Toy Fair 2014: Sons of Anarchy

    Toys aren't dangerous enough anymore.  When I was a wee little lad I used to play with Tonka trucks that were made out of sheet metal and would require you to be up to date on your tetanus shot.  And I had toy guns that looked like real guns just to up the ante if the cops happened to drive by.  Ok, I wasn't that tough when I was a kid and may or may not have cried if I got dirt in my mouth.  But we gotta toughen these little buggers up to prepare them for the realities of life, and what better way to do it than with toys from Sons of Anarchy.

    Sure, these aren't meant for your little one's toy boxes, but there are a lot of important lessons to be had in the trials and tribulations of everyone's favorite fictional motorcycle club.  They can learn the ins and outs of running your own business (pornography, gun running, etc), interpersonal communication (usually involving fists and guns), and the importance of working as a team (to hide bodies).  Mezco are kicking off their line of action figures with Jax and Clay, but assure me there will be many more characters to follow.  And something tells me their plush line will be exceptionally popular with the ladies.  I swear if I come home and my bed is full of bearded dolls used as throw pillows I'm gonna be pissed.  Not that I like throw pillows or anything.  Moving on.  

    So maybe we can't all be outlaw bikers in real life because we're not fans of getting arrested or punched in the face.  It's cool though, cause we can still ride around on Harleys and get a taste of being a badass while we look out for potholes. But if you're a biker on a budget, or you just want your desk at work to convey how much you're really not into dealing with other people's nonsense, Maisto has a second series of bikes from the show that are perfect for you.  These diecast replicas feature every detail from the bikes that they use in the show, including their unique tank graphics.  You'll even be able to buy the tow truck that has been used on more than one occasion to get the boys out of trouble/escape from law enforcement.  Expect to see them in stores this June.  

Toy Fair 2014!!!!!!!!!!!

     I'm probably going to stop taking pictures now that I have this one.  How do I follow up a photo with Grumpy Cat?  Everything now will just be a step backwards, and I'm not willing to go that route.  So here you have it, the last picture of me ever featuring a famous internet cat and me making a sour face.  Print it out and put it on your walls like it came from an issue of Tiger Beat.  

    So as you can see, Sharon and I made our way to Toy Fair in New York yesterday and I took a lot of pictures of cool stuff that you're gonna spend all your money on this year.  We got back kinda late last night and I have to be at work soon, but I promise I'll do my best to upload all of our pictures tonight on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheToyViking.  And all this week I'll highlight a different booth every day and showcase all the stuff I wanted to steal.  Not that I would do that, but when you're surrounded by toys you can't buy yet you start to think bad thoughts.  It's like going to comic con but forgetting your wallet.  

   There are a few pictures now on our Instagram, mostly of the new line of DC Comics Labbits from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot.  

   Toy Fair is a weird time.  It's mainly set up for people from companies to come in, preview upcoming product, and place wholesale orders.  So it's half carnival, with girls wearing blinky mustaches to attract attention to their booths (that happened, and we have something really cool involving said mustache and a cross bow coming soon), and half high-powered business meetings, with people in suits spending more money than most of us make in a year.  Oh, and there was one sleepy kitty cat who people lined up in droves to take pictures with.  

The Loyal Subject's Optimus Prime Custom Show at Toy Tokyo

    You wanna see some cool, custom Optimus Prime figures? You wanna buy some new Transformers toys before everyone else? You want free food? Well, you might be a little greedy (kidding, we all know free food tastes the best) but you are in luck because The Loyal Subjects and Toy Tokyo are gonna make all your dreams come true this Saturday. Look at all those details right in that picture. Could they make it any easier for you to have a good time? And you could be the first collectors anywhere to get your hands on the new 3 inch Ultra Magnus figure and make all your friends jealous.

