Filed under Uncategorized
A 'Pandora's Box' of good clean humor.
Okay so I haven’t written a new blog in forever and now that I’m finally getting to it what subject matter inspires me? The massive amount of 8-inch classic style action figures coming from Bif, Bang, Pow and EMCE toys? Nope. The Lando’s that I’ve been accumulating that I’m supposed to be blogging about? Nope, again. Or even the insanely super cool and already pre ordered 8 inch KISS classic style figures from Classic TV Toys? Surprisingly no. In fact the muse that has ignited my fingers is perhaps one of the most oddball additions to my collection… ever. So fellows and girls without further ado may I introduce to you my muse of the moment… Vintage Star Wars Yoda Soap!
Yoda Soap from 1981
Omni Cosmetics Corporation
Apparently they are out of business now and these mighty fine shops have taken over this prime real estate location. It’s been rumored that when the moon is just right when the clock strikes midnight you will catch a soft whiff of Yoda Soap in the back storage room.
For $20 bucks (with shipping) I even got a gold Vader from AVON! Yeah, it's not that big a deal but still fun. Leave me alone.
From an ebay auction that I threw a token bid on because of the vintage, all be it a beater Colonial Viper that was in the lot of star wars stuff. And yes that interested me only because of all of the talk coming from Bif Bang Pow and their new 8 inch Classic Style Battlestar Galactica figures (available for pre-order now by the way via Entertainment Earth).
When “lathering with Yoda” had no dirty connotations... pun not intended. Seriously.
It’s old and green just like Yoda, perfect product representation there. No actually it’s cool to me not so much for the soap but for the copy that is on the box. “Wise Yoda, the Jedi Master, dwells on the bog planet Dagobah. He’s taught all the Jedi Knights including Obi-Wan Kenobi. And because he’s had over 800 years of experience, he’s a maser at helping to keep you clean,,,”
Stop right there. That is just creepy and a little sad. Not for the obvious modern day, ‘everything is a dirty joke waiting to happen’ reasons. No it’s sad because we seem to have lost the innocence of copy / marketing such as that. It was written for kids. Kids who loved Star Wars and couldn’t get nearly enough of the, at the time two movie Empire and was most likely picked up by either a mom but most likely a dad who just wanted to surprise their kid with something Star Wars other than another of those silly plastic men. Touching moment complete, back to the copy from way back when…
“…Lather up with Yoda.” Dang – there they go again.
“…He’ll help you destroy ugly dirt and grime.” Again I must pause and dissect some of the components in that simple eight-word sentence. First off the word ‘destroy’. Man, that is pretty hardcore! And then there’s dirt and grime, which were the enemy of every small boy back in those early Reagan administration days. Those two words also serve as a pretty good snapshot of the times. Their usage evokes memories of the fact that kids actually played outside and not only did they get dirty they got so dirty in fact that grime formed. For today’s generation here’s what that means: grime [gra’m]- n dirt, soot, or filth, esp when thickly accumulated or ingrained vb(tr) to make dirty or coat with filth. Needless to say Yoda soap is pretty bad ass! Back to the copy…
“… And he’ll make you feel mighty good about yourself, too!” – Okay here’s where they lost me. Obviously the copywriter never saw Empire. They must have gotten a very basic character outline before they crafted this prose. Yoda make you feel good about yourself? Not in Empire sister. In the second (okay now fifth installment) of the Star Wars saga Yoda was anything but a booster. In fact he was a real drag for Luke’s self esteem. First he suckers him by way of not revealing his identity… then he busts his balls by saying that he is too old to begin the training (perhaps this was because the older padawans wouldn’t let the little green dude lather them up)… then he tells him he’s gonna be all scared and junk essentially calling our former farm boy a sissy. Luke may have been winey, but farm boys ain’t sissy’s. And that’s not even bringing up the whole “Do or do not, there is no try” hard-assery. Yeah that Yoda, he’s a booster.
