Remember when UFO “Invaders” attacked the Earth in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? I don’t either. The snake insignia did appear on some of the Draconian uniforms, though.
Archive for January, 2016
Buck Rogers Invader (Cox, 1980)
Published January 29, 2016 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century , Space Toys/Playsets Leave a Comment
I talked about the Star Cruiser UFO many moons ago. It was one of those Christmas catalog items that was always out of reach. The problem was not getting it to fly, apparently. The problem was getting it to land.
The box design is lovely and reminds me of all the rocketry catalogs and packages of the era.
Model Kits: `Vanpire’ Chevy Van (Monogram, 1978)
Published January 28, 2016 Custom Autos , Model Kits Leave a Comment
Drac is in back. With your girlfriend.
Signs of the Zodiac Iron-On Transfers (Roach Studios, 1978)
Published January 28, 2016 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , Iron-on Transfers , Occult/Supernatural , Roach Studios Leave a Comment
These are all I’ve been able to find. It should be enough to give every t-shirt in your closet an inferiority complex.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Bendable Extra Terrestrial Figure (Imperial, 1977)
Published January 27, 2016 Close Encounters of the Third Kind , Imperial Toy Corporation 3 Comments
(Image via Pinterest)
1941 `Para Toy’ Figure (Imperial, 1979)
Published January 27, 2016 Imperial Toy Corporation 2 Comments
Stay classy, Imperial. Super-patriot Wild Bill is wearing a Rising Sun bandana, comes with a Rising Sun parachute, and appears to have a Hitler mustache. There’s another figure here with more appropriate dress, so maybe this guy is supposed to be some random Japanese baddie (in American fatigues with a Hitler mustache)?
(Image via eBay)
Masters of the Universe: Eternia Playset (Mattel, 1986)
Published January 26, 2016 Masters of the Universe , Mattel Toys 3 Comments
Masters of the Universe Pencil Topper Erasers (Butterfly, 1984)
Published January 26, 2016 Masters of the Universe 2 Comments
Crossbows and Catapults: Battling Giant Minotaur (Lakeside, 1984)
Published January 25, 2016 Board Games/Tabletop Games , Crossbows and Catapults , Ken Kelly 3 Comments
I had Crossbows and Catapults, but I forgot about all the expansion sets. It’s obvious now that the game, while revolutionary in its way, was a simplified, physical expression of D&D. The problem with pen and paper role-playing is that you need time to play and people to play with. Toy companies began to exploit this limitation early on. Still, Lakeside’s “the fun is only limited by your imagination” is a crude mockery of TSR’s “products of your imagination” motto. You don’t need imagination to play Crossbows and Catapults. You just need what’s in the box.
There was apparently a set that included both the Cyclops and the Minotaur, and the sprawling box art (below) was scanned by some kind soul at Board Game Geek. The artist is Ken Kelly, who was illustrating LJN’s AD&D toy line at the same time. Kelly also did the art for the Crossbows and Catapults: Trojan Horse (1984) expansion set.
I wrote a piece on how Kelly changed the toy industry here.
(Images via eBay)
Richard Corben Cover Art for Piers Anthony’s Ox (Nelson Doubleday, 1976)
Published January 22, 2016 Books , Cover Art , Richard Corben Leave a Comment
My God, the colors!
2 Warps to Neptune 