Mego Monday's: Green Arrow

Today's Mego Monday post is one of my favorite Mego figures I own, The Green Arrow. Now, admittedly, he was not one of my favorite characters growing up, but as I read stories like Identity Crisis and Blackest Night, I have gained a new respect for Ollie Queen. Enough to want me to hunt down Kevin Smith's Quiver graphic novel real soon.

Now, here's Ollie

This is one of Mego's better figures. The costume, colors and accessories help bring Green Arrow to life for the youth of the 1970's. It's figures like this that have me convinced that the toys we had growing up back then are way better than the stuff that comes out today. But, to me, the reason why this is one of Mego's masterpieces is this:

Check out that well sculpted kisser. Looks almost exactly like Oliver did in the Neil Adams drawn comics back in the 70's.

The back of the figure showing off the plastic molded sack in which he carries his many arrows. I'm sure he had a couple for the producers of the Super Friends. I'm sure Ollie was a bit peeved he was not in the show. I bet he was thinking, "You have a character named Apache Chef, but not me?? Are you kidding me?"

As with most Mego figures, posing these figures is just not going to happen. With this particular figure, he has the handles of the sack hindering his movements, plus this is the first wave of figures. You can tell by the wrists as they have the circular metal joint rather than the plastic joints the later figures would have. This is almost a 40 year old figure, so posing it in all these crazy positions could do some damage to Mr. Queen.

This figure was also my first purchase off ebay that taught me a lesson of trusting dealers. I paid a pretty penny for Green Arrow, $70.00 back in 2006. The listing said everything was original. But, when I got the figure, I looked him over and noticed that the bow and boots had a DM on them.That means they are Doctor Mego reproductions. The hat and costume are real. Not sure about the back pack. Now, I don't mind if they are repos. It's for my displaying purposes only. Just don't lie and say everything is original. I did nothing because I really wanted the figure. I'm glad I kept it. The price of this figure has gone up.

As a kid, Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and Joker were my favorite Mego figures. They still are to this day, but I have come to love this figure just as much. I'm kind of glad I didn't have this figure as a kid. I probably would have broken all the accessories and not have appreciated Ollie like I do now. As both a figure and character.

Package from The Cool And Collected Universe

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, I made a deal with my buddy Brian over at coolandcollected.com. I love making deals with Brian as I always get some cool stuff from him and he is really easy to work with and the packages always come quick. After initally almost pulling the trigger on a vintage Millenium Falcon and a Star Wars lot, I saw he was selling a DC lot as well as a small Joker lot, so I quickly made a deal with him.

As I mentioned before, he does get the packages out quickly. No more than a few days after paying, I got this package at my postal box

 

Inside was a veritable stash of DC toys and other goodies. It was stuffed to the top, which I always like to see. It would be impossible to show off all the goods, so I will show off my favorites in groups.

The Bat Lot. The main reaison I picked up the DC Lot was to add to my Batman collection and I think I have with some of these figures. I got some Batman The Animated Series figures, The Dark Knight and some The Batman toys as well as a cowl. I want to see if I can get some stands for these figures so when I am able to display them they wont fall over.

A couple of cool Batman Pez Dispensers.

Batmobiles and a Batcycle to add to my fleet of Bat Vehicles.

Batman was not the only one I was going for when I snagged this lot. I don't have a Superman collection and I want to rectify that. This lot will get me on my way.

Some members of the Justice League to add to the swag.

And to end things, a lot of my favorite Bat Villian. There are some real cool Joker figures in this lot, but I really like the figure of him on the cards. That will look pretty sweet on a shelf in my future man cave.

Again, I want to thank Brian for the sale. If you have not read his Cool and Collected blog, I urge you to do so. He is a great pop culture blogger and an even better friend.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Batmobiles! Hey, Does Superman Have His License?

During this past summer, I stepped up in my quest to add more Batmobiles to my Batman collection. As long time readers know, the Batmobile is my very favorite pop culture vehicle. From the 1966 live action car to the movie incarnations, the Batmobile usually gets my heart racing and I'm not even a gear head. I just love the Batmobile.

With this summer's awesome Dark Knight Rises, there was a pleathora of Batmobiles released this summer. Hot Wheels continued its run by releasing different Batmobiles as well as the 1966 Batcopter from the live action movie and the Penguin Mobile from Batman Returns. Matchbox released some Batmobiles as well like the Batmobile from Batman: Arkham City video game. I haven't picked up any of the Matchbox Batmobiles, but here's what I did pick up.

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the Tumbler from the recent Batman films, which is why I never went gaga over buying any Tumber related merchandise. Still, any Batmobile collection worth it's salt has to have at least one Tumbler in it's collection and here's mine. I might pick up a larger scale Tumbler if I find one cheap in a thrift store or flea market. I'm hoping the next series of Bat films has a better Batmobile.

Now, here is a beauty. One of my all time favorite Batmobiles, this one is from the 1940's. I love the look of this car from the big bat face on the front of the car to the big ass bat fin on the back of the car. Ths souped up sedan is one of the nicer Batmobiles they ever made, I think. The Batmobile from the 1950's is similar, with the exception of the search light on top of the car and the bubble dome windows. I hope Hot Wheels has that Batmobile in it's next line.

This one is not one I'm too familiar with, I'm afraid. I never really watched The Batman. I meant to, but I could never fnd when it was on and the one episode that I caught wasn't the greatest. I wasn't thrilled with what they did with The Joker and The Riddler, so I never really went looking to watch it again. Still, the Batmobile is pretty cool and I'm glad I was able to add this to my collection, thanks to my friend and her son.

This is one of those head scratchers. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad to have it in my teeny tiny Superman collection, but Superman doesnt need a ride, does he? I mean, is this car pimped out with hydrolics, loud speakers and fuzzy dice? Does Supes drive around in this on his off days around Metropolis wearing a Kangol, a huge gold chain and enough bling to make Liberace blush? Does he dance to Black Sheep like those gerbils do in that Kia commercial? Not sure about that one. I mean, I got the car he used in the Superfriends, the one with the hands to handle Kryptonite with. This one doesn't even have a second seat for Superman to kick it to Lois.

The one good thing about collecting these are they are very inexpensive. In most cases, they are under 3 bucks a pop and can be found just about anywhere. I was never really a car collector before, but once I got my hands on these I couldn't stop looking for more. Now, if someone can make that cool Spidey Buggy from the 70's, I would have it made.

My Visit To Toy Tokyo

Today I decided to take a quick visit to Toy Tokyo, which is located in lower Manhattan. I had heard of this store and wanted to take a peek at all the toy goodness inside. With the name Toy Tokyo, I expected the store to be mainly toys imported from Japan. Although there were japanese toys, there was a lot of american toys being sold as well. Toys that made this sexy geek wish he had buku money to spend. Problem is, if your looking for bargins, Toy Tokyo is not the place for bargins. The owners know what they have. Most of the toys were being sold at retail or above, especially the vintage goodies.

As soon as you walk in, there is a display case of vintage toys.

 

Yes Virgina, that is a circle suit Mego Spider-Man in box.

 

 



Vintage Green Hornet anyone?

After fogging the glass on this case, I moved on to the bigger cases in the back that housed more stuff. From vintage toys to not so vintage. Japanese to American. All I know is I was staring way too long. So long that I noticed an employee eyeballing me to make sure I wasn't looking for a five finger discount. Not that the thought would come to mind. I'm a good boy.

You know I was peeping at that vintage Star Wars X Wing Fighter japanese import model kit. Would look great in the growing Luke Skywalker collection.

As would this

And this. These were kubricks made to look like Lego's.

80's toy's?

If Superheros is your thing

 

 

 

Oh No! Godzilla!

 

 

You will be mine Jack, oh yes. You will be mine.

 

 

I don't know whats worse to see, a mess of Smurfs

 

 

or a bunch of Monchhichi's. Monchhichi, Monchhichi. Oh so soft and cuddly. Don't judge me.

 

 

 

As you can see, Toy Tokyo has a little bit of anything for every collector out there. There was a bunch of other stuff I didn't post pics of, but I assure you that no matter what you collect, you will come away from this place drooling. So, if you wish to visit Toy Tokyo, it's at 91 Second Ave in New York City. They're website is toytokyo.com. If you go and have funny ideas about walking out with a bunch of stuff, let me know. I'll have the car running.

League Assignment: My Top Ten Favorite Movies

So, I'm sitting down at McDonald's, about to take a bite of my Quarter Pounder with Cheese and my cell phone goes off. There is a voice mail alert, so I opt to listen to it before I tear into my burger. I hear a voice, male, speaking of an assignment from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. The recording says: "Mr. Phelps (Who's Phelps?), The past couple of weeks, you have been absent from the League. This week however, the task is a rather simple one. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to list your top ten favorite movies, no matter how weird or out there they may be. This phone will self destruct in ten seconds."

11 seconds later, I and everyone else is clearing the McDonalds due to smoke and fire. Who do I send the bill to for the new phone I bought?

So, listing my ten favorite movies was a lot harder than I thought. Movies I thought would be on this list, was pushed aside for a movie I could just watch over and over again. So, I have quite the eclectic list of sci fi, comedies, dramas, classic and not so classic movies. What's weird to me personally, as much as a superhero fan I am, there is only 1 superhero movie on my list and it's not the one you think it might be.

So, with out further ado, I give you my list:

10-Mall Rats

The second of Kevin Smith's movies happens to be my favorite of his. This movie had comic book references, cookies, love lost, chocolate covered pretzles, Three's Company boobies and Stan Lee. What should have been an Academy Award winning picture instead tanked at the box office. But is now considered a cult classic and people all over are familir with the phrase, "Snoochie Boochies"

9-The Apartment

The first of 3 Jack Lemmon movies that made my list. Lemmon is one of my all time favorite actors and this movie has him at his best. In this movie, he plays C.C. Baxter, an office worker at an insurance in NYC, who allows some of his higher ups use of his apartment for their affairs. In turn, they write glowing reviews about C.C, which raise the suspicions of the personnel director, Mr. Sheldrake (Played by Fred MacMurry), who allows the promotion C.C was given to go through, provided Mr. Sheldrake is the only one using the apartment for HIS affairs. During all this, C.C is vying for the affections of Miss Kublick, played by Shirley McLaine. During the company Christmas party, C.C. accidently finds out that Miss Kublick is the one Mr. Sheldrake is seeing. Cheating husbands, corporate politics, backstabbing and Gin Rummy, aside from wonderful performances, a well written and directed movie, make this a must see movie.

8-Sunset Blvd

Another Billy Wilder movie makes my list (Wilder has 3 movies in total on my list). In Sunset Boulevard, Norma Desmond is an aging, forgotten silent movie star, who is plotting her comeback with a film she wrote. Joe Gillis is a struggling writer who accidently winds up in the employ of Norma, fixing the script she wrote. As Joe works on her script, Norma falls in love with Joe and lures him into her fantasy world that her butler, Max, helped create by writing her "fan letters" and claiming "Madame is the greatest actress who has ever lived". This movie proved to be a comeback for Gloria Swanson, who was a silent movie actress and a breakthrough role for William Holden.

7-The Odd Couple

In what would be Jack Lemmon's and Walter Matthau's second film pairing, The Odd Couple would be the one they are most remembered for. 2 divorced men, one a neat freak who is a great cook and the nicest guy and the other a slob who enjoys beer, sports and women, decide to share an apartment, but before long one gets on the other's nerves. This is also the only movie on my list that the New York Mets are featured in.

6-Superman The Movie

The only superhero movie on my list and it's not a Spider-Man or Batman film. Although The Avengers was an awesome, awesome movie, I still consider this picture to be the greatest superhero movie ever made. No one could or has played Superman as well as Christopher Reeve has. This movie is the blueprint on how to make a successful comic book movie without being too campy. Still holds up 34 years after it's release.

5-Star Wars

One of the first movies to capture my imagination as a kid. I wanted to be Luke Skywalker, battling Darth Vader, shooting at Stormtroopers, swinging Leia to saftey while learning the ways of The Force. Heck, I still want to be Luke. The bad ass Luke that is a Jedi Knight with the cool black outfit and green lightsaber he made himself because he lost his when his dad chopped off his hand during a family spat. That actually sounds more like a Montell Williams special rather than one of the many plots of arguably, the greatest Sci-Fi franchise ever, with apologies to all you Trekies.

4-Some Like It Hot

Ok, ok. I promise this is the last time you will see Jack Lemmon or a Billy Wilder movie on this list. But really, this movie, even today, is just so funny. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are so funny together that one wonders why they never made another picture together. Marilyn Monroe is soooooooo hot in this movie and plays the dumb blonde so well. This is one of those movies I can just watch over and over again.

3-A Hard Days Night

The Beatle-maniac in me loves this movie. It had catchy tunes, funny moments and who knew the Beatles could pull off a feature film and pull it off so well. What was billed as a "Day In The Life of The Beatles" was more like a Marx Brothers movie with a Rock n Roll soundtrack and British accents. Wilfrid Brambell, who plays Paul's Grandfather almost steals the show. All four Beatles have their moments in the spotlight as they encounter advertising exectutives, neurotic television directors, fans, their manager and grumpy train passengers. To me, the best Rock n Roll movie ever made.

2-Pride Of The Yankees

Yep, any chance I get to slip my Yankees into my blog I will take. But seriously, if you have not seen this movie, you need to be hit. Hit hard with a blunt object. This movie, as Triple H might say, it's that damn good. So good that I was toying with the idea of making this my favorite movie of all time. Gary Cooper is spectacular as Lou Gehrig, the iconic Yankee who ultimately dies of ALS, or to what's commonly called these days as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The movie follows Gehrig from his childhood days in NY, his college days, where he looks like an older Gary Cooper, to his days as a Yankee and ends with his famous speech at Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth, Bill Dickey, Mark Koenig and Bob Meusel are former Yankee teamates of Gehrig's who play themselves in the movie. Teresa Wright shines as Elenor Gehrig as well as Elsa Janssen and Ludwig Stossel as his parents. The movie does take some Hollywood liberties, but it's still a touching story of a remarkable baseball player and an even more remarkable human.

1-Back To The Future

Ok, maybe this movie is not as good as some I have previously mention. Maybe it's not as well recieved or won as many awards. Who cares?? It's my list and I say it's my all time favorite movie. It has all the elements of a great movie: Comedy, skateboarding, a love story, music, conflict and the best looking time machine ever invented. This was the movie I drove my family crazy watching on the old VHS machines that doubled as the family car. I watched over and over and over again. I was careful not to break the tape as a movie back then cost a lot more than they do now. I was in Jr High at the time and started skateboarding to school cause Marty did it, even though I was never really any good at it and almost killed myself going down a huge hill near where I lived. I wish Universal would revive this franchise somehow ( an animated feature with the original actor's voices perhaps?) and Mattel, where the heck are our Back To The Future toys?? I can't get enough of this movie. In fact, I want to watch it right now, never mind the fact that it's 2 am and I have work in the morning.

So, that's my list. Check out the other League members lists and see how they stack up to mine or even yours

http://coolandcollected.com/the-league-of-extraordinary-bloggers/league-members/

All comments are appreciated. I'd love to know what your list is, so leave it in the comments section. It may not be the best list, but it's my list, all mine! Mwhahahahahaha!