Pod Stallions 34: Disappointing Merchandise

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This month's topic is some of the disappointing toy lines that have stemmed from our more beloved properties over the years.

It's totally done out of love (as we both freely admit we bought and still own a lot of this stuff) but we talk about toys for Men in Black, the Phantom, Star Trek 4 and 5, Space:1999, Superman the movie, Doctor Who and much, much more.

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[Hedji]

This oughta be good.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Oh hell yeah! Going to iTunes NOW!!!

Chris

[Earth 2 Chris]

Great episode, but I'd like to add two words to the mix: Dick Tracy

I think the Dick Tracy line jumps out at me as the "why did they think kids wanted THAT" example more than any other toy line I can think of. I know this was Playmates coming off TMNT, but to create super-deformed, almost MOTU-like figures, and sell them as "cops and robbers" was just like someone who had been living in a cave since 1983 was in charge of that line. The cars in that line were really nice though, and I wish I'd snagged one to make a 1940s Batmobile.

On the Superman: The Movie line, my guess has always been they had the rights to the comic characters, but cheated a bit by sneaking in psuedo-actor likenesses. I'd bet the Salkinds had those rights, as really, WB was just the distributor on that film, and didn't own it outright at first. The Luthor and Zod look particularly like Hackman and Stamp, me thinks. Oddly enough, General Zod never wore that outfit in the comics, either!

Chris

[Wee67]

I can't find this one at iTunes. It comes up on my phone, but then says the link is invalid when I click on it.

Also, when I click on either link above, I simply get playback, not the ability to download.

[Bantha5]

I can't find this one at iTunes. It comes up on my phone, but then says the link is invalid when I click on it.

Also, when I click on either link above, I simply get playback, not the ability to download.

Same thing happen to me.

[palitoy]

I jiggled the handle hopefully that works. If not I'll have to get my thinking hat on.

[palitoy]

OK now there's two on itunes. Enjoy!

[PNGwynne]

Has anyone ever noted that Jason sounds like Patton Oswalt? Great episode BTW.

[Mr.Marion]

I kinda like the Superman movie figures. Well at least Lex has his Super friends costume.

[Falstaff13]

I really enjoyed this, and I appreciated the distinction you made between finding a line disappointing but still liking or collecting it.

The LJN Temple of Doom line stands out in my memory as the first time I felt disappointed by seeing a toy line in the store. We were in a Kay-Bee store in the mall, and I saw the Indy figure and immediately wondered why on earth they didn't match the Kenner line. At that time, I was really into the idea of toys matching in scale, and I was very disappointed that these newer toys couldn't be played with along with the Raiders figures.

As you were saying, I was starved enough for Doctor Who merchandise that I was excited by the Dapol line. There was a certain charm to it, especially in the first wave, but by the time they got to the Troughton statuette, it had really lost its way.

[toys2cool]

Great episode, but I'd like to add two words to the mix: Dick Tracy

I think the Dick Tracy line jumps out at me as the "why did they think kids wanted THAT" example more than any other toy line I can think of. I know this was Playmates coming off TMNT, but to create super-deformed, almost MOTU-like figures, and sell them as "cops and robbers" was just like someone who had been living in a cave since 1983 was in charge of that line. The cars in that line were really nice though, and I wish I'd snagged one to make a 1940s Batmobile.

On the Superman: The Movie line, my guess has always been they had the rights to the comic characters, but cheated a bit by sneaking in psuedo-actor likenesses. I'd bet the Salkinds had those rights, as really, WB was just the distributor on that film, and didn't own it outright at first. The Luthor and Zod look particularly like Hackman and Stamp, me thinks. Oddly enough, General Zod never wore that outfit in the comics, either!

Chris

loved Dick Tracy as a kid and still do

[Hedji]

Has anyone ever noted that Jason sounds like Patton Oswalt? Great episode BTW.

Not intending to be rude, but I could devote a whole thread to some of Jason's quirks that amuse me. I mean that with warmth and affection. (For example, his pronunciation of "Robot")

[Wee67]

I jiggled the handle hopefully that works. If not I'll have to get my thinking hat on.

Yep, it works great now. Thanks for the jig.... wait, that sounds really dirty.

[Falstaff13]

loved Dick Tracy as a kid and still do

I agree. When the film came out, I was excited at all the attention the character got, but the toys were a little bit of a letdown. Besides the TMNT/MOTU style for the figures, the choices (Tracy in shirtsleeves and not in a sports coat, much less the yellow trench coat) meant that I found some of the figurines (which I found in a Cracker Barrel) had more appeal to me.