Archive for the ‘Cards’ Category

Weird Ball – “Runnin’ Ralph”

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Well, well, well. If it isn’t another Weird Ball figure by Mel Appel and Crayart. If you don’t remember Weird Ball cards or figures, don’t fret. I had no idea what they were either, until I managed to shed some light on the subject in my previous entry about “None Chuck.” And just like our little ninja friend, Runnin’ Ralph is a tad “politically incorrect” (exactly what he should be).

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Weird Ball - Runnin' Ralph by Mel Appel - fat, sweaty, jogger with a hoagie and cigarette Weird Ball - Runnin' Ralph by Mel Appel - fat, sweaty, jogger with a hoagie and cigarette

If this toy was to be produced today it would have… um… well… it just couldn’t exist. You know, with it’s being a depiction of a sweaty, gluttonous (I only call him that cuz he’s running with his hoagie), middle-aged, obese white jogger, puffing on a cigarette. If a jogger toy did exist today, it would be some lame toy line made up of a team of joggers with “running-legs” action activated by squeezing their arms like the old Super Powers toys. There’d be six of them probably – males and females depicting each racial skin tone, and they’d be called “The Cardio Crew” or worse yet, “The Six Pack,” and their trainer would most likely be in a wheelchair.

Hmmm. Sounds like the makings of a Mr. Slim Goodbody toyline.

Mr. Slim Goodbody

Anyway, I’d also like to mention that these Weird Ball toys are disturbingly flat.

He’s pretty slim for a fat man.

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Weird Ball - Runnin' Ralph by Mel Appel - fat, sweaty, jogger with a hoagie and cigarette

Here’s the Runnin’ Ralph trading card this toy is based on. The artwork’s not bad at all. Wonder what the heck happened to the figure.

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Weird Ball - Runnin' Ralph - Trading Card

Weird Ball – “None Chuck” by Mel Appel

Monday, October 1st, 2007

So, on Sunday’s trip to the flea market, I also found another quirky old 80′s toy. He wasn’t quite as gross as the Gross Out Gang Pie-Guy I found, but this incredibly stereotypical depiction of the classic ninja made me chuckle. It reminded me of an era of where toy companies obviously weren’t as afraid to offend as they are nowadays.

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Weird Ball's 'None Chuck' by Mel Appel - ninja toy

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Weird Ball's 'None Chuck' by Mel Appel - ninja toy

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Weird Ball's 'None Chuck' by Mel Appel - ninja toy

I had no idea what this guy was, but he was marked ©Crayart, so that gave me a clue in my search. After a bit of online research, I’ve pieced together that this character is None Chuck from a toy line called “Weird Ball” released by Mel Appel in 1986.

Weird Ball's 'None Chuck' by Mel Appel - Toy Packaging

It’s apparently a toyline based on trading cards of the same name. They’re an obvious ripoff of Garbage Pail Kids, Madballs and Wacky Packages.

Weird Ball Collector's Cards

Here’s the original None Chuck Weird Ball trading card.

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Weird Ball - None Chuck - Trading Card

They even had “Mini-Collectums”… a ripoff of M.U.S.C.L.E.

Weird Ball Mini Collectums

Now I’m on the lookout for some Weird Ball toys. If you have any you wanna get rid of, send ‘em my way.

(… and yes, I know I just recently posted about a ninja.)