Out of the Toybox (58): The Apes of Wrath

 

Looking back on things, I’m kind of impressed by how many apes are part of our action figure tradition. Besides the THREE movie iterations of the Planet of the Apes franchise (represented here by the Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, 2001, by Hasbro, shown with three of the apes from Congo (1995, Kenner). There were humans also, but I never bothered with them – or actually watching the movie. Something about gorillas guarding King Solomon’s Mines?) There are other Great Apes in the Toy Hoard, from Tarzan (both Disney and other expressions of Edgar Rice Burrough’s tales), King Kong, Spawn, and yet another line from the original Planet of the Apes, put out by the Hasbro Signature Series. Somewhere in the Hoard there is also a Major Leo Davidson and General Thade on Battle Steed. I always wanted to get a Pericles the Space Chimp, but never saw him.

Leo Davidson, Disco Dancing

Thade, Without His Cool Pointy Helmet, and Holding His Sword Stupidly

Pericles

Congo was written by Michael Crichton, a writer with whom we had a long association, going back to Middle School, but not one persisting through the ages. Mike had a copy of The Andromeda Strain, which I remember reading, a tale about the threat of a viral apocalypse, as was the fashion of the 70’s. I suppose Crichton’s greatest success (as far as the toy market was concerned) was Jurassic Park.