Review: The Outer Space Men, LLC Outer Space Men Cosmic Radiation Metamorpho Action Figure

Does this one look familiar to you? The Outer Space Men Cosmic Radiation Metamorpho is new, but a glow in the dark Metamorpho was sold way back in July of 2010 as the very first release of this line, a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive. I reviewed it shortly before Figure of the Day launched - and it's different. This new one has a greenish hue rather than a bone one, and has completely different decoration.  

This new one is better.
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Overview: The Killer Xodiac

Xodiac!   Man of Saturn, born of Outer Space!   The Outer Space Men had a significant number of repaints, most of which were interesting, and also there was a White Star version.   The only one you don’t see in the above photos is the Galactic Holiday variant - there was a gold accessory version (pictured) and a silver accessory version which I do not have.  I hate that kind of variant, but hey, if you’re sellin’ I’m buyin’.

This is a remake of another figure from 1964, which was a bendable figure like Gumby and Major Matt Mason.  The newer, smaller figures from The Four Horsemen (and the Glyos factory) can pop apart at each joint, allowing you to swap arms, legs, heads, and other pieces to your liking.  It’s fun in practice, great for customizers, but if you’re just a guy with a lot of toys it isn’t terribly useful in the long run.   But if you ever wanted to see what someone looks like with mismatched pants?  It’s handy.  It doesn’t hurt anything.

With 9 distinctive mass-produced versions (plus a weapon variant) Xodiac has more variation going on than pretty much everybody.   At Comic-Con in 2010, he was one of the first four figures with his clear neon orange Alpha Phase release.   I have a hard time picking a favorite, as there are so precious few action figures which include the planet Saturn impaled on a stick for my amusement.

They all more or less share the same name, but the gold one - pictured above carded with the original name - was christened “Goldiac” by the creator, Mel Birnkrant.  He’s notable in that he has a beard that is painted a unique color that does not match his skin.   He’s Xodiac’s pop.  

Also interesting, Xodiac’s weapon received a semi-late change before production in 2010.  The butt of the gun is actually a Glyos peg, whereas the mechanicals for it (seen here with the PMS colors: http://database.glyos.com/2011/08/xodiac-glyaxia-command.html) show it rounded off.

Now if you want my sentimental favorite, that’s Glyaxia Command Xodiac.  The Glyos people were kind enough to give me an early look at it at SDCC 2011, and I was kinda ridiculously giddy to have it.   The figure also sold out almost immediately - not unusual for an Onell Design drop, as they cultivated a fanbase who shows up on time to buy.  Just tell them where to go, they’ll be there.
Anyway - Xodiac got a lady friend, the horrifying Horroscope, in 2013 and 2014.  The head looks more like  triple-eyed Cthulhu, with tremendous breasts and a booty to match - just like you want from the alien space creature of your nightmares, envisioned through the prism of Harvey Kurtzman’s cartooning.   She only got three figures - a clear purple one, a White Star one, and the fully-painted one.  I kind of hope they do more.

Want more Outer Space Men reviews? http://www.16bit.com/fotd/land-outerspacemen.asp

Overview: Astro-Nautilus Thus Far

More Outer Space Men!  I haven’t done an updated complete group shot in a while - maybe I will if we get another Astro-Nautilus - but these shots cover the major bases.  The four-armed creature from a planet associated with a god of the sea, Astro-Nautilus was one of the most memorable figures from the original line-up.   If you saw pictures of the original bendable toys, you didn’t forget this one.

Each tentacle on the 3 3/4-inch scale alien is two pieces, and each leg is three.  The pieces all rotate and allow for mixing and matching.  The designer Mel Birnkrant incorporated a couple of loops on the staff, allowing a tentacle to slither through on the giant 1960s bendy figure as well as the modern action figures pictured above.

Like many figures, many Outer Space Men from the modern incarnation are more popular (and tougher to find now) in their “regular” incarnations, with the lower-run, often 300-piece exclusives slowly declining in price while their painted peers go up. Later waves are particularly pricey now, and from the look of things this week’s new Orbitron Diversus edition might be as low as 100 pieces.  (We don't know, but it sold fast.)

What’s really amazing was the price range on these guys.  Most of them started at $10 - a  bargain!  As time went on, prices went up.  The largely unadorned white one was part of a big boxed set of 8 figures for $115, which makes it a little over $14.   The black suit one was sold first at a gallery show I was at for $125  with an art print and only 4 figures, or about $30 depending on what value you put on the art print.

I took the above photos in numerous places for several reviews over many years, and they’re pretty inconsistent.  However, you’ve now seen every modern era Astro-Nautilus save for the gold staff variant of the red one, which I do not have.  If you like space toys whose designs largely hail prior to the moon landing, these are some you should absolutely look up - along with the Marx Mystery Ship and of course Mattel’s own Major Matt Mason.  After the moon landing, space toys were a tough sell without a major media tie-in.   Thanks for nothing, New Frontier.

Here’s a review of the White Star one: http://www.16bit.com/fotd/130801-white-star-astro-nautilus.asp
Here’s a review of the Cosmic Creators Four Horsemen edition in green: http://www.16bit.com/fotd/130124-osm-4h-cc-astro-nautilus-neonautilus.asp
If you want more reviews, here’s a list:
http://www.16bit.com/fotd/land-outerspacemen.asp

Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Edition Fire and Ice Electron+ Action Figure

I was holding back on the other Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Edition figure reviews so I could say "it sold out!" Well, it didn't yet - the long-delayed Fire and Ice Electron+ is a pretty gorgeous low-run figure (to the tune of 200 pieces) and you can still get it, if you want, in a fairly priced set. The line as a whole seems to have found its audience to be increasingly more selective, with very few non-Infinity Edition figures selling through a) in a timely manner and/or b) at full price. As a supporter of the line from the word "go," it's unfortunate to see that there's a strong possibility that each and every one of these figures were purchased by individuals who, like myself, are writing reviews for them. (Seriously, the ratio of the run to reviewers is pretty high.)
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Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Edition Alpha 11 (Alpha 7) Action Figure

The idea behind the Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Edition was seemingly new takes on the existing figures, but the funny thing is that Alpha 11 (Alpha 7) is an actual, unrealized vintage concept. Mel Birnkrant posted his shots of the original, which gives it a Mickey Mouse-esque head and a super-cool "Star Hopper" vehicle that I would really love to have had included with this new release. Instead, we get the 2011 Alpha 7 with new paint, which isn't a bad thing.
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Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Edition Blue Angel Commander Comet Action Figure

Extending the life of the Outer Space Men is a tricky proposition - you've got a line with limited marketing and limited appeal, so rather than get tens of thousands of people to buy 1 of each figure, you get hundreds of people to buy seven or eight of each figure. The strategy results in some increasingly clever creations, including Blue Angel Commander Comet. Mel Birnkrant did us a solid by describing his creative process at length, so go ahead and read that when you're done gawking at the pictures.
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Cosmic Creators Outer Space Men 2013 - Arriving

They're here! I was lucky enough to get the box today - as usual my postman neither knocks nor rings the bell, but throws down the box as hard as possible so I can hear it in another room.  Courtesy of the top-notch packing job from TheOuterSpaceMen.com, this new Cosmic Creators Outer Space Men Mel Birnkrant Edition came through perfectly - with a bonus mug, to boot.

According to the forums, some figures have alternate Commander Comet helmets (purple on one side and blue on the other) so that may be a variant to watch for.  Everything is coming up sunshine, and it's worth noting the weapons are that shiny vac-metal we all love and not the duller gold paint!  At press time I have yet to open mine, but I got set #111.  Each has Mel Birnkrant's signature and is hand-numbered.

It's also worth noting that Alpha 11 is cast in a clear colorless plastic and is painted - just like Metamorpho from the "2.0" line.

TheOuterSpaceMen.com still has 19 sets available at press time.  For $20/figure ($80/set) I can safely say it ain't bad - especially since unpainted figures creeped up to $20 earlier this year.

Reviews and more images should go up in the next few days, for the seven people who read this blog.  (Tell your friends!)

Cosmic Creators 2013 Outer Space Men Delayed

I got a few emails and tweets asking what was going on with these, as it was previously hinted the Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Edition Waves 3 and 4 of Outer Space Men would be shipped in the near future.  36 of the 200 sets remain up for grabs.

Today, a tweet from @Outer_Space_Men reads as follows:

"...the figures will be in NY July 18"

So let's all stop watching those mail boxes every day like I've been doing.  If there are any new updates, we'll share them as soon as we can!

Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators In Stock Now

TheOuterSpaceMen.com's Exclusive Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Series figures are in stock now.  According to the site, 39 sets of these unique repaints are up right now, and while mine haven't shipped yet I'm expecting them all very soon.

You can read Mel Birnkrant's extensive design notes here, and I guarantee you they'll make these figures more exciting.

Naturally, we'll have reviews and impressions and what have you shortly after these guys show up in our underground lair.

Outer Space Men Mel Birnkrant Cosmic Creators Year 2 Pre-Orders Up Now

The new Mel Birnkrant Cosmic Creators Edition of the Outer Space Men are up to pre-order.  The "where" is a surprise!  TheOuterSpaceMen.com got the exclusive on this set, which is up for pre-order right now for $80.00. (My set cost $84.00 shipped.)

Since the site had no ETA, I sent a message to its owner, Mr. Gary Schaeffer.  He said that the figures should ship in Spring, giving April as an estimate.

Toy Fair 2013: Outer Space Men and Women Debut at Toypocalypse 3: ExtraTOYrrestrial

Visit 16bit.com's Outer Space Men Toy Fair Coverage right now!  Why?  The Outer Space Women are here!  Ohpromatem (pictured), Horrorscope, and Astrodite made their world plastic debuts, featuring new and existing pieces from earlier figures and the upcoming Terra Firma, who you'll recall was at this event last year.

Click here for the gallery.

Please note there were additional custom figures, Power Lords, and other items on display.  We will be posting links and galleries as time permits, but we've got a meeting in like six hours so cut us some slack.

Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Four Horsemen Inferno Action Figure

If you can't get enough of Inferno, 2012 was a pretty good year for you! Not only was there a 2.0 redeco with transparent pieces, but this new one dubbed "Phospherno" is to action figures what the back of a Spencer's Gifts was in the 1980s. And presumably now, I don't think I can go in there without feeling creepy... not that it didn't feel creepy then. Where was I? Right, neon crazy alien man made of fire.
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Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Four Horsemen Astro-Nautilus Action Figure

The original Astro-Nautilus is a big part of why I was so fascinated by these figures, and this new "Neonautilus" works well to remind me why. While not cheap, it's much cheaper than the previous Cosmic Creators incarnation and vastly different in appearance. It keeps the same mold, but by applying green skin and a purple suit, it feels like it came from a completely different era.
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Store Horsemen Blows Out Most Old and New Outer Space Men for 50% Off

Not two months after some new items shipped out, Store Horsemen has a bunch of newer Outer Space Men figures for half price.  So if you preordered months in advance and waited patiently... well, I guess the tortoise beats the hare yet again.  Good deals, people!

This year's Comic-Con exclusive from San Diego? $25.

The 2.0 sets?  $25.

The 2011 Infinity figures?  $25.

If you've been dragging your feet, at least you'll get to feel super-smart when you get these bargain-priced figures.   Good on you for not being an early adopter!

Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Four Horsemen Metamorpho Action Figure

Yet another version of Metamorpho! Dubbed "Megamorpho," this figure takes a cue from the neon end of space which vaguely recalls the aliens of Major Matt Mason as well as numerous toys of the late 1980s and 1990s. A radical departure from the previous painted versions of this figure, Metamorpho is cast in a metallic pink with bright blues and greens that are arguably the very thing people are complaining about when they call something "too neon." This means, of course, that it is perfect.

With about 20 parts when fully disassembled, this figure is more or less the same thing you've come to love and expect. The key difference, of course, is the insanely awesome paint job that should do a fine job of blinding your friends when they walk in the room. This time around, the "alien" head is blue, the "ape" head is green, and the "reptile" head is pink. His "button" on his chest plus the knob on his helmet are clear green, with the accessories rendered in the same pink plastic with painted green elements.
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Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Metamorpho Action Figure

I was pretty annoyed that this version of Metamorpho, in pictures, didn't look all that different from the regular painted release. Of course, I was dead wrong about it and in person it looks spectacular. Slathered in metallic paints, the figure really pops and they managed to make a $10 figure look more like a $30 figure, which is important because that's what it costs.
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Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators: Four Horsemen Edition

If you're looking for something new, the last couple of months have been fantastic for Outer Space Men fans!  Pictured above are the recently delivered Cosmic Creators Four Horsemen Edition figures which debuted at their show in New York last year... which I swear I never saw there.  From left to right are Neonautilus, Megamorpho, Glowdiac, and Phospherno in colors which, depending on whom you ask, recall Major Matt Mason's alien buddies or Transformers Generation 2.

Either way, I think they're pretty fantastic.  The clear green accessories are similar in color to the Alpha Phase 2012 figures, and while the previous Cosmic Creators and just-released 2.0 figures look great in person, these neon-ish releases are unquestionably different from the last ones.   You really won't see anything else like this out there right now.

Since I'm off doing convention coverage this week, we'll be posting some automated updates looking at the 2.0 releases starting tomorrow.   I gotta say, like the first batch of Cosmic Creators, these are more expensive and worth it.  If you love you some Outer Space Men, and I do, so I'm pretty happy right now!

Cosmic Creators: Mel Birnkrant Edition, The Sequel

Here's a fun surprise!  The always fun Mel Birnkrant posted another batch of Outer Space Men "custom" figures which are a little bit more fancy than the original 2011 deco figures.  Needless to say, I love 'em.  (Also needless to say, I hope they aren't $125 for the set again.)

You can find them all here with tons of production notes and pictures.

The new figures are as follows:

Red Devil Mystron: Clear orange figure painted purple. Looks really nice, the face is also orange.  The weapon is gold, as are all the weapons in this subset.  The purple gargoyle gun looks particularly nice, too.

 Fire and Ice Electron+: At first glance it isn't super-different, but it is. The figure is made of translucent blue plastic with silver armor painted over it.  The head is clear blue, and there are some orange bits to be "fire."  It looks nice.

Alpha 11: Based on an unproduced concept for a refresh of Alpha 7 from the late 1960s. Does not include the little starhopper vehicle, but has a nifty new deco and a new "garment" painted over his head.  Gold gun, orange helmet.  I approve.

Blue Angel Commander Comet: Rounding out the set, this figure now has metallic blue armor plus a two-piece helmet which is purple in the front and blue in the back.  I really like it too.  The metallic, iridescent deco on the armor looks like it might be even cooler in person.

So there ya go!  Four more new guys.   Now go get a bigger shelf, because there will probably be some new Four Horsemen ones coming too.

Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Astro-Nautilus Action Figure

This is what $75 looks like.

My initial reaction to the first-ever painted Astro-Nautilus redeco was an eyeroll and much complaining, as the black armor didn't do it for me and the metallic purple head seemed kinda bland. And I went to New York, bought it, and shrugged-- I wanted the set, so I got it. It looked OK. And then I got it home to compare it to the original painted release and it was painfully obvious that the "Deep Blue Ultra-Nautilus" was like a kajillion times better. This shows me that if I initially dislike something from Mel Birnkrant or the Four Horsemen, it's entirely possible I'm just wrong.
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Review: Four Horsemen Outer Space Men Cosmic Creators Mel Birnkrant Xodiac Action Figure

Yup, another one! The sixth Xodiac comes out at a much lower run at a much higher price, and hasn't quite sold out in a fast manner. And then, they announced they're doing more redecoes of this guy, so I'm not entirely sure how enthusiasm for the line can fly with higher prices and the same molds-- but I'm supporting the line for now, and this one (at a regular price) would've been really cool. Series creator Mel Birnkrant described this bearded redeco as Xodiac's dad, so I guess we have a new character here-- and of course, that's a good thing.
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