way to revitalize Donna Troy, turning her instead into an orphan rescued by the Titans of Myth. Her power set was slightly altered and her look was given a major rebrand; she also became now known as the formidable Troia.
Total Chaos
The Titans’ roster would continue to evolve and their origins further put under the microscope. Even their team leader, Dick Grayson turned Nightwing would have his early career further developed, in a “year one” tale that would also introduce the world to the latest sidekick to the Caped Crusader, Tim Drake, continuing the legacy of the Boy Wonder, stepping into the famous suit. Founding members would come and go, and new heroes would join the line-up including the peculiar Pantha and the enigma known as Phantasm. Donna Troy would take a major leave of absence when she becomes pregnant with her and her husband Terry Long’s first baby.
But not everything is as perfectly pristine as might have been expected; this was after all the 90s and the era of the anti-hero. Deathstroke the Terminator had also been launched into his own ongoing series at the time, and the inevitable crossover event with his former arch enemies, The Titans, was also marked with the intro of the next generation of heroes — The Team Titans! This makeshift collection of 21st century super rebels are on a mission from the not-too-far off future to stop the ascension to power of the godlike Lord Chaos — Donna Troy’s son!
The Titans now find themselves in a middle of a contentions situation between their heirs apparent from the future, the assassin caught in the middle and the interloper come to destroy them all and insure his own survival, no matter what the cost! TITANS: Total Chaos collects in one volume the entire crossover event from the 90s Deathstroke, The Terminator #14-16, The New Titans #90-92 and the premiere launch of Team Titans #1-3. featuring a crucial development in the historic chronicles of Donna Troy, a story that could have considerable implications in current history.
TITANS: Total Chaos written by Marv Wolfman and featuring art from Tom Grummett, Kevin Maguire and Art Nichols is collected in a paperback volume on shelves now from DC Comics.
