Captain Planet!

Hey peeps!
It's been a while...a looong while since my last post. Been really busy with some stuff. Let's just say I had some time for some "self-improvement". Well, I've found some time to post now so here we go.

Today I decided to feature one of the more obscure lines in my collection. This line was released in the early 90's alongside the cartoon show it supported. Now I guess during that era the world was becoming more aware of humanity's effects on the environment. It wasn't as much as how we're all concerned for global warming today, but it was more on the extinction of animals, the hole in the ozone layer and the pollution of the seas. It was the true beginning of mankind's concern for the future of the planet. Thus came the cartoon show "Captain Planet and the Planeteers".

It was basically a cartoon aimed to inform the youth about the problems our planet is facing from the unimaginable abuse of mankind's hunger for progress. The protagonist of the show were the Planeteers, a group of five teenagers from different parts of the world who were chosen by Earth's spirit, GAIA, to help protect the Earth from the evil forces that threatened to abuse and destroy it. They were each given a ring which represented the different elements of nature. Namely; earth, fire, wind, water and heart (which I didn't really know why it was selected as an element), maybe the writers just wanted to keep the team of five. These were special rings though, each not only represented an element, it also gave whoever wore it the power to control that element. And when the team let their ring powers combine they can summon Earth's mighty champion "Captain Planet", who could basically control all the elements and had super human strength and could fly... you know, all the regular stuff awesome superheroes have.

Okay, so you know the basic premise of the show, now lets take a look at some of the toys. I only have three action figures from this line. All of them I got at bargain prices so their all awesome hauls. The first one I got was a MOC Parachute Linka fig which I found in some mall sale stall. I couldn't believe my eyes at first but when I took a closer look I was stoked and hooked. This fig could go as much as $50 online but I got my fig for lower than 50 Php! Now that is a steal! I wish I bought more but I don't like hoarding.

The next two figs I got from a "ukay ukay" stall in a public market. You know you're a toy hunter when you actually hunt in public markets. I was sifting through a box of old toys and I found these two treasures; the planeteer's old toxic foe Sly Sludge and Captain Planet himself! And both in very good condition! I got both for just 50 Php. Just think, these are NOT easy to find anywhere. Not that I know of at least. Captain Planet could go for a hundred dollars on some sites online so I think I got an awesome deal on these!

To be Honest, Captain Planet wasn't really a big hit back in the day. Maybe because of how naive the concept was for the time. But I did watch it and I did enjoy it. And actually acquiring some action figures from the show just gives me a very fulfilling feeling. Wish I could find more Captain Planet figs in the future.

Speaking of the future, I'll see you there next time! And remember...THE POWER IS YOURS!

Cheers!

Die-Cars!

Hello there dear readers, if there actually is anyone else coming to this blog hehe. Its time for a new toy story. Now today I decided to feature my diecast car stuff. Again, like most of my collection, its not much. Just a few pieces I really thought were cool and had significance from my childhood. Most are all themed from some of my favorite 80's shows and movies. From Back to the future to Speed Racer. Let's get started, shall we?

First up, my Hotwheels. This first one isn't really that special. Not really considered as a "treasure hunt" car. I think its a pretty common Hotwheels car. The reason I got it was first; it was cheap, and second; it was from 1998 and anything from before y2k I consider vintage.

32' Ford


2nd Hotwheel is Speed Racer's Mach 5. Yes, I did watch Speed Racer when I was young and I know some of you did too. But since vintage Speed Racer toys are hard to come by and rather expensive I settled for the next best thing, the modern movie remake version of Speed Racer's race car.

Speed Racer Mach 5


Next is probably one of the most well-known cars from the 80's. The movie it came from launched Michael J. Fox's career. And this car garnered worldwide fame with him. Yup, its the car that had a need for 88 mph speed!

Back to the Future DeLorean


Here's another iconic 80's vehicle. And its from another awesome 80's movie. Egon,Ray,Winston and Peter rode this baby to get to their job sites...hunting ghosts!

