With the Avengers movie just out earlier this month, one thing is for sure: the demand on collectibles and action figures based on characters from Marvel Comics and films is going to go through the roof! Action figures will be coming out in all shapes and sizes and, of course, their quality will vary wildly! Trust me, there’s a huge difference between a good action figure that has been made with collectors and movie enthusiasts in mind and a “made in China” toy that has been made for toddlers to play with!

I think it goes without saying that collectors should do some research before investing in an action figure, especially if they intend to have it on display! Now when it comes to certain less popular characters from Marvel movies, like Mary Jane from Spider-Man for example, finding good action figures is relatively easy since there aren’t that many of them to choose from, when it comes to popular characters like Iron Man for example, things are a lot more complicated! This is where we come in! In this review we will take a look at the best collectible Iron Man action figure on the market, the Iron Man 2 Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure Iron Man Mark IV!

The first that should grab the attention of any collector worth his salt about this amazing action figure, is the fact that it has been made by industry leaders Hot Toys, one of the most famous an well respected action figure manufacturers in the world! Their last figure, based on the Mark III armor from the first Iron Man movie, was hailed as the best Iron Man action figure on the market! The Iron Man Mark IV action figure, is a vast improvement over its predecessor, making it essential for all collectors!

The first thing you’ll notice about it, is the fact that the sculpt has changed quite a bit! The biggest difference you’ll notice, is the fact that the waist is now more form fitting, giving the figure a more natural and human look than its predecessor! New servos have also been added in many joints, to reflect the changes and improvements that Tony Stark made to his armor between the two movies! Another cool thing about the sculpt is its color, which is a perfect reproduction of the “hot rod” red and gold pattern used in the movie! It is by far the most accurate action figure based on the movie version of Iron Man out there!

What really makes the Iron Man 2 Hot Toys Masterpiece 1/6 Collectible Action Figure really unique, are its many articulation points! The neck can be moved around very easily thanks to the fact that it’s on a double ball! The shoulders can rotate a full 360 degrees and the wrists can also rotate! When it comes to the figure’s hands though, what sets it apart from just about every other figure on the market, is the fact that each finger is also articulated! This will allow you to set and display the figure posed exactly as you want it! The waist and his hips are also movable and the figure also comes equipped with special flaps behind the shoulders that you can open and close!

Other cool features of the Iron Man Mark IV collectible action figure include a replacement head depicting Tony Stark unmasked and modeled after Robert Downey Jr! Furthermore, the Arc Reactor on the breast plate can also light up to make it look even cooler when displayed, please note that you’ll need three AAA batteries, though! Finally, it also comes with a special display stand based on Tony Stark’s “armor hall” from the movies!

If you’re looking for the perfect action figure based on the Iron Man movies, then the Iron Man 2 Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure Iron Man Mark IV (affiliate), is definitely your best choice!

Enjoy! Via akiraceo.

Perhaps you have a creative streak in you and have an interest in creating comics or graphic novels. You probably are wondering how you can accomplish this. Whether you are a aspiring comic book writer or an illustrator with your sights set on a graphic design college, this article will help give you some insight in how to get started in creating comics.

Writing

A common misconception about comic book writing is that it is an easy task, just having to write some basic words while the artist/illustrator does most of the work. This is not the case. A writer and illustrator have to work together and collaborate in creating the comic book. The writer must take on the task of plotting and scripting, much in the same way a screenwriter writes for a movie, taking account of the images when developing a storyline.

After the writer conceives the idea for their story, he or she plots and writes a comics script for illustration purposes. The artist (or team, as art chores are sometimes collaborated on by a dedicated penciller and inker) then illustrates the script. The writer, artist, or a dedicated letterer subsequently adds the narration and dialogue. The story must be fast paced and the image elements must be arranged so that they strike a good balance with the dialogue.

Illustration

Comic book illustration is not just a matter of creating characters and scenes. You must understand the pacing of the story and have a feel for distance and perspective in art. If just starting out doing illustrations, it is best to just start drawing characters, people, and scenes that you are familiar with. Once you get more advanced in your illustrating skills, you should attempt to draw characters in which emotions are portrayed on their faces, as this is an essential component to tell the story in the comic book. Also, you should be able to create realistic images of the scenery, such as nature or a city backdrop.

Once you have created some comics, you can put together a portfolio. This should contain multiple pages of the story with dialogue and pictures. Also you can include character and scenery designs. This shows prospective employers that you can be an effective comic book writer or artist.

A great way further your skills creating comic books is to obtain a college degree. There are many quality art colleges to help you achieve your comic book making dreams.

Sources:
Absolute Write 
Comicsetc.com
Writing-world.com

Collecting action figures based on characters from popular movies and comic books is certainly not as easy as it sounds! The problem is that most retailers and sellers alike, can’t tell the difference between a collectible action figure that’s meant for collectors to display and a toys that have been made for children to play with! It’s not uncommon for a collector to buy an action figure online thinking it is a collector’s piece, only to end up with a toy that he could have picked up on any toy store which has little to no collecting value!

With that being said, it is essential to do as much research as possible before investing in an action figure, especially if it’s based on a very popular character like Batman or Spider-Man! In fact, since pretty much all well known super heroes will have movies coming out during the summer of 2012, one should be extra careful and vigilant, since the market will be literally flooded with action figures, very few of which will be made for collectors! In this review, we will take a look at one of the best action figures based on Batman and the Dark Knight movie available on the market, the Dark Knight: Batman and Bat Pod Action Figure! (affiliate).

Right off the bat there is something that sets this action figure apart from the many other action figures based on Batman and super heroes in general: it is made by Bandai! Bandai is a world famous Japanese company that is widely considered to be the best action figure manufacturer in the world! Their action figures are always of amazing quality and highly collectible! In other words, the Dark Knight: Baman and Bat Pod action figure will definitely be one of the “crown jewels” of any collector worth his salt!

When it comes to figure, it looks extremely detailed and well made! Every minute detail of Batman’s armor from the Dark Knight has been very accurately depicted! In fact, it even comes with movable blades on the gauntlets! Speaking of gauntlets, the figure comes with three interchangeable sets: the standard one, one holding a Batarang, Batman’s trademark Shuriken like weapon, and the grappling hook and finally a set that has been specially designed for use with the second item of this set: the Bat Pod! Unlike other figures that are more bulky, this Batman figure looks slimmer and it has a distinct Japanese look, which makes evident right away the fact that it is made from Bandai and therefore extra rare and highly collectible!

Like I said above, there is another item in this amazing set: the Bat Pod! The people at Bandai have done an amazing job recreating Batman’s cool vehicle from the Dark Knight movie! Every little part and detail has been represented with extreme accuracy! It is as if someone shrank the actual prop they used in the movie! Needless to say that there aren’t many collector’s sets that include both a Batman figure and the Bat Pod, making this even more unique and a true bargain for avid collectors, since they’ll get two amazing figures for the price of one!

If you are a fan of the Batman comics or the movies by Christopher Nolan, especially The Dark Knight, and you are looking for a truly unique action figure, and you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it, this is definitely the best choice for you! You’ll get two unique and highly detailed figures made by Bandai for the price of one, you can’t do better than that!

If you are interested, the current price is $529.50. It is in stock and you can get Dark Knight: Batman & Bat Pod Action Figure from Amazon.