Is it October yet? I’ve been itching to get a jump on the Halloween season, and I can’t think of a better way to do so than with this…
My pal, Todd over at Hake’s Americana & Collectibles, tipped me off on some really amazing prototype figures that Hake’s will be listing in their November auction. The MAXx FX figures went well into the development phase before having the rug pulled out from under them. In 1989, Matchbox Toys was going to produce these figures until they released a talking Freddy Krueger doll that caused a lot of controversy with parents. As a result, Matchbox decided to cancel the entire MAXx FX line. Nooooo! Just look at what could have been…
These are the the production size, Mego-like 9” figures, developed by famed toy creator, Mel Birnkrant. These prototypes are production plastic bodies with all of the costume parts in resin and hair. Each head was hand made and painted on the figures. This would have been an amazing toy line with the variety of Captain Action — but with monsters!
There was also a vampire and Frankenstein but Matchbox held onto those. Luckily, these other prototype figures were sent back to Mr. Birnkrant, and he has decided to sell them at auction. I would imagine that these are going to sell for an insane amount, knowing how monster collectors can dig very deep into their pockets for one-of-a-kind items.
Just look at the details in these close-up images…
The Freddy Krueger figure actually made it to store shelves…
Matchbox even went so far as to develop a commercial for the MAXx FX toys…
You can read all about the history of the ill-fated MAXx FX line on Mel Birnkrant’s site.
Hake’s has posted a lot more photos on their Facebook page, and be sure to keep an eye on their site for the next auction, where you will have a chance to bid on these incredible prototypes.
I had that Freddy fig. I may still have it lurking in a box in my parents’ basement. I really need to dig my stuff out of there, there’s got to be gold in them thar boxes from the 80s!
Take lots of pictures when you do! 😉
Man those are cool! Making a go at them Brian?
I wish! I’m sure the opening bid will be higher than my bank roll would allow. 😉
I ran across that Freddy complete in box(damaged)at the flea market about two weeks ago but lacked the funds to buy it and when i went back it was gone!
They are the coolest thing I’ve seen since Herman Munster games. This is the go-to site for cool stuff.
My big question here is as a massive geek gold mine why doesn’t someone try to release these today, even if we skip the obvious licensed ones (freddy/aliens) the line would sell to mego fans like myself in a heartbeat, come on people let’s make this happen!