03/20/2005: THING FEET.
Here is my inevitable review of ToyBiz's "Thing Feet,", a new Fantastic Four toy that challenges Hulk Hands to a damning duel for the title of best toy ever. I'd heard of them already, and while they didn't surpass my hopes and dreams, they're still pretty awesome. And they yell things when I walk in them.
While picking these up, I couldn't help but notice how batshit crazy TRU's gone with the Easter stuff. Inarguably a larger stock of seasonal fare than Halloween or Christmas got. There were dozens of store-made baskets filled with overstocks and lesser-solds, but the bigger delight was the many number of "TRU exclusive" two-packs — essentially a way for the chain to cash in on the holiday by feeding clueless parents undesired toys packaged by the group in makeshift cardboard. I picked up one item of particular interest, which I refuse to name until the next blog entry. Take that.
Discussion Thread: 70 comments
Adults can wear them?
Sort of. Not as comfortably worn as the Hulk Hands, but they'll fit if you try hard enough.
Posted by
Matt @ 03/20/2005 7:11 PM EST
Marvel just announced a new Thing comic, so this is cool. Although I think movie Thing looks like the Toxic Avenger.
Who else could seriously get the hands/feet treatment? These are who I think of:
Iron Man
Submariner-he's does have those wings on his feet.
Beast
Abomination-There is going to be a Hulk 2.
Blob-X-men villain
Juggernaut
A few Spidey villains-Lizard & Rhino in particular
Collosus
Thor- Hands with Hammer
Man-Thing- Movie debuts on Sci-Fi in April
Kingpin
She-Hulk- Girls should have some fun also
Probably a few others.
Posted by
JLAJRC @ 03/20/2005 7:23 PM EST
They fit up to a size 5? Wow Matt, you must have some tiny feet to fit into those, even if they are a really tight fit. Do they make those feet in larger sizes too?
Posted by
Destro @ 03/20/2005 7:35 PM EST
This is the first comment I've made here, ever since I spent 17 straight hours reading the photog blog, getting to the end, and finding out that the comments had been cut off like two weeks before.
I can't believe you don't have a picture of you wearing the hulk-hands AND the thing feet.
That is all. End transmission.
Posted by
Rod @ 03/20/2005 7:37 PM EST
Ah, I see. I should have read the article first. I assumed they were glorified plastic shoes, not glorified plastic shoe-covers. If it's open bottom, I can understand the stretch factor here. But, considering I have Hulkish feet like Peggy Hill (I'm about size 13, and I'm not even tall), I'd probably just be better off painting my own feet orange.
Anyway, I downloaded an early clip of the Thing and a truck in January, and, while I wasn't that impressed with the way the Thing looked in the set photos from Toronto I saw last summer, in action, he looks much better. And I do like that the Thing mainly is a guy in rocky makeup, which I'm sure will be enhanced by CGI, but the character is still a lot more "practical" than computer-generated, and, as such, won't across as being a character straight out of Shrek walking around a live-action world like the all-CGI Hulk two years ago.
Considering that I like a good dose of comic relief in my superhero movies as I find the entire concept of superheroes to be inherently camp, I'm honestly looking forward to Fantastic 4 more than Batman Begins, which I'm fearing will be aimed at the hardcore Miller-era "Dark Knight" purists who almost literally can't take a joke, at least in their Batman comics. While I fully admit that the two Schumacher Batman films overdosed on the comic relief, I thought the two Tim Burton Batman films masterfully balanced the dark and the light. I think if you make it too dark, then you just get pretentious goth-fests like The Crow. I have no fear whatsoever that the Fantastic 4 movie will be too "dark".
I'd never even SEEN the Fantastic Four until I caught the 60s cartoon on Boomerang during a visit to the parents' house a few years ago. I instantly fell in love with Thing. I like big men to begin with, and here was a big man who not only had a heart of gold and a chest the size of Canada, but just about everything ELSE made of solid rock - and even in the somewhat corny 60s era show, he came across as a nice guy. If I do see "The Fantastic Four" this summer, I'll be there just to see what they do with Thing.
Posted by
starwenn @ 03/20/2005 7:46 PM EST
This looks interesting!! hehe
Posted by
IHAQ @ 03/20/2005 7:57 PM EST
I think the best part of that article is that in the picture of the Thing holding the piece of cardboard from the Thing hands, it looks like Mr. Grimm actually has a shit-eating grin on his face.
Posted by
Mr. Carlo Marx @ 03/20/2005 8:04 PM EST
hey matt I was wondering if you could do an article about airline stuff like little bags of penuts or barf bags, those kinds of things, so when ever you fly remember to grab as much free stuff as possible, also love the artice thank you for being born!, hey get on AIM more i would like to talk to you
Posted by
Dude @ 03/20/2005 8:28 PM EST
sweet lord…new material 
cool article btw, i liked the final battle…
btw: does easter generate more merch than Christmas does????
I can't believe it…really???
I still would give A LOT to get some Mauve Easter Pringles…oh yeah!
Posted by
melonian @ 03/20/2005 8:30 PM EST
I've seen that there's also going to be a Human torch dress-up set for kids. No word if it includes oily rags and a lighter. If it does,Irwin Mainway would be so proud.
Posted by
Overlord @ 03/20/2005 8:40 PM EST
squee, this is from the l;ast blog entry, but damn, Fonzi jumping the shark again has got to be the funniest thing I've seen all week. Go, Fonz!
Posted by
trajeal @ 03/20/2005 8:55 PM EST
I could have sworn Matt did an article about a barf bag once, or an inflight magazine, or something.
Ok, are you wearing heels in that "beneath the feet" picture? Or did you convince your girlfriend to wear the Thing Feet for the photo op?
I have to ask - have any of you met BikerFox yet? I can't decide if I should laugh or cry. (Here's hoping I did the link right.)
Posted by
trajeal @ 03/20/2005 9:10 PM EST
Nope. Crap. Well, here's the link:
Pictures - http://www.bikerfox.com/foxphotos2/
Bikerfox's bio (he was delivered from the mouth of an alligator, yo) - http://www.bikerfox.com/Profile/profile.htm
Posted by
trajeal @ 03/20/2005 9:12 PM EST
i wish my feet looked like that
I found an egg in that article. 
Posted by
Mysterious! @ 03/20/2005 9:28 PM EST
That video is simple but hilarious. Who else watched it fourteen times in a row?
I've noticed that the stores are stocking "Easter" products. Sure there are still "Spring into fun!" cop-outs, but there are plenty of products willing to actually put the name of the holiday right on the package. I wonder if it's because Easter's inherently less secular than Xmas, or just because it's hard to justify leaving the word "Easter" off a box of egg dye.
I'm also surprised there's no picture of Matt with both Hulk Hands AND Thing feet.
And, I gotta say I'm now looking forward to the FF movie. It's gotta be better than their last attempt.
Aww, my feet'd ever squeeze into those. No earthquake stompin' sounds for me. Sounds like a Linkin Park song.
"Noone understands..the pain..
How hard it is..each day..
Seeing everyone else..
With their THING FEEEEEET [insert bad riff]"
Speak of the Devil, Matt, I was just working at my KB Yesterday and what did I come across? THING HANDS. And on the side I also noticed besides the feet are the Thing mask & Torso set…so get those 2 sets and just wear your jeans to actually look like Thing. Heh.
I also had my first Cadbury Creme Egg today…MMM…
And also my first Marshmallow Peep. Fucking. Horrible. Ick.
Posted by
Invader Norbert @ 03/20/2005 11:39 PM EST
I have high hopes for the impending FF movie, but, alas, I also had high hopes for Hellboy. I think Sin City is going to deliver the goods like no other comic-book inspired flick ever has or will. Of the two comic-flicks being released this summer starring Jessica Alba's midsection, my money's on Sin City.
Posted by
The Yeti @ 03/20/2005 11:55 PM EST
Hey traj, did you get my email? I emailed ya…and nothing. Checked spam filters too!
Where is Manimal? We want, nay, demand new pics of E.Claire.
We go in today, I believe we are at 23-24 weeks. I just hope this sucker finally shows what he or she is made of!
Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz
Posted by
EMajorwitz @ 03/21/2005 1:50 AM EST
sounds like the perfect toy to give to someone-you-hate's kid. *smash crash crash bash mash*
although, they would probably make walking the dog a quintillion times more fun.
Uh… sorry to be off-topic, but what happened to the Photog Blog? I can't seem to find where to reply to it…don't tell me Matt closed it?! We must continue the discussion!
Posted by
Ceejus @ 03/21/2005 4:54 AM EST
As the guy who first broke the news about Thing Feet to Matt, I feel great pride in having at least some iota of involvement with the site.
I'm not disappointed in the lack of pics of Matt wearing both Hulk Hands and Thing Feet, but I am disappointed that Matt at no point threatened a cat.
Unfortunately, I can't see Deadpool Hands as selling real well.
Posted by
Gavok @ 03/21/2005 6:00 AM EST
I'd like to think that the Fantastic Four movie will be good (You have a dude on fire and a big stone guy who could also be mistaken for crumbly cheese. Hell yes that's fantastic), but I have a feeling it won't. I pray for it to not suck majorly.
They will soon run out of extremities to make toys from. One day, there's going to be Wonder Woman boobies that talk. You heard it here first.
Posted by
Dr. Acula @ 03/21/2005 6:40 AM EST
So how come you didn't get Thing's Hands, Matt? You just gotta get them and make a combo article!
Posted by
Roddy @ 03/21/2005 8:05 AM EST
i like your high heel boots matt
Posted by
bo0ty @ 03/21/2005 8:55 AM EST
They actually didn't have the hands as of yet. 
Posted by
Matt @ 03/21/2005 9:13 AM EST
I saw Rodney Copperbottoms feet at toys 'r' us. I love the movie Robots so naturally I love Rodney Copperbottoms feet. They are on sale this week actually, 12.99, saw it in the sunday flyer. Robots merchandise review, please Matt, please?
Posted by
Kennef @ 03/21/2005 9:25 AM EST
OK, so i read this article yesterday, but had nothing to say (which is unusual, because I typically do have something to say). So here I am, saying something:
Those Thing feet are shit!
OK, so maybe that "something" wasn't very nice, but it was something.
Posted by
Nate @ 03/21/2005 9:40 AM EST
off the topic, but i'm so sad that Robotech.com's last day is today!!! =( check it out:
http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=221
Posted by
bad karma @ 03/21/2005 11:22 AM EST
I think that if Thing's real feet made the same noises is blind girl friend (I don't remember her name) will be suspicious that something was wrong with him.
Posted by
Célia @ 03/21/2005 11:51 AM EST
Thank the maker no one said they wanted a Thing "Thing." Any mention of Aunt Pentunia's ever-lovin' blue-eyed nephew gives me "MallRats" flashbacks. How ’bout an Official Sue Richards' Invisible Costume with real "You Can See Right Through It!" action.
Posted by
kingklash @ 03/21/2005 12:12 PM EST
matt, they made thing's feet hollow on the bottom so that you could be exactly like the action figure! compare both sets of feet, and you'll see i'm right.
Posted by
Big Jerm @ 03/21/2005 12:31 PM EST
Robotech.com is going offline?
Methinks it's time for Pierre Bernard to do an emergency installment of "Pierre Bernard's Recliner of Rage" to save it.
Too bad Toys R Us is going to go down hill even more now that they sold the chain to some company Really sucks!
Posted by
Jared @ 03/21/2005 1:21 PM EST
Yes everytime I think of Thing I think of Mallrats when Brodie was asking Stan Lee if his Thing's dork was made out of orange rock too. hardy har har….
I'm really curious as to how fantastic four will do considering they aren't quite as famous as say Batman or Superman. I always thought Mr. Fantastic was quite silly because of his stretchy ability. I never really read the comics but I always thought Thing was cool no matter what. It's impossible NOT to like him. And now that are making his body available to wear over my body maybe people will like me……hehehe
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 03/21/2005 1:21 PM EST
bad karma: A lot of people are claiming in the Robtech.com forum that all that means is that they're retiring their original server and the site's coming back online soon with a new server. Read this thread, They think that the site will go back online on April 1st and the webmasters are just acting like it's going away for good to set up for an April Fools' Day gag.
