Toy-Ventures: Space Apes : Planet of the Apes Knockoffs?

After a long break, I have another wonderful mystery box of Knock-Offs from the United Kingdom, this week we're going to meet The Space Apes, a series of action figures that seem to resemble the Mego Planet of the Apes figures but with some noticeable differences. 

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Toy-Ventures: More Knock Off Superheroes

Time to delve into the magical world of Knock Off or bootleg action figures again with these classics from the 1970s, the weirdest justice league ever consisting of Aquaman, Superman and um.......Bat-Phantom-Solider-Man?

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Toy-Ventures: Knock Off Superheroes

What's wrong with these superheroes?
This week I give you all I know about the "Heroes Accessories" line of toys, including their two waves and their relationship to Captain Action and the Mego World's Greatest Superheroes. Do you have any of these guys? Come talk about them in my new facebook group "Mego Knock Off Headquarters" an intimate group that is straight vintage toy talk: https://www.facebook.com/groups/231169224543263/

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Toy-Ventures- Evil Cowboys by Zodiac Toys

This week we talk about one of my "white whales" in knock-off monster toy collecting, the elusive and vexing "Evil Cowboys" action figures made by Zodiac Toys in the late 1970s. I wish I knew more about these but here is everything i have on the subject.

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Universal, and not so Universal Halloween Die Cuts!

Please enjoy another guest post by my pal Matt, who will take us to school on vintage Halloween decorations- BrAin.

Greetings boils and ghouls! 

Today's post features some of the rarest, best, and most sought after and valuable Halloween die-cuts ever made based on the universal monsters. 

Some of them are solid cutouts, and others are jointed figures. All of them are from that wonderful period of the late 1970s and early 1980s when, in my humble opinion, the golden age of Halloween die-cuts was occurring.

This is not the full extent of my Halloween die-cut collection. But I decided to limit today to just the die cuts that have a universal monster connection. Enjoy!

1) Eureka die cuts Eureka was a company famous for its holiday decorations, they would make cardboard die cuts as well as tissue paper accordion decorations for Valentines, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, and of course, Halloween. 

Toy-Ventures: Tomland PVC Monsters

Time to talk about the quirky series of PVC monster figures that are based on other Tomland series like the Star Raiders, Famous Monsters of Legends and Creatures from other worlds.

Special thanks to Andrew Williams for the photos

For More information visit:
www.tomlandmonsters.com

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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: Kamen Rider Mystery Figure

Bit of a departure this week as I'm talking about a figure I literally don't know anything about. This mysterious figure is from Portugal, appears to have been made in the late 1970s and is clearly based on the Kamen Rider tv series from Japan.

The big question is why? Why make a very nice unlicensed action figure of a character nobody in Europe has seen? Who released this? I really don't know if we'll ever find out.

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Toy Ventures 19: Space Sword & Space Shield

Ok let me address the fact that for some reason I keep saying "Star Sword" despite what's on the label but please don't let that mar my celebration of two of my favourite childhood toys, Space Sword and Space Shield! These glow in the dark Star Wars inspired toys were the source of hours and hours of backyard play for me in the late 1970s and I actually like them better than officially licensed toys. So join me on another Toy-Venture in a galaxy far, far away. If you like this video please subscribe for more goodness ever week!
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Systems Control Headquarters

I cannot get over the charm of generic playsets like this, lots of computer buttons to press, laboratory work to be done and of course, a lookout. This would have had my imagination going for hours.

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Toy-Ventures 17: Mr. Rock from Lincoln International

The subject of this weeks Toy-Ventures is one of the most notorious and hilarious knock-off action figures from the 20th century, Mr. Rock the outer space adventurer from Lincoln International.

With his flare gun and pink transistor radio, Mr. Rock is set for his intergalactic mission of confusing parents and disappointing children across the galaxy. 

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Space Wars figures

With all the mishbegosh about Star Wars, I'd thought I'd end the week with these Space characters from the 1978 Vanity Fair catalog. I sure hope these got made because I love them.





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Toy-Ventures 11- Box of Mego Knock Offs

This week's installment of Toy Ventures is a bit of a departure as I just got a big box of weird Mego Knock off items and I decided to share it with you while i "unbox". 

We talk about various Mego and Captain Action related knock offs i've found over the years and well, some of this stuff is hilarious.. 

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Toy-Ventures 7: Robot Man with Four Faces

This week's installment of Toy-Ventures is all about the wonderful and weird Maskatron knock off from France called "Robot Man with Four Faces" one of the more blatant (and charming) rip-offs I've ever encountered as a collector. 

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Toy-Ventures 3- The Sonic Man and Sonic Woman by Tomland

 This week's episode examines the Tomland toys Sonic Man and Sonic, who look suspiciously like a certain Bionic Couple we all know and love. We also delve into Tomland's history of ripping off some of the 1970s most popular tv and movie properties. 

 You can see more Tomland toy merchandise at this site: www.tomlandmonsters.com

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5 Awesome things on Ebay this week

Steve Austin's Belt Buckle- Ok so it's not the exact one but it's the same one the Six Million Dollar man wore. Anything that gets me closer to looking like Lee Majors is a good thing, also I imagine he smells really good.

70s Star Wars rip off parachute guy from Spain- This hits an incredible amount of buttons for me, if it's already sold it's because I caved and bought this.

Captain America Movie Viewer Catridge- How weird is it that Cap was marketed under the Walt Disney Brand 40 years before that happened? Also, I just know this is clips of those weirdly animated Krantz cartoons, so i want it more.

Berwick Dalek Playsuit from 1965- Even though this came out many years before I did, I love Doctor Who and the Daleks. Also, I find the wonderful simplicity of this toy very appealing.

Ideal J,J Armes Mobile Investigation Unit- I remember seeing this commercial as a kid and wanting it for that entire Saturday and then moving onto something else I guess, childhood is funny like that. 

While Armes himself is a real PI with different mechanical hands, he never had a cool ride like this, I totally checked.

The Fire Birds

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE GERRY ANDERSON PROGRAM "THUNDER BIRDS" IN ANY WAY, this is totally different, cause we put "Fire" in there instead of Thunder. Okay? Glad we're clear.

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Sonic Fazer

I have vivid memories of that store display with that Han solo wearing Luke's clothes and Dracula's cape.

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The First Star Trek Action Figure

Something that didn't get mentioned in the recent "The Toys That Made us" was the first Star Trek action figure wasn't of Kirk or Spock it was of Janice Rand?

This Japanese toy line is something I've seen in small black and white catalogs since I was a teenager but at the recent MegoMeet celebration I got to hold one and stupidly not buy this? What is up with me?

In 1966, A Japanese toy company decided to make a series of fashion dolls based on the ladies from various genre shows like Tara King from the Avengers, Agent 99 from Get Smart and Janice Rand from Star Trek.

None of this was licensed and let's face it, it ain't a stunning likeness but the little Star Fleet uniform (complete with accurate insignia) is adorable.

My thanks to Corey for letting me share this, it kind of haunts me I didn't grab this....

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The Adventures of Steve!

I have a real soft spot for generic knock-off action figures and I find this page from France kind of mind-blowing as I've never seen many of these "Steve the Adventurer" toys.

The Mego like Steve was known as "Demo Man" in other parts of the world and his head is a really blatant copy of Big Jim but unlike a lot of KO figures, there's a higher than normal amount of care in this guy.

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