Action Figure Reclamation Phase 3

By: Hoju Koolander

Greetings retro toy fans, I'm back with Phase 3 of my Action Figure Reclamation Project. As you know from my previous articles, I have been gradually re-filling my childhood toy box by picking up loose figures I actually played with back in the day. So here's a look at the newest members of the roster.

Psycho/Future Machine, Super GoBots (1983) Tonka

Most kids my age considered GoBots to be an inferior line when compared to the amazing designs of Hasbro's Transformers, but in rare cases Tonka's robot vehicles surpassed Optimus and his crew. Such was the case with Psycho here, officially referred to on the original packaging as "Enemy Robot Show Car". However I picked this guy up at a garage sale when I was 6, so all I knew at the time was that he was easy to transform and had a wickedly awesome vehicle mode. I mean, he's got "Future Machine" printed right on him and shiny, silver circuitry stickers, SOLD!

Sy-Klone, Masters of the Universe (1984) Mattel

Sadly this Eternian hero is missing his lenticular chest sticker, but finding a pre-owned Sy-Klone where the kid didn't immediately rip that thing off to throw on his bedroom wall would require the powers of the Sorceress to accomplish. Still the guy is in great shape and since this isn't a GIF image, I should remind you that his preferred method of battling the evil forces of Skeletor was to twirl the top half of his body with fists flying like Tik-Tok from Return To OZ (you know what I'm talking about, right?). Ever notice how "Syk" here looks like a somber He-Man in a helmet crossed with a Smurf? Maybe the Klone in his name is more than just a clever pun.

Genghis Frog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989) Playmates

I've always been a fan of analog characters to my favorite heroes, so when Genghis Frog and his Florida swamp dwelling buddies showed up in an episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I was thrilled. They seemed like the Dukes of Hazzard version of the TMNT and they even wore hip surfer clothes, which drew a lot of attention to the fact that the Turtles went around in the nude (odd to consider isn't it?). I would often pit Genghis against one of my other favorite Southern TMNT figures, Leatherhead, in a Battle of the Bayou style encounter. If they had made a Punk Frogs spin-off cartoon, I would have been the kid coming to school with a backpack for that show without shame.

Turbo, American Gladiators (1991) Irwin

OK, this one is cheating a bit because he's still on the card, but I basically paid a loose figure price for him when I came across this American Gladiators figure at a roadside antique store. Truth be told, these figures were about as much fun to look at as to play with. My childhood buddy Erik aka The Toy Baron had a bunch of these and we would pose them as we watched the show on Saturday afternoons. Nitro was the real superstar of the group, but Turbo is a fine runner-up to represent a moment in time when a non-lethal version of The Running Man was considered wholesome family entertainment.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) Bandai

Is this quintet of heroes not a sight to behold? These were a Holy Grail item in my collection that I thought would take years to put together on eBay, instead I was able to score all 5 of the original 8 inch Mighty Morphin Power Rangers figures complete with guns at a small town antique store in one shot. I remember when Toys R Us (RIP) locations were sold out in 1993 and individual Power Rangers could only be had for $50 a pop from secondary market kiosks at the mall. I paid considerably less than that and in doing so fulfilled a childhood fantasy that seemed totally out of reach. It's Morphin' Time at my place, so let's get our Zord-On! (get it?)

Well, that's it for this edition of the Action Figure Reclamation Project. Did you have any of these heroes, mutants or machines in your collection as a kid?

Looking for more from Hoju Koolander?

READ 97319 TIMES

Superman Posted on Jun 15, 2018 at 03:37 PM

Nice! It sure is an accomplishment to have scooped up all of the original Power Rangers figures. I don't believe I had any of these as a kid, but I did have some of the later Power Rangers figures that were released.

Vaporman87 Posted on May 07, 2018 at 11:00 PM

Sy-Klone was one of my favorite figures. His spin action and overall design were appealing to me. Can't say the same for Genghis Frog.

Retro Magazine RoundUp: Sports Illustrated 1994

It's time once again to explore the pages of old magazines to find the little bits of nostalgia sprinkled throughout, in a series I call Retro Magazin...

Mockbusters: 6 Retro Movie Ripoffs!

As long as there have been smash hit blockbuster movies, you can count on a competing studio standing by, ready to make a quick buck by copying the be...

RIP TOYS R US - I LOVE THE VIRTUAL BOY

RIP TOYS "R" US/I LOVE THE VIRTUAL BOY.A picture of me, a buddy of mine drew for this memory. He used to work at IDW, and was friends with the creator...

Antique Store Super Fun Run

Lots of people have a happy place, mine just happens to be filled with decades old "junk" that brings out a flood of wonderful memories. Of course I'm...

MOST RECENT RETRORATING FEATURED OFFICIAL

Go to page: