R2D2 and Ice-Bat

Got to do some relaxing over Memorial Day Weekend. No working... just a bit of sleeping. I did get out to head on down to Golden Apple Comics on Monday. Picked up the June Previews/Marvel Previews books, issues of Brightest Day #2, X-Force #27 (part 9 of the Second Coming X-Men crossover event), Avengers #1, Galacta: Daughter of Galactus #1 and The Last Unicorn #1. As I was looking around the store I saw this display case next to a life-size R2D2 statue with signatures and doodles on it. Never paid too much attention to the R2D2. But this time I happened to be crouched down in between the display and the R2D2, to get a closer look at the figures on the very bottom shelf. Just then, something on the R2D2 caught my eye... Ice-Bat's head sketched and signed by David on the front side. I pulled out my iPhone and quickly snapped a couple of pics.

I also found out that they will be selling the Vader Project Auction Catalog and the auction preview is happening down the street from the store. June 12-20 open to the public. On June 11 there will be and Opening Night Party with DJs from 6pm to 10pm. On June 12 there will be a catalog signing with over 20 artists. Golden Apple has a window display with 3 of the Vader helmets.

Been a little too busy over the past month and a half to really post anything. My regular work schedule has been getting bumped around a bit. A few publications got axed or moved, so I've had to reorganize some of my plans for the latter part of the year. Luckily none of it interferes with SDCC. A project I was working on involved creating some sketches of a bunny for a movie, but that fell through. Since they went with another designer for this plush bunny, I'll use it for myself. So I have my Ty looking over the sketches to turn him into a plush. Hopefully it comes out okay. I did finish up some planning for my dad's 85th birthday party in August. Booked the Chinese restaurant, picked out the menu, guest list done and date set. Only things left to do are the invites and the party favors. I have Ty making some small plush origami cranes as party favors. He has made them before and should work well with the party.

2002 Ice-Bat

GR2 had their 2002 Ice-Bat release and signing event with Sun-Min Kim and David Horvath on Saturday (3:00pm-5:00pm). This Ice-Bat is modeled after the very first handmade ones that were first sold at Giant Robot back in 2002. These have 2 toes and 5 teeth. Limited edition of 300 and available through Giant Robot.

So glad the rain let up for this. The line for the event wasn't as too bad. I got there a little before 2:30pm, with only 6 or 7 people before me. Michelle started letting people into the store 6 at a time, just a little past 3:00pm. Everyone was limited to purchase 3 Ice-Bats per person. I had bought 3 post-it's from the GR2 Post-It 3 show last year and got them framed. The frame had two smaller areas that were perfectly sized for the smaller post-it's. So I put 2 blank ones there for them to sketch in to complete my frame. Was going to have them sketch something into my book, but I didn't want to hold up the line too much. I'm going to be going to SDCC this year, so I can get a sketch there. I bought my limit of 3, but needed to get 1 more for Justin. Figured I'd wait around outside until the end of the signing to purchase another one, if any were left.

While standing in line I got to catch up with Brandi (serial nerd) and Travis, who were just recently engaged. Finally met Hilda (hch05) and Corey as I was coming out from the store. We seem to always miss each other at these signings. Talked a bit with Eric while standing outside too. He and I were amazed at how many young kids were there.

The turn out was really great. Signing ended at just the right time too... it started to rain.

2010 Plush Uglydolls Revealed

David Horvath revealed the 2010 plush Uglydolls line on his Facebook page this past Monday. Well before Toy Fair in February. They are: Pointy Max, Picksey, Mynus, Ket, Nandy Bear, Ninja Batty Shogun, Cozymonster and Wippy.

4 of the new Uglydolls have already been seen before at the Dehara and David Have Mono show, at Stitch in Japan, back in September of 2009: Pointy Max, Ket, Batty Shogun and Cozymonster. These were handmade versions in different colors than these regular production versions. But it was unknown at the time if any of them would be part of the 2010 line.

Ket was one of the first to be confirmed as a 2010 release. When the Kiston Ket exclusive was released in November, it was mentioned that the regular release of Ket would be in a different color in late 2010.

Pointy Max and Picksey, are out in stores now. These were up for pre-order on the website at the beginning of December 2009. Mynus is up for pre-order on the Uglydolls web store. Won't know the release schedule of the others until Toy Fair. Along with the unveiling of the series 2 action figures, tin toy line and Ugly Hangers.

Kitson Exclusive Uglydoll Ket

David Horvath just posted on his blog that Kitson has an Exclusive Uglydoll. Ket Kitson Edition was just released this week in stores and online. The regular version will be released in late 2010 and be a different color from this one. Ket is the first Uglydoll to be a confirmed in the 2010 line-up of Uglydolls. The rest should be revealed soon.

Ket was first seen at the Dehara & David Have Mono Show in Tokyo, Japan back in September of this year. There were 2 black handmade versions for this show.

I stopped by the Kitson store on Robertson, while on my way home from work, to see if I could pick one up. Wasn't too hard to spot. They were in a clear cube holder, on the floor. Not too far from the entrance aisle walkway. Might go back later this week and get at least one more.

SDCC 09: DKE Sample Sale

This is a bit late on posting, but oh well... On the last day of SDCC, the DKE booth had a sample sale on almost everything in their display cases. Everything except for items that have not been released yet. So I have to wait to get the white Camilla d'Errico Kuro plush and Miss Cupcake figures by Olive47 that come out in a few months. That did not mean that I did not purchase anything by any means...

I was able to get a Green Guni-Guni from the World of DreaminGirl. I saw a review about these on Plastic and Plush a while back and wanted to get one of these. Thought the design was very unique and interesting. Lucky for me the DKE booth had one in the display case... and it was a green one too. The only thing it did not come with is the black drawstring bag and mug, but I think those were for the first 25 orders on the website or NYCC in 2007.

I could not resist picking up thse two Little Miss Egg Tarts by Cutesypoo Toys. One is happy the other is sleeping. From what I know about these is that they came out last year and are limited to 500 each. If you like garden gnomes, they have these really cool looking, handmade, cone-shaped plush ones on their website. Hopefully they get some mass produced or I may have to get one of these instead... Or the Miss Rocketpop plush.

Not sure how I missed these when they were released, but I did. These are 2 of the 3 Doolie Boxes by Anna Chambers. I have a few of her other limited edition plush items that she released: Lucy Owl (burgundy), Suzy and Sammy. These 2 are: TooBaa (in purple) and TeeHee (in blue). The one I am missing is BooHoo (in green). All are limited edition and stackable. Which makes it easier to store and display.

The last thing I got from the sale (and did not take a picture of to post) was the Mothman/Flatwoods Super Market figures by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim. I am not sure why I didn't have these before then, since they were only $10 when they came out. Think I got them for $7. They came without the bag and header card though.

There may have been a few other items I wanted to pickup, but really need to control my spending a little. I hope they have this sale again next year. Will really have to take this into consideration when planning my budget for next time. Found some really good stuff that I was not expecting to get at all.