Spider Maul, Spider Maul, does whatever a spider does, y'all!

Love or hate Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, almost everyone is on the same page when it comes to the badass tattooed Sith Apprentice Darth Maul.

Maul was idiotically killed off in TPM, but was later revived in the Star Wars: Rebels animated series. First with a six legged insect body, and later with sweet sweet robot legs. Because SCIENCE!

I don't watch Star Wars: Rebels. I also could care less about the Hero Mashers toyline Hasbro has been Hero Mashing down our throats for the past couple years.

However I simply could not pass up this Hero Mashers Darth Maul  (especially since I found him on clearance)...

...which includes both is spider-body and his chicken legs! The 'spider body' is a simple hollow shell, but it's effective.

The chicken legs are solid, but only move at the reverse-knee. Hero Mashers are more visually impressive than they are articulated. This figure looks like he should have joints all over the place ("Hey, it's medicinal! I'm a paraplegic for cryin out loud!")  But it's all in the sculpt, and there's not much actual engineering going on. That';s fine, as this guy would probably be double or triple the price if that were the case.

I have to admit, I'm curious now to see what another Hero masher would look like with Maul's robot-chicken legs! Maybe this Hero Mashers concept isn't so stupid after all.

Nah, it's pretty stupid.

"You lost your legs? Cry me a river."

Incredible Hulk :: World War Hulk

I originally posted about my Marvel Universe World War Hulk figure waaay back in 2011. But you probably don't remember that far back so here he is again.

I just love this guy. As if Hulk weren't badass enough, give the guy a sword and a battle axe and you've got one bad mamma-jamma!

I don't really follow The Incredible Hulk, but somehow over the years I have amassed quite the 3 3/4" collection of figures related to the Hulk. World War Hulk here, as well as Red Hulk, Abomination and A-Bomb.

Ironically this is the only Banner/Hulk I own of the bunch. There have been some pretty good standard Hulks in the Marvel universe line, but somehow they have all eluded me to date.

Someday I'll have to pick one up, but until then World War Hulk is my 'go-to' traditional Hulk in this scale, and that's just fine by me!

Yodas, you seek Yodas!

Well, not anymore!

Two more Yodas for my daughters collection via my recent flea market Star Wars haul! An Episode I and an Episode II Yoda. The first came with an exciting chair to sit in! Sadly (not sadly) unlike the Force, the chair wasn't with Yoda when I found him. Yoda part deux from Episode II originally had a lightsaber and a stand that elevated him and some electrical doohickeys. It would have been nice to have at least found him with his lightsaber but whatyagonnado?

I had both of these guys when they were new, so it's nice to see them again. Attack of the Clones Yoda is a bit cooler, as was his action scenes in that movie, but there's something endearing about static puppet Yoda from The Phantom Menace too. I should have taken a pic with an original Kenner Yoda but I always think of these things after the fact, so you'll just have to settle.

You can get anything you want, at Dexter's restaurant

Dexter Jettster's role in The Clone Wars was ridiculous but I liked it in spite of myself. Why in the world would anyone, a Jedi or otherwise, consult with a short-order cook in order to solve a mysterious murder, and how would said chef have all the answers by looking at one random projectile? Oh Star Wars, your ridiculousness knows no bounds.

I have never owned this action figure before, so I have no idea if he came with a gun or a frying pan or a set of falsified 'A' cards in spite of the wamp rat feces found in 'Today's Special'. But I do have plenty of Playmobil stuff around so I may have to give him some cooking pots or utensils to hold on to.

I do like the stained apron details, and the tattooed knuckles too! Dex is just plain silly, and I am glad I found him and will be passing him over to my daughter for her growing Star wars collection.

Djas Purh, the Friendly Alien

The Star Wars Cantina scene is one of my all time favorite movie scenes. The seventies moderate budget upcycled fright mask moment is one of pure and utter joy and I love it when I find an action figure of one of the scum and villainy that frequented that wretched hive.

During Kenner's original Star Wars run, only a few characters were made of the denizens of that den of ill repute: Hammerhead, Walrus Man, Greedo (and, technically, Han and Chewie) but in modern times many more have been created by Hasbro whether you remember seeing them during their 0.4 seconds of screen time or not.

"Al Jolson? Never heard of him."

Djas Puhr is one of those 'blink and you'll miss him' aliens. He was seated next to that big multi-eyed alien with the penis for a mouth (Muftak) so you may not have ever even noticed him. You tend to get overlooked when your friend has genitals on his face. But that probably goes without saying. This action figure was originally released in 2002 and came with dual pistols and laser blast effects for the pistols. Mine only came with one of his pistols, but that's better than none and for the less-than-a-dollar I spent on him I can't complain.

