Man–it’s hard to believe I’ve been chronicling the amazing toy line that is Large James for almost eight years! As you know if you follow this blog regularly, I hold a special place in my heart for the weirder corners of the BJ mythos. Whether it’s the mid-70s P,A.C.K. (featuring package artwork by none other than Jack “King” Kirby) or
Read more
The Intruders have never made much sense to me, but I can’t get over how cool and weird the concept and execution is–So very wonderfully 70s. I wonder if anyone knows the story on these guys’ production? The scale difference has to have some sort of explanation. It’s a mystery!
Read more
GI Joe has hands that grip!
Read more
By Past Nastification This toy is why I love antique malls and road trips. The randomness of finding things that I probably never would have otherwise stumbled across, even on eBay. But there it was, sitting on the floor of an antique mall, calling to me. Making me wish I would build a customized city or town just to showcase
Read more
By Past Nastification The internets doesn’t seem to know this guy’s proper name, but the ladies at the bar around the corner call him “The Plumber” because he’s known to be good at laying pipe. Obviously, this must mean that cheapskate bar-hopping women don’t want to pay full price for a professionally licensed and bonded plumber when this handsome devil
Read more
GI Joe’s short-lived but super funky post-Adventure Team series doesn’t get enough exposure when the history of the brand is discussed. A few sites like 3DSuperJoes and Plaidstallions bring the SJ love regularly, but it’s difficult for me to write much about the toys themselves due to scarcity. I have a few more figures to share, but all require some
Read more
I know what you might be thinking: Have you finally gone off the deep end, Rob? Are you so burned out from the daily grind that you’re just throwing up whatever toys strike your fancy? No and no, although I do wish I could let loose and write about a broader range of toys. Maybe I’ll start a sister blog
Read more
“Hombre” Means Man! Such says the Montgomery Wards 1973 Christmas catalog. I suppose some folks had to have the word explained to them back in the day. Regardless, Hombre is a GI Joe knockoff in the vein of the Adventure Team, although he looks more akin to Mego’s Action Jackson in the face. He’s sporting some mighty fine sideburns. I
Read more
I enjoy toy catalogs. Whether Christmas fare, local circular ads or highly specific retailer and Toy Fair presentations, it all hits me in the right place. The Hasbro internal catalogs have always featured some of the best layout of product as well as (inadvertently) spotlighting interesting pre-production samples of well-known sets. For the Adventure Team’s second year, the catalog highlights
Read more
It’s Jack Kirby’s 100th birthday, and I wouldn’t be a good geek if I didn’t pay tribute. Although the man didn’t contribute to the GI Joe brand, he did some work on Mattel’s Adventure Team-styled competitor Big Jim. While the Big Jim concept was interesting and the toys decent, things had to be shaken up a bit in light of
Read more