Toy-Ventures 7: Robot Man with Four Faces

This week's installment of Toy-Ventures is all about the wonderful and weird Maskatron knock off from France called "Robot Man with Four Faces" one of the more blatant (and charming) rip-offs I've ever encountered as a collector. 

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Robot Man with 4 Faces

I've mentioned this Maskatron rip off before in our countdown of Bionic Knock Offs but I've always wanted to circle back to it because it's such a wonderful attempt to capture as many genres as possible with one cheap toy, so let's have a more detailed look shall we?

PodStallions 21: Bionic Man-ia

It was bound to happen, episode 21 talks of the Six Million Dollar Man television series which slow motion ran across our television screens (and our collective hearts) during the Polyester decade.

In this we discuss the series itself, the spin offs and the crazy/wonderful merchandise that made Christmas more memorable. We go through the fan club kit, discuss favourtie episodes and villains. Jason also gets to relay his experience working with the license some 30 years later and even 

Of course, that being said we get off track into discussions about Mego, Star Wars, West World, Penny Dreadful,  the career of John Saxon, Star Trek the Motion Picture , David Carradine and other things completely unrelated to our subject.

Episode 21 will have you looking your Bionic Eye.

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Show Links:

• The Japanese Spider-Man figure by Popy we discussed.
• The very first episode of Kamen Rider V3 sees his whole family murdered by a villain called Scissors Jaguar.
• The Ark diecast ad we discuss on the show that features Jason's beloved Baltan toy.
• How Star Wars figures were sold in Japan.
• The Captain Scarlet model kits Jason mention.
• Denys Fisher Cyborg toys based on Henshin Cyborg.
• A website devoted to the Shinsei UFO Commander toys.
• The Kamen Rider Henshin suit that keeps Brian up at night.
• Drool over the amazing Jumbo Machinders!

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!

We'll be adding Bionic Man collectible photos to Facebook.



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Bionic Spring '77 Extra

In the Spring of 1977 Kenner issued this supplemental catalog to retailers to showcase the innovations in their (then) biggest hit toy lines, the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman.

Bionic fever would wane the following year but this was truly a golden time from Bionic fans.

Check out the Kenner Bionic Spring '77 Extra



More Bionic Toy Love:

1977 : Year of the Bionic People

With the double whammy of Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman on each week, Kenner pulled out all the stops in 1977 in terms of product, with over 24 pages of products to choose from this is truly the spike in the Bionic Craze.

It's interesting to note that despite her show being action adventure, much of the Bionic Woman merchandise seemed to market her as a fashion doll who just happened to have circuits.

Click here to visit the 1977 Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Woman Catalog

Today begins Mego Meet, the fourth annual Mego Collector Convention, if you're in the area, drop by this weekend for some 70's Toy Love. I'll be there giving out Plaidstallions cards and hugs.

HE HAS A NAME!

I can't get over the response to this query (and no, we won't be naming all of our catalog models) but I had to choose Bill McFarland's suggestion for our "Name this Guy" contest and go with "GUY KARATE".

The reason is two fold, first it rhymes with "Hai Karate" (which this man no doubt bathes in) and when you say the first name in the french vernacular, it goes from being cool to a delicious play on words.

Anyway, ladies meet Guy (pronounce Gu-e-e) Karate!

Six Million Dollar Man Kenner Maskatron Commercial

New to the web today is the 1976 Maskatron commercial from Kenner. Every child should know the joy of owning a robot doll that becomes John Saxon. That's not sarcasm, I really mean it!

These are scans from the 1976 Kenner catalog, click on the link for more. Expect more Bionic Man and Woman stuff in the new year.

Keep that Bionic Pimp Hand Strong

Doctor Kromedome was created to fill a void in 1975 for Bionic Villains (Maskatron came in '76) , the buyer for Wards contacted friends at Mego Corp and this catalog exclusive "Bionic Villain" was born.

Kromedome's weird purple outfit, Cape and Cane kind of give him a bit of Cybernetic "Mack Daddy" vibe. Like he'd be on a street corner with a group of fembots around him or maybe that's just me.....

For more info on Doctor K visit his Megomuseum page, if you're looking for anything Mego check out their forums here. No better community on the web.