Derec and Darth

Derec sent in this Darth Vader appearance shot  from  a mall in Metairie LA. I think the Fonzie shirt pretty much dates this one. Derec mentions that this isn't the first time we've seen this backdrop and he's right:




Eric sent in this Empire era shot a few years back, great eye Derec!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

1980 Fisher Price Adventure People Catalog

The Adventure people was North America's first fully realized 3 3/4" action figure line and it's influence truly changed play for us 70s kids. Their clever combination of compelling adventure and well made sets made them a hit with kids since their inception in 1975.

By 1980, the line was starting to look to the stars in order to compete with lines such as Kenner's Star Wars (ironically one of the toy lines that copied the Adventure People) and their response was the very well remembered Alpha Probe among other toys.

Check out the 1980 Fisher Price Adventure People Catalog here.

Paint the Super Friends

There isn't much about this set from Combex that I dislike, save it for being it hard to find and it's complete lack of Aquaman....

Crochet Gangstas

"This putt-putt is our turf, you dig?"

Dick Tracy Wrist TV

Larami pretty much slapped Dick Tracy's face on anything cop related in 1976 but also went the extra mile and make a toy of one of his most famous crime busting tools.

Although I've got to say the timing seems a little off, being a kid at the time my sole experience with the character came from a Mad magazine parody.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

The Love Chamber

This is what I imagine Brick Mantooth's back up bedroom looks like.

Pod Stallions 5: Where are you coming from Spider-Man?

In this installment, Jason and Brain wax nostalgic over the days when we didn't get spoiled by three Superhero movies a Summer. The time when Captain America had a van, Spider-Man was a Von Trap child and Sinestro used to open for Sinatra.

"Where are you coming from Spider-Man" explores what a Superhero loving child had to choose from in the 70's, reruns of Batman, a decent series about the Incredible Hulk and a strangely disco Doctor Strange.

All that and a particularly powerful flub by Brain, enjoy!

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Show Links:

• Jason really wants this Superman The Movie figure by Madel Man of Spain. Somebody sell him one.
• The Japanese Spider-Man doll that is based off the Toei series.
• The book "Age of TV Heroes" about TV Superheroes that we mention and you really should buy.
• You can get "Legends of the Superheroes" and the Reb Brown Captain America films on DVD.
• This episode of Rocket Robin Hood was recycled into an episode of Spider-Man.
• A list of some of the goofier Spider-Man Electric Company segments..
• Mego's Wonder Woman line originally featured Linda Carters face on the box & not the other way around!
• The 1978 REImagined Catalog features a selection of "What If' Mego TV superhero toys.

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Today's New Woman

I'm totally down with this...

Super 7 reveals SDCC Alien ReAction Goodies

I'm not much of a modern toy news guy but the good people at Super 7 are doing a phenomenal job at pushing every one of my nostalgic toy nerd buttons.

So dedicated to channeling the ghost of Kenner, Super 7  not only issuing a SDCC early bird kit (which really is both nostalgic and a clever way to sell product they ain't got) but they're also selling figures in those little white mail away boxes that are only connected with joy to me.

You can get the details at the Super 7 website and also check out their Flickr account.

Hulk-a-mi-phone

From the "i've seen it all now" department. 

While Carnival toys gets a l'il gold star for giving Spidey a bugle (think about it), the idea of the Incredible Hulk standing in the desert giving his rendition of "songbird" makes his utility belt and motorcycle seem legit in comparison.

Jiggler Supreme

In 1979 Ben Cooper released a wave of jigglers that comprised of The Thing, Red Skull, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange. They also did corresponding Halloween costumes that year. They were misleading advertised as ersatz action figures in a Heroes World ad, so I really wanted to track them down as an adult.

Dr Strange never made it to the A-List in 70s comics, prior to this I'd seen a cameo he made in a Spider-Man comic. I think the big reason for his inclusion into this line was his TV movie that ran a year previous on CBS. I think it really helped raise his profile.

I'd never held the figure prior to last week and it's charming and a bit goofy, Dr Strange is really mad about something here!

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Dance floor dynamic duo

 Sadly, this moment in time is when Dwayne and Kenny peaked in life, it would be all down hill after this....

Darth and Chewie in Texas

I got an email from Mark this week who actually apologized for "adding to my pile of Darth Vader appearances" (he did get around) and then opened the photos. What Mark doesn't realize is there is few things I like better in this life than....

 Weird, homemade Star Wars costume appearances! Oh, I could hug you for this, sir. Mark (pictured in the middle) says it best:

"This pics were taken back in 1978 at the Angelina Mall (which no longer exists) in Lufkin, Texas.  The costumes are not very good but back in ’78 – it was freakin’ awesome!"

I have no doubt about that, I'd have been in awe too.

Dark lord of the Sith and judging by his chest, model railway enthusiast. 

Thanks a bunch Mark, these are incredible.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

1984 Ideal Toys Robo Force Catalog

 

Robo Force was a nicely designed series of Robot Action Figures that seemed to be largely influenced by Star Wars.

The line, despite an animated special was not a commercial success, this may have been due to Hasbro's Transformers launching the same year, really making Maxx Steele and his "Daleky" crew looking a bit old fashioned. The line endure cult popularity to this day and it's one of the last Ideal action figure lines to be released.

 

Visit the 1984 Ideal Toys Robo Force Catalog here.

  More Ideal Toys and Robots

Quick, Robin the Bat Phaser!

I have a real obsession with toy makers giving Super Heroes who are largely anti-gun, a gun. The most galling is Batman, Spider-man comes a close second as he's also a victim of gun related violence but the caped crusader is the weirdest to me.

Remco got around this by making it a light gun that fires the Bat signal in case Batman ever needs to call himself I guess.

There are two packages for this, one is a window box but I think this version is some really nice toy art.

Cool, Laced Crochet.

because your bacne should be shared with the world...

Buck Rogers Space Toppers

The brilliance of toys such as these is you couldn't always talk your folks into an action figure but you probably could get something like this, a semi action figure.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

To boldly wear

At this past weekend's MegoMeet, I was witness to many new, exciting things but none quite as awesome as this shirt that my pal Corey lent me to photograph.

This one is just everything I love about 70s Trek merch, I wish they made it in lummoxy adult sizes today. It's the second coolest Star Trek shirt I saw all weekend (The first will be coming soon)

Sure, Kirk is socking him but fake Gorn is getting a nipple tweak in there.

I sleep now.

Vintage Toy Store Pictures Volume 14

Aw yeah, another batch of "back in the day" goodness, this time showing now long defunct toy retailers from the golden age of the 1970s to the mid 1980s.

It's a real goody bag this time including Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, GI Joe, Infaceables, Shogun Warriors, Star Wars Power of the Force, Thundercats,  Micronauts and much more.

Click Here to visit Vintage Toy Stores Part Fourteen

Or check parts 1-13 out here:

Mattel Ringling Brothers Circus

As a child, I won ticked to the Ringling Brother circus, it was a strange mix of awe and fear for me. Mostly due to me being leery of clowns, still carry that to this day.

This toy from Mattel kind of surprises me, mostly because it seems like the kind of thing Marx would do. 

Like sleeping in Las Vegas

Without all the booze, gambling or nudity of any kind.

Ghost Riders?

I think it's safe to say that the Fleetwood Toys Ghost Rider figure with removable Johnny Blaze head is one of the more iconic and well known bits of 70s Superhero merchandise. This is probably thanks to the Heroes World ad that ran in comics, making the toy out to be a lot cooler than it really was.

I was surprised recently to see that Fleetwood was also offering a smaller friction racer version of Zarathos in '76. Like a lot of Rack Toys, I have no idea if these ever got produced but wouldn't be surprised if one surfaced some day...

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Hey Guys!

"I'm Sweet Jimmy, the transfer from Idaho. What's happening guys? Guys? Can you hear me? Hellooooooo? Earth to you guys!"