MAN-E-UPDATE// ‘Ed Skworm vs. Min-E-Face “Noir” production shot…

As we loom ever closer to the release of our first M.U.S.C.L.E custom bootleg 2 pack, ‘Ed Skworm vs. Min-E-Face, we’ve decided to share with you the first production shot (with sprues still attached!) of the super-rare “Noir” edition that we will be offering up to our readers a week before the figures’ official release. Limited to a run of just 5 sets, each early adopter will receive both ‘Ed Skworm and Min-E-Face, plus our forthcoming original resin, the Skworm (pictured upside down here!) in a sleek black resin. Coming bagged with a separately designed “noir” tripple header, each of the 5 sets will also come with a signed and numbered bio/stat card that will NOT be available with the full release! We’re still to work out exact prices (we’re aiming around the $40 mark, shipped) or release dates, so stay tuned for more info in the next couple of weeks…

MAN-E-NEWS// The “Day of the Skulldude” Kaiju Melt Monster from Monsterarm x MAN-E-TOYS…

Previewed here at the weekend, we’re proud to fully reveal our first collaboration with Monsterarm… the “Day of the SkullDude” Kaiju Melt Monster! Using one of the “Dia de los Muertos” resin skulls that we sent over last week, Monsterarm has given him the signature “melt” makeover, complete with red/green neon sprays and glistening sparkle! Standing at a monstrous 7″ tall, the cycloptic skull comes bagged and headed with a price tag of just $40 plus shipping. Head over to the Monsterarm store to check him, along with a huge selection of other customs, now…

Stay tuned for more MAN-E-TOYS x Monsterarm “melt” collabs soon!

MAN-E-NEWS// The visible skeleton Stormtrooper LEGO bootleg from 2bitHACK…

Sitting alongside the recently revealed “Smiley Copper” action figure (check it out here), 2bitHACK has been hard at work on yet another project, the as yet untitled “visible skeleton LEGO Stormtrooper” bootleg! Revealing an initial kit-bash test pull last week featuring a de-armed, mini-legged LEGO Stormtrooper with the strap-line “Test pull… The nontest pulls will be boneshakingly cool…”, 2bitHACK has since revealed that the figure is to be cast over the top of a LEGO skeleton! As you can see from the image above, the awesome figure is due to be cast in clear pink, revealing the skeleton’s design beneath. No news as to whether this will be a full bootleg, or a custom LEGO (using individual skeleton LEGOs as pictured), so stay tuned for further developments soon…

International collectors will be glad to know that 2bitHACK is now offering cheaper flat rate shipping on ALL products stocked in his store (we just picked up a Mini-SUCKaws!), head over and take a look…

MAN-E-NEWS// The “Game Over” Video Game Culture Art Exhibition at GR2…

This past Saturday saw the opening of Giant Robot‘s latest group exhibition, the video game themed “Game Over”. Featuring well over 90 artist from the world of low brow art including Grody Shogun, Luke Cheuh, Peter Kato and Martin Hsu, the huge show covered a wide variety of mediums including custom toys, original sculptures, prints and paintings. Standout pieces for us have got to be Luke “Grody” Rook’s Mario Bros Monster/EM customs, plus the wall hung “Yerren” board game from Sean Chao (both pictured below)… head over to the Giant Robot Flickr for a better look- this thing is huge!

Alongside the massive collection of art, Giant Robot is also playing host to a selection of indie games this month, including the works of programmers Beau Blythe and Shelby Cinca who have been creating a game with Game Over participants Sean Chao and Jeni Yang… If you’re in the LA area, be sure to pop down before the show’s June 27th close and have a look (and play!)…

Game Over
Video Game Culture Art Exhibition
June 2 –  June 27, 2012
Opening reception Saturday June 2th 2012, 6:30-10pm
GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 http://www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

MAN-E-NEWS// The “Fire” Lopsy resin figures from Cash Cannon…

NY based tattoo artist and toy customiser Cash Cannon proudly presents his first original figure, Lopsy! Dropping in an initial “Fire” colourway, the adorable hand cast resin figures stand at 2.5″ tall and 2″ wide. Coming sprayed with acrylic detailing, Fire Lopsy has been limited to just 4 figures, with one lucky collector receiving the one-off reversed chase (pictured right). Available on the 4 The Luv Of Toyz NY store now priced at just $20 each plus shipping, Cash has stated that the first 2 buyers will also receive a mini Lopsy canvas! If you’re digging the figure, then you’ll be glad to know that there are many more planned for the near future, including an artist series (featuring a certain Mr Pratt!), plus a whole host of addition colourways and one-off customs. Stay tuned for more info on this amazing artist’s work soon…

