Strange alien clown popping thing

[Misanthropic Monster™]

I recently acquired a PANIC PETE squisher toy which has elated me to momentary happiness, it's something I've been fascinated with my entire life as I've seen reference to this thing in all kinds of media from old movies to cartoons to video games from as far back as the '80s... yet I'd never seen one irl!

I feel like the most popular version I saw referenced throughout the years was the ARCHIE MCPHEE iteration. Some kind soul was amazing enough to create a website showcasing the entire documented history of this thing, which you can see here: The Jo-Bo Database - it's so much fun to see how this thing evolved over the years from it's first initial concept.   



I was wondering if anyone here ever owned one of these things and if so which variant did you have (and do you still have it?) Have you also seen this thing referenced throughout popular culture? Were you like me and wondered what the heck it was whilst being deeply fascinated with its design?

I love the otherworldly design of each incarnation, it feels like it got progressively more clownified as time went on and I am more than cool with that stylistic choice!

[MrsMoe]

I've never owned any of these things, but this dude looks neat! Sort of looks like a weird clown-based alien species (y'know, like Killer Klowns).

[Misanthropic Monster™]

It's interesting you bring Killer Klowns into the convo because that concept was definitely conjured whenever I'd see this lil dude in media over the years. I have a very focused interest and obsession with the concept of clowns being actual creatures/aliens and all their clowny attributes being part of their species/culture. I love that idea so much that it influences a lot of things I love and draw.

So yeah I totally agree, I love how this thing looks like some sort of otherworldly clown entity.    It's exciting to me that you see it that way too!

[MrsMoe]

It's interesting you bring Killer Klowns into the convo because that concept was definitely conjured whenever I'd see this lil dude in media over the years. I have a very focused interest and obsession with the concept of clowns being actual creatures/aliens and all their clowny attributes being part of their species/culture. I love that idea so much that it influences a lot of things I love and draw.

So yeah I totally agree, I love how this thing looks like some sort of otherworldly clown entity.    It's exciting to me that you see it that way too!

I'm also really fascinated by the idea of clowns being their own separate species! One of my OCs (Jeckle) was born out of that fascination. He's a shapeshifting lizard-like creature who takes the form of one. I think in general it comes from the supposed "uncanny" effect most people get from clowns. They have makeup emphasizing and exaggerating their emotions but that's what makes them seem so....off to most people. In general, I love creatures that are human-esque but aren't actually quite human (vampires, angels, skeletons, etc).

[Nikodile]

A memory has been unlocked because of this thread. I remember seeing these things around sparsely when I was younger but never knew what they were called.

[Misanthropic Monster™]

I'm also really fascinated by the idea of clowns being their own separate species! One of my OCs (Jeckle) was born out of that fascination. He's a shapeshifting lizard-like creature who takes the form of one. I think in general it comes from the supposed "uncanny" effect most people get from clowns. They have makeup emphasizing and exaggerating their emotions but that's what makes them seem so....off to most people. In general, I love creatures that are human-esque but aren't actually quite human (vampires, angels, skeletons, etc).

Yes absolutely I feel the same way!

Do you have any pics of Jeckle you'd care to share here? I'm interested to see other people's clowny critters!

A memory has been unlocked because of this thread. I remember seeing these things around sparsely when I was younger but never knew what they were called.

Hehe yes, this was totally it for me when I was younger, I'd see these referenced on TV and in movies and I'd never know what they were. I got the jist that they were some sort of stress relief toy but never understood what they were - I just knew that their otherworldly design appealed to me greatly!

[MrsMoe]

Yes absolutely I feel the same way!

Do you have any pics of Jeckle you'd care to share here? I'm interested to see other people's clowny critters!

I've already shared this art on a different thread about our OCs, but I guess it doesn't hurt to share them twice. I must stress that this is my sister's art and not my own and that this design is a little outdated (he has a much more uncanny valley type design in my head now)

[Misanthropic Monster™]

Oh I love the design! Your sister did a great job bringing them to life! (I apologise for making you repost, I've not checked the OCs thread for a little bit, though I am planning on sharing some of my own OCs in it as soon as I get the time/motivation!!)