The Six Million Dollar Man Factory

Here they are, the people that likely made your Six Million Dollar Man doll as a kid. When I see stuff like this I wonder if in the ones pictured, is my childhood Steve Austin.

Scene from the new Green Lantern Movie

Ok, apologies for the misleading title but wouldn't the new Green Lantern movie be so much better if it had a scene where Ryan Reynolds leads the entire Justice League to victory via water skis? Hunh?

Many, many thanks to Matt S for these fab pictures, more to come.

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

Mattel Secret Wars Catalog

In the early 1980s, Toy giant Mego fell and released both the Marvel and DC superheroes licenses for the first time in over a decade. This was also the first time the action figure license was seperated between companies. Kenner took the DC heroes and released Super Powers while Mattel scooped up the Marvel heroes to release the "Secret Wars" toy line. Marvel followed suite with a popular mini series of the same name.

What resulted was an interesting mix of toy maker meets comics. Mattel didn't put the effort into the line that Kenner initially did, the figures suffered from recycled body parts and some were not comic accurate. Despite these flaws, many recall the Secret Wars line as a fun toy line, a number of the characters had never been seen in action figure form making them exciting to collectors at the time as well:

Click here to visit the 1984 Mattel Secret Wars Catalog

Other Mattel Related Links

The Force is with Palitoy

I cannot begin to tell you the good times me and that rifle had...

The Consortium of Alpha Males

Panties fall the minute their musky scent hits the dance floor....

(Photo is courtesy of Hakes Americana)

The Maxi, The Wrap and the L & L

Ladies and Gents, meet the Maxi, The Wrap and The L &L, three outfits that I declare, hands down, the winners. I can totally close up shop today because, let's face it, job done! There is nothing that can touch these incredible outfits, except maybe this:

This image was graciously lent to me by the good people at Hakes Americana, one of the finest auction houses in the world and ending this week is a mint condition Maxi outfit. Seriously check it out here but be warned, as I may outbid you on this one. The idea that it's my exact waist size combined with my compulsion to needlessly embarrass my children may push me over the edge to win this.

Hipsters in Love

Obviously, the whole dressing alike trend was started by these two, the matching outfit Adam and Eve.

Motor City Comic Con Photos

Last weekend I did the annual pilgramage to Novi Michigan for Motor City Comic Con. The con is one of my favourites as it's well run and has a nice mix of modern and vintage in the dealer's room, as opposed to many local conventions. Here is some of what I saw:

Gotta love an old timey cardboard box robot, this guy from the "Wolfman Mac" show. Something I don't get at home or in my hotel room sadly....

This terrible, blurry photo is the only one I took of Jim Kelly sadly. The star of "Black Belt Jones" and "Enter the Dragon" was one of the big reasons I attended this year and I'm happy to report he is truly a quality human being to meet. Kelly was one of the reasons I got into martial arts but I didn't tell him that.

Sadly this guy wasn't signing autographs.

I suck at photos part 2: This is Lindsay Wagner, the Bionic Woman, you'll just have to take my word on that.

When I look at stuff like this, I can already hear my wife asking "Why?" in a very annoyed voice. She's saved me thousands of dollars over the years.

When I was 15, I somehow conned the clerk at the local videostore into letting me rent this nudey romp, it was pretty terrible and of course, my mom caught me with it. She then prompted my dad to have words with me and he had a tough time keeping a straight face. For these reasons, I reeeaaallly wanted to take this poster home, see the Captain America shield for as to why I didn't.

After spending the day getting both Boba Fett's autographs for my son and trying to find something my daughter would like, I picked up this fun piece autographed by the man himself. I'm a sucker for such things..

Mattel Toy Book for 1969

Normally I don't delve much in 60s toys as I wasn't made yet but I couldn't resist this cool catalog put out for kids by Mattel pre Christmas 1969. The main reason for me is that it solves a big mystery for me. In Kindergarton I played with these blue plastic men, never knew what they were and I was elated to find out their name was TOG'L Men.

I'm sure the rest of this well made catalog will be a trip for many as it includes such Mattel staples as Barbie, Hot Wheels and Major Matt Mason.

The 1969 Mattel Toy Book for 1969

Other Mattel Related Links

Tarzan by Corgi

As readers of this blog might know, I have a real affection for 70s Tarzan merchandise, mostly because of the wonderful Filmation series that ran on CBS (which sadly, is not available on DVD). One of the best items out of that era has to be this wicked Corgi set which of course features jungle vehicles, animals, the Zan himself and a jungle backdrop. I wish I had an endless income and storage space sometimes....

