Halloween Releases from Jermaine Rogers

     There's nothing like a graphic that comes prepared with every bit of info you could need about  new stuff.  At this point Jermaine Rogers has done all of the work to tell you about his Halloween releases, so I could just phone the rest of this in and go do other stuff.  I have trash that needs to be taken out that has developed an aroma unique of it's individual components.  There are always litter boxes to scoop, tumble weed-like hair clumps to sweep up, or my favorite past time of sitting in the shower and trying to come to terms with the fact that I have to go to work.  The hot water never lasts as long as my uncertainty.  So yes, while Jermaine Rogers has told you about both glow in the dark pins and even informed you about his glow in the dark resin figure, all of which will be available at 3pm eastern time today exclusively from www.jermainerogers.com, I still feel it is my duty to "spice" it up a bit, lest I be accused of taking the easy way out.  So here ya go:

    I'll chalk this one up as a success.  

Black Light Purple Baphomaniac from Martin Ontiveros x Toy Art Gallery

    "Whatcha gonna do brother,when Baphomania runs wild on you?"  No, seriously though, what would you do?  You think I was just asking that question because I love to partake in gimmick infringement and collect cease and desist letters?  Cause I don't.  I am worried about you and I don't want some evil entity catching you on the sneak and entering your body with bad intentions.  So here's some helpful tips to help you avoid demonic possession:

- Avoid all abandoned houses unless it is in broad daylight and you are with a priest.  With a gun.

- Avoid reading books that are bound in human skin.  Even though Amazon may offer then at unheard of prices, that free two day shipping just means you'll be in the Devil's clutches that much sooner.

- Listen to Taylor Swift songs repeatedly.  Demons may be evil, but they can only put up with so much.  I'll retract this statement if Ms. Swift were to sing me the Arby's menu in it's entirety.  The ball's in your court, blondie.  

  The life I save may be your own.

    If you were to invite forces of darkness into your life how about with something like this Baphomaniac figure from Martin Ontiveros and Toy Art Gallery.  Way safer than any relics dug up in the Middle East, this bro will bring delight/curses to all who touch his shiny vinyl exterior.  Available today (Friday, October 27) at noon pacific time for $80 exclusively thorough www.toyartgallery.com.

Acid Green 18 Inch Aliens Warrior from Super7

    Halloween isn't just about turning your lights off and pretending not to be home to prevent freeloaders from taking all of your snacks.   Nope, it's also about treating yourself to some new toys to make you forget about your seasonal depression and the ball of snot that has lodged itself in your head until spring.  Super7 is making it look a whole lot more like Christmas with this Acid Green Alien Warrior figure.  Standing 18 inches tall, this plastic beast will be going on sale Halloween day through www.super7store.com and their retail locations.   Tell the neighborhood kids to get jobs and buy yourself this instead of candy.  

    

Misfits ReAction Figures from Super7

    I haven't used this picture in a while to describe a toy, so let's dust it off and let it express how I feel about these:

   That's right folks, these Misfits ReAction figures from Super7 have warranted the coveted and desperately cute hungry otter meme.  I give it out sparingly to prevent it from losing that wow factor, but here it is describing my feelings perfectly.  Thanks little buddy, I hope you were able to get the ice cream sandwich of your dreams.  Unless they're not good for otters, then I hope he was able to be given a just as delicious substitute.   

     This Halloween you can snag both versions of this epic collaboration when they go on sale at www.super7store.com and at their retail locations.  Now if only they'd play a reunion show in Philadelphia, all would be right in the world.  

Veg-A-Bow Wooden Figure from Cameron Tiede

    I need one of these little dudes to keep at work for when I have to deal with unreasonable people.  When someone starts going off the deep end like it's the first time they've ever left the house, I'll just pull this guy out of a drawer, set him down in front of them, and wait.  I don't believe that anyone can continue to be hateful when confronted with that face.  If you can then there's little hope for you and you should proceed to the nearest cave to live out your existence.

    May I present to you Veg-A-Bow, the happiest little wooden figure you ever did see.  Sprung from the mind of Cameron Tiede, she comes with a print so you get a double dose of cuteness and is even articulated at the neck via a magnet.  This toy is sunshine and you need it in your life.   Get one now by visiting www.woodcandyworkshop.com.

Dragonfly 2.0 from Argonaut Resins

    A few days ago I was sitting in the break room enjoying my lunch when a huge flying ant decided to pay me a visit.  He was flying around me trying to determine a good place to land when a coworker decided the need for coffee was much greater than my need to not be around them for 30 minutes.  She comes in and points out the presence of the insect and the next thing to happen I couldn't replicate if I have a thousand attempts to do so.  I put my sandwich down, raise one hand, and just like if we had practiced it for months the little dude landed on my finger (and the entire time I never broke eye contact with her.  My coworker not the ant).  I lower him to the table and proclaim that his name is Mitch and we are already the best of friends.  Then I let him outside and a bird probably ate him or something, but the point of the story is that I made a beautifully timed connection with a bug and it freaked out my coworker which was fun for me.

    Argonaut Resins is all about trying to make you a bug whisperer with his Dragonfly 2.0 release.   Sequels can be hit or miss but these guys don't look like they'll let you down once you've invested in their back story.  These debut tonight (October 23) at 9pm eastern time through http://argonautresins.bigcartel.com.  There will be 25 different iterations in this first wave, which according to the metric system is the exact number it takes to make a swarm.

The Astronaut Darkness Edition Release Event from Alex Pardee x 3DRetro

   Alex Pardee used to live in Florida.  He finally came to his senses and got the hell out of there.  Now he lives in California and you can congratulate him on not getting eaten by dinosaurs when he hangs out at 3DRetro tomorrow night.  Of course he's not just there so you can shower him with praise and ask him how he managed to escape the state that ruins every election.  Nope, he's also got an exclusive version of his Toy Qube produced Astronaut figure and a bunch of other cool stuff so you can up your collectibles game.  The whole shindig goes down at 6pm so if you're in the Los Angeles area you should go and check it out and see a real live person that made it out of Florida's evil clutches.  It's like a sideshow except you won't feel so dirty about gawking once you leave.

  

Skeletor Halloween Decoration from Super7

  Those jointed skeleton decorations for Halloween were pretty much standard issue when I was a kid.  They were so prevalent that I feel the government just automatically sent you one if you were a tax payer.  Just when I thought it was impossible to improve on that which is already perfect, Super7 said "hold my beer" and created one using Skeletor.  It's big, it's ridiculous, and it deserves to be hung year round.  Made of heavy card stock you can pose him however you like for maximum enjoyment for years to come.  And he glows in the dark to scare you have to death when you have to pee at 3:30 in the morning because you're getting old and your bladder has decided to pursue other interests that don't involve helping you sleep through the night.  

    He's $45 and ships free in the United States.  Pick one up over at www.super7store.com.  

MP Gautheron Dunny Series from Kidrobot

   

    Good Lord have mercy on my soul these might be the most beautiful Dunnys I have ever seen.  I've been an admirer of MP Gautheron's work for some time, but seeing it applied to my favorite platform toy has left me weak in the knees.  Luckily I'm sitting down because I certainly don't need any more head injuries in my life.  This sprawling collection of 38 figures will be going on sale this Saturday, October 21st, at 10 am mountain time exclusively through the Kidrobot website.  No word on pricing just yet, but if someone wants to go ahead and buy my Mustang GT I have for sale I won't feel so guilty about trying to get one.  It's a 2002 and still purrs like a kitty cat.  A giant mechanical kitty that will snap the head off of every Smart Car you pass on the highway.  I'll cut you a good deal.

www.kidrobot.com

James Gunn's Funko Pop Vinyl Raffle to Aid Puerto Rico

    New York Comic Con has come and gone and one of the hottest pieces of the entire show was this James Gunn Pop Vinyl figure from Funko.  The Guardians of the Galaxy director was nearly impossible to get and a lot of them ended up on eBay for prices that exceed my monthly car payment.  But there is hope for all of you collectors out there who may have missed out and it all benefits a great cause.  James and Funko were able to get ten total figures together in a raffle to aid the folks of Puerto Rico who are still struggling after being decimated by a hurricane.  Tickets to enter are only $1 each or you can get 12 tickets for $10 and they can be purchased by visiting this link.   Each figure comes signed and all of the proceeds will go directly to help out those in need.   

The Blank in Porcelain from Huck Gee x K Olin Tribu

    I took a ceramics class in high school and for whatever reason I sucked at it.  It might have had something to do with the fact that I tried to make everything with my hands and not use any actual tools while sculpting.  So my toilet ashtray looked more dookie than Duchamp, though I did have one success on the wheel and was able to churn out a bowl that was probably safer to keep your spare change in that eat cereal from.  One thing I thought was really bogus is if someone had a piece in the kiln with a huge air bubble that sucker would not only explode but send shrapnel through everything else in there as well.  I swear if that hippie kid's "flower vase" had wrecked my bowl there would have been an issue.  He swore the art teacher had no idea what it was actually used for, even though I'm pretty sure his love for the devil's lettuce is how he ended up teaching a bunch of degenerates in the first place.

    I bet the folks from K. Olin Tribu tried a lot harder in art class than I did.  The proof is in every porcelain piece they create, like this Skullhead Blank from Huck Gee.  This thing is smoother than Billie Dee Williams and a great rendition of such a popular figure.  Owning one couldn't be easier, cause all you have to do is click that logo you see on the right there and follow the directions.  Now once you get him I would look for the most secure place in your house that isn't a proving grounds for your cats and their theories on gravity.

The Return of Young Gohst from Ferg x Grody Shogun

    Sharon and I once stayed at a haunted bed and breakfast in Gettysburg and were completely ready for the Civil War ghost experience.  By completely ready I mean I barely slept either night as I was waiting for an ethereal being to scare the living crap out of me.  I seriously couldn't relax knowing that any moment I may feel a rush of cold air and see a deceased soldier standing by the bed.  Even in the shower I was constantly peeking around the curtain looking for any sign of being visited from beyond the grave.  Ultimately we heard a lot of weird noises we couldn't figure out and I swore I heard foot steps walking across the room early one morning but I never saw anything to accompany it.   For relaxation purposes, staying where people see ghosts all the time is not the best idea.  

    I would love it if ghosts didn't look like people at all, but instead were just like this dude from Ferg and Grody Shogun.  Instead of some guy that took a minie ball to the face you'd have these little cuties with their tongues hanging out just stopping by to say what's up.  The three eye thing might be a little freaky, but I often wake up with the business end of a cat near my face so I'm sure I could get used to it.  

     Each one of these figures is cast in luxurious Japanese sofubi and adorned with crazy color changing paint.  Available today, October 14th at noon pacific time, each one is sold blind bagged style and may feature a different shaped tongue than the one you see.  Not many will be available so be quick when they go up at www.lulubelltoys.com.  

Flesh Edition Fossil Pods from James Groman x Toy Art Gallery

    Flesh colored vinyl always reminds me of those Sphinx cats that are like little bald people.  I went in a pet store once and they had one of them that I think was the assistant manager and I had never actually pet one before so I was curious how it would feel.  I go over to her (it was a her because she had her nails painted pink) and she leapt up on my shoulder and started nuzzling my face.  She felt like she had peach fuzz all over, so hairless is pretty misleading and should be changed to "shaved yesterday" when describing them.  Also, she only had one eye, which has no bearing on how fuzzy she was, but I'd like you to have the completest picture of this kitty while you're reading this on the toilet or wherever you may happen to be.  Let's be real though, you're totally on the toilet.

    These Fossil Pods from James Groman and Toy Art Gallery are cute yet ferocious dinosaur/insect mashups and for only $60 you get an instant collection in one shot.  This set of five will be available today, October 13th, at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

Mini 'Mees Pocket Daruma from Gary Ham x Flat Bonnie

    Sharon and I recently checked out Craters of The Moon National Park in Idaho and aside from being the closest thing I'll ever get to walking on a different planet, they also have bat caves you can explore.  I was all about that so we got our permit from the visitor center and set off looking for the trails leading to these caves.  We were excited until we actually found one and was informed that it was a two mile walk to get to it.  Now that wouldn't have been a big deal had we not already spent three days in Yellowstone walking miles upon miles on terrain that only seemed to go up hill and rarely down.  Add the altitude in there and my nickname could have easily been Weezy.  So as much as I wanted to see the bats, I also wanted to be able to make it back to the car without the assistance of a rescue chopper.  

