Toy links
Super-sized Stikfas.
Noli Coronado’s creation is over 6 feet tall.
Hitman.
Another fine Kyle Robinson custom figure.
Decisions, decisions.
Shinkis take forever to get ready.
The hallucinogenic adventurer.
G.I Joe is about to take a trip.
Wheeljack.
Another cute Transformers plushy by Suzy Wong.
The Baroness.
Art by Scott Blair.
Secret lives of Stormtroopers. [via]
The Official Star Wars Blog interviews Cindi Geeze, creator of the Stormtroopers Flickr group.
The First
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Fuyoh!
Review: Takara Microman Acroyear A-301 Red Star
The original Microman line produced by Takara from 1974 to 1984 was an influential and well-connected toy line with ties, direct and indirect, to other notable lines like Henshin Cyborg, Micronauts, G.I. Joe and Transformers. It’s perhaps underappreciated these days but even a casual look through its rich catalogue ought to reveal its true import.
There was incredible diversity in the line during that decade-long run with Takara producing die-cast action figures, magnetic action figures, mecha, transforming robots, impressive bases and even a spectacular remote-controlled starship that split apart to become smaller vehicles and role-playing toys. There certainly were clunkers but on the whole, the designers deserved credit for continually trying new things.
Microman’s standard action figure designs were remarkable as well. At a time when Kenner was dominating the US action figure market with designs that made do with a mere five swivel joints, Takara was producing action figures of a similar size for the Japanese market with 14 points of articulation including ball-jointed wrists and an O-ring waist joint.
Yet it’s the connectivity and interchangeability based on Takara’s classic 5mm pegs and ports standard that stands out, and no one Microman figure in the original line represents that better than the classic Acroyear.
Read more
Talk to it
Strike a pose 29/52.
Toy links
Junkion Commando.
Shinobitron used an Autovajin figure from Kamen Rider Faiz for this cool custom.
Lego Snoopy.
An MOC by MisaQa. (More.)
Shinkiformer.
A Busou Shinki Zelnogrard figure with Trans Scanning Bumblebee parts.
Indiana Jones and the deeply confused bounty hunters.
An amusing photo by Decepticreep.
Cloud.
A fine portrait of the Play Arts figure by Edward Lee.
Maschinen Krieger S.A.F.S. ver. Robocon. [via]
A 1/6-scale Super Armored Fighting Suit kit painted to resemble the classic tokusatsu character.
Circus of Disemboweled Plush Toys. [via]
“You’re about to view the most hideous collection of plush-toy tragedies. The following photographs of these disturbing abominations will surely shock & horrify even the most courageous viewer.”
Ho!
Thundercats fanart by Alexandre Costa.
Classic toys parents hated.
“Welcome to the eight toys that will forever delight children and annoy adults.”
Color wheels
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by kozumel.
Toy review roundup
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro Marvel Legends Fantastic Four Namor figure. (See also.)
Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel The Dark Knight Destructo-Case The Joker and Staff Strike Batman figures.
Artemis reviews the Diamond Select Toys Stargate SG-1 Desert Combat Samantha Carter figure. (See also.)
Mr. Stinkhead reviews the Mattel Movie Masters The Dark Knight Batman with Crime Scene Evidence figure and Mattel Hot Wheels Batman 1966 TV Series Batmobile 1/18 scale replica.
Josh Bernard reviews the Konami Great Impact Model Series Gurren Lagann from the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann series. (See also.)
Matthew Kessen reviews the NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael carded figures. (See also.)
Scott Rubin reviews the Playmobil Romans 4276 Warrior’s Ship set.
Michael Klein reviews the Hot Toys Cosbaby Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow (with and without jacket versions), Captain Sao Feng, Davy Jones and Will Turner figures.
Jason Devall reviews the Tonner Doll Company DC Stars Poison Ivy doll.
Retro reviews
Atom reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Dragon Shiryu (Final Bronze Cloth version) figure from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)
Jason Devall reviews the Ideal Manglors Manglor Mountain playset.
yo go re reviews the Kenner Star Wars The Power of the Force 2 Freeze Frame Ewoks: Wicket and Logray two-pack.
mechanical_wunder reviews the Tomy Zoids EHI-2N Black Rhimos (New) 1/72 scale kit. (See also.)
Pile up
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Holger Zscheyge.
Toy links
Star Wars vs. G.I. Joe.
A photocomic by Tresob Yr and Doug Glasner.
7s Arrow and Bay 8.
Stikfas customs by Misodrill.
Lightning Eagle Eukrante.
Gullwing discovers the Ryukendo toy makes a good replacement flight pack for the Busou Shinki figure.
Mysterians.
“Mystery Robots with Secret Compartments.”
Battle of the Fun Factories.
“While marketing is the most obvious battleground, perhaps the most treasured commodity in the toy business is ideas. Creative staffs feel heavy pressure to dream up the next toy that will break Santa’s back.” A 2001 article.
Old school
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by yeowatzup.