    On a side note, I know there's a huge debate about designer toy companies making licensed toys. What I would love to see is a marriage of both worlds by having artists interpret these classic characters and release them as production figures. I know it's probably much harder to make it happen, what with the people that own the properties having to be convinced that it's cool for the brand, but I think it could be successful for everyone involved. What do you think?

  

Help Make Zombitron from Kenth Toy Works and Acolorfulmonster a Reality

    Collaborations can either be amazing or disastrous.  Sometimes you'll get one of the artists taking more control and pushing the other one out, or the designs just don't mesh well and both of their individual styles kind of get lost.  Kenth Toy Works and Acolorfulmonster have found a way to prevent all that and make a truly original toy:  one artist took one side of the figure, while the other took the opposite.  The result is two very unique creatures in one body.  But there' no guarantee that this guy will come to life unless you help out.  They've launched a Kickstarter campaign to get the money together to make this figure happen.  So now you have the chance to not only involve yourself in the production of a toy, but to get some cool rewards for helping them out.  There are blank figures, standard painted versions, and one-off editions depending on your level of contribution.  Check it out by clicking here.   They only have 17 days left so let's get moving people!!!!!!

Game of Thrones Legacy Collection Figures from Funko

    It's almost that time of year again.  The time where I call my cable provider, complain about their service, and get HBO for free just long enough to watch Game of Thrones.  Maybe it's not the most kosher tactic on my part, but we're in a recession and that show is addicting.  Plus, if HBO didn't charge so much for their dvds we wouldn't have this issue.  I'd wait patiently and be a proper consumer.  Do you see what you've made me HBO, you've made me a criminal!!!!!!!!!  Not that I feel too bad, as it's the most illegally downloaded show in history, which means many of you reading this also resort to nefarious means to get your fix.  

    

    Just make sure that when you visit your local Barnes and Noble to get these exclusive figures from Funko that you do actually pay for them, cause it would be real embarrassing for you to be arrested for stealing toys if you're over the age of five.  And they won't let you keep them to play with in jail, so you're bound to be pretty bored waiting for someone to bail you out.   

New Minions Sets from Paul Kaiju x Skinner x Lulubell Toy Bodega

    I had this dream last night where I laid down to go to bed and for some reason there was this recessed part of the ceiling directly above my pillow.  Inside that space were the biggest, most grotesque insects I had ever seen.  Giant spiders, beetles, and all kinds of other crazy bugs were moving all around and threatening to fall on my face.  In the dream I jumped out of bed and this one flying critter flew over to me and started speaking english, all wanting to be my friend and hang out  with his razor-sharp talons and blood-soaked teeth.  He spoke like he had done really well in school, but that didn't stop me from beating the living hell out of him.  I splattered his bug blood everywhere, all while trying to keep an eye out for his little buddies.  I felt kind of bad about it, but I figured he was a dirty liar who would probably bore a hole through my ear drum and suck out my brain.  This dream can really mean only two things:  either I need to start getting more sleep or I need to stop looking at toys like this before bed.

    Skinner and Paul Kaiju are set to release this brand new series of Minions on an unsuspecting world this week, and Mr. Kaiju himself hand painted these creepers.  They will be sold blind bagged and you will get one of the two sets you see featured above.  They go on sale this Saturday, February 15th, at 12:01 Pacific time only from Lulubell Toy Bodega.  

My New Favorite Thing: Super Models with Designer Toys

    Now this is more like it.  This is how I would forever like to think of designer toys.  Not the standing in lines waiting for a new release, not the sweaty people at comic cons who always find a way to offend the senses with their unique odors, and certainly not the flippers who buy up everything and sell it for ten times the original price.  Nope, I want to think that super models would flock to pose with the toys I love so much.  And here is a picture that is bringing that dream to life.  It just so happens to be my favorite super model Coco Rocha (what, you don't have one?) greatly enhancing Kidrobot and Samsung's new MiWe character during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  All of you customizers might as well retire, because you can't make this figure look any better than it does right now.