AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: WEB DIVER!

AFB was sick and busy last month, and in the madness I didn't get around to posting some of our regular monthly features, including another edition of Starman's fantastic Toys I Grew Up With.


Stars is back this month and has done his magic again with an exploration of another Toy Line I'd never heard of: Web Diver! 


Over to Stars to give us the rundown:


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Takara took a brief break from the Transformers brand around 2000, coming out with the video-game based transforming Web Diver series. This was followed by another game-related line that did pretty poorly called Dai Gander, so they went back to Transformers.  


The gimmick is that the main figure, Gradion, is a console video game that can hook up to your TV.  Now in reality, he was a train that transformed into a robot. In robot mode he could hook up to your TV and there was a game built into the toy that would then activate. Most of the smaller figures can interact with Gradion as weapons that attach to Gradion's robot mode.  Whichever weapon was hooked up to Gradion would then appear in the game.  The game kinda sucks and I can't read Japanese, so the instructions are usless.


There were LARGE figures, mid-sized and what we would call deluxe-sized figures in this line. There were also small PVC's, rotocast figures, a playset, a kid-sized transforming sword and a mid-sized non-transforming figure with limited transformation add-on weapons.


I should note that almost all the figures (besides Gradion) had a weapon mode, a vehicle mode and a robot mode. One even had a Headmaster!!! Oh and almost all of them (except the PVC's and the rotocast figures) had light-ups


I will name the figures in the photos and give a brief description.


Here we have: Jagua-on, Shark-on and Griffi-on. Each of these had 3 modes. I do not show the weapon modes here, but you can see them on the lower corner of the boxes.

Here are their respective vehicles.

And here are their robot modes. 6-inches tall.

Here are Phoenic-on and Cerberion.

Standard modes: Please note that Cerberion and Orthrion are Quad-changers in that they each have: a beast mode, a vehicle mode a merged mode and a weapon mode. :o

Here are the vehicle modes for Cerberion and Orthrion.

And here are the robot modes. Note that Cerberion and Orthrion combine to form Golem-on. There are actually 2 different heads for Golem-on but I was too lazy to take another picture! Golem-on is 7 inches tall at the head.

Robot mode: BAD-ASS!!!   A pirate ship!!!   From a dragon?!?!?   COOL!!!

Here is Drag-on. He carries Gradion in vehicle mode. He does not offer any weapons in the game. He has a vehicle mode, robot mode and 2 weapon platform modes. He has a 31.5 inch wingspan. 2 and a half feet of wings!!!. He takes up ALOT of space!!!

Next up is another big guy...Daedalion.


He also does not produce a weapon in game mode. Anyway, this guy is a real treat! He has a MASSIVE robot mode and a cool vehicle mode. He also has a Headmaster!!! He mainly interacts with the next 2 figures I will be showing, as he can cobime with either of them to create new heads, new arms or landing gear for his vehicle mode!!! Oh, and his engine block transforms into a HUGE battle axe!!! :o He is 11 inches tall at his head. A bit more when you include the wings on his back.

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Toys I Grew Up With. Maybe you found a new line to search out, and if not I hope you at least learned something. You can see even more detail on Web Diver here at the AFB Forum. You can also click here for a link to more in-depth reviews of the line. 


Also, I’m missing 2 Web Diver toys: Wyverion and the battle station. Sorry I couldn’t  give you a COMPLETE listing but I do try!


Stars


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Don't forget that you can comment on this post to enter the AFB August Comment of the Month Contest - but be quick! Time's running out!


Until next time!

AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: Silverhawks!

Once again, our friend Starman has some great pieces of toy history to share with us in his monthly AFB guest feature! Over to Stars!
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Next up on the Toys I Grew Up With Menu is Silverhawks!

The Silverhawks cartoon was made by the same animation company that brought us Thundercats, but while the Thundercats toys were made by LJN, the Silverhawks toys were made by Kenner. Not a problem in itself, but it ended up being a shame as the toys were completely out of scale with each other. It would have been cool to have a unified scale shared by both lines since the shows were so similar in animation and voice talent.

Oh well, another lost opportunity in the toy history books!

Each Series 1 figure of the Silverhawks came with a "bird" of some kind. This was dropped in Series 2 with some figures such as Windhammer and Ultrasonic Steelwill.

Each figure had an action feature as well, some better than others. There were also several "kid-sized" birds and vehicles.

