Okay, I just can't stop myself from squealing, so pardon my unbridled happiness. I got an unexpected surprise on FedEx early this morning. When I say early, I mean I had a FedEx guy knocking on my door at 6 am, bearing a BIG box from the Animax channel in Singapore. Since I happened to have a bunch of deadlines I had to finish, I somehow held myself in check from opening said box until I had everything done. Well, I finally got to opening it and I just found my jaw dropping at the goodies inside. Let's see...I've got four HUGE posters of brand new anime that the network will be airing (something my nephews and niece are sure to beg me for later on), a plushie of Slam Dunk character Hanamichi Sakuragi (darned doll looks like a pervert with that toothy grin on its face), a Slam Dunk yearbook, two brand new USB drives, a bunch of T-shirts (Yep, the kids will definitely be happy about these!), a bunch of Animax notebooks and PVC folders. But the BEST SURPRISE was hiding at the very bottom of the box wrapped carefully and with much love in bubble wrap. "THE BATTLE OF THE PLANETS DIGEST VOLS. 1 AND 2". These are actually the black and white versions of the comic books/TPBs. Certainly NOT complaining though because these comic books are so darned hard to find! So, I really beg your pardon for this but SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! THIS DAY IS THE BEST!!!

Sounds like a good haul!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Sounds like a good haul!

YOU BETCHA!! Rory is still grinning like a loony! Hee hee hee!!!

Way to go Rory!!! Party time at Rory's

Originally posted by clouddancer Way to go Rory!!! Party time at Rory's

Actually, not yet, because it was morning earlier. But...the kids are dropping over tonight to get their cut, so yes, it's definitely party time later this evening!!

Oh how exciting!! Congrats, Rory!

It exciting when you open a parcel you've been hanging out for! Way to go Rory!

Sounds like that day will go down in history for you Rory... Congrats on the package.

I managed to find a Berg Katse action figure while I was out in the woods. It's BOTP, and has Zoltar on the package, but it's Katse nonetheless. I about died when I found it, so I had to have it....

Originally posted by Springie Oh how exciting!! Congrats, Rory!

Oh, Springie! You should have seen Enzo and Paouie congratulating me too...BEFORE they grabbed some T-shirts and posters. With kin like these, who need enemies? Grrrr....

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne It exciting when you open a parcel you've been hanging out for! Way to go Rory!

It was totally unexpected I can tell you that. Animax is notorious for being tightwads. The fact that they actually bought those Battle of the Planets comic books was a HUGE SURPRISE. I was wondering why they were asking what my fave anime was. They sounded disappointed when I told them I loved Gatchaman the BEST because Gatch is airing on Hero, which is their rival in my country. But now I know why they asked. And I'm really happy they did!

Originally posted by gatchgirl Sounds like that day will go down in history for you Rory... Congrats on the package.

Actually, I marked the day down in my calendar. I've never had anyone give me a surprise package before. This was the BEST! Happy, happy!!!

Originally posted by Toneman I managed to find a Berg Katse action figure while I was out in the woods. It's BOTP, and has Zoltar on the package, but it's Katse nonetheless. I about died when I found it, so I had to have it....

Oh, Toneman! Didn't you at least feel a little bit sorry for the kid who lost his Berg Katse action figure? Like you, I know I wouldn't.

How exciting, Rory! Not only a big box of anime, but the best anime left for last! Congrats on the awesome find! And Tone... Are you serious?? A Berg Katse/Zoltar just laying in the middle of the woods in the middle of nowhere??? You may want to be careful - sounds like another evil Galactor/Spectran plot to me! Or maybe there's a secret base somewhere nearby!

I didn't really find it in the woods. It's mint condition, still in the package. I bought it in Oklahoma City at this place called Vintage Stock. I'll try to get a pic of it for all of you. I think it's cursed however. I about died when I found it. Damieon saw it, and almost wet himself.... There's no telling what may happen to youse guys if I let you see it.... Maybe I should show it to Gunman since he's been pestering me so much....lol

Originally posted by Hinotori How exciting, Rory! Not only a big box of anime, but the best anime left for last! Congrats on the awesome find!

No, not anime. Anime related stuff. If they did send me anime dvds, I would've been in seventh heaven.

Originally posted by Toneman I think it's cursed however.

It's Berg Katse after all. Why am I not surprised? He he he!

Originally posted by Toneman I didn't really find it in the woods. l

I meant that tongue-in-cheek. I guess sarcasm doesn't always translate well over the internet! Either way, that's a sweet find. Pics would be awesome. And I don't think curses transfer through pics - only when you're in direct contact. Tell ya what... Try it out and let us know how it goes!

Is it this one? Or the one with the spare heads?

TJ you show off.... You would try and take the wind out of my sails... I guess I'll have to blow it up now, along with my G.I. Joes... (I almost typed G.I. Jews.... Now that's a cartoon just waiting to happen....)

Toneman are sure your not just a little bit Galactor??? TJ has her Swan outfit... TJ are you dying it black???

Toneman, that cartoon would be something that South Park, or Family Guy might cover. Rory... any chance of seeing a pic of your newest Gatchman item???

Originally posted by gatchgirl Rory... any chance of seeing a pic of your newest Gatchman item???

Sorry, Gatchgirl, but I don't own a scanner for me to be able to scan the digests, not to mention no film to take pictures of it. Very low tech person. Plus, I must admit to being pretty overprotective of my manga. I'm a manga collector so flattening books and inadvertently causing lines to appear in the spines is a big no no. What I did instead was to do a search for the covers and a page inside Vol. 2 from the Battle of the Planets Manga section. As I explained it, the two Battle of the Planets Digests are black and white (line art) versions of the colored comic books that Top Cow/Image released. Because it's in digest, it's actually slightly larger than a pocket book, but much smaller than the colored TPB version. Battle of the Planets Vol. 1: Trial by Fire Digest has Issue #1 to 8 and the Mark Special. Battle of the Planets Vol. 2: Destroy All Monsters has Issue #9-12, Jason Special, the 3-part Battle of the Planets Manga, and the Witchblade Special. What the two digests don't have but are in the extremely hard-to-find colored TPBs are the Princess comics. (No big loss to me though.) It's the Battle of the Planets Manga that really makes this worth getting because Edwin David (NOT Davis! And since he is a fellow Filipino, like Wilson Tortosa, you don't pronounce his family name like the American "Day-vid" but "Da-vid") is an excellent penciller. Jason looked a bit like Wolverine in the part where he was battling cyborgs as the hero of an amusement park attraction.

Don't blow it up! Play with poor Katse! He needs some fun. All my kids do with theirs is rip his head off, and it's NOT the one with the interchangeable heads. Scary...

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Toneman are sure your not just a little bit Galactor??? TJ has her Swan outfit... TJ are you dying it black???

Um, no. It's white and pink. I think. It's not arriving until tomorrow. As you can imagine, I'm camping out on the front doorstep waiting for the FedEx guy....

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Don't blow it up! Play with poor Katse! He needs some fun. All my kids do with theirs is rip his head off, and it's NOT the one with the interchangeable heads. Scary...

Sounds like your kids are being true Eagles and Condors, going after Katse.

Originally posted by clouddancer Sounds like your kids are being true Eagles and Condors, going after Katse.

Certainly true Condors...

How true, LB! But don't forget what Katse did to poor Joe when he tried that! (Don't you love the animation goof in this one?)

you know I really didn't like they way they drew Princess in the comic books.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Toneman are sure your not just a little bit Galactor??? TJ has her Swan outfit... TJ are you dying it black???

Um, no. It's white and pink. I think. It's not arriving until tomorrow. As you can imagine, I'm camping out on the front doorstep waiting for the FedEx guy....

Pink looks cuter on a blond Swannie anyway...

Katse's unmasking part II... Or should it be Gatchaman's one??? Hint: The Goonies never had a good aim....

Originally posted by Transmute Jun How true, LB! But don't forget what Katse did to poor Joe when he tried that! (Don't you love the animation goof in this one?)

TJ...I don't see the animation goof?

Amy, that's great! I love that muscular Eagle!!!! Springie, look under Katse's right eye...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Springie, look under Katse's right eye...

I'll admit I couldn't see the error either, until you pointed it out -so much for my powers of observation! TJ, I hope your children's toy Katse doesn't come equipped with a scalpel. Amy, do you have a story in mind for your picture of Ken and Katse? I'd love to know what set of circumstances would have Ken unmasking Katse while naked?

Originally posted by lborgia88 Amy, do you have a story in mind for your picture of Ken and Katse? I'd love to know what set of circumstances would have Ken unmasking Katse while naked?

Woohoo! Naked birdies always make me happy, Amy! BTW...here's Rory getting her unexpected gift...

Yes, those are very nice abs he's got there.

Originally posted by lborgia88 Yes, those are very nice abs he's got there.

And Katse's mask is always in the wrong place to be!!! !

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne you know I really didn't like they way they drew Princess in the comic books.

In the manga (ie the Princess comics) or the original comic books? It was two different artists.

Thanks for the pics of the manga Rory. I think I may have most if not all of them. Congrats again on you receiving them. Amy, very interesting pic, any half of mostly naked Eagle/Condor is always good.

Originally posted by gatchgirl Thanks for the pics of the manga Rory. I think I may have most if not all of them. Congrats again on you receiving them.

Thanks! Actually, what I would probably consider my MOST PRIZED possession is this "Battle of the Planets Pinup Book". Just picked it up at a bargain sale at a measly cost. The store that was selling it probably didn't know exactly what it was selling, because not only was it mint condition, it even had a Certificate of Authenticity stating that it's one of only 2500 copies of the comic book that were printed. My friend was green with envy. He he he.

That would be a great find Rory. I remember as a teen, I came across the 12 piece puzzle, and magic pad from the series. I was thrilled to have found such a buy.