ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 1, 1996 TAG: 9612020059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-13 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HARTFORD, CONN.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Buxom Xena can be stripped down to her voluptuous plastic skin, while the violent Freak, with his tattered clothes and bagful of weapons, may encourage kids to fear homeless people.
Christmas toys have taken a decidedly unsavory bent, says the Rev. Christopher Rose, compiling his 10th annual list of warped playthings.
In his latest list, published Saturday in The Hartford Courant, he criticizes erotically dressed female action figures.
``What is it teaching little boys about women?'' asked Rose, rector of Grace Episcopal Church.
He notes that the package for Xena II, part of the ``Hercules, The Legendary Journeys'' toy series, suggests: ``Remove Xena's Princess warrior outfit.'' And Tiffany the Amazon has a removable bra.
``She's supposed to be a hero,'' says Rose. ``But why is it you take her clothes off?''
But his No.1 target this season is ``The Freak,'' a deranged-looking character who looks too much like an innocent homeless person.
``About 40 percent of the homeless are mentally ill,'' he says.
In 1990, Rose and others got the Walt Disney Co. to agree to stop selling ``Steve the Tramp,'' which he considered a tasteless reflection on the homeless.
That character, one of a series based on the movie ``Dick Tracy,'' was described on the package as ``a lout who would just as soon take your life as your wallet ... [and] will use and abuse any young, helpless prey he comes across.''
``Super Size Angela'' also appears on this year's list: the scantily clad action figure is described on the package as ``an angel with ulterior motives.''
Rose said he fears young boys may develop their own ulterior motives.
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB