Toy OTD: Galoob Inspector Gadget Figure (Straight Armed Version - 1983)

I wasn't watching a lot of new cartoons in 1983 - I stuck with Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and Return of the Jedi. I just wasn't interested, so I never became (as I imagine many folks now in their mid-thirties did) an Inspector Gadget fan. Not surprisingly, I was blind to all of the merchandising as well. Of course, having little-to-no disposable income didn't help.

In fact, it wasn't until ToyFare did one of their 'best toy ever' lists that I finally noticed how cool this deluxe Gadget figure really was! Most of the time, I prefer accuracy over play value, but sometimes play value is just overwhelming.

The accuracy isn't bad on this toy, but even considering the original character design, the head seems overly large. The figure has a skinny, stiff feel to it, but since the character's a robot, it works. The head sculpt is nice, though, with an appealing expression. It goes a long way in adding to the overall charm.

There's little paint used here - most of the colors are the plastic colors themselves, which is nice. The colors aren't spot-on with the cartoon version, but they're close enough to get the idea across.

What this figure lacks in warmth, it makes up for in articulation. We're not talking Hot Toys or Sideshow here, but considering that it's a domestic toy from the '80s, you can pose it pretty well! And that's not even the best part...

Rather than include a bunch of replaceable, specialized limbs (or sculpt non-removable ones), Galoob decided instead to make arms and legs that were internally spring-loaded. They lock into place, but pop out at the press of a button. Cool!

There's a lot of nice touches - the fabric trenchcoat, the handcuffs (that really open) linked by a metal chain, and the poseable 'extra hand' accessory that can hold either an umbrella or the classic cartoon mallet. But the coup de grace is the iconic helicopter prop that can fit atop Gadget's hat - there's even metal handlebars for them, just like in the cartoon!

The packaging here is pretty standard, but at least there's lots of photos to show off all the accessories, not to mention a giant clear front panel that almost displays the entire toy! There's a flap on the left of the box that allows multiple boxes to be nested together, but still increases shelf presence. Considering how much love was put into the toy, I have no problem with the box being more functional.

Note - I just found another package design... if you're into collecting toy boxes, you should probably shoot for this version. I think this box looks much better - it keeps all of the pluses of the other box, but adds a little extra boldness by displaying the character as if 'bursting' through a wall! The telescoping neck may be another unique feature of this version, too.

You may want to keep your eyes peeled for a specific version of this figure - some versions have arms without elbow joints (like mine), while another variant has bendable arms. I can't imagine this change saving all that much money in production, so I'm not sure why it happened. Regardless, be sure to ask your seller which version they have - it's always good to know exactly what you want to avoid disappointments later on. Unfortunately, the box may always have bent-arm stills on it regardless of which figure it contains, so don't use package photos as proof!

Also, check to make sure the spring triggers are still working well... worn limbs may pop open very easily if they've been played with a lot.

I've also been advised that the plastics used to make this toy are very vulnerable to fading, so make sure to display it in an area that's not getting pounded by direct sunlight. Display cases and UV-proof glass can only do so much!

As you might expect with a toy loaded with accessories, it's expensive to find it complete, and still more to get one with its original packaging. There's a complete figure in its box at actiontoys.com for $279.99, and a loose/incomplete one (no helicopter handles) for $141.99. There's another incomplete one (no umbrella handle, one helicopter handle missing, but with box) for $75.00 at whatacharacter.com. You may want to set up an eBay favorite search if you're determined to get a complete set-up... most of these prices are really high. Good luck!

Toy OTD: McFarlane Hanna-Barbera Figures Series 2: Yogi Bear (2007)

Hanna-Barbera characters were terrific ideas for a toy line, but the uneven quality made supporting the concept difficult. Ultimately, I'm not sure the demand was there either, which is a shame - there's not a lot of really great Hanna-Barbera toys to be had.

The Yogi Bear set-up is one of the nicer toys in McFarlane's shot at H-B merchandising. The situation depicted is classic - Ranger Smith chasing after Yogi and Boo Boo - and the posing is lively and fun. Most of the piece feels like it's right out of an old-school View-Master reel!

The grouping of the characters, though, feels a bit off - Ranger Smith feels further away than he might need to be. Boo Boo's expression seems somewhat dead-eyed as well. Granted, he's a deadpan sort of personality, but his face still feels static. Other than these minuses, the sculpting is quite strong. The base detail is kept simple, like the show's aesthetic, and it doesn't compete with the figures. The base is so big, balance issues (and branding) are happily nonexistent.

The paint work could be a touch tighter, but overall it's fine - the colors are well chosen and evoke the characters perfectly.

The gimmick of mounting the figures on short springs initially gave me some concern, since things like that tend to backfire over time. I fully expected to discover the trio had slumped over a few months after opening the package, but so far, so good. The springs seem to be strong enough to add a wobbling motion without sacrificing long-term display quality.

Generally, the packaging for this line was pretty sharp, and this blister/card combo is no exception. There's some nice artwork of Yogi with the old-school H-B logo nestled among spiffy retro graphics. The blister displays the figures well for paint scrutiny, and there's also a nice photo of the completed set-up (which I like to have, just in case the instructions don't quite work for me). It's a pretty straightforward approach, but you'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) how often this can be screwed up. There's just enough art to support the toy's appeal without overwhelming it.

This item is only three years old, so it's still readily available, and it hasn't gone up in price all that much. You can get one right now at moviepostersetc.com for $14.97 + shipping. If you miss out, eBay has a couple for sale at about the same price. Keep an eye on the shipping, and have fun!

Toy OTD: Mezco 6" Talking Ozbourne Family Figure: Ozzy Osbourne (2002)

The flip side of meticulous accuracy is caricature, and I love both approaches in toys. In general, I gravitate toward caricature and stylization (especially in 3D) because it's always interesting for me to see which details were given prominence over others. While this toy may not be the zenith of this philosophy, I think it's appealing and has a sense of fun.

As you might imagine, this merchandise was a result of the popularity of The Osbournes reality television show. Mezco responded (like many other manufacturers) by acquiring the likeness rights and manufacturing figures of the family members. The toys are in scale with one another, and each features a base with a different voice chip.

I like the caricature here, even if it could be more exaggerated. It's silly, executed in the "bigfoot cartoon" style, and gently mocks Ozzy's outsized image. The pose is a little symmetrical, but there's just enough asymmetry in it to keep the character lively. The paintwork here is decent, and I like the use of assembling different layers of PVC, rather than sculpting the figure all of a piece. It gives the hair and clothing a little extra quality, feeling more separated from the figure itself. The glitter (or silver paint spatter) on his costume is a good textural touch.

There's little articulation to speak of - the figure seems intended primarily for display, and it works fine for that. Ozzy comes with 'his' talking base ("Rock and Roll!"), a pair of glasses and a standing microphone. I find most of the accessories somewhat extraneous, but the glasses add a lot to the character - they're difficult to keep on his head, but it adds a little more sculptural detail.

The original packaging is the standard plastic blister with cardboard backing. I don't find the overall impact appealing, though the fifties retro look is an appropriately ironic design approach.

Naturally, these figures are long gone from toy shelves, but Ozzy isn't terribly difficult to find. It's still selling at Amazon.com for $11.95 + shipping. Good luck!

PS - If you're thinking about collecting the whole family, you can get Kelly though Amazon.com for $6.00 + shipping. Jack and Sharon are both only $5.00 + shipping each at Extreme Collectibles. There's also an Ozzy "home clothes" variant you can buy for about € 12,00 + shipping at Muscara.com. Be sure to try thefind.com when toy hunting - it produces a lot of results that Google alone doesn't!

Photos and text ©2009 Jeff Pidgeon.

Toy OTD: Character Options Ltd. Doctor Who 12" Action Figure: Cyber Leader (2007)

Since I've been writing on Facebook about my long-delayed introduction to Doctor Who (some of the older episodes and some of the new ones), I thought I'd write here about one of the toys I bought two years ago, long before I'd ever seen a single episode! Of course I bought one of the robot characters, since I don't need to know anything about one to like it.

The Cybermen have been part of Doctor Who for quite a while, so it makes sense that they'd be revived when the show returned to the airwaves. It follows too that, if there were going to be any Who toys, that the Cybermen would be naturals for new merchandise. So they're here, and boy, do they look spiffy!

I haven't seen the re-design on the actual program yet, but I'm still impressed with the new look - updated with a richer sense of detail without losing the overall feel of the original. There's an odd taper in the leg pieces that lend a knock-kneed look, but otherwise it looks cool! The plastic pieces are well-sculpted/cast, and the manufacturers went the extra mile for quality.

Rather than simply sculpting the limbs as pieces that mimic the body shapes, the 'metal body' parts are made to be hollow and 'worn' on an inner figure like a costume. This also allows for articulation that's better concealed than a solid action figure, and for more posability than it would have if it were a hollow vinyl one. There's even a fabric leotard to boost the costume feel!

The 'metallic' finish on the outer shell looks nice, and there's some light airbrushing to add a bit more texture. Other than that, there's very few paint apps on the toy. The chest plate opens up to reveal some inner workings, and it also comes with a small hand device of some sort. I'm assuming both of these are accurate and relevant to the show, since most of the figure seems fairly meticulous in execution - the casting in particular is tight and clean.

Balance is a minor issue - the toy stands well on its own, and you can always buy a doll stand to increase stability. I'd love for the figure to be packaged with one, but at least it's not as critical here.

The packaging has most of the pluses and minuses of a typical toy box - there's plenty of viewing space to check for paint glitches or casting problems, but the design itself is somewhat cluttered and not all that compelling. At least the inner clamshell is sturdy enough to protect the figure from damage.

There's also a standard Cyberman figure, too - there's not a lot of difference between them, aside from the lack of a removable chestplate and black helmet accents. For whatever reason, they're almost ten dollars cheaper than the "Cyber Leader" version.

Since this isn't a particularly old toy, finding one for sale isn't hard at all. There's multiple eBay auctions for this figure right now, with a price range of $30-$40.00. Toywiz.com also has one for sale that'll set you back $31.99 + shipping. Have fun!

Toy OTD: DC Direct Action Figure: Metamorpho (2003)

I wasn't a big fan of DC Direct's action figures at first. The sculpts weren't all that great, the paint apps were sketchy, and much of the line consisted of comic characters from the '90s that didn't push my "spend" button. The toys must have sold well, though, because the line gradually improved as time passed.

One of the first "This is getting interesting" moments that I've had with this series was the appearance of the Metamorpho figure. As I remember it (though my chronology might be utterly wrong), the Element Man wasn't in any comics at that point, nor had Bruce Timm re-introduced him to new audiences. I was blown away that anyone would remember this character, much less want a toy of him! I'd only read one issue of his title myself. After the toy's release, though, his stock in the DC universe seemed to grow by the day.

I'm still not wild about this scale of figure, but this is a nicely made toy! The sculpt is great, the color uses a lot of dyed plastic rather than paint, and the articulation allows for some posing without being too intrusive. The packaging is straight-up Silver Age, complete with the classic logo and '60s checkerboard cover banner. You even get a few extra appendages, in case you want to depict Rex in mid-transformation! Nice.

As usual, there's no display base, though using the water column accessory may help the toy to stand better than on its 'regular' legs. Still, a base would've been a good idea here.

This figure has been sold out for some time, but you can still buy one online. There's a loose toy on eBay with all the extra pieces going for $15.99 + $5.20 shipping. I thinks that's cheaper than it was originally... good luck!

Toy OTD: Toycom/Alpha Okage: Shadow King Figure: Big Bull

I've had this figure for at least seven years, but since I'm not a big video game player, it took me forever to identify this character! As it turns out, he's part of the cast of a PlayStation 2 game called Okage: Shadow King.

Alpha did a great job, sculpting the character far better than he looks in the actual game! The pose is pretty symmetrical, but the shapes and forms are handled very well. The paint work is also very good - rather tight paint apps, and in a wide variety of colors.

Big Bull stands well by himself, but there are accessories packed with him - two of which might be display bases. If they are, I don't remember any anchoring pegs on them, so they were a little disappointing. Mr. Bull also comes with a Linda figure, amongst other extras (they probably make more sense if you know the game well).

The packaging itself isn't all that exciting - it's the usual blister/back card combo. It is on-theme with the promotional art for the game, but the blister covers most of the artwork, rendering it pretty murky. On the bright side, the figures are mounted front and center so shoppers can look over the paint jobs easily.

All of the other visual elements of the toys are so underutilized that Alpha seems to push all their chips onto the character designs - if you like them, you'll buy these toys, but there's not a lot of other convincing aspects in the presentation.

If you do like this set, you can still get it for £16.99 (+ £11.75 shipping) from amazon.co.uk. Have fun!

Toy OTD: Mezco South Park Figure: Jesus (Series 3 - 2006)

The Mezco South Park line lasted long enough to include some great characters! Of course, it wouldn't really be complete without one of the stars of The Spirit Of Christmas - Jesus! Happily, Mezco did a terrific job.

The figure is as simply designed as its construction-paper counterpart. Generally, it's very accurate to the original design, but the head looks a little rounder - thought it's possible the design has changed over the run of the show, too. It's a really nice compromise between two- and three-dimensions! The paint work is also tight, which helps preserve the cutout look.

This character doesn't really lend itself to articulation, so big props to Mezco for thinking outside of the box and adding articulated eyebrows! It's a nifty way to customize your figure a little more, especially if you consider the facial variants that Mezco usually produce (I'm sure this toy has more than one). Other than that, we're talking the neck, shoulders, and maybe the wrists.

The big plus of the sculpted robe is that there's no stability issues! While he may not balance on your dashboard, the toy will probably be well-centered on any other flat surface. Any possible branding or legal-ese is hidden away, which is also very cool!

Mezco's South Park blister packaging is deceptively basic. The show's simple, attractive graphics may seem like a gimme, but many toy companies don't always consider the source content. Mezco picked a snowy 'Colorado' background for the blister card, which is eye-catching and on-theme without becoming obnoxious or busy. Very nice!

Rather than bombard us with tiny, easily-lost accessories, Mezco gave us a 'God' mini-figure instead! It's also quite well-made, accurate right down the thin whisker-hairs on its head. Not only is it on-theme, but it's like getting two figures for the price of one!

This toy is three years old, but it's not terribly hard to get today. Unfortunately, it's gone up in price significantly - the cheapest it's going for right now is $49.99 + shipping at superherotoys.com. You may want to hunt around a bit more and comparison shop... good luck!

Toy OTD: Memory Lane Peanuts Figure: Pig Pen

Memory Lane has made some nice, affordable Peanuts swag recently - here's another good example. The company already gets points simply for making a tertiary character. There's a fair amount of Pig Pen merchandise out there, but a fair amount of time usually goes by before another piece shows up!

Like most Peanuts merchandise, this figure is based primarily on the character as he was drawn in the late eighties/early nineties. It looks good, and it's a style that the most shoppers will be familiar with, but I have to say, I am hankering for more retro-styled products. Fortunately, more seems to be on the way!

The appeal of this figure is still strong, but in general there's not as much effort here as I would like. The facial expression is a bit bland, especially when you consider how expressive Schulz's characters can be. The sculpt is so symmetrical that it drains more personality from the toy, as there's no pose of any kind to support it.

Still, there's some neat things about the figure, too. The plugged-in hair is one of the best ways to mimic Pigpen's fly-away 'do that I've seen in a toy. Dependable higher-end manufacturers like Dark Horse and Medicom have each interpreted in in their own manner, but I think they're less successful.

Another neat feature is the facial 'dirt' can be washed off, only to re-appear when dry. The downside is that it looks much fainter than the rest of the painted 'dirt', and makes Pigpen look far less grubby. I think that (in general) there could've been a lot more dirt applied.

Articulation is about standard - neck, shoulders, 'wrists' (actually elbow rotations) and possibly waist and hips. There's some minor balance issues that I think a pegged display base would've prevented. Thankfully, not many accessories - just a clear plastic 'dust cloud', which is a great enhancement to the figure's display. The blister card packaging isn't dazzling, but its colors and fonts are on-theme with the toy, and the blister allows for clear viewing.

You may want to do a fair amount of homework before you spend - not only are there multiple facial variants from this line, but there's also at least a couple of holiday versions as well. If you're set on this one, though, you can buy it at snoopn4pnuts.com for $19.95 + shipping. Enjoy!

Toy OTD: Mezco Family Guy Figure: Brian (2004)

Mezco has done a nice job with the Family Guy action figures - most of the characters that you would want have been manufactured, and they've all been done quite well.

Brian here was naturally part of series one - Mezco was smart and knew that fans would want him right away! Like the rest of the line, he's well sculpted - if the pose is a little stiff, well, that's how the characters are on the show a great deal of the time. The default posing is pretty much straight-up-and-down, so it's an appropriate approach for the toys.

There's not a lot of articulation, but it'd be tougher to keep the characters on-model if more joints were added, so I don't really mind. Brian is evenly-proportioned enough that he doesn't have much in the way of balance issues, but a small pegged stand is always good to help with that. The paint work is extrememly minimal, but it's well done.

Like many other Mezco toys, Brian comes with a bunch of accessories - a newspaper, a fire hydrant, an issue of Doggie Style, a cup of coffee, and of course a martini glass. I don't need that many extras myself, but I'm sure it helps sell the toy.

The tricky part about Mezco figures is that almost every character they make is manufactured with one or two different facial expressions. While it's great to have a variety to choose from, it's not as great if you don't know how many there are, or can't find the one that you want. Fortunately, Brian's deadpan variant is the default one, and was pretty easy to get back in the day.

The packaging is the standard back card/blister combo that almost everyone uses. There's nothing startling about the design, but there's nothing wildly off-theme, either. Colors from the show's palatte, the logo, drawings of the character - pretty much the things you'd expect.

Now that the figures have been out for a while, Brian is tougher to find and still popular. That means his price has gone up - to get this early version of him now is going to cost you! Superherotoys.com has it for $44.95 + shipping, and toywiz.com has it for $49.99 + shipping. At those prices (if you don't mind a different facial expression), you'd be better off buying this series 1.5 boxed set (with six characters!) off eBay for $20.00 + shipping. Happy bargain hunting!

Toy OTD: Huckleberry Toys 1971 Grimace Figure (2007)

Anyone who grew up in the seventies can probably remember when the McDonaldland characters got severely cute-ified in the eighties. Some of the cast vanished altogether, while some were radically altered (the Hamburglar comes to mind). I'm assuming that it was due to a combination of the Sid & Marty Krofft lawsuit, and the rising influence of customer surveys and focus groups.

Before all of that, though, Grimace underwent some serious tweaks in the early stages of the ad campaign. Originally, he was a greedy, food-stealing villain like Hamburglar. I guess the character designer wanted to emphasize how gluttonous he was, so they gave Grimace four hands. Once he became a comic buddy for Ronald, though, Grimace got a little smarter, a lot nicer, and two of his hands abruptly disappeared.

