into the blue

I've got one too but I'm too scared to open it. Let us know what it's like if you put it together.

If I had to pick one comic book (which is more difficult than you think) then it would have to be Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 which pushed social issues to the fore.

Yep, that ain't gonna end well.

A while back I wanted to get the thirties version of King Kong (this was before the days of ordering off the internet). I went to the local WH Smiths and asked the lady behind the counter if they had it. She replied that they didn't but they could order it for me and it would get there in about a week. She took all my details and I left the shop. Days went by and I got more and more excited by the arrival of my film. After a week I went back, only to find they were very busy that day, I had to queue for quite a while. Eventually I got to the desk and said, "Hello, I ordered a film a while back, I wonder if it's come in yet?" "Can I have the name please?" "King Kong!" I exclaimed with much enthusiasm. "Er, no... YOUR name please." I turned round to see everyone in the queue behind me (and there were a LOT of them) break into laughter. I've never paid for anything so quickly.

These have been around for a while, there's also a company (CGC) that grades comics books in a similar style. The plus point is that your object gets professionally graded and is therefore worth more money (depending on the grade given), the minus point is that your toy/book is sealed in a case and can never be removed. Because once you take it out of that sealed container that grade is no longer relevant.

Really? You're asking that despite the fact that he's selling the Visual Dictionary? Really?

He's not ripping anyone off, they're his sets and he can set the buy-it-now price at whatever he likes. The general norm when selling something (especially second-hand items) is to set your price high, then the buyer comes in with a low offer and you haggle until you reach an acceptable middle ground. He's already had a couple of offers, it's up to him whether he accepts them or not.

Sausage fight? (raises eyebrow)

My title list often changes but at the moment I'm reading Avenging Spider-Man, Spider-Men, A vs X (both titles), The Secret Service, Fury Max, The Shadow, Mind The Gap, America's Got Powers, The Strain, Hellboy, BPRD, Before Watchmen, The Incredible Hulk, Rachel Rising, Batman, Atomic Robo, Daredevil, Locke & Key, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men and Baltimore. I didn't realise I read so many titles until I actually typed that lot out.

Oh hey, it's YOU! Ha, sorry, I didn't recognise the name. I too managed to pick up a couple of Darth Maul tins, a few Thor polybags and two small LOTR sets (they hadn't been released in the UK at the time). I passed on the Mordor t-shirt. It's a shame we couldn't hook up but it wasn't the end of the world. I managed to find a vendor who bought the Team GB sets off me for a tidy profit. He gave me a very suspicious look at first when I asked, "Hey mate, do you buy Lego sets as well as sell them?" But when I pulled the packets out of my pocket his eyes lit up like a pinball machine and he took the lot (all fifteen). To be honest, I was there more for the comic books than the Lego. I got a lot of stuff signed by Mike Mignola, William Stout, Ben Templesmith, Raphael Aberquerque, Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez, Zach Howard and Jock. I told myself this was a once in a lifetime trip, but I enjoyed myself so much that I couldn't resist going again next year. See you there!

As expected, the website was creaking with pressure when everyone tried to log on on the weekend. I got in at #9,000 and was fortunate to get a four-day pass (no preview night). I must have been one of the last ones to get a four-day pass too as I tried a few seconds later to get one for a friend and they'd all sold out. I managed to get four one-day passes for my buddy which is pretty much the same thing. The Comic Con website she goes to told her that she can swap the four one-day passes for a four-day pass on the first morning too, so she won't have to queue for a new pass every day. Result. I take it you were there this year? Manage to get any goodies?

Bought my tickets for 2013 yesterday. Better start saving now.

I completely agree. Going slightly off topic, there was some public outrage when some members of the Olympic torch relay team recently put their torches on eBay. Who do these so-called guardians of decency think they are? The torch belongs to that particular runner who ran the leg of the marathon, it's their property, they can do whatever they like with it. If someone gives me an exclusive minifigure at San Diego and I decide to sell it, does that make me a bad person? If so, please explain why.

