Air Raiders Figure Foto

Toy Line: Air Raiders

Color: Grey & Light Purple

Ewok Figure Foto

Toy Line: Star Wars: Galactic Heroes

Sculpt Name: Logray

Collector's Note: Ewoks aren't for everyone, but they are for me! I love them, and this little sculpt is one of my favorites. I would LOVE to have this sculpt in a blank colorway!

And just for shits and giggles, here's a pic of an Ewoks Chief Chirpa wax master taken by Ron Salvatore of The Star Wars Collectors Archive. If you're not familiar with that website, you should be! Be sure to check the site for a higher-res version of the image and more great pics! (I always love protos and wax masters, not for their rarity, but because they're always blank!)


Credit Ron Salvatore

Transformers Decoys

Credit dorkdimension.com

Name of Toy Line: Transformers Decoys
Production Company: Takara
Distributor: Takara & Hasbro
Years of Production: 1987
Countries/Regions Available: USA and Japan
Size/Scale: 1.5"
Figure Trade Markings: Unknown
Approximate # of Figures: 52+

Details:


Credit tfwiki.net

Decoys are small, soft rubber versions of popular Transformers characters. The hugely successful Transformers toy line originated in Japan, and so did the Decoys. According to the Transformers wiki, Decoys were first created and released as game pieces for Japanese Transformers board games. They were also released separately in box sets (see image below). They stand about 1.5" tall (although there were several characters released in slightly larger scale as well) and consist of several colors including red, light purple, peach, yellow, blue, and green. In other words, they are Transformers characters in keshigomu form.

Keshigomu is the Japanese term for small, mono-colored, rubber or plastic figurines. Keshi toy lines originated - and are particularly popular - in Japan. There are literally dozens of them.


Transformer Keshi!

Mini-figure connoisseur nanoFatota has been kind enough to allow Toypedia to use images of his great collection. Below we have examples of yellow and red Japanese Decoys. Last is an example of a Japanese box set containing peach Decoys via eBay seller jgallo. Let's take a look!


Credit nanoFatato - Click to enlarge


Credit nanoFatato - Click to enlarge


Credit jgallo - Click to enlarge

And finally, one of the larger scale figures!


Defensor - Credit nanoFatato

I know, beautiful, right?

Japanese Keshigomu have been brought to the West in various forms on a few occasions. One notable example is the M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line, brought to the USA and Europe in 1985 via a partnership between Bandai and Mattel.

Another notable example is... Transformers Decoys! Perhaps because of the relative success of M.U.S.C.L.E., Takara and Hasbro decided to partner and bring Decoys to the West in 1987.

Fifty-two of the smaller-scale Decoys sculpts were brought to the West as companion figures. (Check the resources linked below for a list of the 52 sculpts available.) They were randomly blind-packaged on cards with several sets of smaller Transformers. They were made of the same material and shared the same size as their Japanese counterparts. However, they were unfortunately only released in two colors: light purple and red.

In the first release of the Western figures, the Autobots were released in red, while the Decepticons were released in both red and light purple. This was apparently an error as later releases only included light purple Decepticons.

One other notable difference between Japanese and Western Decoys is the numbering on their backs: Western Decoys are simply numbered between 1 and fifty-two. Let's have a look some of the Western Decoys, again courtesy of nanoFatato.


Credit nanoFatato - Click to enlarge


Credit nanoFatato


Credit nanoFatato - Click to enlarge


Credit nanoFatato

As one can see, the sculpt poses are pretty tame, perhaps owing to their origin as game pieces. Even so, this toy line is oozing with cool and significance. Not only are Decoys members of the uber popular and highly collectible Transformers range, but they are one of the first and most successful keshigomu lines to be brought to the West. Furthermore, though the poses are fairly muted, each sculpt is unique and well-crafted with plenty of detail. Their likeness to the original Transformers characters is essentially spot-on as well.

We're extremely pleased to finally have them documented here at Toypedia! Be sure to check the resources below for more great pictures and information.

Related Websites:

The Transformers Decoys Collectors Archive

Transformers Decoys @ The Transformers Wiki

Transformers Decoys @ Rubber Fever

Transformers Decoys @ Cheap Toy Land


Credit dorkdimension.com

Marvel Universe: Handful of Heroes

Name of Toy Line: Handful of Heroes
Production Company: Hasbro
Distributor: Hasbro



Characters and Elements: Marvel


Click to enlarge

Years of Production: 2009-2010
Countries/Regions Available: USA, UK, New Zealand, and Australia
Size/Scale: 1.5"
Figure Trade Markings: C-229A
Approximate # of Figures: 60 unique sculpts, 240 figures

Details:

In August of 2009, Hasbro and Marvel teamed up to bring us Handful of Heroes; A true mini-figure line consisting of nicely detailed, mono-colored, non-articulated figures made of a hard plastic.

As of 2010, there have been two release waves. Wave one consisted of 40 unique sculpts. Each sculpt came in three color styles or finishes: an opaque color, a translucent color, and a slightly darker translucent color with glitter. However, though the three color "styles" that each sculpt comes in are the same, the basic colors of the three styles for each sculpt are different. Confusing, we know.

Here's a contrived example: Sculpt A is available in opaque Green, translucent Red, and translucent glitter Red, while Sculpt B is available in opaque Orange, translucent Green, and translucent glitter Green.

So, this means within the toy line there are a myriad of colors. However, again, each sculpt will be found in only 3 colors. (Except for sculpts that were reissued with wave two. More on that in a bit.) This gives us a total of 120 different figures for wave one.

Here's a checklist of wave one courtesy of Universal Ruler Supreme. You can see which sculpts were available for wave one, but each sculpt is shown in only one of its three colors:


Wave One | Click to enlarge

In January 2010, wave two was released. Wave two brought collectors 20 completely new sculpts and 20 sculpts from the first wave re-released in (slightly) new colors. This means that 20 sculpts - those released in waves one and two - can be found in six different colors.

Thus, as of 2010, there are 60 unique sculpts in the Handful of Heroes line but a total of 240 figures, as 40 of the sculpts can be found in three different colors and 20 of the sculpts can be found in six different colors. (Cripes. You have to be a mathematician to collect mini-figs these days, heehee.)

Here's a look at the wave two checklist. Again, you can see which sculpts were available for wave two, but each sculpt is shown in only one of its three colors:


Wave Two | Click to enlarge

Let's have a closer look at some figures pulled from a wave two pack.


Opaque Orange Wolverine


Opaque Grey Silver Surfer


Translucent Green Dr. Octopus










Translucent Glitter Green Mindless Hulk


Opaque Orange Bi-Beast


Opaque Black Hulk as War


Translucent Glitter Red Iron Man

Both waves came in the exact same type of packaging. That is, a blister pack containing 8 figures, seven of which were visible while the eighth, super secret figure, was hidden from view.


Front | Click to enlarge


Back | Click to enlarge

We think the back of the card, and even the front, is a bit misleading as it says the pack contains 8 figures, a battle mat, and a super secret figure. This might lead someone to believe the super secret figure is in addition to the 8 figures, but it's not. It's included in the eight.

Speaking of the battle mat, the figures were intended to be used to play a game. Included in each pack is a "battle mat" printed on the reverse side of the checklist.



On either end of the battle mat are six circles. On one side, the circles are arranged in a horizontal row, while on the other they are arranged in a pyramid akin to a bowling pin setup. Players stand their figures on the circles, and the figures in the horizontal row are flicked across the mat toward the figures arranged in a pyramid in an effort to knock them over.









Overall, a pretty fun, if simple, toy line. As mono-colored mini-figure collectors, we have to be pleased that such major players would consider releasing such a line. Perhaps as Matthew Fitz did in regards to Gormiti, we can optimistically conclude that regardless of all the high-tech toys and gizmos available to us these days, there will always be a place for mini-figures. They may not be the most successful and/or profitable products for toy companies, but perhaps the form factor is worthwhile enough to come back to from time to time. We can only hope!

Until next time!

Related Websites:

Marvel Universe @ Wikipedia

Handful of Heroes @ Superhero Times

Handful of Heroes @ Little Rubber Guys Forum

Star Wars Galactic Heroes

Name of Toy Line: Star Wars Galactic Heroes
Production Company: Hasbro Playskool | Hasbro
Distributor: Hasbro
Characters and Elements: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Years of Production: 2002 - Current
Countries/Regions Available: Worldwide
Size/Scale: 1.5" - 3"
Figure Trade Markings:

~ Playskool: (c) 2001 LFL / Made in China / Distributed by Hasbro / Character Name
~ Hasbro: (c) 2003(4)(5)(6)(7) LFL / HASBRO CHINA



Approximate # of Figures: Dozens

Star Wars, one of the largest toy ranges, if not the largest, saw the addition of some "untraditional" toy lines around the turn of the new millennium falcon. One such line was a Playskool release consisting of several play sets featuring core Star Wars characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Wicket the Ewok. The play sets were called Star Wars Adventure Sets and feature a selection of figures and vehicle(s). The figures range in size from the smaller Wicket the Ewok at 1.5" to the larger, meatier Chewbacca at about 3 inches. The figures are made of a plastic similar to traditional Star Wars figures and have high quality paint applications.

Where this line really departed from traditional lines were the figures' proportions. The sculpts all feature cartoon-like characteristics -- small bodies with large hands and feet. Some of the figures, Chewbacca in particular, are semi-articulated with moving arms and/or legs. Others feature "magnetic Jedi Force action" parts that allow them to interact with other figures in various ways such as knocking them over or changing the look of their eyes.

One of the early Playskool adventure sets was the Fast Through the Forest set that included Wicket the Ewok!



On the right side of the back of the box, you can see some of the other play sets released in this Playskool wave.


Click to enlarge


Mr. Wicket

Thankfully for fans of this design style, Hasbro continued the line, but rather than continue under the Hasbro Playskool label, they created the Galactic Heroes line which became part of the regular Hasbro branch. In 2004, several two figure-packs were released featuring characters from Star Wars episode four, A New Hope. Several of the characters we had already seen released in the Playskool play sets.

And not only did Hasbro continue this line as "Galactic Heroes," but the success of this line may be directly responsible for the launch of the entire "Heroes" range which now includes toy lines such as Marvel Super Hero Squad, Rescue Heroes, Transformers Robot Heroes, Indiana Jones Adventure Heroes, and G.I. Joe Combat Heroes. (The Heroes range has been dubbed by some collectors "Hasbro's Heros.")

Hasbro has certainly taken the "Hero" concept and run with it.

A look at the two figure-packaging.




Back




Back

The Galactic Heroes line was an immediate success, and Hasbro has continued with releases to the present day. Not every release focused on a particular movie however, with some releases featuring characters from particular planets within the Star Wars universe and even a release dedicated solely to those lovable bounty hunters!

Let's take a look at a few of the fun sculpts that've been released in this line.


The Wookie


Yodi?


A Jawa


Logray


Angry Chewie






Chewbacca with a gun and a grin!


Note the back, just as well-sculpted as the front.

And finally, to give you a sense of the variety of this line and the scale, here's a comparison picture between two Galactic Heroes figures and a M.U.S.C.L.E. figure.



You may also went to visit Ed Duncan's Web site. He was a sketch artist responsible for the look of many of the Galactic Heroes figures and accessories.



Related Web sites:

Galactic Heroes Photo Archive @ Rebelscum.com

Ed Duncan Design