The Outer Space Men, LLC Outer Space Men Cosmic Radiation Ohpromatem Action Figure The Outer Space Men, LLC, 2018
Day #2,478: November 24, 2022
Ohpromatem The Woman from Alpha Centauri
Outer Space Men Action Figures
Item No.: n/a Manufacturer:The Outer Space Men Includes:Bent arms, two ray guns Action Feature:Glows in the Dark, rotating faces Retail:$25.00 Availability: ca. July 2018 Other: Weird enough to be worth bringing up
When toy lines slow down, and display space dries up, things stay in a box for a while. I've had Cosmic Radiation Ohpromatem since some point in 2018 - but didn't open it until about three weeks ago, in part because I was holding back on a bunch of White Star and Cosmic Radiation figures to talk about when we got new molds or new painted figures. Turns out, that didn't happen - other than Bluestar figures and a couple of big Sofubi special edition custom jobs, the line has been more or less dormant. Which is unfortunate, we were shown a jumbo sofubi Astro-Nautilus and told to expect some more things for the lines 50th anniversary. Well, at least we've got mountains of pretty great 3 3/4-inch figures to enjoy!
I scheduled this review a few weeks ago, not realizing this figure would be 40% off at The Outer Space Men Store with the code "blackfriday" right now. So if you're reading it when I post it, give the code a shot. (Not a paid endorsement, I just like the figure.)
Cosmic Radiation Ohpromatem is still available for $25 as of my writing this, but a lot of the other figures sold out. I'd probably nudge you to go pick up a couple, like the $20 glowing Xodiac. (Heck, I need to pick up the missing Bluestar guys one of these days. I've only got four so far.) I'm also very fond of the fully-painted Ohpromatem [FOTD #928], which is long sold out - this figure naturally carries over some paint elements. Sort of.
Drawing inspiration from the existing Infinity Edition Ohpromatem mold - which itself borrowed from Metamorpho and the likes of Terra Firma - this figure somehow feels even more over-the-top than when the mold debuted way back in 2013. Her center of gravity is a little wobbly, so she may need some support - and you can insert a joke here if you like. What's funny is that since their debut and the social media microblogging site Tumblr cracked down on "adult content," pictures of other figures with this busty torso got marked as "inappropriate" on my feed. Why, I'm not sure, but it's funny - the figure is wearing a skin-tight space suit but it's not like it conceals the figure's many enhancements. This particular release has silver-capped chest and a silver belly ornament, and to say the least, they're eye-catching.
Other highlights like silver gloves, silver "joints," and the big cap on her helmet show you where the action is. She can pop apart at each point of articulation, and the knob on her helmet rotates the faces inside the helmet. Much like Mattel's Man-E-Faces figure, Ohpromatem (and Metamorpho) have three faces you can switch between. It's a great idea, and one Mel Birnkrant envisioned on toy figures years before Mattel brought it to life in Masters of the Universe.
As a cost-cutting measure, and a way to introduce more people to Glyos system figures, each joint can pop apart. The default straight arms can be replaced by bent arms - a concept that simplifies manufacturing a bit, but it means you can't lose the arms. That's easier said than done.
Given the Glyos-style The Outer Space Men had their time in the sun from 2010-2014, new figures like this would keep interest alive by trickling out slowly after the license reverted back to the owners of the brand. The silver-capped suit is great, but the glow-in-the-dark plastic really shines. This mix was particularly bright, and is another fine example of what the Glyos factory can do with glow toys. They're some of the very best - and with three faces (an alien, a spider, and a skull) the shine helps make out some of the details in the dark. The off-white glow plastic isn't the best for showing off sculpted detailing, but that's what the painted and White Star versions are there for.
I like this figure - I prefer the painted one, and if Gary Schaeffer and Mel Birnkrant are reading I'd love to see an "Infinity Version 2.0" release with no transparent parts some day. Until then, I'd say this Cosmic Radiation release is probably your best option for the money. At $25 it was outright pricey in 2018, but in 2022 dollars it's not as bad. Hasbro's retro Kenner figures are creeping up in the $12-$14 range for Marvel and Star Wars characters, while Super7's ReAction figures are typically $20-$25 now. Given the smaller edition size, inflation, and the considerable glow power of this release, value is a bit less of a consideration. If you want a great glowing 3 3/4-inch figure, this is what they cost now. It still stings a bit, but the figure is a quality release with clean paint applications and a charming, retro concept that you're hopefully old enough and in a relationship to not have to explain to any potential future dates.
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