Halloween on the Brain

 Finding myself longing for Halloween.  I have a brick of clay left that I'm trying to use up so I can dedicate my free time solely to my ABC book.  I think the clay will be going toward a set of 6 zombie head shot glasses.  I'll have them finished and posted soon here and maybe on my Etsy.  I'm going to be busy with family and wrapping up the final Harley Poe shows this October and won't have time for but a few Halloween decorations, so I carved this guy up to appease the spirits.

October Toys: OMFG Figures

So here are the OMFG figures I mentioned in my last post.  They are the Outlandish Mini Figure Guys!  Now, I've always had a soft spot for  M.U.S.C.L.E. and Monster in My Pocket figures, but since newer toy companies like Jakks Pacific (S.L.U.G. Zombies) and October Toys have released their own homages to these little rubber guys from the 80s, I've been reliving my childhood and honestly finding a bit more pleasure in collecting them, especially these OMFG guys.

 They are amazing!  They're every bit as crazy as M.U.S.C.L.E. if not more, and they come in that standard flesh tone as well as a myriad of other colors.  Unfortunately, I wasn't familiar with Kickstarter.com when series 1 was introduced, but I've since found a pack of flesh tone, a poster, and the exclusive Kickstarter black set all from Ebay.  Of course I couldn't resist painting my black set.  They were already primed and ready to go.

 I've painted Stroll to resemble another favorite toy of mine from the 80s: My Pet Monster.

The best part about these guys is the detail.  The creators and sculptors have such wonderful imaginations, and the amount of talent and skill they have to be able to sculpt such miniatures blows my mind.  I love painting them, but I hope to one day learn how to sculpt my own.  I can't wait to receive series 2.  They should be out soon from http://octobertoys.com.  I feel like a seven year old boy on his birthday.

October Toys: Z.O.M.B.I.E.

Zillions of Mutated Bodes Infecting Everyone!!!  These 1 to 2 inch figures are incredible.  After going through my old M.U.S.C.L.E. figures and painting a few of them, seeking out more little rubber people has become another one of my obsessions.  I discovered October Toys through Rue Morgue Magazine a few issues back and have since gotten a hold of their O.M.F.G. line as well as these Z.O.M.B.I.E. guys.

I found a deal on Ebay for 25 zombies, even though there are only 5 per series.  I received 5 figures each in black, red, flesh tone, clear, and glow in the dark.

Of course I couldn't keep myself from painting a set.

http://octobertoys.com

What was so great about the 80s? M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures!!!

I was born in 1979.  Eleven days into the 80s decade my parents celebrated my 1st birthday.  My childhood was spent collecting, eating, watching, and listening to whatever garbage the junk food and entertainment industries could pump into my tiny hands and head.  I plan to celebrate this delectable garbage in future posts dedicated to the decade that helped form who I am today.  I will start by giving praise to the little pink men who invaded my birthday cake on my seventh birthday back in 1986.  These miniature people were known as Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere, or M.U.S.C.L.E.

Love at first sight

They infested my brother's cake too.

Fast forward 26 years later and I'm going through an upstairs room in my parents' house looking for some toys to complement the rock house my four year old had built by the pool.  Overcome by joy and nostalgia, I bring down the 200 or so little figures my mom had kept since the days I used to build rock houses, and so my obsession begins...

I took the little figures home and began to search for more on Ebay and discover their origins via YouTube. I learned that these inch and a half creatures originally came from Japan and were called Kinnikuman.  They were based on a comic series that later became a cartoon and finally action figures.  When Mattel picked them up for the U.S. brats, their story was left overseas. They were given the name M.U.S.C.L.E. and their individual names and personalities were left up for us to decide.  Here is an informative video I found for those who'd like to know more:Personally, I was a little disappointed to find out the whole story behind these guys.  I liked being the one to give them names and decide which ones were good and evil.  But it's still pretty cool to find out that their beginnings go further back than my birthday cake.  I've also discovered that some of these figures go for a pretty hefty price online and there are many sites out there dedicated to reminiscing, trading, painting, and creating imitations of these collectible little gems. Here are a few of my favorites that I've painted.  Some collectors believe a paint job might devalue them, so I only painted my doubles.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for looking. 

Custom Painted M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures by Joe Whiteford

For even more information and close up pics of all the M.U.S.C.L.E. characters check out http://nathansmuscleblog.blogspot.com and http://blog.uofmuscle.com

STARBURST MAGAZINE Issue 378

http://www.starburstmagazine.com/store?page=shop.browse&category_id=2

Here's a comic I illustrated for the July issue of the British magazine STARBURST, the world's longest running magazine of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.  The writer P.M. Buchan and I have been talking about collaborating on a comic for a couple of years now and I'm glad we finally got the chance to work together.  He's a good writer specializing in the sick and perverse.  We've talked about doing more Zingo comics, but only time will tell, for he's pretty busy lately and I'm just lazy.  This issue also features an interview with the talented director Ti West.  Click on the link to order a copy.

For more info on Mr. Buchan visit http://PMBuchan.com and follow him on Twitter@PMBuchan.