CustomCon is a fictional toy show showcasing the work of
several customizers. You will not find these toys in your
local toy store.
It's
been five long years since the last volume was published, but
the folks at Bantam Books have announced a collaboration with
Baen Publishing and the fledgling Pamster Toy Company to introduce
a line of action figures based on characters from the popular
Wild Cards mosaic novels. Set in a world like our own; save
for the alien Takisian Virus which killed tens of thousands,
disfigured thousands and left a precious lucky few with fantastic
powers; the Wild Cards novels feature the exploits of characters
created by some of the top writers in science fiction, including
George R. R. Martin, Roger Zelazny, Melinda Snodgrass, Chris
Claremont, John J. Miller, Stephen Leigh, Walter Jon Williams,
Lewis Shiner and many, mnay more. The books were written in
the "mosaic" format, allowing each author to write the chapters
featuring their own charcters.
A
group shot of many of the new Wild Cards action figures.
Here
are two heroic aces, the mysterious Wall-Walker, who
has several other secret identities, and the ill-fated
Howler, who died in the most gruesome way imaginable
on September 15, 1986. These may be sold in themed two-packs,
as "Crimefighting Aces".
These
two figures will be sold in a "Aces of the Justice Department"
two-pack. On the left is Nephi Callender, aka Straight
Arrow, a devout Mormon who wields flame powers; to the
right is Billy Ray, aka Carnifex, whose amped up reflexes
and amazing recuperative powers make him a formidable
opponent. And never, ever spill anything on his white
uniform.
These
two figures will be sold in "The Strongest Men on Earth"
two-pack. On the left we have Mordecai Albert Jones,
aka the Harlem Hammer, a friendly garage mechanic with
little desire to become involved in sensationalistic
crimefighting. The poor fellow on the right is Jack
Braun, aka Golden Boy. He was one of the original four
"Exotics for Democracy" and earned the eternal enmity
of Wild Cards everywhere by becoming a friendly witness
before the House Un-American Activities Commitee in
1950.
Dr.
Mark Meadows, aka Captain Trips, is a brilliant chemist
with the ace ability to transform into various super-beings
by consuming special chemical concoctions of his own
design. Here, he is ready to take his yellow powder
which will tranform him into the figure at left, the
super-powerful, super-verbose Starshine. These figures
are to be sold in a "Captain Trips" two-pack, the Captain's
other alternate identities may be released in later
sets.
Here
is the tragic being called The Oddity, who is actually
three people (two men and a woman) merged into one constantly
shifting body by the Wild Card Virus.