MAN-E-NEWS// Custom “Dia de los Muertos” Skull melts from Monsterarm…

As mentioned in our coverage of the “Melt Wizards” earlier this week (find out more here), we’ve been given the honour of working with Monsterarm (aka Honkeylips) on a very special run of “Dia de los Muertos” Skull melts! A batch of three aluminium skulls touched down in the US yesterday, with Monsterarm wasting no time in getting to work on them… as you can see from the shots sent over today, these guys are already bearing all the hallmarks of a stellar Monsterarm series! Stay tuned for a full reveal next week, and in the mean time, head over to the Monsterarm store, where an staggering selection of customs are available to purchase, including the Hello Kitty Melt Monster,  Poopies series, plus the awesome Ice Scream Man Melts featuring Bryan Brutherford’s (unreleased!) mini Ice Scream Men…

MAN-E-NEWS// The 20th Century Art Bears by Howie Green x MAQET…

Swiftly following the recent release of Bernie Cotton in DIY form (read more here), MAQET are proud to reveal their latest artist series, the 20th Century Art Bears by Boston based artist and customiser, Howie Green. Celebrating art history, the five exquisite designs touch on some of the last century’s most influential styles, including Pop Art, De Stijl, Art Deco and Psychedelia. Standing at 5″ tall, each MAQET art bear has been limited to just 50 pieces, with a price tag of $50 plus shipping. Head over to the store now to grab yours…

“What’s the story on that 5th bear? Howie throws in a wrench with a Whites Stripes bear covered in the band’s signature red and white. The White Stripes bear is a “two-for” for art and music fans, as it reflects the aesthetics of both the band and De Stijl; the latter being the title of the duo’s successful 2000 album.”

MAN-E-NEWS// The Mother Series from Taylored Curiosities…

Penny Taylor over at Taylored Curiosities kindly shares with us news of her latest aromatherapy plush, the beautiful “Mother Series”! Combining her signature plush characters with enchanting hand cast resin faces, the “Mothers” come in a variety of different colours and smells based on Penny’s previous “Feelings” releases; the Worry (lavender scented), Fruity (strawberry scented) and two colourways of Tranquillity (patchouli scented). Towering above previous releases, the Mothers stand at an impressive 8″ tall, coming complete with contrasting wombs that have a further 3 tiny baby Feelings stitched on the outside, plus a removable baby that can be housed in its Mother’s pouch! Priced at just £50 each plus shipping, the “Mother Series” has been up on Penny’s webstore for the past couple of weeks… so we suggest acting quick before they all disappear!

MAN-E-NEWS// The Four Boob Boz Wangler vinyl figure from Cupco…

Infamous for his unique hand stitched creatures and super-creepy busts, felt artist Cupco is proud to present his first foray into vinyl with the release of the Four Boob Boz Wangler! Based on his signature uddered dog character, Cupco will be celebrating the Wangler’s launch with a custom show at the Grasshut featuring some of the scene’s biggest artists including Dehara, Monstrehero, Liverdiet, Le Merde and of course, Bwana Spoons. No news on edition size, pricing or colourways (although inverting the image reveals a pink, yellow and black design!), so stay tuned for more news soon…

Four Boob Boz Wangler Custom Show
Friday June 7th @Grasshut, Portland, OR

MAN-E-NEWS// The Meatgrinder vs. Half Baked Ham Namakeshi custom bootlegs…

[photos/info- University of M.U.S.C.L.E]

As mentioned earlier in the week, we still weren’t sure as to whether Meatgrinder’s sparring buddy, Half Baked Ham, would be making it into our first batch of Nama-Niku x Eric Nilla Namakeshi exclusives… well today we can reveal that our meaty friend has made the cut! To be released alongside Meatgrinder in the original Vs. 2 pack, the set will be limited to a super-rare edition of just three, with two coming in the previously revealed blue, whilst the remainder will be cast in purple. To celebrate this awesome news, we’ve decided to take a closer look at the figures… plus a sneak peak at Nama-Niku’s upcoming Chibi Half Baked!

Easily one of our favourite custom M.U.S.C.L.E 2 packs to date, Meatgrinder vs. Half Baked Ham plays on Nama-Niku’s reoccurring meat theme with style (apt considering Niku directly translates as “meat” in Japanese!)… Similar in design to the previously featured Chibi version, Meatgrinder features a beautifully realised meat grinder shaped head (replete with oozing meat!), plus the unmistakable Namakeshi branding that we’ve all come to know and love (the letter M presumably reffers to Meat!). His rival, the Half Baked Ham, has also been treated with the same care and attention, with the half baked head’s ingenious “bone” eye, pineapple slices and carving knife never failing to make us smile. Coming bagged and headed together, these pro-quality figures have been cast in a flexible keshi style rubber with an authentic flesh toned tint (more colours are available). Head over to Rubber Little Guys here with any purchasing enquiries… or you could just wait until we release ours!

Joining the marvelous Chibi Meatgrinder comes the latest mini-M.U.S.C.L.E in the illustrious Namakeshi series, the Chibi Half Baked! Once again sticking to the semi-realistic proportions of the Chibi Meatgrinder, the new Half Baked retains the ham-head (this time centralising the “bone” eye) and knife, sacrificing the bold HAM lettering for an H buckle that is a lot better suited to the miniature design. No news on exact pricing or release dates, so be sure to stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks…


MAN-E-NEWS// Josh Herbolsheimer x Medicom Fungus Amungus “Earth Wolf” Rotofugi exclusive…

Coinciding with his latest solo show entitled “Fungus Amungus“, San Francisco based artist Josh Herbolsheimer will be releasing the Rotofugi exclusive Earth Wolf sofubi. Translating Josh’s signature mis-matched aesthetic and dark kaiju style perfectly, the disturbing vinyl figure stands at a monstrous 10″ tall. Cast in brown/dark brown vinyl, with grey sprays and tan, green, red and black accents, Earth Wolf will be available at the show’s opening today (June 1st), with any remaining hitting the Rotofugi store on Monday (June 4th) for just $150 each…

“Joshua Herbolsheimer grew up on Eternia, fighting alongside the Mighty Skeletor against the villainous He-Man and his evil thugs. During the height of battle, he attempted to transform into an 18-Wheeler, but ended up becoming a human adult. After a brief period of real-life, he fell through a Warp Zone into San Francisco, California, where he currently creates toys and t-shirts at Super7, and spends his free time hiking through the woods and riding his bicycle.”

MAN-E-NEWS// “Make Your Own Bernie” from Scott Tolleson x MAQET…

Following the success Scott Tolleson‘s Bernie Cotton Artist Series plastin figure (still available to purchase here), MAQET have just revealed that the awesome piece is now available in DIY form! For just $30, any fan of the adorable character can now adorn him with their very own design… with an extensive selection of online design tools, including brushes from the likes of Shin + Nao and Yosiell Lorenzo, plus a Photoshop compatible template to work off-line, artists and collectors of all backgrounds and talent can get involved. Head over to the MAQET blog for more info…

MAN-E-NEWS// The Kasutori x Rumble Monsters Zofbie at Rotofugi…

The guys over at premier designer toy outlet Rotofugi have just revealed that they will be receiving a very limited batch of Kasutori’s highly sought Zofbie figures! Standing at an impressive 10″ tall, the zombie sofubis will be coming in red and blue editions, both painted by the mighty Rumble Monsters. Priced at $160 each, the Zofbies will be available through e-mail lottery to avoid overselling on these understandably popular pieces. To be in with a chance of scoring one, e-mail Rotofugi directly at zofbie@rotofugi.com, stating your colour preference (if any). Closing date for the lottery is Sunday, June 3rd, with the random drawing and notifications to be emailed out on Monday, June 4…

MAN-E-NEWS// Captain Sturnbrau “Deep Blue Sea” Edition from Jon Paul Kaiser x Toy2R…

It’s been a while since we’ve heard any news with regards to more Captain Sturnbrau colourways, so it came with great pleasure yesterday to find that JPK and Toy2R are gearing up for the spooky “Deep Blue Sea” edition’s imminent release! Coming cast in a clear aqua blue vinyl, the 5″ Mini Qee should be seeing the light of day sometime in June. As with previous Sturnbrau releases, expect to find “Deep Blue Sea” in limited quantities at your local designer toy emporium for around $40 (£28). Expect more news on exact dates and edition size soon…

“As the tide rolls in, it brings a warning from the sea… the Captain is not gone, but waiting. Deep in the water the peg-legged pirate waits to set sail once again on the Whispering Corsair along with his crew of undead shipmates.”

MAN-E-NEWS// Clear Vision Mk2 / Edition C – Custom Resin/Vinyl Mini Munny from Cris Rose…

Hot off the heels of his recent Personal Trimentional Viewer drop, Cris Rose proudly presents the latest Clear Vision Mk2, Edition C. Coming with a completely re-sculpted resin head, these customs are based on Kidrobot’s 4″ Mini Munny vinyl figure, and retain all their original articulation. Packed with a big lens up front that has been covered by a clear dome, the beautiful figures have been finished with Rose’s signature hand-painted vine detailing and meticulous weathering. Limited to an edition of just 5 pieces, each figure has been priced at $150 plus shipping, and will go on sale today (Friday, June 1st) at 6pm London time on the Cris Rose store…

MAN-E-FEATURE// The custom keshi of Adam Pratt…

[click image to enlarge]

Our recent journey into the world of custom keshi/M.U.S.C.L.E wouldn’t be complete without a look into the work of one of favourite artists, Adam Pratt. Although not as active in the community these days (aside from coming on board with our upcoming ‘Ed Skworm vs. Min-E-Face project!), Adam’s extensive body of work really does speak for itself. From one-off kit-bashed keshis, through to hand painted M.I.M.P’s, S.L.U.G’s and M.U.S.C.L.E, plus a staggering array of hand cast resin pieces, Adam has dipped his toes in all facets of the scene. Recently giving away a massive selection of figures in return for donations to his yearly paint fund, sadly (for us collectors!) the last of Adam’s hand cast pieces were all snapped up. Head over to Adam’s site to get a better look at his dazzling array of work, and whilst he is currently slowing down on commission work, a few of his custom Mini 3A Berties are still up for grabs on the Tenacious Toys store for just $20 a piece…

MAN-E-NEWS// (UPDATED) October Toys’ OMFG Series 1 “GID” colourway production shot…

Anyone who had the foresight to pledge for the OMFG “Glow in the Dark” colourway on Kickstarter last month will be glad to know that production is raging full steam ahead for the estimated July shipping date. Above is a production shot of the 5 packaged figures directly from the factory… and we must say, they appear to already be glowing with the lights switched on! Unfortunately, as with the original Black edition, these were only available to Kickstarter pledgees, so we offer you the best of luck trying to hunt down someone who is willing to part with them! October Toys will be sending out surveys for shipping details at some point in June, expect more news on exact shipping dates soon…

UPDATE// Unlike previously stated, George Gaspar over at October Toys has informed us that the OMFG GID colourway WILL be available to those who missed out on the Kickstarter campaign! Set to drop in a number of different toy stores including October Toys, expect to see them popping up in limited numbers shortly after the Kickstarter mailout…

MAN-E-NEWS// The custom “Chewie” Munny from David Kraig…

It seems like it was only yesterday that we featured David Kraig‘s enchanting Magician and Rabbit customs (hang on a minute?!), but yes, he’s back once more with yet another stunning piece, the “Chewie” 4″ Munny! Featuring the highly detailed sculpt style that is quickly becoming the focal point of DK’s work, everyone’s favourite Wookie has been given a menacing overhaul, coming complete with leather utility strap, real metal Bandolier and sinister scowl… this Chewie’s ready for war! No news on whether this guy will be made available to the public, so you best bet is either heading to the DKCustoms store, or contacting David through his site here…

MAN-E-NEWS// The Todd Robertson and Guumon exclusive drop for FOE’s Monster Mayhem…

FOE hosted their 2nd annual Monster Mayhem group show this month, and to celebrate its storming success, they are sneaking in one more very special event before the show comes down on Sunday June 3rd… with the release of resin exclusives from both Todd Robertson and Guumon! Both artists will be on hand for signing and questions at FOE on Saturday, June 2nd from 3pm–5pm where Robertson will be releasing 2 new sets of his resin Ammonaito, whilst Guumon brings his latest Bone Zombie Krunks.

Each of the 2 Ammonaito colourways (pink/purple and yellow/blue) have been created in runs of 4, including a rather intriguing looking mecha chase… these guys have been priced at $75 a piece. Guumon’s impressive Bone Zombie Krunks have been limited to an edition of 4 standard hand cast pieces at $110 each, plus a special one-off  Zombie virus Krunk that comes in at $150.  Expect to see any leftovers on the FOE store this Sunday…

MAN-E-NEWS// The neon “Starpets” from Killer J x Rampage Toys…

In between his busy schedule of creating new pieces for both Studio Uamou and the upcoming “Pandemonium” custom show (find out more here), Jon Malmstedt of Rampage Toys has managed to cram in yet another awesome collaboration, this time with Japan’s Killer J! Jon has painted up 4 of the artist’s “Starpet” sofubi, that have been cast in GID vinyl, coming in either neon orange, pink, purple or green sprays. Featuring Jon’s signature masking (this time with a rather apt star design), the paint job really helps bring the figures to life… especially with the lights switched off! Landing on the Killer J blog/store on June 9th alongside a whole host of other sofubi goodies, expect to pay 4000 JPY (around $50) plus shipping…