Marvel Super Heroes 1992 ToyBiz figure: The Amazing Spider-Man with Multi Jointed Action Poses!

Arguably belonging somewhere in the top 3 of most iconic superheroes of all time along with Batman and Superman, Spider-man has found his way in to almost everything from school backpacks and lunch boxes to neck ties and socks.

Given amazing superpowers after being bit by a radioactive spider, Peter Parker soon came to learn that with great power comes great responsibility. As a character that started out being far from perfect and feeling responsible for the death of his uncle Ben, Spider-Man shown us that having great power alone does not make you a hero; it’s taking the responsibility in acting on doing the right thing that makes you a great hero. Spider-man is not a hero because he wants to be, it’s because he has to be.

Now, with that said how is he going to make a deal with the devil? If you haven’t guessed it, yes, I am not a proponent of One More Day. If they wanted to get MJ out of the picture they could have done it in so many other ways. Making a deal with Mephisto to simply rewind the past and start all over is way out of character for someone who strives to do the right thing even when he finds it hard to do so. Not to mention it is a poorly contrived way to retcon almost 20 years of Spider-man history.  It’s sad to say, but to this day I haven’t read another Spider-Man comic.

Well, for those who remember the Spider-Man of the past here is a 1992 Marvel Super Heroes figure of the Amazing Spider-Man with Multi Jointed Action Poses by ToyBiz!

The backboard has some wear and is warped from storage. There is some discoloring along two edges of the backboard due to it previously getting wet. The figure it self still appears to be in excellent condition as it has never been removed from the package.

If you are interested in this figure of your "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man", you can find it for sale on eBay by clicking here.

Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can.
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies.
Look out! Here comes the Spiderman.

SOLD

Marvel’s X-men 1992 ToyBiz figure: Magento with Super Spark Action!

Best friend of Charles Xavier and often worse enemy, Magneto the Master of Magnetism is one of the most iconic and compelling villains of not only the X-men but in all of comics. In almost any list polling who’s the top supervillain to have ever graced the pages of comic book you will find Magneto there in the forefront. In IGN’s 2009 list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time Magento was featured as number 1, beating out the likes of Lex Luther, the Joker, and Dr. Doom.  The development of this character’s background as a holocaust survivor and the readers’ ability to relate to why he is the man he is today speaks volumes as to why he is so popular today, especially when you consider he is a grown man wearing a red and purple outfit with what looks to be a bucket on his head.

For those of you who are a fan of old buckethead here is a Marvel’s X-men 1992 figure of Magento with Super Spark Action by ToyBiz!

The backboard has some minor wear from storage and is warped. The packaging has never been opened, however, there appears to be either some corrosion or a bad paint job on the upper portion of his cape. At the center of his chest where the sparks are supposed to appear the plastic appears white, possibly due to corrosion as well.

The X-men Series 2 card that comes in the package features his daughter and current member of X-factor, Polaris.

Magneto is an Omega-level mutant whose power over electromagnetic fields allows him to fly, create force-fields, send out magnetic pulses, and shape all forms of metal to his will. He is also the father of the superhero mutants known as Polaris, the Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver.

If you are interested in this figure of the Master of Magnetism, you can find if for sale on... Will be posting soon.

Marvel’s X-men 1992 ToyBiz figure: Gideon with Sword Slashing Thrust!

Does anyone still remember the Externals? In the early 1990s Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza had an idea of creating a special and unique subspecies of mutants which along with their individual mutant powers all shared in common an accelerated healing factor and a greatly retarded aging process. This group of mutants where known as the Externals and their powers of immortality were awakened upon them dying for the first time. Hmm, sounds a little familiar.

Several new characters where created as belonging to this group and a few older established characters were made into Externals as well. Several of the newly created characters formed a special organization known as the High Lords and supposedly were to be major players in the Marvel Universe; destined to have an important role in Apocalypse’s future rise to power. Unfortunately, however, they didn’t exactly live up to the definition of “immortal”. In the late 1990s Marvel put an end to Liefeld’s concept by killing off all of the known and confirmed Externals, except for one, which seemed only fitting. After all, we all knew “there can be only one!”

Well, if you did happen to remember the Externals then you probably remember Gideon, one of Liefeld’s original Highlanders, I mean, High Lords. Here is a 1992 Marvel’s X-men figure of Gideon with Sword Slashing Thrust by ToyBiz. 

The backboard has some wear and has been warped due to the cardboard soaking up some water at its base. The X-men Series 2 card that comes in the package no longer lays flat and features Wolverine. The figure of Gideon, however, is still in excellent condition and has never been removed from the package.  

Gideon’s mutant powers allowed him to temporary mimic the powers of any superhuman by scanning their DNA. Being a member of the Externals, he was also endowed with an accelerated healing factor and superhuman longevity due to a greatly slowed aging process. Unfortunately for Gideon he was killed by the Hellfire Club’s Black Queen, Selene, who was the last surviving member of the Externals until she was recently killed in the Necrosha storyline. 

If you are interested in this figure of a not so "immortal" External, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

500 Piece Dragon Ball Z Jigsaw Puzzle Featuring Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo and Others

There is probably no other anime line more popular outside of Japan than Dragon Ball. The first series of the line Produced by Toei Animation, Dragon Ball retold the story of Akira Toriyama’s manga of the same name in which a young boy, by the name of Goku, who was born with the tail of a monkey trains in martial arts and searches out into the world for seven mystical orbs known as the Dragon Balls. Toriyama’s original manga storyline of Goku and his family would continue and end in the series Dragon Ball Z, however, this would not signal the end for Goku and the anime. Goku along with his family and friends would find themselves in a new adventure in Dragon Ball GT. Eleven years after the launch of the first show, the Dragon Ball anime line would end in the TV animated film Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy, in which by that time followers of anime series line would be privy to 5 generations of Goku and Kamehameha attacks. Well, actually four because of a time lapse.

For those interested in the series that started the craze, all over the world, of Japanese animation featuring overpowered beings with insane martial arts skills here is a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle featuring seven characters from the anime Dragon Ball Z.

This item was purchased from a local comic shop in the early 1990s. The box has some minor wear due to storage; however, the puzzle pieces are like new and are in very good condition. I have provided some high resolution pictures so you can judge the condition of the item for yourself.

This 500 piece jigsaw puzzle features the Dragon Ball Z characters: from left to right (back) Vegita, Piccolo, Yamcha, and Tienshinhan; (front) Krillin, Goku, and Gohan. The puzzle when completed measures 37 cm x 51 cm (approximately 15 inches x 20 inches).

Along with becoming a successful anime series Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball, was adapted into a live action American movie. To this day Dragon Ball has a large influence on pop culture and also in the creation of many newer and popular manga, such as One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach.

If you are interested in this jigsaw puzzle featuring the cast Dragon Ball Z, you can find if for sale on... Will be posting soon.

500 Piece Ranma ½ Jigsaw Puzzle Featuring Female Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, and Others

As a kid my favorite anime series featured a teenage boy who was cursed with becoming a buxom redheaded teenage girl every time he was doused with cold water. Yeah, it sounds a little sketchy but as far as anime goes it was pretty PG. The anime I’m talking about is of course no other than Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½, in which the boy Ranma Satome became cursed after falling in to the Spring of Drowned Girl while training in the mountains of China. As the inheritor of the Tendo Dojo for the Anything-Goes school of martial arts he was then betrothed to Akane Tendo. It was their awkward and often comedic love-hate relationship that became the main focus of the series. Throw in high flying martial arts with this romantic comedy and I believe you have the recipe for what made this series so great.

 This is a 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle by Carmay featuring some of the cast from Ranma ½.

This item was purchased from a local comic shop in the early 1990s. The box has some minor wear due to storage; however, the puzzle pieces are like new and are in very good condition.

The puzzle features the Satomes (female Ranma and panda form Genma), the Tendos (Akane, Nabiki, Kasume, and Soun), Shampoo, Ukyo Kuonji, Natsume, and Kurumi. When completed the puzzle measures 38 cm x 53 cm (approximately 15 inches x 21 inches).

If you are interested in this jigsaw puzzle featuring the cast of Ranma ½, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

Marvel's X-men 1994 ToyBiz figure: 2nd Edition Shatterstar with Dual Sword Slashing!

Though he is supposedly a genetically engineered humanoid from Mojoworld in the future, there is a great deal of mystery surrounding Shatterstar’s origins. Why did he share the memories and appearance of a mutant named Benjamin Russell? Is he possibly the son of former X-men Longshot and Dazzler? Enquiring minds want to know.

In 2009 Shatterstar was brought to the forefront of more controversy as X-Factor writer Peter David had him kiss Rictor in issue 45. Rob Liefeld, the co-creator of Shatterstar, was adamantly against this new development of Shatterstar’s sexuality. Though Liefeld had stated that he has “nothing against gays”, he admitted that he “can’t wait to somdeday undo this”. Apparently it had been Liefeld’s desire that Shatterstar forever remain asexual like a Smurf. Ironically, Liefeld also went on to state, “Shatterstar is akin to Maximus in Gladiator… a warrior, a Spartan…” despite the fact that ancient Romans didn’t have much of a hang-up on sexual orientation and frequently engaged in sexual behavior with members of the same sex. 

The backboard has some wear and is severely warped in one corner. However, the figure is still in excellent condition as the package has never been opened.

The 1994 Fleer Ultra X-men trading card that comes in the package features Shatterstar along with his former X-Force teammate Boomer.

Shatterstar’s powers endow him with superhuman strength, speed, agility, and intelligence. They also give him the ability to send shock waves through his blades and teleport individuals across long distances. With hollow bones like that of his rumored father, Longshot, he is also able to perform acrobatic combat moves with ease.

If you are interested in the character that has become the bane of Rob Liefeld's existence, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

Marvel's X-men 1994 ToyBiz figure: Senyaka with Whip Snapping Action!

Suvik Senyaka, a former member of Magneto’s Acolytes has made a habit of being killed off. First Magento killed him with his own coils. Then he died in a battle with Cable and Lee Forrester. Then he was presumably killed by Sentinels in Genosha. Then he had his head chopped off by Wolverine during the Necrosha arch and that was the last to be heard of Senyaka, though he will most likely make another return in the future.

The backboard has some wear and is warped from storage. However, the figure is in excellent condition as the package has never been opened.

The 1994 Fleer Ultra X-men trading card that comes in the package features Nightcrawler.

A Sri Lankan version of Omega Red, Senyaka can generate psionic whips, which augment his strength, endurance, reflexes, and recuperative powers by draining the life-force of his victims.

If you are interest in this figure of Sri Lanka's only super villain, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

Marvel's X-men 1992 ToyBiz figure: Forearm with Four Arm Punching Action!

Named for the fact he has four arms, Forearm was one of the core members of the Mutant Liberation Front. In Wolverine vol. 2 issue 167 he apparently had his neck snapped by Serpent Society’s Anaconda during a Bloodsport match. However, he would eventually reappear live and well again as part of the Mutant Liberation Front. During the M-Day arch he was listed as one of the depowered mutants. I wonder if his other 2 arms just fell off.

The backboard has some wear and is warped from storage. However, the figure is in excellent condition as the package has never been opened.

The X-men: Series I trading card that comes in the package features Wolfsbane.

Along with an extra set of arms Forearm’s mutant powers give him increased strength, stamina, and durability.

If you are interest in the figure of the mutant villain known as Forearm, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

Marvel's X-men 1991 ToyBiz figure: Apocalypse with Extending Body!

It’s a little surprising to know that one of the greatest X-men villains of all time was almost absent from his initial debut in X-Factor #5. Bob Layton who had written the first five issues of X-Factor original planned to reveal that the mysterious mastermind behind the Alliance of Evil was none other than the fearsome Owl…

Really, the Owl almost single handedly saved the Marvel Universe from the immortal mutant known as En Sabah Nur, a.k.a. Apocalypse. Luckily for X-men fans and Marvel the Simonson’s came along and changed all of that. In further comics this gray and blue skinned mutant, enhanced by Celestial technology, would go to being a major villain of the Marvel Universe threatening to spell doom for the X-men’s past, present, and future.

The backboard has some wear and is warped from storage. However, the figure is in excellent condition as the package has never been opened.

The X-men: Series 2 trading card that comes in the package features Warpath.

Apocalypse is arguably one of the greatest X-men villains of all time! Apocalypse’s powers seemingly allow him to be capable of almost anything including super strength, shape shifting, telepathy, telekinesis, energy projection and absorption, technopathy, and bestowing others with powers while making them serve as one of his Four Horsemen. As one of the first mutants to walk the earth, if not the first, Apocalypse has been worshiped as a god and feared as a harbinger of destruction.

If you are interested in this figure of one of the greatest villains the X-men have ever faced, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.

San Francisco 49er's Keena Turner Autographed 1989 Pro Set Football Card

I have been a 49er fan ever since that time I watched Joe Montana throw a touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone during the final minute of the 1982 NFC Championship Game, in what would be forever known as “The Catch”.  That was the first football game I can ever remember watching on television. I’ll admit I didn’t know much of what was going on at the time but I do remember my uncles jumping up and down and yelling in celebration, partly because they probably won a bet. From that moment on, though, I’ve rooted for the 49ers even when they sucked (and boy did they suck big-time) throughout the majority of the 2000s. 

Though after a decade of suck, they did finally manage to bring back some hope last year and I got a feeling they are going to be one of the best teams in the NFL again this year. After all, who’s got it better than us? Nobody!

Well, for the 49er fans who remember the good old days of 1980s, this is a 1989 Pro Set Football Card autographed by San Francisco 49er Keena Turner. 

