Buff Monster has gone soft. Don’t worry, he’s still sending out questionable twitpics and painting naked bodies; it’s just his latest toy is plush. The 5-inch figure continues Buff’s exploration of his signature character in a new medium. While the toy has a nice, soft tactile quality, its firm base (with a ring of hard nubs) ensures that it stands at attention. (And if you want to spin out in a 360, click the image above.)

Neon Monster’s exclusive colorway is grey with duotone pink, black and white embroidered detailing. From the rear view, embroidered text in a familiarly Buff font implores you to “GET IT ON”. The Neon Monster Buff Monster exclusive is a limited edition of 200 pieces. It comes with a full-color hangtag in plastic bag packaging. Get it on for $20 here!

Remember when we wrote about the exclusive Super7 SDCC toys you had to be in San Diego to get? There’s been a new development. We’re happy to announce we’ve got some of those  exclusive Super7 vinyls in stock for our customers all around the world. We now have limited quantities of:

• MUMMY BOY 8-inch in yellow vinyl with Bullmark Hedorah colorway
• L’amour Supreme’s MONGOLION in clear light blue vinyl with dark blue spray
• Brian Flynn’s STOMP in clear vinyl with gold glitter and faded red spray
• David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim’s POWER MISTER in fluorescent green vinyl with yellow spray
• Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas’ BIG SAL in clear purple vinyl with purple glitter and black spray
• Paul Kaiju’s PARTYBALL in green vinyl with gold spray
• Kiyoka Ikeda and Le Merde’s ZAGARAD in clear orange vinyl with gold, green and red spray

AND we’ve also got a few 3-packs of unpainted SDCC exclusive Monster Family figures:

• Monster Family Signing Pack 1 featuring Le Turd, Power Mister and Partyball
• Monster Family Signing Pack 3 featuring Steven the Bat, Garuru and Big Sal

Click on the bullets to check availability of the individual items or click here to view our entire Super7 inventory.

We thought toy king, Frank Kozik was not in the Cult of The Twitter, but as it turns out, he’s been quietly  tweeting about rainbows and farts for a couple months now. While Frank’s not (yet) fond of, as he puts it, “twatter,” he’s agreed to amp up the twittery so you can keep tabs on his whereabouts (and bathroom bouts) at SDCC. Now that glory-stealer LeBron James is done with his Twitter debut, we shine the light on Frank’s feed. If you’d like to know what Kozik’s thinking, follow him here: http://twitter.com/frank_kozik.

Now, for those of you who are not on Twitter (or even if you are), let’s get ready to waste some (more) time. In honor of our comment form’s new capability to accept your Twitter handle (for example, type in: @jeremyriad), we’ve got a contest just for you.

Leave a comment on THIS blog post with your answer to this question: What was the inspiration for Frank’s Labbit character?

The first correct answer will be noted and revealed on Frank’s Twitter account on Friday, July 16th. This astute person will receive a never-before-seen signed 10-inch SDCC exclusive Cubano Labbit sent directly from Kozik HQ. So get guessing, and as they say in the Twitterverse, “please RT”.

One of the best things about being in the Bay Area is we get visits from cool artists. Case in point: Mars-1 stopped by this afternoon. Just back from Canada where he opened his Infinite Tapestry show at the Meta Gallery, Mario chatted about the new direction (ChromaDepth) in which his work is going. He dropped off his book, Further, and signed our stash of glow-in-the-dark Observers by STRANGEco. The GID Observers hail from SDCC ‘08. They were limited to only 50 pieces, and ours have a fresh Mars-1 signature on the back of the box. About the photo below where you see Mario drawing on the actual Observer: sorry kids, that one’s mine. Neon Monster just added Further ($40) and the rest of the signed GID Observers ($75) to the online store.

The Wondercon Resin Showcase intrigued and allured visitors to Neon Monster’s booth at the convention from April 2nd to April 4th. It’s safe to say we introduced a lot of new people to the concept of resin toy art. Thanks to everybody who came through to support the show, those of you who kept me on my toes by asking questions, the bloggers who wrote nice things and especially you wonderful people who took a little piece of the WRS home with you. The remaining figures are awaiting adoptive aesthetes at Neon Monster HQ at 901 Castro in San Francisco and the online shop. It’s going to take us a little time to recover from the Wondercon carnage, so WE’LL notify YOU through the blog, Twitter and Facebook when the figures are available and ready for you. Stay tuned, OK? [Note: This is not a catalog of what IS available, but rather the art that WAS available for the show. Don't worry: plenty of figures are still in the mix. We will update you when we've put them online!]

ARBITO (USA)

Arbito’s art tells the visual tale of a ragtag band of hippie vagabonds on a pop-psychedelic trip. With his resin figures, form and style meet vibrant, colorful, unique characters. His work has been shown in solo and group shows around the world, as well as at the Phillips de Pury Auction and Art Basel. He shares a studio in the Pacific Northwest with The Hobo, Seeker, Sammy, Patty Power and his wife, Snaggs.

1. Patty Power “Pink Special Sauce Edition” (resin, 6″ tall, 1/1) – $175
2. Sammy “Glow in the Dark Edition” (resin, 6″ tall, 1/1) – $150
3. Seeker “Purple with GID Body Edition” (resin, 8″ tall, 1/1) – $175
4. Seeker “Pink with GID Head Edition” (resin, 8″ tall, 1/1) – $175

BWANA SPOONS (USA)

Bwana Spoons is a painter and self-professed “half Jack of many trades.” His paint-soaked, rainbow-spewing characters exist in a special world where vampire bats play drums and then sit down for a knitting circle. Bwana started the Grass Hut Collective in Portland, and he still skateboards.

1. Pocket Killer (3″ tall, 1/1) – $100
2. Gary the Nerdasaurus 1 (resin, 4.5″ long, 1/1) – $100
3. Gary the Nerdasaurus 2 (resin, 4.5″ long, 1/1) – $100
4. Gary the Nerdasaurus 3 (resin, 4.5″ long, 1/1) – $100

CRIS ROSE (UK)

Cris Rose eschews modern polish and prefers to explore the passage of time. His robots are canvases for memories and often incorporate found objects. Each Bot is instilled with his grandfather’s “mend and make do” attitude. When asked about his jellybean-filled Rummage, Cris remarked that if ants come around, “They’ll just just be part of the natural decay of the artwork and should be embraced.” His resin robots have been shown in solo and group shows around the world. He lives and works in London.

1. Rummage Edition B (resin, 6.5″ tall, edition of 5) – $200
2. Rumble Edition B (resin, 4″ tall, edition of 5) – $150
3. Rummage Edition B and Rumble Edition B SET – $300

HELLO, BRUTE (USA)

Hello, Brute is the alter-ego of designer, illustrator and toy artist, Jon Knox. His current work focuses on an all-boy crew who are often stuck somewhere between the best and worst moments of their lives. Jon’s art has been exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions in Chicago and Seattle. Where does he get his inspiration? “High fashion cartoons!” His limited-edition hand-painted resin toys are coveted by collectors across the world. Jon lives in Portland with his dog, Roberto.

1. Pepper (resin, 9″ tall, 1/1) – $200
2. Dillon (resin, 9″ tall, 1/1) – $200

MONSTREHERO (USA)

MONSTREHERO is Sean Blay and Cliff Kirschner, two guys who like to make toys. Their original figures are influenced by Japanese monsters and American pop culture. In their world, hunters and victims collide with some of the most unique colors and textures you’ve ever seen. MONSTREHERO recently collaborated on an exclusive toy for Mishka. Sean lives in LA and Cliff lives in Portland. [Note: Photo above is of Sean and the show's curator, Jeremy Brautman, aka me. Cliff has less fro and more beard.]

1. Victim #1 Neon Monster Colorway (resin, 7-9″ tall w/ detachable parts, 1/1) – $100
2. Victim #2 Neon Monster Colorway (resin, 7″ tall w/ detachable parts, 1/1) – $100
3. Victim #3 Neon Monster Colorway (resin, 7-9″ tall w/ detachable parts, 1/1) -$100

SERGEY SAFONOV (RUSSIA)

Between his 5-year old toy shop and 5-year old son, Sergey Safonov somehow manages to find time to make his own resin figures. The Moon Wanderers are a 3D exploration of his childhood rumination: What happens in the world when people are sleeping? The gentle, mysterious creatures float with the moonlight and cross paths with Gooma on their way to the North pole. Gooma, of course, has been a well-kept secret among toy collectors for some time. Sergey is currently working on his first production toy and a massive character expo in Moscow.

1. Moon Wanderers (set of 3 including Moon Fox, Moon Cat and Kluth, resin, 4″ tall, w/ vessels and hand-drawn boxes, 2 sets available) – $210 per set.
2. Moon Fox of the Moon Wanderers (resin, 4″ tall, w/ vessel, hand-drawn box, 2 available) – $85

SPENCER HIBERT (USA)

Spencer Hibert likes to paint with plastic. His work blurs the boundaries between high art blown glass sculptures and lowbrow soft vinyl toys. An innovator in an already highly original medium, Spencer rotocasts resin, rendering the toys uniquely lightweight. He recently opened his own gallery, SOYAL, in the Arizona desert where he lives and works.

1. Goo Goo Ghandi Orange/Yellow (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, paint can packaging, 1/1) – $100
2. Goo Goo Ghandi Orange/Red (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, paint can packaging, 1/1) – $100
3. Goo Goo Ghandi Blue/Purple (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, paint can packaging, 1/1) – $100
4. Goo Goo Ghandi Blue (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, paint can packaging, 1/1) – $100
5. Full Size Rorschach Miigii (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, in hand-drawn packaging, 1/1) – $100
6. Full Size Vender Bender Clear Series Miigii (rotocast resin, 7″ tall, hand-drawn packaging, 1/1) – $100
7. Custom Mini Miigii Blind Box Series (plastic, 2″ tall, capsule packaging, 9 available) – $15 each
8. Vending Machine Mini Miigiis (plastic, 2″ tall, open edition, capsule packaging, 100 available) – FREE!

TAN-KI (FRANCE)

Tan-Ki is a French graphic designer whose name (in Celtic) translates to Fire Warrior. He created the KiToy platform as an experiment in toy design and manufacturing. Along the way, he began placing collectible vinyl toys inside the resin. This resulted in the KiClear Inclusions series. His figures have been shown internationally. Tan-Ki lives in Brest with his girlfriend and two sons.

1. KiClear Wonder-Ki 2010 (resin with vinyl toys and other “inclusions”, 3″ tall, bagged with headers, edition of 11, 9 available) – $85 each

TOY ARCHITECTS (GERMANY)

Mathias Bax lives in Edermunde, Germany where he works as an architect and a designer. In an effort to fuse the spirit of urban vinyl and DIY toys with architectural simplicity (and have the result also be appropriate for his young son), Cavy the Resin Hamster was born. Since the Hamster Launch earlier this year, stores around the world have been jockeying to carry these whimsical toys. Wondercon 2010 is Mathias’ first show.

1. Cavy the Hamster Neon Monster Pink Colorway (resin, 2.5″ tall, capsule packaging w/ blank sign, edition of 12) – $15 each
2. Cavy the Hamster Neon Monster Grey Colorway (resin, 2.5″ tall, capsule packaging w/ blank sign, edition of 12) – $15 each

2PETALROSE (UK)

Liam and Ben Scriven are brothers who make resin toy art under the moniker 2petalrose. Their work seamlessly and skillfully merges urban art and DIY craft. Each exclusive 2petalrose figure features hand-made clothes and hand-case accessories. Their one-off Kombat Kings and Graff Kings have a cultlike following among savvy collectors. Look for 2petalrose to move into other cutting edge art ventures, including gas mask jewelry!

1. Neo Punk Rose (resin, 5″ tall w/ backdrop and accessories, 1/1) – $140 [Note that the Sex Pistols-esque record album is not shown in the photo above, but it's there!]
2. Kid Shifty (resin, 5″ tall w/ backdrop and accessories, 1/1) – $175

[Hey, you made it all the way to the end! Thanks for looking!]

Neon Monster is proud to be an accomplice in sneaking a box full of German Hamsters into the United States! Toy Architects‘ special Neon Monster pink and grey colorway of Cavy the Urban Hamster left Edermunde and has safely reached San Francisco. It appears they multiplied to an edition of two dozen resin Hamsters while in transit. Each Hamster is 2.5 inches tall with articulated arms. These were handmade in Mathias’ lab, so each figure is unique. Notably, each pink Hamster is a slightly different hue. There may be a bit of residue here or a minor flaw there, but we think you’re going to love these guys. And at $15 each, it’s a great way to get an original art toy by an emerging international talent!

Toy Architects has also devised a packaging strategy that is as festive as it is practical (it keeps the Hamsters apart so no more breeding after you adopt them…), but you’ll have to wait for Wondercon to see it. Each Hamster comes in one of these special capsules with a customizable resin signpost. Seeing these Hamsters with their signs in San Francisco seems perfect–if ever there was a city that accepted people protesting just about anything, this is the place. I wonder what the Hamsters are protesting? Hmmm…I smell a contest Stay tuned. For the provenance of the Urban Hamster, check out this great story on SpankyStokes’ site.

The DIY spirit and creativity of today’s resin toy artists is truly inspiring, and France’s Tan-Ki is no exception. Tan-Ki makes resin figures that resemble glass sculptures. They’re striking as standalone pieces, but then he went and upped the ante by designing them from the inside out. While many artists take a platform toy and customize its exterior, Tan-Ki transforms the original toy into a new toy, but also creates the best damn “display case” for the platform in the process.

Tan-Ki puts vinyl toys in clear resin toys. (To that extent, he shares company with the spectacular Ayako Takagi.) I’ve been a fan of Tan-Ki’s KiClear Inclusions for a while. He has a knack for making art sculptures that are beautiful, yet also playful. We’ll have 9 original KiClear figures available for purchase at Neon Monster’s Wondercon Resin Showcase. Each piece comes with a custom Wonder-Ki header card featuring 2D art of the 3D bagged piece. Can you name all the vinyl toys that have been suspended inside the resin figures? (The mini-Qees and tiny sushis are already spoken for…) Very, very cool.

You can see close-ups of these guys on Tan-Ki’s Flickr. Click through for a few more pictures, and hope to see you April 2nd-4th at Wondercon Booth 944 & 946.

MONSTREHERO has added a third Victim to their roster of terrorized resin humanoids. The shorts are shorter and the stakes are higher. The new guy, Victim #3, features a head-covering of sludgey garbage. Unlike the images of a swirlie that sentence conjures up, the sludge is removable, and the fate is Victim #3’s alone.

MONSTREHERO will debut Victim #3 as part of a Neon Monster Victim trio for our Wondercon Resin Showcase. Sean Blay and Cliff Kirschner have never shied away from using color in extreme and unique ways. We asked them to victimize their characters with pink and grey sprays, and here’s the awesome result. Can’t wait to see these Victims in person. Speaking of “in person,” Sean will be around for Wondercon, so lookout San Francisco! Some classic MONSTREHERO figures for your viewing pleasure…

We decided it was time to spill some info about what we’ve been cooking up for Wondercon. Neon Monster’s double-wide booth will feature:

Awesome Resin Figures!

I can’t tell you how stoked we are about this. We asked a handful of our favorite artists to create exclusive resin figures and/or special colorways just for Neon Monster and Wondercon. I think my head might explode being near a table packed with so much greatness from:

• Arbito
• Bwana Spoons
• Cris Rose
• Hello, Brute
• MONSTREHERO
• Spencer Hibert
• Tan-Ki
• Toy Architects
• 2PetalRose
• Sergey Safonov [Just added!]

Exciting Warehouse Finds!

We got together with our friends at STRANGEco to unearth some serious vinyl treasures carbon-dated back to the early-mid 2000s. We’ve got the goods from Nathan Jurevicius, James Jarvis, Mars-1, Tokidoki, Jeremy Fish, Jermaine Rogers, Rocketworld and more.

Mitch in Many Forms!

Local designer Lauren Venell is creating a 6-foot plush Mitch for you to hug up and have your picture taken with. Meanwhile, you can adopt a 14-inch plush Mitch and have it signed by Reuben Rude. Don’t forget to grab a Mitch T-shirt or some free Mitch stickers while you’re there!

Signed Stuff!

• In addition to 3 great rare colorways of Mars-1’s Observer, we’ll have a small amount of signed GID Observers.
• Matt Furie will present a signed special edition print.
• Last, but not least, Frank Kozik will be signing Labbits from 12-2PM on Saturday, April 3rd. More info on that to come!

Free Stuff!

We’ve got Mini Circus Punks from STRANGEco and mini-Miigiis from Spencer Hibert to give away while supplies last.

Toys, Art Multiples and Comics!

We’ll have plenty of production toys, DIY toys and art multiples on hand, as well as comic sets and special variants.

Details to Follow!

All week long, we’ll be posting more details and teasers. If you thought you knew the score at Wondercon, take a fresh look at this year’s exhibitors. More toys than ever! We want to give priority to fans who make it out to Wondercon, but we’re keeping those of you in distant locales in mind as well. Check the blog for online ordering info and contests! If you have a blog of your own, please help us spread the word. And come back tomorrow to see the first reveal from the Neon Monster x Wondercon Resin Spotlight.

We love the toy scene to death, but it’s supercool to see Mitch on The Hundreds Feed!

More Mitch in the Media after the jump…

SuperPunch included Mitch in its Toy Roundup.

We’re all big fans of Toy2R so it’s awesome to know that the love is mutual. Apex, Toy2R’s distributor, posted a feature on Mitch today.