The Blot Says...

Marvel x LEGO The Avengers Movie Sets & Minifigures

2012-02-13T12:00:00.022-06:00

At Toy Fair 2012 this past weekend LEGO unveiled its new Super Hero toy line, including these awesome The Avengers movie sets and minifigures. So far we know of four Marvel x LEGO The Avengers sets: “Captain America's Avenging Cycle”, “Loki's Cosmic Cube Escape”, “Hulk's Helicarrier Breakout” and “Quinjet Arial Battle”. The Captain America cycle set is pretty sweet, but how awesome is it you can buy models of SHIELD’s Helicarrier and the Avengers’ Quinjet!?! Is there one in this set you wouldn’t want to buy?

Each Marvel x LEGO The Avengers set comes with 1-4 minifigures, including Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Loki. These all look awesome, except for Iron Man. Why is his head so freaking big? And strangely there’s no Nick Fury LEGO minifigure included in any of the toy line’s initial four sets. But then again hopefully we’ll be seeing more sets with even more Marvel characters released by LEGO soon.

First Look: SDCC 12 Exclusive Jinx G.I. Joe: Retaliation Movie Action Figures

2012-02-13T10:30:00.012-06:00

In one of the strangest promotion moves I’ve ever seen, Hasbro decided to unveil its San Diego Comic-Con 2012 Exclusive 3.75” G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero action figure in February! This is 5-6 months earlier than normal, but who is The Blot to complain! While we don’t know many details, we do know this year’s SDCC exclusive will be Jinx (Kim Arashikage played by Elodie Yung) from this summer’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation (i.e. G.I. Joe 2). The Blot’s a huge Jinx fan, so I’m excited to see her get the spotlight as this summer’s RAH Comic-Con exclusive. As always there will be two versions available, the Standard Edition Red Jinx and the even rarer Variant White Edition.

Like with all SDCC Exclusive 3.75” G.I. Joe action figures, these will definitely sell out and probably fetch some high dollars on the secondary market. So if you think you may want one of these awesome figures start setting up a Comic-Con 2012 mule now!

kaNO “Postal” Fatcap AP Sets

2012-02-13T09:00:00.002-06:00

On Friday kaNO released his Fatcap Series 3 Artist Proof sets and they were pretty freaking sweet to say the least! Each set included 1 signed and numbered “Postal” Fatcap with marker accessory, 1 USPS 1/34 scale Dub City Truck customized and numbered by kaNO, 1 kaNO Art Hustle AP artist card and 1 kaNO Art Hustle AP art card. Ten sets were created in all, each retailing for $60 each at kaNO’s online store. Sadly for most of us, these sets sold out in a hot minute.

Valentine’s Day Edition Pink Hug Resin Figure by Blamo Toys

2012-02-10T13:30:00.012-06:00

One of The Blot’s New Year’s resolutions for 2012 was to start covering some new companies here on TheBlotSays.com. And for the longest time I’ve been meaning to feature all the great work the folks at Blamo Toys have been doing, but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened. Well, that changes today with Blamo’s Valentine’s Day Hug resin figure!!!

Hug is Blamoville's newest mini character stands 2” tall, features a tiny pair of inset brass eyes and comes in beautiful shade of pink perfect for your Valentine’s Day celebration. The V-Day Hug is the perfect way to show your loved one just how much you care! Seriously, what says “I would like my arms around you please” more than a Hug? This adorable Valentine's colorway of Blamo’s loveable Hug character has a limited edition run size of just 8 pieces, and you can pick up the Valentine Hug for just $20 from the Blamo Toys online store.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation Super Bowl Ad

2012-02-10T12:00:00.001-06:00

Every time I see a new G.I. Joe 2 trailer all I can think is “why didn’t they do this with the first movie!?!” If you took the story, director and actors of G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and added a few of the characters from the first film I truly believe you’d have the perfect live action G.I. Joe movie. I haven’t even seen it yet, but all you need is more Duke and some Scarlett to make every G.I. Joe fan’s dream come true. At least this time they got Cobra Commander and Zartan right (have you seen the Zartan action figure yet?).

My only complaint with this film is the weird billing for G.I. Joe 2. Have you noticed the website and all of the trailers have it starring Byung-Hun Lee with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson? Really??? How does Byung-Hun Lee get top billing over Willis and The Rock? From the two trailers I’ve seen so far, this seems to be The Rock’s film with some awesome ninja scenes mixed in. But what do I know?

G.I. Joe: Retaliation storms theaters on June 29, 2012.

Supermagical 8” Dunny by 64 Colors

2012-02-10T10:30:00.012-06:00

Wow, it’s truly amazing that the same company that announced those lame Kidrobot Mascot figures earlier this week can turn around and unveil this masterpiece yesterday! Inspired by myth and folklore, supernatural events and walks in the woods behind their studio, 64 Colors weaves together tales both real and imagined to create the Supermagical 8 inch Dunny. Supermagical is a strikingly beautiful but merciless sentinel of the forest…The Blot just hopes Kidrobot’s QC can live up to 64 Colors’ amazing designs.

I roam the forest keeping a watchful eye for those who disrespect that which is sacred and in decline. Beware and do not destroy, or I will descent upon you with a mighty fury and vengeance that is swift and absolute.

Featuring a uniquely sculpted head with branched ear, intricate matte painted details, and captivating watchful eyes, the Supermagical 8” Dunny keeps watch and protects the animated acorns, the dancing leaves, and the mystical mushrooms of the forest. As long as she is on guard, the woods are alive with mysterious life forms and energy. Supermagical by 64 Colors has a limited edition run size of 1,200 pieces, will retail for $75 and goes on sale February 23rd at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide.

Oven Fresh Dreams x Gabriel Gozzer Collaborate & Dream T-Shirt “Devil’s Dozen”

2012-02-10T09:00:00.001-06:00

The seventh installment in the "Collaborate & Dream" t-shirt series from Oven Fresh Dreams went up for pre-sale this week and it’s pretty dope to say the least! “Devil’s Dozen” was designed by Gabriel Gozzer, a talented tattoo artist out of Portugal, in collaboration with Carlos J. EasyBake of OFD. As Carlos explained on his website, “the term devil's dozen was the original name for what is now known as the baker's dozen (13). So when I linked up with Gabriel, we both knew that fusing dark symbolism with a tattoo flair was the way to go.”

The Oven Fresh Dreams x Gabriel Gozzer Collaborate & Dream t-shirt “Devil’s Dozen” is currently available for purchase via the OFD online store for $24.99. I definitely recommend snagging one while you can, because this limited edition t-shirt will definitely starting running out of sizes soon.

Bruce Lee's Temple of Kung Fu by MAD

2012-02-09T12:00:00.004-06:00

The Blot’s turns into a fanboy when it comes to releases by MAD, so this latest announcement has me all kinds of excited. Earlier this week it was unveiled that MAD had teamed up with Round 5 and the Bruce Lee estate for an all new line of collectible mini figures entitled “Bruce Lee's Temple of Kung Fu”. The Temple of Kung Fu represents the first of several planned collaborations between Round 5 and established artists from the art toy community centering on the official Bruce Lee brand.

The first Temple of Kung Fu figures scheduled for release this summer will feature a 3” blind box assortment of 28 different characters including a variety of mystery characters. In addition to the standard figures, Temple of Kung Fu will include super limited chase figures featuring alternative colorways, costume designs and accessories. The Temple of Kung Fu will feature a broad variety of figures inspired by the legend and career of Bruce Lee, and those of Kung Fu history and lore.

So, what do you think of the first five Temple of Kung Fu figures by MAD x Round 5 x Bruce Lee!?! I really like what I see so far, and can’t believe there’s over twenty more characters in this release! Bruce Lee’s Temple of Kung Fu by MAD will make their world debut next week at Toy Fair 2012, so expect a lot more details on this upcoming blind box release soon.

Glitter Waniphants by Rampage Toys x Hints and Spices

2012-02-09T10:30:00.005-06:00

The Blot was recently introduced to Australia’s Shane Haddy (aka Hints and Spices) and his popular creation the rotocasted vinyl Waniphant. Where have I been!?! For this beautiful collaboration with Jon Malmstedt of Rampage Toys, Shane created some killer Clear with Glitter Waniphants and then Jon worked his painting magic on them. 5 Rampage Toys x Hints and Spices 3.25” Glitter Waniphants were created, each painted with a broad array of clear sprays and some hand painted work. The Glittler Waniphants go on sale this Friday, February 10th, at the Rampage Toys online store.

“Lonesome Ghosts” Disney Screen Print by Tom Whalen

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Mondo and Sideshow Collectibles are teaming up once again to release an exciting new Disney print in their Disney Classic Cartoon Series by Tom Whalen! “Lonesome Ghosts” is based on the 1937 animated short of the same name and features Disney’s signature trio of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. What’s cool about this particular cartoon is that it’s rumored to have inspired another much beloved piece of ghost-busting cinema (should be an easy one to figure out). Whalen has really been knocking these posters out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what else is in the pipeline for 2012.

“Lonesome Ghosts” by Tom Whalen is an 18”x24” hand numbered screen print, and has a limited edition run size of 390 pieces. The print will retail for $45 and go on sale at a random time on today, Thursday, February 9th, at the Mondo online store.

The Amazing Spider-Man in 3D Trailer

2012-02-08T13:30:00.002-06:00

How good does this trailer look!?! While The Blot was super hesitant about another Spider-Man origin story, I’m really coming around to The Amazing Spider-Man. Everything I’ve seen so far has been topnotch, and while I don’t love the costume at least this version is staying very true to the Marvel comic books. I liked Raimi’s first Spider-Man film and the 2nd is a comic book masterpiece, but there was always something off about those films (including Tobey Maguire’s performance). To me the films missed Peter Parker’s humor and Maguire’s performances always felt forced. While Andrew Garfield seems to be going for a much more serious interpretation of the character (ala the Ultimate Universe version perhaps), his performances in the few trailers I’ve seen so far have been great! Plus we get our first look at Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) as The Lizard!!!

The Amazing Spider-Man is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 3, 2012.

“Lovely Brew” Valentine’s Day T-Shirt by Edward Teabelly

2012-02-08T12:00:00.003-06:00

Edward Teabelly, The Blot’s favorite British tea drinking t-shirt designer, is back, and this time he’s dropping a limited edition t-shirt just for Valentine’s Day! “Lovely Brew” is Edward Teabelly’s first shirt of 2012, and what better way to start the year than with an ode to the holiday of love. So treat yourself, your better half or maybe that secret crush to this special Valentine’s Day themed brew.

“Lovely Brew comes printed on a black American Apparel t-shirt and has a limited edition run size of just 60 shirts. Each tee comes with a hand numbered card and an extra little goodie inside the bag. Pick one up today for £18.99 at the Edward Teabelly online store.

Custom Nade by Jester for "Blow Up L.A."

2012-02-08T10:30:00.002-06:00

Check out this awesome custom Nade vinyl figure by Houston’s own Jester! Created for Aerosol Warefare’s upcoming custom show “Blow up L.A.: The Art of Blowing Up Your City” at Crewest, I love how Jester took Jamungo’s Nade and gave it a realistic rusted look. If I didn’t know any better I’d say this figure was made of actual steel. The transformation is pretty incredible isn’t it? I’m just hoping this explosive show makes its way to Houston eventually.

“Blow Up L.A.” is currently taking place at Crewest for the entire month of February. Curated by Houston’s own GONZO247, the show will also feature custom figures by ASHIRA SEIGEL, BEAU POPE, BEZERK ONE, CAT CULT, CEASE ONE, ERIC MARTINEZ, FLIP ONE, PR!MO, ROMEWON, DJ BATTLEMONKEY, ABELS, CBELUM, SKEEZ181, DECKWGF, VALERIE G, JUSTIN GARCIA, TEXASCRAZE GWS, KAADI, KELYNE REIS, KWEEN ONE, PHYLO TSF, PYRO, SABRINA CLARK, THIRD ONE TSF, TOK1, T KLENOW, and more! And if you’re in the LA area, Gonzo247 of Aerosol Warfare will be present on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 6-10pm during the Downtown Artwalk, which will include live music by DJ Phyz Ed.

The Ice Scream Man Vinyl Figure by Brutherford Industries

2012-02-08T09:00:00.007-06:00

The Ice Scream Man came to Brutherford in a vision after a freak accident involving a toilet and a clock (use your imagination). A creature of pure evil, the Ice Scream Man is a bringer of cavities and brain freezes! The first two colorways of Brutherford Industries’ Ice Scream Man rotocast urethane figures went on sale this week and boy do they look sick! The first two foul flavors are Spiteful Strawberry ($75) and Villainous Vanilla ($50). The Vanilla flavorway will be an open edition while the Strawberry is the first of 3 flavorways limited to 125 pieces each. Both are currently available for purchase at Brutherford’s online store.

While you’re there, you might also want to pick up a fantastic print of the Ice Scream Man by Tamara Petrosino (who also designed the Ice Scream Man box art) for just $30. This 12"x15" archival print on canvas is the perfect addition to any young child's nursery, certain to terrify and cause nightmares well through puberty.

The Beast Brothers x Huck Gee Ivory Warrior Skullendario Azteca 8″ Custom Dunny

2012-02-07T10:30:00.010-06:00

From the hilltop overlooking the expansive Jungle comes the leader of the Ivory Azteca Warriors! It seems like everyone and their mother has been anxiously awaiting this The Beast Brothers x Huck Gee collaboration ever since they first let it slip that a custom by these three artists was in the works. I don’t know about you, but even after all those teaser images the Ivory Warrior Skullendario Azteca 8” Custom Dunny has definitely lived up to the hype!

Carved out of prehistoric mammoth tusk, adorned with ancient rubies and raising the tribes flag high, the Ivory Warrior Skullendario Azteca is truly a unique collaboration. This 8 inch hand crafted custom Dunny will go on sale for 24 hours only starting Saturday, February 18th, at 1pm EST at The Beast Brothers online store for $475. Each hand painted figure comes signed by each artist, adorned with red Swarovski crystals, a custom flag, and safely entombed in a laser engraved wooden crate.

KidNeutron & KidRoyale Kidrobot Mascot Vinyl Figures

2012-02-06T12:00:00.011-06:00

Wow, The Blot can’t help but feel partially to blame for these two abysmal new Kidrobot mascot vinyl figure releases. I’ve been complaining as much as anyone the past few years about the price of Kidrobot’s figures as their quality continues to decline. That isn’t to say there haven’t been some amazing designs released; I just can’t stand how sloppy the production has been. So finally Kidrobot listened to its fans’ complaints and is releasing two reasonably priced 8” figures…and yet where are the designs!?!

I should have known these figures were going to be underwhelming when I heard there was no artist attached with the release. And surprisingly, these two don’t seem to be numbered as part of the Kidrobot Mascot series or have a run sized announced. So what does that say? Does it mean these are open edition figures meant for Urban Outfitters and other large chain retailers? Maybe, but I really hope not. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case…you know it’s only a matter of time before they start releasing 8” “limited edition” figures at Urban Outfitters.

It’s sad because Kidrobot is supposed to be the torchbearer in this industry and I honestly hold them to a higher standard. But this seems to be a step in the wrong direction, especially when you consider how far its Mascot line has come. While I would have no problem with these if they were some of the first Mascots released back in 2004, but even those put these to shame! Can these even been considered designer art toys anymore? There are so many talented creators out there who would do incredible work with this platform, but instead Kidrobot decides to release this? I just don’t get it. To say The Blot is disappointed would be a huge understatement. And this after 5 extremely solid Kidrobot Mascot figures over the past 2 years. I would seriously love the opportunity to manage this line for KR because they are just wasting a perfectly good toy right now.

KidNeutron is boldly going where some ‘bots have gone before..the black, white and cyan Kidrobot steps out of his space pants and into your collection. Sleek and graphic with ray gun in hand, this KidNeutron is out to make permanent mischief. KidRoyale is mischievous in black with fresh cyan kicks and trusty graff accessory in tow. This ‘bot reps a dark getup to creep through your neighborhood and tag undetected. Both KidNeutron and KidRoyale Kidrobot Mascot Vinyl Figures go on sale Thursday, February 23rd at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide for just $29.95 each.

Leatherface Pop! Movies Vinyl Figure

2012-02-06T10:30:00.001-06:00

Funko recently announced that its next Pop! Movies vinyl figure would be Leatherface, the star of the cult classic horror movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! The Blot’s not all that into horror movies, but I know lots of collectors will be excited about the release of this legendary killer. You know, it’s really amazing how Funko can turn even the most sadistic of characters into cute and chunky vinyl figures. I think it says a lot about Funko is doing with their Pop! toy line.

Each 3.75” Leatherface vinyl figure features one point of articulation, comes packaged in a full color displayable window box packaging, and will retail for $9.99.

The Dark Knight Rises Wacky Wobbler Bobble Heads by Funko

2012-02-06T09:00:00.001-06:00

The leaks of new toys for this summer’s The Dark Knight Rises just keep on coming! Check out these awesome The Dark Knight Rises Wacky Wobbler bobble heads by Funko featuring Batman and Bane. I’m a little surprised there’s no matching Catwoman, but maybe we’re better off without a reminder of Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of Selena Kyle. This is the third Catwoman to appear in a live action movie in the past 20 years and for some reason they refuse to give her an appropriate costume.

The Dark Knight Rises Wacky Wobbler bobble heads will retail for around $12-15 each and should hit stores sometime soon.

Threadless Game of Thrones T-Shirt “Adopt A Dire Wolf”

2012-02-03T13:30:00.002-06:00

HBO released the first teaser trailer for Game of Thrones Season 2 this week, and The Blot is using all of my willpower not to watch it. After GoT’s amazing first season, I’m attempting to go into Season 2 as unspoiled as possible. Not sure how long that will hold up, but I’m going to do my best. I also need to find a friend with HBO that will let me come watch every Sunday (Yes, I'm looking at you!). Before Season 2 starts on April 1st, head over to Threadless and pick up this adorable “Adopt A Dire Wolf” featuring everyone’s favorite Game of Thrones pet, Jon Snow’s Ghost.

Adopt A Dire Wolf by Sean A. Husbands

The Game of Thrones t-shirt “Adopt A Dire Wolf” comes printed on a silver t-shirt and is currently available for purchase at Threadless.com for $20. The shirt comes in both guys and girls styles, sizes S-2XL.

Comic Book Edition The Avengers Mini Mighty Muggs 2 Packs

2012-02-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

Later this month Hasbro will be releasing a line of The Avengers Mini Mighty Muggs 2 packs, featuring Captain America vs. The Red Skull, the Hulk vs. Abomination, Iron Man vs. Iron Monger and Thor vs. Loki. Unlike yesterday’s The Avengers Movie Mini Mighty Muggs, these Hero vs. Villain 2 packs featuring each character’s look from the Marvel comic books.

When Hasbro first announced these 2 packs at SDCC 2012 (originally seen here), The Blot was pretty excited for them. What isn’t there to be excited about, it was Hasbro’s first Mighty Muggs release at retail since 2010’s Iron Man 2 wave. But now that that initial excitement has worn off, I’m a little disappointed that we’re just getting more of the same. In the past year Hasbro has released 2 waves of Marvel Mini Mighty Muggs, and each wave has included Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk. Do we really need the same four characters over and over? Even the most diehard of Mighty Muggs fans can’t want three versions of The Avengers’ core members. At least we’re getting Hawkeye and Nick Furry I guess…

Comic Book Edition The Avengers Mini Mighty Muggs 2 Packs will hit store shelves later this month and retail for around $16-18 per pack.

Tim Doyle’s “Unreal Estate” Solo Art Show

2012-02-03T10:30:00.018-06:00

Last night marked the opening of “Unreal Estate,” Tim Doyle’s very first solo art show at Spoke Art’s San Francisco location! In "Unreal Estate," the Austin artist explores locations found throughout popular culture in a variety of limited edition, hand printed screen prints and original art. What a great freaking idea! I love Doyle’s work, and from the few prints I’ve seen Tim did a fantastic job with this series of prints.

From The Simpsons' Moe's Tavern and the Springfield Kwik-E-Mart, to Arrested Development's Bluth Banana Stand and the diner from Seinfeld, Doyle's realistic and illustrative reinterpretations of television's most iconic places is a captivating voyage. For this new body of work, Tim has moved away from his usually big bold colors and comic-book line quality to create a more illustrative style, with muted tones and colors that reflect a mood or time of day. He attempts to preserve and honor the non-physical spaces found in this show with the same care and intention given to iconic real world locations. This series is one artist's intensely personal journey through a world which is universal to us all!

Any and all of Tim Doyle’s remaining prints, original inks and wood/glow-in-the-dark variants from the “Unreal Estate” art show will be released today, Friday, February 3rd via the Spoke Art online store at approximately 3pm PST. Get your F5 keys ready!!!

“Every Man Is My Enemy” Art Book by Skinner

2012-02-03T09:00:00.014-06:00

Skinner’s brand new art book Every Man Is My Enemy will be released upon the world in just a few short hours and The Blot can’t wait!!! This 8.5”x11” hardcover book is a whopping 172 pages and features 250 illustrations and photos of the Sacramento artists’ crazy and vibrant art. I love how the Skinnman seamlessly merges all of the best parts of dungeons and dragons, heavy metal music and ‘80s pop culture into an art style that is uniquely his own. This is definitely one art book you won’t want to miss!

The Every Man Is My Enemy art book by Skinner goes on sale today, Friday, February 3rd, at the ZeroFriends Oakland store and the ZeroFriends online store. Each copy comes hand signed by Skinner, and the first 300 purchases will include a free 8”x10” signed and numbered giclee print. Skinner will also be appearing and signing his new book at Zerofriends this Saturday, February 4th, from 2-3pm. Be there or be square!

Kozik's Choice Cuts Labbit Signing & Release Party at Lindy & Grundy Butcher Shop

2012-02-02T13:30:00.000-06:00

Next Thursday, February 9th, Kidrobot is holding what I think is one of the coolest release parties ever! To celebrate the release of its Choice Cuts 10” Labbit, Kidrobot will be hosting a very special Frank Kozik signing at the Lindy & Grundy butcher shop. Could there be a better place to celebrate the release of the Choice Cuts Labbit than a butcher shop!?! Lindy & Grundy will also be getting into the act by making special “Choice Cuts” sausage for the event, which will be available for purchase that evening.

Choice Cuts is a 10 inch guide on how to chop, slice and dice your Labbit into the tastiest pieces possible. He even comes with a matte white bone perfect for grandma Labbit’s stock recipe! The USLA has labeled this hog a perfect F for Fantastic – the best grade a Labbit could get. The Choice Cuts 10” Labbit by Frank Kozik goes on sale this Thursday, February 9th, at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide for $80 each.

“I’m a Bad Apple” Group Custom Show by Bad Applez Inc.

2012-02-02T12:00:00.001-06:00

The creative minds behind Bad Applez Inc., OsiRisORion and NeMo, have put together an exciting online group show entitled “I’m a Bad Apple.” They selected over 30 artists to customize those little plastic apples you find at a craft store, and told the artists to do whatever they want with these common craft store items. From the few teaser images The Blot’s seen so far, these custom apples are going to be sick!

“I’m a Bad Apple” will go live this Valentine’s Day, February 14th, on the Bad Applez Inc. website. Head over there next Tuesday, and click on the “I’m a Bad Apple” gallery page where you’ll be able to see pictures of each piece from all 30 artists involved. Every custom apple from the show will also be available for purchase from the Bad Applez Inc. online store. So if you see a piece you like, definitely pick it up! As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

The Dark Knight Rises Pop! Vinyl Figures

2012-02-02T10:30:00.007-06:00

Last week The Blot heard some rumblings about a line of The Dark Knight Rises Pop! Heroes vinyl figures from Funko. I assumed they were probably true, but yesterday it was confirmed when photos of all three The Dark Knight Rises Pop! vinyl figures hit the internet after their debut at Toy Fair! Check out these awesome Batman, Bane and Catwoman Pop! vinyl figures featuring their looks from the upcoming live action movie.

