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Toys & Collectibles

Closely Knit Cuties: Super Impulse Zumbies Collectible Dolls

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Super Impulse’s Zumbie dolls return from the afterlife with “good juju” to share.

Poised on the precipice of the autumnal equinox as we are, it’s time to launch our annual look at new goodies for the upcoming holidays.  First up, a very appropriate collectible for the season of long shadows and scary yarns.

High Thread Count…

Super Impulse (SI) are noted for their marvelous miniature representations of toys past and present. This season they’ve revived a collector’s item from 2012. The Zumbies. These tiny button-eyed and twine-haired yarn wrapped dolls are certainly creepy but undeniably cute as well. 

#superimpulse #zumbies
Nothing beats a good yarn. Super Impulse’s Zumbie dolls have unique stories to tell.

Crewel Intentions?…

 If you’re expecting the diminutive dollies to pop out your granny’s sewing basket and skewer your noggin with a knitting needle, think again. Zumbies have returned from the afterlife to offer you positive vibes based on their own life lessons and less than heroic demises.

As Super Impulse President Alan Dorfman notes “Zumbies are all about good juju from second chances.”

Sew Alive…

SI’s Zumbies are approximately 3 inches tall. Each comes packaged with a collector card that delineates the tale of their luckless life and dubious death.  For instance childless cat lady Unmatched Madeline spent a lifetime helping friends find their perfect partner but passed on before her school days crush of 75 years ago finally reached out. She returns with a load of lucky true love juju for you.

Like many classic novelty items, they all have a ball-link chain attached. So you’ll the opportunity to keep them close by when a little kiss of kismet could come in handy. Hang ‘em on your book bag on test day or pop ‘em in your purse or jacket pocket for that next blind date or job interview.

#superimpulse #zumbies
Each Zumbie comes in a see through wrapper with a trading card.

Spin Room…

The six different Zumbies in Series 1 each offer a unique lucky expertise. Here’s the breakdown based on Super Impulse’s press release.

Unsatisfied Sally will help you see the true beauty in yourself and others!

Untalented Talia will make sure your talents take you all the way to the top!

Unmatched Madeline will help you meet your match!

Unqualified Quincy will ensure that you will never be the victim of your own success!

Unfortunate Fred will make his losses your gain!

Unnoticed Norman will give you a magnetic personality that will get the attention of anyone you wish!

BTW, Zumbies are not blind bagged, so grabbing all six for your collection should be a cinch.

Unmatched Madeline. Ever the spinster.

SkeletonPete Says…

When the Zumbies arrived for review, my first impulse was to begin building a miniature graveyard scene to photograph them in. I ultimately felt that was a bit clichéd and went rummaging through the home basement “archives” for inspiration.

Lucky JuJu was on my side when I discovered my Mother’s 1970’s era crafting container. It was filled with knitting and crocheting supplies. I even turned up a burlap pillow with a perfectly appropriate autumn corn field motif that she and I designed together.

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Toys & Collectibles

Pong Unplugged: Fat Brain’s VolleyShot Offers Simple & Enjoyable Gameplay

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Fat Brain Toy’s VolleyShot at Toy Fair New York 2023

Slap Happy…

Despite exponential tech advances in video gaming, Pong is still my favorite. My Dad and I spent hours in front of our 13” black & white TV trying to stop that pesky pixel from getting past our paddles. That is what drew my interest to Fat Brain Toy’s VolleyShot during the Toy Association‘s 2023 Toy Fair New York

VolleyShot can best be described as a non-electronic version of Pong. If the ball gets past you – into the groove below your paddle – your opponent gains a point.

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SkeletonPete Says

Breaking Views

“It’s Stuff We Like and You Might Too”

A Visual sampling of our latest Adventures and Undertakings

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Art Books & Graphic Novels SkeletonPete Says

Grim and Grimmer: Classic Fairy Tale Gets Gaiman Re-Spin as Dark Horse Graphic Novel

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“Snow, Glass, Apples”: Author Neil Gaiman and Artist Colleen Doran reimagine Snow White in this Dark Horse Graphic Novel.

Snow, Glass, Apples
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Colleen Doran
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Hardcover: $17.99 US $23.99 CAN

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Toys & Collectibles

Split Personalities: LearnPlay’s HalfToy Dinosaurs

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Better By Half…
I first saw the wonderful HalfToys creatures at The Toy Association‘s New York ToyFair back in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the look as well as the concept. So I was especially pleased when early in October this year LearnPlay (the exclusive United States distributor of HalfToys) reached out to solicit the first wave of the product line.