I Love Action Figures in Karate Outfits

(Many thanks to my friend Eddie for this awesome image above) 

The Martial Arts explosion of the early 1970s was not lost on action figures, growing up in this time, it gave me a lifelong obsession with the culture.

 It also turned out to be a real positive influence in my life, so I've decided to start collecting all the various 70s action figures I can find in Karate Gis and compiled a list of ones that i have and would like to have after the jump:

Pod Stallions Episode 59: 2017 Retro Awards

Another year, another pile of amazing pop culture.

As every retro awards, we talk about the things that most hit us in the feels in our nostalgic journey that is Pod Stallions.

We talk about our favourite movies, books, DVD releases and toys of this past year.

Topics include Planet of the Apes, Wonder Woman, the Super Friends, Doctor Who, Blade Runner, Al Adamson movies, Kung Fu, Mystery Science Theater, Elvira and much, much more.

So sit back, relax and please don't give a second thought to the fact that two music nuts never thought to talk about albums......


So happy life day and  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

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Bendy Buck Rogers and Twiki

This past weekend I was grateful to recieve a surprising package from Jason, my podcast partner. If you had asked me to guess, I'd have never gotten it right but somehow it's the perfect gift. More after the jump:

Big Jim Motorcross Honda

Picked up this oddity at last month's Kane County toy show. It's the regular Big Jim Honda bike that was released for a couple of years but for some reason it's got the Pack logo emblazoned on it.

This isn't a sticker either, it's printed on the box. The best I can figure this is a transitional piece released before the P.A.C.K vehicles had been devised.

I have limits on what I buy and I don't actively collect the All Stars line but this sort of  crept in. Also, when I picked it up the dealer automatically kicked 25% off his posted price without me saying a word. That kind of tactic works really, really well on me.

Shameless Plug: I'm currently selling my US boxed Torpedo Fist on Ebay. Thanks for looking!

More Big Jim than you can handle!

Pod Stallions 49: The 2016 Retro Awards

Happy New Year! It's time for our annual salute to all the things that made us happy in 2016, especially those that harkened back to our childhoods and while it was kind of a rough year, there were still some nice bright spots.

The 2016 Retro Awards salutes the movies, books,  and toys we raved about this year. It's a double decker episode and let's all make 2017 the best year ever, see you in January with another Pod Stallions.

Thanks for listening and happy new year!

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Show notes:

• Brian loves the Dolemite Blu Ray by Vinegar Syndrome.
• Both guys LOVED the book "Comic Book Fever".
• Brian also read The MLJ Comics Companion.
• Jason heartily recommends the Power of the Daleks Animated DVD.
• Brian admits to playing with his 12 inch Capaldi.

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Hasbro 1973 World of Love Catalog

Hasbro described Love dolls as: "She's what's happening. She's today's American teenager and she's part of the World of Love".

This was an interesting to attempt to combine  Fashion dolls with what was left over of the hippie movement in the early 1970s as Hasbro hoped little girls would clamour to enact adventures for Love and her friends Peace, Flower, Music and Soul.

Check out the '73 World of Love Catalog here.

More Fun from the Doll Commune

Talking celebrities

Growing up I knew who Bozo and Mrs Beasley were but I can honestly remember having no clue what a Flip Wilson was when I saw one of his gender bending  dolls on clearance. 


I had to ask my Mom, who smiled and said "Oh he was funny!" which really didn't answer the question....

Mattel Sunshine Family for 1978

The Sunshine Family were a series of (In my opinion, creepy) dolls marketed by Mattel beginning in 1974. At the time, the line was marketed with the family being very into the burgening "post hippie" early 70s craft movement.

By 1978, the line's look had begun to look dated so it was rebranded the "Sunshine FUN Family" (bet that was an all nighter at Mattel) and the characters were given a bit of a makeover. The Sunshine family had moved into the suburbs it seems...

Click here to see Mattel's Sunshine Fun Family Catalog for 1978

More Sunshine folks

1976 Mattel Sunshine Family Catalog

Lazy Dazy

Coincidentally, should they ever make a doll of me, it would also come with it's own pillow.

Wedding Jitters

Note to toy manufacturers, when producing "Beautiful Bride" type dolls, try not to make their faces so "Twilight Zone creepy" perhaps keep them more at a "Night Gallery" level....

Gramma loves you

I've seen these Gramma and Granpa dolls in many catalogs, so somebody must have bought them. I just don't understand the appeal, not that I have anything aganst grandpeople, far from it but it just seems kind of weird to have a cradle for elderly people.