Spiritus Dea Dunny Series from Kidrobot

    Here's a factoid for you:  it's been years since I featured a release from Kidrobot on this site.  The reason being is that I was handling all of the posts for their official blog and as much as I may love something, I don't have the time or desire to write about it more than once.  I say what I feel, commit it to type, and move on with my life.  Even though I no longer write for them, I still have a great love for the toys and the artists who create them.  And I've been excited for this new Dunny series since I found out about it a few months ago as it combines my love of mythology with my favorite platform figure.

    This blind box series features a collection of goddesses from various parts of the world as interpreted by an all female group of artists.  You will find designs from Stephanie Buscema, Mizna Wada, Stickymonger, Tomodachi Island, Yoii, Mia Alvarez, Marylou Faure, Candie Bolton, Muxxi, Lisa Toms, MJ Hsu, and Laura Colors.  It's a beautiful set with lots of new ideas that continue to evolve the Dunny further than anyone could have originally imagined.  These are available starting today, Friday the 27th, wherever you prefer to buy your toys.

Bake-Zame Lottery from Wonder Goblin x Candie Bolton

     Ol' Wonder Goblin is a busy dude: he's making movies, he's painting toys, he's sculpting toys, he's shaping foreign policy.  I guess that's why he has the word "wonder" in his name, cause I wonder where he's getting all this time.  The obvious answer is that he has opened portals into other dimensions and wrangled all of his mirror selves up and put them to work.  Genius!

    Not only did Wonder Goblin paint a run of these new Bake-Zame figures from Candie Bolton, but he actually sculpted them for her.  This paint job just screams spooky ocean to me, which is fitting because the name of the figure actually translates to "ghost shark" in Japanese.  Wasn't Ghost Shark one of those SYFY movies?  If not it should be.  The last one of those I watched had professional wrestler Rob Van Dam as the main star and for some reason he never did his frog splash finishing move in the entire hour and a half of the film.  Why fight against the obvious, screen writers of America?

    This 9 inch tall figure features 4 points of articulation and can only be had by entering a lottery, which will begin accepting entries on Saturday, July 6th at noon est and close 24 hours later. The winners will be drawn live on the Wonder Goblin Instagram page at 1pm on Sunday and each figure will be $250 plus shipping for those of you that fate deems worthy.    You can enter by visiting https://www.wondergoblin.com.  

Bubble Gum Pink Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton x Toy Art Gallery

    Things don't get much more metal than the angry poltergeist of a dead whale.  It's so metal that you could make it bubble gum pink without another lick of color and it's just as metal as anything to come out of Norway in the early '90's.  Any black metal band can wear traditional corpse paint, but you should be really scared if you see one decked out like Hello Kitty because those dudes are obviously crazy and any music they make is too brutal for human ears.  Only wooly mammoths could withstand such an audio onslaught, so when the aliens come and resurrect them they will have something cool to listen to.  I hope you'll be thinking about how great this post is all day because that's my gift to you in these times of darkness.

   Candie Bolton's spooky sea mammal has risen from the deep and into our hearts many times before, but never so delicious looking.  Seriously, this version looks like you could break pieces off and enjoy a good old fashioned chew.  Toy Art Gallery will be releasing this beauty on Friday, April 20th at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

Orange Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton x Toy Art Gallery

    I'm typing this as I watch NXT and the crowd is completely dead.  I find it hard to enjoy a show when the crowd is library quiet, which makes me happy to live in the rather boisterous North East.  You go and see a show in Philadelphia and you don't know whether to watch the audience or the ring.  We're pretty notorious for our terrible behavior at sporting events but once you're there and a part of it you get addicted and need that energy to enjoy yourself.  Otherwise it's how I would imagine a James Taylor concert to be.

    This Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery is looking quite nice in Philadelphia Flyers orange.  It's a beast of a figure standing 11 inches tall and the only way to obtain one is by winning a lottery.   You can enter beginning tomorrow, Friday March 10th through Tuesday the 14th via email at sales@toyartgallery.com.  If you're lucky and you win the purchase price is $150.  And only enter once because otherwise you'll be disqualified for being annoying.  Do you know how much of a dream it would be to kick people out of my place of business for being annoying?  I'd be broke, yet oddly satisfied.


   

"Ethereal Apparition" Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton x Toy Art Gallery

    Brothers and sisters, can I get a moment of silence for every other toy in your collection.  Cause the moment you put this stunning piece of work next to them they will all straight die, r.i.p.  This is not only by far the most amazing paint job I've seen on Candie Bolton's Bake-Kujira to date, but this is my favorite on a toy I've seen in a long time.  It looks like a mysterious antique you would find in a dead relative's attic who during their lifetime was a world traveller and collector of artifacts.  Inside would be contained the spirit of some mythological creature peacefully at rest until the time you were able to decipher the text written on the underside.  Never decipher any text written on the underside of anything unless you are prepared to deal with the consequences.  I believe mythological creatures fall under the same leash law as dogs, so keep that in mind.

    This figure is so amazing that Toy Art Gallery is holding a lottery just for the chance to purchase one.  You know you want to enter, because if you don't there will always be this void you feel inside of you that is impossible to fill.  No one needs that, so here's how you do it:

    ETHEREAL APPARITION Edition retails for $250 and will be released via email lottery starting on Friday, Sept. 16th at 12PM PST and ending on Monday, Sept. 19th at 12PM PST. Email sales@toyartgallery.com with “Bake-Kurjira Lottery” as the subject along with your paypal address and shipping info. If selected you will be sent an invoice for payment. Please allow 24 hours for a response after the closing time (Monday 12PM PST). Winners will be chosen at random, one entry per participant please (if you submit more than once you will be disqualified). Good luck!

   Seriously, this thing is so beautiful that I'm at a loss.  I will however go ahead and call this my favorite toy of the year.  Yeah, I know there's still a few months yet but that's how secure I am in my opinion.  I don't flip flop like a politician, but I do accept gifts/bribes/spiritual offerings and this would be a perfect place to start your shopping.

"Ectoplasm" Edition Bake-Kujiru from Candie Bolton X Toy Art Gallery

   
    Prepare yourselves to be wrapped in the luxury that is marbled soft vinyl.  Allow your eyes to indulge in the subtle variations in color that enhance the beautiful sculpt of Candie Bolton's Bake-Kujiru figure.  You may ask yourself whether you are worthy of such earthly delights.  Even if you aren't, that's no reason to pass up this extremely limited release, because just having it in your presence could change your life for the better.  Flowers will smell better, kittens will feel softer, and that weird noise your plumbing is making will seem less like an impending issue and more like a symphony your house is playing just for you.

   Available this Friday, September 2nd at 6pm eastern time from www.candiebolton.com.  Limited to only 9 pieces.  

The Debut of Bake-Kujira from Candie Bolton X Toy Art Gallery

   
    Moby Dick would have been the size of a pamphlet if Ahab had seen this dude from his boat.  He would have immediately given up hunting whales, moved further inland, and become an accountant.  By comparison it's not as compelling a story, and Herman Melville is not a name we would all know had he wrote that one instead.   But who cares about all that cause the important part of this is coming up riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight now:

    Finally, collectors around the world can get their hands on the majesty that is Bake-Kujira!!!  Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery made a killer choice in debuting this figure in gray vinyl with silver and copper flakes, really playing up the ghostly aspect of the piece.  This thing looks stunning online so I can only imagine how much better it is in person.  Find out for yourself when it goes on sale Friday, August 5th at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.  

Custom Fiji Mermaids from Candie Bolton x Gorgoloid x Awesome Toy

     If Fiji Mermaids were real no one would ever go fishing again.  The thought of pulling some haggard old monkey fish onto your boat is just the sort of thing that can ruin an afternoon of fun.  Not that I've ever really thought catching fish was the most fun thing.  I'd rather stay at home and watch Netflix and not have worm guts all over my hand and smell like something from the deep sea.  Any time I've ever gone fishing I've managed to impale some part of my body with the hook, which I take as a sign from the universe that I should be doing other things.  Once it even went all the way through my thumb and the dumbest part about that was that it happened in a friend of mine's garage and nowhere near the open ocean.  I was just bouncing around on a Pogo Ball and I fell over next to some fishing rods and the next thing I knew I was wondering how the hell I was gonna explain this.  That whole Pogo Ball reference just dated me big time, didn't it?

    Awesome Toy and Gorgoloid have one of the most bizarre sofubi creations ever with this dude and Candie Bolton has lent her talent to pretty them up a bit.  They're so shiny that now they look like the lures you would use if you wanted to catch one.  Get one for your collection this Sunday, July 31st at 6pm pacific time only from http://www.candiebolton.com.  Bait not included.  

Candie Bolton's "Rose Gold" Oh My! Yokai Set from Toy Art Gallery

    Times are hard for everyone as far as economics go, and if you're not Lebron James you gotta be smart with your toy buying money.  That means you need value for every dollar you spend, and one thing I know if you can't beat getting five figures for $75, especially when they're made of sweet Japanese sofubi.  It's the Ferrari of plastics and it's what makes up the Oh My! Yokai series from Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery.  But you're not gonna get these figures as blanks because they've even been nice enough to throw in a cool little paint job to bring out every detail in their masterful sculpts.  I'm starting to sound like an infomercial.  Snatch em up Friday, July 15th at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

Learn How Sofubi is Made Courtesy of Candie Bolton and Sharla in Japan

    Have you ever wondered how Japanese sofubi toys were made?   It seems like a closely guarded secret and that knowing the answer puts you in league with the Illuminati.  And lots of people who are newly exposed to this form of collectible are always shocked by how much they can cost, which is easy to understand when you aren't in the know about the work it takes to produce one.  They see four foot tall Star Wars figures in stores for less and that probably confuses the hell out of folks.  But not only is there an artist behind a sofubi toy's design, the production itself is an art form.  Candie Bolton's friend Sharla recently toured a factory where they are producing one of her toys and she filmed the process of it transforming from a melted glob of plastic into a figure.  Check it out below.


 

    And how jealous are you of her tour of the RealxHead shop with all of those cat figures!!!!!!   I would have to declare bankruptcy after visiting there.

Boshi Neko "Foofy" edition from Candie Bolton x Grody Shogun

 

    This toy is giving me mad flashbacks to back to school shopping for Trapper Keepers and trying on jeans for hours until my spirit was as chafed as my legs and being promised that I could get McDonalds if I didn't complain too much.  Do they even still make Trapper Keepers, cause those things were the best.  Except when those plastic little rings that held your papers started to wear out and wouldn't close all the way, or when you ripped one of the pockets and all your stuff would fall out.  Never mind, those things sucked.

    I don't know what kind of substances Lisa Frank needed to create her seizure inducing world of bright colors and baby animals, but you can't convince me they were made with a sober mind.  Candie Bolton has perfectly recreated that look with this Boshi Neko edition she has named after her own kitty.  It has that perfect ratio of "I'm adorable" and "I will murder you in your sleep", which is a delicate balance indeed.  These are available for preorder right now from http://www.lulubelltoys.com through June 1st or until the allotment runs out.

    

Oh My! Yokai Mini Gachas from Candie Bolton X Toy Art Gallery

    I love a deal and I really love deals when they involve toys.  You can want a toy real bad but you have to have it the moment when there's a deal involved.  Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery are gonna help you fill those nooks and crannies in your display cases with these Oh My! Yokai gachpon series and in case you're bad at catching drifts, there's a deal involved.  See, you could be irresponsible and buy only one of these amazing little figures for $10 or you could get all five for only $40.  That means you're getting one for free, which is the best kind of deal.  And this is the debut of the set, which means you're getting in on the ground floor of this thing.  Be an early adopter when they go on sale Friday, April 22nd at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

Candie Bolton Tackles Paul Kaiju's Mock Pilot

   

    Are you in a state of depression because everything from Paul Kaiju's show this past weekend at Stranger Factory sold in one night?  Wipe those crusty tear trails from your face and get back on your toy buying horse because you're getting another chance at glory.  And if having a Paul Kaiju figure wasn't prize enough, Candie Bolton applying a sweet paint job on top of it is like getting a brownie covered in birthday cake topped with fried twinkies.  That will probably kill you in real life, so please realize it is only safe to consume as a metaphor.

