Update: Design-Your-Own-Toy Contest

I'm pleased to announce the Design-Your-Own-Toy contest is finally on! There are only two rules: 1) All entries have to be worked on the template provided (though you're allowed to modify it slightly to suit your design); 2) Each participant is allowed a maximum of 3 entries.

Winners will either be picked by me or a guest artist, or by voting (depending on the response). I will announce the prizes tomorrow.

Send me an email to papertoys@mail.com (with the title 'Toy-A-Day Contest') for your blank PDF template if you're interested to take part in this contest. Any other questions and comments, please post here.

Have fun!

Day 42: Indiana Jones

Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr., better known as Indiana Jones or Indy, is a fictional adventurer, professor of history and archaeology, and the main protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s serial films. Indiana Jones first appeared in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles from 1992 to 1996, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008.

The character is most famously played by Harrison Ford.

Download the PDF here.

Day 40: Yao Ming

Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明) (born September 12, 1980) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m).

Yao, who was born in Shanghai, China, started playing for the Shanghai Sharks as a teenager. He entered the 2002 NBA Draft, and after negotiating with the CBA and the Sharks to secure his release, he was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick of the draft. He has since been selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game in all six of his seasons, and has been named to the All-NBA Team three times.

Download the PDF here.

Day 39: Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston and one of the three characters to be continuously published by DC Comics since the company's inception in 1944. Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8, published in December 1941. She is a founding member of the Justice League.

In addition to comic books, the character has been in the media such as the famous 1975 to 1979 television adaptation starring Lynda Carter, as well as in animation like the Super Friends and Justice League animated series, including the recent Justice League: The New Frontier animated movie.

Download the PDF here.

Day 38: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Download the PDF here.

Update: Now available for download

I've just added these for downloading: Homer Simpson, Krusty the Clown, SpongeBob, and Hello Kitty. There's more to come...

Also, I'm currently working on some new characters, including Indiana Jones and Buzz Lightyear (because you voted for them)!

Enjoy!

Day 37: Robin

Robin (also referred to as The Boy Wonder) is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman. The team of Batman and Robin is sometimes referred to as the Dynamic Duo or the Caped Crusaders. The first incarnation of the character—Dick Grayson—debuted in Detective Comics #38 (1940).

Download the PDF file here.

Reader's submission: Paul Pierce (by Giuseppe Cottini)

This paper toy of NBA basketball player Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics is submitted to me by Giuseppe Cottini from Italy.

Nice job, Giuseppe!

Update: Day 28 - 36

Clockwise from top left corner: Blossom, Bubbles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Batman, Schroeder, Krusty the Clown, Jimmy Corrigan, Buttercup, Kenny.

Day 36: Batman

Batman is a fictional comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger and published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist. Witnessing the murder of his parents as a child leads him to train himself to physical and intellectual perfection and don a bat-themed costume in order to fight crime.

Download the PDF here.

Day 35: Kenny (South Park)

Kenneth "Kenny" McCormick, voiced by Matt Stone, is one of the four fictional central characters of the animated series South Park. He is notorious for dying and resurrecting again nearly every episode during the first five seasons of the show, with little to no explanation given. Since his reappearance after being "permanently dead," he dies much less often.

Download the PDF here.

Summer Time

The relentless heat is becoming unbearable, particularly for the clothed stuffed toys; most of them hide out in air-conditioned rooms these days, and were mostly engaged in non-strenuous recreational activities.



Keyao Pig takes a well-deserved bath after weeks of complaining that he smelt of stale hair.

Meanwhile, Michi has become a host for ToyVoyagers Dio & Benni. Dio is from Netherlands and Benni is a German bear who just came over from New Zealand. Highlights of their time here.

The net savvy toys have noticed a cute sheep named Shaun who's sharing his lifestyle pictures on flickr. :)

Day 34: Krusty the Clown (The Simpsons)

Herschel Shmoikel Pinkus Yerucham Krustofski, more commonly known as Krusty the Clown, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is the long-time clown host of Bart and Lisa's favorite TV show, a combination of kiddie variety television hijinks and cartoons including The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Krusty is often portrayed as a burnt out, addiction-riddled smoker who is made miserable by show business but continues on anyway. He has become one of the most common characters outside of the main Simpson family.

Download the PDF here.

DC Universe Classics - Series 2

Welcome to my action figure review blog - ActionToyReview.


Today's review: DC Universe Classics - Series 2 (Mattel)

This set comes with 5 action figures which are on average about 6 to 6.5 inches tall. Each figure also comes with a piece of a 6th figure and if you purchase the full set, you can put together the additional action figure. This is referred to "Build a Figure" (BAF) or as Mattel specifically refers to them as,"Collect & Connect" (CAC).

