BraveStarr – Wild West Adventure in Space!

Posted on January 28, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

BraveStarr. Speelboom Club Journal N°3. 1987. Netherlands.

In a new entry at The Vintage Toy Advertiser, we take a look at 1986’s space-western toy line BraveStarr by Mattel. The toys accompanied the Filmation animation series of the same name which aired between 1987 and 1988. Filmation had previously been responsible for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, Shazam! and Filmation’s Ghostbusters. BraveStarr would prove to be the studio’s final animation series output.

Marshal BraveStarr

Marshal BraveStarr and his sidekick Thirty/Thirty. Image: Wikipedia

Set in the 23rd century on a planet called New Texas, BraveStarr mixes the genres of science fiction and wild west to pitch heroes against villains. The lead hero is Marshal BraveStarr – a Native American with superhuman spirit-animal powers, as well as a small arsenal of futuristic weaponry at his disposal. Lead villain is Tex Hex – who was originally a villain character in the development of Filmation’s Ghostbusters series. Tex Hex was removed from the show so that the studio could base the upcoming BraveStarr series around his character.

Tex Hex and Skull Walker

Tex Hex on his Skull Walker. Italy. 1986.

Dutch Mattel catalogue page showing various BraveStarr figures, vehicles and the Fort Kerium play set

BraveStarr. Intertoys Speelboek. 1987 Autumn. Netherlands.

Bravestarr Pistols. Wonderland Catalogue. 1987. France.

Bravestarr Water Blaster and Target Game. Wonderland Catalogue. 1987. France.

Thanks for looking 🙂

Post updated Jan 2022.

Never Mind the Adverts Pt14 – Action Figure Frolics and Fun, plus Name-that-Figure quiz, all in TVTA Color!

Posted on January 25, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Welcome to the latest Never Mind The Adverts Here Are The Toys!

In this edition, I finally get my hands on a Thirteenth Doctor action figure as portrayed by Jodie Whittaker in the BBC sci-fi drama Doctor Who. Judge Death stops by to give us an intimate portrait. X-23 Laura Kinney strikes some cool poses. Barbie meets a Dalek! And test your knowledge with TVTA’s fun-time action figure quiz: can you identify the characters and which franchise they belong to?

Doctor Who by Character Options

When 13 met Martha…

The Doctor and Martha Jones finally meet. It’s only natural they strike a pose for the camera.

: Martha: Enough of the posing around. I just spotted danger ahead… I think I saw a Dalek! 13: Really? Where? Oh no, I just remembered I don’t like Daleks, neither do you. Let’s get after it!

: Martha: oh, it’s okay… looks like Barbie is dealing with the Dalek situation now. 13: Barbie… how did she get here?

when Barbie met Dalek

Dalek: Exfoliate! Exfoliate! Barbie: All in good time my lovely new blue accessory… first we have to choose outfits, do our hair, bake cakes, then there’s this cool party I’m throwing later over at my place. What? You haven’t seen my dream house yet!?!

Judge Death – the intimate side

: It’ssss not eassssy, all thissss death… There are timesss when I yearn to be at peace with the world…

: Ssssometimesss I like to read poetry, paint… I garden, though my flowersss take often the habit of dying…

: They asssk me… how can you live with yourssself when being resssponsssible for the murder of sssso many innocent beingsss? …

: I reply, I do not live, therefore I do not have to live with myssself…,

: They reply back… you’re not a nice guy… we’re gonna get Judgesss Anderssson and Dredd to sssort you out!

: Oh no… I’m sssso ssscared!!!!

: Boo!

: Hahahahahahahaha!

: But really, all joking assside, my criticsss are quite right.. I’m not a nice guy at all…

: Sssso run! You have ten ssecondsss before I sssentence you to death!!

X-23 – These boots are made for slashing, and a fistful of adamantium!

X-23… how do you like it?

: X-23 figure from the TVTA collection.

: X-23.

: X-23.

: X-23.

Quiz time!!!

And now, from Norwich, it’s the quiz of the week! Presenting, in glorious TVTAColorVision, the TVTA fun-time action figure quiz: Identify each character for 1 point, its franchise for a bonus point. Can you score more than 14 points? Don’t feel bad if not, this is quite hard, and Wooof only scored 5 points and he’s supposed to be an expert! Haha. Hard cheese, cat… What, shhhh, don’t tell the readers I only scored 3 points!

Answers are at the end of the post… no cheating! Deduct a point if you do, naughty you!

Right, let’s go! Name the following characters, and the franchise they appear in…

Cowboys!

And finally, how about some cool cowboy figures from the 1980s? These were made by a company called Gerca. I remember nagging my mom for ages as a kid for a pack of cowboys very similar to these – I wanted them because their hats and guns were removable and the body parts interchangeable!

Wild West figures. Gerca. 1980s. Made in Macau. Loose.

Wild West figures. Gerca. 1980s. Made in Macau. MIP.

That’s all folks,

Thanks for getting action figure quizzical with us 🙂 Join us again soon for another edition of Never Mind The Adverts, in glorious TVTAColorVision!!

2004 Corgi TV, Film & Cartoon catalogue, UK.

Posted on January 20, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

This. Catalogue. Is. Quite. Simply. Awesome!

As is so often the case with Corgi Toys, they produce the most beautiful product catalogues on the market. This 2004 TV, Film & Cartoon catalogue is no exception – 24 pages, A4, of wonderfully-presented pop-culture toy photography. Enjoy 🙂

Thunderbirds

Mr Bean

Doctor Who

Batman

: 2004. UK.

: 2004. UK.

: 2004. UK.

: 2004. UK.

James Bond, 007

The Blues Brothers, Scooby-Doo, The Beatles

Bullitt, Knight Rider, Back to the Future

The Italian Job

: The Italian Job die cast Minis from Corgi. UK. 2004.

Red Dwarf

The Persuaders, Smokey & the Bandit, Only Fools and Horses, Last of the Summer Wine, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Inspector Morse, Heartbeat

Charlie’s Angels, The A-Team, The Dukes of Hazzard

Back cover

As always, thanks for looking 🙂

View-Master stereo images

Posted on January 19, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Peanuts – Good Grief, Beethoven! 1966

I tried to get some more shots of View-Master images taken by camera direct through a viewer – with varying degrees of success. I managed to get two Peanuts stories without too much blurring, and a whole bunch of random images from Sesame Street, The Flintstones, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

As my reel collection grows, it’s my aim to try and capture the best images possible – a lot of trial and error. Well, the following aren’t too shabby, as you can see, but nothing can beat seeing these wonderful 3D images with your own eyes through a View-Master! The modelmaking and photography techniques of certain reels is an absolute joy to behold.

Used to have a View-Master as a kid? Haven’t got one as an adult? What are you waiting for? They’re fairly inexpensive to buy on the second-hand market, and your eyes will thank you greatly 🙂 🙂

Peanuts – Throw it home, Snoopy! 1966

Sesame Street, People in your neighbourhood, 1982

The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales, 1958

Cartoon Favorites, The Flintstones, 1962

Look out for more View-Master goodies coming soon! As always, thanks for looking 🙂

’72-’89, comic book art

Posted on January 15, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

The Thing N°6. 1983. US.

… TVTA has a ‘Thing’ about comic book art!

Welcome, vintage mates, to another selection of comic book covers and art spanning the 1960s to present. Feast your goggles on amazing art candy by Bill Sienkiewicz, George Perez, Al Williamson, Mike Mignola, Neal Adams, Moebius, André Chéret, Brian Bolland, Alex Toth, Alex Roth, and the late Ron Smith. As always, thanks for looking 🙂

Marvel and DC

: Daredevil N°235. 1986.

: Marvel Age N°71. 1989. Moebius.

: 1985. Mike Mignola and Al Williamson. US.

: The Defenders. 1983. US.

: The New Mutants N°25. 1985. Bill Sienkiewicz.

: Tales of the Teen Titans N°51. 1985. George Perez.

: Wonder Woman and Superman kiss. 1987. US.

: Mego Wonder Woman and Hall of Justice. 1977. US.

: 1989. US.

Batman Black and White

: 1996. US.

: 1996. US.

: 1996. US.

: 1996. US.

The Phantom

: The Phantom N°41. 1972.

: The Phantom. 1943 reprints.

: The Phantom. 1943 reprints.

: The Phantom. 1943 reprints.

: The Phantom. 1987.

: Lee Falk’s The Phantom N°9. 1989.

TV related

: Bionic Woman. Télé Junior. 1980.

: Starsky and Hutch. 1978.

: Jabberjaw, Scooby-Doo, Hong Kong Phooey. Télé Parade. Mensuel N°5. 1978.

: Jabberjaw and The Neptunes. Télé Parade. 1977.

Conan, Sonja, Rahan

: Conan the Barbarian. N°175. 1985. Owsley/J Buscema/Chan/Chiang/Roussos.

: Conan and Sonja. Mickey N°380. 1984.

: Rahan. Pif Gadget N°555. 1979.

: Rahan. Pif Gadget N°395. 1976.

I’d like to dedicate this post to the talented comic book artist Ron Smith, who passed away last week, aged 94. Ron worked on many British comic titles like Hotspur, The Wizard, The Topper, The Dandy, The Beezer, The Victor, and Warlord, but he will always be most famously remembered for his prolific work on Judge Dredd. The last three covers are by Ron Smith.

: 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd. 1983.

: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special. 1983.

: 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd. 1983.

Fond farewells Ron Smith, 1924 – 2019

Angelic – Inspired by Charlie’s Angels

Gallery

Posted on January 12, 2019 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Originally posted on FTSabersite:
Hello Everybody, to start this post I need to retell this quote – “Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy. And they were each assigned very hazardous duties…