Tuesdays From The Toy Box - Four Horsemen Designed Outer Space Men

 

The Outer Space Men – also known as the Colorform Aliens – is a group of seven "bendy" action figures (similar to Mattel's Major Matt Mason) produced by the Colorforms Company in 1968, They were designed by toy inventor Mel Birnkrant. The 3.5" to 7" bendable action figures incorporate a pliable metal wire armature encased in painted soft vinyl bodies with "accordion" joints, just like the aforementioned Major Matt Mason line, with whom The Outer Space Men were initially designed to be utilized. Each fictional character represents an extraterrestrial being from the planets in our Solar System, as well as various places in our galaxy.

 

 

 

Figures in the series include:

• Alpha 7, the Man from Mars: A diminutive alien molded in lime green with green skin, a bald, green head with antennae and a metallic blue space suit with a green-tinted (removable) helmet.
• Astro-Nautilus, the Man from Neptune: alien molded in purple with a large, octopoid head, four poseable tentacles and a metallic gold space suit.
• Commander Comet, the Man from Venus: The most human-looking alien, molded in pink with large, (removable) angelic wings, a pink-tinted, (removable) helmet, and a metallic gold space suit.
• Colossus Rex, the Man from Jupiter: The largest and fiercest-looking alien, molded in lime green and resembling The Creature From The Black Lagoon, wearing only dark purple shorts over a huge, muscular body.
• Electron+, the Man from Pluto: A bald, robotic-looking alien molded in gray, entirely painted silver with a clear, (removable) space helmet. Resembled the alien from the 1951 movie The Man From Planet X  Note: Electron+'s space suit design was later used as the space suit worn by Dr. Evil in the film Austin Powers: the Spy Who Shagged Me
• Orbitron, the Man from Uranus: The tallest alien, molded in pink with the least amount of paint, was an alien with a large, exposed brain, a beak-like mouth, long, gangly limbs and pincers in place of hands. Note: Orbitron was designed to resemble the Metaluna Mutant from the 1955 movie This Island Earth.
• Xodiac, the Man from Saturn: molded in deep red, with a red bald head, pointed ears and chin, a blue metallic space suit with a (removable) pink-tinted helmet and "Saturn" emblem on chest.

 

 

Now we come to today when action figure company 'The Four Horsemen' acquire the licence to produce these figures, which they do in numerous variations. I like the look of these modern reproductions but they cost way to much for their size. The largest ones are only 6 inches and sell for 25 dollars or more individually! If I was given four for that price then maybe but as it is I will have to admire these from afar.

 

I do like the way that the Four Horsemen have expanded the line with new figures that easily fit into the original wacky Universe that the Outer Space Men create. The could have stuck with different color variation for each piece in the collection but at least someone took the concept to the next level.

 

I understand the originals are very collectible and so I imagine are these new variants. I love anything made of translucent plastic so I had to post about them. It would be cool to find one of these at a garage sale or flea market if you knew what you were looking for. If you know more, the comments section is the place you need to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorform_Aliens