The characters from the DC Universe Classics - series 2 are Aquaman, Black Manta, Harley Quinn, Firestorm and a variation of Superman from the Superman Red/Superman Blue comic series. The CAC figure is of Gorilla Grodd.

Certain figures have more than one versions or variants. In this series, Aquaman and Firestorm can both be purchased in either a classic or modern uniform. Superman also comes in either the red & white or blue & white costume.

The first figure is Aquaman. I chose the classic variant as it was more appealing to me. This figure has a fantastic sculpt, highlighted by the great head, face and upper body. The face and hair are very well detailed. The shirt has a scaly look and feel to it.

Overall the figure is painted very nicely with no runs or smudges. Aquaman comes with the right arm piece of the "CAC" Gorilla Grodd figure and a Trident, which is also well designed and fits nicely into either or both of his hands.

The articulation is a good as it gets. Neck, shoulders, biceps elbows wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. All joints out of the box were not too loose or tight.

Overall, great figure. Probably the best of the set.
Sculpt/Design- 9

Paint - 9

Accessories - 8

Articulation - 9

Fun - 9

Aquaman Overall Score - 9

Aquaman needs an enemy to fight and who better than his arch enemy Black Manta. Another great figure put out by Mattel and the Four Horsemen, however, this one is not quite as nice as Aquaman.

The body is somewhat generic, nothing but a plain black outfit. But that is what the character looks like. He has an oxygen tank on his back which is silver and purple and his helmet is a silver with a dark paint wash to give it a bit of a weathered look. The body is painted in a matte black.

In addition to the left leg of the Gorilla Grodd "CAC", B.M. also comes with a trident. Its not quite as flashy as Aquaman's, but he also comes with a ray gun of some sort. Both are silver and have a decent amount of detail, but nothing fancy.

Articulation is as good as Aquaman's, even his helmet has a decent range of motion. All joints were in good condition out of the package.

 

Sculpt/Design - 8

Paint - 8

Accessories - 9

Articulation - 9

Fun - 9

Black Manta Overall Score - 8.5

Firestorm is not one of my favorite characters, but this figure does not disappoint for those who are fans. This is the classic variant Firestorm. The head is topped with a clear yellow/orange/red transparent plastic to give the illusion of flames. The body sculpt and face are nicely done.

 

Overall, great villain character and a must have for DC toy collectors.

Firestorm comes with two attachable "molecular structures" which pop on around his wrists (nothing too exciting) plus the right leg of Gorilla Grodd.

Firestorms articulation is a good as the others. A great job by Mattel in giving us the right amount of articulation without taking away from the design of the figure.

Overall, trying not to be bias, its a good figure. There are a few minor paint issues but nothing that drastically effect my rating. He is still a fun looking toy good for play or display.

Sculpt/Design - 8

Paint - 8

Accessories - 6

Articulation - 9

Fun - 8

Firestorm Overall Score - 8

Harley Quinn is a newer member of the Batman Rogue Gallery. Originally created for the Batman: Animated Series cartoon in the 90's, she eventually got her own comic book due to her high popularity.

This figure is her classic jester outfit. The actual body design is basically the same as the Catwoman figure from the now discontinued Mattel DC Super Heroes toy line. The arms are very skinny and there is not much muscle tone in the entire body. The paint job is nice with the exception of the face. Mattel has chosen to use a blue wash over her face instead of going all white. Not sure why they've gone this route but i think it takes away from her look. The rest of the paint job was well done.

In addition to Gorilla Grodd's torso piece, Harley also comes with a giant mallet and a pop gun however, neither weapon fits very well in her small girl hands. It is very hard to get them to stay in.

One area this figure does not disappoint is her articulation as she has as many point as the others. She is probably hardest figure to pose of the set probably due to her thinner legs and clunky accessories.

Overall, Harley was a bit disappointing. It appears she is made of recycled parts which I'm not too fussy about but the blue face and the fact that she can barely hold her weapons are the main downers. That being said, she fits in nicely with the other Batman villains from Mattel's DC Super Heroes toy line as well as the Universe Classics.

Sculpt/Design - 5

Paint - 5

Accessories - 9

Articulation - 9

Fun - 6

Harley Quinn overall score - 6

Superman Blue and Superman Red were probably the figures i was least looking forward too. When i ordered my set it actually came with both the blue and red variants. The Red is still sitting in its box in my basement as I type this (edit: taken out a year later).

The figure itself is a fairly standard sculpt. A muscular superman. His body size is roughly the same size as the other figures in this set. The face very much resembles Superman Blue from the comics as expected and hair wavy standing straight up.

The paint job isn't bad. The entire uniform is painted on except for where it opens up around the head. There are some blue marks where there shouldn't be. There are basically 2 shades of blue. One shade on the uniform and hair, a lighter shade on his face.

In addition to the Grodd CAC piece, Blue Supes comes with detachable electricity bolts. 2 that pop nicely into his back and 2 that loosely fit around his forearms.

Articulation is pretty much the same as all the other male characters from this set and all joints were in fine working order when opened.

Overall, i would've preferred to see a different character but it is a decent figure. The figure matches up to the character fairly well, its just not the first Superman toy you'd go for if you a choice of just one. If you're not interested in the CAC Gorilla Grodd piece and you've already got the DC Super Heroes Superman figure, then you could probably pass on this one. Unless of course, you're a die hard Superman fan.

Sculpt/Design - 7.5

Paint - 7.5

Accessories - 5

Articulation - 9

Fun - 7

Superman Blue Overall Score - 7

Finally we come to the Collect and Connect figure, Gorilla Grodd. Grodd towers over the other figures standing at almost 8.5 inches tall. He is very well designed with plenty of detail throughout his body.

The paint job appears to be well done. Its hard to point out any blotches because of the dark grays the figure is painted in. The face and eyes are paint cleanly and the entire figure is nicely shaded and highlighted.

There are no accessories for this figure since Grodd himself is the actual accessory. His helmet is not removable.

The figure falls short on articulation, especially compared to the others from this set. He has joints in his neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows wrists, hips and ankles. Noticeably missing are abdominal, waist and knee joints. However, all joints move nicely and the figure is still fairly easy to pose.

Overall, Grodd is an added bonus to a great set and would be a good toy for either kids or for display. All we need now is a figure of The Flash to go with him, however, we'll have to wait until the 7th set DC Universe Classics set for that.

 

 Sculpt - 9

Paint - 8

Accessories - n/a

Articulation - 7

Fun - 8

Gorilla Grodd Overall Score - 8

All these figures are relatively hard to find in the stores these days however, they can be purchased at various online merchants, Amazon.com and eBay. Store prices are in the $10-$12 range but you're looking at about 12-20 bucks per figure to purchase online + shipping. The full set will run you about $70 -$80 (plus shipping) if ordering online. If you're looking for the classic variant of Aquaman, it will be hard to find and more expensive. I've seen eBay auctions as high as the $50 range for him.

That's it for Series 2. Stay tuned for my review on Series 3 which I'm planning to receive the 2nd week of September 2008. Series 3 will feature Green Lantern, Sinestro, Nightwing, Robin, Deathstroke and the CAC Solomon Grundy.

Thanks for reading my Action Toy Review Blog.

The outfit is basically yellow and red. There are a couple different shades of red, for instance, the symbol on his chest is the brightest shade of red and his knees seem to be a darker tone. Some may complain but I'm not too picky about this figure. There are some minor red paint smudges on yellow areas but nothing to cry about and is sometimes expected with these "mass market" toys.

Day 33: Jimmy Corrigan (Acme Novelty Library)

Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth is a widely-acclaimed graphic novel by Chris Ware, published by Fantagraphics Books in 2000. The story, previously serialized in the pages of Ware's comic book Acme Novelty Library (and, previous to that, in the alternative Chicago weekly New City), is about Jimmy Corrigan, a meek and lonely man in his late thirties who meets his father for the first time in a Michigan town over Thanksgiving weekend. Jimmy is an awkward and cheerless character with an overbearing mother and a very limited social life. Jimmy attempts to escape his unhappiness via an active imagination that sometimes gets him into awkward situations.

Day 32: SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants is the eponymous character of the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. He was designed by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, and is voiced by Tom Kenny. Stephen Hillenburg intended to create a series about an over-optimistic sponge that annoys other characters.

Download the PDF here.

Day 31: Schroeder (Peanuts)

Schroeder is a fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. He is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in particular. Schroeder is also the catcher on Charlie Brown's baseball team, though he is always seen walking back to the mound with the baseball, never throwing it—admitting in one strip he didn't want the other team to discover his lack of ability. He is also the object of Lucy van Pelt's unrequited infatuation - who leans on Schroeder's piano.

Download him here!

Update: Spoofed?

Some guy from Spain has come up with his own paper toy of the infamous but talented singer Amy Winehouse using the 'Toy-A-Day' template!

You can check out his blog here, though I have to warn you it's in Spanish! You can also read the Google-translated English version here.

And if that's not enough, here's another one by his friend who made this toy of the hugely popular Spanish cartoon character called Mortadelo. Check out his blog here!



Awesome guys!

Day 30: Buttercup (The Powerpuff Girls)

Buttercup (voiced by Elizabeth Daily) is a fictional character in the animated television series The Powerpuff Girls. She has short black hair in a flip, light green eyes, and dresses in light green. Referred to in the ending theme as "the toughest fighter", she is the group's tomboy and is easily enraged. Sometimes her aggression gets the better of her, making her reckless, stubborn and too aggressive. She possesses a mean and somewhat vindictive streak not shared by her sisters.

Download her here!

Update: Contest

I am planning to hold a 'Make Your Own Toy' contest in the coming weeks. Within these few days, I will upload a blank template so that anyone interested to take part in the contest can download it, print it out and design his/her own character.

The ONLY rule is that it has to be hand-drawn and colored (no computer software is allowed).

More details and the prizes for the contest will be posted once I got things worked out. Meanwhile, if you have any suggestions or want to sponsor a prize, please let me know.

Day 29: Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls)

Bubbles is a fictional character in the animated television series The Powerpuff Girls, quite similar to Dee Dee from Dexter's Laboratory, both by appearance and personality. She is portrayed as having short blonde hair in two pigtails, light blue eyes, and dresses in light blue.

PDF here.

Day 28: Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls)

Blossom (voiced by Cathy Cavadini) is a character in the animated television series The Powerpuff Girls. She has long red hair, pink eyes, and dresses in pink with a red bow on the top of her head. The self-proclaimed leader of the three Powerpuff Girls, she is often seen as the most mature, level-headed and composed member of the group, although she can also be fussy, overbearing, vain, and overly analytical at times.

PDF here!

Update: Day 19 to 27

Clockwise from top left corner: Speed Racer, Tinky Winky (Teletubbies), Sully (Monsters, Inc.), Edward Scissorhands, Homer Simpson, Moomin, Charlie Brown, Mike (Monsters, Inc.), Steve Jobs.

Day 27: Homer Simpson

Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television in the Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night". He is one of five members of the titular family and has become the most popular and influential character in the series. Homer embodies several American working class stereotypes: he is crude, overweight, incompetent, clumsy, thoughtless and a borderline alcoholic. Despite the suburban blue-collar routine of his life, he has had a number of remarkable experiences. He has occasionally displayed flashes of great intellect and fitness whenever the situation calls for it, and an integrity reflecting his own values, including a fierce devotion to and protectiveness of his family.

Download Homer here!

Day 26: Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo)

Mach GoGoGo, which centered on automobile racing, was first created and designed by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida (1932–1977) as a manga series in the 1960s and made the jump to TV as an anime series in 1967. The English rights to Mach GoGoGo were acquired by American syndicator Trans-Lux. The main character Gō Mifune was given the name "Speed Racer" in the English version. It was adapted into a live action film, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, who also serve as co-producers, in 2008.

Download your Speed Racer toy here, and the Speed Racer car here!

Day 25: Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 American fantasy film, written by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson, and directed by Burton. The film features Johnny Depp as Edward. The plot revolves around a man named Edward; the creation of an inventor, who has dangerous shears and scissors for hands, and appears frightening, who is adopted into a colorful, but stereotypically suburban, family.

PDF here!

Day 24: Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown was one of the original cast members of the comic strip Peanuts created Charles M. Schulz, when it debuted in 1950, and the butt of the first joke in the strip. He is a loveable loser, a child possessed of endless determination and hope, but who is ultimately dominated by his insecurities and a "permanent case of bad luck", and often taken advantage of by his peers. Every autumn Lucy promises to hold a football for Charlie Brown to kick, and every year she pulls it away as he follows through, causing him to fly in the air and land painfully on his back. He was never shown as succeeding in kicking the football in the comic strip.

PDF here.

Day 23: Tinky Winky (Teletubbies)

Tinky Winky is one of the four colorful characters from the BBC children's television series, primary aimed at pre-school viewers, produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. Created by Anne Wood CBE, Ragdoll's creative director, and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes, the program rapidly became a critical and commercial success in Britain and abroad. Although the show is aimed at children between the ages of one to four, it has been a substantial cult hit with older generations.

Tinky Winky (the purple Tubby) is the largest of the Teletubbies, with a triangular antenna on his head. He is notable for the red luggage (described by the show as a "magic bag", but often described by other media as a handbag) he carries. His character has caused much controversy due to allegations that his character's behaviour carried homosexual undertones.

PDF here.

Day 20: Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955) is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. In 1986, he acquired the computer graphics division of LucasFilm Ltd which was spun off as Pixar Animation Stidios. He remained CEO and majority shareholder until its acquisition by the Walt Disnet Company in 2006.

Jobs is considered a leading figure in both the computer and entertainment industries and was listed as Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Businessman of 2007.

Download the free PDF file here and make your own Steve Jobs toy!

You can also get our blank template from our Facebook group and design your own toys!

Day 19: Moomin

The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Finnish writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish in Finland. They are a family of carefree and adventurous trolls who live in Moominvalley.

The Moomins have since been the basis for numerous television series, a film and even a theme park.

Moomin PDF here.

Update: Day 10 to 18

Clockwise from top left corner: Andy Warhol, R2-D2, The Cat in the Hat, Raphael (TMNT), Super Mario, Optimus Prime, Jack Skellington, Doctor Octopus, Pink Panther.