Since this happened when I was six or seven years old, and because the ads didn't call any attention to the change, I was left with this odd feeling that something was different with Grimace somehow. Since there wasn't any way to record television commercials at that point, and because fast-food merchandise probably lasted as long in the toy box as it does now, there really wasn't much proof that the change had happened at all.

Until YouTube, anyhow, and until Huckleberry Toys decided to resurrect Remco's Mego-esque McDonaldland action figure line. Not only did Huckleberry revive the line, they also made several variants to needle completists! Most involved minor changes in costuming, but I think the best was clearly the four-handed "1971 Grimace" made as an exclusive for the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con. Lots of Baby Busters (or early Gen-Xers, take your pick) finally had proof that they weren't crazy - at least, not about Grimace!

If you compare the new toy to Remco's version, I think Huckleberry's is a lot better - the materials seem more to scale, and it feels like a character, rather than a figure wearing a poorly-made costume. The embroidered face on the modern toy is a little cold, and I don't know if there's any articulation at all, but in general this doll is a big improvement!

If you want a toy that's closer to the 1976 version, a two-handed variant was made as well - it's a great compromise between the look of the older doll, and the nicer materials available today.

The packaging of Huckleberry's figure is all derived straight from Remco's backcard artwork, so it's really nice. It gives the collector a sense that they're buying a well-made replica, rather than a cheap knock-off that's cashing in on nostalgia.

Even though this toy was a convention exclusive, it's still not too hard to get. Megostore.com has one for $24.95 + shipping. You can buy the two-handed version there as well for $14.95. If you're a super-purist, you can get an in-blister Remco Grimace at tias.com for $38.00 + shipping. So many choices!

Toy OTD: Memory Lane Peanuts Figure: Marcie

Marcie is one of my favorite Peanuts characters, so it's always nice to see more toys made of her! Memory Lane did a great job making affordable, on-model figures for kids and adults. I say, 'did', because either they've turned into another company (Forever Fun), or the licensing rights were bought by another manufacturer. Keep that in mind when you go to look for newer Peanuts or Rankin-Bass toys!

These figures are simply made, which seems appropriate for Schulz' minimalist drawing style. The sculpt could stand a little more nuance - the pose is pretty symmetrical, and the facial expression is somewhat bland (even for Marcie). Memory Lane does get brownie points for offering a variety of facial expressions, so shoppers can opt for a more anxious/angry face instead of the more generic smiles.

As usual, there's not much articulation - the neck, shoulders, 'elbows' and maybe the waist. It would've been nice to have individual legs, but posing is so difficult that I'm not sure it would've been worth the rise in price.

The colors are fine - a nice combination of dyed vinyl and paint. Less paint means fewer chances for mistakes, and fortunately the paint work is good. The fused feet do offer better (though not perfect) balance. Ideally, either wider-set legs or a individual display base would've been more effective here.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure Marice was ever sold by herself. Not surprisingly, she was in a two-pack with Peppermint Patty - both featured as part of a baseball backstop playset. You can still buy it (if you don't mind the extra stuff - Patty's in uniform, which could be a problem if you want her in her regular outfit) at time-and-space-toys-llc.amazonwebstore.com for $69.95 + shipping. There's also one on eBay right now that's currently at $9.99. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Toynami Futurama Figure: Robot Santa (SDCC 2008 Exclusive)

Happy Holidays! Nothing says Christmas like a murderous robot Santa Claus, I always say. I'll bet Futurama fans have been waiting quite a while for this one. Toynami knows what makes a nerd's heart beat faster, so once they got the license, this year's Comic-Con turned into Christmas in July!

This is another toy that's more for display than posing. It's nicely sculpted, but not very articulated - I think the head turns a little, and there's rotation in the shoulders... maybe in the waist, wrists and boots, I'm not sure. The paint work is quite clean, which helps make it feel even more artificial and manufactured (great for a robot). The color work is simple, but on-model and effective. There's a nice pink tint to the 'cheeks' that's pleasingly subtle. The toy balances decently on its own, but a display stand would've been nice, especially considering the $50 price tag!

The Santa-bot also comes with a "Santa-Bender" figure. It's also nicely made, but it's basically a repaint of the standard Bender with an extra hat prop. Bonus points for the fabric hat, but personally I'd rather have a cheaper, original exclusive figure than to get stuck with yet another costume variant. I guess I have to resist buying these sets if I want to send a message that I don't want the repaint figures!

Like I said earlier, the set originally sold for $50 last summer, and it's selling for $45.00 + shipping now on eBay (though it may be cheaper after the holidays, being Christmas-themed and all). It also looks like you may be able to build Robot Santa if you buy all six of the collection two Futurama figures (each one comes with an extra Robot Santa part), but I'm not sure which characters that entails. You can also get a loose figure right now (no Santa Bender!) for $29.69 + shipping on eBay. Enjoy the hunt, and have a happy holiday season!

Toy OTD: DC Direct First Appearance Figure: Robin The Boy Wonder

I don't think that this toy line lasted for very long, but it did generate some really cool figures! Robin was part of series two, which also included Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Superman.

Naturally, this Robin is from the Jerry Robinson cover for Detective Comics #38 - when he first appeared with Batman. The sculpt does a fine job of capturing the cheer of Robinson's artwork. The paint passes are nicely done, and the fabric cape is a nice touch - the scale is a little bulky, but overall it's just fine.

There's a good amount of articulation on this toy - there's at least nine points, and possibly more. This does lead to some balance issues - the knees aren't tight enough to really lock into a pose, so it's tough to keep the figure upright, even though a display stand's included. You'll need to weigh balance (would you be better off with a maquette?) against price (can your budget go over action-figure level?).

You also get a mini-comic of Detective #38, but if I were on the fence about buying this figure, it doesn't really tip the scales in any meaningful way. The packaging is eye-catching, but otherwise about average for a blister-pack - nothing you'd be tempted to keep unopened.

This is still an easily-found, affordable toy - you can buy one for as low as $12.99 + shipping on eBay, or dodge the auctions for $14.50 + shipping at cosmicclutter.com. Happy shopping!

Toy OTD: Dragon, Maru Maru's Hero Figure: Maggie Cheung / "Flying Snow" (2003)

Here's another of the rare spin-off figures released for the movie Hero. I really love this film, so I started digging for toys soon after I saw it!

I'm a little fuzzy on the origin of these figures. At first I thought they were licensed merchandise, then I heard that they were bootlegs. Dragon made them, though, so the bootleg theory doesn't really make a lot of sense - they seem like too big a company to make unlicensed toys.

Another theory that I've heard is that they're limited-edition, promotional items to help advertise the film. It's certainly possible, but I haven't been able to confirm anything, even five years after they were released!

The main selling point of these toys is articulation - not top-flight for an overseas toy, but still far better than most domestic action figures. In most other regards, they're only average - the likenesses, costuming, and paint work are decent but not exceptional. Still, there's so little Hero stuff out there (a little surprising - I'd think the film would generate a larger line of swag) that I'm happy to have something to express my enthusiasm for the movie.

These toys are getting hard to find, now that some water's passed under the bridge. I can't track down this item online right now, so you'll have to start another favorite search on eBay, or get in touch with a Japanese auction service. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Playmates Toys Simpsons Figure (Celebrity Series 2, 2002): Brad Goodman (autographed)

Here's one character from my rather large Simpsons action figure collection! I was lucky enough to get it signed by Albert Brooks while Finding Nemo was in production. He's one of my favorite recurring guest voices!

This is a typical Playmates Simpsons toy, with the usual strengths and weaknesses. Of course, I love how many ancillary characters were included in the overall line, and Brad is a great character than many other toy companies might have overlooked. Big props to Playmates for including him!

The sculpt itself is a bit of a mixed bag - the face is nicely done, but the overall proportions are rather top-heavy and the pose is somewhat symmetrical and stiff. The paint work is simple but nice, and I always like it when colored plastic is used to broaden the palette (I think there's at least three different colors being used here).

You can also plug Brad into a variety of the playsets, which allows him to say some phrases from the show. While I'm a big Brooks booster, I don't really need my action figures to talk, and most of the playsets were little more than glorified bases. Personally, I would've preferred that the money had been put into making the figures themselves better, or enabling Playmates the likeness rights to even more of the guest stars.

Brad came with his coffee mug, book, motivational video, a sign, and a can of fortified wine. These were fine accessories, but in general, unless it's really critical to the character (Captain America's shield, Thor's hammer, etc), I mainly feel that it's just more stuff to lose, and it drives the price point up. Still, big props for the accessories coming right from the episode, and being dead-on model to boot!

Even though this figure is six years old, you can still get one very easily. Toyrocket.com has them marked down to $3.99 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Thinkway Wall-E Boxed Set: The Reject-Bots

As we continue into Wall-E's opening weekend, here's another cool tie-in from Thinkway Toys. I'm really impressed that Thinkway not only made their smaller figures so nicely, but that they made toys of the secondary characters! Unless George Lucas is involved somehow, peripheral characters are a rarity.

While the packaging isn't all that exciting, the proof is in the pudding - the figures themselves. The sculpts and paint work are extremely tight, with very few concessions made. It's great to see this level of faithfulness without creating safety or price point issues. The use of materials is also striking - check out Gopher's translucent head!

There's a surprising amount of articulation here, too. Paint-Bot and Massage-Bot are far more posable than you'd expect, and are jointed much like they are in the film. The character accuracy is so good, one might've forgiven less intricate figures, but Thinkway goes the extra mile, and meets the buyer more than halfway. Cool!

To top it all off, there's not just one, but two clear display stands for the hovering characters who can't stay upright on their own. Technically, Beautician-Bot floats too, but the figure sits upright just fine - Thinkway picked their battles well!

You can get this set for $20.00 + tax at Toys 'R' Us, or online for $20.00 + shipping at toysrus.com. Check in with disneystore.com if they're out of stock at TRU - The Disney Store doesn't seem to have any of the toys for sale right now, but they may become available again later (they have been on the site in the last week or so). Have fun collecting!

Toy OTD: Thinkway Toys' Wall-E Figures: Lift'N' Load Wall-E, Search And Protect Eve

To celebrate Wall-E's opening day, here's two examples of Thinkway's terrific toy line!

Lift 'N' Load Wall-E has tons of great detail, an intricate paint job, and plenty of articulation (right down to the hands!). The treads don't move, but there are larger versions where they do - hold out for the $30 Interaction Wall-E if that's critical to you.

The figure comes with two 'trash' cubes that you can make Wall-E 'compact'. Since the trash compartment is the same shape, you can put Play-Doh® in there and make Wall-E produce a cube of that, too!

You can get this figure at your local Toys 'R' Us® for $9.99 + tax, or online for $10.99 + shipping.

Search and Protect Eve is just as well designed and executed as Wall-E. Since her eyes are LED-type displays in the film, Thinkway added a clever feature - if you press her head, her eyes will click to one of six different expressions!

Her chest compartment pops open at the push of a button, and you can store some of her accessories - an old shoe, a light bulb - inside (these seemingly random items will make more sense when you see the film). Since Eve is a floating robot, a display stand has been provided when your kids (or you!) aren't zooming her through the air.

I think there's only three points of articulation, but it makes sense when you consider the design. The joints are closer to the ball-and-socket kind, so the most is made from the few options available.

You can get Eve at your local Toys 'R' Us® for $9.99 + tax, or online for $10.99 + shipping.

If they're out of stock, you can also get them at the Disney Store website, but they're more expensive there.

See you at the movies!

Toy OTD: Mezco Family Guy Figure: Chris Griffin

I know that Family Guy doesn't inspire at lot of love from many people, but I think Mezco's done a really good job with the toy line (I like watching the show, too).

The sculpt is nice, though it's a bit symmetrical. On the plus side, it does take advantage of the design's solidity to avoid balance problems. The paint work is fine - mostly quite tight with only a few loose spots. Only four point of articulation, but it's fine as a display piece.

I could probably do without the plethora of accessories that usually accompanies a Mezco toy, but the "Walkman" is well-made, and fits onto the figure easily. I'm usually happy with one accessory if it's really iconic (i.e, Indy's whip), and the figure can hold it tightly.

You'll need to look sharp at the online offerings, as there's a few variants, as well as different facial expressions for this figure. Make sure you get exactly the version that you want!

You can get this version of Chris for $19.95 + shipping at cmdstore.com. There's an 'exercise' version on sale for $10.39 + shipping at panikstoybox.com, and if you join Club Mez (Mezco's collectors' club), you can still get the 2005 Toy Fare exclusive Chris for $18.00 + shipping. Again, note the different paint job on the eyes. Have fun!

