Found on eBay: The Batman Merchandise Continues!

Wow, I didn't realize I had just so freaking many Batman items in this "found on eBay" group! Let's see if I can finally finish 'em off today, eh?



Most unusual Japanese Batmobile I've ever seen... mainly because it's a Jaguar, which I don't think was the basis for any other Batmobile ever!



I completely missed seeing these Johnny Lightning retro-Bat-vehicles, whenever they came out!



I'm pretty sure this 1970s-era Joker bank was manufactured by Mego! Look at the face and compare it to the action figure, and you'll see why!



Two things about this: 1) It's not often I come across a Batman sticker or coloring book I don't already have a photo of. And 2) Is it my imagination, or does Batman look like he's doing the "I'm crushing your head!" thing from the Kids in the Hall? (Watch, nobody reading this blog is familiar with that show, so you're all scratching your heads wondering what the heck I'm talking about!)



I don't get to write this often, but I can say that this Batplane, manufactured by Lincoln International, is still available to purchase on eBay -- or at least one very much like this one! I believe it's in an eBay store listing, but I thought I got this pic from an auction listing.



This is a nice pair of lithographs, isn't it?



Lobby card! Hey, how many of you guys have ever seen the Batman serials of the 1940s? Pretty cheap productions, weren't they? I think there was a higher budget for these lobby cards than there was for sets!



I love the mix of graphics on this Marx Toys' Batman Bagatelle game, don't you? Plus, how often do you see Batman merchandise that includes Batwoman on it?



The main reason I snagged this photo of a Batman miscellaneous lot was for the cardboard jointed figure... easily the ugliest of these I've seen!



Someone should really produce more partyware using artwork from the old DC style guide... I mean, this stuff looked great!



I'm guessing these Batman party favors came out about the same time as the napkins above. Too bad I can't find anything like this at the dollar stores!



Here's some paper plates to go with the napkins and party favors to make your 1970s Batman birthday party complete!



And here's another of those 1970s Mego banks, this one of the Penguin, naturally! (I don't know if any other Bat-villains were immortalized thusly)

OK, I won't be able to finish this current group of Batman items today... but one more "Found on eBay" post and Batman will be disappearing from this series... at least until we hit some general DC Comics merchandise, like Super Friends stuff!

Jon

25 Days of Christmas Comics: Day 2!

Not much to say about this except that I think it's a fun Christmas-themed cover!

Jon

Found on eBay: Evel Knievel!

OK, I've never done this before, but since hearing that Evel Knievel's passed away, I thought I'd do a special "Found on eBay" post featuring Evel Knievel toys to mark his passing.







As I've written before, Ideal's Evel Knievel toy line was based around two things: The Gumby/Major Matt Mason-type Evel Knievel (i.e., solid rubber body with wire inside to help it hold position whe posed), and the gyro-powered vehicles. Above are some of the variation Evel figures (and you thought Mattel started the variations with Batman!). I'm not sure why they marketed the figure in this costume, because usually toy companies of the era were wanting to find the next "razor and blades" toy product!



By "razor and blades" toy product, I'm referring to lines like GI Joe and Barbie, where they produce a main item (i.e., the figure), and then make the real money off the accessories. By the same token, Gillette and other companies (before the days of disposables) would sell you the razor, and make most of their money off of blades to refill the razor!





But as I've already pointed out, Ideal didn't seem to want to just sell costume/uniform packs (perhaps the toys were just too hard to change clothes on?), so there were several different Evel figures (the only non-Evel they produced was his son, Robbie, if I recall correctly).





But it was with the vehicles that the real money had to be made, I'd bet, and other accessories!



I don't recall Evel using anything but motorcycles (except for the ill-fated "sky cycle" he tried to use to jump the Snake River Canyon)... but they did produce cars for Evel!



This seems to be based on the same concept as Kenner's SSP Smash-Up Derby set... pieces come off at impact, they get lost, kids beg mom and dad to buy a replacement set!



Ah, the stuntcycle here was the primary vehicle in the collection. If you only got one vehicle for your Evel Knievel figure, you had to get this one!



I wonder how many kids thought the Super Jet Cycle went faster than the Stunt Cycle?

There were some other accessories for the line, too:



I'd previously posted this Skull Canyon toy picture...



I'm not sure, but I suspect the Stunt World set was for the figures and gyro-vehicles...



And this is, I believe, a beat-up "Scramble Van" which I think was the #2 most-desired Evel vehicle!

Oh, and there were the die-cast vehicles, too, which weren't connected to the action figure line:

















Also sold in at least this six-pack!

There were a few other Evel toys out there, too...



Like this cheesy-looking stunt game...



The no doubt low-cost Evel Knievel bike flag...



Aurora's poster puzzle...



And the Electric Evel Knievel Toothbrush!

I'm sure there were other toys as well... a bicycle helmet (which probably afforded no protection), Ben Cooper Halloween costume... but these are what I have!

I don't know how big a piece of these Evel had, but I'm sure he must've made some nice money off of the licensing!

And wherever he is now, I'm sure Evel's enjoying having a healthy, pain-free body again, and is terrorizing his fellow afterlifers with plans for the most amazing stunts imaginable!

Jon

25 Days of Christmas Comics: Day 1

For no particular reason (other than, say, I enjoyed the Halloween countdown), I've decided to do a Christmas Comics Cover Countdown, starting tonight! And no, I'm not planning on posting two Christmas Comics Covers tomorrow! But there may well be bonus posts along the way!



Here's the first Christmas Comics Cover, featuring Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead (I think Reggie came along later). You'd hardly recognize them compared to the versions we've been accustomed to for over 50 years, eh?

Jon

Cover Gallery: Hall of Mirrors!

Superman probably wouldn't be so amused if he knew how often he'd become fat in later comics stories!



Pretty much, once you get out of the Golden Age, it's never a good idea to go to a Hall of Mirrors in the DC Universe!



I mean, if you're not going to be bizarrely transformed, you'll end up psychologically impaired!



If I didn't know better, I would think that Cap Jr here knew he'd eventually become part of the DCU, and feared the future effects of Halls of Mirrors!

Give-A-Show Friday: Checklist (To Date) with notes!

Notes: When Give-A-Show was first produced, the slides were printed on plastic and mounted on cardboard frames. These frames had a single color of ink printed on them with the character, story name, copyright date, and two pictures of the character. Through the 1960s, this was the format, and so I've taken to using the color and year to distinguish each release from the other.

1960 Red Slides
1-Popeye-Popeye To The Rescue
2-Three Stooges-Moon Man Moe
3-Yogi Bear-All At Sea
4-Woody Woodpecker-Go, Go, Goat!
5-Huckleberry Hound-Jinks' Surprise
6-Quick Draw McGraw-Two Heads are Better Than One
7-Oswald-Bug Game Hunter
8-Buffalo Bill-Sknis the Thieves
9-Wild Bill Hickock-Deadly Ambush
10-Kit Carson-Indian Attack
11-Maverick-Take a Gamble
12-Wyatt Earp-Gunman's Choice
13-Annie Oakley-Shoot-Out
14-Classics-Hansel & Gretel
15-Classics-Pinocchio
16-Classics-Cinderella

1961 Blue Slides
1-Huckleberry Hound-The One That Got Away
2-Popeye-A Day at the Seashore
3-Woody Woodpecker-Geronimo!
4-Three Stooges-Go To the Dogs
5-Rocky and Bullwinkle-A Ball for Boris
6-Lassie-Urgent Message
7-Mighty Mouse-Canaveral Capers
8-Classics-Peter Pan Foils Captain Hook
9-Casper the Friendly Ghost-He Who Laughs Last…
10-Heckle and Jeckle-Rough Stuff
11-Andy Panda-Balooney Business
12-Baby Huey-Wreckless Driver
13-Kenner Kids-The Haunted Mine
14-Roy Rogers-Trigger Has a Close Call
15-Captain Kangaroo-Bunny's Crazy Crop
16-Bozo-Bozo Booms a Bum
17-Classics-The Wizard of Oz
18-Classics-Robin Hood Meets Little John
19-Classics-Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn
20-Classics-William Tell
21-N/A-Stowaway in Space
22-Aesop's Fable-The Lion and the Mouse
23-N/A-Deadly Boomerang
24-N/A-Union Drummer Boy
25-Classics-Treasure Island
26-Popeye-Big Top Bullseye
27-Woody Woodpecker-Whew!
28-Three Stooges-Where There's Smoke… There's Fire?
30-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Bully for Bullwinkle
31-Roy Rogers-Headache for the Horse Thieves
32-Bozo-Joy Ride for Jumbo

1961 Green Slides
1-Huckleberry Hound-Huck's Magic Show
2-Yogi Bear-Flying High
3-Quick Draw McGraw-The Cannoneer
4-Pixie & Dixie-Painting the Town
5-Ruff & Reddy-Ruff Gets Rough
6-Snooper & Blabber-The Bear Facts
7-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Rings the Bell
8-Flintstones-A New Twist
9-Snagglepuss-Soars to New Heights
10-Flintstones-Fred Bowls a Boomerang
11-Aggie Doggie-Daddy Builds a Beauty
12-Huckleberry Hound-Huck Uses His Head
13-Yogi Bear-Unfunny Honey
14-Quick Draw McGraw-Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…
15-Ruff & Reddy-Whale of a Time
16-Flintstones-Double Trouble

1962 Green Slides
1-Huckleberry Hound-Huck's Magic Show
2-Yogi Bear -Flying High
3-Quick Draw McGraw-The Cannoneer
4-Pixie and Dixie-Painting the Town
5-Ruff & Reddy-Ruff Gets Rough
6-Snooper and Blabber-The Bear Facts
7-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Rings the Bell
8-Flintstones-A New Twist
9-Snagglepuss-Soars to New Heights
10-Flintstones-Fred Bowls a Boomerang
11-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Builds a Beauty
12-Huckleberry Hound-Huck Uses His Head
13-Yogi Bear-Unfunny Honey
14-Quick Draw McGraw-Mirror, Mirror on theWall…
15-Ruff & Reddy-Whale of a Time
16-Flintstones-Double Trouble

1962 Red Slides
1-Popeye and Olive Oyl-Victory at Sea
2-Three Stooges-Monster Monkey Business
3-Kenner Kids-Dive into Danger
4-Rocky and Bullwinkle-The Astronut
5-Woody Woodpecker-Jetty Propulsion
6-Roy Rogers-Mark of the Big Cat
7-Kenner Kids-Everglades Adventure
8-Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear-Poor Picnic Pickin's
9-Mr. Magoo-Magoo Gets a Checkup
10-Classics-Aladdin's Lamp
11-Dick Tracy-Case of the Missing Masterpiece
12-Mr. Ed-A Hitchin' Ed's Plans
13-Fury-Adventure With an Outlaw Stallion
14-Deputy Dawg-Bait From Outer Space
15-Mighty Mouse-A Whale of a Job
16-Classics-The Boy Who Cried Wolf

1962 Silver Slides
2-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Misguided Moosile

1963 Green Slides
1-The Flintstones-All'sWell That Ends Well
2-Huckleberry Hound-Smile, You're on TV!
3-Yogi Bear-Woodsman, Spare That Tree!
4-Jetsons-Rosie Gets Repaired
5-Quick Draw McGraw-Fastest Guitar in the West
6-Hokey Wolf-An Actor's Life
7-Touche Turtle-Blast Off For Balloon
8-Wally Gator-Wally Saves His Skin
9-Lippy Lion-The Dragon's Shadow
10-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Tries His Wings
11-Flintstones-Fred Thinks Big
12-Huckleberry Hound-The Right Caliber
13-Yogi Bear-His Kind of Hat
14-Jetsons-Elroy's Secret Weapon
15-Quick Draw McGraw-Gold Fever
16-The Flintstones-A Record Catch

1964 Red Slides
1-Popeye-Popeye Booms Back
2-Dick Tracy-A Real Pepper-Upper
3-Mr. Magoo-Out of Step
4-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Fractured Football
5-Clyde Crashcup-3-Speed Omission
6-Casper the Friendly Ghost-Panic Stop
7-Barney Google & Snuffy Smith-Board Stiff
8-Bozo the clown-High Dive
9-Fury-Firey Rescue
10-Mr. Ed-No Pool Like a New Pool
11-Mighty Mouse-Punch for Lunch
12-Three Stooges-Tanks, but No Tanks
13-Captain Kangaroo-Growing Pains
14-Lassie-Timmy's Bad Break
15-Dennis the Menace-Come On In
16-Huckleberry Hound & Yogi Bear-Wash-Up for Supper

1965 Red Slides
1-Flintstones-A Sneeze to Please
2-Yogi Bear-Rocket Riding Ranger
3-Huckleberry Hound-Barrel Peril
4-Magilla Gorilla-Hare Raising Robber
5-Peter Potamus-Brainless Buccaneer
6-Jetsons-Supersonic Sissy
7-Jonny Quest-Warehouse Rescue
8-Quick Draw McGraw-Clobbers a Robber
9-Yogi Bear-A Punch for a Lunch
10-Huckleberry Hound-BarnStorming
11-Flintstones and Hoppy-Mammoth Dilemma
12-Quick Draw McGraw-Out of the Frying Pan
13-Magilla Gorilla-Sled Snack
14-Peter Potamus-Watta Melon
15-Flintstones and Hoppy-Kitchen Concert
16-Yogi Bear-Yogi's Buzz Bomb

1966 Blue Slides
1-Superman-Race Against Danger
2-Three Stooges-Aqua-Nuts
3-Popeye-One Track Mind
4-Mighty Mouse-Good Noose
5-Lassie-Lassie the Game Warden
6-Secret Squirrel-Shrink in the Drink
7-Mr. Magoo-Abused Car Lot
8-Fury-Fireman Fury
9-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Moon Munks
10-Captain Kangaroo-Acrobunny
11-Roy Rogers-Nellybelle to the Rescue
12-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Alley Antics
13-Bozo-Shoe In
14-Casper the Friendly Ghost-A Frosty Friend
15-Heckle and Jeckle-Double Play
16-Stingray-Stingray's Secret Weapon

1967 Blue Slides
1-Frankenstein Jr-Frankie, Jr Saves a Satellite
2-Yogi Bear-Crunches a Lunch
3-Huckleberry Hound-Hot Puck Huck
4-Flintstones-The Purloined Sirloin
5-Magilla Gorilla-Drive-In Ape Wash
6-Secret Squirrel-Smells a Rat
7-Atom Ant-Supermarket Showdown
8-Quick Draw McGraw-Female Felon
9-Space Ghost-Puny Pirates
10-Dino Boy-Whale of a Tail
11-The Impossibles-The Formless Foe
12-Space Kidettes-Frozen Assets
13-Precious Pupp-The Fortuitus Flue
14-Maw & Paw Rugg-All Tire(d) Out
15-Hokey Wolf-Art Thief Grief
16-???

1968 Red Slides
1-Superman-Asphault Ambush
2-Lone Ranger-Tunnel of Terror
3-Three Stoogets-Firehouse Frenzy
4-Captain Kangaroo-Mower Mayhem
5-Off to See the Wizard-Enchanted River
6-Lassie-Anchor Man
7-Casper-Postal Poltergeist
8-Spider-Man-The Frustrated Phantom
9-Fantastic Four-Vicious Vine
10-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Slingshot Sleuth
11-Gentle Been-Midnight Fright
12-Bozo the Clown-Salty Solution
13-Popeye-Deep Sea Dilemma
14-Thor-Melt the Monster
15-King Kong-Erroneous Eruption
16-Aquaman-All Clammed Up

1970 Blue Slides
1-Archie-Dead End
2-Dudley Do-Right-Bear Facts
3-Bugs Bunny-Stare Case
4-Captain Kangaroo-The Retriever
5-Tom & Jerry-Build a Better Cat-Trap
6-Casper-Nothing to Crow About
7-Mr. Magoo-Camera Bug
8-George of the Jungle-Bungleberry Picker
9-Sabrina, The Teen-Age Witch-Sand-Witch for Lunch
10-Apollo 11 Moonflight-First Man on the Moon
11-Superman-Tower of Power
12-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Hard Luck
13-Lassie-Perilous Precipice
14-???-
15-Popeye-Up a Tree
16-Flintstones-Oil That Glitters Is Not Gold

Sometime after 1970, Kenner decided to change how their Give-A-Show slides were listed. Since I haven't collected many post-1970 sets so far, I'm not sure if color is still a designator (the 1974 slides I have use blue printing, while the 1976 slides have kind of a purplish printing on them). The frame also has the corners beveled, which I presume made them easier to insert in the projectors.

