Longtime collectors may fondly remember Patrick Ma’s I.W.G. (Insurgents Wilderness Gruppo) line of animals who had taken up arms to defend the natural world. As the toy world changed, I.W.G. was wound down. In the interim, Ma continued his primary business of designing and producing outdoor gear.
Lately, we’ve been wondering if he would eventually return to his obvious love of characters and story telling with a new toy-related venture. Checking our ‘tagged-in’ posts today brought up the GRR (Guardian Rogue Rangers) account with beautiful forest imagery, military-style patches, and a mosaic of the new Loki wool felt plush from guest artist Lana Crooks. It had to be, right? Patrick Ma’s new story telling outlet… And in fact, that’s exactly what San Francisco-based GRR is. As with I.W.G., GRR will donate a portion of its sale proceeds to benefit wildlife causes. GRR also has an elaborate sci-fi, post-apocalyptic back story revealing that the Guardian Rogue Rangers are the result of a desperate last-ditch, failed effort to turn the tide of Earth’s final conflict through a program of enhancing animals to become unmatched warriors and scouts.
GRR’s first art toy is the previously mentioned Loki,wool felt plush fox, hand-crafted by Lana Crooks who now lives in Portland. Loki (8.5″) is portrayed as you might find him, wandering the woods, helping those in need as he goes with walking stick and functional backpack and bedroll. With articulated arms and legs complete with wire armature, this fox is the active sort, ready for whatever pose or adventure you might have in mind. Matching GRR’s mission, Loki is crafted from mostly natural materials including Wool Felt, Leather, Wood, Steel Wire and Dye.
An edition of 10 pieces, Loki is available for purchase exclusively from the Guardian Rogue Rangers for $249 each. Each figure comes with a laser-cut, signed and numbered ID tag. It’s good to see Patrick Ma back in the character game. We’ll be keeping an eye out for future products, as should you.
