Aunt May and Doctor Octopus

 Aunt May and Doctor Octopus

Special Guest:  The Spot!

Hasbro - Marvel Legends

We've been given plenty Alfreds.  A handful of Commissioner Gordons.  Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White have made the cut.  In the same department, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, and J. Jonah Jameson.  Still, when it comes to great supporting character's in comics, one big name has eluded both the extensive Toy Biz days and early Hasbro.  No, Jarvis, sit down...I'm talking about Peter Parker's biggest fan, Aunt May!  

Toy Biz did make the strange choice to include Aunt May in their 8-inch cloth-clothed Mego throwback line.  The execution was...um...lacking, to be kind.  Granted, most depictions of the character up to that point made her look pretty decrepit.  That old catcher's mitt puss:

Spider-Man the Animated Series in 1994 gave Aunt May a much needed facelift.  And a blonde-ish dye job to maker her younger?  I don't mind this in comparison to the overboard approach with Marisa Tomei.  I know Marisa is pushing 60, but c'mon...who was Uncle Ben in that universe?  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?!

The animated look is a good medium if this is the only figure we are going to get of her.  Not too animated, there's an appropriate amount of wrinkles and lines on the face.  The outfit has an appealing amount of color, and is a step up from aprons and house shoes.   While she should have been packaged in an "Amazing Friends" boxed set, they did ensure she'd sell better than just being partnered with Ms Lion.

Animated Doctor Octopus is here as well!  I can't remember if the cartoon covered the "Doc Ock marries Aunt May to get at her newly inherited nuclear facility" plot, but I'm sure he at least menaced her a time or two.  

As a kid, I was always puzzled by the slightly muscular, accented approach to the character.  Digging into greater Spider-Man lore, one could assume this take was inspired by the the failed approach to bring web-head to the big screen in the late 80s/early 90s:  the one where James Cameron was to direct Arnold Schwarzenegger as Doctor Octopus.  I dig it, and would welcome a retool of Doc in his white suit (specifically thinking Erik Larsen's art) with this as a base.

One big area he has over the traditional, dumpy Marvel Legend figure, is the bendable tentacles.  He can mostly support his own weight if you want the tentacles to do the walking, and you can get better poses than before.

This set is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive.  This may be a 50/50 for most, but I was all in as soon as I saw the promo pictures.  Now, if you'll excuse me, my Aunt May figure is off to beat her 984 pies baked record as detailed on her Marvel Universe trading card:

Bonus!  A fairly obscure Spidey/Daredevil adversary, The Spot, makes his six-inch debut!  I don't mind that his animated form is weird and gangly since you cant see his face.  Just pretend that its a side effect of traveling through his interdimensional portals!

McFarlane 1989 Batmobile

 McFarlane 1989 Batmobile

The Flash - DC Multiverse

Did anyone ever think it was possible to want a toy from a movie so bad, but they didn't really care about the movie itself?   Well, technically, it's from a different (and we're 100% positive "better") movie.  Nostalgia and a beautiful design from a bygone era in Hollywood is all this needed to be a success.  It may be part of the last gasp from the abhorrent DC Snyderverse, but its hard not to get a lil excited about the return of Michael Keaton and our Batman!

Getting the bad outta the way first, it's too shiny.  A finger print magnet.  Im not sure it it's mega reflective in the new movie or if this was the wrong call on the plastic.  Also, the canopy is a weird shade of gray.

But that's nothing a lil tape and spray paint can't fix!   It was good enough for the $60 price tag before, but with a little Krylon Matte Black you get perfection.  Okay, so the canopy is a bit off in shape and it's a one seater, but good enough for me.  Im not about to go hacking it apart.  Two seats?  What imaginary scale figure line are folks hoping for?  There's not going to be a Vicki Vale figure in the cards.

"Security? Who let Vicki Vale into the Batcave? I'm sitting there working; I turn around, there she is. "Oh hi, Vick - come on in."

The new McFarlane Batman figure fits with a fit of fidgeting to get the ears in.  The Neca Batman has room to spare.

Speaking of, the new batsuit looks pretty good in this scale.  I can definitely see the Keaton likeness in the sculpt, but might need a better paint job to really hit it home.

