Did you ever encounter wild rumors about toylines as a kid? Young pathological liars who told you of imaginary releases that they "saw" or their cousin "had at their house?"
The Masters of the Universe line was probably the most popular toy line during my early days of grade school. After the TV show hit, anything that was on the show but wasn't in the toy aisles was fair game for little liars. One kid in particular spun a yarn about a MOTU Snake Mountain playset, a good year before the real toy was available. He said he saw it in a MOTU catalog insert. This Snake Mountain looked just like the cartoon version (which the real one did not) and the top of the mountain lifted off to reveal the meeting table of Skeletor and his goons. The same kid also said he saw Prince Adam on the shelves a good year before he was made. His mom wouldn't let him buy it he said. These tales had me haunting the toy aisles for weeks until I finally came to the realization that my "friend" was lying through his teeth.
And then there was the case of Cobra Commander. The mysterious Cobra Commander had never been seen without his mirror-plated helmet or hood. One kid in our 3rd grade class claimed he had a GI Joe coloring book that showed the face of the Enemy leader. We all begged him to bring it in. And he said he would. Then he told us his brother had destroyed it. Yeah right. Years later an entire generation of kids was scarred by "GI Joe: The Movie", and it's depiction of Cobra Commander as a multi-eyed blue guy. Ugh.
One that I got to debunk was some kid spouting off about a Super Powers Hall of Doom playset. Similar to the Snake Mountain deal, the top of the "head" lifted off, and there was the banquet hall from Hell. I told him he was full of crap. After all, if they were going to do this, I would know. After all, I had the first (and only!) issue of the SP newsletter. It said Darkseid was coming (and hinted Green Arrow would be out too), but not the Hall of Doom!!!
Anyone else ever encounter any school yard yarns about your favorite toys?
Chris
The Masters of the Universe line was probably the most popular toy line during my early days of grade school. After the TV show hit, anything that was on the show but wasn't in the toy aisles was fair game for little liars. One kid in particular spun a yarn about a MOTU Snake Mountain playset, a good year before the real toy was available. He said he saw it in a MOTU catalog insert. This Snake Mountain looked just like the cartoon version (which the real one did not) and the top of the mountain lifted off to reveal the meeting table of Skeletor and his goons. The same kid also said he saw Prince Adam on the shelves a good year before he was made. His mom wouldn't let him buy it he said. These tales had me haunting the toy aisles for weeks until I finally came to the realization that my "friend" was lying through his teeth.
And then there was the case of Cobra Commander. The mysterious Cobra Commander had never been seen without his mirror-plated helmet or hood. One kid in our 3rd grade class claimed he had a GI Joe coloring book that showed the face of the Enemy leader. We all begged him to bring it in. And he said he would. Then he told us his brother had destroyed it. Yeah right. Years later an entire generation of kids was scarred by "GI Joe: The Movie", and it's depiction of Cobra Commander as a multi-eyed blue guy. Ugh.
One that I got to debunk was some kid spouting off about a Super Powers Hall of Doom playset. Similar to the Snake Mountain deal, the top of the "head" lifted off, and there was the banquet hall from Hell. I told him he was full of crap. After all, if they were going to do this, I would know. After all, I had the first (and only!) issue of the SP newsletter. It said Darkseid was coming (and hinted Green Arrow would be out too), but not the Hall of Doom!!!
Anyone else ever encounter any school yard yarns about your favorite toys?
Chris
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