Debs – Page 24 – Vintage Action Figures

Toy Story: Disney and McDonald’s Happy Meals

As somebody who has been a vegetarian for the last 23 years I haven’t seen the inside of a McDonald’s for quite some time, or likewise, collected any Happy Meal toys directly in a McDonald’s restaurant; their action figures do seem to pop up regularly on market stalls, however, and that’s where I found this Woody the other day. Love them or hate them, the McDonald’s Happy Meal action figures have clearly cornered a slice of the collectors’ market – earlier this year UK newspaper the Daily Mail reported that an entrepreneurial 11-year-old had sold his entire collection of McDonald’s memorabilia for over £8,000 sterling!

From 1996 through to the end of 2006, Disney films were often promoted via the free gimmicks and toys given away with Happy Meals, until their relationship with McDonald’s finally ended in 2007. Whilst there’s nothing officially on the record by the Disney company about the real motivation for its distancing itself from McDonald’s it would be easy to imagine that growing criticism blaming the fast food giant for childhood obesity may have played a part.

Hasbro’s William “The Fridge” Perry as G.I. Joe physical training instructor!

As I live in Rome, Italy I couldn’t have been more surprised to find this action figure of American pro football player William Perry aka The Refrigerator the other day. He was right at the bottom of a bargain toy bin in a local second-hand store…but I knew I just had to add him to my collection! The figure has clearly seen some heavy play fighting the evil Cobra baddies, so there is some wear to the number 72 blazoned across his Chicago Bears shirt and the G.I. Joe transfer on his belt buckle is barely visible, but all in all he’s still in good shape. The paint work on the face is nice and clear and the all-important gap in Perry’s front teeth is still there!

Available as a mail order only G.I. Joe action figure as part of the 3 ¾ inch A Real American Hero line by Hasbro in 1987 – the advertising campaign began in 1986 although the date stamped on the figure is 1987 – the figure came originally with a black football accessory attached to a chain which doubled up as a somewhat bizarre weapon, as well as a special file card. In order to get your hands on the figure you were required to collect the coupons found in the packaging of other figures in the line and then call a special number.

Super poseable Hulk Movie 2003 figure

When the Incredible Hulk appeared on the big screen in 2003 in Ang Lee‘s hotly anticipated Hulk, critics and public alike just didn’t seem to get the movie and it met with a tepid reception. For me, it is one of those much maligned films that I’m certain (and I hope) will one day regain its rightful place as classic superhero movie. I LOVED it!

As with every major movie release, it was accompanied by all the usual hype and marketing gimmicks, including some wonderfully sculpted action figures by Toy Biz (as Marvel Toys, the toy division of Marvel Entertainment, was known in those days). This 6 1/2 inch ‘Super Poseable Hulk with Catapult Launching Action’ was released in September 2003 as part of Series Four, which also included a ‘Smash & Scream Hulk’ and a ‘Rampaging Hulk’. This Hulk has numerous points of articulation, including wrists, fingers, ankles and toes and stands solidly unassisted in any pose you care to put him in! Each Hulk came with an accessory such as a wall to smash or, in this case, a catapult, to send him flying. Luckily, although this Hulk has lost his original catapult, he is in great shape and clearly wasn’t hurled across too many children’s bedrooms!

Hulk Hogan with Hulkster Slam!

After a great August break we’re back in the saddle here at Vintage Action Figures with a bit of 1990s wrestling nostalgia with this vintage WWF Wrestling Action Figure of Hulk Hogan made by Hasbro under license from Titan Sports.

Hasbro took over production of wrestling figures when toy-makers LJN – responsible for the enormously popular Wrestling Superstars line – folded in 1989.

This particular Hulk Hogan is the fourth of 4 different Hulk Hogan figures that Hasbro made, and as with others in the line, features a trademark action move – the Hulkster Slam! This loose figure was originally sold as part of the Blue Card Series 5 and although the figure is in reasonable shape, it has seen a bit of paint wear, with the yellow Python Power transfer on the red bandanna having suffered the most. In spite of small defects, I was powerless to resist the power of Hulkmania, and snapped this one up at a market stall.

Viva Diabolik!

I’ve lived in Italy since 1994 so thought it was time to feature an Italian vintage action figure – Diabolik!

First created by the Giussani sisters Angela and Luciana and published by Astorina in 1962, with drawings by Gino Marchesi, the master thief and Jaguar E-Type driving anti-hero Diabolik still appears in annual black and white comic booklets to this day. A criminal genius with a weakness for jewels, Diabolik targets the underworld in a daring life of crime, with his lover Eva Kant at his side, always keeping one step ahead of his arch enemy Police Inspector Ginko.

Dressed head-to-toe in black with only his piercing eyes showing, his appearance is a deliberate reference to the earlier French comic book character Fantômas.

Diabolik quickly made it to the big screen in 1968 when horror director Mario Bava directed the movie Danger Diabolik, starring John Philip Law as the cat-suited Diabolik and Marisa Mell in the role of Eva. Then in 1999, he became the star of a major animated series – Track of the Panther – although the ruthless killer was somewhat toned down into more of a good guy with Robin Hood’s morality and James Bond-style gadgets! The co-production between Saban Enterprises International, France’s M6, Italy’s Mediaset and Toho/Ashi Production Company of Japan was shown through European Fox Kids TV channels.

It was this cartoon series that saw the launch of a line of spin-off toys and action figures made under license by Italian toy giants Giochi Preziosi. Whilst most of the figures in the line were highly articulated, this 12 inch Diabolik D-Ultimate was, as its name suggests, top dog with ball-jointed shoulders and hips, as well as neck, elbow, knee, and even wrist and ankle joints. He came originally equipped with backpack, grappling hook with rope, and a dagger although my Diabolik seems to have lost those along the way.

With the release of the 2009 video game Diabolik The Original Sin for Wii, Playstation Portable, PC, Nintendo DS and Playstation 2 systems, his popularity looks set to stay!

Viva Diabolik!

Obama is as good as gold!

The first 500 limited edition Inaugural Obama Action Figure from Jailbreak Toys sold out on the first day of sale – the final run will be only 3,000 so catch them quick if you want one of your own!

Happy Birthday Elvis!

More than thirty years after his death millions of Elvis Presley fans the world over still celebrate the anniversary of his birth in Tupelo, Mississippi on 8 January 1935. Certainly, McFarlane Toys which works officially with Elvis Presley Enterprises to produce Elvis Presley action figures, has marked all recent historic anniversaries in Elvis’ life with some highly collectible action figures such as the 50th anniversary of the release of the King’s first record in 2004, the Aloha from Hawaii Concert and the ever-popular ’68 Comeback Special Figure, which was first released in 2004 and then reissued in 2007 on the thirtieth anniversary of Elvis’ passing. With 2008 seeing the 40th anniversary of the landmark TV special, fans and collectors alike had yet another good reason to add this figure to their collection!