Happy Easter everybody! In lieu of the holiday I’m taking this Saturday off from the “Funnies” to spend some time with my family. I hope that you all do the same. Also I would like to proudly proclaim my Christian faith at this time. I’m not doing this to convert or to sway anyone. Your choice is yours alone, even Jesus said that. But for me it wasn’t a bunny that was nailed to that cross nearly 2,000 years ago.
With that said thanks for popping in and I do hope you’ll come back next Saturday where the fun and frivolity will continue to roll out from my “Toy Box”. I’d also like to take this time to point out a favorite verse of mine from the Bible that for me is the Godly mandate for toy collecting.
Luke Ch.18 verses 16 and 17:
16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
I take this to mean this: If you can’t simply believe, you’ll never make it. And for me these, 8-inch little pieces of plastic help me stay in touch with my inner child and remind me that the world around is nowhere near as important as we think it is. It’s only temporary at best, so lighten up. Play. Have some fun. I’ll step off the pulpit now and simply ask all of you to grab up your family and… Go Play! Jim 04/23/11
For this trip I figured I should get comfortable. Its a long ride back to the past.
For this inaugural blog journey through “Toy Time” we will take the time machine back to the year 2000. For the sake of “the record” I want to point out that when I chose the April edition from that year it wasn’t on purpose. Actually I just grabbed a random magazine from a pile and wah-lah! Serendipity! I’ll take it as a good sign.
The likeness is so bad to me that if someone was cookin something I couldnt tell you what it was.
The Cover:
Featured “The Rock” from the then still ‘WWF’s’( now the WWE) altest assortment of wrestling toys. I still say this is one of the worst likenesses I’ve seen of Dewayne Johnson. Also it boasted the slug about X-Men the movie toys and pondered the question: “Will they rule this summer?” Answer: No they didn’t.
Advertising:
McFarlane Toys filled the first three pages with full page ads hawking figures from the cult classic films “Slap Shot” and “Strange Brew”, the latest from the Spawn merchandise machine and then the one that got me interested in adding this feature to the blog: McFarlane’s Collector’s Club Wanda and Cyan set of figures. After seeing the ad again, I wondered how these figures were doing 11 years later.
There is something very cool to me about "regular people" action figures. Why? Ill never know.
The first dig on ebay turned up a bust. Not one single set could be found. A quick Google search and I tracked down the longing of Al Simmons heart. The duo is available for only $11 via this site http://www.pronto.com/product/mcfarlane-toys-collectors-club-p_1590451291 . I was unable to track down the original price on these but I’ll bet ya it was around the $20 mark. So I think it’s safe to say the collectible cash cow god didn’t bless this one.
Apparently these guys didnt make it. Noble effort though.
Another ad that grabbed my attention was one for actionace.com. It appears that it was a fledgling web site that was to feature articles, shopping and an auction feature. Apprently they didn’t survive the dot com implosion.
Readers Letters:
Always informing and some times condesending, the letters section was alway sworthy of a look over.
One of the letters in the FanFare section posed the question of where one might get an action figure made of oneself. The Toyfare crew was a bit of a killjoy in letting the writer know that the cost would be anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000 and G.I. joe would still kick their @$$. Thankfully you can do have this service handled by my good pal Dawn O’Connell via her site at www.littlebuddiesactionfigures.com . Didn’t intend to do a plug but you can’t argue with fate.
Movers and Shakers pg.36
Its good to see these makers of cool toys have been able to live up to the hype all these years later.
Full Moon Toys was the spotlight company in this issue. They are the ones who did the really cool (although too small IMO) renderings of the characters from the Puppet Masters series of films. Personally I would have loved to have seen a 1:1 ratio on these creepy little buggers. I am glad to see that these guys are still around and appear to be doing well. Looking at their site (http://www.fullmoondirect.com/ ) you can see that the moon is still bright and busy.
Whats NOT to love about this knife wielding psychopathic puppet?
Checking ebay their original flagship line-up from “Puppet Master” isn’t garnering any heat though. Most all of the regular figures can be found in the $7.00 range. Of course there are some sellers out there trying to bag the big bucks for the more limited figures such as the 12’ version of the knife wielding hollowed eyed “Blade”. I spotted auctions with Buy It Now’s of $145. They also had the Make an Offer option so you may be able to a bit better if you want to pick one of these up.
Feature: Art Asylum pg.44
The interview style of Toyfares writers was always enjoyable. Both informing and entertaining.
The article featuring the incredibly talented staff at Art Asylum focused on how the company was making waves in the toy world through innovation and awesome looking stuff. Today the company is still flowing with tons of merchandise available.
A quick look at their site got me all giddy as I see that the Art Asylum folks will be bringing us all NEW Munsters Action Figures! The pics look amazing of the prototypes. Check ‘em out via this link… http://www.artasylum.com/blog/2011/02/munsters-blog/
Man have they come along way from their original Space Ghost and Ozzy figures!
Monthly Exclusive
Exclusives like this one was a brilliant marketing move by the mag. Who better to sell toys?
For the month of April 2000 the crew had worked out a deal with Playmates to offer readers the chance to own every gamers dream girl Lara Croft from Tomb Raider in a bomber jacket no less!. Personally I never saw the big deal with a big boobied, eyed and lipped action figure but then again I’m not a gamer and am married to a really hot honey. Looking at ebay I found one for $54.99 or best offer. Again I’ll just go home to my pretty wife and let any of you out there if you’re so inclined to auction battle over this one. Still it was interesting to note that I didn’t see as many of these as I was expected on the ebay. Doing a generic search for “Toyfare Exclusives” garnered 252 listings at the time of this writing but only one of these bomber jacket clad, pre Angelina Jolie Lara’s.
The Top 10 List
Could Star Wars toys really been that great? Yes. They Could. And yes, they were.
Again I must shout out “Serendipity”! The number one figure on the list was the Mego-esque 9inch, Target Exclusive Superman from Hasbro. Considering your boy Jim here is all about the Mego’s I too was excited about this line when it first came out but was in the end disappointed. Not because of quality, the costumes were a bit wonky but overall a well made toy. The deal breaker for me was the fact that they weren’t 8 inches. I’m telling ya folks that is a magic scale. The Target Exclusive Batman also made the list at #4. You can find both of these guys on ebay for around $30.
Outside of the obligatory ranked Star Wars figures of the time another figure that was ranked was the Paul McCartney from the Yellow Submarine line of figures from McFarlane toys. I like the Beatles as much as the next guy ( John Lennon was a true genius even if he did go a little over the top in the hippy days) but had no interest in these figures at the time. The version featured on the list with Captain Fred also has an average ebay asking price of $30.
The Price Guide
Before ebay changed the buying and selling game forever this was a very handy guide.
For the sake of time that I am so stealing away from my regular duties to write this, I’ll wrap up this journey with a stop in the price guide. As this will be the regular stopping point for all of these Time Travels I want to point out what I’m doing here: Each journey I’ll pick one random price guide listed figure and then cross check it on ebay to see where it stands in value today. This time out we randomly point our finger at….
Galoob Toys’1988-1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation – Antican;
I have yet to see the episode of ST:TNG that featured this funky looking fellow.
Price Guide Price Carded = $60.00 Loose = $13.00
Today’s ebay going rate = Buy it Now averages from $29.99 to $94.99.
I didn’t see any loose examples listed. Mind you I only found examples as Buy It Now’s so I read that as the figure really doesn’t have enough heat to stand up to a regular “you name the price” auction most likely for fear of loosing money on the sale.
Well that was fun for me and I hope a little for you too dear reader. Mind you there was a ton more info in this issue and a bunch of things that I really wanted to revisit but alas time is not on my side at the moment. Plus I think it would be great if you guys and gals out there grabbed your own back issues and did a little footwork to see whatever became of some of the featured toys that it seemed everyone was clamoring for in the action figure heydays of the late 20th Century. Not only could you share the info with me and other collectors, you would also have a reason to keep all these former trees around.
Adding to that last thought, if there is a toy or company you’ve been curious about whatever happened to it/them drop me an email at jimstoybox@gmail.com and I’ll try to do the digging for you. I hope to do at least one of these “Time Travels through Toyfare” at least once a month so be sure to subscribe and stay in the know. Now, Go Play!
Can you believe it's been 11 year's? I'm old. Don't laugh. You are too.
Can you believe it’s been 11 years since the year 2000? It’s amazing how it seems like only yesterday we in the action figure collecting world were partying like it was 1999 (actually it was) in what now appears to the heyday of the hobby. It was a time when action figures were being cranked out for almost every property you could think of i.e. music, television, movies, books, comic books, random intellectual properties etc. And the greatest part was that you could learn about all of these collectibles between the covers of Toyfare Magazine.
The "Life" magazine for fanboys everywhere!
For those who may have missed out on this recently canceled mag, here’s a brief rundown… Once upon a time “Wizard” was the premiere if not the only regular monthly magazine that spotlighted the latest in comic book news. As the interest in action figures continued to grow (thank you Star Wars Special Edition) the publishers of “Wizard” added a feature to the magazine spotlighting the latest action figures coming to fanboys everywhere. Long story short, the feature became so popular after two one shot specials the simple section grew into it’s very own title in 1998.
Charlie Flatt's awesome customs teased us all with many great things to come from the new magazine.
