J.L. Switzer
@captainjls.com
Surrounded by comics they never have time enough to read. Always tired. Writing nonsense about Robotech on the internet since the late '90s.
Out and about and bought a new Pizza Thrower at Ollie's (one of the few Turtles vehicles I had as a kid and I'm pretty sure my original is long gone/broken somewhere) and also the barista at Starbucks made multiple wrong guesses how to spell my name in one go. Not the *worst* I've seen, though.
November 28, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Out and about and bought a new Pizza Thrower at Ollie's (one of the few Turtles vehicles I had as a kid and I'm pretty sure my original is long gone/broken somewhere) and also the barista at Starbucks made multiple wrong guesses how to spell my name in one go. Not the *worst* I've seen, though.
Did somebody mention Pioneer's early jewel-cased anime DVD releases? (For the record, Dead Zone here has a 1997 copyright date and World's Strongest says '98.)
November 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Did somebody mention Pioneer's early jewel-cased anime DVD releases? (For the record, Dead Zone here has a 1997 copyright date and World's Strongest says '98.)
Blind box victories at Walmart today: a Blokees last-half-of-IDW-MTMTE Autobot Megatron and yet another Spider-Gwen for the collection from the Lego Spider-Verse wave.
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Blind box victories at Walmart today: a Blokees last-half-of-IDW-MTMTE Autobot Megatron and yet another Spider-Gwen for the collection from the Lego Spider-Verse wave.
Friends, I just received the only piece of football-related memorabilia I will probably ever buy -- the Transformer that turns into a helmet from the team my mom roots for. (We're 2 hours south of KC, so they're the "local" team.)
November 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Friends, I just received the only piece of football-related memorabilia I will probably ever buy -- the Transformer that turns into a helmet from the team my mom roots for. (We're 2 hours south of KC, so they're the "local" team.)
And there's our Dark Avengers Spider-Man. The 2nd one, not Mac Gargan -- this is Ai Apaec, a nasty Peruvian god who helped Osborn bust out of prison post-Siege (eventually shrunk down and squished by a teammate). Which means it doesn't match the rest of the Dark Avengers lineup released so far.
November 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
And there's our Dark Avengers Spider-Man. The 2nd one, not Mac Gargan -- this is Ai Apaec, a nasty Peruvian god who helped Osborn bust out of prison post-Siege (eventually shrunk down and squished by a teammate). Which means it doesn't match the rest of the Dark Avengers lineup released so far.
Amazon's shipping the new Marvel Legends build-a-figure wave. I think the Dark Avengers Spidey should also be turning up today. Enchantress looks nice, but boy howdy, her high heels are extra-temperamental. Heels don't appear to be level with the toes.
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Amazon's shipping the new Marvel Legends build-a-figure wave. I think the Dark Avengers Spidey should also be turning up today. Enchantress looks nice, but boy howdy, her high heels are extra-temperamental. Heels don't appear to be level with the toes.
Got in the "troop builder" case of G.I. Joe Classified retro figures today. Yay for bolstering the ranks with generic folks you can differentiate out of the box. Curious now if we'll be getting a female Joe Trooper much like the female Crimson Guard coming in the next wave.
November 15, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Got in the "troop builder" case of G.I. Joe Classified retro figures today. Yay for bolstering the ranks with generic folks you can differentiate out of the box. Curious now if we'll be getting a female Joe Trooper much like the female Crimson Guard coming in the next wave.
I think the only way to fix business in this wretched capitalist hellscape is to make the endless parade of stupid money tricks that have divorced business from "doing a thing and doing it well" illegal, with the consequence of breaking said laws being hard prison time.
November 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I think the only way to fix business in this wretched capitalist hellscape is to make the endless parade of stupid money tricks that have divorced business from "doing a thing and doing it well" illegal, with the consequence of breaking said laws being hard prison time.
Marvel Legends Gamerverse Cap.
Another good solid "default" Captain America that I wanted mostly cuz THIS one, unlike Secret Wars Cap and the nice Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Cap comes with a fully intact shield. Great figure, too, tho.
Venom I'm selling on eBay probably this week. (Not a fan.)
Another good solid "default" Captain America that I wanted mostly cuz THIS one, unlike Secret Wars Cap and the nice Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Cap comes with a fully intact shield. Great figure, too, tho.
Venom I'm selling on eBay probably this week. (Not a fan.)
October 31, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Marvel Legends Gamerverse Cap.
Another good solid "default" Captain America that I wanted mostly cuz THIS one, unlike Secret Wars Cap and the nice Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Cap comes with a fully intact shield. Great figure, too, tho.
Venom I'm selling on eBay probably this week. (Not a fan.)
Another good solid "default" Captain America that I wanted mostly cuz THIS one, unlike Secret Wars Cap and the nice Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Cap comes with a fully intact shield. Great figure, too, tho.
Venom I'm selling on eBay probably this week. (Not a fan.)
Missing Link Sunstreaker.
A G1 Transformers toy reborn with a working neck, knees, elbows, and freakin' ankle tilts. Amazing. Looks really weird without the shoulder things. I do love this vintage Japanese toy robot aesthetic, and this feels both heavy and PREMIUM, both the plastic & die-cast metal.
A G1 Transformers toy reborn with a working neck, knees, elbows, and freakin' ankle tilts. Amazing. Looks really weird without the shoulder things. I do love this vintage Japanese toy robot aesthetic, and this feels both heavy and PREMIUM, both the plastic & die-cast metal.
October 31, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Missing Link Sunstreaker.
A G1 Transformers toy reborn with a working neck, knees, elbows, and freakin' ankle tilts. Amazing. Looks really weird without the shoulder things. I do love this vintage Japanese toy robot aesthetic, and this feels both heavy and PREMIUM, both the plastic & die-cast metal.
A G1 Transformers toy reborn with a working neck, knees, elbows, and freakin' ankle tilts. Amazing. Looks really weird without the shoulder things. I do love this vintage Japanese toy robot aesthetic, and this feels both heavy and PREMIUM, both the plastic & die-cast metal.
Oh yes. A magnificent modern reimagining that does a great job bringing his colors and key design elements together in a way that clashes a lot less than the (yes, still very cool) vintage design.
Also, noticed yesterday they stopped sealing the accessory bags and just have them taped closed now.
Also, noticed yesterday they stopped sealing the accessory bags and just have them taped closed now.
October 29, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Oh yes. A magnificent modern reimagining that does a great job bringing his colors and key design elements together in a way that clashes a lot less than the (yes, still very cool) vintage design.
Also, noticed yesterday they stopped sealing the accessory bags and just have them taped closed now.
Also, noticed yesterday they stopped sealing the accessory bags and just have them taped closed now.
Look who decided to join us today! 😃
October 29, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Look who decided to join us today! 😃
Marvel Legends F4 She-Hulk.
So, how long before Hasbro gives us a new lawyer She-Hulk?
This one's great because of this new additional head sculpt with the ponytail (shame the shade of green's different from the last figure), the thumbs-up hand AND the peace sign hand, and the two barbells. Love it.
So, how long before Hasbro gives us a new lawyer She-Hulk?
This one's great because of this new additional head sculpt with the ponytail (shame the shade of green's different from the last figure), the thumbs-up hand AND the peace sign hand, and the two barbells. Love it.
October 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Marvel Legends F4 She-Hulk.
So, how long before Hasbro gives us a new lawyer She-Hulk?
This one's great because of this new additional head sculpt with the ponytail (shame the shade of green's different from the last figure), the thumbs-up hand AND the peace sign hand, and the two barbells. Love it.
So, how long before Hasbro gives us a new lawyer She-Hulk?
This one's great because of this new additional head sculpt with the ponytail (shame the shade of green's different from the last figure), the thumbs-up hand AND the peace sign hand, and the two barbells. Love it.
The retro G.I. Joe Classified Tele-Viper.
One of the few G.I. Joes I had as a kid that *weren't* from that '83-'84 promo package my dad got from work at the TV station (it was one of these, Low-Light, and Serpentor). The ones with the Trubble Bubbles were great, but I needed the short sleeves.
One of the few G.I. Joes I had as a kid that *weren't* from that '83-'84 promo package my dad got from work at the TV station (it was one of these, Low-Light, and Serpentor). The ones with the Trubble Bubbles were great, but I needed the short sleeves.
October 28, 2025 at 6:35 AM
The retro G.I. Joe Classified Tele-Viper.
One of the few G.I. Joes I had as a kid that *weren't* from that '83-'84 promo package my dad got from work at the TV station (it was one of these, Low-Light, and Serpentor). The ones with the Trubble Bubbles were great, but I needed the short sleeves.
One of the few G.I. Joes I had as a kid that *weren't* from that '83-'84 promo package my dad got from work at the TV station (it was one of these, Low-Light, and Serpentor). The ones with the Trubble Bubbles were great, but I needed the short sleeves.
Age of the Primes Vortex is neat -- tidy transformation, love the swirly silvery gray -- but the awkward arm kibble and fiddly tabs for mounting the guns in chopper mode knock off a couple points (and I miss how BIG they were in G1). Moved the sidearm further back to the tail after snapping the pic.
October 28, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Age of the Primes Vortex is neat -- tidy transformation, love the swirly silvery gray -- but the awkward arm kibble and fiddly tabs for mounting the guns in chopper mode knock off a couple points (and I miss how BIG they were in G1). Moved the sidearm further back to the tail after snapping the pic.
Third time today I've had to break out the hair dryer to swap some action figure parts (previously: doing a head swap on Scorpion, changing Raiden's face plate -- the default was GLUED IN, which is nuts for a figure that includes alternate faces), and the results ... yeah, I'm keeping him like this.
October 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Third time today I've had to break out the hair dryer to swap some action figure parts (previously: doing a head swap on Scorpion, changing Raiden's face plate -- the default was GLUED IN, which is nuts for a figure that includes alternate faces), and the results ... yeah, I'm keeping him like this.
In a lineup of weird freaks, four-legged, asshole-mouthed, eye-popping, wing-eared Mantenna might be the weirdest. Love this dude and love this version of him.
Just seems weird to have 3 of him from the last few years in the room with me now, but as I've said, Mattel does a Horde figure, I buy it.
Just seems weird to have 3 of him from the last few years in the room with me now, but as I've said, Mattel does a Horde figure, I buy it.
October 28, 2025 at 4:18 AM
In a lineup of weird freaks, four-legged, asshole-mouthed, eye-popping, wing-eared Mantenna might be the weirdest. Love this dude and love this version of him.
Just seems weird to have 3 of him from the last few years in the room with me now, but as I've said, Mattel does a Horde figure, I buy it.
Just seems weird to have 3 of him from the last few years in the room with me now, but as I've said, Mattel does a Horde figure, I buy it.
Bow & Shadow Weaver:
Shadow Weaver looks like she's supposed to have a flight stand, but at least she's got 2 accessories she can use.
The weight of Bow's cape makes the point of his top stick out and, like so many archer figures, he CANNOT get into a drawn bow pose (contrary to the package art).
Shadow Weaver looks like she's supposed to have a flight stand, but at least she's got 2 accessories she can use.
The weight of Bow's cape makes the point of his top stick out and, like so many archer figures, he CANNOT get into a drawn bow pose (contrary to the package art).
October 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Bow & Shadow Weaver:
Shadow Weaver looks like she's supposed to have a flight stand, but at least she's got 2 accessories she can use.
The weight of Bow's cape makes the point of his top stick out and, like so many archer figures, he CANNOT get into a drawn bow pose (contrary to the package art).
Shadow Weaver looks like she's supposed to have a flight stand, but at least she's got 2 accessories she can use.
The weight of Bow's cape makes the point of his top stick out and, like so many archer figures, he CANNOT get into a drawn bow pose (contrary to the package art).
And so my regular Scorpion now stands immediately post-Fatality, with skull head and holding his mask in his hand.
October 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
And so my regular Scorpion now stands immediately post-Fatality, with skull head and holding his mask in his hand.
Broke open the Walmart exclusive Scorpion vs. Raiden set as I start to work my way thru unopened toys. Wild how much is in that box: alternate hands that SHOULD have been in the single releases, the fatality skull head and mask for Scorpion, extra expressions for Raiden, the lightning, AND ...
October 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Broke open the Walmart exclusive Scorpion vs. Raiden set as I start to work my way thru unopened toys. Wild how much is in that box: alternate hands that SHOULD have been in the single releases, the fatality skull head and mask for Scorpion, extra expressions for Raiden, the lightning, AND ...
The book I most want to catch up on. In these troubled times, Absolute Diana's mix of warm kindness and righteous anger feels like the energy we need in the world. Thompson's well-considered words & Sherman's graceful lines have crafted my favorite version of this character. (157-160)
October 24, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The book I most want to catch up on. In these troubled times, Absolute Diana's mix of warm kindness and righteous anger feels like the energy we need in the world. Thompson's well-considered words & Sherman's graceful lines have crafted my favorite version of this character. (157-160)
Been picking this up for a while and still hadn't read any, as you can see and ... uh, maybe next issue I'll read it during the light of day, or at least not when I'm in the middle of stressful work. That Ennis-Cloonan joint at the end ... that'll knock the wind outta ya. (156)
October 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Been picking this up for a while and still hadn't read any, as you can see and ... uh, maybe next issue I'll read it during the light of day, or at least not when I'm in the middle of stressful work. That Ennis-Cloonan joint at the end ... that'll knock the wind outta ya. (156)
Always love Phil Noto on art, and more than anything this reads like a lost issue of JMS's turn-of-the-century Spidey run before it flew off the rails -- a bunch of heroes & villains sit down for a nice meal (with lots of great character beats), not realizing this is all a setup. Great fun. (155)
October 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Always love Phil Noto on art, and more than anything this reads like a lost issue of JMS's turn-of-the-century Spidey run before it flew off the rails -- a bunch of heroes & villains sit down for a nice meal (with lots of great character beats), not realizing this is all a setup. Great fun. (155)
Funny, I didn't know Voyeur was a heist book when I piled 'em up -- but that's a nice segue into a book that starts with a theft and rolls into a change of plans based on current events in Spidey-land. Witty scripts by G. Willow Wilson, Glen Melnikov making it a very pretty book indeed. (153-154)
October 24, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Funny, I didn't know Voyeur was a heist book when I piled 'em up -- but that's a nice segue into a book that starts with a theft and rolls into a change of plans based on current events in Spidey-land. Witty scripts by G. Willow Wilson, Glen Melnikov making it a very pretty book indeed. (153-154)