Toy OTD: Marx Porky Pig Tin Wind-Up (1938)

I love old tin toys, and a tin toy of a classic cartoon character is just icing on the cake! Marx was one of the tin toy kings back in the day, and this wind-up is just one of the many great examples of their craft.

Porky here is similar to many wind-ups Marx produced - a simple mechanism enables it to waddle across the floor, while also producing a secondary motion. In this case, Porky twirls an umbrella as he strolls.

It's a decent likeness, as far as being on-model goes. The technology of the day limited the amount of 'sculpting' possible with the tin form, but it's still a reasonably complex shape. The character is buttressed by the lithographed artwork, which helps preserve the cartoon-drawing feel. There's some awkwardness with Porky's left arm, but otherwise the overall look is quite appealing. Happily, any necessary indicia is printed on the back - it keeps the front looking simple and clean!

There's no balance issues to deal with, as the toy's design (like almost all older toys) is solid and well-proportioned.

This toy also has a few interesting variations. A different version has Porky holding the umbrella and a top hat (on a separate arm), and another with completely different artwork - Porky as a cowboy, twirling a lariat! The top hat/umbrella version may have been the original design, as the addition of the left arm on the umbrella-only litho art looks very much like an afterthought.

The packaging is very attractive - it's a great range of colors, considering the limitations of the period. The artwork is a sweet (though a little awkward) scene. The branding is almost overpowering, but it's firmly separated from the rest of the art. There's even a hint toward one of the variants in the background! A great sense of style presented in a straightforward manner.

It's a lot easier to find a Marx Porky than to buy one. Due to its age and Porky's popularity, expect to pay around $150.00 (minimum) for this piece. Its value will vary depending on whether the box is included or not, and the toy's condition. Here's one selling through Bonanzle for $139.99 + shipping. Cowpuncher Porky is for sale here for $122.00 + shipping. Snap 'em up!

Toy OTD: Robert Harrop's Roald Dahl Collection Figurine: Willy Wonka

I'm sure every toy fan has a favorite artist that they would love to see in toy form, but believe that the artist's drawing style is impossible to sculpt. That's how I felt about Quentin Blake. I love his drawings, but I didn't think you could really sculpt well from them. Case in point: here's Mr. Blake's version of Willy Wonka (left). There's not a lot of form there, right? Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome drawing, but at best there'd have to be a lot of interpretation by the sculptor in order to make it work:

It's always great to be proven wrong with a nice-looking statuette! Robert Harrop Designs, Ltd. is a large figurine concern in the UK, and their products run the gamut from tacky to wonderful. Some time ago, RHD produced a line of figurines based Mr. Blake's illustations from some of the Roald Dahl books. Check out what one of their sculptors has done with the Wonka drawings...

Great, huh? Granted, the hair is a little less bristly, and the colors are darker, but overall it really captures the flavor of the original artwork. The posing is lively, the paint work is quite tight for a ceramic piece, and the base is cleverly incorporated into the overall concept. No logos or branding, either!

It's been a while since I bought this figure, so I don't remember the packaging very well - I think it was a similar style to the Walt Disney Classics Collection boxes - good, but not much in the way of theming.

You can still buy this figurine at the the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Center's online store for £24.50 + shipping (about $36.35 + shipping USD). Happy shopping!

Toy OTD: Mindstyle Dark Crystal Vinyl Figure: UrRac The Scribe (2007)

Dark Crystal fans have waited a long time for character figures - twenty-five years - but MINDstyle has finally given us a toy that's worth the wait (no offense to Plan-B Toys, who has also produced some fantastic mini-busts). This recent Mystic figure is simply gorgeous!

Everything about this vinyl figure is top notch - the sculpt is beautiful and extremely accurate. The pose is straight out of the movie, and the paint apps are on-model and appropriately complex. If you want a vinyl version of this character, you simply couldn't ask for better!

Granted, there could be more articulation, but I think to maintain the design integrity, MINDstyle could have gone the jointed-figure-in-a-cloth-costume route, a la Hot Toys. To get hair that isn't sculpted, they could've gone the hard-core-clothed-resin-figure route, a la Sideshow, but both of those routes would make the figure much more expensive. Now you know I love both of those approaches, but to make a figure this accurate and this detailed for under a hundred dollars is really terrific!

And then there's the box. Even the box is incredible! Its design is on theme to the film's style, and it's covered with lovely photography and eye-catching foil passes. There's even a front-panel-door that allows you to check the figure out if you're one of those mint-in-box types. I think it had magnetic fasteners, but the may have been Velcro. Either way, the packaging is stand-alone great!

This toy sold a year ago for $70-$80, but you're in luck! It's available for sale at toynk.com at the lower price of $59.99 + shipping - grab one now, before they wise up!

Toy OTD: Colgate Soaky Toy: Dick Tracy

I think one of the main reasons I like older toys is that so many of them have to find an appealing solution within a multitude of material/technological/aesthetic limitations. Soaky toys are great example of how you can take something as boring and uniform as a bath soap bottle, and make it playful and fun. How do you capture the essence of an animated (or comic strip) character, and still fit it into the practical dimensions that you're given?

Naturally, taller bipedal characters work the best for Soaky toy designs, so Dick Tracy here works great. The pose is stiff, but it maintains as much of the bottle's volume as possible. I love the minimal color usage in the design - the plastic does most of the work, with black and a skin color filling in the rest.

I also like the head sculpt - it's a lot friendlier than the comic character's chiseled grimace (how cheerily he reaches for his gun!), but it still has some feel for Tracy. As drawn, the famous profile almost defies dimensionality, but the I think the sculptor found a solution that works. I'm not thrilled that Tracy's name is emblazoned on the base, but at least it's not emphasized with paint.

There's not much additional packaging to a Soaky - a paper label wrapping the base, and some cellophane - but since the bottle is toy and package in one, that makes sense. It's a great idea that's still around today (though not made by Colgate), and works even better in these conservation-minded times!

Dick Tracy is not a rare Soaky character, so you should be able to get one without much effort. There's a slightly damaged one for sale at timepassagesnostalgia.com for $19.99 + $5.50 shipping, and another on eBay for $22.00 + $6.50 shipping. Happy shopping!

Toy OTD: Princess Mononoke Image Collection Maquette: Ashitaka (2003)

Almost every bit of merchandise based on a Studio Ghibli film is amazing, and this piece is especially good! Princess Mononoke is one of my favorite Miyazaki films, and this is a beautiful sculpt of a possessed Ashitaka (one of my favorite sequences in the film, too!). The pose is really lively, and the well-applied paint work is spot-on model. Nice!

The figure is packaged separately from the base, but it's simply a matter of setting it up - that really helps minimize shipping damage (as opposed to molding the figure and base together). Ashitaka's sword is also packed as another piece for the same reason (I haven't included it here).

Japanese merchandise is generally limited and quickly 'retired', and this piece is no exception. There's a few for sale online, but they've gone up to $300 + shipping! Grit your teeth and get shopping - it'll probably only get worse if you wait (though you could try to dicker if one comes up in "or-best-offer" mode on eBay) - good luck!

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: 1:18 Scale Johnny Lightning Diecast: The Mystery Machine

It's always great to see a company move outside of its core audience to reach others. While I loved tiny die-cast cars as a kid (mainly Matchboxes), in general I've left that interest behind. Anyone who's trying to keep their Hot Wheels collection complete in the face of the latest enormous wave will know what I mean! Not that I have anything against them, there's just too damn many to collect, unless that's all you collect, and even then you're in for a rough ride.

So I need to narrow my focus when I collect diecast vehicles, and that generally means gathering up only the examples that jab at my animation/nostalgia lobes deeply enough to override my better judgement. I tend to stick with 1/18 scale too, as they gobble up space quickly enough to keep me from getting too carried away.

This is one of the first toy cars I bought, and it's a pip. It sports a great paint job - one that's nicely on-model, from the original awkwardly-drawn logo right down to the 'flower power' hubcaps. This toy is clearly made for younger children, as it doesn't have steerable wheels or opening doors. Minuses to be sure, but the thing that bothers me the most is that there's no characters riding inside at all.

I'm assuming that this is a taste thing with the majority of diecast car collectors - they want the car, dammit, and they don't want things ruined with the presence of some figurines symbolizing much of what they didn't like about the show anyway. I'm not one of those folks, but if the manufacturers aren't sufficiently motivated, I do prefer no passengers to badly-cast or -painted ones, so I'll give it a pass.

I picked this up some time ago, but it's still easy to get on eBay. The price seems to range between roughly twenty-five and fifty dollars. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Schmid Bros. Snoopy Music Box (1968)

This is a very special childhood toy with a lot of history.

When I was a kid, there was a drug store in Vermont called Campbell's Pharmacy - it was where I bought a lot of my comic books, and they also sold figurines, music boxes, and other gift items. Snoopy was prominently displayed in the main window, and being the huge Peanuts fan that I was, I immediately fell in love with it. I stopped to look at it every time we went by the shop. Or at least I did until it disappeared one day. I was heartbroken.

Of course, my parents had bought it for me, and it became one of my favorite possessions. I played it constantly, even though I had no idea what the song Over There was really about. I even took it into the bathroom with me at bath time, until one day it fell off the back of the toilet, landing on the floor. The fall rendered it silent.

I was very upset, but Dad patiently opened the doghouse up and repaired it. As an explanation for the damage, he painted bullet holes on the side, simulating an enemy attack! And so I've kept it to this very day. I've discarded and 'upgraded' many of my childhood playthings, but this one simply has too much love inside of it.

Of course, I think this music box is wonderful - the design is crude, even primitive, but that's part of its simple charm. In a way, it's just as elemental as the comic itself. An astronaut version that plays Fly Me To The Moon was also made at the time.

