Toy Review: Fisher Price Adventure People X-Ray Man and X-Ray Woman

1982 rolled around, and I was in the golden age of my toy-loving childhood.  This was smack in the middle of  the Star Wars merchandising revolution, Mego was importing the Micronauts from Japan (called Micromen there), Masters of the Universe was hitting its stride, and Transformers was right over the horizon.    In the middle of all this was Fisher Price - that venerable old toy maker - trying to figure out how to capture the hearts of boys everywhere in the midst of all that Sci-Fi glory.  Luckily for them, they had gotten in on the ground floor of the small action figure market that was just beginning to surface.  For sure, many people will remember Star Wars as their gateway into collecting 3-3/4 inch action figures, but Fisher Price was ahead by a couple years on Kenner, releasing their first Adventure People set in 1975.

However, Star Wars was not without its influence on the figures that came later.  Fisher Price did venture into Science Fiction land with a variety of Adventure People toys.  Mostly, these were sets that included vehicles and figures to go along with them.  The themes of these sets were always non-violent, and mostly focused on exploration, with some occasional meetings with alien beings.  Two of these are the subject of today's review - the X-Ray Man and X-Ray Woman.

Released in 1982, these two figures were packaged as individually carded toys, and were not included in any sets.  They are actually recolored figures of male and female wetsuit divers, and this kind of re-use of molds was not uncommon in the Adventure People line.  Both had hard plastic transparent green torsos, clear green  vinyl arms and legs, and solid green heads.  I suppose the idea of being able to see through their skulls might have been considered to be somewhat scary to kids at the time.  

The eyes were just simple yellow dots, and the chests were printed with some form of robotic controls.  

I think I can honestly say that their hair represents the only instance in which I might appreciate the color periwinkle.  I guess androids like puffy hair.

The torsos were really quite transparent, though the vinyl was a bit more cloudy.

Almost all Adventure People figures are sculpted with the left arm and hand turned so as to be able to grip a steering wheel.  The left legs are usually made so that the toys look as though they are beginning to take a step forward.  These designs gave the figures a sense of dynamism that the actual articulation lacked.  The heads are on a nice ball joint that allows them to look at their toes, but sadly, the arms and legs are on simple swivel joints.

Stepping outside for a moment, you can really see how these figures react in bright light.

These two were very cool additions to the Adventure People space sub-line.  I remember having a lot of fun with these, especially given that with their size and styling, it wasn't at all a stretch to place one of these in an X-Wing and go zooming around the room.  Good old simple toys that fired up the imagination were just my cup of tea - in 1982 and today.

Toy Review: Popy GB-42 Mechanic Lightan (2007 Bandai reissue)

It's time to revisit one of my very favorite toy lines with another of Bandai's reissues of the wonderful early 80s's Golden Warrior Gold Lightan toys.  In my very first review, I gave an overview to the main character, Gold Lightan, a giant golden robot whose alternate form is that of a pocket cigarette lighter.  Yup, it was 1981, and I guess smoking was still pretty darn common, so perhaps a lighter would have been an adequate disguise.  We all know the tobacco industry has been trying to hook kids for years.  Maybe they were busy luring Japanese youth with huge fighting robots and chogokin toys?

Anyway, the subject of today's review is a subsequent Lightan toy, Mechanic Lightan.  Reissued by Bandai in 2007, this toy was originally one of Popy's releases in its GB Chogokin line.  Mechanic Lightan served in an assistant role in the original television series, acting as a repair bot for the rest of the Lightan team.

In lighter form, Mechanic is a bit shorter than his big brother Gold Lightan, but is wider and stouter.  The toy has greater weight, as there is less hollow space inside.  You'll see why in a bit.  This lighter has a rounded top, but still retains the signature "crystal cut" surface that also adorns Gold Lightan.  There are quite a few seams and some hinges visible in this mode.

A look at the underside reveals the GB-42 code, and an indicator that this is a reissue, rather than an original.  No matter, it's purported to be a faithful reproduction.  You can also see many more seams here as well.  This is where we'll start his transformation to robot mode.

Flipping some of these panels open reveals three wheel pods with a total of four wheels.  Most of the toy is heavy diecast metal, and these wheels are made of the same stuff.

Mechanic Lightan sits upright on these wheels quite well, and he rolls freely on them.

A simple flip of the lighter's top and the robot's head is exposed.  The plastic is a deep metallic blue with silver and yellow accents.  Note the red plastic button on top of the head and the spring-loaded support arm for the top.  It's like the supports on the hoods of many modern cars!

Pressing the red button pops open Mechanic Lightan's chest.  Hidden inside are a variety of moving parts.

Swinging the chest panels all the way out to the sides, one can then fold out two manipulator arms.  These red plastic parts are mounted on silver chromed extenders.

One use for these arms is as firing missile launchers.  These utilize very small missiles that can be fired when the button on top is pressed.

Opening the chest up allows you to get at Mechanic Lightan's array of tools.  These are, amazingly, also made of the same gold diecast from which most of the rest of the toy is constructed.

