Quantcast
Channel: Little Weirdos: Mini figures and other monster toys
Viewing all 198 articles
Browse latest View live

Mono Minis of the Day: 4/11/15 to 4/26/15

0
0

Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

1. #132 from MUSCLE
2. Kamen Rider mini figure
3. Dragon from Dragons N Monsters
4. Fachen from Monster in My Pocket
5. Gundam bootleg pencil topper
6. Hulk from Handful of Heroes
7. 1991 series kinkeshi figure
8. Chouchon from Neclos Fortress
9. Translucent warrior bootleg figure
10. Dr. Outbreak from SLUG Zombies 
11. Galloping Ghoul from The Real Ghostbusters
12. Monster from Carzillas
13. Dragon from dragon cereal premium/bootleg set 
14. Corroded Carl from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
15. Insectman from Diener Space Creatures
16. Pterodactyl from dinosaur bucket playset

Mystical Warriors of the Ring: Metallic black Series 2, Goliath

0
0

The Mystical Warriors of the Ring indie toy line was once again represented this past weekend at C2E2 in Chicago, marking its third year in a row at the convention. You might remember that it debuted there in 2013, when its first ever sets were sold in packs that included resin figures and a wrestling ring. There's been nonstop activity with MWOTR since then, including multiple resin and PVC figure releases. The latest offering, launched at C2E2, consists of three new Series 2 figures plus the popular Goliath figure, all in very attractive metallic black PVC!


First available in very limited quantities late last year as brown test-shot figures, the Series 2 three-pack has finally seen full release in the metallic black color. The set consists of Ulric Wolfrom, Yvonne Wolfrom and Leo Corazon/Generations Lion. They range from around 1.5 to a little under 2 inches, with Yvonne being the tallest. As per usual with MWOTR releases, the sculpts pack in a lot of detail for their small size.


Joining the trio is a new Evolutions Goliath, which first came out this January in metallic green. Since the character is one of the "giants' of the series, this figure is much larger and bulkier than the others. It's about 2 inches tall, but measures 3.5" across when his arms are positioned out. As I detailed when I reviewed the metallic green version, one of the things that makes this figure so awesome is that it makes use of the Glyos system, so it actually consists of multiple pieces that can be taken apart and put back together. This makes for many points of articulation and tons of different ways you can pose him. Goliath looks very sharp in this color. I love the way it allows for the light to catch the many different textures and details of the sculpt.

At C2E2 all four figures were offered in a bundle for $15, with the option to purchase additional Goliaths on top of that for $6. At the time of writing this, leftover stock from the show is still available to order online, and is being sold in the same way it was at the show. So, you can purchase a bundle including one Series 2 three-pack plus one Goliath for $15, or one Series 2 three-pack plus two Goliaths for $21. Head over to the MWOTR shop to pick some up.

Oritet fantasy mini figures: Russian fairy tale creatures

0
0

I've discovered many amazing toys on FantasyToySoldiers.blogspot.com, an excellent site run by a collector friend of mine. One of the coolest things I learned about on that site is a series of fantasy-themed mini figure sets produced by a Russian company called Oritet (spelled оритет in Russian). One Oritet release in particular immediately caught my eye--a set consisting of six different creatures found in Russian fairy tales and folklore. As soon as I saw them I knew I had to hunt them down.

The bad news is that these figures are not easy to find. Having been a Russia-only release (in the early '00s, from what I've read), you pretty much have to find a Russian collector who has them to sell/trade, or who can help you track them down. For a while I only managed to get my hands on two figures from the set, so I was very happy and grateful when my friend Shaun of Fantasy Toy Soldiers recently had the opportunity to get a full set in a trade and offered to do so for me. They are really fantastic figures and very much worth the challenge of locating.

Here are some basics:
  • The six creatures inlcuded are Baba Yaga, Domovoi, Kikimora, Wood Goblin, Water Spirit (Vodyanoy) and Koschei the Deathless. More on each of them later
  • The figures are made of hard plastic and range from about 1.5 to 3.5 inches tall (if you count their weapons, such as the Water Spirit's trident)
  • They came sold together in a box featuring artwork of the characters (pictured to the right)
  • Sets seem to have been available in a few different colors, including metallic green, metallic red and glow-in-the-dark white. There may or may not have been additional colors--these are just the three I've seen personally
  • Oritet produced many other great sets in addition to these, all done in a similar style. They are mainly fantasy-themed, but there are a couple that expand beyond that, like a ninjas set and a caveman set. You can see them in the Oritet post at Fantasy Toy Soldiers 


    Here's a closer look at all six figures:



    BABA YAGA:  This was the one creature I recognized right away. I've been familiar with Baba Yaga ever since I was a kid, thanks to her being included as part of the first series of Monster in My Pocket. While this menacing hag--who flies through the air in a mortar--was depicted in a more bizarre, gruesome way as part of the MIMP line, Oritet gave her the appearance of a more traditional witch. Both are really nice sculpts, and it's always cool to see how the same character is interpreted by different designers and sculptors. I just love the fact that at least two Baba Yaga mini figures exist. Who knew?


