fairplaythings.com

I am now a victim of the Roboplastic Podcastalypse.

Since getting my first (classic 160 gig) iPod over the Christmas holidays, I have diligently placed 600 CDs onto this shiny piece of McShiny to take with me on the road. Then I discovered podcasts, and currently listen to little more than the ongoing opinions of Mr. Dan Savage. But there are toy(pod)casts out there and I am beginning to seek them out (and if you have recommendations, please leave them in a comment for me.) Which brings me back to the Roboplastic Apocalypse (sometimes referred to as “that site with all those old toy robot ads.” So with some help (because he’s not yet been sucked into the vortex that is the iTunes store) I finally upload all 25 (to date) podcasticas.

Today was podcast one through three.

I’ve already threatened Steve with running commentaries with respect to select (possible all) podcasts, and I was in the middle of putting a second one up on his site, when it dawned on me. Hey, I have a website too (hello beautiful fairplaythings!) And since the unexpected and unexplained hiatus that is the ongoing collectible of the day, why not put my comments on my site and make Steve come to me. Sounded good in my head anyway.

For those who want to hear the podcast to understand what I am talking about, where Steve ponders the success and failings of the Shogun Warriors, it’s episode two here.

I always get a little indignant when people talk about the wonder of Japanese engineering being key to the success of the Transformers, because the toy line is really the bastard child of east and west. Takara tried to market diaclone toys in North America to limited success, but it was the genius of mother Hasbro that created the characters (and allegiance) that led to thousands of young robotronians uprising in their suburban homes and demanding they get their Megatron and their Optimus Prime too!

I was thinking about this in terms of Steve’s comments about Shogun Warriors, particularly with respect to Godzilla. The commercial for the thunder lizard implies that Mattel did envision him as a possible villain, even if they were not prepared to create a symbol for his chest. Really, if Hasbro did anything, it was give us the battle of good versus evil, and much better names than Mazinger, Combattler, and Daigan. And I wonder too if the Shogun would have been even more popular if someone had done tech specs for the guys.

Certainly the line could have been helped in the imagination of children with a cartoon. And for us children of the eighties, wasn’t there a cartoon for everything? I mean Robotixeven had one, a construction toy where you would think heroes and villains wouldn’t apply. And yet the original toy packaging came to reflect the battles of the Protectons and Terrakors.

But the seventies was a different place and a different time. Where there were laws against directly marketing to children in the form of 22 minute advertisements with mini-advertisements embedded in the programming. Steve talks about the links between popular toys and movies (and live action television), and my understanding is that the use of such likenesses as Buck Rogers, Star Wars, and the Six Million Dollar Man was fair game because their target audience wasn’t completely intended to be 7-12 years old. (Clearly it was a time before grown men outnumbered children in the toy isles of a Toys ‘r Us.) Certainly, comic books (Micronauts, GIJoe, even ROM) were seen as key marketing methods to encourage the success of a toy line because the door to cartoons was closed.

So I would maintain that Mattel couldn’t go down the path of having a cartoon directly. The company probably benefitted from the existence of Godzilla as a cartoon, but there were probably enough differences that their legal team could explain there was insufficient links (and this may explain why the toy Godzilla looked so different than what was expected, even given the technology of the day). I would imagine that the introduction of Force Fiveat the end of the Shogun Warrior line was not coincidental, and may even have hurried the toyline off the shelves if Mattel had been leaning on getting out of the toyline anyway.

In any event, while I’m not sure if Ronald Reagen deserves an airport named in his honour, let it be said there should be at least three cartoon studios rechristened in his name.

Coming back to the end of the line for Shogun Warriors, a four year toy run may seem insignificant, but we are spoiled by the popularity of so many “branding” holdovers from the 1980s. There are not a lot of unified toy lines that last four years. I agree with wikipedia’s hypothesis that the end of the toy line came about because of declining demand meeting improved safety concerns, although I expect other factors were involved as well. I’m sure the issue of licensing came up, and Mattel may have looked at the extra cost for safety changes and the declining sales numbers for the line, and decided it wasn’t worth it to continue to pursue the licensing agreement.

Anyway, just a few thoughts on a great podcast. I’m encouraged to hear about the toys of my youth, properties I think need a little love. And now I need to get back to the collectible of the day. Stay tuned!

***

I would be remiss if I didn’t add a comment here about the passing of Michael Gough. It’s sad to see him go. He will always be Alfred to me.

Countdown
TRU Exclusive

February 23, 2011: 38th in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Universe
Region, Year: North America, 2009
Essential Weblink: http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUCountdown/countdown.htm

Completist, Original, Value, Zing

The Rundown: Okay, this is probably where my rating system goes all out of wack, but I freakin’ love Countdown. I really have no rational explanation for it. I mean he’s just a repaint. And not even a Universe or Classics repaint either. No, Hasbro just took advantage of the four year old Cybertron Defense Red Alert chassie to put a special toy on the shelves of TRU USA (sadly, not in Canada, so thank you Teresa for scoring this one for me!) Anyway, suffice to say I’m showing the love for another micromaster, although I certainly wouldn’t turn down a remoulded head. Anyone? Anyone?

Stormcloud
Universe 2.0

February 22, 2011: 37th in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Universe
Region, Year: North America, 2009
Essential Weblink: http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/TFUStormcloud/stormcloud.htm

Completist, Design, Zing

The Rundown: While Stormcloud is certainly a repaint of Powerglide, his release was not a special store exclusive. No, Stormcloud was just another toy on another toy shelf near you. His ties to Generation One are certainly micro, but he comes off as a decent repaint. A good use of an existing mould, even if it does seem strange that a villain would wear his unremoulded heart so seemingly on his sleeve chest.

Skyfall Skyjack
K-Mart Exclusive

February 21, 2011: 36th in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Universe
Region, Year: North America, 2009
Essential Weblink: http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/TFUSkyfall/skyfall.htm

Completist, 0.5 Value, 0.5 Zing

The Rundown: We’re still doing a bit of transition here with the new rating system, so expect a picture update to come featuring my somewhat nifty graphics. I can already see that the graphical portion of this exercise is going to eat up an increased amount of time.

Anyway, Skyjack (renamed Skyfall for copyright purposes), what can I say about you? It’s nice to see a Generation 2 figure, even as a repaint. It’s nice to see the use of a classic Action Master name, even if you ended up as a Decepticon. It’s nice to see that some fans couldn’t wouldn’t leave well enough alone and gave you a proper head piece. And though I bought it, I’m not sure it was necessary because of the price (although they did a decent job with what they had). And leaves the question of what to do with the old head.

I don’t know if Skyjack is really necessary. Certainly a black Silverbolt mold looks cool, and sinister with the red accents. And certainly at the cost at which he was procured (which was under retail). But really, he’s a collector’s indulgence. So half points on the value and zing factor, and the obligatory completist point, makes for his lingering rating. He’d have done better with an official remolded head.

Additional Picture:

We have a lot to get to make up for the weekend. Easiest way forward I think is to break the two allocations of toys into their respective groupings, with summaries of each toy within said summary below the heading. Like so (with pictures to follow in the next few days with apologies)…

DC Universe Collection: Wave 16
Build-A-Figure Bane Wave

February 19, 2011: 20th through 26th in a series
Toy Line: Mattel DCUC
Region, Year: North America, 2010
Essential Weblink: http://www.dcuc.info/category/wave_16/

The Rundown: First, a bit of background on the DCUC line. As you likely know, the line is the creative output of the Four Horseman, one that often re-utilizes standard body types to keep costs down. The cannibalization of existing moulds has the advantage of keeping the toys looking like they come from a unified assortment or universe. The downside of course is that you are basically getting a number of moderately altered repaints. This is much more noticeable in earlier assortments (which I hope to get to eventually), but, for DCUC Wave 16, it really seems to be primarily focused on the Riddler and marginally the Creeper. Usually, I would say this was a cop-out and deduct mental points to how I see the figure, but I am a sucker for consistency of scale, so it’s not a bad thing for me.

Jonah Hex: Because I’ve opted to describe figures in their lot assortment order, Hex goes first, a new sculpt with a rubbery shotgun and pistol. Good points for having holsters on his back (shotgun) and hip (pistol) for his accessories, although would it be too much to have solid plastic weapons? Hex has the best paint application of the line in terms of the cool colour pattern on his jeans that is not simply a solid and gives the figure a real world look. Is Hex a character I was chomping for? Not really, but when I saw him I still had to have him. If he’d been a favourite character, he’d be a sell out for sure. Nice job!

(for Completist, Design, Value, Zing)

The Creeper: Oh to go from highs to lows. The Creeper is neither a character I was chomping for, nor is he a particularly interesting rendition. Honestly, I think both the Batman: The Animated Series and (very recent) DC Direct versions are superior. The latter is highly problematic because, frankly, the History of the DC Universe line from DC Direct (from which their Creeper comes) is not a terrible fit for DCUC scale. So unless you love the Creeper, or (like me) you wanted the Bane bits, keep on creeping.

(for Completist)

The Ridder: Given the Riddler is essentially a repaint of the standard base figure with a remodified Wave 5 head (or possibly just without the hat - I cannot actually remember if the hat came off or not) and cane, he really has no right to rank high. In fact, even though the Riddler is not among this toy addict’s favourite characters, I really should be more than happy with the Wave 5 version. But who can not love a Riddler suit that heralds back to the days of Frank Gorshin. He’s simple, beautiful, and mine.
(for Completist, Design, Zing)

Robin: Robin is the variant of the assortment, and a strange one at that since difference between angry Robin and happy Robin (and I am presuming this is Jason Todd versus Dick Grayson) are not significant. Honestly, what I wanted was something like what they did with Starman in Wave 15 and give us a radically different rendering. Like Earth Two Robin or at least the Tim Drake version. I’m not a Batguy generally, and not even the completist in me saw enough value in getting a second of the red and green bird. Otherwise, I’m mostly okay with Robin himself. What I don’t like is, like Hawkgirl, Mattel has given him no place to store what are mostly useless accessories (so he always has to hold them). And, quality wise, my Robin has a stain of some sort on his upper left leg.

(for Completist, Design, Zing)

Mercury: I never knew how much I loved the Metal Men until DCUC (and Batman: Brave and the Bold) started releasing figures of them. I love my Iron and now I love my Mercury. This would be (and should be) a perfect toy for me, right down to the interchangeable hands and sister form THAT ACTUALLY OPEN AND CLOSE. Except that the quality of the plastic and size of the legs are such that my poor Mercury’s right leg is mishaped by the packaging experience. So close, DCUC, so close!

(for Completist, Original, Design, Zing)

Azrael Batman: Here’s another reiteration I was looking forward to. Even though I have the old DC Direct version, I love what is essentially a significant variation of that toy and a totally brand new mould for DCUC to boot. And if it wasn’t for the fact that my black bat emblem was only partially coloured, he would be a sell out for sure. Really it just means I have to redouble my attention to packaging details. Also, can I say again how bad it was that the variant was Robin? It should have been a pre-Batman version of Azrael! Just saying!

(for Completist, Original, Design, Zing)

Bane: Bane’s a free figure in the sense that I didn’t have to pay anything extra for him. But given the less than stellar review of the Creeper, he was at least the $20 it cost me for the Creeper to complete his body. So there is a cost to him after all. And there is an expectation here, even if Bane is not a key or unique character for me. In fact, other than the likely explanation that DCUC is running out of big characters to rendering the collect-and-connect format, I was puzzled as to why he was the build-a-figure because his size should not be much more than those of other characters, muscles aside. And sadly i am disappointed. He’s a decent figure with a head that seems too small for his body. And pretty ordinary. Maybe the Creeper wasn’t worth it after all…

(for Completist)

Transformers: Reveal the Shield and Revenge of the Fallen

February 19, 2011: 27th through 35h in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Generations, Revenge of the Fallen
Region, Year: North America, 2009 and 2010

The Rundown: So new Generations characters are finally making it to retail, just as the better part of Revenge of the Fallen are arriving as well. So it looks like we’ll have a few good months of Transformers before we go into a number of reiterations of Dark of the Moon characters.

Perceptor: Let’s start this party with a bang! In Perceptor, we finally get the notable Autobot scientist, but we get a glimmer, in his alt mode, of what could have been if Transformers: Animated had been allowed to continue. The only thing that could have made this character better is a slightly modified face (the prototype looks much nicer than the rendering I received) and some crazy snipper rifle as found in IDW’s reimagination of the character (but then there’s Drift’s for that). However, that the mould is getting re-purposed as Reflector (based on what we’ve seen at Botcon 2010 and fingers firmly crossed), Perceptor is all win.

(for Completist, Original, Design, Value, Zing)

Dirge: Dirge is a tough one for me because he’s one of my favourite Transformers. Such that I actually grabbed the limited Henkei release with the crazy wing colours (and which I actually quite love, even if they are not show-accurate). And of course I have the “will the controversy ever end?” Botcon 2007 edition, with its show accurate repaint but Ramjet wings. So I didn’t really need him. And in fact he and Thrust cause troubles because I now have three of each of them and only two Ramjets to go with them. What to do, what to do. Anyway, he’s here, I’m happy with him, I don’t hate Botcon forever for putting him out first, and I am very happy to have unloaded my extra earlier on.

(for Completist, Design, Zing)

Bumbebee: Confession: I love Bumblebee. When I stopped collecting Transformers I was still collecting Bumblebee. And yet do I really need a third rendering of the same cast of the character (after the orignal North American classics and the clean Henkei version), particularly one that is not far off the Wal-Mart Legacy of Bumblebee three pack which I have (thus far) avoided? Probably not, but I bought him anyway. Completist. That said, if Hasbro or Takara-Tomy would redo the deluxe Cliffjumper with a new head and accessory, all would be forgiven.

