curiousyellow's Recent Comments
Size Matters - Aug 11, 2006 - 09:18pm
Always happy to see discussion after a column. Seeing as how this one brought more dissension than anything else, I thought I'd address your concerns. The comment that Mego "never sank to Japan's 3 3/4 inch level" was unfortunately misleading. In attempts to make a (mildly) humorous remark, I excluded all Mego figures. The comment was meant in a historical context in terms of changes in action figure size standards. While Mego did later make 3 3/4 inch, they were definitely not part of setting the bar for smaller figures. Micromen started it in Japan (and no, I don't think importing the figures to the states counts), and Kenner set up the 3 3/4 inch standard for the states with Star Wars. Later Mego 3 3/4 figures were a sign of the times, not motivated by oil prices or innovation. While the phrasing was an ill choice of words, the comment stands in terms of the topic of the article: benchmarks in action figure size changes through history. Sorry for any confusion. The Mego history is a nice addendum for the article, but seeing as how I'm limited by word count, I left most of it out since Mego only makes a passing appearance in the article. If people appear interested in exploring a greater history of Mego, I'll discuss it in a future column. As for the link between G.I. Joe and Transformers, jochimus, stop getting ahead of me. :) Look for a future "My Grandson Was a Giant Robot!" column about toy genealogies in a few weeks. Lastly, I take full responsibility for Gene's wardrobe, though I can't be held accountable for how people choose to dress their dolls. Kiss hasn't been popular since before I was born and I went for the one with his tongue sticking out. Gene Simmons has more than enough money and I'm sure he won't bother to take the time to sue me for misrepresentation. That's all for now. I'll see you next time. -John Denning
Always happy to see discussion after a column. Seeing as how this one brought more dissension than anything else, I thought I'd address your concerns. The comment that Mego "never sank to Japan's 3 3/4 inch level" was unfortunately misleading. In attempts to make a (mildly) humorous remark, I excluded all Mego figures. The comment was meant in a historical context in terms of changes in action figure size standards. While Mego did later make 3 3/4 inch, they were definitely not part of setting the bar for smaller figures. Micromen started it in Japan (and no, I don't think importing the figures to the states counts), and Kenner set up the 3 3/4 inch standard for the states with Star Wars. Later Mego 3 3/4 figures were a sign of the times, not motivated by oil prices or innovation. While the phrasing was an ill choice of words, the comment stands in terms of the topic of the article: benchmarks in action figure size changes through history. Sorry for any confusion. The Mego history is a nice addendum for the article, but seeing as how I'm limited by word count, I left most of it out since Mego only makes a passing appearance in the article. If people appear interested in exploring a greater history of Mego, I'll discuss it in a future column. As for the link between G.I. Joe and Transformers, jochimus, stop getting ahead of me. :) Look for a future "My Grandson Was a Giant Robot!" column about toy genealogies in a few weeks. Lastly, I take full responsibility for Gene's wardrobe, though I can't be held accountable for how people choose to dress their dolls. Kiss hasn't been popular since before I was born and I went for the one with his tongue sticking out. Gene Simmons has more than enough money and I'm sure he won't bother to take the time to sue me for misrepresentation. That's all for now. I'll see you next time. -John Denning
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I knew that comment would rile someone. I suppose I should leave my distaste for the rampant commercialism of KISS out of my column, before rabid bands of painted-faced fans hunt me down and sacrifice me to the Mammon of Rock and Roll. To each their own. Since KISS has little to do with toys beyond their own action figures and accessories, I will refrain from further commentary about them.