“Toyfare” was the source for action figure news. Rather it was Star Wars, video game based or comic book inspired, the staff of Toyfare brought all of the info and snazzy photo’s to us in a manner that was informational but more importantly fun to read. These guys and gals were “us”, the twenty something toy collectors and loved playing with their toys. Plus the gaggle of writers/collectors offered each month an updated price guide so we could be reassured that the hunks of plastic we were buying would one day easily fund our retirements. To help further the cause of adding perceived secondary market value the crew would also offer up a “Market Watch” report to show what was really moving and shaking in the action figure isles. Also to note this was at a time when ebay was still new and not everyone and their brother was selling “Ultra Rare” action figures on the site in the ven of becoming their very own “cyber” toy store.
Before the name change and lack of Mego's which made the strips in my opinion. Call me biased.
The best part for me was their original “Twisted Mego Theater” (later changed to Twisted Toyfare Theater). Every month I was quick to snatch up the latest copy to see what all Mego Spiderman and Mego Hulk (along with almost every other Mego WGSH and Mego 8 inch action figure released in the 70’s and early 80’s) were up to. The comic paneled adventures were always a hoot. Some funnier than others and some bordering on outright rude. This platform eventually evolved into the Cartoon Network program “Robot Chicken”.
A pile O' pleasurable reading!
Sadly this year (2011) “Toyfare” came to an end. While I can only speculate as to its true demise I would bet that they found themselves in the same boat as many other print publications… the Internet killed it. Production costs for magazines versus on-line articles is like apples to oranges in the economic world. Plus ebay has indeed changed the way value is perceived when it comes to collectibles, so the formally practical price guide is pretty much irrelevant in the 21st Century. As the old saying goes “All good things must end”. However, it doesn’t mean they shall be forgotten. And thanks to the magic of the internet and fanboys like me, Toyfare’s legacy will live on thanks to blogging and a never ending fascination with nostalgia and taking funny pictures of action figures doing absurd things.
As a way to offer a send up to the memory of Toyfare as well as feed my toy history buff hunger, I’ve created this sub section of the blog to revisit the pages of the mag and see where exactly the once HOT item is today.
Thank you for the memories and the "geek food"! You'll be missed Toyfare.
Considering how much information was packed into each monthly magazine I will only be covering the particular items that jumped out at me when revisiting these historical toy archives. In a nutshell I hope to offer interesting insights into the current status of what was once HOT and or COLD as well as doing some follow-ups on what the Toyfare staff thought at the time would surely be the future of toys. So dear reader won’t you join me as we hop in the Toy Box’s Time Machine to revisit the pages of Toyfare Magazine? It’s looking to be a very interesting journey!
Dancing with the devil? Only in toy form kids. Only in toy form.
“The Devil made me do it.” Actually this guys look did indeed influence my decision to give the CTVT Mad Monster Series 2 a shot in the first place. This really is a cool looking toy. Then again that statement is coming from an old 80’s metal head who still finds Iron Maiden’s ‘Eddie’ and Motley Crue’s ‘Allister Fiend’ truly beautiful works of art. This guy is by far my favorite CTVT Mad Monster and I can honestly say that I really seeing this dude hanging out on “The Wall”.
Point #1. What it is.
Classic TV Toys Man Monster Series 2: The Demonic Devil
Point #2. Where it came from.
HULK over at Megoville again provided me such a great deal on this one that I still can't thank him enough. Go check out his site http://www.megoville.com and ask for the Hulk brothers. Tell 'em Jim sent ya.
Point #3. The Good.
The heald sculpt is quite impressive. It just screams evil.
This is by far the best head sculpt and paint application that Classic TV Toys has done on any of their releases. Period. The mean expression, the detail lines, the snarl, all of these elements make for one truly demonic looking toy.
The details are aweome on this one. No devil can be complete without a tail.
I also like the fact that they did go the extra mile in adding a tail to the suit, which appears to be based on the original Mego Green Arrow unitard just color swapped. I also like the shiny cape. Would the Devil wear a shiny cape? I don’t know for sure but I’d bet the Lord of Darkness is indeed so evil that he would gladly wear shiny pleather and dare anyone to say something. And if they did he would stab ’em in the throat with the really cool trident that he’s packing. This guy is evil I tell ya.
The trident: When you absolutely positiviely want to torture human souls in the most painful fashion. Accept no substitutes.
Point #4. The Bad.
How scared can you be of a guy in pointy shoes really?
Again see Chapter 7 for the exact same quality issues that this guy has. The only thing specific to the Devil here would have to be the shoes. I mean red pointy slippers? Sure it works for the devil on that particular brand of potted meat I guess but considering how evil this guy looks you would think the CTVT folks could chosen a more “hardcore” looking footwear selection. Of course it’s all about repurposing in the world of Mego but Robin’s booties looked silly on him and King Arthur no matter what color you cast them.
I guess they ran out of red dye. Probably used it all up on the goofy shoes.
Also the glow in the dark hands (they don’t by the way) take away from this figure’s overall presentation even more so than the shoes. It’s almost like he’s wearing white gloves to test for dust in Hell. Considering it’s Hell I’m sure there’s plenty of dust all over the place.
Point #5. Why I like it.
"We are legion."
Again the look of this figure rocks! Plus there is still a little bit of rebel/non conformist in me that likes the idea of having a toy in my collection that can indeed freak people out. One of these days I am going to build a diorama featuring this guy surrounded by black candles and a serpent style dagger at his feet and place it on my mantle at home. Image the fun it will be when the Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormon’s pop in and catch a glimpse of this conversation starter. When they gasp in horror I’ll let ’em know that the shrine serves as my reminder of who really is to blame for all of my shortcomings. Oh what fun next Wednesday will be!
Sure I'll take the latest copy of "Watchtower". Set it next to the Devil's feet would ya?
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
I still can't believe the CTVT folks would put out this much effort and not go the extra mile to ensure better quality in their final products.
This is a perfect addition to your Halloween Decor collection. Plus they can be found so cheap that you can have a bunch of ’em all over the house considering most demons and devils like to travel in packs. Plus for the customizers who happen to be Adam Sandler fans have a great starting point for making figures based on the gold toned devils in ‘Little Nicky’. Grab some Krylon and a CTVT Friar Tuck cloak and Wah Lah! Instant bunny munching custom!
Why you shouldn’t:
Again it’s all about the quality of the bodies or lack there of. And of course I wouldn’t recommend this one for kids, especially if they’re the timid type considering how mean this guy really does look.
In Conclusion
CTVT’s were really on the verge of doing something really neat with this line but sadly completely dropped the ball. Still I do dig having this devil around the collection and on “The Wall”.
Well dear reader the past 16 chapters have been a wonderful learning experience for me and I hope entertaining reads for you. The future of the ‘Jim’s Toy Box’ blog is actually looking very bright. Coming soon I will be expanding the scope of this blog to include more interviews and inside looks at the makers and players in the 8 inch action figure market as well as other fun action figure features and funnies. I will also be working on incorporating more video as well for those of you who prefer the click and watch approach. It looks to be a lot of fun. So do me a solid if you will, go back and rate the chapters that made up “The Wall” leave a comment where you feel compelled to and please, please, please, subscribe. So long as I know that you’re out there I will continue to steal away time from the “real world” to bring you entertaining and informative articles that are geared toward you, the action figure collector. So until next time. my sincerest thanks to each of you for reading the 16 chapters of “The Wall”. Now, Go Play! Jim 04-13-11
Get behind me Satan! I do enjoy saying that.
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
This guy to me is like the sleeping pill of toys. Original or Repro.
Considering the number of bad mummy/mommy puns that is most likely going to happen in this chapter, I offer my apologizes now dear reader. Perhaps one that wouldn’t slip out will be the phrase “I want my Mummy!” mainly because this one is perhaps the most lackluster of all of the Mego Mad Monster reproductions. And this time its not even Classic TV Toys’ fault. Let’s examine this rather dusty and drab dude that is so bland he blends in to “The Wall”.
Point #1. What it is.
Classic TV Toys Mad Monsters The Horrible Mummy Reproduction.
Point #2. Where it came from.
Again I offer a big shout out to my man HULK who is the Mayor of Megoville.
Point #3. The Good.
Scary. Oh so scary. Like a puppy or a rainbow maybe.
Well, he’s 8 inches tall and is a fairly close approximation to the original Mego Mad Monsters Mummy. And that’s about it. I do have to say in the original design as done by Mego the costume was quite clever using silk screening and a few extra strands of fabric to achieve the “wrapped” effect. And CTVT’s did a fair job in recreating this simple and somewhat effective costume design.
I do like the way the costume was designed by Mego. Clever way to do the wrappings.
Point #4. The Bad.
Again I point you to Chapter 7 for the issues that plague all of the CTVT’s monsters. As for this guy in particular nothing else really jumps out at you as a glaring flaw except maybe the cheap paint that appears to guarantee you a rubbed nose while in the package.
Yellow? Really? Isn't that the traditional color used to signify that someone is a coward? Just doesn't add any creep factor at all.
Point #5. Why I like it.
Oh no. A mummy. Aaaahhhh. I hope you can feel the sarcasm dear reader.
Honestly, the only redeeming qualities this former Pharaoh has would have to be that he is again a good placeholder and with this fellow hanging out on “The Wall” he helps me complete the set. I’ve still got a couple other carded CTVT Monsters needed to round out the set but I haven’t found them cheap enough to purchase.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
Rounding out the collection is about the only real reason I would recommend this one.
Why you shouldn’t:
See Chapter 7 and every other review of CTVT figures.
In Conclusion
This guy is just so boring to me. Even as a kid I never found mummies all that scary. To me they are actually the dullest of all mythical monsters/creatures. Wow it’s a long dead and rotting guy who is held together with dust and bandages. Again I say, Blah. Now if you happen to be a fan of mummies my words may seem a bit harsh but think about it? In almost all of the mummy movies that have ever been produced the creepiest aspect is to me always the mummies curse more so than the creature itself. Wow, talk about a lackluster review. I promise the next and final chapter in “The Wall” will be much more entertaining. But until then I’m going to go drink some coffee and wake back up so we can properly end “The Wall” on a high note. Now, Go Play!. Jim 04-13-11
There, there lame and boring toy. It'll be okay. So long as your part of a collection I'll keep you. Plus it helps to have something that can put me to sleep other than a mild narcotic.
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
This Chapter finds us again examining an action figure from Classic TV Toys. And considering how critical I am of these figures you must wonder, “Jim, why on earth do you have so many of these crappy toys?” Simple answer: They’re cheap. Better answer: They’re also really funny. Take for example the star of this Chapter the Gruesome Ghost. This ugly sucka’ makes me laugh and scratch my head at every turn from his combat boots to his baby blue hair. I say he only because he’s on a male body. So without further “a Boo” let’s examine this ghastly ghost who haunts “The Wall”
Point #1. What it is.
Classic TV Toys Mad Monsters Series 2: Gruesome Ghost
Point #2. Where it came from.
Again I give a shout out to my man HULK over at Megoville for the low price hook up.
Point #3. The Good.
Yes. I have 2. They're cheap and funny, watchagonnado?
This guy is so bad he’s great! Seriously look him over from tip to top. Baby blue hair? Isn’t most ghostly things translated with day glow green? The head sculpt? This is actually kind of sad for me these days. When I first saw one of these back in 2008 the first thing that came to mind was, “Man, this thing could be the ghost of Michael Jackson.” At the time I had no idea the King of Pop was getting closer to parting the earthly plain but still look at him. I can hear Michael belting out one of his trademark “HHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!’s” every time I see this guy.
R.I.P. Mr. Jackson, I’m sure you understand.
Now moving on to the costume ensemble. At first glance your like, “Wow, a death shroud made of yarn. I’m scared.” The real story is actually much sadder. You see, what had happened was, The Gruesome Ghost’s Grandmother really didn’t like him very much but his Grandfather made her make him Christmas presents anyway. Young GG had no idea how his Grandmother really felt until the day she passed away. On that fateful day she pulled him close and informed of how much of a tool she always found him and that the shaggy sweater was actually her own inside joke to show how much she could care less about him. In her eyes he wasn’t worth all the knitting. Then… she died. So distraught was little GG he hung himself with the sweater and now roams the earth for all eternity wearing the hideous (and stupid) reminder that his Grandmother saw him only as a tool. See how much fun your imagination can have when you let it run free after looking at this guy? Priceless.
Boots? Really?
Oh and I almost forgot to mention the white combat boots. Yep you read that right dear reader. This ghost wears white combat boots. Why the CTVT’s folks decided that a ghost needs shoes is something I’ll never understand but will forever laugh at this remarkably stupid accessory.
Point #4. The Bad.
See Chapter 7 and all other chapters that involve the CTVT figures. This guy is no exception.
Point #5. Why I like it.
"Am I blue? Nope, but GG is!"
Like I said this guy is a hoot! He makes me laugh at every turn. Better than a joke book. Better than a truckload of joke books. Plus it’s nice to remember Michael Jackson as a great entertainer. Even though I think MJ would have fired Landis from the Thriller video if any of the ghastly ghouls there looked anything like this guy. Moving on.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
The boots do come off kids.
Again funny and fun Halloween Decoration lovers like me can have a blast with this guy. Not to play with of course but to just stare at.
Why you shouldn’t:
Again See Chapter 7. Unless you can get him super duper cheap. Even a top shelf body from Dr. Mego or Castaway can’t really add anything to this horrendously bad idea for a toy.
In Conclusion
While I may have come across as a bully in this chapter know that wasn’t my intention. I actually love this figure for what it does for my imagination. I mean seriously, what other toy could possibly inspire a normal sane human being to make up a story about this guys grandmother hating him so bad she made him a crappy sweater that led to his death? That my friends is well worth the $2 I paid. And then some. Now, Go Play! Jim 04-13-11
I miss you Michael.
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
I heard you tried out for the "Bewitched" movie. How'd that work out for ya?
