ZBox July 2015 Review

ZBox: July 2015 Review, 'Supernatural'

Link: http://www.zavvi.com/offers/zbox.list

I signed up to a box I have never bought before for July - ZBox from Zavvi. I was mainly tempted because of the theme, which is 'Supernatural'. I was warned well in advance that the box would not arrive until August, but it is a long time to wait for a British July box!

The ZBox costs £20 per month, including p&p.

The box was inside a bag, which was nice and subtle. There wasn't a scratch or dent on the box, but some of the contents were loose enough to rattle and I was a little worried!

Thankfully, everything was in perfect condition. I took all the items out so you could see the box design on the inside:

The commitment to the theme was really great in this box - I was impressed.

'Lost Boys' T-Shirt

I've never actually seen Lost Boys, but my parents inform me that it is a really scary vampire film. I love the design on this t-shirt, so it had probably inspired me to see the film! It's great quality and a fun design, as well as being dark grey rather than black, so I'll probably get a lot of use out of this.

'Ghostbusters' Titans Vinyl Figure

I believe that this item is a ZBox Exclusive - everyone received the same special figure rather than the different ones listed on the side of the box. I don't collect Titans figures, but I do have a couple of them and I like them. A collectible is always a nice treat in a sub box. 

The figure looks like this:

I like this coloured Stay Puft variant - he has a home on my shelf already.

'Rivers of London' Comic

I think that this is a relatively new comic and I believe the cover is a ZBox Exclusive. I really like this - I love getting different comics in these boxes because it's an easy way of discovering new comics that I haven't heard of. I'm going to enjoy having a read of this. My only criticism is that the comic was not bagged or boarded, so there was a slightly higher risk of damage during transit.

'Pacman' Magnets

I love these! I have a magnetic board on my wall and these went perfectly on display there. They're really fun and, with Pacman being such a classic game, they're recognisable and enjoyable for just about everyone.

Build Your Own Zombie

This is one for the more creative types. This item invites you to build a zombie figure out of mouldable dough. I'm not sure how bothered I am about trying it out if I'm honest, but I think the idea is really fun and different - I can't say I've seen anything like this in another box.

'Ghost Rider' Keyring

This is a nice filler item - it's a popular brand (official Marvel product as well!) and it fits the theme really well.

'Ghostbusters' Postcard

This is a cute filler item - I think I'll put it on my wall.

Black Jack Sweet

Fantastic addition - I absolutely loved these things as a kid! I used to eat them until they turned my tongue grey.

ZBox Magazine

The magazine includes information about the items in the box, as well as featured unboxings and articles that relate to the theme. This is a really good feature of the box and it makes it feel like a lot of thought has gone into the whole process.

Overall:

I was really impressed by the ZBox for July. I felt like I got really good value for my money and good quality items that I can actually use. The theme was great and they did a fantastic job of keeping the items close to it. I don't know if it's one I'll get every month, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for more themes that appeal to me.

August's theme is 'Renegade' and it looks like it will feature Harley Quinn.

Geek Fuel July 2015 Review

Geek Fuel: July 2015 Review

Link: www.geekfuel.com

This month I decided to review a new box for you all - Geek Fuel. They are an American company that ships to the UK. The first thing to note with this box is that it takes almost 2 weeks to get to us Brits, so this is not one for the impatient! A monthly subscription will cost you approx £19-20 (including shipping fees), so it isn't overly expensive for an overseas box. However, the value of the items also appears to be a little lower than in other boxes.

The box arrived in great condition, despite the long journey. It is not a subtle box though, being bright red and emblazoned with 'GeekFuel' in large print.

Note: I had a promo code that meant I included a 'bonus' item. I'm including it in the review, but keep in mind that this item was not present in the regular sub box.

'Retro' Video Game Magazine

*THIS IS A BONUS ITEM*

I haven't heard of Retro magazine so I don't yet know how excited I should be by this item. It looks like an interesting read and seems to be a variant/exclusive cover for the Geek Fuel box. I'm looking forward to seeing what this is like.

'Le Tour de Geek' Exclusive T-Shirt

This t-shirt is okay, but if I'm honest I don't really love it. It's black for one thing, and I only ever wear black t-shirts if I really like the design. The design is okay - it includes Link, Batman, Harley Quinn and some Mario shells competing in a bike race. It's a creative concept, but I think my complete lack of interest in cycling and/or anything related isn't helping to win me over here. I may keep it as a pyjama top but I don't know how much use I'll really get out of it.

A small number of subscribers received a special yellow version of this t-shirt, which I believe was part of some sort of contest. I think if you get a yellow shirt you receive a gift or something? It's unclear though.

Marvel #1 Issue Civil War Comic (Geek Fuel Exclusive)

Arguably, this is the most interesting/exciting item in the box - which means this month was most likely disappointing for anybody not interested in comics. Thankfully I am and I really like this. It was really carefully packed and came complete with a certificate of authenticity:

Apparently a small number of subscribers received a signed copy of the comic, but I was not one of the lucky ones.

Ant-Man Mini-Pint Shot Glass

This is adorable and I was very impressed that it got to me in one piece! Thumbs up for this item.

Burnstar Downloadable Game Code & Star Candy

Each month Geek Fuel send out a free game code like this, which makes the box very popular among gamers. Unfortunately, this sort of game has very little appeal to me and I can't decide whether or not to bother with it. I think it's great that they add these though - it makes Geek Fuel stand out among all of the other subscriptions and, for some, really increases the value of the box.

Firefly (?) Badge

I'm actually taking a guess here - the info card isn't explicit about whether or not this is from Firefly, but I think it is. I tried to watch Firefly and had to switch it off after 20 mins. It turns out space-westerns are not my genre. Even if I liked the show, everyone knows how I feel about badges in these boxes. They don't impress me and they go straight on my badge pile.

Aliens vs Vampirella Poster

I normally like getting posters in these kinds of boxes, but this misses the mark for me. As much as I'm a fan of Alien I do not know or like this Vampirella character (honestly she looks beyond tacky - I don't know how anyone other than a teenage boy would want her on their wall). I don't think this is an item I'll be holding onto.

Geek Fuel Magazine

This was an interesting magazine to flick through - I like that they do their own magazine with each box.

(Note: there was also an info card - yay - but I forgot to get pics)

Overall:

There was quite a lot packed into this box and it was definitely worth more than I paid, which isn't always guaranteed for international subscribers to boxes like this. They set themselves apart as a company with the downloadable game codes and the Geek Fuel magazine. I think a lot of gamers and comic readers/collectors would enjoy this sub.

Having said that, I disliked the vast majority of what was in this box. I only really like the comic book and the shot glass. Everything else was either 'meh' or I just straight up didn't like it. None of that was Geek Fuel's fault - I think my tastes are just very different to those that they cater for.

I'm glad I tried the box - if you liked the items in this box, and are prepared to wait a while for your sub, then I would recommend them as a company. I won't be getting any more boxes because I don't think that they're for me, but it's always fun to see what other subscriptions are out there and give them a try.

Infinity Crate July 2015 Review

Infinity Crate: July 2015 Review, 'Time & Space'

Link: www.infinitycrates.co.uk

It's Infinity Crate time! The box arrived a little later than usual this month, but I think that was down to the way the weekends fell. As always, the box was sent via the Royal Mail 48hr service and reached me in perfect condition.

Once again, Infinity Crates really nailed it with the big items this month! I don't always think much to the filler items but the ability to specify your interests with infinity crates seems to make for fantastic Pop/t-shirt choices. First up:

Funko Pop! Vinyl 'Dalek'

I hadn't let myself be excited about the possibility of Doctor Who Pops in the 'Time & Space' theme because these Pops are really new. I am so unbelievably happy with this Dalek Pop! I've already pre-ordered the 'Dalek Sec' Pop, so they'll be a great pair to have in my collection. This Pop alone made me thrilled with my Infinity Crate this month - it's completely perfect for me. A close up:

Other Pops available this month appear to be 'Predator', 'Stormtrooper', 'Hoban Washburne' and 'Nebula' - a pretty decent selection all round.

Time Travel T-Shirt

I love the t-shirt design this month, I think it might be my favourite from a sub box yet! The design shows a mixture of iconic images from various time travel related shows and film, including Doctor Who, Hot Tub Time Machine and Back to the Future. I'm always pleased when I get a t-shirt that isn't black as well. Other t-shirts available this month were Transformers, Guardians of the Galaxy and an adorable Wall-E t-shirt!

Yoda Light Up Keyring

At first glance this is a cute little filler item - a sweet looking yoda figure to dangle from your keys. However, like so many battery operated novelty toys, this is a thing of pure evil.

This picture accurately captures the demonic glow of the eyes but it cannot convey the soulless, high pitched, maniacal laughter this keyring emits.

SO MANY NIGHTMARES.

Star Trek 'Starfleet' Badge/Bottle Opener/Keyring

I've never seen such a multi-purpose badge before - I can always appreciate a portable bottle opener. Even so, I'm not at all into Star Trek so this item really isn't for me. It is far more useful than a standard badge though, so Infinity Crates get points for that.

Millenium Falcon Sticker

Probably fun for fans of Star Wars but I really can't stand those films, so this is unfortunately a 'bin' item for me I think.

Space and Time Poster

Normally I hold onto the Infinity Crates posters - they've had some interesting things on in the past. I'm not really taken with this one though. It seems more like an advert for the box theme than anything that I might want to display. I probably won't be keeping this either.

Fizz Wiz Popping Candy

I'm a big fan of popping candy, this is a nice way to top the box off!

Info Card

Every box needs an info card! It annoys me so much when they don't include one. The one that Infinity Crates provide is especially useful because it shows you the alternative items that were sent out to subscribers with different interests to you.

Overall

Another fantastic month with Infinity Crates! The biggest downside to these boxes is the filler items - they don't tend to be overly useful and can just lead to annoying clutter if you don't like the theme that much. However, for £17 you're getting a Funko Pop! Vinyl and a T-Shirt that are geared specifically to your interests. It's a relatively small and simple box, but I really like that about it. There's definitely a personal touch to the items you receive. It won't be everybody's cup of tea, but if you want a fab figure and a new t-shirt to brighten your month (at relatively little cost) then I think this is the box for you.

Next month's theme is 'Unity'. Hints dropped so far have included Pokemon, Fantastic Four, Assassin's Creed and Halo. I'm not sold on it, but I'm feeling pretty loyal to Infinity Crates at the moment and I can't see myself unsubscribing just yet!

Nerd Block July 2015 Review

Nerd Bock: July 2015 Review 'Humanity's Last Hope'

Link: www.nerdblock.com

Nerd Block is here! I originally was not going to order this month's box because 'humanity's last hope' wasn't a theme that appealed to me straight off the bat. Even so, I'm glad that I kept my subscription going in the end.

Karate Kid Cobra Kai T-Shirt

Unfortunately the t-shirt did underwhelm me this month. I had to google what it was because I had no idea what it was from - I've never seen Karate Kid! The design is cool though, so if you like the film then I reckon this is a neat t-shirt to get. It is also black though, which is another mark against it in my book.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 'Spike' Titan Vinyl Figure

I love this! I was sooo excited for a Buffy item, so I had braced myself for it being a bit rubbish - but this is fantastic. I don't really collect the Titan Figures, but they are still a great little collectible. He also comes with a fab prop, from the ep where they have him chained up in Giles' bathtub:

Spike is one of my favourite Buffy characters, so I'm over the moon with this inclusion.

Mad Max Comic (Exclusive)

I don't really know much about Mad Max if I'm being honest, but I am really looking forward to reading this. I love a comic, even if I'm not familiar with the story or characters, and it can be a great way to get into something new. I also really like that it came bagged and boarded - nobody wants a mangled comic!

Iron Man Pocket Pop Keychain

Everyone knows I love a Funko product! This is my first Pocket Pop too, so I was really excited to see this. The only thing that bothers me is that it doesn't seem particularly sturdy - I'm worried he's going to get a bit bashed about on my keys. He is adorable though.

The only ideal for me would have been if it were a different character - I already have the full sized version of this and another Iron Man Pop.

Ghostbusters Wallet

I don't really use 'wallets' of this kind of design really, but I'm sure it could come in useful as a card holder for various excess bits that don't fit in my purse. It looks really cool when you open it up though:

It's a bit of a filler item really, but it has the potential to be pretty useful so I'm happy with it.

Transformers Danglers

I hadn't heard of these, but I do find the word 'danglers' hilarious. It seems to be a cross between a keychain and a phone charm, which makes it pretty versatile I guess. I think it's a 'mystery bag' type thing, so you could have got a variety of characters. This is the one I got:

Again, it seems like a filler item but it's cute and will probably go on my keys with Iron Man.

Finally, the info card (front and back):

Overall:

Despite not being excited for the theme and not really 'getting' the t-shirt - I loved this box! I think Nerd Block have been doing an excellent job recently and I sincerely hope that it continues. I'm really enjoying all of the things they send me, even the smaller 'filler' bits, and the value always seems to be there too. It remains as one of my favourite sub-boxes, even after 3 months!

I'll do a 'spoilers' post for August once they've revealed a little more information ;)

Popinabox July 2015 Review (Part 2)

Popinabox: July 2015 Review (Part 2)

Link: www.popinabox.co.uk

It turns out that Popinabox had some real issues with their system this month, meaning a lot of people ended up getting only part of their subscription. They now seem to have resolved the problem and it looks like they're on top of things again. I received the second part of my subscription today:

Harley Quinn with Mallet (Underground Toys Exclusive)

I love this Pop! I'm a huge fan of Harley Quinn and was looking forward to maybe getting one of the many Pop versions that are available. The Pop is in great condition and has the 'Exclusive' sticker, which I'm very happy about. I just need more DC Pops to add to the collection now :)

The first Pop I received this month (metallic, bloody Dean Winchester) was also an Underground Toys Exclusive, meaning I've been sent two relatively high value Pops this month. I don't know if I just got lucky, but I'm very pleased!