Toy OTD: Mega House Panda-Z Figure: Mogyu (2004)

This is a nifty line of toys - I've never seen the anime, but the character designs work great all on their own!

The sculpt is a nice adaptation of the original drawings (ironically it's a 2D show, even though the simple, geometric style looks like a natural for the computer), and the colors are really attractive. The paint work isn't as tight as many overseas toys are, but it's still quite nice.

The articulation is pretty basic - about seven points or so - it's a display piece more than anything. Here's where the biggest minus comes in... construction. This line of toys has an unusually weak track record for molding and fitting. Unfortunately, this tends to lead to awkwardly bent legs and feet, which can lead to balance problems. If you have the opportunity, look the toy over in its blister carefully before purchasing.

This figure has been sold out for a while, but you can buy one right now on eBay for $13.29 + $10.00 shipping. Hop to it if you want one!

Toy OTD: Thinkway Incredibles Interactive Action Figure: Syndrome

Thinkway Toys has made talking, interactive figures since A Bug's Life (at least). Put a pair of them together, and they'll have a chat all by themselves! It's a super-cool feature - when you throw strong articulation, great sculpts, clever use of materials and sharp paint work into the mix, you've got a high standard to match.

You can either set the toy to sound off several phrases at the press of a button (or possibly triggered by your own voice), or adjust it to interactive mode so he can talk with Mr. Incredible, Dash, or both at once! The pre-recorded phrases allow for some enjoyable back-and-forth between them.

The articulation is of particular notice here because it allows for a good amount of posing without making the character look artificial or awkward. The cloth cape and vinyl parts are nice touches, as well. The ankles make balancing the figure a bit tricky, so a doll-type stand or a pegged base might have been a good accessory. "Zero Point Energy" sound effects or lights on the figure's wrist bands would've been awesome, but since (I think) this toy was partially assembled after opening, adding those features would probably have been prohibitively expensive.

I can't remember how much this toy originally cost - I think it was between fifteen and twenty dollars. Unfortunately, it's not available online at all right now, so warm up another eBay Favorite Search if you want to add this toy to your collection!

Toy OTD: Hasbro Monsters, Inc. C.D.A. Agent Figure W/Sound

The original Monsters, Inc. figure line is pretty nice - the toys aren't necessarily loaded with features or meticulous detail; but they are streamlined, appealing versions of the movie's characters.

The C.D.A. agents weren't an obvious choice for toys, so it's cool that one was included in the line-up. There's not a lot of articulation here, but the sculpt and colors work well, and the figure's solidly balanced. There's an extra feature, too - at the press of a button, an antenna pops up (with a sound clip from the film) from the top of the backpack.

These toys have been sold out for seven years, but they're still easily found on eBay. You can get one right now for $8.09 + $8.25 shipping.

Toy OTD: Mirage (2004) & Mezco's Big Gay Al Figures

It's always interesting to see what different companies will focus on when they make toys of the same character. Here's Mirage and Mezco's takes on South Park's Big Gay Al.

There's usually a clear winner, but in this case each figure has its merits, which is why I still own both of them. Because this design style is strongly stylized, there's lot of room for interesting interpretation as the character makes its way into the third dimension.

At first glance, Mezco wins a lot of battles right away - the details, color and line work are much more accurate (not that you could tell here, but it's also scaled better next to the kid characters). The sculptor took the approach of trying to preserve as much of the flat, 'primitive' aesthetic as possible - only adding dimension to the largest forms.

The Mirage figure isn't nearly as on-model, but they captured the attitude and pose better than the Mezco version, which looks less lively. Many of the props and details are missing, but the skin tone is better, and I like the overall proportions more, too. There's more going on in terms of form as well - the face is sculpted, and the legs have more definition.

It still looks pretty flat, but the sculptor wanted to take more advantage of the fact that it's a 3-D figure, and pop out more forms for the light to play with. I think that's more appealing in some ways (imagine what each figure would look like unpainted, and I think you'll see what I mean). The overall look is bolder, but lacks subtlety. So in my mind, each figure has its pluses and minuses.

Whatever your preference, you can still get either figure easily. The Mirage South Park line was discontinued, but the Al toys leaked onto the secondary market anyhow, never getting a formal retail release. The Mezco Al is for sale at Panik's Toy Box for $12.99 + shipping. The Mirage Al is much cheaper - you can buy it for $8.00 + shipping at superherotoys.com.

Toy OTD: Palisades Pink Panther Figure: Inspector Clouseau

This wasn't a line of toys that I'd been pining for, but I was still happy to see Pink Panther toys on the market! The inspector figure was one of my favorites in the series.

Although most of the character designs could be said to be from the DePatie-Freleng television series, Clouseau's sculpt bears more of a resemblance to the Richard Williams design, used in his famous title sequences from the Peter Sellers films. It's a really nice likeness, and the color/paint work are also quite good! The figure comes with a magnifying glass, a bomb, a briefcase with secret files, a newspaper, and (happily) a display stand. It stands well on its own, but it's always nice to have in case there's slight warping in the legs and feet. An airbrushed, "blown-up" variant was also available.

I think this toy cost between $10-$15 originally. The regular version is on eBay right now for $67.99 + $14.95 shipping (!), and the "blown-up" version is $24.99 + shipping at toywiz.com. Keep your eyes peeled for better deals - good luck!

Toy OTD: Toycom King Of The Hill Figures: Boomhauer & Ladybird (2002)

Here's a nice sample of Toycom's now-defunct King Of The Hill line. Even though the show has passed its tenth season, the figures sold poorly, and didn't survive past (I think) series two. It's too bad - I was really hoping for a talking Kahn toy!

The sculpts and paint work are simple, but reflect the original designs really well. Ladybird's molding leads to bent legs and unsteadiness, and Boomhauer himself is a little top-heavy and prone to toppling. Stands aren't a dire need, but would've been helpful here. Of course, Boomhauer's dialogue is so funny, a voice chip would've been great, too!

Happily, Toycom focused on the figures rather than load the package up with lots of accessories. Boomhauer has a can of beer, and I think (as you'd expect) that Ladybird was originally packaged with the Hank Hill figure. Each toy did come a short portion of fence - if you bought them all, they assembled into a nice backdrop decorated with the show's title. I'll get around to shooting the whole thing one of these days!

