Muttpop

New Address

2008-05-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

We've moved HERE.

Last Blogger Post...(if all goes well!)

2008-02-05T17:18:00.000-08:00

We have put our final touches to the "new & improved" version of our Muttpop Website. Our plan is to have one website that emcompasses all aspects of Muttpop including our blog, product news, and an online store. I'm sure there'll be some tweaks once it goes live...but our plan is to make that our new place for blog entries. So, if all goes according to plan, this will be my last post on Blogger.

Blogger, you have been a very dear friend. Thanks for the good times, man! To check out the latest on Muttpop (including our new blog) GO HERE.

Here's a peak at the front page of our new website (which goes live tomorrow):

Sarah Silverman On Jimmy Kimmel Live

2008-02-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

Wow. She still has it.

I've been bummed...SUPER bummed with the first few episodes of the second season of the Sarah Silverman Show. There was only 1 bit in the entire season that was funny (the gay roommates high on medicinal marijuana schtick) that compared to the many moments of brilliance of the first season. The rest of it was utter crap.

I thought her "magic" was lost...but then she did this wonderful guest appearance on her long-time boyfriend's Talk Show. To truly appreciate her "song"...I've included Kimmel's nice recap of his "Matt Damon Joke". With or without it I think you'll appreciate her response.

The Matt Damon Joke:

Sarah's Appearance:

I Love Being A Laker Fan!

2008-02-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

Now with the recent trade for Pau Gasol, it's safe to say that the Lakers have all the pieces to become one of the NBA's elite teams. It's exciting to see that we have so many excellent players whose skills and talents are both complimentary to each other and fit the triangle system Phil Jackson's offense is built around.

If Andrew Bynum comes back healthy this year, I expect no less than a trip to the Western Conference Finals (and a decent shot at making the Finals). I have a feeling that Kobe Bryant's goal is to get 4 more Championships (1 more than Jordan). We still need to win the first one...but if the Lakers can keep these guys together and healthy I think now's as good of a time as ever to make this insurmountable task a reality.

With a young team, a powerhouse of a starting lineup, and a deep talented bench...we're good to compete. I just hope we can find a way to have less injuries!

4-peat baby (yeah, that's crazy talk right now, but a fan can dream!).

Don't Forget On Monday...

2008-02-01T18:27:00.001-08:00

February 1st is payday...so you guys don't have ANY excuses! ;-)

Major Minor's Majestic March

2008-01-31T18:53:00.000-08:00

Man, that title is a mouthful! Major Minor's Majestic March is a new game for the Nintendo Wii from the same guys that created Parappa The Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy for the Playstation. Parappa is significant for introducing gamers to music based games...so for all of you "Guitar Hero" fans give thanks and praise to Parappa the Rapper. It is also highly regarded for it's funky character design...which looks a lot like the "house" style of character design that has developed in the Designer Toy Industry.

I'm a little sad to see that the characters are a bit more generic than characters from the Parappa universe...but it's impossible to pass judgement without seeing what the game is like. Supposedly you will use the Wiimote as a baton that will lead a musical band of instrument-wielding animals. It's still in the very early stages of development so I don't expect and game screens or gameplay videos for a few months.

It's exciting to see game developer Masaya Matsuura and artist Rodney Alan Greenblat working together. Their previous collaborations have been magical. As Parappa the Rapper was known for saying, "You Gotta Believe!".

Turnarounds for the revealed characters and more information on the game can be found at the WIRED BLOG.

New Muttpop Site: February 6th, 2008

2008-01-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

Exactly a week from today, we will debut our new Muttpop site. It'll be nice to finally have one site that features our regular blog postings, product information and development news, and an online store featuring some of our products. Be sure to share your thoughts on our "new and improved" site once it's live.

2008-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

Online only.

The Zombies That Ate The World Animated Short

2008-01-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

Aside from working on Muttpop Inc. with myself and writing the various comic book series in the Lucha Libre Comic Anthology, Jerry also writes a Horror/Comedy comic book series called "The Zombies That Ate The World" with cartoonist extraordinaire Guy Davis (best known for his work on Hellboy's B.P.R.D. and The Marquis). The comic book series was published in the US released Metal Hurlant Comic Magazine until Metal Hurlant's cancellation. It has also been released in graphic albums in France.

Many years ago, there was some interest in developing "Zombies" into an animated feature or television series. In an effort to garner interest in the project, a short animated film was made based on the first chapter of the story (as written by Jerry and drawn by Guy Davis).

The short does a decent job of capturing the inventive nature of Jerry's concept...but I don't feel it does a very good job of capturing the frantic energy of Davis' beautiful style and illustrations.

Either way, it's pretty cool to see Jerry and Guy's work translated to another medium! One of these days, we should think about doing some "Zombie" figures! :-)

Evil Has Never Been This Smooth

2008-01-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

The answer to "Break The Code":

Professor Layton & The Curious Village

2008-01-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Here's another game I'm really excited about: Professor Layton & The Curious Village. I love, love, LOVE the art style! The character designs and environments look amazing. I also dig the music...it's too bad the voice acting and fake British accents are so poorly done.

The concept is a great one. It's a neat little murder mystery that's primarily a text adventure game with some nice full animation bits and a bunch of logic puzzles that are somehow linked to uncovering various clues.

The logic games remind me of the simple puzzle games my Uncle would challenge me with involving a bunch of matchsticks. Their transition to a DS Stylus screen are very natural and clever.

More than anything, though, is I'm in love with that wonderful visual style. There's so much more to Japanese character design and it's nice to see the developers behind "Professor Layton" are willing to embrace and explore new ways of visual design that harken back to classic Japanese animation.

Eminem Wake Up Show Freestyle

2008-01-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

Man, I miss the young and hungry Eminem. I recently pulled out the good old VHS to watch my "The Best Of The Wake Up Show With Sway & King Tech). One of the highlights is seeing Eminem tearing it up with his two freestyles. The guy really brought something new and natural with his serial-killer imagery and off-kilter delivery. The passion and cleverness he came with was so refreshing and exciting.

When revisiting the tape I noticed that he had quite the crowd experiencing his amazing skill. If you look carefully you can see Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch listening to his cypher. Rumor has it that Dr. Dre signed Eminem to Aftermath upon hearing this very bit from the Wake Up Show.

666 Collection

2008-01-23T15:54:00.000-08:00

I love these guys. A fine example of Kozik at his finest.

Break The Code.

2008-01-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

Let's see if you can figure this one out:

He Looks Like... Blog

2008-01-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

Every weekend, me and a few of my buddies go to a local gym to play a few hours of basketball. I'm happy to say that we've been able to keep it up for almost 2 years now...but I'm embarrassed to admit that it's the only physical activity that I've been able to religiously follow. As a result, my basketball game is the best it's been but I'm in sub-par physical shape.

Over the course of those two years, we have met and become friends with a few of the "regulars" (people you regularly see playing basketball). Some of them are a little nutty (like that short, hairy, balding 50 year-old dude who hangs out around the 3-point line and launches the ugliest shot you've ever seen...but somehow manages to make a decent amount of them and yell at the top of his lungs, "IN YOUR FACE!!!") and others are pretty cool.

"Asian Girl W/ The Jumper" is one of the cool cats. But what I DIDN'T know is she happens to write one of the funniest blogs I've seen in some time. It's called "He Looks Like" and it's her made up story of what people in various pictures "look like". She's been at if for many years now...and the cool thing is people chime in with their own interpretation of the picture.

Here's a selection of some of the pictures....as you can see they are rich with material to riff off of. Check out the blog (make sure you go through the archives) HERE.

The Machine Girl Trailer

2008-01-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

I have no clue about this movie...but this trailer has ALMOST everything I considered "cool" as a 13-year-old. I think the only thing that's missing are giant robots.

Check it out:

AOD13's Muttpop Collection

2008-01-18T17:34:00.000-08:00

Now that is impressive! AOD13 has managed to put together a COMPLETE Muttpop Collection. I am very impressed and flattered. Thank you so much for the support and dedication.

More pics of AOD13's collection are found in his DISCUSSION BOARD POST (look for AOD13).

AOD13 gave me the heads up to his collection post on the Kidrobot forum. There's a lot of nice collections in that discussion. One of my favorites is the complete Biskup Helper Collection (I LOVE that Glow Helper!).

Bionic Commando Rearmed

2008-01-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

Damn Xbox Live Arcade! I'm trying really hard to not buy myself an Xbox 360. I have enough games to play with my huge library of unfinished Playstation2, Gamecube, and Wii games...but there are just so many exciting new games coming out for the Xbox360. And I'm not even talking about their regular game library.

While everyone anticpates when the latest Grand Theft Auto comes out...I'm drooling over all the downloadable titles on the Xbox360. Yeah, Halo3 and Bioshock look pretty cool...but I'm an old school gamer bred on Capcom, Konami, and Nintendo...so its way more exciting to find out they're releasing an HD version of Street Fighter 2 than to find out what's going on with the Unreal or Valve programming teams.

I've been casually following the news about the new Bionic Commando 3D game but it's not my thing. Bionic Commando will always be regarded as a classic...but seeing some white guy with dreadlocks swinging around with that metal/hip-hop/Disney-Tarzan look doesn't feel very true to the 8-bit original.

Today, though, IGN debuted a preview of the XBLA Bionic Commando remake...which is something I could DEFINITELY get into.

Dr. Destruction Original Official Release

2008-01-16T16:24:00.000-08:00

A solicitation for Dr. Destruction Original has just been sent by our distributor (DKE Toys) to retailers. Dr. Destruction Original should start arriving at your favorite Designer Toy Store in the next coming weeks.

In celebration of the release, here's a gorgeous picture Jerry took. The menacing vibe he captured was inspired by Super7's latest Book.

Lakers & Andrew Bynum

2008-01-15T18:16:00.001-08:00

As mentioned in previous posts, I'm all about basketball. Love playing the game. I even coached a team back in high school with Mista Hippo...and I love watching the Lakers.

I know it's easy to hate the Lakers and Kobe Bryant...but, man, for a while there (while Center Andrew Bynum was healthy) the Lakers were playing some deadly basketball. I was shocked and saddened to see Bynum get injured in the Grizzlies game this past Sunday. But, fortunately, he's supposed to be back in 2 months.

The Lakers have a LOT to work on while Bynum recovers from his knee injury. Even if they won against the Sonics this past Monday, they did not look good. Defense was super weak without the presence of the shot blocking Bynum...and you could tell that Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher felt awkward adapting to their new responsibilities without Bynum.

I'm a bit worried about the next few weeks. Lakers have a nasty schedule with games against the Suns, Spurs, and Cavs all coming up. Call me crazy, but I strongly feel that if the Lakers are able to be #1 in their Division (which is tough because of the Suns), they're guaranteed to make it to the Western Conference Finals (assuming Bynum will be at 90-100% by Playoff time).

My dream? Lakers Vs. Celtics Finals. I know it's a bit ridiculous to dream of...but it's not as far off as everyone thinks!

Here's an old but classic clip from last year. Bynum Vs. Shaq. Bynum's grown significantly as a center since then but, to me, this is when Bynum really became a MAN! :-)

First Look: Moko Sculpt

2008-01-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

Vinyl Pulse has an exclusive look at Moko from the upcoming Tcho! Mini-Figure line. The entire line has really come together during the last few round of sculpts. Moko is definitely one of our favorites (actually, all the sculpts are amazing!)...which is fitting since Moko comes from Ohm's Bao Battle comic and Ohm also happens to be the designer of the entire figure line.

At first we were haven't a bit of difficulty getting the right shape for the mask. The sculptors, Lester and Erick Sosa, were impeded by the idea that the mask should be a separate piece from the head. It was a nice idea, but the result was the mask felt far too detached and detracted from the overall shape of the figure. Once we decided to sculpt the mask as part of the head, the sculpting process was a very smooth one.

A small addition that made a world of difference was making the eyes raised. Originally we were going for just an outline of the eye. But, based on the wonderful suggestion by Ohm, we decided to create a raised relief for facial details on all the figures. It was a brilliant suggestion that made all the figures that much better.

Check our more pics of Moko HERE.

Mini El Gladiator

2008-01-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some nice pics of a rough El Gladiator Mini-Figure. It was sculpted by William of Sosa Studios (our favorite sculptors) as a test to prove his sculpting ability. We've been wanting to do a Luchadores5 Mini-Figure line for some time. Seeing this quick little rough makes us want to begin it even more!

This is NOT a final figure sculpt. In fact, William did this sculpt for free using only 1 quick sketch of a Super Deformed El Gladiator. Considering the lack of resources, William did an amazing job!

This figure is super small (as is suggested by it's size next to Jerry's immaculate hands! ;-) ). When we finally begin production on a Luchadores5 Mini-Figure line, I think we'll do something a bit bigger and more to scale with the Mini Tcho Line: probably around 3 inches (10cm).

Still, seeing this sculpt in person makes it easy to dream about how beautiful a line of such figures will be!

Molly Wax/Vinyl Cast Tests

2008-01-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

Here are the first pics we've received from our factory of the Molly Vinyl Prototype. This version of the figure is made from the Master Mold to get a sense of how the original sculpt transferred over to the silicone molding process.

I'm guessing a bit here, because my contact in China did not give me any details...but I believe the maroon legs are still done in wax. I requested that the Muttpop logo be engraved in the bottom of the right foot...so they haven't made a new silicone mold with this correction.

Also, I requested that they give Molly's head a ball joint (similar to Red Demon) to ensure that the figure has maximum head poseability.Thus far, I'm pretty happy with how Molly is turning out.

Jerry just put the final touches on the box design which is amazing (I love ALL of Jerry's box designs). We were initially bummed because we thought we had to follow the Oban Star Racer product guidelines for the box...but after submitting our rough, the President of Sav! The World said that we should unleash that Muttpop magic on a revised design. We did and the final box is sharp and snazzy.

We'll share that with you later!

Blu Ray Wins.

2008-01-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

I'm going to change things up a bit and do a few posts today. Lots of fun news discovered and I figured instead of holding off on it and make the blog irrelevant to the latest news, I'll do small bits about each of them.

These next few days should be pretty exciting on the Video Game front since CES is happening in Las Vegas. The PS3 is getting a nice resurgence due to the appararent Blu Ray/HD DVD coup by Paramount. It looks like the next generation of Video Media will be Blu Ray.

This is a huge breakthrough for Sony. A lot of companies don't like to support Sony media because they are such a huge multi-media corporation. Beta, Mini-Disc, UMD, Memory Cards...Sony's lost practically all media format wars for the last 30 years. Forcing the Blu Ray format on the PS3 can attribute to it's initial high cost and slow start as a next gen system...but it's looking like its all finally paying off.

This shouldn't affect the XBox 360...but it validates PS3 as a long term contender. Even with all this talk of the Wii console sales and the crazy amounts of software the 360 manages to sell...Sony stays competitive by being an affordable next gen HD video player.

I STILL need an HD TV...so it doesn't have any affect on me...but it's fun to see how it all unravels. In fact, my buddies make fun of my 19" Magnavox Tube! Hey, it's better than the 13" VHS/TV combo we were using for a couple years. The Magnavox EVEN has an S-Video input! :-)

Soul Calibur 4 with Darth and Yoda?!

2008-01-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

All these fighting game posts makes me look like a fighting game fanatic. I'm not. Beyond the Street Fighter games the only other fighter I've spent any decent amount of time with is Soul Calibur (on the Dreamcast). I bought Soul Calibur 2 (for the GameCube) when it was selling for $20...but sold it after a few months.

Fighting games are all about friendly competition and, unfortunately, gaming these days isn't the social experience it was for me during my school days (maybe I'm too old for games?).

Anyways, it's just been revealed by 1up.com (the sister site to EGM magazine) that Soul Calibur 4 will feature both Darth Vader and Yoda. It's a smart marketing move (way smarter than having McFarlane's Spawn on Xbox's Soul Calibur 2). Star Wars is an international pop cultural staple. Lightsabers fit well with Soul Calibur's weapon based theme. Star Wars fans will FINALLY have a decent fighting game.

But I'm a bit bummed at what the Star Wars franchise has become. Star Wars makes me feel like an old geezer because I'd like to remember the series as just Episodes 4-6 with a few Kenner toys. Nothing Star Wars since those films really amounts to anything exciting to me (although I really dug the Playskool toys...)...but it's truly amazing how the new movies (as bad as they may have been) have done an amazing job of keeping Star Wars relevant for new generations' of children.

I taught a comic class to Jr. High kids in Whittier this past semester and I was AMAZED at how many 12-13 year olds were OBSESSED with Star Wars.

Anyways, I'm not entirely sure that Darth and Yoda really fit in Soul Calibur...but I'm sure it'll sell like crack. It looks pretty decent...even if I'm sad to see that Yoda will probably have that ridiculous frog in a pinball machine fighting style he displayed in Episode 2. I've always imagined Yoda, a master of the Jedi arts, having a very economical fighting style. Something efficient and deadly...just like a Samurai...but that's just me griping again! :-)

Street Fighter IV New Character Revealed

2008-01-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

As was revealed on the NeoGAF Blog (my favorite source of Videogame discussion), Japanese Magazine Famitsu revealed the first new character in Street Fighter IV: Crimson Viper. Supposedly she's described as 33 years-old and "Vega's Chief Concubine". Hot.

If "Vega" is that Spanish effeminate masked dude with the wolverine claw (he is in the US version...not sure about the Japanese one)...I think it's pretty funny that his "concubine" sports a very masculine mohawk and suit. I wonder who's on top? ;-)

Either way, she's hot. Like the attitude. Love the subtle touch with the cleavage covered by the tie. There are a lot of haters out there...but I think it's a pretty slick design.

Yes, it doesn't feel 100% true to Street Fighter 2's original design...but it works (for me at least).

First Tcho! Turnarounds

2008-01-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

We finally unveiled the first 3 turnarounds from our Tcho! project. Here's a glimpse at Jubbei...the Samurai character from Bill and Gobi's Zblucops (as can be seen in my previous Tcho! post).

Turnarounds for Ohm's Moko and his reinterpretation of Titeuf can both be seen at Vinyl Pulse.

When designing figures, it's really important to consider the size of the final product. What looks great at a height of 12 inches will look hideous at 3 inches. When shrunken down, gorgeous details can look like shriveled testicles...(sorry for the image!)

Ohm's work is turning out to be perfect for the scale we are going for. Details are just enough to embellish the character's form. In fact, it validates our initial instinct that WHEN we eventually do a series of smaller iterations of the Lucha Libre characters (like Tequila, El Panda, Red Demon, Dr. Destruction...) it would be very important to distill the elements that will work best on a smaller scale.

Bill did some awesome illustration tests with this idea for the Luchadores5. They're best described as "Super Deformed". One of these days we'll have to make them!

Odin Sphere

2008-01-07T17:34:00.001-08:00

I'm burning out on games these days. There's so much to play and so little time to play them...but my constant curiosity has me looking for overlooked gems. One such game is Odin Sphere for the PS2.

Odin Sphere had a limited US release last year for the PS2. It's done by a small Japanese game developer called Vanillaware, the game developers responsible for the Japan-only Sega Saturn/PSP classic Princess Crown.

Like Princess Crown, Odin Sphere is a nice mix of 2D side-scrolling action and RPG-inspired item management and experience accumulation. The spine of the game is an action game...but with so much EXP and item management it's easy to see why many reviewers prefer placing Odin Sphere into the RPG genre category.

Thus far, I've played about 2.5 hours of the game and I like what I see. The 2D graphics are really nice. Sprites are huge and nicely designed. Animation is pretty weird but interesting. Everything is super clean...but the occasional awkward movements remind me of shadow puppets.

The item and Exp manipulation is pretty complicated but fun. You can harvest souls for experience, grow fruit, create potions...all in a manner that balances experience point increases against energy replenishment. I'm usually not a big RPG guy. But the focus on a decent action-based gameplay mechanic allowed me to appreciate and tolerate the EXP and item stuff.

Of course, I've played 3 hours of a 40 hour game. So, opinions and patience can change dramatically over that time. I'm not very optimistic that I'll be able to find the time to play through all 40 hours of the game. But I'm sure to pick it up when I have some free time to appreciate the artistry and passion that can be seen.

"Us Placers" by K.West, Lupe, Pharell, & Yorke

2008-01-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

Beautiful song. Seeing this video is the first time I heard it... but it's from Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" Mixtape. I love how the haunting production complements Yorke's (of Radiohead) voice.

This video was done by a fan named Va$htie. She dug the song and decided to do a music video for it with some friends. Obviously she has some directing experience because the video is clean and professional. Using child stand-ins was a brilliant way to skirt around the lack of musical artist involvement. The kids do a wonderful job and some of them nail the mannerisms of their personalities.

Va$htie and co. are getting their well deserved attention. I discovered the video on K.West's Blog (which is finally back to form after months of M.I.A. due to Mr. West mother's tragic death). I'm glad to see Kanye West back in the blogosphere!

Tcho Mini-Figures Background

2008-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

The really cool thing about doing something creative is you get to meet a variety of talented individuals...and every once in a while you meet someone with whom your fondness and admiration leads to exciting collaborations.

Bill and Gobi have been a source of many such collaborations. Long before Bill and Gobi had anything to do with Lucha Libre, they were busy working on their own comic book series: Zblucops for the Tcho! Megazine Comic Anthology. Tcho! was France's eclectic answer to many of the successful Japanese comic anthologies. The variety of talented artists that worked on the Tcho! Anthology were bringing their global sense of influence to their respective comic series...and naturally, being a relatively young group of artists, much of that influence was coming from Japanese comic, video game, and character design.

It was through Bill and Gobi that we had the fortune of being introduced to Camano (Tcho!'s Editor) and Ohm.

Camano had found great success for discovering Zep and his comic sensation "Titeuf". Since "Titeuf"'s debut in 1992, "Titeuf" became one of the most successful French comics of all time. Using this success Camano developed the "Tcho! Megazine" a comic anthology that publishes "Titeuf" along with many other comic book series including Bill & Gobi's "Zblucops" and Ohm's "Bao Battle".

Camano also happens to be a huge fan of the Designer Toy scene. He instantly fell in love with the Lucha Libre figurines Bill and Gobi developed with Muttpop. Upon our introduction to Camano, we began brainstorming and quickly agreed that it would a fun to do a series of mini-figures based on key characters from a few of the comic series in Tcho!

But in order to do this right, we needed the perfect artist to translate the various characters into a style that could be understood by Designer Toy and Tcho! fans alike. That's where Ohm came in. Ohm's "Bao Battle" comic series has a deceptively clean line that translates nicely to a small scale 3D sculpture. It's a very cohesive art style that is vibrant and leads to very exciting reinterpretations.

We're currently in the final stages of sculpting and the pieces look amazing.

Below is a page from Bill & Gobi's "Zblucops" featuring Jubbei (the "Zblucop" character in the Mini-figure line) and a beautiful pin-up by Ohm with his Bao Battle characters.

More on the Tcho! Line will be revealed soon.

Super Mario Bros. Sound Plush

2008-01-03T16:07:00.001-08:00

I'm going through shopping withdrawals.

The Christmas "Spirit" results in me buying way more than I can handle. I LOVE buying cool presents for people. I want to be seen as that one guy that you can count on for a neat present. Unfortunately, taste is very subjective.

While all my other friends are trying to buy things that are a bit more sophisticated like dress shirts and wallets...my idea of a cool gift is usually associated with fun t-shirts, games, and toys. I'm now past the phase of having some agenda with my gifts (during my college years...I was CONVINCED I could find the PERFECT Comic for everybody on my gift list...bad idea...my parents were VERY confused and a little concerned that year)...but sometimes I forget that people don't quite have the exquisite tastes that I have been endowed with.

So sometimes,instead of giving up an AMAZING gift to a friend or family member that can't appreciate it...I'll buy that very gift for myself. This Christmas I did this...A LOT. My credit card is not happy...but, damn it, no one appreciates a BRILLIANT gift as much as I do!

Case in point? These Super Mario Bros. Sound plushes. Any video game fan can understand their genius. These are the first generation sound plushes. The second generation (which include a new Question Block, Koopa Shell, and Invincibility Star) are of far inferior quality than these. Both the Goomba and Question block are perfect embodiments of both designs and are the perfect size at around 6 inches (16cm). Banpresto did an amazing job with these. Unfortunately, I think they realized they could sell with ease even at a far lower level of quality...hence the far inferior versions that are found with the second series.

Goomba

Question Block

Lucha Libre #3 Preview

2008-01-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

The EXCLUSIVE preview of Lucha Libre #3 can be found at CBR.CC (Comic Book Resources).

This is the first issue to showcase Tikitis by Jerry Frissen and Fabien M. That's especially important because our next Lucha Libre figure (King Katch) will be coming from that series.

Be sure to pick up Lucha Libre #3 at your favorite comic shop this Friday, January 4th!

Happy New Year's!

2008-01-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

Wow. Out with 2007, in with 2008.

As always, it'll probably take a quarter of the new year for me to finally get used to writing "2008" on my checks...but I'm excited about the new year and all that it has for myself and Muttpop.

Amongst the continuing development of the Lucha Libre and Mini line, 2008 will be Muttpop's debut on two licensed projects: the Oban Star Racer figure and the Tcho Mini Figure line.

Molly's a beauty to see in person and we're pretty far along on the development of our Tcho line. Expect to see more about the Tcho mini figures very soon. So, there should be more coming out from Muttpop in 2008 than any other year of it's existence.

Muttpop will be unveiling it's new and improved website. We will FINALLY be able to have our blog, toy information, and anything else we can imagine housed at Muttpop.com...announcements on WHEN will occur once we fine tune the website with plenty of images and information that you've all be asking for...

Also, I'll be turning 30 (in June) AND getting married (in August) this year...so it should be a wild and exciting year for me both professionally and personally.

Good luck to you all. I hope 2008 is wonderful for everyone.

And thank you for making the growth of Muttpop as exciting as it has been. You guys rock.

To start off the new year, I HAD to showcase this gorgeous piece by Fabien (artist of Tikitis) with the Luchadores5, Tikitis, and Tequila:

Street Fighter IV Beta Game Footage

2007-12-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

So, the first SF IV footage has been revealed via the 1up.com Video Blog Show.

I'm fully aware that this footage is of the game in it's early stages...so it's worthless to be super critical. Thus far I think it's looking pretty good. Animation is pretty fluid. Backgrounds are vibrant. And the 3D graphics do a pretty decent job of staying true to the 2D gameplay.

But I am a little concerned about the character designs.

You can feel a lot of the original Street Fighter 2 character designs in these 3D interpretations of Ryu and Ken...but Capcom appears to be trying a little too hard to make their characters "American" in style. Ryu and Ken have a little too much of the "Flintstone" neanderthal and "Gears of War" football players on super-steroids look going for them. I'm glad that this look hasn't affected the fast and fluid gameplay...but it's all a bit too over the top.

After seeing this all in motion I'm a little scared to see their design for Chun Li. PLEASE don't make Chun Li into Chyna (from WWE)!!! I dig the big thighs...but her face and upper body needs to feel feminine.

Overall, it's been fun following the revelations of this game. I find myself playing more SF2, SF Alpha, and SF3 3rd Strike in anticipation for SF IV!

Just For Kicks

2007-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

My buddy let me borrow his copy of the documentary "Just For Kicks". I'm far from being a shoe fiend...but I do love myself a nice pair of Nikes. Since I've been playing basketball since the age of 5, Nike Airs have been as much a part of my childhood as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Transformers.

I remember very clearly my first pair of Air Jordans (the white and cement gray Air Jordan 4's...my mom bought those!)...and the feeling that I was being ripped off when I spent my hard earned cash (actually it was a bunch of money given to me by my Aunts and Uncles in Japan) on some white, red, and black Air Jordan 6's.

I think those $125 Air Jordan 6's traumatized me and my wallet because from that point forward, I was purchasing year old Nike Airs at the Sportmart and Big5 stores at a fraction of their original price.

These days I'm sporting the Nike Zoom BB's in Black with Orange laces. I'm not sure if it's appropriate fashion off of the courts...but they've provided me with the stability, light weight, and touch of style that I like to add to my b-ball game. The only minus I've found with these shoes is the black dye of the shoes tends to bleed onto the "super fresh" bright orange laces after a few intense sessions of basketball (or if you have super sweaty feet!).

Anyways, here's a nice clip from "Just For Kicks" that breaks down the Run DMC/Adidas connection (I didn't know how deep the connection was) and a pic of my current pair of Nikes:

Want to ball with MPB? Looks for the heavy set Hapa sporting these:

The Dark Knight

2007-12-26T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'm growing to like the new "Dark Knight" trailer. The new take on the Joker is an intriguing one...as it seems to be an Americanized version of Kakihara from the manga and movie "Ichi The Killer".

I'm surprised that more people don't see the connection between Takashi Miike's "Ichi The Killer" and Batman. Ichi is obviously some geek boy version of Batman. Kakihara is the Yakuza answer to Joker. It was all a disturbing take on the Batman mythos interlaced with morbid plays on violence and otaku culture.

I think it's cool and clever that Christopher Nolan and "The Dark Knight" team found a clever way to bring bits of "Ichi The Killer" back to Batman. I just hope that there isn't any Joker tongue cutting scene...

"The Dark Knight Trailer"

Kakihara From "Ichi The Killer"

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

Ho ho ho!

Christmas Goodies...

2007-12-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Since it'd be super lame for me to give all of my friends and family Muttpop Toys for Christmas, here's a sampling of goodies that I'll be giving as presents...

Amanda Visell's Pink Elephant is amazing! Amanda and Munky King really outdid themselves with this one. The articulation is subtle and clever (Drunky's head, elephant's nose, tail and feet). They did an excellent job of capturing Amanda's dry brush technique and the woodblock aesthetic of her custom toys. They even put magnets on all 4 corners of the elephant and Drunky McSkunky's butt to make sure Drunky firmly stays on top of the Elephant. One of my favorites of 2007.

Gama-Go Deathbot looked cool in pics but I fell in love when I got my hands on him. The design is perfect for a wood toy. I really like the off color white they painted him in...it gives the toy an older feel. I was tempted to get the rarer Suit version but got the better designed regular edition. He's the perfect size to play with, the wire arms, legs, and neck have limited poseability...but you can get a decent amount of stances from them if you diligently loosen them up.

Ghost Land Mini Figures are adorable and affordable. A nice stocking stuffer at $15 a piece that comes in a very attractive tin package. Brian Flynn's designs are super clean and the Japanese produced crystal clear vinyl is beautiful.

Pink Elephant

Deathbot

Ghost Land Mini Figures (Pic Stolen from Rotofugi)

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

2007-12-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'm mildly interested in this upcoming film. I love Mignola's Hellboy comics. I didn't like the first film. And I really loved Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth".

I'm positive that part of my dislike for the first Hellboy movie was my strong affection for Mignola's comic. Having read Hellboy for years...I always imagined a Hellboy movie being patterned after Samurai films...where you have beautiful serene scenes of silence interrupted with brutally savage monster fights.

The first film was anything but that.

I really need to try and watch the first film without that comic geek prejudice...

