Wonder Woman struts her stuff

This is is the first of many cool contributions to the site from Dan, the shot above is a great pic of the Wonder Woman from the show. I'd have been fooled as a kid.

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

Super Joe Toy Gallery

Created a new gallery for that often forgotten era in G.I. Joe's history known as Super Joe, the era when Joe got shorter and was blasted off into the distant future to do battle with "Gor King of the Terrons" (incidentally, Gor was only the second villian Joe ever had but not the first alien).

The Gallery features production drawings and early advertising along with shots of Super Joe items from around the world:

In the UK, Joe was called "Commander Power" but Terron was marketed as an enemy for his 12" doppelganger "Action Man".

In Mexico, Joe was called "Siglo XXX" (which translates into XXX Century) and he was marketed alongside his 12" counterpart. Finding these in the original Lily Ledy display boxes are a task and a half.

Check out More at the Plaidstallions Super Joe Gallery

Other Plaidstallions Action Figure Archives

Jumpsuits: Shapely, Sexy and So Very Seductive!

You know what? I'm kinda feeling it....

Toy Questions Part 3: Heroes in Action

This question comes in once a month, like clock work:

"I had these soldiers that were 3 3/4" and secured to a base, they made clicking sounds to simulate gunfire"

They are Mattel's Heroes in Action line, a neat little line of 3 3/4" soldiers that seems to have sold much better in Europe than here. I pictured the SWAT set up there for variety but the majority of the line was military themed.

I think the concept and execution were solid but it may have been too soon after Viet Nam for these things to be popular.

The Safari Shirt

The tire tracks on the left should suggest there are poachers, sound the alarm!

Bat-Tastic Rack Toys

Some new additions to the AHI Batman gallery today, above is the Phaser ahem, Batman water pistol. This is a Canadian Card, many AHI items were carried by Grand Toys.

The "L'il Zips" Batmobile looks like crazy fun for under a buck. I don't understand why folks keep things mint in package but decide to cut the packaging like that.

A close up of the detail on the tiny dynamic duo.

Lastly the L'il Zips Batcycle, which looks a lot like the Mego Batcycle, I guess DC had a role in it's initial design. The card art on this one is fantastic.

Caught in Spidey's Web

Completing the trifecta of awesome sent in by Scott during "Frogtown Frolics", at Thompson Park in Colts Neck, NJ. It's the classic Spider-Man appearance shot, notice that Scott is clutching a Mego Spiderman doll. Scott equates this event as not unlike "The Beatles at Shea Stadium" it's not hard to see why.

Thanks for the great memories Scott!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Shindana Toys for 1976

Shindana (a Swahili word roughly meaning "to compete") toys was formed in 1968 after "Operation Bootstrap" was created. Their goal was to improve black self image by producing ethnically correct toys. According to their literature, they did this to promote understanding and love.

I've always wanted to do a feature about Shindana on Plaidstallions as their actions truly changed the face of toys. Before Shindana children of color often had to make due with crudely repainted toys if they could find any at all. Any look at a toy catalog in the early 1970s will see the dramatic impact Shindana had on the marketplace.

1976 was a hot year for the company, they were running with their successful baby dolls, had hot celebrities in the form of Jimmy Walker and OJ Simpson and they created IMO one of the most awesome action dolls ever, SLADE!

Visit the 1976 Shindana Toys Catalog Here.

More from 1976

Bear Hugs From Space

I blogged about my fascination with the G.I. Joe intruder last year. I still don't get why Hasbro thought an outer space cave man was a good first nemesis for G.I. Joe but I also can't deny I'm kind of smitten with him.

Above my newest cheap ebay score, a boxed UK version of Intruder. It seems that Palitoy's Action Man also got him as an enemy (although Action Man would get way cooler space villains to fight later on in the 1970s) and he got a super spiffy box. I really love solid box packaging like this, that artwork makes me smile.

Watch out for his crushing Bear Hug! I have a friend who should also come with this warning...

The Morrocco Look

I honestly don't remember anyone ever wearing stuff like this, it should have come with a warning that wearing it will give you an instant urge to kill Indiana Jones...

Toy Questions Part 2: Super Joe

Another recurring contributor to my mail bag is Super Joe, I get email from folks from time to time that say:

"I had this 8 inch tall Micronaut, he lit up, who was he?"- His name is Luminous and he's part of Hasbro's short lived GI Joe revamp called Super Joe. Luminous is clear like a Micronaut so the confusion is genuine.

"I remember this big Lizard that walked but if you hit him with a flash light, he stopped"- That's Terron, the big "get" for 1978 that many attribute to ruining the Super Joe line.

I think the big problem with Super Joe is he just didn't have the name recognition, kids didn't get that this was GI Joe and without some sort of tie in (ie TV show or comic book) he just became somewhat swept under the carpet next the Superfriends and Star Wars.

It's a bit of shame because Super Joe has some neat ideas, look for more on him at the site in the coming months.

DVD Alert!The Comedy goldmine known as Cinematic Titanic has released another live DVD, their last live DVD (East meets Watts) was the best I had seen by the former MST 3K gang.

Add to this that their latest victim, Alien Factor, is actually a pretty fun and creative film in it's own right. What happens when a space ship full of alien convicts crashlands in Baltimore.

You can see the first five minutes here and what's even cooler you can download the whole movie at their store for $10.00. If you're a fan, please support quality comedy and laugh your ass off.

Helga and her many suitors

I'm assuming that one guy is her dad or he's got a really nice car..

Movie Review: Black Dynamite

I'm not really big on doing movie reviews but I really can't not spread the word about this insanely fun movie.

Like a lot of 70s kids, I had a steady dose of so called "Blaxploitation" movies thanks to late night TV, everything from "Shaft" to "Gordy's War" and as a result these anti-heroes became my heroes.

I was a bit cautious when I first heard of this movie mostly because I wondered if it would tread the same ground as "I'm gonna git you sucka" and I've only ever seen lead actor Michael Jai White in stuff like "Spawn", which really wasn't an "actor's movie".

Well, I am pleased to say all reservations were thrown out of the window in the first five minutes. Black Dynamite is as much a parody of Blaxploitation as it is 70s film making, the movie looks and feels so distinct that you could honestly fool people. Boom mikes appear just like they did in "Dolemite", the director has done his homework.

The plot is one we've seen before, Black Dynamite who "drives a $5000 car and wears a $100 suit" is a Kung Fu badass Vietnam vet (where he killed "Chinese People") and superb ladies man, comes back to exact revenge on the drug dealers who killed his baby brother.

Dynamite recruits all the usual characters to help him, the black panthers, drug dealers and of course, pimps in his mission to clean up the streets.

The film's deadpan nature, rapid fire humour and inspired 70s recreation are so good, it reminded me of films like "Airplane!" " Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" and "Kentucky Fried Movie".

Michael Jai White is believable in both his role as a martial arts tough guy and as a comedic leading man, he's absolutely great at delivering some of the goofiest (and quotable) dialogue without so much as a smirk or nod to the audience.

Before the movie's schtick gets stale, the film makers amp up the "ridiculous factor" involving Kung Fu fortresses, secret formulas and well, let's just say Richard Nixon has never looked cooler.

"Black Dynamite" is the most fun and creative spoof I've seen in years, it beats the lazy cheese fests like "Epic Movie" and "Meet the Spartans" with it's superior humour the same way Dynamite uses his nun chucks on the drug dealers in the film.

Check it out on Amazon

Official Site

The Dynamic Duo?

Here's Scott C with another shot from "Frogtown Frolics", at Thompson Park in Colts Neck, NJ. This time it's Batman and Robin and even though Scott admits they looked kinda bogus, it was still a big thrill to meet heroes in costume like this. It looks to me like the 36 year old "boy wonder" in this pic has a perm, "Holy Mike Brady!"

Look for more from Scott next week!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

1975 Childworld Flier

As far as 70s toystores go, none are as far remembered and beloved as Childworld, a chain which had at one point 180 stores across the united states. This 1975 flier preserves what they had to offer during that time including the greats like Mego Star Trek and Planet of the Apes:

The Vest Gang

Their intense masculine musk and powers of seduction are almost criminal...

Sesame Hoodies

Why these aren't currently available in adult sizes, I will never know...

Diener heads for outer space

Toyfair 1978: It seemed like every toy company everywhere was blasting off into space this year hoping to get some "galactic windfall"