Ghostbusters Ecto-1


My latest Hotwheels, which I hunted for last ToyCon but failed to catch. Another one of my favorite 80's vehicles. Mr.T made this van famous.Didn't really care about the other guys.

A-Team van


Now lets move on to other toy car lines

I know I already have a Speed Racer Mach 5 diecast car, but when I saw this thing I was just mesmerized by how clean and sleek its made.

Jada Speed Racer Mach 5


These next cars were a very awesome find. And one of those instances where I stumbled upon a real "treasure" in the most unassuming places. I actually bought this from a magazine stand near a local grocery store. They were some left-over stock from an old variety store that got demolished. And they were cheap too. Less than a P100. I wish I bought the other ones though, when I came back a couple days later they were gone. I guess everyone loves cheap quality toys. So, last but not the least, a real line from my childhood, those miniature wonders...

Micro Machines!


Well, that is all for now folks. Tune in next time, when I actually feel like posting again hehe. Oh, Happy Valentine to all of you!

-Cheers!

Lion-Hooooo!

Hello friends, its been a while since my last post but here I am about to share something else from my humble collection. Today I decided to feature my Thundercats figures. They're not much, I actually only have three figures and all of them of a single character. But he's not just any character, he's the Lord of the Thundercats himself, Lion-O!

Now for people like me who grew up in the 80's, Lion-O was probably one of the most well-known cartoon characters of the time. He is the leader of a group of cat-like alien beings called the Thundercats who've escaped the destruction of their home planet, Thundera. Pursued by a fleet of evil mutants from Plundarr, they eventually crash land on a planet called Third-Earth and soon make it their new home. But unknown to them, Third-Earth was also home to an evil warlord mummy named Mummra. So to make the story short, they fight battles on Third-Earth against Mummra and a bunch of different evil beings every episode and always win. Thanks to the Sword of Omens and the Eye of Thundera. I loved this show when I was a kid and never missed an episode. And like any awesome show that era, it came with an awesome toyline. But, unfortunately, I never got to own any of the Thundercats action figures. My parents thought they were too expensive which I thought was funny because they bought me stuff from other toy lines like Silverhawks and He-man which were pretty much the same price. I guess they just didn't want any more clutter in the house. Well so basically, Thundercats figs have become one of my most sought after toys. Even when I grew up. I always told myself that I would have one of those toys someday. No matter how long it took. And finally I did manage to get some. Took me a couple decades but its all good. And here they are. They're not much but I think they're the greatest pieces in my collection.

A red-haired battle-matic Lion-O

and an Orange-haired variant

I'm telling you, Lion-O didn't come easy. I lost quite a lot of money just trying to get a decent one. At first I wanted a mint-on-card one but looking around, I saw that they did not come cheap. They practically cost a fortune. The cheapest moc vintage Lion-O I saw cost around $300 and the most expensive ones range from $1-2000. So I lowered my standard a bit and opted for a loose but complete with accessories vintage Lion-O. They also weren't cheap. But because I really wanted one so bad I decided to buy one from ebay from a guy in Belgium. It cost about P3000 (shipping included) but I thought it was worth it. I was so wrong. What I thought was a dream come true became a nightmare. I never received that figure which I paid for. The seller said he already sent it and even gave proof. But I guess somewhere along the line and the allegedly thieving postal service, my Lion-O fell in a crack and was lost forever. I almost gave up on having a vintage Lion-O after that. I almost gave up on toy collecting completely. But I guess I really couldn't erase that childhood dream and so I kept looking again. And finally while sifting through a listing of figs on ebay I found a cheap but decent one. It was kinda roughed up a little, I envy the kid who played with it. He must've had an awesome time. Then after a couple days I found another one and bought it as well. And they were both from local sellers so I had better insurance that they'd get to me with no problem.

But my obsession with Lion-O didn't stop with the vintage line. I also managed to score a modern version of him. Bandai acquired the rights to the Thundercats line and released these 8" Classic Lion-O. More true to the way he looked in the 80's cartoon and with great details and articulation.

