When Stretch Armstrong was relaunched, I was transported back to my childhood and excited to share some toy nostalgia with my children. Now, Character Options has brought back the super villain Vac Man to add even more old school fun to playtime. He joins Stretch Armstrong, Fetch Armstrong and Octopus for some super stretchy entertainment that the grown-ups will love as much as the kids!
Vac Man is a 14" fully stretchable and poseable vac powered action figure that can be stretched to four times his original size. He can have the air pumped out of him using the special syringe that fits into the side of his head and can then be stretched and posed and have his limbs cracked. By pressing the release valve button on the side of his head he can be returned to his normal state.
The Vac Man action figure is filled with non-toxic bead shaped filler. When in his original state he feels quite soft and squishy, but after the air has been sucked out, he turns hard and lumpy. Freddy calls him Warty Man because of the texture of his skin!!
Vac Man looks pretty impressive and vibrant with his red coloured body, sinister grimace and silver head gear. The syringe fits and locks into the socket on his head and can be pumped up to ten times. It gets quite tough to pull back the syringe, but the more you pump out his air, the better you can play with him, stretch him and crack him.
He is a very tactile, textural toy that Freddy enjoyed playing with. It can be manipulated into different positions and makes a satisfying, crunchy sound. It is good for sensory play and has an educational aspect as children learn about the effect of pumping out the air. It's an all round great toy that really sparked Freddy's imagination.
The valve to release his vacuum is easy to operate and he very quickly returns to his original soft form. Vac Man is sturdy and has a new stronger formula to his predecessor, however he has some care instructions that need to be adhered to, to avoid damage. You must avoid extreme temperatures, not pull his head, keep him away from water and avoid sharp objects. He must always be put away in his soft, non-stretched state to keep him in tip top condition.
Vac Man is suitable for children aged 5 and over. He retails for £29.99 and can be found on www.character-online.com. Great fun for kids and a nostalgic gift for the young at heart!