Our top 10 Action Figures for the remainder of 2014

With only a few short months left until Christmas companies will be falling over each other to grab our attention and fight to the last for that must have action figure, and it seems that this year there is a little something for everyone. Here's wants our top 10 must have's for the rest of this year:

10) Breaking Bad Jesse Pinkman in Blue Hazmat Suit Px Previews Exclusive 

Mezco make some extremely well detailed figures in the Breaking Bad line. All of the Walter White figures, especially Heisenberg, were in high demand and the Jesse Pinkman figures will be no different. Fans have been crying out for these and finally Mezco have delivered. The blue hazmat figures will be the standard figures in this line with different variations coming in smaller waves to increase collectibility. We love these figures but there is only one drawback. No articulation. Now I realise that some figures can have too many points of articulation but these can be difficult to display out of the box without the aid of a stand. If you're happy to go down this route then these figures are a must have. If you're collecting for future investment then these figures can also be displayed boxed as Mezco supply them in blister packaging. 
The blue hazmat figures are currently available to preorder on our ebay site or on our website. We will also be stocking the Orange Hazmat exclusive figure and this will also be available for preorder from next week. 

9) Guardians of the Galaxy ARTFX+ PVC Statue 1/10 Rocket Raccoon 14 cm

If you haven't seen the movie or read the comics then you are missing out on something very special on both counts. Kotobukiya have provided the collectibles industry with some incredible figures over the years that just keep getting better. They have always started lines villain heavy, but have made an exception with Guardians of the Galaxy. Though I stated it above as a drawback, no articulation has never been a problem with Kotobukiya ArtFx figures as they always provide extra limbs, heads and accessories for multiple pose options. Both Rocket Raccoon and Groot are superbly detailed and can be displayed in their own right or as above with Rocket on Groots shoulder. Frankly, we can't say enough about how good these look and believe that with certain other companies falling short in the quality department its worth spending that bit extra on something extraordinary. 

These are available to preorder now from our online store here

8) Sons of Anarchy Jax Teller and Clay Morrow 6-Inch Variant Action Figures

Fans of Sons of Anarchy have been waiting for these figures for some time now and its no surprise nor disappointment that Mezco are the ones making them. We have only one problem with these, and though it may seem picky, it was kind of a big downside....No Harleys with the figures! Other than that these are a must have and we are preselling the EE exclusive variants that are going to be rare down the line. Again, with these being mezco expect no points of Articulation, high detail and blister packaging.

Preorder Clay Morrow here and Jax Teller here

7) DC Comics ARTFX+ PVC Statue 1/10 Green Arrow (The New 52) 20 cm

Coming in December this year is yet another of Kotobukiya's ArtFx figures and this one is stunning. With the success of the TV Series and the New 52 comics the Japanese company has yet again excelled themselves and this should sell very well. We know that most of us in the Highrise office will be parting with our hard earned to get our hands on this piece. We will be putting this up for preorder soon.

6) Star Wars Black Series Wave 5

With new and improved packaging (this is more aesthetic than anything) Hasbro's 5th wave of the 6 inch Black Series figures look set to be the most popular yet and we couldn't create a "must have" list and not have these figures on it. The success of the Black series figures has been huge and it looks like this is going to continue for some years to come. These figures have never suffered in quality with having articulation and display extremely well in and out of the window packaging. Well worth every penny!

5) Star Wars Black Series Deluxe Action Figures

These have been an instant hit and have already sold out at preorder from the majority of suppliers. If you can still get your hands on some then we recommend that you do. The speeder bike and scout is supplied with a stand for ease of display, however, if you want to keep them boxed then they will still look incredible. 

4) Star Wars Black Series Limited Edition Shadow Squadron Deluxe Set

This is an incredible looking set. Not only do the figures look incredible but it would also be hard to take them out of the box considering the awesome backdrop on the packaging! In fact all of us at Highrise have agreed that we would keep them boxed! 

