Good morning gang! I know, I know: Why time stamp this post when you never know when exactly someone is going to actually be reading it? Because its morning right NOW, duh. And morning was very crucial to the decision to do this sunrise photo session and quick post about Logan: the Wolverine.
Logan here is from the Diamond Select / EMCE Toys Marvel 8 inch Re-Mego collector set. Well one of two heads and outfits separate from the complete Mego-style Wolverine figure in the set. And on a Type S body from ZICA / Castaway Toys (as constructed by my pal Gregory Harris. Again sir, you are much hoss!). Hopefully this week I can do more of a full on review but right now this post is all about THIS figure and the fun that it inspired on a Sunday morning in August, 2015.
Taking our lovely little Yorkie out to do her morning business, excuse me, be demanded to take out Her Royal Roundness for her morning water blessings of the lawn, everything looked “just right” to bring this guy out and get some pics in natural light that I hoped would show how fantastic this figure is. And I don’t say that lightly at all.
I have been on the fence with these DST/EMCE Marvel 8 inch figures for some time and still have some issues I want to discuss later this coming week but for now I just want to share and celebrate with you this Canadian that means nothing but business. Check out the pics and tell me what you think either here or on Facebook.
Now, Go Play!
Jim 08/02/2015
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ALSO !!!!!! I’ve created a Streaming Channel for the ROKU! It’s much more than toys but I would appreciate it if you would take a look sometime. Plus you never know when I may get more playtime in for the Toy Box that will find it in the Arts&Entertainment section of the channel. Still waiting on the final approval from ROKU to put it in the official channel store (fingers crossed) but in the mean time you can still access the channel using the Vanity Code below. Thank you again to all of you wonderful folks for the encouragement in all of my weird and wacky adventures 🙂 – JB
I’m all about giving credit where it is due so at this time let me through a HUGE shout out to Mr. Randy Ham. Randy was the organizer of the “Take an action figure to work day” last week. Thank you again good sir for putting the event together and encouraging folks to play!
The S-Type Body giveaway… and the winner is…
Congratulations to Vincent and Zachery Mondano of New Jersey for their winning submission of 8 year old Zachery’s “Multi-Color Man”. I can’t wait to see it!
Future Contest
I was hoping to announce a new contest today but I got a bit busy as…
I’ve officially returned to TKO 8 Television
Yep after a few months hiatus all is well and good in the local TV hood. As part of the deal I secured a Tuesday night 7PM prime time slot for the new “Jim’s Toy Box” variety show. The first program is scheduled to air March 29th!
And that’s about that. Been a crazy busy day for sure but it is so much more rewarding when you have something to show for your efforts at the end of the day. Too bad I lost an hour. I could have gotten so much more done!
Perhaps it’s the old disc jockey in me but I love doing contests and giveaways. It seems fitting that I incorporate that into the Toy Box. For this first contest of the new and improved Jim’s Toy Box I’m going to be giving away a FREE S-Type body as produced by ZICA and Castaway Toys.
Like my moves Mr. Cooper? Of course you do!
I truly appreciate this revolutionary new body and it’s amazing possibilities. So much so that I put “me” where my mouth is. Little Buddy Jim is now outfitted with the new S-Type Body and I couldn’t be happier with the results. More possibility, flexibility and options. It also looks great as Robin the Boy Wonder!
“How do I win, Jim?” Boy am I glad you asked!
For the next two weeks to register to win all you have to do is tell me how you’re going to use this new S-Type body and promise to share a pic when your done. So what will you do? Create a custom from scratch? Swap out bodies with an existing figure? Something far more imaginative than my meager suggestions?
To enter email me your plan of action for this awesome action figure body to jimsmegos@yahoo.com. The contest will run from Sunday February 23, 2014 to Sunday March 8, 2014. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST for consideration. There is no cost to play. This S-Type body has been purchased by me and is in no way endorsed by ZICA Toys, Castaway Toys or the 8 Inch Super Store.
I thought it would be fun to put all of these fellow’s together, side by side and chat about them for a moment. Our subjects in case you didn’t know are Robin the Boy Wonder in three different incarnations. In this article I’ll do a basic breakdown of the nuances of each.
Nothing will ever replace this wonderful feat in toy engineering for me. No matter how good a reproduction may be, nothing will ever match this version note for note. But it is clear to see this fellow has been loved quite a bit over the last few decades. While the gloves are reproductions everything else is original Mego including the internal rubber bands that hold him together. Actually this Mego Robin is my daughters that she has been playing with for the past couple of years. Don’t worry Kaitlynn, Daddy will bring him home once I’m done with this article.
Figures Toy Company
Next we find the Figures Toy Company reproduction. In their marketing they use the term “Exact” however this is not the case. There are noticeable color variations, Robin’s head is smaller while his neck is longer, the internal rubber bands are almost too tight which has caused some breakage issues for some folks and the body is made of a lighter weight plastic. With all of that said though, none of those are damnable offenses.
I consider the color variations not much different than what can be found in Mego’s original run of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. As far as the head size, to the casual observer and non- Mego collector this is most certainly a passable facsimile. The rubber bands are what they are and I’d almost be willing to bet that FTC is going to get this resolved as it would be the poor business plan to have to keep replacing bodies all the time, which I hear they have no issues with. As far as the lighter weight plastic this isn’t a bad thing. If not for the super tight rubber bands these bodies are actually quite durable. Again I would like to take this time to publicly commend Figures Toy Company for having really turned their quality ship around. Bravo to you!
Castaway / ZICA
And our final specimen is the S-Type body from the combined efforts of Castaway and Zica Toys outfitted in the Figures Toy Company’s Robin accessories and head. While I love the body as a whole and raved about it in the video I posted earlier there are two issues that I would like to point out. The first is purely aesthetic. The S-Type is just different enough from the T-2 body that it does stand out as being just that, different. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m just saying.
And secondly the legs and arms are not as beefy as the T-2 or the FTC facsimile of the T-2 body. This is not a huge deal BUT the oven mitts will slide right off with little provocation and the shoes are loose. Again none of these are terrible flaws and in fact this one is the most playable. I even offered it to my daughter but Kaitlynn is a creature of habit and loves her “old Robin” just fine.
Conclusion
In the end I feel I’ve shared with you three examples of some great toys that hit on numerous positive levels. The negatives that were pointed out were merely observations that I make as a lover of these toys. It does sadden me however that I didn’t have a Doc Mego or EMCE example to post along with these as the good Dr. will always in my eyes be considered the champion of the Mego cause and without him none of this resurgence would have happened.
The new S-Type (Solid Body) 8 inch scale, Mego style body from ZICA / Castaway Toys is something indeed to behold! This first part of the review focus’ on the swapping the new body with a Figure’s Toy Company “DC World’s Greatest Heroes” Robin the Boy Wonder.
Please use the links below to get your own toys that you’ve just seen in the video… Do me a huge favor and let them know you learned about them here at Jim’s Toy Box. I do appreciate it!
For those of you who are following the Toy Box on Facebook (or are on my own personal page) I’m pretty sure I drove you nuts all day yesterday with my never ending posting and reposting about my pal Vinny and the new episode of Toy Hunter that he was going to be on. I apologize for being a pest. However I don’t apologize for being excited for a friend to the point of being a spammer.
You may have asked and are still wondering; “Sweet lord, Jim why damage your pseudo-reputation in the blog-o-sphere? You got a stake in the show?” The simple answer is: “No”. I have absolutely no connections to either the Toy Hunter show or the Travel Channel. But what I do have is a cyber friendship with Mego Museum member Vinny0026 or as the rest of the less cool world knows him as Vincent Carnabuci.
“But you said he was your ‘pal’ ?!? So you mean to tell me you bugged me to death over a guy you don’ even really know? “. Sorta. I did and I do AND I’ll keep on doing it. Why? Lots of reasons, here’s 3:
1. I have learned over the years that real friendships do develop over the internet. Especially in particular in niche circles such as the forum over at the Mego Museum.
2. When you have a friend ‘do good’ don’t you want to join in the celebration? Of course you do. This is the “good news” type of story that people say they want to see on their evening news casts. Since “they” don’t tell those stories enough, I will and you should.
3. Vinny is a great guy with an impressive collection and some really neat custom pieces and he was getting to share and showcase them with a national television audience. Tell me you wouldn’t do the same for your car collector club, sewing circle or high school reunion pics.
Plus for those of you who did join me and all the other Mego fans and friends of Vinny, wasn’t it cool to see Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC fame loose his mind over the toys? Being a fan of Run DMC I enjoyed that a lot. He “gets it.” Take just a moment and reconnect with your childhood toys and you may just find that innocent, untainted version of you. In turn you’ll smile a lot more and stress out a little less.
What I appreciated even more was learning about D’s camp for foster kids. I always thought of him as a genuinely nice guy and now having learned about Camp Felix and the Felix Organization I really love this fellow.
The kicker here is that without Vinny’s toy collection being featured on the show and D wanting to show today’s kids (and adults) the magic of these “old toys”, odds are I never would have heard or learned about the Felix Organization and all the good they do. And you dear reader probably wouldn’t have either. Plus you wouldn’t have seen the incredible collection that my pal Vinny has amassed over the years.
See? The hubbub was totally worth all of that and more.
Almost showtime… break your regular viewing habits and kick it over to the Travel Channel at 8PM Central and check out Toy Hunter where tonight Jordan, along with Darryl McDaniels aka DMC of Run DMC pay a visit to a great guy and pal of mine Vincent Carnabuci. Seriously, come play! http://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/01/29/toy-hunter/5017385/
Swing back by here tomorrow for some post show recaps and discussions! Jim 01/29/14
The Retro Train keeps rolling along thanks to ZICA Toys!
The latest creation from the folks that brought us the INCREDIBLE, museum qualityBuck Rogers and Tigerman Mego style figures is back with their latest creation; 3 & 3/4 inch Six Million Dollar Man, vintage Kenner style action figures and like previous creations of ZICA, these do not disappoint!
Quality, unique design and exceptional style these new action figures are an absolute must for not only 6MDM fans but also 70’s and 80’s vintage toy collectors. Through Entertainment Earth you can get Red Jogging Suit Colonel Steve Austin, Bigfoot, the pair or the exclusive three figure set with that includes the limited edition Blue Jogging Suit Colonel Steve Austin!
Click all those hyperlinks and or pics and get these magnificent figures in your home TODAY! Now, Go Play! (and make that cool Bionic Sound while you run around the house or office!) – Jim 01/24/14
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
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.
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
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.
In Conclusion
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
Hangin’ out with the bad boys is always fun so long as you keep bail money in your sock.
Again my focus has been captured by the incredibly fun line of figures from Cartoon Network’s “The Venture Bros.” As cleverly crafted by Bif Bang Pow! This time around the object of my affection is the beloved and beguiled arch nemesis of Dr. Venture, The Monarch! I must admit this guy brings out the feelings of love and hate when it comes to critiquing him. Oh the dilemma that comes from being an objective reviewer! See your way through to the end and you’ll see what I mean.
Point #1. What it is.
Biff Bang Pow’s Monarch from the Venture Brothers line of 8 inch Classic Style of Action Figures
Point #2. Where it came from.
Another great trade made at the Mego Museum Marketplace Forum. You can get yours at Entertainment Earth or Toys R Us.
This is perhaps the best Re-Mego head sculp / design ever!It’s hard not to be impressed by the Monarchs devilish good looks.
Here is where we find some serious love on my part. The head sculpt is beyond a shadow of a doubt the coolest looking I’ve seen of all of the new “Re-Mego’s on the market. The sculptor did a fantastic job of capturing the Monarch’s likeness. The decision to go the extra mile with using separate pieces for the finer points of his looks (i.e. the eyebrows, crown and goatee) are beyond admirable. It really is a sign of exceptional quality from the BBP folks.
Like the body armor the gauntlets aren’t coming off without some breakage or hand popping.
Another thing about the Monarch that makes me smile and applaud BBP even louder is that the re-purposing is kept to a minimum. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the practice and in most cases appreciate it, but to create new pieces specifically for a figure is to me a sign that these toy makers have more heart in their project than at least half of Santa’s elves. The torso armor, the sculpted pointy toed feet, and of course the deadly weaponized wrist gauntlets are something to behold, even if you can’t take them off.
Point #4. The Bad.
Paint rubs to the bubble I see as a big no, no for the MIB types.
Here comes that hate part I warned you about. Considering the presumed collectors market that these figures are intended to reach I immediately spotted a big gaff when it comes to finding Mint In Package specimens. The shortcoming I speak of is how the paint used for the beard rubs very noticeably on the inner side of the bubble. A blight such as this could be deemed as completely unacceptable for the “mint” collector. Luckily for me I’m not one of those types.
Pointy shoes, or rather I should say molded feet. Takes a man’s man for that wardrobe choice.
Another big gripe for me is the leggings that are intended to represent the Monarchs Thigh High boots. Understanding that creating footwear that would be cartoon accurate could be a production nightmare if molded in plastic I do see the reason as to why they went in this direction. With that said though I have to say that the pleather look looses me. It’s mainly the separation that you see where the leggings meet the ankle. Perhaps a stirrup configuration would have closed the gap better and made the boot seem more cartoon accurate. Plus they make the figure look chunky.
Whew! Glad to be done with that part. I hate the bad points but what are you gonna do? In all though the figure himself is another great effort from BBP and Honestly I would rather have the clunky leggings versus no Classic Style Re-Mego Monarch at all.
Point #5. Why I like it.
A trio of terrific terror troubadours.
As I continue to become a bigger fan of the show and it’s characters I can’t help but snicker when I look at this guy’s mean and somewhat imposing grimace. If one didn’t know any better you might actually think he could do some damage on purpose. But as fans of the show know that is simply not the case. The Monarchs victories if any come through by way of accidental occurrence and in the end wind up biting him in his butt. I guess it’s that when I see this fellow staring at me I know that thanks to his efforts good will always prevail. That’s uplifting and inspiring. Oh who am I kidding? It’s just super cool to have another new Re-Mego on the shelf that is part of a collection of toys for grown ups who refuse to grow up.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Why you should:
Tell me this guy doesn’t scream, “Kneel before Monarch!”. And then you do.
Because you can’t have any other figure in this line without the dreaded Monarch to torture or vice versa. Plus to have him paired with Henchmen 21 and 24 is something that is really cool in the world of 8-inch Classic Styled action figures. Seriously how cool would it have been if back in the day that Mego could have cranked out some of the Penguin or Riddler’s TV goons to help in their efforts to thwart Batman and Robin? Army building is cool, especially when someone else has done all the work for the wonderfully reasonable price of $14.95.
Why you shouldn’t:
Again hangin with the bad boys is a lot of fun so long as you don’t get stuck being the designated driver. Then it would suck.
If you’re really OCD about footwear or the possible paint rub issues I mentioned above you may want to steer clear. But if you’re a loose collector there is no reason to not get this guy. So seriously go order one know or pop into a Toys R Us.
In Conclusion
Feel free to add your own snide caption here _____________. Or email it.
Again I point out the fact that this property that is the Venture Brothers has to be the coolest assortment for the Re-Mego fan. Plus with six new figures on the horizon (Hank, Dr. Girlfriend, Phantom Limb, Dr. Orpheus, Dr. Venture and Rusty) this looks to be a line that will continue to satisfy the collector for the rest of the year and beyond. Seriously, with all of the super cool characters that haven’t come out yet the possibility of these guys giving you something to look forward for years to come is an awesome collecting opportunity. Now – Go Play! – Jim 06/21/11
Only one remains before the current released collection is complete for the Toy Box. Dean, hurry up and get here pal.
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
Mini – Jim’s New Body is the product of Castaway Toys!` Check out their hot bods and so much more at www.castawaytoys.com
Good morning gang! I know, I know: Why time stamp this post when you never know when exactly someone is going to actually be reading it? Because its morning right NOW, duh. And morning was very crucial to the decision to do this sunrise photo session and quick post about Logan: the Wolverine.
You may have asked and are still wondering; “Sweet lord, Jim why damage your pseudo-reputation in the blog-o-sphere? You got a stake in the show?” The simple answer is: “No”. I have absolutely no connections to either the 
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