Good morning gang! I know, I know: Why time stamp this post when you never know when exactly someone is going to actually be reading it? Because its morning right NOW, duh. And morning was very crucial to the decision to do this sunrise photo session and quick post about Logan: the Wolverine.
Logan here is from the Diamond Select / EMCE Toys Marvel 8 inch Re-Mego collector set. Well one of two heads and outfits separate from the complete Mego-style Wolverine figure in the set. And on a Type S body from ZICA / Castaway Toys (as constructed by my pal Gregory Harris. Again sir, you are much hoss!). Hopefully this week I can do more of a full on review but right now this post is all about THIS figure and the fun that it inspired on a Sunday morning in August, 2015.
Taking our lovely little Yorkie out to do her morning business, excuse me, be demanded to take out Her Royal Roundness for her morning water blessings of the lawn, everything looked “just right” to bring this guy out and get some pics in natural light that I hoped would show how fantastic this figure is. And I don’t say that lightly at all.
I have been on the fence with these DST/EMCE Marvel 8 inch figures for some time and still have some issues I want to discuss later this coming week but for now I just want to share and celebrate with you this Canadian that means nothing but business. Check out the pics and tell me what you think either here or on Facebook.
Now, Go Play!
Jim 08/02/2015
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ALSO !!!!!! I’ve created a Streaming Channel for the ROKU! It’s much more than toys but I would appreciate it if you would take a look sometime. Plus you never know when I may get more playtime in for the Toy Box that will find it in the Arts&Entertainment section of the channel. Still waiting on the final approval from ROKU to put it in the official channel store (fingers crossed) but in the mean time you can still access the channel using the Vanity Code below. Thank you again to all of you wonderful folks for the encouragement in all of my weird and wacky adventures 🙂 – JB
I’ll throw this out there in an effort to help not only Craig and ZICA toys but also to help every loyal and loving Six Million Dollar fan…. Pre Order the Wave 2 set of figures from Entertainment Earth via THIS link
and I’ll hook you up with a free MeTV t shirt once we get word from Craig that the Wave is a go! As proof please send me a screen shot of your pre order invoice to jimsmegos@yahoo.com and I’ll get back to you on your FREE T-shirt!
From Craig with ZICA Toys: Based on the recent preorder numbers I’ve received it looks like the SMDM wave 2 assortment is at risk of being canceled. Considering how well wave 1 did I’m more than a little shocked at the low numbers for wave 2. For a small company like mine projects typically live or die based on preorder numbers.
Boy has it been busy so please forgive me for my in and out lately. It’s been a really productive time though. Here’s a quick run down:
Did a lot of tests for the internet broadcast show yesterday. Many thanks to Gar Ghoul for the tip on a video capture device. It was a huge help and most certainly the hub that everything is centered around. Also special thanks to Ben and Tom for bearing with me and being my eyes and ears as I pushed buttons and flipped switches. It’s coming together nicely and once I perfect my method I’ll share the process with all of you potential broadcasters out there.
On the S-Type body giveaway I am so tickled to have received pictures of our young winner and an example of his “Multi Color Man”. The future of the 8 inch format rests in his imagination. Thank you so much for playing and sharing Zach!
The review front finds a pair of fellows that most certainly took me back to my childhood. Being a slave to the tease aspect of things I won’t tell you who or what they are but I will say the Force is most certainly with them.
The biggest thing on the toy front that really knocked my socks off occurred yesterday when it was officially announced the partnership between Bif Bang Pow and ZICA Toys. My two favorite toy makers have partnered up to bring us all into the Twilight Zone. Love these figures!
There is so much going on that I can’t wait to share with you but I must. Time has most certainly become a precious commodity for me these days but thankfully I have you and the Toy Box to help me slow down long enough to write this and play a little. I appreciate that gang. Now, Go Play!
I’m all about giving credit where it is due so at this time let me through a HUGE shout out to Mr. Randy Ham. Randy was the organizer of the “Take an action figure to work day” last week. Thank you again good sir for putting the event together and encouraging folks to play!
The S-Type Body giveaway… and the winner is…
Congratulations to Vincent and Zachery Mondano of New Jersey for their winning submission of 8 year old Zachery’s “Multi-Color Man”. I can’t wait to see it!
Future Contest
I was hoping to announce a new contest today but I got a bit busy as…
I’ve officially returned to TKO 8 Television
Yep after a few months hiatus all is well and good in the local TV hood. As part of the deal I secured a Tuesday night 7PM prime time slot for the new “Jim’s Toy Box” variety show. The first program is scheduled to air March 29th!
And that’s about that. Been a crazy busy day for sure but it is so much more rewarding when you have something to show for your efforts at the end of the day. Too bad I lost an hour. I could have gotten so much more done!
Perhaps it’s the old disc jockey in me but I love doing contests and giveaways. It seems fitting that I incorporate that into the Toy Box. For this first contest of the new and improved Jim’s Toy Box I’m going to be giving away a FREE S-Type body as produced by ZICA and Castaway Toys.
Like my moves Mr. Cooper? Of course you do!
I truly appreciate this revolutionary new body and it’s amazing possibilities. So much so that I put “me” where my mouth is. Little Buddy Jim is now outfitted with the new S-Type Body and I couldn’t be happier with the results. More possibility, flexibility and options. It also looks great as Robin the Boy Wonder!
“How do I win, Jim?” Boy am I glad you asked!
For the next two weeks to register to win all you have to do is tell me how you’re going to use this new S-Type body and promise to share a pic when your done. So what will you do? Create a custom from scratch? Swap out bodies with an existing figure? Something far more imaginative than my meager suggestions?
To enter email me your plan of action for this awesome action figure body to jimsmegos@yahoo.com. The contest will run from Sunday February 23, 2014 to Sunday March 8, 2014. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST for consideration. There is no cost to play. This S-Type body has been purchased by me and is in no way endorsed by ZICA Toys, Castaway Toys or the 8 Inch Super Store.
I thought it would be fun to put all of these fellow’s together, side by side and chat about them for a moment. Our subjects in case you didn’t know are Robin the Boy Wonder in three different incarnations. In this article I’ll do a basic breakdown of the nuances of each.
Nothing will ever replace this wonderful feat in toy engineering for me. No matter how good a reproduction may be, nothing will ever match this version note for note. But it is clear to see this fellow has been loved quite a bit over the last few decades. While the gloves are reproductions everything else is original Mego including the internal rubber bands that hold him together. Actually this Mego Robin is my daughters that she has been playing with for the past couple of years. Don’t worry Kaitlynn, Daddy will bring him home once I’m done with this article.
Figures Toy Company
Next we find the Figures Toy Company reproduction. In their marketing they use the term “Exact” however this is not the case. There are noticeable color variations, Robin’s head is smaller while his neck is longer, the internal rubber bands are almost too tight which has caused some breakage issues for some folks and the body is made of a lighter weight plastic. With all of that said though, none of those are damnable offenses.
I consider the color variations not much different than what can be found in Mego’s original run of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. As far as the head size, to the casual observer and non- Mego collector this is most certainly a passable facsimile. The rubber bands are what they are and I’d almost be willing to bet that FTC is going to get this resolved as it would be the poor business plan to have to keep replacing bodies all the time, which I hear they have no issues with. As far as the lighter weight plastic this isn’t a bad thing. If not for the super tight rubber bands these bodies are actually quite durable. Again I would like to take this time to publicly commend Figures Toy Company for having really turned their quality ship around. Bravo to you!
Castaway / ZICA
And our final specimen is the S-Type body from the combined efforts of Castaway and Zica Toys outfitted in the Figures Toy Company’s Robin accessories and head. While I love the body as a whole and raved about it in the video I posted earlier there are two issues that I would like to point out. The first is purely aesthetic. The S-Type is just different enough from the T-2 body that it does stand out as being just that, different. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m just saying.
And secondly the legs and arms are not as beefy as the T-2 or the FTC facsimile of the T-2 body. This is not a huge deal BUT the oven mitts will slide right off with little provocation and the shoes are loose. Again none of these are terrible flaws and in fact this one is the most playable. I even offered it to my daughter but Kaitlynn is a creature of habit and loves her “old Robin” just fine.
