Esqueleton Fighter (Ditoys)

Esqueleton Fighter
Ditoys
2012

While we don't necessarily endorse knock-offs (or bootlegs if you will), we do have to admit that there are some out there that have their charm. These guys for example.

Esqueleton Fighter figures are nothing short of a rip off of Playmate Toys 1994 Skeleton Warriors line, but that's okay. We forgive them. Truth be told, they're not the first time that these molds have been used, and they probably won't be the last. They've been sighted on English cardbacks with the title, Skeleton Fighter (by Vidal) as well as in window boxed versions known as simply Movable Figure. In short, the molds have gotten around a bit in the action figure world.

Depending on which of the aforementioned lines that you look for will determine how many figures you're going to be hunting down. In the Esqueleton Fighter line there are four different figures which were produced in both standard and neon colors. The figures included; (from left to right) Black Scare, Blood Fenix, Lord Wrecker and Skull Blast.

For what they are, they're not terrible. Sure they're bootlegs. Sure, you could just as easily spend your money on the legit released Skeleton Warriors, but at the end of the day, these are still pretty cool.

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Dennis Rodman (Street Players)

Dennis Rodman
Street Players
1996

Oh, Street Players....How you just didn't understand the toy / collector's market. You get a consistent "A" for effort, but you never quite hit the mark, did you?

From his strange fashion sense, his odd behavior, and his interesting choice of friends, Dennis Rodman certainly has a way of staying relevant in the world of celebrities. Couple that with a man who had an amazing NBA career (so we've heard), and you have what one could classify as an icon in the world of pop culture - Or at the very least a madman who seems to crop up here and there, do something insane, then disappear again for a bit.

However, with that said, we don't necessarily recall anyone in the world of collectors saying something to the tune of, "Gee, I wish someone would produce a doll of Dennis Rodman dressed in a wedding gown." You know, from the infamous time he announced that he was bisexual, and going to marry himself.

Well, regardless of this lack of desire, Street Players said, "We'll answer the call to the unasked question!"....And then they did. Yes, in 1996 you could own your very own Dennis Rodman Wedding Day twelve inch doll! Everyone rejoice!

Okay, so you're not into Rodman dressed in drag. We get it. Not many people would be. Street Players still has you covered with the more simplistic standard Dennis Rodman doll. This particular version featured white trunks and a white jersey, as well as basketball....Oh, right...And if you look close enough you'll see shorty short jeans, a silver shirt and knee high silver boots in there too....Because.....Why not.....It's Dennis Rodman...And it's a limited edition at that.

As shocking as this may be to all of you reading, the doll didn't fair too well on retail shelves, and to date doesn't hold much value on secondary markets. Mint in the box dolls sell between $6.00 and $15.00 - Which approximates to about 25% to 50% less than actual retail prices when the doll first came out.

Yes, Dennis Rodman is one quirky dude. For more on his antics, take a look at a list we found entitled, The 15 Most Outrageous Moments In Dennis Rodman History That Remind Us How Crazy He's Always Been.

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Batman: Reborn (DC Direct)

Batman: Reborn
DC Direct
2012

There's a Batman figure for pretty much every iteration you can think of.

Batman: Reborn is a Batman Family crossover series which establishes a new status quo in Gotham City after the events of Battle for the Cowl. The story unfolds in multiple parts; Batgirl Rising, Batman Reborn, The Deep, Elegy, The Grail, Hush Money, Long Shadows and Union - Which take place across multiple Batman  / Batgirl / Robin titles.

As DC Direct was prone to doing, this particular series was showcased in plastic in the confined Batman: Reborn action figure line. It featured four figures in total, and to date remains one of the most highly sought after series of Batman toys.

 Batman: Jason Todd

 Batman: Two-Face

 Batgirl

Azrael

Those looking to collect this series should proceed with the understanding that it isn't going to be cheap. Carded figures sell between $80.00 to 120.00 each - With Batgirl and Batman: Jason Todd being the most expensive out of the four. Occasionally you can find Azrael for as little as $30.00, and Batman: Two-Face for as little as $65.00 (yeah, right...little). However, these finds are few and far between.

You're going to be facing an even tougher challenge for those looking to obtain the figures loose. Azrael is the most common of the bunch, and can easily be found for as little as $15.00 - $20.00. However, the remaining three are incredibly scarce (out of the package). Even then, Batgirl and Batman: Jason Todd will still set you back upwards of $100.00 each.

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Twisted Christmas (McFarlane Toys)

Twisted Christmas
McFarlane Toys
2007

McFarlane Toys churns out a lot of odd, and a lot of fantastic products. One that fits both those bills is the 2007 Twisted Christmas line.

Many fans / collectors consider the line to be the fifth wave from the McFarlane Monsters line which ran from 1997 to 2005. Considering the Twisted Christmas line was released in 2007, that's not an unreasonable deduction. However, this theory has never been confirmed.

Regardless, that aspect doesn't impede this line from being awesome to collect. Just think how these would look on your fireplace mantle at Christmas time, or even hung around the tree as ornaments. They'd be the ultimate odd conversation piece for friends and families around the holidays.

 Jack Frost*Mrs. Claus*Reindeer Rudy

Santa Claus*Santa's Littler Helpers*Snowman

Six basic figures were produce (as shown above), with an additional limited edition variant of Mrs. Claus. The basic series version sported brown hair, while the limited edition - Which was limited to just 4,000 pieces - had flowing locks of blonde hair.

Mrs. Claus (Limited Blonde Edition)

What's interesting to note when tracking these figures down is that individually they can sell for about $25.00 each (mint in the package for the basic figures). However, at the same time, an entire set of the series (once again mint in the package for the basic figures) can sell for as little as $80.00. The blonde haired version of Mrs. Claus won't set you back much more to obtain - An average of $30.00 mint in the package.

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The Flying Nun (Hasbro)

The Flying Nun
Hasbro
1967

Would a show like The Flying Nun be accepted today? With how many different "groups" there are out there that seem to want to oppose everything, we can't help but feel like a reboot of this particular franchise would cause a ruckus somewhere.

That said, times were different back in the 60's. So when Sally Field first dawned her veil, and took to the air as The Flying Nun (1967 - 1970) the show became a massive success running for three seasons consisting of 82 episodes (including a one hour pilot).

Hasbro produced two very different iterations of the character in plastic form in 1967 - A 4.5 inch figure, and a 12 inch doll.

 The Flying Nun (4.5 Inch)

These days the figure is much easier to find than the doll, and depending on whether or not you want the box is going to dictate heavily what you're going to be paying for it. Loose figures sell for $20.00 to $30.00, while a mint in the box figure can sell for as much as $200.00.

The Flying Nun (12 Inch)

Oddly enough, while it's much rarer, the doll seems to go for much less. Mint in the box ones have sold for as little as $100.00. However, several sellers seem to ask between $300.00 and $500.00 for it - Which of course remain unsold. We have never seen one loose, so we unfortunately can't gauge a price for one out of the box.

If looking to purchase either version of these dolls mint in the box it is key to look for two major factors;

1. Ensure that the cellophane wrap is not only present, but intact without holes. The presence of no cellophane means that the item was (at some point) either opened, or the wrap damaged and discarded - Which we suppose still means it was opened, though potentially never removed from the box.
2. Check the quality of the paint on the face. Many of the dolls are known to have faded or chipping paint on the face - Even in the box.

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Masters Of The Universe (Super 7)

Masters of the Universe
Super 7
2015 - 2016

Ever dream of incorporating your Masters of the Universe figures into your Star Wars or G.I. Joe lines? Well, now you can!

Super 7 brings these all new retro style He-Man figures to the scene in all their five point articulation glory. At the time of this writing, the figures were still available for pre-order directly from Super 7. However, a full month has passed, so we can't guarantee that they're still available.

As with most new toy lines these days, the Masters of the Universe line, or rather, this specific Masters of the Universe line got its start at San Diego Comic Con in 2015. All four of what would become the first series of figures were released in a white "mailer" box, and featured a character specific weapon. Each figure was painted in a single color to represent a prototype feel.

This is where we have to interject with our own personal opinion - Hasn't the whole "fake" prototype in retro mailer box been done to death at this point? We just don't see the draw anymore to these types of releases. They've been done again and again to the point that there's really no appeal for us. While we waited patiently for the fully painted retail editions to come out, this particular pack really wasn't one we "had" to have for our collection. Granted, we get that there are some out there that feel the complete opposite, and that's cool.

In addition, Super 7 also released a black and white figure set at New York Comic Con in 2015. Each card featured the same artwork on the front - Castle Grayskull - Also in black and white.

The fully painted retail releases look really fun. We were honestly one of those hold out people back when Funko was mass producing retro style figures, and we've been kicking ourselves ever since as we continue to play catch up. Rest assured we won't let these pass us by.

As we said above, the four figures released in the SDCC exclusive pack are the same four you will get at retail; He-Man, Skeletor, Mer-Man and Beast Man. Each figure comes packaged on a unique blister card which depicts full artwork by artist Jason Edmiston. His artwork alone is enough of an incentive to get us to buy.

We'd be lying if we said we weren't concerned about the future of the line. While it's great that we get these four figures to start our collection, the real question lies in what will come next (if anything)? These retro based lines have a tendency to spring out of the starting gate, only to fumble the ball shortly thereafter, and fizzle out.

Just look at Funko's ReAction lines which have all been put on clearance at Toys R Us stores, with no sightings of new product hitting toy isles anytime soon. Even Funko seems to have given up on the concept as no new information about upcoming figures has surfaced - Not even at the recently held Toy Fair 2016. What we're basically getting at is that we're concerned that Super 7 may be a little late to the party to capitalize on such a line. We really do hope that we're wrong because we would love to see a fully fleshed out 3.75 line of Masters of the Universe toys. Time will tell if we do.

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Terminator 2 3D - Battle Across Time (Kenner)

Terminator 2 3D - Battle Across Time
Kenner
1997

Terminator 2 3D - Battle Across Time was the Terminator movie fans wanted, but never got to see on the big screen per se. It featured the cast of the original Terminator 2 Judgement Day; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick, all reprising their respective rolls, and was written / directed by James Cameron. The "film" was actually part of the attraction of the same name at Universal Studios.

The "ride" opened in 1996 in Universal Studios Florida, and from there expanded to the Hollywood location in 1999, and finally to Japan in 2001. The ride would close down in 2012 - With a recently announced 2016 re-release planned.

It was based on this attraction that Kenner produced the short lived action figure line of the same name. It featured six action figures, and an additional large size action figure / doll.

 Battle-Ready Terminator*Exploding T-1000

 Hot Blast Terminator*John Connor

Power Arm Terminator*Techno-Punch Terminator

The line would become Kenner's last Terminator series to date, and the third in total that it produced. Because it followed in the same design and style of the original Kenner Terminator 2 (1992) and Terminator 2 Future War (1993) lines, these easily incorporate into those series as somewhat of a continuation to them. As reader Barbecue17 points out, most of these are actually repaints of the aforementioned series.

T-800 Terminator

The figures aren't too common these days, and unfortunately the majority of sellers that have them are asking way more than people seem interested in paying. The average asking price is anywhere from $30.00 to $40.00 each. As a result, there are not too many transactions taking place for them.

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Jerry Springer (Street Players) and Trailer Park Trash (Arsenic & Apple Pie / Gibby Novelties, LLC)

Jerry Springer
Street Players
1998

Oh boy, folks. Buckle in. This one may be a bumpy ride.

Dubbed the worst show on television, and being noted by critics as having no redeeming qualities, Jerry Springer has been appealing to what some call the lowest denominator of human beings since September of 1991. His show often times features guests so far detached from basic human morals and concepts that it's laughable, yet sad at the same time. In short, the show is such a train wreck - You don't want to watch, but you can't look away.

Street Players was trying desperately to find a foothold in the market of 12 inch dolls in the 1990's. The problem however was that they were consistently producing items that nobody particularly wanted. Dolls based on The Nanny, Dennis Rodman and others just weren't hitting the mark with collectors. Sadly for Springer, nor did this particular doll - Though we're sure he made a great gag gift for many folks when someone was going through a rocky relationship.

This doll is honestly one of those so bad it's good things - You know, kind of like his show. It feels sleazy and slimy just to look at. You seriously would be hard pressed to find a doll that oozed with such sordid appeal. Unless of course you looked at.....

Trailer Park Trash
Arsenic & Apple Pie / Gibby Novelties, LLC
1999

What better dolls could you find to surround your Jerry Springer doll than those of the 1999 Arsenic & Apple Pie Trailer Park Trash? They seem so perfectly matched.

With the likes of Trash Talkin' Turlen, JerWayne Junior and Little Miss Guzzler, this line seems to be the ultimate parody of Barbie. Each doll features a talking feature with such notable quotations as, "My daddy says I'm the best kisser in the county." Yikes! Each package also contains a gold and black sticker which verifies that the doll is a first edition - Which honestly we'd be surprised if it were popular enough to deem a second edition.

So....Yeah.....That's where we are with this post.

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Lost In Space - The Classic Series (Toy Island)

Lost In Space - The Classic Series
Toy Island
1997

Lots of robots cropping up here at The Toy Box as of late. Not necessarily a bad thing - Unless of course you despise robots.

Lost in Space began its iconic climb to cult classic status in 1965 when the original black and white television series aired (shifting to color with season 2). Though it only lasted for three seasons, its impact on science fiction and pop culture in general has definitely left a lasting mark.

"Danger, Will Robinson, danger," definitely makes our top ten list of memorable quotes from a television series. It was the classic line by robot B-9, voiced by Dick Tufeld.

Much like Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, B-9 has had numerous toys produced depicting the character. Today we'll be looking at the remote controlled one shot version from Toy Island.

Much like the aforementioned Robby, B-9 was limited in how far it could walk because of the wire connecting the toy to the controller. As such, this is more so a tabletop toy, or one you're going to spend a lot of time on your knees with.

The ten inch toy featured a light up dome, and spouted the famous "Danger" quote. Though the controller featured numerous buttons, the majority of them are actually just molded plastic for aesthetics that do nothing.

Whats interesting to note is that in 1998 Trendmasters produced a B-9 robot for their own Lost in Space The Classic Series line. The artwork on the packaging is so similar to that of Toy Islands that it can often times be mistaken for the same series. We'll most likely be taking a look at that particular series in the near future.

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God Jesus / Urani Robo (Bandai)

God Jesus / Urani Robo
Bandai
1985


It's kind of one of those, "Only in Japan" moments.

God Jesus, or Urani Robo as he / she was also known is a robot toy that was designed to be somewhat of a Magic Eight Ball toy. However, unlike a Magic Eight Ball which provided you with a variety of answers stemming from a yes or no to more vague ones, God Jesus only provided a yes or no answer by way of either shaking or nodding his / her head.

Just look at young Tang Shen here asking the all knowing God Jesus if heartthrob Hamato Yoshi will ask her to the Foot Clan's Annual Barn Jamboree. Look at the brimming joy on her face as God Jesus gives his nod of confirmation. Sure hope Oroko Saki doesn't catch wind of this.

What's interesting to note about the robot is that while he's shown on the box as having a bouquet of flowers, the accessory inside was actually a large cross....Or with a little imagination, a broadsword.

As mentioned above, the robot was also known as Urani Robo. This particular boxed version came in both a pink and blue iteration - Obviously meaning to distinguish between a male and female bot.

Just look at the poor little guy below getting a nod of approval one minute, and then a heartbreaking rejection shake the next.

The robots were never exported to the USA or European markets, and honestly we've yet to come across one on secondary markets. As such, we really don't know what kind of price these things are going for these days. If you have one that your recently acquired, drop us a note in the comments section letting us know what it cost you.

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Little Nicky (McFarlane Toys)

Little Nicky
McFarlane Toys
2000

Whether you like Adam Sandler or not, there's no denying that the comedian had his hay day with hit after hit; Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and all those other films that have become cult classics now helped to pave the way for the man as a household name. Unfortunately for Sandler, as it often times goes in Hollywood, his career slowly seemed to diminish. One of his recent films, Pixel was deemed so bad that critics were calling it the last nail in the coffin of his already heavily dwindled career (again at the time).

Since then, Sandler has signed a contract to provide four Netflix direct films. His first film, The Ridiculous 6 was just that - Ridiculous - As in ridiculously boring, crude and obnoxious. As of this writing, it has a zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and general audiences can't stand the film.

One of the films churned out during his downward spiral in Hollywood was Little Nicky. It's honestly probably one of the last films we saw him in - Prior to our attempt to sit through The Ridiculous 6. Truth be told, we remember about as much about the film Little Nicky as we do about what happened the day before we were born - I.E. Nothing whatsoever.

Around this time, McFarlane Toys, as popular as they were for their Spawn figures, were throwing everything they could at the wall, and hoping something would stick. Toys based on the film were one of those particular items that thudded against the wall, then slid down it - Or rather, bounced off in a ricochet that sent it flying back at McFarlane's head.

Much like the film, very few seemed interested in toys based on the characters. After producing just four figures, McFarlane Toys quickly moved on in their search to find something else to produce.

Little Nicky with Mr. Beefy*Mr. Beefy

Cassius and Little Nicky*Gate Keeper and Gary the Monster

Mr. Beefy was also produced and released in a baggie. Believe it or not, one of the last sales we saw for this was a box of seventy-five of them for $35.00. Nobody bought them.

For those who want to hunt down the Little Nicky figures, you can easily obtain a full set on the card for about ten bucks.

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The Howler, The Vampire, The Zombie (AKA The Monsters) (Toy Island)

The Howler, The Vampire, The Zombie (AKA The Monsters)
Toy Island
1992

There's something to be said about a classic creature toy line. We've covered a few of them here and there - Our most popular being the Remco Universal Studios brand. Obviously some are far more popular than others, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the lesser favorable ones are bad. Toy Island is no stranger to the world of monster related toys. The company has produced four different lines since opening its doors in 1989 (and sadly closing them in 2007). Today we're going to take a look at their 1992 line which fans have come to call "The Monsters".

No, you won't find the word "The Monsters" anywhere on the front of the package. Instead, you need to flip it over where the cardback showcases the three characters available in the line - The Howler, The Vampire and The Zombie.

Each eight inch doll is in the fashion of your classics Mego line, and could easily be incorporated into a set of them. Featuring full cloth clothing, and decent articulation, there's definitely a quality of the same standards as your traditional Mego doll.

Admittedly, we don't really know what's going on with the accessories packed in with each character. Axes, swords and maces? These seem more like weapons that someone would futility try and use against creatures such as these as opposed to them using them themselves.

Okay, so they're not the greatest in terms of monster figures we've seen come and go in our lifetime, but there's still some charm to them. Whether it was due to lackluster sales, or low quantity production, these figures aren't too readily available on secondary markets. In fact, we've honestly only seen them a handful of times, and typically they're loose, and missing articles of their clothing. As such, while we typically would gauge a price for them, we're unfortunately not able to. If you've purchased one in the past or recently, drop us a comment on what you paid.

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The Amazing Sea Monkeys (Majestic Studios)

The Amazing Sea Monkeys
Majestic Studios
2005

Harold von Braunhut may not be a household name, but he's the father of many comic book novelty toys that are; X-Ray Specs,Crazy Crabs, Invisible Goldfish, and of course, The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys.

Sea Monkey's weren't an instant success when originally developed. Mind you, that wasn't because people weren't buying them, but rather because von Braunhut couldn't find anyone willing to sell them. It wasn't until he took out advertisements in major comic book titles of the era that orders would start rolling in. This lead to a profitable marketing plan that would span three decades of comic books.

Of course everyone knows at this point that Sea Monkeys are in fact not monkeys at all, but rather brine shrimp. Originally, the product was known as Instant Life. The name Sea Monkeys evolved when von Braunhut noticed that the shrimp inside had little tails which resembled those of monkeys. He's quoted as stating, "Those are cute little sea monkeys." From there it was just a trademark step away from the name that these iconic sea life have been selling as ever since.

In 2005, Majestic Studios produced a line of figures based on the cartoon characters often times seen on the packages of Sea Monkeys. As far as we know, this is the first time a toy has ever been produced in such a fashion for the product.

The line is kept fairly basic. It features a mom, dad, and a brother and sister duo of kids. Much like the fish tank counterparts, the plastic versions were an instant success with collectors. They're so iconic, that it was just destined to be popular.

Prices are not buyer friendly these days. Each individual figure will cost you anywhere from $100.00 to $140.00 mint on the card. Do you know how many live Sea Monkeys you can buy for that price? Let's just sum it up by saying, "A lot."

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