My Snuffbox

I paid a visit to my local lego store today and to my delight found that they'd released a brand new set of Marvel Minifigures. This is the second series in the Marvel lineup of minifigures released by Lego in the minifigures product line. But that was not the only thing that was new! Something else stood out. It was the packaging! YES! Lego has moved from a non-biodegradable plastic packaging for the minifigures to a fully carton based one. It is very nice that Lego has made a move towards a greener planet with this step by reducing the plastic in the packaging. It may not look big but imagine all the minifigures collected around the world and all of their plastic packaging in a landfill, unable to break down. Now picture all of that plastic replaced with carton, it will just break down. Now thats BIG! The only downside that collectors may feel is that many collectors, including me, are habituated to feel the packaging for certain parts that help identify specific minifigures. Thi...

By now, you should have caught the notion that I am a huge Mike Mignola fan. I was browsing my local library the other day, when I came across the graphic novel, Bram Stoker's Dracula, with pencilling done by Mike Mignola, it was an immediate must read. I have heard of this novel before but never got to reading it. Right when I started reading, my mind immediately jogged up visual memories of the Dracula movie where Gary Oldman plays the role of Count Dracula, wow the visual art is so stunning and evocative of the movie. I have not seen the entire movie except for some scenes involving the young Gary Oldman winning Winona Ryder's acquaintance in London. The book is a brilliant retelling of the classic novel in graphic form, made all the more scintillating with Mike Mignola's pencilling. If you're looking for recommendations, this is definitely a YES!!!!

Matchbox's 70th celebrations are making waves in the United States. It hit my area pretty late, atleast 2 months later than the first time I saw someone talk about it it but I am glad I found one finally. Say hello to the MBX CITY DRIVERS II 5 pack. The lineup is amazing and this specific 5 pack is dedicated to emergency vehicles - it has a chopper, a cop car, a cop tow truck, an EMS and a fire engine. Being typical characteristics of the 70th anniversary celebrations, the packaging has the "Matchbox 70 Special Edition" labelling and "Matchbox 70 Years" decor in each casting. Mission Helicopter - RESCUE '94 Chevy Caprice Classic Police - POLICE Chevy Blazer 4X4 - EMS GMC Wrecker - POLICE Pierce Arrow XT Fire Engine - FIRE RESCUE I think the Blazer 4X4, the Pierce Fire Engine and the GMC Wrecker are fan favorites because those are some old timer matchbox castings that kindle nostalgia for folks who have been collecting matchbox for a long time. Whats your fav...

We all know how Matchbox has entered its 70th year in manufacturing some of the coolest diecast ever! And they have upped the game teremendously in the past few years. Right from the models through the distribution to their premium releases on MattelCreations, we have seen an increasing vigor from matchbox in the recent years. Ever since the matchbox legend, David Tilley  , posted about the celebrations that matchbox has lined up for their  Matchbox Mini Moment – UK 70th Anniversary press release – LamleyGroup  on the lamleygroup, I have been eagerly awaiting to see the pieces hit the stores to have a first hand experience of the models. So far, we have seen, 70th exclusives show up in basic mixes, red themed target exclusives and a 5 pack that has already begun showing up in some Walmarts in the United States. And I recently chanced upon the debut this exclusive lineup has made in the Matchbox moving parts line. Say hello to the 1956 Morris Minor. The packaging features ...

 I think this is my third blog post about Mike Mignola . I live in the midwest region of the United States, and Mr Mike Mignola lives on the west coast. His convention appearances are becoming thinner and thinner and it was a very long shot that I would get tickets to some west coast convention that he would also come to. So when he posted that he was gonna be in NYC on Mar 23 for a Pinocchio exhibit at Society Of Illustrators  (SOI), I knew I'd to jump on it. And I am so glad I did. Got my tickets booked and arrived in NYC. My best friend growing up lives there and he set me off on a New York SUBWAY adventure switching two trains to reach Society Of Illustrators. I'd got my ticket booked for the afternoon at SOI and I'd planned on changing to a hellboy t-shirt and wear a hellboy pin and as soon as I walked through the door, I caught a glimpse of Mike walking with another person, (whom I came to know later as Scott Mignola, his brother) and I completely forgot everything an...

Mike Mignola needs no introduction. I have been a huge fan of his work ever since I tripped upon the magnificence thats Hellboy. Hellboy opened up my eyes to the giant of the industry that comic books are. Its not just the commercial aspect but the multitude of art and artists that are out there pouring. To have created a name in comics is an achievement all by itself, one that Mignola has made all too many times. First it was Hellboy and the art and soon after that it became an obsession with Mignola's work, his signatures, the scary and the grotesque, the finest architecture in the background of a hideous creature, the tricks of light and shadow, it was like an intoxication that I could never get enough of. About a month ago there was news about Beehive Books  planning to launch a kickstarter campaign for their latest adventure, Pinocchio, the classic story told by Mike Mignola and Lemony Snicket, the genius behind "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Everyone was excited ...

I am a big fan of the collaboration, Sounds of Isha. This music band or collaboration, for the lack of a better word, is based on the concept of Nadha Aradhana, worshipping the divine through sounds. The internet credits them as a Musical ensemble and I think that's probably the best way to describe them. They have been active as a commercial name from around 2006 but their music should have definitely started way before that. The Dhyanalinga Temple and the Isha Yoga Center at the foothills of the Velliangiri mountains in Coimbatore is an out of the world experience. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has inspired millions of followers across the world with his strong, undeniable discourses. I recently heard this song "Ennappan allavaa, en thayum allavaa" but it was a very modern rendition embellished by drum work and guitar chords and I immediately recognized the signature. The rendition had "Sounds of Isha" painted all over it. The song was mesmerizing and I'd to list...