Feels Like Christmas: Pulp Arcana Studios Reviews The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
When I was a kid, there were few thrills that could rival the arrival of the holiday catalogs. This was always the official start of the holiday season, but more than that, it was the opening salutation of one of the great rituals of childhood in the 80’s. You see boys and girls, way back in the day, before the internet, you would discover new toys in sacred tomes filled with beautiful images. Hailing from magical places like BEST, Service Merchandise, and Sears, these catalogs were thick like phone books. With the weight of them solid and comfortable on your lap, you would flip through pages of clothes and appliances until you got to the only section that truly mattered: the toy section.
Page after page of all the latest offerings from your favorite toy lines would mix with new and exciting lines that you had never heard of before. Armed with a pen, you would go through each page, pore over each image, and circle everything that caught your eye. This was a ritual that mixed rampant avarice with audacious hope, and believe me, it was glorious. And truth be told, I miss it deeply. I thought it was something that was gone forever; another relic of a long-gone past, existing now only in my nostalgia filled tinted memories.
And then this book arrived. And I got a chance to relive this sacred ritual once more.
“Pixel Dan” Eardley is a major voice in the toy collecting community. I had heard him speak on multiple podcasts, discussing his upcoming book on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. In these podcast episodes though, he would talk about The Toys of He-Man and Masters of the Universe and as he did, I knew I wanted a copy.
While I have not taken the plunge into Mattel’s new Masters of the Universe offerings since I started collecting and taking toy photos, Masters was always a favorite toy line for me. A book that would go through every figure, vehicle, and playset seemed like an absolute blast to look through, and I was excited to share this glimpse of the toy line with my son. However, what I got was so much more. Today, Pulp Arcana Studios library opens its archive to share with you the fantastic Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
A PULP ARCANA BOOK REPORT Mission Brief: The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Dossier Identified:
The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
“Pixel Dan” Eardley, Project Lead
Dark Horse Books
OFF THE SHELF:
When you pull your copy out of the shipping box, the very first thing that will strike you is the absolutely massive size of this thing. I mentioned earlier that it is the size of a phone book, and that is not an exaggeration. However, this is absolutely part of the charm of the book. The way it sits oversized even in my hands, or how the heft of it lands on your desk, or your lap when you set it down, immediately brings the sense memory of those old catalogs.
The book itself is beautiful. The cover is vibrant and colorful with a shot showcasing the iconic Castle Grayskull surrounded by assorted characters. Further, there is a glossy sheen to the cover that draws the eye to the photo on the front cover or the writing on the spine.
CRACK THE SPINE:
Opening the book, the care and love that has gone into the organization of the content here is readily apparent.
Each page is an encyclopedia style entry on the toy showcased. There is beautiful photography of the figure or vehicle paired with interesting bits and facts about the particular item. As you move from page to page, the feeling that you get is closer to experiencing someone’s collection rather than just an art book. I think that this may be why I love this book so much. It is unapologetic in its joy for this toy-line and we can revel in the love and gratitude that shows in every photo and every fact.
One thing that I ended up appreciating more than I thought I would was the attention paid to not only the main MOTU line, but also the time and attention given to the sister toy-line, She-Ra. I had never had much experience with the She-Ra Princess of Power line, and looking through the pages covering the figures and playsets here was a delightful introduction and tour of an aspect of toy history that I had not had the chance to explore.
More than anything though, this book managed to do the impossible. Like I mentioned in the opening, I frequently found myself hunched over the pages with the same utter absorption that had captured me when I was a kit. This was a chance to relive the thrill of those holiday catalogs. Yes, I can hear many of you shouting that you can find digital galleries of past toy lines online in numerous places. However, this was something different. This was warm and comforting, and a heady mixture of nostalgia and dedication.
One of the best moments for me was on the first night that I got the book, my thirteen year old son asked if he could read it. So I handed it over, and I watched him sit on the couch, and lay this mighty tome across his lap, and begin to flip through the pages. He did it slowly, almost reverential in his pace. Each page, he found something to explore, something to study more closely. And as he sat there and studied those photos and read those pages, I saw the nostalgia of my past mingle with the excitement of my present. In a way, it felt like the passing of a torch. As he finished the first section of the book, he looked at me and asked if we could keep an eye out for some MOTU figures at the next toy show.
I told him to look through the book and pick out which ones he wanted.
RECOVERED EVIDENCE:
FINAL RECKONING:
A clear labor of love and an absolutely masterful guide to one of the greatest toy lines of all time. It elevates itself from mere antique guide to something truly special and joyful. It made me feel like a kid again, and that is priceless.
RELIC RATING: 5 out of 5
Filed by Mark Gelineau of Pulp Arcana Studios for Fanboy Planet
https://www.instagram.com/pulp_arcana_studios/
Fanboy Planet is an Amazon affiliate as well as of other online vendors. Purchases made through links on this and other pages may generate a commission for this site.
