GROUNDHOG DAY SALE

7 DAYS OF SALES THROUGH  WED FEBRUARY 5th

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Mystery Prototype: Toy Biz's Lex Luthor

I was perusing the inter web the other day and out of the corner of my screen I spotted a familiar favorite  that just seemed a little different. For the supposed condition of it I could have  overlooked it but something called me in to take a closer look. 

Something was out of place from what I was accustomed and I couldn't put my finger on it immediately but I knew that something was very different. Lex was in a black suit first of all, which I new to not be correct but I wrote it off as some sort of custom job. Something else wasn't right about the packaging but still I couldn't readily identify it. I watched the item for a couple of days but no one seemed interested in it, partially due to its odd description:

"Package has the original front, the back has been replaced by a sheet of white card stock. The plastic bubble has been stapled to re-attach it. The figure is in good condition. Package shows some wear.  No 4408. Fully Poseable Figure. With Action Feature.  Button Activated Power Punch. Great to add to a Collection, Display, Use or Give as a Gift!"


So after a couple days, I went for it. At $5 plus shipping I really had nothing to lose so I dropped the hammer and had it sent out immediately. It arrived within 2 days which was simply nice but once I got the first look at it in person I knew something was VERY different about my new little friend, something VERY familiar:

So the first thing I noticed was this head. At first I told myself, "Wow, this is a craftily repainted model, but why black?" Then I started to really look at the face and the hands and something really stood out to me. This was not the production model head that we received in the final figure. I started looking on the web at some of the package shots and what I saw was VERY familiar indeed. And on top of that, my little friend here lacked any mechanical set up for his Villainous Head Smacking action… No Lever!!!

This head was definitely an identical sculpt to the one used on the photo model but not the production model. Very cool... so I started to examine the figure a little closer and noticed a few other things that should have stuck out immediately. This figure had no molding seams!! This figure was an original sculpt if not a VERY early copy showing no reproduction lines from factory casting. Upon closer inspection, this figure didnt even seem to be plastic!, possibly even carved out of wood? "WTF am I holding?"

 

There was an obvious refinement to the sculpt itself. Though there were still signs of workmanship, the way everything fit together was just so much tighter and cleaner. The hand of course was not originally sculpted to hold a breif case or gun, The left hand showed no sign of a sculpted ring BUT it did have a much more delicate sculpt that looks much nicer than the ham fist we got on the official release. A lot of the messier details we saw in the official release seem to have a lot to do with the quality/cost of their molds. The production run of Lex Luthor has a much more bulbous head with less "undercuts" which can wreak havoc in the casting process. I imagine the hands also fell to a similar fate once the final model was established.

 

Next I looked at the packaging. There were some clear differences right off the bat. First was the hand drawn DC Super Heroes logo which  had been drawn, hand colored, cut out and then photocopied in place ontop of the color halftone background. The Power Punch burst was slightly out of place. The corners were square cut, not the retail friendly radius corners. The product code was that of Bob the Goon from the Batman figure line (research). The hanging mechanism was a "J" hook and not the typical rack punch style. Everything was wrong and this was starting to look like a very legitimate early rough proof and I was starting to become really intrigued.

The bubble itself was an unsealed square cut bubble. Though the outer shell had the trademarks of the running toybiz line the base was not cut to a radius as they were in production. Also the inner tray, which was a perfect fit for the outer blister, was fitted for a Super Powers Aquaman... peculiar, no space for his trident... 

Well, there it is, my mysteriously sourced toy. I have reached out to a couple folks who I feel could possibly help me track down this figure's ultimate source besides simply being an early proof/prototype but have not heard anything yet...

Some things that I DO know from my own understanding being familiar with the line from my childhood definitely point my hopes towards some very interesting facts relating to this particular figure.

• ToyBiz bought the rights to get in on the Batman franchise creating a small 3 figure line of figures of characters from Batman the Movie starring Michael Keaton.
• The line itself was made to directly take off from the popularity of the Kenner made Super Powers line.
• Many of the figures from the line were near matches to their Kenner counterparts
• The photos used internally to sell the line to DC were largely of Kenner figures used as either direct models OR repainted to stand as new characters to be in the line.
• Lex Luthor was the most unique figure in the first pitch of 8 figures from the DC Super Heroes line
• The Riddler was a new addition to the line-up though his early product photos as well as the production release were essentially a repainted Flash.
• The line did later include versions of The Flash, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Two-Face, all with original sculpts as well as all new sculpts featured in their product photography.

I welcome any tips or information on the ultimate source of origin for this figure.

Leave any comments in the section below!!

The Flickable 11th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

So a day late and a Doctor short as per usual I have found myself tinkering with the 11th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver. Its an awesome model with its multi sourced hilt and different textures coming together to make this wacky futurific Sci-Fi plaything. I've found myself hooked on the show over the last year and am current from Russell T. Davies all the way trough the current Steven Moffat run. So now at the end of Matt Smith's run as The Doctor I find myself totally absorbed with this model of Sonic Screwdriver. I'm sure we'll see a new version as the series returns with Peter Capaldi but in the meantime I've found myself seeking to correct all that is wrong with the current toy. And really for what it is its a great model. It just lacks a few steps in planning that could have made it awesome.

The main gripe everyone takes notice of is the placement of the hidden red button under the hatch which as a stock model is the only practical way to activate the light and sound in the extended position. You can squeeze your finger between the spokes of the brass column but you really have to have a fine pointed finger. This was amongst the first things I set out to correct right off the bat. In doing that I went ahead and removed the primary button as well and created one all service button that activates in both the retracted and extended position. It also blends into the "leather" sleeve very nicely and is pretty reliable unless it gets really cold. (It's a rubbery substance but can get very hard in extreme cold).

Secondarily is the action of extending the claws. In the show it seems much more often that the claws are extended by a flicking of the screwdriver as opposed to a switch-blade type of extension. This takes a little more courage and patience to correct. with the screwdriver dis-assembled into its 2 main parts, the spring loaded mechanism and its inner collar are completely removed so the claws to extend prematurely. It also can complicate the extended light & sound activator.

Lastly for fun I went ahead and mocked up packaging. I had gone for a tweed and pinstripe look at first but found it to be a little quaint and not quite my style. This streamlined version seems to do a nice trick.

Earth with a beard

in case you ever wondered...

GeekSummit's GOVEMBER Sale!!!

GeekSummit's scraping the barrel this month as we clear out our vintage collections as well as our regular runs of Movie Masters, DC Universe, Marvel Legends, Zombie Slugs, and of course AWESOME DEALS AND FREE SHIPPING.

150 items currently listed and Hoping to add more before the month is out. Definitley check us out and pick up some sweet collectibles for YOUR geekshelf.

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There's nothing wrong with toys in the work place!!!

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GeekSummit's Star Wars BLOWOUT!!!

Just in time to fill in your new Black Series Collection, GeekSummit is clearing out Star Wars VOTC and Movie Heroes Click the image below to go to the listings page!!!

Most Star Wars figures start @ $7.99 with Custom figures starting at $9.99. Get in early and bid high!!

Be sure and check out the large selection of DC Collectibles as well. Most figures starting at $14.99

AND don't forget the S.L.U.G. Zombies (Series 1 & 2) starting at $2.99

Current auctions run through Sept, 8 2013.

 

Star Wars Black Series

Custom 6" Stormtrooper

I simply couldn't wait for Series 3 to come around in retail near Christmas, but picking this guy up last Thursday was a huge treat right off my wishlist!! I immediately took him out of the box and examined him in his stock glory with his multiple blasters and backpack and filthy weathered paint and within minutes I was on the road to pruning this guy down to basics...

 The Standard Bright White Stormtrooper

Ever since I was a kid the Stormtrooper was the one action figure that always stood out... Maybe simply out of contrast to all the other brightly colored toys of the day? Maybe because anytime there is more than one there is an army? Maybe because they are the coolest looking Star Wars character of all characters? All of these are right... My heart has never led me wrong.

To rekindle that old flame for my favorite plastic counterpart in his new format, I picked up a Sandtrooper at Target for $19.99 and brought him home immediately to wash away the filth of his off base outpost.

Don't get me wrong... Sandtroopers are troopers too but you really just can't beat a bright white stormtrooper. Unless you're Luke Skywalker & Han Solo in Stormtrooper disguise... then technically you can mop up a whole space station full of 'em... I make that one concession.