Gremlin Creatures

Dated 1983 (the year of my birth) from "Marty Toy", this fascinating poseable goblin was brought home from a grocery store by my mother in 1985, its package showing off the entire line with the words "lil Bendable Gremlin Creatures" and inviting us to "Bend 'em for flip-over action!", meaning that if positioned just right and tapped on the back of the head, these little guys perform a somersault!    My mother told me that this one was named "Ug", and though it turns out his actual name is "Ooggy", he will always be "Ug" in my mind and all that ever really mattered was that his bendable rubber body and pincer-like claws made him the perfect companion to hobby-bug, which usually served as his mount. Hobby-bug and "Ug" were born for one another, blood brothers til the end of time.    I never once saw any of the other Gremlin Creatures in stores, but would eventually snag the entire set off ebay for a very reasonable $35. Each actually came to me in two colors, but all of the alternates were the same shade of pale blue, purple or green and just not exciting enough to include. Warm-color gremlin creatures are clearly the master race.    Thanks goes to Justin at weirdotoys.com for the names!

Okky

Mooky

Uggy

Blobby

Tiggy

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Though the whole set just overflows with personality and otherworldly eeriness, my obvious favorites after "Ug" himself are the sucker-coated Okky and that lovably repugnant, pop-eyed Blobby..    Truly, one of the most under-appreciated toy lines of all time.

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