Boomhauer's hard to find online, but you can bid on this complete set of loose KOTH figures - it's currently only $15.50 + $5.00 shipping. That's pretty close to what one figure cost originally. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Playmates Toys 14" Talking Li'l Penny (Hardaway) Figure (1997)

The Nike ads featuring Li'l Penny didn't really register with me when they aired. But when Chris Rock (who performed the character) appeared on my comedy radar, I got a lot more interested in getting this toy. The sculpt and the paint work are quite good, and it was reasonably priced when it came out (though I forget exactly how much it was).

Considering that the ad campaign wasn't a huge success, and wasn't followed up with short films or a series, this mascot got a fair number of items. Along with the pictured version, there were two non-talking, nine-inch figures - one in a white jersey and trunks, the other in a smoking jacket and slacks (with a cell phone in the bargain).

Penny's phrases are either custom-recorded or lifted from the ads - I can't tell, but they sound good. Playmates wisely added a stand, and one of the hands has a peg so the figure can be set in a shooting pose. Nice! The articulation is moderate, so don't expect to be able to set it up like an Alfrex figure or something. An interesting addition is a movable mouth, like a ventriloquist dummy.

I bought mine on eBay, and I don't remember how much I paid for it. If you don't mind the toy not having its basketball, you can snap one up right now for 99¢ + $8.00 shipping. Hurry, though - the auction ends in fifteen hours!

Toy OTD: McFarlane Toys "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" Tableau: You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

McFarlane hasn't been doing a lot of animation toys lately (aside from the Hanna-Barbera and Simpsons lines - compare that to the scale of the Spawn, military, and sports figure collections), so it was nice to see How The Grinch Stole Christmas toys emerge this fall. They look great, having the trademark McFarlane wealth of detail. The sculpt is strong, and the paintwork is, too. A big plus is the number of different colors of plastic used to reduce the number of paint passes.

I'm not crazy about McFarlane's steadily increasing need to create mini-dioramas for their character figures. On the plus side, you can connect this room to the base of another toy in the line, and create an even bigger tableau. On the minus side, these things gobble up shelf space like there's no tomorrow, reduce the amount of work that can be done on the character itself, not to mention driving the overall price point up. Still, this one evokes Maurice Noble's layout work very well, and the whole set-up feels very appropriate to the television show - there's no silly signs, logos or banners telling us what TV special this scene is from.

Unfortunately, there's some scale and model problems - the toy sack is too small, the fireplace has no back to it (odd considering how thorough the toy generally is), and the Grinch's legs look short and stiffly posed compared to the rest of the figure. They're small but significant details.

Toysrus.com sells this item for $12.99 + shipping, which might turn out to be less than I paid at my local comics shop. Check out the rest of the line at spawn.com!

Toy OTD: Memory Lane Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Figure: Boss Elf

Memory Lane has been making our holidays happier for the last few years by making lots of Christmas characters! The Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer line is one of their best, featuring plenty of the Rankin-Bass players.

The boss elf is one of my favorite figures, mainly because he's a secondary character that might not make the cut in other toy lines. I've never figured out why he sports a sixties-jazz goatee, but I think it's amusing.

The sculpt and paint job aren't dazzling, but they're on-model, and quite good for the price point. The hat is removable (I think it's magnetic), and he comes with a misfit toy (the train with the square-wheeled caboose), a baton to conduct the Christmas chorus, and toy-making blueprints. The biggest minuses are that his eyes look a bit glazed over, and the loose hip joints can make standing the figure tricky.

Being the holidays, you can get this figure pretty easily - it's $9.50 + shipping at cosmicclutter.com. If they're out of stock, a Google search should provide you with a ton of other options!

Toy OTD: Medicom Real Action Heroes Matrix Figure: Trinity (2004)

Like a lot of Matrix fans, Trinity is my favorite character (I still think she'd make a great Wonder Woman). There was a fair amount of good merchandise for the film, but this is by far my favorite Trinity figure. The likeness is great, the paint work is tight, and the costume detail is simply phenomenal!

As usual, Medicom doesn't forget about display - it comes with a really nice stand that fits the figure perfectly. Granted, this version has almost no articulation, and what little it has is restricted by the costume. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find better Matrix swag!

This has been sold out for a while, so you'll probably have to pay between $200-$300 to get one now. The best bargain I found was an eBay auction for both the Trinity and Neo RAH figures starting at $200 + shipping. Looks like it's favorite search time!

Toy OTD: Mattel Simpsons Figure: Nelson (1990)

Mattel released a substantial line of Simpsons toys soon after the show hit it big, but we were in the middle of the first Gulf War that Christmas, and the toys didn't sell very well. Unfortunately, that set the stage for a decades-long drought of Simpsons action figures in the U.S.

It's a shame, because I think they were good toys. The sculpts were a little inconsistent, but that's been true of the Playmates figures as well. This Nelson Muntz figure is one of my favorites of the Mattel toys, and even this one is pretty off-model - the facial proportions are off, and the colors are really inaccurate.

But I still like it - it reminds me of older Mattel toys for some reason. It's well built, and has simple shapes and punchy colors. It's not over-articulated, either (which can be a problem with modern toys). The hip joints are especially well-designed, and don't interfere much with the shape of the character. The gimmick with this line is a small hole in the top of each figure's head. A plastic dialogue balloon could be inserted, decorated with a variety of interchangeable phrases. Unlike other gimmicks, this feature can be easily ignored (if the kid/collector isn't interested in it), and it doesn't interfere with the overall look.

You can still buy this figure (as well as the Lisa Simpson figure from this line) for $39.99 + shipping at toyrocket.com. eBay also has Nelson for sale for $29.97 + shipping.

Toy OTD: DC Direct First Appearances Figure, Series 2: Alan Scott As Green Lantern

I haven't been all that excited with this line lately, but the initial releases were really cool - Golden Age versions of your favorite super-heroes! I bought all of the early characters, including this version of the Emerald Gladiator.

Overall, this figure is a little better in concept than in execution. The cloth scale of the cape is off, giving it that typical bulky look. It's aggravated a bit by the fact that it's a two-layer cape in order to be more on-model. Fortunately, this figure doesn't have ankle joints, so it stands on its base (another plus) more easily.

The only accessory - the only one needed, really - is his classic-style lantern. I supposed a full-size ring could've been included, but those are easily available elsewhere. The figure also comes with a miniature version of All-American Comics #16 (the issue where the Green Lantern first appeared), but I've never been much for mini-comics. I'd also assume that the major purchasers of this toy would've read it in some form or another before this point. Still, the paint work is fine, and the figure is a good, om-model sculpt.

