Colorform Aliens
Encyclopedia
| Toys | |
 |
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| Toyline | The Outer Space Men |
| Manufacturer(s) | Colorforms Colorforms Colorforms, invented by Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, refer to a general type of vinyl adhesive toy set produced under the Colorforms brand.-Definition:... |
| Era | 1960s |
| Category | Action figures |
| Web address | N/A |
The Outer Space Men – also known as the Colorform Aliens – is a group of seven "bendy" action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s (similar to Mattel's Major Matt Mason
Major Matt Mason
Major Matt Mason was an action figure created by Mattel, an astronaut who lived and worked on the moon. When introduced in 1966, the figures were initially based on design information found in Life Magazine, Air Force Magazine, Jane's, and other aviation- and space-interest periodicals...
) produced by the Colorforms Company
Colorforms
Colorforms, invented by Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, refer to a general type of vinyl adhesive toy set produced under the Colorforms brand.-Definition:...
in 1968, They were designed by toy inventor Mel Birnkrant. The 3.5" to 7" bendable action figures incorporate a pliable metal wire armature
Armature (sculpture)
In sculpture, an armature is a framework around which the sculpture is built. This framework provides structure and stability, especially when a plastic material such as wax or clay is being used as the medium...
encased in painted soft vinyl bodies with "accordion" joints, just like the aforementioned Major Matt Mason
Major Matt Mason
Major Matt Mason was an action figure created by Mattel, an astronaut who lived and worked on the moon. When introduced in 1966, the figures were initially based on design information found in Life Magazine, Air Force Magazine, Jane's, and other aviation- and space-interest periodicals...
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
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
, as well as various places in our galaxy
Galaxy groups and clusters
Galaxy groups and clusters are the largest known gravitationally bound objects to have arisen thus far in the process of cosmic structure formation. They form the densest part of the large scale structure of the universe...
.
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 LagoonCreature from the Black LagoonCreature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes...
, 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 XThe Man from Planet XThe Man From Planet X is a 1951 science fiction film.It was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer who had directed the very first Bela Lugosi/Boris Karloff teamup picture The Black Cat in 1934.-Plot:...
. 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 MeAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter... - 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.
Each character was armed with some type of weapon, and several also included a helmet or other accessory (the accessories/weapons were constructed of hard-cast polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
of various colors).
There was also a proposed second series of characters that never made it to market, although a few prototypical examples, both carded and loose, exist.
Figures in the proposed 2nd series include:
- Cyclops the Giant from Beyond the Milky Way
- Gamma X the Man from the 4th Dimension
- Gemini the Man from Twin Star Algol
- Inferno the Flame Man of Mercury
- Metamorpho the Man from Alpha Centauri
- Mystron the Man from Hollow Earth
Related Products:
- Space Warriors Colorforms Playset
- Space Warriors Alpha 7 Puzzle
- Space Warriors Electron+ Puzzle
- Space Warriors Orbitron Puzzle
- Space Warriors Colossus Rex Puzzle
The Puzzles are unusual as some also depict the 2nd series figures. The figures were also licensed to Bullmark of Japan, who produced some hollow vinyl figures for the Asian markets. Some small knock-off figures exist, both as wired-armature, rubber "bendy" figures and hard plastic figures (included in playsets).
In 2008, creator Birnkrant partnered with Wall Street specialist Gary Schaeffer to form a company called The Outer Space Men, LLC, which has revived the 'OSM' brand with release of a graphic novel, and a number of related products, including a new series of action figures.
Four Horsemen Studios
Four Horsemen Studios
Four Horsemen Studios is a group of four action figure sculptors who formerly worked for McFarlane Toys, and whose work has included the modern and classics line of Masters of the Universe toys and the current DCSH and DC Universe Classics lines....
was granted the rights to produce new action figures based on the OSM characters, marking the first time the sculptors have acquired a licensed property to develop on their own. Waves one and two of this series went on sale as a Comic-Con International exclusive in late July 2010. The new figures are rendered in a smaller 3-3/4 inch 'scale', not using wire armatures, but instead utilizing a proprietary Glyos joint system, and packaged in a simple poly. bag with full-color cardboard header. The characters Astro-Nautilus, Inferno, Metamorpho, and Xodiac were chosen for the debut release. Five hundred of each was produced for the event, and availability was split between Internet sale and on-site purchase at the convention. The set of four sold at a retail price of $40; both venues sold through this exclusive offering completely in about 24 hours.