BEit Dude – Skateboarder and Rapper

Kicktoys just dropped new shots of painted versions of the Skateboarder and Rapper versions of their upcoming BEit Dude figures.  BEit Dude offers a twist on designer toys – the face is designed to accomodate a photo or drawing for personalization as can be seen  on the rapper (after the jump).  The skateboarder dudes seem to have pre-designed faces (snap-ins ?). The figure definitely has an urban vibe with the super short legs and elongated torso.  Also, the accessories look very good.   

We’re curious to see if people embrace the innovative yet potentially kitschy concept.  From the pictures it looks like the figures may be heavily articulated (segmented arms).  We’ll try to determine if this is actually the case.

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Wacko Toy Swap (10.18)

 

Are you stuck with dupes and just not feeling creating an ‘army’ of uniformity for your display case?  Wacko, quite possibly the most amazing store in Los Angeles, feels your pain and has a cure (or at least a stop-gap measure) – a Toy Swap.  It goes down Saturday, October 18th from Noon to 3 PM in the parking lot behind the store.  Bring your dupes and trade them with others.  Refreshments will be served.

Wacko/Soap Plant
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.663.0122

Super7 Zombie Red Coffin Set

Fresh off the release of the Super7 x Gargamel Zombie Silver Coffin Set at Thrashout, Super7 is ready to rock another Zombie Coffin Set this time in clear red.  The set features the Hooded zombie (w/removable head and gloves) created by Brian Flynn plus three replacement heads to create Arachnombie (by Hiro Hiyashi), Zombeard (by Joe Huerta), and Escaregot (by Josh Herbolsheimer). That’s 1 figure with 4 heads.  Packaged in a foil printed zombie coffin, the set will drop this Saturday October 4th from Super7  (online and instore) @ 11 AM PDT.

In case you’re not up on the backstory, Dr. Killgore manipulates genetic material to genetically alter and raise the dead.  His most trusted creations are collectively known as the Snakes of Infinity.  When there’s not enough genetic material to go around, he relies on makeshift minions – his Zombies.

Super7 Store
1630 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.409.4700

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T9g Yumenoko Neko Edition

T9G's singular brand of monster couture is in  high gear.  After debuting the Yumenko VCD with the Kodomo edition about a month ago , he's about to drop the Neko edition from Medicom  at Aoyama fashion hot spot, The Contemporary Fix on Saturday, October 11th.  The figure stands a whopping  310mm (12+ inches) and will retail for 13,440 yen (~ $127 USD).

While the bright colored fashion flourishes and freaky plush mask make a return, you'll notice that the head sculpt is completely new and actually is closer to T9G's older toys.  Neko is cute while Kodomo was downright melancholy and a little freaky.   T9G and Medicom continue to push the boundaries of vinyl and it's a great ride.

Beyond the toy angle, it's interesting to note the fashion angle.  T9G has previously collaborated with Aoyama fashion mecca Loveless on the Loveless VCD.  Now, he's dropping a toy at The Contemporary Fix.  In the middle of this toy-fashion blend is Yuichi Yoshi who created The Contemporary Fix and is a key player at Loveless.

StephCop – Process Black Uninked Hoodie + Fig (10.1)

StephCop’s Process Black Uninked Hoodie + black on black figure set drops in less than two hours over @ Bonuztoy’s shop.  Limited to 100 numbered sets,  It’ll set you back 88 euros + shipping (~ 123 USD).    The fun starts at 1 PM PDT today [which is 10 PM Paris time].

Monstrehero - AxeFace Green + Mono Victim #1

 

Sean Blay and Cliff Kirschner of Monstrehero  create original and fresh hand-made resin figures in amazingly small runs.  Their newest figure AxeFace may be their strongest design yet -- quirky but streamlined and cool at the same time. This is one character not to be taken lightly.  The first green edition is limited to three pieces and is available now for $85.00. AxeFace ships with a hand printed 1 color lino print in a hand printed box. 

In addition to the brand spankin' new AxeFace, Monstrehero has released a Mono version of their humorous Victim #1 figure limited to 5 pieces.  The 'hook' with this figure is the transparent flame that slips over the figure -- smart stuff.  This one stands  7.5" tall, comes with a one color block print and can be yours for $65.  

If you're one of many collectors asking for fresh figures that stand apart from the bulk of me-too releases, here ya go.  Support 'em if you can by picking up one of these bad boys.

Hideyasu Moto – Utiyamada-kun & Tori-go

New Japanese  toy company Orange Train’s first release is the whimsical Utiyamada-kun and Tori-go vinyl from celebrated Japanese animator Hideyasu Moto.  This toy is drawn from the “Arnold” anime movie/series (?).  The figure is limited to just 50 pieces, measures 17 cm (~ 6.7 inches) tall and will retail for 5880 yen (~ 55 USD).  It drops on October 8th at Mandrake’s Grand Chaos location in Osaka, Japan as part of Moto Hideyasu’s Greatest Hits show.  A new book of Hiedyasu’s collected illustrations will also be released at the show, simply titled Motobook. This Green Colorway is apparently exclusive to Mandrake.

This is a very nice first release – cute and eccentric at the same time.  The combination of organic and mechanical on the swan is very cool (esp. the wings)  We’re curious to see what's next from Orange Train. 

We Kill You – Four New Figures in October: Ghost Boy

We Kill You is back and ready to let loose this month with the release of four new hand-made (sculpted, cast and painted) resin figures.  We’re unveiling the first figure, Ghost Boy, which will go on sale this Friday at WKY’s web shop.  For the next three weeks, we’ll reveal a new WKY figure each Monday and it will drop that Friday.  And… WKY has a special Halloween set which will drop on the 31st.  That’s 5 Fridays of drops.  Check out a closeup pic of Ghost Boy after the jump.

So what’s the story behind Ghost Boy ?  Here’s the lowdown -- At a young age, Ghost Boy was abandoned by his parents due to his hideous disfigured form. Unable to fit in with society, he fabricated a ghost costume he learned how to make in grade 1. For 10 years now, Ghost Boy has been wandering the streets of Toronto, helping kids in need and seeking revenge on the scum of the city! 

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Cris Rose – Runcible Edition A

 

Cris Rose is known within the the toy community as a customizer with excellent painting skills.  Add toy designer to his growing rep.  He’s about to drop the first edition of his original hand-cast limited-edition resin figure, Runcible. 

Cris has developed an extensive story for this charming robot (included after the jump), but the quick synopsis is that Runcible ends up inhabiting a world devoid of humans and other robots and thus tends to caring for plants and animals.  As a reassurance to wary humans, his long gone creator restricted Runcible’s means of communication to a visual one – whatever the robot is thinking about appears in the clear display area in his head.

Each edition of the figure will have a different object embedded in the head.  For this first debut  Edition A  it’s a leaf symbolizing nature.  Cris will be making the five Edition A Figures  (£ 39.99 / $74) plus one special “Grandfather'”  one-off edition (£120) available through his web store this Sunday, September 28th @ 18:00 GMT. 

The Grandfather edition is a tribute to Cris’s grandfather, a radio repairmen, who was the inspiration for the project.  Each runcible edition release will be accompanied by a Grandfather edition which will incorporate a radio part from his grandfather.

This is a very cool project with a great aesthetic and the price is rather amazing given the hand-cast low-run nature of the figure.  Cris’s future plans include Runcible Edition B (10 pieces) to be released exclusively at They Walk Among Us.  There will also be two additional figures in this line – the 3.5” Rotund and a larger Reaper figure.   See more of Runcible after the jump.

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Jared Deal - Halloween Surprise

Here's a slightly more detailed tease of Jared Deal's upcoming spooky + cute limited-edition resin which we first posted about a little while back. The figure is sculpted and casted by Eric Noella @ Argonaut Resins.  This should be ready in time for All Hallow's Eve.

Ryan Hungerford's Freakbeast

Ryan Hungerford's Freakbeast is ready to go -- he's approved the proto and the 4.5" resin fig limited to 50 pieces is now available for pre-order through patchtogether.com.   Pretty slick design -- with a nice paint job.  Geeking out just a bit here -- the price point is very reasonable at $24.99 especially considering it's limited to 50 pieces.    This release again  raises the issue of whether 'resin is the new vinyl'.  We had thought that one of the obstacles to low-run resin designer toys was the issue of deco or painting.  So it's interesting to note that Freakbeast sports a fairly complex production paint job.   Flat art and sculpt shots after the jump.