(for Completist, Design)

Tracks: Before saying that Tracks is pure win (and he is pure win!), I want to say that he was so much easier to transform than his Alternator cousin. Wow, those toys are tough. Of the flight mode, all you can really say is keep trying Hasbro. And the paint applications for the Henkei version will be really interesting I suspect. And his head makes him resemble DC’s Knight character (the British Batman you know). But still? Pure win!

(for Completist, Original, Design, Value, Zing)

Scourge: Scourge should be a winner. I mean we finally get an official new mould release that is in scale with Galvatron and Cyclonus. And yet I still think I’m better off with the Titanium and Botcon releases. I love the face sculpt but I hate the jet mould. Also hurting Scourge is his weapon. While Cyclonus got a targetmaster, Scourge’s weapon is merely collapsible. Would it have been so terrible to include Fracus? The gun even looks like he should transform which only compounds the disappointment. And he can’t even wear the gun in jet mode! That said, credit where credit is due, his arm transformation is pretty genius. Still, it should be easy enough to round out a set of Sweeps for him…

(for Completist, Design, Value)

Optimus Prime (Generation Two): The Generation 2 version of Optimus Prime is an interesting choice. Interesting because it is nice to see a new idea come to mind, and also because the G2 look is very reminiscent of the Movie look. And Prime gets a sword this way. I like this toy a lot but it has to take a hit in one place, which is the face. I just don’t like the head mold. Otherwise, it’s a good call. I can’t wait for the fan community to reproduce a trailer.

(for Completist, Original, Value, Zing)

And now onto the Movie toys…

Axer: I am pleased as punch anytime an original Action Master figure is turned into a transforming figure. And I love how Hasbro redesigned Transformers: Animated Lockdown to fit into the Movie-verse (and by extension Generations line). So a reissue of the same mold, with a new weapon and head, is just fine with me. I really like how when I transform him, the gold part of his upper legs actually turn, that they are actually independent pieces of plastic as oppose to paint applications (let’s hope the toy doesn’t suffer from gold plastic syndrome…). And I love the light-up eyes. So win!

(for Completist, Original, Design, Zing)

Smokescreen: Okay, I admit it. I only bought Smokescreen because he was priced at $10 and I liked the repaint, even it I was not all that fond of the Jazz mold the first time around (hate those arms!) But what is really terrible is that Hasbro did Smokescreen, from a different Jazz (Fast Action Battler), in very close to G1 colours, and he looks way better than this. But the biggest problem with this version? I managed to break his right arm first transformation. Yup! Get out the crazy glue, we have a winner. Stupid arms…

(for Completist, Zing)

Rescue Ratchet: For the first Movie, Hasbro did a number of exclusives based on classic Generation One colours. So I’m not all that surprised they decided to do it again with the new Deluxe scale Ratchet. And you know, I really like it. I want to get a second one and swap out the head with a Universe Ratchet and see the results. Anyway, he is a toy I was excited about, so not a bad way to end this epic list.

(for Completist, Design, Zing)

Collectibles are being delayed due to a busy schedule. At 1604 words and counting it’s a big upload. They’ll be here soon, I promise!

As promised just a few short hours ago, I’m taking this moment to unveil fairplaythings.com own toy rating system.

Basically a five star system, I thought I’d try something slightly different by describing toys in terms of how we find them on toy shelves. Of course, the description is based on how well a toy sells itself to me, rather than how it sells in reality, but it’s a simple distinction.

But it is so easy to simply say a toy is a sell out versus a lingering toy (the name used for this rating is actually a homage to a choice book called, Linger Awhile, by Russell Hoban - it’s a tale of ageless love, dead stars, celluloid, and vampires recommended). What we want to do as well as give a bit of context to the ratings. Not just a toy is one thing and not another, but how and why this is the case.

