I first heard of the Glyos System like many others may have, through their addition to the Four Horsemen Outer Space Men figures. What the Glyos System (pronouned “gl-EYE-os”) is about is a simple system of interchangeable joints, basically small pegs that are easily removable, but also stay on tight for articulation and posing. In a word, AWESOME.
To be honest, I didn’t know a lot about Glyos or Onell Design before the Four Horsemen started incorporating them into their Outer Space Men and Symbiotech lines. But Sandman and I stopped by the Glyos booth at SDCC (I’ve got to see if we have any pictures available), and they’ve got some really cool stuff cooking. BattleGrip has a great first look at the new joint system coming from Glyos. Looks like some really dynamic poses will be possible.
The Glyos System Expands with New Joints
Matt Doughty (Onell Design) sent me photos of a completely new set of joints for the Glyos System action figures. I got a sneak peek at these a few months ago when I visited Matt, but now I get to share the latest photos of these new parts. I posted a Flickr set for those of you who want a peek at the larger images. All I know is I’m gonna order tons of these once they’re released as packs.
The Four Horsemen have planned a new line of action figures that were borne out of Fantastic Exclusive – it’s the Symbiotech line, featuring a 4-inch scaled figure (the smaller one shown) with a larger figure paired with it. The line will also feature compatibility with the Glyos joint system, meaning they’ll also work with the Four Horsemen’s recently announced Outer Spacemen line.
As promised, exclusive to all of you FANtastic FANatics (but feel free to re-post these wherever you want), it’s TYGOS & TYGOLITH!!
These two guys will be the first releases for Symbiotech, and if we can work it out, we may release a second Pygma and Goleth pair at the same time to create the first wave!
We’re extremely excited about the new Symbio-Lock articulation we’ve put into Tygos! He has ball & socket joints at the head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles!!
The back-packs and other fittings on the character’s armor are compatible with Onell Designs: Glyos pop & play system!
Not only that, but the shoulder joints have also incorporated the Glyos build system into the ball & socket joint which will allow customizers a new level of interchangeability!!
Check out the photos, let us know what you think, and if you’re at Comic Con, please be sure to come by booth #4045 to see the original, non-updated prototypes of three more Symbiotech: Pygma/Goleth pairs!
There are a couple of very interesting points about this announcement. The Four Horsemen have become best known as the design studio behind the great DC Universe Classics and Masters of the Universe Classics lines from Mattel, but with their Fantastic Exclusive and Seventh Kingdom toys have started venturing into manufacturing their own figures. This will be the first time that they have ventured into the licensing end of the toy business.
Compatibility with Glyos joint system from Onell Designs means that Outer Space Men will launch into an existing fan base. It’ll be interesting to see how the 4H will bring this to market, whether it will be a line sold on Store Horsemen, a different online store, or bricks and mortar retail.
FOUR HORSEMEN ACQUIRE THEIR FIRST LICENSED PROPERTY – THE OUTER SPACE MEN
Forty-two years ago the space race between the United States and Russia was in full swing, and a full wave of action figures known as The Outer Space Men was released that caught the imagination of a generation.
Although the initial salvo of characters was well received, the characters that were to be part of the second wave, collectively referred to as The World of Tomorrow, never made it into production and currently only exist as elaborate prototypes / production samples in the homes of a couple of fortunate collectors.
Fast forward to today. Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios have been able to have a hand in the successful re-launches of many of their favorite toy lines from their childhood, but a few of their favorite properties have so far been unobtainable to them until now.
Collaborating closely with the property’s creator, Mel Birnkrant, the Four Horsemen are proud to announce their first venture into licensed properties – The Outer Space Men!
Already well into production, the first two 3-3/4 inch scaled waves of The Outer Space Men will consist of two characters per wave.
Wave one will be Astro-Nautilus: the Man from Neptune featuring four articulated tentacles and his regal undersea trident; and Inferno: the Flame Man of Mercury wielding his fiery flame blaster and removable helmet!
Wave two will contain Xodiac: the Man from Saturn along with his Saturnian scepter, disintegrator pistol, and removable helmet; and Metamorpho: the Man from Alpha Centauri brandishing his morpho-gun, alpha sensor, and transforming facial features!
The Outer Space Men creator, Mel Birnkrant has given the Four Horsemen full access to all of the OSM archives in order to assure the highest quality and coolest new interpretations of the characters possible, but the collaboration doesn’t end there.
In an effort to re-introduce The Outer Space Men to as wide an audience as possible, new play features have been added into this new version of a classic toy line! Working directly with Matt Doughty, owner of Onell Designs, the Four Horsemen have incorporated Onell Designs innovative Glyos joint system into The Outer Space Men, making them almost 100% compatible with all of Onell designs releases! The Outer Space Men is something that both the Four Horsemen and Matt have been discussing for years now, and it just seemed like the perfect property in which to incorporate the phenomenal Glyos fit function.
As production nears completion, more images and product availability info will be released. The release of The Outer Space Men marks a new approach to action figure production for the Four Horsemen, and more info about this, other announcements and what role the Horsemens FANtastic Exclusive venture will play in all of this will come next week.
