Mini Glow in the Dark Seated Boo and Kuma Set from Brandt Peters X Kathie Olivas

    Sharon and I recently went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and stayed at a haunted bed and breakfast. For those of you who don't know, Gettysburg was the site of the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War and has become a hot spot for people ghost hunting.  Not that we were there for that reason, but if we were gonna pay the same price to stay at the Econo Lodge then the prospect of seeing some restless souls was like a bonus deal.  The place had become a hospital after the battle to treat the wounded so we thought the chances were high we might have an otherworldly encounter.  That night we heard a lot of weird sounds, bits of conversations, and what sounded like boots walking  across the hardwood floors just in front of the bed, but we weren't treated to any visuals.  Not that I'm upset that I didn't wake up to a soldier's blood soaked face leaning over mine.  I'd never live it down if I screamed like a girl.

    There's easier ways to see ghosts than to traipse around old battlefields or haunted houses.  You can just buy them.  Ain't this a great time to be alive?  Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters are all set to release this glow in the dark set of figures ready to bring some mini spookiness to the comfort of your own home.  Each seated Boo and Kuma set glow in blue to let you know that they're active at night opening all of your cabinets and rearranging your collectibles.  Get em when they go on sale Wednesday, July 20th at noon pacific time only from http://www.circusposterus.com.

NES Classic Edition from Ninetendo

     

    May I present to you the one item that is guaranteed to get moms fighting UFC style on Black Friday this year.  Ninetendo just announced that they're releasing this NES Classic gaming system that comes pre loaded with 30 of their most popular retro games of all time.  You get all three Mario Bros., Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, and one of my all time favorites Techmo Bowl.  I used to destroy people in this game because I would always play as the Raiders and just run Bo Jackson through their defense all day long.  There was nothing they could do but slam the controller in disgust  as I celebrated touchdown after touchdown.  I would try and trick my wife into playing against me but I'm not looking to sleep on the couch the rest of my life.

   This little bundle of joy is set to retail for $59.99 when it's released in November and it comes with one controller.  A second controller will run you another $9.99, which is totally worth it to assert your 8 bit dominance on everyone you know.

Candie Bolton's "Rose Gold" Oh My! Yokai Set from Toy Art Gallery

    Times are hard for everyone as far as economics go, and if you're not Lebron James you gotta be smart with your toy buying money.  That means you need value for every dollar you spend, and one thing I know if you can't beat getting five figures for $75, especially when they're made of sweet Japanese sofubi.  It's the Ferrari of plastics and it's what makes up the Oh My! Yokai series from Candie Bolton and Toy Art Gallery.  But you're not gonna get these figures as blanks because they've even been nice enough to throw in a cool little paint job to bring out every detail in their masterful sculpts.  I'm starting to sound like an infomercial.  Snatch em up Friday, July 15th at noon pacific time from www.toyartgallery.com.

"Wildfire Edition" Autopsy Zombie Staple Baby from Miscreation Toys

   One of my favorite scenes ever from Game of Thrones is during The Battle of the Blackwater when Bronn draws back his bow, launches a flaming arrow, and ignites the ship loaded with wildfire thus destroying Stanis Baratheon's invading fleet.  That moment as it races towards the vessel is the most peacefully epic moment... right before it melts the flesh from those unfortunate souls.  It's pretty much the best way you can end a battle as long as you don't miss.  My luck I'd burn my hand on the arrow, double over in pain, and end up shooting Tyrion through the head.  The show would have taken a much different turn without the imp.

    Wildfire is dirty business but it sure is pretty to look at, which explains the vinyl color of Miscreation Toy's latest Autopsy Zombie Staple Baby.  Who knew an undead baby thing could be so attractive.  These will be available on Friday, July 15th at 3pm eastern time from http://www.miscreationtoys.com and I'm told will not explode if lit.  Unlike a real bloated corpse who will explode if you take a speed bump too quickly.  You only make that mistake once.
 

Super7 Vinyl Exclusives for SDCC

    I've never been to San Diego Comic Con.  Heck, I've never even been to California.  In fact I only crossed the Missipssippi for the first time in my life last year.  I'm not what you would call well traveled, but I've got spunk and by golly that's gonna carry me to the top!  Now I may just be simple caveman toy writer, but I know that Super7 is the booth with the goods at comic con.  Peep all the goods you can pick up at booth number 4945, including the debut of Bat Boy!!!!!!!

Watermeloncat from Rato Kim

    I have solved all of the problems that now face the world.  Ok, well most of them, because I think many of the world's issues stem from folks being miserable.  And you know what makes it impossible to be miserable?  The act of holding a baby skunk.  It's true!  I held one the other day and as his little face nuzzled under my chin there was absolutely nothing that could have upset me.  You could have tried, but you would have failed.  I have no idea how to implement this on a global scale, so I'll probably have to get Mark Cuban to help me out.

Happiness is a warm skunk.

    Ooooooh, maybe one of these Watermeloncats would be better.  For one you wouldn't have to feed them, and you'd never have to worry about bathing in tomato paste to counteract any spraying that may go one.  Rato Kim is offering these right now until the 13th and here's how you can get one for yourself:

- Name -
- PayPal account -
- WatermelonCat number -
- Residential land -
- Address -
- Contact -
- Select Shipping - 1 [EMS] , 2 [Air Small Packe] [Information] - SIZE [w4 / h4.5 / d5]
- PRICE [65 USD]
- Payment: PAYPAL
- EMS (3-7 days / Safe delivery.)
- Air Small Packet (7-15 days / I shall not be liable even if not to make delivery.)
- Asia 10 USD / Other 15 USD
- Plz, Email me for the order - [ ratokimtoy@gmail.com ]

"Got Milk?" Custom Night Gamer from Plaseebo

    Remember those got milk? campaigns where they took pictures of famous people with mil mustaches and that was somehow going to revive the dairy industry and get more people to drink the stuff?  I do, because I am lactose intolerant and was bombarded with images of Shaquille O'Neal reminding me that my bones will probably crumble to dust from a lack of calcium.  Then as a puddle person I'd be forever stared at and used as an example for parents to get their kid to finish their milk so they didn't suffer the same fate of having to crawl around on filthy floors like some shell-less mollusk man.  Welcome to my nightmare.

    Plaseebo's custom Got Milk? Night Gamer is much more innocent than all that, as he's just a dude trying to quench his thirst.  He would never judge you for your body's inability to process certain foods.  He's just content to sip his beverage and glow courtesy of a color changing LED light in his body.  You can welcome him into your home on Sunday, July 10th only from www.plaseebo.net.  

Shark Tank Action Figures from Biff Bang Pow

     I'm not gonna lie to you; I'm completely obsessed with Shark Tank.  I get so into it that you would think I had money to invest in anything other than lunch.  My wife and I spend the whole show dissecting their ideas, their pitches, and then determining the offers we would make.  It is without fail that we always want to invest in everything that never gets any money from the rich people, which may explain why we are not one of the rich people.  And it's always the dumbest stuff that ends up making the most money, like some dude will walk in and say "hey, check out my pills I made that can transform a dog's farts into the smell of fresh oranges" and everyone loses their minds trying to get him cashed up.  Then I see them in Bed Bath and Beyond and kinda want to buy them even though I don't have a dog.  I have a problem.

    Entertainment Earth has turned the stars of everyone's favorite investing show into action figures under their Bifff Bang Pow label.  They're debuting at San Diego Comic Con but you can get them for yourself by clicking the Entertainment Earth link to the right.  Bring em home and tell them all the great ideas you have.  The results will probably be better than yelling ideas at them in person.    Now if they'd only make figures for The Bachelorette I could finally act out all the fan fiction I wrote.

