Favorite Mailaways!

[fishmilkshake]

emperorvwas another favorite,as I wrote Kenner a fan letter right after seeing ROTJ asking about a emperor figure they wrote me back saying it was a great idea,(making my 11 year old self feel like I came up with it)that he would be available soon.

Awesome! 

[B-Lister]

Awesome story!

[RockoJerome]

I think there's atmosphere in space in Star Wars, hence the explosions. I think the correct answer to the question is somewhere between "It's an homage to the Flash Gordon serial nature of the thing, as those were done before anyone really understood outer space as we do now" and "Who gives a fuck, just enjoy it."

Anyway, as a result of this thread:

* I had the excitement of once again considering the amazing place that "Young America, Minnesota" must be, where millions and millions of kids send proofs of purchases to get free shit.

* Found out about the Star Wars survival kit. Somehow, I never knew about this. At the time, my mom, who was always big on sending off to get free shit, must have just considered this a big time choking hazard and skipped it. I just went to ebay and bought a set for 20 bucks. Can't wait to kick my vintage Dagobah display up a notch with Yoda on Luke's back.

* Recalled Book-It! I didn't get to Pizza Hut real often, we always got the cheapest pizza possible from Little Caesar's as a family function. Pizza Hut was strictly a thing I would do with friend's families or when my mom would lie to the school system that I read another hundred books so I could scam a free dinner. Louisville right now has a pizza place about every other block, but the first one that gets a table top Miss Pac-Man is the one I'll go to on purpose.

So job well done, guys!

I got into buying figures as a post adolescent late teens type person as a result of that Froot Loops Hantrooper. After that, I had to get some POTF2 stuff, and that just kicked the door wide open.

As a kid I got my Emperor, my Admiral Ackbar, and the one I was most psyched about, Super Powers Steppenwolf. Now THAT was a bad motherfucker. I'm not the first to observe that DC has some somewhat pussy-ass villains, so when this axe wielding dude with the biker mustache and spikes shows up all red and black and shit, the heroes went through some changes. Wish I still had the book and record, real bad.

I was more than a bit bummed that he went to retail but Clark Kent did not, which meant I didn't get a Clark Kent until just a few years ago, because I didn't have the proof of purchase pocket.

GI Joe Flag Points were a big deal, because I was late to the party. I missed pre-'87 shit at retail entirely, so stuff like scoring a HISS from that comic book ad was huge. Don't know why I skipped Major Bludd, probably a Sophie's Choice monetary deal my mom put down on the shipping, not realizing I'd still give a fuck at 35. I had the Defiant, so I had one single piece of cardboard worth ONE MOTHERFUCKING HUNDRED POINTS, but never used it because nothing cost near that much, and I knew I wouldn't get anything back. They weren't going to send me like 92 individual points.

When Wal-Mart had the Early Bird repro when ROTS came out, I got really into that entire adventure. Gladly paid and waited, keep the box close to my hand.

Kool-Aid points were a big thing when I was a kid, I looked forward to getting those little catalog sheets detailing all the new trinkets every Summer. My mom habitually kept tearing them off and putting them in a bowl well into my adulthood, and I have a pile of them here. I sometimes look at them and get teary eyed for reasons I can't fully explain.

[fishmilkshake]

That's awesome Rocko.

Kook-Aid is something I'll never associate with because I just never saw it as a kid here in Oz.

My mother used to keep the labels from boxes of Lipton tea. My parents drank a lot of tea. Everyone drank a lot of tea. We had drawers full of those labels. I got some good stuff from that as my mother would cash them in for sports equipment, etc. I'm sure I even once got the 12" Steve Austin thanks to all the tea my family drank.

[B-Lister]

Rocko, you could order multiple items with that many flag points. I remember getting a Sky Hawk, and a hooded cobra commander in the same order my older brother got a MANTA, and a second Cobra Commander, and my younger brother got a friggin' Wolverine. We waited with eager anticipation until a friggin' huge parcel came from Hasbro and we divvied up the goods. They always came with bonus flag point vouchers, and a bevvy of new offers.

[RockoJerome]

Like a true American, I never developed a taste for tea, but grew up swigging sugar water Kool-Aid.

I don't recall how many Flag Points were common trade, but I feel like a full 100 was a crazy high number. I know I got more than a few things with them, but don't recall exactly what. Super Trooper was one, I remember that pretty clearly.

That was a great thing, I really wish someone would bring back the concept. remember Star Wars figures with "Jedi Points," and then nothing came of it? Wonder what that was about.

[B-Lister]

Yup. Or the ones with the Infinite Heroes figures that were only redeemable at SDCC.

Were it not for JQ being a total champ, I would not have the exclusive Anti-Monitor.

[fishmilkshake]

Like a true American, I never developed a taste for tea, but grew up swigging sugar water Kool-Aid.

Prior to the introduction of instant coffee in the US in the late 50s (I think? ) the USA consumed more tea per person than any other country on earth.

[RockoJerome]

I've never been into tea. Only when I'm really sick, and then I load it with honey.

[B-Lister]

Two recent GI Joe Mailaways that were cool were Agent Faces (an undercover Joe in Crimson Guard gear) from Spy Troops, and the unmasked Storm Shadow.

[Engineernerd]

Here's a couple from TVFT:

http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2009/08/return-of-the-jedi-poster-offer/

http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2009/06/ertl-batmobile-cocoon/

http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2011/04/star-wars-potf2-mail-away-poster/

http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2011/04/guardian-toy-biz-toyfare-exclusive/

http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2011/02/anakin-skywalker/

[RockoJerome]

Two recent GI Joe Mailaways that were cool were Agent Faces (an undercover Joe in Crimson Guard gear) from Spy Troops, and the unmasked Storm Shadow.

When was this? Totally missed it.

[B-Lister]

Agent Faces was 2003, Storm Shadow was 2005.

[RockoJerome]

Here's a couple from TVFT:
http://tvandfilmtoys.com/index.php/2011/02/anakin-skywalker/

I have one of these. He's looking on and smiling benevolently at Han, who is gleefully blowing away a Greedo...who is unarmed. All figures are absolutely vintage. Get the gist?

I only got him fairly recently. As Star Wars figures fell out of favor, it was assumed that i lost interest, though I had not. I still remember coming upon a bunch of the post movie offerings like Luke as a trooper and the skiff boat at a Kay Bee, after they quit being a going concern at K-Mart. My mom said "You're not into Star Wars anymore." 

But I was...it's just that everyone else who decided for me.

[B-Lister]

Always wanted Anakin. Hopefully I'll find one Soon.....