But this Classic Lion-O still cannot outweigh my two vintage Lion-O's in my heart. That show and toy line was a wonderful part of my childhood and it will continue to bring me joy and pride till the day I may have to pass it on to my children.

That's all for today. Hoped you enjoyed it. Tune in next post!

Cheers!

Karate Chopper Surprise!

So, a few days ago I passed by a local grocery/department store near my office before I went home. I was gonna pick up some canned goods but I guess I'm hardwired to passing by the toy section of any store that had one. Didn't really expect to find anything interesting because I go there almost everyday so I usually know exactly what toys they sell there but I was pleasantly surprised to find hidden treasure. Well to those who don't know me "hidden treasure" usually means "cool vintage toy". Amidst some bakugan and cheap china fish games was this; a 1994 Hasbro Toy Street Fighter the movie Karate Chopper! Which I never knew existed till I saw it that day.

Checked out the price, $4.50 (I work in a freeport zone where most of the stores price their items in US dollars) roughly Php200-211. Which evidently was just a little less than the amount of money I had on me that time. So long story short, I did a Jack in the beanstalk move and ditched the canned goods for the toy. I was quite happy though. Took some pictures of the box when I got home but didn't open it, then wrapped it up with cling wrap then put it with my other toys. But the next day I bought another one that I did open and check out what was inside. Here's what I got:

Like many toys it came with a catalog. Since this Street Fighter series was made by Hasbro to coincide with G.I. Joe (The action figures were actually the same mold and size as regular joes, about 3 3/4") It came with a mini G.I. Joe toy catalog which I really love because it just adds that nostalgia factor to it.

It also came with a manual which basically shows how to assemble the Karate Chopper. As you can see this manual is showing some age even if it was virtually untouched since the 90's.

And here are the parts

The assembled Karate Chopper. Although, I didn't apply the stickers because I decided to put them and the other printed materials in my vintage catalogs stash.

And there you have it, the Street Fighter Karate Chopper. Something I never knew existed or even wanted until I found it... CHEAP!

-Cheers!

He-man & the Masters of the Universe

Hiya! How y'all doin'? Well, in more or less 24 hours, the year 2011 will be a thing of the past. At least in the Philippines it is. So I thought I'd make a last post as a toast for this special year. I've acquired many cool figs this 2011. I guess you can say its the year I really got to hone my hunting skills. Tried out new ventures and locations and spent a little more than usual. But It was a satisfying, learning experience. So lets get the ball rolling shall we.

My next toy feature is about one of the most famous toy lines in history. When these toys came out in the early eighties the kids just went wild for them. Ate 'em up like candy. It was one of the most successful toys back in the toy boom decade along with its competition like G.I. Joe and the Thundercats. And it also spawned an awesome cartoon series. You could almost hear the masses of children shouting at the top their lungs "I have the Power!". Yes, its about He-man and the Masters of the Universe!

Now, I wasn't spared from this epidemic of Eternian proportions. I, too, went crazy for these toys and I also begged my parents and any known adult relatives to buy me He-man action figures. And luckily, I did get some. I was very young then, probably five or six years old and I remember having He-man, Orko, Evil-Lyn and Tri-Klops. Unfortunately, I can't remember how and when I lost them. Just as with my other childhood toys. Fast forward to 2011. I look around online and see some vintage MOTU (thats short for the He-man title) action figures on sale in a local toy forum. And then I see how cheap they are and then and there I contacted the number of the seller and made a deal. Next day I pay the guy through bank deposit then he sends me the items the day after. I was at work when the package was delivered to my house so when quitting time came I rushed straight home. And this is what I got:

A set of five vintage figures for a very cheap price. I didn't believe it at first but I just thought what did I have to lose? Nothing I couldn't earn back. And I was glad I took the chance. Now I have a vintage Battle Armor He-man with his sword and battle ax, Battle Cat (a very rare find usually very expensive in online auction sites), Original Skeletor with his sword and skull staff, Screech the evil bird and Teela, He-man's female warrior ally. All of these are actually very rare and sought after figs, and usually sold for hundreds of dollars individually. But I guess it all depends on how much the seller thinks the items are worth and how much a buyer is willing to shell out for these items.

But aside from these MOTU figures, I also have a couple more figs. One of them, a Four Horsemen designed mini statue/action figure (or "STACTION" for those non-geek speaking readers) original colors He-man which I got new at a great price from a friend's toy shop. And a loose mattel "classics" He-man from the Superman vs. He-man two-pack, also from the same shop. Though the latter fig's right foot is really loose and the sword he came with was actually Skeletor's, Its still an awesome figure. So here are my three versions of He-man:

And some more shots:

Now don't get me wrong, I like He-man but he wasn't really my all-time favorite character. But he's the only character that I have multiple versions of. I wish I could say the same about Lion-o. But I only recently acquired one of those. But that is another story. And that will be told some time in 2012.

No its not the end, it has just begun.

Y'all have a Happy New Year! God Bless us all.

till 2012, Cheers!

My First Toy Story

For my first "toy story" I decided to feature one of the favorites from my collection, not to mention one of the oldest and cleanest action figures I've acquired.

This is a 1987 Sky Commanders Mint on Card (MOC) Rollerball with General Summit from Kenner. Now for people like me who grew up in the mid-late 80's, you would probably remember the cartoon that this fig was based on, the show Sky Commanders. It was basically a show that featured heroes and villains utilizing high-tech backpacks and zip lines to get around the mountainous setting of the show. The leader of the protagonists, the "Sky Commanders", was General Mike Summit. And the antagonists were the "Raiders" led by General Plague. You can find more info about the show from this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Commanders

Okay, now what made this fig one of my favorites, aside from it being from a show I grew up with, is the fact that it was the very first ebay purchase I acquired. Actually, it was the first purchase I made anywhere online so it was a big deal for me. I didn't even have a paypal account, I asked a friend who did have an account buy it for me. Now I was nervous the whole time because I have heard horror stories of how a lot of items sent to my country's postal service never make it through to the receiver. So I basically waited the said two to three weeks. And you can imagine how happy I was to receive that note from the post office to pick up my package. And I was on my way to work too. So I picked it up, (had to pay a small fee which I had no idea what it was for) then went to the office where I opened it. And boy was I satisfied. The seller packaged it very well and it was clean as a whistle. I think I actually creased the card myself because of my excitement to open it. But at the end of the day, I was happy to take it home and add it to my (small) collection. I never opened it though, I think I'm way passed that age when I played with toys. This was a mint collector's item and I intended to keep it that way as long as I can. I also consider it as a small investment as I do the rest of my collection. Something I could pass on to my future kids and grandchildren. So they could see what I grew up with and what I enjoyed.

So thats all for that fig, I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any Sky Commander figs or stories related to them then share away. Until next post.

-Cheers!

Welcome!

Hi,

Welcome to Action Happy! This is a blog that I created to share some of the stuff I have in my very humble action figure/toy collection which I have been building a couple years now. I'm not a big-time collector. I usually only purchase toys or figs that are within my budget which also isn't that much but I pride myself for having acquired some really cool items for some really low prices. It's really all about the hunt, TOY hunt that is. I guess the only thing I like more than acquiring cool toys for my collection is the actual journey of finding those toys. I've looked almost everywhere, (in my locale of course) from big name toy stores to back alley garage sales to ebay. And I have had plenty of success and failures.

But since it has always been my dream to collect toys, I keep pushing to feed my needs. I think its a healthy hobby as long as you stay within your means and limits. I think I've always had a safety mechanism in the back of my head that turns on when it thinks I'm gonna go too far with this hobby. Its a mechanism that tells me to stop what I'm doing and think. It tells me that however I love these toys and figs, they are and will always be just toys.

So, if you've stumbled upon my little toy blog here I hope you enjoy your visit. I'm sure, if you love action figures and toys like I do (especially the ones from my childhood which was back in the 80's and early 90's) then I think you'll like my blog.

-Cheers!