Spock Gets a Box of Tribbles from McCoy for Christmas

Once upon a time, the crew of the enterprise decided to bring back the "secret santa" tradition. Most were very excited, with the exception of Spock and Doctor McCoy. Spock felt that such a tradition was illogical and meant for humans, to which McCoy responded harshly, "You ARE half human, Spock - how about you try getting into the spirit of things, you green blooded hobgoblin."

Things really got interesting when McCoy picked Spock's name out of the boot.

"I'm a doctor, not a damn Santa!" McCoy exclaimed loudly as he paced Kirk's quarters. "What am I supposed to give to a Vulcan for Christmas?"

The corner of Kirk's mouth turned up slightly - "Why, appeal to his human side, Bones."

Christmas day finally came around on the Enterprise, and the main crew was gathered on the bridge. Each held a small box or bag in their hands, looking around anxiously.

Kirk recieved an antique paperback from Uhura - "The Crucible". McCoy was given a beautifully framed picture of his daughter Joanna and himself, Scotty a bottle of vintage scotch, Sulu a genuine leather cloak, and Chekov a Russian history book with wide margins where he could add his own "facts".

Spock had gotten a hold of another Vulcan Lute for Uhura, which she accepted gratefully and began to play. As she played, she sang a song in Swahili.

Finally, it was McCoy's turn to present Spock with his gift. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he handed to package over to the Vulcan. Spock, raising one eyebrow, inspected the package before untying the bow and and lifting the lid.

Trying to hide his surprise, Spock watched as the box overflowed with tribbles that fell at his feet. Kirk and McCoy were beside him now, not bothering to hide their grins. Lifting a tribble from the box in his hand, he held it up inquisitively.

The entire crew broke out in laughter - Spock cocked his eyebrow once more, and with the tilt of his head, muttered... "fascinating."

McCoooooooooooy!

And there you have it - the back story I made up (in a couple of minutes, just now) to go with my new figure. I got this amazing figure at the same time and place as I got my Doctor Who glass and duvet set - from a wonderful man who really knows his stuff. I am in love with the structure of his face and ears here, hence all of the close-ups. Whoever made this is a glorious being.

And Then I Rescued Sulu and Spock from Burger King and Abusive Children.

Aside from rummaging through antique and second hand shops, I also check online for other local sellers (usedeverywhere, kijiji). I have found a lot of great items being sold by like-minded fans in my city, and have doubled my collection.

These next two "toys" were not bought by a like-minded fan, however (at least he wasn't as far as I know). They had a couple of children with them when I went to the door, they were slightly scuffed up, from Burger King, and they were being sold for one dollar. That's 50 cents each. So I was pretty excited, even if their disproportionate heads did creep me out a bit.

He is always watching. He stands there on my shelf, waiting...

Now of course these were promoting the 2009 Star Trek movie, so I am assuming that the Sulu toy is quoting the movie when I press the button on his back. I really don't know, because whatever comes out is impossible to understand, and is said in a strange tinny voice. It kind of sounds like "work durry sir" said really fast. Perhaps "Warp drive, sir"? "Warp three, sir"?

Spock's voice is understandable, and (of course) he simply quotes "live long, and prosper". It even sounds like Nimoy - slightly whistle-y and lisp-y, but that's what you get when something is mass-produced and then thrown around by children at a fast food joint.

He stares into your soul.

This may just be my obsessiveness getting the best of me again, but it really bothers me that his hair is black and his eyes are grey, when if they wanted to be true to the movie, his eyes would be brown and his hair would be grey.

Still, there is nothing creepier than toys and figures with short little bodies and huge heads.
Nothing, that is, unless those same toys and figures with short little bodies and huge heads are sitting on a shelf while being lighted by candles from below:

Oh dear.

Spock and Hikaru are my Playmates.

Dollarama has been selling the Playmates Star Trek 2009 Galaxy Collection figures for a while now, at two dollars each. Most of the characters' faces were just too skewed for me (a combination of bad sculpting and the fact that they are based on different actors than I am used to) so I only ended up getting a couple. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find the new Spock or Kirk. I did, however, find Sulu and the Original Spock.


Poor Mister Sulu here has the misfortune of having his shirt made of a strange rubber, but he does come with a phaser, communicator, and a utility belt to put them in:

Hikaru Sulu in action! Running across Kirk and Spock's face.

I don't know what is happening with his arm here - I think he dislocated it somehow.

Spock's top is also made out of a strange rubber, the kind they used to use for Polly Pockets. He didn't come with anything extra, stands a plain black stand, and looks nothing like Leonard Nimoy. That aside, I still appreciate having it:

Spock Prime, played by Leonard Nimoy (one thing they got right, at least)

Looking nothing like Leonard Nimoy here, and more like some random old man.

I don't like to spend a lot of money on Playmates items, because of the lack of quality - but for two dollars each, there was really no reason not to get these guys. I am still looking out for Kirk and the new Spock!

Captain Spock.

A while ago when I told a friend that I got a Captain Spock figure I got this response:
"Since when was Spock ever a Captain?"
I had never been more ashamed. He called himself a trekkie, and didn't believe me when I said that Spock was a Captain from the Wrath of Khan until he became an ambassedor. He told me he didn't know Spock was ever an ambassador, either. I have since forgiven him.

In my last post I was writing about the time I went to the Comic and Toy expo, and I mentioned this figure: Diamond Select: Star Trek II Wrath of Khan collection, Series 2: Captain Spock.

He looks so mighty, with his novel and communicator.

This particular figure is my favorite, because he looks so sharp and in control. Also, I loved these uniforms! They made everybody look amazing, unlike those in the Motion Picture. Those were just terrible, and they knew it.

There's just something about those ears.

Surak: the father of Vulcan philosophy. Ozhika: logic.

The book was plain when I got it, but I wrote on it with a toothpick and whiteout to make it more meaningful. No longer is it a mere book, but it contains the words of Surak. The symbol underneath "Surak" is the Vulcan Script for "ozhika" or "logic".

Captain Spock also came with interchangeable hands, a communicator, and a phaser.

I wish I had interchangeable hands. I have plaster copies of my hands, but it's not the same.

I would love to get the rest of the WOK collection, but they are just so bloody expensive - I would need hundreds of dollars just to get those remaining, and I would rather spend that money on items that I can learn from, such as novels and DVDs.

Knowledge is power.
The more you know.

They're not dolls, they're action figures!

I was at the Comic and Toy Expo a couple of months ago, dressed in a home-made Vulcan Priestess costume modeled after T'Lar. It was an amazing experience; I got to talk to Tim Russ and Robert Picardo and get my picture taken with them. They truly are two of the nicest people I have met - and such character!

Aside from striding up timidly (yes, I can stride timidly!) up to celebrities and getting my picture taken by strangers in costume, I had a great time browsing though comics, cards, and action figures.

I came home with bags of merchandise, but one of my favorites was the Star Trek: Amok Time: Kirk and Spock Two-Pack Action Figure Set. Now some people say that I am not much of a collector because I take the sets apart, but I really enjoy my figures - to the point of re-enacting scenes from Amok Time while humming the music loudly and dramatically.

I'll bet that music is playing in your head right now. It just has to be.

These figures are very well made, when compared to Playmates or any of the other Amok Time figures I have seen. And look, the carpeting in the pictures looks just as realistic as some of the backdrops in the unretouched original series! Now THAT is dedication on my part, right?

Now Spock, deep in the Plak Tow, grasps his lirpa menacingly...

Live action shot!

And then we see Jim Kirk, with a strange looking crotch and a slashed chest:

Because his shirt just had to get ripped somehow.

The pack also came with the ceremonial hammer and gong. The gong is great, because it actually breaks apart and can be put together again (these details make all the difference).

Strangely enough, these were actually my first Star Trek figures, along with Captain Spock (whom I will get around to later). I remember really being into Star Trek when I was very young, but then it faded as I grew older. I only really got obsessed again this year - and when I like something, I research it to no end. I read all of the novels. I search the internet. I watch everything remotely related.

It wouldn't have taken you long to realize that just by reading on, though.
I will leave you with this: