Virus Attack Figabulary

Toy Line: Virus Attack

Sculpt Name: Netestor

Color: Light Blue with Dark Blue and Orange paint apps

Collector's Note: Virus Attack is another wonderfully creative toy line from Giochi Prezioso and GiG, the teams behind such lines as Gormiti and Exogini. The line consists of a total of 24 unique sculpts. Each comes with some type of removable armor/clothing. Look for more coverage of this line in the future as well as a (wait for it) full entry some time in the future.

In any case, this is a totally sweet mini figure. It's made of a soft PVC which is super very nice. I've got it displayed with my BEB collection!

Special thanks to Toypedia contributor and Webmaster of Rubberfever, nanoFatato, for trading me this figure!

MOTU Figabulary

Toy Line: Masters of the Universe

Sculpt Name: Beastman

Color: Red

Collector's Note: This figure is from a MOTU toy line from Portugal. The figures are very small, about an 1" or 1.5" tall. I'm not sure if is a legit, Mattel-licensed line or an unlicensed line. The quality and details of the sculpts are actually very nice, especially at such a small scale. I have more of the figures, all red, that I'll be posting more pics of in the future.

Edit: Be sure to check out Nuno Mata's informative post regarding these figures at his excellent blog, My Best Toys.

C.A.Z.A.M. Figabulary

Toy Line: C.A.Z.A.M.

Sculpt Name: NA

Color: NA

Collector's Note: This is a very super rough concept design of where the CAZAM line is heading. The scale of this piece is ~2", but is not representative of what a finished CAZAM figure would look like. The above piece is Super Sculpey over an aluminum foil armature. Detailing on the sculpt is minimal due to the medium.

CAZAM is still in the embryonic stage. Stay tuned. :D

OMFG!

Credit Daniel Smith

Name of Toy Line: OMFG! (Outlandish Mini Figure Guys!)

Production Company: www.octobertoys.com



Distributor: www.octobertoys.com

Years of Production: ~

Countries/Regions Available: Worldwide

Size/Scale: 2"

Figure Trade Markings: Unknown

Approximate # of Figures: 5 sculpts, 2 colorways

Details:

Some time in early 2011, the idea for a new M.U.S.C.L.E.- and M.I.M.P.-inspired toy line began to take shape at the October Toys forum. (October Toys are the brains behind the awesome Z.O.M.B.I.E.S. toy line.) Several incredibly talented artists and toy enthusiasts began to brainstorm and flesh-out the details of the project that was to be designed and created top-to-bottom by toy collectors. After several months of churning out character and sculpt ideas, logo and packaging designs, the project began to take on the unmistakable shape of pure, 100%, ass-kicking goodness.

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

Bazaar Items

Toy Line: Army Eraser Germs

Location: Yahoo! Japan

Vendor: Sawabear_26

Auction Number: f100023599

Collector's Note: What can I say, Mr. Sawabear has some pretty cool figgies for sale. And "Army Eraser Germs" is just the name Google Translator gave me, it's not exact.

Blackstar

Name of Toy Line: Blackstar
Production Company: Galoob
Distributor: Galoob
Years of Production: 1983-1985
Countries/Regions Available: USA and Europe
Size/Scale: Action Figures: 6" ; Companion Figures: 3"
Figure Trade Markings: Action Figures: © 1983 FILMATION ; Companion Figures: None
Approximate # of Figures: 15 Companion Figures

Details:

Blackstar began in 1981 as a fantasy sci-fi cartoon produced by Filmation. It has many similarities to its more popular successor, He-Man. Check out the show's opening for the premise.



It's the story of John Blackstar, an astronaut from a future, technologically advanced Earth. He is sucked into a black-hole and finds himself on the planet Sagar, which is populated by a plethora of alien creatures. Blackstar aligns himself with the tiny Trobbit people in their battle against the evil Overlord. Action-packed high jinks ensue.

The toy line was released a few years later, beginning in 1983 and running to 1985. There were a total of three waves - one each year. The six-inch action figures came carded individually and also with a companion figure; The good guys came with a Trobbit figure and the bad guys came with a demon figure.

The Trobbit figures were also carded individually, but never the demon figures.

The action figures are made with mixed materials - both hard and soft plastic. The one example of an action figure I have has soft arms and legs and hard trunk and head. The figure is called Meuton; He's a baddy and appears to be a wasp-man. Creepy and cool!



Definitely would not want to stumble into that guy in a dark alley (or a well-lit one for that matter).

Of course here at Toypedia, the main attraction is not the 6" action figures but the diminutive 3" companion figures! There were a total of six Trobbit figures and nine demons. Both Trobbits and demons are made of a soft plastic.

The Trobbit characters are very reminiscent of Snow White's dwarves. They're tiny little guys with white hair, wearing purple, blue, and yellow garb. Unfortunately I only have the character Poulo in our possession at the moment. Let's take a close-up look at him.


Click to enlarge



(The, uh, bit of plastic between Mr. Poulo's legs appears to be a nub of flashing left over from the casting process. I agree, it is a bit disturbing. I was tempted to edit it out, but chose to go el naturale instead.)



There were two types of demon companion figures. The first type was available in the first two waves. It consisted of a single sculpt cast in six different colors and paint schemes: Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Red, and Orange. The availability of the different colored demons varies with Green being by far the most common.

Let's take a look at a Green demon. Note the paint applications on the stomach, eyes, and eyebrows.


Click to enlarge





Red and Blue demons arrived in the second wave.


Click to enlarge

The two Blues I have appear to have slightly different paint application colors. The second figure appears to have stomach and eyebrow paint that is slightly more Purple.


Click to enlarge



Three new demon figures were introduced in the third wave. Like the Trobbits, each new demon had a unique sculpt and a more complex paint scheme. The body of each demon is one single color however, and they are referred to by these colors. Thus, once again, there are Red, Green, and Yellow demons. I've got the Red and Green, so let's take a look at them.

Boo!


Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge

It's a very fun, highly collectible toy line with several interesting figures, some harder to come by than others. Be sure to check the links below for more great pictures and information about this line.



Related Web Sites:

Blackstar @ Action Figure Archive

Blackstar @ Wikipedia

Figabulary

Toy Line: LEGO: Powerminers

Sculpt Name: Sulfurix

Color: Translucent yellow with black paint applications

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