When last we saw Winlsow Schott, the terrible Toyman, he had reformed and retired from his life of crime, going back to making toys.

Schott was so reformed, the International Inventors' Exposition was holding a special exhibition of his toys at the Metropolis Coliseum.

Unfortunately, Superman showed up and destroyed all of Schott's toys--or, at least, that's how it appeared:

(Hint: It am not Superman...)

And I guess Schott wasn't all that reformed, because that little setback was enough to send him around the bend:

Now, Schott had always been a little crazy--but now he's Arkham-crazy, if you take my meaning.

The "new" Toyman, Jack Nimball, had just recently been paroled, so Schott decides to pay him a nocturnal visit.

But first, a very unlucky doorman:


GAAAAHHKKK!!

Then, Schott leaves a cuckoo clock for Nimball. (Is a cuckoo clock really a toy? Discuss.) An EVIL cuckoo clock!!







EEEYAAHHHHH!!!!!

You would think that Nimball, who went toe-to-toe with Superman a few times, would have the wherewithal to at least, I don't know, get out of the way, or move, or something.

But apparently not. And just two years after Nimball was introduced as the new Toyman, his "miserable godforsaken life" is ended...so Toyman is dead, long live the Toyman!!

Except now, instead of being merely a kooky thief, he's a Gotham-style murderer. Look, kids, comics!!

Marty Pasko, Curt Swan and Bob Oksmer take Toyman down a terrible pathway in Superman #305 (1976).

It's 1974, and a brand new Toyman has just made his evil debut.

Winslow Schott, the original Toyman, has retired and reformed, but this new Toyman is defiling the brand, as it were, so Schott decides to teach him a thing or two...






Wow. You know, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Superman has the lamest Rogue's Gallery around!

No wonder they keep going back to Luthor for the movies...

Of course (SPOILER ALERT), Schott hadn't really turned back to evil...he was just helping out Superman as part of a clever ploy.

Yet just two years later, in 1976, Schott would go back to being a villain, and murder the Jack Nimball Toyman so he alone could have the title. Yes, he murdered him. Just in case you believe everything was sugarpies and moonbeams and happiness in the DC Universe pre-Crisis...not everything is Geoff Johns' fault...

Buffoon fight from Action Comics #432 (1974).