Colouring Book Theatre: Star Trek Rescue at Raylo

It's been two months since we've had a colouring book to review but this week a kind soul dropped a real doozy into my lap.

‘Star Trek Rescue at Raylo" is easily one of the dumbest experiences I've had a long while.

Despite the Motion Picture cover, the contents are nothing but reprinted materials from the mid seventies boom of original series merchandise.

Merrigold press wasn't the only company to pull this sort of "bait and switch" Peter Pan re released their book and record sets with TMP covers as well.

Getting back to the book, either they left some pages out during reprint or it was simply put out by adults who didn't give care about anything at all.

Ah "Le Shat" in his late 60s glory

There are a lot of easy jokes to be had what with Mr. Spock, the device and the fact that he's entering a cave. I've put all the ingredients out, you make your own.

Tiny spaceships zoom out of the cave and head for Captain Kirk, who is busy with his space corn.

Poof! Poof!
Kirk is knocked out and Spock summons Dr. McCoy, who is drawn to look upset through out the entire thing.

Kirk feigns amnesia, then begins reciting random numbers and then procedes to walk like Glenn Strange's Frankenstein to a cave.

Kirk and crew find frozen space explorers, frozen by Dr. Rychlo. Oh and that someone's coming? It's never addressed again.

The happy people help revive Dr. McCoy, why does Doctor McCoy need reviving? WHO KNOWS? Apparantly though in between pages 21 and 22, he was knocked out by something.

The rest of the book is simple little puzzles and jumbles we've all spent enough time with. Obviously that stuff was way more important than anything resembling a coherant story line. Then again this book retailed for $0.59, how much care and energy does one expect for that?

Previously reviewed Colouring Books

If you have a colouring book you'd like to guest review, I'd like to hear from you!

Trapped in the Magic Lasso

Third in our series of wonderful contributions to the site from Dan, this time we see Wonder Woman capturing the penguin. This is like a live action version of one of my favourite Mego toys:

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

1979 Corgi Jr Catalog

One of the biggest names when it comes to diecast cars in the world has to be Corgi and in the 1970s they were a licensing machine! If it was hot with kids and involved vehicles then it was likely a Corgi product.

Everybody from Kojak to Batman to James Bond even the rebels from Blake's 7 are representing in the 1979 Corgi Jr Catalog.

More Super Hero Goodness

Star Base Zeus

These weird little playsets like this were made by a company called "Tootsie Toy", they did do some licensed items (like the Shadow!) but for the most part they did fun knock offs of the Six Million Dollar Man, King Kong and Flash Gordon as evidenced here by "Major Mars".

More on this in the very near future.

The Feminine Touch

This bathroom looks like it was designed by a committee of grandmothers. Bathroom carpet, it never stops hurting...

He'll save everyone of us!

I've never really understood what possessed Mego to make these beautiful action figures based on the Flash Gordon comic strip, it was two years before the movie and animated series and while I admit I knew who the character was as a kid, I just didn't see this being a hit.

Anyway, I'm really glad they did, 'cause they're awesome! They're at a slightly larger scale then the Superheroes which allowed more detail in the outfits as well they come with a ton of stuff. I'm of the mind they are the best action figures ever made of the classic characters.

Speaking of Flash Gordon: One of my favourite modern Toy producers Bif Bang Pow! is releasing a set of Mego like 8" Flash Gordon figures based on the 1980 movie. If you read this blog, you'll know I am somewhat obsessed with that fine film, so it goes without saying that I'm pretty pleased.

Hopefully I can drive sales to convince Jason Lenzi to make an 8" Prince Vultan, I need a Brian Blessed doll in a bad way and so do all of you...

Check out Ming and Flash at Entertainment Earth.

Join the CB Convoy

Thanks to my sister, my family got all into the "CB Craze" of the mid seventies, my first conversation with a "real live trucker" was him telling me to get the hell off that channel.

That must have been really annoying, you have this great semi private form of communication and then all of a sudden every dork and his unsupervised spawn are on there as well. I went by the handle of "Red Godzilla" by the way...

The Penguin Strikes!

Second in our series of wonderfulcontributions to the site from Dan, this time we see Wonder Woman about to encounter the Penguin. I'd like to make a comment about how I've seen better Penguin outfits but I honestly haven't, the only other Pengun I've seen came from this show. Stay tuned next week for the thrilling conclusion!

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

LJN V Toys Catalog

"V" was an early 80s TV sensation, the brain child of Kenneth Johnson (responsible for the Six Million Dollar Man and the Incredible Hulk series) , V was a parable about facism wrapped in the amazing trappings of science fiction.

The original mini series were a ratings smash, so by the time a weekly series rolled around (Johnson bailed by this point) it made sense that toy makers were clamouring to get themselves some lizards. Sadly, the series was less than spectacular and LJN didn't roll out their entire V line for 1985 (save for the 12" doll). Below is a sad glimpse of what might have been.

Check out the 1985 LJN V catalog here

Other Unproduced Toy Lines

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Celebrity Sighting?

I bought this catalog recently and the seller had postulated to me that this was Barbara Bach, originally I thought "That doesn't look like Daisy Duke!" but eventually clued in. I'm not 100% sure if this is Mrs. Ringo Starr but I certainly can't say I mind posting this photo.

Hey, "Caveman" is on DVD, I haven't seen that since I was kid, wonder if it holds up?

Kojak by Excel Toys

I've gone on record on many occasions as to not understanding the toyetic appeal of Kojak. Starsky and Huth or SWAT I readily enjoyed as a child but Kojak wasn't something I ever wanted a toy of.

I do admit I think that the Kojak office set is pretty damned skippy however, it even comes with a bad guy who appears to work at footlocker. If I ever happened upon one of these cheap, I'll give it to my Mego Starsky and Hutch dolls.

Drunk In Stereo

This is the slickest thing I have ever seen in my life.

Chutes Away!

Gabriel's Chutes Away was one of those games I often requested but never received. It's pre video game functionality is something we don't see much anymore.

Wonder Woman struts her stuff

This is is the first of many cool contributions to the site from Dan, the shot above is a great pic of the Wonder Woman from the show. I'd have been fooled as a kid.

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

Super Joe Toy Gallery

Created a new gallery for that often forgotten era in G.I. Joe's history known as Super Joe, the era when Joe got shorter and was blasted off into the distant future to do battle with "Gor King of the Terrons" (incidentally, Gor was only the second villian Joe ever had but not the first alien).

The Gallery features production drawings and early advertising along with shots of Super Joe items from around the world:

In the UK, Joe was called "Commander Power" but Terron was marketed as an enemy for his 12" doppelganger "Action Man".

In Mexico, Joe was called "Siglo XXX" (which translates into XXX Century) and he was marketed alongside his 12" counterpart. Finding these in the original Lily Ledy display boxes are a task and a half.

Check out More at the Plaidstallions Super Joe Gallery

Other Plaidstallions Action Figure Archives

Jumpsuits: Shapely, Sexy and So Very Seductive!

You know what? I'm kinda feeling it....

Toy Questions Part 3: Heroes in Action

This question comes in once a month, like clock work:

"I had these soldiers that were 3 3/4" and secured to a base, they made clicking sounds to simulate gunfire"

They are Mattel's Heroes in Action line, a neat little line of 3 3/4" soldiers that seems to have sold much better in Europe than here. I pictured the SWAT set up there for variety but the majority of the line was military themed.

I think the concept and execution were solid but it may have been too soon after Viet Nam for these things to be popular.

The Safari Shirt

The tire tracks on the left should suggest there are poachers, sound the alarm!

Bat-Tastic Rack Toys

Some new additions to the AHI Batman gallery today, above is the Phaser ahem, Batman water pistol. This is a Canadian Card, many AHI items were carried by Grand Toys.

The "L'il Zips" Batmobile looks like crazy fun for under a buck. I don't understand why folks keep things mint in package but decide to cut the packaging like that.

A close up of the detail on the tiny dynamic duo.

Lastly the L'il Zips Batcycle, which looks a lot like the Mego Batcycle, I guess DC had a role in it's initial design. The card art on this one is fantastic.