1976 Action Figure Explosion!

1976 Action Figure Explosion!

1976 Action Figure Explosion!

I got this catalogue just after Christmas, and I wanted to close the year with the single reason I had to have it. This glorious page of plastic joy.  I never saw this page as a kid, but wow, that’s how the inside of my brain looked when I was five. 

This page, with it’s triple threat of Kenner Bionic Man, GI Joe Adventure Team, and Big Jim’s P.A.C.K hit me like a gut punch but in a good way, more like a “gut hug?” is that a thing? 

I enjoyed the book even more when I found the other page with my sixth birthday present, the GI Joe Capture Copter, which also was the “Monster Squad Copter” with my Lincoln Monsters

Not to mention the Sky Dive to Danger set, another birthday present and my vote for the single greatest GI Joe set ever.

 

1976 Action Figure Explosion!

1976 Action Figure Explosion!

No Offense to fans of Johnny West but I have almost no memory of the toy line. It’s probably because of stuff like Remco Star Trek and the amazing Lazervette had all of my attention and well kind of still do…. 

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

Click Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

 

 

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Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 11 is here!

Toy-Ventures Magazine deals with Kenner, Mego and More

Do you miss print toy magazines? I sure did; that’s why I created Toy Ventures. A full-colour print magazine that celebrates toys from the 1960s to the 1980s. It features collector guides, interviews and even some satire. We’re on issue 10 now but still have a limited supply of our back issues; please visit our Shop for more information.

 

Get the Official Tura Satana Action Figure

Official Megolike Tura Satana Action Figure by Odeon Toys

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

 

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book Megolike

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

5 Awesome

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, Megolike come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass.

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass.

Megolike Knock Off Head Quarters is better than Lou

Mego Knock Off Headquarters is a group created to discuss bootleg toys and customs. Totally chill vibe for fans of Tomland, Lincoln International, Mego and AHI. It’s a super fun group, join Mego-KO-HQ!

Check out the PlaidStallions store for Toy-Ventures magazine, Tura Satana and much more:
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Big Jim, Marx Johnny West, Action Figures, 1976, Gi Joe, Intruder, 1970s catalogs, Kenner Bionic, Six Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, Maskatron, Zorak, Torpedo Fist, Lazervette, Capture Copter, megolike, Cardinal Stores, wishbooks, toyventures

Toy-Ventures: Big Jim Kung Fu Studio

Toy-Ventures: Big Jim Kung Fu Studio

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Everybody’s Kung Fu fighting on this week’s Toy-Ventures with an in-depth look at the Mattel Big Jim Kung Fu Studio playset. We also discuss the Martial Arts craze that inspired this iconic 70s toy.

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Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures,” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

 

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

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Pod Stallions is based on our podcast and is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember, you keep the glass! If you like our show, then you have found your tribe.


Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

Toy-Ventures: Big Jim Kung Fu Studio

Toy-Ventures: Zorak from Big Jim’s PACK


This week we go back to 1976 and take another look at a figure from one of my favourite toy-lines, Zorak, not only was he Big Jim’s first bad guy, he was a bit of a trendsetting toy concept and one that would become the norm for action figure brands for years to come.

We explore who invented the “Double Trouble” face changing concept and not only about Zoltar but the new deluxe Big Jim Commander that gets really angry.

Let’s talk Big Jim in the Pod Stallions Facebook Group:
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Mego Knockoff HQ: Shindana Slade

slade

Slade may be one of my favourite Mego Like toys of all time. A low budget repurposing of Shaft from toy maker Shindana (a swahili word meaning “To Compete”) focused on making toys for minority youth in America, who were being largely underserved at the time by the majors. Slade is a Big Jim scaled man of action who doesn’t carry a gun and explains that Slade is a secret agent thanks to his growing up in the neighbourhood, serving in the army and going to college.

Oh and he’s a badass looking figure to boot. More on Slade and Shindana over at PlaidStallions.

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