...figured i would get some discussion going on a figure that has been released in resin, and is currently in the middle of a Kickstarter to raise funds for a vinyl - called '8-Ball':



Unpainted below:



Personally, i love it. Great chunky toy, with that perfect mix of detail and sloppyness.

Thoughts? Hate?

Everything wants to be made in vinyl these days for no rhyme or reason.

The way this looks, send it to a factory in china and have it produced there and it won't really change much. I feel these days the sofvi tag is there more for marketing than harking back to the days when some actually would call it 'cheap' and 'dull'. When the makers of JPN vinyl did it for craft, ease and tradition and not to satisfy some guy jumping on the bandwagon. For the money needed for a project like this, kick starter is a great way, so kudos for that.

Not to trash on this one spefically, I just feel this is the case for a lot of non Japanese artists exploring some medium that is 'it' or 'in' right now. It could have better and broader results with other production methods, but because this is a trend right now it feels like it has to be done this way.


Iuno, that's the impression I get these days.

^^^^
...thanks for the input man!

Kickstarter is the caus of a LOT of indie projects - loved or hated. And thank god it exists i say. Crowd funding is such a great alternate source of funds.


...interesting point... Re: vinyl wagon jumping... Can't say i ever thought of that! Care to expand more on why this particular fig would not gain anythign from being produced in vinyl? I'm intrigued...

I second that.. Really what other options are there?

It seems like the benefits of sofubi is that there are smaller factories that can do smaller more affordable runs. If you were to go to a factory in China, they would have larger minimum quantities for production and therefore it would be too expensive for most artists/they don't want boxes of unsold stock lying around.. Same goes with resin. They are simply just the easiest options for independent toy makers.

Anyway, back on topic. I love what Radioactive Uppercut has produced for his first figure & I wish him all the best in his kickstarter campaign. Sounds like he has quite a few toy designs up his sleeve so hopefully this will give him the initial boost that he needs to get things off the ground

the sculpt is actually pretty nice, and would probably look good in vinyl...

but, I can not get with the 8ball thing.. it looks way better without.
I dont get why its even there. is there a back story to this thing? It really reminds me of pogs and jnco jeans or something. and the jacket Putty had on seinfeld.. maybe thats a reason for some to like it.. but not me.

I agree that the 8 ball is weird, but I like the rest of the figure. I think it will look pretty nice on a shelf if the final product looks as good as the prototype.

It would look cool to have the 8-ball be painted to just look like another eyeball. It would probably fit more with the figure.

Would make for a great garage kit! I think its no different than the deadbeat. The sculpt is sound, some nice details... a keshi version may help reach the kickstarter goal.

That sculpt would look great in a fucking trash can ready to be buried underground never to be seen again......People really have to stop trying to create something not worth creating. You want to play elementary school art class go ahead, just stop thinking every piece of shit toy 'needs' to be created and we need to see it here. I'd really wish this forum would be jettisoned back to the hell it belongs in. I mean I see very few examples of stuff worthy of being made here and more and more KR types coming here to hawk their lousy piece of shit toys thinking they'll hit gold here. Guess what- we're not interested!

actually John is registered here and has yer to actively hawk anything. He lives in ny, maybe you two can meet for fondue & talk toys.

I first saw this on a facebook post, I love the facial expression. I liked the pose. I think it would be interesting to see in various vinyl forms, like a clear head with guts.

The eight ball on the chest is a bit odd, but so much other stuff could be done with that if the area was left blank.

What's the back side look like?

I agree ^^
This figure has a ton of potential, but why the 8 ball in the middle?

I'm speaking in overall general terms. I'm not saying he was specifically hawking this awful toy. My point is there seems to be a huge influx of people who come here with that specific purpose in mind. To basically set up shop here with no concept of this board, the history of these toys and to be honest just making some of the most awful looking 'toys' and sticking a trendy label of 'kaiju' on them. When met with any resistance from people who have been here awhile and don't like this crap, they get all uppity and wonder why.

I guess I should keep my turd kaiju on lockdown :/

I don't think you can really label THIS particular toy as some bandwagon johnny come lately attempt at japanese vinyl. The guy behind it has been making toys for almost a decade now and according to what he said this has been a dream of his for nearly that long. I don't know the guy at all but he has done art for some of my friends and I hear nothing but nice things about him. Also you can't fault the guy for someone else coming and posting his kickstarter here. That would simply not be fair.

