🧟 Pocket Zombies - Wondoo by Atomfreak Studios 🧟‍♀️

pocketzombies.com

December 2010, saw the release of a three figure series of 6-inch tall zombies from Sideshow Collectables in collaboration with Alex Rodrigue from Atomfreak Studios.

This set of figures were the first wave of a planned series of characters from different walks or should that be shambles? of life, depending on if this set gained enough interest to make it viable.

It seems that unfortunately there wasn't a big enough fan-base to warrant another set or series as the only ones I've seen available are the original three which were released under the theme "The Family".

The set consists of a young girl called Apple, her younger brother called Ted-E and their pet dog called Wondoo...

Each one has a cute little back story:

"The Pocket Zombies are adorable little Zombies always ready to laugh and, of course, to play with your delicious BRAIN!"

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 Apple is the older sister of Ted-E, she always plays pranks on him, such as replacing the brain in his lunchbox with a cabbage. Her favourite food is Raisin Brain Cereal, her favourite music is Brainey Smear and she dislikes blonde pop singers.

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Ted-E and his older sister Apple have tons of fun roaming the streets of Braindale City. His favourite food is Brain Booger, his favourite game is Basketbrain and he dislikes Broccoli, and people moving too fast!

Here's a picture of the back of Wondoo's box, which tells you everything about his likes/dislikes and favourite things to do.

The two human figures are approximately 6 inches tall, made of vinyl and not articulated. Wondoo is about two inches shorter, but even so, he is a very detailed little figure.

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I wasn't aware of these figures when they first came out, and just recently happened upon a little zombie dog in a box on a Pet Charity site.

Well, you know me, I love zombies, I love animals and I'm more than happy to give my money to a charity that runs homes and adoption centres form animals in need of love and understanding.

So of course, I didn't think twice about getting him.

Although, I really couldn't see him very well inside his box due to his position inside and the angle of the photographs but he's a dog and a zombie so I knew if he looked anything like he did in the box art, I was going to love him, not only that Tofu my Vegan Zombie was bound to adopt him as a little pet of his own!

The back of his box shows him having fun with his family, which kind of resembles a twisted version of Lilo and Stitch, which makes it appeal to me even more!

On opening his box, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is decorated inside with cute little zombie themed images which is a great touch, and gives the figure an extra hint of quality.

Sitting on top of his plastic packaging, was a little Pocket Zombies card, which when turned over, shows another drawn image of him, his number in the set and information about the company that produced him below.

Another great touch, is the inclusion of two little flies, you can't actually affix them to him as they don't have plugs, and the figure doesn't have holes to support them, but it is a cute little addition, because as we all know Zombies would more than likely be covered in flies if they were real.

The box also contains a small stand, which is needed as his head is heavy and causes him to fall onto his face if you attempt to pose him without it!

As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the best vinyl figures I've seen in a long while. He looks just like the box images and the prototype images I've posted above.

He has one shorter, tatty little ear, that has a hole in it from where it's rotted away, no bottom jaw so his tongue just hangs down and one of his front legs is just a little bone with no foot on the bottom...

His base is moulded to look like a man-hole cover and is not only useful to hold him upright but it also can be used to position his little flies!

One other thing I love about him is the detailing on his tongue, unfortunately my photographs don't really show the definition very well, but in person, it has little "taste buds" all over it.

He is very weighted too for a figure of his size, which again says quality to me. 

Wondoo, is a very welcome addition to my collection, although unfortunately I can't really find out much about these figures and even less on Wondoo in particular, but that kind of adds to his appeal.

 I like that he has an air of mystery, even if it is orbited by flies!!

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Michael Palin as Sir Galahad By Sideshow Toy

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As you may already know, if you're a frequent reader of this blog, I love Monty Python in all their incarnations and especially Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

I have also written about two other toys from this film; The Dead Collector played by Eric Idle and Ye Olde Deluxe Cow Catapult which you can read about by clicking their respective links above.

Well now it's time to add a third in the form of Michael Palin as Sir Galahad The Pure - like The Dead Collector, he was also made by Sideshow Toys.

This version is from The Dirty Knights Series, which the back of the box states is "Not to be confused with the premium collector's set". 

By which I assume they are referring to the first series of 12 inch figures, released by Sideshow in 2001 and limited to 10,000 pieces. 

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These figures, released a year later in 2002, are pretty much identical to the "Muddy Versions" but their packaging is different with no viewing pane box and also have an accessory which is not included with the "Dirty Knights", in the case of Sir Galahad it is a "Grail-Shaped Beacon", which is used by the inhabitants of Castle Anthrax to lure passing Knights.

The weird thing with these non-premium collector's figures is that they had a limited run of 5,000 pieces only and as I mentioned, apart from the lack of a Grail-Shaped Beacon which has been replaced by a book bearing the chapter in which the Story of Sir Galahad appears everything else is identical. 

Inside the box is written:

"Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture of such vision and insight that it changes the standard of how films are to be made. So immense in scope and rich in texture, it defies comparison. A film unparalleled and so celebrated that it captivates the world.

And then there's a film like "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." At best, a silly film, abundant with absurd characters, fatuous animation, and gross historical inaccuracies, blah, blah, blah. Look, I don't even need to get into it.

You know the film, you've seen the characters. Why do I have to go on about Monty Python again? Have you been living in a cave?!

The only reason I'm even writing this text is because you failed to buy Series One Holy Grail Figures in the first place.

Writing this text is a complete waste of my time.

I could be off at a real movie, if not for the fact the producers of this particular collectable managed to underestimate the Monty Python fans and have subsequently had to cheapen themselves and the Python franchise by issuing a thinly-disguised refresh of the original 12 inch product.

Shame on Sideshow Toy, and shame on you, too, for buying it. Any self-respecting copywriter wouldn't touch this text. 

I never even wanted to be a product text writer. What I really wanted to be is a .....

lumberjack.

There is also a close up picture of the figure, there is also another small image in the bottom left of the cover, this one depicts "God" - a Terry Gilliam animation which is shown in The Holy Grail when he gives the quest for the Holy Grail to King Arthur and his Knights.

Behind the figure, is a Grail, taken from the part in the film, animated by Terry Gilliam, where God bestows the quest onto King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, informing them they must "seek the Grail" and showing them an image of it in the sky above them. 

As I mentioned earlier, the figure comes with a small replica of the book, seen in the film between certain scenes, open to reveal the chapter heading and accompanying photograph of Sir Galahad The Pure.

The back of the box contains more silliness. On the top left is a small white area, resembling a sticker, on which is written...

The Dirty Knights (Not to be confused with the premium collector's set).

On the bottom right, in the same place the disclaimer is written on the back of The Dead Collector's box, is this friendly nugget of information ...

Congratulations to all that purchased the premium collector set of Monty Python and The Holy Grail poseable figures. Those foresighted and fortuitous few have truly made a wise investment, not only having selected the edition that is most certainly maade from the finest extruded plastics from the far east and fabrics from only superior clothing mills, but are assured of magnificent joy in the years ahead.

To those that selected that set we at Sideshow Toy salute you!

THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT THAT SET.

What you now hold in your grubby little hands is the lower class collective set of Not-so-Limited-Edition of Monty Python and The Holy Grail semi-poseable figures. Made from lesser quality materials, this edition was slapped together for that band wagon jumping l;ate comer collector. You will notice that this mediocre set comes incomplete, sorely lacking in exciting accessories. They are dirtier and somehow the paint jobs just don't compare to the realism as the first and more finer collection does.

It is truly a purchase you have made as you didn't have the wisdom that your enlightened collector brethren have had. So, there, languish in your own foot dragging silliness.

Enjoy your little toy.

And we hope the ink from this cheesy box gets off on your fingers you malodorous git.

 There is also a small note just below this which reads:

The Dirty Knights Portraits sculpted by Olaf W. Hartvigson.

Figure and accessories designed for the Sideshow Toy Figure Team.

Designer mud applique by Yutte Hermsgervordenbortborda.

Heavy sighing and general angst provided by Horst Prost lll.

Emotional counseling by Bjorn Irkestrom-Slater Walker.

We apologise for the fault in the box credits. Those responsible have been sacked.

The bottom of the box has the same silly caution as The Dead Collector has on his box...

Caution: Thou shalt exercise extreme caution whilst removing the contents herein. If you doubt your courage or your strength cease entry to this package, for severe flesh-wounds await you all with nasty, tiny, sharp, pointy edges!

There is another cautionary note, regarding posing, this one differs greatly from the one on The Dead Collector's box, it reads as follows... 

Figure may require hand support when posing. This, however, is as far as it should be taken. Unwanted hand support advances will not be tolerated. This is a professional figure, and it takes it's job seriously. Remember; no means no!

While this figure, only vaguely resembles Michael Palin, and even though the box insulted my choice of purchase, i cannot help enjoying the fact he's now a part of my collection!

Laters,

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🎈 IT - Ultimate Pennywise Clown Action Figure (2017) by NECA 🎈

Slash Film

While I wasn't really impressed by the latest adaptation of IT, I did like the look of the newly designed Pennywise as portrayed by Bill Skarsgård not because it was a bad costume, I really like it, but because it didn't resemble the Pennywise my mind conjured up when I read the description in the book.

In the book IT, Stephen King describes Pennywise, at various times as having a "white face" and "funny tuffs of red hair on either side of his bald head"  he wears a baggy silk light silver clown suit with big orange pom pom buttons, an electric-blue bow tie and he also wears white large mickey mouse type gloves.

He has a bunch of balloons which as he tells Georgie are "red, and green and yellow and blue"

Georgie sees his eyes looking at him from inside a storm drain which are described as bright yellow eyes and also shiny, later as he shows more of himself while talking to Georgie his eyes are blue.

He is also described (by Georgie) as looking like a "cross between Bozo and Clarabell from Howdy Doody".

In case, like me you weren't around in the 1950's, 1960's or early 1970's and don't understand the references, here's a couple of images of Bozo the Clown and Clarabell from Howdy Doody...

Warning, they are the stuff of nightmares...

Bozo The Clown, was a children's television show which later became Bozo's Circus, the shows ran from 1949 to 1970 and most likely scarred generations of small children, cos Gawddammit he's horrific!!

Carabell the mute clown was on the  Howdy Doody Show from 1954 to 1960 and again, is one of the most terrifying things I've ever, seen, I can't believe children were into this. Just look at this clip from the last episode of the show, when Clarabell finally broke his silence...

This thing now haunts my dreams...

I can see where they were going with the Pennywise makeup the used for Bill Skarsgård's portrayal, the way the bright red lips and "mouth lines" which extend up the cheeks are very reminiscent of Clarabell, and his white face and red hair is not unlike Bozo The Clown's either.

Anyway, enough of this frightening stuff let's get to my new Pennywise figure...

I guess I'll start with the box design, seeing as that's the first thing I saw when I opened the parcel containing him.

I love this cover, it's so atmospheric, there's a hint of menace to the image, with Pennywise shown mostly in shadow, with his grinning face only visible reflected in the balloon he's offering in his outstretched hand.

Of course it also depicts poor little 5 year old Georgie Denbrough, in his rain slicker, who lost his life for want of a balloon.

The box opens like a book and is held in place with a small Velcro dot. 

It opens onto an image on the inside of the front cover of the figure, posed against a backdrop which depicts The Well House, also known as 29 Neibolt Street, Derry as it appears in the film and is described in the book - a derelict boarded up building with it's porch sinking into the ground on one side and weeds growing up all around it.

A scary place for local children, ignored by adults - home to Hobos, Tramps, Winos and the creature known as IT himself.

The images on the back of the box are various poses which the figure can be put into for display or play. 

The bottom of the box states the package design was the work of Chris Raimo, and I have to say I think he did an awesome job, it's the perfect way to illustrate the figure inside and has the same brooding atmosphere that builds as the story of Derry, Maine and it's resident evil entity enfolds. 

Behind the figure's picture window is a removable background which depicts the house at 29 Neibolt Street, and is very similar to the one shown on the inside of the front cover which I mentioned earlier.

The figure itself stands at around 7 inches, and has 19 points of articulation...

The head moves up and down, side to side and 360 degrees, the neck also moves the in same manner.

The shoulders move up and down and also turn 360 degrees, while the triceps only move up and down.

Above the elbows move up, down and 360 degrees, the elbow itself just moves up and down but not to the same extent as the area above does.

The hands move 360 degrees only. His waist can be moved up and down and 360 degrees as well .

Upper thighs move 180 degrees and side to side only . The knees bend backwards in a natural way but can also be twisted around 360 degrees which is anything but natural!

Below the knee bends in the same way. The final point of articulation is the ankle which can move up and down and weirdly also turns 360 degrees.

As you've most likely already noticed, the figure comes with two spare heads, allowing you to change his facial expressions, a spare pair of hands, one is posed in an "ok" gesture, so he can be posed holding the "string" of the balloon he comes with or the scaled paper boat he also comes with.

I love the attention to detail on this figure and his accessories; the little "paper" boat even has "SS Georgie" written on it.

For added posability his balloon has a thin wire "string" so it can be twisted and posed or even looped at the bottom so it can also "stand" up by itself.

It's easy to see that a lot of work and hours were spent designing and sculpting this figure and the others in the range, which is even more noticeable when you read the list of people who worked in these areas, listed on the bottom of the box. 

These are listed as follows: "Sculpt -    Adrienne Smith

                                                               Kyle Windrix

                                                               Alex Heinke

                                                               Trevor Grove"

                                            "Paint -     Geoffrey Trapp

                                                             Jon Wardell"

So quite a few talented individuals were involved in sketching the premise, sculpting the individual parts, moulding, forming, smoothing and sanding then colour matching and painting the prototype figures, and eventually the final product that was released for sale.

As much as I love this figure, there was one thing I wasn't so impressed with... 

The head with Pennywise's mouth open was shown in the sales photographs as looking identical to the moth design in the film, as shown above.

Unfortunately, the teeth on the head I received really didn't look anything like the promotional image.

I was really disappointed about this because one of the selling points for me was this facial expression, but I guess being so small the two main rows of teeth are not only very hard to mould in a way that shows the definition, it is also very hard to paint them to look like the promotional image.

I gave his teeth a quick once over with my paintbrush to try and give them a bit more definition, it didn't turn out quite as I hoped but it is definitely better than it was before.

Well, I guess that's all I have to say on this little guy for now, so I'll be off!

Take care,

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✨ Star Trek Talosian by Playmates ✨

popularmechanics

A few years ago, I posted about my Star Trek Barbie and Ken, if you want to, you can read that post by clicking the following link:  Barbie & Ken Star Trek Gift Set.

More than likely, in the post I mentioned my love of the Original Series of Star Trek and William Shatner as Captain Kirk, well a while back I got my hands on another Star Trek Figure, only this time it's a Talosian by Playmates Toys.

In 1998, Playmates Toys released a series of 9 inch, fully articulated Star Trek Figures to coincide with the 30th Anniversary called "Star Trek Serialized Warp Factor Series 5".

The 3 figures released in this series were Bele from Star Trek The Original Series Episode: Let that be your last battlefield, Elim Garak from Star Trek Deep Space 9 and Talosian From Star Trek The Original Series episode The Cage. 

As I've said before, The Original Series of Star Trek is my favourite and The Cage is my favourite episode, with the inhabitants of the planet Talos lV being my favourite race of "Life Forms" discovered by the crew of the Star Ship Enterprise on their journey through Outer Space.

This episode takes place 13 years before the events of the first episode to feature William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk - The Menagerie. 

The Cage is the Pilot Episode and the only one to feature Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike as Captain of The SS Enterprise, he does feature in the follow up episode The Menagerie", which was a continuation of the story, but only in footage reused from The Cage episode as at the time Jeffrey Hunter was unable to reprise his role as Captain Pike at that time, and sadly passed away 2 years later. 

snarkyastronomer

After responding to a distress call Captain Pike and his crew find themselves on the planet Talos lV, here he encounters a beautiful human woman named Vina, while distracted by her, Pike finds himself captured by the Talosians, who it transpires, lure him and his crew to their planet to use  them as breeding stock, along with Vina to produce a race of slaves.

Vina is the only survivor of the SS Columbia which crashed onto Talos lV some time before - The Keeper ordered her to be saved.  As they had never seen a Human before and had no idea how she should look, they fixed her broken bones but unintentionally disfigured her in the process. To counteract this mistake they used their telepathy to give her the illusion of beauty, and so use her as a lure to capture possible mates for her and their breeding programme.

 It is the distress call from the SS Columbia that the Talosian use to lure any Ships that come within range of their planet in the hopes of capturing it's crew for their menagerie and subsequent breeding programme.

The Magistrate, also known as The Keeper is the leader of the Talosians and wears a large pendant which denotes his rank.

He is known as The Keeper because he is charged with the upkeep of their menagerie and it's inhabitants, which they hope to use to repopulate their planet's dwindling population.

The Talosians are a race that communicate using telepathic powers, they use these powers to read the minds of other races and also to cast illusions to change reality and entrap their chosen victims. They also use them to discover as much as they can from other races they discover so that they can use mind trickery to scare or tempt them into becoming submissive to their will.

They have huge craniums to house their large brains, which are covered in veins and unfortunately look very much like bums from behind!

The figure comes with a gold Star Fleet Insignia shaped stand and is held in place on it by a peg on the stand which corresponds with a hole in the bottom of his left foot. 

He also comes with a large surface viewer which is shown in the episode as being a wall-mounted screen which the Talosians use while they decide if they will make good specimens for their zoo.

It has an image of Captain Pike on it which coincides which the scene where the Talosians first observe Captain Pike and determine him to be a good specimen before using Vina to lure him to their base entrance and stunning him so they can capture and cage him.

As well as a weapon shaped like a torch which they use like a stun gun to subdue any creatures they decide to keep for breeding and observation.

The keeper also has a small Menagerie Viewer which is sealed in plastic and attatched to the top left of his inner box, it also shows a picture of Captain Pike on it, this image depicts the scene where Pike wakes up and finds he is now in captivity, and tries to find a way out of his cage.

After removing The Keeper's outfit, I discovered he has a pretty good physic for such a stubby looking little guy!

He has 11 points of articulation, and a body, not unlike other vintage action figures, such as Mego figures from the 1970's.

Each figure in the Star Trek Serialized Warp Factor 5 Series comes with an individual Collector's Series Edition Number as they are a limited edition series.

Here's a couple of interesting things about the Talosian Keeper, in the Original Series of Star Trek...

google

The keeper was played by an actress called Meg Wyllie, in heavy make up, but as the character is a male, he was voiced by actor Malachi Thorne, who also played one of my favourite Batman (1960's Series) villains - False Face!

cscottrollins.blogspot

Malachi Thorne later played crew member Commodore José I. Méndez in the Original Series of Star Trek, episodes 11 and 12 - The Menagerie, which is the continuation of Captain Pike's story and are made up of scenes from The Cage and new scenes, filmed with the exception of Spock played by Leonard Nimroy, the new crew of the SS Enterprise.

Internet Movie Data Base

Another interesting thing about Malachi Thorne is, he went on to play a Romulan Senator in Star Trek : The New Generation two part episode, titled  Unification and also appeared in an episode of Star Trek: New Voyages - a fan made web- series which ran from 2004 to 2016.




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☠🔥 Inferno - Living Dead Dollies - Series 2 🔥 ☠

Full size Inferno was released as part of Series 4 in 2002, to be honest, I wasn't so keen on her. I don't know why, she's sweet in her own way and her outfit is so cool, plus she has wings but for some reason she's just not for me..

So I was surprised to find myself falling in love with Inferno, back in 2009, when a friend posted a picture of one he had for sale.

Granted it wasn't a full sized version, it was a chubby caged baby with demonic eyes and a pair of  fold-able wings, but it was Inferno so it seemed a bit weird.

Anyway, I snapped her up and went looking for more information on the "Living Dead Dollie" range while I waited for her to arrive..

Unfortunately I couldn't find very much, except that they only released 2 series and by then they were already retired, here's the doll information available on the Living Dead Doll website...

As I said these dolls have long since been retired, so the information on their website is in need of updating.

After Inferno arrived I couldn't stop myself from undressing her and checking out how she differs from her adult counterparts.

The flame detail around her neck is made of felt, her shorts are black velour type fabric and her wings are made of red net-like material over a plastic armature.

 She's about 8 inches tall, chubby as all heck and unfortunately stained from her outfit.

I had to give her the Oxy10 treatment, part of which involved her lying in the window mooning my neighbours!

I also treated her clothes, in the hope they wont restain her once she is redressed and placed back in her box.

Last year I found her for sale on Amazon for a silly price, but  if you're after one, you'll be pleased to know there's a couple for sale on Ebay right now for around a quarter of that price!

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