Astro Nautilus was the octopus-headed action figure in Colorforms Outer Space Men, pictured here lower centre.
The toys' inventor, Mel Birnkrant, recalls the inspiration for the Astro's head on his website, the giant octopus in the film Mysterious Island. Here it is pictured on the cover of Dell's comic tie-in.
Footnote: Modern US toy designers The Four Horsemen have updated the toy line and Astro Nautilus is on the cover of their company artwork.
He has morphed into a warrior elephant! Which do you prefer readers? The octopus or Nellie?
Yeah, the Elephant man looks pretty cool aslwell.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I was somewhat obsessed with the Colorform Aliens... despite only having two of them (sadly Astro-Nautilus was never spotted in the wilds of our local toy store).
Nowadays they go for huge truckloads of cash... so I'll have to settle for the smaller knockoff versions.
astro nautilus any time. I absolotely loathe it when lazy creators just shove an animal head on a human body to make a creature. Dr Who is a regular offender here, look at the ridiculous Judoon with their stupid rhino heads and massive helmets. I can forgive Astro Nautilus only because he hasnt got fur! The amount of space monkeys, lions, tigers and rabbits in spacesuits across the genre is ridiculous!
ReplyDeleterant over!!
Steady on Bill, you've just about written off the whole pantheon of Egyptian gods!
ReplyDeleteHa ha well I can forgive them, at least they werent part of a film or tv contract! ... But hold on, theres always Stargate!
ReplyDelete