Preorders Are Open for Brandt Peters x Zectron's "Camazotz" from Unbox Industries

    Do you really think I don't have a bat story?  Of course I have a bat story, and it goes a little something like this:

    When I was a teenager my family and I lived in a very old farmhouse complete with a barn and fields and such.  What also goes well with a very old farmhouse is a slew of uninvited guests that don't really give a crap whether you want them to live with you or not.  Most of us call those "relatives" but when you live in the middle of nowhere they usually involve species much different from you.  One morning my mother woke me up because she was screaming like OJ broke in.  I ran into the kitchen so I could give the police a good description of the assailant before I pleaded for my life and I see her backed into a corner and pointing at the window.  I looked over and the entire curtain rod, from end to end, was lined with bats.  They weren't any bigger than a mouse, but with rabies being an actual problem where I lived (I've even had my shots, which hurt like a mother) the little critters are cute but do pose a danger.  We closed the kitchen off and waited for them to fly back into the attic through the previously unnoticed hole in the plaster and then went about our day.  It was almost as exciting as the time I caught the same snake in my apartment on two different occasions.  But I digress.

      I have no idea where the name Camazotz comes from, but I know this bat dude from Brandt Peters and Zectron is amazing.  Standing at 10 inches tall, this vinyl beauty produced by Unbox Industries is available for preorder right now in two different color schemes at $85 each.  Secure one for yourself by visiting http://store.unboxindustries.info.  

The Atomic Nosferatu Night Gamer from Plaseebo

    Oh lord, you better have a priest on speed dial if you let this dude in your house.  Plaseebo is known for making creatures that would induce nightmares in the toughest of folks, but this guy has taken that idea and cranked it to 11.  Is it those freaky eyes, or is it those sharp flesh-rendering teeth that look like they could pick your bones clean with disturbing efficiency?  On second though forget the priest and go get your gun permit because no amount of holy water could stop this dude from what he has in mind.

    Are you brave enough to live in the same place as this guy?  If your intestinal fortitude is rock solid then you could welcome him home when he goes on sale Friday, January 29th only from www.plaseebo.net.

"Here's your new night light Timmy."

Nathan Jurevicius Presents The Nightriders Mini Series from Kidrobot

    There are mysterious goings on in the dead of night, and I'm not just talking about that family of raccoons who have been treating your trash cans like a casino buffet.  I'm talking about more mystical happenings involving otherworldly creatures who are not in fact interested in pillaging your mom’s green bean casserole.  These are the Nightriders, a group of bird spirits that can travel between worlds as they carry with them information of things unseen.  See, even when you think no one is all up in your business your secrets are still not safe.  If they weren't so dang cute I would be at the store right now buying aluminum foil to cover all my windows and make hats out of to confuse their secret-gathering methods.

    Will they reveal all of their otherworldly knowledge to you?  There’s only one way to find out when these critters from Nathan Jurevicius are released.  Featuring a mixture of Dunny and Munnyworld figures, this blind boxed mini series is beautiful in its simplicity.  And each figure comes with a bonus, stackable owl companion!  Now you can finally realize your dream of having a stackable owl companion named Felix who solves riddles and collects magic-infused gemstones..  That's kind of a weird dream to have when you think about it.

    These will be available starting Friday, January 29th on www.kidrobot.com and wherever you prefer to buy your designer toys.

Micro Busters Wave 1 from Playful Gorilla x Dads Cartoons

    You know the mashup we haven't seen yet that the world surely needs?  A combo of Iron Man's Hulk Buster and The Iron Shiek, who put Hulk Hogan in the Camel Clutch, broke his back, and made him humble.  I'm just throwing that out there for you resin guys to make happen, just don't forget to give me credit or I will suplex you to death.  I don't know how many suplexes it takes to kill a man, but don't make me find out!

    Back to business.  How friggin cute are these Micro Busters?  Usually everyone who made figures of this dude made him gigantic, but look how awesome he looks with his big ol head in miniature.  I love these so much I'm gonna go ahead and say they are my favorite tribute piece to the Avengers films that I have ever seen.  Go ahead and write that down in your book of feelings cause I said it!  There are 6 different colorways in this collaborative resin figure from Playful Gorilla and Dads Cartoons.  Each figure stands a little under 2 inches tall and will be only $20 including free worldwide shipping.  Free worldwide shipping?  They're accountants must be losing their minds right now!  They will only be available from http://playfulgorilla.storenvy.com starting Friday, January 29th.

New Releases from doubleparlour this Friday

     As you might have guessed by now, I didn't win the Powerball.  Believe me you would have heard about it if I did, because I had an epic way that I was gonna quit my job.  Not that I dislike my job at all, but I feel if you are a newly declared billionaire there are certain expectations you have to live up to.  One of which is to quit your place of employment in the most epic way possible.  So this was my plan:  I was going to buy a brand new Aston-Martin, carve my letter of resignation on the hood with a hunting knife, and drive that sucker straight through the front door.  I would then get in my newer Aston-Martin that I had delivered there and drive away laughing.  But I'm not all bad, cause I would leave the title to the wrecked one along with enough cash to fix all the damage to the car and business on the front seat.  I think that would make the news.

   I would do good stuff with the money too, like donate most of it to help save all the little critters of the world (except the Kardashians) and have a standing order placed with doubleparlour.  That way I could have one of everything they make for the rest of my life because every new release makes me fall in love with their work all over again.  And I would also have the best mail days ever when they arrived, which is something that could never get old.  You can add new stuff to your collection when they put everything you see here on sale Friday, January 29th, at noon pacific time only through http://doubleparlour.myshopify.com.

Two New Toys from Super7 Releasing Thursday

     The Pocket Mummy Boy might be my favorite vinyl toy of all time.  Here's how I determined that:  For the most part, I'm not the kind of collector that needs to have a figure in every possible color scheme that he comes in.  I'm usually happy with one or two, then I move on to other things.  As of this writing I have five of these little dudes, which is not a lot by any means, but is more than any other figure that isn't a blind boxed platform toy.  The other reason I could give him the trophy for "Favorite Toy of All Time" is that I never get tired of seeing new versions of him.  Just look at that face!!!!!  You could spatter it with real human blood and I'd still find it adorable.  And he's smiling despite the fact that he's missing most of his right arm.  Some ancient canine could have run off with that thing a long time ago and shoved it under the cushions of a couch and this little dude isn't shook about it.  So what if he can't play the banjo in his Charlie Daniels tribute band?  We could all learn a thing or two from Mummy Boy.

    I didn't even mention the fact that both the Pocket Mummy Boy and the Rose Vampire figure you see below from are cast in premium marbled vinyl, which you all know I love more than any precious gemstone.  These beauties from Super7 will go on sale Thursday, January 28th, at noon pacific time from www.super7store.com.  Rose Vampire will be $35, while Pocket Mummy Boy will be $25.  

Help Kickstart Tara McPherson's First Board Game "Dreamwell"

     When I first heard Tara McPherson was doing the art for a new game I assumed it was gonna be for an app.  So then like a dummy I went and tried to download it, which is when I learned that it was actually a real life board game like Monopoly, which no one will play with me because I get way too intense. Basically I like to play until I put you in financial ruin and slowly begin to take everything you own.  And I laugh maniacally while I do it, which is probably the part that upsets people the most.  World domination isn't pretty though, and you better man up if you think you're gonna be buying up property in my neighborhood.

    The game is called Dreamwell and the premise is that you're trying to locate some friends that have become lost.  It doesn't have the same nefarious dealings that Monopoly does, but think of that warm and fuzzy feeling you'll get when you rescue these poor lost folk despite the lack of cash reward.  And you can play with up to four people total, so when you win you can still celebrate like you scored the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl.  You should never pass up the opportunity to highlight your dominance in any competition.

    Tara and Action Phase Games need your help to make this become a reality and are running a Kickstarter campaign to generate the funding.  Check out the link here and contribute what you can.  Even if you can't find someone to play with you because of your colorful history with board games, each piece would look really cool to decorate with.  

Icebox Pocket Sideshow Chibi Figures from Circus Posterus

    Where were these little dudes when I was digging my car out of the snow and ice a few days ago?  They look primed for the frozen outdoors and I'm sure I could have found them some tiny shovels in just their size to help with the work.  Shoveling snow feels like a curse, but having little elf-sized helpers would probably make it at least mildly amusing.

    Circus Posterus is unleashing the latest in their series of Pocket Sideshow figures this Friday and they perfectly capture the more magical side of the season we are in.  Featuring designs from Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Chris Ryniak, and Amanda Louise Spayd, these little dudes will make you feel much less hateful to the ice that has encased your wife's car until the spring thaw.

http://www.circusposterus.com

Naomi Knaff is Having a Sale!

 
    Let me tell you something:  I love a sale.  Just the other day Sharon and I walked into our local Target so she could re up her supply of fruits snacks, and there on the clearance rack was one of those two foot tall Stormtroopers.  I smiled the whole way to the counter as I carried my 30% off prize, excited by the combination of savings and Star Wars.  Then the nice lady at the checkout scanned it and my heart dropped as it came up full price.  Luckily I didn't have to start a holy war as the issue was easily corrected, and my brand new toy was ushered to its new home.

    Resin wizard Naomi Knaff is having a sale on her insane creations to make way for new things.  Save 15% right now by visiting her site at http://www.naomiknaff.com.

    

Rick Springfield Has a Better Star Wars Collection Than You

     The toy game is strong in this one.  And before you think it's because he's rich, he actually bought most of it when it first came out, making him a true plastic visionary.  Rick Springfield, I salute you.  Oh, and the video is courtesy of Rolling Stone.  Not that they sent it to me or anything, I just kinda yanked it off of Youtube.  Just giving credit where it is due.  

Boba K.Slave at Coin Rides Game #2 from Fools Paradise

    There is no way I'm attempting to retype the name of this toy cause everything about me is in pain at the grammatical free for all that is taking place there.  Thankfully, that has zero bearing on how amazing this toy is.  Fools Paradise makes some drool-worthy pieces that I would kill to own and this may be my all time favorite one.  They've turned Boba Fett's Slave One into a coin op ride, turned him into a her, and the result is one of the best interpretation of the Star Wars universe that I've ever seen.

    The preorder for this beauty is going on right now over at this link until February 6th.  They're making them to order so don't expect to get one if you miss out this go round.  Each one will set you back $269, but think of all the happiness it will bring you.

3DRetro is Throwing a Release Party for The 8 Inch Sketracha Dunny from Sket One x Kidrobot

    People love this Sriracha stuff.  The other day while walking through Target I noticed that they even had Sriracha branded boxer shorts, which could send mixed messages to anyone that sees you wearing them.  They could assume that what you got going on is so hot you just have to advertise it.  Or they could assume that what you got going on is akin to the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster and they should steer clear of the fallout.  You should be very aware of who your audience is before you wear those.

    A less ambiguous method of showing your love for the spicy condiment is with the new 8 inch Sketracha Dunny from Sket One and Kidrobot.  It's the safer alternative for me, as my digestive system is a delicate flower.  There's a release party happening at 3DRetro this Friday where you can pick up the toy, have it signed by the artist, and dine at some fancy food trucks they'll have parked outside.  All the details you need are in the picture, you just have to clear off your calendar and go.

   

Super Shogun Boba Fett "Prototype Edition" from Super7 x Funko

    When they make that stand alone Boba Fett movie it should start right after he falls into the Sarlac and his wife should show up and rescue him.  That's right, his wife that you didn't even know he had that's super competitive and never going to let him live down the fact that she saved him from certain digestion.  Then the rest of the movie should be reality show style as they catch various space criminals like that Dog the Bounty Hunter.  They could also have some dumb kids that they're trying to work into the family business, and I think they should have those little side interviews like they do on Parks and Recreation cause those make me happy.  My brain is literally minting gold bars with this one.

    These Super Shogun Boba Fett figures are by far my favorite to have come from the Super7 and Funko partnership.  They're frickin huge, which I love, and they're Star Wars related, which again is ok by me.  Make a statement in your home with this Protoype Edition right now for $200 by visiting this link.


    

Peter Kato's Bedtime Bunny Has Made the Jump to Vinyl

     How have I not been hearing about these for months?  Sometimes, secrets are not worth keeping, especially if you're making something cool that people are gonna want.  I had just heard about Peter Kato's Bedtime Bunnies being made in luxurious vinyl a few days ago and thought I missed my chance to write about them.  But somehow they're still some of these January Blues edition available for all those who didn't get one yet.  It stands 6 inches tall, retails for $40, and is an edition of only 50.  Get on it before you miss out by visiting this link.  Produced by the folks at Clutter Magazine.

Is This Project Runway or am I Just Reviewing the New Stache Labbit Hat From Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

      I'm not an accessory kind of guy.  I don't wear jewelry other than my wedding ring, and I feel dumb wearing sunglasses.  All the time people are trying to get me to wear sunglasses all like "you gotta protect your eyes from the UV rays or you'll get horrible disfiguring tumors" and I'm all like "mind your damn business cause I'm mad self conscious and would rather not feel silly."  Not the most compelling argument, I'll give you that, but it's all I have.  So then Kidrobot sent me one of these Labbit hats and I admit I'm a tad skeptical.  I don't even know if I'm a hat person.  Certainly I'm not a fedora person, cause no one other than well respected character actor Jon Hamm should be.

Can't we just accept that he's the only man alive that can wear these and not be mocked?  I'm looking at you, neckbeards.  

   But what about other hats?  Aside from the odd beanie I've owned for survival purposes in the frigid northeast I've never explored my hat side.  But this is 2016 and the lines are forever blurring between who we know ourselves to be and who we can become, so with that in mind I donned the Labbit hat:

*****Sexiness levels will vary.  Results pictured are not typical.

    Good Lord Almighty I have unlocked the key to visual enlightenment!!!  Just look at me, holding my kitty Jorah like a straight up G.  And what you can't see is the line of kitties, both mine and stray, lined up waiting to get their snuggle on with me.  I think this might be what the kids call swag, but I refuse to Google that in case it's something I don't want in my browser history.

I have made a terrible mistake.

    How dare you think that wearing a Labbit on your head is merely a fashion statement.  Like Luke stuffed into the body of a fallen Tauntaun, my head is toasty warm and free of dreaded frost bite.  And unlike Tauntauns, which are endangered now after the rebel alliance learned that they don't actually dig the cold weather that much, Labbits are so plentiful that to not gather one up and make a hat of it just means their population will soar to absurd numbers which may or may not hamper the development of strip malls.  I'll be damned if some little moustached bunny is gonna stop me from the manifest destiny that is my need to buy Chinese food and go tanning without having to make two stops.

    I'm just kidding of course, I love little critters and detest all areas of commerce.  This hat is made only with imagination and synthetic fibers, which at no time ever roamed wild or had their habitat stolen from them by some jerk butt.  Besides, do you think any creature with a stache like that could be taken down by puny humans?  They would put a hurtin on anyone that disrespected them.  Instead, these hats are a tribute to their superior facial hair and serve to protect us from their wrath should they decide that we are in the way of their new Labbit casinos.  At least, we hope that's what will happen.

    Endear yourself to our future overlords by getting your own warm and toasty Labbit hat right now at www.kidrobot.com.

I just blew your mind with this picture didn't I?

Clear Skullhead Blanks from Huck Gee

   I tried to encase a miniature Klingon ship in resin once and it came out looking like a filthy bar of hard soap. Not to mention the fumes also made me nauseous because God forbid I research something's ability to kill me before I start playing around with it.  Hence the raccoon incident of 2007 and my last attempt at animal husbandry.

    I leave the resin casting to the masters cause they are smart enough to at least check Wikipedia to see how something is supposed to work.  Huck Gee obviously knows what he's doing as evidenced by these clear Skullhead blanks.  There almost too pretty to paint, but on the flip side I'm very interested in seeing what people are going to create with them.  You'll get a shot at owning one when they go on sale Thursday, January 14th at noon pacific time only at http://www.huckgee.com.  There limited to 75 pieces and will be $150 each.

Kylo Ren Artfx+ Statue from Kotobukiya

    I actually wasn't nervous at all about liking the new Star Wars movie.  I liked what J.J. Abrams did with the last two Star Trek films and figured he was smart enough to know the consequences of screwing this up.  After those crappy prequels, death was not off the table if someone made another bad Star Wars film, but luckily everything worked out just fine.  I will admit however to being a tad apprehensive about Kylo Ren.  The dude looked cool, but I wasn't getting tricked into buying any merchandise until I made sure he wasn't dumb on film.  Not only was he a cool villain, but one that was deeply interwoven with the main characters.  He is a tortured, somewhat conflicted soul who could really shine in the next few sequels.  And I want a working version of that lightsaber.  

    Now Kylo Ren is being immortalized in Kotobukiya's Artfx+ line.  I like these dudes cause they come in pieces and you get to put em together, which may or may not make you feel a minor sense of pride.  Just remember to put him where your cats can't reach him him lest they put little teeth marks in him like they did with my Darth Vader one.  He now has a semi lumpy light saber and a hand that looks painfully arthritic.  They're lucky they're cute.

    This will be available in July but you can ensure you get one by preordering it now from http://www.kotous.com.

Hold On To Your Britches Cause I'm Reviewing The Stache Labbits from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

      Moustaches are tricky.  Depending on the style and the shape they can mean so many different things.  Sometimes they mean that you may drive a sketchy van and just happen to lose your puppy whenever you're near a grade school.  They could mean that you're a trying to get the start up money to fund your artisanal vegan corn dog restaurant.   The moustache is the mixed signal of the facial hair world and it's time we push aside all the negativity it could convey and let it shine like the beacon of manhood it once was.  So before we continue on with this review I'd like to take a moment to reflect on some important moustaches that really should set the tone for how all you bros out there choose to man up going forward:

Burt Reynolds

Yosemite Sam

The Iron Sheik

Lando Calrissian 

Vlad the Impaler

     Now that the follicles on your lip have some folks to look up too, lets get down to Labbit business.  Frank Kozik and Kidrobot released these 10 inch Stache Labbits at the end of last year and boy are they pretty (in a strict manly sort of way of course). Each one features a high gloss finish that will force you to not take pictures of them while only wearing your underpants in case you ever want to run for public office.  

The things his high gloss finish has seen would break a lesser being.

    Of course the main feature of each is a moustache that is both full and unapologetically luscious.  This is what every man dreamed of as his teenage self tried desperately to cultivate the few weed-like hairs that sprouted on his upper lip.  No matter how many adults berated him with the old wive's tale of shaving to make the hair grow in thicker, he only focused of making his wispy little crumb brush the greatest chick magnet it could be.  Some of us, such as myself, were successful in our endeavors and have enjoyed the life that our moustaches have afforded us.  Others, like the sad fellow you see pictured below, live as a basement dwelling Gollum, responding to personal ads on Craigslist while needlessly combing the almost barren landscape beneath their nose.  

   I feel a nun should be following him through the streets yelling "shame" as he is being whipped.  Also, this may or may not be Justin Bieber.

    Having these Labbits in the house has already upped the previously high testosterone levels to unprecedented heights.  Right out of the box this one proceeded outside to berate me on the inefficiency of our heating and cooling unit and demanded we make a trip to Home Depot so he could gather the necessary tools to rebuild it:

We're gonna get this thing pumping air cold enough to store sides of beef in your living room.

    Then this bro went out looking for buffalo that we could turn into sides of beef and store in the living room:

    There is a distinct lack of buffalo in this place you call "New Jersey".  

    Look how good they look outside.  Maybe I can get a meeting with Kidrobot and we can work on a whole lawn decoration line to replace those creepy gnomes that everyone always buys.  Not that I don't like the creepy gnomes a little, but I want something standing guard over my tomatoes that represents me and not what the evil gardening conglomerates shove down my throat.  I don't need your whole Illuminati Powerball cause I'm gonna get rich the old fashioned way: by making stuff to confuse my neighbors.  

    I got a little off track there, as I sometimes do when genius strikes.  You know you want to have more Labbits in your house, cause duh why wouldn't you?  All of this has just furthered your conviction that there's been a void that can only be filled by the manliest of man bunnies.  It's ok, because that very realization is the first step on your way to enlightenment, or something.  The second step is welcoming these follicly-superior beings into your home today by visiting www.kidrobot.com or checking out your favorite places to buy designer toys.  They can be the father figure you've so desperately needed all these years.  

    

R.I.P. David Bowie

"Buttercream" Mockbat Lottery from Paul Kaiju

    My wife and I bucked all sorts of traditions when we got married.  For starters we did it at a Philadelphia Flyers game in one of those fancy luxury suites rather than a church so we had no problem ignoring one of the more baffling things a couple can do, which is save part of their wedding cake to eat a year later.  I can think of much better ways to celebrate your anniversary than eating some stank old freezer burned confections.  But I do have an aversion to freezing food anyway, cause my mom used to freeze EVERYTHING.  Loaves of bread, snack cakes; if it was deemed edible it was deemed freezable.  There's not too many things in life worse than eating a sandwich with half thawed bread.

    This new Mockbat from Paul Kaiju is certified fresh indeed!  In fact, its down right pretty and looks delicious.  The only way you can own one is by entering the lottery when it goes live this Sunday at 6pm pacific time on www.paulkaiju.com.  All the details can be found there, while I can be found at the grocery store raiding their bakery.

"It's a F.A.D." 8 Inch Dunny Signing and Release Party with J*Ryu

    I love this Dunny from J*Ryu for many different reasons.  For one, it's a Dunny and I'm kinda partial to these make-believe critters.  And for two, it pretty much matches my authentic personal brand.  This is the most versatile Dunny ever created when it comes to enhancing how Sharon and I decorate our home.  It's ornate, it looks vintage, and it's a toy.  It could be a piece of architectural salvage from a French house of ill repute or it could be a haunted artifact inhabited by the vengeful spirit of some ancient Japanese demon.  Either way, that pretty much sums up our home design philosophy.

    This thing is gorgeous in every version I've seen of it and now he's been shrunken down to a more manageable 8 inch size.  There's even a chance you might get a 1 out of 4 chase piece in beautiful pewter.  Either way they both come with a removable vinyl key that fits in its chest, which makes your options for displaying it that much more dynamic.  This Friday you'll not only be able to get your figure early; you can also get it signed by the artist himself during a release party at Kidrobot San Francisco.  All the details you need are in the picture you see there, including the promise of a very specific type of gift with purchase.  Wait a second, I think I finally understand what the F.A.D. stands for.  This is like the time I realized that Guns and Rose song "Mr. Brownstone" wasn't about some creepy old dude that lived next door to Axl.

Translucent Grey Hawgmaw Blanks from Missmonster

 

    I'm not one for resolutions, be it the new year or not, but I was looking forward to my day off to get back into painting some toys I've had laying around forever.  Until I had to go to work cause everyone has death sickness cause they swear flu shots don't work yet here I am, antibodies filling my nooks and crannies, and not the least bit sick.  Which didn't really turn out great for me, because like I mentioned before I had to go into work.  So in reality that flu shot totally screwed my plans for the day and the kicker for that is my insurance didn't even cover it.

    If you are unlike me and actually able to utilize your days off them you should paint toys and allow the rest of us to live vicariously through you. And you can start with this amazing figure by Missmonster called Hawgmaw.  This dude is 7 inches tall, is detailed out the booty, and is ready for you to let your creativity run wild.  Or just leave it blank and appreciate him as he is.  Or just do whatever cause I'm not your life coach and if I was you'd owe me a lot of back pay.  I'll have my secretary tally up the bill.

Get your Hawgmaw on at http://missmonster.myshopify.com.

"Sinister Sandstorm" Alien from Super7

    Did you stay up late last night, drink yourself silly, and watch the ball in Times Square drop as it ushered in the new year?  I can't say that I made it past 10:30 as I dozed off while watching Netflix.  I celebrated the end of 2015 like a boss!  And I refuse to celebrate the beginning of 2016 just yet, cause what if it sucks and I already was really awesome to it then I'll feel like I've been had?  You're not tricking me 2016, I'll celebrate you when you prove yourself!

    If you've been collecting these Alien soft vinyl figures from Super7 then 2016 is off to a great start for you, cause they just released this Sinister Sandstorm version.  Pick one up for yourself at www.super7store.com and set the tone for how this year is gonna go.