Your Definitive Collector's Guide To Generation I

[click on image to download]
Written by GL

I was just doing a bit of random surfing this evening and I found this scanned image. Whoever did it, a big thanks to 'em.

Pictured above, for your viewing pleasure, is the entire collection of Transformers for Generation One of the very, very, very, first wave. This is for all your serious collectors and nostalgia addicts. When I saw this image, I magnified in and let out a great but mellow 'Whaaaaaaaah!'

Any Bruneians out there who want to showcase their Transformers (Generation One to Two eras) please take some pictures of your stash and send them my way. I'd be totally happy to put them up for the world to see.

They're The World's Most Fearsome Fighting Team

[TMNT: the bomb]

Written by GL

Remember these? Possibly the coolest and realest representations of the ninja-fighting foursome ever. And, there are few of us living today who have never had these mean, green action figures.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures have been produced by the company Playmates Toys since 1988. Responsible for the creation ideas is a company called Mirage Studios. Mirage Studio have provided designs for many of the figures, vehicles, and playsets and are credited on the actual packaging of the products.

The first series of TMNT action figures hit toy shelves a year after the premiere of the cartoon series. This collection initially featured all of the basic characters: Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, Splinter, April O'Neil, The Shredder, a Foot Soldier, Bebop, and Rocksteady.

They also featured detailed packaging art with a fully-illustrated origin story and profile on the card's backside. In terms of accessories, many figures included removable belts, cloth clothing, and an arsenal of small ninja weapons aside from their signature weapons. The earliest produced figures also featured softer, rubbery heads rather than the solid plastic used in later production.

[Packaging: remember those awesome back-cards?]

The TMNT toyline found quick popularity and expanded into a vast array of characters, including heroes like Casey Jones, Ace Duck and Fugitoid as well as villains like Krang, Baxter Stockman, and General Traag.

Playmates saw through the release of various signature accessories like the Turtle Party Wagon, Turtle Blimp, Shredder's Technodrome playset, and much more.

[The Party Wagon: I had this! Wow!]

How could anyone forget them - these fellas made being young and being a ninja cooler than going to school and learning stuff. Cowabunga, bless them!

25th Anniversary For Real American Heroes

[G.I. Joe Lineup: the characters on offer]
Written by GL

Nobody know how long those dastardly evil-doers and the valiant American heroes have been fighting for. It almost seems that they've been at each other's throats forever. I mean, it seems that from first time I ever understood the concept of TV, the Joes and the Cobras have been trying to off each other.

25 years down the line, they're still at it. The huge corporation of Hasbro, for the 25th Anniversary special re-release of G.I. Joe, have put all-new, re-vamped and re-fixed characters back on the market - like a form of nostalgia.

Hasbro is going to re-release 25 different characters in honor of the long-running years. The first 11 characters are displayed above. And, in keeping with tradition, the figures will still be 3 3/4 inches tall (just like in the old days).

Collectors may not give that much praise to this Hasbro revival due to the fact that the 25th Anniversary figures will keep very little likeness of the Joe figures of the past - meaning to say, they'll be more detailed with newer articulation points (i.e. different). Collectors might want to keep an eye out for variant figures as well - with this release are two versions of Snake-Eyes, two versions of Cobra Commander and two versions of Storm Shadow.

[Snake Eyes: check out the two variants of your favorite silent killer]

I'll say now: I want these action figures. I love G.I. Joe and I remember having enough Joes to fill a fish tank - and I wish I had been smart enough to keep them. I am almost tempted to take the next flight to Singapore to hit up Toys R Us just for these.

If you're into G.I. Joes, then don't let these little opportunities slip by.

Thundercats Are On The Loose

[ Thundercats making a comeback ?? Read on]

Written by Kal-El

Me and GL always have been talking about Hollywood is on a high roll of making movies out of the vintage times, We knew this will soon come around, i mean Transformers was from the 80's and the movie is coming out next month already, then there was news about He-Man making a comeback to the Big TV Screen, and Now finally, THUNDERCATS will have it's turn, have a read at what is currently going on.

