The Monster Meal from Max’s Monster Burger… the most fun you can have in this life or the next! For franchise information email Jim today!
Here’s something a little different. A dream of mine would be to have a themed fast food joint. To this end I took some characters I created years ago, mixed in some Showbiz Pizza with a splash of Space Ghost Coast to Coast and pack it all into a location similar to the house that Kroc built and I welcome you to “Max’s Monster Burger” where you can test the menu by trying our decedent and delicious “Monster Meal” with a burger, fries, drink, ghost shaped monster nuggets and of course a toy packed up in a cute box for easy eating on the go. This is of course a tie in to the TV show; “Conspiracy Cinema”. Welcome to the show, foolish mortals!
Let your imagination fly and watch what happens! Jim 03/06/2033
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.
Mattel Toys Sucks. Period. They cancel lines blaming lack of fan base support while they themselves offer the products o market in the most piss poor manner possible. I went out on a limb with these reviews as a fan trying to push the product. In the end Mattel showed that they are not worthy of mine or your accolades or MONEY. I’m not editing the reviews however. At the time of their writing I meant what I said and in regards to the figures themselves I feel the same way, however the emotional connection is gone – Signed, Jim 01/14/12
Introduction
Is that a giant, fat "orb" on your chest or is your Proton Pack happy to see me?
“Who ya gonna call?” That was rhetorical. We already know. This latest addition to the Toy Box is one that I was very reluctant to pick up. Not because it was to be a purchase for the sake of it being another new “Re-Mego” but because of a bad experience from an earlier Ghostbuster run in. My first experience with this particular property came in the form of a San Diego Comic Con exclusive Peter Venkman. Frankly, he sucked. Lot’s of reason for that vague statement but let me direct you to an earlier review I did of that figure via the Mego Museum’s EMCE toys forum thread… (http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?t=47379) I am glad to say however that I didn’t just judge a book by its preceding cover. Egon here makes up for all of those shortcomings. I feel I can lurk in the shadows now with absolutely no fear of the things that go bump in the night with this Ghostbuster in the house!
Point #1. What it is.
Mattel’s Retro Action: The Real Ghostbusters Egon Spengler
Point #2. Where it came from.
Like all other Mattel Retro Action’ this fellow is a Toys R Us exclusive. Still with no local TRU to browse I again purchased him on ebay.
Point #3. The Good.
This is going to be a fun review considering that it gets to be a positive one. For the sake of formatting problems I’ve been experiencing I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves with the cutlines handling the text that should be in magazine format. Anyway there is a whole lot of good going on here.
With the accessories and the detailed costume these Ghostbusters really give a little bit more to the perceived value.
Cartoon faithful colors and design make this Proton pack an excellent accessory.
The PKE meter is also another perfect accessory. But it could be easily lost.
To be able to hold his Proton Shooter proper is also another nice aspect of the body design.
The glasses are also a wonderful accent piece. Beign that you could remove them with a little effort versus them being a part of the sculpt goes a long way in my quality book.
While some may say the torso being black plastic versus being an actual under garment, I say BAH! The move keeps the cost down. And if you MUST have the black under clothing go buy and extra Black Manta and strip him down and use his body suit to complete your perfect vision.
The velcro is a very nice change from the snaps found on the Super Heroes. Makes for a much more streamlined look when fastened.
In the Mego tradition: Re purposed boots ala Black Manta. They work. 'Nuff said.
Point #4. The Bad.
The only negative I can throw at Egon is that there is nowhere to put his PKE meter when he is holding his proton rifle. That of course leads to the possibility of it being easily lost. Always a bummer. Plus I’m a little worried with the longevity you can expect out of the Ghostbusters logo.
While I can't be 100% certain I'll bet the logo could have cracking issues over time. I didn't work him over that hard though.
Point #5. Why I like it.
Standing tall and proud on the fixed Mattel Retro Action body!
The Real Ghostbusters cartoon came out just on the teetering point when I was supposed to stop watching cartoons (late sixth grade if I remember correctly). I still did secretly though. Anyway with that little skeleton out of the closet I really liked the cartoon. Especially since the Filmation Ghostbusters had been out for a while and I simply thought they were too silly. Mind you I had no historical connection with the original live action show from the 70’s. Now that I understand the context of that show I appreciate it more now. Still the REAL Ghostbusters are still tops in my book. Sorry Mr. Scheimer, but you did have me with He-Man and Bravestarr.
Back to another of the many reasons why I like this figure; He looks just like the cartoon! That is a giant thumbs up in my book. For the creators of this Egon to have put the effort into perfectly capturing and rendering this guy in 3 dimensions from his original 2 dimensional existence I must tip my hat to you. That really is no easy task. Certainly not for me. I really do appreciate the fact that no matter which angle you observe this fellow you never loose the fact that this is indeed Egon from the cartoon. Add to that the colors! I love that the colors pop! Just like a fun toy should.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
Such a colorful and fun egghead. But if you were a ghost you'd be scared out of your mind if you saw him coming. You would, seriously.
Why you should:
As an 8 inch action figure collector you owe it to yourself to add this guy and his pals (I’m working on that by the way, thank you page3auc http://shop.ebay.com/page3auc/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25 ) even if your not a particular fan of the show. Standing along side the Retro Action Heroes the overall scope of the line and its possibilities really takes shape. With all of these truly compatible figures you can see the world that was Mego playtime coming back into existence. And of course with all the other super sweet figures on the market now from EMCE, Bif Bang Pow, Castaway and of course ZICA, your 8 inch world of collectibles can become a wonderfully diverse display that still takes up less room then 12 inchers and look a lot more fun than the super articulated and detailed 6 and 7 inch figures.
Why you shouldn’t:
After all of the good I honestly can’t come up with a reason for you not to. Actually considering the normal pattern of the nostalgia train I would bet that these figures will increase in popularity more so than their Super Hero counterparts as more late 80’s kids become aware of them.
In Conclusion
Egon Spengler is an excellent action figure and toy thanks to the efforts of Mattel. Period. They’ve corrected and improved this line every step of the way and do truly appear to be listening to the fans (aka consumers) and doing right by the same. Egon here really does giv me hope and makes me anxious to see what else Mattel has in store for us fanboys and girls of all ages. Now Go Play! – Jim 05/24/11
Dear Reader, Egon. Egon, Dear Reader. Ya'll should get to know one another better. I'm glad I know both of you.
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
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
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