Surveying the Gen X landscape and the origins of geek
A little known playset for a well-done line that was gunned down when Mego went bankrupt. I remember the 2″ high, die-cast metal figures circulating on the playground before G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. There’s also a Remco Warlord figure in the shot.
The Eagle Island commercial is here, and I’m adding some better pictures of the set below.
The store is a K-Mart in Billings, Montana, and I’m only going to name one of the toys I see, other than the gorgeous, underrated Crystar figures the kid is holding: there are Dragonriders of the Styx figures hanging on the rack in front of him. You guys name the rest.
‘Tis the season. Visit posts of Christmas past here.
(Photo via the Billings Gazette)
Conan deserved better. Nice logo, though.
You see Thundarr the Barbarian up there? Don’t get excited: the line was never produced. The show was canceled in late ’81, so it was a long shot anyway, although you have to think it would have done better than Arak, based on the DC Conan knock-off.
Here’s a great Fantastic Films article on Thundarr, my favorite American animated series.
Blessings upon you, Larami, for these and your many other contributions to my wasted and wonderful childhood.
(Images via Horrorpedia and eBay)
Weird Worlds was a kid’s horror and fantasy magazine that ran for eight issues from 1978 to 1981. Much like other Scholastic magazines, many issues featured a detachable poster. I would love to scan the whole run, because it’s a great example of the kind of advanced, somewhat esoteric material kids expected at the time. There were stories by sci-fi luminaries like Bradbury and Asimov, features on UFOs and paranormal phenomena, weird and disturbing facts and Forteana, fantasy art portfolios (Frazetta, the Brothers Hildebrandt). I particularly remember the wonderfully graphic comic book strips by Steve Bissette, best known now for illustrating Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing in the ’80s. You can read a few of these strips at The Horrors of It All.
Also check out this Monsters of the Greek Myths poster, a Scholastic giveaway from the same year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: 1980 was a hell of a year to be a kid.
(Image via Donald Deveau/Flickr)
I’m not sure what convinced Remco that Universal Monsters were going to compete in 1980, when a little movie called The Empire Strikes Back came out and the horror genre was dominated by ultraviolent slashers and demons from hell, but I’m glad they did: regardless of how much money was lost, the Mini Monsters are some of the coolest action figures ever made. The cards are beautiful too. I love the glow in the dark graphic surrounding Frank and the Phantom on the versions seen here. The figures were first released in non-glow versions (the Creature was dark green).
Azrak-Hamway International (AHI), which acquired Remco in 1974, produced 8-inch Universal Monster figures from 1974-1976. The later Remco line (1980-1981) also included a series of 9-inch figures (hence the “mini monster” designation for the 3 3/4-inch figures), a nifty vinyl Play Case, the awesome Monsterizer, and hand puppets, as well as ancillary items like makeup kits. As always, I’m including some prices below.
First, throw the FLY in the air. Second, open your CHOPSTICKS. Third, Catch the FLY.
Jesus, I love the ’80s.
(Images via sfzdk/Flickr)
I had no idea. The line came out with the release of The Karate Kid, Part II and included several playsets and accessories (Break-Away Wall, Miyagi’s Fly Catching Chopsticks). I must investigate further.
(Image via Fashion Plunder/eBay)
2 Warps to Neptune 