The Jem Doll Craze

Jem was the #1 Nielsen rated cartoon show in 1986 and had more than 2.5 million viewers worldwide.
There is no doubt that this show some 25 plus years later would still have a cult following.
On June 27th of this year, Integrity Toys along with Hasbro (the creator of the series was Christy Marx who still holds rights to Jem) announced their plans to release a series of dolls based on the show starting with Hollywood Jem doll.
This special edition was released in limited edition of 500 at Comic-con in San Diego this past July and sold out on the second day.

You can find one on Ebay for a mere $504.99 with OOOOH...FREE SHIPPING!
Pinch me, I'm dreaming.
It is being sold by "Mercedesmom" which pretty much tells you what she does with your money.

Haute Doll Magazine for the August 2012 issue, which was given to fans at Comic-Con, has a great picture of Jem on its cover;

The doll is cute, love the hair. The clothes are unimaginative and the head sculpt looks like Hasbro won over Integrity. Too bad. I love Integrity sculpts.

The best part is that Haute Doll Magazine is back! They are no longer sharing an issue with Doll Reader magazine whom they merged with awhile back.
From what I have read there will be 4 issues per year, which is less than their 6 previously.
I elatedly welcome them back and hope they do the fashion doll world and conventions proud!

The last time a Jem series doll was released was 1986 and many can still be found on EBay.
Unfortunately, since the release of this new Jem, the prices have gone up on the old series astronomically. You will be lucky to find one for less than $50 and if you do, it will probably be pretty ratsy and maybe have a few good collector teeth marks on them.
The 1986 series made by Hasbro looked more like action figures than dolls, which is fine if that's what you like.

This deboxed one on Ebay is a mere $500.00 and comes with wrinkled posters and whose head (for picture purposes) is lying on a rug...how sanitary!

After all that, of course I want one.

I think however I will make my own from a Integrity Dynamite Girl, give her some new pink/white hair, tease it up into a coma and make some clothes for her (which I am now learning...thank you Sewing For Dummies!!!!)

To recap, I don't find this Jem too outrageous, I just find the greed on Ebay outrageous....TRULY...... TRULY OUTRAGEOUS!