This guide will give both the collector and the curious an insight into the world of toys known as "Marxies" !   In the late 1960's MARX began to produce a series of toys known as "THE MUNCHIE BUNCH". The toys featured commonplace, inanimate objects brought to life by the addition of legs, arms and very goofy faces. Though produced by MARX TOYS, the name "D.DEAN" appears on each real MARXIE. It refers to DAVID DEAN, the designer of the toys and one of a very few to ever share billing on a MARX toy. Although little is known about him, it was Dean's association with the Marx company that gave birth to such fanciful characters as Sassie Strawberry, Sizzie Saxaphone, Rinkie Rose, Bittie Banjo and many, many others .Those first characters, including "Munchie Melon", "Corkie Corn" and "Barnaby Banana"  soon shared the stage with many other toys with "MARXIE" as part of their name. Examples such as Marxie Sugar, Marxie Mustard, Marxie Sparkplug and Marxie Mailbox soon had the line being marketed as "MARXIES". Most characters appeared in many different styles, sizes and materials. The toys were made of tin, plastic, vinyl, and even plush. They drove cars,go carts and trains. They hopped, spun. vibrated and  moved on friction motor powered wheels. There were "bendies", puppets, a playset and even pencil sharpeners ! Marx even commisioned Whitman Publishing to create connect the dot and coloring books featuring the adventures of the characters and they were popular enough that "knockoffs" like "Pumpsie Pump"** were made by other toy companies . It is the seemingly endless variety of  MARXIES that makes collecting them exciting and challenging. Some are common and seen freqently and others I have  seen only once in the 15 years I have pursued them. Just when I think I have seen them all I am surprised and delighted by a new Marx/Dean creation ! 

**a large vinyl gas pump character by the IRWINco., pumpsie is a dead ringer for "Marxie Gas Pump".