Stealth Mecha Dunny from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

    Where I live we have a national landmark named Lucy the Elephant that is exactly what it sounds like: a really big elephant.  I think there used to be a hotel in it or something and I know there's a window you can look out of right in the giant elephant butt, which was either bad planning or a work of genius; I have yet to decide.  I guess it's cool but how much better would it be if it was some hyped up weapon ready to protect our shores at any cost?  Imagine this: the enemy lands on the beaches of Atlantic City, ready to destroy all the monuments of grandeur that President Trump (cringe) has built in his name and suddenly the giant elephant comes to life, annihilating all that dare invade this nation.  Missed opportunity.

No, those tusks aren't actually hiding an array of missiles.

    If Frank Kozik was our president I'm sure our country would be filled with these Mecha Dunnys, ready to be deployed at a moments notice to vanquish all threats.  Or Amazon could use them to deliver books to you faster than a pizza.  Or both, which would be a real efficient use of resources and probably mean he wouldn't have to raise taxes.  Corporations should sponsor everything.

    Kidrobot is unleashing this color way of the popular 8 inch figure on Friday, March 18th.  Protect your homestead for only $74.99.

Stranger Factory Presents: Paul Kaiju

    You know what I hate: art critics.  And I hate the people that stand in front of museum paintings and wax philosophical about how an artist was struggling with a bout of hemorhoids and how if affected the troubled faces of the people he painted.  Who gives a crap (pun intended).  Nickelback may be singing about the deepest stuff that would forever change the way I look at the world but until their music becomes anything other than the sonic equivalent of sports sandals I'll never know the difference.  I like art that looks cool; that I can wake up every morning excited to look at.  I like to be aesthetically pleased.

    I would straight lose my mind if I could see this Paul Kaiju show at Stranger Factory.  The place is going to be filled with his monstrous creations and I would bet money no one tries to impress their date by explaining the political significance of a Mockbat in these troubling times.  They're just gonna smack themselves to stop the trance it puts them in and try to buy it before anyone else can.  The show opens Saturday, March 19th and will only be visible for a few days.  If you're interested in buying something I would get there opening night because anyone who collects toys would punch their own grandmother to own one of the pieces.  Don't worry, my grandma is tough and a few knuckles to the jaw ain't gonna slow her down.

"Purple Heart" BC Blasters from James Groman x Toy Art Gallery

    I'm thinking that if the dinosaurs had been packing heat like this that they'd still be running the show to this day.  They'd go to museums and look at human skeletons, talking about how their superior fire power wiped us from the face of the earth.  Thank God for us their little pea brains weren't big enough to actually invent anything like gunpowder, or nuclear weaponry.  We will happily rid ourselves from the earth thank you very much lizard face.  

    James Groman's reptiles of mass destruction have returned in this limited "Purple Heart" edition.  Toy Art Gallery will begin offering these dudes on Friday, March 11th at noon pacific time.  Get one for $35 or the whole squad for $140.  These will only be available from www.toyartgallery.com.

"Motley Edition" Koralo from Kyle Kirwan

   

       

    Let me go on the record as saying that every sweet snack food is made better by adding sprinkles.  I went to Dunkin Donuts once and asked for a strawberry iced one.  The dude behind the counter proceeded to grab one without sprinkles, while there was a whole pile of them covered in technicolor bits of sugary goodness.  What kind of psychopath would deliberately try to sell me some naked donut while the option for sprinkles was sitting right next to it?  I thought it was obvious that he'd give me a sprinkled one because he valued my business and didn't want to get shanked, but no, he thought he was gonna pass of some garbage like I wasn't even human. No, I do not regret setting that fire, let me tell you.

   This first edition Koralo from Kyle Kirwan obviously knows what's up when it comes to pastry, cause he looks like he just housed the best cake of his life.  The debut of this seven inch tall resin figure is slated for Friday, March 11th, at noon eastern time.  It's an edition of ten and each one will sell for $65 only from http://www.kylekirwan.com.  

Mishka Dunny Series from Kidrobot + Release Party

    Oh my goodness this is the craziest Dunny series ever made.  They got zombie looking ones, crazy animals with guns and forked tongues.  There's even one that looks like you're creepy uncle Ted. This series is not for people that have never been in a fight or haven't had a tetanus booster shot in the last five years.  Each one is decorated with pure snake venom and contains the angry soul of a biker demon.  I want them all.

   Mishka and Kidrobot have teamed up to bring you these Dunnys that are sure to make your mother cry and tell all her friends how disappointed she is in you.  She doesn't get you man, but I do!  These are being released into the wild on Friday, March 11th, but if you're lucky enough to live in the San Francisco area you can get yours a day early by going to the release party at Woot Bear/Kidrobot SF.  Hit it up from 6-9pm, buy a ton of toys, and trade with your fellow collectors.

Here's a few of my favorite designs from the series:

Labbit With Littons Box Set from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot Available Now

    If you thought Labbits came from a factory somewhere in Asia you couldn't be more wrong.  Well, you could be more wrong if you also enjoy listening to Nickelback while you thought that, but then you'd be so wrong there's no hope for you.  Sorry, but it's fatal.

   Labbits are born, not created silly goose.  There are farms located all over the world responsible for breeding these majestic creatures.  They're no joke to raise either, because God forbid they could eat something cheap like carrots.  They require the finest in snack cakes and caffeinated beverages and woe is the farmer that dares buy store brand.

     This pack of momma Labbit and her five bey beys is on sale right now at www.kidrobot.com for $19.99.

Kerberosman Custom Figures from Kenth Toy Works x GEEK!

    I'm not sure what exactly this dude's name translates to, so he could either be a reference to Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the underworld, or he could just be an overly ambitious werewolf.  Either way, you don't chain someone's hands together for no reason, so he's probably not someone you'd want to meet while taking the trash out late at night.  

    Kenth Toy Works has customized a run of these figures from GEEK! and is offering them up now through this Wednesday at 23:00 Japan time.  Here's how you can get your hands on one of them:

Please enter your Name, Address, Phone No and Email to [ktw.order@gmail.com]

    All payments will be made through Paypal and if they generate more interest than the amount of figures they have then they will resort to a lottery system.  

The Nordic Legion Alavaka from Devil's Head Productions

    It makes me sad that music doesn't freak people out anymore.  Teenagers today will never know the joy of wearing a bands shirt that was scary enough to make people cross to the other side of the street.  Not that this is black metal related, but I remember going to see Marilyn Manson during the time when people actually gathered outside of his shows to protest them.  It was in Richmond, Virginia and while we waited in line to get in people yelled at us and threw things and there was even a local news station that was outside filming it all.  The reporter came up to me and started asking questions about why we were there and what attracted us to his music, and 17 year old me leaned into the mic and calmly said "we're just here to see a damn good rock concert."  It certainly wasn't the blasphemous rant he was hoping for and I made sure I stayed calm to let the idiot protesters really look like the savages of the whole affair.  It was a cool moment for me.

    I had yet to be exposed to the craziness that was going on in Norway at the time that was making Marilyn Manson look like Captain Kangaroo in comparison, but the music eventually made its way to my ears.  It's still unlike anything else you could even think to compare it to and now you can celebrate the madness with your own Nordic Legion Alavaka from Devil's Head Productions.  Decked out in corpse paint and blood, this figure will bring the northern darkness to all it touches.  Available starting Saturday, March 5th, only from http://devilsheadquarters.storenvy.com.

Hawaiian Death Ray Wolf Thing Bat from Joseph Harmon x Toy Art Gallery

    I live in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, which is home to the world famous Jersey Devil, so I have some knowledge of strange beings.  Most of the knowledge is not Devil related however, and has more to do with the migration of weirdos from the Staten Island area to our beaches.  They are usually the same color of the toy you see above and are extremely flammable due to the amount of hair product they use.  While they don't fall into the category of cryptozoology, they can't be that far off.

