Dargon of the Sectaurs visits a Toy Store!

Ahhhhh the 1980s were a goldmine for costumed character appearances from toy lines weren't they?
Do you have photos like this in a drawer? Any fun memories of the experience?

This is the kind of thing I'm looking for in my next book "Mall of Justice".

How you can get involved: I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to talk to you.

What am i looking for: Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comic books (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes, Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting these iconic characters. Did you think they were real? 

Does it have to specifically be in a mall: 
HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Learn more here:

http://plaidstallions.blogspot.ca/2016/04/new-book-project-mall-of-justice.html

Or simply send me an email at Kid70s*at*gmail.com (replace the at with an @, i just don't want tons of spam from publishing my email(

Super Team!

No, this isn't a still from the upcoming Justice League movie (it's too bright for one thing) this my friends is from a clever late 70s promotion for a company that seems to brilliantly pioneer what we call "Cosplay" today. Take a better look after the jump. You'll be glad you did.

Major props to Robb for pointing this wonderful item in my direction.

Fake Vader

I have no idea who Crowd Pleasers is but I can only imagine they were not officially licensed by Lucasfilm and probably made a fortune doing this.

Love Darth's Kenner blaster, just like he never used.

This is the perfect type of photo I'm seeking for my next book project Mall of Justice, a love letter to the sensational personal appearances of our comic book, TV, movie and toy icons during the 1970s and 80s.

Whether it's Adam West at a car show, He-Man at a Toys R Us opening or an ersatz Chewbacca at a stereo store, Mall of Justice melds vintage photos with childhood recollection of these epic meetings.

While I will design andeventually publish the book (via PlaidStallions Press), it's a project we can all get involved with!

How you can get involved:
I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to
talk to you.

What am i looking for:

Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comicbooks (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes,Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting theseiconic characters. Did you think they were real?

Does it have to
specifically be in a mall?:

HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Download the PDF Concept booklet for Mall of Justice Here.

Download a PDF Here.

Check out a Little Flip Book Here.

Thanks everyone for reading and I hope you'll share your experiences with me!

Caught in Spidey's Web!

This wonderful shot was sent into me by Twitter user @naturalbornheel who met Spidey at the Wonderland Mall (I've actually been there!) in San Antonio, TX during the Summer of '79.

This is the perfect type of photo I'm seeking for my next book project Mall of Justice, a love letter to the sensational personal appearances of our comic book, TV, movie and toy icons during the 1970s and 80s.

Whether it's Adam West at a car show, He-Man at a Toys R Us opening or an ersatz Chewbacca at a stereo store, Mall of Justice melds vintage photos with childhood recollection of these epic meetings.

While I will design andeventually publish the book (via PlaidStallions Press), it's a project we can all get involved with!

How you can get involved:
I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to
talk to you.

What am i looking for:

Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comicbooks (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes,Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting theseiconic characters. Did you think they were real?

Does it have to
specifically be in a mall?:

HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Download the PDF Concept booklet for Mall of Justice Here.

Download a PDF Here.

Check out a Little Flip Book Here.

Thanks everyone for reading and I hope you'll share your experiences with me!

General Spidrax at Toys R Us

It doesn't get more 80s than this does it? The badguy from the Sectaurs meeting a kid with a Ghostbusters Tee shirt!

Reminder: This is the kind of thing I'm looking for in my next book "Mall of Justice".

How you can get involved: I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to talk to you.

What am i looking for: Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comic books (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes, Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting these iconic characters. Did you think they were real? 

Does it have to specifically be in a mall: 
HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Learn more here:

http://plaidstallions.blogspot.ca/2016/04/new-book-project-mall-of-justice.html

The first Spider-Man

Found this great photo in an old issue of FOOM (which I didn't know I owned) from left to right that's Stan Lee, Marie Severin, "Jazzy" John Romita and Roy Thomas wearing what has to be the first Spider-Man appearance suit ever. It's Ditko influence is joyous.

And Remember I'm still looking for your photos and memories for my new book Mall of Justice, the details are below. I've already received some outstanding stuff that I can't wait to share but keep sending them down!

Click here to see how you can get involved!

New Book Project: Mall of Justice

It seems fitting that on the site's tenth birthday to announce my second book. After the wonderful experience and success of Rack Toys, I am ready to start on Mall of Justice : Recollections of Meeting our Heroes.

Mall of Justice is a love letter to the sensational personal appearances of our comic book, TV, movie and toy icons during the 1970s and 80s.

Whether it's Adam West at a car show, He-Man at a Toys R Us opening or an ersatz Chewbacca at a stereo store, Mall of Justice melds vintage photos with childhood recollection of these epic meetings.

While I will design and eventually publish the book (via PlaidStallions Press), it's a project we can all get involved with!

How you can get involved: I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to talk to you.

What am i looking for: Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comic books (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes, Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting these iconic characters. Did you think they were real? 

Does it have to specifically be in a mall: 
HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Download the PDF Concept booklet for Mall of Justice Here.

Download a PDF Here.

Check out a Little Flip Book Here.

Thanks everyone for reading and I hope you'll share your experiences with me!

Spider-Man shopping spree!

Spidey joined the winner of shopping spree back in 1981, I dream of these things sometimes....

Send me your mall appearance photos!

The Dynamic Duo nab the Penguin

i'm almost positive this slide comes from a former Kenner file, especially seeing as these are the suits used in the mid 80s to promote the Super Powers brand. I'm loving that Batman suit.....

Update: Someone was kind enough to tell me they have a similar slide with the Care Bears, this is the Cincinnati zoo and most definitely Kenner related,

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Hulk and Spider-Man to tour

I'd love to read their contract rider.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

The Amazing (Seated) Spider-Man

Thanks to Johnathan for breaking out drought of mall appearance photos with this shot of him and Spider-man in 1979 at the Crosscreek Mall, Greenwood, South Carolina

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Shopping with Hordak

My friend Corey sent this picture of his pal Darryl and Hordak at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre PA circa 1986.

He goes on to mention "I can safely say it wasn't the reason we went to the mall, it was just kinda there. I did take some more shots of Skeletor's castle which I'll dig out and send over."

As a teen I also had a (mildly unwanted) run in with He-Man, so I can totally relate.

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Sx Flags Star Wars

Danny (check out his awesome art here) sent in this fun shot of him posing with a pretty ersatz Vader and C3P0 from Six Flags great adventure in 1981.

Danny mentioned he likes to point out to family that Vader is wearing Adama's cape but they don't understand, however we totally do...

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

The Incredible Hunh?

Clark sent in these shots of him and his sister Stef from the Harrisburg Auto Show meeting "The Hulk" and well, this is the worst and most awesome thing I have ever seen. I'm positive this Hulk was not endorsed in any way by Marvel comics as it would give Stan Lee nightmares.

I can see where the Hulk's make up ends! Not like the illusion was holding up previously mind you. I'd love to find a flyer for this, it probably proudly stated "KIDS MEET THE HULK!". I'm sure dozens of children had expectations of Lou Ferrigno, and they all learned the definition of "bait and switch" that day.

Bless you Clark.

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Mall Droid

Sean  (follow him on twitter) sent in this awesome shot of him and .....R7-D3? I'm not sure who that's supposed to be, oh wait it's R2-D2, says so right on the front. Wow, he looks different in person.

I think I finally found a companion for this Chewbacca...

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Movember Batman

My pal Tim Baron (check out his awesome art and creations here) sent in this terrific early 80s shot of him meeting the caped crusaders. Tim tells me that "he wasn't fool by the moustache for a second".  Good eye Tim, that Batman has "Wendy's night manager" written all over him. 

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Action Jackson on the Planet of the Apes

I've posted this photo on the MegoMuseum before but it needs to be put here because it's awesome. Courtesy of Ken Abrams, I present Mego CEO dressed as Action Jackson atop the Mego Planet of the Apes parade float.

The gentleman in the Ape costume is VP of Mego R&D Neal Kublan and the "human captive" children are likely Neal's son Chris and Marty's son Ken. So great!

Please send me your mall appearance shots!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Meet the Hot Wheels Guy

Kudos to Jeremy for sending in these cool shots of him meeting the Hot Wheels guy not once, but twice in one summer. The first encounter taking place at a Hill's department store (that's where the toys are) and the second at a mini mall. I had no idea Hot Wheels had a guy, Jeremy seems to think that Barbie was present at both events as well.

Makes me wonder if Big Jim ever made appearances?

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Ultraman hits the mall

Yet another Japanese Mall Appearance photo, this time it's Ultraman Joe (the animated version) visiting a toy store. This was done in conjunction with Popy toys, to no doubt promote their awesome line of toys including these Mego-esque figures.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Chez Frankenstein

Aw yeah more 70s Frankenstein submissions! This one is from Seth who met the monster outside the House of Frankenstein wax museum in Lake George, NY the summer of 1977. I've always wanted to visit the House of Frankenstein, which is still in operation and opens next week.

Thanks to Seth for the awesome photo.

Send me your mall appearance photos!