Looking At... Cancelled Invader Zim Toys (Palisades / Diamond Select)

 

During my long, arduous hours scrubbing the web for the strangest, most deviant depths of irrelevant and uninteresting media, I've been able to find a few more unproduced Zim odds and ends - bit surprisingly, really. This essentially an update-slash-followup to my previous Unreleased Zim post, so be sure to read both for the fullest scope of Zim landfill fodder.

First up to bat, I came across concept art for the unproduced Professor Membrane set by Palisades toys. Membrane was always the most obvious omission from Palisades' celebrated Zim lineup; though, he did appear via video call on a floating screen accessory, which is pretty in-character. 

Next are two unproduced display sets of the Skool Cafeteria and Membrane's kitchen, which were both ideas for the Gaz figure. As with all Series Two figures, Gaz ended up coming with a section of Zim's house, rather than the mini-playsets featured in Series One.

Last, in the Palisades corner, we have an assortment of unproduced accessories. 

Dig the Krazy Taco. Now, for the main event - more photos of the cancelled 2021 Zim toy line! Back when I made my first cancelled Zim post, I stated that the Diamond Select line had clearly been cancelled; which some, in all their wisdom, deemed "BS", despite obviously being... true. Couple more years down the line, and yeah. Pretty certain it was cancelled.

It's a real shame, because the line would've been amazing for die-hard fans like me, definitely rivalling the Palisades line with it's breadth of accessories and displays - not to mention, availability. Designer David Forrest shared the following photos across various social medias, featuring concept art and production images both the Zim/GIR and Human Zim/Dib sets. Pretty amazing to see actual pieces of reference art, and even original backing illustrations for the ultimately unreleased line. 

Essentially coming straight from the source, these photos are probably the best look we'll ever get at the DS Zim line. Wicked stuff. Funny how poor ol' Krazy Taco Hat lost its chance both times. You're in our prayers.

Thankfully for us True Zimmers, Zim pops up more than usual these days in Nicktoons merch; there's been a good handful of dinky little figures available at stores like Five Below lately, and most are actually pretty good. Here's hoping the nasty little Invader gets another full toy line someday... but, until then, mystery blind-bags and Culturefly PVCs will have to suffice.

Looking at... Cancelled Futurama Toys

Futurama's one of my favorite shows, and it's just come back (baby) for a... somewhat mixed new semi-season - but hey, we'll see where this "Hulurama" goes. I'm there - I've caught every new episode and I'm pretty excited for the rest. Even if that new episode "The Prince and The Product" was the actual worst thing I've ever seen. Also the Covid episode. Also the western episode.

Back around Futurama's third revival on Comedy Central, manufacturer Toynami took over as the go-to guys running the Futurama junk machine. By the end of the reboot's two seasons, Toynami had released not only the entire Planet Express crew, but loads of cool, unique side characters and variants really made for fans. My favorites are the very rare Dr. Zoidberg, the 8" talking golden Bender, and the huge rotocast monster robot maniac, Destructor. As the TV series was quickly coming to a close, however, a few planned figures were left unreleased - and unfortunately, they're definitely some of the coolest we could've had. 

First revealed around 2011, waves 10 and 11 would've consisted of Clamps, Joey Mousepad, the Donbot, and evil Bender lookalike Flexo, with deluxe vinyl figures Lrrr and Morbo listed separately. All of these sculpts are among the series' best - Toynami's sculpts often fell into that static rigor mortis pose a lot of Matt Groening merchandise ends up taking, but here, the already unique designs of each character really help make them stand out on the shelf - in spite of, or even, adding some charm to their basic poses. Even, y'know, bearded Bender. 

Morbo had originally been planned as the build a figure spanning a previous wave, before being upgraded and reworked as a vinyl. Fans on Futurama forum Planet Express Employee Lounge (PEEL) took a particular liking to the figure, and even suggested to a Toynami company representative the idea of crowdfunding towards its release. Soon later, an advertisement at the 2013 Comic Con advertised a Kickstarter campaign for Morbo; though, for one reason or another - most likely the liscencing itself running out - it never came to be.

Lrrr, Ruler of Planet Omicron Persei 8... the other deluxe figure, had previously been planned for a main series release before being replaced by Amy, and, as with Morbo, was later reimagined as a vinyl. It was speculated that had the Morbo Kickstarter gone through, Lrrr could've gotten a chance next - a man can dream, though.

Ever since first binging through the series on some virus-filled bootleg website, The Robot Devil's always been one of my favorite characters - he's a wicked parody of old-school swinger demons, Forbidden Zone stuff, complete with catchy jazz numbers, dark humor and flamboyant rage. Sort of my thing. Naturally, the lost figure I wanted the most, was the 8" talking Robot Devil; revealed around the same time as a prototype closely resembling the original Robot Devil build-a-figure. In my opinion, it and the original figure's sculpt is... rough - still cool, but not very good. The set-in eyes do it no favors. Imperfect sculpts are especially apparent with the series' robotic characters, who themselves already look very well defined and three dimensional onscreen. 

The Build-A-Bot and Talking Robot Devils

Later, an excellent resculpted take on Beelzebot was unveiled posing atop a wicked unique Robot Hell base housing the speaker. I assume it was for tooling/display purposes only, but man, it really made for an awesome looking piece. This second version picked up the ball and looked just perfect - as if the Devil himself demonically lept through the TV screen, yodeling showtunes and sardonic one-liners. Following in the footsteps of the aforementioned talking Bender, the Devil would've been a large scale, partially bendable figure with a built-in voice feature, as well as his cool little future pitchfork thingie. Sadly, the hellish base was, of course, nowhere to be seen for it's final release... which, of course, went unreleased.

I think, if they had been given the time and opportunity, Toynami should've gone forward with more large scale figures - especially if it meant new, improved sculpts such as the Devil's; I'd love an 8" Fry, Roberto or Zoidberg. The talking Bender is very well made, and it's too bad it and it's golden variant were the only large scale figures to actually release; among the last, and best, of Toynami's Futurama products. 

Looking At... Cancelled Invader Zim Toys (Bend-Ems / Diamond Select)

Invader Zim is an odd little series. Despite it's wide and ongoing acclaim, one could argue it's broadest appeal came in merchandising; just think how many kids you've seen rocking that iconic GIR hoodie, perhaps with a dash of MCR bracelets and a pinch of unholy facial piercings. From the memorable Irken insignia to GIR's stupid little face, the series' iconography have well surpassed the brand itself; half those kids would have no idea their cool little jacket came from a nightmare cartoon about gigantic weenies and mentally deranged moose-beings - and, good for them. They're better off for it. 

Unfortunately, not all of us have remained unacquainted with the twisted Zim universe. In case it's not obvious going by my art style, writing style, and... well, entire personality, Zim was a series I seriously loved as a young teenager. Hell, I'm still a fan - I just threw on the pilot the other night. Being a proud toy hoarder, I've amassed the majority of Palisades' impressive 2004 Invader Zim series, released hot off the trails of the series' first DVD release; from the awesome base playset, to the box set exclusive duty mode GIR. I've always thought that variant was supposed to look like the mystic Bloody GIR - if you know, you know.

Since the toy line's end in 2005, there hasn't been much in terms of legitimate Zim action figures. There's been a handful of GIR bits and bobs, a run of miniature bobbleheads, plenty of stuffed animals - but no real toys. The closest we've got was 2019's Sunny Days Entertainment "Bend-Ems" Zim and Dib; a pretty cool little duo of figures, definitely worthy of your shelf - especially if you can't, or don't want to cough up what eBay and friends are asking for Palisades' long out of print figures. 

I jumped on these guys as soon as I realized they'd released; resulting in me overpaying significantly, having assumed they'd never show up on proper store shelves - they hadn't yet! Give it a week, I suddenly see them for $15~ each at Hot Topic. After months, and months of total obscurity. Go figure. 

In my excitement, though, I happened upon the figure's first appearance at Toy Fair 2019, covered by Figures.com. Resting on a table beneath various test packaging cards was the Bend-Ems figure variety themselves, ranging from Hank Hill, to Popeye, to Voltron, to... GIR and Gaz. Complete with GameSlave. While I assumed they'd eventually release - GIR's dog design all but guaranteeing it - years later, it looks like we'll never see these additional characters. 

It's really too bad; the Bend-Ems aren't ground breaking, but they capture Zim's noodly design in an effective manner. I've always felt that despite Palisades insane range and accuracy, the figures were ultimately too fragile for their own good - something completely voided by a series of toys made of literal bouncy rubber. While nothing much was really lost, I can definitely say I would've bought GIR and Gaz, no problem.

Finally, it happened. Januray 22nd, 2021 - a new Invader Zim toy line. Disgusting nerd collector websites reported company Diamond Select - known for their strange Walgreens residency - had announced a new series of Zim toys, complete with alternate heads and accessories - just like Palisades, but new!

From the press release;

Invader Zim Series 1 Deluxe Action Figure Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! Dooooooom! Invader Zim has returned to invade the Earth again, this time as an all-new series of action figures from Diamond Select Toys! Each set of two 3-4” figures – Zim with Gir, Boy-Disguise Zim with Dib, and Dog-Disguise Gir with Gaz – includes multiple accessories and interchangeable parts. Each pair comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by David Forrest, sculpted by Paul Harding! 

I think I speak for every Zim freak when I say, these look wicked. The dancing gopher - a bad, bad rubber piggy - Gaz' horrifying robotic guards! You rarely see lines so dedicated to fanservice, and you really get the feeling they were aiming for something as cohesive as the aforementioned Palisades series. 

While the Bend-Ems notably didn't use the redesigns seen in 2019's Invader Zim feature, Enter the Florpus, Select seems to have gone for a happy medium; Dib's got his Florpus incarnation's big, googly head, but also the paler skin and straight faced tee seen on TV. I actually dig this; not everyone's a fan of Florpus' much softer look, but I think it works really well in the context of the film itself. It would've been fitting to have a new range of Zim figures referencing these modern designs; a set for the original series, and a set for the movie. Really, I think they ought to have bit the bullet and adapted the movie designs directly - would've been a lot more desirable, as a collector. But that's just me. 

I really love the expressive sculpts and poses; executed a bit better than Palisades' versions, in some cases. Irken Zim's pissed off overbite looks perfect. Each character had an alternate head, seemingly except for doggy GIR; I'd assume they didn't feel the need to give the most recognizable character too distinct of a variant. On the other hand, though, I gotta admit human Zim doesn't look too hot; something about his eyes and head shape is a little too Dr. Cortex. Dib's also a little weird; I know I just defended the whole Florpus thing, but it's cartoonier, friendlier take on Dib, at face value, isn't my favorite. His alternate head is a perfect example of that. All in all, the paint applications and attention to detail are really eye catching, great for fans, but the sculpts just don't consistently bring things together. Especially not in the same way as their predecessors. 

So, why the past tense? Well, as of September 2nd, the series has officially been cancelled. Having pre-ordered the first wave, I've been keeping the occasional eye on the series; after all, I was pretty hyped for this release. While it originally was slated to ship during the summertime, the months went on, and the due date was pushed - again, and again - indefinitely... to the point where I started considering cancelling my pre-order. The thought passed, here and there, when today I figured I ought to get my hundred or so back - but lo and behold, Big Bad Toy Store was was step ahead.

Rest in Peace. Select themselves have mentioned the cancellation is due to production issues, hoping to resolicit, and the line has been marked "sold out" on most websites. While I'm sad the series didn't come out, I think at the end of the day, it's another case of nothing much was lost - especially since they were largely  retreading an already popular and still respected series. I would've loved a new set of spooky dudes, but I'll survive with the one I've already got. 

The company did end up releasing a PVC statue featuring a triumphant Zim and GIR later in 2021, designed by the same sculptors as the figures; making it effectively the only mass-release glimpse at this line. I haven't ended up buying it, yet, but I suppose if you had to choose one, this was a pretty solid choice; and a good note to end on.

What's next for the wild, wild world of Invader Zim action figures? Probably not much, honestly. The Florpus press cycle has ended, the comic's ended, the hype's died down, and good ole Zim's back to outdated internet forum territory. Just the way we like it. I think the cancellations of both series reflect the fleeting nature of Zim's media presence; par the course for your average cult classic, fashionably late and quick to leave. Interest is bound to ebb and flow, and while that's great for a weird obscure animated series, that's not so great for a toy line. It's interesting to see the original shows' fade in a smaller, faster scale; Zim was huge again for a minute, only to once again draw back.

Now watch as all eight of these figures are released in the next week.

The NeverhoOd Chronicles - The Neverhood (Canceled Film)

The Neverhood Chronicles. One of my all-time, most personal favorite series; a wicked collection of deeply inspired stories, games and art, all set in the broad framework of a desolate world of clay. 

The series began in 1996 with The Neverhood; a poignant point and click puzzler lauded for it's impressive visuals and unusual atmosphere. As with many PC releases of it's time, The Neverhood has only grown more and more unobtainable as the years go on; a beautifully surreal and dissonant relic of the era, amassing an ever-present, if quiet, cult following. The game follows the largely silent Klaymen as he meanders though the abandoned wasteland that is the Neverhood; discovering the truth of his world and very existence as he recues the Hoborg, the Neverhood's creator, from the villainous mutant Klogg - a demon warped by jealousy, having stolen Hoborg's all-powerful crown in order to claim rule of the Neverhood. With Klogg having been defeated (via gigantic cannon), Hoborg brings life to the once desolate world anew.

In 1998, The Neverhood was succeeded by oddball action platformer, Skullmonkeys. Released for the Playstation One, Skullmonkeys offered a conceptually tamer, more lighthearted experience than that of it's borderline psychedelic predecessor; trading eerie ambiance and Biblical lore for a far more accessible - yet nevertheless subversive - approach perhaps intentionally reminiscent of Earthworm Jim; a series created and developed by countless Neverhood alumni. What Skullmonkeys might've lost in straight-edge artistic flair, it more than made up for with strange humor, dark imagery, and it's simply jovial sense of boundless creativity.

Skullmonkeys follows the immediate exploits of Klogg following his defeat and exile from the Neverhood, recruiting the titular Skullmonkeys - the native species of planet Idznak - to destroy the Neverhood once and for all. As Klaymen enjoys a mighty sandwich with lovable village idiot, Willie Trombone, a sole intelligent simian, Jerry-O, cries out for help - sending a pair of mechanical wings to hoist the unwitting Klaymen to their foreign world. 

Finally, in 1999, the series' final game hit the PS1 - the oft forgotten Japan exclusive, Klaymen Gun Hockey; a spin-off title centered on, of all things, air hockey - a totally left-field choice of gameplay that has nothing to do with the previous two installments, thematically or otherwise. With no clay to speak of, no relevance to the series' continuing storyline, and none of the series' original staff involved, you'd be forgiven to omit this one from your Neverhood chronology; it's far more interesting for the fact it exists at all, than of any merit of it's own.

The Neverhood Chronicles sat dormant, having closed on the melancholic, vague ending of Skullmonkeys; Klaymen drifting into the endless void of black surrounding Idznak after defeating Klogg's gargantuan flying doomsday device, Evil Engine Number Nine - mindlessly snapping photos as he's pulled quietly into the abyss, quite literally never to be seen again. Bye, Klaymen.

However, it seemed the series might once again spring to life, as news of a Neverhood movie crept through the web...

Klaymen battles a monster

As early as 2007, production on "The Neverhood" began; it being one of three movie projects, including adaptations of Samurai Jack and The Seven Deadly Sins, intended to launch then-newly minted production company Frederator Films.

Neverhood series creator, Doug TenNapel, once again lead the project, approaching the film from a holistic perspective; opting to avoid a direct adaptation or follow-up to the 1996 point and click source material, while still including largely the same core characters, concepts and themes. In a now-deleted forum post, TenNapel mused, "I'm putting everything on the table story-wise and saying, 'What is the Neverhood about and who is Klaymen?' "

According to the initial press release, the film would have carried on the series tradition of stop-motion clay animation; this is supported by the photograph of Klaymen battling against an unnamed monster (possibly the Weasel) serving as the outline's cover, as well as a two photographs revealing the development of the models featured posted to the Neverhood Facebook.

An early twelve page outline was uploaded to Frederator Films' co-founder Fred Seibert's Scribd sometime around 2009, offering a glimpse into what the reimagined world of The Neverhood may have resembled; its logline reading as follows;

"A clay being must go on a quest to find a cure for his people who have turned into moronic animals."

---

Klaymen and Purpee

Klaymen, an inherently curious young boy, and Purpee, his easily-excitable dog, discover an abandoned Fish-O-Pod; an odd, four-legged vehicle, of which Klaymen had always wanted - but never been permitted - to drive. Accidentally powering it on, the duo take a brief joy-ride; inevitably crashing as it's steering wheel flies loose, slamming through a clay wall; a huge crack revealing a world hidden beyond the walls of their clay home, the Neverhood; an overgrown forest known as the Junglehood. The duo briefly explore the alien world, enjoying it's foreign flora and fauna including the burp-inducing Go-Go Fruit; sloppily hiding it's entrance beneath a layer of leaves and clay as they return home.

As per usual, the Neverhood itself - including the Junglehood - is an island of sorts, alone in a vast, empty expanse of black.

The Never and JungleHoods

Later that night, as Klaymen and Purpee read of the legendary Big Robot Bil, Klogg - an evil being from the Junglehood - peers through the crack connecting their worlds; sticking a harpooned device, the Moostifier, into the ground; hairy tentacles suddenly creeping through the NeverHood, transforming it's people into the rat-like Moosts; a hunched, hideous vermin common to the JungleHood. Discovering the herds of ravenous Moosts the following morning, Klaymen and Purpee venture into the Junglehood; certain to right their wrong. 

A Moost

Silent and empty, the Junglehood appears to have once been as populated as the Neverhood; it's clay buildings buried beneath foliage, as it is revealed it's people, too, were turned to Moosts. Soon, the duo encounter the Weasel; narrowly escaping as Willie, adim-witted Junglehood resident, and Hissy, his pet snake-cat, pulls them into the safety of their home.

Willie reveals that Klogg has turned countless Hoods into packs of Moosts; the all-powerful sculptor, Hoborg - his castle on the other end of the Junglehood - being their only hope. 

Temporarily taming the Weasel with the help of Willie, the cast venture to Hoborg's castle; encountering a broken, precarious bridge, soon further destroyed by the Weasel's unpredictable antics - halting their progress. 

Looking back wistfully on the world of the Junglehood, seemingly defeated, they notice the faint impressions of a man along it's underside - realizing it to be none other than the fabled Big Robot Bil, climbing down to activating the gigantic, mythical being. Big Robot Bil, thankful to once again be awakened, launches the group across the gap to Hoborg's castle.

Klogg

Inside, they discover Hoborg, too, has been transformed - now powerless against the devilish Klogg; sitting, crowned, atop Hoborg's throne. Klaymen manages to steal the Moostifier as the gang escape into Big Robot Bil, quickly returning the Jungle and Neverhoods to their former glory. 

Klogg, using his Robot Hecto Nine, follows closely behind; battling against Big Robot Bil before both machines plummet into the surrounding abyss, leaving Klogg behind as he ejects himself via large mechanical wings. Crash landing, Klogg fearfully threatens to turn the people back into Moosts - cornered by the enraged clay-people of both worlds - as Klaymen, alone, offers forgiveness; hoping Klogg would be willing to join their newly discovered family. 

Big Robot Bil and Robot Hecto Nine

Klogg reveals his heart is made not of clay, but stone - certain he'll never be able to join them. Klaymen, however, offers the power of Hoborg - knowing it will be able to save him; and, as Klogg lowers his defenses, his stone heart turns to clay; ending in a large, celebration as Hoborg, still in his castle, cures himself of Moostification - silently congratulating the faithful Klaymen.

As the party rages on, Willie, Klaymen and Klogg venture into the abyss in search of Big Robot Bil; flying off on Klogg's now repaired mechanical wings.

---

Willie

Though featuring most, if not quite all of the original Neverhood's core elements, the film greatly expanded on and added to the concept's setting and characters; most notably in the enhanced humanization of Klaymen, Willie, and further Neverhood geeks.

Once dissonant, silent, and perhaps even eerie, the film's Klaymen is talkative, adventurous, and youthful - aspects not entirely inaccurate to his original portrayal, but nevertheless, different. This sums up the majority of the film's changes to the original game's concepts. TenNapel seems to have heavily battled with and focused on the sense of visual engagement, as well as simplicity necessary for such an adaptation; particularly, one set to retell the story of a decidedly abstract game. In the words of the man himself, "Part of Neverhood's problem is that it's so unique. It almost CAN'T be a TV show or movie because it really is a gaming experience...  a lot of story elements came about because it was a game that would be weird in a movie."

Mock-up development

Frederator Films ultimately never released any features, including the three pictures intended to introduce the company. Needless to say, The Neverhood was dead in the water. Though most sources chalk up the Neverhood film's cancellation to budgetary reasons alone, TenNapel further explains as follows; "[The Neverhood Movie is] dead as far as I know. Or I should say that it never quite got off the ground... the heat came off of the project. We were talking to Lyca and Sony about a movie. Close but no cigar."

Aspects of the film's narrative lived on through the series' following installment, Return to The Neverhood; a self-described "musical novella" in which the lead characters, Clay-Guy and Mud-Gal, undergo a transformation of sorts after consuming a rather literal "forbidden fruit" - both, of course, reflecting the Biblical recount of Adam and Eve, carrying on the religious theming and imagery present in all Neverhood stories. The Neverhood spiritual successor, Armikrog, also carries on certain elements of the film; small aspects of Klaymen's revised design, such as his odd, noodly "hat", reappear in the analogous Tommynaut; with the general role and appearance of Klaymen's pet Purpee morphing into the outspoken canine sidekick Beak-Beak. Likewise, both characters are comparatively expressive against the original version of Klaymen, and even speak.

Am I a huge fan of this interpretation of The Neverhood? Not really. I've nothing against alternative takes on characters, storylines; I enjoy when a concept is able to experiment within a new vision. Still, I feel the appeal of the original Neverhood games and world was it's mysterious, and alien nature; both mainline games felt deeply personal and artistic, flying far above and beyond most video games in tone. This version of the Neverhood universe is simply too homogenized. Rather than the memorable impressionist vibes, or strange, exciting worlds of the titles preceding it, the film seems to have aimed for something less Dali, more Dreamworks. For every interesting new idea, five more have been, quite frankly, dumbed down. They certainly nailed what they were aiming for, I just can't say I'm too impressed by the target.

In this sense, I agree with Tennapel's sentiment that The Neverhood is not perfectly fit for the film medium; though the awesome in-game cutscenes are a highlight of the series, the manner in which a story and world can unfold is entirely different between the sometimes parallel mediums of games and movies. Perhaps this explains the series' transition to the page in the aforementioned following installment, Return to The Neverhood.

I plan to look further into the obscure and unspoken areas of The Neverhood Chronicles soon; from comics to concept albums, there's plenty to explore. We'll see, won't we. 'Till then!