Monday, October 13, 2014

The Dark Crystal figures lost toy line

Growing up in the 80's was definitely interesting.  What made it more interesting was all of the amazing pop culture surrounding you at the time.  One of the best things to come out of pop culture was The Dark Crystal which was a brainchild of Jim Henson.  At such a young age I was in awe of the world that The Dark Crystal transports you into, which is complete with creatures of all shapes and sizes.  I remember falling in love with the Skeksis and their minions the spidery buglike Garthim.  It was definitely love at first sight.

Now that I'm "all growed ups" I still love the Dark Crystal material just as much if not more than when I was a kid, as now I can look back with nostalgia in heart and a pocket full of grown up cash that I want to spend on those tokens of nostalgia.  Like any grown up kid I still collect toys and.. Yes comic books as well and.. Shit..  I'm just going to say that I'm probably even more of a kid today than I was when I was 5.  The only difference is a little bit of facial hair and a regular job that doesn't involve taking apart things in the house (I still do that).
Jen complete with card

What would be more enticing than a toy line featuring one of my favorite movies from when I was a child?  Look no further!  Apparently a toy company called Aviva actually had plans to make a toy line of out the Dark Crystal material and went so far as to make an initial set of the toys including mock ups and cards.. The whole nine.  These prototypes fetch a pretty penny on the toy market and there's not very many of them.  One persons count of prototypes including card would come in at about 12 total.  That person is Justin Kerns who I found on the Rebel Scum forums and who was gracious enough to allow me to repost his photos from his collection.

There's also been rumors that Funko who has been hitting the toy world hard with it's Reaction figures, might be looking to make a Dark Crystal toy line.  We're hoping that they take EXACTLY what you see on this page and make it a mass-produced reality.  Here's also to hoping they create and Augra play set complete with her planetary lair.  Take a look around at all the images and feel free to click on them to get a closer look.

My favorite part of this set is the "build a" dark crystal part.  Each figure came with part of the Dark Crystal and when you collected them all the fit together to make the crystal itself.  Man what I wouldn't give to have all of those..  Oh and let's add a Skeksis castle playset on as well.  Fuck it right?  While we're at it..  I've seen a Lego Dark Crystal playset online as well.  It was in the Lego Cuuso section where people can upload their ideas and if it gets enough votes it becomes a reality.  This was how the Back to the Future and Ghostbusters Lego sets became a "thing".  Lets have a Skeksis castle and let's make those damn Lego Dark Crystal sets!  Please!?!  I need more nostalgia in my life and I need more things to blow my money on that sit around my house for no one but my cats and I to look at.  GOT IT?  Oh and I'd be tempted to open up all these pristine packages just to put the Dark Crystal together..  Watch all the collector fanboys cry while I'm doing it.  Don't worry I'd post it to YouTube!  You can check out the original forum post here: http://forum.rebelscum.com/t982892/ and thank Justin Kerns for all these amazing photos.







production photos

Promotional catalog for whole line

Card art for the back of the figure packaging


Garthim actual size on right with 2 up color production model on left
Landstrider box art

Garthim box art

Close up of Fizzgig packaged with figure

Landstrider

Mystic

Skeksis (Chamberlain?)
10 of the 12 known carded figures all together (who do I kill to get these?)

1 comment:

  1. Well you might just be getting your wish. Funko ia making these this year. Here's a picture of the Landstrider & Jen set:

    http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=274&itemid=26620

    Great to see something finally coming out from this long lost line.

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