Happy MOTU Day 2013

Masters of the Universe Day has been brought back by a special crossover event with seven of our favourite Toy Blogs. There’s more info at the links below of these sites that will have special MOTU content of reviews, interviews, photos etc.

If MOTU interests you then check ItsAllTrue, Battlegrip, Preternia, Poe Ghostal, The Epic Review, Hoard World, and DoomKick.

Tic Top 5: Interview with Jon-Paul Kaiser (JPK)

Welcome to Tic Top 5 where we ask an artist or specialist the hard hitting questions (not really they're actual quite easy). Todays artist is U.K. based Jon-Paul Kaiser (JPK), Illustrator, Designer, Customiser of Designer Toys and Store Owner of Rhyme Square.

Working as a designer and illustrator, JPK’s career path took him through a variety of jobs, projects and trends until he was introduced to designer toys by his friend Porlzilla. Together they created their own original resin-cast limited edition art toys and sold them through their website. 

After working with Porlzilla, Jon-Paul decided to go it alone concentrating at first on the toy customization scene, building up a name and strong reputation for himself with his stark Black & White custom style, influenced by comic book art, film noir & Ukiyo-e prints. As his reputation grew, he was also invited to participate in more and higher profile art exhibitions such as Show Me The (mini) Munny, Art Strikes Back and Sketchbot Custom Show V2; just to name a few.

JPK's body of work is extensive producing both original pieces like his fantastic "Captain Sturnbrau" among others and loads of world renowned custom figures which you can see here. With all this experience we would be remiss not to ask Jon-Paul to answer the Tic Top 5 for today:

1. How did you start in the industry of creating & customizing?
   I started out drawing Transformers when I was about 4 or 5 and never stopped really. I studied Model Making at University with the aim of creating Toys, characters and models and was eventually introduced to the Urban Vinyl/Art Toy scene by Porl of Porlzilla.
2. What was the first toy or item you customized or created?
   I used to make old Fisher Price cars into battle-wagons when I was young, does that count? 
3. What influences you?
   I'm inspired by all kinds of things; Walks in the woods, conversations with friends, films, travelling, nature, fine art, my wife and daydreaming.
   
   
4. What are your weapons of choice?
   A decent paint bush!
   
   
5. If you could collaborate with anyone (living or dead) who would it be?Hmm... There's several! Kurt Schwitters, The Chapman Brothers, Angry Woebots, Yoskay Yamamoto, Murakami, Ralph McQuarrie, Mark Boudreaux, Picasso, Francis Bacon, Mark Landwehr, there's too many to name.

If you'd like to get in touch or know more about the awesome Jon-Paul Kaiser here's his links:

• Business: Rhyme Square
• Website: Jon-Paul Kaiser
• Facebook: ImprobableCast
• Twitter: @rhymesquare
• Instagram: jonpaulkaiser

Coming back tomorrow to see who's next in the Tic Top 5 hot seat. 

Dwaine Morris' Awesome Custom Androids

With the popularity of the Android figure there are so many custom figures but we are really digging these custom Androids of Tin Man, Scarecrow, The Greatest American Hero, Rocketeer and Rocky the Squirrel from Dwaine Morris.

If you'd like to see more of Dwaine's awesome work, check out his Google+ page here. And if you'd like to purchase your own Blank Android check out the Dead Zebra Inc store here.

Oliver the Bat Boy and Mortimer the Mortician

Artoyz Originals has released images of  Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters of the very adorable 'Oliver the Bat Boy and Mortimer the Mortician'.

"Mortimer," a narwal-themed undertaker originally from the Carnies mini-series, is 6" tall and comes with his trusty straight razor & bottle of Toxico embalming fluid accessories. Olivas' "Oliver the Bat Boy," stands 6.25" tall and comes with two scavenger bird companions.

Both vinyl figures will be available in four colorways of Grey Scale, Purple, Red and Turquoise with a limited release of 200 pieces each and be purchased from here when they're released in May.