Hana Early Prototype Version from Junko Mizuno x Lulubell Toys

   Junko Mizuno has been doing this toy thing for a long time but this is the first time she's ever had her own sofubi figure. Crazy, right?  This pretty plastic lady was cast in a milky vinyl and then painted on the INSIDE of the figure to give it this crazy finish.  And you're getting a lot of figure too because she stands nearly a foot tall, which in the toy world would make her first pick on any volleyball team.

    I'm keeping this post short and sweet because the preorder window is closing minute by minute.  You only have until tomorrow (Tuesday the 21st) at 5pm pacific time to ensure you get one.  They're made to order and will ship out in late spring.  Visit www.lulubelltoys.com now and treat yo self!

Asphaerius Purple and Yellow Blanks from Yuck Toy Co.

   It wouldn't take much to convince me that the entire planet is part of some alien reality tv show where they keep upping the ridiculous level to see how long we'll last.  Just when I think things can't get any dumber it seems like someone is listening and turns up the volume on the stupidity meter.  If you want specifics (and are not teetering on the edge of oblivion) just turn on the news and fear not that the circus will is no longer in business, it just became an every day event.  

   The best therapy for these troubled times is of course retail therapy, because the pills and the hour long conversations aren't as much fun as adding to your toy shelf.  Why not do so with an extra terrestrial being courtesy of Yuck Toy Co?  Sure, he may be at home watching the demise of our civilization as a form of entertainment, but that doesn't mean ol Asphaerius here isn't a swell guy.  And standing at ten inches tall he's the perfect edition to your vinyl toy basketball team that will undoubtedly propel them to the championship that has been just out of reach the past four seasons.  

    Choose from either purple or yellow or leave the headache of choosing to other people and buy both over at http://yucktoyco.bigcartel.com.  

  

Wonder Woman Signing Event with Tara McPherson at myplasticheart

    I remember the first time I met Tara McPherson.  It was in New York at the now shuttered Kidrobot store for the release of her Bubble Yucky Dunnys.  My wife and I stood in line for about an hour and a half in the snow and sub freezing temperatures for the chance to see one of our favorite artists.  Now a days you kids have it easy, what with your comic conventions and whatnot, but back then you had to suffer mentally and physically to take part in an event like that.  And I still only have the pink one and have searched in vain to get its blue companion at a reasonable price.   Not to mention any time there is a chance Sharon and I will have to wait in line for anything she brings up the fact of having almost died to buy this Dunny.  She isn't a big fan of the cold.

   According to the weather app on my phone, it will be a mild 54 degrees during her signing this Saturday at myplasticheart, so you are in no danger of frost bite.  This event is in celebration of her beyond beautiful Wonder Woman figure from Kidrobot, of which I eagerly await delivery of from our esteemed postal service.   I won't be able to attend her signing, but for anyone that can all of the info you need is right there in the picture.  

    

The Final Kookie No Good from Scott Tolleson x DeKorner

    Though some things seem like they will never end (the Trump presidency comes to mind) everything will inevitably reach its conclusion.  The lights go out, the curtain falls, yada yada yada.  That time has come for Kookie No Good, and you can help usher him into that special place where toys go when there are no more variants to speak of.  Scott Tolleson and DeKorner are now offering the final version of this little fortune cookie with a penchant for depression.  Made of sweet Japanese vinyl, you can own this farewell edition right now by visiting http://dekorner.bigcartel.com.  May he finally find the happiness in the great beyond that has thus far eluded him in our world.

    On a side note, I am now offering my pre-obituary service to anyone who doesn't trust their loved ones to write something nice about them at the time of their demise.  I'll make you sound like the greatest person that ever lived, and upon your expiration will even submit it to the newspaper of your choosing.  I'm kidding of course, unless you think this is something that I could really cash in on, which in that case I am open for business!

Warrior from the Jade Galaxy from Unbox Industries

    Thirty years from now when some Hollywood studio decides to remake the Alien vs. Predator film, these four figures would be a great jumping off point for the story.  Imagine some Indiana Jones type walking through a night market in Taiwan.  He walks past the stands and people selling their wares, yet he sees none of it.  Something pulls at him with unseen hands, guiding him through the throngs of shoppers.  And then he sees it: a heavily laquered cherry wood box, ornately detailed with gold inlay.  He reaches down and unlatches it, revealing four grotesque jade figures unlike anything he has ever seen.  He picks one up to admire it and the way the moonlight fills it's every detail has left him in a near trance.  It isn't until the stall owner speaks that he is able to break his gaze:

  "For a price, I can take you to where I found them."


     Then some stuff happens, everyone dies, blah blah blah.  You get the gist.

    I'm not saying these are the greatest Alien and Predator toys of all time, but they've certainly set the proverbial bar a tad high for anyone after.  Created by artist Tik Ka From East and produced by the wizards at Unbox Industries, each figure is hand painted to look like actual jade.  The effect is so realistic they look closer to the stone that inspired them rather than the vinyl they're made of.  You can preorder them right now at http://store.unboxindustries.info/ for $255 a set.

Broke Piggy Presents: The Shard Dunny Custom Show at Designer Con

    

    A few days ago Sharon and I decided it was time we started watching Stranger Things.  That was on Monday night and as of this writing we only have three episodes to go before we finish them all.  Now when I binge watch a show I get completely lost in it and start making weird connections between the fictional world and this one.  Take this Shard Custom Show that Broke Piggy has put together for Designer Con.  It's a show within a larger show, which wouldn't be a parallel dimension like the Upside Down, but would be like a completely miniature version of a universe identical to ours living within our universe.  Designer Con would be the crunchy cookie of the Oreo while the Shard Show would be the creamy filling.  Thinking about crap like this is why I neglected to wash dishes yesterday and my wife had to eat her yogurt with a spatula.  Love ya, babes.

    Scott Tolleson's stone bro Shard Dunny is getting extreme makeovers from all of the artists you see listed above.  Previews of their work has popped up online and I've collected a mini gallery below to feature a few, but the big shindig is this weekend in California.  These are all one of a kind, but both Scott (booth #525) and Kidrobot (booth #518) will have exclusive versions available for sale in greater numbers, so check them out if you're there.   See more at booth #527.  

   

Designer Con Exclusives from 3DRetro

    Seeing these exclusives 3DRetro has in store for Designer Con makes me wish I was able to go.  But it's cool, I'll just be at work ignoring my responsibilities while perusing social media to see all the fun you're having.  And if you're not going just know you won't be the only one gently weeping into your cell phone.  Make sure you have a screen protector that's not cracked because tears of envy void the warranty.

     First up is this utterly stunning Jade Clairvoyant Dunny from J*Ryu and Kidrobot.  By far my favorite version of this figure, I first spotted this during New York Comic Con and it looks so much like actual jade you expect it to be cold when you touch it.  It's a beautiful piece of plastic that's limited to only 100 pieces and at $100 will be one of the big hits of the show.  Perfect for storing any ancient spirits you may have lying around the house that you just don't know what to do with.  And in case you're wondering it's never to early to shop for your favorite toy blogger for Christmas.

    Look at these little jawns from Gary Baseman!  Yeah, I said "jawns" because it is a part of my vernacular and soon midwestern housewives will be saying it the same way Beyonce made them profess that everything "slays", which is dumb by the way.  If anything was ever a jawn it would be these mini figures sold in blind packs of two (one of each figure) for only $4 each.  You can't pick the colors you get, but you can choose to eat one less convention center hot dog to afford them.

    I tried to skateboard when I was a kid but I had this really strong fear of falling and knocking out my teeth that prevented me from reaching my potential.  My fearlessness didn't kick in until my 30's and now I think it's fun to spend a week in the woods looking for bear just for the chance to watch them.  They're really impressive outside of a zoo setting when they're just doing their thing and wondering why some weirdo just traversed a hill to take their picture.    And of course now I can't skateboard because I don't heal as quickly as I used to and I don't want to be the old guy at the mall carrying around a skateboard that he obviously didn't just buy for his kid.  

    This guy's name is Moe Hawk (I see what you did there) and he was created by KRK Ryden.  Get one for $60 and live vicariously (and safely) through him.  

    This is Anesthesia, and she is rather haunted looking.  For real, this looks like it was found at an estate sale and is about to start up a five film horror franchise.  Which is why I like it.  Doktor A sculpted this lady and named her after the best sleep you'll get without having St. Peter look you up in his book.  And I loooooooooove a good patina, which this figure has plenty of to keep me happy.  I'm not sure how much it is but Designer Con only comes once a year so don't be a baby about financial stuff and think about how great it's going to look on your mantle.  

    All of this and more can be yours by visiting booth #532