Based on the surefire summer blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, this new batch of Pop! Heroes vinyl figures are pretty sweet. While I still prefer all three characters’ looks in the DC comic books over Nolan’s interpretations, Funko did a great job turning these gritty characters into cute chunky toys. Does this mean we might see Heath Ledger’s version of The Joker from The Dark Knight in Pop! form sometime soon? I sure hope so!

Each 3.75” The Dark Knight Rises Pop! vinyl figure features 1 point of articulation, comes packaged in a full color displayable window box and will retail for $9.99.

The Avengers Movie Mini Mighty Muggs Series 1

2012-02-02T09:00:00.017-06:00

The Blot was shocked to learn that not only will Hasbro be releasing a line of The Avengers Movie Mini Mighty Muggs, but they’ll be sold individually and not in 2-packs. The Avengers Mini Muggs Series 1 includes Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye and Nick Fury. While The Blot prefers standard sized Mighty Muggs, I have to say these turned out pretty nice. And at least we got two, never before released characters in this wave. However, I am still holding out hope a comic book edition Hawkeye Mighty Mugg will be released at some point.

Each 3” The Avengers Movie Mini Mighty Mugg features 3 points of articulation and comes packaged individually in a full colored displayable window box. All 6 figures will hit stores later this month, but in the meantime you can pre-order the entire first series from EntertainmentEarth.com for $42.99 here.

Vishnu Paramata (The Boss) Resin Figure by We Kill You!

2012-02-01T13:30:00.002-06:00

Meet Vishnu Paramata, the newest resin figure from We Kill You! The Blot hasn’t had the opportunity to blog about many of WKY’s releases, but this toy was just too awesome not to write about. Vishnu Paramata is actually a mini 3” version of WKY's "The Boss", but this version features The Boss’ hands behind his back hiding a weapon! Not only that, but each figure includes 2 interchangeable weapons. I especially like the fact that you can customize this mini figure to hold all kinds of weapon and different kinds of accessories.

The “A Mystical Timezone” Vishnu Paramata colorway has a limited edition run size of 20 pieces, and is handcast in clear orange resin with purple and blue spray and painted eyes. Each figure comes packaged in a bag with a signed and numbered header card by WKY. Pick one up today for $40 at the We Kill You! online store.

Super7 - Fiery Tornado Honoo by Leecifer

2012-02-01T12:00:00.012-06:00

If you’ve never bought one of Leecifer’s Honoo vinyl figures before, The Blot highly recommends you check out this beautiful new colorway from Super7. In my honest opinion, this the best Honoo released to date. The marbled red and orange vinyl makes Honoo the flame look like real fire.

Born from a spark of mischief and ignited by curiosity, the Fiery Tornado Honoo scorches everything in its path. Will you have the power to tame this wildfire for your collection? Leecifer's Honoo is cast in marbled red and orange vinyl with yellow, purple, white and blue sprays. Pick one up this Thursday, February 2nd, at noon PST at the Super7 online store for $35 each.

Kitsune Custom 8” Dunny by Huck Gee

2012-02-01T10:30:00.001-06:00

Huck Gee’s newest custom figure was released yesterday and it is truly amazing. Meet Kitsune, the Seven Tailed Geisha…the Masked Beauty…the lover…the mirrored trickster. Protected by Kabuki, the Masked Ronin, her reflection of anger and retribution incarnate. Each Kitsune custom 8 inch Dunny comes signed and numbered by Huck, and includes all of the accessories show here. 10 figures were created in all, each retailing for $750 each. Anyone interested in picking one up should email sales@huckgee.com ASAP to find out about availability and make payment arrangements.

“Cover The Cap” FatCap Artist Proof Sets by Sket One

2012-02-01T09:00:00.002-06:00

Last night Sket One released what is sure to be one of the hottest Artist Proof Sets around! Sket is selling the artist proofs of his standard LA Edition “Cover The Cap” FatCap and the North America Exclusive Case Incentive Gold “Cover The Cap” FatCap from Kidrobot's FatCap Series 3 for a very special AP set. Each 3 inch FatCap comes signed and numbered by the artist and comes packaged in a custom 4”x4” signed and numbered paint can holder that doubles as a killer display pieces. Sket also threw in three of his popular tag stickers to complete the set.

Only 20 “Cover The Cap” FatCap AP Sets by Sket One were created and according to his online store half of the sets have already been purchased. So head over to Sket One’s online store today and pick up this beautiful set for $125 while you still can!

“Dark Side of the Ugly” GID Ugly Unicorn by Rampage Toys

2012-01-31T13:30:00.001-06:00

This Friday Jon Malmstedt of Rampage Toys will be releasing my new favorite Ugly Unicorn colorway, the Dark Side of the Ugly! Not only is it a killer name, which pays homage to the classic Pink Floyd album, but Jon did a great job using clear paint to give this GID Ugly its rainbow look without losing any of its vinyl’s glow. On top of that, Jon will also be releasing blank Glow in the Dark Ugly Unicorns as well for all the unpainted collectors out there.

Rampage Toy will be holding a pre-order for both the painted Dark Side of the Ugly Unicorn and the blank GID UU. While artists and collectors can order as many of the Unpainted GID Ugly Unicorn as they want, the Dark Side of the Ugly rainbow colorway has a limited edition run size of 20 pieces. Each Dark Side of the Ugly comes bagged with a header card designed by Grizlli Atom and will retail for $42 each, while the blank GID Ugly Unicorns will retail for $28 each.

Scheduled for delivery in mid to late March, you can pre-order either of the two glow in the dark options starting this Friday, February 3rd, at the Rampage Toys online store until the following Friday, February 10th.

Barneyism of the Week - Strip Club

2012-01-31T12:00:00.007-06:00

What do you say?

Let’s declare our independence with ondependence.

On-de-pen-dance...

“Oh we got it.” - Robin

Let’s go to a strip club!

Tonight is going to be Legend…
Wait are we sure it’s a good idea to go to a strip club?
Shut up Lily, I’m in charge now.
Dairy!

- Barney Stinson

"45 Minutes"

How I Met Your Mother

Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men on AMC Television Poster

2012-01-31T10:30:00.009-06:00

So have you heard about Kevin Smith’s new television show Comic Book Men on AMC? Set in Kevin Smith's iconic comic shop Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, the show explores every nook and cranny of Fanboy culture. Each episode features store transactions, including purchases, sales and the appraisal and discovery of fanboy-centric collectible items. There’s even the occasional staff field trip, when the Secret Stash gang ventures out to source rarities, and moments from podcasts with Kevin Smith and the Secret Stash team, which will be woven throughout the episode. Basically it sounds like a geeky version of Pawn Stars or Storage Wars, but starring a big named director/writer/actor.

16 year old The Blot would have gone crazy for this show! But as I’ve gotten older, my love and adulation for all things Kevin Smith has waned considerably, and I’m not into this new wave of store themed reality TV shows in the slightest. And can anyone explain to me what the heck this type of show is this show doing on AMC!?!

Comic Book Men features Secret Stash employees, including Walt, manager and de-facto leader at The Stash; Mike, the prototypical comic shop employee; Ming, the newest member of the team and the store's technical expert; and Bryan, who doesn't actually work at the Stash, yet can always be found holding court in the stool behind the front counter. Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men premieres Sunday, February 12th at 10/9c on AMC.

Human Slayers 9 Eyes Demon Resin Figure by Michael Skattum

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-06:00

The Blot loves it when checking my email means finding out about the next great toy. In this case it’s the Human Slayers 9 Eyes Demon resin figure by Michael Skattum. Sculpted and cast by oOMoSOo of Papagrim Toys, Human Slayers features 3 points of articulation and a removable head (with surprise underneath). I can’t lie, I’m intrigued by the sculpt and the mystery of what lies beneath! For now Skattum and oOMoSOo are sticking with resin, but their goal is to take the funds raised by this release and eventually produce a vinyl fersion of the Human Slayers.

Human Slayers 9 Eyes Demon will be cast in green resin and painted by Michael. This 5.5” devilish figure is currently available for pre-order via Skattum’s online store for $80 each, and has a projected ship date of mid February 2012.

First Look: Pocket Baseball Boy by Super7

2012-01-30T13:00:00.011-06:00

At last Saturday night’s Mummy Mania! custom toy show, Super7 unveiled their newest Pocket Mummy Boy vinyl figure, the Baseball Boy! Inspired by Super7’s Baseball Boy t-shirt, this Pocket Mummy Boy wears a baseball cap and has authentic looking baseball stitches around his head. While the unpainted pink Pocket Baseball Boy seen here is not for sale (yet), you can purchase the corresponding t-shirt at the Super7 online store for $25 each.

Super7's Mummy Boy hits a grand slam in this new Baseball Mascot tee! Geared up in the San Francisco based toy company’s favorite team’s colors (the Giants’ black & orange), Baseball Boy is ready to take the field in this awesome t-shirt.

Motorbot’s “Love Pump” Custom 3" Dunnys Are Back!

2012-01-30T12:00:00.006-06:00

In what has quickly become one of The Blot’s favorite Valentine’s Day traditions, Motorbot released his newest batch of “Love Pump” custom 3” Dunnys over the weekend. And really what says love more than a Dunny with a heart reasin head (we're talking a replica of an actual heart here, not the playing card variety). Never one to be outdone, this year Motorbot has taken his Love Pump figure to the next level by creating a clear red tint resin version! These all resin figures are one solid piece and look pretty incredible in the light.

The OG Love Pumps come in two colors, red and black, and feature a hand painted rotocast resin head on a 3” Dunny body, while the all new clear Red Tint Love Pumps are hand painted solid resin figure. All three colorways of this limited edition Valentine’s Day themed figure come bagged with a header card and can be yours for just $30 each. Pick one up at the Deadbear Studios online store today! But be sure to order by February 7 to ensure delivery by the 14th.

Unpainted Grape Greasebat & Cannibal Fuckface Vinyl Figures by Monster Worship

2012-01-30T10:30:00.001-06:00

Earlier this month Monster Worship traveled to Japan for Superfestival 58, where it released its entire roster of twisted characters onto the world in delicious unpainted grape vinyl. This was an exclusive colorway specifically made for Superfestival 58, and only a very limited quantity of each figure was created for the event. As you can see in the photo, Monster Worship released unpainted grape versions of Kusogon ($35), Real Fighting Greasebat ($75), Altar Beast ($35) and Cannibal Fuckface ($75).

Monster Worship put its remaining unpainted grape vinyl figures up for sale at the MW online store last Friday, January 27th. Currently only the Greasebat is sold out, but you’d better act quickly as there is no telling how many pieces remain of the other three figures (especially that killer Cannibal Fuckface).

Hawkeye on Sky-Cycle Avengers Statue by Gentle Giant

2012-01-30T09:00:00.010-06:00

The Blot’s usually not into high end statues, but this new Hawkeye on Sky-Cycle statue by Gentle Giant is too amazing to ignore. I was such a huge West Coast Avengers fan as a kid I wouldn’t even read the lame east coast based The Avengers comic book. And what’s more trademark '80s era Marvel than Hawkeye on his Sky-Cycle!?! I can’t remember exactly which series it appeared in (Hawkeye, Avengers West Coast or Solo Avengers perhaps), but the image this statue recreates is one of my all time favorites.

Hawkeye, one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, is ripped straight from the pages of The Avengers and rendered with stunning detail by Gentle Giant in this 12.5” tall Hawkeye on Sky-Cycle statue! From the snowmobile-inspired form of the Sky-Cycle to the razor tip on Hawkeye’s deadly arrow, no detail has been overlooked by Gentle Giant’s team of master craftsmen in the creation of this limited edition statue. A massive piece made of high quality polystone, each statue is hand painted and individually numbered. While it’s not scheduled to ship until October 2012, you can preorder one now from EntertainmentEarth.com for $414.99 here.

Chuck Series Finale - Tonight On NBC

2012-01-27T13:30:00.019-06:00

Tonight Chuck, one of The Blot’s favorite shows, ends its five year run on NBC with a 2 hour series finale! Normally I’d be really sad to see a show I’ve loved for so long come to an end, but Chuck has been living on borrowed time for years. The last two seasons have definitely been a gift from NBC (and Subway) to Chuck’s loyal fan base, even with a shortened 13 episode Season 5. Who knew a Twitter campaign around $5 footlongs could really save a show!?! Knowing this would be the show’s final season has allowed the writers of Chuck to give each character closure to their individual storylines and helped Chuck’s fan base prepare for the end.

I just hope tonight’s series finale sends Chuck, Sarah, Casey and the rest of the Buy More crew off on a high note. I have no idea how the series will end, but I’ve got a feeling a “and they lived happily ever after” is in order.

The two hour series finale of Chuck (“Chuck vs. Sarah” and “Chuck vs. the Goodbye”) airs tonight, Friday, January 27th, on NBC at 8/7c.

New 52 Batman: Black and White by Jim Lee

2012-01-27T10:30:00.012-06:00

The newest statue in DC Direct’s popular “Batman: Black and White” line is the New 52 Batman by legendary artist Jim Lee. What’s interesting about this release is that it marks the first statue to feature a character’s new redesigned look from DC Comics’ recent reboot. While fans are sure to go crazy over this statue because it’s by Lee, The Blot is extremely unimpressed. In fact, I’d say this statue makes me like Batman’s “New 52” reboot look even less. What’s up with all those unneeded lines on Batman’s chest? I’ve always heard it explained that Batman has a reason and a use for every detail of his costume, so what’s the rationale for this one? I guess if it rains he’s got built-in gutters!

The New 52 Batman: Black and White statue by Jim Lee measures 5.5" high x 6" wide x 5" deep, and matches the previous figures in this series with its moody, monochromatic color scheme. Collectors can purchase one of these for $80 beginning May 22, 2012.

“The Bat” Venture Bros. Screen Print by Olly Moss

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

After debuting at Gallery1988’s [adult swim] show earlier this month, Olly Moss’ awesome Venture Bros. screen print “The Bat” will finally be going on sale to the general public at a random time today, Friday, January 27th at Postersandtoys.com. Based on Frank Miller’s iconic cover to The Dark Knight Returns #1, and features Hank Venture as The Bat!

“The Bat” by Olly Moss is a 16”x24” screen prints with a limited edition run size of 100 prints. These prints will retail for $60 but good luck getting one. Like all Moss releases it is sure to sell out in a number of seconds.

Slime Gread Resin Figures by Lysol

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-06:00

Lysol’s been hard at work the past few weeks on the next evolution of his popular Gread resin figure. This time around, each figure will be sitting in a little pool of resin "slime"! No paint is involved here, just hand cast resin in a variety of different colors. For this particular release, each figure will be made to order, and you will actually get to pick your Gread and Slime color combination. Like with Burger King, at the Dead Hand online store you will truly get to have it your way!

Collectors will get to choose from at least a couple of different Gread colors and match that up with several different colors of slime. The exact color options have not been finalized yet, so be sure check out Lysol’s twitter feed, blog and online store to find out more info! These awesome Slime Greads will go on sale at the Dead Hand online store this Tuesday, January 31st, at noon EST. Each figure comes bagged with a head card and will retail for $20 each.

The Simpsons x Kidrobot Matt Groening Vinyl Figure

2012-01-26T12:00:00.014-06:00

If you were born in the last 35 years, and spent any of that time watching American television, odds are you learned a thing or two from The Simpsons. Created by legendary “Life is Hell” cartoonist Matt Groening, The Simpsons is celebrating its 500th episode in February 2012, and Kidrobot is honoring the father of primetime animation in the only way they know how…by making him into a 6 inch vinyl toy!

