Hasbro Groot Marvel Legend VS EBay Knockoff

I was browsing Legends on EBay this morning and was taken by surprise when I saw all these Groot BAFs selling for under $10. When I actually clicked on one of the listings it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on, they're knockoff figures. I have never bought a knockoff figure but I thought about getting one of these Groots until I did a little research. 

On EBay, the knockoff looks pretty decent and it's like $8. How you can ship anything internationally for that cheap is beyond me...well not really, I know there is some kind of trade agreement/Gov. subsidy going on. Considering that you had to buy 6 other figures at $20 a pop to complete the real Groot BAF, the knockoff may be a good option for some. Looking at the two figures side by side I can tell which is real and which is fake right away. I am too anal to collect the knockoff but let's look at the differences between the two and you can judge for yourself.

Compared to the real Groot the knockoff...

• Is shorter (easiest way to tell the difference)
• Has plastic that looks shinier than original
• Has more green on the chest and face
• Has less detail, original has detailed branches around the shoulders
• The torso rotates but doesn't move back and forth
• Has less movement in legs
• The legs are swapped, right is on left and vise versa
• The feet do not move 
• The arms have less movement
• The elbows are not double jointed
• Has silver screws in the elbow joint instead of plastic pins
• Has no articulation in wrist

Hasbro Groot vs knockoff

can't fault collectors for buying the knockoff over spending $120 to build the original but you will get what you pay for. If you aren't worried about the articulation so much than maybe this is the option for you. I did notice that the pictures on EBay do not look like the actual figure I have seen people receive online, the silver screws are not pictured and it looks less green then it really is.  

If you want to purchase the knockoff you can get them here. 

Walking Dead #144 Review

It has been quite the treat having the Walking Dead come out bi-monthly! Unfortunately, it looks as if that is ending with issue #144. The reason for the bi-monthly printing was to get compendium 3 out by October and with issue #144 in stores the compendium is complete. You can pre-order it on Amazon now.

Warning : Review may contain spoilers, don't read if you have not finished issue 143.

The Walking Dead #144

 After last issues panel with the bloody machete and the heavy hinting in the letters column it was pretty obvious something awful was about to happen. With that in mind, I was pretty excited to get my hands on issue 144. At the same time it is a little nerve wracking. I don't think there are a whole lot of expendable characters at this point in the series and the bloody machete from last issue had me real worried about Andrea and Michonne. That isn't to say that the Walking Dead hasn't introduced any new characters lately but there are few that I feel a personal attachment to. 

The issue begins where 143 left off with Rick and Alpha on the rooftop surveying the largest gathering of zombies we have ever seen in TWD. Of course, if you are up to date, you will know that the Whisperers have herded these zombies together on purpose and used them to threaten Rick and co. There is a lot of great dialogue with Rick and Alpha. I still feel like I don't have a good read on Alpha, she spends much of the issue lecturing Rick on the Darwinian principles of the Whisperers. According to Alpha emotions are weakness, the world they knew before was a cheap imitation of real life, and this world they have now is what humanity is truly about! Rick has to laugh at the absurdity of her nihilistic views on existence. This issue was a glimpse of the Rick I love. He looked like that leader of old, he had been getting a little soft with all this "community" going on. He is unafraid to call Alpha out on her schtick and call it what it is, a power trip.

Rick and Alpha make their way back to the Whisperer camp to find lovesick Carl and Lydia. Carl still refuses to leave with Rick but things take a turn when Carl explains how Alpha has allowed the rape of her daughter by the Whisperers. Obviously, this does not sit well with Rick.  What follows was my favorite scene in the comic. I don't want to spoil too much so read for yourself and you will see why I said I still can't get a read on Alpha. She is an enigma to me.

Soon after Rick and co. depart the Whisperer camp leaving with the warning not to enter Whisperer territory and that they will know the border when they see it. Having the image of the bloody machete still fresh in his mind, Rick is afraid he already knows what he is about to find. I'm not going to spoil it but WOW!

I really liked this issue, sure the ending is a bummer, but it has set up what looks to be a thrilling story. I'm a little discouraged that the end of this story probably means we are not getting an answer in regards to a certain paternity issue...

Kirkman has done a great job so far with Alpha and the Whisperers, they are mysterious and I'm impressed with the way he is able to craft new unique villains. This book kept a good pace, seems like a lot happened, but didn't feel rushed. I can't wait to see where they go from here because I have no idea how the are going to respond to what they just witnessed.



