Toy-Ventures 12: Godzilla Battles the Tricephalon Monster

Toy-Ventures talks about the amazing playset produced by HG Toys called "Godzilla battles the Tricephalon Monster" and gives you a look at why this underrated toy is an eight-year-olds dream. 

If you love some Kaiju, you're going to want to watch this. Visit us online at www.plaidstallions.com Twitter: @plaidstallions 

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Star Trek: Battle on the planet Klingon puzzle by HG Toys

This was a yard sale find I gave my son many moons ago, it was enjoyed and all that remains appears to be this box lid.

At one time, the off model green Mr Spock would have annoyed me, now I like it better than most merchandise produced today.

Krofft Week: Wonderbug!

Aw yeah, Wonderbug is definitely in my top five Krofft shows, basically a live action speed buggy with a little Shazam! sprinkled in for good measure, what's not to love. Above is the Wonderbug toy cars made by Duncan (the yo-yo people).

Here's a whole display of them. I really need to track down one of these.

This is the Wonderbug pedal car, I wouldn't know where to put this but I pray i never see one at a flea market...

I am not surprised to see there is a Wonderbug puzzle by HG Toys, I am now convinced they made puzzles of my first communion.

I did not know however that there was a Wonderbug board game, the art work on the box is pretty great.

 

Lastly we did a Colouring book theatre a few years ago for Wonderbug, my friend Sharry graciously provided the scans. You can check it out here.

Krofft Week: Dr Shrinker

Continuing my love for all thing Krofft, I have always been super fond of Dr. Shrinker. I probably like "Far Out Space Nuts" a l'il bit more but it doesn't seem to have much merchandise so Shrinker it is...

Harmony had the license to make rack toys from all the Krofft Super Show and seemed to have fun with this show.

I was maybe a little too excited to get this magnifying glass a couple of years ago.

Another puzzle that I had no idea existed that i now need to own. Curse you HG Toys!

I nabbed these Dr Shrinker/Wonderbug (another favourite of mine) Viewmasters at a flea market this summer for ten bucks, total victory!

There is a Dr Shrinker Halloween costume but I can't seem to find right but will post to the Facebook page when I find it.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions and it's full of stuff just like this. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Original Alien Artwork for sale

What an awesome treat I have today. I was alerted on Tuesday by a seller that they had some original Earl Norem Artwork produced for the HG Toys Alien series coming up for sale this weekend.  This is not only huge, it's wonderfully timely considering we're ten days into our Month of Halloween celebration and Promethius just arrived on DVD (please no spoilers).

 

 

Here is the Alien from the Blaster Target Set (here's a shot of the final product here) from what I'm told HG blacked out the eyes on Norem's artwork. Alien was a project that toy makers were really leery of.

 

 

 

And here we have the brilliant early artwork for what became the 250 Piece Alien Puzzle (you can see it better here). Sadly HG did not return Norem's artwork, this happens more than it should.

I cannot say anything more than I'm overjoyed that wonderful bits of toy history still surface to this day, this is going to look amazing in somebody's collection.

Both of these pieces are available on Ebay via this seller come this weekend. I am not afiliated, just spreading the word.

 

 

Creepy Creatures

These coffin shaped puzzles show that Monster Love was alive and well in '75. I don't own any of these but I've been sorely tempted at many a toy show/flea marker/antique mall.

Godzilla Battles The Tricephalon Monster

A wonderful update as our Halloween Countdown progresses a look at the HG Toys classic Godzilla playset which includes a story of kindness and a tale of nerd vindication, all that and a new Plaidstallions Trading card, after the jump.

HG Toys for 1980

HG Toys was a company known for applying licenses to their staple of role playing items, puzzles and playsets. In 1980, they rocked the 25th century with Buck Rogers, explored the seedy streets of Vega$ and smashed a few cities with Godzilla. Shoot they even made Fantasy Island merchandise, what's not to love?

Check out the 1980 HG Toys Catalog Here

Other HG Toys Links

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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:

Godzilla VS Me

I got a new member to my expanding "toy family" a few weeks back and I couldn't be happier. This is the HG toys Godzilla figure from their awesome "Godzilla Vs the Tricephalon" playset released in 1979. I saw it in the back of Famous Monsters magazine as a kid and knew one day I would own it, this Zilla is the closest I have come to that goal.

My first surprise is that he's "HUGE", I was expecting him to be in "Green Army man" type scale and he sort of is, as he towers over them just like Godzilla should.

See? He's awesome, the plane and frightened person are also from the set, I won those in another auction.

Just for scale, that's a Mexican Mego Superman next to him. This guy is one serious lump of plastic (and old school toy love).

One of these days boy....

1974 HG Toys Puzzle Catalog

HG Toys was one of the bigger producers of licensed products in the 1970s and this great puzzle catalog from 1974 proves this. Almost every popular television show or character from that time is present, including Evel Knievel, Star Trek, the Marvel Superheroes, Planet of the Apes, Happy Days and much more.

Check out the 1974 HG Toys Puzzle Catalog

Also, if you haven't already check out the previously posted 1979 HG Toys Catalog for Godzilla, Alien, Superheroes, Barbapappas, Vegas, Love Boat and a lot more:

Godzilla Day!

Well, it's one of those days where your teacher is too hung over to do anything so he just wheels in the projector. In my case, I'm sick but it works just as well. I thought it would be fine time to showcase these commercials from our DVD showcasing a character near and dear to my inner eight year old, Godzilla!

First off is this commercial for the Mattel Godzilla Game a product I honestly don't remember but it was part of Mattel's late seventies love affair with the character and the graphics are just sweet.

Secondly and this really is the classic, the Mattel Shogun Warriors Godzilla, while I think every 70s toy collector should be court ordered to buy one, I'd also love to get a hold of the Japanese version which looks more like the big guy.

Get him Stretchy Supes!

I'm still hopelessly devoted to finding the HG Toys "Godzilla vs Tricephalon" play set for myself someday. Anybody got one for sale, I guess it would help if I checked Ebay for one.

Lastly, another classic, the Ben Cooper Godzilla Halloween costume, another thing that made you jealous when you saw kids wearing it on October 31st..

Have a great weekend people, I'm off to stomp a city!

The Most Logical Superhero Toys Ever

This Aquaman Sled from the 1974 HG Toys catalog is something you just don't see anymore, a product that actually suits the Superhero. Nowadays if somebody got the DC comics license for pool toys, it'd feature Batman or Spider-Man but here the sea king gets his due. But wait, there's more....

Wonder Woman Magic Lasso jump rope. How awesome is this? It gets better...

Yeah, that's right even Oliver Queen gets some well deserved respect with his own archery set, somebody had their thinking cap on at HG toys, could this get better?

Um well, no it doesn't. This one is a bit of a reach and honestly it's a terrible pun. Hey, three out of four ain't bad right? It has lovely Neal Adams artwork, that counts for something?

I shouldn't have ended the segment with this one.....

Life on Mars- Don't forget about Life on Mars tonight on ABC, the show is "on the bubble" to get renewed and it would be great to see this wonderful retro series back for another season.

HG Puzzles and Poster Sets for 1977

Toy Fair 1977: Who wants to colour in Starsky and Hutch? For more HG Toys check out their 1979 Catalog.

Greatest Godzilla Toy Ever...

Sure some of you might argue about the Shogun Warriors Godzilla but the HG Toys Godzilla VS the Tricephalon set actually gives you an entire to city to trash, complete with army men and Monster to fight.

When I first saw this in the back of Famous Monsters, my mouth started to water a little. I still don't have one, dammit!

Tomorrow we go nuts with Fugly Lingerie....