The best Toy Hunter episode to date is coming up tonight!

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

 

35 Years later…

dukes-of-hazzard-CBS-35th-anniversary
Bo andLuke Duke, the General Lee and some girl laying on top of the General.

Like many pop culture milestones it’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years since the Dukes of Hazzard premiered on CBS. Doing the math that means one thing; we Gen X’ers are getting old! But we did have a lot of fun.

I was in kindergarten when the show premiered and quite frankly I had no interest in it until two things happened: 1. The other kids started talking about it and 2. I saw the Mego figures that were created. My six year old mind rationed that it must be worth watching if it was worth of a series of action figures.

For a six year old I was pretty sharp, perhaps a little limited in my world scope but I knew fun when I saw it and this show had tons of it! Drinking, fighting, tires that squealed on dirt roads AND the occasional guest appearance by the Oak Ridge Boys! What, no mention of the “Daisy Dukes”? Dude, I was six. I found Flash far more eye catching.  Perverts.

My fondest memory of the show of course was the Mego action figures. Bo, Luke and Boss (No, Daisy? Dude, she was a girl and as such, a doll. Duh.)

dukes_of_hazzard_figures

The only thing that sucked however was the giant whole in this product line was the General Lee. How could this possibly have happened? For whatever reason it did and it sucked. Except of course for one saving grace; me having the best Dad ever!

My Dad, while not a toy guy and not a huge fan of the show he also saw this glaring hole in playtime, ( he did however like the Oak Ridge Boys and Waylon Jennings though, so that eased the pain of watching the weekly broadcast with me). To remedy this, one Friday evening he came home with a big box under his arm that featured a picture of the General Lee on it. Excitement erupted from me as I dashed down the hall to get Bo and Luke and show then their new ride. Upon returning however I was surprised to find that actually Dad had to put it together first. That’s right, the only fix for the situation was the big 1/16 scale mpc model kit. But by golly, that was good enough for me. Even if they didn’t fit in it.

$_57

So for the rest of my Dukes of Hazzard playtime and adventures Bo and Luke hung out the windows of the General Lee. And it was perfect. Especially since Boss didn’t have his car to chase ’em and Roscoe was no where to be seen. For modern audiences however that could be a little more problematic as Figures Toy Company has done Mego never did and really screwed up on in not doing FTC has made a Roscoe! I won’t go into the other balls that were dropped by Mego in regards to not releasing an 8 inch version of Uncle Jesse, Enos and Cooter. But then again it may be best. Save a little embarrassment from the memories of all the adults laughing at you as a child, running through the house screaming; “I’m gonna go play with my Cooter!” or “Has anyone seen my Enos? I’ve lost my Enos!” To which of course YOUR Uncle Jesse says; “Then stay out of Vegas and for the love of all things holy, leave your Cooter alone before you go blind.”

Today which marks the 35th anniversary of the show is also significant in that it marks the day that the all new 12 inch Dukes of Hazzard Mego Style figures begin shipping. The 8 inchers are still set to be released in March. The series one Dallas 12 inch figure of JR Ewing is also going but I personally could care less. In its heyday I was a wee lad of elementary age who could care less about a dysfunctional family of Texas oil tycoons however I was a little troubled when I learned that Major Nelson had been shot. I always hoped Jeanie would pop out and blink the culprits into oblivion. Dude, I was six. Cut me some slack.

Now, Go Play! – Jim 01/27/14

Order Dukes of Hazzard Ghost General Lee Charger Glow Model Kit from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard Ghost General Lee Charger Glow Model Kit

Order Dukes of Hazzard General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger Model Kit from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger Model Kit
 

Order Dukes of Hazzard Daisy Duke Plymouth Road Runner Model Kit from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard Daisy Duke Plymouth Road Runner Model Kit

Order Dukes of Hazzard Roscoes Dodge Monaco Police Car Model Kit from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard Roscoes Dodge Monaco Police Car Model Kit

Order Dukes of Hazzard Curvehuggers Slot Car Racing Playset from Entertainment Earth!
 Dukes of Hazzard Curvehuggers Slot Car Racing Playset

Order Dukes of Hazzard 8-Inch Series 1 Action Figure Set from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard 8-Inch Series 1 Action Figure Set

Order Dukes of Hazzard 8-Inch Action Figure Carrying Case from Entertainment Earth!Dukes of Hazzard 8-Inch Action Figure Carrying Case

Dawn O’Connell– Her scale is still small but her scope is getting gigantic!

Introduction – Regular visitors to my site are obviously familiar with Dawn O’Connell’s work with Little Buddies Action Figures thanks to Lil’ Buddy Jim serving as my spokes model. And while ‘mini-me’ is great I gotta tell ya dear reader, she’s getting even better!

Recently a friend contacted me about having a little buddy made of him to serve as a marketing tool in conjunction with the release of his exclusive line of energy drinks (you can learn more about that project from Don Urgo HERE). For me this was great news for two reasons 1.) I was going to get to work directly with Dawn again and 2.) I was going to have another Little Buddy other than myself to play with. Sweet lord did that sound terrible. Moving on.

Prior to Little Don arriving Dawn sent proof pictures and ‘wowza’ was I impressed! Not only had she nailed Don’s likeness but she had done it so much cleaner and sharper than before. Imagine how much more I was blown away when he arrived for picture day. Let’s break down some of the particulars that are spectacular leaps above her previous (and also very good) works. I love watching artists grow!

The Head

The first most noticeable change comes in the materials used. While I can’t tell you the exact modeling compound used I can easily tell you that it’s an improvement. Look at my mug next to Don’s and you can see the smoother / cleaner look. It also allows for more details to be captured. Another thing I must point out is that Dawn does do ‘in scale’ head sculpts but the Donfather wanted his Little Buddy to have the same comedic charm as yours truly.

The likeness easily goes without saying but one thing the casual observer can’t see is the really neat and nifty thing that Dawn has don with the neck plug.

Where mine has a modified Mego plug with the sculpting clay built up around it Little Don has a smooth, extended, straight neck that makes it much easier to change costumes or bodies.Speaking of which is another great improvement.

The Body

Dawn has also made a serious upgrade in this area too. Originally she was using Classic TV Toys generic bodies but as all of you regular readers and customizers know, the quality issues and too tight rubber bands can lead to all kinds of problems. This is no longer an issue because has upgraded to Dr. Mego bodies. This particular body is one of the new swivel bicep versions. (The Mego Museum / Plaid Stallions Brick Mantooth figure also features this latest body style.) As a side note one of the best things about this new body is that the shoulders are much more broad and manly looking if you will. No slouching from our hero now!

Oh no,no,no! Little Don looks even more magnificent in his multi-layered duds that are also worthy of a round of raving…

The Costume

In this area we see not only improved skills in Dawns mini-tailoring abilities we also see she’s getting wiser in delegation. What I mean there is that the suit itself is a factory made item from CTVT. And in this area those folks shine quite well. Same goes for the shoes. Now let’s get down to the touches that a mass produced item isn’t necessarily going to be able to capture properly:

The overcoat – handmade by Dawn and fits perfectly over the other layers.

The scarf – again perfect scale and a brilliant touch.

The hat – Custom sculpted / made to fit Don’s head snuggly without fear of damage to either the hat or head.

The vest – Yep a vest! Don’s a three-piece suit guy s what you gonna do? This layer is actually the most impressive in execution mainly because she was able to create it and add it to the ensemble without bulking up Little Don too much.

And finally the icing on the cake – the rose boutonniere –

Not only is this a neat custom piece, it’s a perfect accessory that pulls the whole thing together. To see this up close is stunning. Again Dawn’s detail work is spectacular and the signature of a true artist.

In Conclusion

“I’m blown away. There’s a little version of me right there!” Those are the words of Don Urgo himself and they perfectly sum up my feelings as well. Having experienced the joy that comes from receiving a Little Buddy from Dawn and now having shared that experience I’m telling you dear reader there is no other product / good/ or service on the site that I can recommend higher. Dawn’s efforts are art… exciting… beautiful… elaborate… spectacular and the most important part… FUN!

Another reason I felt so inclined to write this follow up article to the original one from a couple years back was also to show you in the audience what you SHOULD expect from a custom figure maker. As of late a lot of companies have been promoting custom action figures that look like you but their quality is drastically lower than what your gonna get from Dawn at an even higher price. Those other folks use 3D printing techniques that are ‘okay’ when all the elements are in place perfectly (generic head is the right size and shape, base profile photos are perfectly positioned and lit). But like all things artistic and custom the details are what will make or break the end result. Everything I’ve seen in regards to those printed heads is far from impressive and get only a mildly passing grade when the ‘perfect storm’ of elements are present. Especially considering the money your going to have to shell out.

When it comes to your custom pieces such as this, whether they be for a gift, personal vanity, marketing or just because you have just always wanted to be Superman, hold out for the best. It is indeed Quality over Quantity and I can cyber-stand before you today and proclaim loudly from the rooftops that your Little Buddy from Dawn O’ Connell will in fact be the best of the best. And that’s basing my latest opinion ‘right now’… imagine how even more spectacular her work will be when you make your order!

Now Go Play! – Jim 07/08/2012

[ebay width=”355″ height=”300″ query=”Custom Mego” ]

Customizing your heroes. Even if they are a little bit weird.

The latest creation from Jim and Gar!

 

Scroll to the bottom to see NEW pics of the subject and his doppelgangers as well as a very nice and appreciated video shout out from the main man!

Custom Secret Squirrel: You know the “Bleh, Bleh” Guy!

Introduction – Greetings gang! In this entry I get the distinct pleasure in introducing you to two separate but equally cool things. The first is my pal Gar Ghoul who is the host of “Horrible Horror” on the web and has been for the past six years. Each week Gar brings you a complete line up of fun and merriment consisting of music, fun and funny banter, lots of “bleh, bleh’s” and of course, a horrible movie. Add to all of that the online broadcasting platform allows you to chat directly with Gar and other members of the audience in real time.

To those who haven’t tried it out yet the best way I can describe the experience is like, being able to talk in the movie theater but no pimply-faced usher is going to try and kick you out for disruptive behavior. Or better yet, its like a movie with subtitles that actually salvage an otherwise crappy movie. Check it out for yourselves Saturday nights at 8PM Eastern / 7PM Central (the rest of you can figure out your own time zones, I’ve got an article to right)..

The second really cool thing that I am introducing to you today is the art of custom figure making known as ‘kit-bashing’. This my friends is an ancient Chinese secret that very few are tuned into. Okay that’s not really true. Kit-bash customizing is actually a fun and relatively easy way to create action figures of characters that have never been produced, using existing parts and pieces in a configuration that captures your heroes in 3 Dimensional form. And the best part is that for this particular 3D art form you don’t need stupid glasses that cost you an extra two bucks and that they expect you to give back at the end of the feature. Sorry about that. But that really does get on my nerves. Back o the fun stuff.

What it is 

Now that I have introduced you to our subject I’d like to share with you some of the insider tips I used to create this custom “Gar Ghoul” 8 inch, classic Mego style action figure that may inspire you to have your own arts and crafts fun day.

First, the character that Gar ‘is’ really lends itself easily to the custom Mego treatment. To me Horror Hosts (the name is a proper noun, show some respect) are cool on so many levels. A few of those being that 1.) They’re great entertainers, 2.) There’s not a terrible amount of money in it (if any really) so these guys and gals are doing it for the love and for the artistry and 3.) The characters created are like real life cartoon characters, super heroes, movie monsters come to life etc… It’s those reasons that toys of the characters are a natural fit.

 *editors note – for more on Horror Hosts from today and days gone by check out the fantastic archive created by Corpse S. Chris at 

Three others that I would like to also recommend (I could go on but for the sake of time I’ll narrow it down to just three)… Ormon Grimsby…Dr. Gangrine and MeTV’s  very own Svenghoulie. 

Ormon Grimsby
Dr. Gangrene

Back to the custom…

The Gar custom consists of two parts – the packaging and the figure itself. I list the packaging first in this case because honestly my customizing skills ain’t what they used to be so the packaging is crucial to the final products effectiveness.

The packaging 

Card Front
Card Back

If the old saying “imitation is the greatest form of flattery” is true than you folks at Bif Bang Pow should be blushing brighter than a red, ripe tomato. For the packaging I used Adobe Photoshop, stills captured from the Horrible Horror show(Thanks Tammy)  and the layout is a direct copy of the one used on the later issued Venture Bros action figures. The outer shell was recycled from a EMCE Toys/ Diamond Select Star Trek action figure. *astute readers will notice that the name on the card art says “Secret Squirrel” … to learn about why that is come on over to the Horrible Horror facebook page and find out why.

The figure

The figure is actually really simple. The base used is the Companion character from the Space 1999 series of figures released by Classic TV Toys. The only thing I really had to do was slap a little black and white paint on and “WAH LAH!” instant Gar Ghoul. The nose of the base figure was the real deal maker actually. It looked just similar enough to help add to the overall likeness needs.

I only made three of these (1 for Gar, 1 for him to use as a giveaway and 1 for my own personal collection.) but more are always possible thanks to the ability to kit bash.

Now the bigger question some of you may be asking;

“Why do I care?”

The main one being that the art of kit bashing is a great way to make some really neat gifts for those you love. The creations could also be used for unique marketing promotions or simply just for fun!. And while you can customize and kit bash pretty much any toy line out there, something about the Mego style just seems to mesh better with the final products “fun factor”. So what are you waiting for? Pick a subject, gather your supplies and get to creating! You can even work on it while watching “Horrible Horror with Gar Ghoul”, Saturday nights at 8PM EST / 7 PM CST on Vaughn TV!

Now, Go Play! – Jim 6/30/2012 (Updated 02/05/2014)

“So, it’s Bleh, Bleh,Bleh”?
“No,just  Bleh, Bleh. The 3rd is over kill. 

Entertainment Earth

8 Inch KISS Goodness from Figures Toy Co. (CTVT)

My very first
VIDEO REVIEW
featuring the greatest band in the world!

And now there’s even MORE to choose from!

KISS: Debut Album
8 inch
KISS 1st Album Series 2 8-Inch Spaceman Action FigureKISS Starchild Bandit Mask 8-Inch Action FigureKISS 1st Album Series 2 8-Inch Action Figures Set

12 inch
KISS 1st Album Series 2 12-Inch Demon Action FigureKISS 1st Album Series 2 12-Inch Catman Action FigureKISS 1st Album Series 2 12-Inch Starchild Action FigureKISS Starchild Bandit Mask 12-Inch Action Figure

Hotter Than Hell
8 inch
KISS Demon Hotter Than Hell 8-Inch Action Figure

12 inch
KISS Demon Hotter than Hell 12-Inch Action Figure

Love Gun
8 inch
KISS Retro Series 1 8-Inch Spaceman Action Figure

Dressed To Kill
8 inch
KISS Series 5 Dressed To Kill 8-Inch Action Figure SetKISS Demon Dressed To Kill Color Suit 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Catman Dressed To Kill Color Suit 8-Inch Action Figure

12 inch
KISS Series 5 Dressed To Kill 12-Inch Action Figure SetKISS Demon Dressed To Kill Color Suit 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Catman Dressed To Kill Color Suit 12-Inch Action Figure

Sonic Boom
8 inch
KISS Series 3 Sonic Boom Starchild 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Series 3 Sonic Boom Spaceman 8-Inch Action Figure

Monster
8 inch
KISS Catman Series 4 Monster Album 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Starchild Alt. Series 4 Monster 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Series 3 Sonic Boom Catman 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Demon Series 4 Monster Album 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Spaceman Series 4 Monster Album 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Starchild Series 4 Monster Album 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Demon Bloody Series 4 Monster 8-Inch Action FigureKISS Series 4 Monster Album 8-Inch Action Figure Set

12 inch
KISS Demon Bloody Series 4 Monster 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Catman Series 4 Monster Album 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Starchild Series 4 Monster Album 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Starchild Alt. Series 4 Monster 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Spaceman Series 4 Monster Album 12-Inch Action FigureKISS Series 4 Monster Album 12-Inch Action Figure Set

Carrying Cases
KISS 8-Inch Action Figure Carrying Case

Julius Destructus: Destroyer? Sure. Inspiring? Oh brother, are you in for a treat!

Introduction

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

Saturday Morning Funnies: Episode 6- CTVT strike back!

“Saturday Morning Funnies” Episode 4: What Roscoe could never do…

What does your imagination have in mind? Submit your rescue ideas to me at jimstoybox@gmail.com the best submission as chosen by me and my lovely wife Alicia will not only see their dream scenario acted out in next weeks Saturday Morning Funnies but you’ll also receive this carded Luke Duke for your own collection! Sure he’s got a bum knee but a free Mego is still a free Mego!

So what are you waiting for dear reader? Start flexing your imagination and help free Luke Duke!

Email submissions to jimstoybox@gmail.com please include a contact email address and your name. DO NOT SEND your address or any info at this time. I will contact the winner via the provided email address and request the info at that time. I’m not a spammer and have no intentions of becoming one. You have until Monday May2nd to get your ideas in so get to it!

The game is set kids! Now, Go Play! Jim 04/30/11

“The Wall” Chapter 16 – Classic TV Toys – The Demonic Devil

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

“The Wall” Chapter 15- Classic TV Toys: The Horrible Mummy

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

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