Certainly, this announcement is very sudden, and there's nothing on AnimeNewsNetwork.com about the site going bye-bye for good, so I'm inclined to believe it's an elaborate gag.
this has nothing to do with thing feet but has something to do with easter. from the same website that i got the shamrock shake recipe, i now present to you the cadbury creme egg recipe:
Each spring Cadbury candy machines whip out 66,000 of these cool candies every hour. And now, because of the success of these chocolates with the orange, yolk-colored center, other candy companies have come out with their own milk chocolate eggs. Some are filled with Snickers or Milky Way centers, while others contain peanut butter, coconut, caramel, or the same type of fondant center as the original - right down to the colors. Still, nothing compares to these original eggs that are sold only once a year, for the Easter holiday. And now you can enjoy your own version at home anytime you like. And this recipe won't require that you make anything close to 66,000 of 'em.
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar
4 drops yellow food coloring
2 drops red food coloring
1 12-ounce bag milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1. Combine the corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Beat well with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing by hand after each addition. Mix well until creamy.
3. Remove about 1/3 of the mixture and place it into a small bowl. Add the yellow and red food coloring and stir well to combine.
4. Cover both mixtures and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
5. When mixtures are firm, roll a small, marble-size ball from the orange filling, and wrap a portion of the white filling around it that is roughly twice the size. Form this filling into the shape of an egg and place it onto a cookie sheet that has been brushed with a light coating of shortening. Repeat for the remaining filling ingredients, then refrigerate these centers for 3 to 4 hours or until firm.
6. Combine the milk chocolate chips with the shortening in a glass or ceramic bowl. Microwave chocolate on high speed for 1 minute, then stir and microwave again for 1 more minute, and stir.
7. Use a fork to dip each center into the chocolate, tap the fork on the side of the bowl, then place each candy onto wax paper. Chill.
8. After 1 to 2 hours of chilling, dip each candy once more and chill for several hours, or until completely firm. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com)
Makes 2 dozen candy eggs.
i am not a fan but i know a lot of you are. enjoy.
Posted by
jessica_76 @ 03/21/2005 1:41 PM EST
It took me a day, but I got around to reading it. Id have to say I still like the hulk hands, but maybe that cause I never seen the thing feet or hands in person.
Posted by
IHAQ @ 03/21/2005 1:50 PM EST
I hope the movie is as campy. THat's what I love about the original Fantastic Four comics. Where else can you find hittler dressed up in a silly costume, calling himself the hatemonger, and zapping people with a hate ray?
Posted by
BrightNoah @ 03/21/2005 1:57 PM EST
Steve Brandon
THANKS for the info…I've been a bit leary as to why there has been so little notice. That, plus the fact that the Robotech.com folks were just here in St. Louis for the KUNICON convention a bit over a week ago…and their website is still quite up to date. Alas, I've been unable to access the Robotech forums from work. Thanks though!
Posted by
bad karma @ 03/21/2005 3:07 PM EST
In the minseries Earth-X, Ben and Alicia had twin boys, called the Brothers Grimm. They were as rocky as their daddy. All I can say is Ow! ow ow ow ow ow ow ouch! Just thinking how that's possible at any stage make me walk funny.
Posted by
kingklash @ 03/21/2005 3:37 PM EST
Has anyone seen the Ludicris music video where he wearing custom Hulk-like hands and smashing things? I like that.
Posted by
JLAJRC @ 03/21/2005 4:00 PM EST
Hah, quite cool. Might pick up a pair and go smashing around on campus. Or not. Methinks even the Thing's awesomeness wouldn't survive the scorn of humorless college students.
As an aside, still feeling festive huh Matt. I bet you're the kind of guy that never takes down the Christmas lights either. Way to go!
Posted by
Jeep @ 03/21/2005 6:39 PM EST
uhhhhhh matt?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00065H4JO/qid...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00064XFVQ/qid...
and there were more…
Posted by
Jonnie D @ 03/21/2005 7:46 PM EST
Ceejus, yes at one time Matt had to end the photog blog. I'm glad new bitnerites are still being welcomed into the fold though.
Posted by
Gozer @ 03/21/2005 8:23 PM EST
Where are the toy companies going to end the body-part toys? If I had my say, there would be something cooler than hands and feet.
Ghost Riders Skull Tearing ass all over the place with just the slight smell of brunt flesh
Any comic book woman's bust armor… "Holy Mammeries Batman!"
Spawns face… Dead and bloated rules!
Posted by
primusboy @ 03/21/2005 9:09 PM EST
Did I get deleted? I swear I posted right after The Yeti. Too off-topic? Computer hiccup? I'm just loco?
Posted by
squee4242 @ 03/21/2005 11:14 PM EST
Definitely not, Squee. 
Posted by
Matt @ 03/21/2005 11:38 PM EST
Yall know Mothers brand cookies? Did they stop making the big Dinosaur grahams? I cant find them anywhere in Texas. Checked college station, houston, and dallas to no avail. If anyone sees them hanging out in your grocery let me know. I miss them terribly…
I work for Hasbro Toys…I'm a Retail Merchandiser for the company…Which pretty much means Im a Glorified Stockboy with access to stockrooms earlier than most and a pretty decent Per Diem…Most of the time I just walk thru the stores with a aire of arrogance knowing that 75% of the toys in Toys R Us are Hasbro's…But when I saw "Thing Feet" I could'nt help but giggle and wonder if Matt was going to do an article on them…Sure enough you have…Great job as always!!! But I have to say, if you were to take a "Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet" with "Hulk Hands" and "Thing Feet" you may have something…Who's to say with the breathing noises, the crashes and the banging, someone may very well think you have a "short stay" hotel on two feet…Bring on the Vibrating Bed!!!
Posted by
Tree @ 03/22/2005 7:15 AM EST
First- yes!
Posted by
Nizzler @ 03/22/2005 10:54 AM EST
Wouldn't the Human Torch Dress-Up Set consist of a bag of oily rags and a lighter?
Posted by
Luap @ 03/22/2005 12:22 PM EST
I totally sent you an e-mail alerting you of them coming at the begining of february! Unfortunately you missed it. I lose.
Posted by
Mike @ 03/22/2005 5:13 PM EST
I'd love to hit the dance floor sporting those bad boys…
Follow up….
Yesterday, I saw a Spiderman mask with gloves that make sounds when you push a button on the wrist…Sad…So sad….
Posted by
Tree @ 03/23/2005 7:26 AM EST
Once, just once I would love to see a boxing championship in hulk gloves and a kickboxing championship in thing feet. My god…the violence…the clangs…it truly would be a day to remember.
Posted by
Alex @ 03/24/2005 2:15 PM EST
Oh yeah, and today is my birthday…
Posted by
Alex @ 03/24/2005 2:20 PM EST
I like the Darth helmet/hulk hands/thing feet idea.
My sister named her daughter Vada Anne when she was born (4 months ago)
My Dad walked into the hospital room and picked his grand-daughter up, and said "Hey Darth, how's it going?" Finally it clicked. DARTH VADA. (I prefer to call her Spacin.
And yes, there are new Bitnerites around.
Posted by
Rod @ 03/24/2005 11:26 PM EST
those pics of Ben Grimm and the the Hulk chillin' together made my day-you rule!
Posted by
Kim @ 03/26/2005 1:18 PM EST
You are a genius. You and I should mate and make incredibly brilliant little pop culture prodigies.
Posted by
Kim @ 03/26/2005 1:23 PM EST
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/?t=archives&date=2005-...
Posted by
Brodie @ 03/26/2005 10:22 PM EST
imagine the havoc one could wreak if one wore thing feet AND hulk hands….my God.
Posted by
capt. spacklepants @ 03/29/2005 11:09 AM EST
Thank you for causing me to laugh out loud at my desk during the fight between The Hulk and Thing at the end. Brilliant! And, my co-workers are still looking at me funny.
Nice article, I love how toy companies make toys not just for kids but for younger adults too. Hey Matt, this is kind of off topic but I just recieved the Super Mario Board game. Its frickin awesome. Me and my girlfriend play it all the time now. I think a review is in question.
Posted by
Lonewolf @ 03/30/2005 11:49 AM EST
Hey Matt, CRESCENT FRESH. Those feet rock the casbar. Dude, I live near you and maybe someday we could buy the F4 torch costume and Mr. Stretch arm and toke at a park or something. Email me at SKYNET1984@gmail.com
CRESCENT FRESH 4:20
Posted by
SKYNET1984 @ 03/31/2005 3:44 PM EST
You know what they should make ?
Carnage appendages. They could serve as plaything AND gardening tool - "Look at your backyard blossom with the Carnage Garden Claw !"
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Posted by Matt. 
