Marvelous Monday! Friendly Neighborhood Edition

I'm really liking this Marvel monday thing, I usually feel like I do not have enough of a certain subject on the blog and with scheduling Marvel stuff on Mondays it really takes some of the pressure off of making sure I have enough stuff of any one subject posted.

This Marvelous Monday is some left over shots from Toy Biz's first Spider-Man figure, ala 1990. I originally shot these for Reis at Geek Orthodox to use at his About.com gig and thought eventually I would find a home for them here on Eclectorama.

I have heard numerous times how people loath these Toy Biz figures. I agree they are not the best of figures, but at the time these things were a sight for sore eyes in my book. I remember seeing these in store for the first time and made away with the Silver Surfer, Captain America and this Spider-Man. These figures along with the first series of X-Men figures were probably my gateway into collecting action figures outright. I really started with Ninja Turtles, but these opened up whole new doors for me in the Marvel Universe.

I also want to address the issue of playability while talking about this line. See while I was buying these to collect, I was also picking these up for my son to play with. I had already bought a ton of Batman and DC related Heroes for him to throw around, so seeing these Marvels in stores I new it was time to have a Batman / Captain America team up against the Green Goblin and the Joker. See kids do not care about how well these were sculpted as long as they didn't break and we went through very few of these. I think we ended up breaking a Iron Man and a Spider-Man, that was it. Also this felt so much like the old days of Mego to me with DC and Marvels mixing it up. Also what a great way to explain the different Universes to a young one. So, I have a soft spot for these figures and as fugly as they may be will always love them.

Spider-Man at first wasn't all that much my favorite because of the suction cup gimmick, but it did grow on me. Spidey was great for taking along for rides in the car as he would cling onto the windshield. He could be found climbing up the bathroom mirror or raiding the ice box. I am sort of glad now that Toy Biz lead with this feature, I think if they had started with just a normal figure we would have never seen this done. Plus it did in a way make you wish for more Spider-Man without the suction cups. Again, kids didn't care one way or the other.

I also was digging the subscription coupon on the back of the card. I actually filled a couple of these out. My son and I loved getting the latest Captain America in the mail, it was always a fun time reading the latest issue and having battles with the figures. I think I like this mail away better than just a comic pack in. 

Does whatever a spider can...

I knew keeping this guy in the package and buying one to open would come in handy one day. I don't tend to do this anymore, but I did at one time and I did keep a few of those packaged goodies around.

Well not too long ago a fellow blogger, Reis O'brien, at Geek Othodox sent a call out for help with his new gig as Action Figure Guru at About.com. He needed some photos of different Spider-Man action figures through the ages. I happened to have one he was looking for and so I volunteered some photos for his article. So today I read that he has it up and ready for the world to see. So go forth and check out his wares, he really needs some help as well getting hits on his site, he does have some good tips and some fun articles, I know I've bookmarked his page. Just remember to come back for more fuzzy toy memories, Spockcation and Basset goodness!

Hey I just realized I shot pictures of Spider-Man and had them published just like my man Peter Parker! Sweet!

This is another of my favorite Things...

Do da da da, do da da da... sorry we just watched the Sound of Music, I never really sat and watched the whole movie and neither has my wife, so it seemed like a cool thing to do at the time, now we are walking around singing these blasted songs...



Okay, in the 90's Toy Biz cranked out some cool figures of everyone's favorite Marvel Heroes, at least in my opinion some cool figures. Granted there are things like scale and lack of articulation on some of these figures, oh and the barrel shaped bodies of the first releases, but it was sweet to see some of these characters on the shelves. The one that I was looking forward too the most was that ever loving blued eyed Thing, Ben Grimm!



Ben here came from the third series of Marvel Super Heroes, produced in 1991. I remember seeing these previewed in Wizard Magazine and thinking this was the best release to date, the Silver Surfer looked amazing, too bad he was just the series one version dipped in chrome when it actually hit the market. Ben though looked dead on to his prototype, though I could never get mine to hold the sign he came with that he could break with his karate chop, fist pounding action. Which brings me to his action feature, pull his arm back and hit the switch on his back and BAM, he throws down his fist, devastating all that is within its reach... about half an inch.



I have a couple favorite Things, here's an earlier post of one with the best sculpt around, for a toy. Also you can check out the rest of series 3 from 1991 here, enjoy!

Oh and Gooooooood Byeeeeeeeeee!

The Flash

I don't care how bad these Toy Biz Super Heroes are, or bad for your eyes, I'm addicted to them I tells you! I will admit that the Flash here is one of my favorites next to the Toy Biz Batman from the '89 movie. I'm talking the chubly face one too. Anyway the Flash, he was released prior to the T.V. show of the same name, and then again with the "show" logo. I couldn't get enough of that show, and when they released the DVD set I was first in line!



If you follow along, like I know two of you do, the Flash is right up there with Batman in my book, matter of fact I usually ditch Robin and Bats teams up with Flash. Brave and the Bold baby, Brave and the Bold! This Flash has wind up action as did the second release for the show logo package. Later on a third release using the same mold, but having the wind up action removed, appeared this time sporting a nifty little platform that was supposed to simulate Flash tearing up the road.

So what happens when you wind him up, 3 seconds of arm moving action, not much in the leg department. He looks like he's going fast though! Runs about like I do, looks like I'm going fast (in my mind), but not really going anywhere.

You Two-Face, little plastic...

Is this the first action figure of Two Face? I think it may be the first mass produced one. When I saw this figure on the shelves back in the nineties I thought it was one of the most wonderful sights in the toy aisle, the figure itself looks like dog crap, but the fact that they were making it was what was wonderful.

I actually do not hate the look of the figure that much it reminds me of a vintage action figure or a bootleg, something that should have come out before the Kenner Superpowers line, It didn't, but should have. Toy Biz figures still hold a certain charm to me, and for all the limitations that this bad guy suffers, it's still an odd figure to have staring back at you from the pegs.



True to form Two Face is split right down the middle. His left hand making a fist and his right holding a coin with a good side and a scared side. I thought it funny that they used what looks like a dime for his coin and I thought it odd that the wind up knob was located under his left arm. I figure it had to do with the inside engineering, but still kind of awkward. It's sort of funny and weird, you wind him up and he has "Coin Flipping Action!", just pray that thing lands on the good side. I used to keep him on my desk for the important decisions, wind him up and let fate decide.

The Animated Vulture

A few more pages from the Spider-Man Animated Series Style Guide. I have yet to watch an episode of the new Spectacular Spider-Man, but back in the 90's I tried to catch all the Spider-Man Animated Series. One of the villains that I thought had a cool character design was the revision of the Vulture. I thought the much younger looked worked for the cartoon, plus the addition of the higher tech costume.



These type of pages always appealed to me, not only because the gave all the color references, but some pretty cool action shots and situations so you could get a feel for the character.



I remember being pretty excited that the toy line was coming out, I had an image of the prototypes burned into my head thanks to Toy Fare, Tomart's, and Lee's magazines. I had planned on getting the series, but as usual budgets and lack luster actual production, plus the fact that I was trying to collect other lines at the time always squashed those plans.

Still, I find the Vulture figure from the line pretty cool (peeped here at Marveltoys.net, one of the best resources around for older Marvel toys) and since I missed it the first time around I could make a trip to the bay to see what bargains are to be found! Who needs a nice cushy retirement right? Hell I could do as the Vulture when I get old and fly around busting up superheroes!

When Captain America throws his mighty shield!

Have I started a post with that before??? Here's a Toy Biz Captain America from Series One. When these started hitting you could go to a store and see the whole set, buy one, and return the next payday to pick up another. Man, how times have changed. I remember it took me like half a year to buy the four Ninja Turtles, now you don't pick up that toy you've been looking for you won't see it again, unless you shop online. Even then you could miss out!



This is on my list of favorite renditions of this character, he came with a sweet base with a tore up enemy tank and an American flag to plant on it, go Captain America! You know the articulation on this figure is insane, like many of the Marvel Legends, but all those crazy joints kinda take away from the lines a bit. Not that I'm complaining, especially after the original Toy Biz version of this guy (another fav, but man that one was sucktacular!).

Anyway I leave you with the Captain America theme song, I can start signing this in my house and who ever happens to be in ear shot, nine times out of ten, will finish it. Enjoy. Klang!!!

Iron Man Doll... I mean Action Figure

When Toy Biz released the Famous Covers series I had mixed feelings. On one hand it was great to see "Mego-Like" figures on shelves, but on the other what was up with all the small, screaming heads? Iron Man here was one of the few I picked up without question. I have always wanted an Iron Man Mego, thing is I don't want to pay the amount some people are asking for, for an Iron Man Mego. My wife has a theory that if money wasn't an object I would buy every Mego no matter the cost. If money was no object I would build a time machine and then go back and buy up some Mego, Apple Stock, invest in a small film called Star Wars, maybe get me a 1970 Z-28 off the show room floor. Unfortunately I do not live in this fantasy world of time machines and endless supplies of money, but if I ever do get to tinkering with the space time continuum I'll let every in on it so they can make their vintage toy shopping lists.

So back to Famous Covers. Even with the tiny, mad heads most of these have I will give Toy Biz credit for trying to revive the Mego memories of the past. I have to admit this is one of my favorite Iron Man figures out, besides the first Marvel Legends Iron Man, mainly because I'm a sucker for the classic looking armor. The Secret Wars figure from Mattel and a Stealth Armor from the Iron Man Cartoon also make the list. To me the classic look is the best, though I do understand that armor will change with time, the classic has always been how I remember old shell head. Also if you leave the mask on, it's not that bad of a figure. True a little wonky with the chest piece getting in the way of some of the articulation and the left hand being cast in a permanent fist, he's a solid and posable toy. I'll even add a tough sucker too, this one has fallen from a six foot shelf and only lost a disk that I had to glue back on.

Besides Iron Man I picked up Spider-Man, which led to the Spider-Man two pack to get the black costume ( I sold the Spider Woman), Captain America (the angriest of all the Famous Covers), Thor (another cool one), and I picked up Reed and Sue Richards in hopes that the Human Torch and the Thing were not far behind. I finally let these two go, since I'll never get a Famous Covers Thing... The only addition I've made through E-bay to the original purchases listed above was a Wolverine, who makes sense having a screaming expression. I've often thought about getting Hulk, but it just looks too weird, something is not right with that one. Falcon might be cool to get for Captain America, maybe if I can find him in a garage sale or something.

I did have hopes that with Hasbro releasing their signature series that I might get an even better version of the classic Iron Man (or the Thing for that matter), but with the line dying out before it even really got started I guess it won't happen. Kids today just do not like dolls... err action figures I guess.



One last thing before I post this. Why do they always make Iron Man with a removable mask? I mean some don't have this feature, but nine times out of ten, whenever they release an Iron Man you can take the helmet off or remove the face mask. I personally do not have a problem keeping track of the helmet, but it would drive me crazy when my son would fly around a helmet-less Iron Man.

Toy Biz Green Lantern

Okay, okay we all know these figures look awkward, chunky, and full of suck. Less we forget the feeling when we found them on the shelves, okay same as above, but when I found these I thought it was great to get other heroes besides my beloved Batman and Superman. So it's with that thought I spotlight the 1989 - 1990 Toy Biz Green Lantern!

First up lets talk about action! Since these figures have about as much possibility as a brick the Biz had to throw in an action feature on many of these. I think this is the saving feature of the line, that they actually tried to give them some play value. Green Lantern here came with a short length of hose and a squeeze bulb that you could fill with water. Plug the open end of the hose to the back of his arm and you had a power ring that squirted. Okay maybe something more suitable for the Joker, fact is the Joker had a similar feature with a flower on his lapel, you could at least imagine it was the energy from the power ring. Hell with a little green food coloring it could be the energy from his power ring!




The fun didn't stop there, once you got tired of soaking your parents furniture with water and food coloring, you could be sent outside with your own power ring. Note that these things didn't fit chubby adult fingers. The ring has a spiffy glow in the dark feature. Hold the ring up to your power lantern (standard lamp or light source) and you were ready for action. The other accessory that came with this figure was a miniature lantern for Green Lantern to work the caboose of the train, oh yeah power his ring.



I've said it time an time again, I really appreciate the feel and look of these first attempts by Toy Biz, having missed out on Superpowers, I really appreciated the mix of heroes and the speed they were released. It never seemed like I missed out buying another great hero for my son when he was younger, and I never missed out on getting some of my favs as well.

1989-1990 Toy Biz Aquaman

There are so many reasons this figure is wrong so I'll just start with the positive! It's Aquaman in his classic outfit! I'm really not sure if Pirate Aquaman had made an appearance yet, so maybe that's the reason we got a classic version from Toy Biz. Few people remember that before Toy Biz became the house of Marvel action figures, they held the DC Comics license for a very short period. It all started with the 1989 Batman film when Toy Biz cranked out three barrel chested figures, Batman (which had three face variations), The Joker, and Bob the Goon (probably one of the craziest choices for a figure, but made sense at the time). So where was Toy Biz to go from there? The other villains and heroes of the DC Universe. Okay, I remember the day I found the Superman figure. There was a whole aisle jam packed full of kids and their parents, just looking for Batman to put under the Christmas tree, I already secured a set for my son, and was now looking to complete my set when right under a Bob the Goon was Superman, the only one in the store. So knowing at the time that this was something new I grabbed him so my son could have the man of steel on Christmas morning. I know, I know we're not here to talk about Superman.


It was a few months after Christmas when my son and I were making our regular trip to Toys R Us that we found Aquaman. They had just restocked after the Christmas holiday and there on the pegs was the largest selection of DC goodness I had seen in a long time. Aquaman was the first character I saw, and was actually happy to see. I had been around long enough to know that Bats and Sups usually got all the toys, so I grabbed a few of the Sea King and some of his other friends from the Hall of Justice and made like a bandit to the register. Thinking the whole time "my boy is going to have Aquaman!" Who wouldn't want their son or daughter to have a mini version of the Sea King? He's got that snappy bright costume and that trident to poke villain with. I can tell you He's pretty much the only hero he took in the bath and who regularly kicked Robin out of the Batmobile. So seeing this figure really brings back those memories of playing super heroes for hours on Saturdays, on the floor with my son.


That wasn't the end for the Toy Biz Aquaman. When my son "grew" out of his super hero stage, he cleaned house and decided to get rid of some of his toys, with his mother's help. I stopped by the room and saw Aquaman's head on the chopping block and offered to give him a home. Okay yes I had one, and probably one in the package, so I was thinking this guy would occupy my desk space at work. Aquaman went from job to job with me for many years, and it was one of my latest that caught me the most flack. Not because of it being Aquaman, but because he was a toy and he had rusted parts. that's right, from all those bath time adventures years ago. No matter how many times I tried to explain it was my sons, I got the "Sure, taking your toys in the bath again" line. It was all in good fun, and I started to see more people put toys on their desk.


This Aquaman may be chunky, have one of the strangest faces I've seen on an action figure, and a sea horse that he can't possible ride without crushing, but he does hold a lot of memories and is one of my favorite figures of the character. Talking strictly about the figure. His articulation is limited, but as always Toy Biz tried to pack in an action feature with the lever on his back that makes his legs kick for authentic swimming action and he can hold his trident rather securely. I always believed that Toy Biz got a hold of the old Kenner Super powers figures and just made a mold off parts of an actual toy, but never really was sure. Having missed the Super powers line I'll have to pick one up on E-bay sometime to compare.

The thing that is really hard to believe is that this figure is closing in on being twenty years old. I know in terms of say a Mego figure, it's still a young buck, but twenty years and still holding up. I have items I've purchased two years ago and are starting to break down, so I don't know what Toy Biz did at the time, but these figures were really made with a child in mind and made to last.

Doctor Octopus

A villain from the 1991 Toy Biz line, one that I did not initially buy the first time around. It wasn't till recent I decided to try to complete this series, filling in holes when I could. I remember not getting this guy back in the nineties and there was a real low auction on Ebay so I immediately put in a bid. While he was being shipped I unpacked some of my other figures from this series, thinking Doc Oc was the only one missing, I realized that I had gotten rid of a few of these marvels of modern toy goodness in some "Goodwill purges". So now I'm back at square one with this line. Some would say why bother, but this line has a somewhat "vintage" feel to it and it brings back a load of fond memories.

The good doctor here, while not being the most attractive of the figures in the line (like any of them are all that great), still is a pretty fun find. The tentacles are really a neat feature, with bendable arms and two different "claws" to grab onto things. The suction cups for smooth surfaces and the pinchers to grab onto everything else. So with Doc Oc in hand I'm off to catalog the rest of the series and see what other holes I have. Which just goes to show you, it's not wise to pack up your collection, and think twice about what you thin out, as I'm sure many have done the same thing I have thinking that you will never go back. Still I'm glad that the toys went to children who probably enjoyed them so that's a bonus.

Hulk get mad, Hulk get strong!

Actually I think that was a line from the talking Hulk action figure, which was basically this figure without the arm activation mechanism and came with a back pack that held the sound chip. Well, we're not here to talk about the talking Hulk, we're here for this little giant. Believe it or not, this Hulk is actually smaller than most of his Marvel counterparts from the same line. I guess Gamma Radiation wasn't all that it was cracked up to be in 1991.

This is another great example of mold the figure in one color and just a few paint applications later you have a super hero! Now I can honestly say I'm really not a huge Hulk fan, though I probably could identify with the character more than any other super hero. I really find it hard to find Hulk toys that I truly like, besides this guy, I have a Toy Biz first appearance Hulk that I really dig, and I would love to someday get a Mego Hulk, that and there's a vinyl classic looking Hulk out there that is pretty cool looking.

Hulk here has one of the most insanely designed levers on his back. It's actually a lever that raises and lowers his arms and then there is a pull out tab in the center of the lever that makes his arms "crush" things. He originally came with a boulder he could crush (not very well I might add) and a little plastic "steel" rod he could bend. Really adds to the whole raging, mad look of the character. Though, now that I look at this Hulk he looks less mad and more disgusted... "What do you mean Hulk small? Hulk get sad..."

The Toy Without Fear!

Another "craptastic" figure from early Toy Biz days, it 's the Dare Devil, circa 1991! I really appreciate the paint application on this figure, a little bit of flesh color and a dab of black on the chest and we're done! Sometimes it's the simple things!

The "billy club" feature which really turned out to be a firing grappling hook is pretty cool, and it works pretty well, but I must have killed myself trying to find a Dare Devil with a true billy club as advertised. These were before the days of all they Toy News infornation sites, I still wonder though, did one ever exist???

The Mighty Thor!

What can I say about this 1991 Toy Biz Marvel Super Heroes Thor, but this...

"Cross the Rainbow Bridge of Asgard,
Where the booming heavens roar,
You'll behold in breathless wonder
The God of Thunder, Mighty Thor!"

American Dream

A few months back I started my sketch blog with a version of this character. Here's the toy that somewhat inspired that sketch. I made some changes, like the standard issue wings on Captain America's mask that I added to the sketch, along with some nods to the classic look.

This figure stands about 4" to 5" tall and has a giant shield, which I later read was handed down from Captain America, but still look at the size of that thing. I've noticed that the shield seems to be the hardest thing for toy companies to nail down, it's either too small or way too large. This would be considered a Toy Biz pre Marvel Legends meaning not a lot of articulation. Released to the specialty market, this figure did not see mass release, and was part of a set of First Appearance Women Figures that included Spider-Girl, Wild Thing, and Stinger.

Once I completed the sketch I went in search of this figure to compare and decided that even though the figure is cool, I liked the "classic" feel of the sketch and continued to finish it out from there. I've often thought about going back and trying to complete this four figure set as well as trying my own twist on the feminization of some other Marvel and DC Characters.

One of My Favorite Things!

I know, corny, but this IS one of my favorite Things.

Just before Toy Biz broke with Marvel last year, they released a set of Fantastic Four Figures. This is one of the Things from that set, the only figure I bought from the set actually. Possibly one of the last Toy Biz Marvel figures I purchased, I really hated to see them loose the license.

I really dig the look of this version of the Thing, sometimes they just don't capture this character right, this just happens to be the best likeness so far, in my opinion.

I am Iron Man!

Toy Biz Iron Man. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, even though these are a bit clunky, they are still some of my favorite Marvel action figures. Iron Man especially. When this figure came out I immediately picked up a couple so my son, as well as myself, could get our hands on this character.

Whenever I see this figure it reminds me of a halloween costume that we constructed for my son based on this armor. That was one of the best costumes we came up with (I'll post some pics as soon as I dig them out of the archives).

I think anytime an Iron Man toy is made it is based on his current armor, with some exceptions from the cartoon line that Toy Biz tried to do the "Batman of many costumes thing". This was as close to holding a "classic" Iron Man as we could get at the time, I think I was drawn to this figure just because I always wanted the Iron Man Mego figure, and this would have been a somewhat less expensive alternative till I could find an Iron Man Mego that I could afford.

One day Iron Man Mego, one day...

Silver Surfer Week Continues!

To help kick things off I'm starting with my all time favorite Surfer figure. The 1990 Marvel Super Heroes Silver Surfer with Action Surfboard. Okay I know what you're thinking, that's the lamest Silver Surfer ever! Wrong it was the start of the Toy Biz Marvel juggernaut, and to get a character like the Silver Surfer in the first series was amazing.

Up until now Toy Biz had made DC Comics Characters, starting with the 1989 Batman Movie and continuing with a whole set of heroes and villains from Hawkman to the Riddler. While not as well executed as the Kenner Superpowers line, these were still DC Heroes and in my opinion worthy of some notice. To this day plenty of people hate these figures because of the chunky style, but this is what gives them their charm, and now looking back an almost vintage feel.

Silver Surfer was the first of the series that I saw at retail and I quickly snapped him up. Other characters in the first series would soon share his fate. The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Punisher, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, Captain America, and Dr. Octopus were all part of the first series and at the time you could not ask for a better mix. What really draws me to these figures is the packaging, bright colorful, and well super hero like. Wonderful illustrations dressed the front as well as the collect them all gallery. I nice trick I might add to avoid showing actual product. Some product was featured on the back though. A Training Center as well as rides for Spidey and Cap were being released along with this first batch.

A bonus on the back of the package was a 50% coupon for your choice of a Amazing Spider- Man, Captain America, or Silver Surfer subscription. Needles to say I did take advantage of the Silver Surfer and Captain America subscriptions at the time, for a kid this was a pretty neat ideal, not only did you have the character but you could follow his adventures.

The figure itself is in a pretty stiff pose with a whopping seven points of articulation, coated in a matte silver finish. Almost like Toy Biz went down to the hardware store and bought your standard silver Krylon. The board has what can best be described as a outboard motor "hump" on the back, which hides the pull back and go mechanism, two slots for the Surfer's feet to fit into, and wheels on the bottom.

So while not the most visually pleasing representation of the Silver Surfer, he does have a great "vintage" feel and sort of a fun feature that does make sense. I guess if you really wanted him to fly you could just throw him across the room.