This car sold out by the afternoon on the morning it was released across every retailer imaginable.  Im sure there will be a rerelease for those that missed it, or even a proper 89 deco version.  I wasn't taking any chances.  This may be my favorite movie car of all time, edging out the Ecto-1 and Delorean Time Machine.  I buy just about every version and scale I see.  But you already knew that:

So join in and party like it's 1989!  Or at least throw some shade at Hasbro and their $300 version of Ghost Rider no one wanted.  Food for thought for the next Ghostbusters movie, ya jerks.

Oh, look, Hasblow...a decently-scaled Batwing for $40 from Spin Master!

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Toy Room Update

 Toy Room Update

It's been a rough six months or so, and the blog has suffered.  However, that doesn't mean I've stopped accumulating toys!  From the tiniest of Hot Wheels, to your standard action figure, and even a couple of overindulgent Haslab crowdfunded monsters...the Terrible Toyman returns with a glut of pictures and a few comments to go along with them.

Popeye!  I thought Mezco was the end all, be all, but Boss Fight Studios is giving them a run for the money!  Maybe my fave line at the end of last year and heading into this one!

Wart!  Love me some Super Mario Bros. 2!  Etsy statue that scales well with the 4-in Jakks Pacific line.

More Tick added to the lineup with an almost complete Dick Tracy group (no Blank, of course).  And did a deep dive into Star Trek!  The price was right at $4 a figure carded!  Micro Machines?! Yes!

Robin Hood, Prince John, and Sir Hiss...a childhood favorite comes to life!  Also, any Roger Rabbit is good Roger Rabbit, even if it's overpriced ReAction figures.


Egghead, Mr. Freeze, and Catwoman III join the Villains United!


Since Neca/Playmates loosened up on the exclusivity of the toon Turtles, the collection has almost topped out.  The Turtle Van is on the way!

Dime Novel Legends.  A lil pricey, but understandable for a home-grown operation.  Definitely hooked when certain likenesses started to pop up.  Awesome figures for the older crowd.  Or those of us with a restless heart?  "I was born under a wanderin' star..."

Galactus Haslab.  Ugh, crowdfunding...but how could I have Marvel Legends without him?  More Heralds, too, but no Jack Kirby.

Another Haslab, but comparted to the pack building community options, worth the price.  Since I have several built packs, this one stays an "official" collectible...until Im old and need something lighter weight.

Hasbro Selfie Series.  Aside from suggestion of facial hair and lack of glasses, I think mine turned out pretty good.  $60 may seem steep, but its all painted, and Ghostbusters def has it over other options with the accessories.  I added some video game parts, because I love that 2009 release so much.  Now I stand on the "B" team with "Casper Mustache" Ray and the Rookie.

That should bring us up to speed more or less.  In case there's something I missed, here are pics of the toy room in various states.  Enjoy!

Looney Tunes

 Looney Tunes

PVC figurines - Shell Oil promotion

A set of eight, in-package Looney Tunes figurines from a Shell Oil promotion in 1990.  Shell Oil?  

Okay, whatever!  These Warner Brothers characters scraped by most of the 70s and 80s with tv specials comprised of repackaged shorts.  1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit appearances must have been the shot in the arm they needed.  

Time Warner acquired Six Flags theme parks in 1990, giving these celluloid critters a new home and space to mingle with fans new and old. 

Soon the Tunes would be all over baggy, sassy 90s t-shirts and apparel.  Renewed interest would lead to one of the most bizarre major studio films of all time, Space Jam.  Seriously...a pseudo Michael Jordan biopic that touches on the recent loss of his father, his rather embarrassing foray into baseball...turned on it's ear as a Roger Rabbit-esque caper to save the Tunes from enslavement by space aliens.  Fate to be determined by a game of basketball...where Bill Murray and Wayne Knight are key factors in the win...

Right...so a Shell Oil promotion doesn't sound so bizarre in retrospect.  Get an oil change, pick up some cheap thrills for the kids.  I got this set for $8.99, so not too bad of an increase considering inflation.

They're sturdy, yet pliable plastic, and brightly colored.  Daffy and Road Runner may need to be adjusted a bit to stand properly.  Some of the sculpts (like the Road Runner)  are cleaner than others, but overall  there's not too much to complain about here.  

I wouldn't go out of my way to track these down, but I couldn't resist them as a thrift store diamond in the rough.  Ebay has them for about what I paid for them.  Until next time: