Toy OTD: Disney, MINDstyle Black Hole Figure: V.I.N.CENT. (2009)

There aren't a lot of Black Hole toys to be had, and even fewer modern ones. For the most part, collectors have had to thrash about in a decades-old secondary market. But fortunately MINDstyle, a formidable maker of vinyl art, seems to have plenty of nostalgic employees. What better way to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Disney's sci-fi epic than with a spiffy new V.I.N.CENT toy? I was thrilled to hear the news!

While the figure is good, the promise and the reality are different things, and I was a little disappointed. The sculpt is quite precise - it looks exactly like the character - but the paint work seems a bit looser than I would've expected.

Generally, I'm not a stickler for articulation, but there's nothing movable here at all. The head can't retract, nor can the arms, legs, or laser guns pop out. I don't think the head even turns.

When you have a character where posing isn't much of an option, it's good to add a gimmick or two to keep the buyer from feeling that they've paid a good deal of money ($130) for a large chunk of pvc vinyl (even though they have). Working lights. A voice chip with dialogue and/or sound effects from the film. Moving parts. Different materials (a clear plastic insert for the monitor, for example). Something to make the figure feel a little less - well, inert. I don't necessarily mean voice response or animation, but a few small extras can go a long way!

Aside from the sculpt, the primary pluses here are scale - it's a big figure, a little over eight inches tall (and almost as wide) - and packaging. The box is simply gorgeous, made from heavy coated stock and slathered with sexy graphics and lacquer passes. If it weren't so big, it'd make a tempting keepsake! The figure also comes with a similarly decorated I.D.-like "collector's card", but I'm not sure why - the box borders on overkill as it is!

MINDstyle did include a display stand (a good thought, since V.I.N.CENT can't stand on his own in this pose), but while nicely unobtrusive, it doesn't add much in the balance department. You'll probably need a display case and some museum putty to protect this figure properly.

The original colorway (read: film version) debuted at this summer's San Diego Comic-Con and had a limited run of 300 pieces, so doubtless it's long sold out by now. Toy Tokyo still has one for $150 + shipping (call before ordering), there's one for sale on eBay right now for $180 + shipping, and ToyArena still has one in stock for $250 + shipping. If you're not finicky about the original film colors, MINDstyle has also released a Tron-looking colorway (an exclusive for the D23 Expo) that might be a little less popular (i.e, cheaper). Unfortunately, I can't find it for sale anywhere online, so you'll have to set up another eBay favorite search if you're interested in that version. Good luck!

Sweet! MINDstyle Pours On The Coolness: Black Hole Figures!

Well, "Black Hole figure" for the time being, but hopefully things will continue on down the character line if V.I.N.C.E.N.T. sells well. Can't wait!

I'm a big robot nerd, so I have a soft spot in my heart for these guys... especially old B.O.B. I sure hope he's next on the production line!

Article and images courtesy of Disney Consumer Group and I LIKE TOYS. Check out the link for more pictures, including a paint test!

Toy OTD: Medicom, Disney Vinyl Collectible Doll: Ariel (2002)

I bought this toy for my wife Anita because she's such a big fan of the film. This is executed so well, though, that I don't mind having it in my collection one bit! It's really a wonderful 3-D execution of the 2-D design.

The sculpt is simply terrific, and the figure balances nicely thanks to the choice of a seated pose. It's a logical answer to balance a mermaid character, but you'd be surprised how many toys there are that don't choose the obvious solution!

Like many other VCD figures, this toy utilizes paint and dyed vinyl extremely well. The facial paint work is really tight and delicate, plus Medicom gets big points for making Ariel's waist fin translucent - just another example of how they go the extra mile in their products. There's no artiuculation here, but the pose is dynamic enough that you don't really need any.

The packaging isn't particularly imaginative or attractive, but at least the money is in the toy - plus credit is due for how well protected VCD figures are in their sturdy clamshell/box containers. Warping and pain rubs are extremely rare in this line!

There isn't one of these figures for sale online right now, so you'll need to warm up another eBay favorite search. Good hunting!

Toy OTD: Medicom Kubrick Lightcycle (2002)

Medicom's Kubrick figures didn't interest me at first - at least, not until they started picking up movie licenses. The line that finally broke my resistance (and I think it was one of the first major film licenses that they got) was the Tron series. There wasn't a lot of good Tron merchandise back in the day, and it hadn't quite become the nostalgia magnet that it is today.

There's a lot of blind-boxed, individually-packed figures out now, but Medicom went all the way with these toys - five boxed sets, each with a vehicle and at least one figure. The packaging was terrific, too - all black with the logo and the iconic lightcycle grid! Almost every design element was on-model, and straight from the movie. The cycles even open up to store a figure, and have rolling wheels, too!

Set A had a gold lightcycle, and figures of Tron and Yori. Set B had a tank, a red cycle, and a Flynn figure. Set C had a Recognizer, a yellow cycle, and a warrior figure (you know - the ones that wore gussied-up paint masks). Set D had the blue cycle, the MCP (which opens up to feature the aged chess program inside!), and a Sark figure. The fifth set was called "Wire Frame Model", and had "low-res" versions of the lightcycle and Tron (black plastic with grids painted on them). You can see pictures of all the sets and their packaging here.

This lightcycle is from set D, and the crowning touch is the display stand, which is truly ingenious. Since the toys can't stand by themselves, Medicom packaged a portion of the walls the cycles create in their standout sequence. You fit the "wall" into the rear wheel, looking just like it does in the film. Since it's a short "L" shape, it supports the cycle without weakening the design - in fact, the stand actually embellishes the toy. Simple, but perfect!

It looks like all of the Tron Kubricks are easily available - at least, they are right now. If you can read some French, you can buy set C and set D from lulu-berlu.com for 54.99 € each. Set A is on eBay right now starting at $9.99, with set B currently at $15.50 (sets C and D are also up for auction). The "Wire Frame Model" set is for sale for $49.99 + shipping. Happy shopping, programs!