bootleg toys

For some, Love is their drug. For others, drugs are their drug. For me, it’s flea markets. They’re addictive — once you’ve experienced one, you feel the need to visit regularly or else you might miss some junk you don’t need that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I love the discount deals on household items and the occasional rare score of a vintage geek collectible for a great price. But what I love most about flea markets is the amusement to be found in odd and unusual knock-off and/or bootleg products, particularly cheaply-made imports with their crudely designed artwork, garishly colored packaging, and “Engrish” product descriptions. There are whole websites devoted to the showcasing and collecting of these products (hereafter referred to as “KOs”). But I just photograph them for others’ amusement. First up is this knock-off toy based on Pixar’s Cars movie franchise, with its creepy, ventriloquist dummy-type bulging eyes. (Note the packaging says “Funny Car” and unintentionally so.) You have to give the designer some credit for the