SEATTLE — A new action figure of a frumpy-looking librarian who moves her index finger to her lips with “amazing push-button shushing action!” is prompting librarians around the world to raise their voices in protest.
“The shushing thing just put me right over the edge,” said Diane DuBois, library director of Caribou Public Library in Caribou, Maine. “We’re so not like that anymore. It’s so stereotypical I could scream.”
The 5-inch Librarian Action Figure, which shows a bespectacled woman in a cardigan, long plain skirt and sensible shoes, goes on sale in October for $8.95.
It is produced by Seattle kitsch retailer Archie McPhee and Co., whose lineup of action figures includes Sigmund Freud, Nico the espresso stand barista, and the McPhee action figure that started it all, Jesus Christ.
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They also have this:
Introduce this Pope Innocent III Action Figure to your other figures and watch the spiritual sparks fly! Armed with his formidable power of excommunication and an intimidating scroll inscribed with Latin text, this 6″ tall, hard plastic model of the 176th Pope will soon have all your other action figures lining up for confession. Read the back of the illustrated blistercard and you’ll find that Pope Innocent III was a good guy in all respects. He was a patron of the arts, cared about orphans, built a hospital and reunified the Papal States! Comes with removable fancy Pope hat.
5 comments
The librarians are not exactly counteracting the stereotype of their being uptight by making such a big deal about this dumb little toy. Their outrage has given it more attention than it ever would have gotten otherwise.
And I dig the Pope action figure – “Armed with his formidable power of excommunication and an intimidating scroll inscribed with Latin text.” That’s too cool.
I guess arming him with the power of Prayer would have been too obvious and not funny enough.
By the way, has anyone transcribed the “Latin text”?
Using the magnifier utility in Windows, I decided that it said, “Filii Hohenstaufenin, osculamini asinum meum.” Osculamini is the plural imperative of the deponent verb ‘osculor.’ So…”Sons of Hohenstauf, kiss my ass.” “Hohenstauf” was a dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors of Pope Innocent’s time period.
Three more men that absolutely must be added to the action figure list
(1) Paul IV (Carrafa)
(2) Archbishop John Charles McQuade
Hi, I actually found this page while looking for a transcription of this text, because I wanted an explanation of that proper name (thanks Mr. (or Ms.) Checkai!). Just felt I should post to point out that the “ass” in this text is literally the “donkey” sort of ass, not the anatomical one 😉
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