Anyways, this new trailer looks a bit like Hellboy 1 with some Pan's Labyrinth monsters and a touch of Blade 2. The new monsters look very slick...but the film's general look reminds me a lot of the first film.

Either way, I'm sure to check it out when it's released next year. Good or bad, I'm certain that Del Toro and his team will build the film with love and sincerity.

The Figure That Never Was: Tequila Carai Edition

2007-12-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a rare goodie for you guys. Way back when we had just released Tequila (December 2005)...our manufacturer mentioned that some Japanese retailers expressed interest in an exclusive version of Tequila Extra Spicy.

A prototype was made with a slight tweak to the colors used in Tequila Extra Spicy for this our Tequila Carai Edition. Unfortunately we couldn't find the appropriate exclusive deal and so Carai Edition was never produced...it's a shame too because the prototype developed of the figure (the ONLY Carai figure in existence) was a beauty.

I was also bummed because I came up with such an AWESOME name for the figure. Carai translates to "spicy" in Japanese...but it's also a polite curse in Spanish. Very similar to how "darn" is the polite version of "damn"..."carai" is a polite version of the Spanish curse word "carajo".

Man, I'm good! :-)

One of these days I think we're going to revisit and produce this beautiful design...

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme

2007-12-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this on YouTube and I really enjoy what I've seen so far. The documentary has been broken down into parts that you can find HERE.

I like the range of Freestyle they explore...and it helps even more that there are some nice bits with many of my favorite artists like: Cut Chemist, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Planet Asia.

Kozik Red Demon Turnaround

2007-12-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here's Frank Kozik's original turnaround for his Red Demon design. There are a lot of details that are a bit difficult to photograph...but they're all there. I'm proud to say that the final product looks even better than the turnaround!

Kozik's Red Demon

2007-12-15T09:40:00.001-08:00

We caught the sly bastard enjoying the winter sun. I wonder if his red skin burns? He should be around in January...

Dr. Destruction Newsletter Packages

2007-12-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

All US Orders were shipped today. International Orders are prepared and will be shipped on Monday (blame it on those tiresome Customs forms!).

Hopefully you'll all get your figures in time for the Holidays!

Lou

2007-12-13T17:33:00.001-08:00

Lots of Muttpop this week. I figure I'll make it a Muttpop week! I LOVE what Kozik did with Red Demon. More will be unveiled soon.

Dr. Destruction Puro & Smoked Set

2007-12-12T16:13:00.001-08:00

Newsletter subscribers: Check your e-mail accounts tonight...there's something for everyone. I'm loving these guys!

Dr. Destruction Original With Box

2007-12-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

Ask and ye shall receive! As per request, here's the first look at Dr. Destruction Original with box. Box designed by Jerry Frissen. Art by Bill.

Thanks Santa!

2007-12-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

Muttpop was able to celebrate Christmas a little early with the arrival of their latest shipment from China. This shipment included Dr. Destruction, Kozik Mini Gobis, and several other goodies to be released throughout early-mid 2008.

It's too late to get these figures into retail stores this year...but we will give newsletter subscribers a special opportunity to purchase select figures before Christmas.

Drop!

2007-12-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here's an awesome homage to a classic song and video from one of my favorite rap groups: Drop by Pharcyde. The video was directed by the brilliant Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation).

Super thanks to Mista Hippo who, once again, found another Hip-Hop related gem!

THE ORIGINAL

ElP Production Tests & RD Black Beans SENT!

2007-12-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

Jerry and I spent the whole day preparing all orders for the El Panda Production Tests and Red Demon Black Bean figures. Everything was sent out today. Thanks to buyers and everyone who participated in the lottery! All El Panda Production Tests have been sold.

Street Fighter IV First Screenshot

2007-12-06T09:58:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: New screenshots from Brazilian gaming blog Blogeek. I'm pretty excited about the first official look at Street Fighter IV. Street Fighter II had a huge impact on my adolescence. Loved the concept and characters. I was good at the game for about 2 days...then my best friend got the game for the SNES and learned how to DESTROY me.

I adore the cartoony chunkiness of Street Fighter Alpha (plus you could play as Guy from Final Fight!). I respect the depth of Street Fighter III's gameplay (but Gobi LOVES the character design & animation!).

Street Fighter IV looks like it's attempting to capture the design of Street Fighter II with polygons. The worlds are all 3D, but the gameplay will be traditional Street Fighter: 6 buttons and 2D (as revealed at 1up)

Here's a look at the first screenshot of Ryu (which I really like!) and the teaser trailer (which I really couldn't get into...).

Speed Racer Film Sneak Peak

2007-12-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: "Ask and ye shall receive!" ToysREvil is on top of things (once again) and revealed a few screenshots from the USAToday article. The approach is a bit more literal than I was hoping for...but the concept of "Car Fu" action sequences has me curious. I just hope that that the final product doesn't look like actors in a videogame. The trailer will be showcased soon...

Speed Racer and the Matrix's Wachowski Bros. It could be a work of visual brilliance or a complete failure. Fortunately, the bits and pieces that have been revealed are looking mighty pretty.

I love the car designs and Racer X looks amazing. I'm just curious to see how they go about building the universe and tone that surrounds these characters.

Much props and thanks to ToysREvil for the latest on the Speed Racer film. ToysREvil has been kicking ass on it's coverage of designer toys and pop culture these days!

Racer X

Muttpop Holiday Sale

2007-12-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

If you would like to purchase the 4 figure El Panda Production Test Set (only 20 available) and/or our last batch of Red Demon Black Beans, look for our newsletter e-mail in the next 24 hours!

Muttpop Newsletter Sale...

2007-12-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

...begins tomorrow. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to do it today by sending us an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject heading. The subscribe button can be found in the right column of this blog. Plenty of Muttpop goodies to come in time for the holidays!

Acoustic Covers

2007-12-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

I was bored on YouTube and discovered a handful of beautiful acoustic covers to Pop Music hits. I love the purity that a good acoustic performance can convey. And, in capable hands, an acoustic cover brings new perspective to a Pop Hit.

Here's Outkast's "Hey Ya" as performed by Mat Weddle and Rihanna's "Umbrella" by Marie Rigby:

Pan's Labyrinth

2007-12-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

I just saw this on DVD. Man, what a powerful film. I love how much is said about gender, faith/imagination, and abuse through fairy tale. It can be enjoyed on so many levels.

It's easily Guillermo Del Toro's best film...and helps me understand a lot of what Del Toro was trying to do with his previous work. But, damn...this film makes me feel awful for being a man!

Look At What We Found...

2007-11-30T17:22:00.000-08:00

We were cleaning out Jerry's garage amidst this rare Los Angeles rainstorm and found a batch of these El Panda production tests (amongst other things!). Beautiful,no?

Sensual Seduction by Snoop Dogg

2007-11-29T15:46:00.002-08:00

Man, Snoop is the smoothest man in Hip Hop. Is he joking or just playing homage to the music videos of yesteryear? We may never know.

Being a grump, I'm been talking trash for most of the year about the R&B synthesized voice trend. Guys like A-Kon, T-Pain, and Sean Kingston have made the robotic voice effects "cool"...and I CAN'T STAND it! Anyone can sound decent with some computerized help...even Snoop.

Now, props to Snoop for using the voice effect in it's proper form...but it makes me wonder: is Snoop poking fun at this new breed of R&B singer or giving props to them? After seeing this video, I'd LIKE to think it's the former. What do you think?

Much props to Mista Hippo for enlightening me with this video on the GET DOWN music blog!

Techno Viking

2007-11-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

Jerry sent this video to me...and I can see why. The "Techno Viking" looks like he came straight out of the Tequila comic (you'll know him when you see him!). Not only does he look like an uber-badass...but he dances with such style!

Gobi's super busy working on the Tequila comic right now so I won't bother him...but I'd LOVE to see his version of this larger than life personality.

