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Author Archives | nicolas

nicolas - who has written 102 posts on ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected.

Pop culture writer, and a geek who grew up on The Black Hole, Krull, and Saturn 3. Obsessed with Transformers, Battle Beasts, and 100 Bullets. Trying to keep his kaiju purchases down to $100 a week. Couldn't name all 50 states and capitals, but could tell you the most efficient order to beat all Mega Man bosses. Don't let him in the sun. Don't get him wet. Don't feed him after midnight.

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Camilla d’Errico Gives ToyCyte First Peek

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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Camilla d’Errico Gives ToyCyte First Peek

Most of you know her work by sight, and if you don't yet, then by this time next year you will. Well on her way to being the hardest working woman in the art biz, Camilla d’Errico doesn’t stop at a couple toy designs and a comic book. Check out our exclusive interview with this rising star.

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In Wonderland Turns Square

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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In Wonderland Turns Square

Though I’m not a Disney fan, I most definitely am an Alice in Wonderland and Square Enix fan.  So what better way to combine my favorite book and favorite game company than with new sculpted figures?  Square (the guys behind Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts) have taken scenes from the classic Disney movie and created [...]

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River Children Make Appearance In SF

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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River Children Make Appearance In SF

Straight from Japanese waters came the River Children. Super7 hosted Koji Harmon’s art show featuring tons of Gargamel customs including multiple Tokoji Seijin’s made specially for this show. I don’t know where Koji finds the time to make all his customs for Comic Con, fly back to Japan, then fly out here again [...]

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Interview: Super7 EXCLUSIVE Jumbo Stormtrooper

Monday, August 4, 2008

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Interview: Super7 EXCLUSIVE Jumbo Stormtrooper

Shogun Warrior and Star Wars geeks alike gawked in awe as Super7's Jumbo Machinder inspired Stormtrooper made appearances at Comic Con and at Tokyo's Star Wars Celebration. The two foot tall toy was the main topic of conversation at Comic Con. We were fortunate enough to sit down with Super7 master designer (just call him the MCP) to discuss Lucas Films, Mazinger, and Homer Simpson's car designs.

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Sonic Enters 3D

Friday, August 1, 2008

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Sonic Enters 3D

Sonic the Hedgehog has always had a special place in my heart. In the way of corporate mascots, he was always my favorite. I was a Sega fan over Nintendo (I root for the underdog!) and Sonic has become such a cool looking character and an icon. Which is why it’s about [...]

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Fond Farewell to Comic Con

Thursday, July 31, 2008

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Below are the final pix and info rounding out the weekend of Comic Con!  Only 360 more days to prepare for the next one… Muttpop Molly It was great to finally get to see this figure in person. I love the look, and that pink and blue colorway is GREAT! Yet another figure that needs [...]

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Gargamel Painting Stolen at SDCC

Monday, July 28, 2008

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Gargamel Painting Stolen at SDCC

It’s incredibly rare for a site like this to ever have anything negative to share, but what happened at Comic Con was something that needs to get around. Last week at SDCC, one of the paintings from the Gargamel booth was stolen right off the counter. It was made by Katope and entitled [...]

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ComicCon Day 2: ToyCyte Gets FIRST LOOK at New Transformer

Saturday, July 26, 2008

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ComicCon Day 2: ToyCyte Gets FIRST LOOK at New Transformer

Good goddamn, there was some big news today. If you’re a jerk, go ahead and skip to the bottom. Otherwise, read all the other great stuff that happened including Leecifer and Strangekiss, some big (and small) news for both mainstream toy companies Hasbro and Mattel, and even some Transformers updates that a couple people [...]

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ToyCyte vs. Comic-Con Day 1

Friday, July 25, 2008

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ToyCyte vs. Comic-Con Day 1

And it begins. It’s day one of Comic Con, and already I’m overwhelmed. This is my first time to be out here, as I’ve never been able to justify the expense, but damn, what a day for seeing some amazing things. Let’s try and run down some of the list. Skeletal Carnival 3 [...]

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More Simple Pleasures at SDCC

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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It seems the gods do shine upon us sometimes. I wrote last week about Leecifer and Strangekiss appearing together at San Diego this week, and included an image of the Fire Yeti. Leecifer seemed to have gotten wind of it, and sent over a whole slew of images for his other SDCC work! [...]

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Jamungo Drops Bombs and ‘Buds

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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Jamungo just announced a couple new figures in a sort of “good news/bad news” situation. First, all the good news. Skullbud version 1.8 and 1.9 were announced, and they’re looking GOOD. One is a clean looking translucent emerald green with black bones on it, and the other is what appears to be [...]

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San Diego SCAVENGERS Hunt With Kathie Olivas

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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San Diego SCAVENGERS Hunt With Kathie Olivas

In addition to the already reported Benny and Red Bird, MINDstyle and Kathie Olivas are going to release two limited edition SCAVENGERS figures. Not only are they super limited, but they’re also going to take some hunting to track them all down. First piece shown is Masao the skull-faced cat kid. He’s [...]

