Man of Steel Toys: Commericals Spring a Leak!!!

Man of Steel

EXPLODERS

KA BLAMMO!!!....... squoosh…

Footage FreezeFrames:



Seen here are several Superman variants as well as Zod/Black Zero and Kryptonian Robot Army

Its a 3 Step Process, always 3 steps… 2 Steps always seems cheap

Superman Confronts Black Zero Ship

Detail Shots of Models

 Commercial Opens with a CGI Superman Flying towards the Screen


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Superman

FLIGHTSPEEDERS

ZOOM!!!.... de'derp…

Footage Freeze Frames:

PACK IT                                         SMACK IT

MAKE SOME RACKET!!

Ships "Collect & Connect" to create one kidHUGE Triple Launcher!!!

 

Detail of Black Zero Ship/Launcher and Zero/Zod Projectile

Superman Projectile

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Well, we're looking at mainly Kid friendly toys thus far BUT I'm sure more collector worthy items will be popping up shortly... (Boo NYCC) I really thought we'd see some great stuff flooding fan and collector sites this past weekend but instead we only got this seepage BUT... you know us weak hearted often trodden collectors and fanboys... we'll take it.

Likely these may not be the final commercials or even the final product names BUT they definitley look to be in the running to be the actual toys.

For an eyeful of TRUE fanboy Anticipatory Greatness 

 Click Here

NYCC 2012 Man of Steel Movie Masters: GeekSummit's WishList

Man of Steel figures be on the visible horizon @ NYCC 2012?

With NYCC 2012 approaching this weekend fingers are crossed that we will see the first shots of Man of Steel Movie Masters revealed this weekend... if not... there's always ToyFair in February?
Don't let us down, Mattel!!!

 

Packaging was developed under the influence of previous texture heavy designs used by Mattel in their earlier Movie Masters lines.  The physical package itself is built around a low material usage concept using a 9" x 10" double sided board print creating the entire package (plus plastic window and caps of course)

Figure is built on a WWE Elite Buck with Substituted standard articulation torso. All other elements are sculpted. Cape is Sculpted from the collar bone to the middle of the shoulder blades then continues as a fabric cape. It creates the illusion of total control of the fabric as it tucks in but then give the flexibility of fabric without the weigh and instability of heavy rubber/vinyl capes.

Of course there's always the chance that we'll have to wait a little longer for a movie that is looking to build its anticipation... So until then, here are some Product Concept Samples from Yours Truly.
*Henry Cavill artwork by Daniel Morpheus.

GeekSummit: Custom Michael Keaton Batman figure with Rooftop Diorama

Diorama Commission:
Dude... Build Me  Diorama!!!
a cautionary tale...

So a couple months ago I was commissioned by a guy in California to do a Michael Keaton Batman figure. He had come across my work through FigureRealm.com and was quickly quoting back to different entries throughout my collection of customs over time. I had done several Keaton Batman figures in the past but every time I did one they only got JUST a little better I was only doing one a year basically as opposed to my Christopher Reeve Superman figures that were seeing 5 attempts a year. I took him up on it since I did want to refine my process a bit and no better reason that to be working for someone else. He was taken by my V•III from last year and begged me and begged me to hand over the original but that wasn't possible. Of course once I got into the figure work and was shooting photos back to him as it was in progress he started adding things to what he wanted to see done. The new figure is featured in the background of my last entry Invasion of the Keaton Batmans .

After a minute he was attempting to buy anything he could see was in my home from photos. so I had to reign him in a little bit to keep us on track. Once the figure was completed he added that he had seen my GhostBusters Firehouse and OH boy did that take us back to the drawing board. At first it was a "I Trust Your Vision" situation, which at first sounds like a compliment but really... its a red flag and I'll be more careful in the future.

I flew into the diorama project pretty quickly turning around a pretty interesting piece but apparently it was too quick and too interesting. I figured it should be a gothic-esque type building with large angular forms and definitely a rooftop to stand on. So in keeping things simple I made my wall and columns and rooftop moulding. I sprayed the entire works with primer and then came back with an overspray of black to deepen the shadows.

 In trying to keep everything shippable within a large flat rate box I ran across a funny idea. The diorama itself though it had its detail looked a little plain and I started to think that maybe the guy doesn't have the space for something this big. Maybe like everyone else he's putting these on his Target bought standard issue bookshelves which don't exactly offer a grand display space... but their cheap. SO... I proceeded to chop the diorama in half.

Once I had halfed it I realized that now all these elements that were built onto this wall now were interchangable simply but turning and rearranging the halves. They offered more variety for display and in essence became TWO dioramas. A F'-ing Mazing!!!! They created some pretty interesting angles and I was definitely pleased with it.

Well... he hated it... or atleast it was not what he was expecting... I tried to explain that the gothic look was definitely inline with the Batman Movie aesthetic, but maybe that was too much of a reach?

So I started over but this time I set some ground rules and tried to build on specs instead of wingingin it as I had done before. This is how I started with the GhostBusters Firehouse out of necessity but this was more of a system of proofing to the "client" before any work was done. I drew up the planned diorama detailing size/scale and components. Once things were agreed on... (the easy part) it was back to work.  I started first with just building the walls which were two thicknesses of Stryrofoam detailed with brick texture and then rooftop ledges were added to give them JUST a little more space so set the figure on.

Things came together pretty quickly. The walls were easy to fabricate. I used a couple different thicknesses of styrofoam  to build the different levels of the diorama so it would have some forced depth plus give more functional space for figure display. I added the drain pipes to give the scale a little push and then built the billboard panel. The printed billboard actually slips into the frame so it could be replaced if for any reason we disagreed that THIS was exemplary of the Batman Movie theme. I had planned to use the images of the deceased models from the news flash in the movie but had no luck tracking down decent images. The joker made for a much easier image search so I went with his image to feature on the billboard.

At first I covered the entire piece in black paint and then painted on top of it. Unfortunately this styrofoam soaks up paint pretty quickly so I started back over with gray primer and then layed my brick colors in. That did MUCH better. here is the actual model next to the spec sheet for client review and final approval.

Once I had everything repainted I finished up with window panes and glass. The glass was made from figure packaging blisters and the panes were just hand cut 1/16" cardboard. I came back with a little black overspray to deepen the shadow areas and did a little drybrush with some silver spraypaint from a solo cup to give it just a little wear and tear. I reprinted the billboard with a spanking new black cartridge and WHAMMO!!! my mini masterpiece was complete!!!

I don't have any shots with the figure included as of yet but this is definitely a nice piece for any figure display shelf. All in all it was a nice project to undertake and it definitely got me working on a couple other things that should be ready for showing soon...

Stay Tuned for

GeekSummit's
DAILY PLANET MEGA DIORAMA!!!!!

GeekSummit | Michael Keaton Batman Movie Masters

INVASION OF THE KEATON BATMANS!!!

CREATING THE MOVIE MASTERS BATMAN '89

Well, things have moved on a little quicker since my last work with this figure. I have moved to a process that lets me create the head and neck as one piece instead of sculpting it and smoothing it over and over again. This has always been the part of the process that scares me away from the figure altogether. I created the first figure by sculpting the cowl base as always. Here you can see our original model in progress with gauntlets and shinguards sculpted in already as well. The belt will be left to a similar process as the head/neck. Once I got things going I really got on a roll and decided this would be a good point to attack this figure with a multi-path approach. This resulted in creating 3 Keaton figures at once with more in the works waiting to be created.

 A mold was made of Figure 1 down to the mid chest. that creates a lock so that the next identical figure can be placed in the mold with resin  to recreate the head and neck in perfect placement on the body. The ideal of this process is to create a separate piece that can basically pin the cape in  through the neck as opposed to using my customary "pull through" style cape. These 2 (Figure 1 & Figure 2) variations will use the classic pull through cape.

The same process is repeated but this time with a layer of saran wrap between the figure and resin. This doesn't interfere with the surface placement but it does allow me to work with the head and neck separately and place the cape between it and the body once assembled. Here I have the next 3 heads for figures VII, VIII, and IX.

The belt is cast from Figure 1 from a placement mold as we did with the head and neck. Figure 1 was assembled, a mold was built around the midsection and then we moved on to casting a replica belt onto Figure 2. Once the gauntlets and shin guards are sculpted on we move on to the midsection. We do actually lose some articulation in this figure. The Ab-Crunch joint is sculpted over. I place a dab of hot glue in the back of the figure locking the posture in place and let it cool. this keeps the figure from bending on me while I sculpt these abs into place. Next step is to cut a cape that will bring it all together before we go in for final painting. Below is unassembled FigureV painted uniform Semi-Flat Black.

Figure IV fully assembled with Pull Through Cape and detailed eyes.

Figure V fully assembled with Pull Through Cape and Detailed eyes.

Figure VI fully assembled with New Process Neck and Cape.

This time i decided to add the glider cape feature to the figure. As you can tell from the above photo, the wires don't show while standing, but when you go into full on glider mode...

Voila!!!

CRASHHHHH!!!

Its a pretty basic method of adding the two tubes to the cape. Its another thing to get him to hold them correctly. Luckily I buy a lot of clearance TechDeck bike stuff and I think I'll jimmy some handle bars in there to tighten the grip and keep it streamlined looking.

Figures VII VIII & IX should be Pretty F'n Awesome...

  STAY TUNED!!!

 

NYCC 2012 Superman Movie Masters Classics: GeekSummit's Wishlist

What if???...

Diddly Doo! Diddly Doo! Diddly Doo!

An entire progressing line covering all 4 yes all 4 Christopher Reeve Superman Movies could be slated for release in the mix of the Man of Steel Mania sure to take hold this next spring. 6" Movie Masters "Classics" would be designed for ALL headliner characters including:

• Marlon Brando as JorEl in black AND a white variant both with various crystal accessories.

• Lex Luthor with Kryptonite chain and a cigar (no word on removable wig status)

• Clark Kent with removable glasses and hat with overcoat over arm accessory.

• Superman authentic designed costume with newspaper dispenser.

  What, no Lois?

• There seems to be a teaser in the bottom left corner of an emerging 3-pack of the of the Kalamity from Krypton; Zod, Ursa, & Non.

Could more second tier characters be on the horizon? I would certainly think so being the first 2 movies use all the same characters… Hooray!!! a Two-Fer!!!

Diddly Doo! Diddly Doo! Diddly Doo!

With high hopes for an awesome Superman Legacy line from Mattel ala Batman Legacy (not bad) I could only hope with the most sincere delusion that this has crossed the minds of Mattel if not for the 75th anniversary of the man himself then the 35th anniversary of the first movie... Well, I can't make it happen myself but I can throw this blood in the water and hope someone wants this as bad as I do…