Harley Qwednesday: Bud & Lou, The Star Wars Edition

These twin Massiff were found at the flea market and will be going to my oldest daughter, a new (but now lifelong) Star Wars fan! I had one of them back when it was originally released (they came with a Tusken Raider), but had no idea my then infant daughter would grow into a huge Star Wars fan, so most of my prequel Star Wars stuff was sold off years ago. I'm glad I found these guys again as the Massiff are fun monster/beast figures to have around even if they only appeared on screen for about two seconds.

I've dubbed these two guys 'Bud' and 'Lou' after Harley Quinn's Hyena (who were named after Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, natch).

Massiff are of course pets of the Sand People (Tusken Raiders). I also found at the flea market during the same trip a female and child Tusken Raider pair. I also had these two when they were released, in conjunction with Attack of the Clones' theatrical release.

They are cool figures; a neat, deeper look at the lives of the mysterious lives of the Sand People, but kind of morbid too as their only function in the movie was to be slaughtered by Anakin Skywalker.

The kid fits into the mother's backpack/basket and is also removable. Mom originally came with one of those Sand People sticks they wave around in A New Hope, but mine didn't have hers when I found her. At least she had her kid! Priorities!

The Massiff have actual metal chains connected to them. QUALITY!

They also have movable jaws.

I love these guys and had a lot of fun shooting them. I need to do a shoot with an in scale Harley Quinn before letting my daughter take possession of them! Or I need to figure out which Star Wars action figure could/should be modified into a Harley Quinn mash-up custom in order to pair her up with them.

Seeing Star Wars as a whole (Eps 1 thru 7) through my daughter's young eyes lately, I have to admit to gaining a new-found appreciation for the prequels and all the stuff they brought to the mythos. I'm bummed I gave up so many great toys over the years. I would have never done so if I thought my kid would someday care about it all! Thank the maker for the flea market and the fact that most of this stuff is not hard to come by today!

Empire Strikes Bossk

Brian of It's Trash Culture gifted me this sweet Bossk that he scored as part of an even bigger Kenner Star Wars score he, well, scored.

SCORE!

Bossk was one of my favorite Star Wars action figures when I was a kid. I also had a Y-Wing that I received for my birthday or Christmas around the same time I got Bossk, and I always used it as his go-to spaceship. The Y-Wing was one sweet vehicle, it even dropped a bomb, which is ridiculously impractical because, you know, they are in space!!

I got rid of all my original Star Wars action figures sometime in the mid eighties (stupid stupid stupid!) and although I've picked many up since then via garage sales, flea markets, trades etc etc, Bossk has for some reason always eluded me. Getting him again brought back a flood of joy and memories! I love him all over again - reunited and it feels so good!

And what's a Bounty Hunter without a Bounty? Bryan also sent along this super articulated Chewbacca who is apparently playing air-bass. Bring da funk, Wookie-o!

Thanks again Brian! You rock!

Iron Man Mark I

The first Iron Man movie is still my favorite of all the Marvel superhero movies. It took a character I had loved since discovering him in the Secret Wars action figure line and translated him perfectly from 60's comic book to new century cinema.

One of the greatest moments in the character's history is the making of the Mark I armor while a POW in either Vietnam or some Middle-Eastern nation as translated into our current political climate.

Second only to my Secret Wars Iron Man this 6" Mark I movie Iron Man by Hasbro is my favorite Iron Man action figure of all time. Much like the current armored Batman for the Batman v Superman movie line, this is the perfect cinematic translation of the source material.

Mark I has a lot of articulation for a dude in extremely limiting armor, as well as a ton of detail. He also has a spring action fire missile ala his blow torch  feature from the movie,

Mark I Iron Man is not only one of my two favorite Iron Man action figures, but he may just be one of my top ten favorite action figures of all time. He's solid, beautifully sculpted, a perfect 'real' interpretation of his comic book inspiration, and he's just plain fun to have around.

Ephant Mon Fans' Choice Figure No. 3

If you've collected toys for half as long as I have, you are certain to have amassed your share of toy regrets. Toys you've gotten rid of, toys broken by the cats, toys the kids got a hold of and lost the accessories to, toys chewed on by the dog, and toys you didn't buy when you saw them only to never see them again.

Ephant Mon was a long time toy regret of mine: a figure I passed at retail the one time I saw him at Target way back in 2002 and have never seen since. Not sure why I passed on him then, but it was likely due to having already met my toy budget for that month, or perhaps because I was only a casual Star Wars collector at the time and I may have even been thinning the herd, and had a hard time justifying one more (massive and ugly) addition.

I'm sure I at least hid him behind something to come back and buy him later, only to find him gone upon my return. I figured I'd probably see him again at retail and never did.

Years have gone by, and I couldn't even watch Return of the Jedi in that time without thinking 'Damn, I wish I had bought that Ephant Mon!' Sure, I could have chased after him on eBay, but that's just not how I roll.

"No regerts."

So when I found Ephant Mon at the flea market today I...walked away.

Really.

I saw him at the very first vendor as I walked in. The vendor is there all the time, with different stuff depending on whatever his sources are (my guess is that he generally buys abandoned storage sheds but who knows). Not always toys, but often, and he's generally fair (but not overly cheap). Still, I didn't think I'd get Ephant Mon for less than what he costs on eBay from this guy (especially considering the fact that Star Wars is a hot property now and most sellers are convinced everything Star Wars is gold again. And all the guy had today was Star Wars stuff.) I don't even know what Ephant Mon costs on eBay, but it's safe to say it's more than I am willing to spend.

I also generally hate spending money at the first vendor I see when I walk into the flea market. I always fear I'll end up a buck short when I find some real gold later in the day.

So I walked away, went through the whole flea market, spent a couple dollars, and hit the vendor on the way out to see if Ephant Mon was still there.

Obviously he was. And obviously he was fairly priced. When I asked the vendor how much his figures were, he said '$5 to $7', I picked up E.M. (he was on card but the card had been opened. But he's mint and complete so who cares, I was going to open him myself anyways!) and said 'would you take five for this one?' and the rest is history. (For those wondering, I probably would have passed on Ephant Mon at $7. I know I know, but at that point it becomes more about principle. And yes, I would have regretted passing on him. )

Geez, enough rambling. What about the figure?!?! Oh yeah, he's awesome. Massive and heavy, Ephant Mon comes with a cane and a vibroblade that plugs into the end of his cane or to his belt under his cloak. He only has one point of articulation at each shoulder and hip and is tough to stand (thus-far impossible without his cane to assist.) He also has one point of articulation at his tail, neck, and jaw, which is just too fun.

Ephant Mon is a beautifully ugly background character from the Jabba's palace scenes in Return of the Jedi. Not surprisingly, even though so many Star Wars characters have had thirty different releases over the years, Ephant Mon was only released this once back in 2002 as a 'Fans' Choice' figure (#3 to be exact). And it only took me fourteen years to find him a second time!

Random Toy Pic :: The Doc Ock Is In

Doc Ock via Playskool. I've always been a fan of Doctor Octopus. I remember seeing him on the cardbacks of my Secret Wars action figures (I had Doom, Iron Man and Wolverine) and really wanting to add him to my modest collection. But alas it never happened.

This kiddie Playskool version of the good Doctor is tops, I love his mechanical arms, they give this guy a literal extra dimension that makes him stand out against the other heroes and villains in the line. Of the few Playskool Marvel figures I own, this guy has fast become my favorite.

The Force is Strong With Playskool

Ever since my oldest daughter saw The Force Awakens she's been a huge Star Wars nut. And I couldn't be prouder! I never thought I'd regret thinning my Star Wars collection down a few years back, but now I really wish I still had all those Force Awakens and prequel action figures for her.

Thank goodness for the Flea Market, where I can still find her all sorts of fun Star Wars goodies from every generation!

This last weekend I scored for her a POTF Hoth Luke, a handful of Playskool Star Wars figures, and a  Sandtrooper from the earlier Super Hero Squad styled Star Wars Playskool line.

I love the little chibi R2-D2, and I'm tempted to keep the general Kenobi figure for myself. But since I've already been giving my daughter all the figures I had from these lines, I probably shouldn't start backpedaling now.

On the (Transformers) Warpath

Warpath here is a toy that perfectly sums up why I love the Flea Market. You see a huge pile of toys, sorted into rows and maybe sorted into type (vehicles, action figures, plastic animals etc). You start to dig, all you're seeing is old McDonald's toys, scratched up Hotwheels, naked Barbies, random, cheap, and useless toys of the modern era and suddenly, shockingly and inexplicably you find a minty fresh G1 Transformer from 1984 just waiting in the fodder for you to offer the seller .25 cents for it!

My mind boggles as to the history of this guy, a toy that has survived for 30 plus years in fresh-off-the-blister-card condition only to end up in a pile of randomness at the Flea Market. Randomness that's treated by the seller like a pile of leaves, poured out of a huge barrel and strewn across the tarmac only to be shoveled back into a barrel, thrown in the back of a van and dragged out again next weekend. Not to mention how the buyers and kids at the flea market have treated the pile, stepping on it and in it, dragging toys across the sand-paper-like ground, breaking things and then just throwing them back into the pile. SAVAGES!

Sometimes I feel more like a rescue worker than a collector.

I know how many of these vendors operate: Goodwill and other operations like them will get donations of things like toys, clothes etc and bunch them up in bins and barrels and sell them at bulk prices before they even hit the Goodwill stores proper. They sell these bulk wads to people who then drag those items out to swap meets and flea markets throughout the area.

That's basically how a G1 Transformer from 1984 can end up in a pile with last week's Hello Kitty offering from McDonald's, although how and why anyone would donate away their G1 Warpath is still a mystery. I'm sure that situation stems from the proverbial (I had a ton of *cool old thing here* once and my mom gave them all away!)

USUALLY the vendors have no idea (nor do they care) what they have, and price everything the same (read: cheap). But even those vendors may charge more on a Star Wars action figure because everyone knows Star Wars is a hot property now. They might recognize the Stormtrooper you are holding, but those same casual-awareness vendors might not recognize a character like IG-88 or Snaggletooth, or be able to tell the difference between a POTF Luke and a OG Kenner Luke. So ironically they will ask more for a cheap new common figure than an actual collectible or rare figure.

Other times a vendor is a 'specialist' in toys, and will charge more for what they have as they know there's a collector angle, or they see on the back that it's dated 1984 and therefore must be valuable regardless of condition or completeness.  I can't tell you how many times I've been 'schooled' by a vendor on why he wants $10 for for a toy that are literally worth a dime a dozen.

There are also the 'Storage Wars' vendors. The folks who bid on old abandoned storage sheds, lug the stuff out, and sell sell sell. These guys are hit and miss because you (and they) never know what might be in the bottom of a box. But when they end up with a toy collector's storage shed they can be the best finds of the Flea Market.

Anyways, enough about the ins-and-outs of the Flea Market. Although the reason this post went off the rails is because I have nothing to add to the story of Warpath. I never had him as a kid (but my cousin did) so he's cool and I am glad to have him, but I can't really wax nostalgic about him or anything.

So yeah; Warpath. HE'S NEAT!

Rumble Ready Riddler

Man how time flies! I picked up this Batman: The New Batman Adventure Mission Masters Rumble Ready Riddler at a toy show almost four years ago. I can't believe how much my intern has grown since then!

Anyways, I only just opened him up last night after digging him out of a box of random toys that really need to be blogged about.

I had wanted this version of The Riddler since it was released in 1999, but never did find it at retail. So I was ecstatic to find him MOC for only five bucks. FOUR YEARS AGO!

Rumble Ready Riddler comes with a Question Mobile that shoots a Quiz Missile. Yup.

The Quiz Missile works as a pseudo question-mark cane. It isn't quite long enough to serve as a cane, but it looks good in Riddler's hand.

This 'updated' TNBA Riddler design reminds me of A Clockwork Orange. I like the simplicity of the design. And the derby. Or is it a 'vernacular'?

The purple slippers are hilarious. I do greatly appreciate that even though this Riddler is a pretty basic sculpt, his legs were sculpted to give him a slight cotra-posto stance. And unlike JLU figures, he can actually stand on his own even with those itty bitty slippered feet!

"Tally-Ho, Batguv'ner!"

Marvel Legends Hellcat

Since I'm way more of a DC than a Marvel, and since I know nothing about Hellcat beyond what I've recently Googled, there's really no reason for me to be so enamored by this Hellcat action figure from Marvel Legends...

Except of course that Hellcat looks like the 1966 television Batgirl and Catwoman had a baby together - all the way down to her red hair and painted-on eyebrows!

Therefore Hellcat is now officially part of my own DC/Marvel multiverse.

Also, who doesn't love saying 'Hellcat'?

Hellcat Hellcat Hellcat!

About half way through this photo-shoot my intern decided to 'help'. So without further ado:

She said 'this picture is perfect.'

I will say that Hellcat feels pretty sturdy, and I wasn't too concerned with my Intern slamming her around a bit.

That's good, and although a younger kid will never be able to make one of these uberticulated figures stand, it's good to know the figure won't fall apart if your kid looks at it cross-eyed.

'HeeeYAH! Take that, whoever my primary villain is!'