A Bit of Shade

On such a hot day, the girls were relieved to find a large ass to rest under.

Cyborg VS Muton

Another excuse for me to extoll the virtue of the Denys Fisher Cyborg line, there's just something so appealing about see through action figures, wish I could elaborate on that further. This is one of those figure lines that never made it to North America, lucky brits...

For more drooling, check out the 1977 Denys Fisher Cyborg Catalog and Toy Gallery:

Pocket Lad

Laugh if you wish, but he always comes prepared for any occasion.

Spider Man takes on the Knight of Darkness?

Today's Mall Appearance shot comes from Patrick, who also added a great story of the day he got it, I'll let him tell it, budding in of course...


"It was a beautiful Saturday in Woodbridge Center Mall, Woodbrdge, New Jersey. It was an open area (which exists to this day) in the JC Penney wing. The mall had two levels to it, and the "Cityscape" set was on the lower level. The jazzy "Spider-Man" TV theme began to play...and a very brave stunt-actor decended from the upper level courtesy of a "web-ladder".

The. Place. Came. UNGLUED!!!!!!

I know, I was one of the people screaming. This *was* Spidey, as far as I was (heck, still AM) concerned. One of your readers mentioned a Spidey appearance being received like the Beatles @ Shea Stadium...I can relate!

And Spidey's Villian du jour? Doc Ock? Green Goblin? Vulture? Electro? Wrong....remember, this was 1977 and a certain movie was all the rage back then. Spidey's foe looked like Ideal Toys' Knight of Darkness from Space Team (you never forget a Darth Vader knockoff)...the voice over sounded like a ham talking into a coffee can: "Ha-ha! I will destroy the city, and Spider-Man cannot stop me...ha-ha!, etc." ...and the finale was a "Lightsaber" battle, with Spidey webbing the 'Knight up, another day saved, game over.

My mom and sister asked me if I wanted a picture with Spidey, which, to their surprise, I eagerly agreed to. That little paper sleeve (autographed!) with the attached picture is THE childhood treasure of my life. I have it to this day (I am 39 - 1/3). Note that I have an X-wing fighter pendant and a Star Trek 'Scotty' shirt (note the collar)...so I began my journey with sci-fi at a VERY early age.

Thanks Patrick for the great story and if anybody out there has shots of Spider-Man fighting the Knight of Darkness, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I need to see this spectacle for myself.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Colouring Book Theatre: Doctor Who

‘Dr Who Colouring Book"

If there is one thing that brings me back to being a kid, it's early seventies Doctor Who especially Jon Pertwee era stuff, he was my Doctor growing up and I both respected and kind of feared him.

Later in life I'd get to meet the guy and let me tell you, he was the nicest, most generous, celebrity I've ever met.

I was delighted to find scans of this book on teh interwebs, some kind soul had scanned this (probably rare) item so all could see.

This book is a refreshing break from the last bunch of misery we've had on CBT, mostly because it's beautifully rendered and has no story. It's just a series of charming illustrations of what appears to be Pertwee's second season.

Hai Keeba! The Doctor showed that wookie. A beautiful illustration of what set the Pertwee era apart, his Doctor had a flash of James Bond.

I think it's funny the author took the photo from the Radio Times cover and put the Doctor underwater.

The artist seems really good at capturing likeness, he even seems to get Katy Manning's features well.

Ah, big honking 70s computers...

Brigadier Lethbridge Stuart, a character that should have appeared on the new series by now..

Just some of the random sci fi nonsense included here, for the most part the adventures the Doctor has are all plausible for the series. Much of the planets he visits look like quarries in the UK and the aliens (sorry none of his TV baddies appear) look like the kind of stuff that would plague the Doctor in the early 70s.

Now that I've had a taste of this thing, I kind of want it...

Previously reviewed Colouring Books

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

1974 HG Toys Summer Catalog

Seasonal Toy Catalogs are a big part of the toy industry, with summer rearing it's head it's time to look at all the hot outdoor stuff available from HG Toys in 1974.

Nothing cooler than outdoor fun when it's combined with TV favourites The Superfriends, Fat Albert and Looney Tunes either.

Click on the images below to see larger pages with descriptions:

Related Linkage: