We gonna rock on to MSX2

 

I'm sure that I've mentioned it before, but I felt like talking about it. The MSX seemed like one of the most badass things to me as a child. For the record, it's just a home computer. Micro Computers were all the rage back then and I'd often see them in various video game magazines. Of course not everyone had a computer at home back then and getting one was an uphill battle for me personally (that's for another post). Often, it wasn't until at school or the library that I'd use one. I had video game consoles though and my parents liked to support my reading. So I'd usually get whatever game magazine I'd pick out from the store whenever we'd go. This lead to discovering things like the MSX. 

There was something exotic about this computer system that was out of my reach. Other home computers like the Atari ST also had this allure for me. One gaming magazine that I'd read used cool gothy and punk imagery for their sections. For whatever reason, the computer section was given bloody fonts and crazy imagery. Don't ask me why. I wish I could remember the magazines name, but there was a ton during this time. It was a smaller publication that I only got at one grocery store, so who knows. Realistically this might account for some of my impressions that these Micro Computers were badass. These days I feel like tablets are a return to those old micros... and I have a pretty badass one.

Ask about Wendy's Special Edition Gobots

 

I wasn't planning to buy Wendy's GoBots, but by the end of ToyLanta, I owned four of them. Initially I thought I had completed the set, but then realized there was two more. Welp, off to Ebay. Let's talk about them for a minute,they're hella neat. You guys know I love my GoBots and fast food premiums. So, of course I'm a sucker for these little guys. Today is my birthday, so I'm going to indulge myself a little to talk about silly things... as opposed to everyday when I... so yeah.

It's well known that GoBots were mostly made from Bandai's Machine Robo Toys, however these little bots were original creations made exclusively for Wendy's. They're small with pretty basic transformations, but pleasantly fit right on in with your other bots that go. It's a common misconception that they were included with kids meals, but actually they were sold individually at stores for 99 cents with purchase. There were things like story books available as well. Wendy's went all out with this promotion including my favorite extra. The little tray liner had art of the toys with their bios! It's pretty hard not to appreciate the little guys, and I'm compelled to complete the set now that I've gotten most of them.

It's a BotBotCon on Netflix

 

It may have seemed like the glory days of BotBots had passed, but this past weekend the new animated series debuted on Netflix. There's even more toys on the way! It's been a while since I've talked about these fun little bots and that's a shame! The new cartoon is pretty great. Focusing mainly on Burgertron and the Lost Bots having all sorts of adventures in the shopping mall that Botbots hail from. 

The law of the Botbots is not to be seen by humans and our main characters accidentally exposed themselves to the overnight security guard. The main characters then find themselves in adventures keeping other Botbots safe from him as well as trying to fit back into the normal society. Because now they're outcasts. If it wasn't obvious, the show is a comedy with no connections other than references to other Transformers series. 

While the cartoon doesn't adhere to the toy designs super hard, the toys are still the same with new members joining the ranks. A mixture of new and old molds, these new guys are pretty great. I'm really looking forward to the Pet Shop Tribe figures. Not just stopping at figures, there's vehicles on the way! It's super silly and fun to drive tiny robots around on a car made of pizza. It's also 100% perfect and I love it. I'm glad to see that Botbots haven't faded away. They're too great to not stick around!

Weekly Halloween: Monsters in the Backyard

 

Remco Monsters figures were something special. The 12' dolls were great as were the 3' 3/4" action figures, which is what I'm focusing on today. The smaller size not only allowed for more play ability (Frankenstein could fly an X-Wing now!) but also more impressive sculpting. With dolls, all the work is in the heads with the clothing covering a generic body. The smaller toys didn't allow for that and honestly we all benefited. You get a nicer looking monster and at a smaller size could do a lot more (time for Wolfman to fight the Rancor). These little guys are why I love Super 7's ReAction figures. Other than being in a preferred form factor, the first things I bought (and still buy) are the Monsters. Everyday is Halloween, and a fun way to keep it so is having these awesome spooky figures around.

Super Bowser Bros.

 

Video games are a weird thing sometimes. What may look like a throw away character might be a complete rabbit hole of it's own. Case in point: Bowser's Brother. Whats that? You didn't know Bowser has a brother? He does depending on the source. Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan is a different game. It's essentially a harder version of the original game for 'advanced players'. Released here as 'The Lost Levels', Super Mario Bros. 2 is a VERY HARD GAME. One such challenge is 'fake' Bowsers popping up in locations for a quick boss fight. However hitting these 'fake' Bowsers results in minor villain appearing as he dies. That's because it's a fake, get it? 

However in worlds 8-4 and 9-3 you'll meet a blue Bowser who doesn't revert into a minor Koopa minion. Why is this one different? According to some manuals and guides, that was Bowser's Brother. Does he have a name? So far no, Bowser's Brother is all we have to go by. Maybe he's Kerog. He does have a fake version of himself in level D-4 like his brother. Bowser's Brother also appears in All Night Nippon Super Mario Bro's (a special limited release) and in the upgraded Super Mario Bros. game in Super Mario Bros. All-Stars. Though he's green instead of blue there and depending on the source either a fake Bowser or Bowser's Brother. The blue coloration is often used in various Mario games as an alternative color set for Bowser, and it looks great. It's just not as interesting as a character who only exists depending on who you ask.

Bios: Swindle

 

Swindle is just one of many Decepticons brought to Earth by Megatron to cause as much trouble as possible for the Autobots. He's not a great fighter, but he makes up for it in the amount of pleasure he takes just in blowing stuff up. His extending torso cannon fires explosive rounds, and he leaps around like a madman, firing randomly in a fight. Battling Swindle is like battling a crazy bundle of living dynamite!

Project Doom

 

Vice: Project Doom (known in Japan as Gun-Dec) is an interesting game that's often looked over these days. You play Detective Hart who finds himself investigating the B.E.D.A Corporation, a company that develops electronic and military equipment. Turns out, B.E.D.A is actually ran by a secret alien race and the company also produces a product called 'Gel'. 'Gel' is essentially food for the aliens, but sold as illegal drugs underground. For humans it's super addictive, but has some terrible side effects. Along the way, Detective Hart works with associates and his girlfriend during the adventure.

The story is told through multiple cinema segments between levels. They're quite extensive and make me wish for a CD version with animation. Apparently a Genesis version was in the works named Deep Scanner. I want to believe the developers would have taken advantage of the more powerful system and perhaps those cinemas would have been more impressive. However, as a NES game, they're pretty good. The game is an action platformer, with driving and shooting stages. It's pretty fun, though can get frustrating. Fortunately there's unlimited continues. 

Decepticon Occultist StarViper!

 

ToyLanta has come and gone until next year. With it a new set of memories and experiences. This year I did something different, this is StarViper. StarViper is the first of what I hope to be a ongoing series of custom Zone Base exclusive toys. There's only two. Shawn has one and I the other. If you follow me on various social media, I've mentioned buying Siege Caliburts for a project. Hand painting them into an original character was fun. Sure, it's pretty basic and others could have done better. I'm still proud of him.

I came up with the name with wanting it to sound like a ridiculous old video game character. I liked it so much that I've been using it as a display name in places. Personality wise, StarViper is a Decepticon Occultist that lives on Planet Zone. StarViper is a member of a secret organization formed by some of the Cyberdroids that first came to Planet Micro. His alt mode is a blaster that can be used by larger Transformers. While used this way, StarViper has some mind control of the larger robot. The blaster can also act as a short range flight mode.

Weekly Halloween: Vampires at the Park

 

I've mentioned the Satanic Panic that was running rampant during my childhood before... and that's why I can't hear this song without strongly thinking about it. Add in the particular dramatic nature of teenagers and you've got probably one of the most ridiculous things one could be afraid of. Everyone is accustomed to the goth kids in high school, but they're a little bit of an oddity still when you're only in elementary. Headbangers? Oh yeah, you knew about those. Punks and Goths? That took a little growing to understand more. So there I was in the era of Satan around every corner and everything being a satanic message. For the record, I also had a teen-aged brother and his friends filling me about things. 

I knew about the cult that sacrificed people in the woods behind school (that one may have been real), and how Dio stood for Devil Inside Out (no really). Those kids in all black at the park? They were vampires. They worshiped the devil and drank blood. The guy who worked at the Circle K who was really into Ozzy Osbourne also worshiped the devil and drank blood, however wasn't a vampire. Just really evil. So here I was, a kid (those aren't easily scared, are they?) being told the honest truth about all these horrors going on all around me. 

Then the Lost Boys came out and that teen-aged brother and his friends? They might have been into the new hot movie for teenagers that just came out. With a popular song and music video! Lou Gramm may look fancy with his poofy man perm, but that's pure terror in that music video. Scenes of that movie with vampires that look like those kids at the park. Lou Gramm and ... whoever that kid is... stuck on the trailer from King of the Road with a bunch of ... are they vampires?

My point is that it terrified me for a few weeks there. I'd like to say it left me traumatized... but I was a kid and moved onto other things that was apparently also satanic. Before I went through my own all black clothing phase, I was also apparently satanic. This though was because I was a weird kid and liked scary stuff. Why the hell do I look back fondly on my childhood again?

ToyLanta 2022 Report

 

It's time again for ToyLanta! The annual toy show is something I look forward to all year and I can't wait to have some fun. As usual I'll be updating each day, so keep checking this post for all the adventures I'll be having. I'll be updating my Instagram and Twitter all weekend, probably more often than here. So be sure to follow me on those for cool pictures from the show.

Friday-

I arrived at the show Friday evening just after 6pm. The day prior was a mix of sleeping off the work night and con prep. I slept between the grocery order, running to the ATM, getting stuff from store the grocery order was missing, and avoiding a tornado on the way back home. Spring is setting in here in the south, that means tornadoes. 

At the con I met up with Shawn. Friday is a dealers room preview and lobby swap party. The dealers were setting up as we checked some out. The dealer space is massive and we only saw about a half of it as well as the Makers Lab. Makers Lab is an area full of tutorials for customizing toys and creating stuff to go with them. It's always neat. This lead to seeing Buddy before heading to the hotel restaurant for some dinner. 

We ended up chatting and eating for a while and missed the lobby swap. However I think we had a better time. Shawn presented me with Shnaw, the Huddle House Sharkticon. In turn, I gave him StarViper a Zone Base exclusive Targetmaster. He'll pop up here soon. Toylanta is home to a lot of custom toys and those were the ones we made.

I headed home after eating my salad for the night around 10pm. Today's haul was Shnaw. A indie Sasquatch action figure gifted by Shawn. ReAction clear Merman and black Skeletor. Not to mention a Sasquatch mini figure made from recycled coffee mugs. I'm eyeing the room for Gobots tomorrow! But first, I'm going to finish this fig bar and get zome sleep.

Saturday-

I woke up at 7am and watched AEW Rampage off my DVR while making breakfast before heading to the great toy show. Getting there with a little timr before the Transformers panel, I took a little time to look around before going to the panel room. Then raking my place up front and talked with the folks in attendance for a hour. Afterwards Shawn and I went to the downstairs lobby area as Rebel Alliance solders ran about with ice cream makers screaming that the Empire is coming. 

Shawn presented me with a large box full of Transformers. Dude up and gifted me a metric ton of robots. Thanks Shawn! We then took the box to my car before eating at tge golf course restaurant. The hotel has a golf course with a pretty good restaurant, probably should have mentioned that first. Great hamburgers. We then went around through both floors of dealer rooms. More time was spent in the Makers Lab as well. An awesome painting tutorial was being held and I spent some time talking CAD with the 3D printer guru.

More time was spent in the dealers rooms untill they shut down for the day. We found some chairs to take a break. I called the Mrs while Shawn fell asleep. We apparently was next to a door because a dealer was loading up his truck. Well, his girlfriend was while he had apparently drank a bottle of vodka and was busy making an ass of himself. We managed to escape to the hotel restaurant for some soda and tiny baked potatoes with carrots that the menu called 'fingerlings'. We had planned to participate in the parachute drop, but apparently nobody showed up except for us. So the parachute toy catapult was being disassembled as we walked up. It was about 7:30PM and time to head home for the night. Dang, I'm worn out.

Today's haul was a box containing a metric ton of Transformers in was cardboard box gifted by Shawn. Two Wendy's Gobots (don't remember the names currently, blue jeep and a blue jet). Brimstone the Rocklord, and a triceratops Tamagora. A great time was had and we've still got Sunday to go. I plan to revisit the table with ReAction stuff and grab the knight Arthur from Ghouls n' Ghosts and some more Gobots. There was a suprsigly lagre amount of Wheeled Warriors and Metal Man action figures, not to mention Battle Beasts. It's time to get some sleep before the last day. 

Sunday 

I woke up again around 7am and fixed myself some breakfast while watching Golden Girls. Admittedly I wake up around this time normally of I'm not working as it's time to take my medication, but this weekend it's because of Toylanta! And also to take my medication... that's not as exciting though. It was Sunday, the last day of the show and last time to soak it all up. My Mom came with me today, she collects dolls and wanted to see if they had anything good.

We got to the show around 10:40am. First stop was showing Mom where the 'pink room' was. While there's assorted dolls around the dealers room, this was a room full of nothing but dolls. A dealer in noticed my Blockbuster Video t-shirt (auto correct suggested t-shit) and we talked about the glory days of that wonderful store. Shortly afterwards, Shawn found us and we hit the big dealers room. While looking around Mom found a dealer full of dolls whom also was retiring and looking to liquidate. A hundred bucks later, Shawn, Mom, and I walked a ton of doll stuff out to my car. 

We came back and I made a point to grab a ReAction Knight Arthur from a dealer and looked for more Gobots. During the look I made a vaccum form sign for the wife in the Makers Lab and grabbed her some Baby Yoda stickers from a Star Wars booth. Most of those are already on her laptop. I found some more Gobots, two were more Wendy's Gobots.

I was thinking that was the last of the set, but after getting home discovered there was two more I didn't see at the show. That's a need to get so I can complete the set quest I'm now find myself on. After some more browsing we called it a day. The show was winding down and so was I.

I found Shawn and Mom sitting on some chairs talking to a GIJOE cosplayer and got some pictures of Mom with him. Goodbyes were said and I hope to see Shawn again at next years show (dude, you better). Mom and I stopped at a RaceTrac for slushies and donuts on the way home. We got back to my house for a nice homemade bbq dinner the Mrs had waiting.

My haul for Sunday was that ReAction Knight Arthur in magic armor, two more Wendy's Gobots (the names escape me, red car and helicopter bots), and an orange BuggyMan from Gobots. Not to mention the stuff for the Mrs, whom loved her sign (it's now hung in our bedroom). It was a good show this year and well packed with a lot of people. After all this time of covid-mania running wild, things honestly felt back to normal for the first time.

Bios: Scorponok

 

"Kindness is no virtue... and cruelty is no vice."

Function: Headmaster Commander

Despair and isolation are all that remain in his wake. Believes the poor should be exploited, the weak oppressed, and the noble corrupted. Others' pain is his sole pleasure. In scorpion Mode, tail shoots 100,000 volt electric bursts, has twin pulse blasters, claws can crush mountains. In defense base Mode, has over-the-horizon radar, communications center, anti-aircraft sonic cannon, repair bay, construction bay; semi-autonomous armored interceptor with dual photon cannons that patrols the base perimeter. In robot Mode, has fusion-powered anti-gravity gun. Binary-bonded to Lord Zarak, leader of the evil Nebulans.

Saint Sword 'round my neck

 

The funny thing about old video games is that there's a ton of them that you've never played. Saint Sword is a recent discovery of mine that I really regret missing out on back in the Genesis's glory days. The game takes place in ancient Greece mythology with you playing as the Titan Macress. The demoness Gorgon is trying to take over the world and you must stop her. She's either a demon named Gorgon or a Gorgon being described as a demon. That parts never really clear, but part of the charm of these older fictional settings. It's a hack n' slash action platformer with simple controls. Action platform games somehow always play good on the Genesis/Mega Drive and Saint Sword is no exception. While Macress feels a little slow, it's fun guiding him through his adventure.

As you could expect in a setting like this, you'll be fighting several monsters. The designs are pretty creative and some of the bosses are really far out. It's a Taito game, so you can expect creativity in the character designs. Macress gains abilities as he kills enemies. This includes wings and becoming a centaur or merman. It's a shame Saint Sword isn't more well known. I'd have loved to own a cartridge of it back in 1991 when it was first released and a shame it took 30 years for me to discover it. A neat game that's still fun to play with good graphics and music. I'd recommend giving it a go if you haven't already. 

