Tag: Mattel

Mattel’s Retro Action: The Real Ghostbusters aka The Gangs all here (well, almost)

I call this one, "Ghostbusters under glass". Er, I mean plastic. Whatever. I've got the set so there!

Introduction:

Once again I turn your attention to the guys who chase down the bumps in the night. Well actually, these Ghostbusters went to work all hours of the day and night, but primarily on Saturday mornings. And the fiends that struck terror were actually very brightly colored more reminiscent of a Rainbow Bright doll than say Pinhead from Hellraiser. Oh well, they’re still fun.

Having touched on Egon already… (http://jimstoybox.com/2011/05/24/mattel%E2%80%99s-retro-action-the-real-ghostbusters-egon-spengler-great-stuff/ ) I’m going to do my best to avoid any unnecessary redundancies in this review. The bodies are still greatly improved from earlier Retro Action Assortments and the Velcro fasteners on the back of the jumpsuits still please me more so than the snaps found on the Retro Action Super Heroes. With those two main commonalities pointed out let’s get down to the business of reviewing this terrific trio of tortured soul terminators. It’ll be fun!

Point #1. What it is.

Mattel’s Retro Action: The Real Ghostbusters Ray, Winston, Peter and Egon

Point #2. Where they came from.

You've seen one RA Ghostbusters backer card, you've seen 'em all.

Again this line is a Toys R Us Exclusive however I acquired all of mine through ebay by way of my now good pals at Page 3’s Game Zone (http://www.page3sgamezone.com/toys/) and another fine e-tailer Kokomo Toys (http://kokomotoys.com/). I offer up both if them as very reputable dealers. And I also direct you to their personal websites versus their ebay listings so you can get what YOU want without these fine folks getting jacked on the latest round of ebay fee increases. I may be a great example of “a fool and his money” but I do know when enough is enough when it comes to sellers fees on ebay.

Point #3. The Good.

Along with the Standard Issue Proton Pack, Ray also comes with this... um.... super dooper turkey baster?

Nothing beats a complete set. Well the set as it stands so far (we’ll get to my gripe in a second). The cartoon accurate look along with the accessories really adds a great deal of value to these toys. And I would be remiss in not pointing out the fact that all but one of these figures have a really cool, cartoon accurate accessory outside of the standard issue Proton Pack. And while Dr. Venkman does not come with any extra special gadget, the fact that this one doesn’t suck body wise (as compared to the SDCC exclusive) is  good enough for me.

Mr. Zeddemore here is the only Ghostbuster to come with a trap so I hope he never takes a weekend off.

Another thing about the accessories is that they do fit well in the hands of these Real Ghostbusters. There is a slight drawback but I’ll get to those points in a moment. For now though I want to stress that it is really cool to see that Mattel has went the extra mile to offer up 8 inch scale accessories that really do augment this line greatly.

Venkman is so cool he needs no extra accessory. Unless of course you count his charm and smarmy attitude.

The head sculpts for Peter and Ray are also nice interpretations of the 2 D characters. Winston’s likeness is lacking but in all actuality I’m just glad he was made at all. Still I do have to admit that when I look at these guys lined up and compare them to the images from the cartoon, Winston here looks more like a guy playing Winston more so than the real deal. I’ll consider him Winston’s stunt double Carl. While they don’t really look alike, through the cameras lens during the fast action shots, he’s close enough.

Point #4. The Bad.

Of all the GB's Winston's sculpt is lacking in the likeness department.

To show that I am a fair review and not always “Yay Mattel!” I’m going to do a bit more complaining than what your used to reading from me dear reader. The reason isn’t that I’m wanting to improve my “street cred” and show you that I really am an “old school thug that will slap you down when called for” it’s really just a matter of what I believe is poor planning / consideration Mattel took with this line.

To really make the collection complete we MUST HAVE Slimer. Janine would be nice but the Ghostbusters without Slimer is like peanut butter without jelly. Considering the kick that Mattel has been on with the whole “build-a-figure” concept I think they really missed a great opportunity here for a Do it yourself Slimer. One arm with Egon, one with Ray, The Lower body with Peter and the Upper Body and Head with Winston.

For those out of the toy loop real quick 411- “Build –a- Figure” refers to the way Mattel has included different body parts with different figures in a particular wave to create a complete figure. Great marketing concept considering you have to buy each figure in the Wave to complete this super exclusive figure or pay through the nose for the bits and pieces on ebay.

I also mentioned that the line is lacking Janine. Honestly this really isn’t that big of a deal to me. Sure she was an important character on the cartoon but not as important as Slimer. Considering she is pictured on the back of the card I would almost bet that she will be a Matty Collector Exclusive. That would make sense to me. The same think with Mr. Stay Puft. He really had no role in the cartoon series anyway.

Another thing that I have to comment about is the “retro” art style they have applied to this particular backer card. Why? This show is from the 80’s not the 70’s. The off center layouts really doesn’t work. If anything they wanted to stay true to the “Retro” feel they should have used photos of the toys instead of the animated images. That’s the way it was done in the 80’s. I’m just saying.

And finally my last gripes, The body improvements are nice, but posing is a bit limited. When taking some of the group shots I had an idea to actually have the guys zapping the CTVT Ghost but to pose them with their Proton Shooters was next to impossible. Also while the accessories are great to have the plastics used on the ghost trap and the super doper turkey baster/ thermometer is too stiff to adjust. Still not a “bring me their heads” foul but a bit of a n annoyance.

Point #5. Why I like it.

The likeness to the cartoon image is good but should be a bit chubbier in both face and body IMO.

After all of that how can I possibly say I like these figures? Simple. For me these figures are a great throwback to the final days of major network Saturday morning dominance. In 1986 the networks hadn’t lost their market share to Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, The Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, etc, etc, etc.

Exactly the same head sculpt as the SDCC exclusive.

And even though the cartoons were quickly and

cheaply made with numerous corners cut in the animation process, those once a week offerings were golden. “What are you talking about Jim?” It’s nostalgia, but not just for the show and characters but for an entire pop culture genre that really doesn’t exist anymore. For Pete’s sake you can even buy the complete series of the Real Ghostbusters cartoons fro back to back viewing versus once a week. I guess the affection I feel (and perhaps you too) for pre 90’s cartoons may be because they were rare so to speak. And the weekly wait between installments made the heart grow fonder. Pardon me while I wipe away my tears of nostalgia that are coupled with sighs of old age. And yes I meant “sighs” and not “signs”.  I guess Mattel’s marketing isn’t as lacking and misguided as I thought. Damn you Matty. Damn you.

Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.

Why you should:

I was wanting more of an action pose for this shot but honestly it was a bit tough to get the hands, arms and proton packs to cooperate.

These guys are a colorful assortment of fun. They also meet with every other reason as to “why you should” that I’ve mentioned with other reviews of the Retro Actions. The only thing that I can really had for these guys specifically is that they are a team and regardless of a personal favorite one without the other three just seems off balance and wrong.

Why you shouldn’t:

"Oh Crap!"

From a quality standpoint there is no reason whatsoever that I can really point out. The only concern might be that the line end here and no factory made Mattel Slimer gets made. That really would be a bummer.

In Conclusion

With my list of gripes I can’t honestly say that this complete line is a true out of the park homerun for Mattel. I will however say it is a pretty fair “bases loaded with Matty at the bat” offering. Now let’s just hope that Matty doesn’t strike out and leave us all hanging with no Slimer or Janine. Still though it is a fun looking line that for me fills up some of my Nostalgia cup. It’s just not quite enough to make it “runeth over”. Now – Go Play! – Jim 06/08/11

The RA Ghostbusters a re bright and welcome addition to the Toy Box crew and collection.

 

* Extra note slash plug… If you are by chance interested in picking up one of the CTVT Gruesome Ghosts for your Ghostbusters to kick the crap out of may I recommend my pal Vini in OKC. He’s a very upstanding seller and a very nice guy too. The figure is what it is and not his or my fault. But Vini does have the best price around on all of the CTVT stuff that he has in stock. Check him out… http://cgi.ebay.com/Gruesome-Ghost-Loose-Mego-Reissue-Action-Figure-/360304339416?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e3cfe9d8 Tell him Jim sent ya!

 

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

When 5 Stars isn’t enough: Page 3’s Game Zone on Ebay

Hey everybody in cyber, blog reading land! I couldn’t help myself but to take the time and do this special write up for the guys and gals at Page 3 Comics (http://www.page3sgamezone.com/toys/). I’ve just concluded my second transaction with these guys and I gotta say that my level of impressments continues to grow! Here’s the skinny:

Originally I scored a Matty Shazam and Darkseid from them a little while back… you can read those reviews via these links http://jimstoybox.com/2011/05/13/mattel-toys-dc-retro-action-super-heroes-%E2%80%93-shazam/

http://jimstoybox.com/2011/05/14/mattel-toys-dc-retro-action-super-heroes-%E2%80%93-darkseid/

But enough about my own cross promotion, back to Page 3’s Game Zone….

After being very pleased with the packaging and price I knew that the majority of my Re-Mego purchases would be through these guys. So the next item up is a Winston Zeddemore from the Real Ghostbusters Retro Action line from Mattel. Again the turn around time was excellent and even more impressive was seeing again the super care taken in packing this figure. I’ll let the pictorial do the talking… Please note that I had to ‘recreate’ the steps because I had to open when I got him because I’m just that kinda dork.

We begin with a Priority Mail Box. Notice that it is a much larger box than the figure requires, with reason... you'll see!

 

 

AS you can see here what I'm calling Layer 2 is a whole bunch of packing paper to keep Winston from sliding around. But wait! There's MORE!

 

LAyers 3 and 4 consist of not only bubble wrap but also butcher paper wrapped like a present. And it is. I call it, "A gift to me from me".

 

Layer 5 is a padded envelope! That's right baby! MOre protection for the "Z" man!

 

Layer 6 is the real show stopper! These pads used to ensure that the bubble wasn't crushed made me literally say "Holy wowza! These guys are good!"

 

And finally here is Winston (Review coming soon btw) Ironically afterall of that I dropped him and dinged the corner. Yep, I don't call my self a dork for no reason.

As I’ve said from the outset of this blog I’m not in this to personally sell you anything. However I will be a sounding board for my friends out there in the world that I’ve dealt with successfully. For the record I will let you know about crappy ones too, but thankfully that hasn’t happened yet. Anyway. Again I strongly, highly, emphatically recommend Page 3’s Game Zone (http://stores.ebay.com/page3sgamezone). Great customer service is a true rarity these days and I for one applaud them tremendously for their efforts in keeping that dying art form alive even in the cold and empty world that is void of the Internet. Now – Go Play (and shop Page 3!) – Jim 06/03/11

Mattey’s DC Retro Action Super Heroes: Guy Gardner Green Lantern

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

The Retro Action line of figures keeps getting better and better!

This latest release from Mattel’s DC Comics Retro Action Super Heroes is another hit right out of the park. While for me Hal Jordan will always be the one and only Green Lantern, I accept the fact that the Corps is a much larger entity. And now thanks to the 8 inch style of figures these other Corps members are being released I’m even more inclined to invite them all into my Toy Box. In all seriousness though the line is improving with each new release. More costume details, improved bodies and of course Mego style goodness these figures will continue to grow on the hardcore Mego fans if given a chance and for the new recruits of 8 inch collecting as well.

Point #1. What it is.

Mattey's DC Retro Action Super Heroes: Guy Gardner Green Lantern

Point #2. Where it came from.

Guy is the third Matty Collector exclusive. http://www.mattycollector.com

Point #3. The Good.

There is a lot of good to say about this fellow. As you all know by now dear reader I’m a sucker for lots of bright colors. This guy delivers there in spades. I’ll let the pics do the talking…

ATTITUDE! The head sculpt really shows great personality.
The stitched stripe alog the pant leg is a very nice detail that adds a lot to the look staying true to the comic book look.
The turtleneck is another nice touch that keeps the look true to form.
Unique Boots show that Mattel isn't cutting too many corners despite rising production costs.
Again another unique accessory that I'm glad to see Mattel didn't scrimp on.

Point #4. The Bad.

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you... a box.

The bad points that I will highlight really have nothing to do with the figure itself. For all intents and purposes Guy here is perfect. The problems that have been noted by other collectors that I myself did not experience is that the shipping company that Mattel is using is a bit less than collector friendly. Reports are that the white mailer boxes are being inserted into bubble wrap envelops are being crushed in transit and in turn ruining the packaging and in some rare cases the figure itself. Again I did not have this problem.

Velcro or snaps? I gotta go Velcro.

While the snap doesn’t really take away from the look of the figure I still would prefer Mattel switch out to the Velcro fasteners as used on other figures such as the Ghostbusters. However I do understand how Mego purists would really frown on that change. Still, these aren’t Mego’s so I don’t see the modfication as being a problem.

The only other gripe I can say is that the Heroes are now outnumbering the villains. How fair is that? Seriously I do like the way Mattel has kept the regular released Waves balanced between the two. There is a Yellow Sinestro variant as part of these Matty exclusives but like many other fans I think we would be a happier lot if we saw completely new figures instead of variants. However considering the theme of these exclusives it makes sense.

Point #5. Why I like it.

The Green Lantern Corps has more 8 inch goodness to come including Kyle Rayner and John Stewart.

More Retro Action figures are always a good thing in my book. Especially considering all the extra touches this guy has. Form his unique boots and belt to his snarky expression this “Guy” delivers. My hat is off to Dr. Mego and EMCE for the prototype work that they did on this one.

Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.

Why you should:

Lots of color and a unique costume make up for such a stupid haircut. "Hey Moe!"

The look of this figure is well worth the $20 plus shipping. With the enhanced bodysuit (see turtle neck) and the white striping accents (see vest and pants) this “Guy” looks like a million bucks.

Why you shouldn’t:

Another all around great figure from Mattel.

The only real reason I would steer you away from purchasing this figure is the possible mailing issues. Again I myself had no problem but if you are a true stickler for Mint condition items you may want to wait until these surface on ebay. While Mattel has a good reputation of making good on orders you may want to strike a deal with a seller that you may be able to get a more direct line of communication with.

In Conclusion

Guy Gardner is another great figure from Mattel and I must say that the end result of their efforts is well worth your time, attention and cash. I myself love the fact that the line as a whole continues to grow. Hence why you’ll find some group shots that I am very excited to post. It’s like a Saturday Morning cartoon coming to life in awesome 8 inch Mego style! Now Go Play! – Jim 05/30/11

Attitude? Yep. And I love it. Keep scrolling down for more pics and reasons why you should add this line up to your own Toy Box.

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'm going to need a wide angle lense the way this line continues to grow.
While slightly out numbered the Bad Guys are still well represented.

Mattel’s Retro Action: The Real Ghostbusters Egon Spengler… Great Stuff!

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

A too quick morning at the World’s Largest Toy Museum – Branson, MO.

Greetings and good morning, noon, or night dear readers I figured I’d cover all bases on the salutation considering I never know when you guys and gals may be reading this. Call it Southern Hospitality. Another great place to find not only awesome hospitality but also an incredible amount of toys is my good buddy Tom Beck’s place; “The World’s Largest Toy Museum” in Branson, Missouri.

The pictures you will see below are from the first weekend in May of 2011. This was the first opportunity the wife and I had to take the baby to this must stop destination for the toy collector and kid at heart. In a perfect world where time is in abundance I would love to go into super detail about every square inch of this marvelous museum. Unfortunately it’s not so the best I can do is share with you a very large handful of pictures that we took during our far too brief visit.

For the sake of freshening up the blog this one is gonna be one of those “check back often” blogs. But i promise you it will be worth it. We took some great shots and a ton of ’em. And even then didn’t really scratch the surface of this wonderful place for oogling.

Again I don’t recommend places and businesses without serious consideration. The museum however is one of those spots however that I can do so with no reservations. So if your in the – or traveling through the -middle of America take a detour down the Highway 76 Music strip and look for the big top. You’ll be glad you did. And tell ’em Jim sent ya!

This is Tom Beck owner of the "W.L.T.M." He's a super nce fellow if you can't tell by the pic. Here he is posing with the latest addition to the museum, Buck Rogers and Tiger Man from ZICA Toys graciously donated by Mr. Craig Owen.
These two soldiers stand waiting to great you every Monday thru Saturday. Sure they're there on Sundays but they won't let you in no matter how much you beg.
It's really tough to get the whole building in one shot. I love the way the old school DC heroes logo's are used on this far right side of the front of the building.
It's amazing how much Superman stuff you can fit on one shelf!
The T2 Mego Superman sitting down is actually one I donated a few years back. Tom insisted I put my business card with it so I said okay. The numbers changed since then so don't call it.
A whole bunch O' Batman stuff under glass.
This display just screams "Creepy" but the wife and baby loved it. Almost looks like their colection. Almost.
Some REALLY old school Buck Rogers toys from the late 30's early 40's.
This is just one of the scenes from a "Christmas Carol" window display that came from a department store circa.1948. This display alone is worth the price of admission.
The family that geeks out together stays together!
Lot's O Barbies to be found!
See? 🙂
They never end!
Not a great shot but still cool to see Mego Trek represented.
A Christmas Carol Pic 2. The detail is wonderful and charming.
Christmas Carol Pic 3
Christmas Carol Pic 4
Christmas Carol Pic 5

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

Mattel Toys DC Retro Action Super Heroes – Darkseid

Entertainment Earth

Darkness never looked so BRIGHT!

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

Coming hot off the heels of the Smallville series finale where Clark finally embraced his destiny, put on the cape and kicked this guys butt, I think this is a good day for this review. And say what you want but without Smallville’s season 10 the average household now knows the name Darkseid. That’s a good thing especially considering Toys R Us and Mattel’s lack of advertising and promotion for this line. But then again that’s what I’m here for. Let’s sell some darkness folks!

1. What it is.

Mattel Toys DC Retro Action Super Heroes – Darkseid from the Wave 4 Assortment of figures

2. Where it came from.

If you’ve seen one wave 4 assortment cardback, you’ve seen ’em all.

As with all other DC Retro Action Super Heroes (and Super Villains) he’s a Toys R Us exclusive in the brick and mortar world. I however got mine off of ebay from the seller: page3au (http://cgi.ebay.com/Retro-Action-DC-Super-Heroes-Series-3-Darkseid-New-MOC-/370493548571?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564322e81b ) who did such a great packaging job I have to give him some props and a plug. Seriously this figure came layered in protection; Layer 1. Plastic Bag, Layer 2. Newspaper wrapped like a gift, Layer 3. Cut to size cardboard sheets laid on top and bottom of the figure and taped into place, Layer 4. Another wrapping of paper, Layer 5, A padded envelope also taped securely, and finally Layer 6, packed in a Priority Mail box with bubble wrap and packing paper filling in the gaps in the box to prevent any shaking or movement. Impressive.

3. The Good.

Padded like a prom date.The grey body which matches the head is a nice touch, even though you see none of it under the accessories.

The look of this fellow really grew on me. He looks as if he jumped straight out of the television set from the old Super Powers cartoon. The large “upsized” gloves and boots as well as the padded suit are a very nice touch really. I thought they would be cheesy and gimpy but actually they add to the figures appeal. In a minute you’ll also find out why they are also very crucial to the figures play value.

Poseing possibilities abound!

Another thing that I would like to point out is that even though the bulk-suit is just placed on a regular (but grey colored) RA body it is still very possible with all of the pieces on it. Again we’ll talk about how important and ironic this feature is in a moment.

4. The Bad.

There was a song about this paricular pose back in the day. To mention it we would loose our PG rating.

I didn’t see the padded suit as a bad thing when I first heard about this figures make up but it would have been nice to have a larger sized body for the customizing world to devour. But the “bad” part that I refer here is the fact that the body is completely useless without the suit. the pic you see is it in its natural state. All other suit-less shots were propped up.

Now before I get schooled that the body must be this way for the suit to work, I point this out for those who may be wanting a grey body for customizing. If that’s the case you will need to restring the body to make it useable.

Look at it like this… at least you know he’s safe.

Another thing that may be a downer for loose collectors is that Darkseid has been given a tail of sorts. Manufacturing/Consumer safety standards state that a label explaining what exactly the padding is made up of is a necessary evil.  Plus you can cut it off. But that does take away the “mint” value of the figure.

A cape would also have been nice. But then again that’s what customizing is for. Play people, play!

5. Why I like it.

“You love me this much?” Yes.Yes I do.

Again the comic book / cartoon look and style is excellent. The addition of this “Super Powers” character adds to the future possibility of this line, which of course makes me all kiddy, again like a prom date. The character’s head sculpt being not esactly human is a nice breakaway from the “regular” look of the line. Plus those eye’s! They burn through to your very soul. Okay maybe not but they are painted well.

Is their a Visine formula for evil allergies and red eye?

6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.

You should because…

The grey body which matches the head is a nice touch, even though you see none of it under the accessories.

This figure is in my opinion one of the best interpretations of the character so far when it comes to the other Retro Action Heroes and Villians. The designers really kncked it out of the park with this on.

 

 

 

 

 

You shouldn’t because….

Come take a walk on the Wild Side! Clothing optional!

If you want to buy it for the grey body, don’t. If you want it out of the package and refuse to cut off the tag but think it looks silly wiith it, then don’t. Other than those two reasons I got nothing.

In Conclusion

Darkseid here is a figure I will easily recommend when it comes to this line. As long as he’s clothed; he’s fun and functional. Plus the balance of good guy / bad guy that Mattel has stuck to with the regular Wave releases makes it crucial to bring this guy home to keep the playing field fair. He’s a great figure overall and I do recommend this one so long as you keep his clothes on. Remember kids, to quote another 80’s tune that’s not quite so racey, “We don’t have to take our clothes off to have a good time. Oh no.” Now, Go Play! – Jim 5/14/11

Seriously, put it back on. Now.

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

Mattel Toys DC Retro Action Super Heroes – Shazam!

Entertainment Earth

Introduction

Not since John Travolta have we seen such a happy guy in a bubble!

Billy Batson all supped up is a very happy guy. But wouldn’t you be too if you had the combined abilities of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury? And wouldn’t you also just shorten it to SHAZAM! Add to all of that he’s also been rendered in 8 inch Mego style that has really been stepped way up on the coolness scale. Still he does look a bit goofy but that’s okay, we’ll examine the customizing possibilities thanks to his unique looks that have really brightened up my Toy Box.

1. What it is.

Mattel Toys DC Retro Action Super Heroes – Shazam from the Wave 4 Assortment of 8 inch figures.

2. Where it came from.

Standard back for all of Wave 4’s figures, like previous Wave’s.

As all other DC Retro Action Super Heroes (and Super Villains) he’s a Toys R Us exclusive in the brick and mortar world. I however got mine off of ebay from the seller: page3au (http://cgi.ebay.com/Retro-Action-DC-Super-Heroes-Series-3-Darkseid-New-MOC-/370493548571?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564322e81b ) who did such a great packaging job I have to give him some props and a plug. Seriously this figure came layered in protection; Layer 1. Plastic Bag, Layer 2. Newspaper wrapped like a gift, Layer 3. Cut to size cardboard sheets laid on top and bottom of the figure and taped into place, Layer 4. Another wrapping of paper, Layer 5, A padded envelope also taped securely, and finally Layer 6, packed in a Priority Mail box with bubble wrap and packing paper filling in the gaps in the box to prevent any shaking or movement. Impressive.

3. The Good.

This picture should be erased, destroyed all and all disappeared.

When I first saw the pictures of the prototype figures I thought to myself, “Wow, that looks stupid,” mainly because of the elongated neck. The final product however has that oddity corrected. Which immediately raised my rankings of this guy.

All of the gold used on this figure is a nice brigth addition to your collection.

Also the costume is fantastic. From the gold boots and trim to the ornately screened cape this guy is remarkably true to the comic book look. Also the snap at the top corner of the flap on the front of his suit is a very nice detail that really adds to this particular figures perceived value.

The snap on the upper right shoulder is a nice touch that is more ttrue to the comic than a unitard would lend.
The pattern detail for the cape is also a nice touch.

4. The Bad.

The head sculpt is fun and I get the expression but I think the naysayers in the collecting community would have been less likely to complain about the likeness had the makers went with the squinty eyed look versus the wide eyed, happy go looking and kinda dopey stare. When I first saw the figure I was trying to put my finger on who exactly this guy reminded me of. The jury’s still out but in this guy I notice two possible candidates while my wife noted one. To me he looks a bit like Bill Paxton when he played ‘Chet’ in Weird Science and then the football player guy (Brandon Molale) that Adam Sandler punched in the mouth in Mr. Deeds. My lovely wife Alicia however says he looks similar to Lois & Clark’s Dean Cain, he just needs a tan. Again the jury is still out.

Customizing options abound with this guy!

5. Why I like it.

Attention sellers! Use THIS pic and not the proto. Watch your sales soar!

Again the prototype pictures had turned me off originally. Thanks to those shots I had put this guy way down on the bottom of my collecting priority list. I’ll be the fist to admit that I was indeed very wrong in that assumption and the folks who are still using those pics to sell their product are doing themselves a great injustice. This figure is very cool and tons of 8 inch, clothed action figure fun! Also if you stand him side-by-side the original Mego release you’ll see the designers here refused to allow such a bland representation be re-released upon the world. To that I say “BRAVO!” to EMCE Toys for the excellent redesign work.

6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.

You should because…

You know Captain, you really make me smile!

Along with the ‘Good’ points above I’ll add here that adding this figure to your collection of Super Heroes will enhance the color and pop of your displayed figures. This Shazam just explodes with brightness.

You shouldn’t because….

“Happiness is a state of mind! It’s also the state in which I live!”

The only negative I can see in this aspect is that if you are a purest when it comes to likeness this figure will probably leave you cold. In that regard he does kind of look like a way to “Red Bull-ed” up car salesman in a Halloween costume.

In Conclusion

Again I held out on this guy because of the prototype pictures and now I’m glad to say that I did finally break down and dropped the bucks on Billy Batson’s alter ego. I’m also very thrilled with the fact that Mattel did indeed fix the body issues that plagued Waves 1 and 2 of the line. So with my new Shazam in hand I look into the horizon as I wait patiently for the next Wave of Retro Action figures to be announced and then released. Now, Go Play! – Jim 05/12/11

Another Retro Action figue I decided to pick up.

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

Saturday Morning Funnies: Ep. 5: And the winner is… ODBJBG!

Mattel’s Retro Action DC Super Heroes Black Adam

While not so much a ‘must have’ figure this Black Adam does deserve some respect.

In every collector’s life there comes a time when he or she picks up an item simply because its needed to finish a set or collection. That time is now for me with the Retro Action Black Adam. However I do want to point out that while I could care less about this character in general, the figure is indeed fun looking, better body quality than previous Waves from Mattel and also funny looking. That goes a long way in my Toy Box.

1. What it is.

Mattel’s Retro Action DC Super Heroes – Black Adam

2. Where it came from.

Picked this one up on ebay on the cheap.

3. The Good.

"I can fly! Well, with your help and imagination.""I can also walk like an Egyptian. Take that Billy Batson!"

The body is fixed! The costume looks very snazzy with the gold accents. And it is good to have another bad guy in the balanace. For that I must applaud Mattel for their strategy in releasing an equal amount of both good and bad guys. Too bad Mego didn’t take this same approach back in the 70’s.

 
 
 

 

 

4. The Bad.

Do we cut along the dotted line? I just don't get it.

Considering I’m pretty indifferent when itcomes to the character I can’ t objectively find any faults. I do have two things that strike me as odd and or kinda stupid. The first is the boots. What gives with the dotted black lines? I’m not sure what effect the designers were going for but in this example I’m totally clueless.

His head seems a touch too small for his neck. But then he is a bad guy, and they're supposed to be ugly.

Another thing that I’m not to overly impressed with is the head sculpt. He looks okay (I actually like his likeness, we’ll come back to that in a minute) but his head seems to be too small for his neck. Leaves him looking like a pin head.

5. Why I like it.

Outside of it being another “new” Mego style super hero to add to the Toy Box, the biggest thing to me is silly but hey it’s my collection right? In all joking seriousness the fact that this figure is a dead ringer for comedic actor Harland williams is simply too cool for school. I’d say Harland do two things here; 1. sue for likeness rights and 2. Agree to drop the suit so long as he is guarenteed the role if they make a live action “Shazam” movie. Again, my two cents.

Harland Williams fans REJOICE!

 

6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.

You should because…

Desipte his lower teir ranking in my book, he is still a nice figure overall.

You gotta collect ’em all! Seriously he is a well made figure with an improved body over previous waves. The shiny gold accents do look cool when on display with other figures.

You shouldn’t because….

The gold touches are nice. Tacky, but nice.

If your not a big Shazam fan you probably have no real interest in this guy. I understand completely. Honestly had I not got him so cheap I probably wouldn’t be writing this review today.

In Conclusion

The Mattel Retro Action Black Adam is a well made figure especially when compared to his counterparts in Wave’s 1 and 2. He’s also a ‘fair’ representation of the character, not great but not too terrible either. Overall i woould recommend this figure to the RA collectors out there because of the quality. I however can’t see this guy ever going for big bucks on the secondary market. Had this wave actually made it to Toys R Us locations (I have no idea why they didn’t btw) I’m sure this fellow would be a peg warmer even more so than Sinestro still is from Wave 1. Maybe they could have tea or something? 

Thanks again for stopping in dear reader. Now, Go Play! Jim 5/01/11

Even though he is kinda stupid looking I have to show him some respect because of his quality. Shoot me because I have manners see if I care.

 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

“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

%d bloggers like this: