February 2012 Recap
Below is a recap of all the post we've covered in February 2012. If you missed any, or simply want to see them again, click on each "title" to be taken directly to that post. As always, thanks for reading.
G.I. Joe - The Rise of Cobra
Adult Swim
Cereals of the 80's
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
Zorro
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Zorro (1982) (Gabriel Toys)
If you remember our post on The Legend of the Lone Ranger, you may remember that we mentioned this series.
Also part of the Filmation cartoon The Adventure Hour, the Zorro figures shared a common design to the previously mentioned Lone Ranger toys.
The bright orange packaging depicted the character bucking on his horse with his sword raised. A common depiction from the cartoon itself right as the hero would ride off.
The back of the card, which showcased the entire series of toy’s shared the spotlight with The Legend of the Lone Ranger figures (displayed at the bottom).
Two horses were also produced along with the four figures which were released. Prior to the series being cancelled, a two pack of Zorro and his horse Tempest were released. This particular two pack remains the rarest item in the series.
Most dealers on the secondary market ask between fifty and sixty five dollars for each mint on card piece, though they rarely sell at these prices. Rather, it appears that most collector's are only willing to pay between fifteen and twenty-five per piece. As a result, most secondary market products remain unsold.
Join us next Monday for our look at Corpse Bride!
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The Legend Of The Lone Ranger (Gabriel Toys)
The Lone Ranger has been around since 1933 where the character was first introduced on public radio as a serial. The series was such a huge success that the character was quickly adapted into film, television, comic, and full story books.
In 1982, Gabriel Toys produced a small line of figures based off the iconic hero of the West. The figures were based off the Filmation cartoon The Adventure Hour which depicted The Lone Ranger, Tarzan, and Zorro. Unlike most cartoons of the 80's, this series took a page straight out of historic context to produce a much more mature show for its time, while at the same time following the standard Filmation theme of having moral lessons for each show.
The five figures produced for the series were depicted on black cards with The Lone Ranger's face, while at the bottom it depicted him riding off into the sunset. The back of the card showed the five figures available as well as the three horses (Seen below).
Three horses were released for the series. Later, as the series developed into a mix match mash up of The Lone Ranger and Zorro, the horses were re-released with their respective figures.
While the card backs for the single packed horses were the same as the figures, the ones for the two packs were split in half. On the top half were the Lone Ranger toys, with the bottom half showing the Zorro figures (card back not shown). Some collector's don't fell these pieces to be a part of the series, but rather their own separate series.
A free mail away playset, "Western Town" was produced for the series. It was nothing more than two, two-sided cardboard cutouts. It was mailed to recipients in flat brown mailer envelopes which also contained a two sided instruction sheet for putting it together. Another sheet of cardboard cutouts was also included which depicted the wood plank flooring, as well as "accessories".
The series never saw the popularity as other Filmation shows, but to date remains a great series for collectors.
It's difficult to find these figures at a reasonable price. The majority of second hand dealers are asking between sixty and seventy-five dollars for each figure, which as a result leaves them unsold. Full sets of the series (without the two packs) have sold for a more reasonable price of between three to four hundred dollars (mint on card).
Join us next Monday for our look at Zorro (1982)!
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Cereals of the 80's
Whether you're fourteen or forty, you remember them all. Those boxes of cereal that you'd rush downstairs in the morning, rip the top of the box off, and dig straight to the bottom looking for that special toy inside.
Cheerios, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Rice Crispies, Corn Flakes, this list could go on and on forever. They've been staples in children and adult cereal bowls for decades, and there's no sign of them going anywhere any time soon.
But, what about those rare boxes of cereals that we remember from our childhood? Those ones that we would curl up on the couch with as we watched our Saturday morning cartoons. The ones that came and went in what seemed like a blink of an eye.
As a special treat to The Toy Box readers, we're taking a trip down memory lane to show you some of our favorite cereals from the 80's. After all, cereal plus Saturday morning cartoons equals cartoons that 90% of were turned into toys. See how everything circles back to toys?
Those were some of our fondest cereal memories, but what about you? Drop us a line in the comments section and let us know about some of the cereals you used to curl up with that are no longer around.
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Adult Swim (Palisades)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law, Sealab 2021, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The Brak Show, Frisky Dingo, Venture Bros., the list goes on and on. I'm of course talking about Cartoon Networks highly popular, and vastly expansive Adult Swim line up, or [adult swim] for those correct people out there.
