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Precinct1313’s Holiday Swag Bag…
Felicitations, fellow fans of fantastic festive fiction, and welcome to another thrilling treasure trove of terrific toys! That’s right, my beleaguered Bat-wallet has taken a particularly brutal beating at the behest of various geeky retail outlets! But, we’ve come away with, quite possibly, our greatest haul of nerdy necessities yet. So let’s dive on in…
Batman: The Complete Television Series…
“Holy bumper box of bodacious Batman blu-rays!” That’s right, old chum, the swinging sixties sensation has taken up residence in the Precinct with this classic collection of all 120 episodes! So it looks like I’ll be spending the entire holiday period ‘Kapowing’ my way through this camp classic, 2717 minutes of crazy capers, 3 hours of extras at a ridiculously reasonable £30… Bat-tastic!!
Dr Fate Action Figure..
Lord of order – Dr Fate, has magically materialised onto the Precinct’s overburdened shelves with this fantastic figure based upon his likeness from the recent Black Adam film. Dr Kent Nelson (played by Pierce Brosnan in the movie) is a powerful sorcerer and agent for the Lords of Order, originally created in 1940 by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman.
I’ve wanted a Fate action figure for awhile now, so was pleasantly surprised to walk into my local HMV during one of their sale periods, to find this striking sculpt, and at a ridiculously cheap £10! With over 30 points of articulation, a stand, so the good ol’ Doc can levitate, and a collectors trading card, this was a complete and utter bargain!
NECA – Ultimate Robocop Figure…
“Drop it, dead or alive this toy is coming with me!” isn’t what I said to my local comic shop proprietor… but thinking back on it, it would’ve been cool if I had, oh well! I was absolutely giddy to find this stunning set in my nearest (and dearest) comic-book shop. NECA make some of the very best figures and statues in the business, and this ultimate robo is another awesome addition to their classics line.
I love Robocop, the original 87 movie is my favourite film of all time, so whenever I find absolutely anything to do with the classic cyborg, I am utterly compelled to pick it up. Standing at 7 inches, and meticulously detailed, this absolutely lives up to its Ultimate appellation. It features a spring loaded holster for Murphy’s Auto-9 pistol, a Cobra Assault Cannon, data spike alternate right hand, and an interchangeable head. “I’d buy that for a dollar” It wasn’t actually a dollar, it was 50 quid, but worth every single penny!
NECA – Elvira – Red, Fright & Boo Figure…
Another notable NECA addition to my collection is this rousing rendition of the devilish and dynamic diva of the double-entendre, the mistress of the dark herself – Elvira!
Thanks once more goes to my local HMV for providing this fabulous figure of Cassandra Peterson’s alter ego, the horror hostess with the mostest… busting out from the collector’s box, this 8 inch figure is fully articulated, with tailor fabricated clothes, and a whole host of horrortastic extras, including an alternate winking head, haunted chalice, skull and snake candle display and figure stand.
Happy Holidays!
Precinct1313’s Monthly Swag-Bag…
Har Har! Avast me hearties!! X marks the spot on another tremendous treasure trove of thrilling toys! That’s right, my poor ol’ wallet has taken yet another beating for the cause, and this month has procured us an admirable assortment of – cool cyborgs, wondrous warriors and voluptuous vixen vamps!!
Robocop And OCP Cruiser –
To say I was surprised to walk into my local Smyths’ toyshop and find merchandise for a 36 year old cult classic movie would be a vast understatement, I was literally gobsmacked! and really bloody happy, as Robocop (the 1987 original, not the horrendous remake!) is my absolute fave movie, ever! Dead or Alive this toy was coming with me!!
Actually, it wasn’t a dollar, but an extremely reasonable 25 British pounds! The Jada Toys 35th anniversary Robo and cruiser are die-cast metal and fantastically detailed (especially ol’ Murphy himself) The OCP cruiser doors, bonnet and trunk are all interactive, and the car is fairly heavy and robust. Even better, it’s from the same range as my previously bought – Robert Pattinson Batmobile and Batman set, so the size and scale are the same meaning I can pit Batsy against Robo in a dynamic duel!
Wonder Woman – Endless Winter – Action Figure…
Suffering Sappho! at last count, I believe I currently possess around thirty Wondy action figures and statues… but then, you can never have too much of a good thing, so when I saw the wondrous one on sale in my local HMV at 50% off, how could I say no (hint: I didn’t!) Endless Winter was a 2020 crossover comic from DC that charted the rise of the Frost King and his effort to cause a global eternal winter, and the Justice League’s attempts to stop him.
I have to say I love the design of Wondy’s arctic warrior look, the figure itself is fantastically chunky, with 22 points of articulation, and comes replete with Diana’s sword and Golden Lasso of Truth! Best of all… it was an absolute bargain at just £12.50!
