It is too bad I have to start a new thread on these, as I would have preferred to post this in the original Toy Island monster thread I started in 2008. But that thread was recently locked.
To make sure that does not happen to this thread, I have enlisted the assistance of my Coffin Joe action figure.
(http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/jaycox/magecoffinjoe12.jpg)
Joe appears to be giving everyone the finger. I apologize, but I just cannot control the actions of Coffin Joe.
Oh wait, he is saying something in Portuguese.
(http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/jaycox/magecoffinjoe13.jpg)
It sounds like he is putting a curse on everyone who reads this thread. It doesn't matter who you are. If you are reading these words, you are now cursed. Again, I am sorry. I just can't control my Coffin Joe doll.
Now he is directing our attention to something.
(http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/jaycox/magecoffinjoe9.jpg)
Oh yes, the Toy Island monsters. He wants us to stop talking about him and look at the Toy Island monsters. Very well. I don't want to make him angrier than he already is. It is time to stop dillydallying and get to the point. Onward.
Some of you (perhaps a very small number of you) might know that I have been searching a long time for the electronic talking monsters released in 1992 by Toy Island, the same company that produced some Universal Monsters action figures a few years ago.
The Toy Island talking monsters included a Vampire, Zombie and Werewolf. You pressed their chest and they emitted a sound or spoken phrase. Around the same time, Toy Island produced similar action figures of pirates, cowboys and astronauts. I remember buying the Pirates at Walgreens in the early 1990s. But for some reason, Toy Island only released the three monsters in the UK. I have never learned why they deemed them unsuitable for the U.S. market. But a magazine interview with the president of Toy Island circa 1992 confirmed that the monsters were exclusive to the UK.
At the time, I contacted the few toy dealers I knew in the UK and tried to get a set. The dealers had no idea what I was talking about. I called some U.S. dealers who specialized in international toys, but they could not help me.
I could not believe it was so hard to get these things! This was before the Internet, before eBay. My options were limited. I was out of luck.
Years passed. Decades passed. I never did find my Toy Island monsters. Boo hoo.
Then a UMA member, Maurice in Belfast, sent me pictures of a carded set he owned. I could not believe it! It was the first time I had seen clear photographs of these things. Maurice allowed me to share his photos on the UMA in 2008, in the thread that was recently locked.
You saw the carded Zombie that Andy Williams acquired a couple weeks ago. I had been trying to work a deal on that toy, but was striking out with the owner. He wanted trades for things I didn't have. Andy knew the owner, so I talked to him about it. Finally, I told Andy I was throwing in the towel on the Zombie and encouraged him to go after it if he wanted it. Andy was able to work out a deal with the owner and acquire that excellent figure. Congratulations to Andy on obtaining a very special toy.
Meanwhile, I contacted Maurice and told him my sob story of toy frustration. Maurice, bless his heart, took pity on me. We worked out a deal and I bought Maurice's set of all three carded Monsters. I was happy that it worked out that way, because Maurice is a good guy and the kind of person I enjoy buying/trading toys with. I hate it when toy collecting becomes stressful. Many times I have come close to ditching the hobby because the stress level was getting ridiculous. These are toys. "Stress" and "toys" do not belong in the same sentence. Anyway, Maurice and I had a stress-free experience. I cannot say enough good things about Maurice.
So now, finally, here are the Toy Island monsters. My 21-year quest has come to an end.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/9030050165_b90e85f8a9_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/9032277998_ac7858fa4e_b.jpg)
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2867/9032278228_4b34bf721d_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9030050359_0268529d66_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/9032271222_54e6b9d3a3_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/9030046721_9a87f3b398_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/9030047113_90f189e7eb_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/9032274582_159cfe29da_b.jpg)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/9032274482_bfb6c4b3b8_b.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/9030041129_4a663b0335_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9030040727_e52004fce1_b.jpg)
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/9032268686_177878e831_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9030040863_c0555b9e04_b.jpg)
Why does the Zombie need help? He's got a pretty good arsenal at his disposal.
Congrats on completing your Toy Island Talking Monsters quest. So...what's next?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Ray, Very cool set of figures, I completely understand why you have wanted to find a set. I dig the zombies rat belt! Id really like to find a loose set. Thanks for sharing!
