TOYBOX: THE GOLDEN COMPASS!

Welcome back for the finale to 2007. This was the first year for the Toybox and I want to thank all of the readers who flocked here to see toys that aren't neccessarily always in your line of sight. I think this column really was a great addition to AFTimes and I am looking forward to bringing more toys to you!

This time out we get to look at 2 companies that are making product for a movie that is currently still in the theaters, The Golden Compass. Each company has it's own niche in the aisles.

The first is high end, Tonner Doll. Some people seem to have a thing against Tonner for the way they present the characters. I will say the faces are very "pretty" and sometimes too much so. However, that being said, you have to give them a lot of props for how they make thier dolls. All of them come in sturdy boxes with hairnets and ribbons to tie them down. The clothing is real cloth with real buttons, real metal snaps, socks, shoes and sometimes boots with real zippers! They all come with stands so you can place them in a collection if you so desire.

This time out we get to look at Lyra of Oxford, Mrs. Coulter of the Magesterium and Lord Asriel of Oxford (who passed on Sideshow but allowed TD to do a doll for him!...wierd). All are very well done. By the way, the movie and the book are 2 totally different universes! I reccomend both as the movie was nicely made but the book is much darker!





























To see and learn more about Tonner Doll you can go here: http://www.tonnerdoll.com/

The enxt company that is doing product for The Golden Compass is Popco (owned by Master Replicas). They are putting out a line of 3 3/4" figures with very little in the way of articulation. I am unsure of whether these are good for young children only because of the small accessories they come with (daemons & weapons). The air ship (late in the column) is by far the gem of the line! The figures themselves have some pretty goof facial likeness but again little in the way of movement. I wish that they had dome a bit more with these figures. It's a bit funny that Daniel Craig, who plays Lord Asriel, gave his consent to Popco for a figure (small thoug it may be) but passed on Sideshow for a 12"! Go figure. The last detail I wish they had added (although this being a line geared more towards kids I can understand why they didn't do this) was to make King Raggar's jaw come off! You'll have to see the movie to understand this.



































































As you can see I am missing a few of the characters but I am sure you can get the gist of what the line is like from the pictures here. The bears are cool having the button on the back to have some action. The armor is removeable. All in all a very nice line for kiddies (just be careful of the small accessories).

Now onto the gem of the line, Lee Scoresby's Air ship! This is definitely a cool vehicle. It comes with several peicces to put the ship together. Lots of detail. The balloons actually have 2 compartments you have to blow up to inflate! It also comes with a slightly varianted Lee Scoresby and his daemon.

























The ship isn't hard to put together. If you want Lee or anybody else in there you should put them in BEFORE you put the top on! LOL..., It will be interesting to see where this line goes as this movie is supposed to be a trilogy. These are available at Toys-R-Us that I know of so far.

Well this is it for 2007. I really want to thank all of you who stopped on by. I'll have a link next year but if you want to drop me a note you can always reach me at toygodd@yahoo.com Have a safe & Happy New Year's and I will see you again in 2008!

Toygodd

TOYGODD: NEW YEARS EVE UPDATE

Hello for the last time in 2007. It's been quite a year! Oil prices have gone through the roof and have taken our toy prices with them. The contraction in our hobby continues. There seems to be less and less companies out there breaking into the market. There also seems to be a consolidation of licenses under just a few companies. Hasbro seems to be gobbling up as many licenses as it can. They now have Star Wars, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Marvel (which they seem to have done a poor job on to date) and Indiana Jones (which is set to suck cash from our wallets any day now). The Star Wars line was just stellar this year. I don't collect it anymore but if I did I know I would be very happy (If not alot poorer).

Mattel looks to be finally improving by leaps and bounds with the DC Super Herosline. This line should be a real eye opener in 2008.

Sideshow Collectibles seems to becoming a distributor rather then a manufacturer. 2008 will be an interesting year to see just what direction SSC takes. All the while, collectors are wondering just when armored Star Wars characters are going to be released? Is Lord of the Rings ever going to see the balance of The 9? Will we see other characters beyond those? Time will tell.

Gentle Giant has pumped out some amazing product in 2007! Now that they are making action figures one wonders just what might come out of this juggernaut of a company. Look for 2008 to be a breakout year for them.

McFarlane seems to be chugging along. I saw the pictures of the first Halo figure. I have to honestly say that I am disappointed in it. In my opinion the day of cut joints is over. If you are going to make a popular line of toys they need to have the ablility to be posed as they might be from whatever genre' they come from. Cut joints really don't allow you to do much with a figure. I will hope that the Master Chiefs will have better articulation then just cut joints for movement.

Thier Twisted Santa Claus figures rocked as far as I am concerned. I wonder if we will see a continuation of these in 2008? I would love to see a reindeer set!

The vinyl market is really exploding. I love this category of figures and I am really looking forward to a banner 2008 with lots of new and innovative designs. Upperdeck is making some great Sports as well as Marvel figures. There is even a company, Round5, making UFC vinyl!

Hell, I actually sold my first custom figure (a Mega Guin) this year! I guess I can now officially call myself an artist. Hopefully I can do more in 2008.

As I have dome in year's past I would like to thank some very important people in my life. First and foremost is my wife. She really does tolerate a tremendous amount of chaos my hobby brings to our household. Without her I would probably be dead or homeless. Thanks honey!

To Don A, the owner of AFTimes. Don actually lets a crazed group of inmates run the asylum. I can't thank Don enough for giving me a voice in this industry. Thank you Don!!

To Andrew Gaughan my very close friend and colleague. If not for Andrew (and Don of course) there would be no Toygodd. (I am sure there are a number of people who would like that...) Andrew gave me my column, taught me the ropes, helped me improve my writing and picture taking skills, and remains one of my closest friends. Thanks Andrew!

To Editor Glen. What can I say about a guy who puts up with my constant badgering, updates and phone calls? Glen stepped into the shoes of Editor and has done a tremendous job. Glen expanded my coverage with The Toybox and The Qee Vault. His contests are second to none on the net and he makes this carnival of a site run as smoothly as any business around. Glen deserves a standing ovation from all of us for his hard work. Thank you Glen!!

To Steve, aka ???Man. I met Steve years ago on the net and we became really good friends. He writes several columns here as well as a lot of other duties. He works tirelessly at making sure that AFTimes isn't over run by maniacs and knows his Imports and Super heros better then just about anybody else I know. I consider Steve to be amoung my closest friends and know that AFTimes wouldn't be the place it is without his involvement. Thanks Steve, great job.

I also wish to thank all of the readers of the whole site. Truth be told, we wouldn't be doing this if not for you. I am hoping that the site continues to give you the information and pictures you are looking for. If you have any suuggestions about an area you think could use some changes, drop me a line! We are always willing to listen.

To a core group of readers who always communicate with me. Drew-P, CRBoyd, Raymond B, Pip, and Renny FC. I can always count on you guys to send me a letter now and then to keep me on my toes. I wish more people would write me (without the bribe of a prize).

Well this is it for 2007. I wish all of you & your families wherever you may be, a very Happy & Safe New Years. May 2008 be a better one for all of us.

See you next year!

Eric "Toygodd" Frank