Arcade Sushi editor-in-chief Luke Brown is an experienced video game journalist who has contributed to Official Xbox Magazine and Games Radar. As ComicsAlliance's senior editor, he spends most of his time dishing on the latest action figures, collectibles, and gaming trends.
Luke Brown
Hot Toys’ Force Awakens Cosbaby Figures Make Their First Order Being Cute
Baby-fied versions of pop culture characters aren't anything new. Chibi-inspired art has been around for a loooooong time, and we've had the X-babies and Muppet Babies and Skottie Young's Marvel babies continually reminding us that everything old can be made new again just by turning it into a child. The same can be said of Hot Toys' Cosbaby line, which appropriates the company's various licenses for highly-detailed adult action figures into itty-bitty versions with exaggerated features. Given the popularity of the Star Wars franchise, it was only a matter of time until Hot Toys turned its chibi-loving eyes towards The Force Awakens.
Yes, soon you'll be able to enjoy miniaturized figures of your favorite members of the First Order, rendered with the same affection of the caricature artist from your favorite amusement park. Twelve different figures will comprise the first two series of Hot Toys' Star Wars: The Force Awakens Cosbabies, including that rapscallion Kylo Ren and his bestest of friends, FN-2187.
New Lego Star Wars Game Will Explain C-3PO’s Arm, What Happened to Han Solo’s Crew
The new Star Wars expanded universe is about to drop some knowledge in an unexpected place. When TT Games' Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives this summer, not only will you be able to relive the memorable moments from the sequel 30 years in the making, you'll also get to play through sequences that take place prior to the movie for the very first time. While video games helping to expand on the Star Wars universe is nothing new, most of those experiences (Dark Forces, Shadows of the Empire, Knights of the Old Republic) were wholesale adventures and not just side-missions in a larger game.
It is a little bit shocking to learn that this expanded content will appear in a game aimed at kids, particularly given how not so seriously the Lego video games take their inspiration. That said, there's so much new material to mine with Disney and Lucasfilm wiping the previous expanded universe slate clean, and so much desire for new Star Wars details, injecting it in some unlikely places does add another element of excitement in discovery. In an interview with Game Informer, members of TT Games' development teamed dished on just how and where these additional story missions will take place in the grander scheme.
Marvel Selects Black Panther and Captain America for New Figures
Did you know there's a new Marvel movie coming out in a few months? You did? You must have your finger on the pulse. You probably also knew that Diamond Select had a set of new figures coming to the Marvel Select line based on Captain America: Civil War, including a new Winter Soldier, Captain America and Iron Man. Those three won't be the only Civil War stars getting new Marvel Select figures though.
This week, new Black Panther and Captain America Marvel Select figures were revealed. Though they won't be based on the incarnations from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, any time we can get a new Black Panther figure is a good one. Even though it's not a direct tie-in to another movie, this Captain America figure will bring Steve Rogers one closer to Spider-Man for the record of most Marvel Select figures. Bucky and Black Widow will see re-releases of previous Marvel Select figures, too, but it's really all about the all-new Cap and T'Challa.
Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party With This New ‘Batman V Superman’ Batman Doll
Boy, these new Barbie body types are sure getting really specific. I mean, it makes sense for Mattel to attempt to reach a broader, more diverse audience by releasing new Barbies that better match the girls and young women of the world, but aging, rich white dude with trust issues hardly seems like it will strike the right chord. The only thing this might strike is fear into the hearts of criminals.
Though Mattel had announced the full DC Trinity (in their Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice garb) would be getting the Barbie treatment at San Diego Comic-Con last year, the only doll anyone got to see was Wonder Woman. The Amazonian princess certainly looked the part, but nobody really knew what to expect from a potential Batman or Superman at the time. With Toy Fair 2016 right around the corner, and Mattel having a large Barbie and DC Comics presence at the show, it seemed like we might get our first glimpse at the Bruce and Clark Ken dolls in a few weeks. Thanks to Amazon, we no longer have to wait for Batman.
Five Video Game Characters Most Likely to Attend Ozzfest (5×5)
This week, the gang handpicks the five characters they'd want to join the Metal Militia at Ozzfest.
Alien: Isolation Trailer: Ripley’s Daughter, Believe it or Not
Update: Sega has officially announced Creative Assembly's Alien: Isolation for a release in the second half of 2014. Isolation will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. We've also added the debut trailer.
Sega and Creative Assembly still haven't budged on whether or not Alien: Isolation is definitely coming, but that hasn't stopped Microsoft from releasing new i
10 Video Game Characters with Awesome Facial Hair
If there’s one thing that proves how manly a man a character in a video game really is, it’s his facial hair.