Fugitive From Reality

The All New, All Different FFR Blog!

2009-04-08T03:28:00.002-05:00

Yeah so I kinda made a new blog, but this time I got back up! So it'll have real honest weekly updates!

We promise not only Tuesday and Thursday posts, but the occasional cyber novella update AND all new, all different Fugitives From Reality 2.0 webcomic!

I've learned alot from managing this red-headed step child of a blog along with the smackjeeves comic site and moderative a forum, so i've pooled all those lessons into running my own damn blog. WITH HELP!

So anywho, if you want weekly doses of the Esbat, then hop on over to the official Fugitives From Reality blog!

So this is the last official entry here, adios bitches!

Fugitives From Reality: Conclusion

2009-03-09T00:52:00.003-05:00

I've decided to conclude Fugitives From Reality with Episode 50. After a year of doing a hurriedly slapped together photocomic about the WUMB, on a more or less weekly basis, I've gathered enough know-how and studied the trends, etc etc... and decided to end this Wizard Universe Message Board version of Fugitives From Reality.

Some of the things I've learned:

- Feedback from fellow WUMBers has been pretty good, many liking some of the strips, few disliking the whole comic altogether.

- Non-WUMBers didn't understand most of the in-jokes, natch. So many of the comics were hit or miss.

- You can't please everyone if you slowly cast people you know into the comic. At some points I was receiving 1 to 2 requests a week to be put in the comic.

- Social commentary in webcomic form is very funny.

- I received more hits from my webcomic's page than from the Wizard Message boards.

- Non-North American visitors would contact me to purchase my figures! (note to self: hook up with sponsors!)

- And finally, Az's Bearfighting gag transcended in-joke barriers. A big chunk of my unique hits were for strips featuring Az's comedic appearances.

Anywho, so Episode 50 will be it for the focus on the Wizard Universe Message Board. Expect Episode 50 to big the longest FFR episode EVAR. And April 1st is the relaunch date for "Volume II" of Fugitives From Reality.

Big Pimpin': Panels On Pages!

2009-03-09T00:16:00.003-05:00

It looks like a Ka-Tet of Wizard Universe Columnists and Message Board members have banded together to create an whole new comics, movies, collectibles, general nerdery/geekery site called Panels on Pages! or PoP!

Here is an introductory YouTube video to the site:

Check it out, I've known these jokers for a while now and they've dropped several months of work into this site launch, and they've assured me they have TONS of reviews, columns, and features stored up for constant updates on all things that make you go "SQUEE"!

Figure Realm on Attack of the Show!

2009-02-12T23:16:00.003-06:00

From G4tv.com

On February 6th, FigureRealm.com was featured on G4tv's news show "Attack of the Show" in a segment called Blog Watch. They showcased the figure shop along with the ever growing tutorial page and mighty Custom Figure Showcase!

Anywho, it was cool for Cap and the site to get some major props. Check it out!

Fugitives From Reality - Secret Crisis Trailer

2009-02-12T06:02:00.003-06:00

Preview:

This is Episode 48 of Fugitives From Reality. I made it a faux movie trailer celebrating the upcoming "Secret Crisis" storyline in honor of the 1 year anniversary of Fugitives From Reality. I've uploaded it to Youtube, check it out!

Toyfare #139 Review

2009-01-22T16:10:00.003-06:00

Hello Toybender readers!

Thanks to Paul's laziness I was able to review the newest Toyfare magazine, before it hit your bookstore's shelves!

And those of you loyal Fugitives From Reality reader, check out today's Toybender post for my snarky goodness where I chew out a Feminist, talk about my massively underwhelming GI Joe collection, get my mack on with a Wonder Woman, and welcome our underground albino conquerors!

DC Direct/eBay: Update

2008-12-20T01:09:00.003-06:00

UPDATE: Well it appears its out of production with Diamond Distributors, so the eBay seller offered to exchange the figure for me. I declined and dremelled and glued her knee back in place. So she's on display now. Ah well... at least I won a FRICKEN Spider-Man Classics KB exclusive SCARLET SPIDER on eBAY!

Hope that goes better than this last figure purchase!

...

Anywho here is my favorite Red Lantern I hope they make a figure of soon:

DC Direct is a harsh mistress...

2008-12-12T02:06:00.005-06:00

Okay so a few weeks back I won an eBay auction a Batman: Knightfall Catwoman figure. This is like my dream figure as its my 90's Jim Balent purple catsuit and liquid black opera gloves and thigh high booted Catwoman. The Catwoman I grew up on, crushed on, and thoroughly ingrained my catgirl fetish.

As you can see, if you clicked the linky, I got an excellent deal as most other sites want to charge double what DJ's Collectible Shoppe charged me. Well as you can see from the date I paid and when I won the auction there was quite a wait, almost two weeks, as I kinda forgot that I still needed to pay for it as I was caught up with finals, graduation, Thanksgiving, and what not being my last semester and all of college.

So I remembered, I messaged DJ, and I paid up right quick. BAM! A few hours later I get a message that all is good and that the figure would be going out ASAP.

HUZZAH!

So I get the figure a few days later, and then yesterday I message him that I left positive feedback and am most happy with my figure. Then about an hour ago I opened her. I take great pains to carefully free her from the twist ties and the packaging.

And she's INCREDIBLE, I already know NOT to do a Marvel Legends/DC Universe Classics articulation test on DC Directs or Marvel Selects, but I go to bend her elbows to pose her.

All is well.

I go to bend her knees. Right knee is awesome. Left knee...

All is crap.

Apparently her left knee, not attached too well as its barely hanging by the back attachment. I'm not a violent man but I wanted to punch someone really hard... with my foot.

So far of my DC Direct purchases I'm 2 for 4 for them breaking straight out of the packaging. I've bought an 18 dollar Infinite Crisis OMAC from Hot Topic. His right leg broke off 2 minutes out of package, I was marvelling at his points of articulation when

*POP*

The gorgeous translucent leg is now seperate from his gorgeous translucent body. It was like the plot to a freaky ass Anime. I spent 4 hours the first time attempting to repair his leg by gluing it in place only for it to break AGAIN when he took a nose dive off my shelf simultaneously breaking his head fin off. I spent 2 hours, with a dremel, repairing his leg with a screw and now its fully poseable once again. The Fin, not so much. Its attached but doesn't flex with the spine section of the fin. Gah.

My second DC Direct purchase was a First Appearance Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle, that sucker is like a rock. Invincible, almost. I love it.

My Third DC Direct purchase a Green Lantern Series 1 Star Sapphire. Gorgeous, super limited poseablity, but no breaky.

My Fourth DCD purchase is this Knightfall Catwoman and 2 minutes out of package, even under tender lovin' care. She was already broke.

*Sigh*

I also own a JSA Series 1 Power Girl, and Infinite Crisis Power Girl, Identity Crisis Deadshot, and Superman Last Son Bizarro but those were either traded for, purchased loose, or given to me as a gift. All of them great condition, their articulation points perfect, no breaky breaky.

*Double Sigh*

So I decided to check the packaging for customer service info, NUFFIN. So I check the damn DC Direct website, and straight from their FAQ:

How Can I Replace Or Fix A Broken Product?
You can bring the item back to the retailer that you purchased it from, so they can take up the matter with the Diamond Distributors customer service representative. DC Direct is not equipped to respond to requests to repair broken items or ship replacement parts.

Great.

This was a fricken EBAY PURCHASE. So I decide "screw it" I'll check Diamond Distributor's website. Well I learn that I'm leading Jack and Shit and Jack got a sex change.

Wunderbar!

So as a last resort I messaged DJ, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe we can work something out. He gave me a HECKUVA deal on the figure, about 5 bucks less than normal retail for a DCD (in spite of the shipping charge). So I basically said in the message:

"Hey, the figure broke straight outta the package, and I tried to handle a customer service thing on my own but came up bupkiss on both ends and I'm outta ideas. So I'm asking you hopefully that it won't be too much trouble and cost us both too much time and money. But if it is gonna cost us both alot of time and money to get it replaced I'll simply glue it because you gave me a sweet deal and were super stand up about the 2 weeks late payment thing.

~ Kisses,

Esbatty"

So yeah to recap I got a good deal and then punked again in the ass by DC Direct.

*Head2Desk*

Anywho, there will be a nice big installment of Fugitives From Reality coming up this weekend, there is a graduation party thing going on Saturday with my folks so expect either a Friday or Sunday update.

Now I have some more room cleaning to do, damn company coming over. Furballs under my bed half the size of each of my cats. Gah!

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLVII "Smackdown To Secret Crisis IV"

2008-11-30T17:22:00.002-06:00

Preview:

...

3 Episodes until the 50 comic milestone!

Better Know An Esbat...

2008-11-15T02:29:00.002-06:00

This is just a brief glimpse into what entertains me on a regular basis. I tend to be online as much as I watch Television so instead of listing random television shows (its easier to type out Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, and CNN) I'll just list 9 of my favorite sites, blogs, webcomics, and comic books I read/visit with regularity:

WEBCOMICS

Ctrl+Alt+Del
Penny Arcade
Electronic Tigers
Menage a 3
Cru The Dwarf
Twisted Kaiju Theater
Shortpacked!
Homestar Runner
Geist Panik

BLOGS
Toy Bender
Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation
Fareplay
Enigma Vestibule
The Braxcave
Joystick Division
Busty Superhero Chick
Topless Robot
1P Start

SITES
Wizard Universe (specifically the Wizard Universe Message Board, natch)
Cool Toy Review
Kyle Robinson Customs (again specifically the Message Board and Blog)
Figure Realm
Artifice Comics
Facebook
Mechquest
OAFE
Urban Dead

COMICS
Justice Society of America
The Darkness
Batman
Ms. Marvel
Invincible
She Hulk
The Walking Dead
Bomb Queen
Robin
Ultimate Spider-Man

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLVI "Smackdown To Secret Crisis III"

2008-11-12T02:45:00.004-06:00

Preview:

...

Part 3 of Smackdown to Secret Crisis and my 150th Blog Post here on the Fugitive From Reality Blog! Thats at least 1 blog post every 2 days! Go laziness!

Adam Strange and Starfire Packging Pic!

2008-11-10T00:34:00.002-06:00

I know its not very large but I snagged this off the MattyCollector.com site itself! They look gorgeous in package. I want this!

DC Universe Classics Series 8 Announced!

2008-11-04T01:07:00.002-06:00

Dr. Fate
Variant Dr. Fate (Classic/Gold)
Hawkgirl
Mr. Terrific, Modern
Parademon (2 versions)
Gentleman Ghost
Vigilante
Commander Steel

with the Collect and Connect (BAF) figure is a 10 inch GIGANTA!

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLV "Smackdown To Secret Crisis II"

2008-11-01T03:29:00.004-05:00

Preview:

...

The oft delayed Part 2 of Smackdown to Secret Crisis, decided to break it up due to inability to get a sunny day out of the damn sky during these last few cloudy cold days.

Mattel DC Figure Q & A Round Up!

2008-10-24T00:32:00.002-05:00

From Cool Toy Review:

Cool Toy Review: Back during San Diego, it was announced that there would be a series of action figures 2-packs available on MattyCollector.com. When will the DCUC exclusive 2-packs be available, and aside from Adama Strange & Starfire, who will they be? Any hints?

Mattel: The Adam Strange/Starfire pack will be out at the very end of 2008. We will announce a date in November when we roll out the brand specific pages on MattyCollector.com. As for future packs, look for one to have someone with Kryptonian powers.

From Superhero Times:

SHT: There's mixed feelings regarding the new DCU: Infinite Heroes line. While many fans are impressed with the smaller 3 3/4" scale figures, some wonder about the need for a new line with the 7" DC Universe Classics as well as the 3 3/4" JLU figures still on shelves. What was the original inspiration for the line and what does the DCU: Infinite Heroes line bring to fan's collections the other two series can't? The addition of vehicles and/or playsets would obviously help justify fan reasoning to purchase and begin collecting this new series...

MATTY: Ahh, what a question. Originally, the line was actually conceived as something very different and due to many organic factors in the toy making process it became a kick butt 3 ¾ line. It was created to help army-build the DC Universe. While in the DCUC line fans will get highly detailed fully articulated figures, and in the JLU line fans will get animated versions of characters, only in the Infinite Heroes line will fans get an entire army in the palm of their hands including soldiers, flunkies and warriors in addition to the main characters.

This line also allows the characters of the DC Universe to stand toe to toe with other 3 ¾ toy lines. 6" and 3 ¾" are the main leaders in collectable toy line scales today and we wanted to make sure fans could find both scales at retail. Also, if sales do take off, we hope to add vehicles to this line which is much better suited due to the scale and the cost of producing and selling vehicles.

And finally, if you look carefully, some clever fan will be able to figure out what artist helped develop the line and where the inspiration came from...

From Raving Toy Maniac:

RTM: Is Mattel aware that Target is "green-tagging" DCUC returns? As in, once they are marked with a green tag, they can not be resold.

MATTEL: We are aware of this, but toy fans should know that once a product leaves Mattel's distribution center, it is in the hands of our retail partners. How they treat returns is entirely up to them. We don't set rules and regulations. If you are unhappy with how a retail store is handling returns, please let them know!

June 9th, 2009

2008-10-21T00:37:00.004-05:00

The day... Esbat will be complete (until a kind-hearted woman with low standards accepts my marriage proposals).

She'll be joining the likes of:

And of course... Cheetah and Catwoman rrrrrrrrowl

So if anyone is wondering what to get me for christmas... *ahem*

Can't sleep... cats will eat me...

2008-10-11T01:31:00.002-05:00

Having a hard time getting to sleep these days... I don't know why.

Had a crazy ass dream the other night, it was so vivid, so real. It was just ... wicked.

Started out with me coming home from the office, I stop over at this woman's home, her kitchen specifically and we talk, I don't remember the conversation. When I'm leaving the news on the television set mentions warships are coming into US waters.

I don't remember actually getting home, but I do remember getting into my apartment building with a pack of my neighbors all in a tizzy yelling at my sister who apparently also just got home from work. Looks like we live together for some reason.

Anywho, she freaks and shuts the front door as I walk up to the angry neighbors. They tell me this batshit craziest thing in the world. And this is a direct quote from the dream:

"Hey, we live here and we made a deal with this spirit you see. We're just trying to get by and this evil spirit lives here and we made a damn deal. Then you come in here and don't do nothing. And now its gone alls polergeist on our ass. We're just trying to get by, trying to live here. Whatchu' gonna do?"

Crazy, I tell you.

So I open the front door, let myself in, and as I shut it I say "I work too hard to give a rats ass." And I slam the door in their faces.

I kid you not. Onward with the dream retelling, God it was a weird one.

So I'm in my apartment, more of a swanky ass condo with a flat screen on the wall, nice little kitchen going on, and for some reason I'm barefoot and the carpet feels like a bed. Good times. I mean it, its a helluva job I have if I can afford this.

My sister is on the couch curled up with the blanket she's had since she was a baby. This small threadbare pink and white blanket my mother bought her for her first christmas. Had a large drawing of a panda on it for some reason. Anywho, she's sitting on the couch, curled up all cozy watching like CNN and there is an image of the coastline and this big battleship is coming up fast on the coast. Deck guns out and all that good stuff.

I shrug and all of a sudden...

BOOM-THOOM!

What the hell was that?

BOOM-THOOM!

Again.

BOOM-THOOM!

Its louder now, I look outside. I realize I'm about 20 stories up, beautiful view of the coast. Something on the TV makes me think that the battleship is possibly one from our own fleet. Something about uranium tipped shells.

BOOM-THOOM!

Its even louder and as I'm staring out the window, and we're damn near the coastline as I can see the shells landing in and detonating in the bay now.

The whole building rocks from the explosions as ...

BOOM-THOOM!

Another two shells HIT THE FRICKEN CITY. I freak, I jump into this half crouched pose ready to run and I hold my hand out to my sister and yell "We GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!"

She looks at me, not quite trusting me, as we've had alot of turmoil between us these last 5 years. And yet we live together for some reason.

BOOM-THOOM!

I'm still staring at her as the double detonation rocks the entire building even more violently.

WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE, DAMMIT!

She gets up so slow and nonchantly, leaving her blanket behind, only to stop and slowly head back to pick it up... fold it, and put it under her arm, like when she was little. She finally takes my hand and...

I wake up.

My heart is racing. Turns out my heart was beating so hard and so loud that the sound of the shelling was actually my own heartbeat. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. I had an urge to simply leap out of bed, and I'm a pretty heavy guy, and just take on whatever was coming for me.

I did some breathing exercises and was able to get back to bed. But damn if that didn't stick with me. So bright so vivid. Like a nightmare in IMAX.

And now here I am, the next night and I do not wish to relive this nightmare, but sleep I must.

Good night.

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLIV "Smackdown To Secret Crisis I"

2008-10-07T22:31:00.003-05:00

Preview:

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Here is installment 1 of Smackdown to Secret Crisis! Let the get the party started!

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLIIV "Prelude"

2008-09-30T01:38:00.002-05:00

Preview:

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This is the first part to Smackdown To Secret Crisis! Polar Claw transformer provided by Mikey of the WUMB, played by Beta-Ray Bill the horsefaced Thor type figure in the comic.

Update!

2008-09-25T16:59:00.002-05:00

Smackdown to Secret Crisis is A-go!

I just sent off the newest script to Episode 43 to Astro13Zombie (aka Astro, the Blue Halo Spartan), who's going to give me a thumbs up or down on whether he can animate a panel or two of this episode.

After that I shoot the comic, photoshop it, then send him the panel or panels to be animated.

Then I put it up.

No more trying to meet a set deadline, now the comics will come out once a week starting next week.

Enjoy!

Perv Alert!

2008-09-19T23:23:00.003-05:00

I ran my usual biweekly check on the stats for the webcomic site and on the blog here and some of the search terms run the gamut from "loosecollector esteemed" to "twisted kaiju theater cloverfield", odd but hey whatever gets me hits baby!

But dudes (and dudettes) there are pervs on the loose and I have no idea how "ruby rocket xxx" got someone to my blog! Yes one post featured adult photo starlet Angela White and another post featured the burlesque performer and professional cosplayer/booth babe Ruby Rocket but nowhere in my posting did I ever consider (aloud) Ruby in any pornographic situation nor imply it.

She's just a comic nerd's (straight men/lesbians/bi-peeps/fetishists) dream woman.

Anywho, there was only ONE hit for ruby rocket xxx but I assure you she's an upstanding, good hearted individual whom doesn't need the quick cash or cheap thrills of triple x photography, tyvm.

And I say good day to sirs/madams/freaks.

...

Now here she is dressed as rookie superheroine Batwoman (who just so happens to be lesbian).

Networking: Lootist.com

2008-09-19T23:14:00.003-05:00

I have struck an illustrious accord with burgeoning collectors site: Lootist.com, as evidenced by this lil' logo now sittin' on this here blog!

You can see my recent review in the box below this logo on the right hand side of the blog. I try to make each and every actual review... reviewy and entertaining but sometimes I just get in this zone where I just get down to the nitty gritty of (this sucks move on, or this rocks buy three 'cause grandma ain't gettin' any younger!).

Each review/wishlist item is linked to the appropriately priced (ie cheapest) deals I can find on them (if the price seems kinda higher than what you can google either the site revised the price or I factored in the shipping cost and it was cheaper by at least a few bucks. I'm a stickler.)

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLII "Maximum Cross-Overage III and Lust, Hits, and Power Rings"

2008-09-12T15:07:00.002-05:00

Preview:

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The star-studded conclusion to "Maximum Cross-Overage"! This is a double-sized episode with a bonus guest comic by Dr. Nightmare!

My feet hurt

2008-09-07T14:41:00.002-05:00

I got up at 8am saturday morning to go figure hunting. I got back home around 315 only to head off to work at 430. Then I worked 5 to midnight with no breaks or lunch, only to get back home at 1230 after being yelled at by drunks and drugged up truck drivers.

Anywho, feet pain aside (I got work at 5 again until 11 this time, so since Sundays are slow days I'll proly get a break and not have to eat standing up), in my figure hunting I pretty much just bought a First Appearance Blue Beetle figure from Hot Topic, which is having a half off the clearance price sale. Got him for like 4.32 with tax.

Plus the day before that I picked up a Palisades Toys/SOTA House of the Dead Ken, which is surprisingly alot more articulated then he appears to be in package.

Ooh I also picked up some rare earth magnets so I can finally properly fix up the swappable heads of my Red Hood/Jason todd custom.

Fugitives From Reality: Episode XLI "Maximum Cross-Overage II"

2008-09-05T21:01:00.001-05:00

Preview:

Part II of III.