Looking at my outline for “The Wall” I realize that we’re at the point where the possibility of monotony becomes a real concern. The Salem Witch here signifies the beginning of the end of this project of mine and while I am thankful that I have been able to stay the course for my own personal growth in learning how to blog, I don’t want to bore you dear reader with repetition and redundancy. So with that said this figure along with the next three are plagued with the same problems that all of the other Classic TV Toys releases have. I would refer you to Chapter 7 where you can revisit the negatives there and keep this and the next three chapters focused on just the figure itself from it’s own aesthetic look on “The Wall”.
Point #1. What it is.
Classic TV Toys Mad Monsters Series 2: The Salem Witch.
Point #2. Where it came from.
My good friend Hulk over at Megoville.com made me an incredible deal on this gal and her fellow misfits.
Point #3. The Good.
EW, EW, Witchy Woman! Kooky Spooky Fun!
Talk about a face only a mother could love! The Salem Witch is a wonderfully wicked looking woman. There is no way I’d refer to her as a “lady”. The sculpt is actually really good especially for a Halloween deco junkie like me. Add to this the dress, shoes, hat and broom appear to be the same ones used from the original Mego Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch. Again reverse engineering seems to have come into play here.
Such a great sculpt and paint application.
Point #4. The Bad.
Perhaps she owed CTVT's 'Bruno" some bucks and never paid up?
Again see Chapter 7 where I really rip the CTVT folks a new one in regards to their quality issues. The witch here does have one think that is unique to her over her male counterparts, you can almost bet that your going to have a busted ankle very quickly. Also to note that since she comes with an accessory such as the broom you would think that the designers would have worked the hands to where they could hold the thing. Nope. Actually he thumb broke off when I tried to make this happen.
Point #5. Why I like it.
She ain't much to look at but... well that's the best thing about her actually.
The Salem Witch is for me a great monster for my collection. Again for the sake of Halloween decorations she’s excellent. Plus the really goofy look that the CTVT guys have sculpted lends to the imagination the ability to almost hear her “cackle”. Fun, fun, fun! Also here’s another silly video I put together that makes these toys look like a lot of fun for Halloween… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bw16io1GNI
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
It's just so sad that cheap plastic makes this toy so worthless.
She’s ugly but that’s what makes her fun and worth getting.
Why you shouldn’t:
Again it’s all about the quality issues. Never buy one of these for kids to play with and always hold out for the cheapest price possible.
In Conclusion
Again Classic TV Toys almost did good with this one. If not for the quality issues with the bodies the Mad Monsters Series 2 line up would have surely been a hit. So again if you can score a Dr. Mego female or an original Mego body to swap out with you could very easily have yourself a very good wacky witch for your monster collection. I know at the end of the day I still enjoy looking at this ugly witch hat’s hanging out on “The Wall”. Now, Go Play! Jim 4/13/11
Oh, don't go away mad. The truth hurts, besides you have a coal black heart that doesn't feel any emotion except evil anyway. Well fine, I hope you don't break another thumb you old hag!
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
UPDATE: Dark Shadows figures are available again! Click on the pic to get yours!
This guy is so cool, my fingers get frost bite just by touching the bubble
How much do I really love the 8 inch Mego style action figures? So much so that I will even shell out my hard earned cash on a toy that comes from a soap opera! Seriously the Specter Toys released “Chris Jennings” wolfman figure from the cult favorite “Dark Shadows” soap opera is so cool that I had to make this one mine. And once again thanks to the folks at EMCE Toys this wooly wolf is a must have for “The Wall”
Point #1. What it is.
Specter Toys Dark Shadows: “Chris Jennings”
Point #2. Where it came from.
Again I made another great deal at the Mego Museum Marketplace to make this fellow my own.
Point #3. The Good.
The sculpt and paint application has such a classic look you’d swear it came out in the 70’s.
What’s not to love about a werewolf figure? In all actuality this figures look is so campy cool that I had to add it to my collection. Not only is the sculpt fantastic but the costume really puts this one over the top. “But it’s just a plaid shirt with holes in it, Jim?!?” So what? That plaid shirt with strategically placed holes in it really make this toy “pop”!
Now we know how many holes it takes to feel the alcohol.
And as I’ve said in previous chapters of “The Wall” I’ve gotten on a hard core monster toy kick. Also to note while I haven’t taken this guy out of the package I feel pretty safe in assuming its quality and playability is top shelf. How can I be so certain? Because it was made by EMCE Toys! I’m telling you dear readers, the reputation that EMCE has worked very hard at establishing for quality is a major contributor to me purchasing this one. While I didn’t mind shelling out a couple bucks for the CTVT monsters that you’ve found here on “The Wall” there is NO WAY I would pay the $20 plus shipping I gave for this one. Never gonna happen. The price for this figure however I know is very well worth the money.
Plus the thought of a werewolf wearing shoes just makes me laugh.
Point #4. The Bad.
If only you were in a resealable clamshell. {Sigh}
The only thing I can honestly complain about here is the lack of the resealable clamshell. I don’t know if that was a cost thing or what but I honestly would have been even more happy with this toy had I had the chance to take it out and really look it over without damaging the packaging. Mind you I’m not a Dark Shadows fan and the artwork is a bit drab for me, as a collector I don’t like ripping up a package. I probably will once Halloween approaches so I can display this guy with my assortment of 8 inch monsters but for know he will be trapped safely in his sealed bubble.
Point #5. Why I like it.
Hey you over there, keep it down! Chris is trying to catch a nap before Halloween.
To not sound redundant in the praising of EMCE Toys I’ll simply refer you to previous comments found in Chapters 2 and 11 where I’ve already gushed a lot about these makers of New Mego’s. Getting back to this figure itself I have to note that I simply LOVE it’s looks and charm. Plus considering my Monster kick this guy is beyond perfect for satisfying my Halloween décor collecting tastes. More than anything this one is simply fun for me.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
Whose a good boy? Your a good boy! Bestest little wolf boy ever!
It’s a fun looking toy. Once I open him I’ll show you how much fun he really is but as of this writing we’ve got a long way to go before Halloween. Hopefully that will give both you and I something to look forward to.
Why you shouldn’t:
No reason I can think of. Unless of course you prefer your werewolves to be half naked Native American teenagers, Mattel has that one covered for ya. As for me I’ll leave my animal shape shifters as they should be, clothed in holey plaid shirts.
In Conclusion
In the weeks and months to come I intend to bring you more of the details that went into the making of this particular figure but for now I’ll just say that having a werewolf named “Chris” hanging around adds a really cool element of nostalgia to “The Wall”. Now, Go Play! Jim 4/12/11
Don’t worry Chris. Today’s vampires are sparkly and are far too love lorn to bother you in your bubble.
UPDATE: Dark Shadows figures are available again! Click on the pic to get yours!
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
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
The main thing we both have in common? We're both squeaky new!
“Space. The Final Frontier” – “EMCE Toys. The Official Rebirth.” This chapter of “The Wall” focuses on a figure that will live forever as the perfect example that dreams really do come true. They take a lot of work and diligence sure, but they can become reality. This familiar face made it into my collection for numerous reasons. Not only was this reproduction figure an almost exact reproduction of Captain James T. Kirk from the original Mego Star Trek line, it also signifies to me the fact that Mego Toys have indeed returned. While EMCE Toys had returned the Mego format to the market prior to this release, this is the one that in my opinion, made it an absolute reality and gave true hope that the style of figures that I loved as a child was indeed back. Going where one company went before, another has come along and went even further and earned a place in my heart and on “The Wall”.
Point #1. What it is.
Diamond Select/ EMCE Toys Captain James T. Kirk.
Point #2. Where it came from.
The great folks at goHastings.com keep reducing the price on this figure so the Mego junkie in me can’t help but buy one of these almost every other week.
Point #3. The Good.
You can't ever have too many Kirk's. Period.
As I stated in the opening, this toy is more than a simple reproduction. It truly signifies a resurrection of the Mego style of action figure. And it’s got a picture of the father of Mego’s action figure Marty Abrams to prove it. For the record I do want to point out that the end result is the work of EMCE Toys alone. While Mr. Abrams did give the thumbs up to Paul “Dr.Mego” Clark and Joe Sena it was those two alone who made this figure happen. The original molds have long since been destroyed so Dr. Mego had to personally have everything retooled from scratch. Do even the slightest bit of research on toy production and you’ll see this is no easy task. Or inexpensive.
Sealed for your protection. Re-Sealable for your Amusement!
Another great thing about this toy is the re-sealable clamshell. This extra touch shows the thought that went into this figure for both the collector and the kids who still want to play with it. In both cases this packaging allows for easy access to the figure (none of those dreaded twist ties) and a place to put all the little accessories back into.
The markings are VERY clear that this is a NEW toy so don't be fooled dear readers, by unscrupulous vintage toy dealers.
Also to note, while this is as close to an original Mego as you could ever hope to get, all of it’s parts are clearly marked to show that it is new. So while this may be tough on the secondary online loose market, the discerning as well as the novice collector can easily spot that this is not an original. To the purists I have to say “back off”. While it may appear that the value of the original Mint on Card specimens out there have lost value due to these being released I’m afraid my sympathy is low. Sure vintage toys can be seen as a bankable “commodity” in the end t is just a toy and it’s value will always be determined by the market. Those who absolutely prefer only the vintage will only buy or accept that so your marketplace will not ever really be affected. On the other hand of the collector coin, those who simply want a brand new Star Trek Mego can have one without breaking the bank all the while being able to add factory produced characters that never existed in the first place. It’s a truly give and take situation where everyone does indeed win.
Point #4. The Bad.
It's like he was wearing gloves in the tanning bed.
While it’s not a huge gripe of mine I do have to point out that the flesh tone of the heads and hands do not match up. Again this is only a minor pet peeve and not reason enough to not pick one up. Another point of concern is that the body is a bit too tight straight out of the package. The only reason this comes a s a negative is that you have to play with it a bit before it becomes more “user friendly” when it comes to posing. So that means that you have to play with it before you can get him as pliable as some collectors may want him to be.
Point #5. Why I like it.
My heads as big as Kirk's ego. But then agaii he earned it.
Not only does this guy signify the fact that Mego is indeed back but he’s also better than ever. Mind you I’m not the biggest Star Trek fan but I am a huge Mego fan. There is something magical to me about this scale and style. I’d even found myself at one point tracking down “Walton’s” figures just because they were Mego’s. I hate’d that show back then and now. Plus what kind fo play value is there in a bunch of “regular people”? “Oh no John Boy! Pa done fell in the well again. We must save him!” Blah. But still there Mego’s and I wanna collect ‘em all!
The funny part about when I started my mini stock pile of this figure came about not so much because of Star Trek, but actually because of William Shatner himself. Years back I had purchased one of these figures simply because it was a new Mego and the fact that there was a brand new line of figures to collect was very thrilling for me. So I got Kirk and then Spock, then McCoy and then… well all the rest that have been released so far. When I got the final new release I stood back and looked at my collection and was like “Wow! I’ve collected ‘em all!” But then the reality of space restraints at the time made me realize that while these were great I needed more room for other Mego’s that were starting to accumulate (read Retro Action DC Super Heroes). Long story short, I sold off the collection to start a new one. In deciding to sell these off is when the true nature of my collecting habits really came to light. While I truly enjoyed and appreciated these figures for their quality and style, I admitted that I’m just not that much of a Star Trek fan and considering how massive this line was (that’s a good thing by the way) I decided I better cool my jets or I was going to break the bank and overload my display area. There’s a Tribble joke in there but I’ll leave it be.
Unitl I saw the figure pakaged like this with the clasp of the belt actually hung on the back of the shirt, I never realized how to keep the belt from sagging. Details,details.
Fast forward a couple years later and the itch returned. I had picked up a copy of one of Shatner’s books and it reminded me how much I really enjoy “William Shatner” the actor as much if not more than any one character he has portrayed. So once again the collector in me wanted a William Shatner figure to hang out with the rest of the collection. Captain Kirk happened to fit the bill perfectly. No pun intended, but that kinda worked out. Fit the “Bill” Ha!
So in feeding my need for the William Shatner I saw that goHastings was selling these figures insanely cheap! I’m talking $4.99 a piece. Well needless to say I almost broke my finger clicking the “add to cart” button. At the time I got one for myself and one for my father in law who is a very big Star Trek fan. After that I chilled out until I saw a few weeks later goHastings was offering them again for the crazy low rate. I had to get one more just because. I’m sure this will happen again. And again and again.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
This is a wonderful figure that as you can see is a favorite of mine for many reasons. But the main reason that you should get one is with this one figure you can begin a collection that has all indications of continuing for many years to come. As a mater of fact you can already collect the complete bridge crew, which is something Mego never did by the way, as well as screen accurate aliens and one shot characters that complete the Star Trek Universe.
Why you shouldn’t:
If you’re not a Star Trek fan I can see where the line itself would be a bore to you. So in the end if you don’t like the series than it makes sense to avoid it and focus on other great 8 inch Mego style figures that captivate you. But overall there are no quality or price point concerns that I can address. The figures really are top shelf and quality is second to none in the genre.
In Conclusion
For those who may be reading in between the lines in this chapter you may note that this installment appears to be a love fest of sorts for EMCE toys. Well, it is actually and deservedly so. Bottom line is if it wasn’t for the efforts of Paul “Dr.Mego” Clark and Joe Sena the Mego resurgence simply wouldn’t be. Sure there are a few others out there but if not for what all this pair has done to ensure quality product as well as solid, bankable licenses the resurgence would not be mainstream and in effect, they wouldn’t exist. Coming soon to the “Toy Box” I’ll be looking more in depth at those efforts. But for the moment I’m going to simply enjoy the nostalgic rush that I’m getting thanks to the fun little toys that adorn “The Wall”. Now, Go Play! Jim 04/11/11
Two Jim's, one blog, you dear reader, and a world wide audience. This my friends is a snapshot of heaven!
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
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