Drawing Stuff

Which Action Hero Are You? - First Published May 28, 2007

You scored as James Bond, Agent 007, James Bond is MI6's best agent, a suave, sophisticated super spy with charm, cunning, and a license's to kill. He doesn't care about rules or regulations and somewhat amoral. He does care about saving humanity though, as well as the beautiful women who fill his world. Bond has expensive tastes, a wide knowledge of many subjects, and his usually armed with a clever gadget and an appropriate one-liner. James Bond, Agent 007 92% Neo, the "One" 83% Captain Jack Sparrow 79% The Terminator 71% Maximus 67% Indiana Jones 67% Batman, the Dark Knight 67% The Amazing Spider-Man 58% Lara Croft 54% El Zorro 46% William Wallace 46% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Don't Speculate - Commemorate - origionally published May 11, 2008

I keep answering questions at Yahoo Answers regarding the "value" of certain figures, such as Barbie dolls, wrestling figures, and people are too set with the idea of 'instant gratification' so much so that, as the article below mentions, the retailers are selling joker figures for $10 only to have them RESOLD on-line for $30 not including shipping & handling.

Time & time again I keep telling people to collect action figures or toys for the sake & delight of collecting them. They may or may not go up in value. After all, you're collecting a figure of a dead celebrity, (God rest Heath Ledger's poor tragic soul!), but it's not autographed, it's not limited, and when manufacturers see sales leaping they work to meet the demand. None of the major manufacturers will ever short the public demand, and if you're TRULY looking for a collectible, you have to find one on a site like SideShow Collectibles, who make a limited run of any of their figures, thus they retain collectiblity and rise in price or demand. Same goes for manufacturers like MediCom or Kubrick .... limits and smaller venues such as specialty stores as opposed to Wal-Mart or Target or Meijer's or any other mass outlets around the United States and in certain countries.

The desire and demand will pass quickly, and the yearning for the cost will or the loss in purchase will have people wondering (again) "What is the value of my Heath Ledger action figure? I don't have the casing but he died in 2008 ... " in a few years, or even months.

Collect for your own personal joy, not for a chance to strike it rich. you're better off playing the local lottery for something big to pay off and hoping for rain.

Blessings ...

Jaime

p.s. "Pass this on for further discussion with your other clubs. I'll be in touch with some of the moderators myself."

---- (Original Article Below) ----

The Joker's Wild by Mike Krumboltz

(May 7, 2008 04:38:37 PM)

A lot of this summer's flicks have their own action figures, but only one film boasts a figure that's disappearing from store shelves and selling for a premium online.

We speak of "The Dark Knight." The film, which stars the late Heath Ledger as the criminally insane Joker, is on a tear in the Buzz. Searches on the film are up 42% this month and related lookups on "heath ledger joker," "joker pictures," and "heath ledger joker poster" are turning law-abiding citizens into search-hungry lunatics.

But even more interesting than the rising searches is the run on Joker action figures. According to the New York Post, the toys, which retail for $9.99, are sold out all over the Big Apple. An article from Shine explains that capitalists are selling the figures for up to $30 online. We assume that Caped Crusader action figures are readily available, but fans don't seem to care. Holy injustice, Batman!

The rice-like run on the Joker inspired us to take a look at other popular action figures in Search. Below, we list the top 20. Loosen your kung fu grip, and take a look...

Star Wars Action Figures WWE Action Figures Iron Man Action Figures Marvel Legends Action Figures Dark Knight Action Figures Indiana Jones Action Figures Halo 3 Action Figures G.I. Joe Action Figures Transformers Action Figures D.C. Universe Action Figures

Metal Gear Solid Action Figures Dragon Ball Z Action Figures Pokemon Action Figures Gears of War Action Figures Predator Action Figures Greg Maddox Action Figure Tom Seaver Action Figure Naruto Action Figures Vampire Hunter D Action Figures Lost Action Figures

Trial by Bratz - posted July 18, 2008

MGA's Bratz dolls and a Mattel Barbie Doll (bottom center) are seen at the Dream Toys 2004 exhibition, sponsored by the Toy Retailers Association in London in this October 6, 2004 file photo. Since July 11, 2008, a California jury has been deliberating the case after an almost seven-week trial, in which Mattel is fighting rival MGA Entertainment Inc for ownership of the multiethnic, hip-hop-inspired fashion dolls, which have snared substantial market share from Mattel's Barbie since Bratz launched in 2001.BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE REUTERS/Stephen Hird/Files (BRITAIN)

Mattel prevails in Bratz copyright trial

By Gina KeatingThu Jul 17, 7:45 PM ET

Mattel Inc (MAT.N) won a nearly complete victory on Thursday in its federal copyright infringement case against rival MGA Entertainment Inc over which toymaker owns the original drawings for the $1 billion-plus Bratz fashion doll franchise.

The decision by a California jury could have far-reaching implications for both companies as well as the toy industry if Mattel wins the large damages award it is seeking as well as an injunction to stop MGA from selling Bratz dolls, the main rival to its Barbie doll franchise.

The federal jury found the creator of the multi-ethnic, big-headed dolls, Carter Bryant, created their characters and the name while he was under contract as a Barbie designer at Mattel.

Mattel shares gained 4.4 percent in after-hours trade following the verdict.

Mattel Chairman and Chief Executive Bob Eckert, who testified at the trial, said it had pursued the case "as a matter of principle" and that the verdict was "a victory not only for Mattel but for all those who believe in fair play."

"While the case has been very complicated, the underlying principle has been a simple one: you shouldn't take what isn't yours," Eckert said in a statement.

The decision put Mattel in commanding position going into the damages phase of the trial, in which the jury will determine if the Bratz doll infringes on the drawings Mattel now owns and whether MGA owes Mattel damages as a result. That phase begins July 23.

Other than the four drawings which Bryant testified that he made in a notebook while on an eight-month hiatus from Mattel in 1998, privately held MGA lost the rights to all drawings and "sculpts" of the Bratz.

"DISAPPOINTED"

While the verdict is a blow for MGA, it can claim in the damages phase that Mattel has no rights to the dolls themselves because they are different from the drawings and were made by MGA designers.

"The real issues will be fleshed out in (the damages phase)," MGA attorney Thomas Nolan said outside the courtroom. "We have always taken the strong position that Bratz dolls do not infringe on Carter Bryant's drawings ... that substantial changes were made to the dolls to make them marketable."

The jury also found that MGA Chief Executive Isaac Larian had interfered with Mattel's contractual relationship with Bryant and that both he and his company were liable for "conversion," the term used for industrial theft.

Larian, who attended court every day of the seven-week trial, said outside court that he was confident his company "will prevail in the end," and added that he was considering appealing the jury's verdict.

"Frankly, I was disappointed because I think Mattel's lawyers did everything they could to confuse this jury," Larian said.

Mattel's attorney John Quinn said on a conference call with reporters that the damages for copyright infringement would be based on MGA's profits from Bratz and any related products, which some estimates pegged at $500 million a year.

"We assume the evidence is going to be that the damages here are very, very substantial," Quinn said. "It's no secret that Bratz has been a very successful product."

Quinn would not comment on whether MGA and Mattel are engaged in settlement talks.

The verdict could be the start of a reversal of fortune for MGA, which grew Bratz from the drawings to a multibillion-dollar franchise in seven years as Mattel watched market share for its venerable Barbie line melt away.

Barbie's sales troubles have extended into the first quarter of 2008 -- domestic sales fell 12 percent, while worldwide sales were flat with the earlier year.

The pouty-lipped Bratz, on the other hand, have been such a hit that MGA is launching a new Bratz line in August, which Larian expected to rake in retail sales of up to $200 million by the end of the year.

"The value of the (Bratz) brand and the value of Mattel's ownership stake have to be assessed," said Chris Byrne, an independent toy industry analyst. "I think it is going to have an effect on MGA, moving forward, and on what they do."

(With additional reporting by Aarthi Sivaraman in New York)

(Writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by Andre Grenon, Phil Berlowitz)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080717/bs_nm/mattel_mga_dc

Sexy Barbies - A Few Links

http://www.molendrix.com/homeengl.html - customized Barbie dolls

http://www.molendrix.com/strihy1.html - Pattern designs

http://collectdolls.about.com/library/blgallcu.htm - About.com website article regarding customized barbie dolls

http://home.comcast.net/~dezinerjeans/index.html - Customized dolls .. see the gallery - WOW!

http://www.oneandonlydolls.com/ - Very unique figures; techniques included.

http://www.dollsbypeggy.com/ - OOAK figures to look at for examples & inspiration.

http://barbeeandfriendsdollclothes.com/index.html - Clothing patterns & such for figures!

Slightly Adult Figures

Now around the world, especially in Japan, there are more appealing (or obscene depending on your point-of-view) figures and items available for your collecting needs. After all, any GI Joe can have a date with Barbie, but try finding a doll like Pandor Peaks and you'll be using a lot of Sculpey. So here are some links to follow regarding this endeavor for your collecting and customizing needs.

http://www.dolldazzle.com/Links.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/expressionsinvinyl/
http://www.animezen.net/search/anime-dolls/
http://www.blastmilk.com/archives/dolls_toys/other_japanese_figures
http://jellykiss.com/fridayblog/?p=125 - follow to home page

http://www.bakunyuu.com/article314 - Follow to home page

http://milkshakemelody.com/blog/?p=601 - Follow to home page

http://ikimashou.net/2006/02/09/volks-announces-customizable-figures/

Search at Yahoo - Busty Volks dolls

Our Days May Be Numbered

Our Days Are Numbered

It looks like the open market for the days of the 1/6^th scale collector are numbered boys & girls. I have seen that 21^st Century Toys is scaling down, not from retail but in size. And I say this as I find nothing in our scale but in 1/18^th, 1/32^nd, 1/35^th, and I think someone mentioned (or I saw) a 1/144^th scale fighter for display. Don’t get me wrong, dear reader: those are wonderful & amazing products from a fine & reputable company, and collecting wouldn’t have the hold it has nowadays without the wonderful people at 21^st Century Toys. Sadly, those of us in the 1/6^th area are running low on imagination and supplies without having to pay a premium price or sending away for it via suppliers on the web. After that, most of us are reduced to buying our accessories in package from someone selling bulk lots - meaning the guy has 10 of the same thing & he’s asking $6 for each! – at the toy or collectors shows. Or we’re scouring the corners of flea markets or checking the toy bins of thrift stores. Sometimes we get lucky; maybe the clothing is missing but the figure is intact, with tight joints and a minimum of markings across the face and body. Sometimes all he’s (or she if you’re lucky enough to find a loose female figure intact with no broken limbs or cracked features) needing are new weapons from the spare arsenal in your kit-bashing box. Thus, it becomes your new masterpiece to show off on club nights, a chance to express the smile it gave you when you found it instead of having to destroy one mint/new in package and lose the cost of that collectors’ gem and feeling the tickle of “dang, I shoulda gotten two when I had the chance”. Bragging rights are always the next part of the night, trust me!

Nowadays we are all bouncing in & out of local discount stores for the best effort in collecting. I am recommending the following retailers for your chance to find something new and maybe at a discount that you may have missed when the figure was first put out. These are the ones I have found in this part of the state of Texas. There may be other variable places to shop I don’t know about so I’ll give you some more ideas at the end of the article.

• Big Lots Close-Out stores - http://www.biglots.com/
• Tuesday Morning - http://www.tuesdaymorning.com/
• Dollar General stores - http://www.dollargeneral.com/
• Burke’s Outlet Stores - http://www.burkesoutlet.com/
• KB Toy store - http://www.kbtoys.com/
• Toys R Us - http://www2.toysrus.com/
• Power Team action figures - http://www.mctoy.com.hk/powerteamfigures/
• 21^st Century Toys on-line shopping - http://21ct-store.stores.yahoo.net/
• Then, of course, there’s always eBay – http://www.ebay.com

Now a few examples:

• Big Lot’s had the Hasbro GI Joe Army Paratrooper for $12.99; prior to the withdrawal of the 1/6^th line in favor of the (Gag!) Sigma Six line, the figures like it were being sold by major retailers for $29.99. Currently, Big Lots also has an individual figure with a molded-to-body t-shirt (such as the SAS Commando in black with the H&K, a Coast Guard figure with a cloth life vest, and an Airborne Trooper with a beret and M-16) and some accessories for $6.99. As part of the line they usually carry, Big Lots carries the Power Team figures in an abundance and variety of military groups, races and accessories, such as snow mobiles, kayaks, donkeys, and billet bunks and so forth. And for the low cost they incur it would be wise to consider them for customizing efforts or kit-bashing.

• Tuesday Morning carried the Ultimate Soldier Vietnam Memorial figures with a base and some accessory weapons for $19.99. That’s THREE (3) figures in one box; since the store I went to had two (2) boxes I bought both, that way I could have the extra goodies and figures for kit-bashing. Tuesday Morning also had a Desert Infantry GI Joe with a machine-gun mortar, for (after several markdowns) $5.99! It was originally $9.99, and then went down 20%, then an additional 25% thus leaving it around the price I would gladly pay. When I saw a second figure I scooped that one up also. In the past few years of shopping at Tuesday Morning’s there have been too many good deals to mention! Right now the stores are carrying a few Soldiers of the World figures, which were carried by Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart, just to name a few of the major retailers. When the lacking of 1/6^th scale began in 2004 or so, the last of the figures went on the shelves (along with the uniforms sold separately) at ridiculously low prices. Excellent for kit-bashing & customizing! Sadly, they disappeared quickly and went onto figures, into storage and onto eBay. Now, if you look carefully, you can find the Desert uniform you want with the mini-sunglasses and the better-than-Hasbro detailed H&K for about $9.99.

• Dollar General was a surprise to me, but albeit a pleasant one. I found on-card Hasbro figures for either $5 or maybe $8 depending on what they had. Most of the offerings were figures with the molded t-shirts, such as the Navy SEAL figure with the scuba gear, H&K, and the knife. The pleasant part was that I found some African-American and Hispanic available. Those figures gave my collection the same rainbow of variety life has within itself. Another item I saw was a small cart/vehicle for the Hasbro GI Joe figure; instead of the $19 to $29 they had been sold for at Toys R Us, the store was asking $10. You can’t beat a deal like that with a stick! They too, carry the Power Team figures but a basic figure: a figure with a uniform (no cover) and either a pistol or machine gun. The racial variety is there as it is in Big Lots but don’t expect a lot of accessories and goodies galore.

• Burke’s Outlet Store was a surprise to me, since I didn’t know there was one in San Antonio. The first time I came across one I was in Corpus Christi visiting my fiancée (now my wife) and she took me shopping in the mall. I saw the boxed set of the Twin Tower commemorative figures for $9.99. If you collectors remember, these are the ones released by Ertl Toys previously as NYPD & NYFD figures; when the attacks took place they became ‘commemorative’ and had a sticker slapped on them and a retail price in Target stores of $29.99 for a few months. After Christmas and the deluge of Desert Infantry figures in support of our troops were released, they went down to $7.99 each to make room for the new goodies. Also, they had some of the carded GI Joe figures with the new muscular bodies (re: Arnold-like biceps) for about $6.99. I haven’t seen a deal like that here but I am keeping my eye open and my fingers crossed to have a little hope and find something new to add to my collection.

• KB Toys is still a major player in the toy game. Not only do they carry the Power Team figures and carded uniforms and accessories (the ONLY place I’ve found them) they’ve also had the Collectors Edition GI Joes in boxes with the uniforms for $14.99! Now that was a deal since some of the on-line GI Joe collector stores are asking $39.99 and UP for the boxed figure/set. I have to admit, it was a real thrill to open a figure with the same articulation as I recall as a boy. Then, to open the accessories card… sheer ecstasy! My wife thought that was the nerdiest thing that would happen, but she was wrong, and I won’t give you the details of what I did to out-nerd myself. That’s another article. Since they had closed many stores in 2005, and Hasbro isn’t doing 1/6^th scale, you’re going to have to try the website first for a store location and see what’s available locally. If you’re lucky you might still find some of the Max Steel accessories, such as his motorcycles, sports car (which puts Barbie’s T-Bird to shame) and/or Action Man’s goodies, boxed figures, and uniforms or the like, previously only available overseas. The on-line store has silly prices and I won’t buy from them as their selection is so limited. I have gotten some deals in the past but unfortunately so have many others and the stock of amazing figures has been depleted. So keep an eye open and good luck there.

• Toys R Us is now carrying Blue Box Toys in their 1/6^th scale line. The Ultimate Soldier, GI Joe, Max Steel, Captain Action and the assorted figures of questionable backgrounds such as the off-name Bruce Lee’s, Jackie Chan’s and the like are all just a beautiful memory now. When the fad had passed and all that as left was the bargain hunting many of us found some amazing prices for some outstanding goodies. Now all we can look forward to is the new articulated BBi figure coming out in the next months. The accessories are okay; they’re molded from metal so have some weight, but aren’t so severe that the figures’ arms will sag or his weapon will look lowered. The figures are $9.99 and $19.99 respectively, depending on which you get: basic or deluxe. Nevertheless, you get a good deal and some amazing parts for your collection.

• I mentioned the Power Team action figure website for one reason: a list of stores. They have a long list of stores so if you see something in your region that I haven’t mentioned, look them up and see if you can find a deal or something special to report on via e-mail.

• I have been lucky enough to find some Ultimate Soldiers in the oddest places. On the east side of town I was taking something to a friend of mine in a local parish. As I went home I passed a place offering bargains and wholesale prices. Going inside I found the boxed red jumpsuit-wearing helicopter pilot (Fire Rescue Helicopter Pilot). Regularly $19.99 he was there for $7.99! I bought two (2) of them immediately. Since it is proving more and more difficult to find Ultimate Soldier accessories I added the on-line store. A year ago there seemed to be a surplus of goodies; now everything is on “limited sales”. Try the link & see what you find; maybe you’ll get lucky.

• Then of course there’s eBay. And if they don’t have it, no one does and you don’t need it.

I wish all the collectors luck and joy in their continued endeavors. Keep reaching for your dreams and putting a smile on your face. Thanks for listening to me and if I cross any place not mentioned here I’ll add it later.

Keep collecting!

Jaime Gonzales – the Fat Guy

A GI Joe wallpaper

First Blog - reprinted from Yahoo 360

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn57QfLUbso - AirWolf helicopter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RoJ25xyrjE - Miniature F-14 Tomcat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBXal1GAA4A - One of many G4Tv videos featuring the 9 inch figures made from 1999 to 2002 or there-about; they have a modern twist that is darn hilarious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7XI09P9fUw - This one came from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim program using the Mego figures from the 1970's or something very similiar as they are articulated in ways I could NOT imagine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyr0AZQbLkI - This one is using Action Man & Max Steele figures for a rescue of a soldier scenario

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twJ1vq4KwhM - GeyperMan in Spain; they are celebrating his anniversary from the HASBRO licensing days to the more current MC-Toys resurrections with the usual GI Joe trademark scar. In the US the scar is limited to the HASBRO figures only and not placed on the Power Team World PeaceKeeper figures. It is something to check out in my links area through the official GeyperMan Website. Spanish only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BA6hP7s_0E - GI Joe movie; featuring many other figures and computer imaging. Kinda cool but something to see if nothing else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkcN_9oUYm0 - Even GI Joe does the Macarena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acn6qj46OYg - GI JOe live action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpGqReOf03U - More Live Action GI Joe

After that go to the main page - http://www.youtube.com - and see what you find in the SEARCH blank