Toy Fair 2014: The Loyal Subjects

    The Loyal Subjects had a swanky booth at this year's Toy Fair and it was filled with all of the blind box series they have coming out this year.  Who would have ever thought to have Mr. Potato Head mini figures?  It sounds absurd, but when you see one in person the first thing you want to do is pick it up and move all the pieces around.  They are also making a Power Rangers blind box set that is articulated and features removable helmets, but I didn't get to see those as they didn't make it in shipping until the day after I was there.

    

   And of course they're continuing their ever popular GI Joe and Transformers lines with new blind boxes and blister carded figures.  The series look awesome and are actually a little bigger than the previous ones, so you're getting more toy for the money.

    I know you want this Ultra Magnus figure.  I can just tell.  And you're in luck because he is up for sale right now at https://www.theloyalsubjects.com/.

Toy Fair 2014: 3A

    I'll be the first to admit:  I don't really know a lot about 3A.  What I do know is that I love to look at their work and am on the fast track to schooling myself about them.  Their booth at this year's Toy Fair was by far the most stunning, as it felt like wandering through a museum exhibit more than cases full of toys that you could actually own.  There stuff is beautiful and a bit haunting.  I was really trying to reign in the focus of my collecting, but seeing these in person makes me want buy everything they make.  Browse these pictures while I go and apply for more credit cards.  

    I love their take on these classic Marvel characters.  How cool would it be to have a series of comics made with this style?

Bearded Labbits Galore from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

    These Labbits are supposed to be hipsters, but that term makes me think angry thoughts.  All I can picture is some dude sitting outside of a Starbucks, writing his post-ironic novel about a beekeeper who raises hives on a Brooklyn rooftop.  He sits at his little table, pecking away on a twenty pound typewriter that he lugged 10 blocks just to make his writing experience more "authentic."  Before he left the house he spent three days breaking open BIC pens and soaking the ancient ribbon in their ink, because you know, office supply stores are too mainstream to carry antique refills.  When he's not working on his tome he can be found pretending to be an outdoorsman by taking photos of himself in the woods, staring deeply at the laces of his shoes as a statement of consumerism and how Ralph Waldo Emerson has inspired his every move since, I dunno, birth.  If you're lucky he will pose in a tree with his favorite Smiths record on vinyl.  Hipsters anger me.  But it's just the dudes really, cause hipster girls are always pretty cute.  You keep doing what you're doing ladies.  

   I prefer to think of these Labbits from Frank Kozik and Kidrobot as the type of bearded bros who would go to a Mastodon show and make their own taxidermy with things they found along the road after watching an instructional video online.  These are the bros that as kids were building ramps to jump anything they could find in their garage with wheels, not keeping dream journals and wearing tight pants that make them hobble like the early onset of polio.  

   These suckers come in a plethora of sizes, from huge enough to double as a new pillow to small enough to carry around in your shirt pocket.  Pick the one you want or go for the blind box series and add some surprise to your life that doesn't involve a pregnancy test.  You can get them wherever you like to buy your toys or you can get some signed this afternoon by Frank himself by visiting www.frankkozik.net. 

DeKorner Exclusive S.U.C.K.L.E Set and Bundle Deal

    Let's hold a vote.  Let's all vote that no toy line will ever be named any version of M.U.S.C.L.E ever again.  Not that I don't appreciate the tribute to the classic line of little wrestling dudes, but it's a pain in the rear to type that.  I try not to involve myself with the caps lock key because it only leads to trouble, yet that is the only sensible way to not be driven mad while forming such a word.  Now, on to business.

   Other than the pain it is to type their brand name (read it in the title if you want to know it, you can't make me revisit my pain) I have a good amount of love for these figures.  How can you not love a roll of toilet paper with legs?   And they come in a plastic trash can.  This yellow edition is limited to 80 such cans and an exclusive to DeKorner.  Get em now for $19.95.

    But wait, what if you're new to this world of mini figures and you need to get a few arch enemies for these guys to battle with while you're in the bath tub (stop judging me)?  Then you need a bundle deal, son!  For $10.04 more you can get this Bunnywith figure from Alex Pardee:

   

And a set of OMFG Series 3:

    Is that an angry juice box?  You bet it is!  And as a bonus they'll throw in a Pocket Hose for FREE!

(Pocket Hose not included)

   Visit http://www.dekornerstore.com/ where operators are standing by to take your order.  

Toy Fair 2014: Funko

    I don't know how Funko manages to release so many products.  Not only do they put out a ton of toys, but they have the license to everything ever created.  There is nary a character you could imagine from any form of entertainment that they have not or will not in the future produce a figure of.  Which I'm fine with, because if there's one thing I love it's buying more toys.  Some would call it an addiction. I would call it more fun than paying for stupid things like electricity or vegetables.  

    And they're branching out into different styles of toys to create, like these Japanese sofubi Batman and Ninja Turtles.  These were drawing a lot of attention, as you can tell by the gentleman below, taking a picture at the same moment as I was.  Seriously, who wears a hat like that that isn't toiling away in a London basement on clandestine science experiments?  The answer we were looking for is "virgins."  

    These were by far one of the biggest hits of the entire show for me.  Continuing their relationship with Super7, Funko previewed all of the figures in their soon-to-be-insanely-popular ReAction figure line.  These figures are designed like the old school Kenner Star Wars dudes and feature every character you wish you had in toy form as a kid.  It would take me a day to list all the ones they're making, but at only $9.99 each, you can just go ahead and budget to buy them all.  

    Of course they're also making a bazillion new Pop! Vinyl figures.  What you see pictured are just a handful of the prototypes they had on display.  If I posted every photo I took you would scroll until you  had a seizure, so consider it a gesture of kindness on my part that I gave you but a sampling.  If you'd like to see more of what I saw at Toy Fair 2014, check out www.facebook.com/thetoyviking.

Toy Fair 2014: Kidrobot

    Where to even begin with all the stuff Kidrobot has coming out this year?  Let's start with my favorite things that I saw, and that's plenty of Labbits.  Frank Kozik's iconic character is gonna multiply like crazy in a few different sizes.  There are the new 7 inch Deadpool and Ghost Rider figures that you can expect to see in March to coincide with series 2 of their Marvel blind box toys.  There will also be a series of blister packed figures that are variants from the first series, such as Wolverine as Weapon X. 

    But this was by far the best news I heard at the entire show.  Kidrobot secured the licensing for DC Comics products and they are going nuts with them.  I'm a huge Batman fan so I almost had to change my pants when I saw the packaging for the new Joker 7 inch Labbit.  And they're making blister packed ones and a blind boxed series.  I could actually feel my wallet getting thinner the longer I looked at all this stuff.  None of the actual products themselves were on display, so I'm guessing it will be later in the year before we're able to purchase these.  

    And I'm sure by now you've seen the new line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures they've produced.  Most of these were on hand and actually getting to play with them really made me want them all.  It was a total nostalgia trip with each one I picked up and I have a feeling this collection is gonna blow a lot of minds.  Again, they will have blind boxed and blister carded figures, as well as some larger ones featuring Bebop and Rocksteady.  Look for these to drop in May.

    Each license also has an assortment of keychains and diy figures and TMNT will also have some shirts available.  I was literally geeking out so hard over the DC Labbits that I feel that rush of euphoria coming over me as I type this.  I may need to go lay down.  

   I took a lot more pictures of their booth and they can be found at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking

Toy Fair 2014: Sons of Anarchy

    Toys aren't dangerous enough anymore.  When I was a wee little lad I used to play with Tonka trucks that were made out of sheet metal and would require you to be up to date on your tetanus shot.  And I had toy guns that looked like real guns just to up the ante if the cops happened to drive by.  Ok, I wasn't that tough when I was a kid and may or may not have cried if I got dirt in my mouth.  But we gotta toughen these little buggers up to prepare them for the realities of life, and what better way to do it than with toys from Sons of Anarchy.

    Sure, these aren't meant for your little one's toy boxes, but there are a lot of important lessons to be had in the trials and tribulations of everyone's favorite fictional motorcycle club.  They can learn the ins and outs of running your own business (pornography, gun running, etc), interpersonal communication (usually involving fists and guns), and the importance of working as a team (to hide bodies).  Mezco are kicking off their line of action figures with Jax and Clay, but assure me there will be many more characters to follow.  And something tells me their plush line will be exceptionally popular with the ladies.  I swear if I come home and my bed is full of bearded dolls used as throw pillows I'm gonna be pissed.  Not that I like throw pillows or anything.  Moving on.  

    So maybe we can't all be outlaw bikers in real life because we're not fans of getting arrested or punched in the face.  It's cool though, cause we can still ride around on Harleys and get a taste of being a badass while we look out for potholes. But if you're a biker on a budget, or you just want your desk at work to convey how much you're really not into dealing with other people's nonsense, Maisto has a second series of bikes from the show that are perfect for you.  These diecast replicas feature every detail from the bikes that they use in the show, including their unique tank graphics.  You'll even be able to buy the tow truck that has been used on more than one occasion to get the boys out of trouble/escape from law enforcement.  Expect to see them in stores this June.