Astra's actionfigures in Action

I never properly introduced the rest of my Gotham figures. You already saw them in countless pictures. You saw Gordon + Selina + Penguin, Barbara, Alfred, Azrael + Freeze + Dr. Strange before, today we have Bruce, Bullock, Victor and Ed.

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Finally wave 4 of Diamond Select Toys "Gotham" figures has arrived in Germany - Azrael, Freeze and Dr. Strange. Check them out behind the cut!

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I guess everyone has seen the finale of season 3 by now and if you haven't you probably aren't a Gotham fan anyway ;) Here is a little episode tag to THAT scene between Alfred and Bruce - seen through Alfred's eyes. Spoilers, obviously! Only 390 words but I had to write it down.


Alfred’s knees ached from kneeling on the hard stone floor. Those ninja guys had thrown him down rather unceremoniously. His ribs hurt from his earlier encounter with them, and his head still reeled from that backhand he’d just received. He’d tasted blood when he had spat out. All in all, he had felt better.

I’m getting too bloody old for this shit, he thought. But then again he wouldn’t die of old age as things were looking right now.

But his aches and pains were nothing compared with the pain in his heart. Seeing Bruce, his boy, standing there with eyes so cold made Alfred shudder involuntarily. He tried every tactic he could imagine. He pleaded, he begged, he tried to remind Bruce of old times. But Bruce never even blinked and the tip of the sword on Alfred’s throat never wavered.

That’s when he realized that there was only one way out of this. He’d have to sacrifice himself so that Bruce could overcome this. It was one hell of a dangerous plan with no guarantee to work but it was the only way left. Alfred just hoped that Bruce wouldn’t be too guilt stricken once he realized what he had done.

So instead of begging for his life, he encouraged Bruce to end it. And even though he had tried to mentally prepare himself, nothing could prepare him for the sudden hot-white pain when the sword slid effortlessly right into the middle of his chest. He couldn’t prevent an outcry. Damn, but that hurt.

Alfred struggled to stay conscious, to stay upright. Through the fog in his head and the ringing in his ears he heard Bruce’s faint cries. It seemed to have worked then, at least this he could take into his grave.

And then, in his panic, Bruce did the one thing he shouldn’t have. He removed the sword which brought another wave of pain and now let the blood flow freely out of Alfred. With a gargling sound he fell over. He struggled to say something, some last encouragement for Bruce, but found he couldn’t. The sword had hit his lung, and he was drowning in his own blood. It became harder and harder to breathe.

The edges of his vision became darker and darker and finally Alfred gave in.

The darkness swallowed him whole.

The End


http://archiveofourown.org/works/12074553

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why I am now a Gotham and ultimately Sean Pertwee fan. I saw this Arkham Asylum gate and thought I need it. I didn't even know what I need it for, just that I needed it. I tried to justify it for my Arrow figures, but then figured better to watch the show where it came from. And so it happened.

My, has Barbara tiny wrists! I am afraid of breaking them, but they move freely around, as you can see. The feet are very moveable as well. The knees don't do much as the skirt is too long. I hope to be able to take off her head and put her onto a different figure. This lady in red should arrive soon. Do I now also need to watch Battlestar Galactica?!? https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTuCgOyXsgn0KOYhvAayUF-rLsl0LE0nwUbQdF6a6PLbFe0S0kSQ

I love when a plan comes together! On the top you see the small box I used at first for the tiny "Gotham" accessoires. It was just fine but it bothered me that I couldn't fit Penguin's umbrella into it and was afraid it would get lost. So I went to look for a box of similar size but with one long compartment. I didn't want a bigger one like I have for other fandoms, as there isn't enough to put into yet. I found one where I can put up the walls any way I want. Here's my new box!

I've never watched "Buffy" or "Angel" (aside of that famous musical episode) but I have bought quite a few of their figures over the years, as fodder for customs, or as stand-ins.

