Toycon 2011! It’s been a full decade since the first one, and it just keeps getting bigger! Also, it’s my 8th time showing up with a wish list, haggling for better deals (which usually equates to asking, “last price?”), ending up having too much fun hanging out with friends that I actually forget to take pictures and then going home encumbered with toys!

***

So anyway, here are toys that I got:

• DCUC Etrigan – I initially told myself to stick to Transformers toys this year. Stupid DCUC and their awesome sculpts. Got reeled in. Considering that this guy was part of the first wave? The sculpt still stands, and is in a lot of ways better than some stuff coming out recently. Four Horsemen!
• DCUC Darkseid – Ridiculous. Awesome.
• DCUC Superman – Finally! This is the Superman that I wanted last year!
• DOTM Deluxe Class Bumblebee – There was a booth (I’m sorry I forgot which one) that was selling Deluxe-Class DOTM toys for only 550. Too bad I saw it too late. No Crankcase for me (yet). While his vehicle mode is fantastic/different, truth is, I only just got a Battle Blades Bumblebee a few weeks ago, and that’s my favorite version of the character so far. To note: his hands can’t hold the MechTech weapon, you must plug it into the MechTech port at the back of his hand, which looks unnatural and weighs down the shoulder ball joint. His eyes lack the lightpipe that BB ‘Bee has, which is a little sad.
• DOTM Deluxe Class Starscream - I actually got this Starscream to fanmode’ combine with my Megatron lol. (thank your image board post — I’d love to credit you, but I don’t know who you are.)
• TF United WFC Optimus Prime - YESSSSS this completes my War for Cybertron toys! (Okay, so I don’t have Cliffjumper yet, but he’s same-molditis with Bumblebee anyway). I’m ridiculously careful about transforming this one since I might scratch the metallic paint. He looks great and pretty much represents the WFC version of the character. He has great articulation, and he has a gun that turns into a cannon. The only downside is: why didn’t they opt in making this a Voyager Class? (We get a leader-class Bumblebee, but no giant version of this one?) But that’s my personal opinion on Prime being the CEO of the Autobots: he should be bigger than most of them. (which is the same issue I have with Laser Optimus Prime, bought 2 days before toycon lol) Next mission: find and obtain a Corbot V War Axe.

Non-toys bought:

• PS3 War for Cybertron – bought from a booth called “New Haven.” Looking forward to their future online store.
• “The Doctor is in” Shirt – an awesome, awesome TARDIS-blue shirt by Geekerie. I liked it so much I bought two. (Then sold to jealous friend who didn’t get one lol) New favorite shirt?

***

As Toycon has become a tradition, fought the crowds again with Mikko. Finally saw Coeli again since I missed her last time ’round. The sisig-debt remains unpaid. lol

When you’re near the entrance of Megatrade hall, you’ll usually hear: “andaming tao sa loob/ansikip/too many people/etc” — but what they really mean is they love it and they want more. LOL

In my opinion, this is the best layout they’ve had for Toycon so far. You could see traces of it from last year: separating the areas for buying/selling, galleries and cosplay. Now it’s fully realized with a much larger (I think) area for booths, a separate gallery housed within dividers/walls and the cosplay stage at a different hall.

***

The title of this post is in reference to me (Doctor Hru), Mikko (Doctor How) and Wigi (Doctor Wei) getting the same geekerie shirt. First Doctor Who-related merch we’ve bought in Toycon. (so far)

***

A big thanks to awesome booths that sell great merch, friends for being awesome, and the organizers of Toycon!

What I predict to be the one figure fans will be after when DCUC wave 16 hits — Batman Knightfall Armor/AzBats. Of course I want one, even if I still don’t have the Azrael figure back from when the line was called DC Superheroes. Ugh.

The closest thing I have to this is the one Kenner put out in the 90s — the red one (which only appeared in a few issues, I think). Toyriffic has a terrific post from way back, showcasing this version of Azrael. Mine isn’t so clean — like some of the figures that I proudly own, I found him in a bin, lacking accessories and whatnot:

Hopefully, I get to own the DCUC one.

[UPDATE: Here's Michael Crawford's review of some of the figures from wave 16, including AzBats.]

Toy Con!  2010!  This is the 9th Philippine Toy Con — and this is my 7th time attending, wew!

Toy Con is still my favorite convention of the year — you could either be surprised by seeing a toy you were looking for, or by the people you bump into.  Also, people kept touching my butt.  LOL

For this year, (on-a-budget), I managed to buy 5 DCUC figures — my first five.  I still have this hate/love/hate/love relationship going on with DCUC — they’re up to series 12 or 14 now, but I’m now just catching up because I refuse to pay 800+ for a single figure LOL — so here’s what I bought, all LOOSE, of course!  (all of them except for Detective Batman don’t have any accessories)

• DCUC Gotham City 5-pack Batman (the black one) – Exclusive repaint from a 5-pack.  Is exactly the same figure as Detective Batman.
• DCUC Series 1 Detective Batman – The “Neal Adams” Batman.  Comes with a grapple gun and batarang.  I’m surprised at how much I’ve grown to like him.  Classic Bats, o yeh.
• DCUC Series 3 Robin - Much, much better than the one from the Batman series.  The collar hinders neck movement a bit.  Sad without his birdarang and staff.
• DCUC Series 4 Batman Beyond Variant – Terry McGinnis!  Awesome!  Also, just in time before the new BB books come out.  A bit sad that the mask accessory isn’t here, but if I didn’t grab him, someone else would have!
• DCUC Series 7 Barry Allen Flash- Bought him simply because he’s slick.  Great paint and sharp detail!

I was actually looking for a loose Superman without a mullet (the newer one) and a coupla others, but hey — any day I come home with a new Batman toy is a good day!  Although it’s 2010 and I still don’t have a Batman figure that could crouch LOL

What’d you get?

***

Again, thanks to all who made Toycon possible!  Also, thanks to Mikko for the assist!

So last week, dropped by day 2 of the 4th Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair with Mikko —

and what was there?  Tons of cheap loose/boxed ML, DCUC, DCIH, Joes, TF, comicbooks and custom figs.  If ever you’re looking for cheap giveaways for your inaanaks this Christmas, I think this is the place to get ‘em.

Also, I finally got myself a TFA Voyager Optimus Prime!  AWESUM!

(all the GI Joe stuff is Mikko’s)

I did see the Walmart Punisher that I like — but my money’s reserved for my mum’s gift. 

So, drop by the 4th Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair — last chance tomorrow (later) the 22nd!  Woohoo!

(Incidentally, failed the original “bloodpod” mission after the Fair. LOL)

***

Here’s a couple more pictures of TFA Optimus:  (Not to mention that the wrist guard on the right arm snapped off.  Booo!  Prolly brittle plastic?)

the derp axe.

with grimlock.

coolest feature ever = snapping mouthguard.  (coolest feature ever unless he makes the transform sound when … transformed)

alt mode.

vs grimlock.  axe in both hands, woohoo!

Pros:

* He’s the leader of the Autobots

* Translation from 2D -> 3D = fantastic.

* Awesome faceplate/mouthguard feature.

* Axe/gun store in his back for “Jetpack Mode”

* Cool automorph feature that doesn’t hinder mobility.

Cons:

* The red parts on his chest/shoulder areas are made of gray plastic painted red.  Edges of mine chipped off.  Boooo.

* Wrist guard very, very fragile.  In the hands of a child this will break.

* No transforming sounds for Voyager class toys, boooooo

Still a fantastic toy though.  GET HIM IF YOU CAN FIND HIM.

[Image from Azrael Coladilla]

When will this be mine?  I know Indie Spotlight’s been out for awhile now, so why haven’t I seen a Scud anywhere here?

[Image from Indie Spotlight News]

[At the time  of this writing, Toy Con 2009 will have just ended...]

Picture this, say, you could only attend ONE convention a year — I feel it should be Toy Con.  Honestly, I’ve missed like 70% of the similarly-themed conventions over the last year, but I always attend Toy Con.

