Avengers Disassemble!

A pal 'o mine recently made a tour of Malaysia and Thailand and brought me back one of the best presents ever, a bootleg set of Avengers!

Tell me if anything seems out of place.

Yeah, that's right. Since when is Spider-Man a member of the Avengers? (Movie, that is.) What, they couldn't get Ironman even though he shows up on the blurb on the front!

And on the side!!

And on the back of the box, along with a big headed version of Black Widow and Hawkeye AND a clumsily photoshopped Wolverine!!!

And whoa, just look at the size of Nick Fury's upper torso which is as big as the Hulk.
I also love the blurb on the back of the box explaining who our heroes are.

Captain America in frozen a few years later, wake up. The world is not what he used to familiar appearance, various types of evil opponent to emerge in an endless stream, the whole society turbulent, only rely on the strength of a person is unable to save the world. So the United States of America Captain, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and other super heroes together, composition of the history of the most powerful" Avengers" Team, the common good and evil, fighting for peace.

That is some pretty awesome Chinglish or Thailish right there.

Since the box tells me to do so, let's check out our newest member, Spidey.

 Wow, that is some messed up chin you've got going on there. It looks as though they painted a spider mask over a venom figure. Nice six-pack though.

Oh and just as the real Spider-man's does, his chest lights up!

It looks like Captain America suffers from the same ailment as Peter Parker, gigantism of the chin with no neck. Either it was sculpted by Rob Liefeld or his alter ego is Rondo Hatton*.

It looks like too many kids tried Cap's chest for his light barely functioned at all.

*To learn more about Rondo Hatton, click the above link or watch the video below.
(Btw, he suffered from acromegaly, an ailment that my Godfather suffered from. His pituitary gland activated when he was around 50 and he started to grow again. His spine extended and he died a rather painful death.)



Thor has a fairly normal chin for an Asgardian, albeit a bit muddy hairy.

 Nope, his chest doesn't light up very well either. Low on batteries, I guess.

At least he still can lift Mjolnir.

Let's take a look at Hulk. Not a bad sculpture, muscular, not too mis-proportioned. Probably the best of the bunch.

Yay, his chest lights up too!

There's a great cautionary advisory on the back as well, for everyone knows that "Made in China" means you'll get the safest materials ever.

Cautions:
* Chocking Hazard-Not suitable for children under 3 if there is any presence small parts.
* Remove or dispose of all packaging (including polybags) safely before giving to children.
* Be careful of the potential entag ment (sic) hazard with neck, hair of fingers if there are string , wire, wheels or rolling parts in the product.
* Do not shoot towards human body if the product consists of shooting function.
* Do not give the toy to children under target age. Let children play under parental supervision.
* Please retain the above information for future reference.

I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Oh yeah, what the f*ck is Batman doing here???

 It looks like he escaped from Dark Knight Rises with the full cowl (and scowl) while retaining the colour scheme from TAS combined with the Pirate from the Elseworlds Leatherwing figure. Just a wacky looking costume all around.

 What's with the white lines on his chest and thighs?

 Those eyes are more piercing than his light is!!

I definitely want to go to Thailand now if they have more crap like this on the shelves!!

ADDENDUM: I forgot to mention, he also brought me a set of Marvel Stickers. The byline for it reads:
We have hopes because we have love. Made in china

Not a bad set of stickers at all. Some nice designs and I do like Sue Storm's hairstyle.

The only odd one of the bunch is in the lower corner. Worst pose by Mr. Fantastic ever!

Speaking of Batman, here is a picture of him along with Robin, Green Hornet, and Kato. Signed by Adam West, no less!

Rondo the World.

I only have one more day to vote for the Rondo Awards, recognizing the best in monster research, creativity and film preservation in the year 2012. I haven't read, seen, bought nor listened to 99.5% of the entries in these categories but that has never stopped me from adding my two yen worth before.
The only guy that I read semi-regularly is Pierre Fournier who I have voted for in Category 19 for Best Blog with Frankensteinia. I also wrote him in in Categories 28 and 34. I encourage you to do so as well.

These are my choices for the 2012 awards and you may see a slight bias towards all things Japanese for some reason. Check out the top link above for more details.
 

1. BEST MOVIE OF 2012

-- FRANKENWEENIE

 2. BEST TELEVISION PRESENTATION

-- SUPERNATURAL, 'Party On, Garth,' The CW, 3.30.12. Hunter Garth needs help fighting a Japanese Shojo, only visible when the hunter is drunk. 'Can you even get drunk anymore? It's kind of like drinking a vitamin for you, right?'