Charlie Adlard is excellent at capturing emotions in the character's faces, and 144 is no exception. You know Adlard is good because he has us all reading a black and white book!

You can pick this book up at your local comic book shop.

San Diego Comic Con Exclusives

The most important week of the year for geeks is here. San Diego Comic Con festivities will start to kick off tonight and go through the weekend. Comic con is exciting, even for those of us who can not attend, with social media it is easy to keep up with all the con happenings. Be sure to follow the official con Twitter account to keep up. 

In the coming days we will hear all about upcoming comic events, tv panels, and new toys. Personally, I am most excited for any Game of Thrones or Marvel Legends news. The Game of Thrones panel is Friday and you can find out more info about it here. Aside from the numerous panels, one of the coolest things about comic con are the exclusives. You can be sure to find these exclusives popping up all over eBay in the coming days and weeks. 

My most anticipated SDCC exclusives I already touched on a few weeks back, they are Hasbro's Dr. Strange Marvel Legends box set and Ant-Man box set. You can go back and read more about those on my blog here. 

Other exclusives I'm excited about include...

Lego Exclusives

• Lego Superman recreation of Action Comics #1 
• Sells for $39.99
• 145 pieces
• Lego Sam Wilson as Captain America Mini-fig 
• Free to attendees, but can only be obtained by daily drawing
• Lego Throne of Ultron 
• Sells for $39.99
• 203 pieces

Super 7 He-Man Exclusives

• He-Man Pint Glasses 
• Set of 4 featuring Skeletor, Beast Man, Tri-Klops and Mer-Man
• Can be purchased individually for $10 or as a set. 
• Minimal Beast Man T-Shirt
• Sells for $25
• Mossman Chia Pet (Awesome!!!)
• Seriously, click the link. Really excellent promo vid!
• Sells for a mere $29.99!!!

Marvel Exclusives

• Thor - "Does Thou Even Hoist?"
• Sells for $25
• Skottie Young Character Pins 
• REALLY cool enamel pins based on featuring Skottie Young artwork
• 28 different pins
•  4 packs sell for $25 - Themes include...
• Guardians of the Galaxy 
• Avengers 
• Spider-Man
• Women of Marvel 
• 2 packs sell for $12.50 - they are blind boxes so...Surprise!
• Hulk
• Captain America
• Black Bolt
• Iron Patriot
• etc
• Singles sell for $10 - $15 - special rules to buy these
• Ultron
• Ant-Man
• Vision
• Nick Fury

For more comic con exclusives check out the SDCC Unofficial Blog.

Buying Comics on Proxibid: Online Auction

One other place where I like to look for comics is the website Proxibid. It is an online auction site, similar to Ebay, but more like a traditional auction service. You can browse Proxibid without registering but if you want to place bids you will have to register. Getting registered is quick and easy, if you plan on bidding on anything you will have to register a credit card with the site.

You can search for items for sale - just like eBay, or you can search for events. Events are auctions that are taking place all over the country, they are held by a number of different auction services. So if you are looking for comics, you would enter "comics" into the search bar and check events, then in the results page you will find a list of auctions and the times they are taking place. Now these are not auctions with a single item but with lots of items. You can place a bid on individual lots within the auction before the actual auction has started. This is where it really differs from eBay, these auctions are actually happening in real life at whatever location is specified. Therefore you are not just bidding against people online but with people at the actual physical location of the auction. If you want to leave your max bid ahead of time and not look at it again, you can have email or SMS alerts send to you. If you want to bid on items in real time you can do that as well. The lots are listed in the order they will sell come auction day.

There are some things you need to consider when buying on Proxibid, namely internet premiums. Premiums are a percentage of the sale that the online buyer must pay. Generally, it is about fifteen percent but it differs depending on the auction company. You will also want to read all terms because some companies charge handling fees. The items you win will be shipped to you by the auction company. In my experience the companies always do a good job shipping your items securely, however they are not overly concerned with being cost efficient because you will be the one paying for it. Make sure you read all terms and shipping instructions before bidding.

Proxibid is not as recognized as eBay so you can usually find better values, depending on the premium. You do not have to worry about dealing with bad sellers because Proxibid monitors the reputations of the auctioneers on their site. Proxibid can be a great tool for filling the holes in your collection!

