An xkcd Ghostbusters Comic

xkcd is a wonderful web comic that is widely popular. It is purportedly about romance, sarcasm, math, and language; basically any "nerd" would love it. And I do. Here is today's strip, filled with Ghostbusters goodness.

Gizmodo Readers Update Santa

In Gizmodo's latest photoshop contest, readers were asked to introduce Santa into the 21st century. Of course Star Wars made an appearance.



The bottom image actually won the contest. Congratulations to Brandon Frenzel!

CAD Ghostbusters Reference

Courtesy of Ctrl+Alt+Del's Silly for December 7th.

Gentle Giant Speaks About New Bust-Ups

From Gentle Giant:

Build your own Star Wars Clone Trooper Armada!

These pre-painted collectible press ‘n fit kits are NOW available through your local Toys ‘Я' Us stores. There are 2 sets: Armada 1 and Armada 2; each set retails for $15.99.


Bred and trained on the oceanic outlying place of Kamino, the unflinching loyal clone troopers are born to serve the Republic. Despite sharing identical genes, a clone trooper often fosters a greater sense of identity by giving himself a name, a stylized haircut or even the occasional tattoo. While a clone's role may not seem a enviable one, the hardships of battle foster an unparalleled camaraderie that only further cements his fraternal bonds.


These Clone Trooper Bust-Ups Sets make great stocking stuffers for the Star Wars collector in your family! Collect both sets today!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I already picked these sets up at Toys R Us over Thanksgiving break. They are simply repaints but nice ones. Armada 1 appears to feature Captain Rex, a Senate Security Clone Trooper, and a trooper from the 212th Attack Battalion. Armada 2 consists of what appears to be an AT-TE Tank Gunner, one of Plo Koon's troopers (from the Malevolence series), and a trooper in green deco (which will be released in Hasbro's 3 3/4" line this spring).

After Thanksgiving Round-Up

Well things have been quite busy recently. Kelly and I made the trek from West Lafayette, IN to Eighty Four, PA on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The following day I made the last leg of my journey to be with my family and friends in Sinking Spring, PA. Thanksgiving was busy as usual and soon enough I was making the return trip. After watching my high school win the PIAA District III AAAA football championship, I left the stadium in Hershey, PA bound for Eighty Four to pick up Kelly. On Sunday we made the 7 hour drive back to Purdue University. It was a nice little reprieve (Kelly hadn't been to her house since January) and a great preview of things to come for the Christmas break.

I've done more than traveling over the last 10 days however. Recently a lot of things I preordered and paid for months ago started shipping. Among them were The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection on DVD from Time Life and the Airborne Trooper and Galactic Marine mini-busts from Gentle Giant.

Image from The Real Ghostbusters.

While I was home I was able to hit up Target and Toys R Us with Brent for some Star Wars goodies. I picked up the Shield Generator Assault battle pack and the Clone Trooper Officer (Yellow, Commander) figure from The Legacy Collection and the Toys R Us exclusive Clone Wars bust-ups, mentioned in the previous post (w00t! Christmas gifts!).

While I was home I was able to organize, sort, and store some of my collection. I can actually walk in my room now! There's still a slight mess but that should be fixed over Christmas. Some extra figures I had lying around I decided to open and create a diorama with one of my opened Republic Gunships. I didn't get to snap any pictures but the Gunship (with nose art from The Clone Wars collection) has 4 TCW Clone Pilots ("Odd Ball") flying the ship and manning the guns plus Captain Rex giving orders to 3 501st Legion Troopers (Wal-Mart exclusive) and 2 regular Clone Troopers. It looks pretty sweet!

In developing life stories, some big news was dropped on our family and friends recently. Kelly and I have decided to move to Sinking Spring, PA (my original hometown) once Kelly finishes her atmospheric science master's degree at Purdue! I will be working for my father with a future goal of succeeding him as owner & president of the sandwich shop. I'll be his apprentice for the next 10 or so years until he wants to partially retire.

My family and friends couldn't be happier; they are REALLY excited for us to return! And we can't wait...

New Bust-Ups at Toys R Us?

An email sent out to the PSWCS listserv last night caught my attention. Someone found new Gentle Giant Bust-Ups at Toys R Us. They appear to use the same mold as the troopers from this set. It has been reported that there are 2 different exclusive sets available, one includes Captain Rex. I grabbed the below image from an eBay auction. The eBay member is selling both new sets with a $39.99 starting price ($44.99 with Buy it Now). A bit steep.

It isn't the best picture but it is the only one I can find that verifies the existence of these sets. You can see they are in the new Clone Wars packaging. It looks like Rex and a blue and red clone in the top set and maybe Commander Fox with a white a green clone on the bottom? I'm not sure about the middle clone in the second set. They are selling at retain for ~$15. If anyone sees these let me know! Gentle Giant was reportedly done with these but apparently they hyave reissued and repainted a past mold. This was completely under the radar by collecting sites.

Want List - Gentle Giant

Mini-Busts

Animated Maquettes

Bust-Ups

Clone Wars Maquettes

Star Wars: The Clone Wars out on DVD and Blu-Ray Today

The Clone Wars movie hits shelves today. There are numerous different types and versions, including exclusives at Target and Best Buy. It is being released in 1-disc, 2-disc, and Blu-Ray versions. I'd like the Target exclusive version because it includes a Clone Wars comic (Shipyards of Doom) and has Commander Fox on the cover. Check it out!

A Killer Combination

While perusing ESPN for the 714th time today, I noticed something. This:

Ghostbusters + ESPN? OK! This, of course, is about the 2008 SEMA Show. The Ecto is one of the Ludicrously Expensive Cars at the show. It is apparently worth $250,000. Damn!

Master Replicas Make it Official and Other GB Things

Ghostbusters replicas are coming. Master Replicas made the announcement, despite some technical difficulties, on Halloween. They have unveiled that they will be making 1:1 scale replicas (possibly more). Their first 2 items that they have announced are a Trap and Proton Pack. Seriously. 1:1 scale prop replicas. Again, I'm serious. Plus, they will include lights and sounds. WOW. Fortunately MR says they will try to keep the price reasonable for such great replicas. It's looking like $250-$400 for the trap (due out Spring 2009) and $900-$1200 for the proton pack. I know that sounds like a lot but packs with no lights/sounds can run $1200+ on eBay. $1200 plus would be a bargain. The pack is due out Fall 2009. Of course, 2009 is the 24th anniversary of Ghostbusters.

To go along with this super-duper line, they have unveiled a site for behind-the-scene looks and exclusive pictures. Hardcore GB heads will get the web address. As of now there is only a quiz (you must get 4 out of 4 to get in the main site) and the announcement. Here it is for those of you that don't want bother with the quiz.

I am very, very excited about this. Very. I pray that I can stash away some money to get these 2 things but that looks doubtful. Real life beckons, with the wedding in July and then a house (!) in the next 7-9 months. Yeaaaa.....

In other Ghostbusters news...

To recognize this special milestone, Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc has licensed the property for several new products to commemorate the anniversary, including: video games, toys, t-shirts, comic books, prop replicas, and a theme park attraction.

Holy. Crap. That is from the official Atari-Sony press release (via Kotaku). Will they be reviving the old GB attraction at Universal? Or will this be debuting somewhere else? Hmmmm.... Plus, it sounds like a whole bunch of officially licensed GB stuff is on the way in the next year!!!

And on a side note... w00t, 100th post!!!

Gentle Giant Mini Busts Lookin' Great

Gentle Giant has produced many mini busts in the last few years. Some of the best were their exclusive clone commander 5-pack. In August the Airborne Trooper went up for sale at Star Wars Shop. On November 21st, GG Premium Guild Members will be able to add the next great trooper bust: the Galactic Marine.

This Star Wars Shop exclusive bust went on sale in early August and sold out within a day.

The Galactic Marine is a shared exclusive between Forbidden Planet and Gentle Giant. They were released last week in the U.K. (Forbidden Planet) and in a few weeks Gentle Giant will have a limited run. I can't wait to add these 2 to my collection!

The Forbidden Planet/Gentle Giant exclusive Galactic Marine mini bust, available online (in the U.S.) November 21st.

Carded Legacy Collection Wave 4 Images

These aren't due out until January/February 2009 (so this may be renamed 2009 Wave 1) but here are some high resolution images of the trooper figures in this wave, courtesy of Jedi Insider.





Commander Faie and the 327th Star Corps Clone Trooper are reissued from Wave 3. The new Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in Stormtrooper Disguise look awesome! Again, look for these in early 2009.

Rookies

I am EXTREMELY excited for the new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars this Friday. Why? Because the episode has to do with clones. Period. That's it. Well I guess technically them and battle droids. The "main" characters (i.e. Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, etc.) will not be featured and may not appear at all. Not that I don't like them; that's not the case at all. But I'm a trooper man and this new episode, entitled "Rookies", looks promising. Here's some information from the online episode guide:

"The best confidence builder is experience."

Synopsis: Alone on a distant outpost, clone officers Rex and Cody must inspire their rookie unit to believe in themselves to stave off a Droid Commando invasion.

Director: Justin Ridge
Writer: Steve Melching
Key Characters: Clone Captain Rex; Clone Commander Cody
Key Locales: Rishi Moon
Notable: All clone / droid episode.

Niiiiiiiiiiicccceeee. I have been pleasantly surprised by the cartoon thus far. While I enjoyed the movie there were a few things I didn't like. However, the 30-minute show version has been awesome. The stories have been great, the animation is top-notch, and they tie into the universe well. I cannot wait for this new episode!

Other Star Wars Notes: If you missed out on the Target exculsive Commander Fox figure, you can get him online now at Target.com ... Also available now is the Target exclusive Clone Trooper Voice Changer Helmet (Seante Security deco) ... The plain white version is available too ... I can't find the sight that asked the question to Hasbro, but a clone evolutions set is planned for 2009.

PSWCS Toy Drive

From the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society website:

Garrison Carida Toy Drive

The Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society, in association with Toy Cave and Steel City Con, is holding its annual Star Wars toy drive to benefit Garrison Carida of the 501st Legion. Garrison Carida encompasses much of the mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia. They are a truly service-oriented chapter of the 501st, dedicating the majority of their efforts to helping children. They visit children's hospitals throughout the year where they pose for photos with the patients and hand out Star Wars toys. The toys collected through this drive will be given to the children during these visits.

PSWCS will accept donations until December 6th, 2008. This year we are holding two live collection events. First, look for our booth at Steel City Con on October 24-26 at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena in Cheswick, PA. Then on December 6th PSWCS will collect toys at Toy Cave in Carlisle, PA. We're expecting many fully-armored members of Garrison Carida to be on-hand for both events, so bring your cameras!

If you would like to contribute to this toy drive, you can mail your donations to the address below or attend one of the collection events mentioned above. We can accept Star Wars action figures, vehicles, and games. However, Garrison Carida does not hand out role-playing toys or weapons.

We hope you will join PSWCS in supporting this fine organization and their efforts to brighten the days of children who need it most. Help bring a smile to a sick or needy child this holiday season. Take a minute to look around your vast collections and then think of the children who can't make weekly toy runs, or even afford a few new toys because of medical bills. Its amazing what even a few small toys can do to the spirit of a child stuck in the hospital! So if you can, please donate! Thank you for the support!