ANYWAY, on to the goods!

Over the years, I've gotten everything I wanted from the Silverhawks line. I never really liked the villians on the show and some of the figures were pretty bad, so I just got the ones I wanted. As for the Hawks themselves -  I got 'em all.

So here's the breakdown:

THE HEROES!!

Quicksilver with Tally-Hawk and Stargazer with Sly-Bird

The Twins: Steelheart with Rayzor and Steelwill with Stronghold

Copper Kidd with May-Day and Bluegrass with Sideman

Flashback with Backlash and Hotwing with Gyro

Second Series
Condor with Jet Stream and Moon-Stryker with Tail-Spin

Ultrasonic Suit Steelwill, Quicksilver and Bluegrass

The few villains I have:
Windhammer, Buzz-Saw with Shredator and Hardware with Prowler. Windhammer and Hardware are Series 2, while Buzz-Saw is Series 1.

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To check out some additional photos of these toys and their accessories in use, check out the Toys I Grew Up With Board at the AFB Forum.

Many thanks to Stars for another great trip down Toy Memory Lane!

You can enter the June AFB Comment of the Month Contest by commenting on this post!

Until next time!

AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: Super Naturals!

I have been completely snowed under by work and work travel in the last week and a bit, and as such I'm going to be double posting tonight to fit in two monthly features that haven't yet appeared in May before we click over to June. It wouldn't be a proper month at AFB without a visit from our friend Starman and his "Toys I Grew Up With"! Stars is back this month to once again display his uncanny ability to dig up toy lines that we have probably never heard of before, or only remember in the deep recesses of our minds!

Over to Stars for the obscure toys lowdown!

SUPER NATURALS

This is an odd little line. Made by Tonka in 1987, the feature of this line was the "new" craze...HOLOGRAMS!!!!

Basically each figure had a 2-way hologram for a head and chest. Each "hero" and "villain" had headgear and a clip-on chestpiece of some sort to cover the holograms. Then you could remove them to reveal each one's "power". They also had glow in the dark weapons and holograms on their shields.

All the small guys are Ghostlings. Four good guys and four bad guys. They were underlings or something.

Also, I have the Tomb of Doom. It has a coffin that reveals a hologram when you turn a dial on the back. It also has glow in the dark pieces and the large skull on top is a removable working flashlight.

There were also two creatures and two vehicles, none of which I own.

Anyway, onto the toys!

Here we have the villains: Snakebite, Burnheart and Skull. Then the heroes: Thunder Bolt, Lionheart and Eagle Eye. 6 of the Ghostlings are in the front, but I don't know their names. :D

You can find out more information about this odd little line by clicking here for some information. 


Thanks for reading!


Stars


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You can discuss this at the AFB Forum and comment on this post to enter the May AFB Comment of the Month Contest!


Until next time!

AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: The Resurrection of Monstress!

It’s a new month, and that means another edition of Toys I Grew Up With from our friend Starman!

This is actually the latest TIGW feature that Stars has posted at the AFB Forum, but I was so taken with it I decided to fast-track it to the blog. One of the things I really love about Starman’s board at the forum is the way that he unearths stuff I’ve never heard of – and today’s items are certainly in that category!

Without further ado – over to Stars!

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Ok, today we have a real treat - OR TRICK!!

Resurrection of Monstress was a Japanese toyline released in the late 1990's by Yellow Submarine that gave us modernized female versions of the "classic" horror monsters. There were originally three planned series, of which only two were released.

*Since the line IS Japanese, the title on the cards alternately says Monstress or Monstless. :) *

The focus of this line was not articulation, but the "sexiness" of the ladies and the insane amount of accessories for each one.

All of the accessories are detachable and can store with the bases to some degree, which varies from figure to figure.

Each lady came with one variant, and one figure had 3 different versions.

So, onto the toys. Shall we?

Curia (Vampire)

Curia had 3 different figures. There is the standard black, the clear versionand a red version which I do not have and couldn't find pics for.

The large coffin can store Curia, her sword, her three bats, two syringes, a blood transfusion pack and bat monster. The winged skull on the coffin is also detachable.

Curia moves at the neck, shoulders and right wrist.

Wolfinica (Werewolf)

Wolfinica came in the standard brown version and the purple version, which I have.

All of her gear can store within the back of the large amp via pegs. Notice the yellow "wolvie" claw, the detachable wolf paw, the dog and two rats. The ONLY thing that is non-removable is the towel.

She also comes with a little dog skull with a nail sticking out of it.

She moves at the neck and shoulders.

Steela (Frankenstein)

Steela’s two versions are the standard grey/blue and the variant neon yellow/green.

She comes with a lightning bolt necklace, a steampunk glove for her right hand, a frankenstein mouse, a skull, a brain, two vials, a syringe, a scalpel, and a pair of pliers.

She also has a base which rotates from upright to horizontal with sides that rotate independently. Also, the electricity bolts can attach to her neck or shoulders and they are completely removable from the lab table.

She moves at the neck and shoulders.

Gillealla (Sea Monster)

Gillealla had a standard version and a clear version.

Her "treasures" include a nice dagger with a seahorse motif, a re-breather pack with a mask that looks like her daddy, her dad's skull, two fish skeletons, and a treasure chest filled with coins and an octopus!!!

Notice all the detail on the seaweed and base!!!!!

She moves at the neck, shoulders and ankles.

Phanteana

Phanteana’s two versions are the neon/silver that I have and the gold/black combo shown on the cardback.

She comes with two full masks, two half masks, an owl, a mask wearing skull, two mannequin head for the masks, a mixing board and a keyboard.

She moves at the shoulders and neck.

Noctilca

Noctilca is EASILY one of the best of these figures just based on the cool stuff she comes with and her look.

Her two versions are the pink one that I have and the orange version shown on the cardback.

She comes with a pumpkin with an opening jaw, a cat, a cauldron, a spoon, two mushrooms, a clove of garlic, an eyeball, and two pieces of mandrake, a hat, a newt and her broom.

She moves at the neck, shoulders and wrists.

Hope you enjoy!

Stars

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As always, Stars has put together a wide range of pics of these figures that really need to be seen to appreciate them. Have a look at them here at the AFB Forum and then add your discussion to the thread!

Of course, you can comment on this post to enter the April AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Also, don’t forget to check out the two contests we have going at the moment: the “That ‘70s Custom” Custom Contest and the third round of our first “Toy Lines!” Caption Contest!

Until next time!

AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: Thundercats!

We're back with a new installment of vintage toy reviews from our friend Starman. This month he's looking at the original Thundercats figures, which are soon to have some modern counterparts!

Without further ado, over to Stars!

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I really don't think these guys need any introduction, so I'll just get straight to showing you my collection.

I figured this would be a timely piece since the new Thundercats have been revealed at Toy Fair recently.

(On a personal note, I don't own a Snarf, because I hate him)

Okay, to the figures. First off, at the left, we have the stars of the show!

Panthro, Lion-O, Cheetara, Tygra (old), Wileykit, Tygra (young) Wikeykat

Baddies! Note the repaint of Mumm-Ra's helmet and a homemade cape! Capt. Shiner, Ram-Bam, S-S-Slythe, Jackalman, Mumm-Ra, Vultureman, Mumm-Ra (old), Cruncher, Grune.

PVC pack-ins!

Wileykit, Wileykat, Ma-Mutt

EXPENSIVE!!!!!! Well, except the Snowman.

Pumyra, Ben Gali, Jaga, Lynx-O, Snowman of Hook Mountain.

The only others I want at this point are Mongor, Monkian and Hammerhand. I've had several opportunities to get them, but the pieces were always in a condition than I found less than acceptable for my collection.

Anyway, here's a link:
http://www.action-figures.ca/thundercats.htm

Stars

You can discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the March AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

AFB Presents Starman's Toys I Grew Up With: DinoZaurs!

Following on from last month's successful look at Blastaar, our friend Starman is ready to bring us the next installment of his AFB Guest Feature, "Toys I Grew Up With." The thing that makes this feature so interesting to me is the wide range of lines Stars has collected over the years, and I think you'll agree! Over to you, Stars!

Hey guys,

Up today for your viewing pleasure is a little line from Bandai called DinoZaurs.

This line was imported from Japan in 2000 where they are known as Dinozone.

The line consisted of transforming dinosaurs, dragons and pre-historic mammals.

The offerings from this line consist of: Basics, Deluxes and boxed figures.

There were 5 boxed figures and also 5 boxed sets consisting of 2 or more figures. Out of the boxed sets, only the Ultimate Dino Styrako 3-Pack contained all new figures. The rest consisted of one or 2 re-issued figures and one or 2 new ones.

All of the Dragozaurs were repaints of the Dino Knights with the exception of Gigano Dragon, Drago Wing and Drago Draconus.

Here are all the figures in the line:

Dino Knights

DZ-1 Dino T-Rex "Dino Tyranno" (boxed)
DZ-2 Dino Brachio (boxed)
DZ-3 Dino Stego
DZ-4 Dino Sabre
DZ-5 Dino Ptera
DZ-6 Dino Tricera
DZ-7 Dino Mammoth

Dragozaurs

DG-1 Gigano Dragon (boxed)
DG-2 Drago Tyran (boxed)
DG-3 Drago Brachio (boxed)
DG-4 Drago Stegus
DG-5 Drago Tigra
DG-6 Drago Dactyl
DG-7 Drago Ceratops
DG-8 Drago Elephas

3-Packs

Ultimate Dino T-Rex 3-Pack
DZ-1 Dino T-Rex
DZ-11 Dino Pachy (new)
DZ-12 Dino Arch (new)

Ultimate Dino Brachio 3-Pack
DZ-2 Dino Brachio
DZ-4 Dino Sabre
DZ-13 Dino Kenty (new)

Ultimate Dino Styrako 3-Pack
DZ-8 Dino Styrako (new)
DZ-9 Dino Toro (new)
DZ-10 Dino Centro (new)

2-Packs

Ultimate Gigano Dragon 2-Pack
DG-1 Gigano Dragon
DG-9 Drago Wing (new), also the only original mold I don't own )

Ultimate Drago Draconus
Drago Draconus "Dark Dragon" (new)
DG-5 Drago Tigra

The line also contained 5 figures that were non-transformable “action figure” versions of 5 of the Dino Knights. Each one of these had an action feature and were pretty good.

Have a look at two pics of the figures here, and then check out all the rest of my pics at the full review at the AFB Forum.

Dino Knights

Dragozaurs

Hope you enjoy 'em!

Stars

Check out the Toys I Grew Up With Board at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the February AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

AFB Presents: Starman's "Toys I Grew Up With - Blackstar!"

As we welcome the new year, I am very pleased to introduce the first ever guest review at AFB, in what is going to become a regular guest feature! My good friend Starman, or "Stars" as he calls himself, has been around the traps of various forums for a long time, and has now taken up residence at the AFB Forum as a regular contributor and moderator. Recently, he started a set of reviews of toy lines from the past which are in his personal collection. He's given these reviews the clever name of "Toys I Grew Up With", and it's been so popular it's claimed it's own little place on the forum! I felt these pieces were so interesting that they deserved a wider audience, and as such this new guest feature was born.

Stars' first "TIGUW" feature is based on the Blackstar toy line from the early 1980's. Make sure you click through to the link to the full pictorial review at the AFB Forum - Stars has an extensive collection with far too many pictures to post here! And now, over to our guest:

BIackstar! I love these things!!! The box art for the playsets and vehicles are beautiful!!

These figures were produced by Galoob from 1983 to 1985 and were released in three waves. Each "good guy" came with a Trobbit (the little pink guys) and the "bad guys" came with the greenish-yellow demon. Wave Two villains came with a rainbow of colors of that same demon, while Wave Three villains came with new demons in new molds.

Blackstar's dragon-steed Warlock also came in two different colors. The yellow one I'm showing here isn't mine. The one I own is solid green with a light patch running up his front. The green one also doesn't have a saddle, while the yellow one does.

What's weird is that although they are basically the same molds, the green one is smooth while the yellow one is scaled.

Starting from Wave Two, all of the figures had a flickering light-up gimmick. I've shown the Blackstar figure both with and without it. Eventually all of the Wave One figures were re-released with the flicker action except Mara.

Also of note is Klone, the Blue Elf. He came with removable arms and legs, which could be traded out and combined with a snap-on chest piece and tail, whereby he becomes Cloud Cat!

The photos in this article are just some of mine! Check out the "Toys I Grew Up With - BLACKSTAR!" thread at the AFB Forum for many, many more!

Enjoy!

Stars

(Andy's final note:) Feedback on this new feature is most welcome! Do check out all of Stars' amazing photos - it's a real treat!

Just as always, you can comment on this post to enter the AFB Comment of the Month Contest for January!