‘Roll D120 to Save Against…’ Wait — What?

Meet the D120! That’s right, it’s a 120-sided die, and it could be the answer to all your tabletop RPG needs. It certainly is the largest die I’ve ever seen and, according to the inventor, it’s the largest anyone ever will see!

Made by The Dice Lab, each of the 120 faces is an elongated triangle, and features the most faces possible “on a mathematically fair die.” I don’t get math — I agree with Barbie: “Math is hard!” — so I figure there must be something about die with more sides that causes them to roll unfairly or something.

If there’s any doubt about what was rolled, simply spin the die in place; the uppermost number is the one that doesn’t move.

This video explains it all (including the complicated math):

The opposite faces add up to 121, and the numbering has been calculated for “perfect numerical balance” all around the die — meaning the numbers are spread evenly, so big numbers aren’t clumped together.

It can also fill in for any other size die/dice by doing some kind of calculation. Or possibly by magic.

You can get D120 (as well as other iterations of gaming dice) from The Dice Lab’s merch page for $12 each or five for $50.

Another Set of DC Tarot Cards On Deck

DC Collectibles is releasing The DC Comics Justice League Tarot Cards tomorrow.

Designed by Sara Richard, this re-imagining of the cards feature heroes and villains from across the DC Universe in all-new artwork with almost completely new symbology.

The new artwork likely means the so-called Little White Book will have directions for interpreting the non-traditional images.

I have to confess that the art style is not to my liking… I would have difficulty reading with this deck because the symbology is pretty far off from the standard Rider-Waite decks.

DC previously dabbled in the world of tarot with two sold-out editions of The Vertigo Tarot, featuring stunningly beautiful artwork by Dave McKean that made both decks highly sought-after in collectors circles among comics fans and tarot enthusiasts alike.

The DC Comics Justice League Tarot Cards carry a list price of $24.95.

Wishful Drinking: Marvel-Themed Absolut Bottles

This “Absolut x Marvel” line isn’t real, but maybe — if enough folks post about it and the right marketing people get wind of it — the campaign could become a reality.

The good folks over at CBR first spotted these bottles, by Indonesian designer Krizia Soetaniman, who came up with the idea to combine the Absolut bottle with minimalist portraits of Marvel characters Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk and — yes, really — Iron Man, along with baddies Venom and Magneto.

While this is liquor line is certainly not for children (or, seriously, alcoholic Tony Stark!), surely there are enough Marvel fans of legal drinking age around the world to justify putting this into production!

Moffat Makes the Doctor’s Sonic Sunglasses Sound Cool!

When the Doctor… er, “loaned” his sonic screwdriver to Davros in “The Magician’s Apprentice,” he relieved himself of his trademark instrument — and that had to be replaced. Enter: the sonic sunglasses, a hopped-up, high-tech version of Ray-Ban Wayfarers.

Fan reaction was predictable: This was the end of the world! Showrunner Steven Moffat — frequent target of fan venom for shaking up the status quo — sent more people running for the hills than the Untempered Schism ever did.

Moffat told the crowd at MCM London Comic-Con:

“As of now, every kid with glasses is Doctor Who! Kids whose parents don’t want to shell out for a sonic screwdriver toy — just put on a pair of sunglasses, you’re Doctor Who! And best of all, every pin-brained celebrity walking into a party with shades on is now cosplaying Doctor Who! If it pricks the pomposity of ubercelebs and turns an eye defect into a super power and confers star-magic on an old pair of sunglasses — what could be more Doctor Who than that?”

Cuddle Up With a Comfy Kraken!

Do not release the Kraken!

That’s probably what you would say if you were wrapped up in these awesomely Lovecraftian kraken-theme bedding sets! I know I would…

Available from the Etsy shop Ink and Rags — which insists on calling it “octopus bedding” — these hand-made (hopefully not from octo-flesh) pillow case and duvet sets come in featherweight and fleece versions in sizes from twin to king and are listed for $119.

Thanks to Nerd Approved for the heads-up.

New ‘Force Awakens’ Posters Are… In Color

Today is “Force Friday,” when the Disney juggernaut unleashes all the merchandizing for Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. And, indeed, there are enough mountains of toys, textiles and knickknacks to make Spaceballs‘ Yogurt swoon.

I’m not really interested in most of the stuff; if you are, here’s a pretty good roundup of the best stuff available. I’ll just take a look at the three new posters, which I find… well, less than inspiring, to be honest. They don’t fire my imagination.

The best one is the collage, which showcases most of the important characters — well, the new ones, at least. No sign of Luke, Leia or Han, sadly… The First Order troopers has a certain appeal as just a mass of bodies suggesting a powerful force (no pun intended). And while the Kylo Ren solo is supposed to make him look like a fightin’ badass, to me, he looks like an old man bending awkwardly to pick up a coin. (“It’s heads, so it’s cool.”)

So, like I noted above, the posters are… well, they’re in color, that’s for sure…

New ‘Star Wars’ Film to Feature Red Arm-y C-3PO?

Looks like we have visual proof that December’s Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens will consider the franchise’s trademark severed-limb meme, and this time the victim is prissy protocol droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels).

How do we know? An interesting soda can was discovered in Mexico and reported to the Making Star Wars website, which posted a photo. On the can, Threepio is depicted with a red left arm, suggesting the limb has been replaced at some point. C-3PO is seen with partner-in-crime R2-D2 and soccer-ballish droid BB-8, however each droid appears to have been pasted into a collage separately rather than the image representing a scene still (notice the sandy background behind BB-8).

It is entirely possible that this is an unofficial bootleg product — which would explain why the can was apparently found in a store south of the border. Officially licensed soda cans from a soft-drink giant are unlikely to leak six months early, but stranger things have happened. If this is a knock-off, it’s possible that the red arm is a Photoshop mistake or a printing error.

But it is also entirely possible that Threepio has been refurbished again. Remember, he has had a silver-plated lower right leg since the original movie, and he blown to pieces by stormtroopers in Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back, so it would be no biggie for him.

Episode VII opens Dec. 18, but you can watch the thrilling teaser trailer and the theatrical trailer now.

12th Doctor Comic Book Debuts at NYCC!

Titan Comics is debuting its latest title, Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor, at this weekend’s New York Comic Con, but the rest of the world will have to take the slow path and wait for the Oct. 15 release date.

As a tease, Titan released a two-page preview of the comic:

The art looks pretty good to me. It’s so difficult to capture likenesses from so many different angles.

I Am (Dancing Baby) Groot!

If you haven’t seen Guardians of the Galaxy yet — and if you haven’t, why are you reading this blog? — get up and go to a theater now. Then come back here and click on this clip featuring the most adorable part of the movie. (You know which part…)

Disney/Marvel better get a move on — they’re leaving piles of money on the table by not having a Dancing Baby Groot on store shelves NOW! Thanos help them if there isn’t one ready to ship for the holiday season…

Hallmark Also Sold Batman Valentines

Hallmark issued Batman-themed Valentine’s Day cards in 1966 — strangely, the same year Doubl Glo released a similar set. Could you imagine two companies getting the license to manufacture the same item for the same market today?

I think these Hallmark cards are kinda lame, so perhaps National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) was unsatisfied and went to Doubl Glo? Or maybe it was simply a case of no one paying much attention to merchandising and licensing back in those days? After all, it wasn’t until Star Wars came along in 1977 that licensed merchandise became a cash cow. In 1966, NPP was probably just happy to get a check in the mail!

These great images were also compiled by Chicago cartoonist Mark Anderson, who put them on his website.