Bah'glenn Creations - Canne'pirate Iyce'lasher

Today let's take a look at another amazing creation from Bah'glenn Creations. This is another member of the Canne'pirate crew, and a scurvy dog is he! Click the image below to read the bio and see more shots of this fantastic figure, and remember to head on over to Bah'glenn Headquarters to order some for yourself!



Posted by charlie on January 31st 2012, 06:52 PM
Leave Comment Share

Transformers Titanium - Predaking

We continue our slog through the complete 3" Transformers Titanium collection I found in the archives (aka basement) with another figure from wave 5 - Predaking!


I remember vividly getting my actual Predacons back in 1986 at the Cheltenham Toys 'R Us in Philadelphia. The shopping cart was full of so much cool '80s product as to be impressive even at the time, let alone delirium-inducing if seen today. We got up to the register and one of the clerks who, of course, recognized us by then commented "I guess the grades look good again, huh?" to which my dad just smiled sagely. Well, I was spoiled rotten, but I do appreciate it with the benefit of hindsight - at least, what it conveyed, which was far more important than the toys themselves.
Posted by charlie on January 30th 2012, 05:24 PM
Leave Comment Share

Transformers Titanium - Scorponok

Did you know that I have a full set of the 3" Transformers Titanium figures from 2006 lying around the house, yet un-posted to the Preserve? Well, neither did I, but I've just re-discovered them so that should keep us busy for a while! Today let's check out the colorful and well-sculpted figure of Scorponok! Spoiler alert if you haven't watched all the episodes in the 26 years since they aired! Click through for more shots of this packed figure. Pay careful attention to the store where it came from - RIP my local KMart.



Posted by charlie on January 27th 2012, 02:35 AM
Leave Comment Share

Ohio Art 1984 Dealer Catalog

I'm pretty sure that I was more creative when I was little. In fact, I suspect most of us could make that claim with both certainty, and a hint of sadness. I had set up an entire Pet Store, that my dad encourage me to do of course, by way of learning some aspects of business at a very young age. All my stuffed animals were stocked in different pens, like a (super exotic) real store, and my dad would be the customer. I even had a whole set of neat cash registers and piles of real money! Well, flipping through this Ohio Art catalog I was delighted to find one of my very favorite registers from the Pet Store - go 1984! The Greatest Year! Click through the cover image below to check out this catalog for yourself - no action figures, but maybe a few fun surprises none the less.


For those keeping score at home, it was the model #1550 - Petite Tom Thumb Chrome Cash Register.


Posted by charlie on January 26th 2012, 02:32 AM
Leave Comment Share

Indiana Jones 30th Anniversary Set

I finally got around to posting this simply beautiful Indiana Jones set, which was an exclusive to San Diego Comic Con in 2011. When Hasbro surprised us with this set at Toy Fair last February, I was so delighted, given the time and effort I put into the Indy line. I know we were all sad to miss out on the last wave of figures, most notably German Mechanic and Toht, and now we all had a chance to finally complete the series!

Well, I didn't make it to California, but I had good luck during the frantic hasbrotoyshop.com 'leftover sale' that happened shortly after the convention, and managed to snag one of these sets without paying for airfare and FedEx - a bargain for sure! Click through the image for a few shots of this set - I know, I should open it eventually!


Posted by charlie on January 25th 2012, 11:57 AM
Leave Comment Share

G.I. Joe - The Pursuit of Cobra - Shock Trooper

This figure is loved by the troop builders, so is similarly more difficult to find at retail than wave-mates of Duke, Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes (surprise surprise....). However, thankfully one turned up at the tail end of the retail release, along with Skydive from yesterday, so I got to at least have a complete wave 3 of these guys! Click through the image for closer looks at the insane amount of accessories that come along with this figure.


Posted by charlie on January 24th 2012, 12:42 PM
Leave Comment Share

G.I. Joe - Pursuit of Cobra - Skydive

I've pretty much given up finding the full line of figures from the Pursuit of Cobra series of last year, in spite of a fairly consistent canvasing of what passes for retail outlets in my small town. This always sort of sours me on a line, if I was unable to ever see whole chunks of it, which is of course no fault of the line itself! Still, I was happy to find what I can only assume were scalper returns of Skydive and a Cobra Shock Trooper just several weeks ago at Walmart, and so at least I can feature them as part of my woefully incomplete gallery! Click through the image to learn all about Lynton N. Felix and his jumping prowess!


Posted by charlie on January 23rd 2012, 02:01 AM
Leave Comment Share

Sega Master System - Ghouls 'n Ghosts Euro

Here's something that I don't think I've done before - getting the Euro version of a Sega Master System game posted along with the U.S. version so you can see the similarities and differences! Interestingly, the instruction manual for my 6-language Euro copy is short and all in English, but when I compared it to the English book that came with my single-language U.S. version they are vastly different! I'm sure you can spot plenty more differences - and another long-owned game finally reaches the digital shores of the Preserve! Only...hundreds to go.



Indossate dunque la vostra armatura, prendete le armi e (e)sterminate Loki e le sue abominevoli crature!

Posted by charlie on January 20th 2012, 10:58 AM
Leave Comment Share

Transformers - Reveal the Shield Lugnut

There are a number of holes in the 2009/2010 Transformers galleries, but I'm finally remembering to patch one tonight with the Voyager class Reveal the Shield Lugnut figure! A personality that we all got to know through the Transformers: Animated cartoon, the bio for this figure highlights that we can imagine all those same qualities, but cast in a darker light. Click through the image below for the stats on this more-hard-edge and powerful Decepticon thug!



Posted by charlie on January 19th 2012, 07:28 PM
Leave Comment Share

Army Gear - Knife / Attack Boat

The last unusual, little seen Army Gear set that I posted recently seemed to be pretty popular, so here is the second rare set that I managed to pick up, both at the same time no less! This is one of the "play" pocket knives in the series - I believe there is also a red one (that I may very well have someplace!).



These must have been a pretty hard sell for parents when this line was originally in stores - or not - how should I know! I just imagine these sitting on the shelves like the comically endowed Rita Repulsa from Power Rangers Samurai appears to be doing. Shame about that Rita - I thought she'd be a rare chase figure, but there's been one at my Target since before Christmas! Maybe such an effect would have (somehow!?) contributed to the rarity of these play knives in 1988, but at least one has survived to make it to the Preserve in modern times, and for that, we thank you!

Play Knife conceals a 2-man assault craft!

Posted by charlie on January 18th 2012, 07:23 PM
Comments(2)   Leave Comment Share

eBay Watch - Sky Commanders Lot

While Sky Commanders auctions on eBay aren't entirely rare, it is tough to find a good set of open, mostly complete vehicles and especially figures all in one go. This auction has the added benefit of one of the most geometrically perfect toy photos I've ever had the pleasure to see! There's not much time left on this one, and the bid may be a little high to start, but if you have some cash you want to trade for a great 1980s line you might want to take a look at this!



Posted by charlie on January 17th 2012, 09:43 PM
Comments(4)   Leave Comment Share

Bah'glenn Creations - Canne'punk

We're on a Bah'glenn roll, so I want to make sure no one misses the other remarkable figure that I have obtained from their workshop - the Canne'punk! This stylish miscreant was a NYCC / Halloween exclusive, and has the bio to prove it. Click through the image to have a few more looks at this great figure, and consider making some of the current offerings a part of your collection!



Posted by charlie on January 16th 2012, 12:03 PM
Leave Comment Share

Check the Tweets -------->

I'm doing my level best to have adventures today, so be sure to keep an eye on my twitter feed, over there on the right, or follow me the usual way
Posted by charlie on January 13th 2012, 06:10 AM
Leave Comment Share

Bah'glenn Creations - Canne'pirate Slashthroat!

For many years, first as an enthusiastic young collector with an understanding father, then as a gainfully employed adult, I have avidly followed the output of the major toy manufacturers. While I will always argue that the '80s were a great time to be interested in such things, I have felt that spark flicker and waver in recent years, and things feel more formulaic and by-the-numbers, where you can expect the same 3 or 4 big brands every year but a dark horse like 'Air Raiders' probably won't turn up to surprise us all.

It has therefore been my distinct pleasure to get to know more about the small batch, artist driven, collector toy market and the talented, creative people who inhabit it. I purchased my first figure from Bah'glenn Creations at the New York Comic Con last fall, and was immediately delighted by the design, execution, and vintage influence of the figure. It's my failing that it was never featured on the Preserve...until now! But, first and foremost is the second part of that story - the talented Bah'glenn has made me my very first custom toy - specifically for all of us here at the Preserve - and it arrived yesterday! Meet Slashthroat, a bona fide member of the new Canne'pirate crew which is rapidly taking shape over at Bah'glenn HQ! Click through the image to learn more about this menacing, gorgeous figure, and be sure to visit Bah'glenn Creations to learn how to get one of your very own!



Posted by charlie on January 12th 2012, 02:50 AM
Leave Comment Share

Air Raiders - Battle Dasher Thunderclaw

It's time to fill in another long-standing empty slot in our prized Air Raiders collection, today featuring the final missing Battle Dasher - Thunderclaw!


As we've seen with all of the previous entries in this line, the bio and character background for this set along with the next page ("Fourth in a Series"!) in the ongoing distributed comic speaks to a real labor of love behind the development of Air Raiders.


Someday it would be great to do the research required to learn more about the development team, or potentially single driving force, behind this line, and to acknowledge their efforts for making a small yet still fondly remembered entry in the '80s toy market. What ideas they may have had for series 2 and beyond we can gladly speculate, and it's a shame the market did not see fit to reward their hard work and creativity.

One last, fascinating note, is to pay very careful attention to something that you don't see on the back of very many toys available these days - "Made in U.S.A."



Posted by charlie on January 11th 2012, 02:53 AM
Comments(2)   Leave Comment Share

Army Gear - Combat Bars / Strike Tank

I certainly don't cover everything here at the Preserve (that's the job of the other site) but there are a few little lines from which I take great pride and enjoyment in finding the rare item here and there. One of those lines is Army Gear, and in particular the line of transforming Combat Medals that were an often overlooked part of that line. So today, we have the Combat Bars / Strike Tank set! Click through the image below to have a look at this vintage adornment you've likely never heard of!


Collect them all - wear them - play with them!

Posted by charlie on January 10th 2012, 02:18 AM
Comments(7)   Leave Comment Share

G.I. Joe - Defense of Cobra Island 7-Pack

The last round of G.I. Joe Modern Era online exclusive 7-Packs were really gorgeous, as you can see from the Cobra set that I unearthed around the house and finally added to the Preserve.


Troop builders could rejoice at the onslaught of creative, well armed Cobra forces that came in this set, though you would also have an army of Dr. Mindbender for your repeat purchases, as upsetting as is that notion! I suspect, like potato chips, most collectors had trouble eating just one of these sets, and I'm delighted to feature these great figures and artwork on the Preserve!

Posted by charlie on January 9th 2012, 01:15 AM
Leave Comment Share

Transformers Universe - Mini-Con 10 Pack

Still playing catch-up as I find things around the house, here is a Mini-Con 10 Pack that was a kMart exclusive back in 2009! Pay careful attention to one of the best-named bots ever - the taxi Overcharge!



Posted by charlie on January 7th 2012, 09:30 PM
Comments(1)   Leave Comment Share

G.I. Joe Modern Era DVD Battles - Pyramid of Darkness

We'll finish up the week with the other G.I. Joe DVD Battles set that I discovered hidden around the house like a brightly colored hardboiled egg - and which had not yet made it on to the Preserve - Pyramid of Darkness!


Another great Joe Mini-Series, and this one including an even more complex and hilarious Cobra plan for world domination than ever before! You should read the text from the back of the package in case you've forgotten the details of the episode - so click through the image above to do exactly that!

Posted by charlie on January 6th 2012, 12:02 PM
Leave Comment Share

G.I. Joe Modern Era DVD Pack - Arise, Serpentor, Arise!

Digging through the house, in an effort to see the floor again, I'm finding sets from 2008 that never even made it to the Preserve! I'm a big fan of the Montezuma's Skeleton figure that is hiding in this "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" pack, making it far more interesting than another Duke / Snake Eyes rehash. I'll also say it's delightful that the full animated series finally came out on DVD after these packs were in stores, so we can all catch up on these great mini-series if we weren't able to find all these sets - especially the last one (never found that one myself!). So - click through the image below, and have a look at this 3 year old DVD Battles set!



Posted by charlie on January 5th 2012, 12:11 AM
Leave Comment Share

Movie - "Bad Ass" Staring Danny Trejo

Want a new movie to be excited about? Well, if you haven't heard of Bad Ass, I present to you the trailer, packed full of Danny Trejo fantasticness!


Posted by charlie on January 4th 2012, 11:37 AM
Leave Comment Share

Masters of the Universe Classics - Swiftwind

Certainly one of the greatest things about the increasing success of Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line is the ability for them to pepper in larger figures several times during the year. Also delightful is their embrace of the She-Ra universe, which many fans - whether they admit it publicly or not - are most assuredly into. 2011 brought us several key characters from this companion show, but also the delightful figure of Swiftwind! They even released a re-tooled and updated She-Ra who is able to properly sit astride her noble steed, so all is now well with Etheria!



Posted by charlie on January 3rd 2012, 08:19 PM
Leave Comment Share

HG Toys - 1984 Fall-Winter Catalog

Time again for another fairly obscure company catalog, this time from The Greatest Year! I was taken by this list of products from the past (as I am by most such lists) as I recognized many of the items, but certainly was new to the knowledge of HG Toys. I find it fun and fascinating, as I hope you do also, to learn more about the companies that made the strange tie-ins like inflatable He-Man punching bags and Disney snow shovels. For all that and more, click the image below and see what HG Toys was up to in the second half of 1984!



Posted by charlie on January 2nd 2012, 11:30 AM
Leave Comment Share