My name is Paolo, and I’m a 6th-time attendee of Toy Con.

Being situated over the course of what is (was) a payday-on-Monday-long-weekend, I was broke for this Toy Con.  Like most of you lovely Toy Con attendees, I have this list of things I.MUST.GET, but I would bet you all the money in my wallet that most of the time, the unplanned finds end up being the best toys you get for that Toy Con.

Again, the day’s event/programme is busy, packed with contests, bands, videos (Dead Fantasy, woohoo!) and cosplayers while most of the attendees are busy buying plastic.  Recession?  What recession?  People are clearly buying toys!  It might save economies!  )

Not that I always end up buying anything anyway — I go for the company.

Toy Con is, of course, never JUST about the toys, or the haggling, or the sex-ay cosplayers, it’s about getting a huge venue to house — even for just two days — people with similar interests.  So if ever you’re into the toy, cosplay, art (please let me still be in DAMEAT :p ) , comicbook or animation scene, chances are, some of your similarly-interested friends are there already.

Most of these similarly-interested friends, I only get to see during these conventions, so that’s the best reason to go, really.  It’s just a really, really big plus if you get that big huge discount on the toy you were looking for.

***

Let’s see what the bats in the wallet got:

• Jetfire/Grimlock Gift set - Because I don’t have a Jetfire yet!  :p
• Transformers Music Label Soundwave/Soundblaster MP3 Player – An MP3 player that turns into a robot that’s almost in-scale with TF Classics/Universe!

Both were acquired at a great bargain!

And here’s what Snacks bought:

***

Kudos to the organizers, the sponsors, the (new and old) friends, the sex-ay cosplayers, the big expensive chunks of plastic that we all love — It was a fun, tiring, NERDgasmic Toy Con, and here’s to next year’s!

Here’s the TVC for the Toy Con this Saturday:

It’s that special time of the year once again — lines will be formed, people will show up in unusual outfits and money will disappear from wallets — traded for plastic goods.  (gods?)

ToyCon 2009!  Here are several things to expect:

• Cosplay!  (And BIG prizes!)
• MINDStyle MONO
• Various booths selling plastic goods (gods?)
• Various bins of comic books!
• Bands!
• Toy contests/displays!
• Friends who collect toys / People you might know but didn’t know collected toys / New friends-with-similar-interests waiting to happen.

Can you imagine?  And that’s NEXT WEEK.  See you kids there!

[more info over @ The Toy Con site.]

***

From the Site:

TOYCON is organized by Collectibles Unlimited partnered with the SM Megatrade Hall and is presented by Globe Broadband, Solar Entertainment and HERO TV. Also brought to you by Royal Tru Orange, Maxi Collector, Comic Odyssey, E-Games, ABS-CBN Interactive, MINDstyle, Toy Kingdom, Theaterworks, LG Mobile and WACOM. In cooperation with SugarFree N Blue, Wimax , Hobbymaster, Warner Brothers,Tribu, Club Astoria, Psicom and Creative Voices with media partners, ABS-CBN, Jack TV ,SciFi Channel, Fudge Magazine, Magic 89.9, NU 107, 105.1 Crossover and the official music channel, MTV.

The 8th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention
June 13-14, 2009
Megatrade Hall 2-3 and Conference Center A and B
SM Megamall, 5th Level Bldg. B
10am-9pm
www.toyconph.com

Can you say, “best elaboration-of-fanart-floating-on-the-internet“? 

It’s Star Wars … steampunk-style, yow!

Customs by Sillof, as featured in the recently-concluded CustomCon 21.

[Also featured: The Lost Wave, by my favorite customizer, Iron Cow.]

Here’s a preview of the new comic-accurate TMNT line that NECA’s working on … and yes!  All four turtles with red masks!  Goongala!

(The weather for today is sunny-side-up, with a healthy smattering of freezing winds.  Kung ‘di ka ba naman mabaliw, e mapapakain ka din ng kiviak sa lamig.)