A Few Other Series Thirteen Things...

Here's a few other items I did based on series 13. Three annuals and a game.

The Swarm and Azure annual is inspired on the 1981 Sapphire & Steel annual with the two villains posed in front of a clock like the famous publicity still of the series.

The Division annual is an original composition that features the characters as depicted in the episode "Once, Upon Time" but gives them their real faces as opposed to those of the Doctor's companions. Maybe it's bit dark looking for a kids annual but I think I've got the photoshopping on the figures right.

Jerricho at Large is one featuring the eccentric professor character played by Kevin McNally in the latter half of the series. I think it's safe to say that he was the story's stand-out guest character. This - along with the Swarm and Azure design - is available from RedBubble as a journal or notebook. I was messaged shortly after I uploaded it to the site by someone who said they were buying one as a gift for the actor. Not heard anything back yet though...

And finally, the title of episode two was 'War of the Sontarans' which got me thinking... and photoshopping... and ending up with this...

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Some more 60s Doctor Who Toys

During the early part of the second lockdown, I put together a few more silly 60s Doctor Who toys. All of them are based on actual products. 

I love the packaging designs from that period. Not constrained by the ideals of a brand bible, they had free-reign to do what they liked. 

Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't. Sometimes it was a cheap generic design. Other times it was a work of art. Nothing was ever the same. 

Here's a few of the ones I did. If you know your merchandise, you'll probably be able to spot the source material...

Textless cover image

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Great Cult TV Christmas Presents of Yore!

A selection (well, three) of toys that may have filled the sacks of eager young cult TV fans in days gone by.

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Fonko Pups Taran Wood Beast from TV's Dr WHO!

In lieu of the Official Doctor Who Figurine Collection releasing an eagerly awaited 'Taran Wood Beast', here is a version in the style of those shitty generic plastic pre-school models that young folk are so fond of parting with their money for. 

If you do want to pay good money for this, you can get it on a T shirt at RedBubble here.

Three New Classic Doctor Who Action Figure Sets from B&M

Twitter has been all of a buzz (as they say) with news that the cheap homeware retailer, B&M will be releasing not one, not two but four sets of Doctor Who figures - including a Jon Pertwee with his TARDIS on a flat black plinth (as seen in Spearhead from Space). And a set featuring the Brigadier (Spearhead from Space), Auton (Spearhead from Space) and er... fourth Doctor (Talons of Weng Chiang). 

Oh what japes we'll all have trying to find a store that has them all in stock later this summer. 

Anyhow, here's a selection of the sets that didn't quite make it...

Some more 70s Dr Who toys...

Here's a couple more Dr Who toys from the 70s that manufacturers never got round to even thinking about, let alone actually making. 

*Batteries not included.

The Fisher Price 70s Doctor Who Collection...

A selection of the wonderful pre-school toys produced by Fisherer Price back in the 70s when Jon Pertwee was TV's Dr WHO.

 

Presenting Action VOORD!

The alien Voord! Not exactly the Daleks are they? 

Men in creaky rubber wetsuits with very peculiar helmets and equally weird 'teletubbie' aerials - they fought the first Dr WHO for control of the Conscience of Marinus in story five of the first series. 

And then they were gone... except for an appearance in the first Dr WHO annual!

And that weird comic strip in the Doctor Who Magazine where they turned out to be proto-Cybermen.

And they were recently the subject of a figurine in the Doctor Who Figurine Magazine collection thing.

Yes, apart from all that, they were the proverbial one-hit wonder.

So that's why I now present Action VOORD!

MYRKA! The Deadly Undersea Monster from BBCtv's Dr Who!!

The Myrka was one of the most memorable monsters to appear in 1980s Doctor Who. FACT.  

Those who witnessed its attack on a wobbly bulkhead door in the fifth Doctor tale 'Warriors of the Deep' cannot wipe it from their memory despite extensive therapy. 

And the sight of Hammer legend Ingrid Pitt attempting to floor the terrifying creature with a Kung Fu move straight out of the choreography for West Side Story is still burnt on the retina of many youngsters who were traumatised at the time. 

For these reasons a toy based on the pantomime lizard was never released...

The Other Denys Fisher Dr Who Action Figures From the 70s!

We all recall that Tom Baker action figure from 1970s and the (now debunked) story of how his head was actually that of Gareth Hunt's following an accident at the plastic factory where they were made. The manufacturer Denys Fisher also produced pretty good representations of K-9 and the Giant Robot and less acceptable ones of Leela and a nosey Cybermen.

But were there any others? Did we actually WANT any others given their variable quality. 

Let's find out... 

Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: Toys & Games (Not)

The next "Special Edition" of Doctor Who Magazine is published on 20 April 2017 and is dedicated to Toys & Games. 

Sadly if features none of my zany, wacky merchandise - but that is to be expected as all of mine don't exist. 

Like this cover...

Even More Unreleased Doctor Who Toys...

It's been an odd Sunday for me. For once I've had bugger all to do...

Then I had a bit of inspiration. That was at around 8.45am. 

It is now 7.45pm and as well as cooking and eating a full Sunday roast, I've 're-discovered' these little treasures from more guilty times...

The EastEnders Beetabix Promotion - Free Figures In Every Pack!!!

Card from the original Weetabix promotion

One of the most popular Doctor Who commercial promotions of the 70s was run by Weetabix when they offered free cardboard figures of the Doctor and his friends in every packet. 

It was so popular, they did it twice with the TV Time Lord and ran similar promotions with Disney characters, Asterix and one for Star Trek The Motion Picture. 

Here's something I knocked up based on the second Doctor Who promotion. Each box of Weetabix contained four figures - three 'monster' cards and a "Secret Message From Time Lords" (sic). The monster cards could be slotted into one of four game boards that adorned the back of each pack and became forfeits for landing on specific squares during game play. 

My little effort follows the same format but with modern EastEnders characters instead... Playing the game makes an exciting alternative to having to watch the series at the moment...

You could also try to decode the secret messages from Mr. Papadopoulos... if you really want.