Watchmen Movie Production Stills

2007-11-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

My expectations aren't very high for the Watchmen live action film. I wasn't the hugest fan of 300 (but then again, I didn't really love the Graphic Novel either)...and feel that if there's one Comic that's nearly impossible to translate to celluloid it's Watchmen.

But I love to be proven wrong. And these set pics look very nice!

Molly Sculpt Video by Muttpop

2007-11-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a video our sculptors, Erick and Lester Sosa, did of the final Molly sculpt. The details are a bit hard to see, but it gives a good sense of scale and how the figure holds up from all angles.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

In less than 24 hours, the Muttpop Blog will resume to its regularly scheduled program. Prepare for plenty of goodies from your good friends' at Muttpop...

Regalos de Peru

2007-11-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

We just gave Jerry's beautiful children (Lea and Max) their souvenirs from Peru. Lea got a handmade Llama doll made of Alpaca wool. Max got an Inca Kola t-shirt and a Peruvian Rain Stick.

Futbol: Peru Vs. Brasil Day 6

2007-11-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

Last day in Peru. Exhausted. Sad. But I was still able to end it on the perfect note: a soccer game between Peru's National Team and Brazil in a luxurious 9 seat suite. It was a qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup. And Peru scored a game tying goal against the World's Best! I'm not a soccer fan and even I almost cried! The energy of the stadium was indescribable.

Now back to Los Angeles and all things Muttpop!

Matrimonio Day 5

2007-11-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

The reason I'm here: my cousin's wedding. It was the King of weddings. I thought they were exaggerating when they said the Latins know how to party. What Americans call a party is like a 100m sprint. A Latin Party is a marathon. The wedding started at 7pm and ended at 5:30am...which, I've been told, is typical.

Macchu Picchu & Cuzco Day 3

2007-11-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling super sick (food poisoning) so this will be short and sweet.

Macchu Picchu is a magical place. I'd love to have more time there. And Cuzco is an amazing city filled with life...too bad the high altitude makes it so difficult to acclimate.

The Cuzco photos are from the train's window as we went to Macchu Picchu. I have also included the handful of pictures I took of Macchu Picchu before my battery died.

Cena Day 1

2007-11-15T19:38:00.000-08:00

Since the batteries on my camera died (DAMN IT!), I'm going to have to focus this post on some more Peruvian Cuisine.

Dinner on my first night in Peru was at Pascuale, a popular new restaurant by some famous Chef that is attempting to create Peru's equivalent of fast food. Apparently, his way of doing this is by putting a variety of Peruvian dishes on french bread and calling them sandwiches.

Even if the idea is a bit lazy the results are pretty tasty. I chose a Value Meal that included the Lomo Pascuale with Yuca Fritas and an Inca Kola.

Inca Kola is the preferred soda of Peru. The only soda in the world that outsells Coca-Cola in any region of the world. Coca-cola realized that they couldn't beat Inca Kola in Peru so they did the next best thing: they bought the Inca Kola company. You can immediately notice that the portion of soda that comes with the meal is mighty small...I'd guess 8-10 oz (way less than a can).

Yuca comes from the same family as the potato but is a bit longer and stringier in texture. It's a bit heavy...but it's consistency makes it a far more substantive finger food than the "french fry".

The main course, the Lomo Pascuale consists of thinly sliced steak with some cheese, chimi churri sauce, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. It doesn't really taste "Peruvian"...but it's a darn good sandwich. I GUESS it's supposed to be Lomo on bread but Lomo is steak and pretty much every country makes steak, right?

Cuzco Day 2

2007-11-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

What I learned today: Incas were really crafty with big rocks. Incas were really crafty with gold. Indigenous looking Peruvian women love being photographed…until they realize you’re not going to tip them. Condors are huge. High altitude’s a bitch on your body. Breathing pure oxygen from a tank makes you look cool.

Red Demon by Kozik

2007-11-14T16:14:00.001-08:00

While Muttpop Bob isn't doing anything else than being cooked by the beautiful Peruvian sun, some people at MUTTPOP are working. Well... Who am I kidding? While Muttpop Bob is out of the office, we're not doing anything than playing with toys. Finally, here's a complete shot of Frank Kozik's RED DEMON.

Almuerzo Day 1

2007-11-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Part of my family's culture is food. There's not too much to do in Lima, but there's plenty of good food to eat! We had our first home cooked almuerzo (lunch) since our arrival. It was a 3 course meal of causa rellena, aji de gallina, and fruit.

Causa rellena is made of mashed potatoes, canned tuna, mayonnaise, eggs, and avocado. It's usually an appetizer that's served cold.

Aji de gallina literally translates to "Chili Peppers of Hen". It uses a special type of chili pepper that is hard to find outside of Peru. The dish is an interesting mix of shredded hen (this one was actually made of chicken), ground walnuts, the famous peppers, mixed in a tomato (I think they use tomatoes...) based stew.

The fruit in Peru is amazing. Mangoes are sweet and creamy. Oranges are juicy. About the only thing I didn't LOVE (but still liked) are the bananas which were a bit too starchy for my tastes (but looked super neat with it's pink pigment).

Two of the fruits that I've never come across in the United States are: granadilla and tuna. Granadilla literally translates to "little grenade". It has a hard orange shell exterior which you crack open like an egg to reveal a mucus like center. It has a very sweet, smooth, and slightly citrus flavor. Tuna is very sweet and refreshing...kind of like a large kiwi without the tart.

I've got to watch out. All this yummy food's going to make me gain weight!

Bye Los Angeles.

Causa Rellena & Aji De Gallina

Frutas!

Tuna & Granadilla

Eating Granadilla...

Peru, Here I Come.

2007-11-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving for Peru. I'll be there for the next week to celebrate my cousin's wedding and spend a little time traveling with my girlfriend. It's been 8 years since I was last there, so there'll be plenty of catching up to do with the family!

If I have readily available internet access, I'll do my best to keep the blog updated. If not, Jerry will do his best to take the reigns of both blogs.

Wish me a safe plane flight! :-)

Jay-Z's American Gangster

2007-11-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Off of the strength of the initial 2 singles, I picked up Jay-Z's "American Gangster" Album and love it. The initial buzz on this Album was really strong...but then when everyone got a hold of the pirated copies it seemed like everyone was disappointed. With Puff Daddy/P.Diddy producing or executive producing the majority of the tracks on the Album I can see people's initial concern. But the production is very strong as it stays true to the soulful melodies that Jay-Z promised.

The song that seems to be getting the most buzz is "Success" featuring Nas. At first, I didn't understand the hype. It's a fairly simple composition by Producer No ID. But with relistens of the Album it's definitely becoming one of my favorite tracks on the album. There's a nakedness to "Success" whose subtlety and complexity becomes far more appreciated with repeat listens.

The track that immediately grabbed me is "Hello Brooklyn" featuring Lil' Wayne. It stands out as the most audibly different track on the Album but I LOVE the harshness of the beat (which borrows from the Beastie Boys and adds a very Southern feel).

Success featuring Nas

Hello Brooklyn featuring Lil' Wayne

UCLA Vs. ASU @ The Rose Bowl

2007-11-10T21:45:00.001-08:00

Mista Hippo of the Get Down Crew hooked me and Bruce Banner up with some Press Box tickets at the UCLA Vs. ASU Football game. Great game, even if UCLA lost. It was super nice watching the game amongst the UCLA Elite (Mista Hippo). The best part of the Press Box was the free food. Next time I'll be sure to not put so many onions in the chili!

Lucha Libre Photo Comic Contest @ Vinyl Pulse

2007-11-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

We're doing a nice contest collaboration with Vinyl Pulse. Jerry's been messing around with doing short comic strips using photos of the Muttpop figures. We thought it'd be extra cool to bring you guys into the fun of it all by having an ongoing contest.

Instead of having a "Fan Mail" section in upcoming issues of the Lucha Libre comic, we're going to give our fans an opportunity to do their own Photo Comics starring their favorite Muttpop figures.

The best contributions will get printed in the next issue of the Lucha Libre Comic (#3). And the winner will get a FREE Dr. Destruction Wild Edition!

To participate you need to joing the Vinyl Pulse Community and upload your entry to the Muttpop Photo Comic Gallery. A winner will be chosen in about a week and a half...so if you have a cool idea you'd like to share, get to work! :-)

More info can be found ON VINYL PULSE: HERE.

Super Mario Galaxy

2007-11-08T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to playing Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. It's coming out next Tuesday but I'm going to have to wait to play it since I'll be in Peru next week for my cousin's wedding.

The Tokyo EAD team that did Gamecube's Donkey Kong Jungle Beat game developed the Galaxy under the guidance of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. What I've seen thus far looks amazing.

HERE'S a wonderful interview between Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, and Mr. Miyamoto. In it, Miyamoto distills the key elements of a Mario game and shares the major concepts behind Super Mario Galaxy.

Here's some amazing gameplay footage from a Bowser level:

Lucha Libre #2 (In English) Is Out Today!

2007-11-07T12:40:00.001-08:00

LUCHA LIBRE #2, published by Image Comics, is now available in finer comic shops.

Plenty of good stuff in this issue. Tequila's comic debut, the conclusion of Red Demon and the Luchadores 5's first adventure, and plenty of chuckles to spare. Feel like a dark chuckle? Then read Profesor Furia. Want something a little more innocent? Luchadoritos is the one for you.

All stories by Muttpop's Conspirator: Jerry Frissen with the help and artwork of Bill, Gobi, Witko, and Tanquerelle.

Digital Liberation

2007-11-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Saul Williams "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust" Album not only has a kick ass name, it's a kick ass album. The pairing of Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) as Producer and Saul Williams seems strange but works wonders.

Much like Radiohead's newest album, "Niggy Tardust" is an online only album. For $5 you can download a high quality version (CD sound quality). If you're tight on the funds or aren't sure this album's for you, you can also download a lower quality version for free (Ipod sound quality).

Saul changes form from poet to emcee to singer freely. I prefer the rawness of the spoken word and emcee bits...but it all holds together nicely as Saul's voice and the beat take turns at the driver's seat of the musical composition.

All in all a great album that more than deserves your $5.

Niggy Tardust:: Tr(n)igger

Niggy Tardust:: Raw

Red Demon In The Flesh

2007-11-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

Emilio Lopez was nice enough to send us a link to his Halloween costume. Awesome job!

Lucha Libre #2 Preview

2007-11-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

A preview of Lucha Libre #2 can be found on Newsarama. The issue release date is this Wednesday, November 7th. Be sure to check it out for more Luchadores5, Luchadoritos, Profesor Furia and the debut of TEQUILA!

I Used To Love H.E.R. by Common (Sense)

2007-11-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Common (Sense), No I.D., and Hip-Hop music at it's finest. Poetic, poignant, and timeless.

Fear[s] Of The Dark

2007-11-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

A trailer for "Fear[s] Of The Dark" (Peur(s) Du Noir) is now on YouTube. I know I mentioned it 7 months ago...but seeing the latest trailer is just as exciting as discovering the project back in April. My memory can be spotty, but I'm pretty sure this trailer showcases more animation than the initial teaser.

A project like this is so refreshing because it shows the breadth of styles that can be applied to animation. Anybody have some news on the project? Is there any chance they'll have a theatrical showing of it in Los Angeles? I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Empowered

2007-11-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've read both volumes of EMPOWERED by Adam Warren and I adore them. As I've mentioned before, Adam Warren is one of the few American "manga" creators whose work I love.

Warren's a bit of an enigma to me, because I feel that he has all the makings of a "superstar" artist. But somehow he manages to hide in the shadows outside of the mainstream comic spotlight. No big deal, though. His work is always a charm to experience and his tenure on "Empowered" is the closest we've gotten to some regular Adam Warren artwork.

"Empowered" is about an insecure superheroine who repeatedly finds herself gagged and held hostage by the bad guys. Empowered's so caught up in being a crappy superhero that she doesn't realize she's envied by women for her beauty. The premise results in Empowered regularly being found in compromising scenarios and dialogues on the more sexual aspects of superhero genre conventions.

Empowered is sexy, hilarious, and beautiful. It's a pervy pleasure crafted with a love and charm that's infectious.

Happy Halloween.

2007-10-31T10:19:00.000-07:00

Kozik X Muttpop. Narco Satanico X Demonio Rojo. 666. We thought today was the perfect time for a little teaser. More pics coming...

This is Halloween.

2007-10-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Since we're doing something Muttpop related tomorrow, I wanted to get my Halloween celebration started today! "This Is Halloween" from my favorite Halloween film, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Which reminds me, I need to check out that 3D version.

Murakami @ MoCA

2007-10-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited about the Takashi Murakami retrospective Art Show at MoCA's Geffen Contemporary opening today. There's already been tons of sneak previews and coverage from the preview show and it looks bigger and better than I imagined.

I'm a bit uncomfortable about the strong commercial presence of Louis Vuitton, though. I understand that Murakami's international success is integrally connected to his design collaborations with LV...but it's a little weird and insulting that a fully operating Louis Vuitton store is at the center of the Art Exhibit. Then again it's probably the ultimate mixing of Murakami's obsession with commercialism and branding.

Here are some great pics from the show I found on the Supertouch Blog:

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure

2007-10-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

I picked up another game for the Nintendo Wii (man, there are too many interesting games coming out this Winter!): ZACK & WIKI: QUEST FOR BARBAROS' TREASURE by Capcom. Visually it's a bit of One Piece, Pokemon, Dragonball and Anpanman....all glossed over with that wacky Capcom sensibility.

Even if the visuals are pretty nifty it's the gameplay that makes it a worthy purchase. Zack & Wiki is a "Point & Click Adventure" for the Wii. You may have played one in the late 80's/early 90's on your old desktop computer. I think my first "Point & Click Adventure" experience was playing LEISURE SUIT LARRY. :-) Level solutions are very quick to accomplish but it takes a bit of thought and exploration to figure them out. It's super easy to get stuck on a level (which drives me bananas) but every solution is clever and inventively integrates motion controls with the Wiimote.

I'm not sure who the intended audience is. The visuals are very kiddy (they look like they're intended for a 5-12 year old boy) but the puzzles difficulty seem more appropriate for someone older. All in all, it's nice to FINALLY see a solid Wii game that ISN'T made by Nintendo!

Smoke Break....Kozik Style.

2007-10-27T23:38:00.001-07:00

KOZIK!

2007-10-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hip-Hop's Fantastic Four

2007-10-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest post from my buddies' GetDown hip-hop blog. Check it out for our take on the music we love!:

Damn! What could have been...

Way back when The Roots had their temporary break up, Black Thought was on Sway & Tech's "The Wake Up Show" (around 2001) talking about two things that never came to fruition: 1. His Solo Album, 2. The beginning of MC Supergroup The Fantastic Four.

The Fantastic Four was supposed to be a group consisting of Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Common. I remember Sway & Tech were trippin' at the IDEA of such masterful emcees coming together to make an album...but unfortunately, it was all too good to be true and the idea became a forgotten kernel of possibility.

About a year later, I bought Talib Kweli's "Quality" album and was BLOWN AWAY by a track called "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" produced by a younger Kanye West with rhymes by Kweli, Black Thought, and Pharoahe Monch. Was this a hint at what a Fantastic Four album could have been? If so, where's Common?

Further evidence of the Fantastic Four's potential existence come from lines by Pharoahe Monch.

From his first verse:
"See these FOUR emcees came to get down
Rearrange the rap game, change ya whole sound"

There's no rhymes on the song by Kanye (who at the time was known just as a Producer)...so where's the fourth MC?

From Monch's second verse:
"Guerrilla monsoon rap, smell the fumes, get in tune wit it
When I attack your city, y'all gon' think DR. DOOM did it"

A clear reference to Fantastic Four's main villain, Dr. Doom.