Conclusion
In the end I feel I’ve shared with you three examples of some great toys that hit on numerous positive levels. The negatives that were pointed out were merely observations that I make as a lover of these toys. It does sadden me however that I didn’t have a Doc Mego or EMCE example to post along with these as the good Dr. will always in my eyes be considered the champion of the Mego cause and without him none of this resurgence would have happened.
The new S-Type (Solid Body) 8 inch scale, Mego style body from ZICA / Castaway Toys is something indeed to behold! This first part of the review focus’ on the swapping the new body with a Figure’s Toy Company “DC World’s Greatest Heroes” Robin the Boy Wonder.
Please use the links below to get your own toys that you’ve just seen in the video… Do me a huge favor and let them know you learned about them here at Jim’s Toy Box. I do appreciate it!
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 3Christmas Carol Pic 4Christmas 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
Breathtaking. That was literally the first word that came out of my mouth (after I got my breath of course) when I received this figure in the mail. In an earlier review of Zica Toy’s Buck Rogers I was stumbling over myself because of my amazement due to the quality of the figure. Tiger Man took that amazement to a whole new level. And that was before I even took him out of the box. From the boatload of accessories to the extreme detail in almost every aspect of this figure I can’t help but simply say “Wow!” To the astute reader you will notice that I’ve used the term “almost” a couple of times now. Being an objective reviewer I had no choice even though it pains me so. What exactly put a blemish on this otherwise perfect piece of 8 inch Zica goodness? Keep reading and I’ll tell ya.
Point #1. What it is.
Zica Toy's Tiger Man from "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"
Point #2. Where it came from.
This fellow came directly from the maker himself Craig Owen.
This guy is cool coming or going.
Point #3. The Good.
Tiger Man just comes to life in this figure.
Where to begin? From the top I suppose. Considering some aspects of this figure are identical to the Buck Rogers figure may I refer you to the review I did of Buck a little while back. The main common points are the packaging (exactly the same with the exception of the name), the most incredible 8-inch body EVER, and the extra sets of hands. Everything else is unique to this remarkably unique Tiger man.
The head: The sculpt of this guy is a dead on likeness to the actor that portrayed this baddy all those many moons ago. And while a bald guy is a bald the actual detail here is very impressive. The paint applications of course really push this element completely over the top. Looking at the 360o pic you’ll see that some serious thought and care went into this process. I honestly can’t think of any figure in any scale that has such a precise and intricate paint application. Again, super impressive.
The number of paint apps on this guys noggin' is very impressive.Each tooth and bead is seperate.
The Necklace: This has to be one of the neatest accessories I’ve ever seen. Where other companies may have opted for a molded, one-piece plastic accessory Zica has went to a whole new level. Each one of the teeth and beads that make up the necklace are actually separate pieces strung on a piece of golden thread. I did notice that the string seemed a bit too long and left the necklace to dangle a bit too far down. This however is a non-issue to me since I simply wrapped it around the head a couple of times and synched it up higher on his neckline. There is no way I was going to attempt to retie the knot to adjust the size. I’m far to scared the little pieces would scatter because of my less than nimble fingers.
"Nothing beats good blaster at your side kid." Oh wait. Wrong movie.The strap design captured is super cool in the "Book of Jim".
The Weapons:A gun AND a sword?!?!? And not only that but also a holster and sheath that are not only cool looking but also function perfectly. The gun and holster look incredible, but when you add in the fact that you can snap the holding strap on or off to remove the gun is simply fanboy heaven. The strapped style of the holster is also very impressive. While I do not know much about toy molding I can only imagine how difficult it would be to make such netting in plastic / rubber form. And it’s all held in proper place on Tiger Man’s hip with a silver rope that I myself would never untie for fear of not being able to refasten it properly.
Screen accuracy always impresses me.
Even though it's just a regular knot, I don't want to goof it up.
Perfectly positioned.
But wait it gets better!
Fashionable and Functional! Love those tassals.The sword and scabbord fit perfectly.Unsheathed.