Let me just start by saying The Blot has not been a fan of Kidrobot’s licensed releases over the past few years. While I love cartoons (and especially The Simpsons), I haven’t bought a single Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, Street Fighter or Futurama blind box and don’t plan to any time soon. I thought they were uninspired and hated seeing Kidrobot relying on such established properties. But all that changed when I found out about this Matt Groening vinyl figure! Not only is this the first ever Simpsons Matt Groening toy, but…well…it’s Matt f’n Groening!

Groening is seriously a living legend, who has done more for animation and television than I can even put into words. I seriously can’t wait for this figure to be released! The Simpsons x Kidrobot Matt Groening 6” vinyl figure comes wearing his signature goatee, glasses and a Simpsons director’s jacket, and includes pad and pencil accessories. Mr. Groening is set to retail for $50 each and will go on sale February 9th at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide.

Chinese New Year 2012 3 Gods Android Set

2012-01-26T10:30:00.001-06:00

If you liked last year's Chinese New Year God of Wealth Android, then you’re really going to love Andrew Bell’s latest creations! For 2012’s Chinese New Year release, the New York artist has created a limited edition 3 God set featuring the God of Fortune (祿), the God of Blessing (福) and the God of Longevity (壽). While this is primarily an edition for Dyzplastic’s partners in Asia, Bell kept a few sets to sell in the US at his Dead Zebra online store. That’s the good news. The bad news is these went on sale yesterday for $29 per 3 figure set, and sole out instantly. Hopefully the Gods smiled upon you and you were able to score this awesome set of Android Mini Figures.

Mondo x Sideshow Collectibles Planet of the Apes Screen Print Series

2012-01-26T09:00:00.025-06:00

Tomorrow (for some odd reason), Mondo is releasing its entire Planet of the Apes Screen Print Series in one fell swoop as a gigantic 6 print set. Seems like over kill to me, but all you diehard Apes fans will definitely want to check this series out!

For its Planet of the Apes series Mondo has once again teamed with Sideshow Collectibles to produce a screen print for each of the original five Planet of the Apes movies: Planet of the Apes by Martin Ansin, Beneath the Planet of the Apes by Ken Taylor, Escape from the Planet of the Apes by Rich Kelly, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes by Phantom City Creative and Battle for the Planet of the Apes by Florian Bertmer. Plus, if you purchase the set tomorrow, you’ll also receive the “GO APE!” poster by Jason Edmiston.

Each Planet of the Apes screen print measures 24”x36”, comes hand numbered and has a limited edition run size of between 320 and 415. The full Planet of the Apes Screen Print Series set goes on sale at a random time today, Thursday, January 26th, at the Mondo online store. Then on Friday, January 27th, head back to the Mondo online store where the remaining prints will go on sale individually at a random time as well. Happy hunting!

The Avengers Movie Wacky Wobbler Bobble Heads by Funko

2012-01-25T13:30:00.020-06:00

Pictures have finally leaked out onto the web of Funko’s upcoming line of The Avengers Wacky Wobbler Bobble Heads based on each character’s look in this summer’s live action movie. From the photo above, it can finally be confirmed that Hawkeye will be included in this release! The Blot’s just hoping this means we’ll also be getting a Hawkeye Pop! vinyl figure as well. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why every company’s Hawkeye movie toys have been kept so top secret. We’ve already seen the character in the movie’s official trailer, movie posters and in Marvel comic books where Clint Barton has assumed the same look as his movie counterpart.

The Avengers Movie Bobble Heads by Funko include Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye and The Hulk. Each 7” tall Wacky Wobbler comes packaged in a full color displayable window box and are scheduled to hit store shelves in April 2012! Pre-order yours today from EntertainmentEarth.com here for just $11.99 each.

The Avengers is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 4, 2012 and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk.

Green Hell Rose Vampire Casket Cruiser by Super7 x Josh Herbolsheimer

2012-01-25T12:00:00.010-06:00

Josh Herbolsheimer’s Green Hell Rose Vampire Casket Cruiser is finally here!!! The Blot has been anxiously awaiting the release of this one since Super7 first debuted the Rose Vampire Casket Cruiser last summer at San Diego Comic-Con. As you know, The Blot’s a diehard RV fan so you know I’ll be F5'ing the Super7 online store this Thursday, January 26th, at noon PST to ensure I get to add one of these Green Hell on Wheels Casket Cruisers to my collection.

Smashing petal to the metal and burning rubber, Rose Vampire is back in a brand new ride. If you see this Green Hell on Wheels Casket Cruiser in your rearview mirror, better move over and let him pass because he's nothing but trouble. Josh Herbolsheimer's Casket Cruiser is cast in black vinyl with red, green, metallic green, light green, silver and yellow details and can be yours for $65 each.

Bane & Catwoman The Dark Knight Rises Mez-Itz Vinyl Figures

2012-01-25T10:30:00.027-06:00

Here’s your first look at Mezco’s new Bane and Catwoman Mez-Itz vinyl figures based on DC Comics' soon to be summer blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises! The Blot’s been scouring the internet looking for photos of Mezco Toyz’ new The Dark Knight Mez-Itz and Mini Mez-Itz vinyl figures ever since I first found out about the figures last week. Then out of nowhere a little birdie dropped some in my lap! Win-Win for all of us don’t you think?

These Batman villains will actually be released as both full sized 6” Mez-Itz and as 2” Mini Mez-Itz vinyl figures. The 6” figures will be packaged individually, while each 2” figure will come packaged with a matching Batman Mini Mez-Itz. Mezco will also be releasing two The Dark Knight Rises Vehicle Sets: a Bane Mini Mez-Itz with Tumbler and a Catwoman Mini Mez-Itz with Bat-Pod. Basically, Mezco is making sure there’s a little something for everyone this summer!

The Dark Knight 6” Mez-Itz Series 3 featuring Bane and Catwoman will retail for $30 per set, while The Dark Knight 2” Mini Mez-Itz 2 packs featuring Bane and Batman, and Catwoman and Batman will retail for $24 per 2 pack. The Bat-Pod Vehicle Set with Catwoman will retail for $21, and the Tumbler Vehicle Set with Bane will retail for $25. All of The Dark Knight Rises toys seen here are scheduled to hit stores this summer 2012.

FatCap Series 3 Case Incentive Exclusives by Sket One & Scribe

2012-01-25T09:00:00.011-06:00

We’re just one day away from the official release of Kidrobot’s FatCap Series 3, and to celebrate the release of this exciting new artist series stores across the globe will be holding official trading parties (click here for a list of participating stores). At these parties, collectors can score one of two rare and regional case incentive exclusives by purchasing a case of FatCap Series 3! North American locations will have a very limited amount of Sket One’s Case Exclusive Gold “Cover The Cap” FatCap, while everywhere else will have Scribe’s Case Exclusive Endangered “Almost Gone” FatCap.

The Blot’s really torn on this one. While I think case incentive exclusives are a great idea, I absolutely hate that there’s regional exclusives. It makes it almost impossible for collectors to complete a series without shelling out a ton of for the other regional case incentive exclusive. And where’s the fun in that!?! So in conclusion: case incentive exclusives = good; regional variants of case incentive exclusives = bad.

Fatcap Series 3 will retail for $9.95 per blind box, and goes on sale this Thursday, January 26th at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide.

R5-D4 7” Jumbo Vintage Kenner Star Wars Action Figure by Gentle Giant

2012-01-24T12:00:00.002-06:00

Just like they were when you were a kid, only BIGGER! The next jumbo vintage Star Wars action figure reproduction to be released by Gentle Giant was announced last week, and it’s R5-D4, the little red droid who couldn’t! Digitally scanned from mint Kenner originals and reproduced to a substantial 7" tall, this Jumbo Vintage Kenner Star Wars R5-D4 action figure by Gentle Giant is an exact replica of the classic ‘70s toy.

Injection molded and made of durable plastics, this jumbo figure is fully articulated with “clicking” head rotation and comes packaged on a 1977 style Star Wars inspired blister card with a plastic outer clam shell to help protect and display this awesome action figure. The Star Wars 7 inch Jumbo Vintage Kenner R5-D4 action figure by Gentle Giant will retail for around $80 each, and is expected to be released sometime in July, August or September of 2012.

Prisoner 816 & Prisoner 913 MORK Custom 10" Mad'ls by MAD

2012-01-24T10:30:00.001-06:00

The Blot’s a huge Mad’l fan, so of course I was really stoked to find out MAD was working on two new custom 10 inchers. It’s been a while since MAD’s had a custom release, but the Kansas City artist definitely did not disappoint with this sick two figure Mork set! Based on two of NYCC 2011’s hottest exclusives (Prisoner 913 and Prisoner 816 Mork vinyl figures produced by Pobber), these custom Prisoner Morks are sporting some series ink! Not only did MAD blow up these two criminals into 10 inch custom Mad’ls, but he faithfully recreated every detail of the original vinyl figures, including their hair, scars, tattoos and clothing.

Hand painted with spray paint, acrylics, and markers each figure is a true one of a kind custom. Originally sold individually for $400 each, both sold quickly after being posted on MAD’s online store over the weekend. The custom Mork Mad’l I got from MAD a few years ago is one of my favorite figures in my collection. The craftsmanship is top notch, so I can only imagine what these two look like in person. Who ever scored these two will definitely not be disappointed!

Online Exclusive Johnny Cupcakes Pinball T-Shirt

2012-01-24T09:00:00.006-06:00

As most long time Johnny Cupcakes fans know, Johnny is not only a huge fan of pinball, but actually owns a number of pinball machines. It’s been years since The Blot’s played pinball, but I can still remember playing as a kid. There’s just something about the sound of the ball whizzing around the machine and those unique sounds only a pinball machine can make that transports you to a simpler time. Sadly, pinball machines are a dying breed. Because of this, Johnny wanted to pay tribute to one of his favorite pastimes by producing a fun Pinball themed t-shirt!

This Online Exclusive Johnny Cupcakes Pinball t-shirt has a limited edition run size of just 400 pieces and retails for $49.99. Available now at the Johnny Cupcakes online store, the shirt is available in both men’s and women’s styles sizes S-3XL. But keep in mind, these types of JC limited edition tees typically sell out quickly, and some sizes are already gone forever.

Android Mini Figure Series 3 Artist Line Up!

2012-01-23T13:30:00.009-06:00

Today Andrew Bell and Dyzplastic announced there will soon be a third blind box series of their immensely popular collaboration with Google, and they are definitely pulling out all the stops for this one!!! Android Mini Figure Series 3 has an incredible line-up of some of the biggest names in the toy scene, and includes designs by Google, Andrew Bell, Gary Ham, Huck Gee, kaNO, MAD, Kronk, Kelly Denato, Scott Tolleson and Sket One! Is that insane or what!?! The Blot seriously can’t wait to see and get my hands on all of these (and I don’t even collect Android mini figures).

One new twist to this release is that unlike Android Series 1 and 2, there will only be one production run of Series 3. Not only that, but this will be the only full artists Android series released in 2012. What does all this mean for us collectors? You’d better make sure you get your hands on some Android Series 3 blind boxes early and often, as this release will end up being a lot harder to get long term and rarer in general. Android Series 3 blind boxes will retail for $8 and go on sale sometime in April, May or June of this year.

Jon Paul Kaiser x UME Toys x David Bishop “X” Resin Figure Prototype Teaser Images

2012-01-23T12:00:00.013-06:00

There is nothing better than finding out there are awesome projects like this one in the works!!! At the tail end of last year [rich] of UME Toys had a conversation about a possible sculpt/resin toy based on a concept from David Bishop and Jon Paul Kaiser. That little conversation has since blossomed into a full fledged prototype, and The Blot is itching to see more. Until then, here are three teaser images of the mysterious resin figure know only as “X” (for now at least). For all you collectors in the UK dying to see more, rumor has it [rich] will be traveling to London for the Kidrobot Fatcap Series 3 event on Thursday with “X” in tow. Hopefully someone at KRLN can snap some pics for all of us fans stuck here in the States!

Kidrobot Fatcap Series 3 Checklist & Ratios

2012-01-23T10:30:00.003-06:00

The Blot is getting seriously excited for this Thursday’s release of Kidrobot’s Fatcap Series 3! Every design I see from this series is better than the last. It also helps that Kidrobot finally included some top tier talent like kaNO, Scribe and Jon Paul Kaiser, who have never designed a Fatcup or Dunny for KR before. I’m especially loving Sket One’s killer “Cover the Cap” design with its tipped over paint bucket and purple and gold Lakers color scheme. Check out all but three of the series’ 18 designs and the ratios for each figure in the official Kidrobot Fatcap Series 3 checklist above.

Fatcap Series 3 will retail for $9.95 per blind box, and goes on sale this Thursday, January 26th at Kidrobot stores, Kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide. Fatcap Series 3 includes designs by Devious, Flying Fortress, Jon Paul Kaiser, Julie West, kaNO, Kronk, MCA, Montana Colors, Pez, Queen Andrea, Quisp, Scribe, Shok 1 and Sket One.

Peanuts Valentine’s Day Prints by Laurent Durieux

2012-01-23T09:00:00.007-06:00

Dark Hall Mansion continues its killer line of Peanuts prints this week with two special Valentine’s Day releases featuring Snoopy by the very talented Laurent Durieux, “Snoopy Just Married” and “Snoopy LOVE”. The Blot wasn’t familiar with the Belgium artist’s work before this release but can this guy draw buildings or what!?! I just love all the texture Durieux adds to both Snoopy and the city landscapes.

Each Print has a Standard Edition with a limited edition run size of 275 pieces, and a super rare variant with a limited edition run size of 50 pieces. The Standard Editions will retail for $65, while the variants Winter Edition “Snoopy Just Married” and My Blue Valentine Edition “Snoopy LOVE” will retail for $100 each. All four prints go on sale this Tuesday, January 24th, at a random time at Dark Hall Mansion online store.

DC Comics Unveils Its New Logo

2012-01-20T13:30:00.001-06:00

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty disappointed in DC Comics’ new logo. I think Paul Montgomery (Twitter) summed it up best, the “new DC logo looks tailor made for the OSX dock. It's pretty fun as a graphic, but I only get that it stands for "DC" because I already knew.” From what I’ve seen of the pictures, this logo is going to be a sick graphic! I can already see it morphing on my computer, iPhone and iPad, or introducing us to the newest episode of our favorite DC cartoon or television show. And you know they had to have this ready before The Dark Knight Rises premiers next summer. But what about the other 85% of the time!?!

I can’t fault DC for trying and taking risks. When everyone else said they were nuts for rebooting their entire comic universe, DC forged on and did what they thought was best. It seems to have worked out for the best, and they’ve even quieted some of their strongest critics. And while this logo seems destined to usher in the company’s new digital age, I can’t help but wonder how the comics in DC Comics fit into all this?

As Paul said, no one gets “DC” out of this new logo. It’s practically indecipherable. But what really bothers The Blot is how DC Entertainment’s amazing graphic looks horrible as a static logo for DC Comics. Isn’t that how DC will be primarily using the logo? For every movie, TV show, app and digital comic, there are even more printed comics, toys, collectibles, clothing and accessories to be sold with this horrible logo. While DC’s trying to live in the far off future, it’s forgetting all the great things it has to offer here and now. Clearly “comics” are not the primary focus of DC Entertainment anymore.

SpankyStokes.com Exclusive Hot Pink Stroll OMFG! Mini Figure

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

As a toy blogger, there is nothing cooler than seeing fellow toy blogs get their own figures produced! I’m not all that artistic, but I’d love to see a TheBlotSays.com colorway produced one day. First there was the ToysREvil.net Yoka (which I own!), and now October Toys has included SpankyStokes.com’s mascot Stroll in its OMFG! (Outlandish Mini Figure Guys) Series 1. These MUSCLE sized figures are awesome, and I’m proud to say I’ve already amassed good sized army of Stroll mini figures in 4 different colors (as you can see below).

This Hot Pink color is the mysterious 7th OMFG! colorway; one you can’t purchase as a set. October Toys gave each artist that had a character included in Series 1 a small number of their specific figure in this “Artist Proof” Exclusive Hot Pink colorway as a thank you. So the only way to get a complete five figure set of these Hot Pink OMFG! figures is to purchase one from each of the series’ creators. To purchase one of these awesome Hot Pink Strolls head over to the SpankyStokes.com online store. They’re just $5 each and will definitely sell out quickly.

Johnny Cupcakes Hawaii One Night Only Pop-Up Shop This Saturday

2012-01-20T10:30:00.009-06:00

This Saturday, for one night only, Johnny Cupcakes will be in Honolulu, Hawaii for a very special event! From 7-10pm Johnny will be at the Fresh Café x Loft In Space for a lecture and Q&A, which will lead into the opening of the first ever Johnny Cupcakes Pop-Up Shop in Hawaii (from 10pm-12am). If you’ve been following Johnny Cupcakes for any period of time then you know his Pop-Up Shops are always stocked full of exclusive t-shirts, buttons, hats and more, so this is one event you definitely do not want to miss!

Be sure to get there early to ensure your seat for the lecture and then stick around afterwards to score this gnarly Hawaii themed Johnny Cupcakes t-shirt and meet Mr. Johnny Cupcakes! The Johnny Cupcakes Lecture and Pop-Up Shop takes place this Saturday, January 21st, from 7pm-12am at Fresh Cafe x Loft In Space at 831 Queen St., Honolulu, HI 96813.

Mad Men Season 5 Teaser Poster

2012-01-20T09:00:00.002-06:00

It’s crazy to think that Aly and I bought Mad Men Seasons 1-4 on Black Friday two Thanksgivings ago for $10 a season. We had never watched Mad Men before, but had heard so many good reviews we wanted to try it out. Our goal was to watch all four seasons before Season 5 started…little did we know that one and a half years later Mad Man Season 5 would still be missing from AMC’s schedule. What was everyone thinking? How do you keep one of the best shows on television off the air for 16 months? It’s insane right?

Well, the long Mad Men drought is finally over! Season 5 is scheduled to begin airing on Sunday, March 25th, on AMC at 9/8c. In the meantime, check out this incredibly minimalistic Mad Men Season 5 teaser television poster based on the show’s opening credits.

Iron Man Custom Figure by UME Toys

2012-01-19T12:00:00.004-06:00

While The Blot loves me some toys, my first love will always be comic books. So when I see a merging of those two worlds, like with this incredible handmade Iron Man figure by [rich] of UME Toys, I get pretty freaking excited! Every aspect of this 8” figure was handmade by [rich] out of clay, wood and metal, including the crazy looking base holding drunken Tony Stark up. I love this figure because it does an incredible job showcasing [rich]’s unique style while still staying unbelievably true to Marvel’s Armored Avenger. At one time I know this custom figure was available for purchase, but I’m not sure if it ever sold. If you’re interested, shoot [rich] an email…it might just be worth your wild if you do!

The Huck Gee Project: The Seven Samurai Custom Munnys

2012-01-19T10:30:00.002-06:00

The fourth and final set of figures in The Huck Gee Project was unveiled and it’s freaking insane!!! The Seven Samurai Custom Munnys by Huck Gee is based on director Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece The Seven Samurai. I could go on and on about how awesome this movie is, but hopefully you already know this so I’ll spare you my ramblings. Huck went to great lengths to make each figure accurate and you can really tell how meticulous he was on all seven Samurai’s garb. Each kimono was hand painted with the original patterns and mon (heraldic symbols that denoted a samurai's family or clan) portrayed onscreen, each samurai's katana and weapon was cast in stainless steel, and the identifying characteristics of each character’s look from the film was captured perfectly in Huck’s signature minimalist style.

One interesting tidbit I learned from Huck’s visit to Houston is that because the movie is in black and white, it allowed him a little artistic freedom to choose each character’s color scheme. In case you aren’t familiar with the Seven Samurai, here’s a quick recap of each character by the private collector who owns this amazing set: 1) Kikuchiyo, the brash, emotionally turbulent, yet ultimately brave aspiring samurai who came from humble farmer origins; 2) Gorobei, a man of cheery disposition, but intelligent in the ways of war; 3) Heihachi, who had resorted to chopping wood so that he could eat; 4) Shichiroji, an old friend of the leader's and a veteran of many battles; 5) Kyuzu, the master swordsman; 6) Katshushiro, the eager, but young and inexperienced samurai from a noble family; and 7) Kanbei, the wise, kind and battle-weary leader of the Seven Samurai.

The Huck Gee Project: A private collector recently commissioned Huck Gee to create an entire series of one of a kind custom figures, which combined would make up a larger project entitled, appropriately enough, the Huck Gee Project. While the project has since been put on hold, the collector has decided to share photos of the completed pieces with the world, since these are such incredible custom Munnys. This is definitely some of Huck’s best work, and I am so glad these photos are seeing the light of day!

TRON & TRON: Legacy Screen Print Set by Martin Ansin

2012-01-19T09:00:00.005-06:00

Mondo and Sideshow Collectibles have teamed up once again with Disney to release a new TRON two print set by Martin Ansin. Both movies are glow in the dark and will be sold only as a set. I love how these two TRON prints look in conjunction with the other, but I question why they’re being released now. I can understand its release two summers ago, but now? It’s not like TRON: Legacy did that well. But regardless, Ansin knocked this one out of the park!

"TRON" and “TRON: Legacy” by Martin Ansin are 24”x36” hand numbered screen prints with limited edition run sizes of 390. Each 2 poster set will retail for $90, and will go on sale at the Mondo online store today, Thursday, November 19th, at a random time.

OMFG! Mini Figures Series 1 On Sale Now!

2012-01-18T12:00:00.006-06:00

The Blot’s been meaning to write about October Toys’ official release of its OMFG! (Outlandish Mini Figure Guys) Series 1 for a while, but I wanted to wait until I received my Kickstarter sets so I could give a true review. And let me just say, these are awesome!!! Everyone involved with these MUSCLE-esque series did a fantastic job, and each figure is way more detailed than I ever expected. This is definitely one of those times where the pictures don’t do the figures justice. I like them so much, I’ve already started a collection of SpankyStokes.com’s mascot Stroll (but more on that later).

As previously reported, there were 6 different colorways of OMFG! Series 1 created. The Kickstarter Exclusive Black and the Onell Design Exclusive Pheyden Blue are already sold out, but the other four can be purchased now for $10-15 per set. The Standard Flesh/Pink Edition can be purchased directly from October Toys here, the Little Rubber Guys Exclusive Green colorway can be purchased here, the Rotofugi Exclusive Blue (312c) colorway can be purchased here and the UofMuscle Exclusive Yellow colorway can be purchased here. Rumor has it a super rare 7th Hot Pink colorway will be released by each figure’s creator but no details have emerged on that one yet. Bet you can’t just get one!

The Blot’s Booster Gold Sketchbook - Page 1 Kevin Maguire

2012-01-18T10:30:00.003-06:00

For years now The Blot’s been wanting to start a sketchbook of my all time favorite superhero, Booster Gold. Something I could take with me to conventions and have my favorite artists draw a Booster Gold sketch or commission in. There was only one thing holding me back…I had decided long ago that if I was going to do a Booster Gold sketchbook the first commission had to be by my favorite artist, Kevin Maguire. Of course as luck would have it, even after going to comic book conventions for almost 25 years Kevin and I have never been at the same show! Thankfully that changed last November.

When I heard Kevin Maguire was going to be at Wizard World’s Austin Comic-Con at the end of last year, I knew I had to be there. The convention was great, and I was lucky enough to finally be able to start my Booster Gold sketchbook after all these years with a sick Kevin Maguire commission (which you can see in the photo above). Now I’ve got an entire Moleskin sketchbook to fill up! So while this won’t be a regular feature on The Blot Says…, you can expect updates periodically throughout the year whenever I have the opportunity to add to this exciting project.