I got an exclusive* mail away Indiana Jones Figure the other day. You may remember the picture. It was one of those super deformed figures of Indy with a horse. Now the figure is neat, but not half as neat as what it represents. It represents something I haven’t seen (because I wasn’t paying attention) since the 80s. It’s also Indy on the horse, which is part of the desert chase, which is the best part of Raiders. Since I already bought the truck that drags Indy behind it, life can hardly get more awesome than this. [citation needed]
I know there is currently a fashion for comic book action figures to come with bits of a big figure that you can put together if you buy all 6 or seven figures in the current wave, bit this is different. This is buying six figures, each of which comes with a proof of purchase that you can collect and then mail away to get a complete figure. This means that A) You can get any figure in the group and B) you don’t have to worry that one of the figures was short packed guaranteeing that you’ll have to buy one of them off ebay from some smell dweeb who scooped them all up on first seeing them if you want the whole set. So I had first thought of buying one or two figures and calling it a day, but then I saw what Indy on the horse looked like and I decided I must have it. So I went out and grabbed another handful of sets so I could get the mail-order figure. 6 to 8 weeks later and here we are! There is also crystal skeleton coming, because there was another offer for the 5 inch tall figures, but that’s less impressive than this.
This is just a big part of my childhood though. I got my Admiral Ackbar figure this way. I got other things as well, I’m pretty sure I got the Bossk too, but I really remember the Admiral Ackbar best. It wasn't just Kenner though, Hasbro did this too. Actually I seem to remember everyone did this back in the day. I got some GI Joe things like that too, a Steel Brigade figure and Super Trooper came to me that way, as well as a Parachute set and as always the carrying case that came with Star Duster. My years before highschool were filled with proofs of purchases and waiting for things to come in the mail.
I sort of lost interest in these during the 90s, as I dropped action figures (mostly) for the greater joys of rock music and sex with girls. I thought the put a bit of the big toy in with each little toy had superceded the mail-away figures, but it seems Hasbro will still pull this little gem out once in a while and hold it up to the light. It’s nice to know that there are a few places still making kids wait 6-89 weeks for a figure you can’t buy at the store, but in these days of 6-8 day (if you have to wait a long time) shipping those are some awfully looooong weeks. But now, who cares? I’ve got my Indy, and his horse and it’s just as awesome as it looked on the website.
It’s like a little slice of the 80s came to my house and asked if I'd like to be a little kid for 5 minutes.
*Only me and everyone else who could be bothered to buy enough figures, collect the stickers and then mail a check could get it.
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