    Now for the all important details of how you can actually own one of these.  They will go on sale Tuesday, March 22nd at 6:30 pacific time only at http://www.candiebolton.com.  Each set will be $200 and most likely sell very quickly, so don't get caught up in watching Judge Mathis and forget about them.

    

Candie Bolton x Toy Art Gallery Have Something Massive Planned for 2016

    I don't usually write about toys that are in production unless they have a release date and pricing info.  I'm one of those people that if I fall in love with an object I don't want to know that it's coming one day because I want it right then.  But I've seen pictures of this thing pop up online a few times and it is so different from anything out there I had to heap a bunch of praise on it while still in its clay form.  

    Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery are going to release this beauty known as Bake-Kujira.  Scheduled to release in early 2016, this 11 inch tall figure is the representation of a phantom that comes into existence whenever a human kills a whale.  If Captain Ahab had thought this would be the result of his triumph, Moby Dick would have been a mere pamphlet about how everyone took up bass fishing.  

    Until it is officially available for purchase you will have these few images to stare at and wonder just how amazing it's going to look all painted up.  In my mind it is glorious and I've already ordered it.  

Preorder Some Custom Grody Quackers from Candie Bolton x Lulubell Toys

    Let me tell you, if you collect toys and have kids you better have a secure set up for your collection.  I don't have any human kids, but our feline children have required us to buy sturdy display cases that have locks.  And they look pretty pro anyway, so I'm not that shook about it, but you gotta invest in security if you don't want to have teeth marks in your expensive stuff.  Now with human babies you gotta worry about them stealing your stuff and tossing it all in the toilet.  Is there any kid that didn't do that?  I remember tossing some of my mom's makeup down the toilet along with my Han Solo in Hoth gear figure.  There was no way I was letting him pilot the Millenium Falcon in a snow suit, because that implies that the iconic ship didn't have heat and I wasn't buying it.  So I flushed him.  Or I attempted to, because Han Solo and a handful of lipsticks will evidently wreck your pipes and cause a filthy water flood.  I told my mom I was sorry, but she was all like "You're 32, you shouldn't be doing this crap anymore."  She's so judgmental.

    You know there's not a kid out there that isn't gonna wanna play with these Grody Quackers.  They were practically made to toss in the nearest body of water you can find, so keep these suckers out of reach.  Candie Bolton customized these twisted bath tub friends and they are available for preorder right now from Lulubell Toys.   The preorder ends this Friday or when supplies run out, and as affordable as they are for a custom toy there's no reason they won't sell out.  Get em at http://www.lulubelltoys.com

Metacrypt's Shub Zeroth Misfortune Bags for SDCC

    I could use a good bag.  I've always got papers laying around and I find myself looking for something to put them in.  It used to be my important documents wok, until one of my cats peed in it and made doing my taxes that year really awkward for my accountant lady. Now it just consists of a plastic Wal-Mart bag that once held my Cap'n Crunch, then I toss it down the steps of my basement and forget where I put everything.  You think being so self aware of my problem that I could put a stop to it, maybe even develop a system to put away those papers I didn't really know what to do with, like the deed to the house and my medical bills that I can't seem to throw out or pay either.  But I say nay,  my "pack things in bags and throw them down the basement steps" filing method is still very valid because I still have a lot of basement left.  Maybe the real problem is I don't really have a nice enough bag for my important papers that would elevate them to a more, dare I say, important status.

    Problem solved!!!  The folks at Metacrypt are releasing a killer Misfortune Bag at San Diego Comic Con filled with all kinds of goodness.  And this ain't no brown paper lunch sack either suckas, it's a full on canvas bag featuring that graphic you see above there, which is perfect for all those birthday cards your mee maw and paw paw send you.  But gaze inside and things get even better, as each bag contains a  random big ol Shub Zeroth figure and two companion dudes and other goodness that's a surprise.  The bags are limited and at $150 are probably cheaper than a cab ride to the show.  Or not, I've never even been to California so who am I to riff on the particulars of public transit.

 
     Ok, I know not all of us are the most adventurous of folks and like to pick the exact figures we want.  Some people would say that's the sign of being a control freak, but hey, I'm not here to judge you to your face.  Artist Candie Bolton did five Blacklight Rainbow version of Shub, each being $130, or snag yourself one of the most amazing marbled versions for only $100.  Marbled Japanese vinyl is THE BEST.  Seriously, it's like something only rich people should be able to have, but there it is, available to us all.  It's a gift.  Random Drudes for $20 each will also be available,  ready and willing to worship your entire toy collection.

    Plus...oh yeah, there's a plus....there will be t-shirts and patches and lots of other stuff.  And I'm told there will be Brian Ewing, being that this is all at his booth and stuff, and he's half of the Metacrypt team (the other half being Rocket Society/Hateball, FYI).  It's all happening at booth # 4503.  

"Feminamorphe" Opens This Saturday at Toy Art Gallery

    Pretend I'm saying this in a smooth, Billy Dee Williams voice: "This Saturday, it's all about the laaaaaaaaaaadies."  I'll admit it, that was kinda lame, but it's also true because Toy Art Gallery is set to open it's latest show "Feminamorphe" featuring some of the best female talent in the toy/art world right now.  New work from Candie Bolton, Uamou, Teresa Chiba, Tasha Zimich, Okokume, and Helen Vine will be on display and available for purchase.  The show opens this Saturday from 7-10pm and will be on display through the end of the month.  

Alice In Wonderland Bedtime Bunnies from Candie Bolton x Peter Kato

    Have you ever thought about just how Alice fell down a rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland?  How big was that freakin bunny that it could dig a hole wide enough to swallow up a kid?  Or was he just an overachiever who was trying to show off his advanced constructing skills? Yeah, I know it's not based on a true story and that its a pretty wacky story overall.  I just want to make sure that there isn't some species of mutant bunnies trying to get rid of mankind on the sly.  What if they're responsible for those sinkholes you always hear about that cars and houses fall into?  I think this needs more investigation.

    Don't let the new panic I've instilled in you take away from this amazing collaboration between Candie Bolton and Peter Kato.  She's given 10 of his Bedtime Bunnies the Wonderland treatment and you could be lucky enough to own one when they go on sale tonight at 6pm eastern time only at http://peterkatoshop.com/.  Each one is $75 and comes packaged like a deck of cards.  

New Kitsura Preorder from Candie Bolton x Max Toy Co.

    People think that just because my house has cats coming out of the woodwork that I don't like dogs, but nothing can be further from the truth.  I love dogs, I just don't have one because I don't have a backyard.  Growing up in Virginia we had a few dogs and I don't think we ever even owned a leash, because when they had to go outside you just opened the door and let em have a good time.  Even if your yard wasn't fenced in it was generally understood that they would run around, terrorize the surrounding area, and then come back when they were tired.  Where I live now I would have to walk the dog and pick up its business with a plastic bag wrapped around my hand, which seems demeaning. Yeah, I do scoop a handful of litter boxes every night, but I don't have to walk around outside with a bag of poop as my neighbors try to make small talk with me.   Think about it, what if you didn't have the dog and were just taking a stroll with a turd in your old Wal-Mart bag.  You'd have the police called on you and would have to convince a doctor within 72 hours that you weren't having a mental break.  That's why you need a yard, so they can do their business and you can keep your dignity.  And they even have services you can pay to come out and clean your yard up for you after it has become riddled with organic land mines.  Genius.

    So Kitsura is not your average dog as he is actually a fox, but my stance is the same regarding any wild animals you may allow to share your domicile.  This canine with his enlightening third eye was created by Candie Bolton and produced by Max Toy Company and is available for preorder right now.  For $30 you can guarantee yourself one of these little dudes that may or may not bring magic and good fortune into your home.  And you definitely won't have to walk him, cause he's plastic, so that's a plus! Order yours now at www.maxtoyco.com.