1974 006 Slides
91-01-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Tomato Catch-Up Part 1
91-02-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Tomato Catch-Up Part 2
92-01-Scooby Doo-Seize and Freeze Part 1
92-02-Scooby Doo-Seize and Freeze Part 2
93-01-Josie and the Pussycats-Candy Landing Part 1
93-02-Josie and the Pussycats-Candy Landing Part 2
94-01-Speed Buggy-Speed Trap Part 1 (mislabeled as "Speed Buggs")
94-02-Speed Buggy-Speed Trap Part 2 (mislabeled as "Speed Buggs")
95-01-Charlotte's Web-Some Pig Part 1
95-02-Charlotte's Web-Some Pig Part 2
96-00-Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch-Hat Whack
97-00-Star Trek-Space Cowboy
98-00-Archie-Ladder Splatter
99-00-Goober and the Ghost Chasers-Giving up the Ghost
01-00-Robin Hood-Hood-Winked
60-00-Bugs Bunny-Wabbitt to the Wescue

1976 868 Slides
606-02-Land of the Lost-Grumpy's Rescue Part 2
606-01-Land of the Lost-Grumpy's Rescue Part 1
608-02-Shazam-Cliff Hanger Part 2
607-00-Far Out Space Nuts-Lunch Launch
608-01-Shazam-Cliff Hanger Part 1
610-02-Scooby-Doo-Mustery Train Part 2
609-00-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Hole in One
610-01-Scooby-Doo-Mystery Train Part 1 (missing0
611-00-Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm-Scary Staircase
612-00-Josie and the Pussycats-A Feather in Her Cap
613-00-Great Grape Ape-Snow Foolin
614-00-??-
615-00-Hong Kong Phooey-Clothesline Catapult
616-00-Speed Buggy-Sky High Scramble
617-00-???-
618-00-??-
619-00-Bugs Bunny-Fishing Frenzy
620-00-Harlem Globetrotters-Super Stuff

Notes: Either in 1977 or 1978, Kenner changed the slides again. Gone were the cardboard frames; instead, the entire slide strip was a single piece of plastic with solid black print for frames. I'm beginning to suspect that this was a contributing factor to fewer 1970s slides being available for collectors today!

1978 Slides
Black-1-16-Star Wars-Scene 1-16

Found on eBay: More Batman Stuff!

Just for a break between the "Give-A-Show Friday" stuff... here's some more Batman items that I've... Found on eBay!

Before the photos, the disclaimer: I don't promise that these items are currently being sold on eBay, and if they are, I don't make any guarantees about the sellers. I just wanted to share the pix with you!



Is this the most bizarre Batman item you've ever seen? Well, not most bizarre-looking, naturally. But just the idea of Batman Flip-Flops seems just so wrong!

Interesting that two different Batman logos are on them, isn't it?

Now, check out these Batman puzzles!



I wonder just who the artist was who did the art for this puzzle... doesn't look to my eye like one of DC's 1960s Batman artists... well, maybe Joe Giella.



This one, on the other hand, appears to be all Infantino, and pretty cool, eh?



I'm guessing this is by Giordano... or else he inked it!



Getting away from the puzzles... it's amazing to me just how many Batman gun toys have been made, given how Batman's long been portrayed as not using a gun! This friction gun is pretty pathetic, too... I mean, aside from a silver Bat-logo, it has nothing to do with Batman!



These were great... they were humungous coloring books produced that were at least tabloid size, but if that wasn't cool enough, each of the books produced (aside from this one, I believe there were Superman, Wonder Woman and Shazam! volumes) was an actual comic book story for you to color!



Avon produced at least two Batman-related items... this one, the hairbrush, seems to be the most commonly found. There's also a Batmobile-shaped shampoo bottle that either I've already posted before, or will some day in the future!



I think Husky was a division of Corgi, because all the Husky items I've seen are duplicates of similar items Corgi produced, just with different packaging!



It's always surprising to me how many different Batman items were produced in Japan... including a lot of Batmobiles!

Some of it's also rather bizarre, like these Batman cards!



Or this!



This is what's called a "Karuta" game... and no, I have no idea what that means!

Jon