If you have any questions, send them to cable@pswcs.com. Please mail your donations to:

Garrison Carida Toy Drive
c/o Andy Loney @ Toy Cave
147 N. Hanover St.
Carlisle, PA 17013

Star Wars Roundup

Collecting wise Star Wars is in a bit of a lull. The massive release at the end of July has sort of taken a bit of air out of the rest of the year. Releases are erratic and sporadic around the country. Some areas have not yet gotten the second Saga Legends wave or Clone Wars wave 2. Luckily I have managed to score the second set of Saga Legends and third wave of The Legacy Collection as well as wave 2 of Clone Wars. In addition to the figures, I recently found and bought the Wal-Mart exclusive Republic Gunship. This exclusive costs $50 and is just a repaint of the 4 prior releases. A big part of the new deco is the nose art, featuring a Twi'lek. I also saw the Wal-Mart exclusive Green Leader's A-wing Fighter, which costs $30.

Outside of toys, Star Wars has been a big success. The new animated cartoon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, has aired 3 episodes to date. This weeks episode, Destroy Malevolence, is the third and final part of the Malevolence plot. Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs every Friday at 9pm on Cartoon Network. The new show has shattered Cartoon Network records and is not slowing down. The show has been a pleasant surprise after a so-so debut as a full-length feature in August.

I'll have pictures of my recent additions up in a bit.

Phillies in the World Series!

I don't post too much about sports on my personal site. Besides, I have a separate site for that sort of thing. But I know many of you are delighted by the outcome at Chavez Ravine last evening. PHILLIES WIN THE PENNANT!!! Bring on the Rays or Red Sox!


If the Rays choke in the last 3 games of the ALCS I guess I'll have to change this. Regardless, LET'S GO PHILLIES!

Clone Wars Web Comic Debuts!

This weeks version is simply titled Clone Wars: Prelude. It has some sweet looking clones in it; check it out!

Different atmosphere, it is. Pitch the same, you must.

The Phillies won their first playoff game in 15 years yesterday thanks to masterful work from starting pitcher Cole Hamels. Hamels went 8 shutout innings, struck out 9, and allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk. The outing was much better than last years Game 1 against the Colorado Rockies. So what was different? Why was he more comfortable? It all comes down to the Phillies' Yoda.

"I knew the importance of the game," Hamels said. "And it's something where, because of last year, I learned what it really takes in trying to kind of mellow out, not to have that sort of excitement where you can't really control everything."

It wasn't just last year's disappointment that delivered that powerful message. It was also this pitching staff's resident Yoda -- veteran left-handed sage Jamie Moyer. Moyer said he approached Hamels in the trainer's room this week for a little chat about how to deal with postseason madness.

"I told him, 'It's the playoffs, yes. But you still have to go about it the same,'" Moyer said. "I said, 'Just remember you're the same person. Don't lose sight of why you're here or what you've done to get here.'"

Thanks for your help yesterday, Yoda.

Empire Names Ghostbusters 189th Greatest Movie of All-Time

Now 189 may not sound all that great, but just think of how many movies are made. Empire magazine has taken votes, notes, and polls from 10,000 readers as well as 50 critics and came up with their 500 Greatest Movies of All-Time. Besides coming in at #189, Ghostbusters was selected as one of the few 100 movies to adorn the cover, seen above. There were multiple covers and the Ghostbusters cover has already sold out. You can read the Ghostbusters review here. The Top 10 were as follows...

1. The Godfather (1972)
   
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
   
3. Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
   
4. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
   
5. Jaws (1975)
   
6. Goodfellas (1990)
7. Apocalypse Now (1979)
8. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
9. Pulp Fiction (1994)
10. Fight Club (1999)

Huh. I have only seen two (#2, #3) of those movies in their entirety. I probably should rent some of the others.

The Clone Wars Wave 4 Carded Images

Rebel Scum has just posted some pictures of the figures in wave 4 of The Clone Wars collection. Wave 4 isn't expected to hit stores until December or January. Wave 4 consist of 5 figures: Clone Trooper (212th Attack Battalion), Padme Amidala, Clone Trooper (Space Gear), Magna Guard, and R3-S6 ("Goldie"). Expect to see the characters they are based on starting this Friday at 9pm on Cartoon Network.