Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas again kids! And you know what that means?

That's right...TOYS!

And you simply can't spell 'Toyriffic' without 'oy'...'riffic'...'if'...'yri'... 'TOY!'

You can't spell Toyriffic without 'Toy.'

So as we pick up the wrapping paper and bows and boxes and dismantle the tree and take down the lights and march head first into 2012 (mein Gott!) we are sure to have all sorts of goodies to look at here at your favorite blog*

I hope all of you (and more) continue to derive some semblance of enjoyment from this blog in 2012.

Thanks to everyone for being a part of all the madness around here for the past four years. (I started Toyriffic in December of 2007!) I have more fun with this blog than a man should be allowed to have on a family safe internet site. And although I'd be doing this with or without you wonderful viewers, it would be a hell of a lot more lonely around here without you.

So go, get off the damn computer! Enjoy a cup of coffee, open a present, watch your kids open their presents, kiss your family, unstuff a stocking, pretend to find your father-in-law's jokes funny...and try to look at something today, anything, the presents, the tree, the candy canes, some part of it through the eyes of that little boy or girl you used to be.

Christmas is magic. Life is good. Have fun!

*it better be

The Boys Are Back

In honor of the new Looney Tunes Show on Cartoon Network, Toyriffic is looking back at the Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck Looney Tunes Back in Action action figures from 2003.

Both Bugs and Daffy are great looking figures, and each includes a super rubbery action feature to give them a unique and cartoony playtime theme.

Fortunately the rubbery features don't diminish the sculpts. In fact Daffy is one of the finest representations of the ego-maniacal duck in action figure history. (The best ever Looney Tunes action figure would be hands-down the Wile E. Coyote in Bat-Man's outfit.)

But I digress. Daffy's proportions and personality are just right and make for a fine looking toy.

Bugs is pretty good too although his arms are sculpted to hold his weapons, making more 'natural' poses impossible. Bugs Bunny's action feature involves pushing a button on his tail, which in turn, well...turns...his ears. The soft rubbery material of his ears allows them to flop around in a helicopter blade-like fashion. A very fun feature, allowing any kid (or...let's say...me...) to run around the room with Bugs' ears flopping going 'vwoopvwoopvwoop' like the rabbbit is flying. You know you would be doing it too if you had one of these toys. DON'T JUDGE ME!

Daffy's action is a bit more complex. In true vadevillian showman form, Daffy has an Acme launchpad that stretches him out a bit and launches him rubber-band-like with the push of a button. Good thing he is wearing a helmet!

As mentioned earlier, Bugsy came with a couple weapons that would make Harley Quinn jealous.  First up is his anvil-gun, which actually launches a plastic anvil! I love how the barrel of the gun appears stretched out, as if the anvil was jammed in there cartoon style.

Bugs also comes with a pretty standard looking pop gun. Flip the button and...

...BOP! A 'wooden' mallet smacks his foe on the head. Classic!

These guys are quite fun and pretty nice looking action figures for a line that didn't really last long or do all that well among collectors. I believe only Series 1 was released, which included this Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, a super awesome Tweety Bird (seriously, go check him out!) and the Tasmanian Devil (which I own and may blog about...someday.) A Yosemite Sam was planned for Series 2 but I am unsure if it ever made it into production.

Geek Credentials

Chunky B over at Eclectorama has started a new internet Meme: "Geek Credentials." It sounded like my cup of meme, so here's my contribution to the newest sensation to rock the inter-nation!

Remember the scene in The Dark Knight, where a bunch of Gothamites have dressed up as Batman and have decided to become vigilantes of their own? They just end up getting in the way, or dead, and tend to make matters worse for our hero in blue and grey.

Well let me tell you, you ain't a Bat-Geek unless you have a few guys like that in your collection. The wanna-bes, the fakers, the posers. You know the ones: the "I can't believe it's not Batman" crowd.

Well behold, and BELIEVE!

"...I agree, that Bale kid gave a great reading. But the agency sent over four more at the last minute...let's at least see what they have to offer before calling it a day."


First up we shall examine Adam. This guy is so "not Batman" that the toyline he was produced for, Tech Deck, was actually forced to stop producing him. See ya' later, finger skater.

Next up is Bat-Duck. He was actually released as a McDonald's premium many years back, along with Super-Bugs, Wonder-Pig, and Taz-Flash. Very spiffy figures...but sorry duck, no luck.

The outfits are removable, but the movie is sans nudity, so it won't score you any more points. Next!

Here we have Wile E. Coyote in his Bat-Man's Outfit. Manufactured by Acme.

Flight capabilities? Impressive. But...green?!?! We'll call you when they cast for Hal Jordan. And...sheesh...eat a sandwich will ya? You're nothing but skin and bones!

Finally we have Bartman. From the Secret Identity handbook: Page one. Chapter one. Don't use your real name as a component of your superhero name. Have you ever heard of a hero named Bat Wayne? Peter Spider? Super Kent? Guy Gardner?...

Never mind.

As a Post Script, I give you a couple "I can't believe it's not Batman" characters who actually kind of are. First up is Batzarro from DC Direct:

As drawn by Ed McGuinness in Batman/Superman, this guy is pretty fun. He has real chains hanging from beneath his cape (because they make a lot of noise) No eyes, an inverted Bat as well as an upside down utility belt (with opened pockets, having spilled out their contents long ago.)

I'm so geeky, I even drew him once. How's THAT for Geek Creds?


And lastly but not leastly we have Ace the Bat-Hound. From the recent Krypto the Superdog cartoon and toyline, this guy is the bee's knees. His collar serves as his "utility belt" and his cape flows majestically in the breeze, ready for the call to action from his "partner" Batman!

So there you have it. I'm a geek. (As if there were ever any doubt ;) )

Do you claim to be a geek? Prove it. What're your creds, Fred? Join in the Meme, Joaquin. Create a "Geek Credentials" post of your own, Joan!