I find the packaging very charming.
Congrats on the addition to the collection!
Awesome! ;D They look very cool.
Does anyone else love the fact that none of them are wearing shoes? Shoes were clearly not cool in 1992.
Plus, I'm digging the rat belt on the Zombie.
The early 90s was a very casual era for monsters.
Quote from: aura of foreboding on June 14, 2013, 05:32:34 PM
Does anyone else love the fact that none of them are wearing shoes? Shoes were clearly not cool in 1992.
Plus, I'm digging the rat belt on the Zombie.
The Zombie is the coolest.
Congrats Raymond! I'm happy that you have finally found the elusive Toy Island talking monsters. I'm afraid your elation will be short lived though. Coffin Joe will have none of this nonsense. He supremacy will reign over your Toy Island idolatry. You will worship him alone. He is your master, and you are his slave. Throw those false idols into the fire and repent before you get a bottle broken over your head. cl:)
Quote from: aura of foreboding on June 14, 2013, 05:32:34 PM
Does anyone else love the fact that none of them are wearing shoes?
How else can the Vampire hang by his feet from the rafters to sleep? ???
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Quote from: Mord on June 14, 2013, 06:46:16 PM
The early 90s was a very casual era for monsters.
This is probably the aftermath of the Universal Monsters' Pepsi Party. Sunglasses at night: Check. No shoes: No problem. ;D
Quote from: Count_Zirock on June 14, 2013, 10:23:48 PM
How else can the Vampire hang by his feet from the rafters to sleep? ???
An excellent observation!
Yep - Maurice is a great guy - and those talking monsters are very, very cool!
I would comment on this thread, but I fear reprisals from your Coffin Joe figure .
I think I love Dracula best. He looks kind of like "Fright Night" or "Subspecies"... In short, a perfect 80s vampire. And it's nice to see a Zombie from an era before they became the Du Jour monster.
Should I be afraid of Coffin Joe?
Be afraid.... be VERY afraid!
WOW...Terrific score, Ray! Too bad they never made it to the US...Do i detect a little Shock Monster going on with the Zombie figure? CONGRATS!!
Now let me get this straight Ray, you do mean the curse of OUGHIN Joe! That's all I need at my time of life a coughing fit, oh the horror. Seriously, many thanks for your kind words they are a nice gesture. As a postscript I would like to add a bit more to their back story.I am a compulsive package opener,yes no matter what it is Sideshow or Aurora out they all came from their assorted packages no toy was safe. However for some unknown (not primates) reason I never had the urge to open these figures, I even opened my Mego Star trek and Planet of the apes figures played with the superheroes but they remained unopened. They were destined for Ray from the start. He is a very honest man even to the point of explaining how hard they were to get, even before we made a deal now that's trusting. As he also explained back in 2008 when I first joined he expressed his interest if ever I wanted to let them go, so now they now reside in the New World. I can just see the Zombie with out-stretched arms crossing the Atlantic "I'm the King of the World!" To the theme of Titanic, I wish you well you brain eating cadaver. Thank you again Ray.
Quote from: raycastile on June 14, 2013, 12:34:08 AM
It is too bad I have to start a new thread on these, as I would have preferred to post this in the original Toy Island monster thread I started in 2008. But that thread was recently locked.
To make sure that does not happen to this thread, I have enlisted the assistance of my Coffin Joe action figure.
Hi Ray, long time no see/chat.
This doll, where did you get it? I tried to read you thread but couldn't understand where or how, so I'm asking you.
On Facebook, Mojica (yeah, the man) asked if someone knew who made it and if he could get one of those for his own collection, because he didn't had it.
He was alking about this:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/538077_330577010387686_1215492125_n.jpg)
And this:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_sSZpaeh-U/TjrjVbXOVjI/AAAAAAAAApQ/Qf5aD-lEch0/s1600/magecoffinjoe5.jpg)
If you know something let me know!
Abraços!
! Muy incredible!
Hello Luckmann! About the doll, it is a custom figure made by Matt Jaycox a few years ago. Matt made three copies. He kept one for himself, gave one to me, and sent one to Mojica, who should have it in his possession.
When you say Mojica asked about it on Facebook, please keep in mind that celebrities often have social media managers. And keep in mind that Mojica does not speak English.
It is my understanding that Mojica does in fact have one of these dolls. I am not going to believe otherwise unless Mojica stands in front of me, eye to eye, and tells me so. But that is probably not going to happen soon, as I cannot afford to fly to Brazil to talk to someone about a doll. I have the word of one of Mojica's close associates that the doll was delivered into Mojica's hands. On the other hand, I have some posts on Facebook that say otherwise. Which should I believe?
Things can be kind of sketchy in Brazil, and the language and cultural barriers can be tremendous. It is very difficult for an English-speaking American to take care of business in Brazil without flying there and dealing with it in person. If I ever return to Brazil, and I am able to meet Mojica again, I will take the opportunity to ask him about the doll. If he tells me in person that he did not receive it, I will get to the bottom of it. But until that day comes, I cannot and will not worry about it.
Quote from: LUCKMANN on August 04, 2013, 05:44:46 PM
Hi Ray, long time no see/chat.
This doll, where did you get it? I tried to read you thread but couldn't understand where or how, so I'm asking you.
On Facebook, Mojica (yeah, the man) asked if someone knew who made it and if he could get one of those for his own collection, because he didn't had it.
He was alking about this:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/538077_330577010387686_1215492125_n.jpg)
And this:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_sSZpaeh-U/TjrjVbXOVjI/AAAAAAAAApQ/Qf5aD-lEch0/s1600/magecoffinjoe5.jpg)
If you know something let me know!
Abraços!
Understood Ray. I got your point.
I just asked because I read it on his facebook wall and cannot answer if was him or someone from his staff.
If this upsets you, I apologize, that was not my objective.
The facebook profile is really Mojica's profile, he confirms it on a Youtube video.
IF he does or doesn't have the doll, I can't tell you, my friend, but I'd like to.
Again, I'm sorry to bother you and I promissed it'll never happen again but I strongly recommend that you try some contact with his staff, there are too many brazilian people saying bad things on it, and as you said, we are a kind of hard talking people.
Wish you the best, bro!
Well that would suck if he never got it.
I worked hard on that thing.
I do like that werewolf toy. What a great name as well. 8)
Quote from: mjaycox on August 05, 2013, 07:07:44 PM
Well that would suck if he never got it.
I worked hard on that thing.
Yes, that would be disappointing for all concerned.
This seller is using photos of my Toy Island Zombie in her ebay auction. Who knows if she even owns a Zombie. The only two pictures she uses are both mine, the same pictures posted earlier in this thread. I'm going to complain to her and ask her to remove the photos. I would be careful about bidding on this. Using someone else's photos in your auction, instead of photos of the actual piece you are selling, is quite shady.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zombie-Action-Figure-Toy-Island-The-Zombie-UK-Talking-Monsters-1992-/291269558781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d104c1fd (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zombie-Action-Figure-Toy-Island-The-Zombie-UK-Talking-Monsters-1992-/291269558781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d104c1fd)
Quote from: raycastile on October 18, 2014, 03:32:21 PM
The only two pictures she uses are both mine, the same pictures posted earlier in this thread.
Looks like she put up a different pic. Can't say if that's hers either, though. :laugh:
The seller has revised the listing and removed my photos. So the photos up now should be the seller's actual toy, though I cannot verify that.
These are beautiful! I especially like the weirdo vampire.
Quote from: raycastile on October 18, 2014, 05:28:15 PM
The seller has revised the listing and removed my photos. So the photos up now should be the seller's actual toy, though I cannot verify that.
She should take a picture of the zombie holding today's newspaper, like from back when extortionists had class! eBay has made it into such a tawdry, vulgar act.
I have these from when I was a child, just rediscovered them in my parents loft, sadly the wolf's jacket as deteriorated slightly but I'll post pics anyway if I can find out how to do so....
Quote from: BeardyViking on January 27, 2021, 05:51:04 PM
I have these from when I was a child, just rediscovered them in my parents loft, sadly the wolf's jacket as deteriorated slightly but I'll post pics anyway if I can find out how to do so....
Welcome to the UMA, BeardyViking
Welcome to the UMA, BeardyViking! :)
To post photos, you have to store them on your own space and link to them in your post (using the Forums code).