There's a flat-head screwdriver, drill bit, Phillips head screwdriver, and then a socket wrench.  Each is about three quarters of an inch high.

Each can fit in the missile launcher's opening in place of a missile, thus allowing Mechanic Lightan to make needed repairs.

The blue carrying compartment can even be tilted forward to allow for easier access to the tools.

Mechanic Lightan's got quite a lot of features and gimmicks, and his weight is substantial due to copious amounts of diecast metal.  He's fantastic hand candy and a lot of fun to play with.  A reproduction piece like this is certainly aimed at the adult collector's market, but this is a real honest-to-goodness toy.  I love these guys!

Toy Review: Tonka Gobots Loco

Anyone who was a fan of boys' toys in the 1980's will know of the Gobots.  Usually, they will tell you that Tonka's Gobots were the poor cousin of Hasbro's Transformers toys.  In many ways, they would be correct.  The Gobots never had the same level of popular appeal, and generally the Gobots toys were seen as less complex compared to the Transformers.  Yet, there were quite a few of us who loved both lines and owned quite a few of these "lesser" toys. 

The Gobots were released from between 1983 and 1987 (and the rights to the Gobots name was later actually acquired by Hasbro in 1991).  Like how Hasbro imported Takara's designs for the  Transformers toys, Tonya similarly marketed Bandai's Machine Robo toys as the Gobots in the USA.  These were usually figures around three inches tall, made of hard plastic and die-cast metal, often with chrome accents, along with simplistic transformations.  This simplicity was all part of the charm, though, as these toys could be changed during actual play.  These were toys that were perfect for rough play and for carrying around in a pocket.  Tokya provided a set of factions so that kids could make their favorite characters battle it out, but I personally never much paid attention to all that.  The toys were fun, and that was what I cared about.

The subject of today's review is Loco, a glossy black steam engine that folds out into a robot.  In this case, "folding" is a fairly appropriate term, as that is basically what Loco does in order to change forms.  Firstly, here's Loco in robot mode.  The torso and head are black-painted die-cast metal, and and make Loco fairly heavy for its size.  My toy has seen a fair amount of play, and so the various corners have been roughed up a bit over the years.  The arms and legs are black-molded plastic, and chrome accents are present on the lower legs, as well as the face.  Some crisply-printed stickers give him some greater detailing.

A side view affords a better glimpse of the chromed wheels, as well as red-chromed accents on the legs and sides of the head.

Loco's kind of a formal-looking gent.  His legs evoke straight-legged suit pants.  A little bit of gold paint adds that extra-classy touch.

To begin the transformation to train mode, set Loco in a neutral pose.

Push the arms in at the sides like so.

Next, begin to fold the legs up at the hips.

Flip Loco over and you've got a cool little steam engine!  He's only about two inches long in this mode, and there are some small wheels underneath to allow Loco to roll along.

There's plenty of detail in this small package. 

The Gobots were good old classic toys, and Loco's a great example.  Loads of fun from the era when transforming was the main gimmick that a robot might feature.  Yeah, Loco's not a Transformer, but it's pretty sweet nonetheless.

Toy Review: Godzilla's Gang Muruchi

Here's another nostalgic toy from my childhood.  My brothers and I had a few of Mattel's Godzilla's Gang figures when they were released in 1978.  These toys were actually manufactured by the Japanese toy-maker Popy, but Mattel did the distributing here in the States.  I suspect those that made it into our hands were purchased from the local five and dime store.  Selling for around a buck, these toys would have been particularly hard to resist for little monster-loving boys.

Despite being a member of Godzilla's Gang, Muruchi here was really a villainous monster from the Return of Ultraman show that aired in Japan in 1971.  

Muruchi seems to be suffering from some blobby paint application.  Yeah, these were cheap, but couldn't they have put a bit of care into this?

Muruchi is sort of the bizarre love-child of Godzilla and a kielbasa.  Unlike some robots I know, kaiju don't seem to suffer too much when viewed in profile.

Paint applications on toys like this aren't usually too complex, but there's a certain charm to the way vast swaths of color are applied, highlighting the sculpt's texture.

Muruchi gets a little mustard yellow for his bee-hive mitten hands.  Clearly, this was a much-used toy.

The yellow made its way only other body parts, including his toes.

Articulation was (and still is) extremely limited on vinyl kaiju toys.  In Muruchi's case, he's actually got quite a bit more than the normal.  His arms, legs, and tail are all moveable.  "Run, Muruchi, run!  See Muruchi run!"

Yup, he's a fun old toy, and one that I acquired very recently, having been gifted it by my younger brother on my birthday.  This is the actual toy we had as kids, and he graciously passed it on to me (along with a few other kaiju who may wind up getting the Geezer treatment).  Thanks for the assist into the WABAC Machine, APH!

