I think it’s safe to say that our standing in the world has diminished since Trump took over the most important office in the land. All other countries think we’re idiots for electing him, and with his record-low approval numbers it seems like most Americans agree. This week we vent our frustrations about losing our standing in the world for the sake of nationalism and America First.
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The WWF Hasbro line are classics! So many figures with action packed moves, what can go wrong? Other than half my figures got broke over the years of play and a bit of yellowing years later. But let’s look back at my top five!
5. Jake The Snake Roberts (Blue Card – Python Punch) What made this fig cool was his punching action, pull back and let it fly.
4. Lex Luger (Red Card – Narcissistic Action) I found this figure at a yard sale years after Hasbro stop producing WWF figures. I bought it just to add it to my collection. It’s always fun finding wrestling figures in the wild.
3. Brutus Beefcake (Blue Card – Sleeper Hold) This style Hasbro isn’t very popular with the jumping action. But I didn’t mind it, Beefcake was colorful in my eyes with pink, black and white paint job he stood out.
2. Andre The Giant (Blue Card – Giant Jolt) My first Hasbro figure I remember getting, Andra toward over all the other figs and his arms made it easy to tie him in the top and middle ring ropes.
1. Randy Savage (Blue Card – Elbow Smash) One of the hardest figures to find around town. I remember going store to store looking for Savage and didn’t have any luck until I found him in my local mall and the rest was history. Savage won majority of my fantasy booking matches.
The only figure I wish I had was Bret Hart since he is my favorite wrestler. As for the WWE Mattel Retro figs, I’m not collecting. They look cool but not for me.
We know Marie went in last week, but who is she going up against? Kam is a traitor and not good at this game, and you can feel free to tweet hatred at us for that comment. The rest of the crew plays some soccer wearing stilts and zorbs, and we see a classic vendetta come to a head. Why you gettin’ so upset? We’re down a podcast host and note taker, but we try our hardest. Cut us some slack.
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This week we’re discussing two Van Damme classics with Boodsport and Lionheart. So get ready to do some splits and punch someone in the nuts! After that we discuss Black Panther, I, Tonya, and some schlocky films starring Traci Lords and Linnea Quigley. Please be advised we do talk spoilers for Black Panther so from 1:13:00 – 1:42:00 there could be spoilers a plenty.
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When it comes to JAKKS my collection is an impressive one. From bone crushing action to the Classic Superstars series. But today I’m focusing on the basic Ruthless Aggression – Classic Superstars era.
Brooklyn Brawler (Classic Superstars 12) Brawler was a job guy with lots of gimmicks but having him in action figure form was a treat. He was a day one for me.
John Cena (Ruthless Aggression Series 3) This was Doctor of Thuganomics era Cena and at the time he was the coolest figure around to make up your own raps against your other figures.
Jesse Ventura (Classic Superstars 21)This figure mirrors the LJN Ventura with his blue bandanna and pink flowery tights. Once I saw the resemblance it was a must have.
Kevin Thorn (Ruthless Aggression Series 31) Who doesn’t want a gothic vampire wrestling figure. The likeness is spot on and put him next to Ariel you got yourself the Brood 2.0 or a good Twilight spin-off.
Jim Neidhart, Marty Jannetty, and Tito Santana (Classic Superstars Series 3 Three Pack) When building the Hart Foundation you really need an Anvil and at the time the only Jannetty figure was a two-pack Rockers. With Tito you could build Strike Force with a Rick Martel model fig. Finding this set was a real get because it was hard to find.
It’s our inaugural episode of F45! Our frustration this week is our gun problem and how we are unique in that we have no even once attempted to fix this problem. The latest school shooting left 17 dead and spawned zero action from anyone. Attempts to fix this problem are blocked by Republicans, the NRA and, of course, our president*.
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The mercenaries come in to wreak havoc on our poor Challengers while Kam does her best Fire Marshall Bill impression. A new challenge proves very difficult for everyone, with broken glass and stitches and ambulance rides galore.
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The Midnight Drive-In is going back to school! In what turned to be a weird coincidence we teamed up Class Of 1984 and Class If 1999 just because they had a similar title. Little did we know that they were directed by the same guy! Also we chat about such films as Robocop, The Ritual, and Doug gets excited about the new Karate Kid series on YouTube Red!
