My Three Toms or the Cosmic Tom in Vinyl - Link Added

Will the REAL Tom, please stand?

Please note, all three young men remain standing. They are all TOM.

From left to right, we have the Original Tom from 1992. He is the first Tom. In the middle, we have Totoco - Chinese Tom also from 1992. At the end, on our right, we have Licca Club 67 Tom again from 1992. One character, three different complexions. How can this be?

1992. Takara issued a new, handsome boyfriend for Jenny, and they named him Tom. Tom is from Los Angeles. He break dances and gets into trouble. On the back of his box, he is shown pushing Jeff, Jenny's "Ken," back. Ooohh Tom the Bad Boy. Eh, but he's cute and how many Black males would I find produced in Takara's Jenny line. So I bought the original Tom.

Then I found out about Chinese Tom from a Japanese store called Totoco. Oh, how did that happen now? In the United States, we don't "change" races. Sure, Barbies are sold in various complexions and various races. But ... well, everyone KNOWS that ethnic Barbies are for marketing purposes. Sell Black Barbies to the African American market. Sell Latina Barbies to the Latino market. During the occasional "Blue Moon," Asian Barbies are produced. For whom? Oh, yes, for the Asian market.

Tom differs though because he is Tom for the same market - Asian children who play with dolls and possibly for collectors. The "Black" Tom and the "White" Tom are NOT described as such. They are just Tom. How?

My understanding is that, his eye print defines him. You shall know Tom by his eye print. And if you look at the three Toms, look at their eyes, they are all the same. Different colors, but basically the same eyes.

I brought Tom or the Toms forth today because his/their race(s) seem(s) so ... fluid? They remind me of Zorah Neale Hurson's "I belong to no race nor time" from How It Feels to Be Colored Me. Perhaps he is a Cosmic Tom?

Note: the description I wrote about Tom is from memory from Barbie Bazaar and Doll Reader magazine articles and from messages in Yahoo Jenny Groups (Casual Jenny and Biscuit's Club). If anyone thinks that my description in the paragraph that starts "1992" borders on plagiarism, please send a comment or e-mail me so that I can alter the text.

Mattel Flavas Tre by Two

Mattel Flavas Tre (Street) wearing jeans and cap and Tre (Choice Awards Wave) wearing a black shirt and black pants.

Five Reasons Why I Love the Power Team Figures

1. Reasonably priced
   
   I have paid from $5.00 to $19.99 for Power Team figures. The $5.00 figures from Dollar General only came dressed, but the $9.99 and $19.99 have included 1:6 scale weapons, mechanical equipment, gym gear, and tables as accessories.
   
   
   
2. The Strength of the Direct Gaze
   
   These guys look you in the eye. They mean business. I can believe that they are heroes without capes. (And yes, Kim, most action figures seem to look straight ahead.)
   
   
   
3. Strike a Pose?
   
   Can they be posed? Oh, yes. The Power Team Guys can move it, move it. Do they look good while posing? Yes again. Some of the earlier models have huge ham-fists, but later figures have better proportioned hands and fingers.
   
   
   
4. Interesting Faces
   
   Look at their faces - not a single bland face in the lot. They have personality.
   
   
   
5. World Representatives - Various Races
   
   Finally, they represent the world. Name a race or ethnicity, and you can likely find a representative of that group in the Power Team figures.
   

Barbie Glam Vacation Jet? New for 2010 - Link

Ah so this is the Barbie Vacation Jet. Reminds me of the other Barbie planes.

Hmmm ... this, I think someone could create something like this.

My crew have a helicopter - that's enough air travel for them.

New So in Style Rocawear Dolls

A second set of Rocawearing So in Style dolls will be available at Entertainment Earth.

I like this Grace's outfit and this Chandra's outfit and hair style.

Shades of Black, Part Four: M & C Toys Power Team

Behold the Black Power Team members that I have to date. (Only one figure withheld - he has green stripes painted across his face.) One figure has a light complexion but most have dark brown complexions. So if you seek darker complected figure AND articulation, check the Power Team selections.

Hunky Harley Ken: Check Photos on Doll Divas

Warning: link to nude Harley Davidson Ken in various poses

Are you debating whether to buy the new Harley Barbie and Ken set? Check the photos submitted by Doll Divas member Amber here:

Harley Ken

The pose-ability of the new Ken looks fun and exciting.

Closed my eyes, tapped my heels together three times, "I am buying Harley Ken (and Barbie); I can afford them" Again, "I am buying Harley Ken and I can afford him." I make a third attempt, but alas my wallet is none the richer. Guess I need the ruby slippers. Sigh.