Thursday, January 22, 2015

Super Mates Episode 23: Colorforms and Presto Magix with Brian Heiler


Brian Heiler, mastermind behind PlaidStallions.com and author of Rack Toys; Cheap, Crazed Playthings returns to talk about some of our favorite creative toys from childhood! But first he dishes the dirt on the exciting new Captain Canuck Mego-style figure he is helping to produce!

Then we dive into discussion about Presto Magix, those great rub-on transfers featuring our favorite characters! All you needed was a pen or a coin and you could create some awesome action scenes.

Our talk leads into a gabfest about Colorforms, the toys that stick like magic! Famous for “stick-on” sets including sets based on many of our favorite Super Heroes, cartoon and TV shows. But they also made some truly innovative toys, many created by the father of the legendary Colorforms Outer Space Men, Mel Birnkrat.

Along the way we ramble into general toy talk, and basically leave no stone unturned! You’ll get Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Super Friends, Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Avengers, Star Wars, Star Trek, Space: 1999, Flash Gordon, Captain Action, KISS, Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake, G.I. Joe, Transformers and more!


Download directly or via iTunes.

Visit Brian’s Plaid Stallions.

You can order your Captain Canuck action figure from Brian’s Odeon Toys

The documentary on Canadian comics is called Lost Heroes

Mel Birnkrant’s fantastic career retrospective site, including Colorforms is here

Stop by the Mego Museum for lively toy and geek discussion!


Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!


Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed! 

Next time, we celebrate our first anniversary by taking a look at comic’s greatest wedding issues!

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Super Mates Episode 22: Vintage Super Hero Children’s Books


Chris and Cindy visit their bookshelf of the past, and pull out some of their favorite children’s books featuring the World’s Greatest Super Heroes!

First up is 1966’s Batman and Robin: From Alfred To Zowie! Learn the alphabet with the Dynamic Duo, as Chris recites the pulse-pounding text by Ruthanna Thomas, and describes the art by comics veteran Tom Gill! You can practically hear the Neal Hefti theme! Oh wait…you can!

Then it’s off to The Super Dictionary from 1978. This strange DC Comics experiment has some very…interesting illustrations and text used to define some rather innocuous words. You have to see it (or hear about it!) to believe it.

We wrap things up with two beautiful Marvel Books from 1984, each written by David Anthony Kraft, with gorgeous art by Marie Severin and Earl Norem; The Amazing Spider-Man: The Big Top Mystery and Fantastic Four: The Island of Danger!


Download directly or via iTunes.


Be sure to let us know what you think! Let your voice be heard! We’d love to read it aloud in an upcoming episode. Drop us a line in our comments section, or email us at supermatespodcast@gmail.com. If you're listening on iTunes, please consider leaving a review of our show! We’re also on Facebook!


Chris (aka Earth 2 Chris) co-hosts the Power Records Podcast with the esteemed Rob Kelly over at the Fire and Water Podcast feed!