Look, This New Batman Toy Has a Little Light
Also: A New Record for Goldeneye 007's Greatest Level
DC Comics Designer Edition – Batman the Animated Series 30th Anniversary NYCC Exclusive Action Figure ($49.99)
Whoa, that’s a long name. McFarlane Toys recently marked the 30th anniversary of Batman: The Animated Series with a sharp, new-old (more on that below) figure and LED light-up base, styled like the Art Deco cityscape of the series. The deluxe package is exclusive to Target, where it’s become difficult to find after a September release. A few thoughts, upon inspection:
Some fans noted that the figure is more of an amalgamation of Batmen than a straightforward Batman: TAS take—with oaky notes of The New Batman Adventures, for example. Those fans deserve swirlies for being such sticklers about fictional yellow utility belts, but they’re not wrong. While not a strictly representational work of art, it certainly evokes the exaggerated look and noir flavors of the original series. In other words: It passes the vibe check. And this Batman’s obvious skipping of Leg Day aside, the entire set has a gorgeous profile upon completion.
Sure, the figure is a repaint of past McFarlane Toys take on the animated Batman. But two new improvements take this one to the next level: that dramatic, flowing cape and some touches of cel shading throughout.
All of that to get to one, simple fact: I think the little light is neat, and that’s at least 80% of the reason I bought this thing.
We give the entire set 8/10 Nodding Alfreds.
As the Nintendo 64’s beloved Goldeneye 007 is now officially headed to Switch and Xbox platforms, speedrunning forums continue to see new records for those playing on the original console. In fact, Speedrun.com now has a brand-new record for Facility, perhaps the game’s most iconic level. (Think about how many thousands of multiplayer battles you’ve experienced among those toilet stalls.)
"Pogopope" makes a dazzling 43-second run (shown above)—using the original device and controller, per the site. (And for the record, the run was submitted recently, but the video is several months old. Either way, it’s only been verified for only a couple weeks.) And somehow, some stuttering at the end implies even fewer seconds are a possibility for Pogopope, should he decide to keep pushing.
Why do Goldeneye speedrunners always look down? you may ask. Per one Redditor: “Looking down reduces the amount of geometry that needs to be rendered per-frame, and moving at a 45-degree angle is faster than running straight or strafing sideways on their own.”
The speedrunning community continues to innovate tricks and glitches to zoom through these now-25-year-old (!) levels. Last year, the Moonraker-inspired Aztec level saw a major record-breaker, after a piece of armor previously thought of as vital was proven moot. The player below nabbed 1:34 on 00 Agent difficulty by fooling a turret that would otherwise track and barrage Bond. No need for armor when you can outthink the machines:
This month, Mobile Suit Gundam gets its first series in seven years with The Witch From Mercury. Preceded by the lauded Iron-Blooded Orphans, it’s somehow the first Gundam series with a female main character. In turn, the buzz is enormous for the show, which is also being simulcast in other countries. (American platform Crunchyroll has licensed the series.)
A new series means a new set of Gundam models. Pre-orders just opened on the protagonist’s brand-new Gundam Aerial, here. What do you think?
Speaking of mecha: You know what’s streaming on Amazon Prime right now? Robot Jox, the bizarre 1990 film helmed by Stuart Gordon. The giant robot actioner, partially inspired by Transformers, was a dud upon released, but as garnered a post-2000 cult following. I’m not saying it’s good. However, there are some neat sequences and most haunting of all, the battle-goers in the scene below are wearing masks akin to N-95s. Just an observation.