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pVp Scratch Fury Resin

If you’re a gamer  there's a good chance you've read Scott Kurtz's pVp (Player Vs. Player for you non-gamers out there) web comic.  If so you might be stoked to learn Scott has teamed up with Gensen Studios to produce a resin maquette of Scratch Fury: The Destroyer of Worlds (a 'deadly' feline from the strip). The figure stands 5" tall at the head and is available for preorder for $40 from pVpStuff.  This one will be strictly limited to the number of figures preordered.  Ships in late October or early November.

KAWS Storm Trooper

Bzzzzz… that’s the alarm and we’ve woken up ;-)  The long rumored KAWS Storm Trooper  from Japanese toy giant Medicom is almost here.  It drops at Original Fake in Japan on September 27th and as with the KAWS Vader release, OF is doing a lottery for admission tickets to the store on the day of the release.   

I can’t quite say why but the Storm Trooper is somehow more compelling than the earlier Darth Vader figure – maybe it’s that this design doesn’t really introduce new elements to the storm trooper but rather morphs the existing iconic black and white uni.  While some might say that the crossed out eyes of the Storm Trooper represent a warrior deadened by evil (ok, the dark side) we’ll just say it’s one SWEET looking figure.  

Will this be the end of the Star Wars x KAWS connection?  I sorta doubt it – why stop a proven thing mid-roll ?  We dig the pop culture cross overs but we’re also jonesing for an original KAWS figure. 

StephCop Hoodie + Black on Black Inked Fig

French toy wizards Bonustoyz will drop a special offering from StephCop just in time for the blustery days of fall – an exclusive pink ‘n white camo hoodie.  Limited to just 100 pieces, the hoodie also ships with an exclusive Uninked Black on Black (Gloss on Matte) vinyl figure complete with shiny spray can accessory.  The hoodie features embroidery on the hood and a stealthy ‘stash’ pocket. 

We’ve always been fans of StephCop – his toys run against the grain of the overpowering vinyl mantra of curves, and more curves.  Angles are beautiful.  While the figure is cool,  not sure if  we’d wear a pink camo hoodie (but some will be eager to rock it!).

The set of the hoodie and the figure will be released on October 1st exclusively at the Bonustoyz web shop.  Also look for special promo deals to celebrate the release.   After the jump, an eyeful of pics.

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MINDstyle’s Scavengers Series 2 by Kathie Olivas

MINDstyle’s first Scavengers series from Kathie Olivas was a smash success.    Given  the high-quality of the figures in terms of the sculpts and the paint deco as well as the posh reusable gift boxes, it’s easy to see why the first series is arguably one of the finest art toy mini-fig series to date.  It’s safe to say that Scavengers Series 2 will be very well received as well when it drops in October.

The second series features eight figures including the Lainey and Fernando chase (feat. an unmistakable pink octopus) figure, a collaborative piece combining the talents of Kathie and her husband Brandt Peters.  Scavengers Series 2 brings Kathie’s beautiful yet sometimes harrowing original Misery Children artwork to ife. Her paintings and sculptures recast the  tradition of early American naive portraits of children into a dark  post-apocalyptic world in which children are left to fend for themselves among a menagerie of mutated wild animals.  They are observers of the  unspeakable dark truth others can not or will not acknowledge. This imagined future world resonates on both a symbolic level and on a more a literal level perhaps foreshadowing an unspeakable fate. Be ready to score these when they come out as they should be quite popular.

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Sket One – You Asked For It + Dolbee

Uh-oh.  Sket One is invading err visiting merry ol’ Englander just in time for all hallow’s eve.  As part of ATP’s Release the Bats 2008 event, Sket will present You Asked For It, a solo exhibition, on October 30-31st at the London Venue and the following night on November 1st in Birmingham.  He’ll be showing new custom toys, artwork, prints and plenty of Sket merch.  Sket won’t just be soaking in the environment and the liquour, he’ll also be living painting on 5x5 canvases at both events.