These music boxes weren't made in enormous quantities, so naturally they're sought-after collectibles today. There's one up for auction on eBay right now starting at $9.99 + shipping, but I'd be prepared to pay $100 or more for it. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Applause Rover Dangerfield Plush (1991)

It's obscure character time once again here at Toy of the Day! How many of you remember the 2-D animated feature gold rush that started to build in the late '80s with The Little Mermaid and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? And who also remembers that Rodney Dangerfield once starred in his own cartoon movie?

If you were working in the feature realm, and weren't on salary somewhere at that time, chances are you probably worked on it (I was still part of the Not-Ready-For-Feature-Length Players, so I didn't). Many of the the non-Disney films from this period quickly vanished into the mists, leaving only a few toys in their wake.

I'm a big Rodney Dangerfield fan, and I always liked how the design looked like him, so I'm still drawn to the toy even though I wasn't that fond of the movie. I think Applause did a nice job of capturing the design in a simple, even-more-streamlined plush form. The colors are striking, the construction is solid, and it has a cute, sad-sack quality to it.

This toy is long out of stores, but since there isn't a lot of demand for Rover merchandise, it'll be very affordable - in fact, there's one for sale on eBay right now for $24.95 + shipping. Snap it up!

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: 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: Dell Mickey Mouse Squeak Toy

I've had this toy since I was a kid - I think my folks bought it for me at a flea market. The squeaker still works, and it still stands on its own, even though I'm assuming it's around forty years old.

In spite of my love for the improvements in production technology, there's a lot to be said for the charm of a limited paint palette and a little overspray. Black, white and red are a classic color combination, and the off-white helps keep the toy warm and friendly.

It's a curious pose for a figure - it feels like Mickey is waiting or reacting to another character, as if a Minnie Mouse had been made as part of a set. Still, there's a real sweetness to the sculpt, even though Mickey isn't on-model in the strictest sense. His look and clothing are not exactly what we expect when we picture a Mickey toy, but it has its own consistent design integrity.

I have no idea what was paid for this 'originally' (i.e, in the early '70s when my parents bought it for me - probably less than a dollar. I don't see these for sale all that often, but you can buy one at whatacharacter.com for $55 + shipping.

Toy OTD: Tomy Electronic Pokemon Toy: Bellossem (aka Kireihana)

Like almost everyone else on earth in the mid-nineties, I fell victim to the Pokemon craze. Fortunately, I limited my obsession to the more elaborate toys and a few of the PVC figures. This was NOT a good line for completists, for as far as I know, new characters are still being added to this day!

Tomy released a cute line of sound-activated, electronic toys that were eventually distributed domestically through Hasbro. Bellossem is one of my favorites, because it seems like such a iconic Japanese toy. When you make a sound, the flowers on its head spin, the body spins about, and it chirps happily (I don't know if it's a word, a phrase, or just a sound). Although I'm sure most parents wanted to smash it after about fifteen minutes on Christmas morning, everything other than the sound - the design, sculpt and paint job - are really appealing. The execution may not be as good as many Japanese toys, but it's solid and professional looking.

My version here got a little too much sun - the red flowers faded a bit, so I tweaked them in Photoshop.

This toy wasn't all that expensive originally - I think I paid twenty or thirty dollars for it (that was before they were distributed in the U.S.). Finding one of these would seem easy - one would think trillions of them were made - but I haven't found one online in well over a year. If there's still any Poko-nerds out there, feel free to drop me a line and let me know where one could get this toy! Otherwise, it's back to the eBay Favorite Search. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Applause Jetsons Doll: Elroy (1990)

This is an older toy that I've had since my days at Tiny Toons (we're talking early nineties). Warner Brothers TV Animation was in the Imperial Bank building, right next to the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Naturally, we'd pop down there at lunchtime to shop and play video games. One of the neastest stores in the mall was part of a chain called Cartoon Junction.

Animated features and television shows were getting better again after a big dry period in the late sixties through to the mid-eighties. They also started to make money, and a new generation of cartoon geeks were growing up and began earning disposable income. The means to manufacture toys had improved drastically since the last peak in the late fifties/early sixties. The success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? inspired many studios to re-examine their classic licenses. The time was right for a new wave of animation-based merchandise, so chains like The Disney Store and Cartoon Junction began to emerge.

Anyway, this is one of the toys I bought at Cartoon Junction when merchandising began to pick up. Applause released a line of vinyl/plush Jetsons toys, and though the line was pretty uneven in terms of quality, I snapped up George and Elroy!

It's an appealing combination of materials, the vinyl allowing for a far more accurate facial sculpt. The plush body makes it a bit cuddlier, plus it gives the feeling of a cloth costume, since the extremities are vinyl, too. In the minus column, it's not all that posable, plus it doesn't balance very well. The plush collar is very thick, so it might have been better to cast it with the vinyl head, and then segue to the cloth body. Otherwise, it's a cute, affordable toy.

This figure isn't in big demand, so it shouldn't cost you a lot of money to buy. There's an auction for one on eBay right now starting at $9.95 + shipping, complete with its original tags. Good luck!

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!

Gentle Giant Unveils Ratatouille And WALL-E Maquettes At New York Comic-Con

Check out the pictures at actionfigs.com! I've been waiting for this for a long time. Gentle Giant is a terrific company for these licenses, and I know they'll do a wonderful job!

They look great - I can't wait to snag 'em when they get released this fall! I'm hoping that Skinner and Anton Ego maquettes are on the way, too! Keep your fingers crossed...

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that there's some nicely made Ralph Bakshi shirt designs available now from Supreme. The bad news? Well, look at them - I can't wear these in public!

C'mon, Ralph! Where's the Heavy Traffic love? Or Wizards, or American Pop? Throw me a bone, here!

Anyway, the brass-balled among you can get these at supremenewyork.com for $88 + shipping each.

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: View Askew/Graphitti Designs Dogma Inaction Figures: Bartleby And Loki

Kevin Smith shows that George Lucas also inspired his marketing, as the "inaction figure" line includes characters that were never on the animated Clerks show. As usual, they're great!

The sculpts are strong - I never pictured either actor caricatured this way, but the likenesses read, and are fun. Great poses with lots of contrast, personality and asymmetry. It's a nice touch to make the 'clipped wing' version of Loki, and push the designs as far part from each other as possible.

The bloodied armor could've looked awful, but the paintwork really pulls the effect off nicely.

There's balance issues, but nothing a little museum putty can't fix. It might have been cool, though, to look at the figure bases available on the market, and try to make the line work with them (I know the members of C.L.I.T. from Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back have their own bases - and they're awesome - but they don't work quite as well as you might hope).

You can still get both of these figures for $9.37 + shipping each at Jay And Silent Bob's Secret Stash web store, or all of the Dogma figures as a set for $44.99 + shipping (coming to $9.00 each).

There haven't been any new additions to the line in a while, so here's hoping we'll see new figures at San Diego Comic-Con '08!

Toy OTD: Medicom Vinyl Collectible Dolls: Alice (In Wonderland)

Another toy touchdown from Medicom! Alice isn't one of my favorite Disney films, but it's hard to resist another wonderful sculpt. The pose is a bit symmetrical, but I love how simply the shapes are executed. They also do a great job of combining different colors of vinyl rather than painting, which looks really awesome (it inspired me when I was designing my toy).

Even though there's not much paint on this figure, the factory really did a nice job. Check out that face! Granted, the expression's a little cold, but it's very tight paint work.

It's not pictured here, but the figure does come with its own display stand. Big points (as usual) for that!

This figure's been out for a while, so it'll be a little tougher to get. You can buy one right now from eBay for $29.80 + $27.80 shipping. Usually, these toys cost around $20-$40, so that's not a lot of markup. Happy shopping!

Taters Of The Lost Ark

You knew this was coming. Sadly, I'll probably buy it. I couldn't find the Luke, Han or Boba Fett Potato Heads during my recent visit to Florida, but I've spotted them online, so I'm pondering them as well. I'm not a healthy person. Who would've thought a few well-executed genre pastiches could provoke such insanity over twenty-five years later? Not me!

Toy OTD: Electric Tiki World Of Harvey Jackie Jokers (Teeny Weeny) Mini-Maquette

Now, I know what you're thinking - Who in the hell is Jackie Jokers?

Every Harvey Comics character was more or less divvied up into two camps - crossovers notwithstanding, you were either Richie Rich's friend, or Casper's. In the early '70s, Harvey introduced a new character into its kiddie pantheon - Jackie Jokers, stand-up comedian, movie actor & television personality. Jackie, ill-suited for enchanted forests, was firmly in the Richie-verse. It never occurred to me before, but Jackie does resemble a young Johnny Carson in Dick Cavett's clothing.

Remember that post where I mentioned liking toys of really, really obscure characters? I wasn't kidding.

Anyway, this is a terrific maquette! The sculpt is awesome, the pose is strong, and it's bang on-model. The paint work is nice, and its base is built-in, so there's no balance issues. The box design is cool, too, evoking the cover designs of old JJ comics.

Originally, I think these sold for thirty dollars, but you can get one now at collectorsgateway.com for 19.99 + shipping.

Toy OTD: McDonald's Happy Meal Premium: Chibi-Style Jack Sparrow

It's interesting how fast-food premiums can manifest themselves. Of course, it's not at all surprising that the Pirates of the Caribbean films had tie-in items; but it is intriguing to see how the toys themselves sort out.

One idea that one would think was a 'gimme' would be to make Jack Sparrow action figures to sail the Happy Meal armada throughout America. If you'll forgive the oversimplification, a Jack action figure for the boys; and a cutesy Elizabeth Swan doll for the girls.

The surprise, then, is that the only Jack Sparrow toy in the line is a cute, Hello-Kitty-style plush doll. It's not as blatantly made for girls as many McDonald's toys, but it's not blatantly for boys, either. I realize that Cap'n Jack has a lot of appeal for young (and not-so-young) ladies, but it's unusual for Happy Meal toys to be (relatively) genderless.

All that aside, it's just a nice little toy. The design is really appealing, and it's a great simplification of the character (though the likeness to Depp has pretty much evaporated). I'm sure it's not the most durable item, but it seems solidly constructed for a free premium.

I suppose it's really not fair to expect stand-alone support from a free plush, but the biggest minus is that it can't stand up (and I don't think doll stands come that small). The only other fault is that there isn't a corresponding Elizabeth, Will Turner, or Barbossa toy. I would've loved to have seen how those characters would've been designed!

Even though this line of toys is long sold out, this toy isn't terribly hard to find. You can buy one on eBay (along with four other toys from different promotions) right now for $3.99 + 5.00 shipping. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Cartoon Network Powerpuff Girls Maquette: Blossom (Signed)

Originally, I bought the Trendmasters Powerpuff Girls action figures, but while they each had bases, stability was still a problem, so I upgraded to the maquettes (I think I bought the set at Comic-Con one year) after they were released. It's not a cheap solution, but they are well-mounted and stable.

The sculpting is fine - it's a great interpretation of the design, and the attitude is captured nicely, too. The paint work is a little rough, but not to a point where it really detracts. I'm just spoiled by the meticulous work on overseas toys!

I waited in a huge line to get Blossom signed by the show's creator, Craig McCracken. I couldn't help feeling like I shouldn't have had to - Hey, I'm not just another fan... I went to the same school, and I'm working on cool stuff, too, I thought - but I felt like I'd be an asshole if I cut to the front. So I waited for my autograph, and complimented him on the then-newly-released Powerpuff movie, which I enjoyed a great deal.

There's one for sale on eBay for $49.99 + $16.95 shipping. You can make an offer, and it might be worth a try, as I think the shipping charges are pretty steep!

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: Funko Wacky Wobbler SDCC Exclusive: Scooby-Dum (2007)

I can feel your respect for me as a collector slipping away, and I'm not sure that I blame you. Scooby-Doo wasn't exactly Hanna-Barbera's creative zenith, and the show was wearing pretty thin by the time that Scooby-Dum came along. So why did I buy this?

I'm a big-time sucker for merchandise of obscure cartoon characters, and I do like how this was made. It's not perfect - the eye paint is a little weak, and it does have a(n arguably more necessary) label on it. But I like the fact that the pose is well-balanced, and that the base has been kept to a minimum (making it monochromatric - with the name sculpted on it, and not painted - might've been nice. Placing the nodder pivot at the collar is a good call, too.

This was an exclusive at the Funko booth last summer at San Diego Comic-Con. It's still for sale at toywiz.com for $69.99 + shipping (!!), a far cry from the under-$20 price that I paid. Surprisingly, eBay is the far saner option, selling there for $11.50 + $8.00 shipping. Phew! That's much better - Scooby-Dum's not that interesting a curio!

Toy OTD: Ghibli Vinyl Totoro Bank: The Cat Bus

Studio Ghibli merchandise is always charming and well-made - I'd buy it even if I'd never heard of the films. Of course, having such strong sources to work from is a plus!

The cat bus character is pretty stylized to begin with, but it's been simplified a little further in the sculpt. It looks great! Some of the paint passes are a little ragged (by Japanese painting standards, anyway), but it doesn't detract from the overall appeal of the piece.

There's no real features to speak of - just the coin slot and the plug underneath - but it's worth mentioning again that there's nothing unnecessary added to the figure, either. No logos, slogans or branding, no clumped-on characters or landscaping. The design is very stable by nature, so there's no balance issues.

The sole weakness of this item is that it's made of vinyl - a material that isn't particularly good for banks. While I haven't tried filling this one in particular, I've had some trouble with sagging in other vinyl banks, once they're sufficiently filled with coins. If you're aiming for a display piece, (which is what most collectors do anyway) then that's not a problem.

The biggest problem is finding merchandise like this on the secondary market, once it's sold out. I missed out on some Princess Mononoke nodders, and they still haven't turned up! I can't find this anywhere online, so it's going to take some serious digging at toy shows, and on eBay. Japanese toy hunting services are another option - pricey, but effective. 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: Mattel Bear In The Big Blue House Plush: Tutter

The best Henson character designs are perfectly suited for merchandising, as they're practically toys already! The cast of Bear In The Big Blue House hearkens back to old-school Muppet design - bright colors, and bold, simple shapes. That puts you on second base already, but it still takes a good licensee to bring the design home in a great toy.

Mattel's done a fine job of adapting Tutter into a appealing, affordable plush! It's very cute and faithful to the source. A wide variety of Bear merchandise was available, but this toy was definitely my favorite!

I originally bought this at a Target for ten dollars (or less). The toys aren't sold in stores any more, but you can get Tutter and his buddy Treelo for $10.16 right now on eBay.

Toy OTD:Wesco Tardis Four-Port USB Hub (2006)

It's not exactly a toy, but I though this accessory was nerdy and frivolous enough to merit a Toy OTD post. For those of you who don't know, it's like a power strip for your computer - plug it in to a USB port on your machine, and you can plug four cables in, rather than just one. There isn't an overwhelming amount of detail, but it looks nice, and gives your computer desk a touch of geeky fun.

The decals get a little crooked, so if you're bothered by such things, you might want to check a few of them before purchasing. Otherwise, the unit works fine.

The only minuses: the bright blue light stays lit as long as it's connected. That might not seem like a big deal, but it gets distracting. I'd vote for the light to come on when you plug it in, along with softer, back-lit windows. The blue light could go out, leaving the windows on as a sort of power light.

The other minus is that it makes a horrible noise when you first connect it. Die-hard Who fans will be happy to know that it's the actual sound the Tardis makes when it's dematerializing. So it's a bug or a feature, depending on how you look at it. You don't have to have to hear it all that often, so it's not a big deal. I'd suggest a variety of randomized sounds - some dialogue, other sound effects, maybe a bit of the title music.

I bought mine last summer at Comic-Con, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. Forbidden Planet has them for sale for £17.99 + shipping, which is about $36 USD + shipping.

Toy OTD: Spumco Three Stooges Dolls (1997)

When Ren & Stimpy was riding high, Spumco had the clout to make toys. That meant, for a brief time, many Spumco characters and staff favorites took vinyl form. And that meant - Three Stooges toys, that appear to have been designed by John Kricfalusi himself!

As you might expect, these toys were done in the classic manner of the late fifties/early sixties, (I'm assuming) John's favorite period of merchandising. This line consisted of three variants - a large trio (sold individually), a smaller version (sold as a packaged set), and another small set with the guys dressed in harem outfits, and as golfers. I'm assuming that the costumes references to one of the shorts or films.

These toys are pretty fancy - fully clothed in tiny outfits, rooted hair, soft-sculpture hands (in poses yet!), and nicely sculpted/painted vinyl heads. The caricatures are really pushed and fun, but still recognizable as the iconic comedy team. The scale of the suit cloth (even on the smaller dolls) is quite good, but there is a little awkwardness in the fit due to the Velcro fasteners. both sizes are fine, but I prefer the small dolls, both in their proportions and shelf economy. The major difference between them is that the larger dolls have vinyl shoes, while the smaller versions have plush ones.

I bought this set some time after it was released, at Golden Apple Comics for about forty dollars. I'm sure they're long sold out in stores, but you can get the small golfer set for about that much on eBay, the small plainclothes set is up for auction (currently $18 + shipping), and a large Curly doll is starting at $5.00 + shipping. Keep your eyes open for the version you want - good luck!

Toy OTD: Cartoon Network Samuai Jack Maquette

Cartoon Network wisely started its own line of merchandise some time ago, and some of it is really great - especially their limited edition maquettes! The Samurai Jack line is terrific - the sculpts interpret the stylized designs beautifully. The paint work is simple, but precise where it needs to be. No silly branding anywhere, which helps keep it looking classy.

The only minus is that they're more expensive than a comparable Gentle Giant figurine - $150 or so, as compared to maybe $80 or $100. I'm assuming that's due in part to smaller production runs.

Jack here is sold out, and I'm not finding him for sale elsewhere online. The pieces I am seeing on eBay look about the same price as they were at the CN website, so that's encouraging. Keep your eyes open there, and at your local toys shows or comic conventions. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Yoshitoku Peanuts Doll: Olaf

Here's a real curio that I found at the ice rink gift shop in Santa Rosa. It's unusual because the character is so obscure (he's one of Snoopy's brothers), and also because the combination of a plush body with vinyl extremities. I think it's a great solution - it maintains the crisp qualities of the design, but can be soft and cuddly too.

The proportions are off (he's actually even rounder), but Olaf makes the best candidate for a plush because of that. It's still very appealing and simple, with no branding to be seen anywhere. He also sits up well by himself, not necessarily a given with plushes.

They don't sell this toy at the ice rink any more, and it's nowhere to be seen online. I think it went for $15 or so originally, but you'll have to keep an eye on eBay to see if one surfaces. Good luck!

PS - Did anyone else read the tongue as buck teeth in the drawings? I thought that was the case for years.

Toy OTD: Dark Horse Deluxe Mutts Vinyl Figures

Dark Horse scores again with another pair of nifty toys! These Mutts figures are spot-on model and very appealing. There's not much in the way of paint apps here, but they're very well applied. The sculpts are nice too, though they're a little symmetrical.

Since the characters are so simple, special care has been applied to the details. Earl's fabric collar and license are nicely made, while Mooch has his pink sock, attached (to be removable) with a bit of Velcro. So cute!

The biggest minus - once again - is balance. While the poses help them to stand, it doesn't take much to tip them over. A pegged base would have made a big difference without significantly driving up the price point.

These figures are still quite easy to get, and very affordable. You can buy Earl at tfaw.com for $10.79 + shipping, and Mooch goes for $14.03 + shipping at superherogameland.com.

New Toy Arrivals!

If you've got Target gift cards, I found a bunch of new toy releases that you might want to hunt down! I stopped by early this morning (I had to bring my car in for a scheduled maintenance, and the store was right next door), and stumbled across some cool stuff:

* Mattel's World of Cars large-scale plastic DJ - With movable eyes, sound clips, and flashing undercarriage lights! There's four different music cues to choose from, too! You can get it right now at entertainmentearth.com for $34.99 + shipping, but I bet it's cheaper at Target.

* Lego's Indiana Jones line is in full force, with at least four different sets to choose from - Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb (or the Well of Souls for you moldy figs), Race for the Stolen Treasure (the desert truck chase from Raiders), Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase (Indy and his dad from Last Crusade on a motorcycle/sidecar, with Indy's Crystal Skull son on another bike), and Temple Escape (the opening sequence in Raiders, complete with boulder and idol)! If it's rainy (like it is here today), you can buy all of them at Lego.com from the comfort of your computer desk.

* The first series of Hasbro's Star Wars Mighty Muggs are out! I picked up Darth Vader, and passed on the Stormtrooper. You can get some of series 1 - Vader, Boba Fett, Darth Maul and a Stormtrooper - at toysrus.com for $9.99 + shipping (each).

Happy hunting!

Toy OTD: Presspop Gallery Sof' Boy Vinyl Figures - 4" and 8" Versions (2002, 1999)

Presspop isn't that prolific with its vinyl toys, but they make up for it in quality - each release is worth the wait. It's certainly true of their great Sof' Boy figures, dead on-model with Archer Prewitt's design! The sculpt does most of the heavy lifting, as there isn't much paint work needed. The biggest minus is the typical one - balance. These guys are tough to stand up, and the hip articulation doesn't help matters. Be sure to get some museum putty to display these toys!

As far as I know, this character is available in three sizes - four inches, eight inches, and a giant twenty-four-inch version! The big one is sold out (the 200-piece run originally cost $130 each, so expect to pay more if you find it), and I can't find the eight-inch version for sale anywhere (keep an eye on eBay), but you can buy the four-inch figure at forbiddenplanet.co.uk for £12.99 + shipping. Personally, I like the sculpt and pose of the mini-figure the best anyhow!

Toy OTD: Bowen Studios' Inhumans Mini-Busts: Karnak, Quicksilver, Crystal, Triton and Gorgon

I don't know if these characters were all that popular with Marvel collectors - most of the ones I have were marked down significantly. I'm enough of a Fantastic Four geek that I scooped up as many as I could get!

As with most of the Bowen products, the posing, paint work, and sculpts are really great (Bowen is one of my favorite Marvel merchandising companies). They get a little goofy with the thematic base designs, but at least they don't plaster names or logos on any of them. The likenesses are right from the comics, adapted in a very appealing way.

You can get several of these online right now - Triton is on eBay for $29.95 + $8 shipping, ditto Karnak for $19.99 + $9.50 shipping, Gorgon is $32.00 at ccgarmory.com, Crystal is $39.95 + $9.00 shipping on eBay, and Quicksilver is $37.00 + $6.50 shipping there, too (It'll be $114.99 + $9.99 shipping at wizarduniverse.stores.yahoo.net if you want the green-costumed variant). I seem to remember buying these for even lower prices, so keep your eyes peeled at toy shows and comic conventions!

Toy OTD: Gemmy Industries Hocus Pocus Plush

Here's a simple beanie-plush from Gemmy's Frosty The Snowman line, I'm assuming that there's two reasons why plastic 'beans' are added to the majority of small plushes - 1) it helps them stay upright; and 2) it lumps them into the Beanie Baby category, which I'm sure helps them sell better. Maybe, anyway - I'm not sure there's any heat left to the beanie craze.

This is a pretty basic toy, but it's a good likeness of the character. The embroidered eyes help preserve some of the original 2-D design. The shapes and texture are nice and straightforward, and there's no gratuitous branding or labeling to clutter it up - a really nice job for the price point.

I can't find this toy for sale online right now, so you'll have to cast your net on eBay and see what turns up. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Bandai Talking "Big Guy" Figure (1999)

Frank Miller and Geoff Darrow sparked off a mini-franchise when they teamed up their versions of Gigantor (Tetsujin-nijūhachi-gō 鉄人28号) and Astro Boy (鉄腕 アトム, Tetsuwan Atomu) in their comic, The Big Guy and Rusty The Boy Robot. Even though they were only featured in short, sporadic comic book appearances, the concept spawned a short-lived animated television series, and a line of merchandise.

You really couldn't ask for a better toy of the Big Guy than this! It actually is pretty big - thirteen inches tall - and speaks four phrases (his eyes glowing red) when you push his chest button. I'm assuming that they're from the show: "Candygram!", "For the luvva Mike!", "Fire in the hole!", and "This is serious business!" I've never seen the program, so I can't tell you if it's the same voice actor or not.

One arm opens to reveal a pair of cannons, while the other can fire off from his arm, Shogun Warrior-style. The former can be tricky to close back up, and the latter has a hair trigger, but they're still cool features! He also comes with accessories: a ray pistol, his human pilot (though he always came across as autonomous and sentient in the comic), and a roughly-to-scale Rusty figure. I don't remember how much this figure originally cost, but it was affordable enough that it was a good deal for the money!

There are two talking versions of this toy - the 13" size that has four phrases, and a 6" model with just two (and no accessories). This'll make buying one online a little tricky, so make sure that you're getting the version you want when bidding on eBay!

Speaking of which, I can't find this toy for sale online. You'll have to set up a favorite search - Good luck!

Toy OTD: Trendmasters Lost In Space Robot B9 (1997)

Remember when the Lost In Space movie came out? Trendmasters made a lot of spin-off toys, but they wisely added a parallel line inspired by the original TV series. The B9 robot was the best of it all, and it's still a kick-ass toy!

It's motorized, but doesn't have a corded remote control to mess up the design, or an unnecessary radio control. The arms can be locked in the retracted position, or can be popped out at the push of a button. The sound chip features the original voice actor speaking a few nifty phrases, and the toy can be switched from standard talking mode to room guard mode if desired. It even pivots about the waist and lights up when activated! Cool. Plus, it's dead-on-model, which hasn't happened in an affordable version of the character until this point.

There's three versions of the Trendmasters B9 that I'm aware of - a two-foot-tall RC version, a smaller talking version (pictured), and a smaller-still version (I'm not sure what features - if any - that it had). I think the version I bought is a great size-to-features compromise. I can't remember how much it cost, exactly - I think it was around twenty-five dollars.

These toys are long gone from stores, but there's one for sale on eBay for $55.00 + $23.45 (!) shipping - yikes. There's cheaper auctions online, but just make sure you're getting the version that you want - I'm sure that sometimes the smaller robots are getting foisted off on unsuspecting bidders as the larger model.

Toy OTD: Belae Scooby-Doo Soap Bottle (1999)

This isn't a Soaky soap bottle - (I think) those were made from the late fifties into the early seventies, so this is far too modern. Still, it's a terrific sculpt - better than a lot of the older bottle toys. It's great how the designer hid any trace of the cap under the head (it separates below the collar).

They get big points, too, for picking a character that you can sculpt in a pose that can form a bottle shape nicely, without resorting to props or small backgrounds. The colors of the head and body plastic are two clearly different browns (not as obvious in the picture), but it's a minor quibble considering how on-model and in character it is!

I bought this new at a Walgreens (or Target, or something like that) for less than ten dollars. I can't find one for sale online right now, so pop in a favorite search on eBay and keep your fingers crossed!

Toy OTD: Japanese Muttley Bank

I imagine I've mentioned before that Wacky Races merchandise is still fairly common in Japan. Aside from the cars themselves, Muttley is a very popular character in any WR toy line, maybe because he was a cartoon survivor, going from Wacky Races to Dastardly and Muttley In Their Flying Machines and other Hanna-Barbera shows later on. Plus, he's a cute cuddly dog - it's not super-tough marketing math!

I picked up this vinyl bank about eight or nine years ago from eBay, when that was the easiest way to get Japanese toys. It's still one of my favorite H-B/WR pieces. It's a great sculpt, capturing the iconic pose really well. It's not marked up with any unnecessary branding or logos, and the coin slot is handily out of sight when viewed from the front. The paint work is limited and simple, but well-executed. The colors may not be perfectly on-model, but they're bright and appealing. I'm not sure who the manufacturer is - there doesn't seem to be any markings on it anywhere.

Even though I bought this quite a while ago, two eBay auctions popped right up on the first try. You can buy one for $22.00 + $7.61 shipping (or best offer) right now from SHE_WOLF DOG TOYS - enjoy!

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: "Top Cat" Figurines: Choo Choo & Spook (1990)

I think I found these obscure Hanna-Barbera figurines on eBay while looking for a Top Cat bowling set. Most character merchandise hadn't really kicked into high gear yet, so these sculpts - while fairly on model - are somewhat soft. The paint work is pretty loose too, but they remind me of the Tinykin figures that I grew up with in the seventies, so they work for me!

I think the biggest minus is choosing to sculpt Choo Choo with a Walkman-style radio and monster headphones, which firmly dates it to its era. Still, these character designs are so appealing to me that I'll overlook a lot of production weaknesses - at least they're not dressed like rappers or bikers, which became very popular a little later on.

I have no idea if there are figurines of all the characters or not - I've never been able to find a full set from the same manufacturer (whoever they are - there's nothing written on the figures except a copyright notice). I do have another character (Fancy Fancy), but I haven't photographed him yet.

I don't recall these being expensive - I think they cost about twenty or thirty dollars each. You'll have to cast a pretty wide net on eBay to run across any of them (try plugging in simply 'top cat' for best, if voluminous, results). Whatacharacter.com may also have some of them, if you do some digging. Good luck!