3. BEST CLASSIC DVD

-- GOJIRA/GODZILLA (Criterion)

4. BEST CLASSIC DVD COLLECTION

-- UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: The Essential Collection. Nine restored films, from Dracula and Frankenstein to a 3-D Creature.

5. BEST RESTORATION

-- CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (3-D version). Included in Blu-Ray Universal set. 

6. BEST COMMENTARY

-- David Kalat, Criterion's GOJIRA/GODZILLA

7. BEST DVD EXTRA

-- 'Mad Monster Party: Making of a Cult Classic,' featurette on Blu-Ray. MAD MONSTER PARTY.

8. BEST INDEPENDENT FILM

-- THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. 'Repo' veterans reunite for a musical
journey to a carny hell. 

9. BEST SHORT FILM

-- THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, directed by Raul Garcia. Animated version narrated by Christopher Lee. 

10. BEST DOCUMENTARY

-- MEN IN SUITS, directed by Frank H. Woodward. The saga of the actors within the gorilla, alien and monster suits. 

 11. BOOK OF THE YEAR

-- RAY HARRYHAUSEN'S FANTASY SCRAPBOOK, by Harryhausen and Tony Dalton (Aurum Press, softcover, 192 pages, $55). Secrets of the master's stop-motion magic revealed in archival detail.

12. BEST MAGAZINE OF 2012

-- G-Fan

 13. BEST ARTICLE (Please choose TWO; one will win)

-- 'Godzilla: Just Say Noh,' by John E. Petty, G-FAN #99. How Toho's giant monster film plays also as classical Japanese noh drama.

-- '100 Memorable Moments from Toho Fantasy Films,' by Martin Arlt, G-FAN #100. From Godzilla's first appearance destroying a fishing boat to a Final Wars battle.

 14. BEST INTERVIEW

-- Brett Homenick: Interview with Paul Mason, who Americanized 'King Kong vs. Godzilla,' G-FAN #99. 

15. BEST MAGAZINE COLUMN

-- Diary of the Deb, by Debbie Rochon, FANGORIA.

 16. BEST THEMED ISSUE OF 2012

-- FILMFAX #131 (Bradbury/Burroughs remembrances)
17. BEST MAGAZINE COVER

 FAMOUS MONSTERS #259  By Rick Baker (Check the site for a picture.)

18. BEST WEBSITE

 -- Godzilla Monster Music. Soundtracks and reviews from Big G's music legacy.

 19. BEST BLOG OF 2012

-- Frankensteinia Fun, smart and essential as it keeps the Monster alive.

20. BEST CONVENTION OF 2012

-- Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear (Toronto)

21. BEST FAN EVENT OF 2012

-- Blob panic re-enactment. Held at actual theater in Phoenixville, Pa., where movie was filmed (Blobfest)

22. FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2012

-- SVENGOOLIE (Chicago)

23. BEST HORROR COMIC

-- THE WALKING DEAD (Image) Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard go far beyond the TV series.

 24. BEST HORROR MULTIMEDIA (AUDIO OR VIDEOCAST)

 -- SCI FI JAPAN Video tributes and clips remember kaiju history.

 25. BEST SOUNDTRACK OR HORROR CD

-- KING KONG (1976) Film Score Monthly; John Barry score.

 26. BEST TOY, MODEL OR COLLECTIBLE

-- Creature from the Black Lagoon     Grave Walker by Rubie's Costumes (Check the site for a picture.)

WRITE-IN CATEGORIES

27. CLASSIC MOST IN NEED OF RESTORATION

Which classic horror film, either released or unreleased, do you think most deserves a restoration or video upgrade?

Rodan

28. WRITER OF THE YEAR (for 2012)

Pierre Fournier (Frankensteinia)

29. REVIEWER OF THE YEAR (2012)

Roger Ebert 

(I'm not really sure what this category is about but I'm sure Ebert reviewed a few Horrors in his time.)

30. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Pro)

James Stokoe (Godzilla)

31. LINDA MILLER FAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Fan)

Dan Piraro (Bizarro) (I don't really follow many other cartoons or fansites and his toons are funny.)

32. HENRY ALVAREZ AWARD FOR ARTISTIC DESIGN

Moebius

33. INTERNATIONAL MONSTER FAN
Noboru Iguchi (Creepy and Bloody creator of Machine Girl has an odd one out this year called, "Dead Sushi".

34. 'MONSTER KID' OF THE YEAR

Pierre Fournier

35. Monster Kid Hall of Fame?

Carmine Infantino (He co-created Deadman, that gives him his horror chops in my book.)

 
You can go crazy and vote for everything or you can just cherry-pick your favourites. Go for it!