Toy OTD: Creature Comforts Figurine: Frank The Tortoise

Aardman merchandise has never really taken off here in the states, but fortunately, it's all over the UK! If you're willing to brave the dollars-to-pounds exchange rate, you can get some really cool stuff based on Aardman's nifty television shows and movies!

A fairly extensive resin figure line sprang from the Creature Comforts TV series, inspired (of course) by the animated short. The British series, in turn, was the model for a show in the US as well! It's one of Aardman's best known properties outside of Wallace & Gromit, so it's a gimme as far as UK toys go.

Frank is a great character who (I think) has been in all of the incarnations of Comfort. Since he's a clay-mation piece to begin with, he's a natural for resin. The sculpt here is simple but quite good, although Frank's cranium looks a little low. Otherwise, it's a very accurate piece! There's just enough asymmetry to keep some life in the figure, and the color choices are fine. The biggest difference between the two is the treatment of the shell - it seems darker on the toy, and less convincing as 'the real thing'. The eyes are also a little less subtle than the original model, but overall it's appealing.

Since this piece is a figurine, there's no articulation at all. It's so low and wide that naturally there's no balance issues whatsoever. The packaging is pretty sharp - a creative variation on the plastic/cardboard box theme. Here, most of the box is plastic, allowing for maximum visibility of the item, while a printed cardboard base/back card allows for some disposable graphics and branding. It's also worth mentioning that the figure has no base or visible logos on it, which I think is consistent with the whole line. Very nice!

I can't find Frank for sale online anywhere exept the Aardman shop itself - you can get one there for £5.00+ shipping (and they do ship internationally). If you want one, get it quick!

Toy OTD: Enesco Here Comes Peter Cottontail Figurine: Peter With Colonel Bunny (2000)

Based on the success of their Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer figurines, Enesco ventured deeper into Rankin-Bass territory, producing a line of Here Comes Peter Cottontail merchandise. Whoever is sculpting these characters for the company, it's clear that there's deep love for these specials, as the design accuracy and posing are very strong. Peter's even got the ear droop that happens when he's caught in a lie!

Another great plus is that a matte finish is used in the paint work, which helps to keep the figures looking like the stop-motion puppets. The detailing is very nice, with the occasional wobbliness here and there. The base is worked into the scene well, with no logos or branding. The mono-filament whiskers are a cool touch, too!

The packaging for this line was not very exciting - an Easter grass motif with eggs and the logo. Since I usually wind up recycling most of my toy boxes, it's not a big deal, but these figurines would need to be unpacked to have good shelf presence.

I'm assuming that this line didn't sell well, as I don't think there's been any more Peter merchandise since these were released. In spite of the eight years since its production, you can still buy this item at goantiques.com for $20.50, or from eBay for $13.84. Easter will be here before you know it, so get your decorations today... good luck!

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: 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!

Dark Horse Classic Comic Characters #2: Popeye (2000)

To celebrate the release of the Fleischer cartoons on DVD, here's another terrific faux-syroco statue from Dark Horse and Yo! Studios of Popeye! As usual, they've done an incredible job. The sculpt is amazing - a great, dynamic pose without sacrificing strength or balance. The paint work is perfect for the retro style of the series.

It comes packaged in a foam-lined tin box, complete with an informative pamphlet and collectible pin. While these extras are very well-done, I'd prefer simpler packaging and a lower price. I wound up recycling all the tins, as I've bought most of the statues and don't have room for the packaging, too.

Unfortunately, the only example I've found of this statue for sale is this eBay dealer, and it's pretty expensive there - $125.00 +shipping! I think you can find it out there somewhere cheaper than that. Even if you can't, Dark Horse did another Popeye statue in 2004, and it's just as good and much more affordable!