Toy Review: Masters of the Universe Classics He-Man and Battle Cat

Just about any kid who grew up in the 1980s remembers the powerhouse character He-Man from the Masters of the Universe toy line.  While not quite as popular as Star Wars, the MOTU toys rivalled Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for space on most boys' birthday and Christmas wish lists.  First released in 1981, the line spawned multiple television shows, a live-action film, as well as subsequent toy lines, including the Masters of the Universe Classics.

The original line consisted of a series of toys whose component parts were often re-used to form other figures.  For example, there is a trademark furry loincloth with studded leather belt that was used across the majority of the male characters in the line.  Likewise, legs, arms, and torsos were often the same from figure to figure, with only plastic color or paint applications showing differentiation from one to the next.  Heads were almost always different, though.  Characteristically, the line was focused on a swords and sorcery vibe, but with technological elements thrown in as well, which gave it quite a different feel from other toy franchises at the time.  

In 2008, a new line of MOTU toys was introduced.  These figures were created in such a way as to mimic the feel of the original line, but with much-improved articulation.  More detailed paint applications and a slightly larger size (original figures were around six inches tall where these were seven inches) differentiated these figures further from the earlier toys.  Still manufactured by Mattel, these new Masters of the Universe Classics (usually shortened to MOTUC) toys were marketed towards the "adult collector" and were not sold in stores, being only available via the web.

Oddly, the subject of this review, He-Man, was not the first toy released in the line.  That honor went to King Grayskull, a supposed forebear of He-Man.  It was a smart marketing move, though, as this "preview" figure brought the fans to a frenzy of anticipation for the release of He-Man himself.  He-Man was released in December of 2008, and the toy line has continued ever since, with new figures released each month.  

He-Man comes with the full set of gear that his original counterpart did - a battleaxe, shield, trademark X-shaped harness, and, of course, the Power Sword.  The sword was made famous in the original television series as the magical device with which Prince Adam could transform into He-Man, while uttering the phrase "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power!"  However, I was one of the lucky ones to have had MOTU toys a full year or so before the TV show ever aired, so I have always been more enamored of the axe that he carries in the minicomics that came with the original toys.  Eventually the sword becomes his primary weapon, but I've always preferred the axe.  

The MOTUC He-Man has much the same look as the original, with bulging muscles, clean-shaven face, and slightly shaggy blonde hair.  The character is somewhat reminiscent of a Frank Frazetta creation.  In fact, there is an old rumor (incorrect, though) that the original He-Man toys grew out of Mattel's failed attempt to create Conan the Barbarian figures to tie in with the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger film.

This new He-Man's facial features seem to be a merger of the look of the original toy and the character from the television show.  I think they did a fine job making the face quite recognizable as a proper He-Man.

The sculptors did a fine job integrating certain of the joints on the figure into the character's musculature.  

However, elsewhere the joints are plainly visible, such as at the knee and elbow.  Here you can see how the Power Sword can be carried on He-Man's back.

Speaking of weapons, all three of his accessories are very similar to the original, just manufactured with additional detail and paint applications.

The lower legs feature multi-directional joints in the ankle, and a swivel joint where the boots meet the rest of the leg.

There's a waist joint here, and the legs are are also on multi-directional joints.  The furry loincloth is somewhat flexible in order to allow for greater leg movement.  Paint application is a bit sloppy on mine, and this is one of the criticisms I have for the entire line.

Speaking of paint, on each of these figures there is a slight airbrushing of paint to enhance the musculature.

The hands are nicely sculpted, and there's a joint where the hand meets the wristband.

All these various joints allow for a fairly wide range of motion and ability to pose the toy.

Like on the original toy, He-Man's harness can be removed.  Basically, these were like dolls for boys, so the various accessories could be swapped from figure to figure.

This more clearly shows the "ab crunch" sort of joint that exists on almost every figure in the line.  

He-Man had an unusual steed - a giant green and orange striped cat called Battle Cat.  The 80s toy was actually just a repainted version of a tiger from Mattel's earlier "Big Jim" toy line.  That battle cat had no articulation to speak of, though with his armor on, He-Man was able to sit astride him.  This updated toy was  released in 2010, and, unlike its earlier counterpart, features joints galore.

Battle Cat's armor has been spiffed up a bit with some subtle paint applications.

Every part of Battle Cat is covered with furry detail.

Just as with He-Man, some of the joints could have been integrated better.

The saddle armor and helmet can be removed.

I think Battle Cat is more fearsome looking without the armor.

He even has a joint along the midsection of his body.  The proliferation of joints makes for fairly natural posing.

The saddle is sculpted in such a way to allow He-Man (or most any other MOTUC figure) to sit without the loincloth getting in the way.  

Battle Cat's saddle also provides loops on either side where the Power Sword can be carried.

My few criticisms aside, this is a fantastic update to the toys I loved as a kid.  Great attention was paid to making these clearly recognizable as He-Man and Battle Cat, and the updated articulation and paint applications make the toys really stand out on a shelf.  Whereas most toys in the Masters of the Universe Classics line are only available on the day of sale or through online retailers, these two are always able to be purchased at MattyCollector.com.