Transformers. Masters of the Universe. G.I. Joe. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These are the licenses that dawned in the 1980s and are still with us today, which means the original toys are still in high demand with today’s collectors and can go for big bucks at auction. The latest Hake’s auction has a variety of 1980s toys on the block, and these are some of the top sellers. Read on for details, then go place your own bid!
Shockwave, one of the most in-demand Series 2 Transformers, is not one you hear a lot of talk about, but while there are over 60 graded examples of the Decepticon lieutenant, only three are of the rare “no-rubsign” variety. Sure, rubsigns are infinitely cooler than no rubsigns, but the numbers don’t lie, and that’s why this walking laser gun is going for a pretty penny. Current Bid: $5,500
Hake’s – TRANSFORMERS (1985) SERIES 2 JETFIRE AFA 80+ NM (TRADEMARK LOGO).
Another in-demand Series 2 Transformer, the Autobot Jetfire is doubly desirable, due to his toy history as a Macross jet from Japan, spreading his love cross two fandoms. This particular example enjoys a minor packaging variation – a trademark logo instead of a registered logo – which makes it far more valuable. Also, he’s an awesome-looking jet AND robot, so, you know. Current Bid: $3,300
Special attention must be given to Slam Dunkin’ Don, the Donatello variant that gave him the same basketball jersey number as Michael Jordan. But this hand-painted prototype is 14.5 inches tall, making it the fore-runner to an unproduced Giant Turtle version of the figure. Or is it just a really big prototype to the 1992 figure? Or a cool display piece for the showroom? Whichever way, it’s a key part of Turtle and basketball pop culture. Current Bid: $2,310
When talking about crazy TMNT action figure variations, not enough attention is given to Make My Day Leo, the figure that pays tribute to Dirty Harry? Naming this Leonardo figure after Harry’s famous catchphrase, giving him a Mutagen Magnum revolver (albeit with flag) and dressing him up like a motorcycle patrolman (the villains in Magnum Force) makes the whole enterprise pretty edgy, in one man’s opinion. Not only do you get the original wax sculpt, you get the molds used to make the resin copies and an unpunched proof card for the final release! Current Bid: $2,000
Oh, to live on Snake Mountain, with the trap doors and the evil voice of doom… For the second release of this iconic He-Man playset, certain language was changed on the box, from “voice of evil” to “voice of Snake Mountain.” Still, the evil is evident in this toy, with the grinning monster face and the voice-changing wolf’s head microphone. Court the forces of darkness with this high-graded example. Current Bid: $2,200
Hake’s – G.I. JOE (1984) – DESTRO SERIES 2/32 BACK AFA 85 NM+.
Nothing special about this Destro figure except that IT’S DESTRO. Possibly the coolest of all Cobra characters – heck, all G.I. Joe characters! – this evil weapons supplier, he of the shiny metal mask, was also a pretty darn cool toy. To own one on card that you can look at every day, maybe talking to yourself in his deep voice, perhaps while wearing a large medallion, can only bring sunshine into your life. Current Bid: $1,815
1970s Mego Figure Bonus Section!
Hake’s – MEGO STAR TREK ALIENS- MUGATO PROTOTYPE TEST SHOT.
While there are four Mego Star Trek Alien prototypes up for auction in this batch, special attention must be given to the Mugato. Not because this prototype features hand-sculpted feet and hand-painted parts, making it a unique piece of Mego and Trek history, but because the artist was clearly told to give the Mugato a snazzy suit of clothes, when the TV-episode Mugato was just a big, hairy white ape with a horn. Why was he given clothes? This is one of life’s big questions. Current Bid: $2,585
Nowadays, if you want to get a toy unmasked, they’ll sell you a completely separate figure and call it a variant. Back in 1973, they’d give you a removable mask, like with this vintage Robin figure! Of course, they might also give you yellow shorts instead of green shorts, but a lack of quality control was worth the trade. Despite the shorts issue, or perhaps because of it, this rare, carded Secret Identity Robin figure is ready to go for big bucks. Opening Bid: $2,000
Brian Isaacs - Executive Editor / Publisher