Finally… Since this is an ATP event, Sket’s designed a brand new monster version of their  Dolbee figure from Clownshoes and produced by SOLID Industries. This will apparently only be available at the two ATP Festival events – coolness.

London Venue The Forum 9-11 Highgate Road London NW5

Birmingham Venue Space 2, The Custard Factory Gibb Square Birmingham B9 4AA

Buff Monster Miao and Mousubi

Zakkamono has reveal ed their next artist collaboration on their Miao project… Buff Monster.  Here’s a look at the Pink One’s design.  “Coming Soon”.  The project is attracing top talent – first tokidoki and now Buff, who’s got next?

Joe Ledbetter – Hammerhead Tropical Red

 

Joe Ledbetter’s Hammerhead Tropical Red from intheyellow has just dropped exclusively on Joeledbetter.com.  Featuring a kaiju-style red, silver, and yellow paint job this one is limited to 150 pieces and is available for $77. 

Zakkamono x RealxHead – Cyclops and Onl Dogs

Zakkamono will release an exclusive set of Cyclops and Oni dogs from RealxHead on Saturday, September 20th. Limited to 20 sets, each figure stands 7” tall , has the now classic ‘Hawaii’ paint scheme and comes packaged in the traditional bag with header card.   These are of course 100% Japanese vinyl.  So this is what people mean when they talk about ‘Hell Hounds’ ;-) Solo shots after the jump.

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Buff Monster Metal Figure (9.18.08)

Buff Monster’s Metal Figure drops tomorrow, Thursday September 18th, 2008 from Fully Visual at 11 AM PDT.  As is tradition, this is limited to 100 pieces – 99 silver and 1 golden chase.   Get it at the Fully Visual Store tomorrow.

BxH Kumaru-Kun @ SoS Today (1 PM PDT)

Bounty Hunter's brand new Kumaru-Kun was released last week in Japan.  If you’re looking for it state side, today is a good day.  Span of Sunset will be dropping the figure @ 1 PM PDT today both in store and online.

Span of Sunset
7527 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90046
323.512.3807

David Choe - Choegal

 

Wow... Here's a surprise.  David Choe will drop what we believe is his 2nd ever art toy -- the all wood Choegal coming before the end of the year from Upper Playground and  Ningyoushi. Slated for a run of 1000, these are all being meticulously hand painted overseas. 

David comments on his blog about the stunning quality of a test sample he received -- "I gave detailed instructions to the factory on how to replicate my multi layered style, and looking at this toy, I can’t even tell the difference from the original, I should just get these fuckers to do all my paintings for me too!" Choegal is heavily articulated and the head rotates to reveal 3 different faces/emotions.

We’re definitely impressed.  The term ‘art toy’ gets thrown around these days as legitimizing market fodder but the label certainly seems to fit here. 

Buff Monster Metal Figure (9.18.08)

Fully Visual is about to ready to throw down with an exclusive Buff Monster metal figure.  It drops this Thursday (9.18) @ 11 AM PDT.  Dig the two-face design. We’re looking forward to full photos (should be later today). 

JUKI in Vinyl from One Up in October

The land of the rising sun seems to fuel talented well-rounded artists who can do it all -- draw, design, sculpt and cast. Today we're looking at the latest jack of all trades (and pretty much master of all).  JUKI's hand-cast and hand-painted resin creatures of all types are impressive in their variety and execution.  Now, One Up is doing what they do best -- placing a spotlight on rising Japanese talent by translating their resin creations into vinyl. 

One Up will release Juki's first two vinyls this October.  Shown above in proto resin form at TTF '08, these armored creatures combine Japanese culture with contemporary design.  After the jump we have more shots including pictures of the wax casts.  More info on both figures shortly. 

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Bounty Hunter x AROFOS - Cap'n Bounch

Cap'n Bounch, Bounty Hunter's remixed morning mascot, is back with a new third AROFOS colorway.  This edition celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the  AROFOS shop in Taiwan as well as the opening of AES.   Bounty Hunter founder Hikaru chose a traditional Japanese blue as it is often used to represent highly respected individuals from the past.   This latest edition of the Cap'n is due in October exclusively from AROFOS and AES [Source: Hypebeast].

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