So this week's featured mutant custom is someone who would enjoy the bleak winter weather of January - the Bobby Drake Iceman. This custom shows off what Iceman wears under that layer of ice, because if he didn't wear something, it would lead to some pretty severe shrinkage.

This week's featured mutant custom is Colossus in his 1980's costume. I've never read the comics where Colossus wore this costume. I don't know who designed it or why Colossus stopped wearing it. All I know is that I think it's a good look for Colossus, and wouldn't mind if it made a comeback.

This week's featured mutant custom is Mystique, sporting her secret agent look from her short-lived series. Please enjoy this gun-toting blue shape-shifting mutant.

The final mutant custom for Mutantapalooza is the Black Queen Jean Grey, wearing her finest "evil dominatrix" outfit. Please enjoy.

To start Macho March, I give you the best known gun-toting vigilante in the Marvel Universe, the Punisher, based on his first comic appearance. And to give him someone to beat up on, I also give you his arch-enemy and punching bag, Jigsaw. Please go and enjoy the beginning of Macho March.

This week's Macho March character is the most stabbing character in the Marvel Universe, Wolverine, based on his appearance from the popular 90's comic event, The Age of Apocalypse. Feel free to check out "stumpy" Wolverine now.

And so this week's Macho March character is the original Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, complete with flaming skull. We also salute one of his arch-enemies, the Orb, who despite his cool eyeball helmet, does not qualify as macho.

And so the final Macho March custom is Cable, in his 1990's glory with big guns, big shoulder pads and lots of little pouches and straps. Go and enjoy his cybernetic-mutanty-macho goodness.

First up, a Marvel villain custom who I made last year but never got around to posting until now - Nitro, the exploding villain. Right now is a great time to post this custom, because an official Nitro Minimate goes on sale this weekend in the new Civil War Minimate box set.

The second custom is Street hustler little b. He's something I put together for a contest last year and really liked the results. Must be the leopard print on his jacket. Check them out, won't you?

The first is a long-time Marvel character who was set to make a big comeback in the mini-series "Civil War". It's the Bill Foster Goliath!

The second custom is a Marvel villain who has has since become a hero and make good on his villainous past. It's the Eric Josten Goliath!

Go check out these towering customs, won't you? And come back next week when we kick off Sharp-Dressed Man Month, which will have nothing to do with ZZ Top. Honest.

The first custom in Sharp-Dressed Minimate Month is a Marvel villain who's often trying to become head of organized crime - the Rose! Go forth and seek him out.

The mob-related villain - Tombstone, the albino hitman! The other villain - longtime Daredevil foe, the Purple Man! Go check out these two well-dressed villains now.

First up is Superman's alter ego, mild-mannered reporter from Kansas, Clark Kent. And for complete contrast, the second custom is Superman's arch enemy, Lex Luthor as inspired by the "Justice League Unlimited" cartoon!

Long-time fans of the site may have noticed that it's been a while since I posted a DC custom. Well, with the DC Minimates line now ended (and I still haven't forgiven you, DC Direct), I'm going to be creating a lot more DC customs. For example, the month of July will be Starman Month, where I'll be celebrating the DC comic "Starman". Be here, won't you?

So join us each week this month as I post new customs of my favorite characters from Starman, and occasionally babble about what I enjoy about Starman. And probably encourage you to give Starman a chance if you haven't read it already.

The first custom for Starman Month has to be the Golden Age Starman. He was the first to use the name "Starman", and would create a heroic legacy that would span generations. So go check him out.

It's About Jack - "Starman" is the story of Jack Knight, the son of a super hero who reluctantly takes over his father's role as Starman. It's a character-driven story, as we watch Jack develop not as a hero, but as a person.

The Supporting Cast - There's a large supporting cast in "Starman", including Jack's father Ted, the O'Dare family and the dark and mysterious Shade. And each member of the cast gets a chance to grow and shine during Jack's story. Even Jack's city - Opal City - is explored and practically becomes a character.

History - "Starman" is a comic that celebrates the history of its characters. We get stories about Ted as the Golden Age Starman. We get stories about the Shade and early Opal City. Every character that used the name Starman eventually shows up and meets Jack. The exploration of history helps reinforce the sense of legacy that's a big part of "Starman".

It's Complete - We get Jack's entire story over 80 issues and assorted specials. There's a definite beginning, middle and end. It's a refreshing change from comics with stories and events that drag on and on for sales when the story was over long ago.

