(Cookie) Monster Mash!

Halloween is only a few hours away - and what better way to celebrate than with one of the coolest monsters ever.

No, not Grover.

Cookie Monster!

"COOOKIIIEEEEEE!!!!!"

I found this Cookie Monster hand puppet at a garage sale a few years back. I think he cost me a quarter. He's not dated, but I think this specific one was made in the late seventies. His tag says "Sesame Street Educational Toys Inc. A subsidiary of Topper Corp." and "Sewn in Jamaica B.W.I" which may finally explain the insatiable munchies.

I was very excited to find this guy because I had a puppet similar to him as a kid. I played with my childhood Cookie Monster puppet so much that one eye fell off. That didn't slow me down - I kept on playing with him and took him everywhere I went, telling people his name was "one-eye."

This CM puppet has a plastic bar that crosses through his arms, and a string that hangs down so you can pull on it and manipulate the arms a little bit. His mouth has a hole in the back to shove food through.

Preferably cookies.

He'd make a great bathroom rug if you didn't run the risk of tripping over the eyes.

This is a completely different Cookie Monster puppet I found a couple years later at another garage sale. I had no idea there were multiple versions when I found the first one! I think this guy set me back fifty cents.


Although I thought I had the same puppet as in my childhood with the first Cookie Monster garage sale find, this one is in fact the one I had as a kid. He's a bit larger than the previous Cookie Monster, and does not have the arm bar.

This puppet is dated "1980" on the inside tag, and was manufactured by Gabriel Industries.

This post was brought to you by the number "2" and the letter "C."

Because "Robinmobile" Just Sounds Silly

Wrapping up Toyriffic's look at Tim Drake as Robin, today we take a spin in his wheels!


Along with a new costume (and a new kid to fill it) the nineties saw Robin get a new set of wheels, the Redbird!


This 1:43 die-cast vehicle is another car from the Corgi series of Bat-vehicles released in the early 2000s.


I was quite surprised to see the nineties Redbird in the Corgi line-up, but not surprised to find it as well done and comic accurate as the rest of this beautiful series.


As with all Corgi vehicles, this car has a little movable feature - in this case the engine is revealed beneath two vented hood components.


I don't remember this car hanging around in the comics for very long, but I seem to recall it's appearance being a big deal and coinciding with Tim Drake turning 16 and getting his first car.


No sneaking up on the bad-guys in this futuristic, flaming red sports car - with a big "R" on each side!


"I brake for clowns"

Tiny Tim

When last we left ToyRiffic, it was Tim Drake week. No Tim Drake week is worth it's salt without mentioning his appearance in The New Batman Adventures.


The New Batman Adventures continued on from Batman The Animated Series, bumping ahead a few years and aging the first Robin, Dick Grayson, into Nightwing. Skipping over the whole Jason Todd debacle, the cartoon went straight for Tim Drake as the new and youthful Robin.

This version of Robin is probably the most youthful version to ever get screen time. Wow, it only took sixty years! He also received a redesigned costume that has now been adopted by the comic book Robin. Wow, it only took ten years! :P

This version of the animated Tim came with a four pack that included Alfred and Clayface, and also came with this bird-like Robin glider. Don't forget your seatbelt, Robin!


If they would only make a Jokerized Tim from the cartoon "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker" my Tim Drake collection would be complete. ;)

It's That Tim Again!

Somehow this has turned into Tim Drake week here at ToyRiffic.

Fine by me.

Therefore, to honor the event, I present the very first ever Tim Drake Robin action figure!

This guy was made by Kenner and came out in 1992, not long after the debut of Tim Drake as Robin in the comics.

I think he came out as part of the Batman Returns line of action figures, and came with some sort of zipline backpack accessory that I have laying around somewhere.

This is a great Robin figure. His outfit is pretty much an exact representation of his new nineties look, but you may be wondering about the hair. Very Kid N' Play, no?

Well, rumor has it that Marlon Wayans was set to play Robin in Batman Returns, and was even fitted for a costume, but the character was cut from the script before filming began. This figure was supposedly sculpted based on a Damon Wayans Robin, and was later made more comic accurate (ethnically speaking) when the role never materialized on film.

Also of note - this Robin is sporting a really keen cloth cape!

This is my favorite TDR (That's "Tim Drake Robin" to the uninitiated ;) ) if only because he came out near the time Tim Drake was introduced and has been in my collection for over fifteen years.

He's 4.5" tall and fits in perfectly with figures in that size range - even if he comes across as a bit too old to be Robin ;)

One More Tim

This Tim Drake Robin came from the Batman line of 6" action figures that has now morphed into DCUC. He previously held the spot in my display now filled by the DCUC Tim Drake Robin.

This Robin is not a bad figure at all. He has a cloth cape, which is a point for him, and he represents the new, updated Robin costume that took the world by storm in the early nineties. Before this Robin's costume was a fifty year old design with pixie boots and green underwear, so you can see how spiffy ninja boots, leggings and a black-backed cape would be a step up in the world. The only difference is that his gloves were made black instead of the comic accurate green. Who knows why, but likely because someone was not paying attention.

Even his "R" got a redesign. In the comics, it was removable and could be used as a shuriken.

The figure has very limited, and kind of half-assed articulation to be honest. He has the basic "T-crotch" and no knee articulation at all. EDIT: He does have knee joints. Duh! His shoulders are a nice ball joint, but he has no elbow articulation so it's kind of a moot point. His wrists are cut at the glove too so they rotate, but again, what's the point? I'm fine with the charm of your OG Star Wars level of articulation, and I love the range of articulation in DCUC, but if you're gonna go for it, then go for it. This figure feels like they got tired half way through, or designed his articulation on a Friday.

Here's a height comparison to show you why I feel the DCUC Tim is the superior Robin in the height/youth department. And the articulation department. And the costume design department. But Tim-on-the-right has a cloth cape. So they're even ;)

I Love Tim

I know I've espoused my love for Dick in the past, but I have to declare that this new Tim Drake Robin from DC Universe Classics Series 3 is one of the best Robin action figures ever made!

Tim Drake is the third individual to don the Robin mantle (after Grayson's retirement and Todd's death) and is here representing his second and most current comic book costume. This costume is inspired by Robin's look on The New Adventures of Batman animated series, and in my opinion it is Robin's best look since his iconic introduction.

Robin comes with his bo staff, which even has a tiny little control panel section sculpted into the center.
The rubber cape limits his head movement to a side-to-side motion but is surprisingly forgiving. Must be the new lead-free rubber they're using.

Robin also comes with two Robin-rangs.

This costume is so great because it's the perfect blend of Batman inspired components while still staying true to the side-kick's own identity. The trunks, gloves and boots are black, and the gloves have those bat-fins like his mentor. His belt is the more combat style pouch belt too. His cape is also scalloped at the end, more like Batman. But the greatest part about this new Robin action figure is something so simple, you wouldn't think it was an issue...but it is, and at least for me, always has been...

His height! This Robin is short and youthful! Wow, whoda thunkit?

Too often Robin is depicted in toy form as way too tall and/or old. But this Robin is convincingly young. Fourteen or fifteen maybe. And I likes my Robins young.

These DCUC Series 3 figures have been coming my way sloooooowllllllyyyyy. I now have two from series 3, and have only seen one more at retail that I had to pass on (Sinestro) in order to buy this Robin and Silver Savage...because, contrary to what some may think, I'm not made of money ;)

But it's good to finally start seeing some more of them, and Robin was my #1 must-have from this series. I'm looking forward to finding Nightwing soon too. At least then I'll have the bat-themed guys rounded out.

Now I only hope this DC Universe Classics line of figures continues for a long time, and that it soon brings us a classic pixie-boot sporting Dick Grayson! Who is also short and youthful.

Thimble Theatre :: Starring Popeye!

"Sigh..."

SLAM!
"Hee hee heee. Stupid runt."

"That Bluto can be a real pain in the back sometimes!
A real pain in the front, too."

"What's thisk?

twinkle twinkle twinkle twinkle

"Hey kid, ya' dropped somethin'!
Finders keepers losers weepers, I always say.
Thanksk for the snack, infink!"

SLLLLOOOORRRPPPP!

Da da-da-da dun da-dunnnn!

"Hehehe, what a dumb runt!"

taptaptap
"Whadya want..."

KA-POW!

"Remember, Bluto, revenge is a dish best served...with spinach!
Now, where was I...oh yeah..."

"Sigh..."

Toward the Jones Home Drives the Batman...

When I started collecting Batmobiles almost twenty years ago, if someone would have said a toy company would someday make this car I'd have laughed in their face.

Yet a couple years ago Corgi did exactly that.

Part of the now defunct Corgi Batmobile series that ran through the early 2000s, this car represents the "proto-Batmobile" if you will.

An unassuming but "specially built, high powered" car for Batman to cruise town in, this red sedan is the predecessor of all Batmobiles to follow. A non-descript red sedan was first driven by Batman in Detective comics #27 (Batman's first appearance) and this toy is based on specific drawings from Detective #30, which presented the vehicle in a slightly more stylized fashion.

Driving this car would have allowed Batman to blend in with Gotham traffic and move with stealth from one side of town to another. Unlike every gaudy (but oh so cool) Batmobile to follow in the past seventy years.

In true Corgi fashion, this appx. 1:43 scale car has a few bonus features too, including opening driver...

... and passenger doors...

...as well as an opening trunk...

...with a spare Bat-Tire in case of a Bat-Flat!

This car is simply gorgeous.

The long front end reminds me of all those old cartoon gags. I can see Batman pulling up to the mob hangout, and the front end of the car keeps going and going and going until it pauses to show a sign hanging from it: "Monotonous, isn't it?"

I still can't believe this car was made into a toy, and wish the Corgi Batmobile line had kept going and going and going.

My love for Batman..."monotonous, isn't it?"