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On knockoff toys, bootleg action figures, and nostalgia

LEGO and Transformers action figures are some of the toys I really wanted as a kid, but never got.

Boy or girl, every child wanted a LEGO. My older cousin had a couple of LEGO sets, but didn't really let me play with them. So, I desperately asked my rich Japayuki ninang for one. Instead, she gave me a knockoff—like the ones sold at sari-sari stores near public elementary schools. Every year, I looked forward to birthdays and holidays with great anticipation, but I never got the real thing.

During the height of their popularity in the 80s, many people were convinced that their Autobots and Decepticons were actually smart investments, and that the shape-shifting alien robots would one day be worth thousands. More than 30 years after the original Transformers TV series first aired, its toy franchise remains one of the most popular in history. My mother gave me one when I was 7. Unfortunately, what I got was a funny counterfeit Starscream from Divisoria that looked like a malnourished Mecha Gigan.

The thing is that not all ripoffs are created equal. Some companies manufacture playthings that look almost identical to the original, whereas others, well, make toys that look hilariously bad. There are also artists who create bootlegs that can be considered collectibles. They're handmade, awesome, and born out of nostalgia.


Over the past 16 years, Morgan Phillips, aka Super Sucklord, has made a name for himself with his "subversive Action Figure mashups." From cracky Smurfs to pink Storm Troopers, Morgan's creations "have inspired an entire secondary Art movement."

I'm so tired of anything that has got to do with The Simpsons, but this had me cracking up.

Another artist who makes super cool stuff is Spencer Pollard. Under the name Dogman Toys, he sells handmade resin figures inspired by pop culture. Peter Goral's Skeletor and Darth Vader mashup called Phantom Starkiller is a certified classic in the world of bootleg playthings. The Cosmic Ghoul Warrior is fantastic looking, and "will unleash his inner darkness to carry out his master's wishes."


These artists have been accused of bad taste or having no talent, but many people look at their creations as pieces of art. For instance, the custom Star Wars AT-AT Super Sucklord made was sold through Christie's for more than a thousand bucks, and his work is exhibited at galleries worldwide.

Since the enhanced community quarantine, I have realized that toys are really important. They give parents a break to wash the clothes, and they keep children away from what they really want to play with—namely, sharp objects and disgusting things.

I have high respect for bootlegs, but what I really want are the things that were around when I was a kid.
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