"Starman" is not a story for everyone. It doesn't have brutal action or angsty characters. It does have rambling dialogue about Sondheim musicals or 1950's collectibles, conversation with dead brothers and man-eating mystic posters. But if you think any of this sounds interesting, it's well worth checking out.

Oh yeah - this week's custom. It's the Jack Knight Starman, the "star" of the "Starman" series. Look, I made a little joke there.

First up is the newest Starman - the Danny Blane Starman, current member of the Justice Society of America, and possessor of one of the coolest costumes in comics.

The second custom is an obscure character (but not if you've read "Starman") - the Starman of 1951. Check them out now. Or later if you want, but that seems kinda silly since you're here now.

The Ted Knight Starman custom is from when Ted has retired from being a hero, and was happy to let his son Jack carry on as Starman. But that doesn't mean Ted doesn't play hero again...

And finally, the villain for Starman - The Mist, who threatened three generations of Knights with his evil, cloudy ways. So go check them out, and read "Starman", dammit.

"Where the hell have the updates for the customs been? You have me interested in looking up Starman."

Thanks for writing in, concerned fan! The updates have been on hold for a little while first because of my trip to San Diego, and then because of the custom project I've been working on for CustomCon 21 (coming up in October! Stay tuned!). But with that all out of the way, I can finally get back to posting customs for fans (concerned or not) to enjoy.

Speaking of San Diego, a bunch of nifty exclusives were first released there, including a box set of Marvel's World War II super team, the Invaders. And it's a really neat box set, with a stunning translucent Human Torch. But what if you want a Human Torch Minimate that's not on fire? After all, the Torch wasn't on fire all the time - how would he eat or sleep or sit down without setting the couch on fire? That's why I present a new custom - the Jim Hammond Human Torch, wearing his casual bright red fireproof jumpsuit.

Please enjoy. And go look up "Starman".

Today's customs celebrate the family in Spider-Man's life - his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. And as a special bonus, I present a custom devoted to the time when Aunt May was the cosmic-powered herald of Galactus known as Golden Oldie. Check them out, won't you?

And as part of that updating, I'm also posting some new customs! Today I'm adding two members of the mighty Avengers. The first is a former Soviet spy who turned good and then turned Avenger - the Black Widow. The second is the oh-so-charming alien from Saturn's moon, Titan - Starfox.

And finally, the annual the annual online festival of custom action figures called CustomCon started today. The event is always a must-see if you enjoy what customizers can do to action figures.

I bring up CustomCon because my entry went live this morning. It's a theme entry dealing with one of my favorite Jack Kirby creations - the Cadmus Project.

So why are you still reading this? Go check out the new stuff.

What does this have to do with custom Minimates? Well, to finish our run of spooky supernatural customs for Halloween, I present one of Jack Kirby's neatest creations - the Demon, who's an actual demon from Hell that fights for good. Sometimes. Go check him out, and have a Happy Halloween!

And be sure to be here next month for a month-long look at characters who either have "Captain" or "Marvel" in their name. Sometimes they use both.

This week, however, we won't be looking at Captain Abe. Instead we will be looking at Marvel's first Captain Marvel, the Kree soldier who defended the Earth, became Protector of the Universe and hung out with professional sidekick Rick Jones for many years. Go check him out!

This week, however, we won't be looking at "the Marvel". This week we'll follow up on last week's entry, Captain Marvel, by showcasing his son, the Genis-Vell Captain Marvel. Genis was born after his father had died, thanks to advanced cloning techniques, and tried very hard to properly use the powers and name he had inherited. And he's sorry for the time he destroyed the universe. So go check him out.

This week, however, we won't be looking at Mabel (Sorry, Mabel). We will take a look at the woman inspired by Captain Marvel - Ms. Marvel, in her classic 70's costume. Technically, this isn't her first costume - that one had the belly panel cut out, showing off her abs and belly button. And while that worked in a comic book, it doesn't look that good on the block torso of a Minimate.

This week, however, we won't be looking at Mr. Finke. We'll wrap up with another look at the Genis-Vell Captain Marvel, this time visiting the crazy Genis-Vell. Crazy Genis came from an attempt to increase sales on his comic - in a new storyline they made him crazy, and gave him a spiffy new uniform designed by Alex Ross. While the story was interesting and sales did spike, interest dropped away and Genis was eventually cancelled. But his spiffy uniform will live on always.

And so, from the Cadmus Project, I present Dubblex, the Four-Armed Terror, the Guardian, Mokkari, Jimmy Olsen, giant evil clone Jimmy Olsen and Simyan. Check out the whole Kirby-inspired group.