"I'm pissed - cumulus clouds of ominous
Words of the FOUR, the rawness that'll restore ya calmness"

Another reference to "The Four". Hmmmm...

The song still KILLS IT five years after it's debut. Kanye and Kweli were a match made in heaven back in 2002 (remember "Get By"?!). But it makes me so damned depressed that the Fantastic Four never became a reality.

Talib Kweli feat. Black Thought & Pharaohe Monch :: Guerilla Monsoon Rap

Repo! The Genetic Opera!

2007-10-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to think. Horror Opera? But I am embarrassingly intrigued by what's been shown thus far. I love the cheesy 80's rock opera sound. The leather fetish garb and sharp stuff looks kind of neat. I'm also really into the way the bad dude's face lights up in a pale blue under that funky mask. A part of me thinks I may like this in that guilty way I'll occasionally enjoy McDonald's Chicken McNuggets with Sweet & Sour and Hot Mustard sauce.

The track record of those involved isn't very good. The Director is best known for Saw II, III, and IV (which I refuse to see). The credibility Paul Sorvino brings is eradicated by casting Paris Hilton...but then again, the cheese factor Paris' participation brings is perfect for the tone of the concept.

I was mildly intrigued when Paris mentioned the project on David Letterman. Now it's up to my will power to hold me back from spending my hard earned cash to see this in theatres and wait for it's emminent release on Netflix. Still, it's tempting...we'll see how I feel when it's in theatres April 2008!

Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin

2007-10-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

Two issues have been released of Joe Casey and Eric Canete's Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin mini-series. The story's a fun retelling of an old Mandarin story for the modern era. Mandarin's your typical Fu Manchu Asian caricature villain complete with the long fingernails, pointed beard, and "evil" asian eyes...BUT he's got nifty powered rings that each have their own special power!

Casey does a good job of telling the story thus far (complete with Iron Man technobabble) and Canete destroys each page with some gorgeous artwork. The rare bits of Eric Canete artwork that I have found have always been pulsing with energy and zesty design. But where once before Canete would regularly sacrifice strong storytelling for the benefit of design, Canete has found a strong middle ground where design and story coexist.

Canete has the amazing ability to make Iron Man's suit look cool and energetic. He also does some really interesting things with perspective distortion and line work to convey movement and explosions.

I don't purchase many traditional superhero books. But this one is too beautiful to pass up!

Original Villain Network

2007-10-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Sucklord's been in the business for a bit. He's a hard core Star Wars fan that's been making homemade Star Wars figures. You may have seen his Pink Stormtroopers from the Gay Empire or Another Bitch You Didn't Get To Fuck at your favorite Designer Toy Store. I love the guy's sense of humor and do-it-yourself attitude.

Now his Suckadelic Universe is going multimedia with his Original Villain Network on YouTube. It reminds of the video taped school projects I'd do in Jr. High School...

Thanks to the ToysREvil Blog for giving me the heads up on this! ToysREvil has a nice interview with Mr. Sucklord HERE.

Tim Tsui's Da Minci @ Mixi-Bang

2007-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Since I was already in Pasadena for the UCLA Vs. Cal football game (damnit Cal!)...I decided to hang out in Old Town Pasadena and go to Mixi-Bang's Tim Tsui Da Minci show. It was nice to finally meet the friendly folk at the store (waddup Gary!).

My main reason for going was to pick up the Da Hero variant Da Minci figure. It's a super cool "Batman" variant of Da Minci that I think will look AMAZING next to our upcoming Dr. Destruction Wild Edition. Unfortunately, with only 15 made...the figure's retail price was $450.00. After being heart broken by the price, I picked up Mixi-Bang/Gray One edition of Da Minci. He ain't "Da Hero" but he looks really nice next to the Muttpop Classico figures. Plus Da Minci's got a Luchador mask...so you KNOW he's gotta be a cool monkey!

I didn't bring a camera, so here are pics of Da Hero and Da Minci from the Vinyl Pulse website:

The Umbrella Academy

2007-10-20T10:10:00.001-07:00

Whoever put this art team together for Gerard Way has excellent taste! James Jean on covers. Gabriel Ba on interior art. Even if Mr. Way (of My Chemical Romance) had nothing to say, they'd make him look damned good. But he's actually is an excellent writer...so it's a beautiful comic all around.

Thus far Dark House has release 2 issues of this Limited Series and I can't wait for more! The story drips with plenty of clever ideas like Eiffel Tower rocket ships, an Ochestra that searches for a song whose sound can destroy the world, alien invasions, and an astronaut with a Gorilla's body.

If that's not your example of a good time, then just look at the lush artwork of Jean and Ba. :-)

Across The Universe

2007-10-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

I just saw Julie Taymor's "Across The Universe". I loved it.

Julie Taymor is the visual genius who directed the "Lion King" broadway show, "Titus", and "Frida". "Across The Universe" received a bit of attention for it's use of Beatles tunes.

A bunch of people I know who were initially interested in the film ended up not seeing it because of the sub-par critical response. Big mistake. They're all missing out on one of the best cinematic experiences to hit theatres in a long time.

The backbone of the plot is a love story so the unromantic may get bored (sorry Jerry, this one ain't for you!)...but what is built around it is filled with beauty, ambition, and heart.

Classicos Solicited!

2007-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

DKEToys has just solicited Red Demon Classico and Mini Gobi Classico to retail stores. You should start seeing them on shelves at your favorite Designer Toy Stores in the next 2 weeks.

Sex & The Pen

2007-10-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a little skit that was done by some super talented actors. I'm sure you'll recognize many of them. Three of these actors are part of our "DREAM" cast for the Luchadores 5 Live Action film. Can you guess which ones?

MC Shar J (K-Fed's Baby's Mama)

2007-10-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm stooping pretty low here...but I admit that I'm far too happy to discover that Shar Jackson is a better singer and rapper than both Britney Spears and Kevin Federline.

Up until now, Shar Jackson was a mildly successful actress that was duped by K-Fed to financially support him and their 2 children. That was a bad scenario turned worse when K-Fed left Shar for "superstar" Britney Spears.

Years later, K-Fed has a failed marriage and rap career, Britney is crazy, and Shar is finding success with her post-liposuction look on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar. I'm actually impressed with her stage presence and rhyme ability! Very few people can attempt Twista's World Record speedy delivery. "Shar J" manages to hold her own and still find time to exude a little femininity.

Who knows if her newfound rhyme skills will lead to anything...but it's nice to see her bask in the Spotlight while her Ex and his Ex self destruct.

Karma's a bitch.

Hollywood Hellhouse

2007-10-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend loves Halloween...so she was super excited that they were going to open a Haunted House a few minutes from our home called the HOLLYWOOD HELLHOUSE. Her feelings changed when she discovered the website.

She doesn't consider gang rapes at raves, bloody abortions, and homosexuals dying of AIDS to be her form of Halloween fun. I was shocked she failed to recognize the Christian "moral" subtext of Hellhouse.

Upon further investigation I discovered that this was liberal Hollywood's take on a Pro-Christian Haunted House that started in the 1970s by the New Mexico based Destiny Church. Actors in Los Angeles found the material and concept so crazy that they decided to play it straight and perform the Haunted House to the guidelines of the Hellhouse Outreach Kit provided by the Hellhouse's Founder.

Many of Hollywood's favorites have played various roles in the Hollywood Hellhouse since it's 2004 launch. Bill Maher has starred as Satan. Andy Richter played Jesus. Sarah Silverman was the abortion lady. I wonder who'll be the surprise guests this year?

Clips Of Gueststars In Hollywood Hellhouse

A Nice Glimpse of Hellhouse From the Documentary

Holy Mountain

2007-10-14T10:31:00.001-07:00

I just got this film from Netflix. I cannot wait to experience the madness of Alejandro Jodorowsky!

The way Jodorowsky plays with iconography and pushes the limits of every medium he works with baffle me. As you can see from the trailer, Jodorowsky does no less when tackling the sensitive topic of religion.