Harley Qwednesday: Bud & Lou, The Star Wars Edition

These twin Massiff were found at the flea market and will be going to my oldest daughter, a new (but now lifelong) Star Wars fan! I had one of them back when it was originally released (they came with a Tusken Raider), but had no idea my then infant daughter would grow into a huge Star Wars fan, so most of my prequel Star Wars stuff was sold off years ago. I'm glad I found these guys again as the Massiff are fun monster/beast figures to have around even if they only appeared on screen for about two seconds.

I've dubbed these two guys 'Bud' and 'Lou' after Harley Quinn's Hyena (who were named after Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, natch).

Massiff are of course pets of the Sand People (Tusken Raiders). I also found at the flea market during the same trip a female and child Tusken Raider pair. I also had these two when they were released, in conjunction with Attack of the Clones' theatrical release.

They are cool figures; a neat, deeper look at the lives of the mysterious lives of the Sand People, but kind of morbid too as their only function in the movie was to be slaughtered by Anakin Skywalker.

The kid fits into the mother's backpack/basket and is also removable. Mom originally came with one of those Sand People sticks they wave around in A New Hope, but mine didn't have hers when I found her. At least she had her kid! Priorities!

The Massiff have actual metal chains connected to them. QUALITY!

They also have movable jaws.

I love these guys and had a lot of fun shooting them. I need to do a shoot with an in scale Harley Quinn before letting my daughter take possession of them! Or I need to figure out which Star Wars action figure could/should be modified into a Harley Quinn mash-up custom in order to pair her up with them.

Seeing Star Wars as a whole (Eps 1 thru 7) through my daughter's young eyes lately, I have to admit to gaining a new-found appreciation for the prequels and all the stuff they brought to the mythos. I'm bummed I gave up so many great toys over the years. I would have never done so if I thought my kid would someday care about it all! Thank the maker for the flea market and the fact that most of this stuff is not hard to come by today!

Playmobil Housewife Harley Quinn :: Harley Qwednesday

"Time for walksies, baby!"

It may not be politically correct to call this simple custom Playmobil figure 'Housewife Harley' but I think it's funny, and I'm pretty sure Harley would appreciate the irony. 'Fifties Harley' also comes to mind but it doesn't carry the same weight. I can totally see Harley trying (and failing) to fetishize the 'domestic goddess' concept in order to impress Joker and this figure really captures that vibe.

It's taken me quite some time, but I finally got the polkadot dressed Playmobil Fi?ures Series 6 figure thanks to Alex at ShesFantastic.com. Ever since my local Playmobil resource, a neat little educational toy store, closed it's doors, I have not had half the luck I used to in getting the Fi?ures I want and need for my collection. Sadface!

Housewife Harley is the simplest of customs, just add Series 1 Geisha head and voila! (Not so) Fun Fact: I've now officially run out of Series 1 Geisha heads. More sadface! I can of course pop these figures apart and back together at a whim, but I'm pretty proud of Hip-Hop Harley, Officer Harley and now Housewife Harley, so my next concept is going to have to be pretty darn clever for me to take any of those gals apart!

Although the clothes are completely different, this is definitely the vibe I am going for with this version of Harley Quinn.

I do have two Playmobil Hyena (Bud and Lou, natch) but I only have one Playmobil leash. So for now Harley will just have to take them for a walk one at a time.

Ace the Bathound from Krypto the Superdog Animated and Fisher-Price

Constant Reader John aka Jboy asked on yesterday's post "Have they made a official Ace figure? I have seen Krypto but I don't remember seeing one of the Bathound."

The answer, John, is 'Yes!' There was one packaged with a Batman Beyond action figure, but that was the Ace of Batman Beyond continuity. There was also one packaged with a Golden Age Batgirl and Batwoman made by DC Direct. Then there was this one from the Krypto the Superdog cartoon. In fact, I believe there were a few versions of Ace the Bathound made back in 2006 for the Krypto the Superdog cartoon. The only one I picked up was this one, which also came with an 'Ace Racer' skate-type vehicle and Bud and Lou, Harley Quinn's Hyenas.

Unfortunately my Bud and Lou have been lost to time as I let my kids play with them back in the day. But I still have Ace and his Ace Racer!

This was the only toy I picked up from the short lived Krypto the Superdog cartoon, but looking back, I wish I had grabbed them all. Or at least a Krypto! But if I recall correctly, the series had lots of cumbersome action features, and this specific set was just the figures, clean and simple. Which is how I like my action figures.

Harley Qwednesday :: Bud and Lou

Named after the legendary comedy duo Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, Bud and Lou are Harley Quinn's 'babies;' a pair of well trained (I dare not say 'domesticated') hyena.

Bud and Lou first appeared on Batman: The Animated Series (originally unnamed,) have made appearances in comics and other Batman animated worlds, and later even had speaking roles on the anthropomorphic Krypto the Super Dog cartoon.

It's no surprise that Harley would have pet Hyena, as they are well known for their laugh-like sound. In fact, I remember as a kid always referring to Hyena as 'Laughing Hyena,'as if it were actually part of the animal's name.

It should be. 

Bud and Lou, Playmobil style.

Bud and Lou on Krypto the Super Dog.

Bud and Lou in Harley Quinn's self titled comic book.

Two unnamed toy hyena were released with a Batman: Animated Harley Quinn doll and Bud and Lou were released with Ace the Bat-Hound as part of the Krypto toyline.

 
Did you know Hyena are more closely related to cats than dogs? True fact! Maybe Catwoman and Harley have more in common than they thought!

One Horse Open...Slay

Well, there used to be one horse...

...until Bud and Lou arrived.

I was finally able to find these two Playmobil hyena at the local educational toy store. I found out about them a while back and knew I needed them for my Lego Harley Quinn. They're the perfect size and style for her little Lego self.

When I finally found them I immediately ran home with the inspiration to do a Christmas themed display with them and Harley. What better than for them to be pulling a Christmas sleigh...sorry...SLAY!

With Harley at the helm. Don't worry, the whip is for cops and citizens and crime-fighting do-gooders. She'd never use it on her hyena! That'd just be cruel!

And since we don't want Bud and Lou to over exert themselves, the Christmas Slay is powered by a fully blown dual quad high-rise on top of a 351 Cleveland V8.

Of course it also has a ladder for Harley to climb onto the rooftops of the sleeping populace.

The 'slay' is full of gifts for all the bad boys and girls of Gotham: guns and axes and swords...and a sweet teddy bear for Cindy Lou Who.

It is also armed for defense against meddling BatGrinches. What's a Harley Lego creation around here without the butt-kicking booty?

In addition, the Christmas tree is topped with a missile to spread yuletide joy. Also, look: Missile...toe.

Get it?

HAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Harley's ever present hammer is also mounted to the side. Some homes don't have chimneys for easy access, you know.

Merry Quinnsmas! Happy Harleynukkah! And a festive Quinnza to you and yours.