Settling into a Marvel and Star Wars induced malaise yet? Who could blame you? But look on the bright side, Sideshow’s SDCC announcement for the day is the first of their World War II premium format line: “Battle of Crete”: German paratrooper.

The choice to debut an Axis soldier is somewhat surprising, as is the pinpoint location (‘Crete’ is all that is emblazoned on the base). In any case, it’s a line lots of looked forward to, and it certainly looks decently realized. Check out Sideshow’s Backstage Pass here.

[Update] Forum member LOTR Fan tells us that Sideshow is using a new casting technique with different materials than the usual polystone to achieve a more realistic look.

ES: TBD | Exclusive: $334.99 | Regular: $324.99

High resolution Comic-Con pics posted in our forum! Click through!

Also check out LOTR Fan’s and thx217’s photos

For the last several years, Transformers was always the top untapped license in my mind. Its absence in the high end collectibles field had two obvious explanations, one being that this was a toy brand first, movie second. I doubt said toy company (Hasbro) were unhappy to have the entire market to themselves. Then there is the absurd complexity of the robots themselves, which would be a formidable challenge for any company to take on. In fact, Popbox already has an Optimus Prime statue on the market. While an admirable effort, it’s not really all that attractive.

Sideshow would be one of the few with the resources to actually have a proper go at this, so the announcement that they were to do a TF maquette was almost inevitable, especially considering in the three years since the first film was released, they have grown even more ubiquitous to the point where any property they might take on should not come as any shock.

In their latest video, you can more or less see what it’ll look like:

No doubt all of this complexity will be supported with a sky high price tag. I’m not expecting this to be anywhere near south of $1000– using what I think is the most similar product as a barometer, the Avatar A.M.P. Suit maquette (which retails for $1200).

The stench of the second film might have harmed interest in the piece, yet the looming prospect of the third installment probably balances the scales somewhat. In any case stay tuned for our photos of the piece at this year’s Comic-Con, where I’m betting heavily it will be on display.

Sell out time: Instant
ES: 100 | Exclusive: $1199.99 | Regular: $1199.99

5 high resolution pics posted in our forum! Click through!

Despite widespread assumptions that Sideshow’s Neytiri statue will play second fiddle to Legacy’s upcoming piece (which may still turn out to be the case), they have produced a very pleasing depiction of the sexy blue alien cat-person-thing in their own right.

So much has been said about the distinct separation at the hairline that I would be surprised if Sideshow doesn’t make some sort of amendment there. Personally that doesn’t even bother me much– I find the “Avatar” logo mashed amongst the wooden branches and foliage more distasteful. (contrast with Weta’s unadorned District 9 statues)

Still Sideshow’s faithful rendering of Neytiri’s portrait and good choice for a pose make for a visually appealing statue.

I did not find Sideshow’s Con offerings as engaging as in past years– no doubt exacerbated by their ‘jumping the gun’ month long online reveals– but Neytiri has a certain beauty about it, making it a bright spot amongst the usual Marvel and Star Wars overkill.

Neytiri is expected to pre-order this Thursday, 7/28 at around $300 for both versions.

[Update] The exclusive Neytiri is now sold out, and Sideshow’s posted the backstage pass video.

Sell out time: 1 day
ES: 600 | Exclusive: $299.99 | Regular: $289.99

10+ pics posted in our forum! Click through!

With the ship date of their premium format still looming, Sideshow has launched yet another Gandalf the Grey, this time in maquette form.

With its large base, this was bound to be even more expensive than their first effort, Aragorn. And it is so, to the tune of an additional $15. The biggest surprise for me perhaps is in the choice of exclusive, not a head swap this time, but a differently positioned left arm and staff. Being that the scene clearly recalls the iconic moment where Gandalf faces off at the bridge sans hat, this comes as almost a little jarring.

Then there is the matter of Sideshow likely cannibalizing its own sales with collectors choosing one format over another and not both in most cases. All the same, this slightly dramatic take on the wizard has rubbed some collectors the wrong way, citing concerns over its pose and highly positioned hat. Stay tuned for our showfloor pics direct from Comic-Con.

[Update] Backstage pass video posted.
[Update #2] At two weeks on the dot of pre-ordering, the exclusive Gandalf has finally sold out. A relatively slow pace compared to the 2 days it took Aragorn to achieve the same feat. Hard yet to draw a conclusion with the ES still TBD. Stay tuned….

Sell out time: 2 weeks
ES: 400 | Exclusive: $249.99 | Regular: $239.99

Only days after their Thor bust reveal, Sideshow’s offered another entry in their ‘realistic’ approach to Marvel with a Wolverine 1:1 bust.

The effect is working nicely on this piece though I think both busts would benefit from monotone nameplates (since they clearly must have them), as opposed to the same colorful ones that have accompanied nearly all of their Marvel busts.

Sort of echoing their Diablo 3: Overthrown barbarian of a few years ago, Sideshow’s gone the burly, semi-clad, violent video game man route once again with Kratos from Sony franchise, God of War.

While I still prefer the Diablo piece (and the game) much more, they’ve clearly put forth a good result here. The exclusive, swap-out ‘Claws of Hades’ seems to be worth the change.

Forum member LOTR Fan shares his in-hand photos of Sideshow’s Rocketeer premium format exclusive, of which includes the swap out unmasked portrait of Cliff Secord and is… incredibly essential.

Click through and see for yourself!

(10 photos)

In the footsteps of Sideshow and Legacy’s Iron Man MK VI comes this War Machine maquette. This bad boy’s $50 more than the old Stark, but that’s not unexpected. The two certainly make a striking pair– and I would much rather take these two and pocket a cool $1000 over the giant Mark III 1:2 maquette.

For consistency’s sake, there’s a nameplate exclusive just like there was for the MK VI maquette.

Sideshow’s Obi-Wan legendary scale bust offers a sharpened likeness than that on the premium format— which always struck me as looking…. not particular much like Sir Alec. And gosh, there’s no exclusive for this, a memo must have been missed at Sideshow or something.

Being only their second Star Wars LSB behind Commander Cody, they are putting to test their big torso carving style on a ‘real person’ this time (and not a robot-clone-armored whatever Cody is). I think it works.

Sideshow’s Alien Resurrection. With scrumptious Alien Hybrid Fetus Specimen exclusive!