   The greatest name for any toy ever is the Death Ray Wolf Thing Bat.  It's great because it sounds crazy, and also because of how descriptive it is.  This piece from Joseph Harmon and Toy Art Gallery will be available starting Friday, May 4th, at noon pacific time only from shop.toyartgallery.com

Super7's Wing Kong Gets The Yeti Treatment

   Look at this snow monkey.  This doesn't look like those snow monkeys in Asia that I saw on Nattional Geographic years ago that sit in hot springs and eat bugs off of each other.  That's ok though, cause those monkeys are weird.  I've never owned a hot tub and never will if that's the type of behavior that it attracts.

    Super7 is opening a new store in San Francisco on Friday (March 4) which will be where you can get you're filthy mitts on this chilly simian.  Here's the address so you can celebrate the grand opening with them from 6pm-10pm: 3253 16th street.  

Jeremyville Vinyl Banks from Kidrobot

    Storing money under your mattress is way safer than investing in stocks.  Of course it won't grow that way, but you won't lose any of it either.  Not unless someone steals it of course, but the police actually arrest those types of criminals, not the ones who steal your mishandled investments.

    Now if you have enough coinage to make your mattress all uneven you might want to think about a different place to store your riches.  Well, would you look at that, I just happen to have to viable alternatives right here courtesy of Jeremyville and Kidrobot.  Each of these banks stands 10 inches tall and will retail for $100 each when they go on sale this Friday, March 4th at www.kidrobot.com.

    By the way, these were expertly produced by the folks at Bigshot Toyworks.  Give them a buzz when you're ready to make your own figures. 

Win a Trip To Wrestlemania While Supporting a Great Cause

    I don't have to tell you how tough Mick Foley is.  The man's body has endured punishment that would send a Mac truck to the junkyard.  His post wrestling life however has been defined by his generosity to those in need, and now he's giving you the chance to help out a great charity and win the vacation of a wrestling fan's life.

    Check out this link right here and for as little as $10 you could be on your way to this year's Wrestlemania is Dallas, Texas.  You'll also receive tickets to RAW,  Axxess, and diner with the hardcore legend himself.  Maybe if you're nice he'll let you toss him off the top of a steal cage.  Probably not though.

    100% of the proceeds from the sweepstakes will benefit RAINN.  

Full Color and Soft Vinyl! It's Skeletor from Super7

     You know what would be awesome about being Skeletor?  Besides living on Snake Mountain or having a gang of minions that do what you say, those are pretty much a given as to being really cool perks.  But one you may have never thought of is having a head that is only a skull.  Hear me out now, cause if you've ever suffered from sinus problems you're about to be on my side.  By having nothing but skull you have no tissue to get inflamed, no ability to produce mucus that clogs your head and makes you feel gross, and if anything were troubling you in your sinus cavities you could easily solve any problem with a flash light and roofing nail.  Can you tell I've been sick this week?

 
     Super7 has been killing it recently and there's no stopping them with this sofubi Skeletor figure.  Dude looks amazing in his full color debut and I need one as bad as Donald Trump needs to come to terms with being bald.  These will be on sale this Thursday, March 3rd, at noon pacific time for $65 each from www.super7store.com.
 



    

It's New Release Friday from doubleparlour

    You may fondly think of Friday because of that Chris Tucker and Ice Cube movie, or that really bad song from Rebecca Black that forced its way into your brain uninvited.  When I think of Friday I think of new amazingness from doubleparlour.  And would you look at that, we just happen to have some right here.  And today also happens to be Friday.  And at noon pacific time you can own the figures you see here by visiting http://doubleparlour.myshopify.com.  

Help Kickstart Luna from The Bots x UVD Toys

    Sharon and I decided that we would put a bird feeder outside of the window that the cats like to lounge in to offer them something interesting to look at.  Right away it was a hit, attracting all types of song birds to our house and offering the kitties a slew of critters to get excited about seeing.  We bought the fancy seed that doesn't have the shells on it because as they start to pile up they rot and smell like someone broke open a sewer pipe.  It's kinda gross.  Of course the stuff without the shells is more expensive, which is not a big deal until you see these little birds flinging it all over the place trying to get to the few bits they actually want to eat.  I've been out there several times trying to explain to them our socio-economic status, but apparently birds are quite uninterested in the fact that I have bills to pay.  They're lucky they're cute.

    Luna is the type of critter that appreciates the veritable feast that put outside for her.  Cause she shows up with a light show fit for a Pink Floyd concert attached to her antlers.  Hopefully she also shows up at a reasonable hour to take part in that feast, because the last thing I need is to be woken up by flashing lights in the middle of the night.  Makes me nervous.

    Luna was created by The Bots and will be the first release under Urban Vinyl Daily's UVD Toys brand.  She's on Kickstarter right now raising the necessary funds to go into production and into the collections of folks like you.  Check out the link here, pledge what you can, and clear off some shelf space to welcome her into your home.     

Masters of The Universe Retro Action Figures from Super7

   What year is this?  Shane McMahon was on RAW last night and new He-Man toys are coming out. I ain't mad about it though, cause I love a little bit of nostalgia now and then.  And these new figures from Super7 nail it.  You've seen em in black and white, but now you'll have the chance to own them as you all remember them; in full color!!!!!  And just look how killer the packaging art is courtesy of Jason Edmiston.  You know you're gonna need two sets, cause you're gonna want one to play with in the bath tub (don't act like you're not thinking it) and then another to keep pristine on the cards cause they just look that good.  The preorder for these dudes is going on right now over at www.super7store.com and they will ship out to you in April.

Plaseebo Presents the CATerpillar

    Leave it to Plaseebo to create the one kitty I wouldn't let in my house.  And my kitty threshold is pretty broad, being that I thought for awhile that one of our youngest might have been a bobcat.  He looked a little like one, and he acted like he was on meth at times, so I figured that was enough proof of his wildness.  Not to worry though, he just turned out to be which doesn't make the situation any safer than if he had been completely wild.

    The best part about this guy is that you would most likely save a ton of money on cat food, as his diet mainly consists of neighbor children and small car parts.  Bring him into your life for cuddle time and murder when he goes on sale today at http://www.plaseebo.net/.

    

Sunny Orange Mandrake Root Lottery from Doktor A x Toy Art Gallery

 
    My wife and I had this epiphany that we are getting older and should probably stop eating like 10 year olds left to their own devices.  While cookies for dinner is as great as it sounds, I'm really trying to avoid my blood turning into the consistency of New York sewage, so we've been eating a lot healthier.  I've even been dabbling in the world of vegetables, which are disgusting but supposedly necessary to staying alive past 40.  For years I've felt that it is just propaganda from the farming industry, but who knew I would uncover evidence of just how dangerous plant based food can be.

    According to Wikipedia, the Mandrake root has hallucinogenic properties and was used in pagan rituals.  It's also causes asphyxiation, which seems like a steep price to pay just to enjoy a Doors album just a little more.  And I don't think they actually have any nutritional value due to them being able to kill you and all, but they don't make me eager to eat any other things that grow in the dirt, that's for sure.

    Don't fear the reaper with this dude cause he's only made of plastic and isn't some bizarre man-shaped plant trying to take you to the beyond.  Cast in beautiful orange, this Mandrake Root from Doktor A and Toy Art Gallery is going to be available via lottery staring today at noon pacific time.  Entries will be accepted until Monday at the same time and then winners will be notified to pony up the dough.  Get in on it at www.toyartgallery.com.

Blue Magic Pumpkin Boy from Super7 Available Now

    I've heard of white magic and I've heard of black magic, but blue magic is completely new to me.  I feel that maybe that's the kind of magic they use in very cold places and it involves a lot of sparkles or something.  Maybe that's what the White Walkers on Game of Thrones use cause they're kinda blue and frost bitten.  Maybe I just haven't had my nap yet and am rambling on about nonsense.  Either one could be the case.

     The moral of the story is that Super7's Blue Magic Pumpkin Boy is available for you to buy right this second.  You should start your day off right by visiting www.super7store.com and picking one up for yourself.  Then, if the rest of your day turns out to be crap you at least have something cool to look forward to in the mail.  

Seen at Toy Fair: Kidrobot

    Toy Fair is a weird experience for a website such as ours.  Most of it is filled with stuff for kids and doesn't really cater to the adult collector.  In the days leading up to it we get bombarded with emails from different companies wanting to show us the latest in technology for entertaining toddlers, which if they'd ever seen what we write about they wouldn't want us anywhere near them.  But Toy Fair can still be insightful and a good time for those of us that collect designer toys and my favorite booth to visit every year is the one manned by Kidrobot.

    Unlike past years where everything was a surprise when I got there, I had some ideas about what they would be showcasing because of the various teasers that have popped up on Instagram.  Lest you think that diminished my excitement level at all, because two toys in particular had planted their images in my head and I just had to see them in person.  

    Gaze upon the glory that is the collaboration between Franks: Kozik x Frazetta.  I feel like these two vinyl titans should come with their own fog machine and Norwegian black metal band.  These were the prototypes on display and we should be expecting at least one of them to be available this Summer.  I already have a space ready.

   Now for something a bit more on the precious side.  These vinyl renditions of Horrible Adorables felt sculptures are going to be must-own figures for me.  Not only will they look great in any toy collection, but they look like they could be used as accent pieces in some fancy home decor magazine shoot.  

   I believe these will be sold in window boxes so you can pick the ones you want, which is obviously all of them.  

    Jason Freeny is a man of curiosity, which is mainly focused on the inner workings of some of the world's most beloved characters.  Soon you'll be able to own this anatomical representation of Bugs Bunny and marvel at all the bits and pieces that make him tick.  I've got a cabinet of curiosities just begging for a bit of humor, and this would look lovely next to the electro shock machine.

(By the way, all of these toys were expertly produced by Klim and his team at Bigshot Toyworks, who are on point when it comes to making cool stuff.)

    Ok, if you don't own a really nice table top display case yet, let me give you a great excuse to buy one.  This Dunny Chess set from Otto Bjornik is truly a work of art and when you're not busy owning your friends in the classic game you're going to want to make sure it has a place of distinction in your house.  You will be able to buy the pieces in packs of two or you could just skip all that and get an entire set.  Either way, the figures come with squares that form the game board and buying them will probably impress your mom with how much culture you have.  

   Of course these are not all the new things Kidrobot had on display, these just happen to be my favorites.  There's new stuff coming from The Simpsons, Street Fighter, TMNT and more Labbits and Dunnys than you can shake a stick at.  Have you actually ever seen anyone shake a stick at a group of things?  That whole saying would be way more effective if you saw people doing that.  

    See more pictures at www.facebook.com/TheToyViking 

Toy Fair 2016 Photos Are Up

   
    Want to see all the newest stuff that's coming out from your favorite brands?  Head on over to www.facebook.com/TheToyViking to see our photos from this year's Toy Fair.  

Flat Bonnie Wants You to "Adopt a Plush - Save a Bunny" This Easter

    What the hell is wrong with people that they think giving a kid a live animal as a present is a good idea?  Kids are little terror demons sent to punish us, yet every year at Easter parents have the notion that it would be so cute to get them a rabbit to take care of.  The only way that could be a reasonable thing to do is if the rabbit is virtual and lives in an app on their phone, because God bless you if you can get a kid to pay attention to anything else.  There should be a law, but there won't be because of the Illuminati and stuff, so we're just gonna have to put an end to this practice ourselves.

    Rally behind the army that is Flat Bonnie, who is spearheading this campaign for reasonableness by encouraging people to adopt a plush critter for their kids rather than a real one this Easter.  For a mere $23 you not only can have one of her awesome creations, but a portion of the proceeds will be donated to helping animal organizations.  That's like doing good twice, which is a month's worth for me.  

     http://www.flatbonnie.com 

     Now by all means if you're a responsible adult who can afford to take good care of an animal then you should give some lucky little fuzzies a forever home.  Open your hearts, but use your head.