Marvel Superheroes Secret Wars UK

 This little card thing was nestled in the pages of Marvel UK's Secret Wars comic #1. I seem to recall it was included with a few, if not all the Marvel publications that month. The reverse is blank/grey. 

UK Marvel ads

 I found a pile of Marvel UK Transformers comics circa late 80s, and scanned a bunch of the ads off the back covers.

More booklets from toys

 I have had these buried in a folder for years, and finally got round to scanning them in. Transformers, Centurions, Thundercats and Micronauts. The Thundercats one is just a really long strip so I chopped it up in Photoshop. I really like those Centurions, such a substantial size for an action figure.

MOTU poster

 I believe this was included free inside a few of the UK comics back in the 80s. It may also have been included in some of the toys, but I don't remember. Click for bigger version.

Horror Erasers

I found these Horror Erasers at a car boot sale. Nice sculpts, I'm guessing from mid-late 80s. Marked Kumar Varma - Design Works. The back of the card is plain.

 

Tattoo tat

A while ago I picked up a pile of old trading cards and assorted small bits of ephemera, and nestled in there was a bunch of those old lick n stick tattoo type things. I remember the tiny books of tattoos that came out of the 10p egg machines, I think these might have just come in pairs in those eggs. I'm guessing these are circa late 70s/ early 80s, and the couple of horror ones seem to be from a different series. I put these on my lightbox for a closer look, and tweaked the contrast a little. Some very groovy designs.

Advertisements for the upcoming Robo Machines comic strip in Eagle comic. These were from Eagle #135, 136 and 137, October/November 1984

This was a little comic thing that came with Tonka's Supernaturals figures.

Madballs are gross!

This ad was on the back of a 1986 Marvel Thundercats comic.

Fool's Gold

Now and again at car boot sales, whilst rummaging elbow deep in crates of crappy junk, I come across something particularly special. At the same time as being higher than any conceivable value, it is also utterly worthless. Yes, it's the dodgy knock-off. There's a plethora of shitty fake Power Rangers and wannabe Batman toys, but the following are some of the best/worst I have managed to obtain.

Dodgy army Superman

This guy is a treat. There's no date or info anywhere on him, but it's fairly obvious he's a repainted/remoulded G.I. Joe. The plastic is kind of brittle and discoloured in places, and a bit rough. They didn't worry about ditching the pouches on his trousers or even the combat knife! And his hair looks strange for a reason. I'm pretty sure the original would have had a hat or helmet glued on, so luckily for us, the (re)designers were artistic enough to simply paint some realistic hair on. I have to say, I'm impressed with the 'S' decal on his chest. Not sure if he was supposed to come with a cape, I doubt it, although wouldn't be surprised if he was originally packaged with an assault rifle.

 Crappy factor 4/5

Amusement factor 4/5 

 WTF factor 4/5

Dodgy weird manga/robot Batman and Robin

These guys measure about 4cm and are fully non-poseable. I actually found the 'Batman' a year or two before the 'Robin'. When I plucked him from a box, along with a couple of Star Wars weapons and a Dinobot sword, the seller actually laughed at me, insisting I just take the small pile of coloured tat out of his sight. His loss, my gain! The fake Robin was in amongst another pile of misc., and I was pretty happy to find him. No idea what they are, the similarities between them and Batman & Robin are few, but enough. I don't think these guys are super-rare, I've seen them since, but still quite chucklesome.

Crappy factor 3/5

Amusement factor 5/5 

WTF factor 3/5

 Dodgy Aryan He-Man

Alright, first of all I have to tell you I am not a Nazi. Now that's cleared up I can share this oddity. So this 'He-Man' figure is probably about half the height of the original figure. He's badly moulded out of really crappy plastic and even his muscles have muscles. His face still has that sort of desperately constipated look of the original, but it's terribly painted. You may have noticed his chestplate. Yeah, it's a swastika alright. Now, considering where this was made (presumably East), the swastika is even now, used as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. Sadly, over in the West, we are more likely to associate it with Hitler and his Nazi party. If the ideal of Aryan warriors was the blonde, blue-eyed He-man, this guy is not far off. It's just the sort of crappy toy you'd buy in a newsagents or win at the funfair. Then make a big fuss about it in the local newspaper.

Crappy Factor 5/5

Amusement Factor 1/5 

WTF factor 6/5 

So keep your eyes peeled for crap like this, it will give you a greater appreciation for 'true' action figures, thus making you a better person.