Second Hand Score: Micronauts!!!

A few years ago I picked up this 1977 Mego Micronauts Battle Cruiser set at a local Goodwill store. I had never really been a big fan of the toys and the only time I ever actually played with them was at my cousin's house, but they only wanted $1.99 for it so how could I pass it up!

Here is what was in the box. I would say about 80% of the set was in there. There was another set at the store, but it didn't look nearly as complete as this one.

The box contained a nice assortment of Micronauts figures. Sadly most of them were missing body parts or had broken waists. There were 2 figures though that were in excellent condition. The blue Pharoid figure even came with his sarcophagus!

This is what I was able to put together from the pieces in the box. The remote control no longer works, but still pretty cool looking! I let my son play with this toy and he really enjoys the fact that you can customize the vehicle any way you want it. Overall, I call this pickup a win!

Second Hand Score: Paw Island Pals

While checking out the toy section at the local Goodwill store I saw this Paw Island Pals figure of Allie the kitten and Colby, her teddy mouse. I have no idea what Paw Island Pets is and tried Googling them for more info. I couldn't find anything on this toy line except a blog entry from a gentleman who goes by the handle  LooseToon.

LooseToon aka Steve Vitale used to work for the Paw Island company that produced these figures. According to his blog Paw Island was a children's entertainment company that focused on books and a website that had games, activities, cartoons, etc. You can read more on his page by clicking HERE!

Apparently there was a whole line of these little guys released in 1999 by Paw Island. I do like the cartoony look of the characters and wish I could find one of the videos, but I checked YouTube and there is nothing to be found. What were these cartoons like? Were they adventures like Duck Tales or moral based like the Get Along Gang? So many questions! I guess I will never find out the answers! But for $0.69 it was a no brainer to pick this cute little toy enigma up!

Second Hand Score: TMNT Pizza Power!

A few years ago I uncovered this TMNT treasure at Goodwill for $1.99. I never played the Ninja Turtles Pizza Power game until my kids recently found it in a storage closet.

We opened the box and read over the rules, which are pretty complex for a board game aimed at kids! Here are the rules, I'll try to make it as easy to follow as possible. You pick one of four turtles, you roll the dice and move around the board.

While moving around you collect "Good Guy" cards. Featuring Raphael, Michaelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, Splinter & April.

You then use these "Good Guy" cards to battle the "Bad Guys". For example, if you land on a bad guy with the number "2" on it, you must battle with a good guy that is ranked "2" or higher. Then to battle, you place the dice in the blue flipper and try to get the dice to fall into a spot equal to or greater than the number on the "Bad Guy" card. Make sense?

Once you have collected 3 "Bad Guy" cards and 4 "Good Guy" cards you must remove a manhole cover that then leads you to the Technodrome to battle Krang.

To defeat Krang you must flip your dice into the number 1, 2 & 3 slots on the flipper to win! It's that easy!

Needless to say, me and the kids modified the rules a little to make the game move a little faster. In the end we all had fun and enjoyed this retro gaming experience!

This game was released in the mid 80s by Rose Art during the early stages of the Turtles popularity. The artwork is amazingly retro and classic. I also like how Bebop and Rocksteady are only referred to as "Punk". I am happy I found this game and experienced the joy of PIZZA POWER!!!



Second Hand Score: Indiana Trilogy

For a while now I have been wanting to watch the classic Indiana Jones trilogy of movies. I do not own them and just never pulled the trigger to purchase the set on DVD/Blu-Ray and Netflix does not have these movies on demand. So, I would just watch something else like Lethal Weapon or Beverly Hills Cop to get my 80s action fix. Then I found these 3 VHS beauties for $0.25 each! I dusted off the tape player and enjoyed these great movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): This was not the first Indy movie I saw and it would be years after it's release before I watched it. This is how adventure movies should be done. Lucas and Speilberg at the top of their game.

The highlights are obviously the opening where Indy avoids the giant boulder and the end where the Nazi gets melted by the ark. Checking IMDB, I just found out that Dr. Octopus himself, Mr. Alfred Molina was in this movie!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): This movie was my introduction to Dr. Jones, and what an intro it was.

From the opening where a guy gets a flaming skewer thrown into his chest, to Data from the Goonies, to still beating hearts being ripped out to bad guys being torn apart by alligators there is just so many memorable moments to this movie! I didn't even mention the cart race of good vs. evil in the mines! Amazing movie!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): As the alleged last movie in the Indiana Jones series, this movie did it right.

They introduced Indy's dad, played by the great Sean Connery which was a great addition and the adventure was just as exciting and dangerous as the previous installments. Even Hitler has a cameo! A nice way to send off the franchise. Let's not talk about that other movie. The less said, the better.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Second Hand Score: Black Box & Hot Shots

Went back for my semi-monthly trip to the local Goodwill last week and found a few things. It was not an abundance or retro riches, but all together these three items cost me around $2.50. The most expensive being the Milton Bradley Travel Hot Shot Basketball game.

The World of Teddy Ruxpin Vol. 8 the Faded Fobs (Hi-Tops Video, 1987)

I enjoyed Teddy Ruxpin's adventures as a kid. Never owned the toy. Never owned the tapes. Never even had the books, but one huge memory that sticks out about this cartoon was watching cartoons nonstop at my friends house during a sleepover and one of the tapes was Teddy Ruxpin! It was awesome! I had a shaky memory of Teddy Ruxpin in puppet form giving kids tips on how to stay safe at the end or beginning of each episode. I bought the DVDs on sale and didn't see these on there. Did I just imagine that? I'll have to watch this VHS soon and see if this really was part of the show?

Wasn't that great? Now on to the next Jam!

Black Box: Dreamland CD (RCA, 1990)

Back in the early 90s Techno/House/Dance music was blowin up the radio. One of the bands responsible for this explosion was Black Box. Their album "Dreamland" spawned the hits "Everybody, Everybody" & "Strike It Up"! Great songs. I was more than happy to pick up this CD for $0.25! Here's a tip, always make sure there is a CD in the case when buying from second hand stores. I occasionally find a disc I want and open it to find there was never a CD in the case or it was stolen. Fun fact about Black Box: Martha Wash of "It's Raining Men" fame sang the bands biggest hits, but was represented in their videos by model Katrin Quinol! It's time to get funky!

Now on to the coolest pickup of the week, Hot Shot Basketball!

Hot Shot Basketball: Travel Edition (Milton Bradley, 1992) 

I always wanted this game as a kid and never received it. I think it was the commercial that made me crave the chance to play some table top hoops. To this day I still tell people to "Beat That Hot Shot!" as a form of smack talk. Now, this version I picked up is the "Travel Edition" but the backboard still moves front to back and when you make a shot, the game keeps score. I love it!

Second Hand Score: Star Wars & A Grab Bag

Scored these bad boys today. Pictured you'll see a Furby Boom (McDonalds 2013), Dino Grabber, Doug's dog Porkchop (McDonalds 1999), DC Universe Infinite Heroes Weather Wizard (2008), Mickey Mouse figurine (Applause 198?), Rugrats DVD Double Feature unopened and a Fox Video release of The Empire Strikes Back! All together these cost under $5.

I just think the artwork on this Star Wars VHS box is superior to anything we have on the shelves today. Also, I haven't seen the non "Special Edition" version of this film in a long time. It will be interesting to see the differences between the two.

I will be adding the Mickey & Porkchop to my collection. The other toys will find a nice home, I'm sure. There is still one more thing that I left out of the picture. This was the highlight of this toy grab bag. Ladies & gentlemen...Introducing...

FREAKIN' MAC TONIGHT!!!! I have never owned anything with this McDonald icon's sun glassed, moon shaped face on it before, but damn I had to add him to the collection. How could you not? I still remember his catchy songs and weird commercials trying to get me to buy a McD.L.T. and Chicken McNuggets as a late night snack to this day. So, I end this post with a spot from McDonalds circa 1986! ENJOY!!!!

Second Hand Score: Ninja Turtle Loot Bags

Found these vintage sealed  gems at a local thrift store yesterday. Couldn't pass them up for only $0.49! 8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Loot Bags manufactured by unique in 1989.

I know we all have seen this classic Turtles artwork before on everything from Valentine's cards to stickers, but anything that I can find in it's original package featuring the Green Teens is worth a pickup. I will continue to post my finds as they come in over the Summer. Now I just need to throw a party?