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My First STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE Toy!!! A little Spoilers!
Well folks you are going to get after a BIG write up
on getting my first STAR WARS EPISODE ONE
TOY!!!!!! The tale is quite detailed, because if a
single one of these things hadn’t happened... I would
not have got the toy. And yes there will be some
prequel news... a bit anyway!
The day began like any other. I was just getting
access to some cash in my bank account from a check
(from NEON magazine, I write for them now) that
had just cleared, so I figured I’d go to the mall to see
what masks were on sale. Ya see every year, after
Halloween, I go to SPENCERS and buy one of their
expensive masks for half off.
Father Geek, Tom Joad and I all rushed to the mall.
Through the Dillard’s perfume section we darted.
Stopping briefly at a make-up case we thought about
getting my sister for Christmas. Joad was
uncomfortable looking at a make-up case with three
other dudes.
We went up a spiral staircase at Highland Mall here
in Austin cause I wanted to go to SUNCOAST
because I’m also searching for the McFarlane
Monsters Toys (Leatherface, Sil, Michael Myers, etc)
which I haven’t found anywhere.
Dad stops me saying we have to get to SPENCERS,
before the cool masks sell. He’s right. So we
accelerate to Mach 1 (in fat boy terms this means 4
mph). The smell of chocolate chip cookies is
tempting.
I see a cool SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS style CD player in
CIRCUIT CITY, but Dad pulls me away. I then rush
to SPENCERS.
We get in, and sure enough decimation has ensued. I
go to the wall of masks. Ya see I collect Monster and
Halloween Masks, ever since I was a kid. I just love
em, in all I have about 40. I look at a few, the first
one I pick up is a CAT IN THE HAT mask, I have a
hat, but I need the head. Alas, it is toooooo small for
my bloated hat rack. I look at this one KENNY mask
from SOUTH PARK, but I’m not about going to send
money to SOUTH PARK. Joad jokes about a Quint
mask which was this character that was blowing
chunks all over the place. In fairly short order I pick
up this mask of a Death Dealer, a cool big
executioner style mask that I just dug. It was $50 but
with the discount would come to about $20. Groovy.
We then look at the other Halloween stuff, play with
the Dancing Baby toy, but then decide that they
should all be burnt. My debit card took longer than
usual, but it worked.
Next we went to the WARNER STORE, which in my
opinion just friggin rocks. My god they had a Flying
Monkey Beanie Doll from THE WIZARD OF OZ...
toooooo coooooooool. Oh man, the MYSTERY
MACHINE COOKIE JAR... but upon closer
examination that bastard Scrappy is pictured in one
window. Damn sacrilege!!! Then we end up back in
the animation section googling over all the cool
BATMAN cels, the singing serigraphs, the waaaaay
toooo expensive models of ‘kill da wabbit’ Elmer and
Bugs... Ahhhhhhh, too cool. We notice the store’s
excessive push of TWEETY.
Leaving the Warner Store without a purpose, our
natural arc, the path through the mall, would take us
to the KAYBEE TOYS.
I walk in. I have no extrasensory perception
detectable at all as I walk in. This is not usually the
case when I find something sooo incredibly super
fucking cool like this.
Like I said... I walk in... And I walk directly to the
STAR WARS toys like every good geek should. I
walk right on up them and start perusing. Nothing
really new. So I move along the Marvels, nothing
new, to the Mighty Ducks discounts, Dad makes a
purchase, to the ANTZ toys, where again Dad makes
a purchase, then down to the second aisle of action
figures. Cool, new ROBOCOP toys... all of which
were lame! Then on to the McFarlane Toys, already
had em all.
SO I begin making my way back when I see a
GHOSTBUSTER Car... Cooool... Almost got that.
But I decide it’s not entirely necessary, and KAYBEE
is a bit expensive... ie about 20% higher than every
other store. I move back up to the STAR WARS
section and there I see a BIGGS toy. Somehow I had
overlooked it. I hand it to Tom Joad, who makes
oogling noises. Then...
I see some STAR WARS Skateboards and I start to
point and laugh... when I see....
OH MY GOD! IT CAN’T BE! GASP!
I don’t even remember reaching for it, but it was in
my hands. A STAP with BATTLEDROID from
EPISODE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
This was a QUASI-RELIGIOUS Experience.
MY GOD. I was holding... something... real... I had
a PREQUEL TOY! I muh muh mean th th thissss
wasssss reallly hap hap happennnnning.
I started shaking. Tears began rolling out of my
skull. This was unthinkable. I thought these things
weren’t coming out for another month at least. For
some reason Joad doesn’t pick one up. I think he’s
trying to process what it is.
Without a single other thought, I walk to the checkout
register and buy it. It goes in a bag. I leave the store
and head for the exit... I think.
Ya see at this point it becomes a daze, the next thing I
remember is tearing open the box and untwisting all
the twistee thingees to get my toy free. I am 8 years
old and this is my BOBA FETT toy I sent off for.
Ya see... When I got my Boba Fett toy, the one that
was supposed to shot the rocket. Well when I got that
toy, I realized there were really more STAR WARS
films.
I think that’s why I do what I do. Because of that
BOBA FETT toy. I like to know stuff is real, I like to
have tangible evidence. Things before my eyes.
Stuff to make me believe that the things I love are
really happening. These thoughts are filling my head
as I frustratingly try to free my toy.
Lots and lots of cusswords are uttered. I hate twistee
thingees. They are made by sadists. Finally I get my
toy free. I hold the STAP WITH BATTLEDROID
and I try to make it do something.
I hold in in my hand and I go to make it go
WHOOSH, when suddenly I get a very dumb look on
my face.
I realized I have a toy that I don’t know what it
sounds like. I don’t know how it moves. I don’t
know the sounds of the droid, the tone of it’s voice.
And then I was humbled by the toy.
Ya see, I know that the Staps are seen after about the
first 10 minutes of EPISODE ONE. I know they are
in the swamps of Naboo. I know they (two of em)
first Burst out of the mist chasing Obi-Wan through
the swamp firing “laser bolts” at Obi-Wan. I know
they move at a high speed. But beyond that sort of
thing, I don’t know anything.
I don’t know if they are up at tree top levels then
swoop down after OBI-WAN. I don’t know if this
color scheme is an accurate representation. I don’t
know what the John Williams music behind the action
sounds like. I WANNA KNOW WHAT THIS TOY
SOUNDS LIKE!!!!!!!
Oh god, as I sat there playing with it, it just killed me.
I mean... this is a PREQUEL TOY. The electricity of
that very concept sent shockwaves through me. I
instantly ran home and called every friend I knew that
would want this toy. At least I think I did.
Copernicus and Johnny Wad came over and we each
took turns playing with it, making the ‘laser bolts’
fire. Making the Battle Droid twitch with the
hypodermic needle style function. I try to explain
what it does in the film, but really... this is the exact
sort of thing Lucas doesn’t go into detail in the script
about. He doesn’t describe the sounds, he doesn’t
describe their flight path, he doesn’t talk about the
color of the lasers they shoot. He doesn’t say MUSIC
CUE, or a “RASPY MECHANICAL SOUND” he
just plays out the bare minimums.
GO NOW!
Get ye to the nearest toy stores. In AUSTIN at 1620
hours at the Highland Mall KAYBEE TOYS they had
3 left. Check your KAYBEE, your TARGETS,
TOYS R US’, your WAL-MARTS, your fave Toy
Places... They exist, they are out there.
Feel the energy the toy feels you with. Feel the awe
the toy makes you have as you play out in your mind
what it does... especially since ya don’t really know.
Make a thousand goofy noises and imagine one going
with it. Make videos of it against your own
homemade NABOO SWAMP. Play with the little
bastard, that’s what the Toy Gods made it for.
The Prequels are really happening. This is your
tangible evidence. It’s a real thingee that you can go
WHOOSH with. I’m gonna do one more update and
stop after this one. This is just too cool to just not
play with!
BY THE WAY... once you get it put on all the Star Wars music you can, and try to imagine... this toy... none of that music will play during it. NEW MUSIC THAT YOU WILL ONE DAY LISTEN TO WITH THE REVERENCE YOU ARE LISTENING TO THAT MUSIC... THAT WILL BE THE MUSIC THIS TOY HAS! My god it's all real.
Good Luck... and may the force be with you...
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+ Expand All
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Sorry to sound harsh but, you bastard, how in high hell did you find either a McFarlane horror toy or a Starwars Prequel toy. And yes I too was one of the many young tots that didn't get the snazzy Boba Fett missle firing action figure, I know the pain. Anyway, would you have any idea if there is to be any Starwars Episode One toys release in Canada, I need ta know, thanks.
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The force was with me? I don't know, it was blind fucking luck. I didn't get any of the McFarlane "horror" toys that I was looking for, mainly the Leatherface, Sil, Myers, Krueger or whoever else they are doing. But dammit I don't care, I have this toy and my god... it exists. It shakes with every type-stroke upon a stack of ill balanced Star Wars Soundtrack cds as the music from Obi-Wan's death plays in the background. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.... it's gonna be MAY real fast.
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I've seen the toy your talking about. I must have it. I'm driving to Kay Bee right now.
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I saw a bunch in Software Etc. They're probably a little pricey, but they had most of them. If you've got a Software Etc., go now!
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Could you put some pictures of this toy, for the foreign fans ?
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I was able to get a hold of the STAP at Toys R us about two weeks ago. It is cool!!! I also think I can answer the Canadian question as well.. The box my STAP came in was in engish, spanish and FRENCH. As I am up here in good ol' Massachusetts, I assume these are meant to make it across the border to Canuck-land, as well...
Also - Go to theforce.net/prequels...they have pix and a link to the Galoob toys site where they revealed their new playset yesterday!!!!! it also has battledroids, as well as a palace guard and a Captain Panaka figure... Really Tiny Figure, but a figure nonetheless!! -
Now wait a minute, Harry...I want to know...That box with them twistee thingees you hate so much...That box...What was the title stamped on it? "Episode I"?
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I'm still waiting for my 1979 Boba Fett figure! That's not fair.
Anyhow, I wonder what the next movie will be like?
I hope Luke finally gets it on with Leia. And I wonder if that nasty Darth Vader survived? Didn't Han shoot his TIE Fighter?
Apperntly there's going to be another Superman movie too - rockin'! Uh oh, I think I just broke my Evel Knieval Stunt Biker... -
Hey gang, you can get some good pics of the STAP and mock-ups of all the new Ep. 1 figures at
www.sirstevesguide.com
This site is great for all news on Star Wars figures - he does a great job at keeping it up to date as well - check it out! -
I work at a Suncoast Store and got all the McFarlane Toys, but the rest sold in like 15 minutes. But you should know that Myers is not in this group. He doesnt show til next year along with GhostFace, Norman Bates(in mom garb), and Pinhead.
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EVERYONE WHO BUYS THESE TOYS: DO NOT OPEN THEM UP! WHEN YOU ARE OLDER AND NO LONGER PLAY WITH ACTION FIGURES YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT IF YOU HAD KEPT THE PHANTOM MENACE ACTION FIGURES IN THE PACKAGES THEY OULD BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY, MY FATHERS FRIEND GAVE ME THE RETURN OF THE JEDI ACTION FIGURES WHICH HAD HE KEPT THEM IN THE CASE THEY WOULD BE WORTH A LOT SO IF YOU BUY ONE KEEP IT PACKAGED AND IF YOU JUST HAVE TO OPEN IT BUY TWO!
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About Kenner's STAP (what do the initials stand for, Harry?) and Battle Droid, you can check out some pretty cool, close-up pictures at Coming Attractions' SW1 page (www.corona.bc.ca/films) and probably even at Hasbro and Kenner's websites. By the way, the Mace Windu figure that appears on the back of the package will be available soon too. My sources at toy manufacturers tell me that the STAP and Battle Droid are based on the production paintings by Doug Chiang, and that the one(s) that will be re-released in the new, final packaging next year will be different in colorl; they will the colors as they appear in the film. I've had one for the past two weeks now, and it is one COOL toy.
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You ever think that maybe Harry and the others don't care? I mean, on all the message boards in all the world, these people are the ones that know about the value of an action figure. It's like preaching to the choir. Sometimes the coolness of the toy and the sentimentality of the m ovie overide that most American of drives for money. They know about the boxes, man, they just wanna feel like a kid again.
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To those who have bought this toy:
HOW MUCH DOES THIS TOY COST IN A NORMAL TOY STORE?
(This is to make sure I wasn't ripped off.)
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It was 14.99 at Toys R' Us. Steep, Yes, BUT IT"S THE PREQUEL TOY DAMMIT!!
STAP = Starwars Toys, Astronomical Prices...
Peace.. -
What IS the title on the box?
Is it Episode 1? Is it The Phantom Menace? -
After hearing that the battle droids were coming and had been spotted at Target, I raced over to get one on Monday, only to find none! I am now on an obsessive quest to find the battle droid..it must be somewhere in this town!!!(small town in IL). Anyway, as for keeping the toy packaged, screw it! Rip the baby open and play with it! I'm a toy designer and we design toys to be played with, not held in some air/light-tight container.. Open the toys..Who knows, maybe the 'droids are cool enough to get out themselves. Enjoy the hunt for the battle droids. Did I mention the word 'battle droid'?
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Episode I prevue figure on my box (in three languages...) The toy came out only a couple of weeks after the title announcement.(It was on store shelves as early as October 16th).
I think the title indecision alone will propel the toy's price to go up (in boxed condition)
Later.. -
My feelings exactly, Harry. I wanted to play with it, and that moment, with the overflow of exciting memories from past "new" figures, is worth way more valuable than whatever bucks I'd get for selling the figure and my soul twenty years from now.
I bought it for 17.99 at KayBee, saw it first at Hasbro's Star Wars website (www.hasbro.com), where there are pictures of three other prequel figures, and all the box says is "Episode I", with a picture of Mace Windu on the back. -
I must have money!!! I need money!!! I must have this toy!!!!!! Must must must!!!! I want it to be my birthday NOW!!! Then I can be at Radio City Music Hall for TPM!!!!!!!!!
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This STAP toy rocks, it really does make the prequels seem so close now. The box simply says "Episode I Sneak Preview" in the corner, but that's probably because this toy was well into production before the title was announced, not because TPM isn't the real title. As far as the accuracy of this toy, it looks exactly like a scaled down version of the STAP and Battle Droid props shown in the newest Star Wars Insider(on the cover for subscribers) And to monkeys that think Harry's foolish for opening a toy, forget it, this thing's not gonna be worth too much down the road. Its not gonna be rare at all with everyone on earth saving 5 of them, thinking they'll be worth a grand. Also, the original Darth, Ewoks, and Leia as Boushh are pretty plentiful, but you could get a few bucks for them.
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You forgot to say whether or not it had Phantom Menace on the package!!! Or did it just say Power of the Force? (bleh) Damn Kenner and their cute little subtitle.
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I need to learn to read Talk Back before I talk back myself.
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Harry, after reading your article I was so inspired. I felt as though I were on a mission from "Gad." I knew I had to have a STAP WITH BATTLEDROID for myself. After scouring the local Kay-Bee and Wal-Mart, I headed on down to the Target where, lo and behold, I found the bounty! Usually, I never open my Star Wars toys, but as soon as I got home I ripped that sucker open and began playing with the little bugger. Harry, this is the coolest fucking toy they've made...THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO KICK SERIOUS ASS!
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1. If you already haven't realized, the title of Episode 1 is not The Phantom Menace. Here are my reasons: The Phantom Menace has not appeared on any prequel items. The Ohantom Menace is not mentioned once on the official Star Wars homepage. It is PROBABLY a Blue Harvest/Revenge of the Jedi scenario. Lucas told us to satiate our appetites.
2. RELEASE THE PREQUEL SCRIPT! You keep telling us the script in little snippets. GIVE US THE WHOLE THING HARRY! -
I believe Harry has said many times before that he does not physically have the script. He got to read it via Milo. That is why he gives tidbits, because that is all he can do, state things he remembers reading. Bottom line. He has no script to post. The only thing he could do is post a summary of what he remembers reading.
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My buddy already got a Samuel L. Jackson toy at Wal-Mart. I'm not into toys so i didn't look. But is happening.
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Don't slam Harry for playing
with cool toys and going into
toy stores, he does what he
wants, no matter what you think
of him. Hey, I like toys and
other cool junk as well, does
that make me a geek? No, it
doesn't. What I am is a guy who
gets a kick out of movies,
action figures, video games and
whatever else. Just like the
other gazillion people who read
this site. If you don't like
it, get out and stay out. -
Thats the coolest thing I evr read on this site Harry!! I love it when you realized you did not know what kind of sound the creature made. I was laughing so hard. You ARE a true fan. I love it. I got goose bumps reading your story. Im on my way to get my own now. YES!!!
-CMORE
5-21-99, see you in line.
PS. to the guy who says the title aint TPM. Will you please come back in 2 and a half weeks when the trailer is on ENEMY OF THE STATE and the posters are out, and apologize for making up silly conspiracies? -
The new Star Wars: Episode 1 toys might be cool, but nothing could beat the original Ghostbusters movie toys that had the long plastic rays. Also another great toy was the he-men toys they all had a cool feature to them.
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I think its cool that these toys are coming out so far before the film, mainly because I don't really want my mind to be totally blown upon 1st viewing. I would at least like to know what some of the characters look like. Also I was wondering how all you people know so much about Episode 1.?.? All these names like Qui Gon and Noomba swamp or whatever...... Where did you guys get these???
PS... The trailer will probably NOT be shown before THE SIEGE. Most likely, this spectacular trailer will be 1st viewed before THE PRINCE OF EGYPT.
PPS... Something tells me that John Williams will not compose totally new music for these films, mainly because I doubt he could ever match the quality of the original music. He'll just modernize it, or just SUPER THX it.
PPS... Directorial Credits
Episode 1 - George Lucas
Episode 2 - Steven Spielberg
Episode 3 - James Cameron
That is all... -
RE: 1. If you already haven't realized, the title of Episode 1 is not The Phantom Menace. Here are my reasons: The Phantom Menace has not appeared on any prequel items. The Phantom Menace is not mentioned once on the official Star Wars homepage.
Ahem. Taken from the official Star Wars homepage:
http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/news/index.html
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR
WWW.STARWARS.COM FANS -- STAR WARS:
EPISODE I TITLE
September 25, 1998 -- One of the most common questions
fans have been asking is, "What is the title of the new Star
Wars movie?" We're happy to report that George Lucas has
decided to name the new movie "Star Wars: Episode I The
Phantom Menace." As announced earlier, the new movie will
appear in theaters in the United States and Canada on May
21st, 1999.
May The Force Be With You!! DAVE :) -
i was in target the other day, and on their star wars figures, there was an orange sticker saying "Get your episode 1 preview figue"..i opend up the sticker- you can get the preivew mace windu figure for 6 star wars power of the force proof of purchases, and 2 bucks s/h. what i'm goign to do: buy 6 of the 1 or 2 dollar shadows of the empire figures to get this wundu preview figure!
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I've been everywhere and no one sells this thing, but I won't let anger consume me. Do some of you believe that Lucas will pick either Spielberg or Cameron to direct the prequels? Like the naming of title 'Phantom Menace', it will be people you would never think of.
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George Lucas would not let those two egomaniacs touch his baby! We'd all be dead by the time the movies came out. So would George and all the directors. I hope that they actually make the queen look like a GIRL!!! Leia was pretty manly for an action figure. They've gotten better over the years. Teela and Chetara were about the coolest female action figures of my time. Nowadays, they look like freakin' porno stars.
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what the hell is the matter with you?! i understand your child-like obsession with the Star Wars movie (so much so that you have seemingly dedicated your entire existence to it an all its ilk...), but must you carry on like a mongoloid child over a stupid toy? are you 10 years old?! do you even have a girlfriend? If i saw you in wal-mart jumping up and down like a blithering idiot over a childs toy, i'd probably call security or have the pharmacy rush over a heavy dose of Ritalin! Lets face it, Star Wars was a groundbreaking special effecst movie, but as someone who saw it as a child when it first hit the screen, and then saw it again as an adult, let me say that it is the cheesiest written movie(s) i have ever seen!
i hope that the dialogue is more sophisticated than the last batch, because unlike the rest of you and your sad legion of losers, my vocabulary has increased beyond the 4th grade level. "Luke! I am your father!" Ick..... -
I have been to 6 different stores today trying to find this friggin' cool toy!!! Two Toys R Us', two Kaybee Toys, a video game/sci-fi store, and a walmart. I cannot find it anywhere!!! All I found was the coupon to send in for the Mace Windu figure. I NEED to find this toy! I will die if I don't find it soon! Please someone help me find this thing.
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Hey guys! On a kinda related note, I manage a suncoast store and was lucky enough to snag a couple of the movie maniacs figures (namely jason and leatherface). Never fear, folks, for more figures are shipping to suncoast stores soon. Get to the store closest to you and have them inform you when they arrive. I don't have to tell you how limited they are. Also, haven't seen the STAP figure in my area yet, but it will be mine...OH YES, IT WILL BE MINE!
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go see
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Nov 04, 1998 12:03:12 AM CST
EPISODE 1 VEHICLE preview at http://www.galoob.com/SW_Preview/pr
by john
go see! go see!
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HAHA...the dark side must be with me...my good friend chris found the last two STAP's at Walmart in Chesapeake, Va. And he offered me one! Life is good.
Harry, I also received my Boba Fett via special mail in offer....i remember having Boba Fett in a pushup position pretending to fire his rocket at the approaching rebels. -
What's wrong with you guys? Toys were made to be cracked open and played with. The damn speculator's market is what ruins any sort of "collectible." I open my toys. If I buy a comic book in a bag, I rip THAT sucker open, too. I get them to play with, I get them to READ, I don't get them to sit on the shelf collecting dust and appreciating in value, as I have no intention of ever selling this stuff. It's too cool, for Heaven's sake!
I've got most of the Justice League of America standing guard over my computer. I've got the Reverse Flash toyfare exclusive duking it out with Wally. I've got Mulder and Scully investigating Admiral Ackbar. And you know what? THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE MADE FOR!
To the true toy lovers, not COLLECTORS, out there, keep it up, guys! And here's to the day that Kenner releases a DC Universe line that's playable instead of just looks good standing on the shelf. -
If anyone is interested I have quite a few of the Stap and Battle Droid w/ firing laser missles. For Sale at reasonable prices. For those of you who are looking for the perfect x-mas gift. email vverduzco@mediaone.net ( thats v v)
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Jul 21, 2002 9:59:17 PM CDT
STAP hammer time, sorry i couldn't resist. Tee hee, this is
by scorpio2nd
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