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OK, so my previous post was a gag (cribbed from an old entry on my other blog for BLITEOTW). I posted it to set the mood for this month’s theme…horror!
Everyone remembers M.U.S.C.L.E. toys–those little pink eraser-like rubber figures that came in either plastic canisters or blue four-packs. I think every kid in the ’80s had at least a few of them. They were technically imported Japanese collectible erasers (called kinkeshi) based on the wrestling-themed manga Kinnikuman, but Mattel repackaged the concept for the North American market. M.U.S.C.L.E. stood for “Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere.”
So, remember them?
Well, they’re dead.
Fortunately, they’ve been returned to un-life by an enterprising toy company called October Toys.
Formed in 2004, October Toys, LLC is a purveyor of fine toys and collectibles with an artistic twist. The creative misfits who own October Toys have a lifetime of experience collecting toys and two decades combined experience working in the toy industry. While collaborating with a variety of new and established artists, the company is focusing on expanding their debut product, Gwins, as well as adding entirely new projects to the queue.
Z.O.M.B.I.E. is October Toys’ tribute to the mini-figure fads of the ’80s. The name stands for “Zillions Of Mutating Bodies Infecting Everyone.”
Currently they offer five figures in packs of four colors, toxic green, pale blue, white, and of course, glow-in-the-dark. The sets are $5 each, or you can buy all four for $20 and get a free set of Z.O.M.B.I.E.-inspired trading cards. There’s even a downloadable tabletop game based on the figures.
Naturally, I went with the toxic green set, because toxic waste is awesome.* The figures stand about two inches tall.
*Real toxic waste is not awesome, kids. Only goofy green cartoon toxic waste that turns you into a superhero or zombie is awesome.
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- And the Ape is just…scary. Sucks sharing 99% of human DNA sometimes–you get the zombie viruses along with everything else. Is that a cat he’s eating…?
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- Oh, there’s Rockabilly’s arm! Maybe School Girl will give it back once she’s done gnawing on it.
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- School Boy sports a dapper beanie and exposed intestines. Before you ask, yes, kid, that looks infected to me.
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- Splish splash, Bathtime got attacked by a zombie long about a Saturday night.
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- Rockabilly could use a hand–or heck, a whole arm. Jump, jive and entrails!
David
Quick someone photoshop the zombies in back of Batman(for some forced perspective) and put him on a litter strewn street and you've got the cover for the next hot crossover "Dark Zombie"
Poe
Looks like Batman’s irritated that stopping the zombie outbreak is all down to him.
Yeah, but then again, they’re small enough that he can just stomp ’em.
I imagine him thinking more along the lines of, “Curse my being the closest 6″ scale figure to the light tent! I always get stuck getting my picture taken with weirdos…”
Bret
Looks like Batman's irritated that stopping the zombie outbreak is all down to him.
I mean, you'd figure Superman'd be the one to stop it. No DNA in common, invincible skin, unlimited ammo ranged attacks, flight..
Poe
Oh, Batman's always grumpy.
Red Kryptonite
Why did it take so long for someone to come up with a Rockabilly zombie! aka second-in-brilliance-only-to-Hare krishna zombie (and ok, machete-in-the-face zombie is pretty righteous too).
I second that observation, Mumma G – Batman looks…displeased.
Esbat
I like, the price point is okay, but its the gimmick factor that make me <3 them.
Mumma Ghostal
I used to like the M.U.S.C.L.E. toys because they were cheap and a young Poe could carry them around in his pocket ( where they never ended up in washing machine because he kept his stuff with him) or backpack ( where they would tear up all of the announcements that he was supposed to get to his parents).
These are pretty cool. Batman looks a little annoyed at the bunch of them at his batfeet.
Paul
There was a "board" game that used zombies like this. I always wanted to get it, but never did. Seeing this makes me want to look for it again. Of course, I don't have any friends in real life so I'm not sure who I'd play it with….