The pirate... and the game of thrones

Captain Harlock, High Dream, China,
2010's

Harlock? He likes a good glass of red wine. Before going to battle with the Mazones / Sylvidres!

Was there some secret potion in the wine ? Or did Harlock find the fountain of youth ? Anyhow, a kid this age should not drink ! Hehehe...

Captain Harlock SD (Super Deformed), Vance Project, China,
2007

Pre-war slinger-shot, shoot me to another planet Rocket !

In an era of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials at the movies - kids back from my grandfather's age would be playing with these...

It is nice to notice that any respectable gentlemen going to Jupiter or Mars would do so in their best suit and matching hat. Oh, yes, there is even one smoking a cigarete! (big no-no in the toy-world and the real-world nowedays!)

The patent of the toy and description of it working can be seen here: http://ip.com/patent/US2105579

Jet Rocket ship, Sportswood Spec. Co, USA,
1938

Jet Rocket ship, Sportswood Spec. Co, USA,
1938

What ? Paid 25 USD for a rock ?

Kryptonite rock, Pro Arts Inc., USA
1977

 ... that's what my parents said when I saw this in an Antique store in Indiana. But mam, it's Kryptonite ! And it glows in the dark (still does, after 34 years...)

I particularly enjoyed some of the instructions that came with the booklet:

• Do not keep your Kryptonite Rock in the same room as one of your Super Hero comics
• Do not lend your Kryptonite Rock to anyone, you never know whose side they are on
• remember, Superman says, "it's terrific - it's fantastic - it's Kryptonastic !"

So yes, paid about 25 bucks for a stone with green paint on it, and it's worth every penny.

Gan Gara Ganchan

Another one in the "kiss me I'm cute"-range, this is my G-rated robot (no, really, it's on the belly !)

Gan Gara Ganchan, Popy, Japan,
1970's

Gotham blasters

Batman watergun, Durham Industries, Hong Kong,
1970's

When you need a help from the caped crusader: get a hand on these water guns !

Batman watergun, No732 (?), Hong Kong,
1970's

Batman watergun (detail), No732 (?), Hong Kong,
1970's

It's S-cool time pretty soon !

... And stores all over are having new stationary for the kids to go to school with. What a pitty this does not show up anymore...

Robot pencil sharpener, ?, Germany,
1950's

Robot pencil sharpener, backview

The Joker...

From Cesar Romero to Heath Ledger, lots of actors have taken his deviant behaviour and turned him into Bat's favorite vilain.

Schizophrenic, yes. Insane, certainly. But terribly bad. And that makes a villain "perfect"!

Jokermobile, Fast Food Premium, China,
1993

Joker, Fast Food Premium,
China, 2010

The traveller...

Maetel, Aruze, China,
2003

Another of Leji Matsumoto's characters, Maetel represents love and melancholy (of being eternal ?). Defending the inocent, but giving all there is for freedom. Freedom of thoughts, of choice, of actions... In stories repeating themselves, but different each time (the famous time loop of much of Leiji Matsumoto's stories) she encounters friends in her fabulous 999 train, from Tetsuro to Harlock.

Sup ? on a Suzuki ?

Sometimes strange variations of toys can be found on the foreign markets. In this case a Superman bike. Why would somebody that can fly through the skies do on a bike ? Don't know... Batman, OK - he needs wheels... but Superman ? Come on ! Also, does he need to endorse a brand of tires ? Is he broke ?

Superman on bike, Gulliver, Brazil,
1970's

Sleep Tight Astro !

Astroboy (SD), Medicom Copy ?, China,
2010

Astro got his part of SD (=Super Deformed) toys. Here is one of the cutest versions.

AKIRA - Kaneda and motorcycle

Kaneda and bike, Kaiyodo, China,
2000's

The serie that launched manga (=Japanese Comics) into the world was definitely Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo. It was later released as an OAV (=Cartoon).

Ultra-violent, it shows a vision fo the future of NEO TOKYO and the whereabouts of a group of delinquent kids with a government project that went horribly wrong.

Bond, James Bond

If there is one serie that showed us gadgets to be used in the future (from digital watches to say, ... diving cars) it was James Bond.

Jaws moving van, Corgi Junior, Gt Britain,
1970's

Lotus Esprit, Corgi, Gt Britain,
1970's

Don't know the answer ? Ask Sam - the Answer man !

We've all gotten one of these - cards and electric current to teach us geography, math etc. This is one of the earlier versions.

Robot Sam the Answer Man, Jacmar, USA,
1950's

Plushies from my favorite cartoons !

I never was into the Beanie Babies or any other plushy side of collecting, untill these came along.

Captain Harlock, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994 

Toschiro, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994

Emeraldas, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994

Maettel, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994 

SD (= Super Deformed : a Japanese way to make items look cute !)

999 Driver, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994 

Tetsuro, Banpresto, Srilanka,
1994 

Fancy Tableware

Need a little salt in yourt life ? Do it the Astroboy way ! From the galaxy to your kitchen table, here he is with little sis !

Astroboy and -girl salt and pepper, Shin & Company, Japan,
1990's

Before the jet-age...

Victory Squadron, Irwin Toys, USA,
1950's 

... people were using propellor planes... These are some that won the second World War to America.

I glow in the dark, but can give hugs also !

I glow in the dark !

In the cute department, this one will go well next to Robocon. He has a big smile, a propellor on his head like Doreamon, and a big medal on his chest (for bravery ?) Made of hollow plastic.

Ladies and Gentlemen: May I present Robotan to the world !

Robotan, Popy ?, Japan,

1970's

Battle of the Planets !

Mark nodder, Nakajima, Japan,
1970's

Mark nodder (detail - back with "flying wheel"), Nakajima, Japan,
1970's

Jason's racecar, Banso, Japan,
1970's

The G-Force is back ! Mark, Thierry, Princesse, Alumette + Kipo (French names) were fighting evil Zoltar every Wednesday afternoon on TV. They had a wonderfull spaceship, the Phenix, that could transform into a firebird, and they communicated through high-tech bracelets which would transform them into super-"birdmen and woman" in a blink of an eye.

Strangely, most of the toys that appeared in Europe were of the second serie, which showed other mecha (= spaceship and vehicle design). It seems the cartoon became a sudden and unexpected success in a number of countries: Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands,  the U.K.... and when toystores finally got into the game, they had to accept the toys related to the new (= in Japan) series.

5 figurines (Dutch packaging), CIVAS, Hong Kong
1980

Superman helps you get superclean !

The kids in the 70's in the USA had one good reason to look snappy : they had a whole gear of Avon products that were superhero related... From the Batmobile to Superman - they sold to millions of households...

Superman brush, Avon, USA,
1976

Egyptian robot ? Raydeen !

Raydeen Robot, Popy, Japan,
1970's

God bird, Banpresto ?, China,
1990's

Raydeen, Bandai, China,
2011

Raydeen (vinyl - medium), Popy, Japan,
1970's

Raydeen, Medicom, China,
1990's

If there is a robot that was as cool as Grandizer (Goldorak) - but not as well known in France - it was Raydeen. Various versions were made, then and now. The armor and face recalls some ancient pharao of the valley of the Death. That's what you get when Japanese manga and egyptian archeology merge!

Raydeen (vinyl - small), Popy, Japan,

1970's