Fun-Sized Grab Bag

 One day is not much time, so let us rejoice in small things.

Here is this year's pumpkin. It is modelled after Skull Man from the Mega Man games, though I've never played any of them. I largely wanted to ape the album cover art from The Megas' album, Skulls:

That neon-gothic combination is really striking, and something I hope to emulate in miniature form one day. But my Halloween miniature took a different turn this year:

This week, I watched Aliens for the first time. I had seen Alien years and years ago, but never found the time to watch the sequel. Miraculously, I had managed to avoid major spoilers for all that time. Even though I accidentally watched the theater cut instead of the longer version, I still had an astounding time. Certain films hold an incredible visual power and Aliens ranks amongst the strongest contenders in that regards. The viewer can feel the world in every frame, it is borderline witchcraft. Fitting for the season I suppose. My only disappointment is that I had been putting it off until now. While watching the film I was working on the banshee figure, which was for the best as it only required attention every ten to twenty minutes after each layer was done drying. Any more effort and I would have thrown it away to focus wholesale on the film, which is one of the risks of watching and painting at the same time.

But what does any of this have to do with Conan?

Yesterday, I made this. In what is now technically a yearly tradition I have made yet another thematic but half-finished miniature for Halloween. This one was built off of Imperial Guard parts, mainly a Sentinel Crewman and a Catachan mortarman I had lying around from secondhand.  Instead of a longsword he rests next to a missile, and his throne is constructed of millitaria. When I can find the time to sculpt up the legs and give him a footrest, I think it will look better, although the biggest challenge is definitely finding appropriate arms for the figure. I am saving the head until last since I expect the pose and mood to change over time. It is largely inspired by Aliens, especially the constant appearance of techy equipment and weaponry. I expect the final figure to be dripping with guns and grenades; I am seriously considering stringing the latter like fairy lights above the throne.

Lastly, please watch Halloween is Grinch Night if you have never seen it. I would not rank it quite so high as a lot of the other family-styled specials like Charlie Brown or Nightmare Before, but it has a very distinct atmosphere and visual style. And The Paraphernalia Wagon, which I cannot expound upon.

Happy Halloween!