"The First Hellboy" Statues from Mondo

        You know what I find fascinating?  Besides the fact that anyone can not want to punch Bono in the face.  Seriously, the guy is practically begging for it.  But besides that,I find it fascinating how popular things start out.  For instance, have you ever seen the original concepts for Star Wars?  The characters started out looking way different than the ones we all know and love.  Chewbacca looked like an overly hairy cookie elf and C3PO could have stared in a remake of Metropolis.  My head hurts just thinking about it.

    Imagine how blown my mind was when I saw these new statues from Mondo.  I never realized that this is what Hellboy looked like before he evolved into the cat loving demon we all know.  He's available in two versions, with the black and white one an exclusive to the Mondo website.  Both 12 inch statues are available for preorder right now by clicking here.

    

A Clockwork Carrot "Break In" Edition from Frank Kozik x Blackbook Toy

    When you're entering a life of crime you really have to put a lot of thought into a good disguise.  How many times do you see security footage on the news of people robbing banks that look like they were just hanging out at the mall?  They walk in wearing sunglasses and with their hoods up and they think they've got some invisibility cloak.  I get that you kind of stick out if you're wearing a Halloween mask in April, but a little bit of effort will go a long way towards not making you some big dude's girlfriend on cell block B.

    Lil Alex knows the benefit of not only shielding your identity but making a statement while doing it.  Tim Gunn would be proud at his ability to edit down his mask to the basics while maintaining a clear and concise fashion point of view.  The latest version of Kozik's naughty little bunny is available for preorder right now from the folks at Blackbook Toy.  And when you order from them you get a special limited edition button to snaz up that jean jacket of yours.

Chip S005 (Organizized) from Ferg

    The world can be a frustrating place.  Politicians make horrible decisions based on greed that negatively impact the lives of their constituents.  Everyone seems to be out for themselves regardless of the consequences it has for their fellow man.  Animals are being driven to extinction by corporate profit margins and the need for certain humans to flex their superiority.  Just thinking about it can drive a person to the brink, if not beyond the brink, of madness.  Some of us take to the Internet to rant and rave about it on anonymous websites with the like-minded faceless masses.  Others take matters into their own hands.

    Chip is disillusioned, armed to the teeth, and looking to change the world.  Support his one man social revolution this Monday, June 15th at noon central time when he goes on sale exclusively through http://store.projectsquadt.com.

Kidrobot Introduces the Plush "Phunny" featuring Characters from Gremlins

    Fun fact:  my wife has never seen Gremlins.  I don't hold it against her though, because I work with  multiple people that have never seen Star Wars, which I find to be highly unusual.  I'm pretty sure the United States government keeps records on people that haven't seen Star Wars and closely monitors their behavior for further anomalies, and upon finding them will sneak in and said people will disappear under cover of darkness.  Save yourselves and watch the films.

    It doesn't matter if you've seen Gremlins or not to know that Gizmo and pals are quite adorable, even after some of them turn into naughty little reptile thingys.  Kidrobot has captured that in a new plush series they're calling Phunny, which are 8 inches tall and ridiculously affordable at only $16.99 each. Collect them all when they're released in August.

     Oh, and it's worth noting that this is the first time Kidrobot has utilized the many licenses that their parent company N.E.C.A is known for.  I wonder what could be next?

"Chewquila" from Forces of Dorkness for Tenacious Toys' Super Series Sunday

    I know I've already told the story of how mad I got while trying to get a new tire yesterday, but I was sooooooooo ma that it bears repeating for a second day in a row.  I won't retell the whole thing, but do you remember in Star Wars when Chewbacca was about to lose that weird game of chess and Han Solo was all like "bro, you should let the Wookie win, cause he'll rip your arm off and cave your skull in with it" (I'm paraphrasing)?  Well I was Wookie level angry yesterday.  I mean, where else can you set up an appointment to have something as simple as a tire replacement done and they tell you it might be done by tomorrow morning?  Could you imagine showing up to your barber and him telling you that he got really backed up and he may get to you by morning? Or booking a reservation at a restaurant for dinner and not being seated until breakfast.  It's ludicrous, and it's even more so when they don't understand why you feel that way.  I can hear George Castanza yelling about this in my head.  

    Ok, I think Forces of Dorkness has officially made it impossible for anyone to create a better custom Star Wars toy.  He took a Muttpop Tequila figure, fuzzied him all up, and made the mother of all Chewbacca figures.  Eight of these will be made available this Sunday (June 7th) at 8pm as part of Super Series Sunday from Tenacious Toys.  You will have a two week window to preorder one of them after which time they will be made and mailed off to live with their lucky new owners.  Little pink hair brush not included.  

       

    

    

Help Kickstart the Norfolk Merdogs Merpug Plush from Shlii

    Let me tell you about my day:  I needed to get a tire replaced, which is no big cause I got a warranty on those suckers when I bought my car, so I made an appointment two days ago to have the dealership replace it.  I show up for my 12:30 appointment and they ask if I can leave it.  It's just a tire, I thought, so I told the counter person I would wait.  He then tells me it would be better to leave it cause they're busy and it probably won't get finished until tomorrow.  For a tire?  With an appointment?  So I called shenanigans on that BS and left to find someone to just patch the damn thing.  At which point I was informed that it was too close to the sidewall so it needed to be replaced but alas, they don't have one in stock and can't get it before...you guessed it...tomorrow.  Yet again I am forced to call shenanigans all over the BS that is being presented me, and I move on to a third location.  Just like when Goldilocks broke into the three bear's house, the third time was the charm, as they had my tire in stock AND could put it on in a half hour.  You would think the story ended happily after that, which it would have if I didn't fight for an hour on the phone with the warranty company to cover the cost.  After teaching them some words they may not have heard before and skipping grocery shopping for fear that I may run over a soccer mom in the parking lot just for funsies, I needed something to calm my rather inflamed nerves. Thank God for Merpugs.

    This is the most adorable Fiji Mermaid I have ever seen.  Usually they look like some ratty old monkey sewn to the business end of a trout, but I would actually let this guy into my house.  He'd make me feel better/less murderous on days like these and he could do the same for you if you help make him a real toy.  Shlii has launched a campaign right now to produce these aquatic canines and you can back it by checking out this link.  They're really affordable and they're from Norfolk, Virginia which is the area I grew up in.  That alone should make you want one.  

"Baby Huey" from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot to Debut at SDCC

    Being a sadistic dictator has never been more adorable!  Check out Frank Kozk's take on North Korea's supreme ruler with this itty bitty "Baby Huey" from Kidrobot.  Now we know what happened when Seth Rogen and James Franco made that movie about whacking this dude, so what do you think the retaliation will be when this plastic bed wetter makes his debut at San Diego Comic Con?  Do you think the North Koreans will invade Kidrobot's booth and buy them all up, preventing them from being obtained by the general public?  Will they release secret information about Frank, like how long he has been a subscriber to Cat Fancy magazine?  Are they gonna hack my website for posting this?  The world as we know it could change at the hands of a hilarious vinyl figure.  

   Now don't fret like this little guy if you aren't going to Comic Con, cause he will be available on a wider scale in stores and online starting August 6th.  At 8 inches tall and only $65, that's a lot of bang for your buck.  Hopefully not a literal bang from an angry North Korean army.  Viva la Revolucion!!!!!

    

Baby Huey Final 2 from KRVids on Vimeo.