Happy Hunting!

Make Your Own Comics

Wouldn't it be cool to make your own comics?

 I do not possess any real art skills, but I still think up ideas for comics from time to time. Perhaps, you have the skills I lack! If you do, and you've ever wondered what it takes to make your own comics, you may want to check out Comic Book Lab. I would not even know where to begin when it comes to making a comic and that is where Comic Book Lab comes in. Comic Book Lab was created by Ian Hannin. Ian has worked as a colorist for Marvel and DC. You may have seen some of his handy work in Batman: Battle for the Cowl, She Hulk or X-Men: The End.

The comic book industry is ultra-competitive so you will need all the help you can get if you wish to make it. With Comic Book Lab you can learn from someone who has a proven track record of success within the industry from the comfort of your own home. It has to beat more art classes at your community college!  Take advantage of Ian’s insider knowledge and tips. Through his website, Ian can walk you through the process of penciling, inking, and coloring comic books.

 You can view a trailer for his program here or to visit his site Click Here!  With the help of Comic Book Lab you will have the tools and knowledge to start creating your own comics.

Good luck and I would love to see what you create! Excelsior!

Comic Review: Walking Dead 143

I was a late adapter to the Walking Dead series. I did not start reading it until 100+ issues in, sometime before Negan appeared. So my introduction to the series was reading the first two compendiums. The Walking Dead is my favorite ongoing title but after tearing through the first compendiums, getting a book, maybe two, a month is killer. 

Review Walking Dead 143 (potential spoilers – I try to be vague!)

 The Walking Dead 143

The series has been a little dull to me lately. I know it is just the calm before the storm but it's been a few months now and I'm ready to have my heart ripped out again. We got a little bit of excitement a couple issues back when Negan was accidentally let loose. Much to our surprise though, Negan minded his manners and returned to his cell willingly. Michonne reappearing has been comforting and makes me think we have some Samurai action on the horizon.

Carl  confronts Rick

Issue 143 begins with the fair well under way.  First of all, how weird is it that we have a fair going on in TWD? Many of the characters seem to find it as strange as I do as a reader. We get a brief glimpse of new, presumed baddy, Alpha at the fair and then focus on Ezekiel. Ezekiel has some really cheesy dialogue about missing Michonne. I thought much of the dialogue in this issue was bad.  I don’t usually have a problem with it. Carl is still with the Whisperers and he has taken notice of Alpha’s absence, as we know, Alpha is at the fair doing recon.  Rick, Andrea, Michonne and others are on their way to the Whisperer’s camp to retrieve Carl. In all honesty, I am not a huge advocate for the Carl-centric approach the book has seemed to take. I still love Rick, still want Rick to be THE guy, but we’ll see. Rick’s group is found by the Whisperers and he is taken solo to see Carl. Rick and Carl have somewhat of a confrontation that I thought was a little bizarre, at least some of the dialogue seemed like it was out of left field. I guess Carl is just a big boy now and needs Daddy to know, he is also very enamored with Lydia and maybe not thinking straight. Alpha soon reappears at the camp. If you are one of the people that have their doubts about whether or not Alpha is the next major villain in the series, the last few pages should give you your answer.

Alpha is for real?

 This issue was a mix of good and bad. I liked the cover, it features Carl holding hands with new gal pal, and licker of eye sockets, Lydia and she’s rocking the notorious Sheriff’s hat. The Charlie Adlard pencils are as good as always. I really did not like the dialogue. I don’t enjoy the relationship drama or the relative calm we’ve had for a while now, it hasn’t seemed like this book has been moving. That being said the last few panels and the letters column left me satisfied. The very last page is fantastic and has me really excited for what is to come. Between the last page and a certain panel with Alpha, that I don’t want to spoil, I really think you are going to want to read issue 144. If that isn’t enough to convince you, the letter column hinted, not so subtly, to expect something big in issue 144 so be sure to pick it up.

 You can find issue 143 at your local comic shop.

Top 10 : Rare and Expensive Marvel Legends

Disclaimer: I am not literally listing the most valuable Marvel Legends figures from Most expensive on but listing 10 highly sought after valuable Legends of my choosing. I am only counting figures released under the "Legends" line so no X-Men or FF classic. 

1.     Crimson Dawn Psylocke

This is the first Legend that comes to mind when you are talking rare and valuable. It is rumored that only 12 were even released; you couldn’t find this figure on eBay if you wanted to. It was supposed to be released as a variant of the Psylocke figure found in the ToyBiz Mojo wave but this was around the time toy biz sold the line to Hasbro and only a handful ended up seeing the light of day. It features Psylocke in all black uniform with a red marking over the left side of her face. If you could manage to find one, expect to spend well north of a grand.

If you are into nerdy unboxing videos…check out this guy unboxing his Crimson Dawn Pyslocke.

2.     Silver Shirt Luke Cage

Also found in the Mojo Wave, is the Silver Shirt Luke Cage figure. This figure is in the same boat as the Crimson Dawn Psylocke, supposedly only 12 exist. I don’t personally care for this figure, but it is extremely rare.

3.     ToyBiz Deadpool Series 6

Wow! This figure has jumped since I had last looked for one. Last I had looked these were selling for around a $100, I saw one sold last week for $250. Deadpool is an insanely popular character and seems to have the most intense fans so makes sense that this figure would be hot. Really all the Deadpool figures are pretty valuable. This is the most expensive Deadpool but all the others are highly sought after as well. Personally, the gray uncanny X-Force Deadpool is my favorite but I was a huge fan of that series. The other Pool figures include the blue “X-Men” Deadpool that came in a two pack with Warpath and a Hasbro Red Deadpool (variant of Uncanny X-Force) that seems to have only been released in Europe. If you look for those on eBay be careful because the majority are bootlegs.

4.     Ares Build A Figure

The whole Ares wave is expensive so that makes the Ares build a figure super pricey. This is one of my most coveted figures. I used to have a good portion of the wave but in a moment of weakness sold them! This wave was a Wal-Mart Exclusive. Currently they are selling for around $230.

5.     Crossbones – Ares Wave

I can remember seeing this figure at the store. It still pains me that I did not buy it when I had the chance. Sometimes I wish I had a time machine to go back and buy old comics and toys, imagine buying a Mint Amazing Fantasy 15 at a drugstore and bringing it in to the future…I digress…Anyways this figure easily sells for $150, which is kind of surprising because the Ares doesn’t sell for THAT much more. It is a very popular wave, 2 years ago I sold a MOC Kang and Guardian from the wave for a $100, and they would get real close to $200 today.

6.     Giant Man Build a Figure

Putting build a figures on this list may be cheating, but this is my blog and nobody reads it yet anyways! The Giant Man wave was also a Wal-Mart Exclusive so that is part of the reason it is so high, another is the simple fact that you had to buy so many figures to put him together. You had to buy nine figures to complete him. Today, he sells for $170 - $200.  I’m going to try and get the new Giant Man that is being sold at SDCC.

7.     Black Suit Spidey – Red Hulk Wave

This figure was part of the Target Exclusive wave with the Red Hulk Build a Figure. Black Suit Spidey is a classic so it’s no surprise this figure is in high demand. It is a really good looking figure; I’d love to have one. That whole wave was really cool and it produced a few valuable figures, including the Classic Wolverine and Spiral. Spidey sells for around $75 MOC.

8.     Winter Soldier Bucky/Black Widow

I hated the Winter Soldier we got for the latest Captain America movie. It was based on the film version and I just think it looks like crap. Previously, Hasbro had released a comic version Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in a two pack with Black Widow. It was one of the Toys R Us fan two pack exclusives…you may be noticing a pattern by now. Both figures came with swappable heads and there was a black suited widow and a gray widow variant. The black suited 2 pack sells for $150 + and the gray a little lower, around $120 maybe less.

9.     Storm – Jubilee Wave

This is the most recent figure on my list. It was released in the Jubilee Wave that was exclusive through Toys R Us. I never saw these figures in the store once. I got my Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jubilee from that wave on Instagram and eBay. The Storm features her latest costume that is seen in Wolverine in the X-Men etc. and her Mohawk. I’m a big fan of Storm with a Mohawk! Expect to pay $100+ MOC. It is worth noting that part of the reason this figure is so valuable is because it contains the biggest part of the Jubilee build a figure.

10.  Emma Frost – Puck Wave

Hasbro released an Emma Frost figure a while ago but it is not very popular. You can find in MOC for under $20. This version, that was released as a Previews exclusive, is highly sought after. It is a much better looking figure but expect to pay $90-$100+.