Bakugan Omelets

 

Lately I've been wishing egg-bots were more common these days. It seems like they're a lost form of transforming toy. To be honest, I wish more were available. They're neat. Then out of the blue, one weekend my mom comes over for dinner and as usual brings us stuff she bought in the clearance aisle. This time, a Bakugan toy. I've checked them out before and have gotten a few from Happy Meals. They're neat, but I have no clue why not much attention was paid to them before getting this random gift from my mother. First off, here was a dang egg-bot. The thing I'd been wanting had been right in front of my face the entire time on the toy aisle. 

The second thing was, it was pretty neat. I'd thought so in the past, but like I said, hadn't paid them much attention. Pegatrix (the one I was gifted) was a little Pegasus that neatly folded up into a little ball. Not exactly an egg like Tamagoras, but a ball like ones made by Takara. It was neatly robotic and in some pretty cool colors. I then and there decided to pick up some more, and so far I've been happy that I did. In the Bakugan Evolution line is the Platinum Series, which has die-cast construction! The toys have spring loaded transformations. This works into the card game that I don't know how to play, but am keeping my included cards in case I decide to learn. It is pretty satisfying to drop the ball on a table and have it pop into it's little animal form. 

This randomly gifted Pegatrix has opened up a new rabbit hole for me. With Bakugan I have readily available egg-bots that are pretty dang neat. Prices vary for various releases, but they're pretty affordable. So far I've spent five to ten dollars on the ones I've gotten. There's more deluxe packages with various accessories, multi-packs, or larger sometimes even combining figures. The Mrs was a fast fan of the Cubbo figures. I'm fond of them as well, they're adorable. It's funny, these little toys have been right in front of my face for some time now. I guess all it took was that random gift for me to do more than look at them occasionally in the stores.

Weekly Halloween: Red Rooms At Night

 

Working overnight can be weird. I've done it for going on 11 years now and have had prior night shift jobs before. The world can be quieter at night, but also, more creepy. I can't tell you how many random weirdos I've ran across doing something as simple as getting a soda at a convenience store. Sometimes I run to the store for something at lunch, or just taking a break outside early in the morning. Not every time has been simple. There's a reason so many late night workers have spooky stories and so much media has been made from it. Fortunately I've not dealt with the red room like in the video above. Though, in those early days of the internet, I saw some weird and scary stuff. Still do, but these day's it's a little better hidden. There's just always something weird going on and sometimes it's just better not to look.

Gross Pretender Monster Shells

 

I'm just going to say it. I love this commercial. The slime, the monster hands, the spooky ooky atmosphere. It's perfect! Monster Pretenders were a super cool team of smaller toys with gross rubbery monster Pretender shells. The team combined to form Monstructor, a behemoth among robots. If the rubbery shells weren't gross enough on their own, as they age, they tend to mold! That's probably not the greatest, but you can definitely appreciate the toys living the gimmick. Of all the teams that could use an update, THIS is the set that could really use one. 

Part of me wants to think that they could half do it. Maybe instead of the Pretender shells, it could just be robotic monster alt modes or perhaps the robot modes that resemble the Pretender shells like they've done in the past. I might even be ok if they didn't combine, just throw me a freaking bone already Hasbro!

I'm pinching your head

 

Pincher/Falgos is one of those Gobots that can be harder to get now. He has just enough breakable parts that finding one in decent condition can be a challenge. I got him and Scorp randomly one day in the 2nd grade. I say randomly as my mom just had them waiting for me after school one day. Neither lasted very long unfortunately. Just like the Leader-1, whom I found one day with a broken arm, I suspect a certain jealous cousin got his grubby hands on them. Same kid who every year tripped over his bed sheet ghost costume while we tricked or treated and threw a temper tantrum at least twice every year. Though watching him spike his McBoo Pail on the ground in anger was pretty great.

