This site is created to celebrate what is truly one the greatest groups of toy action figures of all time- The Outer Space Men. Who could have known back in 1968, that  seven poseable alien figures would become an icon of the space toy world for generation after generation. Truly these very first bendable action figures have forever held a place among some of the greatest toys ever invented. The creative genius behind them is Mel Birnkrant.  Even  today, Mr. Birnkrant is busy inventing toys to thrill and please people young and old. I am lucky enough to be able to call this man a friend for almost 20 years. Mel is brilliant, innovative and talented  beyond the scope of most artists. This site is dedicated to Mel and his wonderful family.

Hi everyone. Please take a moment to watch this interview that I did at the last comic show. I think that I touched on a lot of interesting facts that some of you may not know. Thanks so much, Gary.

http://www.cac-tv.com/2009/12/the-outer-space-men/

THE NEWEST ARTWORK FROM FAMED BOSTON ARTIST ANDY FISH HAS ARRIVED. AFTER DEBUTING AT THE WIZARD BIG APPLE COMIC CON IN NEW YORK THE REMAINING PIECES ARE ON SALE RIGHT HERE. THIS AMAZING COLOSSUS REX ARTWORK IS THE FIRST IN THE ENTIRE 13 OSM SERIES SOON TO APPEAR ONLY HERE!

  TWITTER HAS ARRIVED AT THE OSM! FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION AT: WWW.TWITTER.COM/GARYSCHAEFFER

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE OSM STORE BY CLICKING THE LINK ABOVE. 

YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING FROM VINTAGE OSM FIGURES AS WELL AS SCREEN PRINTED TEE'S

THE GRAPHIC NOVEL IS HERE AND THE REVIEWS ARE POURING IN!

AFTER AN INCRDIBLE JOURNEY OF RESEARCH AND UNMATCHED TALENT THE BOOK IS HERE. LOOK FOR YOUR COPY AT YOUR FAVORITE COMIC BOOK STORE NOW.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW OUTER SPACE MEN!

ORDER YOUR VERY OWN COPY TODAY!

SEE STORE FOR DETAILS. THE BOOKS ARE SHIPPING NOW!!!

WE NOW HAVE A BLOG!

CHECK OUT THE REVIEWS AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS!

 http://theouterspacemen.blogspot.com/

Origins

For the past several years, all 13 Outer Space Men action figures (first and second series) have been studied, researched and federally registered with the United States Patent and Trademark  and Copyright offices for the express intent of bringing them back to the attention of the people who remember playing with them, cherishing them, burying them in the back yard and or finding them in  some box years later where a smile came upon their face as they remembered what it was like to play with a truly wonderful toy.

 The Outer Space Men suffered a terrible blow  in July of 1969 , when man touched down on the Moon and returned safely to Earth.  Nearly overnight, every toy company declared that "Space was Dead" as Man had conquered the vast icy cold vacuum of space, the major toy companies decided that there was no longer any need  for space  toy action figures. By 1969, The Outer Space Men were pumping out up to 500,000 individual piece sales across the US and the famous "Second Series" was underway.  Mel Birnkrant had created  an even more elaborate, even more incredible set of 6 new action figures that would stun the toy industry. Believing that the next set of six  action figures should refocus away from the outer space genre, it was decided that this new group of interplanetary peace keepers would be called "The World of the Future."  Alas, this proved to be a futile attempt as the powers that  be pulled the plug on this new collection  after receiving only six prototype sets and the figures would rarely  be  seen again.

An attempt was made in the late 1970's as Star Wars brought space toys back with a vengence to bring the OSM back in puzzle or playset fashion, however the original seven figures would remain forever molded, packaged and sold that one incredible year about ten years earlier when kids all over America sat on the floor and opened up their Colossus Rex or their Alpha 7 action figures. Today one can only hope to obtain a set of the original seven carded figures. The search continues for the ever elusive and impossible to find World of the Future figures, as only  six sets  came into the US from Asia. Most every one of those six sets, however, is accounted for and buried deep within  private collections, seldom to be seen. There are however, one or two individual figures whether loose or carded whose whereabouts remain unknown.