 

Drafted in the 2nd round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, Keena Turner was traded on that same day to the San Francisco 49ers where he would go on to help the team capture 4 Super Bowl titles during a 11 year NFL career. This former Pro Bowl linebacker now serves as the 49ers’ Vice President of Football Affairs. 

If you are interested in the autographed card of 49er Keena Turner, you can find it for sale on eBay by clicking here.  

Skybox's 1993 The Simpsons Series I Trading Cards Wiggle Card Insert, W7

From the hit animated show The Simpsons comes Radioactive Man, the Simpsons Universe’s own comic book superhero created by Morty Mann. As a parody of both DC’s Superman and Batman, he is said to have the powers of super speed, flight and nuclear heat vision, and is accompanied by his young sidekick Fallout Boy when fighting crime.

This is a rare insert wiggle card, #W7, by Skybox for their 1993 The Simpson Series I trading cards featuring the Simpsons Universe's own comic book superhero, Radioactive Man!

The front of the card features Radioactive Man delivering a knockout blow to his arch enemy Dr. Crab, while the back of the card features one piece of a nine piece puzzle set. As you can see from the pictures the corners are pointed however on the back of the card the color in three of the corners appears a little faded.

In 1993 Bongo Comics publish a real life comic book series based on Radioactive Man. Issues of the comic book series were some times published out of order in regards to their numbering and were often retro-dated to reflect the timeline of when the issue was released in regards to the Simpsons Universe.

If you are interested in this rare insert wiggle card, #W7, featuring The Simpsons' comic book superhero Radioactive Man, you can find it for sale on eBay by clicking here.

Skybox's 1993 The Simpsons Series I Trading Cards Cel Insert, C4

Originally intended as filler material before and after commercials for The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons came into their own in 1989 and took over America’s prime time television.  Today the multi-award winning animated series is setting records as the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and the longest-running American primetime, scripted television series.

Here is a rare insert cel card, #C4, from Skybox's 1993 The Simpson Series I trading cards featuring America's favorite dysfunctional family sitting on their living room couch, sans Maggie, as they normally would appear during the opening credits of their television show.

In the second picture showing the back of the card there appears to be a dark circle where Bart is sitting above the Bongo logo; this is due to the lens of my camera. There is no such spot on the back of the card.

If you are interesting in rare mini cel insert, #C4, featuring The Simpsons, you can find it for sale on eBay by clicking here.

Phoebes Cates Autographed 1984 Topps Gremlins Movie Trading Card #81

All they had to do was follow 3 simple rules:

1) Keep him out of the light.
2) Keep him away from water, don’t get him wet.
3) Never, never feed him after midnight.

Was that really so hard to follow? Apparently it was and as a result little green monsters ran amok through the small unsuspecting town of Kingston Falls, New York.

Ok, I’ll give Billy Peltzer a break in regards to the 3rd rule, after all he was tricked. Come to think of it now the 3rd rule is also a little vague; what exactly constitutes as "after midnight"? Could you start feeding Mogwai again in say 2 or 6 hours after the stroke of 12? Or should you even continue to feed them at all after their first day being born, or in their case sprouted, since every minute from their first midnight on would technically be "after midnight"?  I'm guessing if you did decide to feed them it would be best to wait until the sun is up. Now, then would it have really been wise to feed Spike and the others with only 25 minutes till midnight? Considering that in modern society time is is dependent on the time zone you live in and depending on where you live in that time zone, time may not be all that accurate in relation to the position of the sun and stars above you. So, it may not have been a wise decision for Billy to feed them regardless of whether he had been deceived or not. With that I take back which I had previously said; Billy Peltzer you were not ready for the Mogwai.

Ok, enough with the speculation from the geek gallery. Whatever the case may be apparently it didn't mater much to me as a child, as the Gremlins turned out to be one of my favorite movies. After having watched the film I soon had toy figures of Gizmo and Spike, Gremlin sticker albums, and even Gremlin trading cards, though I am not sure where they are all now. The one item I do have now, however, was purchased long after the movie was first released in the theaters. This is a 1984 Topps Gremlins movie trading card, #81, featuring the two young co-stars of the film, Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates, that has been autographed by the lovely Phoebe Cates.

The card was originally purchased from the Hunter's Vault in Carmel, Indiana. I no longer have the original receipt of purchase for the Hunter’s Vault guarantee, though I am not sure it would make a difference as I cannot confirm that the Hunter's Vault is currently in business. This item, however, is still a niece piece of memorabilia to have for fans of both Gremlins and Phoebe Cates.

If you are interested in this item, you can find it for sale on... Will be posting soon.