Sum from Plaseebo x Planet X

   

    When I think of what I would want a vinyl toy from Plaseebo to look like I couldn't have imagined anything better than this.  Normally I would have made up my own story about the monster, but being that the man himself already has a well thought out history for his creation, I will happily defer to him to tell the tale:

    Driving home from the local red neck bar one moon lit summer night, Roy swerves his pick up toward a  dark shape that is slowly moving along side the road. A loud CRACK shatters the darkness as the front tire breaks the giant snapping turtles' shell in two, right down the center. The great snapper rolls down the embankment into the stream and Roy's laughing fades as the truck turns to cross the bridge to his shabby farm house across the stream.

    The turtle, floating belly up is carried downstream to the other side and is swept into a quiet eddy where he sinks watching the moon fade from yellow to blood red through the darkening water.
This small pool cut into the bank of the stream was at the back Roy's property and he used it as his personal dump site. The water caught in this hole became a terrible toxic soup of motor oil, fertilizer, broken toys, bones and entrails of many slaughtered animals, rusty tools and who knows what else.
Over the next few months, a strange transformation took place in this evil chowder as it baked in the summer heat. A creature of revenge, born of cruelty and neglect slid its way out of the sickening mess one dark September night. 

   Roy's body was never found, nor could anyone explain the slime trail from the bedroom through the field behind the house.

     Over the years that followed, other neglectful farmers vanished on moonless nights and folks reported vague sightings of a creature that seamed to be cobbled together from a collection of garbage, an old doll, bone, rotted skin, and broken tools, with a large snapping turtle skull for a head. They call him "SUM".


    Insane, right?  Not that a giant snapping turtle whose body has infused with the contents of a junkyard wouldn't have a story more interesting than your cousin's reminiscing about that touchdown pass that got his team to states. It was a good throw, but c'mon dude, it was 20 years ago.

    This monstrosity debuted at a show in Japan last week and will hopefully make it's ways to other shores very soon.  Usually if I post about something I have sale information for you, but this creature is forcing me to break all of my rules.  Produced by Planet X, with what I would imagine will be tons of variations to come.

Gauntlet Girl Bust from MaloWrx x Dekorner

    Confession time:  I have not seen the latest Avengers movie.  And to further blow your minds I have only ever seen the first one.  I have seen the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Thor films, but that's only because they either ended up on Netflix or my cable company's on demand library.  See, I'm too cheap for the movie theater and I have been spoiled by the ability the watch things at home and pause them when I have to go to the bathroom, which is an inevitability at this stage of my life. Movies seem to be getting longer while my bladder seems to be getting smaller.  I've said too much.

    So what I know about the new Avengers movie is that there is a big purple Barney looking dude who is obsessed with bedazzling his Power Glove to unlock cheat codes or something.  MaloWrx obviously knows more that I do, because he has taken Reina Koyano's Mag Girl bust and turned it into the ultimate homage to the film.  Only 10 of these custom figures will ever exist and one can be yours starting today at 9am pacific time at www.dekorner.com.

I'm a Finalist for a Designer Toy Award

    

     For the third year in a row I have been shortlisted for a Designer Toy Award.  I thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my nonsense and to anyone who thinks enough of it to vote for me.  The polls are open at www.designertoyawards.com so please go out and vote for all of your favorites from the past year.  

Black Drove at Mandarake's First Ever Indy Sofubi Rally

    Black Drove came from seemingly out of nowhere and has routinely held down the best curated table at every convention they've attended.  Now their reputation has grown to the point that the oundaries of the United States are not big enough to contain them.   Passports have been obtained, one of a kind figures packed, and flights booked from their first ever show in Japan.  Happening on May 5th at the legendary Mandarake as part of the first ever Indy Sofubi Rally.  You can check out the list of participating artists below and start getting jealous if you are unable to attend.

"Precarious Opposition" Print from Tara McPherson

    I would be irresponsible if I did not throw out some advice for the single dudes out there when it comes to decorating your walls.  Do it.  Put pictures on your walls from art you love or else your dating life is going to be sad.  When my wife and I first started dating my walls we as pure as the driven snow and she made sure I was aware of my lack of decorating.  I didn't see the need to at the time, but apparently that sends off some real serial killer vibes.  She worked at a frame shop and you better believe the first thing she ever gave me was framed art.  Obviously my natural charm was strong enough for her to see my bare walls as a mere invitation for much needed change, but the results could have proved disastrous.

    Now less you think hanging up the periodic table of beer or a Jimi Hendrix poster is gonna cut it, cause that might actually be worse than naked dry wall.  My favorite print that Sharon ever got me was from Tara McPherson, whose art I had just discovered at the time.  Now I am beyond thrilled to share this new print from one of my favorite artists so you can also transform your home into a gallery worthy space like I have.

    Entitled "Precarious Oppositions", this limited edition of 100 fine art prints will be available today (April 26th) beginning at noon eastern time.  Each one not only comes signed and numbered, but will also include an additional print for free for those of you that order before the week ends.

    It's not only the perfect companion piece, but a great way to start your own collection.  Or to expand on the one you already have like me.  Pick them up today by visiting http://www.thecottoncandymachine.com.  

Petunia Rotten Resin Figure from RenOne

    Some people enjoy having their caricatures drawn by artists they stumble upon in tourist destinations; preserving features exaggerated to comedic proportions by someone who's parents still owe a great debt to an art college.  They then frame it, hang it in a place that will ensure it never goes unnoticed by any and everyone that ever comes over, and then one day it is passed up by estate sale goers who are just unable to connect with how lit the summer of '89 in Cancun was.  Bummer.

  Now let me introduce you to Petunia Rotten, who wanted her portrait to be looked at as a treasure for all time.  The best way to ensure that is to get famous Garbage Pail Kids artist Mark Pingatore  to do it, and from that very piece things have gotten a whole lot more real.  Now she's about to make her debut as part of a new resin figure courtesy of RenOne that could easily be the first ever toy to guest on Jerry Springer.

   Like any girl I've ever know that looks like this, you're going to have to help put her life back together.  That's because the first offering of Ms. Rotten is garage kit style, meaning you get the pieces you need to build her from the ground up.  Then you can paint her however you want or just leave her blank cause a girl with a last name like Rotten doesn't need pomp and circumstance for everyone to know it.  Bad girls make the world go round and this one can add a dash of drama to yours when she's released on Friday, April 27th, from 2amtoys.bigcartel.com.  Each kit will retail for $45.  

Who Cares Bears Custom Show at Mothership in Philadelphia

   This past Sunday I was able to check out the "Who Cares Bears" custom show that Mothership hosted in Philadelphia.  A ton of artists were featured and they utilized the various Care Bear toys that Kidrobot has released over the last year as the basis for their work.  I was really impressed by everything I saw, especially because a lot of those artists featured were previously unknown to me. It's always nice to see fresh perspectives when it comes to art toys and not just the same reheated pop culture references (there was not one Star Wars reference to be found).  

    A few pieces from the show are still available by visiting https://mothershipgallery.com and you can see even more of my pictures at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking.