5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

The Incredible Hulk UK Annual- We just did a podcast today about UK annuals and this one was a topic of discussion. It's the only time in comic form that we have this rendition of the Hulk, the comics are all about Bill Bixby turning into Lou Ferrigno, I found that so charming.

Bendy Toys Buck Rogers and Twiki set- Speaking of charming, these foam rubber action figures were exclusive to the United Kingdom and are just so kooky. I own a set myself and really love Buck's weird non-accurate space suit.

Godzilla's Gang figure by Mattel- Godzilla's Gang was sold at the same time as the Shogun Warriors, it was a series of Japanese Monster vinyls where most of the character were from Ultra-Man shows, with the exception of Godzilla of course. Nobody talks about these! They're super awesome and I want them all!

SWAT Iron On Transfer- I'm not a big fan of the series but I love this really striking artwork. That would really pop on a shirt.

Battle of the Planets Mego Style Figure- The Popy TV Heroes brand were meant to emulate the Mego World's Greatest Superheroes figures (which Popy also sold in Japan). This one was my grail for decades, I mean this is the figure I would have killed for in 1979.

We're publishing a Toy-Ventures Magazine this Summer, here's a link on how to be kept in the loop: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/magazine/ 

Like Mego Knock-Offs? Join our Facebook group dedicated today, it's an intimate group that focuses just on vintage toys: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Megoknockoff/

Battle of the Planets Figures 2: Toy-Ventures

This time we look at the 8" Megolike Battle of the Planets action figures produced in France by Ceji Arbois. Figures that were cobbled together by using bodies from three different Hasbro toy lines. This video is for adult collectors aged 18+ because that's who watches my channel. All of our videos are on our Facebook page, please like it in case I close up shop on YouTube. https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallionsdotcom/ Twitter: @plaidstallions

5 Awesome things on eBay this week

Buck Rogers Lampshade Kit- I can't think of anything that would light up a room better than Pamela Hensley and Erin Gray in this wonderful 3-D piece from the UK. I love it's not the stock art but an original creation.

Incredible Hulk light switch cover- Speaking of lights, this 1970s light switch cover is everything I love about 70s stuff, totally funky and just slightly off model, everybody wins!

Battle of the Planets Keychains- I am really in love with these, they're pricey but honestly, I'd never seen them before a week ago. I'd settle for the Phoenix and yes, it would become my key ring.

Tomland Strawberry Shortcake RipOff-  Toymaker Tomland Toys was no stranger to ripping off concepts, I mean these are the people behind the Sonic Man and the Star Raiders but they seemed to have run out of clever the day they named this. Seriously, Redhead? That's lazy Tomland, even for you....

Mattel Slime Monster Game- As a kid completely verboten to have Slime of any kind (Shag Carpeting) I do find the whole concept weirdly alluring.  This is the first time I've ever run into the game and had a looksie, now i want it.

Toy-Ventures 13- Battle of the Planets action figures from France

Toy-Ventures 13 talks about the awesome series of action figures based on the popular television series "Battle of the Planets". These are the action figures we craved and totally deserved as kids but sadly never got.

I go into my reasons as to why I love Battle of the Planets and showcase my small but well loved collection.

Say "Transmute" and join me, won't you?


Visit us online at
www.plaidstallions.com

Twitter: @plaidstallions

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYta3nz_7FAzPvP8FPSgpg?view_as=subsc

Top Five Things on Ebay this Week

Original Santa Claus conquers the Martians one sheet- I'm a huge fan of this weird kids movie that honestly gets a bad rap for being terrible, it's a lot of fun actually and I watch it every Christmas, you should too.

Battlestar Galactica Wall Calendar- Cause you never know when it's going to be 1979 again.

James Bond Secret Ear Phone Wrist Watch- Were I a rich man, this would be great Christmas present for a certain podcast partner.

A complete set of French Battle of the Planets figures- Sure, they're on open cards BUT THEY"RE ALL KINDS OF AWESOME and circumvent any collector OCD.

Mego Planet of the Apes Treehouse Gift Set- This very rare combination of playset and dolls pushes all of my collector buttons and I want it to come home with me...

Thanks for Reading, see you next week!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Battle of the Planets Helmet

I seriously was trying to swear off Battle of the Planets merchandise after finding this and more importantly this in the previous few months.

However, a well meaning friend of mine forwarded me an auction and it was a) Super Cool and b) TWENTY MINUTES FROM MY FREAKING HOUSE. I'm not made of stone, more after the jump.

Battle of the Planets by Jecsan

Ever since I found this guy sitting at the cash register of Suspect Video on Queen and talked the manager out of it (good thing too because the store sadly burned down not long after) I've been wondering what the heck he was. I by and large just assumed a knock off figure sold in dime stores but happily I was wrong. 

Turns out they're by a company called Jecsan of Spain, more figures and packaging after the jump.

Battle of the Planets Tricycle

Well, my pal Dave over at ToyNerd (go check it out, I'll wait) succeeded in two things 1) Showing me something I've never seen before and 2) Totally making me want a girl's bicycle!

Follow me after the jump for this awesome Battle of the Planets piece.

Battle of the Planets Phoenix by Ceji Arbois

Ever see something vintage for the first time and just "Oh I have to have this". That happened to me last month and the Ebay Gods smiled on me that I got it within my budget (that never happens).

This is a vintage Battle of the Planets Phoenix that was produced in France in 1980 and I WOULD HAVE KILLED FOR AS A KID!

More after the jump!

Battle of the Planets by Ceji Arbois

I've been on kind of a Battle of the Planets jag these past few weeks and here's one of my favourites, the 3 3/4" action figure line.

Originally made by Popy Japan, these figures were later sold in Europe in sets or on individual cards by companies like Ceji Arbois and Jecsan. They even added characters!



