ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999

ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999 Cover

ToyFare was a monthly magazine published by Wizard Entertainment that focused on collectible action figures and related items. It previewed new and upcoming lines and figures each month from 1997 to 2011. Issue 19 had contained an article by John Michlig "Conspiracy Theory" on pages 30-34 which humorously questioned whether the Major Matt Mason line was ended due to nefarious conspiracy. John Michlig has a transcript available on his "Fully Articulated" substack with a new preface.

ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999 Page 30

ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999 Page 31

ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999 Page 32

ToyFare Magazine No. 19 March 1999 Page 33

John's Take

This is a pretty fun read but the best part of it are the snippets quoting Mattel toy inventors (page 32). There's a running implication that aliens are on the moon and that's why we haven't returned (also why MMM ended) - that part falls a bit flat for me as a framing device, but perhaps that's all that's needed? ToyFare always took a rather ironic look at toys and the industry so conspiracy fit into that context.

All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.