Spirit and Ether Legacy Labbits from Frank Kozik

 

     Doing this whole blog thing has been a way for me to consistently write outside of an academic setting about stuff that I liked. Each figure is a prompt where I can exercise my creativity and form narratives around objects that didn’t necessarily have them already. Even if they did I’d at minimum try and come up with some weird way in which I could tie an aspect of them to my life and tell a ridiculous story in the process. I’ve written about having to get rabies shots, drug use, medical procedures, and other wacky thing I could think of just for a cheap laugh and a modicum of recognition. Never would I have realized that Frank Kozik was paying attention to me. So much so, in fact, that when he took over as creative director of Kidrobot he asked me to write their blog posts.  I met with him at Toy Fair in New York, tried to act like I wasn’t a complete and utter idiot, and started on a journey that lasted nearly four years. I learned a lot about crafting stories to highlight products and nothing made me happier than when I wrote something that got his stamp of approval. I never told him that because I thought it would make me look uncool or like a fan who didn’t have any business doing what I was. But that was a mistake. I should have told him. I should have said exactly what I was thinking and how much the opportunity meant to me. I always figured I’d connect again with him sometime but of course that won’t happen. I know in the scheme of things my blogging was a blip on the radar of someone who stood larger than life itself, but it made me feel like I did something right. That I wasn’t just the weird kid who was always furiously writing down his ideas in a speckled notebook when he should have been taking notes in school. That the wads of scrap paper I cleaned out from my pockets everyday with random thoughts scribbled in messy script actually added up to something. Wherever his spirit may reside I’m sure they have internet access so I hope he sees it now.

    The influence of Frank Kozik will live on through the work he created and the people he inspired. It also lives through his wife Sharon, who has thankfully continued to make his iconic creations available for  all of us. This Friday will see the release of the Spirit and Legacy editions of the iconic Labbit. Each one is cast in solid resin with an ethereal smoke effect captured throughout their forms. They will retail for $500 each, are limited to one of each style per customer, and go on sale April 19th at noon Pacific time from https://store.kozik.tv/. 

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Soft Vinyl Figures from Mondo

 

     The best thing about Godzilla is that unlike my favorite space opera, whose toys I used to collect like crazy, they don’t just keep repackaging the same figures ad nauseam. Someone is constantly redefining what Godzilla and his cohorts look like so there are always cool things that I have to buy so my brain keeps releasing those happy little chemicals. The stress of finding somewhere to put them all could be a problem, but I refuse to let that sort of negativity in my life. Besides, I haven’t even begun to display them in the bathroom yet, so there’s still room.

   The folks at Mondo are releasing two new figures inspired by the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire film that are totally beyond any movie tie in you’ll see for sale in a big box store. There’s a place in every collection for screen-accurate replicas, but these babies are a work of pure art. 

          Both figures are massive, with Kong coming in at ten inches tall and Godzilla just a hair over that, and limited to only 400 pieces. Kong isn’t as tall, be he does come with swappable arms and an axe, cause every diva needs their accessories (I’m team Godzilla, btw).They can each be yours starting tomorrow, Thursday, March 28th. They will retail for $190 each and can be had starting at noon central time from www.mondoshop.com.

Concept Design and Paint by Hector Arce. Sculpt by Hector Arce and Alex Brewer. Engineering by Tommy Hodges. Packaging Design by Jordan Christianson. Photography by Robert Howell. 

Memento Mori Edition Nordic Lucky Cat for Stranger Factory’s Toy Makers of Planet Earth

 

     Last year was hard, as I faced more loss than I have ever experienced before. Individuals that I looked up to, that I considered friends, and others that were my family departed this world and left me feeling kind of helpless. I didn’t write much, or make anything as I was consumed by feelings of grief that made those tasks nearly impossible. This is my way of moving past that and gaining whatever sense of closure you can ever feel. 

    When Stranger Factory asked me to be part of their Toy Makers of Planet Earth show I had a lot of different ideas that I wanted to execute, but this is the one that I kept returning to. The Memento Mori edition of my Nordic Lucky Cat figure is solid resin and painted in matte black. On the bottom of each is the name of someone that was special to me, written in gold, that I lost last year. Five figures representing five souls that have moved on to the next phase of existence. These will be available exclusively at the aforementioned show along with plenty of other artists who probably did something way more upbeat. 

    The show opens this Saturday, March 23rd, from noon - 4pm at: 

Stranger Factory Gallery

1431 NM HWY 313 Suite B

Algodones, NM 87001

Realm Runners Board Game from Skinner x Jason Furie

 

   There are very few things in life that could ever be considered a sure thing. At this point I would usually list three gradually funnier things, but this morning when I was getting out of the shower one of my cats jumped on my back while I was hunched over drying off my legs and in the interest of him not tearing my flesh as he slid down, I remained in said position. Then I took a step forward, and hit my head on the door jam. At which point I said a few choice words, stood upright causing him to lose his grip, and was flayed like a medieval prisoner anyway. The moral of the story is I left my cleverness for the day in the skull shaped dent of my bathroom and there it shall remain for the time being.

    So other than me getting creatively injured in a feline related incident, the other sure thing in life is that this board game created by Skinner and Jason Furie has already been completely crowd funded and is guaranteed to go into production. So backing it comes with no risk of disappointment, unlike the look on Jacob Peterson’s face when I bested him in the third grade science spelling bee. You really thought you had it wrapped up with “mitochondria”? 

    As with anything Skinner involves himself in, this game looks cosmically insane. His neon Lovecraftian style is splattered all over every inch of this thing, from the box art to the boards, to the miniatures that are exclusive to the deluxe edition set. 

  While this project is fully funded, they’ve got plenty of stretch goals available to make the final product even more mind melting than what you see here. So check out this link and get in on it before you miss out and are all sad and stuff. 

Burn It Down Pink Edition from Czee13

 

    I've seen the slogan "eat the rich" a lot in the last few years, and having come to terms that I myself will most likely not be one of them, I'm not really concerned about their well being. Seriously, the ultra wealthy are responsible for crapping the world up, so sorry if I don't shed a tear. But what I really need to know is are we literally eating them or is it just a catchy slogan for any type of general downfall? I mean, there's a whole lot of people who don't care for Elon Musk and out of those I'm sure a few who are atleast cannibal-curious, but that's a big task. And are we looking for clean plate club type eating or just symbolic gnawing on like a thigh or something? Honestly, I'm a bit picky and I'll be happy to cheer you on like it's Nathan's Famous on July 4th, but I'll probably just eat before I get there if it's all the same. 

    The spirit of chaos and anarchy is alive and well in Czee's latest figure, appropriately named Burn it Down. This resin creation is limited to only 13 pieces, comes with fun merry making accessories, and is housed on a signed and numbered card. This pink edition goes on sale Friday, October 27th at 2pm eastern time only at this link. 

Satanic Symphony: Baphomet Kickstarter from toyVillian x Nemons

 

    It has been a minute (two months worth, but whose keeping track) since my last confession, I mean post. A lot of stuff has happened that kinda made it hard to keep track of doing this sort of thing, but after unsuccessfully guessing my password the required amount of times to get locked out, and stretching my typing fingers for so I didn’t pull a hamstring, I’m back here with all 12 of you. And how could I pass up the opportunity to spread the word about a toy like this. If he doesn’t have your grandma clutching her pearls and wondering what’s become of this world then I suggest you check her pulse cause you might be due a few bereavement days from work. 

    Baphomet represents the idea of balance, but he also looks really cool on heavy metal t-shirts that in my day were a sure fire way to get you kicked out of the mall. Or so I’ve read. This version from toyVillian (aka teeVillian) and Nemons looks like he could have had his own theme park built around him and if Disney were like that I would be way more interested in going. 

    

    Standing at 7 inches tall, this adopted symbol of the occult is in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign intended to make him a reality. Thankfully you don’t have to buy any mystical book or dig up the grave of a Knights Templar member to get one of these for your shelf. All you have to do is visit this link, select your pledge level, and invite this lovable goat-headed being into your home once the campaign is successful. Altar and book of sacred spells not included. 

Ultraman Chibi Kickstarter from Last Bastion Studios

     

    Space is at a premium when it comes to my house. My wife and I are both collectors and neither one of us is fortunate enough to only be obsessed with one thing. I envy those among you who have a singular interest that you can dedicate yourself to pursuing, mainly because it would save me a ton of money, but also because I'm running out of places to put things. I'm not only into designer toys, but I collect Godzilla figures, vintage Steiff, World's Fair memorabilia, guitar picks, Star Wars and whatever else happens to catch my attention. At this point drugs would be cheaper and would also solve my space problem because all of my things would be at the pawn shop. 

    Drugs are bad kids, and I was only kidding about that being a viable alternative. The real solution to the problem is to collect smaller things, like these Ultraman Chibi figures from Last Bastion Studios. At only three inches tall, anyone has room for these dudes no matter how full you've packed your living space. You can tuck em in between things, or on top of other things, or between things. You can hide them and then find them again one day and then it's like you got something new again. 

   These figures are officially licensed from Tsuburaya Productions but will only become a reality if their Kickstarter gets funded. Available rewards include both painted and blank versions, so check out this link and help these go into production.