    KOSCHEI THE DEATHLESS:  I had to do some research on the rest of the creatures, including this skeletal baddie. Apparently, in Russian folklore Koschei is an antagonist known for abducting wives and being a pain in the ass to defeat, considering his soul exists separate from his body inside a needle, which is inside an egg, which is inside a duck, which is inside a hare, which is inside an iron chest, which is buried under a tree, which is on an island in the ocean (thanks, Wikipedia).


    WOOD GOBLIN:  This is possibly my favorite figure of the set. There's just something about the sculpt of this weirdo tree creature that speaks to me. Maybe it's the giant head and mouth, which appears to be filled with worms or something. It's just bizarre-looking, which I love. Makes a nice complement to the Dryad figure from Monster in My Pocket.


    DOMOVOI:  The Domovoi is pretty much the Russian equivalent of a Brownie--a spirit that hangs out in peoples' houses, acting as either a helpful or malicious presence. Basically, they can assist with household chores and field work and warn of impending danger, but if you piss them off they can get nasty and start going poltergeist on you. Fun little figure.


    KIKIMORA:  This one is another Russian house spirit, but a female version. The role of a house's Kikimora is typically juxtaposed with that of a Domovoi, in that one of them is the bad spirit and one of them is the good spirit (again, thanks Wikipedia). This lady definitely appears more sinister than the Domovoi figure, so I guess she'd be the baddie. When I first saw this figure, I thought of Rumpelstiltskin for some reason (yeah yeah, I know that's not Russian).


    WATER SPIRIT (VODYANOY): So, this dude looks like King Triton. But apparently he's a Vodyanoy, which Wikipedia says appears as a "naked old man with a frog-like face, greenish beard, and long hair, with his body covered in algae and muck, usually covered in black fish scales." I don't see any frog-like face here, but whatever. This is an awesome figure. I really love all the different textures, especially the scales. Just to do justice in showing off the level of detail and texture all these figures have, here's a back view:


    And that's the set! These guys instantly became some of my favorite pieces in my collection. I'm a sucker for any toys that are mythology and fantasy related, especially when they look this cool. It's a shame Oritet's figures weren't available more widely because they're really well done and worthy of more attention.

    What do you think of them?

    Mono Minis of the Day: 4/27/15 to 5/13/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Parachuting robot vending figure
    2. Cyclops from Monster in My Pocket
    3. Kaiju from Ultraman 'Great Monster the 30' set
    4. #226 from MUSCLE
    5. Chimaera from Horrors N Heroes
    6. Monster from Geddes mini monster erasers
    7. Centaur from Diener Mythology Creatures
    8. Dinosaur from Dino Brites
    9. Space Invaders eraser
    10. Ultraman Leo from Ultraman figure set
    11. Hammer the Predator from Gormiti Micros
    12. Abominable Snowman from Monster in My Pocket
    13. Fishy Phyllis from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    14. II Knight (second sculpt) from Neclos Fortress
    15. Canned Food Fighters bootleg vending keshi
    16. Kinkeshi figure (non-MUSCLE sculpt)

    Mono Minis of the Day: 5/14/15 to 5/29/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. DARD from Diener Space Raiders
    2. Eye-Gore from Mad Scientist    
    3. Dinosaur/monster from Matutano dinosaur premiums
    4. Warrior from party favor knockoff set     
    5. Rigamortis Lourdes from SLUG Zombies
    6. Demon from Fantasy Fortress
    7. Mini kaiju vending bootleg 
    8. Robot from Ro-Gun Robots
    9. Gill-Man from Neclos Fortress
    10. Beast-Man from Warriors of the Universe MOTU vending knockoffs
    11. Haniver from Monster in My Pocket
    12. Russell Muscle from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    13. Winged creature from Polotoy fantasy playset
    14. Ninja warrior from Cosmix
    15. Coffin creep from Terrible Monster/Monster bucket set
    16. Mini Madballs knockoff from Bad Bad Ball

    Doom Götter: rubber monster minis by Imperfecz / Ironhaus Pro

    0
    0

    Early this year, Imperfecz Toys and Ironhaus Productions teamed up for a new line of rubber mini monsters called Doom Götter (which I believe translates to Doom Gods). With the second series freshly released this month, I thought it was the perfect time to finally get my hands on some, take some photos and do a write-up.

    You might remember that Imperfecz and Ironhaus previously collaborated on a couple of other great sets, Mutants and Infestors. The duo continue to outdo themselves--Doom Götter is possibly their best creation yet. Not only are the monster sculpts nicely varied and incredibly well done, but this set raises the game by including a play environment element that makes it extra fun. The concept is all different kinds of kaiju fighting and wreaking havoc in a city setting, so each monster comes with battle-damaged resin buildings so you can set up a little display with them. Very cool idea!

    Both of the series so far include two different monsters, so as of now there is a total of four different figures available. Each monster is sold separately, cast in a soft, flexible rubber and comes packaged as most indie mini figures do--in a little plastic bag with a header card. Two buildings come along with every monster, attached in a separate bag.


    Let's take a closer look at each series.


    The first set is inspired by Japanese Yokai lore and features Bake-Kujira (sculpted by Ironhaus's Jimmy Rommel) and Akaname (sculpted by Imperfecz's Luke Harris). In Yokai legend, Bake-Kujira is a ghostly skeleton whale. Here, Jimmy expands upon that basic description a bit by adding in a bit of ticked-off dinosaur. The result result is a fierce little monster sculpt with some fantastic texture and detail. Akaname has a smoother sculpt and an eerier vibe to its design. Also known as the "filth licker," in Yokai lore this creature is known for "licking up the grime and dirt that accumulates in unclean bathrooms" (hmm...thanks, Wikipedia). Luke's sculpt makes it look much more bizarre than it does in any of the depictions I saw in Google Images, and I love that. Its gigantic, curled tongue, bulbous arms and muted facial features make for a really creepy little weirdo. Side note: The long tongue and general oddness made me think of a Wol Cabasshite with arms and legs.


    Now onto the brand new Series 2. This time the theme stretches out from Yokai a bit, with one of the monsters being the infamous cryptid Chupacabra. The other figure, Ushi-Oni, continues down the Yokai path set by Series 1. Chupacabra is a Jimmy Rommel sculpt all the way, in that this little beast looks majorly scrappy, plus simultaneously pissed off and a little giddy about the damage he's about to inflict. Jimmy has a way of packing a lot of personality into his sculpts, and Chupa is a perfect example. Luke's Ushi-Oni is a truly unique figure, and like his Akaname, sports some wonderfully freaky proportions. In Japanese legend, this creature is known as having a horned, bovine head and a spider or crab-like body, and you can definitely see that here. I also get a bit of an ant vibe from Luke's interpretation, which makes it even weirder. One of my favorite things about Doom Götter is the variety of the monsters, and the different styles Jimmy and Luke bring to these sets make them extra special.


    I've also got to call out the building accessory pieces because they're pretty damn nifty in their own right. The kaiju are of course the stars of the show, but the buildings really do add a lot to the coolness factor of Doom Götter. Of the eight different ones I got along with the four figures, each is a unique sculpt with nicely-done detailing accentuated by simple black paint apps. It's a lot of fun to set them up with the figures to create a mini battle scene.

    Doom Götter is a fantastically creative indie toy line, and I really hope Imperfecz and Ironhaus continue to release more figures and buildings so we can build out our displays even further. 

    You can pick up some for yourself in the Imperfecz store. Each figure and building pack is either $10 or $12 plus shipping, and you can also purchase extra packs of buildings in quantities of either five or ten. The figures are available in a variety of colors, and you can even add a paint wash to them to highlight all of the details. Check 'em out!

    Mono Minis of the Day: 5/30/15 to 6/14/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Popy mini kinkeshi
    2. The Lord of the Sea from Gormiti Micros
    3. Brain Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters
    4. Monster from Monstruos Mutantes
    5. Goomba from Nintendo Super Mario keshi  
    6. Blazin' Basel from SLUG Zombies  
    7. Night Mare from Neclos Fortress
    8. #199 from MUSCLE
    9. Robot from set of clear capsule machine robots
    10. Cave troll from Russian set of trolls by Oritet
    11. Kaiju pencil topper eraser
    12. Minotaur from Monster in My Pocket
    13. Bigfoot-like monster from Monstruos de Matutano
    14. Brainy Janie from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    15. Spiderman from Handful of Heroes
    16. Fringe from Funny Fringes

    Alien critter mini figures from Nickelodeon Gak Vac (1992)

    0
    0

    If you were a kid in the '90s, I'm sure you remember Gak. The squishy, squeezable compound, a Nickelodeon product, was a popular fixture in toy aisles back then. What you might not know is that the Gak product line actually included a few Little Weirdos-approved monster mini figures!

    photo by flickr user astronit
    The creatures pictured here were released with only one product in the Gak line--1992's "Gak Vac." The Gak Vac was a small toy vacuum that you could use to suck up Gak and then spit it out. The best part is that the set also included these four figures, referred to as "weird looking critters" on the Vac's packaging. I guess the idea was that you'd plop these little dudes in the Gak and pretend they were squirming around in it while you sucked it up.

    The figures are between 1 to 1.5 inches tall, made of a light, hard plastic and all came in a sunshiny neon yellow color.

    Probably because people don't think about figures when they think of Gak and possibly because the Gak Vac wasn't that hot of a seller (if the K-B Toys discount sticker in the above shown example indicates anything), these little weirdos fly under the radar even among vintage mini figure and monster toy collectors. They might be super obscure, but they are definitely cool figures with fun sculpts. Click the photos below for a close-up look at each one of them.

    An updated version of the Gak Vac was released a few years ago. It also came with a few mini figures (called "Gakoids"), which were stylistically quite different from the vintage creatures. For a review of that, check out bigazzhead's review on LittleRubberGuys.com.

    How many of you guys remember the Gak Vac and its mini critter companions?



    The Ugglys Pet Shop (Moose Toys)

    0
    0

    The Trash Pack and Mutant Mania might be gone from store shelves, but Moose Toys has new line of little weirdos out to help fill the void. This time the theme is pet animals, but once again Moose has added "a gross out" element, so we've got puke, sludge, poop and all that kind of stuff. Meet the crazy critters of The Ugglys Pet Shop!

    When I first saw photos of these, I didn't plan on buying any. They didn't seem to bring anything new that The Trash Pack didn't already offer over many series. But when I actually saw them up close in Toys R Us, I had to pick up a pack. It didn't hurt that I found a package with both a monstrous-looking crab and a weirdo frog, both of which I found hard to resist.

    Let's run through some Ugglys Pet Shop basics:
    • The figures are sold in eight-packs (with six figures visible and two hidden) as well as blind two-packs that come in little cans. The eight-packs cost $9.99 at Toys R. Us, and I believe the two-packs were $2.99. Other products are also available, such as little "houses" for the animals that make sounds, a "Dirty Dog Wash Van" and a Pet Store. 
    • There are 41 different sculpts, but each figure comes in a few color variations so when you factor those in, there's a lot of Ugglys to collect. The characters are categorized in seven groups: Slimiest, Smelliest, Hairiest, Grossest, Stickiest, Gross Homes, and Limited Edition "Rusty Pets."
    • Each package comes with a blind-bagged little hunk of "surprise poop," which come in various sculpts and colors (brown, green and even metallic colors). I think this little addition automatically gives the line the biggest gross-out factor of any Moose series so far. 
    • As with The Trash Pack and Mutant Mania, the figures have different levels of rarity in order to add a chase element to the line.
    • The figures are around 1 to 1.5 inches tall and are made out of a soft, flexible rubber that's more like Monster in My Pocket material than the squishy Trash Pack material (I was really pleasantly surprised by this--I was actually expecting a firmer plastic just by looking at the figures). The Ultra Rare figures are made out of a sticky rubber, which I wish Moose wouldn't have done (enough with the sticky toys already--they're just fuzz and dirt collectors).
    Now let's see a few of the Ugglys up close.


    Here are two of the many doggies in the line. We've got Stenchy French Bulldog on the left and Dopey Doberman on the right. Oh, and a turd right there in the middle. I was hoping to find a golden turd, but instead got a plain ol' brown one. What can you do.


    While dogs make up the bulk of the figures in Ugglys Pet Shop, my favorites are actually the other animals. Like these two, the aforementioned Funky Frog and Clawful Crab. I love how the frog looks like a sickly version of Kermit, and that gnarly crab sculpt is just awesome.


    I also pulled this little guy, the Horrid Hamster. It was one of the hidden figures in my pack. I actually had no idea he was supposed to be a hamster until I looked him up on the pamphlet. He's definitely one of my favorites, though. I dig how loopy and dazed he looks.

    And there you go--my first trip to The Ugglys Pet Shop. I'm not yet sure whether I'll be collecting more figures from the line, but I'm definitely glad I bought a pack. Some of the sculpts are really fun, and the material that Moose used really adds to the appeal.

    What about you? Have you picked up any Ugglys Pet Shop toys yet? What do you think?

    Mono Minis of the Day: 6/15/15 to 6/30/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Fire Dragon from Lucky Yuckies (GeGeGe No Kitaro bootleg)
    2. Watchman from Popy mini Kinnikuman keshi
    3. Smurfs mini figure premium 
    4. Creature from set of suction alien-robots
    5. Ecto-Plazm ghost from The Real Ghostbusters
    6. Atticus from Kaiju Kaos
    7. Pince Dor from Cosmix (MUSCLE knock off)
    8. AF-4 from Neclos Fortress
    9. Space hero from Galaxy Laser Team
    10. Grim Jim from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    11. Hatching dino from Dino Brites
    12. He-Man from Masters of the Universe vending bootlegs
    13. Skeleton warrior from skeletons vs. pirates set
    14. Monster from Geddes mini monster erasers
    15. The Phantom from Monster in My Pocket
    16. Fish Stix from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sidekick figures

    Mystical Warriors of the Ring: July 2015 releases

    0
    0

    Mystical Warriors of the Ring is back once again, this time with some brand new PVC colors of its popular Goliath figure and Series 2 three-pack!

    Goliath, which was first available in metallic green at the beginning of this year, and then in metallic black this spring, returns for the summer in two new colors: metallic bronze and glow-in-the-dark white.

    With its Glyos compatibility (which means it has articulation and is made of multiple pieces that can be taken apart and put back together), hefty size and killer sculpt, it's safe to say Goliath is the most popular MWOTR release so far. I am sure a lot of people will be happy to be able to put together a whole gang of Goliaths in different colors.

    The metallic bronze is an excellent color fit for the beastly king that he is, and really shows off all the intricacies of the sculpt.


    The ever-popular glow-in-the-dark color is now available as well, which is a semi-translucent white color that glows yellowish-green when in the dark. In addition to Goliath, the Series 2 three-pack has also been given the GITD treatment.

    The Series 2 trio was first released in metallic black in the spring, and consists of Ulric Wolfrom, Yvonne Wolfrom and Leo Corazon/Generations Lion.

    When you hold them up to the light for a minute and then put them in the dark, the figures glow very strongly and look great.


    All five figures are available now in the MWOTR shop, sold in the following ways:

    - Metallic bronze Goliath: $6 each
    - Glow-in-the-dark Goliath: $7 each
    - Glow-in-the-dark bundle including Goliath and Series 2 three-pack: $15 each

    The MWOTR line continues to go strong with new releases and projects, so be sure to keep an eye on mystwarriors.com to stay up-to-date.

    Mono Minis of the Day: 7/1/15 to 7/16/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. #193 from MUSCLE  
    2. Runt Zurb from Earthworm Jim (action figure accessory)
    3. ET bootleg mini figure from Mexico
    4. Extra Crispy from SLUG Zombies
    5. Mechander Robot vending bootleg
    6. Monster from Monstruos de Matutano
    7. Knight from Neclos Fortress
    8. Stretch Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters
    9. Triceratops from Russ Dinosaurs set
    10. Scarabus from Cosmix (MUSCLE knock off)
    11. Baba Yaga from Oritet Russian Fairy Tale creatures set
    12. Blemmyea from Monster in My Pocket
    13. Cyclops from Big Bucket of Monsters
    14. He-Man from Masters of the Universe keshi (repro by Eric Nilla)
    15. Zoids vending machine bootleg
    16. Bombos Fire Power from Gormiti Micros

    Tim Mee 'People at Play' plastic family figures (2015 Reissue)

    0
    0

    In the 1970s, Tim Mee / Processed Plastic released a set of "People at Play" figures made up of a "typical" suburban family--a mom, dad, a big brother and sister, and a little brother and sister, all engaged in leisurely activities straight out of 1950s stereotypes (mom holding a flower pot, junior tossing a football, big sis doing cheerleading moves, etc.). Basically, a plastic Pleasantville in a bag. Now, this slightly unsettling, too-perfect miniature family is back in the form of another reissue in the growing list of Tim Mee re-releases from over the past few years.

    Of course, this site normally focus on monsters, aliens, robots and stuff like that. But let me tell you, these family figures have a place in any collection of little weirdos--they make great victims or innocent bystanders for any zombie, outer space invader, or dinosaur attack!

    Here are some basics about the figures:
    • They're sold in sets of 24 that come in a clear plastic bag with a header card, for a little under $12 on Amazon. The header art is done in a fun vintage style, with one side depicting the "Atomic Family" and the other side showing the "Post-Atomic Family."
    • Each bag includes 12 green figures and 12 pale flesh-colored figures. You get two of each of the six sculpts in both colors.
    • The figures are made of a stiff-yet-sturdy plastic (comparable to other Tim Mee releases such as Galaxy Laser Team), and are very crisp with almost no flashing. They measure up to 2.5 inches tall.
    • As with other Tim Mee / Processed Plastic releases, the sculpting is very nicely-done, with plenty of texture and detail.

    Now, a bit about each of the six sculpts:

    • Mother: The matriarch of the family has changed into her slacks to do a little Sunday-afternoon gardening. With flower pot in hand and hand on hip, she means business.
    • Father: Pops comes complete with pipe and hammer, because that's what any good retro daddy does--puff away and fix stuff with tools. If this figure had a talking feature, it'd probably tell Mom to put down the flower pot and go fix him a sandwich. 
    • Big Sister: The older children of this family are obviously among the popular kids in high school. Big Sis is totally a retro "mean girl." You can tell she thinks she's hot stuff, waving those pom-poms in the air.
    • Big Brother: Junior is surely Dad's pride and joy, tossing around the football and looking all preppy in his sweater and collared shirt. He's probably captain of the team.
    • Little Sister: Just jump-ropin' up a storm as kitty sits nearby. Probably while watching Big Sis and praying that she too can be a cheerleader someday.
    • Little Brother: Li'l bro here is hanging around playing catch with the family dog. Clearly, iPads and Xbox hadn't been invented yet.

    I'm not sure how they were meant to be taken in the '70s, but in today's world these "People at Play" definitely have a fun kitsch factor, and are actually really well made in terms of design, sculpting and production. As mentioned above, they're perfect for filling out dioramas and play scenes. Want to see what I mean? Let's take a look at this perfect plastic family after the big one hits. I'm not talking Atomic attack, I'm talking ZOMBIE ATTACK!

    They'll need more than Dad's hammer to get out of this one
    Mom and Dad find more than they bargained for on their trip to the mailbox
    They want to get in with the popular kids...or get the popular kids in them
    Little Susie's surprise new friend loves jump-rope...and brains!
    Timmy's just dying to get on the team

    MOTUSCLE: New Masters of the Universe mini figures

    0
    0

    Probably the biggest news so far this year for collectors of "little rubber guys" is that an official, large scale release of Masters of the Universe mini figures is finally here! Aside from a couple limited foreign sets and some capsule machine knockoffs, we had surprisingly never seen monochromatic minis tied to this iconic '80s franchise. That's no longer the case, thanks to a new toy line from Super7.

    The line is called MOTUSCLE, since these figures are meant to be an official continuation of Mattel's MUSCLE figures from the '80s. Super7--the company behind collector-focused toys like the ReAction line of vintage-styled action figures--actually secured both the MUSCLE and Masters of the Universe licenses from Mattel and worked with them to bring these figures to life. MOTU is the first of multiple properties that are planned to take mini figure form under the MUSCLE name--Alien and Robotech figures are already in the works.

    The news of MOTUSCLE came on suddenly, shortly before San Diego Comic-Con 2015, where they debuted earlier this month. At the convention, Super7 offered these figures for the first time in a few different ways: three-packs in a classic, MUSCLE-inspired flesh color, three-packs in black, and the Skeletor figure in purple as a giveaway (both the black figures and the purple Skeletor were SDCC exclusives).


    Let's run through a few MOTUSCLE basics:
    • Series 1 consists of 12 different figures--six "Heroic Warriors" and six "Evil Warriors" from Eternia. The figures come in three-pack assortments as listed below. The package artwork is very much reminiscent of vintage MUSCLE packaging, which definitely amps up the nostalgia factor.
    • MOTUSCLE package back
      • Assortment 1:  He-Man, Teela, Man-at-Arms
      • Assortment 2:  Man-E-Faces, Ram Man, Buzz Off
      • Assortment 3:  Skeletor, Trap Jaw, Beastman
      • Assortment 4:  Whiplash, Mer-Man, Tri Klops
    • The figures measure between 1.5 and 2 inches tall, comparable to vintage MUSCLE and Monster in My Pocket.
    • Even though these are supposed to be new MUSCLEs, the material of the figures is noticeably different. MOTUSCLE are softer and more rubbery than the firmer plastic of vintage MUSCLE figures. They fall somewhere between MUSCLE plastic and Garbage Pail Kids Minikins soft rubber, leaning more toward the latter. I can see why some collectors might be disappointed that they're not an exact match to vintage MUSCLE plastic, but I personally really like the rubbery feel they have.
    Purple MOTUSCLE Skeletor with some vintage purple MUSCLE
    • The flesh color is not an exact match to vintage MUSCLE pink/flesh. It's a bit lighter, but in the same vein. The color of the purple SDCC Skeletor is a close match to vintage MUSCLE purple. The black of the SDCC exclusives is a new MUSCLE color, never found in the vintage releases. The back of the packages says "Available in 3-pack assortments in a variety of colors," but specific additional colors haven't been announced yet. I'm hoping for some neon colors (pink, green, orange, etc.--bring 'em on!).
    • So far, MOTUSCLE have only been sold at SDCC, but an upcoming full/online release is planned for a still-to-be-determined date.
    And now for a close-up look at the figures:


    The six HEROIC WARRIORS offer up a nice selection of characters, with some MOTU mainstays you'd expect to see in first series of any MOTU line (He-Man, Teela, Man-at-Arms). The stocky Ram Man and bulky, winged Buzz Off provide some nice size variation to the slimness of the other characters. All the sculpts are well done and nicely detailed. He-Man himself probably leaves the most to be desired, but is still decent.


    Villains almost always have the most fun sculpts, and the EVIL WARRIORS of MOTUSCLE are no exception. The main baddie himself, Skeletor, looks great (especially in purple). The other highlights from the evil guys are Whiplash (awesome texture on this one), Mer-Man (look at that gnarly face sculpt!) and Beastman (nice proportions and again, really cool work on the face). The only negative I can point out with is that Trap Jaw's robotic arm looks kind of puny--he'd look better and more imposing if that arm were beefed up a bit. Very little to gripe about, though!

    I'm very pleased with these figures, and couldn't be happier that MUSCLE are back after all these years in this new form! Series 2 of the MOTU-themed line is already planned, and I can't wait to find out which characters are included.

    What about you? What do you think of MOTUSCLE, and which other franchises would you like to see get mini figure treatment from Super7?

    Mono Minis of the Day: 7/17/15 to 8/2/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Alien from set of parachuting capsule machine aliens
    2. Ecto-Plazm ghost from The Real Ghostbusters
    3. Poig from Mini Boglins
    4. Ultimate Muscle figure  
    5. Mark Bark from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    6. Trashcan Sam from SLUG Zombies
    7. Mohawk drummer girl from CUTIE
    8. Wizard from DFC fantasy playset
    9. Spectre from Monster in My Pocket
    10. Creature from the Black Lagoon from Big Bucket of Monsters
    11. #128 from MUSCLE
    12. Kaiju from Ultraman 'Great Monster the 30' set
    13. Caveman from TimMee Cavemen 2012 reissues
    14. Olive Oyl from Diener Popeye erasers
    15. Mini-Lobe Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters
    16. Giant brand micro alien

    Mystical Warriors of the Ring: Molie & clear green Goliath

    0
    0

    Heads up! If you're a Mystical Warriors of the Ring fan, you'll want to know about a couple new releases going on sale this Saturday, August 22nd at noon CST in the MWOTR online store.

    The first is a new PVC color of the stellar Glyos-compatible Goliath figure, which has been featured in detail on this site (see previous MWOTR coverage here). This time, the beastly brute comes in an incredibly vibrant transparent green. To Glyos collectors, this color is known as Neo-Phase Green. If you're a sucker for neon and/or clear figures like I am, it'll probably be your favorite version of Goliath yet. These bad boys will cost $6 each.

    The Goliath gang grows
    The second figure going up for sale is a brand new sculpt of the character Molie the announcer. This little guy is great fun -- a nod to the classic MUSCLE #162 announcer figure. He'll be available at some point down the line in PVC, but this initial release includes a limited amount of resin Molie figures. They'll be available for $10 each in two or three different colors, including clear neon green and blue/white swirl.


    As always, check out the MWOTR blog for more information.

    Mono Minis of the Day: 8/3/15 to 8/18/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Poignardus from Cosmix
    2. Tree monster from Cromy Club Monster in My Pocket/Halloween Coffin Surprise
    3. Coatill from Neclos Fortress
    4. Figure from Kinnikuman keshi
    5. Vampire bat from Vampires figure set
    6. Skeleton warrior from Skeletons vs Pirates set
    7. Dragon from Diener Mythology Creatures
    8. Adam Bomb from Garbage Pail Kids Cheap Toys
    9.  Warrior from Tehnolog Russian figure set
    10. Baba Yaga from Monster in My Pocket
    11. Monster from Monstruos de Matutano
    12. Warrior from Warriors of the Galaxy
    13. #11 from MUSCLE
    14. Zombie from Monsters vs. Military
    15. Masked Rider Cobra Otoko from Kamen Rider figure set
    16. Bad Bad Ball pencil topper

