Palisades Toys was one of the showrooms that I was most looking forward to visiting. Not only do they make the wonderful Jim Henson's Muppets line, but they've also just announced another great license -- the much-beloved but short-lived Nickelodeon cartoon Invader Zim. Also on display were prototype figures from Ren & Stimpy, the animated Pink Panther, cult classic Army of Darkness and several in-house concepts, Crittaz and Freakables, as well as statue lines based on Transformers, G.I. Joe and the Alien and Predator movie franchises. In addition, Palisades showed off several prototypes from their "Factory X" brand of prop replicas.
Sadly, photographs were not allowed in the showroom this year due to some unfortunate incidents at the recent UK toy fair. We do have official press images to share with you in the gallery, but it looks like we'll have to wait a while for official pictures of Invader Zim to be publicly released. In the meantime, members of Palisades' collectors club have enjoyed a sneak peek at a few prototype designs for the line, and members of their discussion forum have seen computer-rendered mock-ups of several potential bases and pack-ins.
This year looks like it may be a good one for Muppets fans, with plenty of obscure and fan-favorite characters due to show up in plastic, as well as one seriously spectacular playset.
Series 7 of the action figure line will include Kermit as Captain Smollett from the Muppet Treasure Island film (with a Polly Lobster accessory figure), Kermit's little nephew Robin as a Frog Scout, self-obsessed crooner Johnny Fiama from Muppets Tonight and Beauregard the janitor from The Muppet Show. Replacing the one-per-case repaints of previous series, Johnny Fiama is slated to be a "threepaint" -- each case will include three different versions of the figure, including one with a resculpted tuxedo jacket. A large MEGA Muppet version of Series 5's Gonzo will also be released around this time.
Series 8 is slated to include a "naked" Sam the Eagle figure (whose head is currently being retooled), Scooter as an usher from The Muppets Take Manhattan, "musician" Marvin Suggs and his Muppaphone from The Muppet Show and the unsettlingly Andy Dick-like Dr. Phil Van Neuter from the "Tales from the Vet" skits in Muppets Tonight. Also due in the second quarter of 2004 is the third wave of Mini Muppets PVCs, including Kermit, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Doglion, Scooter and a classic white-shirted Swedish Chef.
In the third quarter of the year, we should be seeing Series 9, including a tuxedo-clad Fozzie Bear (with a new closed-mouth head and a Chucky ventriloquist figure), a two-pack of Gonzo and Rizzo from Muppet Treasure Island, Pops from the original Muppet Show and occasional Electric Mayhem bandmate Lips as seen in The Great Muppet Caper.
Also due to ship in the third quarter is the incredible Deluxe Backstage Playset, a multi-story recreation of the chaotic backstage of the Muppet Theater from the original series. With space to hold some 18 Muppet figures, the playset will have hooks, nooks and crannies for any number of accessories from the toyline and will also include a long-awaited "naked" version of Rowlf.
Series 10, due to ship in the fourth quarter of the year, is in a state of flux right now due to the scheduling of Muppet Wizard of Oz among other factors, but it is tentatively slated to include Rowlf as Dr. Bob from "Veterinarian's Hospital" (the first in a set of figures that should eventually include Miss Piggy and Janice as well as props to create a Vet's Hospital set), Johnny Fiama's excitable monkey sidekick Sal Manilla from Muppets Tonight, the gargoyle-like Uncle Deadly from the original show and, in an unexpected surprise, Kermit and Piggy as the first of three two-packs of Muppet Babies as seen in The Muppets Take Manhattan. Like his boss, Sal is due to be a "threepaint", and may also include army-builder accessory figures such as the Slinky-like Java Muppets, Muppet Vegetables and even a penguin. Also due out late in the year is the fourth MEGA Muppet, Kermit the Frog, and a fourth wave of Mini Muppets that will include the Electric Mayhem band members and Rowlf.
Only a portion of Series 9 and 10 were on display at the showroom, but the prototypes of Pops and Sal looked great. Fozzie's new head-sculpt and Chucky accessory should also be winners.
The real show-stoppers, though, were three figures that aren't currently due out in stores. The first is a fantastic ten-inch version of shaggy monster Sweetums, highly articulated and towering over the other figures in the line. Although initially offered as a store exclusive, this gigantic and terrific figure hasn't yet found a home at retail.
The next is a figure that's been known about for some time, a touching puppet version of the late Muppet creator Jim Henson. Fans have been looking forward to this figure for well over a year now, and it's hoped that an official release will soon be announced.
Finally is a figure for the truly fannish-at-heart: Adventure Kermit, due to be sold at a number of conventions and events throughout the year. Modeled on a certain fedora-clad, whip-wielding archaeologist-adventurer of movie fame, Kermit features a removable hat, whip, pistol, pouch and holster, as well as a tiny golden idol. A large, gold-plated version of the idol (which disturbingly appears to be a naked, kneeling, grinning Gonzo) can be won in contests during Palisades' 2004 convention tour.
We were also shown a set of good-looking figures from The Pink Panther, due to include the eponymous feline as well as Inspector Clouseau (with possible "blown up" repaint), the Aardvark, Charlie the Ant and egg-shaped, moustached The Man.
The Ren & Stimpy line will include (of course) Ren Hoek and Simpson J. Cat, as well as Mr. Horse (with optional suit-jacketed torso and rubber nipples) and the Shaven Yak. Each figure includes a separately-carded Log mini-toy, including Action Log, Log for Girls, Log of the Klondike and Secret Agent Log. It looks to be a fun set of figures, with designs and accessories that are quite faithful to the popularly bizarre and bizarrely popular cartoon.
Other Ren & Stimpy products planned for 2004 are a set of Mini PVCs and several polystone Mini Busts, including Stimpy as Dr. Stupid, Ren as Commander Hoek and the superheroic Powdered Toast Man.
Palisades' first 3 3/4" action figure line, Army of Darkness, is still in the planning stages, but several nice-looking prototypes were on display. Designed to please "army builder" collectors who wish to assemble large ranks of the undead, the figures will be released in a set of two-packs, each featuring a key character from the movie and a "Deadite" warrior. Deadite two-packs may follow for those who don't want to have to buy a dozen Bruce Campbells to strengthen their zombie forces.
The line formerly known as Urbanimals (see ASM's 2002 Toy Fair coverage) has been reduced, recolored and reinvented as Crittaz. This Palisades-original concept features the vividly colored and wildly tattooed animal denizens of Kingdom City, with designs inspired by Hong Kong Vinyl figurines. Series 1 will include Dub the Chimp, Li'l V the Mouse, Dizzle the Bulldog, "G" the Gorilla, Kotton Suave the Rabbit, TuTusk the Elephant and Omnivorous P.I.G.
Not much has been announced so far about the Freakables, another Palisades-conceived property, but we'll tell you what we do know: the line is made up of a series of minimally-articulated small figurines that are packaged holding masks over their faces. Only by buying and opening the figure will collectors find out which of several possible faces their Freakable has. The figures won't cost too much, and will be marketed with an eye toward collecting and trading.
The last action figure line on display is the one that has the greatest chance of rivalling the Muppets in this toy fan's heart: Invader Zim, the quirky and occasionally screaming insane cartoon from Jhonen Vasquez and Nickelodeon. Although popular among teens and adults, the expensive animated series never quite found the younger demographic that Nickelodeon was hoping for and ultimately died an inglorious death partway through its second season. Nevertheless, Zim has remained a cult favorite, and with a DVD set just around the corner, it may just be the perfect time for action figures.
Invading alien Zim, obsessed alien-hunter classmate Dib, questionably sane robot sidekick GIR, nightmarish skoolteacher Miss Bitters and Irken co-leader Almighty Tallest Purple were all on display, and they looked absolutely fantastic. The figures will feature "as much articulation as possible" given the restraints of the stylized character designs, and there's a strong possibility of variants featuring different facial expressions, as well as a "military mode" GIR. There's a good chance of also seeing an angry-expression two-pack of Zim and Dib.
The lineup isn't yet set in stone -- GIR was originally conceived as a sidekick figure for Zim, but may end up packaged on his own (possibly with a giant piggy vehicle, hurrah!), which could potentially knock one of the other figures out of the first wave of four. Palisades is waiting to see how the first series does before committing to a second, but is aware of the fans' demand for additional characters and variations. Figures like Human Disguise Zim, Doggy Disguise GIR, Dib's sister Gaz and Almighty Tallest Red (with a new face to differentiate him from Purple) are all strong contenders, and we may even see variations on variants such as GIR climbing halfway out of his dog suit or with a hollow head for storing muffins, piggies and tuna. (If you haven't understood a word of this, go rent the DVDs when they're released. Then buy the toys.)
Having acquired Factory X's prop replica assets, Palisades will be producing replicas based on several licenses. The first is the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for which the company will be offering replicas of Buffy's silver cross necklace, the Sword of Angelus and "Mr. Pointy" the vampire-slaying stake (as the latest company to give in to the block-figure craze, Palisades will also be producing mini block figures of the Buffy characters). In addition, Factory X will be producing replicas of the Sword of the Hessian and other items from Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow and a trio of gruesome daggers from the Jeepers Creepers horror films.
While the prop replicas will be branded as Factory X, Palisades will continue to produce its acclaimed polystone busts and statues under its own name. A new version of the classic xenomorph will be released as the Alien: Special Edition Mini Bust, a mini bust of the Predator Elder from Predator 2 comes complete with Blackbeard's flintlock pistol, and the Alien3 Alien Queen Chestburster Statue is posed to capture the iconic spiral of the movie poster. In the second half of the year, Palisades will be tackling busts and statues based on the upcoming Alien vs. Predator movie, potentially including a rather plot-spoily version of the Alien Queen.
In its continuing G.I. Joe line, the company will be releasing a mini-bust of Cobra emperor Serpentor, as well as excellent mini-statue renditions of Snake Eyes in his original commando outfit and Destro in his gold-helmeted Iron Grenadiers uniform. In a surprise announcement, following the first two 12-inch releases of Optimus Prime and Megatron in Palisades' Transformers line, subsequent statues in the series will be downsized to a more affordably collectible six-inch scale. These full-figure statues will include Arcee, Grimlock (in Tyrannosaurus mode), Soundwave, Starscream and Jazz, among others. Optimus and Megatron are also planned to be reissued in the smaller scale, and Soundwave may be receiving some reinforcements in the form of his cassette sidekicks, potentially including a Laserbeak to attach to his outstretched arm.
There was one final surprise on display -- a 6 inch Transformers statue of Ultra Magnus. The Palisades rep hinted that it was an OTFCC Exclusive, and as it turns out, it is, but not for the convention. Glen Hallit, President of 3H Enterprises, recently announced this statue for sale at the OTFCC e-Store, so head on over there for pictures.