Strange Days Opens at Toy Art Gallery Tonight

    Wanna see some crazy customized toys that will alter your very perception of reality?  Do you live in the Los Angeles area?  If you said "yes" to those two things then I just planned your date tonight, cause you're gonna go check out the Strange Days opening at Toy Art Gallery.  This show will feature the works of Itokin Park, Brent Nolasco, Martin Ontiveros, Josh Herbolsheimer, Michael Pro, and Shirahama/Yatsuashi and will expand your mind when it comes to custom toy art.  Plus, why wouldn't you want to go to Toy Art Gallery just to see the disturbingly huge collection of figures they have?  I would hang out there every day if I lived 3,000 miles closer.  

Seen at NYCC 2013: Argonaut Resins and The Jelly Empire

    The use of resin to make toys has allowed for artists to create things on their own without the need of a a large company or tons of money to finance their endeavors.  Argonaut Resins and The Jelly Empire have been making their artistic visions come to life for years with this DIY attitude and had a great display of that work at New York Comic Con.  There are some remaining pieces available for sale on their respective websites, so after you are mesmerized by all the pictures I took you should check out http://argonautresins.bigcartel.com/ and http://www.thejellyempire.com/ and support these great artists.  

Seen at NYCC 2013: Peter Kato

    Peter Kato is back!!!!!!  He was quiet for a bit as he built his new studio space, but he made it back to the world of toy making just in time to debut some new stuff at New York Comic Con.  I would have more pictures but he was selling everything so quickly that most of it was gone before I could make my way over to see him.  I love these new Mogu Tanks, and they really show how far he has come in his art.  Check out his online shop at http://peterkatoshop.com/ to see what he has available.  Also, if you're in the New York area this weekend he will be participating in the Arts Gowanus Open Studios, so you can pay him a visit and see how he makes his resin creations.  

Seen at NYCC 2013: Suburban Vinyl

    Suburban Vinyl had a great first showing at this year's New York Comic Con.  They had their booth over flowing with exclusives and crazy customs.  And it was great to finally get to meet shop manager Rob Losito, who is another person I've known online forever but never actually met in person.  He's a hard working dude who loves what he does and it's always cool to support people who are passionate about their work.  They do have some remaining stuff from the convention available now, so check out http://www.suburbanvinyl.com/ and buy yourself a little something.  Go on, you deserve it.   

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.