    Flat Bonnie and Gary Ham have saved the day with this Pocket Daruma.  Now I can see a bat whenever I want without being the subject matter of some park ranger's hilarious tale.  This little dude is as cute as they come and is ready to hang anywhere you can imagine for maximum enjoyment.  There will only be twenty of these vinyl plushies ever made and you can preorder one for yourself this Friday, October the 13th and noon pacific time.  Each nearly four inch piece will be $31 and will only be available from www.flatbonnie.com.  I'm thinking some little viking bunnies would be pretty dang cute, what do you guys think?

     

Alternate Reality Blister from Nathan Jurevicius x Gums Productions

    I haven't know what to do with my hair for years.  I used to have long hair that hung past my shoulders and that was easy because I would just part it down the middle and be done with it.  Now that it's short it just kind of lays their like a squirrel skin rug and I don't know if I'm allowing it to live up to it's full potential.  Once it starts getting longer it feathers like a 1980's NHL referee and that is not good, so I just get it cut shorter again.  I feel stuck in a vicious cycle.

    These dudes are confident in their coifs and have even accentuated their manes with jaunty little hats.  Nathan Jurevicius toys are always the epitome of effortless style and the Alternate Reality Blisters from Gums Productions are no exception.  Made of beautifully painted soft vinyl, there are two different color schemes for these members of class cephalopoda and both are available for preorder right now at https://shop.gumsproductions.com.  

Black Drove Leftovers from NYCC Online Now

    The Black Drove booth that was part of the Tenacious Toys Collective at New York Comic Con was like a great mixtape made for you by your high school sweetheart.  By far the most diverse offerings to be found at The Block, those of you that missed it now have your chance to get your mitts on what remains of their exclusives by checking out http://blackdrove.bigcartel.com.  

New York Comic Con 2017 Wrap Up

    New York Comic Con 2017 was a weird one for me.  Just three days prior Sharon and I had returned from a week in Yellowstone and vicinity so we were still pretty worn out by the time we boarded the train to New York.  Day one was spent partly in frustration in a sea of people, while day two certainly made up for it.  Here are my thoughts on this annual pilgrimage of nerd-dom and sweaty folks:

- The Javitts Center was on lock down all weekend, with metal detectors at every entrance and the SWAT team roaming around with heavy weaponry.   The level of security was due to the craziness in Las Vegas and I was glad to see that they took everyone's safety so seriously, so kudos to the organizers.

-  The best cosplay I've ever seen involved a mother and father with two very tiny twins in a double stroller.  They had all dressed like characters from The Shining and it was awesome.

-  The Block, which is the area that features designer toys and is what I'm personally most interested in, was pushed from their normal spacious area to a small corner in the back by the loading docks.  This made visiting with people I wanted to a near impossibility as the tide of the crowd funneled through such small aisles would move you whichever way they were going.  I'm not terribly claustrophobic, but I was starting to feel it.


-  We randomly ran into former WWE wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts by an escalator on day one. He was extremely nice and we talked for a bit about what he was up to and how he was doing after his documentary.  In case you haven't seen it a camera crew followed him around as Diamond Dallas Page tried to help him get his life back together while battling serious addiction.  He even asked us if we'd like to take a picture with him, which we were happy to do.  On day two when we saw him again it was clear that the happy ending of his film wasn't as black and white as he had made it seem.  He hit on my wife in a manner that would have been offensive had it not been so utterly hilarious and pathetic.  It reminded me of some internet troll hiding in the safety of his mother's basement and anonymously behind a computer screen as he harassed young girls without the benefit of a filter on his thoughts.  Actually, I would have been offended had I not felt sorry for the guy knowing the reality that he would have to live with long after the convention floor had closed and the adulation of his fans had once again disappeared.

-  We randomly bumped into Michael Ian Black in one of the aisles on day two.  He did not sexually harass my wife.

-  I spent the least amount of money I ever had at the convention as the releases were much fewer this year.  I don't know whether Five Points affected this or the event that was simultaneously going on in Taiwan, or whether so much focus has just been shifted to Designer Con.  Either way it felt different than the past incarnations of comic con, as if this convention has become more of an afterthought for the world of designer toys.

- We saw some really inspiring stuff in the artist's alley this year.  Lots of original work that was more fine art rather than just another version of Harley Quinn.

-  There were some cool prototypes for toys that I'd be happy to own.  Here's some photos so you can start planning your finances:

The Tenacious Toys mascot is going from resin to vinyl in the near future.  Looked to be around five inches tall, so it's gonna be a pretty hefty chunk of plastic.

Super7 is releasing these amazing Misfits Reaction figures soon.  Available in red or black, I'm gonna need both of these pretty badly.  And I heard that there's gonna be a King Diamond figure too!!!!

Tara McPherson's Skullflower prototype was on display from Toy Qube.  Loved the smaller version and being that I have almost every other toy she's released this one is a must.  

-  Sharon was most excited to meet Swatch, the shop dog from Mood fabric stores.  That's where all of the contestants shop for their materials on Project Runway and that little pup is always there being buds with Tim Gunn.  We now have pictures with two famous animals as they were sleeping, with Grumpy Cat being the other.  Hobbies keep you out of jail.

-  The thing that keeps me coming back every year despite any negative things I may have pointed out are the intangibles that go beyond buying an item or meeting a celebrity.  One of my favorite things is to grab lunch and sit on the floor in one of the big halls and just people watch. We'll sit for an hour or so and look at the costumes and listen to the camaraderie that forms between two people from merely being a fan of the same franchise.  When you buy a ticket in you're buying an experience and as long as I remember that I always enjoy myself.

-  I saw a guy on the train make his girlfriend stand so he could use the seat next to him to eat his dinner.  He would literally sit him hamburger on the unprotected cushion rather than the wrapper that it came in.  I'm sure he was either murdered by his girlfriend later that not after she processed this indignity or the special strain of New Jersey Transit bacteria ravaged his guts and brought him to an unceremonious end.  Either way, he is no longer with us.

    Well, that about does it.  There was sweat, thankfully no blood, and certainly no tears.  Except for that dude on the train, who probably cried a lot when he made it to the nearest bathroom.

Check out www.facebook.com/thetoyviking for all of the pictures.

The Tenacious Toys Collective for New York Comic Con

    It's hard to believe that the day is almost here for me to trek to New York and give myself a financial seizure at Comic Con.  Every year I trick myself by looking at the exclusives beforehand online and feeling comfortable that by obtaining one or two things I will be content enough when its over.  But then I walk onto the show floor and am blindsided by all of the unexpected things I see.  Things that weren't in the plan I formulated in my head as the train enters Manhattan with fellow attendees.  I am here to forewarn you that Tenacious Toys is great at dealing in lethal surprises.

   This year at both #780 is no different, though some of the components that make it up may be.  There's a lot of different names involved this year, but the one I'm most excited to see is Black Drove.  They collect the craziest mixture of sofubi and resin releases from all over the globe that will both blow your mind and your credit limits.  Check out the artists that will be represented:

Horrible Adorables Releases for New York Comic Con

    I just got back from visiting Yellowstone National Park and if you ever have the chance to go you better take it.  The scenery is breathtaking and there's critters everywhere.  I saw my first ever bear in the wild, along with a host of elk, pronghorns, mule deer, and buffalo.  And I hand fed a raven one of those Nature Valley granola bars.  He was working the parking lot trying to pick up scraps when he bounced over to my car.  I gave him a couple of pieces and with each one I got him closer and closer until finally I just held my hand out.  He would fill his beak, take his bounty to somewhere I couldn't see, then fly back and continue to peck at my hand.  I know they tell you not to feed the animals but I was pretty sure that a) he couldn't hurt me that badly and b) take me to forest jail if you must because it was too tempting to resist.  Will forest jail accept your bail money in pine cones?

    I did not see any critters of the Horrible Adorables variety while I was there, but I will see some in a few days at New York Comic Con, more specifically at the PIQ! booth #745.  Gaze upon these wondrous beasts and bring home some animal friendly taxidermy to spruce up your living space.