Star Wars Review: Captain Gilad Pallaeon (The Vintage Collection)
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Captain Gilad Pallaeon (The Vintage Collection). While the packaging puts him as being from the book, he's a dead-ringer for the character as seen on The Mandalorian TV show. The head sculpt is incredibly good, while the body is, of course, recycled. Unlike some Imperial Officers, his hat isn't removable. I think he's better for it. I like this one. Read the whole review.
Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
The 2025 edition! The Mattel Hot Wheels Snoopy is a car that's been around since 2014, albeit with slight variations every time. The packaging is tweaked, the wheels are updated, and there are other minor changes on this car that every kid of the 1980s probably wished they had. Read on, and come back tomorrow for more fun!
Review: Hasbro Transformers Age of the Primes Leader The Thirteen Megatronus The Fallen
Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Via Kickstarter: Songs by Tom Lehrer (Expanded Deluxe Vinyl Edition). While the 12-inch version is common and cheap, the 10-inch version is a little less common and supposedly doesn't sound as good. (I've never had the fortune to hear it, mostly I've heard him on CD.) This Kickstarter from the new-to-me (and seemingly new) VinylHumor Records label went back to the old tapes, tweaked them, and added a second disc for "Physical Revue" which I believe had not been released on a physical platter before. This one looks interesting and they threaten reissues of the whole catalog (and more) if this is a success.
If you just want the Reprise 12-inch record, check your local thrift stores a few times over the next month. I don't mean to be snotty but Tom Lehrer's stuff has popped up in my neighborhood a few times... I know because I buy them when I see them. This isn't meant as a reason to not buy it - quite the contrary. Herb Alpert records are plentiful and cheap, and also get reissues in your big box book stores and other big places that sell records but generally not the good punk records.
I guess if nothing else, you can go get the 20th century pressings of some really good stuff for a pittance if you know what to look for. And I'm still learning, I missed the 1960s and there are a lot of 1960s pop records being dumped on the regular.
Math teacher and musician Tom Lehrer died over the weekend. He was 97. Mr. Lehrer inspired countless funny musicians and you might even be able to find some of his records on the cheap at a record store near you. You can also hear them for free on Archive.org's Tom Lehrer Lyrics and Sheet Music Page. The "Lobachevsky" singer is also the reputed inventor of the Jell-O shot.
If you've ever heard "Poisoning Pigeons of the Park," "The Elements," or one of my favorites "Lobachevsky," that was him. He mostly retired from recording funny music in order to teach, but would sometimes record something new like "That's Mathematics," which I heard on the Dr. Demento show when I was young. If you have yet to hear any of these songs, go click that link above and download away or check out your local record store.
Classic Review: Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Sssqueeze
Something new every day-- but this was posted 10 years ago today! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
My pic, but via Target: Transformers EarthSpark Cyberglow Megatron is a retailer exclusive that's probably in stock now for $19.99. That pic is a shot I just took in my photo studio. Megatron's mace is a rubbery glow plastic that's really bright. He has painted panels on his forearms, chest, and shoulders that are also quite bright.
I'm working on a FOTD review, but the short version is that it's neat and glow-starved Transformers collectors will want it.
We're taking donations for server costs! Really. One of the rewards is Q&A a few days early - you can read next Monday's installment as soon as it's ready, which can be as early as 1:00 AM my time on Monday!
If you've got a dollar a month to share, please Visit the Galactic Hunter Patreon and help cover our server costs. I'll still put in hours of work, writing, photography, and research - I just need some help making sure that the site costs me only time, and hopefully not money. Thanks for your support!
Star Wars Review: R2-DL70 (70th Anniversary of Disneyland, Droid Factory)
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: R2-DL70 (70th Anniversary of Disneyland, Droid Factory). It's neat - it's still available. The colors look very modern, for 70 years ago, and the rich metallic colors pop nicely. I don't have a need to celebrate a building at a theme park, but metallic purples, golds, and blues made me want yet another R2-D2 repaint. Lots of little blue panels are colored in, with gold outlines, so I dig this one as yet another weird one-off.
Read the whole review.
This week's batch of titles on the eShop: Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition, Pokemon Friends, Arcade Archives Super Basketball, EGGCONSOLE HYDLIDE3 S.V. PC-9801, and over a dozen more.
Switch 2 also has Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Review: Onell Design Glyos Relgothan Astro Kraken Conversion Set
Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Sold out! The Onell Design Glyos Relgothan Astro Kraken Conversion Set is a great example of what you can do with these figures. There are parts of multiple releases cobbled together to make something new - there's a half Astro-Nautilus in here! If you're a customizer, or someone who just wants to be angry they've got a space squid without his feet, this is an excellent figure.
Also notable, the Jurassic World micro adventures mini head playsets may already be on clearance at your local Target. Called it. (It's not a bad idea, it's just the same thing tanked when Hasbro did them 10 years ago for The Force Awakens.)
It includes more gear than the previous version, including the playmat based on the prototype. Decorated to match that original concept, it also includes the spaceman armor, but you'll note the deco and construction are different from the "Mysteries of Grayskull" version sold as a Powercon exclusive a few years ago.
Via LEGO: LEGO Game Boy is up for ordering at $59.99. That's kind of cheap - you could get this model for about that near the end of its pre-US Pokemon life, but it was $89.99 in 1989. It includes 2 cartridges and swappable screens, and seems to be pretty close to actual size.
Star Wars Review: Rebel Fleet Trooper (The Retro Collection)
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Rebel Fleet Trooper (The Retro Collection). It's probably not in a store near you, and last I checked you couldn't order it for delivery anymore. The set is nice, but this is probably the weirdest figure. The colors and face are perfect, the pose is a little off, the vest doesn't seem quite right. But if you plop it in an old vehicle, he seems right at home. The pants are a little weird. The hips aren't quite right. But, it's one of six figures this year and it's about $10 worth of a $60 boxed set that is otherwise pretty great. It is what it is, and if you plop it in a decent small vehicle you might go "OK, yeah, this is better than I thought." Read the whole review.
Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Newish! The Mattel Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z is new, and you might find it in a store's bins near you. It has cherry blossoms on it. Read on, and come back tomorrow for more fun!
Review: Hasbro Transformers Age of the Primes Leader G2 Universe Grimlock and Autobot Wheelie
Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Up for pre-order Wednesday: Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition Console & Joystick. At $169.99 it's $40 higher than the regular version, and includes a different game cartridge. It sports the 2600 version of Pac-Man - which was problematic - and a new 7800 port. The system itself has unique coloring and a unique controller.
The 2600 port of Pac-Man is somewhat infamous for being one of the best-selling games of the decade. And terrible. It came out in 1980, which I guess makes this some sort of 45th anniversary item. They may as well. It's the 40th anniversary of the NES release in America this year, and as far as I can tell there are no plans to celebrate it, or Super Mario Bros., or any of it.
Also coming Wednesday is a 4-cartridge High Score Collection 7800 with Galaga, Dig-Dug, Xevious, and the aforementioned Pac-Man cartridge. It's $169.99.
Svengoolie This Weekend: Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Svengoolie's MeTV Movie this Saturday: Earth Girls Are Easy (1988). I've never seen it - but I guess I will now! Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis and Damon Wayans and also Jim Carrey are in it. It was inspired by a song from Julie Brown that was on Dr. Demento a bunch.
Classic Review: Hasbro Revolution First Strike Comic Preview Mega-Set
Posted in 2017! The Hasbro Revolution First Strike Comic Preview Mega-Set is particularly fascinating in light of recent reveals. It had 9 miniature Micronauts - Biotron, Phenelo-Phi, Xant, Oberon, Time Traveler Quin-Tillus, Acroyear, Baron Karza, Betatron, and Gammatron. I knew who some of them were thanks to the old toys, but several were new to me and I had no idea what their deal was, or if they may show up on a cartoon somewhere. Well, if you know which archives to check, you may have seen some very similar characters in motion this week.
Do read on, and did you know Hasbro made a 52-episode cartoon series featuring Sean Astin - Frodo, Rudy, etc. - as the lead? And it was never officially released? And may have had a really good first episode?
This week:
Door to Door (Super Mario Bros. 2) - in which knock knock who's there Mario.
Hammer Hustle (Donkey Kong) - in which you get hammered.
Crumbling Crossing (Zelda II: The Adventure of Link) - in which a brdige is too far.
Beat the Heat (Super Mario Bros. 3) - in which it's summer in the desert.
Wizzrobe Warrior (The Legend of Zelda) - in which you prove magic is no match for cold steel.
It wasn't that hard to get the trophies, but hey, it's fun to zip through these. I honestly can't tell you the last time I bought a game that I was still playing a year later, even if it's just for a 20-30-minute challenge check-in. I got my money's worth here. (Related, also pulled Final Fantasy i & II: Dawn of Souls out again.)
Classic Review: Funko Bravest Warriors Pop! Television Catbug Vinyl Figure
Something new every day-- but this was posted 10 years ago today! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Posted 10 years ago! The Funko Bravest Warriors Pop! Television Catbug Vinyl Figure is cute and remains inexpensive. This was one of the first figures of the character - there aren't a ton of other ones - and it was a fun little show that I remember discovering as it streamed to my 3DS video channel. "I've got nothing else to do, may as well watch this" works.
Do read on, and come back tomorrow for a new one!
ICYMI: Combustible Edison Four Rooms on Vinyl, Clearance
Via Sundazed: Combustible Edison - Four Rooms Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Black Vinyl 2LP. I haven't seen the movie, but I really love the 1990s band Combustible Edison. And they love the 1960s. Because they haven't put out much other than a really good demo collection (which I also found by accident), I had no idea this existed - and it's on sale for $24.99. This is not a sponsored link, more of an FYI because a double LP of a pretty great band was worth it. And someday I'll probably see the movie, if it shows up on a service I have. (I finally saw I Woke Up Early The Day I Died and it was... a 1990s indie movie.)
I threw in Sun Ra & His Arkestra - Space Is The Place Original Motion Picture Soundtrack because $31 for 3 LPs and a Blu-Ray was too cheap to not pick up (and I didn't know it existed, either.) Their TwinArt - Instant This / Instant That is also on sale, and I bought it at full price and enjoyed it. It's probably worth poking around if you also buy less-than-famous records. There's a lot of really interesting stuff out there and it's really hard to keep track of it all. If you're also the kind of person who hits up record stores, keep an eye on the sales bin and let me know what you find if it's cool, man, cool.
We're taking donations for server costs! Really. One of the rewards is Q&A a few days early - you can read next Monday's installment as soon as it's ready, which can be as early as 1:00 AM my time on Monday!
If you've got a dollar a month to share, please Visit the Galactic Hunter Patreon and help cover our server costs. I'll still put in hours of work, writing, photography, and research - I just need some help making sure that the site costs me only time, and hopefully not money. Thanks for your support!
Star Wars Review: Grand Admiral Thrawn (The Vintage Collection)
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Grand Admiral Thrawn (The Vintage Collection). It's a version designed to match Heir to the Empire - note the shoulder ornamentation and ysalamir - but it retained the unique collar ornamentation from Rebels and Ahsoka. In short, this is probably the Thrawn you were waiting for, unless you're waiting for a retro Kenner-style figure, in which case we're all still waiting. This Thrawn sold out quickly, and is part of a decent set of figures. If you can snag it, you probably should do so.
Read the whole review.
Via Walmart: Transformers Toys Autobot Seaspray, Retro G1-Inspired 5" Action Figure, 8+. The exclusive goes up July 24 at 7:00 AM Pacific and comes on a G1-style cardback. Walmart currently has Bumblebee and Gears figures as exclusives. Gears is most likely available at a Walmart somewhat near you.
This week's batch of titles on the eShop: Golden Tee Arcade Classics, Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition, Pac-Man Shadow Labyrinth, and over a dozen more.
Switch 2 also has Donkey Kong Bonanza and Pac-Man Shadow Labyrinth.
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