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Kathie Olivas’s Calliope Jackalope Sofubi #2 (Ivory) Release

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Calliope 2

We saw the original colorway of Calliope last November at DesignerCon, and now it is time for one of her alter egos to come forth! On sale Wednesday January 23, 2013 from the Tomenosuke + CP Sofubi line is the long-awaited release of Kathie Olivas’ Calliope Jackalope Sofubi #2 “Ivory”.

Starting that Wednesday, Calliope # 2 will be randomly listed in the Circus Posterus Store here for $95, and stocked at random times throughout the week. If you receive a “Sold Out” message – keep checking back because they will be back in stock in varying increments. The “Ivory” edition is limited to 120 pieces with CP and Tomenosuke each getting 60 of the edition. Each header card is signed and numbered by Kathie.

Calliope box

Remember to keep checking the Circus Posterus web store starting Wednesday January 23!

I saw a sign…

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Our master ruster DrilOne is dipping his magic fingers into signmaking again, which we’ve been excited to see him revisit in his own work, after his gorgeous, handmade, Vintage Hell Sign from 2011. A former signmaker and graphic designer, DrilOne is definitely showing his skill and technique in this wonderful new piece. Emblazoned with his show title, “Empty World,” this sign lights up and will feature his famous rivets and rust treatment. We can’t wait to see it!

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More progress images of this wonderful sign under the cut:

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Mikee’s Mail Day: Ichibanboshi Monkey Man

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So here we are again with another package of awesome to share. Let me tell you all a totally honest fact about me. I impulse buy, like a lot. In fact, I tend to do it so much that I end up with tons of really weird stuff. This toy is a prime example of when grabbing something on impulse is an awesome idea.

The Ichibanboshi Monkey Man is wicked awesome. That really is all there is to say about it. I mean we are talking about a monkey in cut off shorts and a motorcycle helmet that reminds you of Evel Knievel. You see something like that and either think that its unnecessary or silly. Or you feel this deep urge from within you to own many of them in different colors and put them on your shelves in your home. I need more monkeys in my empty life. Especially if they look like they know how to enjoy a quality motorcycle. That’s the kind of monkey I can hang at home with and listen to Baroness. These are the moments that make life worth living people.

So I say to you be impulsive try out an odd toy or two. You could find yourself sitting with your new best friend in your lamp any time you take that gamble.

Until next time, live that 24/7 Toy Life!

Amanda Conner and Wonder Woman

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Amanda Conner’s Wonder Woman is one of my absolute favourite Wonder Womans – she is strong, athletic, graceful, angry and passionate and pretty much exactly what Wonder Woman is. In The Art of Narrative, opening Friday, Jan 4th at Stranger Factory, we’ll be treated to four of her original Wonder Woman pages featuring fierce Amazons and glorious battles, and of course, Diana herself.

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Amanda Conner will also be in attendance at the show’s reception, and if you’ve ever seen one of her convention lines(if you haven’t – they’re really, really long), you’ll know that this is a rare chance to meet her in a really chill and friendly setting! Hope to see you there!

The Art of Narrative
Opening Reception : 6-9pm
Stranger Factory
Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti will be attending.

Mikee’s Mail Day: Age of X Minimates!

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OK, so this mail day we are taking a break from our regularly scheduled kaiju/sofubi rants to talk about my first love: comics.

I have been reading comics religiously since I was five. In that time, I have acquired many favorite characters, among them the X-Men. I can’t get enough of them, lately! That said, I try not to collect standard-size action figures, due in major part to space, but my love of comic characters and toys can’t be tossed aside that easily. Thankfully, Minimates exist.

Created by Art Asylum, Minimates are like the western version of Kubricks. A step up in size and complexity from LEGO characters, their simple-yet-dynamic design makes for insane customizability. Admittedly I bought this Age of X set to take this version of Rogue and make it look like her current incarnation in Uncanny Avengers.

Minimates are a toy I find myself continually collecting and coming back to. Admittedly, I’ve been walking around Stranger Factory trying to figure out how I can make a Shield Helicarrier playset that is in perfect scale to my Minimates for about a year now. A boy can dream…

Until next time, live that 24/7 Toy Life!

 

Mikee’s Mail Day: Pushead x Astro Zombies x Secret Base Skullwing!

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So as I said last mail day, I’ve been on a major Pushead kick lately. The Skullwing is an early Secret Base fight figure and their first collaboration piece with Pushead. The figure was made based of the logo Pushead made for the Astro Zombies store in Japan. The figure has had many variations and still manages to stay relevant in today’s fight figure market.

This particular Skullwing comes to us from Japan’s Super Festival 60 and was made to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Astro Zombies. The brown tones are mixed with GID marbling and a splash of gold glitter. The colors work great together, creating an almost bone-like look to the wing. The Pus is strong with this one!

Until next time, live that 24/7 Toy Life!

 

Owls, Dogs & Elephants, Oh My: Stunning New Commissions from Scott Radke

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If you’re like me and have been waiting forever for your own Scott Radke commission, my friends, our time has come! For the last month or so, Scott has been on a tear, striking off many a collector’s bucket lists with owls, dogs and — get this — an ELEPHANT. I figured Scott had done it all, but that … that’s a first.

Fashioned from clay and burlap, the sculptures all stand around the 20-inch mark. If you’re looking to get something done by Scott, email him at scott@scottradke.com. Scott will also be exhibiting with Kathie Olivas and Stephen Webb at Stranger Factory in April 2013, so be sure to mark your calendars for that, as well!

Mikee’s Mail Day: Pushead x Secret Base Siamese Werm!

Now that I have been doing these for awhile I took a second to look back and reminisce on some past posts. Some really wicked toys have been shown, but nothing by the master. It may not be known to most folks in the CP community, but I love Pushead. That said, I have gone on a binge recently, so be prepared for some Pus!

This week’s toy is the Siamese Werm. In last week’s post we discussed Secret Base and their amazing ability to reuse parts of toys to create something new and fresh. The Siamese Pirate may be one of my favorite examples of this.

Wanting to do something fresh with the Pushead Captains and Pirates (above), Secret Base decided to just lose the legs and combine them, like so:

The Siamese Pirate sounds silly but actually works really well; the figure allows for a fresh take on existing characters, and the Siamese Werm just ups the ante. By taking the ready-made stump arms and putting them on the Siamese Pirate body, you’ve made something that is already kind of creepy, sad and terrifying at the same time. You know it’s quality Pushead when it’s this creepy.

The Siamese platform has also made great use of the vinyl marbling technique, where you take two colors of vinyl and mix them to create that awesome mottled effect. This only adds to the odd look of the Siamese and really makes for an awesome combination.

Well I got mail a’ plenty on the way, so who knows what we will see next. Although I do know I got a couple of scurvy dogs ready to walk the plank…

Until next time, live that 24/7 Toy Life!

“Congratulations, You Have Gained Immortality,” … A Commission by Doktor A

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Have you ever wanted to achieve immortality? To develop an immunity to death, walk through the centuries and experience the world? Well, Doktor A has just the thing to fix you up. Following two years of experimentation, he recently completed his newest invention for one of his largest collectors: the Asphyx Enticement and Containment Engine.

The device traps the spirit of the dead (or Asphyx) and the wearer reaps the rewards. It’s inspired by character Hugo Cunningham’s iteration from 70s horror flick, The Asphyx. According to the Dok, the Asphyx appears in Greek mythology as a sort of Angel of Death. It appears at the moment of demise to seek release from its eternal pain by possessing the dying soul of its victim.

… Well, aren’t we all sorts of morbid this afternoon! For those daring enough to take it for a spin, follow these simple instructions:

The Asphyx Containment Engine is crafted from a life-size resin human skull, vintage brass lamp parts, vintage leather straps, a dynamo lighting system, found objects and a ton of materials ranging from metals, to resins to rubber. The device sits 14″ tall. To the lucky recipient: let us know if it works.

More photos after the jump!

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Mikee’s Mail Day: Super7 x Secret Base Zombie Fighter!

So to switch things up a bit a this week, I’m actually going into the mail vault to discuss a toy I have a very strong love affair with:

In the picture above stands the awesomeness that is the Zombie Fighter. A collaboration between vinyl toy legends Super7 and Secret Base. This is the most recent collaboration figure the companies have done and is actually the best place to start my rant:

I am a huge fan of the “fight figure” genre of vinyl toys. The fight figure, to me, is the cornerstone of second generation Japanese vinyl toys. If not for the fight figure, Pushead may not still be making toys. If not for the fight figure, Napalm Death may not have a toy at all (which is not a world I’d want to live in). The fight figure is a “must” in any sofubi or kaiju collectors’ collection. Even if you only have one, a fighter is necessary. A good half of my collection is fight figures but I tend to enjoy the classic look and adaptability the fight design offers.

The Zombie Fighter presents a new head and arms on a very familiar fighter body: the same used for most Secret Base fight figures, from the Skull Brain (above) to the Skull Wing, to the Pumpkin Brain. It’s that versatility that gives the fight figure an advantage in the vinyl toy world. Some people say you have to fight to live, I say I live for fight figures.

Until next time, live that 24/7 Toy Life!