- Wesley became Jack O'Neill in blue Air Force uniform

- Willow became Carole Barrowman

- Hawaiian Spike and Angel became Jack and Daniel from "Stargate"

- Wesley and Tara were used as stand-ins for Malcolm Merlyn and Moira Queen
(I actually have three Wesley-Malcolms - in suit, in tux and in leather jacket with stubble)

Today I used Angel from "The Ring" to make a Jim Gordon in wifebeater shirt, which he quite often sports in the "Gotham" TV series. Easiest custom ever, just a simple headswap. To learn how to do it and see more detailed pictures, please click the cut!

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It's destiny, I tell ya! Many decades ago, my mother had gotten this lion statue. No idea where, I need to ask. And some less decades ago I asked if I could have it, for no particular reason. I never did do anything with it, other than marvel at it. And what do I see right now while watching "Gotham" episode 3x02? Do you see it, there in front of the fireplace? Isn't that karma? The original seems to be white (marble?) while mine is golden but close enough!

I'm not even sure if I can file that under "customizing" as I didn't do anything. The funny thing is that a few days ago I was going through my boxes, and thinking "this would make a good accessory for Wayne Manor".

Now I need to also find an elephant statue in the show, as that is the other thing I have from that set... LOL

Yesterday I showed the beginning, today he got finished! I really love this look of Alfred with rolled up sleeves. He somehow looks more badass than in full formal suit. I also noticed that his tie is a bit more loose and the top button not closed ;)

Although looking at these pictures now, I guess I'll have to sand down the arms a bit more. They look quite lumpy, with the creases of the original suit sleeves still visible. Thing is, I can't make them too thin as the joints for the elbows and wrists need enough "meat" to not break.





The original hair was really awful. Too white at the bottom and too brown at the top, also thick brown eyebrows. I gave him his salt & pepper hair. Much better, innit? (<-- oh dear, now I even start to SOUND like Alfred...)

The closest I will get to living in a big manor and have a butler - Alfred Pennyworth! He comes with a huge fireplace. Alfred, played by Sean Pertwee, is one of the best things of this series. He's also quite a fighter. But I'll have to repaint his hair, as it looks awful like this. It should be darker grey on top and lighter grey at the sides, but this looks as if he had the backside shaved!

I did a test whether he can serve the silver tea tabled. He can hold it better than Ianto.

I got him very cheap, did you know there is something like Amazon warehouse deals? The box was a bit bent but as I take them out anyway, I didn't mind. Did cost me only about 10 Euros, instead of at least 24 or even well over 30. And they had a sale on DVDs too, so for 6 Euros more I got the DVD with the David Tennant movie "What we did on our holidays". And it all without shipping. Great deal!

Amazon is weird though. I ordered both on January 3rd. I get a mail on the 5th telling me that the DVD has been sent and will arrive Saturday. I get a mail at the 6th telling me that Alfred has been sent and will arrive on Monday. In the end, both things arrived on Saturday, in separate parcels.

Anyway, on with the pictures! More behind the cut, as usual.

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So I stumbled about the action figures of "Gotham" that come with some awesome backgrounds and I figured I should at least have a look into the series before I buy them (not that buying figures just for the accessories has stopped me before *cough* "Primeval" *cough*). I started somewhere in the middle of season 2 on German TV and now have gone back to the beginning to do it properly. I read that season 2 is better than season 1 so sometimes it's better to come in later. I rather like it. Yes, it is sometimes camp and over the top, but I like the actors and characters and the sarcasm in the dialogues. I always love a bit of humor in my TV series. Grumpy Harvey Bullock was an instant like and I love how the relationship between the the old and new cop develops over time. The way of storytelling is similar to "Arrow", but there are no warehouse fights and no magic. Kinda refreshing to see good old quick shooting instead of drawn out hand-to-hand-combat. It's the more realistic superhero series that I always wanted "Arrow" to be.

(Also, Alfred Pennyworth is played by Sean Pertwee, the son of Jon Pertwee who was the third Doctor. I'm so glad I started to watch in English as in the German dubbing I would have missed this lovely British accent)

I want to introduce you to the figures of wave 1, which are Det. James "Jim" Gordon, Selina "Cat" Kyle and Oswald Cobblepot aka the Penguin. Click the cut to see more explanations and pictures!

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