Warner Bros. has optioned a Thundercats script by new screenwriter Paul Sopocy to turn the popular 1980s animated series and toy line into a live action feature. Variety says Warner-based Paula Weinstein will produce through her Spring Creek Productions, along with Dick Robertson and Lew Korman. Thundercats revolves around a group of humanoid cats (with feline names like Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro and Cheetara) who must flee their planet of Thundera after it's destroyed. Once crash-landing on another planet, Third Earth, they must thwart Mumm-Ra, an evil sorcerer, bent on killing them off. Sopocy has written the script as an origin story expanding on the major heroes and villains from the animated series, with the plot focusing on Lion-O coming of age as the leader of the Thundercats.

Warner Bros. recently teamed with Joel Silver to produce a live-action He-Man movie, based on the toy and cartoon franchise, as well as a feature based on the DC comic book Teen Titans.

Thunder-Thunder-Thundercats!! HO!!!!

Greyskull On DVD

[Cover to Cover: An awesome collection]
Written by GL

Believe it or not, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe only aired in the 1980's for two seasons. That isn't a long period of time. But, it seems as if the cartoon has been with me for almost my entire life. I never forgot Adam, nor Cringer, nor Teela, nor Man-at-Arms - I remember all of them. And in some way or another, He-Man had an impact on everyone's childhood.

It's kinda nice to know that some companies out there are actually paying attention to the whole nostalgia trend - because not every re-vamp turns out looking good. It's reassuring that there are others out there that would like to get back to the roots of comic and cartoon heroism.

I must apologize for that fact that this blog entry is actually late, by at least two years. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has been out since 2005, produced by Brentwood Home Videos. In the four box-sets, you'll find a ton of episodes, documentaries, commentaries and much more goodies - so it's not just a simple DVD set with the show copied and pasted on.

Amazon is tempting you (and me) to get Season One and Season Two for US$58.98 or B$90 (or, if you just want one, that'll be US$29.99 or just under B$50)

What I like the most about the whole idea is that this isn't purely for the collectors out there; it's for anyone, anyone at all who loved the 80's. This show was a total landmark.

Centurion Special: Ace McCloud

[Ace McCloud, Daring Air Operations expert]

Written By Kal-El

"In the near future, Doc Terror, and his cyborg companion, Hacker, unleash their forces to conquer earth.Only one force can stop this evil: a handful of brave men; in specially created exoframes they can be transported anywhere to fuse with incredible assault weapon systems, beamed down from the space station Skyvault, becoming man and machine... Power Xtreme! Max Ray, brilliant Sea Operations commander...Jake Rockwell, rugged Land Operations specialist...Ace McCloud, daring Air Operations expert...Whatever the challenge, they are ready: THE CENTURIONS!!! "

Oh I had these for sure; He was my favorite character when I was 7 years old, He was what they called, Daring Air Operations Expert, He was called Ace McCloud. He was a Centurion. Power Xtreme!!

This blog entry is part 1 out of 3 Centurions, this one was of my highlights of my early childhood days, I loved the cartoons that came with it, I know, i might sound like i have no life, but all i could say that i gained is my childhood memories, I had to admit that the cartoon was a good marketing strategy, and that the Toyline by Kenner was extremely awesome.

The Centurions is a 30 minute animated television series produced by Ruby-Spears and animated in Japan by Sunrise. Comics legends Jack Kirby and Gil Kane contributed to the design and concepts of the show. The series began in 1985 as a five-part miniseries and was followed in 1986/87 with a 60 episode series. There is also a line of tie-in toys made by Kenner and a comic produced by DC Comics.

[ Ace McCloud On Sky Knight ]

Ace McCloud, A Government Operative, Identify as a Centurion with High Tech Armory, Affiliated with other Centurions, Max Ray and Jake Rockwell, Love interest, Crystal Kane. McCloud and the Centurions are based at The Centrum, an Underground bunker in New York City.

Each of the Centurions is specialized for a particular domain, originally land, sea or air/space. They all have multiple weapon systems that can be 'charged' to their exo-frames. As evidenced in the five-part Man or Machine series of episodes, the exo-frames also serve as strength-amplifying exoskeletons. This explains how the Centurions can carry the full weight of their weapon systems without any apparent discomfort.

All of Ace’s Assault weapons systems utilizes flight and air control capabilities, His standard system is called Sky knight when you purchased the Action Figure, This consists of a Jet Pack, armed with Guided missiles and a chest bomb ready to blow Terror’s Flight drone to bits and pieces, Sky knight gives him maximum maneuverability with reasonable firepower.

[ Ace using SkyBolt for heavier artillery attacks]

When in need of more firepower to tackled Doc Terror’s attack, Ace calls upon a more suitable firepower to his advantage, For increased combat efficiency at the expense of speed, he uses a different assault weapon system, called Sky bolt, which is far more heavier weapons.

[ Orbital Interceptor goes for Deep Space Aerial Assault ]

In conjunction to this, Ace also flies out to Space, if needed, he calls upon another weapon system, The Orbital Interceptor, Which is designed for use outside an atmosphere, but funnily enough, in the cartoon series, Ace uses Orbital Interceptor in deep sea to rescue Max once. Apparently, Orbital Interceptor could withstand the deep water pressure. Thanks to the bulky head gear.

It only hit me, that after watching Centurions again, now at this age, Ace McCloud is still Cocky, Arrogant, Flirty, Centurion. But for a “Fly Boy” ( Often Referred by Jake Rockwell) he sure is having a hard time trying to slip his way in with Crystal Kane, However, Crystal Kane often resists Ace's advances either firmly or jokingly, but sometimes demonstrates she has affection and love for him. The two finally kiss at the conclusion of the two part story "The Better Half". Good one McCloud!

[ Centurions : Ace McCloud by Kenner 1985 to 1987 ]

So for those who still have Ace McCloud as an Action Figure, Whether it’s loose or still in the Package, Do keep them in a nice storage area. Or if your thinking of selling them, shoot me an email , coz I’m buying it if anyone is willing to let them go. Power X’Treme!! Stay tune for more, Next up on Classic Articulation Centurions Special: Jake Rockwell: Rugged Land Operation Specialist.

What Ever Happened To Kenner Toys?

[GL:Superman on wheels?!]

Written by GL

I can barely remember the last time I saw a Kenner Products brand on any item in Brunei. Nowadays, the action figure line is dominated by (at the most) only three to four companies, and I don't think I need to name them for you.

Kenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located.

Kenner was a pioneer in the use of television as a medium for advertising toys across the United States, beginning in 1958.

The company was purchased by General Mills in 1967. In 1970, General Mills merged its Rainbow Crafts division into Kenner Products, bringing Play-Doh into the Kenner product line.

Kenner Products obtained the rights to produce action figures and playsets for the Star Wars trilogy from 1977-1984. After Kenner acquired the license to produce Star Wars toys when the Mego Corporation rejected it in 1976, Kenner popularized the 3.75 inch action figure that became an industry standard and continues to dominate the action figure toy market. They also produced toys related to the popular 70s TV series The Six Million Dollar Man. In 1981, Kenner belatedly entered the diecast toy car market, with a short-lived range called Fast 111's.

One of Kenner's most highly acclaimed lines was the Super Powers Collection. These action figures were based on the famed superheroes of DC Comics. What made the line so successful was that the characters were modeled almost exactly from the style guide of the company; and also, each character performed some 'action'. For example, if you squeezed Superman's legs, he would throw a punch.

[GL: I had this Batmobile!]

This set was produced from 1984 to 1986. In 1990, the company unleashed the Dark Knight Collection which was the first of their many lines based on the Batman character. This initial set was created to capitalize on the phenomenal success of the cinematic version of the character.

In 1985, General Mills spun off its Kenner and Parker toy divisions to form Kenner Parker Toys, Inc. Kenner Parker was acquired by Tonka in 1987. Under Tonka management, Kenner Products was reconstituted as a division.

Tonka (including Kenner) was purchased by the toy company Hasbro in mid-1991. Hasbro closed the Cincinnati offices of Kenner in 2000, and Kenner's product lines were merged into Hasbro's.

Here's a little adventure quest for all you avid hunters out there: somewhere in the Soon Lee Megamart toy-section near Bowling Utama is an action figure collectible (with pedestal), that's a genuine Kenner Product. See if you can find it.