Atomic monster - MATANGO !

Japan, as the first country hit be the horrors of Atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has included this threat both in film (Godzilla - grown lizard due to radiation), manga (Barefoot Gen, for example) and popular culture. On the other hand, they also regarded atomic energy as a source of everlasting power for the future - power that could be used for the good of humankind (Astroboy = Tetsuwan Atom/Mighty Atom). This duality has come once again to surface with the latest Fukujima incidents.

This had of course also repercussions in the toy-world. From robots called "Mr. Atomic" to "Atomic rayguns", it was everywhere. In the Kaiju world, the Matango monster is the closest it gets. Even though it is a "fungus" monster - it strikes a cord to anyone who saw the atomic "mushroom" clouds.

Matango, Marmit, Japan,
1999

Captain Scarlet Spectrum Persuit Vehicle (SPV), Dinky Toys, England,
1970's

This is the workhorse of Spectrum in their struggle with the Mysterons. Fast and all-terrain - the drivers are seated backwards so they can resist a frontal colision if it happens. One of the Nicest Dinky toys around - heavy but full of functions: the front flips open and fires a missile when you press on the suspension of the front wheels - caterpillars lift up and down at the back - and pressure the white button to see Captain Scarlet exit the tank.

It's time to water it down...

The Japanese culture is full of contradictions... What would be as oposite as the zen and the natural beauty of a Bonzai tree ? Well, hmmm - let's see. A colorfull Shogun Warrior to water it ? At least this one does not shoot anything... except for the water sprinkles from it's head.

Getta Robot 2, Popy, Japan,
1970's

Getta Robot 2 (back), Popy, Japan,
1970's

Comansi - Batalla de los Planetas

Spanish company Jecsan got hold of the BOTP license, but competing company COMANSI (mis)used it as a way to get sales on a number of non BOTP toys, like this set of astronauts. (which were cheaper to make than the popular action figures made by Jecsan...). I thought in the beginning that these were in fact Jecsan figurines - but the "OVNI" "2000, 2001, 2002, ... markings on the base prove these are COMANSI.

Batalla de los Planetas (bag of astronauts), Comansi, Spain
1970's

The colors are really nice, and some of the poses also. These figurines came from boxed space sets that the company produced in the 60ies.

Schizofrenic beauties - Batman beware !

They are wild, beatifull and completely crazy. They are the most stunning villains around, with pinup style poses and weapons that make the Bat sweaty every time... they are... the girls of Gotham.

Harley Quinn, WB store, China, 1999

Poison Ivy, WB store, China, 1999

Batgirl, WB store, China, 1999

Batgirl, fast food toy (Mc.D?), China
1993

Catwoman, fast food toy,
China, 1993

Batgirl, Kenner, China, 1997

Catwoman, WB store, China, 1999

Banso Battle of The Planet toys - Gatchaman in XL

Jun (Princese) with bike, BANSO, Japan,
1970's

For me some of the most beautifull (even if - crude) toys made originally for the BOTP / Gatchaman series: Banso toy's made a great job in the display of the charcaters and their mecha (= vehicles). I still need to find two of those (Ken's plane and Jinpei's tank)... if you have one let me know.

Ryu Nakanishi with Phenix ship, Banso, Japan,
1970's

Ryu Nakanishi with Phenix ship (back of box),
Banso, Japan, 1970's

Fulguropoing !

Shooting fist, Atlantic, Italy,
1970's

When your hero is a Shogun Warrior robot with sickles and laser beams shooting from the torso and horns and Pulvonium beams from the fingers and so on, you need to have these in the playground also.

The Italian kids had it, once again thanks to a great and now defunct company called Atlantic.

Shooting fist, Atlantic, Italy,
1970's

They made the fist ! For the other "goldorak" weapons of choice - check this list from a French website: http://www.ledman.ch/humour/armes_goldorak.html

Read the newspaper, read !

Truck, Corgi Juniors, Gt.Britain,
1978

Especially if it is the Daily Planet and if you want to have some news of Superman before anyone else... The funny side of this toy ? It is a model of a Leyland Terrier. Very popular in the UK in the 70's ? Yes. In USA Metropolis ? Hmmm. maybe not.

So, unless we are talking about some foreign branch of the Daily Planet in London or Leeds (yes, why not... they read papers in Leeds) this is not really the truck one would expect on the American roads.

Black shark-fin

Ray Gun, Park Plastics, USA,
1950's

Another raygun from the 50's - very similar to the Reliable version but without the compas.

Original rubber from Italy

Albator, Fabianplastica,
Italy, 1978

Docteur Zero, Fabianplastica ,
Italy, 1978

Nausicaa, Fabianplastica,
Italy, 1978

Captain Harlock was an instant success with the bambinos and bambinas in Italy ... Fabianplastica, already known for their other rubber figurines of series like Barbapapa and Goldrake, just went on and issued the heroes of the serie. I particular like the doctor, who has all the characteristics of the typical Matsumoto anti-hero. (Miaoow-Miaoow included !)

Sylvidra, Fabianplastica,
Italy, 1978

Ramis Valente, Fabianplastica,
Italy, 1978

Capitan Futuro...

A lot of toys were made specifically for some markets, like Italy or Germany. Mattel used their Big Jim doll as a base - but did not forget to give our hero its blasters !

Capitan Futuro Doll, Mattel, Italy,
1980

Capitan Futuro Doll (detail), Mattel, Italy,
1980

And for the German market ? No problemo ! Just take the plastic version of the Japanese Popy figurines and give them another box...

3 Heroes Captain future set, Mattel, Germany
1980

3 Heroes Captain future set (back), Mattel, Germany
1980 

Hmmm - let's take the pink one tonight to fly-drive through space, Honey !

Another one of my FDL-finds (Feira da Ladra - big Lisbon flea market): this futuristic finned car obviously was part of some kind of launch mechanism (it is all tin and has a spring in the back "reactor"). I found a similar one called "SHOO-TA rocket" racer toy car on the web. They say it was made in  1947 by the C.Rushton and Co., Melbourne, Australia - but it had black rubber wheels... (mine are more greenish) I have doubts that any Australian toy made it to Lisbon in the late 40ies or 50ies, so maybe once again just a swap of molds from one toymaker to another. So maybe English - or Portuguese ?  If you have more information on this please contact me.

Futuristic car, ?, ?,
1940's-50's

And this is the Melbourne newspaper add:

(photo Steven Baker)

Thunderbirds made in England...

Thunderbird 2, Dinky Toys, England,
1970's

This one has been the toy of lots of kids. Sturdy diecast with little plastic Thunderbird 4 vehicle. The first releases were green, just like on the show - don't know why Dinky changed for metallic blue afterwards. 5,4,3,2,1 Thunderbirds are GO !

... but the Tracy boys went to Spain too !

Hmmm. Maybe on holidays. This one is from Spanish toy maker MOLTO. They basically did the same spacecraft as Century 21 in the U.K.

There is a rare version of a gift box with T1, T2 and T3...

Thunderbird 3, Molto, Spain,
1960's-70's

Eastern Europe (Bulgarian ?) robotsky

I don't have a maker's name on this one, but it was one of the few robots made in Eastern Europe for export.

It boasts Soviet design - and has definitely some remaining cold war coldness into his face !

Robot, ?, Bulgaria,
1960's 

Robot, ?, Bulgaria,
1960's 

First man in space...

Yuri Gagarin's Vostok spacecraft, ?,
Russia, 1961

12 of April 1961 marks the start of manned flights into space, when Gagarin completed one orbit in his Vostok spacecraft. He would soon become the symbol of Soviet propaganda and courage. Science fiction, from that day on, would be much more science and much less imaginative, especially in spacecraft design...