Sadly, no toy company thought to bring these to our shores but there is always Ebay to soothe the burn....

Battle of the Planets Feathers

Another cool Rack Toy for Battle of the Planets ( Gatchaman) that we never got in North America.

Although this toy wouldn't have made much sense to us, as most of the scenes of Jason (Condor Joe in Japan) stabbing goons with his steel quill feathers were by and large cut from the show.

But the even more interesting thing is the back of the card.



GAH! I would loved this as a kid. If I knew a kid who had this I probably would have friended him merely on ownership alone.

Must track down that helmet and cape! 

Battle of the Planets Book and Record Set

While packing up this month, i found this wonderful piece that belongs to my wife. It's a book and record set from France very similar to our Power Records or I guess the Disney book and records. Canada has a large French population so many books, records and toys native to France were available here.

I am told that the French Battle of the Planets storybooks were in high demand at the local library where my wife grew up.

While there is no real novelty to copying the record (at least for me, I only know swears), I did think it would be fun to scan the great art from the accompanying pages, so transmute after the jump.

Grip Character Diecast Catalog

Click on the image to Enlarge.

Eidai Grip diecast vehicles were produced in Japan during the 1970s and featured many popular TV licences not unlike Dinky and Corgi did in the United Kingdom.

In fact, they shared many licenses like Gerry Anderson's UFO (a personal favourite), Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. They also (understandably) covered Japanese favourites like Ultraman, Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets.

Above is a beautiful catalog I found, you can view it in larger scale by clicking on it. I've also broken it down after the jump including shots from my own collection of these. 

Battle of the Planets Card Game

As space is so limited around here (kind of like money) I tend to not buy a lot of Battle of the Planets stuff these days,  unless it's a) Cheap and b) features Zoltar or his Spectra goons.

This Japanese card game checked both of those boxes, it's got my favourite transgendered villain on the box and it only cost me $10. 

Inside features the Spectra goons to boot! I kind of want to see all the cards but seeing as I'll never figure out how to play this came I may just let them remain sealed.

Get Captain Canuck, Brick Mantooth and more at our shop!

Gatchaman Stamp Set

For some reason I was really chuffed to discover that Japan not only likes cheap-o rack toys but that they even get the exact same kind.

This little set has little stamps of the phoenix, Mark and Zoltar, it would have so easy to put this on an english card and market this to us as kids. Look the note pad's already in english!

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.

Space Shark

Man, I loves me some copyright infringing knock offs and Space Shark here is a triple play! The front featuring Mark from "Battle of the Planets" getting an assist by the Argo from "Star Blazers" neither which tie into the shark motif very well but rest assured....

Space Jaws is on the side panel! What these three properties have to do with one another isn't a question I intend to answer in my lifetime.

The gun itself is all kinds of cool featuring a shark face on the end, it kind of sells itself really.

  Our book celebrating Rack Toys is nearly sold out.

Those Other World's Greatest Superheroes

 

 There was a time in my younger days where I was absolutely obsessed with these guys. Made by Japanese toy maker Popy, these 8" figures were meant to fit in with Mego Superheroes (which Popy also supplied in Japan). That 8" Mark from "Battle of the Planets" is the toy we deserved as kids.

Speaking of Mego, tomorrow kicks off Mego Meet 10 in Wheeling, WV, I'll be there selling many different goodies. Please say hi if you make it.

Pod-Stallions Episode 17: Transmute!

Episode 17 is a benchmark for us, as it's our first guest and that guest is comics legend Alex Ross. Alex joins us to talk about a favourite subject of both Jason and Brian, the animated series Battle of the Planets.
We discuss our earliest memories of the show, it's origins, merchandise, further iterations, how it changed Brian's life (seriously) and Alex describes his experiences playing in the BOTP sand box when he got to produce 12 issues of the comic.

 Of course, it's never easy to stay completely on topic. and the conversation turns  to talk of Mego action figures, the fate of Gwen Stacy and the whereabouts of Casey Kasem?

Transmute and listen to Pod Stallions Episode 17 here!

Download the Show Here

Listen here

Show Links:

• Here is the great Battle of the Planets website that Jason discusses
• The trailer for the aborted CGI Gatchaman film that Alex mentions
• The live action Gatchaman film is now available on Blu Ray
• Mego Popy action figures mentioned by Alex
• The rifle Jason fires in the show
• We'll be putting up a gallery of BOTP merchandise on our facebook page
• This an essential book for a fan of the Battle of the Planets.

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!



PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

1-Rover-!

We just wrapped our Battle of the Planets episode of PodStallions (which launches this Friday) and I was reminded of one of my favourite pieces of merchandise this little magnetic 1-Rover-1. This and a matching 7 Zark 7 (which i don't own) have l'il magnets in them to add to the play.

The back of the box shows some fun shenanigans, the little guy loves his master's butt, my dog just gives me a dirty look when i do that. This is a toy lucky kids in France got (where his name is 1-Nonos-1), instead of the bupkiss we got here.

We'll be discussing stuff like this on this Friday's podcast, with special guest Alex Ross, it'll launch Friday.

1978 Popy Toys Catalog

Oh Japan, how i love thee.  The Popy Toy Corporation is not terribly well known to North Americans but their influence definitely had an impact on us.

In 1978, they had a tremendouse amount of cool licenses such as Gatchaman (Known to us as Battle of the Planets), Starzinger (which we called Spaceketeers) and your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, who suddenly had a cool car and giant robot.

There is a lot of goodness in here from the crew of the Bacchus 3 to the whacky ships from "Message from Space" and some Shogun Warriors thrown in for good measure.

The 1978 Popy Toys Catalog will make you wish you were born in Tokyo, unless you were, then I guess then it would make you thankful. I don't know...

More Japanese Influenced Toy Lines: