The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Pop Vinyls from Funko

    If Middle Earth had Wi-Fi and Target it would be the perfect place to live.  Think about the adventures you could have.  Any time I try to go on an adventure around here it usually ends with me being asked to leave the natural history museum.  I'm tired of nobody understanding my need for epicness.  I don't even think epicness is a word, but who cares, cause the Oxford English Dictionary obviously doesn't know how to adequately describe my life.  

    The Hobbit is the type of movie that makes me long for the day when I can pack up the UHaul and relocate to a mythical land.  Part two of this 300 part film series is coming out soon and to celebrate Funko has created these Pop! Vinyls that are filled with a sense of...epicness.  They're available now to help you dream of a land that is free from Kardashians.

Seen at NYCC 2013: Kaiju Monster

    The Kaiju Monster booth at New York Comic Con could supply enough ideas to make Japanese monster movies for the next 100 years.  I'm in no way an expert on this stuff, but it is some of my favorite to look at.  From the sculpting to the paint jobs, every inch of every figure is interesting and the more you stare, the more stuff you'll notice about each one.  

    It was good seeing my buddy Brian from Guumon again.  Super nice dude who loves making monsters.  This is one of those figures that I can't pinpoint any one particular reason that I love it, but it just strikes me.   I have a short list of figures that I don't own yet but that I really want and this guy is definitely on there.  

Check out some more pics here and over on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking.

  

    I love this dude.  I have no idea who made him, but I might have to hunt one of these down.  

Seen at NYCC 2013: Tenacious Toys

    One of my favorite places to stop and gawk at New York Comic Con is the Tenacious Toys booth.  Benny always manages to get the most diverse group of exclusives together and present up and coming artists in a way that makes them look like super stars.  I would dare say that he is the first guy to ever hold signing events with artists who were making toys in their basements and not just the guys who were designing for the huge companies.  Tenacious Toys is like a great indie rock label that has all the majors waiting in the shadows to see what he does next.  And judging by the response they were getting all weekend, he's definitely doing something right that they aren't.  

    Their booth was loaded to the brim with exclusives that spanned the worlds of resin, plush, and vinyl.   A lot of stuff sold out, but there will be some leftovers available this week.  Sign up for their newsletter by going to http://www.tenacioustoys.com/ so you can get in on them.  Meanwhile, check out some more pictures.

Toy Art Gallery Exclusive Deathshead S'Murk from David Flores x Black Book Toy

    I've seen this figure in a load of color combinations, but this simple black and white scheme is by far the best.  I thought I would like the blue version, because it is the same as the obvious inspiration behind the toy, but the simplicity of this paint job really allows you to appreciate the detail of the toy.  And it tastes like chicken.

    That is my restaurant critic review of this Deathshead S'murk from David Flores and Black Book Toys.  This is why no one ever calls me back when I want to write for their magazine.  I do so well, then my brain has a need to force something ridiculous in at the end.  My mind is the evil saboteur of my writing career;  it is Jekyl and Hyde.  By the way, if anyone is reading this that wants to hire me I'm totally ready and swear I could get my crap together.

    The toy you see up there is an exclusive to Toy Art Gallery and will be going on sale tomorrow at noon Pacific time.  It's limited to 50 pieces and will retail for $95.  

http://shop.toyartgallery.com/

Seen at NYCC 2013: Kris Dulfer/Kid Ink Industries

    Kris Dulfer is a dude I've known for a bit online but never had the chance to meet in person, until New York Comic Con.  He is truly as nice of a guy as he is a great artist and it is really a pleasure to share his work with you.  It was great too to see a lot of these pieces in person rather than just pictures online, as you can better appreciate the craftsmanship and the personality of each one when they're right in front of you.  Check out some of the pictures of his work and then pay his store a visit to add some of it to your collection.

http://kidinkindustries.storenvy.com/

    This was a collaboration between Kris and DuBose Art.  Dubose made the praying mantis while Kris made these cool treasure boxes that they stood on.  

Seen at NYCC 2013: Skinner and Healeymade

    Skinner and Healeymade shared a booth at New York Comic Con, which makes life a lot easier when you're trying to see as much stuff as possible while wading through a sea of people.  And since they shared a booth they also made a toy together.  The backing card on this figure was seriously like two feet tall, but it has to be when you have so much crazy art work to look at.  If you didn't have any way of transporting this sucker at the con or if you weren't able to make it, Healeymade will have some for sale on his website this weekend.  

    Do you see this?  This monstrosity should really be viewed in 3D so that the pure sickness of the sculpt can creep its way into every wrinkle of your brain and lay eggs.  Skinner teamed up again with Unbox Industries (which is run by Dan, who happens to be my favorite person from the UK who isn't on Downton Abbey)  to bring this unholiest of unholies to life.  There are moving pieces all over the place on this thing and each one comes pre loaded with the spirit of an ax murderer, so you don't have to worry whether you'll get the one that's possessed or not.  

    This may or may not be it's butt.  There's a little demon in there though, which is pretty much how it feels after you eat one of those mummified hot dogs from 7-11.  Sometimes they seem like a good idea. Speaking of which, the other morning we stopped at one for donuts and they had a Dr. Pepper Slurpee. No one told me about this and I am outraged I have not yet tasted it.   I would have been all about that had it not been 6am, and being that we were on our way back to comic con, I didn't feel it was the right time to experiment with new frozen beverages.  Back to the figure, it should be up online for preorder soon, as they were taking orders in person at the con.  I couldn't buy one yet because I'm still waiting on my shipment of holy water, you know, just in case.  

    Skinner also has a butt ton of hand painted figures that were selling pretty quickly.  The man makes magic with every toy he touches.  Black magic of course, none of that Harry Potter "I wish my parents loved me" wussy magic.  

    Healeymade had a ton of his original resin creations on display, my favorite of which is the Heisenberg mini figure made to look like the infamous blue meth from Breaking Bad.  There was a lot of stuff inspired by the show at various booths, but nothing stood up to this.  Look, it's even packaged in a little baggy like you bought it straight from Badger on the corner.  I miss that show.  

Check out more pics from NYCC at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking

Seen at NYCC: Sons Of Anarchy Harley-Davidson

    

    You never know what you're going to see at New York Comic Con, but I didn't expect to see this.  It's a fully licensed, Sons of Anarchy Harley-Davidson.  Evidently a few years ago Bartel's Harley in Marina Del Ray, California had created 100 of these bikes and sold em for $25,000 a pop.  This one was on display at a booth that sold nothing but SOA merchandise and had been signed by a few member of the cast.  As if you weren't already excited to watch the new episode tonight.