The Infaceables - A Unique Gimmick & A Quick Failure | Oddities #26

Riding the popularity of Masters of the Universe toys Galoob first released Blackstar action figures followed by a sister line called The Infaceables.
Infaceables had a unique vacuum gimmick and not much else and withered after a very short time.
Help the channel continue to grow by checking out our Patreon: / toygalaxy
To become a KZbin channel member:
www.youtube.co...
Follow Dan on Instagram:
/ toygalaxy
Toy Galaxy
P.O. box 3976
Manchester, NH 03105-3976
Business Inquiries:
[e-mail]
/ toygalaxytv
/ toygalaxytv
teespring.com/...

[@TheEvilpossum]

Blackstar: the He Man knockoff that predated He Man. Mind blown.

[@TruculentSheep]

Trobbits!

[@Dark.Shingo]

I loved Blackstar when I was a kid, just recently knew there were figures and NOW I learn they were actually trying to ripoff He-Man. It's a fantastic mess.

[@scottandrewhutchins]

I remember loving Blackstar when it first aired, especially the Dumbo-like Trobbit. I thought it was weird when toys were introduced when you couldn't even watch it in syndication reruns. VCRs were pretty expensive in the early 1980s. My family didn't get one until 1989.

[@Desslar]

More like He-Man was Blackstar’s understudy

[@deathsnitemaresinfullust2269]

Haa!👍

[@JoeSelf1982]

Being a young kid in the 80s.... I have absolutely no recollection of this line.

[@AaronLitz]

I have the vaguest recollections; I only remember the purple guy. I know that I eventually pulled his rubber face off.

[@elreyyakko]

Same

[@stuartbagley2586]

Do we have collective amnesia? I was all about this kind of stuff in the 80s but never heard of these. I even watched Blackstar and still don’t recall these.

[@mikeching6374]

I did. it wasb another one of those richkids owned them toys I saw but neverowned as a kid.

[@Flayne009]

Same here.

[@planetschlock]

2:41 That is some cool artwork. It's like something from the sleeve of an old punk record.

[@Arretrato]

I'm Italian and I still remeber both Bestioids and Darkastar toy lines. There were a lot of advertising page of them in the italian Mickey Mouse comics in that period. But my favourites were the Masters, I still have the castle of grayskull.....what a memories...

[@gianluca.pastorelli]

These are good memories: the advertisements on Mickey Mouse comic books, the commercials on TV and, definitely, the inability to match the charm and coolness of Masters of the Universe. I only had Iron Lion from this line... the face "skin" just took a few days to break 🙄

[@BADC0FFEE]

back then Topolino (italian Mickey comic) was one of the main sources for printed toy advertisement, and everyone in italy read Topolino, it was probably as effective as TV ads

[@timothylewis2527]

There was a 1993 comics line called Ultraverse that eventually spawned a cartoon called Ultraforce and finally an Ultraforce action figure line. Unfortunately, they were bought by Marvel Comics in 1994 or 1995 and haven't been seen or heard of since. Could be an interesting topic.

[@timgrimstead4063]

It was from Malibu Comics.

[@gryphman]

Oddly enough, Marvel did temporarily bring back a single Ultraverse character during it's Secret Wars event. The tie-in comic Thor Corps had a cameo by Ultraverse Thor.

[@austinreed7343]

There were allegedly “dirty laundry” concerning it, as stated by one Marvel editor

[@DireTribble]

I’ve been trying to remember the name of the Infaceables toy line for about 30 years now. I remember one of the figures I had but no clue as to what the series was. Thanks for solving a decades old mystery for me!

[@Getwright-]

I wonder how good these could be done now, with modern materials, and sculpting techniques

[@Larry]

I rmeember kids at school owning these with half their face torn off, as we used to find it funny stretching their faces out so they look like one of the spies from Spy Vs. Spy :D they looked like the T-600's from Terminator afterwards :D Pure nightmare fuel!

[@mydomovoi1]

yes yes....that's the best description it was dead on!

[@Phoenix2312]

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!! LMAO!

[@alexandreturcotte6411]

Hello you! YOU'RE GURU LARRY! :-)

[@mykas0]

Guru Larry! :O What are you doing here?!

[@michaelmartin9022]

@@mykas0 You mean you've seen KZbin videos he hasn't commented on?

[@christopherwieber783]

You guys are currently my favorite KZbin channel in existence. Your videos never fail to entertain or elicit a much needed laugh. Thanks to all involved for your brilliant work.

[@ArmondoOrtiz76Lincol]

"who's brain pulses with evil" I couldn't help but laugh at that.

[@isabellenicoleherman6816]

Something else you guys made me remember from my childhood. I had a smile the whole time thank you!!!