Back to Pincher. He's a weird bot that really fills out the role of Devil Invader. With wings, pinchers, and overall look. Pincher could fit in with the gang in a Ghouls n' Ghosts game. In alt mode, he's a easily one of the coolest vehicle modes ever. A weird demon/dinosaur/bird/jet hybrid that's pretty far out. I managed to replace Scorp, but haven't yet found a decent Pincher for a good price. Hopefully that'll change soon. He's too cool not to own again.

Bios: Buzzclaw

 

 

Function: Saboteur, Quick Attack Specialist

Part mantis, part lizard, Buzzclaw has all of the makings of a ferocious but sly warrior. In beast mode Buzzclaw crushes his enemies with spiny pincers and venomous mandibles while a powerful tail lashes out to land his surprised prey on their backside. As a flying robot Buzzclaw generates lethal ion discs from his forearm-mounted stilettos, paralyzing his victims and rendering them helpless. Generally stoic and silent, when it comes to the business of battle, Buzzclaw is arrogant, resourceful, and intent on the job at hand.

Summoning Monstroid

 

Not too long ago I talked about the Monstroids here. It was always odd that there was a groups of 'evil transforming robots' in the cartoons, but in the toy line Monstroid was an individual robot monster who worked with the Evil Horde. If you've never seen him, Monstroid is a really large toy that looks like a crab. The top half spins around chaotically which make the body rock around. Said rocking makes Monstroid walk around on his long legs in whatever direction gravity takes him. Stick a figures arms or legs in those claws and watch them be flung around like rag dolls. It's pure insanity and maybe a broken lamp if the figure flies loose from the evil grip of MONSTROID.

The big guy didn't get much fiction time aside from random art appearances. However he did show up in a comic story in which The Evil Horde summons him from Sea of Rakash. Under Hordak's magic spell, Monstroid attacks He-Man and Skeletor. Orko and Extendar save the two and Multi-Bot is eaten in the process. It's nice that such a chaotic toy is just as out of control in his fictional debut. I like that without a doubt, Monstroid is a monster. He's aligned with The Evil Horde, but that's basically thanks to a spell. In any other situation, there's just a giant robot-crab thing that's going to kill everything in it's path. I also like the fact that a living robotic creature that lives in the sea without any explanation and we're just supposed to go with it. Pure chaos on every front.

Transform Squadron 30: Micro Mayhem

 

LISTEN HERE

This month: Rob talks about Transformers Micro Machines and hunting for a bootleg Micronaut!

Weekly Halloween: Robot Monster Week is not for the Weak

 

Somebody at Tonka was convinced that the Gobots are from a nightmarish hellscape and I think they were onto something. The Monster Gobots don't keep it a secret. They're walking robotic terrors straight from every horror movie cliche and proud of it! It's a good thing too because this week is Robot Monster week here on Planet Zone. All week we're going to be enjoying some of the more ooky spooky machinery out there. 

Bios: Pounce and Wingspan

 

"Terror is the stage on which I perform." "Knowledge is the most deadly weapon of all."

Function: Infiltrator  Function: Data Processor

Sly, silent, and savage. The right machine for the right job. Often ignores his victims' pleas for mercy. In puma Mode, can leap .7 miles. Possesses superior eyesight and sense of smell. In robot Mode, laser range finder in optical sensors provides 99.4% accuracy with twin anti-personnel missile launching bayonets. Clone brother is Wingspan. 

Always poking his beak where it doesn't belong. Nosey. Voracious appetite for new data to analyze. Looks in people's windows as readily as he spies on enemy troops. In hawk Mode, has superb vision. Chemical and infra-red sensors collect and analyze geographical data, locate resources. In robot Mode, has two electro-burst rifles. Clone brother is Pounce.

Monsters of Monsters

 

Official pictures of some upcoming Playmates Godzilla toys were recently released and I wanted to talk about them a little. Top left is a new Shin Godzilla that looks like a big improvement over the last version Playmates put out in the lines first wave. If anything, it's a nice way to see the improvement of the line from then to now. It really looks good. To his right is Kong as he appeared in Skull Island. Seemingly another use of the Kong figure from the Godzilla vs Kong series that flies off shelves. It's a great toy and comes with the chain weapon used against the giant skull crawler at the end of the movie and one of those classic helicopters.

Bottom left is Godzilla from 2019's King of the Monsters. Specifically in his 'burning' form. I never get tired of Burning Godzilla toys and this one has a great looking new sculpt and a tank. They never come with a bus though. I mean, he could pick it up and put it back down. It really does look great and I hope several variations in different decos come from it. Let's go old-school Playmates, give me translucent glow in the dark Godzilla with a bus. Last but not least to his right is Godzilla's third form from Singular Point known as Terrestris Godzilla. Representing a more juvenile version prior to maturity he's not fully erect and hunched over. Really, it's that sharp color scheme that draws me to this toy. It's a cool design, sure, but that blue!

I'm always ready for more Godzilla and have been a steady fan of the Playmates toys. The new releases coming down the pipe are just exciting. There's nothing like getting one and just being in awe of it for the first time. I'm really looking forward to seeing these at my local stores. Playmates has really been putting out a solid line of Toho Kaiju. Here's looking forward to figuring out how to stick them on a shelf with others. Those tails can really get in the way.

Bios: Fangry

 

"Leaders are for fools who need to follow."

 

Function: Tracker

A fearsome, foul-mouthed nightstalker. Rebels against authority in any form. Lashes out at anyone who even suggests his next course of action. His Decepticon superiors have more difficulty controlling him than the Autobots have fighting him. Binary-bonded to Brisko, a former Nebulan cartographer with a photographic memory. Shoots semi-automatic ion pulse gun. Tail converts to compressed air cannon that produces 200 mph gale force winds. Able to fly short distances in wolf Mode.

Riders on the Styx

 

Dragonriders of the Styx was a fantasy line from the early 80's that's mostly forgotten about now. Probably thanks to being sued out of existence by TSR due to it's obvious unlicensed inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons. Made by Dimensions for Children, which is a pretty bad name for a toy company. I mainly remember getting the toys from discount and drug stores, but the larger sets could be found at regular retail. Initially the line started off with 'army man' style figures with themed play sets. Later it expanded into 3 3'4 action figures with various creatures and vehicles. 

My brother and I the entire standard carded figure assortment and some of those 'army man' play sets. Satanic Panic was a thing at the time, and like He-Man, I can understand it a little here. Toys like Duelin' Devils and Demons of Castleon might raise a suspicious eye or two. Lot's of these fantasy toys at the time had some really awesome horror art on the packaging that probably skirted the line for the intended audience. I can definitely appreciate it now though and not be cynical at all when people ask what's wrong with me. 

Earlier I mentioned mainly getting the toys from discount and drug stores. That's probably likely to getting sued out of existence by TSR. The realities of toy liquidation never crossed my mind when I was 6. The 'army men' style figures got bootlegged heavily, I was finding them up to the early 90's. I strongly remember getting the Wizard shown above on Halloween night. Mom was taking us home after a great night of trick or treating. We went to neighborhoods with my cousin, ate McDonald's, then trick or treated at the mall! I was Spider-Man. It was awesome.

Desert Warrior Dynabot

 

I've got a particular attachment to Snarl. It all started when I went trick or treating dressed as him for Halloween. It was a Collegeville costume, the plastic smock and mask style that often gets lumped in with Ben Cooper costumes. Amusingly, the character was labeled Dynabot on the box. My cousin was quite impressed and asked me if it transformed, in which I told him it did as I got on all fours (with requisite transformation noise). I pulled the mask over my head and began to snarl and chomp. I understand if you're impressed, he was. He was also jealous, as I suspect you are.

Thing is, Snarl is pretty awesome looking. The way his plates and spiked tail form 'wings' in his robot mode has always looked cool to me. I recently got the Cyberverse figure (pictured above). I'd been after it for sometime now. You're aware I like Snarl, but also liked the resemblance to his Action Master box art. It's a good toy, simple like most Warrior Class figures, but still a good toy. 

Snarl's cartoon model got recycled as Armor Geist in Brave Exkaiser. I used to think the Age of Extinction Snarl toy would make a good update of that (and still do), but this Cyberverse Snarl would be a good candidate as well. Maybe with a new head. It's so true to the cartoon model that I could see it invoking the character well. Wonder if some kid was Armor Geist for Halloween and really likes him as a result? I hope so.