The sword is so cool Ben Kenobi would hold it in higher esteem than a light saber. This elegant weapon and it’s decretive sheath are simply amazing. I know I’m using that adjective to death but I can’t help it. The woven, red sash that holds the sword in place on Tiger Man’s back adds a level of perceived value to this toy that sends it into the stratosphere. It’s very hard for me to believe that you can get all of this for only $29.99. Amazing. Oh I almost forgot the tassels. While I wouldn’t want them on my shoes I love ‘em on this sash. Really adds an elegance that you don’t see in this scale.
All this goodness and only 8 inches tall!Studs and Velcro. I know there's a joke in there somewhere.
The Costume: Again detail is the big word here. The silk-screened tiger stripping of the trunks and vest are another nice touch. Now factor in the gold insignia that adorn the vests trim and you’ve got yourself some serious extravagance going on. Also the studs on the upper bicep band really make this small but necessary accessory pop. Again Velcro is used to bind this piece. And be I remiss in not mentioning the leather armband on the right forearm and the silver belt that has a very detailed buckle, which is actually a buckle. No snap, it actually has the little notch piece so it can be easily taken off or on.
Shiny fabric always makes me smile.
The Boots and Knee pads: These are a bit of a sticking point for me and what adds to the use of the word ‘almost’. Again the detail is great but the functionality is a bit lacking. With the gold knee pads they are loose and thus slip and slide around the leg. The boots are very cool looking and screen accurate but with them being made of fabric with plastic soles stitched on they leave a bit to be desired when it comes to posing.
Cool looking but a bit disappointing.
Point #4. The Bad.
To coin the slogan from the old Nike commercials, “It’s gotta be the shoes”. This is the only negative I can see. For the life of me I could not get the feet to go all the way into the boot. I pulled, pushed and tugged and it simply wasn’t happening. The problem of course is that with out the feet properly positioned standing him up is almost impossible. Osing however can still happen but it is a bit tricky.
Point #5. Why I like it.
The cut of the vest hugs the chest perfectly.The sleeveless look is a gerat way to see how detailed the "Z-type" body is.
The level of detail in this figure goes above and beyond anything I’ve ever seen in an 8 or 12-inch standard action figure. Sure there are some really high end 12-inchers out there from other companies but in those cases your looking at spending well over a hundred bucks. Again I can’t stress enough the value that this figure is considering the details and accessories. The Zica body alone is well worth an Andrew Jackson by itself.
Point #6. Why you should or shouldn’t get one.
He's probably 20 pounds lighter with all of this stuff taken off.
Why you should: For the 8 inch action figure collector, to not have one would simply be wrong on a moral level. Even if you don’t like the show, the character or folks with tattoos on their face you must have this guy in your collection. I assure you this addition will be something that friends who don’t “get” your collecting hobby will have to say. “Whoa.”
"Say ONE more thing about my boots."
Why you shouldn’t: The only negative I’ve got is the boot issue. But that’s seriously not nearly enough reason for me to say not get one. I’m sure that had I had a little more time I could have worked the issue out but again tie is not on my side at the moment. And considering this guy looks so good in the package anyway (and with most collectors will remain that way) the issue is really minor in my opinion.
In Conclusion
So much color and detail in this mid section shot.
Zica Toys has truly raised the bar they’ve set themselves so high with Tiger Man I really don’t know how they’re going to top it. The only thing that I can see even coming close will be the release of the Zica female body but that’s still a ways away. But until then Tiger Man will hold the Number 1 position on my quality list followed closely by their Buck Rogers and then rounded out by the FX Exclusive Greatest American Hero ‘Ralph’. I can’t stress the importance of all of you reading this to go order your Tiger Man and Buck Rogers now from either Zica directly (www.zicatoys.com ) or their new distributing partner Castaway toys (www.castawaytoys.com). Actually I’ve got a better suggestion, order one set from each of them so you can keep one set in the box and the others free on your desk or shelf. Now, Go Play! – Jim 04/06/11
It's like being in a super cool action figure sandwich.
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
Good morning gang! I know, I know: Why time stamp this post when you never know when exactly someone is going to actually be reading it? Because its morning right NOW, duh. And morning was very crucial to the decision to do this sunrise photo session and quick post about Logan: the Wolverine.
Did a lot of tests for the internet broadcast show yesterday. Many thanks to 
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