    

Amazonian Poultry Rex from Ron English X Toy Art Gallery

 

    Man they are reaching with these Jurassic Park sequels.  I'm guessing this is how the story would go:  scientists tried to breed a new, more docile form of dinosaur that visitors to the park could interact with and possibly even raise as pets.  They crossed Dino DNA with that of the common chicken in an effort to balance out their desire to kill. Needless to say, as they always do with these damn tourist attractions, things go horribly wrong.  This time the hero of the film is a descendent of Colonel Sanders who then opens a killer fried chicken joint with Flintstones size portions.  With ideas like this how in the hell am I still working a day job?

    The wings on Ron English's Poultry Rex aren't gonna fill you up, but those drumsticks look meaty as all get out.  Toy Art Gallery is releasing the first ever painted version of this prehistoric fowl on Friday, July 8th at noon pacific time on www.toyartgallery.com.  He stands 8 inches tall and most likely does not taste as delicious as it may look.  

Andy Warhol Dunny Series from Kidrobot

    We all have dreams, some of which are way more amazing than others.  Some of us may want to score the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, or write a best selling novel.  Others may want to sell out Madison Square Garden, or find a dead body in the woods ( a stranger of course, who obviously did bad stuff in life).  But I have a different sort of dream.  I'd like to walk into one of those fancy New York City galleries, grab an Andy Warhol off the wall, and pay straight cash for it.  Then I would like to come home and hang it up with Command strips right above my bed.  That's what a baller would do.

    In lieu of probably never being able to afford a Warhol original, I'll take this entire Dunny series instead.  Kidrobot has taken some of his most iconic designs and plastered them across everyone's favorite platform toy.  These blind boxes go on sale Friday, July 8th wherever it is you prefer to buy your designer toys.  I'm gonna need em all, btw.

KEIKOJOKER at Coin Rides Game #4 from Fool's Paradise

   Let me tell you something, Fools Paradise does licensed toys like no one else.  I love to see a company take such well known characters and blow my mind with such a refreshing presentation.  How many times can you make just a miniature version of some dude that everyone knows and expect people to get excited about it?  The answer is apparently "infinite".

    But enough bellyaching when there's this beauty to talk about.  It's equal parts cute, frightening, and irreverent, and thankfully looks nothing like the meth head Jared Leto version of the Joker that we're stuck with courtesy of the Suicide Squad film.  Ahhhhh negativity is like a bad burrito that just won't stop haunting me.

    I really don't know any better way to describe this thing than to have you look at the pictures and try to wrap your own head around it.  You got a nearly naked hot chick with a Joker-styles panda head riding a miniature coin operated Batmobile.  Actually, that does sum it up quite nicely.  I may have a future in this yet.

    You can preorder this beauty until July 13th by visiting http://doublefools.blogspot.com.  Only 380 of these will ever exist though, so get on it and own the greatest conversation piece a Batman fan could ever hope for.

   

"Rocket Pop" Edition Jerome from Frank Kozik X Rotofugi X Squibbles Ink

    Would you be so brave as to doubt that I have a story involving a rocket pop?  Ok, I'll admit, I really don't except for the time that I was little and we went to Washington DC in the summer and I got one from a food cart.  And it was delicious.  That's still a better love story than anything that turd Nicholas Sparks has ever written.

   So while my rocket pop story may not have got you feeling those sweet summer vibes, Frank Kozik's nicotine addicted ice cream Jerome will do the trick.  I'm so ashamed of myself for using the phrase "sweet summer vibes".   This dude, produced by Rotofugi and Squibbles Ink is decked out in red, white, and blue and is arriving just in time to crash your weekend BBQ.  Limited to only 75 pieces, snap yourself up one on July 1st at 10am central time only from www.rotofugi.com.

Seathing Micro Run from Naomi Knaff

    The ocean is a frightening place.  There is stuff lurking under there we can't even comprehend and I would bet most of it wants to taste our sweet flesh.  I live near the Atlantic Ocean and this time of year the Coast Guard is always searching for people who get swept up in a rip current or fall of a boat and most of the time that is it for them.  What's left may wash up a week later, giving whoever finds them an image they'll never get out of their minds.  They sea is not only a cruel mistress, but that chick has got the creepy crawlies too.  I don't know how people swim offshore on purpose without being consumed with wondering what's lurking beneath them.  

    Is Naomi Knaff giving us a glimpse of the abyss with her Seathing resin creature?  Have our murky overlords sent them as spies to assess how easy it will be to rule both surf and turf?  Have I finally gone off the proverbial deep end?  That was all supposed to be read in one of those dramatic voices that go with movie previews by the way, so if you didn't do it right I'll wait for you to go back and try it again.  Go on now....

.....ok, now back to business.  There are only three of these dudes in this small run and they will be available beginning July 1st at noon eastern time only from http://www.naomiknaff.com

Glow in the Dark Bite Size from Radioactive Uppercut

 

    I know that by Tuesday of next week one or more of you are probably gonna light some explosives to celebrate America's independence.  I'm not saying don't do it, cause I grew up down south and bad ideas are pretty much a lifestyle, but whatever you do don't do anything that would prevent you from getting the best, most informative and strikingly handsome toy news on the internet via this very website.  If you lose a couple of fingers you'll probably still be able to type The Toy Viking address and be enlightened (pun intended) by whatever wisdom I choose to bestow upon you.  But you were only gifted with two eyes, and losing both of them while kneeling to inspect whether or not a Roman candle is a dud would suck pretty hard.  Plus, I know you're reading this while at work and avoiding your responsibilities and you're totally gonna get caught if you have to ask someone to read it to you.

   There are many alternatives to lighting fireworks that will not only let people from far and wide know just how damn free you are, but have little to no chance of disfiguring you. I've been assured by Radioactive Uppercut that his Bite Size figure, no matter how menacing looking, is not likely to turn your flesh into something the cops are gonna want you to explain.  These dudes are cast in milky white vinyl and glow like Abraham Lincoln's ghost when he defeated the aliens during the War of Roswell.  There ain't many of these bros in existence, and your chance to snag one comes on the evening of July 1st at 8pm eastern time.  Get er done at www.radioactiveuppercut.storenvy.com.

Josh Mayhem's Latest Blown Away Dunnys from Kidrobot

    Oh lawd, this is Fouth of July weekend and as an America it is my cultural duty to nearly blow my fingers off with explosives and eat piles of grilled meat products.  See this is the time where we celebrate giving the middle finger to mother England and letting her know that she couldn't tell us what to do anymore cause we were grown and if we want to eat cookies for dinner that's what's gonna happen.  Don't make me flex so hard my sleeves explode.

   Josh Mayhem is smacking you in the face with freedom with his latest Blown Away Dunnys.  They range in sizes from 3 inches to 20 inches and will be on sale exclusively through www.kidrobot.com on Friday, July 1st at 10 am mountain time.  These are only available to be shipped to American customers, so now might be the time to hit up your fifth grade pen pal and say what's up.  

Silver Back Broken Bones from Splurrt X Toy Art Gallery

    This dude probably has some stories to tell.  You don't lose your lower half without there being a story behind it.  And the fact that he's a skeleton probably would need some explaining too.  Is it kosher to go around asking deformed skeleton people what go them in that position?  I don't want to hurt any feelings.

    Splurrt's toys are harder to get than a supermodel's phone number, but Toy Art Gallery is giving you a shot at this dude on Wednesday, June 29th at noon pacific time.  It's the first time they've ever done a painted run of these and they won't last long.  Get em at www.toyartgallery.com.

"Labbit the Barbarian" From Frank Frazetta x Frank Kozik x Kidrobot

   Good Lord have mercy, did you see that Game of Thrones finale last night?  That is easily one of the best episodes of any show I have ever seen.  Don't worry, I won't spoil any of it for you, but if you recorded it you may want to try and leave work early or cancel any other plans you have to watch it.  HBO aired the season finale of Silicon Valley right after it and Sharon and I missed most of it because we were talking about Game of Thrones.  All tv stations should have gone black for an hour afterwards out of respect for the conversations that would take place.  Speaking of which, the one person I work with who has good taste enough to watch the show is off today, so I literally have no one to talk to about it.  Whatever my next job happens to be I'll be sure I ask different questions in the interview process to avoid such a situation again.  "Oh, everyone here only talks about their favorite Seinfeld episodes over and over?  Yeah, I just forgot how much I enjoy unemployment."

    Watching Game of Thrones always makes me want to sword fight afterwards and build an empire upon the broken bodies of my enemies.  It's the same feeling I get when I look at the artwork of Frank Frazetta, which transports you to a world where men were men and it was totally acceptable to crush an orc's skull without fear of arrest.  Now that world has merged with that of Frank Kozik's Labbit and the results are begging to be airbrushed on the side of a van.

    Available as a San Diego Comic Con prerelease, this beast of a figure (artfully produced by Bigshot Toyworks) is ready to stand as the centerpiece of your collection.  Just don't be surprised if it also beheads your other toys and tries to make out with your mom.

    If you're going to the aforementioned comic con you can preorder it for pickup from Kidrobot's booth.  If not, you can preorder it from wherever you normally buy toys and have that sucker shipped to the door of your mead hall/condo.

Make Your Presence Felt at the First Ever Suck Salon

    You know that whole Ticketmaster voucher garbage where they were gonna give you free admission to shows as part of a class action lawsuit?  Yeah, it's just as crappy as you would imagine, cause they are releasing so few tickets to shows that you'll never be quick enough to use them.  It's obvious Ticketmaster is in league with Isis, so they can suck it, but let me tell you about an event that you could go to without worrying about whether you'll get in or not.  The Sucklord is holding his first ever Suck Salon on Friday, June 24th.  He created a special blind box release for the event and will have mad deals on all things Suckadelic.  Tenacious Toys will be a part of it too with tons of deals fresh from their warehouse.  It's all going down at the Suckquarters located at 99 Canal Street #3C, New York, NY 10002 from 9pm to 1am.  

"Apollo" Shub Zeroth from Metacrypt

    I just watched The Martian movie the other night where those bums left Matt Damon on Mars and he had to become a hipster and live off the land and do everything on Mars before it was cool.  The movie wasn't bad actually, though by only playing one David Bowie song they seriously missed a great opportunity to play more David Bowie songs.  I was impressed by his will to live while facing seemingly insurmountable odds, but if you work for NASA and are smart enough to be sent to another planet no one should really be surprised that you're smart enough not to cry in the corner until you died of dehydration.  Maybe they should have made him panic and forget all of his training as he uses his time to try and fashion music instruments and form a David Bowie tribute band. I wouldn't have seen that coming.

    Shub Zeroth leaves no man behind, mostly because they are a great source of protein.  He's decked out in a paint scheme from Dski_one and ready for wherever the stars may lead him.  The blackness of space is calling, but you can divert him to your home on June 24th at 10am pacific time only from www.meta-crypt.com.  

Complete Your Horrible Adorables Figure Collection from Kidrobot

   Friday June 24th is gonna be a great day. Mostly because I get paid then, but also because Horrible Adorables and Kidrobot are releasing the last three figures as part of their collaboration.  I have all the other ones, just sitting on my bookcase as they wait for their brothers and sisters to join them.  They remind me of Pokemon in the fact that I have to have them all, but not in the fact that I'm an awkward teenager who thinks that skills in a Japanese card game will win me the attention of the fairer sex.  Spoiler alert, it doesn't, cause everyone knows chicks dig Dungeons & Dragons.

    They're some of my favorite releases this year and Bigshot Toyworks nailed the production on them, bringing felt creatures into plastic reality.  Finish, or maybe start, your collection at www.kidrobot.com or wherever you prefer to buy toys.