Preorder this box set here

3) Star Wars Black Series Boba Fett in Prototype Armor 

Well what can we say. Its Boba Fett. He looks cooler than ever and well...Its Boba fett. Nuff said

Preorder here

2) Walking Dead TV Series 6 Action Figures by Macfarlane Toys

The walking Dead figures have much improved since they first started life a few years ago. In fact, it would have been fair to say that there was little to no resemblance to the characters the figures were pertaining to be, yet it seems to have added to their charm and collectibility. Who would have thought?! This set of figures look very good and with some sought after characters in this set we reckon these will sell fast. 

You can preorder these on our website now or if you prefer ebay then keep a look out for them in the next few weeks.

1) Walking Dead Rick Grimes 10" Deluxe Action Figure by Macfarlane Toys 

Top of our wish list and we can guarantee we aren't the only ones. After the success of last years Daryl Dixon deluxe figure we were hoping for either a Michonne or a Rick grimes (we've heard unofficial rumblings that Michonne is next). If last years figure is anything to go by then the detail on this Rick grimes figure will be amazing and it will be great to see him on our shelf in his classic gun toting pose! 

Preorder the Rick Grimes deluxe figure from our website now or from our ebay site in the coming weeks.

And thats our top ten. If there's anything you feel should be here then let us know! 

What is Funko Hikari you ask?

With the recent addition of our Funko Hikari preorders to our web and ebay sites we have had many customers ask what these figures are. Hikari, meaning ‘light’, is a highly collectible line of clear Sofubi Vinyl Figures.These will be ultra-limited and piece runs will range from 500pieces - 5000pieces depending on the treatment.

 Each Hikari piece will include a hand numbered card to prove authenticity and rarity. The first two lines of Hikari products have been based on Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with more on the way. These figures will also light up on display. We like them, despite them being a little on the glittery side and verging on garish! With the limited runs on them, they will no doubt be very sought after in the future. Prices are currently running from around £31 for a 1 in 3000 right up to £130 for a 1 in 500. 

Preorders are available at either Highrise-collectibles.com or http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Highrise-Collectibles. Whatever your taste, whether you're a collector or a magpie and have a penchant for the glittery and shiny, these are a must have!

The World of Breaking Bad, Moving on to Better Call Saul!

Breaking Bad…

Two words that previously meant nothing to the television world but since January 2008, have created a storm; a storm of emotion, intrigue, shock and awe. A show that even left its viewers questioning whether they should love or hate the characters involved. 

But where did it start? 

Breaking Bad was the creation of Vince Gilligan; the mind and the man behind massive television success in the guise of The X-Files.

Gilligan originally just followed The X-Files as a fan of the show but his big break came when he submitted a script to Fox themselves who picked up on it and he started to become a part of the writing team from there.

A rarity in itself but nevertheless, it serves as a fitting showcase of his creative abilities.

Vinve Gilligan 

To go back to Breaking Bad itself; a show that uniquely managed to address the protagonist, Walter White, as a desperate and loveable family man but ultimately managed to showcase his downward spiral as he ‘broke bad’. It could be argued that our protagonist eventually became the antagonist as he delved into darker territories. But how? How did Gilligan manage to successfully do this in five short seasons? 

It goes without saying that these five seasons would combine to be widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time.

Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, starts his story as a despairing high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with an inoperable lung cancer. The show begins with tragedy of epic proportions and doesn’t relent on continuing down that pathway. Walter White has no choice but to start considering how he can secure his family’s financial future before he succumbs to the cancer. He doesn’t have long to do it and what better way to make quick cash than to do it on the other side of the law?

And so the story begins… 

Walter, in a strange pairing, meets with a former student of his - Jesse Pinkman. Pinkman, perfectly cast and played by Aaron Paul makes for a sometimes comical, yet loveable team with Cranston.

