ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

San Francisco’s Upper Playground, Ningyoushi and Double Punch have collaborated with illustrator N8 Van Dyke on Pay Day, a simian stick-up artist. The 5.5-inch figure comes with a glock, a bag of loot, sneakers and a walrus mask (in honor of Upper Playground’s mascot). N8’s work has appeared in diverse forms from the pages of Heavy Metal to ad campaigns for Old Navy. To create Pay Day, N8 worked closely with Eli Livingston, the sculptor recently responsible for Upper Playground’s walrus by Craola. Proving that you don’t have to be in San Diego for the greatest gear, UP has dropped Pay Day today.

The brown and grey versions each retail for $55 and are available at Upper Playground retail stores and online. The glow in the dark Pay Day will be available exclusively online and retail for $70. Damn that higher price tag for G.I.D. because this ape knocks it out of the park with the toxic green and translucent colorway. This is a really cool piece from UP and even though lately I’m on a bit of a peacenik bender, I cast this monkey in a Robin Hood light and have no trouble supporting his fine craftsmanship. Not to be a tease, but I know the fourth colorway. I just can’t tell you yet. Am I a prick if I say something like when UP writes about the G.I.D. Pay Day that “It’s a Halloween piece all year round,” there might be something else for every goth’s favorite holiday forthcoming?