Monthly Archives: May 2013

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Adventure Announced!

Hey Speed Readers,

Yet another awesome nugget of DC Comics Video Game news as Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Adventure has been announced for the Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and PC.

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Described as a “DC Comics Encyclopedia” by the developers, 5th Cell, the game boasts over 2000 unique DC Comics superheroes and supervillains! In addition to the usual Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman offerings we’ve already seen a glimpse of members of the Flash Family (with cool props like the Cosmic Treadmill), Captain Cold and reportedly we will be able to play as 130 different Green Lanterns!

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While I’m not that familiar with Scribblenauts and it’s style of play, the concept is pretty simple; If you can spell it, you can use it. I’m sure some of the more colorful executions of this playstyle have obviously been omitted seeing as the game is rated “E10”.

In this side-scrolling puzzle-actioner you play as Maxwell who is tasked with collecting objects known as “Starites” of which a certain number are required to advance to the next level. In the vein of old school graphic adventure point and click games (like Monkey Island) just about every object in the game can be interacted with by clicking on it which opens up a myriad of options depending on what you are actively doing in the game. The key part of the gameplay however is the ability to utilize Maxwell’s magic notebook to summon items (or other characters) into the game to help you solve puzzles by writing the name of the object or character on the screen. Usually you are limited to 3 to 4 summons in order to solve a puzzle and the games “emergent” play style really requires you to exercise and hone your mental agility and think outside of the box.

Honestly it sounds like one of those games that sounds more fun than it seems, but the reviews don’t lie; this is the fifth in a series of an extremely well-received and award-winning franchise.  I remember being intrigued by the studios first effort in this genre, Drawn to Life, but never really following up on it due to a lack of a Nintendo Wii or DS. Unfortunately I still have yet to pick up either of those systems (or their next-gen counterparts) so it will really depend on just how cool this game ends up being (and how much in price these consoles drop) before I decide to take the plunge.

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While I’ve noticed a fair bit of New 52 pandering, from the looks of it I think we can also expect some traditional DCU love as well. Just in the Flash-themed picture from above we have the traditional Golden Age Flash, Kid Flash, Professor Zoom and Black Flash! With 2000 or so characters I think we can expect a lot more variety to come.

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure is due out sometime this Fall and needless to say, Speed Force will be keeping a close eye on the development of this title. In the meantime you can check out the official trailer, HERE.

So who is already a big fan of Scribblenauts and can testify to it’s greatness? Anyone plan on picking up the games for the first time due to the presence of the DC Universe? Please let us know in the comments below.

Pictures courtesy of CBR.

Thanks for reading,

Devin

This Week: Chain Lightning Continues in Digital Flash #146

Flash #146: Chain Lightning Part Two

It’s a slow week for the Flash, with no new comics or collections and only one digital re-release:

Flash #146: Chain Lightning Part 2

Wally West, Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, and Jesse Quick run into a variety of speedsters as they travel the time stream looking to save the lives of future Flashes.

Written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn. Art by Paul Pelletier, Vince Russell, Tom McCraw. Cover by Steve Lightle.

DC Signature Classics Wally West Action Figure On Sale Tomorrow! ***UPDATED***

Hey Speed Readers,

Now we can finally do this:

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Just a friendly reminder that the long-awaited, heavily requested DC Signature Classics Wally West action figure will be available for sale on Mattycollector.com tommorow at 9 a.m. PT/Noon ET.

A figure that has been requested since the very beginning of the DC Universe Classics line, Wally will be sporting an all new specially tooled head featuring his look from around the time of his Justice League Europe appearances along with the appropriate tan from that era. This of course means that Wally will be in his most iconic uniform that he started sporting from the Flash v2 #50 on, as originally drawn by artist, Greg LaRocque.  A lot of collectors can also finally put a nightcap on their Morrison-Era League and the modern Titans (for the most part, sorry Garth).

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For those interested or still on the fence about the figure I procured one via eBay months ago and managed to snap some close up shots of the figure that you can see HERE . Although if that Flash museum shot isn’t enough to sell you I don’t know what is. Since this could possibly be the last Wally West Flash figure for a long time I suggest you pick one up pronto. Matty has stressed that there will be even more limited numbers available for day of sale purchasers so don’t wait if you want it. I will still be purchasing an official Mattel release as well if only to have the slick box art on display. I don’t think I’m ever going to toss any of those boxes.

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Wally West goes on sale tomorrow 5/15/2013 at 9 a.m. PT/Noon ET. You can go directly to the Wally West sale page by clicking HERE. Wally retails for $20.00 usd plus shipping.

So who plans on picking up the long-awaited Wally West figure tomorrow? Does anyone plan on passing? Please let us know why in the comments below.

Devin

***UPDATE***

Wally West has sold out at Mattycollector.com! If you missed him you may find some luck on the secondary markets such as eBay or Amazon but definitely expect to pay more than the $25.90 that most of us paid for the figure if you want to get it on card and not loose.

As I mentioned before, this may very well be the last bit of Wally West Flash merchandise that we see for some time. If I hadn’t started going buckwild with finally deciding to collect other DC characters this would have been a great little jumping off point for collecting. But it is what it is.

Keep your eyes peeled for pictures as soon as Wally arrives!

DC Collectibles’ New 52 Superheroes Vs. Super-Villains 7-Pack Revealed!

Hey Speed Readers,

 

DC Collectibles released their solicits for November 2013 and there is only one real item of interest for New 52 Flash fans:

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DC COMICS—THE NEW 52 SUPER HEROES VS. SUPER-VILLAINS ACTION FIGURE 7-PACK

The battle between good and evil rages on with this special 7-pack action figure set that includes Aquaman, The Flash, Batman, Catwoman, The Joker, Captain Cold, and Black Manta!

FEATURES:

All-New Aquaman Head Sculpt and Sceptre

The Flash Metallic Redeco

Batman Metallic Redeco

All-New Catwoman Action Figure

The Joker and Captain Cold Redeco

*Action Figures* $99.95 US • On Sale November 2013

*Allocations May Occur

 

Nothing too exciting if you plan on just purchasing the Captain Cold figure separately in September, but since I’ve been trying to build and expand my own DC Universe in action figure form, Catwoman, The Joker, and Black Manta will come in quite handy. I have to decide which Batman and Aquaman I prefer to have in my display but I have a feeling they will both be joining that new Flash figure in my Justice League team. Batman looks especially boss with that darker color scheme.

The Flash collector in me will be thrilled to have a Flash with the lightning seams painted in and that excellent metallic sheen reminiscent of the Kotobukiya Flash statue. I’m not sure what exactly is different about the Captain Cold redeco (maybe that icey arm?) but I won’t mind having two; one to put with my Secret Society of Super Villains display and one to put with my Rogues display.

These figures usually retail for about $24.99 a piece so even at the regular price of $99.95 this set is a steal. Of course I’m going to keep an eye out for a deal similar to what I found on the We Can Be Heroes 7 pack set but they only come out to about 14 bucks at regular price which isn’t bad.

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While I’m not too upset about the exclusive figures being packed in with figures I already have I can understand the frustrations of others. Catwoman, Katana, and Vibe are figures that can only acquired by purchasing figures that many of us have already procured. They feature some new additions like head sculpts and paint jobs but they are still the exact same character. I understand the logic that it could possibly help to move little known characters like Vibe and Katana by packing them in with more popular heroes and playing on their in-story connections (Vibe’s abilities can disrupt the Speed Force and Katana has been chosen to join the JLofA to counteract Wonder Woman)  but the target audience is pretty much going to be buying the very first (and probably only figures) of Vibe and Katana anyway. It seems more like them trying to artificially inflate the price by giving us something we already have. Yeah, Flash features a new head sculpt (or more accurately his original head sculpt) but is it enough to justify the $39.95 price point?

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I’ve praised DC Collectibles in the past for their 7 pack releases and I will continue to do so with this one. Yeah there are 3 figures that most of us probably don’t need, but for the patient this is a chance to get 4 figures in one fell swoop and for a fraction of the cost. As long as you aren’t a super completist and need things like weapons and accessories you should be good.

So what do you all think of DC Collectibles’ latest offering? Who plans on picking up this 7 pack in addition to the single of Captain Cold? Let us know in the comments below.

Devin

Flash #23 & Teen Titans #23 (August Solicitations)

Flash vs. Reverse Flash on the cover of Flash #23

DC Comics’ August 2013 solicitations are up, including…

THE FLASH #23
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:25 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale AUGUST 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The Flash makes a desperate play to save Iris from Reverse-Flash—and you can’t be sure who will be left standing by this issue’s end!

Kid Flash on the cover of Teen Titans #23

TEEN TITANS #23
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by ROBSON ROCHA and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
1:25 B&W Variant cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
On sale AUGUST 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Kid Flash finds himself on the run from his past as a growing rift between Red Robin and Superboy boils over and could tear the Teen Titans apart, just as their speedster teammate needs them most.

Plus there’s Earth 2 starring Jay Garrick, and the second half of Trinity War running through the Justice League titles.

Flash Profiled in Infinite Crisis Video

DC’s upcoming multiplayer online battle arena game, Infinite Crisis, has released a video profiling the Flash in the game.

Blaze into battle with the blazing speed of Flash, The Fastest Man Alive! This former police scientist is a blur on the battlefield, dashing through obstacles and enemies with devastating effect. Striking with lightning speed, The Flash is the consummate assassin — in and out before you even realize he was there.

Infinite Crisis is currently in beta. You can sign up for a beta key at the game website.