Hot Toys of the Month: March 2012 Edition

Here is our first ever toy hot-list of the month! We will try to update our list every month. Here we will count down the must have toys currently at the retail level! These are the toys that are consistently selling higher than retail on ebay, conventions, or specialty shops. Using ebay and other toy forums we will locate the top ten toys that need to be on your most wanted list! So, without further a due here is our first ever hot toys of the month list:

10. Owl-Man DC Crime Syndicate of Amerika 5-pack Wal-Mart Exclusive
Retail: N/A (*59.99 for 5-pack) Ebay: $15.00
 
9/8.(tie) Shadow Tracker G.I. Joe (Pursuit of Cobra) &  Snake Eyes G.I. Joe (Pursuit of Cobra)
Retail: $6.99 Ebay: $20.00

7. Smallville DVD set Exclusive Clark Kent 1 of 4,000
Retail: N/A(*199.99 for set) Ebay: $50.00 (figure only)

6. Rodimus Prime Toys R Us Masterpiece
Retail $49.99 Ebay: $70.00

5.  "Money Bags" Destro G.I. Joe (Pursuit of Cobra)
Retail: $6.99 Ebay: $30.00
 
4. Wedge Antilles Star Wars Vintage Collection
Retail: $8.99 Ebay: $40.00

3.  Low Light G.I. Joe (Pursuit of Cobra)
Retail:$6.99 Ebay: $35.00

2. Nekron BAF DCUC Wave 20
Retail: N/A (Build a figure set of 7) Ebay: $45.00

1. Storm Shadow G.I. Joe Renegades
Retail:$6.99 Ebay: $49.99

Ranker Lists Top 25 Nostalgia Inducing Toys of the 80s!

Check out the list here:
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-nostalgia-inducing-_80s-toys/brian-gilmore?limit=25

X-Men Movie Casting Call: the 1980s Edition

To this day, rumors of an X-Men movie coming out in the 1980s brings joy to my heart. I remember reading the rumors in comics and magazines that predicted the makings of an X-Men masterpiece years in the making. Multiple big name directors were attached to the project but never came to fruition.  Well, that is what I am going to do now, cast the movie of my childhood dreams, and imagine the masterpiece that never was. So here it goes, my casting call for X-Men the Movie, 1980s edition!

Director: James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator, Avatar)
It was rumored back in the day that he was attached to direct this film as well as a Spider-Man film, one can only dream what this master of science fiction could have came up with...
 

Professor X: Nicol Williamson (Excalibur)
He has the perfect calming voice of a compassionate leader, and the wisdom of Merlin, who just happened to play the magical wizard, in John Boorman's epic, Excalibur in the early 80s. Patrick Stewart did a great job later on, but for my pick, I'm going with another hair depraved man from the UK, Nicol Williamson.
  
Magneto: Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner)
This toe-head had the domineering screen presence and square jaw to perfectly epitomize the ultimate master of magnetism.
 
Cyclops: Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Terminator)
In the 1980s Michael Biehn got all the greatest roles that any sci-fi junky would have killed to play. From post apaclyptic resistance fighter, to space marine, this actor had just the right amount of charisma and good looks to pull off the one-eyed leader of the X-Men.
 
Storm: Angela Bassett (What's Love Got to Do With It?)
Only this actresses powerful screen presence could do the Egyptian weather goddess justice!
 
Psylocke: Maggie Cheung (Herioc Trio)
This beautiful multilingual actress from Hong Kong is also a master of many forms of martial arts, making her the perfect fit as Psylocke as she also studied and lived in the UK for many years.
 
Wolverine: Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon, Mad Max)
Mad Mel would go from lethal weapon to Weapon X! 80s Mel would have been a perfect fit as the wild yet honorable warrior with the mysterious!
 
Shadowcat: Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth)
A young Jennifer Connelly possessed the right balance of innocence and strength to pull of Kitty Pryde's character of the 1980s!
 
Pyro: River Phoenix (Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
This talented actor had the charisma and edge to deliver this villainous persona needed to pull off the hotheaded Pyro!
 
Iceman: C. Thomas Howell (Red Dawn,The Outsiders, E.T.)
Howell possessed just the right balance of innocence and bravery needed to pull off a young and carefree Bobby Drake.
 
Colossus: Brad Davis (Midnight Express)
Too bad this up and coming actor passed much to early robbing him of a  promising acting career.
 
The Reevers: Keifer Sutherland:Skullbuster (The Lost Boys, Stand by Me) Jason Patrick:Prettyboy (The Lost Boys) and Guy Norris:Bonebreaker (Mad Max 2)
These on edge actors of the 80s had the right amount of crazy to pull of the vengeful cyborgs out for X-Men blood!

Dazzler: Bridgett Fonda (Single White Female, Jackie Brown)
Bridgett Fonda has that 80s California look that would play perfectly for the mutant pop-star Dazzler!


Apocalypse: Clancy Brown (The Highlander)
Only the Kurgan from the Highlander command the power of Apocalypse, making Clancy Brown an easy choice to play the part.
 

Niki's Favorite Girl Toys of the 80s

5.  Rainbow Brite- Hallmark Cards created the Rainbow Brite characters in 1983 and an animated television series started the following year.  In this story, a girl Wisp, is taken to the Colorless World where she must find the Sphere of Light.  She befriends Twink and Starlite, a white horse with rainbow hair. Wisp rescues the seven Color Kids and finds the Color Belt, which she uses to bring color to the land.  Upon defeating the King of Shadows an unknown force renames Wisp Rainbow Brite. She and the Color Kids live in Rainbow Land and are in charge of all the colors on Earth.  Mattel produced dolls and other merchandise for these characters in the 1980s.

4.  My Little Pony-  My Little Ponies were first produced by Hasbro in 1983.  Many sets of ponies were released over the years such as Rainbow Ponies, So-Soft Ponies, Twinkle Eyed Ponies, and Baby Ponies.  An animated series even ran from 1986 to 1987.  The first generation of My Little Ponies were sold in the U.S until 1992.  Several other generations of ponies have been released by Hasbro including generation 4 which is the current line being produced today. 

 

3.  Care Bears- As a child, I was the owner of Cheer Bear.  If you look at the bear today (Yes I still have it), it is evident just how much I played with and loved this toy.  The Care Bears characters were created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards.  Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush bears beginning in 1983.  In the 80s, the Care Bears appeared in many television specials, movies, and their own animated TV series.  Each Care Bear comes in a different color with a design on its belly that represents its personality. There are also "Care Bear Cousins", a lion, rabbit, penguin, and raccoon. 

2.  She-Ra-  The She-Ra TV show was created in hopes of appealing to young girls like He-Man did to boys.  She-Ra is the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of He-Man.   Mattel began production of a toy line, allowing sisters and brothers to play together and fight evil “for the honor of” and “by the power of Grayskull.”  Many of the She-Ra figures feature cloth skirts or capes and real hair.  Although I only ever saw a few episodes of the show, I inherited many of the Generation 1 She-Ra figures from my neighbors.  I loved that these "little Barbies" as I called them came with weapons to fight evil!

1.  Cabbage Patch Kids-  When I was young, I had 2 Cabbage Patch Kids and they were my favorite dolls.  With soft bodies, they were the perfect size to dress up in old baby clothes and carry around everywhere.  Cabbage Patch Kids are one of the longest-running doll franchises in America.  The dolls were mass produced from 1982 to 1989 by the toy manufacturer Coleco.  At the height of their popularity, fights often broke out among parents vying to secure these must have dolls for their child's Christmas presents.  In 1988, Hasbro took over production of the dolls as Coleco went bankrupt.  Over the years rights to Cabbage Patch dolls changed hands several more times, but the dolls are still in production today. 

Honorable Mention:

 know this isn't a doll or action figure, but it still was one of my favorite toys growing up.

Fashion Plates- Fashion plates provided hours of entertainment for me when I was a kid.  In the 1980s, Tomy Toys manufactured a toy to inspire the fashion designer in all young girls.  The idea behind fashion plates is that you line up 3 plastic rectangles featuring raised-up outlines of a head, middle, and legs of a model with different hair styles and outfits.  You then put a piece of paper on top and rub a black crayon over the top of the plates.  When you're finished simply add color and you have become a world class designer.    

Niki's List of Top Modern Ewoks

13.  Endor Galaxy Globe (Power of the Force 1998)-  This Ewok comes in the Endor globe.  The globe makes a nice display, but the Ewok itself has a cartoon feel to it and doesn't come with any accessories other than the glider.

12.  Wicket & Logray (Power of the Force 1998 2 pack)- These versions of Wicket and Logray were sold in a 2 pack.  Unlike the more modern versions of these Ewoks, the Power of the Force versions have a cute and cuddly feel and a cartoonish appearance.

11.  Kaink (Star Tours Boarding Party 2010)- Kaink comes with a cloth hood, which is unique when it comes to Ewoks.  However, Kaink doesn't come with any accessories and is very small in size compared to other modern Ewok figures.

10.  Chief Chirpa (Saga Collection 2006)-  The Saga Collection released this modern version of Chief Chirpa in 2006.  This version of Chirpa includes a very detailed hood, staff, and knife.

9. Warok (Legacy Collection 2009 Battlepack)-  When it comes to Ewoks, some of the coolest ones include gliders.  This modern version of Warok is no exception.  Great details in the face, a bow, and rocks make Warok one dangerous Ewok.

8.  Nho'Apakk & Paploo (Legacy Collection 2009 2 Pack)-  This Ewok 2 pack included Nho'Apakk & a modern  version of Paploo.  Both figures are exceptionally detailed and  include weapons.

7.  Keoulkeech, Machook and Kettch (Legacy Collection Comic Pack 2009)-  The Comic Pack was a Walmart exclusive and is very rare.  It comes with 3 Ewoks dressed in various pieces of Storm Trooper gear, making these Ewoks some of the baddest ever created. 

6.  Leektar & Nippet (Legacy Collection 2008)-  Leektar was released in 2008 with Nippet the Ewok.  Exceptional detail in Leektar's hood, and of course the baby Ewok Nippet, make this pack one of my favorites.

5.  Teebo (Power of the Jedi 2002)-  Teebo is probably the biggest  when compared to the rest of the modern Ewoks.  Great facial features and a spear make Teebo another not so cuddly Ewok.

4.  Romba & Graak (Legacy Collection 2007 2 Pack)-  This 2 pack includes another incredible combination of Ewoks.  Both include great detail and accessories.  An Ewok with a bow is a deadly combination.

3.  Attack Glider (Star Wars 2003)-  Like I mentioned earlier, Ewoks with gliders are a recipe for destruction.  This is by far the best of the Ewok gliders.  Tons of accessories and awesome details create another top Ewok. 

2.  Logray (Vintage Collection 2011)-  In my opinion, modern Ewoks keep getting better and better.  They have more details, more accessories, and appear less cute and cuddly than their predecessors.  This version of Logray has a multitude of accessories and great articulation.

1.  Wicket (Vintage Collection 2010)-  This version of Wicket is my favorite modern Ewok for one reason: 2 hoods.  It's almost like getting 2 Ewoks in one.  While traditionally Wicket comes with an orange hood, this one also includes a green hood. 

Here are a few other modern Ewoks in my collection that are too great to pass up:

- Wicket (Power of the Force 6" figure)-  Awesome detail and a real hood

- Logray & Chief Chirpa (6" figures)-  Let's face it, giant size Ewoks=awesome.  Plus they come with a variety of weapons.

- Wicket (Ewok Cartoon figure)- A rare, cute version of our favorite Ewok

- Logray (Ewok Cartoon figure)- Another rare figure from the cartoon series