Happy Thanksgiving!
Y’now, funny story, I was actually born on Thanksgiving (11/27/1969)
and, since the holiday always falls on the fourth Thursday of November, it
lands on my birthday (or, more appropriately, my birthday falls on it) every so many years (the next one is
2014).
I know, I know… who cares, right? It’s Thanksgiving, so I’m sure y’all have
better things to do than listen to me prattle on. I’ll get right to the point so you can go
back to your turkey and football and whatnot.
Our friends at Bif Bang Pow! have announced a few new TZ-related collectibles. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a
couple of interesting items to be found….
First up we have a Twilight Zone travel mug. Honestly, why the hell? In fairness, Bif Bang Pow! is doing the exact
same thing with every single property they license (Venture Bros., The Six
Million Dollar Man, etc). Man, nothing
says “crass branding” like slapping a logo onto the ubiquitous travel mug. Honestly, anyone out there in need of a travel
mug probably already owns several. Sorry
guys, you know I love you, but damn. Not
buying it. I should mention that it’s
being advertised as an Entertainment Earth exclusive, which is strange since,
as far as I know, Bif Bang Pow! sells all
their merchandise exclusively through Entertainment Earth.
Okay, in fairness, it does look kinda snazzy as far as
travel mugs go. It looks like the iconic
doorway repeats all the way around, which is… well, a bit lazy now that I’m
thinking about it. Why not spread
several icons (clock, eyeball, spiral, etc) around? Unless the repeating doorway is intended to
convey the parallel earth/alternate reality theory, which would be… I dunno,
kinda cool. I still like my idea
better. If this is your bag, it’s
available now at the above link.
A similar (and equally questionable) item is the Twilight
Zone stainless steel water bottle. Ugh.
It features the exact same design as the travel mug. *Sigh*
It’s also available now, if you want it, at the above link.
Hey, I seem to recall that we were supposed to be getting
shot glasses and beer steins at some point (not to mention drink coasters)….
These would be much more useful for a beer-swillin’, liquor-lovin’ rapscallion
like me.
Next is the second in a series of Twilight Zone
dioramas. This time it’s “Nightmare at
20,000 Feet,” and I’m frankly a bit stumped.
It’s a plane perched atop the iconic season 3 spiral design… with a tiny
gremlin on the wing.
It’s kinda neat in a goofy sorta way, but unfortunately the
itty bitty Gremlin is far too small to really convey anything approximating the
drama and tension of the episode. I
can’t tell from the picture, but I don’t think Shatner is even visible inside
the plane. I think a better approach
would have been a smaller section of the plane, just part of the cabin and the
wing, which would have permitted both a bigger (and more menacing) Gremlin (and
a visible Shatner). Of course, this was
kind of already accomplished with the matching bobbleheads (both of which are
still available, incidentally, here and here). The diorama is scheduled for a February 2013
release.
The first diorama (above), based on “The Invaders,” is problematic as well. The iconic character (in this case, The Invader) is too small to really
impress (and the Invader sculpt looks a bit sloppy to these eyes); further, the
Agnes Moorehead head is too big, the trapdoor is too small, and everything is too damned close together. Far too many liberties were taken with the
scale, and consequently nothing really looks right. Honestly, I’d have left Moorehead out
entirely and just featured the saucer on the rooftop, with the stairway hatch
lowered and both Invaders milling about.
The Forbidden Planet saucer
sculpt is admittedly cool, however, which justifies the piece all on its own (hey,
speaking of the Forbidden Planet
saucer, I wouldn’t mind seeing it immortalized in bobblehead form).
I’m actually not collecting the dioramas, for a few
reasons. First and foremost… I've just
gotta draw the line someplace. I've already got boxes of TZ action
figures and bobbleheads that I’m not currently displaying (space is at a pretty
severe premium in my current digs), so I’m reluctant to shell out for more
stuff that’s destined to reside in my storage unit for the foreseeable future. Second, at $24.99 plus shipping, the price is
a bit steep. Third, I’m just not that
impressed by them, which makes said price seem even higher. I dunno, if future dioramas turn out way
better, then I may have to rethink this, but for now…. nope, not doing it.
Three, count ‘em, three distinct license plate frames are
available now.
They’re cute. I might
just spring for these… I haven’t decided yet.
At ten bucks a pop, they’re pretty reasonable. I don’t own three cars, however, so I may
need to pick just one.
Next up is the Doorway to The Twilight Zone tin tote, which
is basically an old-school metal lunchbox (without a thermos, dammit).
I can’t deny…. It looks pretty cool. I already own the Kanamit Tin Tote (which
I’ll be reviewing very soon), so I’ll probably have to get this at some point
(once you’re in, you’re IN; at least for those of us with OCD collecting
tendencies). Style points for putting
the iconic TZ door on the hinged side, allowing it to be an actual functioning
door (of sorts).
Finally, Bif Bang Pow! has come up with something just….
freakin’…. AWESOME. Readers of this blog
will recall that I’m quite a fan of the Mystic Seer (already produced in
various iterations, most notably the full-size--- and fully functional---
replica, which I still don’t have and still long for, achingly so), so imagine
my delight to learn of the Mystic Seer Monitor Mate Bobble Head!
It’s basically a miniature version of the Mystic Seer bobblehead, which was the very first Twilight
Zone collectible that Bif Bang Pow! released (way back in late 2009). It bobbles and… well, that’s about it. But it’s unrelentingly cool, and I want
several (one for each computer monitor I own, plus my laptop, plus the PC I use
at work, plus a few more just because).
It’s not due till February 2013, but goddammit, I want this thing like
YESTERDAY. Here’s hoping this is the
first in a line of Monitor Mates… for example, I’d love a mini Invader (or a
whole bunch of ‘em). And a mini Gremlin
might be fun (I’m imagining an ongoing photo blog with the li’l guy turning up
in all kinds of unexpected places).
Overall, it seems the TZ merchandise is moving away from the
bobbleheads and action figures and more into the random memorabilia realm….
Which I’m not entirely okay with. C’mon,
lose the travel mugs and water bottles and give us something cool. Cufflinks, maybe? A set of eyeballs, a set of spirals, a set of
TZ logos… Hell, I’d buy all of those (and start dressing better so I could
utilize them regularly). Or what about
an iPhone cover? Belt buckles?
Underwear? Oh, wait... it's been done before. *Shudder*
