He's Here...KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

As promised some pics of the EMCE Khan figure, or retro cloth figure, I think that's what most are calling these.



The coolness factor of this figure is off the scale, which when I thought about this last statement a little more I thought of a funny situation. If I was eight this would be the lamest figure ever, I mean that's why I had Kirk and Spock when I was a kid, they were not lame, they were the heroes of the show. Now, much older, this is one of the coolest of the figures from the EMCE Star Trek line. Makes me chuckle when I think that I may be betraying my younger self.



Oh and isn't the likeness dead on to Ricardo Montalban? Which by the way celebrated a birthday just this past Tuesday, Happy Birthday Mr. Montalban! The plane, the plaaaaaaane!

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

I hope everyone is having a Grand Turkey Day!

At the request of my sister I am throwing up a Christmas List. I don't like making lists, but since she asked I figured what the hell... I mean heck (case Santa's reading). Plus in the spirit of when I used to make Christmas Lists back in '78, I scoured the catalogs (in this case the web) and clipped the stuff I was looking for under the tree this year! Also as since I know Santa reads all the lists I like to start with a few selfless requests, the ones that I would really be happy if they came to fruition on Christmas Day, no joke, plus I always like to butter up the jolly fat man with some well wishes as an ender. Everything else is just icing on the cake, plus they are way more obtainable than the first three, that way some of the pressure is off Santa and back on the rest of us.

I don't expect everything, but I think I came up with a few choices in various price ranges and will most certainly be happy with any one thing from the list. So without any further wait I give you Christmas List 2008!



Also, Sis, I am going to post this at the side bar so it's an easy reference for ya, that way you don't have to dig through all the posts!

And as always I will be ignoring everyone else's lists, that's just the way I roll. Keeps you on your toes!

One Present Off The List!

Python Patrol!

Speaking of repaints, here is an example of what I'm talking about, slap some new colors on the ole' Cobra Trooper and bingo you have a Cobra Python Patrol Officer!



I can't count the times I passed on this figure, only to break down and pick him up on one of my last trips to the GI Joe aisle. I have to say I kind of dig the colors on this one, he really looks better out of the package and is somewhat cooler that the regular Cobra Trooper Officer.



So much so I might have to snag another in case I want my H.I.S.S. Tank to change squads and go with the Python Patrol. Or maybe target needs to get some new Joes in stock so I am not tempted to pick up another one...

Cobra
G.I. JOE: 13
COBRA: 12

Bazooka Joe

I know that Hasbro just mixes and matches the parts to various joes, or may just repaint them, but they do it so well that for this line I do not mind. Star Wars on the other hand it bugs me, maybe because the number of clone troopers is hitting astronomical levels. Anyway we have seen the Cobra Trooper released and rereleased with different paint schemes before, but this has to be my favorite to date. They added some cool web gear and a sweet helmet, plus he gets an old school bazooka and a 45 and he's ready to blow up some GI Joe Tanks! Does a Cobra Trooper get better than this? I don't know, but in my book this guy rocks!



Ah the simple things that make us happy. Cobra!

G.I. JOE: 13
COBRA: 11

Now for some Cobra Reinforcements!

The H.I.S.S. tank is mine again! My original one was the black version and didn't come with a driver this one, also the black version, came with a driver and a few bags of Groceries! That's right I found this one at the grocery store. I'm sure they are everywhere, but he was actually a dollar less at the local food buying place. Man I love that Grocery store.



How cool is it to be able to hit the grocery store and come out with a freaking tank! That's Cobra cool there! This is exactly like my vintage one with the non moving treads, rotating blasters that you can pop off and pretend it's a flying laser canon (come on I'm sure I wasn't the only one that did this). If I remember right I picked up my original one through a mail away catalog that came with another GI Joe vehicle, ah the magic of toys in the mail which would make sense that it didn't come with a tank commander or driver. I wonder if the store bought ones back then did, that's okay my Joes always stole the H.I.S.S. and used it against Cobra.



I would like to end with a quote from my son "Holy Crap they sell junk that big at the grocery store!" They sure do, COBRA!

G.I. JOE: 13
COBRA: 10

It's been a long time coming...

Okay so I've been out a while, this is what I like to call "Catalog Season". The company only does one catalog a year (though this year we actually did two) and most designers know that a catalog is a lot of work, not a big deal, just a lot of work. Now not to sound like I'm whining or anything, but I have to shoot the entire thing, process the images, do any illustrations, lay it out and then get it ready to print. This year I was behind due to some other projects so the time I usually take to lay it out was cut in half... anyway now it's done and I'm going to try to get back up to speed on the ole' blog. So I thought I would start with a heavy hitter, at least in my book. A new member of the Eclectorama Collection none other than...



Wait for it...



Wait for it...







MEGO IRON MAN!!!!

I have been wanting a Mego Iron Man since I was little. I remember seeing his picture on a box or on a store display when I was just a lad. I knew Mego Spidey and Mego Captain America needed this guy too. I was so confident that I would get him one day that I would tell my friends that their Megos were in trouble when he finally arrives. Which goes to show you don't count your Megos before they are bought.

So fast forward to 2008, some thirty plus years later and I finished a large freelance project and was eyeing that Hot Toys Bank Robber Joker, when this guy flew across my radar. So the Joker had to wait for another day as I set to watching Iron Britches on Ebay. I waited and waited for what seemed like forever and when the time was right I struck and low and behold I was the new owner of a Mego Iron Man!



Now my Mego readers will have to tell me if he looks original or not, I always have my suspicions, but he looks pretty damn close to original to me and I don't think I would like him any less if there were some reproduction parts on him. I tell you Mego Iron Man is one of the end all be all Iron Man figures and he has a permanent place on my desk and my collection, always in sight. I'll probably be buried with him!



So look out Bobo, Randy, and Snuffy. I finally have my Iron Man and I will be looking you guys up for some battles, Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Man I hope they still have their Megos, that would be awkward...

I'm Officially Excited!

Okay I've been excited for months upon learning of a new Star Trek movie, but the trailer was the deal breaker. As a warning to my wife, be prepared for an onslaught of "Star Trek this and Star trek that" till the movie is released. Here's some stills from the trailer for the rest of you to enjoy.


Ooooh, they have Stormtroopers now!


A sweet shot of the Enterprise under construction


Hey look, Spock was born where Kirk fought the Gorn!


Leaving a Starbase? Ahead Warp Factor One, Mr. Sulu


Some Shuttlecraft escaping a battle


Oh My, Mr. Sulu in a fight with a... Klingon???
edit: turns out it was Romulan


The Millennium Falcon...err I mean Enterprise makes a daring escape!


The new face of Star Trek villainy

So what are you waiting for, check out the trailer here!

There she blows!

It's the great white whale...err... Star Ship Enterprise! So This has been making the rounds this week with the announcement of a trailer premiering in four days at the official movie site.

I don't hate it, but I'm not really falling head over heals for it either. I guess I need to see it in action on the big screen. I like the nod to the original motion picture, the saucer section looks really close to the Enterprise retrofit and the Enterprise A, so I could see how they could flow continuity wise. The nacelles seem a little bulky, especially after seeing the ship on the show Enterprise, and the secondary hull seems a little trim, but I think this will all grow on me. I have mixed feelings on the deflector dish, I loved the old school copper radar dish that continually broke of every model of the enterprise I have owned, and I like the original motion picture's treatment of the blue glow, streamlined version. This seems to be a nice cross of the two, but I don't know I sorta miss the copper one. Enough nerd talk.

On a secondary note, since I have family reading the blog, I noticed this little bit for a pre order of the new movie toys, a case of the new figures in 3 3/4 scale for the amazing price of 62.89 USD! Ten figures in all, delivered in April 2009, just before the movie! I'm just saying this would make a swell Christmas present or Birthday present! I do not mind waiting for April to open a present! Hint, hint. Here's the link in case you are curious.

Till next time, ahead warp factor one!

Harley Quinn

I had this post ready to go, at least the pictures a month or so ago, then I go check out Toyriffic, and he beats me to the punch, which is fine cause Eric and I always say we are long lost brothers. On more than one occasion we both have spoke about, taken pictures off, or mentioned in comments similar toys.

The thing that always gets me when talking toys with others across the country is the availability issue (one reason the great JLU Club was formed). Now Eric has more than likely had his Harley Quinn for quite some time, while here in Texas they just pretty much hit the shelves. He was talking about getting Green Lantern, I'm still looking for Aquaman. Why can't these things hit all at once? Was it like this when we were kids? As a kid I assumed that Mr. Spock Mego was everywhere, I remember walking in stores and seeing the World's Greatest Super Heroes in the same displays at the Toy Warehouse, TG&Y, and the Dime's Store. Pretty much when I got into the toy industry I assumed when we shipped product that all the stores got them around the same time.

So my main question is, should we have release dates like DVD's? I say every Tuesday new toys get put on the shelves, I mean why is Tuesday for DVDs and CDs, why not give fans another reason to hit the stores on Tuesday? I could see it now, Monday would drag waiting for new toys! The Tuesday comes and Whammo! New stuff falls from the skies! They could even run sections in the sales ads, New Toy Tuesday!



You know now that I look at this shot, I wonder if I can get the misses to dress as Harley next Halloween? Hummmmm.

Halloween 2008

Okay a little late, but here are a few pics from the first ever Eclectorama Halloween Party!


The Bone Yard, took up the corner of the back yard.


We had a Pumpkin Contest, but we only had three entries.


The witch busy casting spells, one of the cutouts we had around the yard, the rest were spooky trees.


Where are your buccaneers? He didn't get it either.


Lulu, or should I say a flying Monkey, was the life of the party. Her sister had a matching costume, but spent most of the party hiding.


Speaking of sisters, mine's a crazy cat lady.


A couple from the local checkers club? I didn't get it either... parents, what are you going to do?


Satan dropped by to eat some food and use the toilet, which reminds me does anyone no how to get red off a toilet seat?


The grave yard with fog.


The boy said he was a modern vampire, but the teeth wouldn't work so he settled for a zombie.


Captain Kirk, always popular with the ladies! Actually the second time in my life I dressed up as a crew member from the U.S.S. Enterprise... the first time I was about 7 years old, costume still fits!