Elvira – Neca Figure…
Cassandra Peterson’s awesome alter-ego… voluptuous vixen vamp – Elvira, now resides on our spooky shelves, thanks to Neca collectables and (once again) my local HMV. This cleavage-tastic toy celebrates 40 years of the quirky queen of delicious double-entendre! The horror hostess heroine also makes the perfect accompaniment to my recently purchased special edition Blu-Ray of the – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – movie by Arrow Video (which comes highly recommended also by the way, with a fantastic picture and sound transfer) they make for the perfect pair… rather like Elvira herself (ooh-er missus!)
Why not join us again next month for even more spectacular swag, fellow fans of fantastic fiction!
Comic Cover Of The Week: Elvira Meets Vincent Price #5
Felicitations, fellow fans of fantastic fiction, and welcome once more to another creatively cool and compelling Comic Cover Of The Week! We once again find ourselves delving into the enthralling, ebullient and effervescent entity that is Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark, and her latest darkly droll dalliance with none other than the master of horror himself – Vincent Price, in Dynamite Comics’ Elvira Meets Vincent Price #5.
And with this issue comes another intense issue… a cleavage clad comic cover conundrum, if you will, which of the well endowed salacious selection of vaunted variants of exhilarating Elvira entities should you choose? I personally always pick up the photo cover alternates, but with such astonishing artists such as Dave Acosta and Juan Samu on the comic cover case, it’s really hard to resist the tantalising temptation to snap them all up!
A famous scream queen actress is missing, causing Elvira and Vincent Price to join forces to find her… even if it means literally breaking the fourth wall, and entering the world of a slasher movie.But can the terrifying twosome of the Mistress Of The Dark and the Master Of Horror save this Final Girl before a dastardly director traps her forever in a digital nightmare? Thrills, chills and spills, plus some bodaciously bad puns await, dear reader… dare you enter?
Elvira Meets Vincent Price #5 Is available From your Local Comic-Book Emporium Right Now!
Comic Cover(s) Of The Week
One Cover To Rule Them All…
“Well hey there fellow fans of fantastic fiction, and welcome to another exhilarating episode of Comic Cover Of The Week. And this week we have a cornucopia of cool and collectively creative covers for your decidedly discerning delectation”
Before we begin, picture this scene… yours truly hasn’t darkened the doorsteps of my local comic book emporium for just over a month due to circumstances beyond my control (look, someone had to stop that rampaging horde of evil ninjas, right!?) So, there I am crossing the treasured threshold of my favourite purveyor of superheroic saga’s, when the proprietor looks me grimly in the eye – “been awhile Bruce” he proffers ” you may want to sit down, the shock of your pull list may take you back a bit” he continued with a wry glint in his eye, as he realises that he may be able to shut early even if I only buy a modicum of my haul. From my back pocket I could hear my, near sentient, wallet groan and sigh when the inevitable mountain of comics slammed down on the shop’s counter with such force, that the planet almost tipped off it’s axis and hurtled into the sun! There were quite a few, that’s for sure…
So let us begin by careening into a chasm containing a cavalcade of cleavage clad comic-covers starring the delightfully delectable and exquisitely enchanting – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.
I buy as many variants of the voluptuous vixen vamp’s monthly adventures as I can possibly seize my hands upon… I am a massive fan of the charming Cassandra Peterson alter ego… I mean, you can never have too much Elvira in your life!
Next up is this captivating Catwoman variant (actually based upon a golden age original – Batman#42 from 1947) by the stunning Stanley (Artgerm) Lau. Lau has become one of my absolute favourite cover artists over the years (joining other greats such as Amanda Conner, Jenny Frisson and Adam Hughes) Stanley is one of the best artists working in comics today as you can see for yourself with this rousing rendition of the classically costumed Selina Kyle (an extra bonus, as this is my personal most beloved costume of the calculatingly cool and capricious cat-burglar)
All these covers and more (oh so many more…) are available at your local comic-book emporium right now! best get there quick before my meddling with the Earth’s axis plummets us into the abyss!!
Precinct1313’s Top Ten Favourite Feisty Female Fighting Furies…
Mmmmm, we haven’t dared to tread the perilous path of the infamous Top 10 list so far here in the darkest depths of Precinct1313, never really gave the idea of doing one much thought to be honest. That is until recently, when blogging buddy ‘The Vintage Toy Advertiser’ rendered his very own (and really rather amusing) Top 10 masterclass (which you can indulge your senses in right here) that we thought, suffering sappho, let’s do one of them there list things then, and thus…
Precinct1313’s Ten Favourite Furiously Fierce Femme’s Fatale
NB: This list will contain both fictional and non-fictional wildly wondrous warrior women for your delectation…
No.10 – Big Barda
No list of vivacious virago vixens should ever be without the formidable presence of fighting fury and thorn in Granny Goodness’ side – Big Barda, for she truly encompasses everything to love about powerful, vibrant female characters who are easily able to match and (in most cases for Barda especially) surpass their male counterparts. How tough is Barda? we’ll let the picture below answer that query…
No.09 – Lara Croft
Quintessentially British acrobatic archaeologist Lara Croft has been raiding tombs, securing ancient artefacts and performing perilous platforming since she was first unleashed unto the gaming world by Core Design in 1996. Since that time she has become one of the most recognisable video-game characters of all time and sits proudly in the upper echelons alongside Master Chief, Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.
No.08 – Moon Lee
I’m an 80’s kid, I grew up during that phenomenal decade alongside many classic onscreen action stars and martial artists, even as a youngster my preference was always female characters/fighters and one of the biggest influences for me then was the magnificent Moon Lee. Hong Kong action star supreme, Moon Lee Choi-Fung starred in close to a formidable fifty films during her heyday of the 1980’s!
No. 07 – Batwoman
Kate Kane’s Batwoman alter ego first debuted in the 1956 issue of Detective Comics #233 created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff. Initially created as a female counterpart and love interest to the Batman, Kate has over the past sixty years (thankfully) shed that unfortunate creation calamity and has now become one of the biggest and most beloved of female comic book characters, with a much needed revamp and resurgence through the hand of artist/writer JH Williams III. Reversing the inauspicious and unenlightened conception and delivering a new standard for empowerment in the burgeoning female Superhero market.
No. 06 – Catwoman
Though most Bat-fans see The Joker as Batsy’s biggest foe, for me personally the character that inhabited that perch was always anti-hero cat burglar Selina Kyle. Though Mr J is without a doubt the bigger threat to the dark and surly one’s psyche, Selina holds something over Bats that the jester of genocide never, ever could… his heart. She has been Batman’s most enduring love interest since her inception in Batman #1 in June of 1940… puuuurfect!
No. 05 – Cynthia Rothrock
As previously mentioned some of the biggest influences on me growing up were the plethora of fantastic fighting females that occupied the realms of martial arts cinema, and my most beloved and admired is none other than scintillating Cynthia Rothrock. American born Cynthia is quite possibly the most successful female martial arts master in history – she is five times world champion in weapons and forms and currently holds an astonishing seven black belts in varying martial disciplines! She has also starred in over fifty movies throughout her career, and has acted alongside greats such as Sammo Hung and Michelle Yeoh.
No. 04 – Batgirl
Though the Batgirl name and costume have been inhabited by several different women over the years, the most beloved and well known is assuredly the second holder of the bombastic bat mantle – Barbara (Babs) Gordon. Replacing original holder of the title – Bette Kane (who was created in 1961) Babs debut was in 1967, daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon and head of Gotham City Library. Her auspicious crime fighting career began with a triumphant save of Bruce Wayne from a kidnapping plot wrought by SuperVillain Killer Moth, and cemented her place in Bat history!
No. 03 – Elvira – Mistress Of The Dark
Elvira may not be a martial arts action star or female fighting force but what she definitely is, is a sensation of female empowerment and positive attitude. A strong, outspoken comedienne who used her innate sexual prowess to turn the tables on mysogynynistic and prejudice laden media from her first appearance courtesy of actress Cassandra Peterson in 1981. Self deprecating and dripping in risque double-entendres, her campy humour has propelled the voluptuous vixen vamp to celebrated cult status, and beyond!
No. 02 – Starfire
Fiery alien princess – Starfire has been a favourite of the Precinct since she was first unleashed in the pages of DC Comics Presents #26 in 1980. Created by the legendary pairing of comic book royalty – George Perez and Marv Wolfman, Koriand’r instantly became a much beloved character and mainstay of The Teen Titans. Hailing from the planet Tamaran, Kory escaped the ravaging of her home by Tamaran enemies The Citadel and her own feuding sister Komand’r (aka – Blackfire) and made a new life for herself on Earth. She is currently the leader of the Teen Titans and founding member of Justice League Odyssey alongside Jessica Cruz, Azrael and Cyborg.
No. 01 – Wonder Woman
Well, if you’ve been following the Precinct for any length of time then you probably knew that the Themysciran Titan would, of course, occupy the titular top spot, and hey, guess what… you were right! I’ve been a WW fan since I was around nine years old, she truly is the greatest fictional female character in my mind, and has the distinction of having the most significant and profound effect upon female empowerment of any fictitious persona ever created. Her genius creator William Moulton Marston first envisioned the Amazon warrior princess in 1941, when she took the covetous cover appearance on All Star Comics #8. Marston was a supporter of the Suffrage movement of the 1940’s, of whom his own wife Elizabeth was a founding member.
All hail the wondrous one!
If you’ve managed to stay the course of this list, then thanks fellow Agents. Who are some of your personal favourite female furies of all time? let battle commence in the comments below…
Comic Cover Of The Week: The Shape Of Elvira #1
Warning: Astonishing Alliteration and Ironic Innuendo Ahoy…
“It’s raining Elvira’s, hallelujah, it’s raining Elvira’s…” Ah, okay, it isn’t actually raining Elvira (unfortunately!) but this is literally the second Comic Cover Of The Week in a row dedicated to our ferociously favourite, tenaciously teasing tantalising temptress – Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark!
That’s right fellow fans of fantastic fiction, Cassandra Peterson’s awesome alter ego – voluptuous vamp Elvira is back in a brand new mini-series brought to by the dynamically detonating – Dynamite Comics! with this brand spanking new series (as you may have surmised from the title) poking (good-natured) fun at Guillermo Del Toro’s recent hit movie – The Shape Of Water.
“The Mistress Of The Dark lands the leading role in a touching art film about human/gill monster romance (!?) but there’s something decidedly fishy about her co-star. Is there an Oscar in her future, or is the director Billy Bullworth interested in spawning something more than an Academy Award winning movie?”
Competing compellingly with Elvira’s previous mini-series, the saucy and spooky Shape Of Elvira also boasts a cavalcade compendium of cleavage clad comic-book covers that reaches a combustible crescendo with no less than eight extraordinary variant covers!!
The first issue of Elvira’s newest astonishing adventure is available at your local comic-book emporium right now! If you’re a fan of Cassandra Peterson’s raunchy, racy, ribald and generally risque alter-ego then dive right on in, and tell her Precinct1313 sent you (oh, and could you get her phone number for me whilst you’re there!?)
Comic Cover(s) Of The Week: Elvira – Mistress Of The Dark #2
*Warning – The Innuendo Is Strong With This One!*
A double dose of cool comic cover creativeness this week… or perhaps I should say a double D considering the star of these far from innocent issues is none other than our favourite voluptuous vixen vamp… Elvira!
That’s right fellow fans of fantastic fiction, Cassandra Peterson’s suggestively insinuating heroine has returned thanks to a brand new four issue mini series courtesy of Dynamite Comics.
Double-entendres (surprise, surprise!) abound as we follow the Mistress of the Dark as she hurtles her way through horror history whilst hounded by the villainous Vlad Tepes. Last issue, after a tangle with a time travelling casket, our titular celebutante gate-crashed Mary Shelley’s infamous monster party, raided a spooky wine cellar and fended off the audacious advances of bloodsucking impaler Tepes.
This month our heroic hell-cat, having temporarily given the dastardly Dracul the slip, teams up with none other than eerie Edgar Allan Poe for a second round bout with the recurring viciously vile and vehement Vlad.
And why not throw yourselves into a chasm of cleavage clad comic covers, as each and every issue throws up a veritable treasure chest (with the emphasis, of course, on chest… I mean c’mon, it’s Elvira!) of variants of our voracious virago vixen.
Cassandra Peterson’s celebrity chasing creation – Elvira was first brought to the fore an astonishing thirty five years ago! and since that time has been the star of both film and television. The horror hostess extreme has ruled over her fervent fandom with her irreverent, suggestive and allusion laden humour, with Dynamite’s fantastic comic series capturing every nuance of her fourth wall breaking voluptuously vulgar verbose. A fabulously fun read for both fans and newcomers alike… her hellacious hijinks come highly recommended!
Hallowe’en Approaches…
Well with an online moniker like ‘ArcaneHalloween’ how can I not celebrate this ghoulish holiday, so a quick preview of what we shall be writing about on this day of the dead!
The obligatory horror movie review of course, but not Halloween itself (even though it is by far my favourite horror movie) Possible candidates are: April Fools Day – a classic horror whodunnit from the eighties, The Frighteners – fantastic Michael J.Fox supernatural movie directed by a pre-Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson, Elvira – Mistress of the Dark … cause we love Cassandra Peterson here at the Precinct.
The annual Exeter Zombie walk – on the 31st of October every year the dead rise and walk the streets of my home city of Exeter in the UK. So to celebrate we shall be risking life and limb by bringing you exclusive pictures of this undead uprising.
Where’s Ash and his chainsaw when you really need him?
Plus a short history of Samhain itself, prepare yourselves it’s going to get scary…
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