While trawling Google Images for My Pet Monster pics, I came across this awesome take:
Someone get the license, contact this artist, and make this action figure for me RIGHT NOW.
I should do a whole write-up on MPM sometime…
Sightings > X-Entertainment is now Dinosaur Dracula
I was rather shocked to discover recently that one of my best friends, who has a relatively high-profile reputation in the toy reviewing community but will otherwise remain nameless, had never heard of X-Entertainment.com. Created by Matt Caracappa around the turn of the century, X-E is the grandaddy of all geek-themed websites (Matt often referred to it as being based around “1980s kid culture,” which I think is perhaps a more accurate description).
While the site frequently covered many non-toy topics such as retrospectives on 1980s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades, classic kid-themed junk food like Ecto-Cooler, and The Worst Witch (a personal favorite of mine), the site’s main focus was toys. In fact, it’s entirely possible that without X-E, we’d have no Fearless Photog figure today (nor would we know that the same man who created Fearless Photog also created Halo‘s Cortana – here’s a good summation of that story).
It often seemed to me that Matt was practically a long-lost sibling. He’d had many of the same childhood experiences as I had, the same toy loves, the same fondness for Ninja Turtle-themed Hostess Pies, etc. So perhaps it shouldn’t surprise me that we have another thing in common: blog burnout. While I’ve been trying to work through mine, Matt finally decided to let X-E retire gracefully and started from scratch with a new website, Dinosaur Dracula.
DD doesn’t seem fundamentally different from X-E so far – Matt’s even having his usual Halloween Countdown – but I can speak to the regenerating powers of a site redesign and a fresh start. What I do hope Matt does – as I’ve been trying to do here – is avoid getting into a rut by just doing the same X-E stuff all over again. Some new, fresh features and approaches may be just what the Dr. (Giggles) ordered.
Sightings > Pop Culture Shock Collectibles Street Fighter Statues
A few weeks back, Jerry Macaluso, once of SOTA Toys, now of Pop Culture Shock Collectibles, was kind enough to answer a few questions about their never-produced line of 6″ Micronauts figures. So I’m returning the favor by highlighting this video of the company’s line of high-end Street Fighter statues. Though I’m not a statue collector, these do look like excellent pieces.
Sightings > Phil Reed’s “Transforming Collections”
PGPoA Power Pal Phil Reed has a new project up on Kickstarter – a book titled Transforming Collections. It’s already been funded, but you’ve still got several weeks to throw in some money yourself to get a copy.
But what’s it about, you ask? (more…)
Sightings > Weaponeers of Monkaa
The rumors have been percolating for months now, and Spy Monkey Creations is finally starting to reveal their much-anticipated new line. Titled Weaponeers of Monkaa, the line has teased two factions called “Gearos” and “Vilhains” and, as seems obvious, the line will feature actual action figures in addition to weapons.
From SMC’s announcement:
The Mysterious Armory. Behold it’s myriad of colors, powers, and configurations. Where did it come from? Why is it here? Who or What is responsible for arming the cosmos with such powerful weapons?
Well, we at Spy Monkey Creations are about to reveal the answers to those very questions this fall! The answers have some wondrous new surprises. Join us at www.weaponeersofmonkaa.com and the following link every Monday thru Thursday at 9am PST beginning Monday, September 3rd and ending on Wednesday, September 19th. Each day we will reveal a new chapter in “THE STRANGER’S TALE” as he embarks on a grand adventure of discovery and action.
Then on Saturday, September 22nd join the entire Spy Monkey Creations crew at Power-Con as we reveal everything The Stranger will witness and encounter in the coming weeks. It is sure to awe and amaze.
“We are the architects of the cosmos. That destiny must be forged wisely.”
I don’t have any inside information, but my suspicion is that the line will continue to offer interchangeable, multi-part weapons that are compatible with your other action figures, but the weapons will be integrated with a Glyos-style action figure line featuring a full backstory.
The concept seems really interesting, but of course, the proof will be in the plastic, so to speak. We’ll find out soon enough.
Sightings > How Japanese Tokusatsu Survives on Toys
I came across an interesting series of articles on tokusatsu series in the English version of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. (more…)
Sightings > Rare Robo Force Figure “Tiltor” Unearthed
First off, big thanks to Battlegrip for pointing this out. It had totally flown under my radar.
As longtime Poesters are no doubt aware, I’m a big fan of the 1984 Ideal toy line Robo Force. They were fun, if somewhat goofy, robot figures with suction cups and accordion arms that could “grasp” when a button was pushed on the back. I wrote an article about them for ToyFare years ago where I interviewed Paul Kirchner, one of the creators behind the line. The article had a sidebar about unproduced Robo Force toys, including Tiltor, the Changer.
The line was quickly pushed out of the market by the juggernaut that was Transformers, but apparently at least one Tiltor did make it out into the wild somehow. A collector and diehard Robo Force fan found one on eBay – for twenty-five bucks. You can see the story of the discovery of the figure here, along with plenty of photos. Then head over to Roboplastic Apocalypse for a transcript of a podcast wherein the saga of Robo Force and Tiltor is discussed at length. Like, at. length. But I kid – it’s a great, fun read.
Sightings > Jazwares Space Ghost Review @ Infinite Hollywood
Over the last five years of this blog, I have occasionally bought figures I wouldn’t otherwise have solely for review purposes. This often turns out to be disappointing and the toy is quickly tossed into a storage bin.
I actually hit a couple Toys R Us stores this weekend, somewhat reluctantly looking for Jazwares’s new Space Ghost figure. If I’d seen it, I would have bought it. Fortunately, Newton Gimmick of Infinite Hollywood has gone where I boldly preferred not to go, so I can just refer you to his review and keep my $11 safely in my PayPal account. Thanks for taking one for the team, Newt.
Sightings > Jin Saotome’s Custom TMNT12 Slash
A new TMNT toy line, a new slew of Slash customs. Slash, the evil Turtle, remains one of the franchise’s most popular designs (despite never having gotten another toy after the original), so it didn’t take long to start seeing customs of him from the new toys. Customizer extraordinaire Jin Saotome enters the fray with this amazing piece. Click the photo or this link for more images.
Personally, I hope we get a Slash in the actual toy line – in fact, I hope the new cartoon really delves into the old Archie-verse. That seems like a rich treasure trove of characters and stories, especially since the 2003 series already covered so much of the Mirage era. Which is another way of saying I want updated versions of Slash, Ray Fillet, and Wingnut & Screwloose – hell, all the Mighty Mutanimals.
Getting back to the custom – I have to say, with that squat round head, toothy grin, beady eyes, and the bandanna ends trailing like ears, he reminds me more than a little of Max of Sam & Max fame.
Sightings > Space Ghost action figure by Jazwares
Apparently Jazwares is making a line of Hanna-Barbera toys, including this Space Ghost figure. Somehow I was completely unaware of this.
The SG figure seems to draw a lot from the earlier Art Asylum figure. It adds hinged wrists, which is good, but neglects bicep swivels, which is very, very bad, because it prevents you from doing the classic pose with the fingers touching the gauntlets as he fires. Frankly I’d rather have had that than the H-hinged legs. Sigh…anyway, I’ll still have to track this guy down, because I love Space Ghost.