New York Comic Con 2017 Wrap Up

    New York Comic Con 2017 was a weird one for me.  Just three days prior Sharon and I had returned from a week in Yellowstone and vicinity so we were still pretty worn out by the time we boarded the train to New York.  Day one was spent partly in frustration in a sea of people, while day two certainly made up for it.  Here are my thoughts on this annual pilgrimage of nerd-dom and sweaty folks:

- The Javitts Center was on lock down all weekend, with metal detectors at every entrance and the SWAT team roaming around with heavy weaponry.   The level of security was due to the craziness in Las Vegas and I was glad to see that they took everyone's safety so seriously, so kudos to the organizers.

-  The best cosplay I've ever seen involved a mother and father with two very tiny twins in a double stroller.  They had all dressed like characters from The Shining and it was awesome.

-  The Block, which is the area that features designer toys and is what I'm personally most interested in, was pushed from their normal spacious area to a small corner in the back by the loading docks.  This made visiting with people I wanted to a near impossibility as the tide of the crowd funneled through such small aisles would move you whichever way they were going.  I'm not terribly claustrophobic, but I was starting to feel it.


-  We randomly ran into former WWE wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts by an escalator on day one. He was extremely nice and we talked for a bit about what he was up to and how he was doing after his documentary.  In case you haven't seen it a camera crew followed him around as Diamond Dallas Page tried to help him get his life back together while battling serious addiction.  He even asked us if we'd like to take a picture with him, which we were happy to do.  On day two when we saw him again it was clear that the happy ending of his film wasn't as black and white as he had made it seem.  He hit on my wife in a manner that would have been offensive had it not been so utterly hilarious and pathetic.  It reminded me of some internet troll hiding in the safety of his mother's basement and anonymously behind a computer screen as he harassed young girls without the benefit of a filter on his thoughts.  Actually, I would have been offended had I not felt sorry for the guy knowing the reality that he would have to live with long after the convention floor had closed and the adulation of his fans had once again disappeared.

-  We randomly bumped into Michael Ian Black in one of the aisles on day two.  He did not sexually harass my wife.

-  I spent the least amount of money I ever had at the convention as the releases were much fewer this year.  I don't know whether Five Points affected this or the event that was simultaneously going on in Taiwan, or whether so much focus has just been shifted to Designer Con.  Either way it felt different than the past incarnations of comic con, as if this convention has become more of an afterthought for the world of designer toys.

- We saw some really inspiring stuff in the artist's alley this year.  Lots of original work that was more fine art rather than just another version of Harley Quinn.

-  There were some cool prototypes for toys that I'd be happy to own.  Here's some photos so you can start planning your finances:

The Tenacious Toys mascot is going from resin to vinyl in the near future.  Looked to be around five inches tall, so it's gonna be a pretty hefty chunk of plastic.

Super7 is releasing these amazing Misfits Reaction figures soon.  Available in red or black, I'm gonna need both of these pretty badly.  And I heard that there's gonna be a King Diamond figure too!!!!

Tara McPherson's Skullflower prototype was on display from Toy Qube.  Loved the smaller version and being that I have almost every other toy she's released this one is a must.  

-  Sharon was most excited to meet Swatch, the shop dog from Mood fabric stores.  That's where all of the contestants shop for their materials on Project Runway and that little pup is always there being buds with Tim Gunn.  We now have pictures with two famous animals as they were sleeping, with Grumpy Cat being the other.  Hobbies keep you out of jail.

-  The thing that keeps me coming back every year despite any negative things I may have pointed out are the intangibles that go beyond buying an item or meeting a celebrity.  One of my favorite things is to grab lunch and sit on the floor in one of the big halls and just people watch. We'll sit for an hour or so and look at the costumes and listen to the camaraderie that forms between two people from merely being a fan of the same franchise.  When you buy a ticket in you're buying an experience and as long as I remember that I always enjoy myself.

-  I saw a guy on the train make his girlfriend stand so he could use the seat next to him to eat his dinner.  He would literally sit him hamburger on the unprotected cushion rather than the wrapper that it came in.  I'm sure he was either murdered by his girlfriend later that not after she processed this indignity or the special strain of New Jersey Transit bacteria ravaged his guts and brought him to an unceremonious end.  Either way, he is no longer with us.

    Well, that about does it.  There was sweat, thankfully no blood, and certainly no tears.  Except for that dude on the train, who probably cried a lot when he made it to the nearest bathroom.

Check out www.facebook.com/thetoyviking for all of the pictures.

The Tenacious Toys Collective for New York Comic Con

    It's hard to believe that the day is almost here for me to trek to New York and give myself a financial seizure at Comic Con.  Every year I trick myself by looking at the exclusives beforehand online and feeling comfortable that by obtaining one or two things I will be content enough when its over.  But then I walk onto the show floor and am blindsided by all of the unexpected things I see.  Things that weren't in the plan I formulated in my head as the train enters Manhattan with fellow attendees.  I am here to forewarn you that Tenacious Toys is great at dealing in lethal surprises.

   This year at both #780 is no different, though some of the components that make it up may be.  There's a lot of different names involved this year, but the one I'm most excited to see is Black Drove.  They collect the craziest mixture of sofubi and resin releases from all over the globe that will both blow your mind and your credit limits.  Check out the artists that will be represented:

Horrible Adorables Releases for New York Comic Con

    I just got back from visiting Yellowstone National Park and if you ever have the chance to go you better take it.  The scenery is breathtaking and there's critters everywhere.  I saw my first ever bear in the wild, along with a host of elk, pronghorns, mule deer, and buffalo.  And I hand fed a raven one of those Nature Valley granola bars.  He was working the parking lot trying to pick up scraps when he bounced over to my car.  I gave him a couple of pieces and with each one I got him closer and closer until finally I just held my hand out.  He would fill his beak, take his bounty to somewhere I couldn't see, then fly back and continue to peck at my hand.  I know they tell you not to feed the animals but I was pretty sure that a) he couldn't hurt me that badly and b) take me to forest jail if you must because it was too tempting to resist.  Will forest jail accept your bail money in pine cones?

    I did not see any critters of the Horrible Adorables variety while I was there, but I will see some in a few days at New York Comic Con, more specifically at the PIQ! booth #745.  Gaze upon these wondrous beasts and bring home some animal friendly taxidermy to spruce up your living space.

    

Blown Away 100% Bearbrick Series 2 from Josh Mayhem

   I'm trying to think of a good wind story in the spirit of these Blown Away Bearbricks and I really only have one.  It happened earlier this year when the smoothie place next door to my work decided that gale force winds were in no way a threat to their table umbrellas.  Two of them were zip tied to their holders, while the third was left for Mother Nature to do with as she would.  A strong gust came rolling through and launched it directly into our front window.  The glass held, but the noise scared the hell out of everyone in ear shot.  I went outside and returned it to its table, stunned at the fact that I wasn't going to spend an afternoon boarding up the massive hole it should have left.  No sooner than come back inside than another gust comes underneath the umbrella, opening it completely, and firing it like a North Korean missle straight onto the roof.  We're talking a good twenty feet into the air and gone.  I don't do heights so they were on their own at that point.

    Josh Mayhem is revisiting the Bearbrick form with series 2 of these 100% figures.  There are 13 chances here for you to own one of these glittery resin coats masterpieces when they go on sale today (September 21) at 6pm pacific time.  Snag one at www.joshmayhem.com.

    

Mario Troper Enamel Pin from Playful Gorilla

    Enamel pins are the most popular thing in the world today, which is great until you literally run out of room.  Your jacket is getting short on real estate so you've got to pick and choose which ones you buy very carefully.  The easiest way to do that is to combine your favorite characters so you can represent more of what you love.  No need to thank me, I enjoy solving all of the world's problems.  You should read my ideas for closing the deficit and reforming healthcare.

    Playful Gorilla has mashed up the world's of Star Wars and Super Mario Brothers into an amalgam known as Mario Trooper.  Based on one of his giant custom figures, this pin is available for a limited preorder right now through www.playfulgorilla.storenvy.com,  and when I say limited I mean as in 25.  Those 25 will also receive a free sticker of the Mario Trooper.

 

Your Last Chance To Own a Chrome Mister Melty from Buff Monster

 

  If the last thing you needed for your custom chopper was a chromed out Mister Melty from Buff Monster then you've got one shot at completing the bike of your dreams.  That's because today (September 15) at 10 am eastern time is the last time these chrome figures will ever be offered.  No minds will be changed, no pleas will be heard, this is absolutely it.  You don't have to bolt this five inch figure to a set of handle bars, but it wouldn't look out of place if you did.  Seize the day at www.staymelty.com.

Steel Age Joker from 3A

    This image of The Joker would sell me instantly on any movie he was in.  I have no idea how they could contort a real life human being's face like this, but it would be worth it.  Just think: if the design was this amazing you know the story line couldn't suck.  It would be impossible.  Impossible, I say!

    There isn't an ounce of sanity left in this dude's grin and that's what makes him interesting.  3A does a great job of taking something very familiar to us all and presenting them in a way that feels fresh, and Steel Age Joker is no exception.  Featuring fabric clothing and led lights in his already creepy eyes, this should have any Bat-fan drooling all over their comic books.  Which for the sake of market value are hopefully in protective sleeves to preventing water damage.

    Available beginning October 4th at http://www.bambalandstore.com, for $240 (which includes world wide shipping).