2023 Favorite Cards and Action Figure

I really enjoy doing these Favorite Card posts.   My only criteria for these are that I posted them on the blog in 2024.  They can be old, new, doesn't matter.  And why they are my favorite can be very random.  #1 this year goes to Carlos Correa on this 2020 Big League Baseball card.  The photo is what does it for me.  Only thing that could make it better is having the catcher involved but this one is still my favorite of 2024. That post is here.

This Kyle Petty card was so close to taking the top spot.  Mello Yellow, the hair, the colors.  It screams early nineties, and I love it.  This was part of a 2024 Donruss NASCAR post found here.

The photo, determination and focus of KAT, framing, design and colors really work for me on this card.  The 2022-2023 Hoops post can be found here.

Howie Long has a great football look to him.  That flat top is the icing on the cake.  Seeing him talking with baseball great George Brett in this photo is just too cool.  Combined with one of the all-time great designs this really is a great looking card.  The post can be found here.

This Jaws 2 card really does a good job of capturing the spirit of the Jaws movies. The design is nice, but it really is the artwork depicting a scene from the movie.  Watching the movie, you imagine the shark doing just what you see here in those frantic moments.  The post is here.

For the first time I didn't have any hockey or wrestling posts.  Just a casualty of budgets and focusing funds on other cards and collectibles.  But I am going to show off my favorite action figure from the year - this great looking McFarlane Alan Scott Green Lantern Platinum Edition Figure.  I'm a big Alan Scott fan and couldn't be happier with this figure.  Hoping to post enough action figures next year to have their own "favorite post".  The Alan Scott post with more photos of him are here.

I posted more on the blog this year than I ever have in years past.  I'm hoping to focus my collecting this next year, but I'll keep posting lots about cards and randomness.  Thanks to everyone who comes to my little world on the interwebs.  Have a safe and Happy New Year!

2024 Christmas Goodies

Christmas was again a fun time.  We did ours Monday and yesterday with the different kiddos so today should be fairly quiet.  Santa was good to me with lots of fun gifts.  I'm a big Green Lantern fan so the Alan Scott Dread Lantern McFarlane figure was a must have for me.  I'm a fan of Bane from the Batman movies so one grandson surprised me with this McFarlane figure which I needed.  Looks like a custom coat for the figure.  The other grandson got me a Blood Shot figure.  We were at a collectibles store, and I worked with the owner so they could shop for something without me knowing.  Lots of fun.  I really like DC's animated movies and added Justice League: New Frontier to the collection.  A bigfoot shirt and Reba McEntire shirt were much appreciated as well.  As a huge Clone Wars fan, I'm digging the character encyclopedia.  I hope everyone has a great day and Merry Christmas!

 

McFarlane Alan Scott Green Lantern Platinum Edition Figure

It's my birthday and couldn't be happier to show off this guy.  I love Green Lantern and Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, is one of my favorites.  This McFarlane Alan Scott figure is just too cool so it's a perfect way to start the day. 

I purchased three of these figures from Amazon and one was this platinum variant.  The non-variant is here.  As you look at photos you'll see some extra green paint on the Alan Scott's right arm and torso.  That is the difference between the original and this chase figure.

The figure comes with accessories including this flame piece.  At first I didn't know what to think of it but I'm really liking it after having it on him more.

His eyes are white which is true to how we see the character the majority of the time.

The figure really is solid.  The cape is plastic but I like it.  The collar works though it can be a nuisance when taking photos.

You also get a DC card stand which I like as well.  The art is by the great artist Alex Ross.

Alan Scott is a prominent figure of the Justice Society of America and the father of Jade, also a Green Lantern.

McFarlane also has an Alan Scott Dread Lantern figure.  It's from a specific comic arc where the Earth-2 Green Lantern volunteered to be a demon's herald to save his planet.

The last accessory is his lantern.  Simple but effective.  I'd been okay if it was darker, but it is still good.  I love this figure.  I'll end it with the Green Lantern creed as he recharges his ring:

“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power…Green Lantern’s light!”
  

Green Lantern Gay?

I've read comics since I was a youngin.  I haven't read them regularly for a few years now but I stay up to date as possible through online sites and podcasts.  Priorities change but I definitely plan on catching up in the near future.  I can't wait.  One of my favorites from day one of reading comics is Green Lantern.  The Green Lantern I grew up with is Hal Jordan or the Silver Age Green Lantern introduced in 1959.  This is the Green Lantern the majority of the world is familiar with and was the Green Lantern featured in last year's Green Lantern movie.  Alan Scott is the original Green Lantern who debuted in 1940.  I have definitely become a fan of his character which was revitalized, as part of the Justice Society of America, in the early 90's.  

A few weeks back DC Comics announced one of their characters would come out as gay.  Of course the Robin jokes flew as people wondered who it would be.  Well low and behold it was Alan Scott.  As part of a recent "reboot" by DC Comics Alan Scott's history is out AND he is now gay.  Ugh.  This is pure selfishness on my part but I don't like it one bit.  While i don't have issues with gay characters this just doesn't work for me.  As part of the re-launch Alan Scott is now younger and gay but otherwise his character is sure to be what made him a great hero to begin with - strong, brave, moral, and he can kick butt.  That said he was elder statesman among Green Lantern "universe" and this just throws his character in an entirely new light.  In his past continuity he had children to include a gay son.  All gone now.  I don't like change and I'll be the first to admit that helps shape my thoughts.  Still I want to give this a chance but it isn't easy.  It is such a departure from what I've come to love in his character.  I guess I'll just have to see how DC will handle his story lines but I'm not liking it for now.  Sure Robin would have been looked at as an easy target but it would have made me much happier!  Again pure selfishness...