Learn How Sofubi is Made Courtesy of Candie Bolton and Sharla in Japan

    Have you ever wondered how Japanese sofubi toys were made?   It seems like a closely guarded secret and that knowing the answer puts you in league with the Illuminati.  And lots of people who are newly exposed to this form of collectible are always shocked by how much they can cost, which is easy to understand when you aren't in the know about the work it takes to produce one.  They see four foot tall Star Wars figures in stores for less and that probably confuses the hell out of folks.  But not only is there an artist behind a sofubi toy's design, the production itself is an art form.  Candie Bolton's friend Sharla recently toured a factory where they are producing one of her toys and she filmed the process of it transforming from a melted glob of plastic into a figure.  Check it out below.


 

    And how jealous are you of her tour of the RealxHead shop with all of those cat figures!!!!!!   I would have to declare bankruptcy after visiting there.

Octoozeball Custom from Plaseebo

    It oozes and it slithers and it the perfect gift for the lady in your life.  Ok, maybe not that last part, unless the lady in your life is kinda twisted/mentally imbalanced/completely awesome and totally marriage material.  You know how I knew I would marry my wife when we were dating?  When I told her I had always wanted to go to the Mutter Museum and she informed me that she had already been multiple times.  Medical oddities and a wall full of skulls really have a way of bringing people together.

    Plaseebo has combined his spooky sensibilities with Tru:Tek's Oozeball and created a light up critter that would look right at home squirming its way across Mars or the ridged landscape of your brain.  He's one of a kind and will be available on Friday, June 24th, from www.plaseebo.net.  

   

Introducing Peter Garou from Naomi Knaff

    Living hundreds of years ago wasn't easy.  The average life span meant you were a teenager during your mid life crisis, indoor plumbing wasn't a thing, and since travel wasn't as easy as today there was a good chance that the local gene pool was a tad murky.   All things considered, snuggling up with your cousin seems like the least of your problems.

    According to an old German story there existed a man named Peter Stumpp who moonlighted (get it? dang that was funny) as a werewolf that terrorized the town of Bedburg.  He was put on trial and then executed for his terrible crimes in a fashion that would make lethal injection seem like a Botox treatment.  Not that he didn't deserve it if the accounts of his crimes are true, cause dude was pretty messed up.

    Naomi Knaff was inspired by this story to create her latest resin monster, Peter Garou.  He stands just over 7 inches high and will be released on June 20th at 12am during the full moon.  Kinda spooky, right?  Get em at http://www.naomiknaff.com.

    

Action Portable Wave 2 from 3A

      You know what's great about the Action Portable series from 3A?  Not only are they as awesome as their larger counterparts, but they're price tag is easier to explain away to your wife when you buy them all.  Well, she still might be upset, but you're on your own with that one.  Take a look at my favorites of these stunning 1/12 scale figures and prepare your finances for when they go on sale June 17th at http://www.bambalandstore.com.

Turquoise Mecha Top from Inami Toys

    The word "turquoise" in the title took me way longer to spell than I probably should admit.  Spell check was like "let me help you with that bro" and I was all like "nah, I got this thing, just you watch".  And spell check did watch.  And in my struggle I could hear a faint snicker coming from my computer.  Spell check is the worst kind of jerk.

    Inami Toys is releasing their latest edition of the resin toy that begs to be played with on June 16th at 8pm eastern time.  Only 8 of them were brought into this world and you can welcome one into your home by visiting http://inamitoys.com.  Each piece will cost $70 and bring you hours of entertainment/things to do other than the dishes that have piled up and now have a weird smell.     

    

Cronus Magnus Kickstarter Campaign from Full Blown Ink

     You must be thinking right now that I've lost my mind; that not that long ago I posted about this very toy asking you to help support a funding campaign in order to get it made.  You're right, because that did indeed happen, but this time it's new and improved and featured on Kickstarter.  Full Blown Ink had been running this campaign on a different site but for whatever reason that didn't work out, so he quickly moved it and now for reals this time needs your help.  Go to this link and snag yourself one of these evil bad robot dudes and be a part of toy making history.