I have been a longtime admirer of the work done, and the product produced, by the Can of Beams team. However, it was the lightsaber trails that finally got me onboard as an active customer (it should not have taken me so long), and as the old cliché goes, the seal has been officially broken. In doing so, a whole lot of action figure blood-letting is about to go down.

You know, the best ideas are those that are simple, yet very effective. That carries over to product, and while creative is definitely a defining trait I would apply to the work done by Can of Beams, I think what really sets them apart is the simple yet highly effective pieces they create. Let’s face it, lightsaber streaks and blood spatters are not exactly high-concept, you see them all the time in movies, etc., but the action figure accessories they have become thanks to CoB are some of the best I have ever owned. They are awesome, but also highly effective, but straightforward and easy to use. Since I do a lot of figure photography for this site, the saber pieces have become standards for inclusion in any Star Wars pictures, so too will these new pieces.

BLOOD EFFECTS

I will admit, as much as I love the things that I love, a lot of things, from movies to comics and any other pop culture outlets, are violent. And when I pose my little plastic people, I need a certain level of verisimilitude for the action, brother, these blood spatters certainly deliver. I have a bad ass Wolverine figure who has been BEGGING for something like this. I have Mortal Kombat guys who greatly appreciate these effects for their chronic disemboweling activities. Our company made a whole band of sword-wielding ninjas, samurai, and martial artists, so these effects are required for those, too. Yeah, there is a lot use for these.

Now, I said that these are simple concepts that are well executed, but the care and craftsmanship is something to really admire. It takes a lot of artistry and work to make something seem so straightforward and effective, we these certainly have that going on. The spatters come in a variety of unique patterns for all six pieces. These can be used on their own or in combination to create even more effect possibilities. The neat thing is that these are built off of metal wire frames, and each piece contains a magnet. So, not only can you have these adhere to metal, but they can also stick to each other for more complex set ups. That is some great forethought, but they can also be easily applied to any surface, such as action figure chests, extremities, and faces with the included blu-tak. Handy-dandy. Easy-peasy.

These are of the highest quality, and I am already seeing a lot use out of them from the prolific Instagram accounts out there, so they are really an all-around success. They are currently sold out, but the next pre-order session is up now, and even MORE blood effects are available. DO NOT miss them.

SONIC SHOCKWAVE EFFECT

Good timing is often the main component for a successful product launch, and when Black Bolt was released in the Black Panther Infinite Series Marvel Legends assortment, CoB was all over it. Sure, there are TONS of figure that can take advantage of this effect, but I bought this for the main/sole purpose of displaying BB’s incredible powers, so they got me for sure. It is funny, Hasbro went all out in giving Black Bolt an alternate head to show his power expressing within him, but nothing in terms of projection, so this a very opportune piece that completes a very nice overall effect. This is a more basic piece than the bloody stuff, but it is every bit effective and well-produced.

The translucent material, sharp lines, and airbrushing sell this well, but those attributes also make this piece more adaptable. Sure, I bought it for Blackagar, but aside from a sonic blast (not the drink), this could be a comic panel illustration for a telepathic projection, a blunt force strike, or several other action-oriented effects. The piece is strong, but light, so it can easily be placed in a variety of situations via the blu-tak, so go one get creative with yo self.

I am a certified sucker for Can of Beams products, but man, they are just too good. I recommend keeping tabs on the site and Facebook page to be in the know for what is coming up next. These pieces really do add a lot of dynamic display opportunities, so I highly recommend them.