    Mono Minis of the Day: 8/19/15 to 9/3/15

    0
    0

    Here are the latest batches of Mono Minis of the Day--as posted daily on the Little Weirdos Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. The lineup in the photo is as follows, from left to right, top to bottom:

    1. Mad Mike from Garbage Pail Kids Minikins
    2. Madman from Handful of Heroes
    3. 2 Scoops Too Late Steve from SLUG Zombies
    4. Saint Seiya capsule machine bootleg 
    5. Boik from Mini Boglins
    6. Monster from Cromy Club Monster in My Pocket/Halloween Coffin Surprise
    7.Onilos from Neclos Fortress
    8. Wrestler from All Japan Pro Wrestling keshi
    9. Astronaut from Galaxy Laser Team
    10. Dragonus from Cosmix
    11. #227 from MUSCLE
    12. Lamia from Monster in My Pocket
    13. Lavion from Gormiti Micros
    14. Mephilas from Ultraman 'Great Monster the 30' set
    15. Robot from Ro-Gun Robots
    16. Puddinge from Funny Fringes

    Ultraman kaiju minis from Mexico

    0
    0

    I recently acquired this really fun set of vibrantly-colored kaiju minis, and it's still a bit of a mystery to me. Here's what I DO know about them:
    • They're from Mexico
    • They're all kaiju from Ultraman. I am not a kaiju expert and sometimes have trouble telling some of them apart, but from what I was able to tell while doing research, the characters are as follows:  TOP ROW, left to right: Red King, Gomora, Bemular, BOTTOM ROW, left to right: Gomess, Alien Baltan, Gudon. Can any of you kaiju experts out there confirm whether I got that right?
    • Their tails (and Baltan's arms) are removable, so you can pop them off and plug them back in. 
    • These six make up a full set (90% sure as I've never seen photos of any others anywhere).
    • They're about 1.75 inches tall on average.
    • For some reason, some of them are made out of hard plastic while others are made from soft rubber. With the rubbery ones, it's a bit hard to plug the tails in so they stay in place.
    Here's what I don't know about them yet and would like to find out:
    • What year did they come out?
    • Was the set released under any particular name?
    • How were they sold? My best guess is snack food premiums, but that's only a guess.
    • Are they bootlegs of Japanese figures or original sculpts?
    • How many different colors were made? You can see additional colors of the same sculpts in this image from Flickr user Monochromatics Figures.
    Do any of you guys have any of these, or can you help answer any of these questions or shed more light on their origins?

      Toysmith 'Super Hero' mini figures

      0
      0

      For the past couple of years Target has been selling cheapo bagged mini figures in its dollar section. The figures are made by Toysmith, and so far they've released bags including dinosaurs, knights, pirates, mystical ponies, fairies, and maybe one or two other themes. Now there's some brand new sets out in Target that are the best yet -- Super Heroes!

      The figures come in a clear bag with very basic header art that refers to the figures simply as "Super Hero." Nothing fancy, but what can you expect for a buck?

      There are six different sculpts that come in three different colors -- red, blue and green. Each bag contains 20 figures so I suppose it's possible to get a full set of 18 in a single bag. They seem to be put into the bags pretty randomly though, so it's probably not likely. I did come very close in the first bag I opened, which was missing only one sculpt in green. I was able to find that figure in the second bag, but I did notice that it contained more duplicates than the first bag. For anyone planning on buying some, it's probably worth taking a close look at them in the store to make sure you pick bags with the most different figures.


      The figures are made of a light, hard plastic. It's a bit cheap feeling, but again, these are designed and sold as cheap toys so it's to be expected.

      The sculpts are pretty cool. My favorites are the caped, masked guy with his fist forward and the pointy-eared guy with both arms up, which I think has some Batman inspiration. For some reason these guys actually remind me more of wrestling toys than superhero toys. Maybe that's because they're done in a bulky, stylized way that gives off a similar vibe to '80s wrestling minis like Musclemania, Remco Mini Mashers, Soma wrestlers, and of course, MUSCLE.

      Size-wise, they're comparable to the usual suspects like Monster in My Pocket and MUSCLE.


      So what do you think of these little weirdos? Do you plan on picking any up? I hope Toysmith continues to make these cheap minis for Target -- I'd love to see a fantasy or monster themed set released next!
      Viewing all 198 articles
      Browse latest View live




      Latest Images