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Welcome to the first ever episode of Graveyard Duck Podcast powered by the Super FX Chip. Join Scott and Wes as we take a look back at some of the earliest attempts at 3D console gaming in the classic Star Fox.
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Don’t forget to keep up with the show and relive all the nostalgia by following us on Twitter (@duckgraveyard) and Facebook. Send us your memories or show suggestions at graveyardduckpodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to check out all of the great content from this show and other nerdy favorites at geeknerdery.com.
Look, we’re sorry about that awful title too, OK? But we’re a legit site, and all the legit sites do the awful headlines like that. We’re rolling with the times, folks.
Alright, let’s get serious here. Guys, the first trailer for the Karate Kid sequel dropped today.
Behold the 48 seconds of pure nerdgasm…or nerd rage, depending on which side of the fence you find yourself.
It’s a teaser, so we’re only getting a taste, but let’s break it down anyway.
Camera flies over the California hills. Screen fades in from black on a handful of trophies before the black curtain drops and we see the All Valley Karate Championship tournament tree revealed. Some newspaper clippings of Daniel and Mr Miyagi. A taped up yellow flyer of Johnny, the new master of the Cobra Kai dojo, inviting you to join. Freshly stenciled mantra in bold black on a white wall:
STRIKE FIRST, STRIKE HARD, NO MERCY
All the while Johnny is shouting out orders. Then Daniel questions Johnny’s judgment…
We’re 14 seconds in and the nostalgia meter is already off the charts.
Inside a building, more trophies, with two people sparring in the back. Now a cliffside where two are practicing moves in sync. A stark contrast in teaching styles. Johnny’s stern voice reminding everyone that mercy isn’t a thing. Daniel telling someone that the fundamentals are all that matters.
Over the shoulder shot of Johnny looking on at his students. A yellow tinted shot of the outside of Cobra Kai, insinuating we’re getting an origin story for the best blonde haired bad guy 1984 had to offer.
Now it’s Daniel’s turn with the back of the head shot as he ties up that iconic black and white Hachimaki.
Some Rivalries. NEVER END.
The music crescendos as we finally see them. Daniel and Johnny. Face to face. Daniel makes a fairly standard threat as the 30 year old tensions reignite.
Cut to black.
Fade in the Cobra Kai logo.
Cue the drums.
CUT THE CHECK.
We’ve always been staunchly opposed to the rebranding, repackaging, and reselling of our youth…
(Ed. note: This doesn’t count.)
That said, we were genuinely disappointed that the Danny McBride Crocodile Dundee reboot turned out to be nothing more than a crummy commercial.
But this, we can’t decide on. It would be good to see what became of both Johnny and Daniel after that fateful night…besides the misadventures in Japan and that, of course. But is it worth it?
This leads into the other “problem” with this new series: It’s a Youtube Red exclusive.
Youtube is making a run at getting their paid service off the ground for good, and they’re coming at the one thing so many of us can’t resist: Our childhood.
Diabolical…
Personally, the draw of the new adventures of D and J won’t be enough to get us to buy in. Not right away at least. If it turns out to be the next Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones…(it could happen) then a re-evaluation will be in order.
How about you? Is the site of the immortal, always perfect Ralph Macchio enough to convince you? At least it isn’t a Smith spawn on the screen, right?
The 10 episode Cobra Kai series is set to drop all at once later this year on Youtube Red.
We get to see Brad and the selected Challenger enter an elimination. We do find out who is leaving the notes in Britni’s bed. Some drama in the kitchen makes Devin and Banana’s vendetta even stronger. And in the elimination TJ drops a surprise on everyone before a challenger gets an injury that might take them out of the game.
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A very special episode of 23min of Ska for GeekNerdery! Celebrating both love and well… the opposite of that. Because really, who needs all that love-dovey nonsense anyway.
00:00 – Keith & Ken – I Don’t Love You Anymore (Jamaican Jerk ’66)
02:05 – the Delirians – Love Sweet Love (Get Up! ’14)
05:56 – the Pinstripes – Sweet Lovin’ (Sweet Lovin’ ’10)
09:40 – the Slackers – Alone Again (the Question ’98)
12:36 – the Steady 45’s – Valentine’s Day (Trouble in Paradise ’17)
15:55 – Matt Wixon’s Flying Circus – I Have a Thing (Jeffy ’11)
18:16 – Manic Sewing Circle feat. Todd Hembrook – I Love You Baby (But I Don’t Have Time) (Summer Spins ’07)
20:42 – the Good Skamartitans – Sitting on the Top of the World (Let’s Rawk ’02)
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Check out more episodes of the 23min of Ska podcast at 23ska.com with a new episode posted every Thursday, as well as home to over 300 past episodes!
It’s an episode all about Jim Henson and his films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. We discuss the awesomeness of the puppets, sets, and of course David Bowie’s bulge. We then chat about IT, The Cloverfield Paradox, The Shape Of Water, Pieces, and Before I Wake. Just before the show ends you get to find out that Noah is in fact a literate racist. Enjoy.
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Today, hot on the heels of Deadpool 2, Sony dropped the teaser for this fall’s Venom.
Give it a look here:
Not a lot to see as is the case with most teasers, but what’s the consensus? Are we hyped for this one? Cautiously optimistic? Hate it already?
Hi CW,
It’s me again. This is my 14th letter to your company despite my 13 previously unanswered correspondence. I write to you, as always, a loyal member of the Arrowverse Aptly Ambling Society, but with a level of concern for your product that should surpass that of a 38 year old. I am well aware that I am outside your marketing demographic, and my words will fall on deaf ears. At least they have 13 times prior. That said, I find myself week in and week out further questioning my allegiance to your shows.
You know what? Let’s stuff the formality. YOU clearly have.
No need to put on airs at this point, as far as we are into the current season, so I’ll just out with it. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? What possessed you? Are you being stubbornly idiotic on purpose or is it laziness?
Not too long ago, the DC/CW universe was the strongest, most capable representation of DC properties going. It dominated over Fox’s Gotham, and even stood above the consistently ill aimed DCEU. Your stories were solid, your characters strong, and episodes tight and action packed. No one in the TV landscape could contend, not even the powerhouse that is Disney Marvel.
Perhaps, that was your own downfall. Did the lack of true competition make you complacent? Is that why everything has fallen to pieces? If you don’t agree, rewatch the pilot of Arrow. It’s on Netflix. Now watch ANY episode from this season. Do you see the difference? Miles apart, isn’t it?
I am speaking specifically today about Arrow and the Flash. Supergirl is doing her best at staying relevant, if not a bit mundane, in an age where no one seems to know what to do with Kryptonians, and Legends, as I have already and will continue to shout, has figured out its voice and is being exactly what it was meant to be.
If you’ll indulge me, there are fixes here. I’ll cover two of them. One for each show.
ARROW
Make things matter again. I know you thought that my fix for Arrow was killing Felicity. Well you would have had you read the previous 13 letters. But she’s not the probl…no, I can’t finish that sentence. I physically cannot. Because she absolutely is. You’ve gone GOTHAM levels of off canon there. But, she’s hardly the root of the problem.
Nothing matters anymore. There were at least 10 people on that island when it exploded at the end of the fifth season. Why are 9 of them still alive? I know you knew there were problems with the show. Your star said in more than one interview that there were, so it was at least discussed. Nothing says course correct like blowing up 90% of your cast.
I’m not suggesting kill all of them. But kill more than the woman who already wasn’t in the show. See where your biggest pain points are in the off season and simply stop writing them. Thea hasn’t been relevant in 3 seasons. Let her go.
Example: Season 1, Oliver stopped the bad guy and saved the day. Well, he stopped the bad guy at least. He lost his best friend in the process, and the city suffered a horrific earthquake. Season 2, Slade killed Moira, a main character up until then, right in front of her kids. There were CONSEQUENCES. Stuff mattered because it could be lost in an instant. Yes, you killed off Laurel. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that. But you still have a Black Canary.
That’s an entire argument of its own.
The point being is that now, every single character is too precious to lose, and as such, there’s nothing for them to do. People can’t even stay injured. Felicity is paralyzed. There’s a chip for that. Diggle has the shakes. Nah, there’s a chip for that. Seriously, knock it off. Kill a couple people. Make the show mean something again. Let one of them be Felicity.
Flash
This same too many characters problem bleeds into the Flash. Everyone is a best friend now. We’re just best friends saving the best friend world all the best friend time. I mean, isn’t Joe’s fiance like a commissioner or something? How the hell does that work her dating a subordinate? Doesn’t she have other things to do besides be a pregnant, conveniently temporary psychic? Why is she always at S.T.A.R. Labs?
And help me out: what exactly does Iris DO? She’s a reporter, right? So why is she part of Team Flash? What expertise does she possess to be in a super secret science lab? Or coordinating operations? What the hell is going on here? Is she actually a double agent?
Back to my larger point.
Most recently, Barry helped save Goldberg who was serving a life sentence for jackhammering a cop. He got stabbed and Barry helped save his life. But it couldn’t just be that Barry saved the life of a murderer. We couldn’t have that. No. See the Allens, both Barry and Henry, wouldn’t save a person because its the right thing to do regardless of their crimes. It had to be that Goldberg was actually framed by Kickpuncher.
Barry doesn’t save murderers’ lives. That’s all there is to it. He will however release a man convicted of murder, run him to China and strand him there without money, passport, extra clothes, or even a small idea as to whether or not he even speaks the language, all the while foregoing the legal process because the system was wrong!
I’m not even getting into the trial, conviction and appeal of Barry. That was a joke, start to finish. I only have a baseline understanding of the judicial system, having logged well over 200 hours of Law and Order and its sister show, SVU, and even I understand how much of a farce that whole proceeding was…Alright, one note from it.
Barry is at his sentencing. HIS SENTENCING, when the villain du jour was running amok and needed to be stopped. It went thus:
“We need a speedster!”
“Ok, cool. Someone call Wally and we’ll–”
“NO! Tell Barry about it. Have him do it. Have him asked to be excused from his own trial where he’s been convicted of murder and have him go do it.”
Again, I digress. It comes down to you have too many characters scratching for screentime, and you aren’t using any of them correctly. (Dibny aside. Dibny is damn awesome and when his time is up here, get his stretchy behind on the Waverider) Tighten up the corners, let bad guys be bad guys, wrap this whole Devoe project up, and for God sakes stop this random pregnancy powers weird plot device from happening again. It’s cheap and lazy.
Look, I know this letter has only made it as far up as some 3rd AD’s secretary’s assistant. I know that none of this matters, end of the day. You’ll do what you do and that’s all there is to it. But I ask, NO, I IMPLORE that you, Marybelle, somehow get word from your little desk in an office in Vancouver to one or three of your writing staff and insist they go back and watch the first season of Arrow, and the first two seasons of Flash. Understand what is possible, and find your way back there.
And as always, kill Felicity.
Your friend in time,
M
WHO IS THE BLURRY FIGURE WHO LEFT THE NOTES? The world may never know, but that won’t stop us from speculating. We see a Challenge this week. It’s underwater and at night. But no elimination. Maybe one of these weeks we’ll see a full episode. This time around Shane and Victor are friends until they’re not, Britni and Cara make out, Nicole and Kyle make out, and our worlds are turned upside down.
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Work commitments kept us from recording a new Midnight Drive-In this week so we decided to dust off a classic episode of The Last Horrorcast and drop it in for a nostalgic look back before Bryan and Noah were on the show. Enjoy.
Grab a blanket and some hot chocolate. This week we are discussing a couple winter horror films. Despite some major technical issues during recording, we managed to actually record few thoughts on Frozen (2010) and We Are Still Here (2015).
We had a lot of fan mail this week, as well as some updates on our ongoing contest. Be sure to listen for the update.
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I been buying and collecting wrestling action figures since the LJN era. My collection of JAKKS I’m very proud of but backed off when I found out Mattel took over the WWE license and thought I might as well stop with JAKKS because I really don’t want to rebuy all these figures over again… Until I bought my first Mattel and I was hooked once again. My first figure came from WWE Legends Series 5 with Macho Man Randy Savage. JAKKS never had a Savage figure and I couldn’t pass him up!
These are my Top Five favorite WWE Mattel action figures.
5. Becky Lynch (Elite 49)
I’ve always been 50/50 on Lynch but came around a year ago. I picked up her Elite 49 figure on clearance, it just looks good. She has her steampunk top hat, goggles and duster.
4. Razor Ramon (WrestleMania 32 Basic)
When I was looking for a Razor there’s a Defining Moments figure with purple ring gear, but I wasn’t looking to get anything fancy. So I found a basic with black and gold ring gear which to me is the classic Razor look. Sure he didn’t come with a vest but still a nice figure to add to my Kliq/New Generation Era collection.
3. D’Lo Brown (Elite 52)
D’Lo was my favorite wrestler in the Nation and he’s a bit underrated, he’s one of a few people in the Attitude Era that wasn’t named Hardy doing high flying moves. The Elite 52 figure is spot on, down to the protective vest.
2. Dusty Rhodes (Target Exclusive)
I skipped on buying WWE Legends Series 1 Dusty Rhodes to buy Randy Savage, years later when Target had Rhodes packaged with the WCW ring I couldn’t pass it up. Rhodes was in his NWA era ring attire with the big gold belt and by this time I was already three rings deep and having one more couldn’t hurt. But it’s the classic Dusty that I like about the figure. Cowboy ring boots, birthmark and one elbow pad. Classic!
1. Bret Hart (Defining Moments 5)
I gotta have my all time favorite wrestler. This figure is from In Your House: Canadian Stampede. Everything about this figure is awesome, he comes with a Canadian flag, sunglasses, and a leather jacket with the Hitman skull logo on the back. Everything you need to make a perfect Bret Hart figure.
Who’s Next? At this point Mattel is making everyone, as of this year X-PAC has four figures floating around and one of them is Syxx from his WCW run. But I really want to see a Gorilla Monsoon figure because Bobby Heenan has a figure out and one on the way, and I need a Prime Time Wrestling duo. Another figure I would buy is Haku in his King of the Ring attire.
And now a word from Lawrence of The Awesome 80’s Podcast on his top 3 favorite wrestling action figures.
Thanks Doiner for including me in this column. I was a hardcore collector from 1990-2005. Although I do have some of the early WWF figures they didn’t capture my heart at the time. After I was collecting for a few years I stopped opening all figures and kept them in their packaging. If I really wanted to open one I would buy doubles but even then I found I would have a tough time allowing myself to open the package. I found I got more joy out of holding the unopened package and looking at them than I did playing with an opened one.
If anyone is looking for gift ideas I have always regretted opening the 1990 WCW set and am willing to take donations of any of those figures. Enjoy my Top 3 list below and feel free to comment about your favorites. My favorites are all about sentimental value and not which ones looked the coolest or had the best moves.
3. Shawn Michaels (Road to WrestleMania 22 – Series 1)
Shawn Michaels as Hulk. This figure makes me laugh and reminds me of the promo HBK delivered right before their 2005 Summer Slam match where Shawn over sold everything and made Hulk look like an asshole. If you haven’t watched this match or haven’t watched it in a while as a wrestling fan you owe it to yourself to check it out.
2. Mick Foley’s Triple Threat
I was a huge Foley mark since his 1991 WCW run. So I was the worst to be around when he was at his peak in WWF from 1998-2002. I loved everything Foley did and I wasn’t shy about telling everyone I saw. When this set got released I was full on mark mode. It is of course still sitting in my collection, unopened.
1. Jim Ross (Ringside Collection Series 2)
I was also a big JR mark. This is my #1 because I searched for over 6 months to find this figure. Every Wal*Mart or Toys R Us I passed I had to stop to try to find it. The fleeting moment of joy I had when I found it and held it in my hands was a euphoric feeling for all of 10 seconds. I have four of this figures currently sitting in my basement you guessed it all unopened. Special shout out to my college girlfriend who also had to stop at everyone of those Wal*Mart’s, Toys R Us and oh ya I forgot we also stopped at every K B Toy stores.
Honorable mention to the WCW 1990 set. This was the first set that I hardcore collected. I still have the entire set in my collection but I opened them all to book shows using the WCW ring I had. Special shout out to the spring loaded ring platform.
The date is April 7th and the most anticipated match I’ve been waiting to see will happen. Cody will be facing Kenny Omega at ROH: Supercard of Honor Xll.
Since Cody turning on Omega at NJPW: New Beginning it was a matter of time this match would take place. I thought of a year long build for Wrestle Kingdom 13 but it’s coming sooner than later.
Once again the listener requests take your hosts into uncharted territory, and this time it’s full of vegetables. Join Scott and Wes as they discuss Sir Cucumber, Percy, and their quest to rescue Princess Tomato from the evil Minister Pumpkin.
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Don’t forget to keep up with the show and relive all the nostalgia by following us on Twitter (@duckgraveyard) and Facebook. Send us your memories or show suggestions at graveyardduckpodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to check out all of the great content from this show and other nerdy favorites at geeknerdery.com.
