Little Big Man

Action figures are like rugby players, they are (and for) all shapes and sizes from the sky-scraping Chewbacca and Little John, to the diminutive Jawas, Pidge from Voltron, and the 3-foot something little person Felix Silla (still kicking at the time of this post), a giant in sci-fi, without whom, Twiki the boyish looking silver robot companion to rugged Gil Gerard's "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" would not have become such an integral character to the short-lived series.  Sure, Lucas had Kenny Baker inhabiting the Artoo-Deetoo dome, but Felix had so much more to do with his vertically challenged alter ego, incorporating a range of motion and mannerisms that earned Twiki a cult following among kids and collectors alike.  And so it's fitting that the little man commands the biggest ticket of the Mego Buck Rogers line, a loose off the-packet specimen still a sought after commodity almost forty years later, generally bought for between $20-$30, while untouched minties command three digits.  Proof that sometimes good things do come in small packages.

Superior to Battlestar Galactica's Daggit or the Timelord's K-9 robot companions, Twiki is the quintessential friendly robot action figure; he has a warm-looking disposition, and essentially looks like a boy encased in a garbage can.  His rainbow-design chest button, while firmly attached to the photographed specimen, can become loose over time (my original Twiki sadly suffered this cruel fate, like losing his soul) and like all his contemporaries, his rubber-banded waist relaxes with age leaving him with a distinct lean which could be best described as looking like a candidate for a hip replacement.  The best way to preserve a near-forty year Twiki is to be seen but not heard, so to speak, safely locked away in the display cabinet to cheat the forces of time and toll on inferior rubber joinery (curse you Mego!).  It's the great shame of these Mego figures that they're not more robust constructions, as Buck Rogers is one of the top ten (imho) action figures lines of all time.  

The intrepid Twiki and his classic staccato postures, made possible by the articulation in these Mego figures, really bring the characters to a life of their own in a child's hands, ensuring the action continues long after the greedy, short-sighted networks have cancelled all the fun (which in Buck's case, was notoriously fleeting).  Twiki is perhaps among the best known robots of the genre, behind mega duo Artoo-Deetoo/See-Threepio, and Robbie the Robot, and though not everyone would immediately know his name, his form and features are world renowned beyond his ephemeral TV profile.  An enduring legacy for a faithful servant of the industry, in Mr Felix Silla, may he kick-on eternally.  

Twiki | 1979 | Mego | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Bing Crosby's next generation

The legendary song & dance man Bing Crosby's male progeny typically followed in the Hollywood patriarch's footsteps (Lindsay, Gary, Dennis, Harry to name a few notables), and so it was not unexpected that a female Crosby would join the procession.  Denise Crosby, through her 2.5 seasons aboard "Star Trek The Next Generation" (TNG) achieved cult status in her character Lt Tasha Yar that guaranteed her a rarefied place in the annals of sci-fi TV history.  The action figure in her namesake, then ensured her immortality long after the DVDs run out of print.

With her trademark shock of blonde, short back 'n sides crop, square-jaw and piercing blue eyes well translated into the 3 3/4 inch plastic icon, Na(Tasha) like all of the Galoob TNG line, is a reasonably faithful representation of her small-screen genesis.  The anatomical proportions are, um, generous (mainly noticeable in profile, somewhat more contoured in the upper torso costume mould), Tasha clutches her phaser fixed-in-hand (which at least ensures you won't lose that attachment), while the shoulder-strapped comm-link accessory hangs casually like a common handbag, the ideal fashion accoutrement for the modern space travelling woman.  These Galoob figures are top-drawer designs and construction (especially the aliens from series 2), and while the heads of the Enterprise crew appear to be a fraction under-scaled, this doesn't detract from the detail nor overall quality of the figures.  

While I was somewhat distracted by GI Joe in the late 80's, and didn't discover this line until much later on, having since sampled some of the competing Playmates lines (e.g. Voyager, Deep Space Nine etc), I'm impressed by the attention to detail and generally more realistic proportions of these Galoob figures.  The paint job is all quality (no over-spray) and yet despite their detail & precision, these TNG figures are still a dime of dozen, almost thirty years later.  In point of fact, I picked up all my present collection, MOC, for under $100 - that's all ten figures (excluding a couple of known prototypes that were not mass produced).  A loose (meaning, out of packet) Tasha Yar tends to sell for only a couple of $$ on the second-hand market, which is under-valuing the craftsmanship imo, so grab yourself a few!

Notwithstanding Crosby's premature departure from the series that elevated Deanna Troi to the best known female character from TNG, Tasha will command her place among the original women of their respective toy lines, the first and imho, best of breed aboard the Galoob Enterprise mark II series.

Lt Natasha Yar | 1988 | Galoob | Star Trek TNG

Here's Luci

Growing up, my TV-viewing life revolved around George Reeves as Superman, Adam "Batman" West, Ron Ely's Tarzan, The CHiPs boys and Battlestar Galactica.  Unlike the Star Wars phenomena that was over in two-hours until a TV re-run (these were the days before Betamax, VHS, DVD, blu-ray and bit torrent piracy), BG was there, every weekend to satiate the demand for sci-fi storylines.  And what made BG so successful on the screen as it did in the figure line, was its colourful and eclectic array of characters, such as Lucifer. 

Lucifer the aciton figure looks more like a conehead dipped in toilet water or some deranged anti-Christmas decoration than the brightly-lit right-hand bot to Count Baltar from the series; the paint design lacking the sparkle and lustre of its small screen inspiration.  There's also the lack of articulation beyond moveable arms (which was also the case with the Cylons and Boray from the BG 4" line).  About all Lucifer can do is stand there and look ornamental, which isn't much more perhaps than he does on the screen.  Despite the limitations, Lucifer remains a highly sought-after collectible figure whose loose value is somewhere in the vicinity of $35-$40 being somewhat scarce.  MOC will fetch six-fold that figure, demonstrating the premium placed on this otherwise rather static figure.

But I'm sounding like a Lucifer-hater, which isn't the case.  It's just that I never owned this figure as a kid, always wanted one, and when I finally did snag my very own, he didn't quite live up to my long-awaited expectations.  He can't really interact with Baltar or throw haymakers at Apollo (oh yeah, that's right, they didn't make an Apollo action figure, wtf Mattel?), so what does he do exactly?  Elementary - you simply impersonate Jonathan Harris' voice in robot speak while he casually laser-beams Lt Starbuck into submission.  Either that or you can always pretend he has a vice-like mind grip on Adama that causes him to turn on Starbuck.  There's infinite possibilities.  An action figure doesn't need all the bells and whistles to fulfil the action quotient, it's the imagination that brings it to life.

So I've reconciled my initial disappointment with Lucifer, and he now occupies pride of place in my display cabinet, though for practical reasons, some distance away from my Accoutrements Jesus (2001) action figure.

Lucifer | 1979 | Mattel | Battlestar Galactica 

May the Force Commander be with you...

These 6" Japanese Takara inspired transforming robots were the forerunner to the Transformers a decade later, using magnetised joints to enable custom-built robots and manimals, with rocket firing capability and interchangeable animal-machine hybrids.  Force Commander was the hero of the 2nd wave, his nemesis the jet black Baron Karza, the two mega-bots go head to head with fist-firing, rocket propulsion, their limbs scattering and then magically reassembling for another bout of epic proportions.

The construction of these interchangeable figures is ingenious for their vintage.  Magnetised ball joints click snugly into position, while red rocket heads can be manually fired from the spring-loaded device embedded deep within the figure’s torso, enabling chest fired projectiles and a fist-shooting function that can blast off suddenly if you happen to inadvertently trigger the firing mechanism on the forearm.  Force Commander has a simple though effective design and while it’s largely identical to the others of its ilk (Baron Karza, The Emperor etc), there’s still something impressive about a line of these colourful Micronaut robots on display in various configurations and battle poses.  Of course the mix 'n match capability inherent in these designs, (absent from most other action figures) adds another dimension of imaginative play for kids.  

Due to its magnetised joinery, Force Commander is highly articulate and extremely malleable for kid’s play or action posture.  Obviously the multitude of accessories associated with these figures, make their age appropriateness for children arguable, and consequently, the Micronauts parts trade is a booming sub-industry on the secondary market (tip: keep your parts in those hardware trays to avoid expensive replacement costs).  While I was originally more fascinated in the later-produced 3 3/4" aliens (e.g. Lobros, Antron and friends), I recently became intrigued by the pioneering ingenuity displayed in these heavy duty war machines.  They're robust (they each weigh 200g) and yet you can literally blow them apart, re-attach and begin again, as Finnegan might say.  Sensational, timeless figures with a sci-fi/Shogun-esque look, the Baron may be the crowd favourite, but Force Commander will always be the interplanetary white knight and poster-boy of the Micronauts.

Force Commander | 1977 | Mego | Micronauts

Gamorrean Guard's brother from another mother

If Kevin Costner must be in your collection somewhere, while I'd have preferred a set of "The Untouchables" action figures, I am willing to compromise and amass the modest but stylish "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" line by Kenner instead.  The jolly, corpulent man of the cloth, Friar Tuck is his stereotypical jolly self with robe, rope belt and staff as his accoutrements.

There's nothing imho especially charismatic about the jolly Friar, he's not as whimsical looking as Milo O'Shea or with a face like a slapped turkey a la Ronnie Barker, but he's that essential character you virtually have to conceive if you're going to develop a Robin Hood action figure line.  Odd  perhaps that such a dowdy little man in a drab brown robe and sandles would make the mould and yet Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's more tantalising likeness couldn't get a look-in, but I'll save those criticisms for the full line review.

What is perhaps remarkable about this portly fellow is his mould.  Recycling is nothing new in action figures,   though this particular lineage always seems to amuse me for its total re-use of old moulds, rather than more subtle sampling.  In this context, the good Friar is apparently a distant relative of the Gamorrean Guard of Jabba's Palace, ROTJ.  So much so, that Kenner spared much expense re-tooling the press, torso paint & detail, merely popped a new head on his shoulders, called him Friar Tuck and we've got ourselves a stew.  It's devilishly simple, maybe even a tad cheeky.  I've even seen Friar being offered for sale as a "rare Gamorrean Guard variant" at an inflated price for some unlucky punter to discover that he's possibly worth less now than he was brand new, almost 25 years ago.

Inexpensive is a word that springs immediately to mind when I consider the RHPOT line, not in their construction mind you, just their residual value has plummeted (though this may rebound to some degree with the current resurgence of Robin Hood in the cinema).  Nevermore than pennies loose, maybe $5 MOC, this tubby little theologian from Sherwood Forest is (presently) a highly affordable collectible and though he may be a borrowed body of a more inspired pig-man creation, he possesses quality accessories, a genial disposition, and overall, fits into a modest though well constructed eight-figure line very nicely. 

Friar Tuck | 1991 | Kenner | Robin Hood Prince of Thieves 

Walter Becker moonlights for Eagle Force

Electronics whiz, Zapper is the ubiquitous tech-savvy component of any para-military outfit.  Think Emilio Estevez in MI1, or the character “Theo” from Die Hard who has to engineer the opening of the vaults and override all security systems, but also carry a loaded weapon.  These individuals are virtually indispensable, they are the grunts with the gear, able to disable and capable of harm.  Zapper exudes ham-radio enthusiast, but the serious boom stick he’s packing belies an otherwise meek geek image.

  

Like former British PM John Major, it’s difficult to determine whether he wears a moustache or just a shadow of one he used to sport.  Sleeveless with what looks like an enviable crop of sandy brown hair, he’s the epitome of contrasts looking more like Walter Becker from Steely Dan than an engineer in uniform.

There’s sometimes speculation about Zapper variants; with/out painted moustache, brown/blonde hair, and it’s difficult to know whether these are in fact subtle variations, or paint deterioration over time.  Personally I’ve never seen an alternate head sculpt (vis-à-vis The Cat for instance) or a total colour exchange (e.g. gold Nemesis).  That said, as the eminent Dr Zaius reminded us, there are bound to be mutants, and where’s there’s one, there’s another, and another, and another.  Quality control, or lack thereof invariably leads to rogue variants, though it’s difficult to discern a genuine brown-haired, invisible moustache Zapper from a regular beaten favourite.

So that’s all I have to say about “Zapper”, a whiz sapper, a scrawny geek from the 1970’s whose Kombi van was probably filled with closed-circuit TVs and citizen’s band, who became the envy of his nerd mates when he was drafted to join the elite special forces outfit, Eagle Force.

Zapper | 1981 | Mego | Eagle Force

More than a woman

Meet Kate McRae, the 3 ¾ miniaturisation of Yvette Mimieux from the 1979 Disney film, The Black Hole.  Kate is the token female of the crew, but still, apparently the least desirable to own, with dozens of Kate McRae’s available on the secondary market as individuals, and not infrequently among mixed lots on that auction web-site in particular.  A MOC K8 McRae is still only $25 (though a GIG card is more), and loose collectible quality can be obtained for little more than treble the original retail price.  Like the majority of her ilk, K8 carries no accessory, (no make-up bag or hair-dryer, for instance), so she’s going to struggle to compete with her contemporaries, especially when they include notables like Princess Leia with removable capes and blasters, or Marion Ravenwood with doily dress and chimp companion. 

Mego’s foray into the sci-fi genre in response to Kenner’s spectacular success with Star Wars (and Mego’s epic fail in that regard) was essentially doomed due to diversification and design.  Too many lines competing against one another divided its market (consider Star Trek TMP, CHiPs, The Black Hole and Buck Rogers all appearing at the same time), then the delicate, highly articulated construction and rubber-band joinery ill-suited to child’s play, further eroded the brand.  But I’m not here to bash Mego; for all their mis-steps, I still regard them as being the pioneers of this industry and to this day, remain my absolute favourite action figure brand.  Even if I curse them every time one of their slack-waisted figures checks-in for hip replacement surgery (I guess that’s just the ageing process that many of us will experience anyway, so maybe they were into experiential figures, more realistic than we could ever have imagined).

K8 is your typical female action figure, painted pink and with bumps & curves in all the right places.  She’s not a bad likeness to Yvette, though the same couldn’t be said for some of her peers (think Ernest Borgnine’s Harry Booth for instance).  Susceptible to broken thumbs, slack waist and general wear and tear, K8 is delicate like her dynamic among a shuttle full of men, but still, able to stand her ground in the face of gender discrimination.  Given there are so relatively few female characters in the vintage action figure lines, K8 will maintain a privileged place in the annals of action figure history along with the Princess Leia’s, Wilma Deerings, Marion Ravenwood’s et al of this hobby.  She may not immediately spring to mind when considering that relatively small fraternity, but she deserves our attention for her power-suited (albeit still pinkish) only ever-so-subtle androgyny.  She’s an explorer first, woman second.

Kate McRae | 1979 | Mego | The Black Hole