As far as the toy I like the sculpt. The 8ball thing is a huge part of the back story(if you read the kickstarter)but I would prefer geting the blank and adding another eye. I will support the kickstarter with at least a few bucks because I really like the fact anyone who donates gets to vote and choose which creature comes next in the line.

If they add a keshi version I will certainly pledge to whatever level is needed to grab that thing.

Sorry Frank and Chad, even 'nice' Andy think this is a waste of time, effort and natural resources!

again, in case anyone missed it, the kickstarter info wasn't posted by john. I have seen his collection, he isn't new to kaiju or sofubi.

Honestly that really doesn't help his case any. The design looks very rough for lack of a better word (although I think it is well sculpted). It reminds me of a background monster from some 90s cartoon... just sort of a generic pile of monster features thrown together. The multiple eyeballs make me think of Mark Nagata's Eyezon or Alien Argus. And the 8-ball just seems like some urban vinyl icing tossed on there for the hell of it (although I have read the back story on the figure, so I understand there is a purpose for it).

I think this would have done alright as a resin toy (minus the 8-ball). But for a vinyl toy, eh.

...hey guys.

IF you want more info on John, his years in the mainstream toy industry (DC Direct n others), and hear the tale behind 8-Ball, check this in-depth interview below - straight from the man himself..:

http://artwhorecult.com/art-talk-john-s ... -uppercut/

AND i created this subject, to hear other's thoughts on the guy! I'm a fan - John's stuff and the 8-Ball reminds me a lot of the 90's era 'Playmates' toys and Madballs. Not Japanese i know... But things i am very partial to.

AND i interviewed John, because i saw his toy on the interwebs, and wanted to find out more. I'm a knowledge whore like that...

Finally, below is a photo of a blank 8-ball from multiple angles - illustrates just how many possibilities this sculpt has (large-ish photo i know, but helps to show all the detail):

Well, looking at the unpainted version of this fella, I think you inadvertently created a penis finger monster so I suggest a collab with Mishka.
Oh, and it is a "one-eyed monster." ; )

Look, I am not criticising this toy at all, it is designed just fine and he clearly has skill in executing it, but this is just so 'western' in its concept and, by your own admission, not even classic design at that (90s? really, that was not so long ago for a lot of us). I completely agree it does seem that way, and late 90s at best. Would fit in with a lot of other small character lines, or the 'collect 'em all figure' fanbase, backstory or no. I agree with comments from both sides - a lot of people will like this, and it does looks as good as any other toy I might seen on the shelves in the US, but that is the point; at what point is this niche no longer niche?

Anyways, what I am trying to say is, this is a fine toy I am sure, and no doubt will have a lot of fans, but frankly, I do not see the relation to Skullbrain. Even if there is some crossover audience, AND if this gets made into vinyl in Japan, that makes zero difference to me. Honestly, if this is what the SB focus and 'kaiju' have come to mean, than I am clearly in the wrong place.

The thickness of the sculpt is the best part of this. It feels powerful.

But as others stated what's the point of making it in vinyl? Not to rag on the
creator but it doesn't feel that it needs to be. I feel that it should be a resin
piece first and go from there. Starting off in vinyl is huge deal, leap to take
for something that might not go anywhere. I understand it being a lifelong dream
but those don't always pan out and the cost of making this come true might bite him in the ass.

Make resin versions, see how it goes. It might need revisions, then if its truly
worth it's salt, vinyl.

No penis fingers, or 8ball on this one i painted

...as always man, many thanks for detailed comments! I very much agree with you on how USA 8-Ball is, which is why i posted in the "American Idols" thread. I feel it fits right in with stuff being made by people like 'Splurrt' + 'ToysAreSanity'.

AND i'm born in 1985, and grew up on late 80s early 90s pop-culture, so that's my bias.


Man, thanks also for detailed comments!

1st - this toy WAS done in resin 1st. The vinyl is the 2nd run...

2nd - "The thickness of the sculpt is the best part of this. It feels powerful."
^^^^^^^^
Amen good sir! Amen.