Walter, or Mr White as he gets referred to by Jesse, forms a unique alliance with him and they begin to use his skills in chemistry and it isn’t long before the pair are producing and selling methamphetamine to make their money.

A fairly simple idea but made all the more complicated by the fact that Walt’s brother in law, Hank Schrader, works for the DEA and eventually finds himself chasing the mysterious Heisenberg, whom he laters finds to be none other than Walt’s alter ego.

The combination of Cranston and Paul became so strong that Gilligan kept the latter in the show. Jesse was actually originally intended to be killed at the tail end of season one and it’s maybe just as well he did.

Despite the two involving themselves in a life of crime, Gilligan perfectly captures the humanity within them both along the way. After all, even criminals deserve love… even criminals have a life away from their crimes...

The double lives the two lived began to eat away at their abilities to bear the burden of a criminal life - something which they continue to get deeper and deeper involved in.

Along the way, many loathsome and loveable characters graced our screens; from Walt and Jesse themselves, the fearless Gustavo “Gus” Fring to the questionable small time lawyer Saul Goodman… what isn’t to like about the show?

It’s very tough to try and summarise such an epic story, especially when considering that so much was packed into it in such a brief run… 

After all, how long could Breaking Bad realistically continue with Walt battling an inoperable cancer?

The world that Gilligan created was so expertly written and expertly cast that many of the actors (and the show itself) won numerous awards and nominations; 101 wins and 267 nominations to be exact.

After 5 seasons and 62 episodes… Breaking Bad finished. It is fascinating to think that 62 episodes was all Gilligan needed to build up and portray the downward spirals of the characters involved but he did it. In fact, Breaking Bad seen itself as one of the most highly anticipated endings of a show in the history of television.

The show Breaking Bad came to an explosive close and thus the world Gilligan created.... or did it?

Recent announcements confirmed a spin off series titled ‘Better Call Saul’ which is going to focus on the life and questionable antics of the lawyer Saul Goodman himself.

Spin-off shows can be a dangerous concept and are often spat at by fans and critics but at no surprise, knowing it is the Breaking Bad world we are returning to, there is a lot of hype and a lot of excitement surrounding this one.

Whether Gilligan brings our favourites Walt and Jesse into the mix at any stage is yet to be confirmed, though it fortunately hasn’t been denied either.

It’s entirely possible that we will see Walter White and Jesse Pinkman on our screens again in 2015.

In the meantime, to commemorate such a pinnacle of television genius, Highrise Collectibles are stocking Breaking Bad figures at unbeatable prices.

You can buy your favourites, Walt and Jesse in their Hazmat suits… or should you prefer the elusive Heisenberg…? You can buy him too.

Check our website: www.highrise-collectibles.com to buy the highly sought after figures now!

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Trailer Released

 Tolkien fans all over the world have been feeling like Gollum as they have been not so patiently waiting for the one minute, forty-eight second trailer that was shown within the Hobbit panel at Comic Con on Saturday. Jacksons trilogy that explores the depths of Middle Earth in a brand new light is set to conclude with three major battle scenes, and a variety of emotions that are said to make the audience truly connect with the characters.
 After the 15 second sneak peek trailer, Warner Bros. UK then stated that the UK release date for Battle of Five Armies will be December 12th 2014 as opposed to the 17th as previously thought. They then included a brief synopsis to excited fans who read on past the release date.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenceless men, women and children of Lake-town.
Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honour to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. 

As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance."

    Set to be one of the biggest films of the year, Peter Jackson has stated how they are still currently working on the video effects, meaning that the full theatrical length trailer will come to us in October, but in the mean time he and Warner Bros. have delivered this.

SDCC 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy Sequel Announced and Dated

With still four days before Guardians of the Galaxy hits the box office Marvel seems to have high hopes for it as an ongoing movie series by announcing the sequel already. During the Marvel Antman and Avengers panel a short video was shown which involved director James Gunn and Chris Pratt (Starlord) in talks about the sequel to the upcoming movie, and then slipping in the release date before comically saying "I hope Kevin Feige doesn't find out we just told them the date."