Forgive the overlap that may ensue…

Five Criteria for Critiques

• Completist - Is this a character that I feel I need to complete a line? - I figure if you are on the Collectible list as a toy, you are there with one point. That lowly point is probably based on something as rudimentary as my completist, gotta catch ‘em all mentality. So here’s to the underachieving toy.
• Original - Is it a character I want? - Of course there is going to be a Batman or an Optimus Prime on the shelf. The question is whether it sings, or an example of a toy design team asleep at the switch. This is where cool rendering or a never produced figure will have an advantage.
• Design - Is it a cool rendering of the character or toy? - Design is intended to be serve as an overarching concepts. How is the toy conceptualized? Is it fresh or does it feel like a lot of other toys on the shelf? Is it a flawless execution or are there glitches? Does it get you excited to see how far along toys have advanced or is the same old same old? This is where a toy will lose points if it is a simple repaint without any extras and gain points for innovation.
• Value - Is the toy worth the price? - Tired of toys that are statues and not toys? Toys that fall apart when you look at them? Articulation. Accessories. But also the feeling that this is a toy worth having. This is where factors like these will come into play.
• Zing! - It don’t mean a think if it doesn’t make me sing! - Some toys have good design, are original, and represent good play value. And they sit on the toy shelf in my mind. But to move to the front of the shopping cart, the best of the best have a special X-factor. Something meaningful to me. It could be giving more weight to the use of an obscure character or a clever design, but it’s something. And it’s here.

Now I don’t intend to do a checklist for each toy coming up, saying how it ranks on design, originality, play value, and the x-factor. I have neither the time nor the inclination. I plan to continue to talk about the collectibles I have as they are - all the strange and wonderful tales that I’ve bound up about each one. Sometimes the toys speak to me; sometimes they simply satisfy the completist in me. The ratings will hopefully help me express how I feel about them.

But I still love them, because they’re mine.

You may be surprised to learn that, among many toy grievances for the Canadian collector (multilingual packaging, amateur packaging to accommodate multiple languages, pricing, variety, absence of U.S. exclusives among them), a big one is the simple delay in time between the release of a toy in the United States and its subsequent release in Canada.

Or maybe that is just Ottawa. Sometimes it is hard to tell if shipping to Toronto is better or more consistent.

Suffice to say, it can take a long time for those unwilling to import everything from bigbadtoystore to get the latest goods. I cannot imagine how bad it would be if there weren’t comic book stores like the Silver Snail that is really good about getting in some of my favourite toy lines, like DCUC (on U.S. cards to boot), on a regular basis.

Because they certainly haven’t been showing up at TRU in any regularity.

Anyway, back to my rolling beef about toy shelves. Because of the situation, it becomes impossible to review toys in any timely fashion. My god, poeghostal did a run through of DCUC Wave 16 back on December 4th; Siebertron.com similarly was posting sightings of the Turbo Tracks wave of Transformers: Reveal the Shield in late November.

So here we are in the middle of February. And finally some availability of product and the necessary funds to go forward. So rather than continue with the many Universe 2.0 stories planned for over the weekend, I’ve decided to try something different. Tomorrow (February 20) is going to be a massive review of all the toys picked up on Thursday from TRU and the Silver Snail, essentially DCUC Wave 16 and a number of Movie and Generations Transformers.

More importantly, I’m going to unveil my own rating system. That’s right, I’m going to make a system that tells you what I think of my toys! Does it mean a poor ranking will force the toy to live elsewhere? Probably not, so it makes sense for my personal rating system to reflect this reality. With no disrespect to our American cousins, I’m going to base my rating system on a reversed security threat assessment, in which even the green (or now red) means something.

Consider it an early warning system for your pocket book. Watch for it. Soon!

Powerglide
K-Mart Exclusive

February 18, 2011: 19th in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Universe
Region, Year: North America, 2009
Essential Weblink: http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUPowerglide/powerglide.htm

The Rundown: Having talked about the mistakes made with Powerglide v2.0, let’s move right into Powerglide v2.1. Part of the K-Mart exclusive wave, this is Powerglide done right. In proper colours. It’s a no-brainer to add to one’s collection, particularly when you look at the price point at which it could sometimes be found (thanks Teresa!).

Interestingly enough, I also have Powerglide v2.2, the Takara-Tomy release. It’s a little more red and a little less grey. Honestly, I kind of like the K-Mart edition better, even if Takara-Tomy’s is a more accurate rendering. One of these days (and hopefully soon), I’ll pop one out of their package, and put the other one up for sale. Hopefully.

Additional Pictures:

Hardhead
K-Mart Exclusive

February 17, 2011: 18th in a series
Toy Line: Transformers: Universe
Region, Year: North America, 2009
Essential Weblink: http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUHardhead/hardhead.htm

The Rundown: Other than the head, Hardhead is a perfect rendering of how the character appeared in the IDW comics. Or at least as perfect as one can make without retoolings. But leave it to fanboys and girls to improve on a good toy, with the Hardhead add-on accessory pack, widely available. While I don’t yet have mine, I still plan to pick it up, swap out the old head for the new, and go from there. No wonder Hasbro has started to mold secondary heads with all its new releases.