Stranger Than Fiction Kaiju Show at Mothership Gallery

    I thought I'd see the return of the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia before anyone ever put on a custom kaiju show, but alas Mothership Gallery made it happen with their event, Stranger Than Fiction.  As per usual I was working the night of the opening, but I went the day after and took a literal butt ton of pictures for you to peruse at your leisure.  Head over to www.facebook.com/TheToyViking to see them all and pick up what's still available for purchase at www.martiantoys.com.

I Pity the Dolls: The World's Largest Mr. T Collection book from Greg Mishka

     I love looking at people's collections especially when they've made a point to collect every possible item in their range of interest.  Recently I went to Cooter's Garage in Luray, VA, which sounds like a place that could easily be surrounded with crime scene tape most of the year.  It's owned by the guy that played Cooter on the Dukes of Hazzard and beyond just being a replica of the set it boasts a huge memorabilia collection from the show.  That's the kind of insanity I'm into when it comes to collecting and that's exactly what Greg Mishka has done with his hero, Mr. T.  While his hoard doesn't occupy a large building in the Shenandoah Valley, or offer $5 photos inside the General Lee (which I happily paid, even though they wouldn't let me slide across the hood) it will grace the pages of the book he's trying to put together.  The collection, not the picture.  I'm stingy with licensing my image.  

Kinda bummed that the doors weren't welded shut.  Also kinda thankful that my dad body didn't have to try and fit through the window.

      I say "trying"because right now he's got a Kickstarter campaign which aims to fund publication.  It will feature what has been confirmed the largest Mr. T collection in the world, including over 200 handmade Mrs. Martha's Orginal plush dolls.  Seeing them all together kinda freaks me out a little, and I hope Greg has a well tested padlock on the door to that room.  I'm not saying they might come to life all zombie like and snack on your intestines, but I'm not saying they won't either.  

    There's tons of rewards to be had, including exclusive Mishka gear only available as part of this campaign and even vintage collectables from his secret stash.  If you've been looking for ways to feel like Oprah you too can now be a part of a literary success story by visiting the Kickstarter campaign to pay for this, sucka.  Check out the link here.  

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.