Toy news roundup, 2/20/09

February 20, 2009 | Poe

Good morning folks! My apologies–there is no actual news roundup today. I did my usual perusal of the toy websites and found virtually nothing I deemed newsworthy. Feel free to post anything you found interesting in the comments below.

The only thing that caught my attention was that reportedly, the Mattycollector.com news page briefly had an item up yesterday that said the site would be offering cases of DCUC Wave 6 for $120, and possibly singles in the future. However, the news item isn’t there now, so who knows.

Obviously, if MC were to offer regular retail figures on the site, it would have serious consequences for other online retailers. On the other hand, if they were to offer cases of Wave 5, there would be much rejoicing.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode), 2/18/09

February 19, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Michael Crawford reviews the Diamond Select Toys Ultimate Quarter Scale Han in Hoth Gear figure from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Excerpt: “… I had my hopes up that he’d be the ONE, the Neo of the line.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Mezco Toyz Cinema of Fear Jason Voorhees (hockey mask version) 7-inch figure from Friday the 13th (2009 remake). Excerpt: “Mezco has done a nice job packing in some useful weapons for Jason, as he hacks his way through your display shelf.”

Rustin Parr reviews the JUN Planning Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington figure. Excerpt: “While paint and sculpt put NECA’s to shame, the lack of thigh and especially bicep articulation really, really limit this figure.” (more…)

Pic of the Day

February 19, 2009 | Poe

Manglors Manglord Action Figure Toy by Neato Coolville

Poe’s note: Man, I loved these toys as a kid. Well, toy, I should say, since I never had any of them except for the Manglord here. As you can see, they had some great, creepy box art, too.

There was a certain tragic aspect to these toys. The gimmick was that you could pull off their arms or legs and then, because the figure was so sticky, you could stick the limbs right back on. But as you might expect, the limbs never really gripped as tightly as they did before you ripped them off, and so once you’d torn off Manglord’s head, arms, and legs, you soon lost interest and the figure ended up in the trash.

Still, it was a neat gimmick, and made for a memorable, if unsuccessful, toy line. If you’re interested in learning more about Manglors, this seems to be the definitive site, although this guy also spends more text on Manglors that I would have thought possible.

Hasbro Toy Fair roundup

February 19, 2009 | PrfktTear

hasbro_logoToy Fair was last weekend, and all the toy companies were showing off all the new stuff we’ll covet and want to buy. It’s a little overwhelming, so Poe has asked me to highlight some of the good stuff coming out this year from Hasbro.

Hasbro has a LOT on their plate. Not only do they have Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen coming out in June, they also have Transformers: Animated, as well as the Universe/Classics/25th Anniversary line to show off as well. (more…)

DCUC Hawkman gets a new mace

February 19, 2009 | Poe

While I like the mace Hawkman came with, it sits a little too loosely in his hand, so I went looking for a replacement. On eBay I found a range of approximately 1/12th scale diecast weapons under the brand name “Mononofu.” I ordered the mace, which also came with a shield and a little stand.

The price and shipping were surprisingly cheap (particularly since it was coming from Hong Kong). The weapons are well-sculpted and look almost tailor-made for Hawkman. The mace head is made from diecast metal, while the shield and the haft and handle of the mace are made from plastic.

The shield also has a handle, which unfortunately means Hawkman can’t hold it properly, since his right hand is a fist. However, the mace fit in his left hand like a charm, and I think it looks even better than the mace he came with. But don’t take my word for it!

The weapons came in a box that features one of the finest examples of Engrish I’ve ever come across:

Leave and go up! It has weapos in your hands.

For justice, I keep honor of the soldier who came through a battlefield of 100 training for a person, and the thing which I defeat an enemy and defeated may say with true arms.

I inherit will of a great brave man, and I can revive with thunder now, and it is “MONONOFU.”

I think that about says it all, don’t you?

Marvel Chicken

February 19, 2009 | Poe

Good morning folks!

A lot of you have probably already seen this, but for those of you who don’t visit any other geek-oriented websites, Marvel has produced its own Robot Chicken-like video featuring MODOK bawling out an A.I.M. henchman, Christian Bale-style. It’s apparently the first of a series titled Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! It’s funny, largely due to the top-notch voice work on MODOK (and the way his little arms and legs flail around). The production values are pretty good too.

Vintage Month > The California Raisins (Applause, 1988)

February 18, 2009 | Poe

raisins

Back in the late 1980s, the California Raisins were huge. Like so many pop culture characters of the decade, they began as a marketing gimmick. Within a year or two they had toys, albums, TV specials, and they were even awarded that epitome of 1980s pop culture adoration, a (short-lived) Saturday morning cartoon. They even got a freakin’ videogame, although it was never actually produced. My personal favorite Raisins-related production was Meet the Raisins, a clever Beatles send-up which, sadly, remains unavailable outside of old VHS tapes.

Of course, young Poe had some of the Raisins toys–mostly just the little Applause figurines. They weren’t articulated, but they served their purpose of offering Poe a plastic totem of some beloved marketing icons.