Like so many other generic hero toys produced through the years, this figure was a badly-executed ripoff of the iconic 80s toyline, Masters of the Universe(unfortunately, I don’t know the name of this character or the toyline he comes from… sorry folks).
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He’s pretty crummy. If they’d ripped off the molds from the source, he could look a little better, but that would’ve robbed him of his charm. I think it’s his absurdly swollen, plump muscles that make his appearance that much more comedic (not to mention his stumpy, blue arms and legs, silver torso with pink starburst designs and the goofy-looking horned helmet). Sure, this toy’s ugliness appealed to me, but I think it was the slightly higher thinking of the toy designer and manufacturer that delighted me even more. There are tons of generic He-Man ripoffs out there, but this little toy series featured ugly barbarian guys with spinning heads with a human face on one side and a monster face on the opposite side. Pretty cool for a Dollar Tree toy.
We’ve established this generic, dual-personality barbarian isn’t a He-Man figure or anything, but he does look like he could be the distant cousin of Man-E-Faces. (Remember Man-E-Faces? Who could forget him? He’s the guy with the spinning faces to reveal a man, a robot and a monster).
Man-E-Faces
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I think I’ll call this barbarian guy Cup-L-Faces. That seems appropriate. He can be one of those low-budget monsters that Skeletor makes (first Faker, now this).
Cup-L-Faces
I know you’re wondering “what makes him a bad guy?” Well, if the evil monster on the back of his head doesn’t convince you, there’s the tell-tale blood spatter on his cheek and lip. That’s hard core. No He-Man figure has that. That’s a sure sign he’s a killer.
It’s everyone’s favorite mechanical crime fighter (other than Robocop)! Here we have an old 12″ Inspector Gadget by Galoob dated 1983.
Go-Go Gadget Copter!
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For those who don’t remember Inspector Gadget, I’ll try to sum him up quickly. It was an 80s cartoon inspired by the old spy show, Get Smart. The show starred a clumsy, absent-minded, and oblivious detective, Inspector Gadget – a cop with various gadgets built into his anatomy. Gadget spent most of his time trying to stop his nemesis – the mysterious Dr. Claw, leader of the evil organization, MAD.
There’s a bit more to the show, but I’m not going to bother you with every little detail.
I just happened upon the Inspector Gadget “action doll” at a toy show months ago. I never even knew this toy existed, but as soon as I saw him, I knew I had to have him. I just love the playability of this toy and the absolutely appropriate and accurate accessories included with it. He has “8 magic features and 20 moving parts.”
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Just look at all he has to offer:
He looks perfect. Looks like he just stepped out of the cartoon
12 inches tall
20 points of articulation
Firing Hand and Pop-out Hand
Pop-Out Legs
Fabric Trench Coat
Helicopter Hat
Huge Cartoony Mallet
Working Handcuffs (to cuff the fake arm in Dr. Claws’ chair I guess)
Hat Extension Arm
Parachute Umbrella
Go-Go Gadget Legs!
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Go-Go Gadget Neck!
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Go-Go Gadget Hands!
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Go-Go Gadget ‘Brella!
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Go-Go Gadget… Cuffs?!
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Told you he was great. Only bad thing is, he has no one else to arrest. I guess he could always cuff Barbie. “Go-Go Gadget… nevermind.”
Wowzers!
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If that isn’t enough for you, check this truly unforgettable intro. Careful though. The song may be a bit too catchy.
INFO UPDATE:
Over the months I’ve noticed that the Inspector Gadget doll I featured here isn’t the same one I’ve seen online and on eBay and everywhere else. At first glance they are pretty much the same, but in a few moments, you’ll see that things are definitely much different.
Slim-Box Gadget
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First, let’s start with the doll’s box. I’m not sure whether this package version appeared first or second, but as you can see, it’s a slimmer, condensed version of the box pictured in my original entry above. It does have an extending flap that makes it appear wider. Not quite sure why they included that, because it seems like that panel would block any other Gadget dolls or other merchandise from being seen on the store shelves.
Straight-Arm Gadget
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Second, let’s look at his arms. This is something I’d noticed most whenever i found images of the Gadget doll online. The most common version is this straight-armed version. This lack of elbow, bicep and shoulder articulation really makes Gadget appear stiff and awkward. He can’t bend his elbows to comfortably hold his Gadget-Copter. To accommodate this new awkward hand position, Galoob altered the design of the Helicopter-Hat accessory. The handlebars are much more narrow, short and they protrude in front of him.
Gadget Accessories
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Third are his accessories. Both Gadget dolls come with the same accessories, but the pink items that come with with the “Straight-Arm Gadget” are much more vibrant and saturated. Also, as you can see here, his handcuffs are a dull gray plastic instead of the metallic-coated plastic of the original Gadget.
Gadget Arms & Legs
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And last and probably least are his activation buttons. The “Straight-Arm Gadget” has blue buttons instead of yellow. It doesn’t really matter, but I though I’d point that out. I actually like the blue better, because they match the color of his Gadget-Neck.
If anyone has info on which of these versions is the original and has any explanation for these differences, please let me know. Hey. Maybe this “Straight-Arm Gadget” is the original. The other one could be the updated one… ya know… kinda like “swivel-arm battle grip” being introduced to the G.I.Joe toys.
So, I’ve been milking the toys I found at the Allentown Antique Toy Show for all they’re worth, but worry no more. This is the last one.
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By now, you all can guess what drew me to this goofball. What’s not to love about a squatty, nappy-headed, balding Alfred E, Neuman lookalike dressed in a generic red and green Batman suit?
Precisely. Absolutely nothing.
As usual, I don’t know what this toy is. I asked the guy I bought it from for some info, but he didn’t really know anything either, but he’d been told it’s the Japanese equivalent to MAD Magazine’s Alfred E Neuman.
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I guess it could be Japanese. Unfortunately, there’re no production markings or legal info anywhere on this guy.
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Well, he does have freckles and a tooth gag (the reverse of the gap-toothed Alfred E. Neuman).
I scoured the web for any info on this toy, and I found a couple of images, but no real vital info. The only thing that I found that resembled this toy was this caveman doll (it is basically the same toy, just re-decoed as a caveman) referred to as “Happy Chap” and this Effanbee doll, “Happy Boy.”
If anyone has any info about this weird Alfred E. Neuman inspired toy, please share. The handful of people that have even seen one of these really needs to know what it is
So, I’ve been milking the toys I found at the Allentown Antique Toy Show for all they’re worth, but worry no more. This is the last one.
(Click to enlarge)
By now, you all can guess what drew me to this goofball. What’s not to love about a squatty, nappy-headed, balding Alfred E, Neuman lookalike dressed in a generic red and green Batman suit?
Precisely. Absolutely nothing.
As usual, I don’t know what this toy is. I asked the guy I bought it from for some info, but he didn’t really know anything either, but he’d been told it’s the Japanese equivalent to MAD Magazine’s Alfred E Neuman.
(Click to enlarge)
I guess it could be Japanese. Unfortunately, there’re no production markings or legal info anywhere on this guy.
(Click to enlarge)
Well, he does have freckles and a tooth gag (the reverse of the gap-toothed Alfred E. Neuman).
I scoured the web for any info on this toy, and I found a couple of images, but no real vital info. The only thing that I found that resembled this toy was this caveman doll (it is basically the same toy, just re-decoed as a caveman) referred to as “Happy Chap” and this Effanbee doll, “Happy Boy.”
If anyone has any info about this weird Alfred E. Neuman inspired toy, please share. The handful of people that have even seen one of these really needs to know what it is
It’s Batman and Robin as you’ve never seen them before. They’re 7″ vinyl squeeze toys… and they’re babies.
These lil’ fellas were my first find at the Allentown Antique Toy Show.
I found no true origin for these toys, but I have discovered a couple of Super Junior comics that were printed in the 80s. I’m not sure if there’s a direct tie-in with these dolls, but the character designs do seem similar.
So, is anyone else like me in thinking that these toys look a lot like the old Big Boy restaurant character? Only thing Batman and Robin need are hamburger trays in their hands.
Either way, the dynamic duo never looked more precious.
INFO UPDATE:
I recently got my hands on the old Mexican Comic, Los Super-Juniors Edición Especial, previously mentioned in this entry. I was hoping it would provide some good reading or goofy images or something. Well, as it turns out, there really isn’t much good stuff in there. The drawings were mostly bad and the panel layouts and stuff were just badly composed. Here are a few of the most decent images featuring the Super Juniors as a group.
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If I ever get really, really bored, maybe I’ll go through this comic again and find some more pages to post… or I’ll get an intern to do it (I’m looking at you Doddsy-boy).