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New Gargamel SDCC Exclusives!

Monday, July 21, 2008

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The Gargamel team has been working hard at prepping their SDCC exclusives, and at keeping them quiet. That is, until now! Peep the clear Deathra with guts. I know I say this every other post, but this guy may possibly be my favorite toy for Comic Con. The perfectly clear plastic and [...]

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Wood and Bramble At Comic Con

Monday, July 21, 2008

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Good God, I can’t keep up. The guy is running laps around me. Just when I think there can’t be any more Ashley Wood Comic Con news, he busts out these pix of a fully armed and loaded Bramblebot. This heavy has been teased at for quite a while, and doesn’t disappoint. [...]

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A Cali Kid In Japan

Friday, July 18, 2008

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A Cali Kid In Japan

For anyone with even a passing interest in technology, animation, the future, ninjas or toys, the pilgrimage to Tokyo is a destination that should be top on the list. So to distract everyone from all the Comic Con chaos going on, I decided to make the sacrifice, and go through the necessary pain so [...]

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80’s Invasion in San Diego Next Week

Friday, July 18, 2008

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I swear you might as well call Comic Con “Attack of My Childhood” with all the 80’s themed exclusives there. We’ve mentioned the Greyskull and Transformer stuff, but my Saturday morning flashback doesn’t end there. Next up is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles black and White set from NECA. It’s an [...]

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Leecifer Plants a StrangeKiss On San Diego

Friday, July 18, 2008

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I don’t know how we can cram in any more San Diego news, but there’s seven more days to give it a shot.  In addition to Reactor 88 showing up at the Simple Pleasures art show, we’ve got one more reason to be excited for SDCC. There will also be some incredible pieces by  painter [...]

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Gargamel Kappa At SDCC

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

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Meet the army of Kappa as painted by Koji Harmon of Gargamel. He just put this image up of the SDCC exclusive Tokoji Seijin vinyl figures. These Tokoji boast seven (count ‘em SEVEN) different colors with the green and blue Kappa scheme. All the figures were “…hand painted with care at [...]

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Gentle Giant Looms Over SDCC With Exclusives

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

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The guys (and gals?) over at Gentle Giant have a slew of San Diego releases for next week. First up is: Kustomz Biker Scout and TIE Fighter – Basically, if Ed “Big Daddy” Roth had his way with Star Wars, you’d have these guys. Speederbike and clone get the hot rod treatment with some [...]

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Reactor 88 Preps Pieces For SDCC

Monday, July 14, 2008

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Reactor 88 Preps Pieces For SDCC

Ryan Crippen, the mastermind behind Reactor 88, and Strangekiss are teaming up for SDCC to display some of the incredible new work from Ryan. Crippen will have ten pieces at the Strangekiss booth including six all new SDCC pieces (8 inch Dunny, Mad-L, Munny, Mini Munny, and two 3 inch Dunnys) and four [...]

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Hellboy Figure is SDCC Exclusive

Monday, July 14, 2008

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Hellboy Figure is SDCC Exclusive

Following a glorious opening weekend for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Mezco strategically announced their latest SDCC exclusive figure, Locker room Hellboy.  Following a scene from the movie (I won’t ruin anything, except apparently earth bound specters need a shower too) the figure comes with a towel, a six pack, and  of course, The Samaritan.  [...]

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This Bootleg Really Sucks

Monday, July 14, 2008

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This Bootleg Really Sucks

I dare you…no…I challenge you to find someone who sucks more than Sucklord. His name pretty much states everything there is to know about him, and he’s always come up with the most unique action figures including Chronos: Time Wasters of Infinity, Cosmo-Douche, and Galactic Jerkbag. Now he’s gone so far as to [...]

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LASK Kaiju at SDCC

Friday, July 11, 2008

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The LA Skull Krew (AKA LASK) is prepping their first toy release, H the Hydrogen Monster. This cool looking Kaiju brings old skool Japanese monsterism to LA. H is coming in two different colorways and both glow in the dark. The blue guy is $60 and can be ordered from the [...]

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Dethklok Rain Hellfire Upon San Diego

Friday, July 11, 2008

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Dethklok Rain Hellfire Upon San Diego

To channel all that is unholy in the world, Shocker Toys had to look no further than the rock gods of the show Metalocalypse. The show follows Dethklok (think Mayhem meets Jem and the Holograms) through their exploits as they sing hits like Mermaider and Brief Case Full Of Guts. Fan base is [...]

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Femme Fatale Predator Strikes

Friday, July 11, 2008

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Femme Fatale Predator Strikes

The guys over at Hot Toys are bringing a new installment to the Aliens Vs. Predator line, and this time it’s of the fairer sex. I say “fairer sex” knowing that female Predator Machiko is a warrior who can hang with the boys. Same ass-kicking, alien slaying, dreadlock wearing predator only prettier. [...]

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