If you hurry, you can still get this figure at Amazon for $10.99 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Mezco Underdog Figures: Simon Barsinister, Sweet Polly Purebred, Underdog

Mezco's done a bang-up job adapting these characters into toy form! The sculpts and paint work are great, the posing and articulation are well-suited for their scale, and Polly Purebred even comes with a base! The accessories are well-chosen, too - Simon comes with a couple of his inventions, Polly has her retro-enormous tape recorder, and Underdog comes with replacable hands and a huge lightning bolt to replace his legs if you want to match his flying pose in the opening credits! The separately-molded, poseable ears are another great touch. He's even wearing his pill-holding ring, usually the first detail to be dropped in merchandising.

Can I also say I'm thrilled that they don't look like the current live-action feature?

In my mind, the only minus from this first series is the Riff Raff figure - he's technically well-executed, but his pose is stiff and symmetrical. It feels a little more like a prototype in that sense than a finished figure. I prefer the sculpt of Funko's Riff Raff Wacky Wobbler, myself - it's a lot softer, but I think it's also more lively. See how simply posing him with the gun and putting the cigar in his mouth make a big difference in throwing off the symmetry!

I'm not sure that there's enough other well-known characters to necessitate a series two, but I would like to see a figure of Simon's sidekick Cad, and maybe a limited convention exclusive of Overcat. Who's Overcat? That's why I think he should be a convention exclusive - I think he's too obscure to sell as a traditionally released figure.

These figures came out during Comic-Con, so they should still be easy to find. I bought mine locally for thirteen dollars each - you can buy all four at once at toynk.com for $49.99 + shipping, or you can get Simon and/or Riff Raff at Screaming Monkey Comics (an eBay store) for $11.00 + shipping each. Underdog and Polly are more expensive, fetching $14.99 + shipping each at toywiz.com.

PS - Keep in mind Mezco's penchant for multiple head sculpts and facial expressions, too - I've only seen a couple of Underdog, but that doesn't mean there aren't more!

Toy OTD: MINDstyle, Frank Cho Monkey Boy Vinyl Figure: NYCC Exclusive

Here's a terrific piece from one of the best figure-makers out there, MINDstyle. I've been very impressed with the level of quality of everything they do - if I don't want to buy it, it's usually a taste issue with the designer - and that's really rare, too!

This sculpt utterly nails Cho's drawing style, and it's a nice, solid, sag-resistant pose. The paint apps are really tight, and I like the color scheme a lot. If these colors are too loud for you, there's at least three other colorways, so you've got options.

This figure was exclusive to the New York Comic-Con earlier in the year, and I got mine for about $60. It might be a little trickier (or pricier) to get now. There's one for sale on eBay.ie for £74.99 (or about $150 USD).

Toy OTD: FUNimation Dragonball Z Figure Set: Boss Rabbit & Goku (2002)

These are the best Dragonball toys that I've seen to date - really terrific sculpts and paintwork! They capture the flavor of the original artwork very well. If I remember correctly, three two-figure sets were released - I bought two of the line at Toys 'R' Us originally.

As you might imagine, Boss Rabbit doesn't have a lot of articulation, but Goku has a good amount of poseable joints. I could imagine that some fans might want more, since Goku is such an active character, but I think it's a good compromise between poseability and preserving the sculpt.

You can still get this set for a very good price - thecardkid.com has it for $9.99 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Mezco Animal House Figure: Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman (2003)

This figure is one one of my favorite examples of Mezco's caricatured sculpts. The likeness is good, and it's an appealing, funny sculpt using simpler shapes. The paint work is great, though there's not a lot of articulation (seldom a problem with me). Maybe his chubbiness could've been pushed more, but otherwise very cool.

I saw these figures in stores for quite a while, so I'm assuming they didn't sell all that well - that might explain why I'm not seeing more toys in this caricatured direction from Mezco. I was hoping that the Goonies figures would be made this way, but their designs and sculpts are noticeably more restrained, so I'm assuming consumers didn't generally embrace this approach. It's a shame, because there aren't many other toy lines doing it.

You should be able to get this toy for a good price - there's one for sale at figurerealm.com for $14.95 + shipping, and I'll bet you can find an even better deal if you dig about a bit, or set up a search on eBay.

Uncomfortable Resemblance OTD: Fisher Price's Professor Darkness, Photon & Neutron

Look familiar? I think the sidekicks do, too.

Toy OTD: Toy Biz 13" Raging Hulk Figure (2003)

Let me say up front that I've never been a big fan of Toy Biz in general or the Marvel Legends line in particular. While I understand that fans enjoy the poseability, I've found the sculpts and paint work to be consistently wanting, and the abundance of joints winds up making the characters look more like robots than people. This figure, though, is a nice exception.

It was released in conjunction with the Hulk movie, and was left stranded on store shelves for months afterwards. Ironically, it's one of my favorite Toy Biz items. I like the sculpt, and the real cloth pants. The articulation isn't staggering, but you can pose it in a few different ways.

There were a few variants - two head sculpts (calm and raging), and the pants came in a bluish-purple, or redder like the comic. It was never terribly expensive, and I got it remaindered for about seven or eight dollars. The only places that I can find it for sale are at toybiz.com, who has it for $34.99 + shipping; and eBay, who has it for $22.95 + shipping. I'd say keep looking, considering how many of these there were around.

Toy OTD: Chicken Little Bootleg Figure: Foxy Loxy

There's a small mall near my house that sells some Japanese toys - every once in a while, I stop by and see if there's anything new. I've picked up some of my Moomin toys there, among other things.

More recently, I discovered that one of the smaller shops sells (what I would assume to be Chinese) bootleg toys. I love bootlegs, but it's hard to find a place that sells them. The stock in this tiny store doesn't change all that often, but it does make for some interesting discoveries!

At the end of last year, I found a four-pack of bootleg Chicken Little figures. The other characters looked pretty awful (I know, isn't that the point?), but this Foxy Loxy was actually pretty good. I liked the character design in the film, but there wasn't a licensed toy of it that I liked, so I kept this one and discarded the others (they weren't ugly enough to be interesting).

I think the four-pack cost me about $6.00, but I think the store's out of them now, and I can't imagine anyone being able to find these again, even on eBay. But that's kind of the way of bootlegs in general - they make money while they can, then disappear.