When the Swim shows launched in 2001, they were lead by a small pack of risqué shows. Space Ghost Coast to Coast was the first to spark major popularity and interest in the general viewers, and eventually the developers, Ghost Planet who would later become William Street Studios would go on to produce several ground breaking series for the network such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force (my personal favorite).
In 2005, Palisade began marketing toys based on some of the more popular shows. Rather than your traditional packaged figure, the Adult Swim figures were packaged two per pack. This was a brilliant strategy as it allowed Palisade to get more figures onto the market in a lot shorter period.
Keeping in theme with Adult Swim's logo being simply a black background with white text, Palisades made sure to design their packages around this. While it is somewhat bland, you can at least rest easy knowing that it keeps with the overall scheme of the original logo's design. In other words, it wasn't done to cut costs, but rather to resemble its origins.
Four two packs were made available in series 1, as well as a "Mega" Meatwad which "stood" over five inches high. The figures themselves were packed in with several unique and colorful accessories and background pieces - such as urinals and The Broodwich sandwich. The figures were;
Brak's Mom and Brak's Dad
Master Shake and Mothmonsterman
Debbie Dupree and Dr. Quentin Q. Quinn
Phil Ken Sebben and Bear
Palisades went directly to the route of exclusives, and offered four different ones in one year. Though to be honest, the Debbie and Quinn pack is just a simple repaint and name change, while the Master Shake and Mothmonsterman change up the accessories, and Mothmonsterman now glows in the dark.
The exclusives offered were as follows;
Bizzaro Debbie and Bizarro Quinn - Palisades Direct
Master Shake - Toy Fair
Signal Shake and Glow in the Dark Mothmonsterman - Sam Goody
Meatwad, Master Shake, Frylock and Quadlaser (Ignignokt and Ir) - SDCC
(SDCC - San Diego Comic Con)
Sadly, before a second series could be produced, Palisades went bankrupt, and closed their doors. There are known prototypes for what would have become five new two packs (ten figures), which you can see in the photo above.
It's a real shame these toys will never see the light of day. The sculpting on both the first series and these later prototypes for series 2 are amazing. The likeness to the characters and the attention to detail is outstanding.
But, unfortunately this is another tale of yet another company that came out of nowhere, and while they had a great product to offer, they either couldn't keep up with the supply and demand, OR they didn't have the financial backing to invest enough into marketing the product so that people knew it was even available.
As a completest I find it difficult to collect this series because I know that it will never be complete. At least thanks to the San Diego Comic Con exclusive set, I can collect all the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Figures...Well, with the exception of Carl, anyway. I really hope that another toy producer out there picks up this series and runs with it in the near future. There are so many toys that could be produced based on the Adult Swim line up.
Join us next Monday for our look at The Legend of the Lone Ranger!
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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Hasbro)
I'll admit it. I really liked the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie. But, then again, I also liked the original animated G.I. Joe movie with Cobra La - So, perhaps when it comes to G.I. Joe, either I simply have no taste, or I just feel like the series can do no wrong.
Despite general public outcry over the film, it didn't stop Hasbro from producing a toy series, and furthermore didn't stop collectors from depleting the toy isles of them within days of release.
SNEAK PREVIEW MULTIPACK
The series launched with the widely released multipack known as the M.A.R.S. Troopers. While at the time few knew just what exactly a M.A.R.S. was, it helped to fuel the online rumor mill, and build up more anticipation for the film - Something that was vastly needed as the film was already suffering major backlash from fans chiming in on various movie related websites voicing their concerns over set pictures and casting decisions.
BASIC FIGURES AND EXCLUSIVES
The basic figures launched in full assault just days before the film hit theaters. Rather than focus strictly on the film, Hasbro took the opportunity to appease Joe fans by releasing updated, modernized figures of characters who didn't appear in the film, while at the same time also producing ones that did. In the long run, it was probably what kept the series alive for the short time period it lasted.
Toys R' Us must have seen some form of potential in the series as they took the opportunity to offer exclusive figures right off the bat.
Baroness (Attack on G.I. Joe PIT), Destro (Weapon Supplier), Storm Shadow (Ninja Mercenary), Firefly (Saboteur) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)
A known variant exists for the Snake Eyes (Paris Pursuit) and Cobra Commander figures. Snake Eyes has been found with both a black and a grey wolf, while Cobra Commander has been found with and without holes in the chest.
Cobra Commander (Holes in Chest), Cobra Commander (No Holes), Ice Viper (Arctic Assault), Storm Shadow (Paris Pursuit), Snow Serpent (Polor Combat Specialist) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)
Both Rex "The Doctor" Lewis and Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) were released with variant versions. Rex has both a black and a white coat - While Storm Shadow comes with and without his mask.
Rex "The Doctor" Lewis (Black Coat), Rex "The Doctor" Lewis (White Coat), Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) (No Mask), Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) (with Mask)
Shipwreck (Naval Commando), Cobra Viper Commando (Desert Ambush), Zartan (Master of Disguise)
Heavy Duty (Reactive Impact Armor), Sgt. Stone (Special Forces Commando)
The G.I. Joe PIT Commando (Covert Military Force) was released with a variant version which was only different by way that the accessories were displayed in the package.
Cobra Eel (Underwater Trooper), Crimson Neo-Viper (Combat Royal Guard), Elite-Viper (Elite Regiment Officer)
Nano-Viper (Cobra Commando), Night Adder (Cobra Security Officer), Red Fang Ninja (Cobra Ninja)
Desert Viper (Desert Battle), Storm Shadow (Arctic Threat)
EXCLUSIVE MULTIPACKS
Target, Toys R' Us, and K Mart all offered exclusive multipacks.
Cobra Senior OFficers, G.I. Joe Senior Officers
Four Pack
TARGET EXCLUSIVE DELUXE FIGURES
Target offered deluxe figures, most of which were repainted prior figures.
Air Viper Commando with Cobra C.L.A.W., Cobra Eel with Wave Crusher
Cobra Viper Commando with Serpent Armor, Storm Shadow with Arashikage Cycle
WALMART EXCLUSIVE 2-PACKS
Walmart released exclusive two packs in their store known as the "Vs." line. Each pack included a G.I. Joe team figure, and a Cobra team figure. The packaging was the same for the first three figures, than changed for the last.
Tunnel Rat Vs. Monkey Wrench, Snake Eyes Vs. Storm Shadow
WALMART EXCLUSIVE MINI PLAYSETS
Walmart also released a set of mini playsets. Each set contained two figures and a stationary diorama playset.
Laser Artillery Weapon, Surveillance Port
VEHICLES
What was great about the line of vehicles that were released was that all of them included a figure packed in, most of which were never released on single cards.
The Cobra Gunship was released with two versions of Firefly - One with a black helmet, and another with a red helmet.
Mole Pod with Terra-Viper, Snake Trax A.T.V. with Scrap-Iron, Cobra Gunship with Firefly (Red Helmet)
Night Raven with Air-Viper, Cobra Gunship with Firefly (Black Helmet), Steel Crusher A.P.V. with Nitro-Viper
PIT Mobile Headquarters with General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy
The Snarler Cycle with Wayne "Beachhead" Sneeden and Rollbar was released in two different versions, but with nothing different other than the figure location in relation to each other in the package. The first has Rollbar sitting in the side car while the second has him standing behind the bike.
The Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper also has two variations, which are also only changes to the actual packaging. The first has the figure with no helmet on. The second has the helmet on.
Dragonhawk XH1 with Wild Bill, Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper Officer (Helmet Off)
Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper Officer (Helmet On), Crimson Hydra with Aero-Viper
Tiger Claw A.T.V. with Leatherneck, Lava Pod with Volcano Viper
RIP ATTACK VEHICLES
Rip Attack vehicles were vehicles packed in with hand held launchers. Load the cycle on, hit the button, and launch it forward.
EXCLUSIVE VEHICLES
Target and Toys R' Us both offered exclusive vehicles.
Rockslide A.T.A.V. with Snow Job Past and Present Two Pack, Sting Raider with Copperhead and Swamp Viper
Several more figures and vehicles were planned for The Rise of Cobra series that were never released. However, rather than dumping the designs completely, Hasbro rolled over the majority of these concepts into the next G.I. Joe line, "The Pursuit of Cobra which launched shortly after this series ended. We'll take a look at that series another time, so stay tuned for that.
Join us next Monday for our look at Adult Swim!
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Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.
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