Oh who am I kidding I appreciate the humor and attempt of a completely out of touch 40-something copyrighter who was still holding onto the promises of the Woodstock generation all the while working copywriting gigs like this one, selling his formally flower powered pen to feed his $200 a day cocaine habit. Or maybe he was just an old stiff who really had no clue and didn’t care considering he was probably only pulling down about $75 bucks a week and hoping that his ’72 Gremlin could hold up for at least one more year. Boy, the psych students in the audience are probably and very easily translating my own current emotional state in regards to employment or disdain thereof. I think I need a Yoda bubble bath.
Regardless of Lucas' changes Star Wars will always hold a place in my heart (and now my tub).
No real reason outside of this; Yoda Soap (and actually all of the oddball stuff in the lot it came with) serve as a reminder that the Lucasfilm marketing machine has been milking this franchise long before there was a 3-D, special edition version of Episode 1- The Phantom Menace to berate because it and he are selling out the franchise. I mean seriously, “Lather up with Yoda”? This line was approved by the guy who wouldn’t allow for Star Wars to be licensed to vitamin manufactures because of fears of promoting drug usage?!? If it was me and I created such a merchandising juggernaut you’d have seen “Official Star Wars lightsaber syringes for diabetics”. Still, I wouldn’t recommend anyone plunking down $12 to see Phantom Menace again when you can buy the BluRay collection and fast forward through the pod race and all extended Gungan dialog exchanges.
All silliness aside I want to say thanks to the ebay seller who hooked me up with this odd yet cool lot on the cheap, expertly packaged and promptly shipped. And to you dear reader the lesson I would like all of you to take away from this little rambling is this; drop ten bucks on an oddball lot that only makes a mild amount of sense. Upon closer examination you may find your muse packed carefully in between the items wrapped in the September 16th 2011 edition of the Post Standard.
Now Go Play! – Jim 02/12/2012
Filed under Uncategorized
Introduction: You wanted the best you got the… oh wait this isn’t a KISS thing… it’s better, it’s an Ace thing! Ace Frehley’s new memoir “No regrets” is the most recent addition to the box shelf here at the Toy Box and I gotta tell ya, it is perhaps one of the new top five titles in my non fiction library. And yes I have been a fanboy of the Spaceman for as long as I can remember. From being a five year old kid in 1978 who wanted nothing more from Santa than an Ace Frehley Mego to 1987 when I started getting serious about playing guitar to 2011 where I find myself ‘living the dream’ of doing what I always knew I would be doing from a very early age (mind you I’ve got some tweaking to do), Ace Frehley has been a constant influence on me. And with ‘No Regrets’ Ace is again helping inspire me to dream big and play hard. Now let’s get down to the business of learning more from the mind of a man who for four decades has perfectly personified a true guitar hero and rock star. And even better has done it with a few apologies but no regrets. Let’s rock…
Ace Frehley’s – No Regrets… By Ace Frehley (with Joe Layden and John Ostrosky)
From Simon and Schuster – Released nationwide in hardback November 1st, 2011.
Purchase your copy today at Amazon via a link from the Mego Museum. http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?p=832447#post832447b
I actually bought this book at retail (Target). Seriously. For those that know me in the real world, the fact that I broke my habit of being very patient (and cheap) when it comes to buying most things, especially books know that it takes something very special to talk dead presidents out of my pocket. Case and point, if there is a title that I really, really, really want to read I at least wait for the paperback. Otherwise it’s rolling through used bookstores or surfing around Amazon or ebay for a super cheap used copy (sure there are things called libraries but I have a problem with late fees, believe me when I say I’m better off just buying a used copy. It averages out). This title however wouldn’t allow my frugal nature override my desire to imbibe these 305 pages of Ace Frehley insight and reflection. I will admit that the 30% off that Target offered didn’t hurt but I honestly would have paid the full pop for this hardbound, dust jacket wrapped trip through the Spaceman’s archives.
The greatest ‘good’ that I come away with from this book is that it really feels like a conversation between the reader and Ace. And I’m sure that comes from the style in which Ace dictated to the co-authors and if so bravo anyway. It really works on that level. This particular style makes it an easy page-turner for me. Plus with the ‘conversation’ flowing I wouldn’t want to walk away and be rude.
Another thing that is a top five ‘good’ thing when it comes to the book is that for once and for all Ace has put his side of the KISS story on the record forever locked on the printed page. That in my most humble opinion is a textbook example of balls. The reason I feel that way in regards to this book, is that no one on the planet would know better than Ace the possibility of libel lawsuits from the Simmons / KISS camps if there were misleading information. I’ll cover this more in a few.
And one of the other really big things that makes this book so cool to me is that in reading between the lines you easily see what the book really is; a thank you letter to the fans and also it serves as a middle finger directed very pointedly. Ace is no punk kids. This man is the real deal calling out those that need it. But in doing so Ace doesn’t come off as trying to pick a fight but if the need arose I don’t think he would have any bones about ‘settling’ the problem the old fashioned way. Again more on that aspect in a few.
This is going to sound stupid but it is an honest observation; Ace doesn’t cuss well. I’m serious, in the instances where profanity is used (there’s really not very much by the way) it almost seems forced. I would sight specific examples but considering the normal PG content of the Toy Box I don’t care to go all shock jock now. But for example sometimes it seems like the ‘F’ word is used where the ‘S’ word would fit better. But than again it could simply be a regional thing. Having never been to the Bronx, NY area what the s*** do I know about proper regional dialect?
Another thing that does leave me a little cold is the way the later chapters seem to thin out on details and go into a ‘fast forward’ pace. This aspect makes the book feel a little lopsided. Overall I’d say it takes away a little from the overall title but not enough to leave the reader dissatisfied. Still the last few chapters seem so rushed which is a disservice to this otherwise well paced tome. .
Honesty. As a guy who can only read the written words and take them at face value versus being able to strap Ace to a lie detector, I really believe he’s shooting straight from the hip. I really believe him and truly don’t see any reason as to why he would lie about any of these recounts from his personal and professional life. Also I love the fact that Ace doesn’t pull punches. Literally. Avoiding being an a-hole I don’t want to give away anything but I gotta say that the tale of Ace punching a wannabe (he’s named in the book) in the jaw made me smile wide and even giggle.
I also truly appreciate Ace’s honesty when it comes to drugs, alcohol, and women. I love that he doesn’t go all preachy now that he’s sober. Considering most reformed folks turn into a sappy, weakling. Not our man Ace! While he doesn’t endorse or promote his particular quirks for other folks to do he doesn’t apologize for simply being a guy. That’s very refreshing in this watered down, politically correct society. .
Another thing I really appreciate in his reflections is that from the cradle to the present Ace has a way of ‘keeping it real’ as far as his roots go but also appearing down to earth while at the same time acknowledging his celebrity and accomplishments. Sort of like the wise old sage who has seen so very much from the mountain-top but when he came down the lack of oxygen at the peak didn’t damage his brain and turn him into a ‘better than you’ a-hole..
Why you should – A KISS fan would be insane to no read purchase and this book. I point out purchase because I feel it is very important to show your favorite entertainers your real support where it counts, from the pocketbook. Plus I think it would a nice gesture to help Ace see his book out sell Gene’s two to one (or more).
Why you shouldn’t – For the non-Ace or non-KISS fan you’ll probably be left a little cold. But then again if your not a Ace or KISS fan why would you care about this book in the firs place? And while Ace does do some moderate name-dropping, the tell-all aspect isn’t inflammatory enough to draw in the gossipy types.
Being that I am a fanboy of Ace one would think that my credibility in offering an objective review would be in jeopardy. I hope by this part of the process you see that is not the case. I recommend this book (seriously go BUY it) no matter what level of fan you may be. I can also confidently say that after you do, you won’t be disappointed. So pardon me guys while I go order my copy of ‘Anomaly’ and also replace my copies of Trouble Walking and Second Sighting. This has been a regular ‘Rocket Ride’ gang so until next time… Go Play! – Jim 11/16/11
Filed under Reviews
Next to Julius my head doesn't look so big. But then again the way he inspires, mine may just get bigger. No, really.
There comes a time in a collectors life that an item comes on the block that brings out the most intense desire of “must have” determination to acquire a particular item. These moments actually come and go considering that times and tastes change however in this instance this particular flutter found in my hoarders heart was so profound that I had no choice but to give in or risk having those flutters carry me all the way to South America for the winter. “What could possibly cause such a stir in a normally mild manner dork such as yourself, Jim?” you ask. Keep reading fellows and girls and find out more about this latest, unique and one of the more exciting acquisitions that has actually taking a spot in the Toy Box as well as on the reading shelf and inside my now ignited imagination.
Point #1. What it is.
A whole lot of Tim Baron goodness right here!
Julius Destructus: A custom rendering of Tim Baron’s creation by the artist himself.
Point #2. Where it came from.
The card art really flows with the overall packaged product. Seamless even.
Tim offered up a very small run of these handmade Classic Style action figures on the Mego Museum Forums; Marketplace Thread at the end of October 2011.
Point #3. The Good.
Only a mother or a comic book artist could love this mug. Or your old but Jimbo!
Right face!
The head sculpt is very impressive to me not just because it is a dead on likeness but more
Left face!
importantly because it really captures the art style. And while I’m no artist by any stretch of the imagination I do appreciate good art when I see it. The way Tim captured his gritty, heavily detailed artwork in 3 Dimensions is very impressive. I’ve got more on that in a few.
Nothing says Mego style like "Oven Mitts"!
Another thing I really appreciate about what Tim has done here is that he has done a more than fine job in giving Julius the Mego treatment in a way that I’m sure would have passed Marty Abrams approval for what makes a Mego. The black oven mitt Mego style gloves are an especially great aspect of this styling. Anyone can paint hands to match a gauntlet to look like a glove, but only a Mego can get the same basic effect and also be able to snatch cookies out of the oven.
Simple and effective.
Also Tim’s use of a simple white “V” line to bring out costume detail is very much appreciated. It’s amazing how a couple of well placed lines can do so much. And of course I
Craftsmanship to the nine's!
would be remiss to not mention the wonderfully crafted skull belt buckle. IN this piece Tim has once again translated his 2D style perfectly in 3D. Love it!
Point #4. The Bad.
There is no bad. Only good. Move along.
You may be 'bad' but only in the good ways!
Point #5. Why I like it.
There's a lot more than plastic. resin and cloth here folks... keep reading!
I love this figure for many different reasons and it’s my pleasure to share all of them with you! J
1.) First off the character and story of Julius Destructus is brilliant. Thanks to the graphic novel “The life and times of Julius Destructus” by Tim with scripting duties provided by the incredibly talented Ben Avery the life that is breathed into these pages is awesome. While those of you who have remained plugged into the comic book / graphic novel world, stories and art such as this will not come as a surprise to you (though you will find some wonderful, “Nice! I like how they did that” moments) for those such as myself who are in and out of same said world you will be treated to one heck of an adventure. Get the book here.
2.) Those who are members or visitors of the Customs Forum at the Mego Museum are already privy to this next impressive point: Julius here is Tim’s first foray into sculpting, casting and painting. And while the final product in and of itself is impressive the message in between the lines to me is something that I think is even more impressive.
When I look at this most impressive figure I not only see the character but I also feel the passion the creator has for the creation. There is something magical going on here folks. You see it’s one thing to create a character, another to draw a character, and a totally higher level of talent to express the characters thoughts, feelings and emotions through the written word. And now Tim has shown exactly how important this character is to him. In this 8-inch form we find that the creator has a true knowledge of the character that you can’t simply ‘crank out’. The level of details and nuances in the head sculpt and paint applications in this 3-D rendering in my opinion shows that Tim Baron and his creation are on a level that goes much deeper than a simple drawing on a sketch pad. Another big stand out factor for me is that Tim has shown the world (by example) that a ‘great and terrible dream’* can come true.
3.) I also appreciate the fact that with this effort Tim has given me a great platform to point out another fun and fascinating aspect about Mego and Mego-like figure collecting, and that my friends is the ability to create your own character in this perfect 8 inch scale. In a part by part break down here’s how you can begin to make your own custom figure:
The body and belt is from the guy who I will always credit as the leader in the resurrection of all this Mego style goodness, Dr. Mego himself Paul Clarke www.drmego.com The good doctor is also responsible for the super cool Commander X line of figures for Jay Piscopo’s “Capt’n Eli comics character and all of his variations. Those are still available by the way at www.captneli.com
The suit, boots and oven mitts are from the folks at Classic TV Toys. www.classictvtoys.com While these guys get a bad rap from me for their figures (look for the Mad Monster reviews) they actually do a pretty good job when it comes to their accessories.
The resealable clamshell (which is super sweet by the way, it means you can play with it and then put it back on the card kids!) comes from Castaway toys. www.castawaytoys.com These guys are another great source for parts and pieces as well as some other really cool vintage Mego items at insanely low prices.
The head of course could be yours too; that is so long as you could beg Tim to make you one. These were a limited run but who knows? Tim may get the itch again and need to scratch it… or even better some wise publisher sees what I see in Julius and pays Tim a million dollars to mass market the book and this fellow. (I’m rooting for ya Tim!)
*The Great and Terrible Dream’ was the first compilation of Tim’s work he released in graphic novel form in 2009
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
Unless he makes more or the buyers of the original release decide to part with theirs, you can’t. Sorry about that.
Why you shouldn’t:
Why you should pretty much covers this one too.
Your in excellent company Julius. Excellent company.
Passion. Talent. Entertainment. Fun. Four words that go a long way in describing what Tim Baron has created here in his Julius Destructus 8 inch Classic Style Action Figure. And while it is true that there are no more available at this writing, the tale of Julius is still available at www.juliuscomic.com . I do highly recommend the book because I promise you the time spent reading this very impressive graphic novel and studying the masterful pen strokes that creates this world will leave you with a since of contentment that only comes from quality entertainment. Plus if we move some books, Tim may get inspired to crank out some more of these excellent figures or even better, he may decide to churn out some of his other characters. But be warned, if he does go the route of the latter I will be throwing elbows all the way to the checkout to ensure I get mine. Now – Order the book and Go Play! – Jim 11/06/11
All of this 8 inch goodness due in part to the creative minds that comprise the Mego Museum website and community. How sweet it is!
Jim Bumgardner is a 20 year veteran of the broadcast industry and currently serves as the news director for television station TKO 8 in Harrison, Arkansas. Jim is the father of two the husband of one and firm believer in the power of toys for both the mind, body and soul. You can contact Jim via email at jimstoybox@gmail.com or jimsmegos@yahoo.com
All images and products are the sole copyrighted property of it’s respective owners. Specialty photographs and graphic work used for this article were done by Jim at the TKO 8 Studios located at 500 N. Main St in Harrison, Arkansas. “Little Jim” was created by Dawn O’Connell of Little Buddies Action Figures. Learn more about getting your own Little Buddy at www.littlebuddiesactionfigures.com
Filed under Castaway Toys, EMCE, Reviews
Okay fellows and girls I’ve gotten really excited about this figure so I’m slacking on the review aspect but I’ll add that later. Right now however I strongly urge all of you to GET THIS FIGURE! However I want you to do it like this…. click on the Entertainment Earth pic below. That’s going to take you to the Mego Museum where from there if you click on their Entertainment Earth link they can make a little money to support the site. What can I say, I try to look out for my pals
Click here... go to the Mego Museum... click there and order your figures from EE and help out the Museum at the same time.
Filed under Reviews, Venture Bros.
In celebrating the recent released third and fourth series of Venture Bros. classic style action figures from Bif, Bang, Pow I thought it would be fun to throw out a casting call for a live action Venture Bros. movie. Mind you I haven’t hard of any official plans for such a project, but I figure it’s only a matter of time before the Hollywood types decide to snatch up the license and slap the characters on the big screen. Here’s to hoping that if they do they won’t screw it up. The wife and I really put some thought into this one while watching Seasons 1 and 2 (3 and 4 haven’t made it to the collection yet). Feel free to chime in on other suggestions. Obviously we’re missing quite a few characters but what fun would this casting call be if there weren’t some fresh ideas shared? So please play along and share your comments by posting on this blog. It’ll be fun and it don’t cost ya nothin’!
Dr. Venture – David Cross. (Men in Black 1&2, Scary Movie) To me there could be no other do play the grown up Rusty Venture. Consider everything I’ve seen Cross play in he could easily capture Dr. Venture’s smart ass style and cynical attitude. Plus he’s already bald and wears glasses, add a speed suit and goatee and we’re golden.
Brock Sampson – Has to be Patrick Warburton. He’s the voice for goodness sake and in this case completely makes the character. Just add a blond mullet wig and we are in business!
Dean and Hank Venture – Zack and Cody (Suite life of Zack and Cody) I apologize for not knowing these kids’ real names but I don’t watch the show and so far my baby girl hasn’t caught wind of these two little pop stars. What I have seen of them however does show me that the young men have the acting chops to pull off the roles, they’re twins but not identical and they’re age appropriate. Plus considering they are the property of Disney I’m sure there are some spare clones of the them laying around.
Helper – Must be a real puppet / animatronic. To CG this guy would take away some of his charm IMO.
Dr. Orpheus – Peter Gallagher (Mr. Deeds) Again IMO Gallagher has the perfect acting chops to portray the needed melodrama that oozes from the mystical reaching fingers of the incredible Dr. Orpheus! Plus I bet he could easily provide his own wardrobe.
Triana Orpheus – Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga) Every film needs star power and this gal has it. Plus it would be funny watching the interaction between her Triana and the Zack and Cody boys portrayal of Hank and Dean. That my friends would be believable, sad and pathetic teen angst.
Monarch – Chris Katan (Corky Romano, SNL) Smug and funny, and doesn’t even know it. Perfect marriage of actor and role if you ask me.
Dr. Girlfriend – Laura Flynn Boyle (Men in Black 2) When the wife and I were talking about this the idea of who could play the sexy yet strangely manly Dr. Girlfriend was one that had us perplexed until we popped in MIB 2. I originally was thinking about Kate Beckensale but when Ms. Boyle came to mind all other contenders were squashed. Her features are perfect for the role. I’m talking about her facial features you pervs, all you would need to add would be the same wig she wore in MIB 2 and you’re ready to rock and roll. Of course the original Voice artist would do the overdub but Ms. Boyle would really bring it home.
So what say you? Let’s play! – Jim 08/10/11
Filed under Articles, Venture Bros.
LOOK KIDS! A COMMERCIAL!
Well,sort of. I’m not getting paid for the placement of this video, I just want to help every Mego and Re-Mego fan to enjoy the goodness that comes from the world of Plaid Stallions and Brick Mantooth! Check it out!
Introduction
Dear reader the two coolest fellows on the planet have arrived in the Toy Box!
Greetings dear readers! It seems like forever since I’ve had a new item to add to the Toy Box but I promise you this one was more than worth the wait. Today I am introducing you to a figure that needs no introduction if you’re a fan of the Mego Museum or Plaid Stallions.com however if your not (I’m glad I can help remedy that for you) you’re in for a real treat. Ladies and gentleman I present to you Brick Mantooth aka the Super Collector.
I know the title makes for a bold and perhaps seemingly crazy statement as to this figures significance in the grand scheme of toy collecting but from my point of view it is the closest combination of words I can find at the moment to express my sentiments towards this guy(s). In an effort to pull back a little bit from what could easily turn into a “Brick Praise-A- Thon” I am doing a lot of self censoring and editing along the way to the bottom of the page. It’s a rather difficult task considering that this guy encompasses pretty much everything that I appreciate in pursuing one’s passions. Let me explain;
This action figure is the final product of lord knows how many years of development from the mind of Brian Heiler who is the mastermind behind the Mego Museum and it’s sister site www.plaidstallions.com where you will find a boat load of fun at the expense of 70’s fashion sense or lack thereof. I encourage you to visit both sites to educate yourself on a much better back-story and understanding of Brick and Super Collector. In a nutshell though what the characters and sites mean to me are that they serve as perfect example of a hobby being shared with the world but done so in a remarkably professional yet fun way. Moving on…
With this final real world rendition of the characters, I now have in my possession a trinket that serves as a real, physical item from a gift shop from the greatest place I’ve ever been to that doesn’t really exist. Sounds crazy I know but so what? It’s my world and how I choose to enjoy it. Again I am pulling back on the reins of what could become far too much of a suck-up-a-ppalooza for Mr. Heiler and the crew. Just know this guys if you ever read this; I truly admire your talents and your dedication to providing your fans something more than what any other site has or could ever do. And for such an insanely affordable price. Thank you.
Okay, enough with the Valentine to Brian, Scott, Sean, Steve, Dr.Mego and EMCE Toys. Let me break it down to you what all my gushing is about.
Point #1. What it is / they are.
Super Collector comes with everything you see here. And what more could you possibly ask for?
Sorry for butting into the shot but I feel cooler hanging with the Brick. Inferior, but cool.
Brick Mantooth / Super Collector 8 inch Classic Style action figure.
Point #2. Where it came from.
The Mego Robin style belt gets a little sideways but that's okay. He's keeping it "Mego Real".
Calm down ladies and certain gentlemen. Calm down.
This first 100 piece run “do it yourself 2 pack” was offered exclusively to members of the Mego Museum. The list of the credits on the side of the box read like this: © 2010 Brian Heiler, Scott C. Adams,: Sculpting- Sean Sansom, Costume Prototyping- Steve Moore, Design and Illustration – Scott C. Adams, Manufactured by: EMCE Toys. That handful of folks made these figures a reality. Brian did a better than yeoman’s job in getting them from his pad in Canada to my grubby little fanboy hands in Arkansas USA.
Point #3. The Good.
A hero never looked so smooth.
Where to begin? There’s really nothing about this figure(s) that I don’t like. The head sculpt is a perfect representation of the characters, the new swivel arm body from EMCE is an excellent example of what could have evolved from the original Mego Corporation, the costuming is again dead-on to the characters likenesses and the packaging is beautiful. In a moment I will point out some “Bad” points only for the sake of balance to this review. Honestly I’m pretty much going to simply be nitpicky in those points as you’ll soon see. But before all of that I have to share with you the thing that is the absolute coolest part of this Brick Mantooth / SC puzzle: The Mego Museum play set that SC uses “to acquire rare Mego artifacts in the 1970’s for citizens of the future to enjoy at the Mego Museum.”
The SC's Mego Museum accessory is simply too clever.
HUGE props to Brian for the decal work. These hand applied stickers must have been a nightmare to execute.
The swivel biceps are very nice update to the standard 8 inch EMCE body.
This solid resin, real world representation of the Mego Museum is beyond cool. It’s also a mind numbing difficult sticker application that Brian had to do by hand. While I was really taking it in I couldn’t help but imagine how much of a real pain in the *fingers* these stickers were to apply. But rest assured Mr. Heiler your efforts are truly appreciated. As an afterthought, these would also make for cool key chains. Well at least for me.
Point #4. The Bad.
There's really nothing bad about Brick or SC. Except perhaps laziness on the collectors part.
In this section the only really “Bad” that I can note is from a lazy man’s standpoint. If your not a customizer by nature this kit could be a bit frustrating. However I will say that if you are not of the customizing persuasion this would be a perfect opportunity to try your hand at this psuedo kit-bash. The heads are a little bit of a chore to get on the body. It’s recommended to boil them and soften the plastic. I on the other hand simply got them into the slot by doing sort of like you would when putting a tire on a rim; I positioned the head at a 45 degree angle, getting one point started and then used a blunt object to push along and down the plastic ridge into the torso cavity. Worked like a charm.
The body suit is also a bit snug to get onto SC. It’s been explained that the suit was originally designed for a regular Dr. Mego body versus the new LJN style swivel arm body. In the end the struggle is worth it as the broader shoulders really set this guy above and beyond his hero counterparts. Another thing to point out is that the fabric used is much sturdier than a traditional spandex or the flimsy material found on Mattel’s Retro Action Super Heroes, so don’t be afraid to tug on it. It can take it.
The only other two would be gripes involve SC’s emblem and Bricks belt. This however has little to do with their quality as much as it does with my own personal skill. You see the emblem in this kit is indeed separate and must be applied by you the consumer. Not really a difficult task but as you can see in my pics I didn’t get mine exactly squared up. The other point with Brick’s belt is that for it to look right you need to trim. Again not difficult to do, you just need to ensure you have a steady hand when you make the clean cut. I haven’t trusted myself enough for that yet.
Point #5. Why I like it.
If I could only be such an awesome collector and collectible.
Outside of all of the gushing I’ve already dome what more can I say? Plenty actually. A couple of points that I would like to mention here would be the price and the quality. Brick and SC came into my collection for the insanely low price of $23. You can bump that up to $30 if you got the extra, new LJN style Dr. Mego body. I had recently acquired a regular Dr. Mego body and used it for Brick so I didn’t drop the extra $7 bucks but still everything else for about the same price as one Retro Action hero is unbelievable to me. What a deal! The other point with quality is also an opportunity for me to take another swing at Mattel. Each piece of this Brick / SC puzzle is first rate. I see absolutely nowhere that corners were cut. You can rest assured that your money is very well spent on this figure. Honestly even these bodies are superior to my beloved Venture Bros. figures from Bif Bang Pow. So Mattel, with all of your years of experience in the toy industry and with the council of Dr. Mego at your beck and call how could you possible drop the ball so horribly? Losers.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
See everything I listed above. If that doesn’t sell you nohing will.
Why you shouldn’t:
The only reason being would be that you suck. Seriously there is no reason for any toy fan, marketing fan, 70’s pop culture junkie or modern pop culture enthusiast shouldn’t get a set of these guys (or two).
In Conclusion
Dear reader the two coolest fellows on the planet have arrived in the Toy Box!
No more gushing I promise. The Brick Mantooth / Super Collector as created and produced by Brian Heiler, Scott C. Adams, Sean Samson, Steve More and EMCE Toys is a must have for me and should be for you too. Consider owning this guy the same as the 21st Century version of a pet rock except in this case you get a much cooler “pet Brick”.Now – Go Play! – Jim 08/01/11
Jim Bumgardner is a 20 year veteran of the broadcast industry and currently serves as the news director for television station TKO 8 in Harrison, Arkansas. Jim is the father of two the husband of one and firm believer in the power of toys for both the mind, body and soul. You can contact Jim via email at jimstoybox@gmail.com or visit his website at www.jimsmegos.com
All images and products are the sole copyrighted property of it’s respective owners. Specialty photographs and graphic work used for this article were done by Jim at the TKO 8 Studios located at 500 N. Main St in Harrison, Arkansas. “Little Jim” was created by Dawn O’Connell of Little Buddies Action Figures. Learn more about getting your own Little Buddy at www.littlebuddiesactionfigures.com
Brick poses beside this vintage bus/RV that would be an awesome shag mobile for the Mantooth.
The great Canadian Amassador Mantooth poses for a shot with President Ronald Reagan.
SC is pondering whether or not he should slap the monkey off the roof. I say Monkey because "King Kong" is a registered trademark these guys didn't get the rights to use.
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