It seems as though Marvel has big plans to open up the universe of Avengers and Guardians and hopefully with the sequel we'll see some Iron Man/ Rocket action. It was also interesting to see what the guys had planned for the second Avengers movie while talking on the panel. They showed off a short teaser of Age of Ultron which got the audience very excited. With the addition of three new characters it looks as though Marvel is turning it up to 11, which is never a bad thing.

Guardians of the Galaxy looks like it's going to be a ton of fun and from early reviews Marvel are right to put trust into new IP's. Make sure you check out the movie when it shots the box office this Thursday and then wait in anticipation for it's sequel which will be hitting the big screens on July 28, 2017.

SDCC 2014: Sons of Anarchy The Final Ride

 Following a second teaser trailer last week named 'The Final Ride' the Sons of Anarchy cast begin saying their goodbyes to the FX hit television show, but begin to discuss creating a prequel for the first time in public. This has been rumoured by fans for a long time as they wish to see more from the life of John Teller. The creator of the series, Kurt Sutter stated how there will not be a spin off as he feels that a spin off will only work on a procedural drama, but will indeed continue in the shows very first novel; 'Sons of Anarchy: Bratva' written by Christopher Golden is set to be released November 18th 2014.

  Joining Sutter on stage were Paris Barclay (Executive Producer) Katey Sagal (Gemma Teller-Morrow), Kim Coates (Alex 'Tig' Trager), Mark Boone Junior (Bobby Munson), Tommy Flanagan (Filip 'Chibs' Telford), Theo Rossi (Juan Carlos 'Juice' Ortiz), Dayton Callie (Wayne Unser), Jimmy Smits (Nero Padilla), Drea de Matteo (Wendy Case), Niko Nicotera (George 'Ratboy' Skogstrom), and David Labrava (Happy Loman). All cast members showed their appreciation to Kurt Sutter with a standing ovation that reduced him to tears, and resulted in him ordering them to "Sit the f*** down."

  As everyone knows, SAMCRO wouldn't be complete without the presence of actor Charlie Hunnam (Jackson 'Jax' Teller) who although unable to attend, sent a rather comedic video in which he referenced being the biker in fashion magazines. Hunnam then went on to mock the luxurious way in which the other members of cast should wait on him hand and foot.

  While still currently writing and filming the beginning of the second half season, the cast and crew still have a while until they wrap things up however the roar emotion surrounding the end of the beginning is clear as the cast try their hardest to keep it together every time it is mentioned that this is the last season. It seems that a lot of the emotions (which we will know will always be a heavy thing with SOA) will be truthful to the audience, as many of the cast members may not got the chance to work with one another again.
  Teasing tweets from Kurt Sutter have suggested that an extra special guest is to appear on the show in its final season but nothing was given away today, as we already know that Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love are to have recurring roles this season. Whether there is to be another guest star within their midst at this moment is unknown, but only time will tell.

  Season 7 of SOA is set to premier September 9th in America, but a UK date is still unannounced.  And while you're here check out the teaser below and maybe a pop over to the store HERE to browse at our collection of Sons action figures.

SDCC 2014: Hobbit Panel and Trailer Highlights

 San Diego Comic Con 2014 shall always be known to me as “Hobbit-Con” as Peter Jackson has bought his fans to a point where they are willing to stand in line for over thirty hours, mainly to be amongst the first to view the teaser trailer from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Or BotFA if you’d prefer). Over ten thousand people queued in order to try and attend the panel hosted by Stephen Colbert (Host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central) but with a capacity of 7,500 many were turned away. Those who didn’t manage to get in to see the panel weren’t as disappointed as you may think as a 3am visit from Andy Serkis (Gollum, Second Unit Director) and Lee Pace (Thranduil) bought up the spirits of tired, delighted fans. 

 After much speculating as to who would be on the panel to welcome BotFA into the world, director Peter Jackson was joined by cast members: Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel), Andy Serkis (Gollum) Benedict Cumberbatch (Smaug/Necromancer), Elijah Wood (Frodo), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), Lee Pace (Thranduil), Luke Evans (Bard the Bowman, and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) who not only discussed the process of filming, but also had fun with a video that showed some of the films vital characters in rather amusing positions, such as Ian McKellen (Gandalf) dancing in just his underwear while sporting his ever famous ‘Gandalf beard’.

As the panel drew to a close Jackson couldn’t help but smile which instantly gave away the fact that the trailer was soon to be viewed for the first time in public. With a recently extended screen that stretched all around Hall H, the atmosphere that surrounded fans was explosive and truly exciting.

 The trailer itself being a teaser at one minute, forty-eight seconds was packed with true emotion and action which is proved with a view of an age old romance held between Gandalf (McKellen) and Galadriel (Blanchett), as she wanders across the battlefield whilst barefoot to kiss the wounded wizard on the head. From a weepy Tauriel (Lilly) in one shot to golden armour in the next, you truly see the beauty of a director with a true passion for the work of J R R Tolkien.

 While today's trailer was put to ‘The Edge of Night’ (Which is the song that Pippin (Billy Boyd) sung heartily to Denethor (John Noble) in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), this is not to be the music that holds the trailer together on official release. Warner Bros. are currently working on creating the music to Tolkiens ‘The Walking Song’ (The song that Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin sing before they first encounter what they call a ‘black rider’ in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring). This song will essentially hold the entire trailer together and give it a simple and yet powerful affect on the viewer.

 Unfortunately this means that those who weren’t at SDCC today will have to wait to view the BotFA trailer, as Warner Bros. refuse to release the version shown today. The full trailer is to be released in October as have the past two trailers Jackson revealed today, and it seems that the entire world shall be seeing this at the same time.

 The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies is set to be released on December 17th, and will be the conclusion of this particular trilogy. You can check out the panel below.

SDCC 2014: Batman v Superman Teaser Trailer And Wonder Woman First Shot Revealed

For some time now fans have been furiously debating the credibility of the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Things have been no different here at Highrise...The news that Ben Affleck was being cast as Batman did not sit well. His portrayal of Daredevil did not help his case here, however, it was also not long after Christopher Nolans exceptional Batman Trilogy and the superior performance of Christian Bale as Batman. And then there was the casting of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Could she live up to playing the character of the warrior princess of the Amazons  known as Princess Diana of Themyscira. There is a lot riding on this and not just for Gadot. This is Wonder Womans first live action cinematic appearance, so if its not well received then Zack Snyder will forever be known as the man who ruined Wonder Woman. Zero pressure, obviously.

Despite any of that the fans went wild when the above images were revealed and that must have instilled huge confidence in those involved in the movies production. The fans got an even bigger surprise when the teaser trailer was shown...Think rain. Think Batman in armoured suit a la The Dark Knight Rises. The Bat signal is illuminating the night sky and there hovering within its scope is Superman, his eyes glowing red. The hall explodes with rapturous applause! Job done. 

SDCC 2014: Game of Thrones Actress Maisie Williams in Talks to Star in The Last of Us Movie

The Screen Gems panel at San Diego Comic-Con brought fans an unexpected surprise when Sam Raimi and Neil Druckman took the stage to talk about the film adaptation of The Last of Us. Raimi, the director of The Evil Dead and the original Spider-Man trilogy, is acting as producer on the film, while Naughty Dog’s Druckman is writing the script.

As yet no director has been announced, however, it was revealed that the pair had met with Maisie Williams, A.K.A Arya Stark of HBO's Game of Thrones to discuss the role of Ellie. Although nothing at this point is set in stone Druckman did urge members of the audience to ask Williams about the role during the Game of Thrones panel.  As fans of the game, we at Highrise know that this will cause some debate amongst fans as to whether this is a strong casting for the role of Ellie. In fact we ourselves are divided about it. Lets hope that whoever directs and plays the major roles in this movie do it justice. Video  game to movie transitions have a pretty torrid history - lets just say Street Fighter and leave it at that!

Raimi wants the film to remain faithful to the game, saying, “What’s unique is that Neil’s writing the script. I have a great deal of confidence we’re going to end up with a script that’s true to the strengths of the game.”  Lets hope that this movie breaks the mould and gives us a gem in an otherwise poor genre.

SDCC 2014: The Walking Dead Season 5 Trailer Released

"They're screwing with the wrong people"

Walking Dead fans rejoice, the trailer for season five is here. Released today during the AMC panel the trailer shows some of the horrors of what Terminus has in store as well as a lock to what the story will be progressing toward. Robery Kirkman has been saying for months that season five of The Walking Dead will be better than ever, and from the spoiler-y first look trailer he really was not exaggerating.

The folks over at The Walking Dead also revealed today that the show would be split into two eight episode parts much like how Season four functioned, by the looks of things the first half will focus on how the characters will get out of the sticky situation of Terminus.

The Walking Dead Season 5 will return to our screens October 13, only a day later than the US airing, good news for all of us across the pond we won't be spoiled waiting a week for it. Though our minds are still blown from the trailer, so don't expect to see us at the premiere airing. Calling nurse Beth!

SDCC 2014: Game of Thrones Season 5 Casting Announced

It is now apparent that we'll be going to the isles of Dorne and spending a lot of time with house Martell in Game of Thrones Season 5. With the new casting being released today at Comic Con and three are some very interesting choices for the characters. The most notable key members are of course the ruling lord or Dorne and older brother to the late Prince Oberyn Martell, unlike his brother Doran is even tempered so a bold choice to have Alexander Siddig (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 24) play the role, it will be interesting to see how he reacts to his brothers death.

Alexander Siddig.

Toby Sebastian has been cast to play the son of Prince Doran, Trystane Martell. His father betrothed him to Myrcella Baratheon as part of the alliance offered by Tywin Lannister, the former Hand of the King. Speaking of Myrcella, the character has been recast, Nell Tiger Free will now play the Baratheon replacing Aimee Richardson. Viewers will remember Myrcella Baratheon as the eldest child of Cersei Lannister who we haven't seen for a while due to her being sent to Dorne where she has been a guest and ward of Prince Doran, though her position could become tenuous with the death of Oberyn Martell, the Princes Brother.

Toby Sebastian

Nell Tiger Free

Other notable mentions for casting include the three actresses for the three Sand Snakes (the nickname for Oberyn's Daughters.) Jessica Henwick will be playing Nymeria (Nym) Sand, the second eldest of the three sisters. Her mother, an Eastern noblewoman who brought up Nym to be cultured, graceful and deadly with a whip. 

Rosabell Laurenti Sellers will be playing Tyene Sand, the youngest daughter from his final paramour Ellaria Sand, Tyene will be fiercer than she looks with her signature twin daggers.

Keisha Castle-Hughs (Ocar Nominated for 2002's Whale Rider) will be playing Obara Sand, a fearsome warrior and oldest daughter of Oberyn. Could we see a female Oberyn in her, I certainly hope so. Her mother was a Dornish peasant girl who caught the eye of the Prince. 

Playing Areo Hotah, the long-serving captain of Doran Martell's palace guard will be DeObia Oparei (Dredd, Doom,) renowned for his loyalty and his elongate. Across the seas of Westeros things will be getting difficult for Daenerys where Enzo Cilenti will be playing the role of Yezzan, an extremely wealthy slave trader, before Dany outlawed the slave trade. 

And finally the legendary Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean films) will be joining the show as High Sparrow, a devout and pious man the High Sparrow came to King's Landing to serve those forgotten by the much of the world, the poor, the downtrodden and the infirm. His fellow believers have swarmed over the city, ministering to the lowest and decrying the corruption of the highest, we have our Robin Hood of Westeros.

Keisha Castle-Hughs

Jonathan Pryce

For a look at all the actors and how they have reacted to the news of joining the show check out the video below, there is sure to be more news coming from Thrones over the weekend at SDCC so be sure to check back.

LFCC 2014 Round Up

Last weekend marked the London Film and Comic Con, and for us it was particularly special. Not only because it was the last ever appearance of Stan Lee in Europe, but it will also hold a special place being the first ever Con we attended as exhibitors.

LFCC was full of strange and wonderful people, dressed as their favourite character the con was a place where every single fandom was accepted. As traders we got to see this first hand by having people stopping in front of us just to get pictures of awesome cosplays, from Dr. Strange to Judge Dredd. Everyone was civil and in great spirits from the time the doors opened on the Friday evening all the way through to closing on the Sunday.

For some of the team at Highrise it was our first ever Comic Con, so to attend with the appearance of Stan Lee was amazing. The turn out was something we never imagined and even though the weekend felt like everyone was on Tatooine it was still great to see everyone enjoying themselves and meeting the people they love on screen and the writers of their favourite series.

Despite being hellishly busy and melting in the extreme heat (an issue that would cause major problems as the weekend progressed) we did manage to find a few moments to meet our favourite actors and get stuff signed, first up on the list was Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett).  Now, this was made even better by the long awaited arrival of my colleagues' SDCC exclusive Boba Fett and Han Solo in Carbonite which Jeremy was only too happy to sign and have a photo with. Dream No 1 fulfilled!

Besides Jeremy Bulloch there were other Star Wars classic actors in attendance such as Dave Prowse and Kenny Baker. Peter Mayhew unfortunately had to cancel his appearance but the mood was not dampened as he was replaced with every Star Wars fans dream, Carrie Fisher. Though we did not get the chance to meet her or get any photos, from what we saw of people and the reaction to her was amazing. This is good news for those of us awaiting the arrival of Episode VII. 

Though the weekend was very much for all the fans across the UK to get involved with all of the different series, Saturday was very much Game of Thrones day. With emphasis on Lena Headey for her photo-shoots and autograph sessions, and with a special panel and screening for the show at the end of the day which filled 1000 seats. We were lucky enough to be quite close to the front and in the perfect place to spot the actors, the mood with everyone was on fire, with puns being thrown about from the actors of the show the lift the spirits of the fans even more. 

The next main guest we wanted to see was from Game of Thrones, and on the Sunday made it our mission to set out and get an autograph. Luckily we left it late to do so and the queue to get a signing from Kristian Nairn (Hodor) wasn't that long. When we got to the big guy he was incredibly humble and made sure he was talking to each and every person that had queued to meet him. 

Of course, the main attraction for the weekend was the great man himself, Stan Lee. Now lets get a few things straight. There were problems, and not just a few. The queues to see him were horrific. People queued from 4am on the Saturday to see him and there were many that had to be turned away in the afternoon. Signings had to be cut short, but lets be fair, the man is 91. 

He has suffered with ill-health for some time now and his arthritis just wouldn't allow him to do thousands upon thousands of signatures a day. Add the usual delays and you can imagine the intensity of peoples anger when it came to not getting a signature or photo with him.  This is just to be expected, but I think the organisers could have warned their attendees about the possibility of signings being cut short. However, and with all that said, the man was a legend! 

In summary we had an amazing time, and though the heat was a huge problem most in attendance had a blast as well. We hope to see some of the great people we met across the weekend at other events that we will be appearing at. From the team at Highrise thank you for coming out and we will see you soon! 

Sons of Anarchy - Ride Free or Die?

It all started in 2008…

The mind of Kurt Sutter created what we know today as ‘Sons of Anarchy’. FX undoubtedly snapped this up and by the third season, Sons of Anarchy went on to become one of their highest rated shows ever. Mr Sutter was no stranger to epic storytelling and unbeatable television having worked on FX’s show ‘The Shield’ but what is SoA?

To some, it’s a show about some rebel bikers gunning people down, blowing stuff up. And shame on them if they cannot look past that. The depth of storytelling; the trust and betrayal, the love and hate, all combined to make an emotional and fun filled ride, so to speak. 

Fuelled with loose elements of Shakespearean interludes roped with tragedy and whilst still managing to retain jovial qualities with the brotherhood of SAMCRO? You know you have a winner. Stunning performances from Charlie Hunnam who plays Jackson “Jax” Teller, the ‘Prince’ in this tale, Ron Pearlman who play Clay Morrow, the ruthless president of the club and the award winning Katey Sagal who plays the Queen in this tale - Gemma Teller. Mother of Jax, wife to Clay. Epic performances that made it a show worth coming back to again and again.

Sutter was no fool though. He involved himself in the research of the lifestyle by spending time with members of an outlaw club… to me, that says dedication. That spells just how serious and just how real the show is.

The show recently finished its sixth season with a climatic ending.

The Jax and Clay feud was finally buried. 

The club stands on the brink as Jax loses one of the things closest to his heart.

Season 7 starts in September 2014 and to say we can’t wait would be an understatement.  

Check out the teaser trailer here:

Although we at Highrise Collectibles can’t help but think it would be bittersweet. 

The end of an era in a way…

To commemorate such a pinnacle of television - it in true Highrise fashion (and by popular demand) we are stocking the Jax Teller and Clay Morrow figures, produced by our friends at Mezco Toyz.

A true collector will snap these up whilst available because in true collectible fashion, when Sons of Anarchy comes to a close; these will become highly sought after items.

Clay Morrow - PRE-ORDER HERE                             

Jax Teller - PRE-ORDER HERE

Pre order now, whilst stocks last or ‘Fear the Reaper'.

Check out the Highrise Collectibles store now!

Don’t just do what the subject title suggests…. Ride Free and Buy!!

The Force Is Strong In The Star Wars Universe This Year

This year has seen some incredible announcements within the Star Wars universe, and I'm sure if you're as big a fan as we are then you will be eagerly awaiting the release of Star Wars Episode VII. Not only that but two of the industries very best in Action Figures are releasing some very cool figures from the series.

Hasbro have been extremely active this year with their excellent "The Black Series" line. Wave 5 of the 6-inch series will be with us in August introducing Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight, Darth Vader and the Black Pauldron Sandtrooper.

As you can see these figures are looking very nice, and the detail is as good as you would expect from this series. Along the way we have had a few figures that have been more sought after than the rest and this wave is no exception with the highly anticipated inclusion of Darth Vader. 

Not only does Hasbro have the Wave 5 figures for release, but it will also be releasing its Deluxe sets. The first two figures in this line for release is the Speeder Bike with Biker Scout and Jabba the Hutt, both of which catch the eye for both the collector and the fan. A very cool variant for San Diego Comic Con this features Jabba the Hutt in his throne room (another to watch out for is the Cantina shoot-out set featuring Han Solo and Greedo!)

Kotobukiya are the other industry favourite that have been active in Star Wars figure production. We have already seen some awesome releases this year with the Sandtrooper two pack and the Sandtrooper Sgt, however the best is definitely being saved until last. The two packs of Han Solo with Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker with Princess Leia will be with us at the end of the year and both are looking incredible. These figures are very different from the Hasbro line as they are classed more as statues and have no points of articulation, however, they do come with different attachments for multiple pose options and the magnetic bases for display. 

We are still awaiting some images for the Luke and Leia set but judging by the Han and Chewie set Kotobukiya will have nailed it yet again! We will keep you posted on upcoming news on both of these series and we will also be posting live from SDCC 2014 with best announcements.