Where is the Van Brand Pizza Today?

Well, Old G.I. Joe and Lamont Wilson had had it. Then they went out for beers for that "perfect touch," but when they returned the pizza was gone. Oh! They accused some Kens lounging nearby. The Kens denied the charge. The Joes backed down - the Kens had been discussing the merits of skinny jeans versus baggie jeans and were none too happy to have such a thrilling topic interrupted for any talk of food. Usually Kens are mild mannered, but intrusion on their fashion discussions leaves them more aggressive than usual. The Joes recognized their folly and scrammed only to encounter a few Power Team members.

"Do you have our pizza?" Lamont asked.

"No, we do not. We are in training and NOT eating pizza."

"Well, that leaves them out," Old Joe responded. "Power Team guys are soooo serious about training."

"They are at that." Lamont answered. They sighed. Well, since the pizza was gone, they might as well enjoy the beer while it was still cold. And so they did.

But where then is the mouthwatering pizza we received from Van's Doll Treasures? Hmmm ... this picture shows the pizza and the pizza thief. Tawny Tommy!

He's guarding the pizza while his girl pal Abby gets sodas and napkins. Wonder how long he'll have it?

Interested in having your own Van Brand Pizza? Well, you'll have to inquire over at her blog to find out if she will be making any more. Good luck and happy eating ;-D

New Blog Alert - Male Dolls and Action Figures

Just dropping a brief line here about a new blog featuring great photography and MALE dolls and action figures. The author has POWER TEAM guys. All together.

I don't see how to follow yet. And I would LOVE to have the link to the Toy Centre page showing the black figures' faces. Sigh.

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2011
East Philly


Stars'n Stripes Army Ken and Power Team soldiers. Will they debox Ken?

Do You Like Freckled Faces?

Frannie of Thrift Store Dolls recently submitted a post about a freckle-faced Bratz doll. She - Frannie, not the Bratz doll Rina - inspired this post about some of the freckle-faced DAFs here in East Philly.
Usually, Mattel's frecked-faced dolls are children. Tommy and Kelly. Occasionally, you will find an adult doll with freckles like One Modern Ken, several of the Fashion Fever dolls (Gillian, Drew, etc.)

I am posting photos of two freckle-faced characters. The young lady on the left is the AA version of Skipper from the Walmart Barbie and Skipper Pajama Fun Tote set; the gentleman on the right is one of the Power Team members. Check how his freckles extend beyond his nose to his entire face.

Do you have any favorite freckle-faced dolls or action figures?

Power Team Guys to Go - Deal Style

These two Power Team guys are for sale. $15 each. Let me know if you are interested ...

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.
   

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.

Top Ten DAFs of 2009: Power Team Combat Engineer at 7

Manufacturer: M & C Toys
Series: Power Team Elite
Character Name: Combat Engineer (actually, his job title)
Box Year, if Noted: No Date


Why is Power Team Combat Engineer on the Top Ten List?

Another easy reply: he is a good looking guy. Good looking AND intelligent-looking. Piercing black eyes. Serious mien. Furrowed eyebrows - see the vertical lines between his eyebrows. Furrowed they are. This guy does a lot of thinking. Or so I imagine, LOL. Look at his beautiful high cheekbones and the refined flare of his nostrils. Sigh. And the slightly dry lips - note the textured lip surface. M & C Toys knows how to sculpt a dreamy male head.

Granted his body is not quite as gorgeous as his face. The arm muscles look as though they were drawn by a heavy handed artist. Alas, he has glove hands - no bare hands but permanently gloved hands. Guess they did not want him to lose the gloves, given his drilling work, etc. The Combat Engineer has a sturdy build and weight. He can be posed; he can stand alone.


Why is Power Team Combat Engineer seventh on the Top Ten List?



Spots seven and eight could have gone to either Hrithik or to the Engineer. However, the Engineer had the edge and the higher rank because his body is sturdier, he's got those high cheekbones, and his clothes and accessories are better than Hrithik's. In spite of his having a longer and bigger head, the Engineer wins.

Once upon a time, you could find M & C Power Team action figures at K B Toys stores. Sigh. Now you can check Big Lots! stores, eBay, and other collectors for Power Team figures.

East Philadelphians Contemplate the Snow

Jakks Pacific G.I.R.L. Force Creanna and a M & C Power Team action figure and Mattel Legolas Ken contemplate the 2009 snow storm. Creanna's outfit is all original to her; the Power Team gentleman has borrowed Jakks Pacific Van Helsing's maroon "leather coat." Oh and Legolas Ken borrowed the long black "leather" coat that once belonged to Angel and an action figure accessory knit cap. He strikes a very fine pose.

Kari Mitchell by M & C Toy Centre

Usually when I refer to M & C Toy Centre products, I discuss the PowerTeam action figures. However, M & C Toy Centre also produces fashion doll lines like Paula, a Kelly-doll clone, and Kari Mitchell, a Barbie clone.

Collector MSJ has photos of a new M & C Toy Centre doll shown here. Her post reminded me that I had seen some new Kari Mitchell clothes set - shown below - recently at Big Lots. The doll included in the clothing set has been seen in older sets, but the clothes and the accessories are new.








Additional information about Kari Mitchell dolls can be read at this John Medeiros article for Master Collector Online. More current information can be found at the Power Team Yahoo Group.

P.S. Sometimes this series is spelled "Kari Mitchell" and other times, "Kari Michell."

New Power Team Guy - Combat Engineer at Big Lots!

Big Lots! Norristown. I was only going to look, but when I saw this guy, I had to have him.

Meet the Power Team Elite World Peacekeepers Combat Engineer!

Here's a close up of his face. Notice the elegant flare to his nostrils. What a classy sculpting job and for $10!




and here's the full length view in his box.




I don't recall seeing this figure before, but that doesn't mean that he was never there before. New or old though, he's new to me. I'm happy.

Pierre Janay and His Six Daughters

Pierre Janay is a Power Team action figure from M & C Toys. The six lovely ladies behind him are my Integrity Fashion Fling Janay dolls. Ordinarily, they would NOT be on the same shelf, but here, I have them as (left to right) Chloe (brown leather cap), Rashida (tan cap), Sable (reddish, center-parted hair), Tynesha (strawberry tight curls), and twins, Sandrine (goldenrod top) and Simone (yellow top).

Please note the variation of the dolls' face screening, the variety of complexions, and the straight to frizzy-curly hair. Integrity playline at its best with these 2004-2005 dolls.

Sunday Morning Cruisin' - EP Motorcycle Club

Sunday morning before thunderstorms hit.

Krystal, Dr. Thurman, Kelly, and Mitsuki go for a ride.

New (to Me) Power Team Photos on Webshots

I was checking for sources for M&C Toys' figures, Power Team and StarRunner, when I came across three Webshots photo albums that took my breath. (Well, I kinda did a gasp thing and then held my breath a few times. I was that engrossed. Whoa, this is turning into an "en" night!)

Here is the link:

PowerTeam Photos

Repeat to self: I cannot afford new figures at this time. I cannot afford new figures at this time ....

Sigh.

The Photo That Inspired a Custom Sofa

I love the colors in this photo: the dark, peppery red, the tawny-gold pants, the Power Team figure's dark brown hair and his warm, ruddy-tan coloring. Cute as he is, sprawled across the wine tapestry rug, he deserved better.




A black leather sofa, I think. Yes, that's what he needs. So I bought a leather-like remainder piece and set aside two of the Fashion Royalty shipping boxes. Just need to set aside time to put the sofa together.

Liberating the Masses or the Power Team

I've opened all of my Power Team guys except Farmer Miles (aka the World Peacekeepers Trailwalker with donkey) and one guy I might not keep. I love their realistic faces and their poseable bodies. I'll take more photos of them tomorrow; not enough time to do more than trot out this one:

No 12" Power Team Figures at Sears Cottman Avenue

Yesterday, I went to the Sears at Cottman Avenue. Sometimes Sears/KB Toys sell 12" Power Team action figures produced by M & C Toys. Alas, no 12" action figures that day.

Surprise Find at E-Z Discount Store on 60th Street

Yesterday, I went to E-Z Discount Store located on 60th Street below Market Street in West Philadelphia. Sometimes you can find older dolls and action figures in small stores, not part of a chain. There were no older Barbies -- or any Barbies -- but there were some 11.5 fashion dolls by Totsy that belonged to the Legends of Yesteryear Series: Emeraude. The 11.5 fashion doll resembles the Disney/Mattel Esmeralda from The Hunchback on Notre Dame film. She's the sort of cheap doll that I would usually bypass, but ... Emeraude did not come alone. No, and I am not referring to the $20.00 set that included her and the Quasimodo counterpart. I'm talking about the $9.99 Festival Emeraude who comes with a 1:6 scale GOAT. Sure the goat's eyes need work, and why are his inner ears and nostrils fuchsia? This has to be a first for me ... a playscale goat.

I have a donkey with the Power Team World Peacekeepers Trailwalker aka Farmer Miles. My Lanard I-Girls have two toucans, a panda, and a brown lab retriever dog. Not a single goat though. Now we have a goat. Just what every urban farmer needs. Chevre cheese a-coming next.

Aside: maybe the pink ears and nostrils on the goat are not unnatural. See the goat photos shown at this web page:

http://www.goatladydairy.com/News_Recipies.htm