[@zenquantum1246]

Even for the 80's, this has an astonishing level of "kids will buy anything that we advertise on TV, right?" design philosophy.

[@mathewbarrie9149]

Credit to Galoob... they tried something.

[@TruculentSheep]

The only problem was that their entire line hinged on one novel idea. I had a full collection of Supernatural toys though, so, you know...

[@wiibrockster]

Did anybody see these when Ashen's took a look that them in "Weird 80's action figures 2"? And I think he even tried fixing the broken face gimmicks.

[@kryptonitespider-bitedynam7305]

Yes

[@lsgreger2645]

That is where I remembered them! I was getting bad Deja Vu from this video, but couldn't remember where I saw them before on KZbin.

[@nobodyimportant2470]

That must be where the video came from. I was thinking "Didn't he do these before?"

[@Seektheday]

Yup

[@winterkrash]

Yes that was my first exposure to these.

[@nickdriscoll6131]

Yes! I was waiting for this episode! My grandmother had one of these for us grandkids to play with, and I remember thinking it was so cool! However, ever since my childhood days, I couldn’t remember what these toys were called and often wondered about them and how their face-changing gimmick worked. Thank you for clearing up that mystery for me!

[@heisenbat]

"Transforming the face from human or robot or whatever, to beast...or whatever" :)

[@Ashmoleon2006]

im glad i found this video as i have a vague memory of my grandfather having to put a zippo flint in an action figure i had...it must've been a blackstar action figure

[@georgetrapp6666]

No weirder than the He-Man figure you put ring caps in, to make the sword sound like it cracks when he swings it. Or, the 90's Punisher figure you put paper roll caps in. Making both figures smell like gunpowder.

[@shaventalz3092]

There were also a few Transformers with the sparking gimmick.

[@billpagan3070]

YES!!!! Love the Oddities editions!!!😁😁😁 Ok, I do not think I have ever seen these before! I think they are very creative!😁👍 Thanks again Dan and Greg for another awesome video 😁👍

[@Dinoslay]

”Inconceivable!” ”You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

[@lonesquiff6551]

Does the lack of red lighting until halfway make this Oddities an oddity itself? Get your gimmick working guys!

[@marktorres5177]

Thank you Dan, I've been looking for these forever and just randomly decided to dm you when you pointed me to this video. Amazing shit.

[@itsagundam79]

I was just thinking the opening is super slick and professional, and then the lights issue popped up! Glad to see the outtakes are still intact in the main video.

[@DominantDesires]

I leave you guys for a bit, and your production ability goes through the bloody roof. Great work boys!

[@brandonandcharlene9527]

Ok , you did it, you actually found a toyline I never even knew existed! Today I learned something new, and it is amazing.

[@jesseperry7597]

Meth: The Action Figure with the power of...."It's so cold in here."

[@phoule76]

"sub-oddity" was the last sandwich I ordered at the Subway down the street before the health board shut it down.

[@vivienshuen5876]

Toy galaxy oddities is always a great watch. Top work Dan and Producer Greg.

[@robertdanker6193]

Great video!! Had had the Purple Robot guy when I was kid! Also had a few Blackstar figures back in the day, the flash dial on the back always hurt my finger after a while. AMAZING intro music!!!!👍👍

[@drewrappo]

Great video. Like always you guys knocked out of the park. I expect no less from my favorite toy channel. Good shit

[@jeremybuxman7555]

Some toy designer in the early 80's: "You know what kids want? a toy that can be a hero, and then they turn into an old lady gramma with the push of a button!"

[@JamesJonahJameson-MM]

I still remember the smell of the flick light of Blackstar. I owned most of them. Loved it! I was bummed to see it go but He-Man was a wonderful replacement. Too bad they didn’t have the Flick. Just something about them lights...

[@passenger6x3]

OH MY GOD!!! I had two of these... I forgot about them... what a flash back to my childhood.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

I can still smell the sparking of those Blackstar toys.

[@Matthew_595]

My friend and I both decided after watching the Ashens video on these a while ago to take it upon ourselves to redesign these toys and give it a full comic and deep lore. We’ve been working diligently. Wish us luck

[@jasonbuchanan9662]

wow! 0:36 Greg, spectacular new oddities opening! Well done.

[@doro626]

As a kid, I was basically looking for toys within a few months of a cartoon I liked. If you came to the market too late, me and my friends were more interested in something else (Blackstar). I may remember these toys. There were a lot of flw and blow/suck gimmick toys. I remember a hollywood monsters toy line, that had glow in teh dark parts and when you pushed a button in their back, the arms "flexed", breaking toy handcuffs, and I think one had a cage to break out of. Like the incredible hulk that you deflated, put a cloth shirt with a velcro clasp on, then pumped up to tear out of his clothes and break out of a cage.

[@benjaminedenfield3368]

Thanks! I had vague memories of this show and toys.

[@Daminite]

Watching him exchange the face gimmick gave me Troll 2 flashbacks. It was like he was reading cue cards that he knew the phonics for bit not the language.

[@chaseroush6503]

I had the Iron Lion figure. They were sold in drugstores, not large chain stores, where I grew up. I don't remember any commercials, and I certainly don't remember any vehicles being sold alongside the figures.

[@jayexonauts5587]

The new music and titles = I feel like I'm watching In Search Of: The Next Generation!

[@gianluca.pastorelli]

Not bad, but I liked the Stranger Things-ish theme better

[@therottenapplepk8881]

Thank you Dan Shining a light on blackstar showed me where the red dinosaur reptile guy Lava Loc came from always wondered who the hell he was as a kid

[@SkotNealey]

i've had my Egyptian Infaceable since I was a kid...his face rotted off. I also got an elephant looking one since then at a flea market or something.

[@kratoscraken5614]

I remember Blackstar and I would have gotten Infaceables just because its 80's stuff 👍💪

[@Hektols]

Check Madelman 2020, the good guys and the bad guys had different gimmicks, with the bad guys able to change faces while the good guys had the 'Cota Force' that allowed them to stick to metallic surfaces due to magnets in the feet. The figures could interact with each other with the good guys using their power to force the bad guys to reveal their true face. The toyline had some impressive vehicles, including mechs, and was compatible with Gi-Joe.

[@Rojixus]

"So...LOOKOUT!" Toy Galaxy gives me life.

[@alexandreturcotte6411]

♪THERE COMES THE SPIDER MAN!♫

[@kevinalford]

Oddities is my favorite Toy Galaxy show.

[@G7M9W]

Finally. Now I know what these are called. A kid a school brought two to class one day, and that's the only time I ever saw these. One was missing it's face, and one was still functional. Weird, but unique.

[@69pigliver]

I completely forgot I had one of these until seeing this video, thanks for the memory jolt. I now remember when I decided I didn’t want the toy anymore I ripped the latex face off to see what was underneath, then chucked it in the trash

[@Eckalicious]

I'm so glad you made this. I remembered having a couple of these but was becoming convinced they were some fever dream or drug induced false memory.

[@bjpalm1994]

Great vid Dan! I remember these, and yes, I did want some, lol. It never donned on me until now that these had the same body style as Blackstarr figures.

[@joefacen9810]

Omg I had the brain guy! Broke it immediately from changing the face too much. Tons of fun!

[@Musuzima]

I’m from Malaysia and proud to say I owned one of these as a kid. The latex face didn’t last long in our warm, humid climate though...

[@mattshaw5179]

I remember these, but no-one else I know does! I was beginning to think I had dreamt them! Great video!

[@CaseyLau]

Guys - production is getting better and better. Proud to be a Patreon!

[@IWasaTeenageTeenWolf]

It's an absolutely wild trip hearing that commercial in Italian and understanding it.

[@LORDBYRONII]

Excellent!! I had forgotten these!!

[@ClydeWarden]

The script writing on this channel is AMAZING!

[@Lastjustice]

I don't recall anyone I know having any of these as a kid...which was probably for the best.

[@bruce8448]

the way he describes the face suction is like hes explaining rocket science

[@nealwestmoreland8576]

Galoob had a good run between 83-85 with Blackstar,Infaceables,and Golden Girl creating their own non connecting pocket line.Galoob deserves credit for making the best MOTU attempt back in the day besides Remco.

[@obadiahvondeath8048]

YES ! I had two of these! The baddie with the mechanical leg and the goodie pharaoh! My older brother was fascinated by them one Christmas Day and wouldn't stop playing with them! Mum had to bollock him , in the end! He was about 15 ! I shall now watch the video!

[@wiibrockster]

One property that's best left forgotten

[@paulpetroleum]

My mum had to take my Iron Lion figure back twice. As the suction broke. They were very very easy to ruin.

[@Brian_is_Not_Sus]

I remember passing these up on the clearance shelves of TRU in 86

[@MMunn]

Great content! Totally missed these as a kid. Do miss the other oddities intro though, that 80sish music just totally fit for oddities.

[@IoIAndReIoI]

Thank you guys! I forgot I had these until now! What a flashback! Thank you very much. P.s. I love the occasionally italian commercial.

[@Jimnuts]

I had a couple of Blackstar Roy's as a kid but never saw the show or had a point of reference so they didn't get much play. I had no idea Infaceables existed

[@MikeOrtego]

Skelton Warriors would have benefited from this gimmick.

[@snukastyle]

A Joshua/Grimskull with this gimmick would have been amazing!

[@spacedinosaur8733]

Tex-Hex

[@MegatronYES]

Oh god, I had thought Jim Sterling completely banned from my life at this point

[@paulshort1027]

OMG i was beginning to think i had imagined these true oddities.

[@dinomonzon7493]

Nice G. I. Joe jacket, Mr. Larson! Never heard of the Infaceables before. Most interesting. In his book, Creating the Filmation Generation, Mr. Scheimer noted that, technically, Blackstar was the grandfather of He-Man.

[@LongShen1883]

Vaguely remember these toys, I had the Timbo Mammoth one I remember it well now probably something I bought at Woolworth's while just passing through Woolworth's.

[@megagene]

The Oddities intro sequence is over 30 seconds long, but it's so awesome that I actually wish it were longer.

[@DL-en8vy]

I got a lot of hand me down toys from my uncle who died before I was born. Had one of the dudes with the spark wheel in them and had no idea what it was til now!

[@jimhaverlock9784]

I had the Lion-guy as a kid. It was pretty neat for like ten minutes.

[@drewchase6577]

Production (intro) value is increasing.👍👍👍

[@djbrownb]

Thanks for this vid. I was always on the lookout to see if I would ever come across these again as I could not remember the name of line. I was bought the Iron Lion character when I was like 5 years old in the 80’s and the whole time I had him I never knew about or used the face changing feature 🤦‍♂️😆 the last memory I have of him in my old toy box was with a white face. This explains it all now. The face must have disintegrated over time.

[@jordil6152]

What a gorgeous toy line!

[@BADC0FFEE]

If that toy reached italy you can be sure someone recorded the italian ad in the 80s or 90s and then uploaded on youtube decades later, it's kind of amazing the level of dedication to nostalgia some people have in my country. But maybe not as we even invented that word...

[@AndersonPaaquiao]

Stepping that intro tag up... nice plexus work!

[@tyronewested694]

loving the new intro

[@AaronLitz]

Oh cool! i read "Infaceables" and thought "what the Hell is that?" But then I saw the actual figures and remembered. I had the purple skull guy... Robash, I guess his name is? I never knew, I don't even remember where I got it. It's been years since I recalled these things. Thanks.

[@greenlanternhg5141]

How come Manimal show didn’t saw this gimmick? They could’ve “borrowed” this idea and I would have Manimal figures now 🤔 I would love to have those, they’d fit in right in my collection Great video Mr Larson, Producer Greg ✌🏽👍🏽

[@75aces97]

Manimal was long since off the air and remembered only as a punchline by then. It was hard to carve out a niche audience in those days.

[@joshphillips1526]

Blackstar omg I still remember my mom buying me the merman clone at k mart I thought the flint effect was so cool damn good memories

[@PatrickOhm]

Wow never heard of beastoids but the gimmicks are really unique, really awesome to collect especially in the in 2020, really an awsome vintage collectible

[@inkswithbrush]

I had that commercial in English on VHS. I really wish I still did. I had three infacables in the day. The face change function would crap out within weeks.

[@nerdfatha]

I had Tembo! The gimmick never worked (probably got it at a garage sale) and I ended up tearing the rubber face off. The terrifying visage beneath meant he became Skeletor's number one henchman.

[@UziNineMillomeetah]

These toys inspired John Woo to make "Face/Off."

[@stripodi]

Nice to see you used the Italian advertisement of "Bestioids", as we Italians used to know the Infaceables! :)

[@danderson8954]

That is an oddity! I've never even heard of it before!

[@kelvingovan9338]

Blackstar was my favorite show after Thundarr. I got Blackstar for Christmas the year i wanted skywarp

[@br0wneyedsusan]

Oh snap! I LOVE this new opener, and would never have expected one could exceed the old one

[@zeromancer-x]

Don't think I've ever seen or head of these until now.

[@JomasterTheSecond]

I remember when Ashens talked about these guys. Remember Suave Pierre? _Hell_ yeah.

[@ryansargent661]

So you finally found a toy line I don’t remember. Well done sir!

[@enginesoul119]

My grandparets' toy box included 2 of these figures. We stretched their faces for years. Only now have I learned what the gimmick was. We never once activated the vacuum transformation.

[@elruffian163]

I've never seen these toys .but I'm intrigued by it's design

[@superkid12345]

ohhh it's a play on inflatable!! - Genuine reaction just now.

[@sgzartan]

I don't remember ever seeing or hearing about these in the 80's. The first time I ever saw these was at a Flea Market about 15 years ago. The lady had a sealed Horrible Hammer- still shaking my head for not buying it.

[@raeje]

I don't remember these ones from growing up. I'm hoping someday you cover the foot note in toy history that was Power Lords.

[@valiantloony8336]

I used to have about three of these figures in the 80's, and my stepsister ripped there faces off... man I'm gettin old.