FLATT WORLD: (www.flattworld.com)

This was the first company to announce a set of licensed dolls for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and oddly enough is still the only one that has yet to show anything for it. The web page that they have on the project hasn't been updated since March 22nd of last year. Flattworld has been spotted at several toy fairs and shows with their unapproved Frank prototype doll, and the word on the street is that a halt was called when the pictures of the prototype were released on the net without previous approval from Fox to do so.

Not incredibly wise on their part. However, Flattworld has a reputation for putting forth some first-class stuff, and very highly detailed and mobile as well. They have also seemed to take a great interest in fans' input into the creation process, and to that end did a survey to ask what sort of props we would like to see, would we buy action sets and so on.

The first set of figures that was planned to come out was Frank, Magenta and Riff-Raff. The pictures here are of the unapproved Frank prototype. No pictures of the Riff figure have been released yet, nor has a date as to when the toys will become available on the market. And since the pictures were released a little bit too soon for Fox's taste- God only know if they'll be out at ALL.

 

VITAL TOYS: (www.vitaltoys.com)

Then there's Vital Toys. I'm not exactly sure what it is with action figures recently- it seems everything has them. Austin Powers, the Beatles. I don't MIND, of course. My theory is that all of us who grew up with matchbox cars and barbie dolls and the like want to continue to have toys. Our tastes have changed, but the urge is still there.

The first wave of the Rocky figures was Frank, Riff, and Columbia.

I ended up getting the box set because I couldn't find anyone in my area who was selling the single figures by themselves. These figures are fairly well done- the body sculpting particularly. It's too bad they're made of hard plastic and so small, otherwise I'd sleep with my Riff doll.

Ok, that sounded REAL bad, let me rephrase.

I would have the doll as one would a teddy bear.

The only complaint I really have is Riff's face, which looks like the love child of Richard and Marilyn Manson. (scary) And they could be more moveable as well, but overall they're pretty cool dolls.

They also sell a "survival" kit, which includes a lunchbox- the lunchbox itself is pretty neat- and a bunch of replicated plastic stuff- rice, toast, a watergun.

Other figures slated for production by Vital include: "Charming Underclothes" Janet, "Lab Coat" Frank-N-Furter, "Floor Show" Frank, Space Riff, and Space Magenta.

HEADLINERS XL:

These were the first dolls to hit the scene.

Not unlike their head-bobbing cousins, Headliner dolls are based on a concept that was very popular in Japan with figurines, which was to take a full sized, detailed head, and stick it on a teeny little body.

The result is a little on the scary side, to be honest. And it makes them look ill-proportioned (because they ARE, most likely) and some of the details are definitely lacking. Bad paint job on mine, for an exanple.

I looked for a website on these guys (it USED to be http://headliners.com or http://www.equitytoys.com) but it seems they HAVE no site on the web right now, which is not a good sign for a modern business these days. So I have no link to give you.

The dolls themselves were marketed as a collector's edition, complete with a certificate of authenticity and a number indicating where in the series it was. (I wonder who the lucky bastard who got 4711 was)

They have a tendency to fall over, being topheavy. The printing on the base, which reads the character's name on the front and the movie title on back is in that crappy or font that they ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use, even though is both easily accesible and ten million times the better font. There's also , though I personally recommend the first. (Links to my two recommended choices are available by clicking the text)

Am I the only person who seems to think that these things are fairly ugly? I think they make the person look like a dwarf, who suffers from a similar plight, full size head, tiny body. And that's a little on the sick side for me and a collectible figure. Plus, the misproportion makes Riff look almost stocky, which as we all know is so FAR off it's not even funny.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about fonts, I feel a rant coming on.