Red-haired Male - Defa Lucy's Happy Family Father

Usually, I see this type of doll, avert my face, and shudder. Cheap. Cheesy. Ick.

But I saw this set in a Forman Mills' discount shop and thought, wow! This guy has RED hair and a character face. Think bouncing red ball excitement. And he's an ethnic redhead. Add fluttering hands and oooooohhhhhhs. In my head is where this action occurs ... don't want to get tossed out of a store for acting odd. Sigh. Externally think great, giddy grin and impatient hops while walking.

On the back of the box, there is a photo of the Caucasian Happy Family in the Defa Lucy series. He's redheaded, too. And these guys are jointed.




Forman Mills had other Defa Lucy sets. I've also seen this series at A.J. Wright stores. They are Barbie clones. Very good Barbie likeness, but otherwise, on the cheaper end of Barbie clones. And they come with interesting accessories and even more interesting copy on the boxes. Lucy's male companion in one set is described as her "lover." Eyes sparkle and deep grin spreads ... imagine those Walmart mommies with their fuss about married Midge being pregnant and NOT having her husband Alan in the same box! Evil cackle escapes me. It's just that easy to fall in love with a new series.

Defa Lucy is produced by Guangzhou Lebay Children Articles Co., LTD.

Johnny, Bargain Ethnic Fashion Doll

Behold, Johnny, the Bargain Ethnic Doll.

Someone gave him to me as a gag gift. The kind of gift that deliberately fails to impress ... oh, you shouldn't have gifts. The kind of gift that evokes "eeewww" as a response rather than "oh." I collect dolls and action figures. But I collect quality stuff: it doesn't have to be expensive, but usually, I do not DO cheesy.

Johnny is a cheap male fashion doll. I use "cheap" to refer to price and to the quality of the material. What's the difference between an inexpensive doll and a cheap one? Weight is one factor. If I hold Johnny in one hand and one of the Chic Boutique dolls in my other hand, Johnny feels much lighter. Details are another factor. If you look at the doll, and you think, not bad, that's an inexpensive doll. You receive something decent for your money. Looking at a cheap doll, you cry for the plastic so abused. Really cheap dolls provoke a full body shudder.

Johnny falls under the cheap category, but ... he has something most cheap dolls and many better priced dolls lack: ethnic identity. Johnny has African American features. He's NOT a "White" doll in "brown" plastic. He's a Black doll.

Oddly enough, no company claims Johnny as their own. The company printed on his box, Ocean Desert Sales of Philadelphia, PA, only distributes products to various dollar and discount stores.