Oh So Soft and Fluffy Review Time Featuring Frank Kozik x Kidrobot's Prehistoric Labbits

    Day three! Day three! Day three of Labbit Appreciation Week!!!!! I had choreographed an entire routine with cheerleaders and fireworks and stuff, but I forgot to actually write it down, or hire cheerleaders, or go to Pennsylvania and secure festive explosives (New Jersey doesn't understand fun).  I forgot to do anything other than think "that would be cool" and then I went and read wrestling news online.  My bad.

    We're going a little soft for the next few days as we talk about plush.  Now I for one don't have a lot of plush figures, but my wife does. When we started dating I would try and win her stuffed animals from those crane machines on the boardwalk.  She ended up with all kinds of random things that we have boxed up somewhere in the house.  But other than that we've kind of ignored the world of stuffed critters.  Those days of plush ignorance are now over.

     These Labbits aren't just cute and fuzzy, they're also prehistoric.  This is like, man-plush, like if Frank Frazetta was gonna design cute little critters. And they have mustaches, which ups the manly level to 1000.

I took this picture while saving a small child from a tiger attack.  With my bare hands.  While building a boat.  

    But they're not just for dudes by any means.  They're also some of the softest things you'll ever feel in your life, which the ladies are gonna love.  They're softer than that toilet paper those weird cartoon bears are always going on about that totally wrecks your pipes whenever you use more than one and a half squares because that stuff is as thick as a beach towel.  I'm gonna need a plumber, fyi.

Go ahead and squeeze me.  I can take it.  

    It's obvious that these guys are cool and that no matter who you are they posses the qualities you're looking for when you decide to fill your bed with soft cuddly rabbits,  but there are some subtle reasons that make them even better that you may not even think of at first.  That's why I'm a professional.  For one, they don't have those annoying hang tags.  For anyone that is interested in keeping their collectibles as pristine as possible this is a a blessing from the toy gods.  It would drive me nuts to cut one of those tags off and drive me equally as nuts trying not to bend it all up.  These Labbits eliminate any of that worry by coming in a cardboard halo that easily releases from the toy and can be stored safely away.

    And secondly, they must be made close to a catnip factory because the moment I unpacked them my cat Icarus claimed them all for himself and wouldn't let the other cats anywhere near them.  Once he felt his bounty was secure he sat in the middle of them and went to sleep.

We never should have let him watch The Hobbit.  Smaug is not the best role model.  

    You better get your hands on these before they go extinct (how could I not make the most obvious joke).  They're available right now at www.kidrobot.com and wherever designer toys are sold.  

Let's Review the Pants Off the New Joker Labbit from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

   We are knee deep in Labbit Appreciation Week and so far it's going splendidly.  Have to been appreciating your Labbits?  Don't lie to me if you didn't, cause like Santa Claus and the NSA, I see you when you're sleeping.  Ok, that's kind of a stretch, but I'm taking your word for it that you're getting your appreciation on and I don't want to be made to look the fool.  And why wouldn't you be appreciating these iconic little bunnies?  Let's keep the festivities rolling with our second review of the week, this time featuring The Joker Labbit.

    What is it about sociopaths in popular culture that are so appealing?  Ok, spoiler alert, if you're watching The Following and you missed last week's episode don't say I didn't warn you.

    But that moment Joe Carrol finally met his demise at the business end of a lethal injection cocktail I was completely bummed.  And it wasn't just me; everyone I know who watches the show felt the same way.  The dude was a pretty filthy human being, with all the murder and whatnot,  but he was also the most compelling character on TV in recent memory.  Let's face it: the bad guys are always the most interesting and there loss can be tough to take sometimes.   Which is good that Batman has that whole "no kill" policy, otherwise we might have long ago been deprived of the madness of the Joker.

    The Joker has been involved in a lot of controversy as of late, with that comic book cover featuring Batgirl that wasn't released to the fact that Jared Leto is playing him in the Suicide Squad movie.  People are passionate because he's one of the greatest villains of all time, and as many incarnations as we may be used to seeing him, we've never seen him like this.

   I've been waiting nearly two years for this guy to come out and I was starting to worry it wasn't gonna happen.  I had only seen the box art at Toy Fair, which certainly doesn't do this figure justice.  What I like most about the toy is how minimal the design really is.  It would be easy to go completely over kill and fill every space you can, but his face is composed mostly of a rather unnerving grin and little else.  His blacked out eyes let you know that this is one clown who's probably hiding more than handkerchiefs up his sleeve.  But even as crazy as he may be, he has opted to forgo the traditional cigarette that most of his brethren prefer, and has instead planted a deadly squirting flower between his teeth.  Much less deadly for him, much more deadly for everyone else.

    I don't usually advocate for allowing criminals in your house, even when they are in the form of woodland creatures, but there's always exceptions to every rule right?  Besides, it's not like The Joker is known for eating all your food and ordering pay per view that you'd be embarrassed to have on your cable bill.

Photograph me like one of those Kardashian girls.

 

    The clown prince of crime is available right now at www.kidrobot.com and anywhere designer toys are sold.  

Super Shogun Review Time: Personal Happiness Labbit Series from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

    Here's the deal folks:  This week is officially Labbit Appreciation Week.  It's official in so much as I called it official and not by government decree or anything, because the White House never responded to my petition.

    The other day I received a giant box from Kidrobot filled with all things Labbit and I'm gonna share them with you each day this week.  We'll laugh, we'll hopefully not cry, and we'll do a hell of a lot of talking about plastic and plush bunnies.  Basically it's what any other grown man you know is up to on a typical day.

    We're gonna kick off this week by checking out the brand new Personal Happiness mini series.  There's no better feeling than sitting in the floor with an entire case of figures and tearing into each one.  I wonder if there's a career path in opening up blind boxes, because I can't think of a job I'm better suited for.  I love mindless tasks, I love toys, and I like throwing trash all over the place.  I assume if I had this job that there would be another person responsible for cleaning up the boxes and foil innards.   Maybe I should bring that up during the interview process.

I'm gonna need my assistant to take care of this.  

    Sharon and I parked ourselves in front of the TV and one by one opened each and every box.  The first thing we noticed is how damn cute this series is.  Not that any previous Labbits haven't been cute per se, but these guys have given up smoking and seem more adorable for it.  The designs are fun: from a bowl of punch, to a magician, to a few mustached and polka dotted gifts.  They make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, which I'm sure we could all use more of.  Not me, cause I'm already too evil to be helped in any way, but they still made me crack a smile. A dark, evil smile.

     The second thing we noticed is that on the little fold out checklist that comes with each figure there is absolutely no mention of ratios or silhouetted mystery designs.  Now I don't know if this is something that will continue, if it's going to to translate to other types of Kidrobot product, or it's just a test to see what people think, but I for one like it.  There's no feeling of dread that you won't get the figures you want; no discouragement that you're rotten luck will prevent you from enjoying the toys you love.  After all, collecting plastic rabbits should be fun and not involve complicated math usually reserved for cheating at blackjack.

    A full case of these contains 25 blind boxes, and out of those we were only 2 figures short of a full set (we're looking for the piñata one and the Labbit in the hat if you have them to trade).  It's by far the best results we've ever had opening a case of any type.

    I feel that I have presented a compelling case for you to immediately stop what you are doing and obtain some of these delightful little critters.  Buy them by the handfuls and fill your pockets with them to remind you that no matter how bad your day gets, you still have Labbits stuffed in your pants.  I think I just started a self-help revolution!  

     These little dudes are available now at www.kidrobot.com and wherever else designer toys are sold.
    

Help Monsterfoot Creations Bring Skull Boy to Life

    If there's one thing I'm about it's helping people make their dreams come true.  And deli ham, I am really all about deli ham.  Seriously, I'm thinking about just forgoing this post and going to get some lunch meat.  Ahhh nevermind, cause I'm also all about not leaving the house more than once per day and I've already hit my quota in that department.  Let's get back to business.

    A lot of people these days dream of being toy designers and Kickstarter is a great resource for it.  Crowd funding has made so many awesome projects happen by putting the money and means in the hands of creative folk, and now it's time to help Monsterfoot Creations bring his vision into plastic reality.

    Skull Boy is ready to make the trip to Japan, get molds made of all his pieces, and then be cast in luxurious sofubi and shipped to collectors around the world.  The only thing holding him back is a little bit of cash, which is where you come in.  By now everyone knows how Kickstater works, so check out this link, help this toy get made, and get some awesome rewards in the process.  Then pick yourself up  some cold cuts, cause why wouldn't you?

New and Improved Robo Top from Kevin Nam x myplasticheart Available Today!

    Most of the time when I get a new toy the greatest feeling is actually acquiring the item.  I'll sit with it for a while, admire its craftsmanship, rejoice in the fact that I now own it, then it's off to wherever I can find room for it.  After that it lives out the remainder of its days either behind glass or on one of my many shelves.  It's kinds sad when you think about it, but I am an American and we do like to imprison any and everything we can, whether it's people, or animals, or inanimate objects.  I think it's some mutated gene from all the beef hormones we ingest.

    But what's this?  A toy that will never collect dust because you're too busy spinning it in some advanced game of rock, paper, scissors?  Kevin Nam from inami toyland  has released these before, but since then he's gone on to make improvements in design.  These will be available today from myplasticheart in either red or blue and are limited to 10 pieces of each.  Buy em in pairs and make a friend the old fashioned way: by beating them at games of chance and never letting them forget it.  Maybe that's why I don't have any friends.  

Violet Trickster Skelve from Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas

    I would have no way of knowing if I had Tricksters living in my house.  Between the cats taking anything that isn't nailed down and me forgetting where I put everything, the poor Tricksters would never get any credit for their misdeeds.  They'd probably feel neglected and turn to substance abuse.  So any evil little elves that were planning to take up residence here just keep it moving and find a household where talents can really be appreciated.  I want you to be happy.

      These guys are cute and evil looking at the same time, which basically describes how I feel about small children.   Limited to only 10 pieces, this little purple dude even comes with his own antique block to sit on, as he is very particular of where he rests his bum.  The Trickster Skelve was of course created by the amazing husband and wife duo of Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas.

Get yourself one by clicking here.  

Lifesize SludgeDemon DX from Mutant Vinyl Hardcore x Toy Art Gallery

 

 
        There's a liquor store near where I live that for some reason has lined their sidewalk with life size figures of the most random things.  There's Batman, Marilyn Monroe, an oddly colored Humphrey Bogart, a pirate lady, a cow that is also a bench, C3PO, one of The Blues Brothers, Elvis missing his guitar, and a scantily clad tattooed lady with a chalkboard sign.  It reminds me of those bad posters of the random dead celebrities hanging out at a bar, except rather than drinking and having a good time these statues are part of some really bizarre police lineup.  I'd love to see that episode of COPS.

     I love the idea of giant toys, but I have absolutely no desire to have fat Elvis standing behind my kitchen table.  What I would like is one of these fiberglass SludgeDemon DX's from Mutant Vinyl Hardcore and Toy Ary Gallery.  I have a half dozen places I can already picture him in, but I just gotta come up with the the cash. At $1,500 he's not an impulse buy and I have owned cars that didn't cost that much.  He's definitely on my lottery-winning dream list though.  And for an extra $500 you can get a Sam Heinous head, you know, for when you wanna mix it up a bit.  Gotta keep your decorating options open.