Last month's Con was my first, and while I consider myself a hardcore comic-book fan, I also think of myself as a bit of a Lego nut too. I went to the Con with no targets in mind, nothing specific to buy or obtain, just to enjoy the time there and soak up the atmosphere (which I did). What people don't seem to realise is that even if you do turn up to a large Con like San Diego, the odds of getting an exclusive figure are still pretty slim. There are around 40,000 - 50,000 daily visitors to the Con, giving you a (roughly) one in fifty chance of getting a minifig, and much of this will involve queueing. Ah, queueing. Therein lies the quandry. You've spent a couple of thousand pounds (and countless frustrating hours on the internet getting tickets) just getting there. Do you spend an entire day in a queue just to get an exclusive? Or do you use that time to go see other things in the exhibition hall or panel rooms? Can't do both. Which is it to be? Me, I spent the preview night in the Lego queue and managed to get two exclusive Darth Maul sets (one for me, one for a friend), and I was more than happy with that. People here seem to be overly obsessed with exclusives and rarities. If you can't get there, it's no biggie. Just let it go. You can't take them with you when you shuffle off this mortal coil. On another note, if you ever stay at the Hotel Indigo DO NOT LET THEM TALK YOU INTO DRINKING TEQUILA. No good will come of this. Also, The Tin Fish smells lovely when you walk past it, but it's not so great inside. You're better off going to Joe's Crab Shack on the marina side of the convention centre.

I grew up reading 2000ad, so I'm really looking forward to this movie. The Stallone version is often sneered at, but it had its moments (the Angel gang, Hammerstein, the Chief Judge's long walk, the score). I attended the 2000ad panel at the SDCC and was pleasantly surprised when Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby showed up unexpectedly. He's a longtime Dredd fan and had a lot of input into the movie (one of the main reasons he took the part was the fact that Dredd wouldn't take his helmet off). The trailer looks good (even if Mega-City 1 doesn't look very Mega-City 1-ish). Fingers crossed.

$130 isn't that much to spend on a minifig when you see what else is out there. Back on topic, send it back and get a refund. Sure, you'll probably find it difficult to get another for a similar price (they're just going to go up and up in value the longer you leave it), but if you really want the minifig then I'm guessing you'll shell out a few bucks more for another one.

Love the fire extinguisher.

John Carpenter's The Thing has always been a favourite film of mine. About two weeks ago I watched the new prequel, which wasn't half bad, there were lots of little details that tie the two films together (the split faced corpse in the snow, the axe in the wall, etc). On a trans-atlantic flight a few days ago I watched Howard Hawks' The Thing From Another World for the first time. Really enjoyed it, a very well-made film for its time. There was one incredible scene where the airmen and scientists fight off the monster with buckets of fuel and a flare pistol. With the exception of Ben Hur's chariot race this is by far the most dangerous thing I have ever seen in a movie.

These were on sale at the Lego booth at the SDCC too.

Mine was epic. I'm no stranger to cons, but this was something else. The sheer size of it was staggering. It was difficult to decide what to do, spend half a day in a queue to get an exclusive or attend a panel, or use that time to go and see other things. Me, I chose the latter. That, and taking photos of scantily clad young ladies.

Nice little Darth Maul set being sold at the booth today. Limited to 1,000. Pics here and here. No idea what's happening tomorrow. Going to bed now, my feet hurt.

I'll be travelling 6,000 miles to be there. Quite looking forward to it (the Lego booth is right next to the ILM booth. Result!). I'll also be taking ten or twenty sealed Team GB Olympic packets. If you hear a guy with a Welsh accent then tap him on the shoulder and ask him if he'd like to swap one for a minifig.

Picture here.

Same here, I went to my local WH Smiths in Llanelli, South Wales. I guess they didn't get the memo about not selling them until July 1st.

Managed to pick up the swimmer this morning to complete my set. Favourite of the bunch has to be the boxer, followed by the equestrian (who's going to look great on a horse). Nice to see the archer has an 'aiming' one-eye-closed face which is going to come in handy for the Hawkeye figure. Pic here.