Blueberry Kidrobot Black Vinyl Figure by Yury Ustsinau

Kidrobot’s acclaimed KR Black Series is back and better than ever with a sick new release from German artist Yury Ustsinau! This 10” limited edition art toy is entitled “Blueberry,” and is based on Yury’s original vector based image. The Blot seriously can’t get over how Kidrobot pulled off producing such an intricately designed figure. Blueberry features a myriad of insane details, textures and finishes all over.

After a month long delay thanks to the west coast ports, Kidrobot will finally be releasing Yury Ustsinau’s Blueberry at 10am EDT on Thursday, March 26th! Collectors can purchase this new Kidrobot Black figure at Kidrobot San Francisco, Kidrobot Las Vegas, select specialty retailers worldwide, and Kidrobot.com for $250 each.

Kidrobot Black Murder Vinyl Figure by Craww

Over the years The Blot’s been extremely hard on Kidrobot’s Black Series. To be fair, it’s been very inconsistent considering its hefty price tags. Personally, I find many of the pieces utterly underwhelming and uninspired. That isn’t to say they’ve all been bad. Tara McPherson’s KR Black piece was stunning, and I know a lot of people loved Doze Green, Junko Mizuno and Alex Pardee’s figures. But to me this latest release, Murder by Craww, really personifies what a Kidrobot Black figure should be! It’s true 3D art in a vinyl body.

Melancholic beauty and death cloaked in feathers. A headdress with shiny black eyes and sharp beak is mounted over petite downcast features. Massive hands hold the delicate chest. Bright, shining red escapes through the pointed digits – a sign of life in a sea of black. In the aftermath of an unknown event stands a 12” vinyl statuette. A lost life in a small metal cage lies at her feet with no explanation given. Limited to just 200 pieces, each Kidrobot Black Murder vinyl figure by Craww comes hand numbered with the artist’s engraved signature on the bottom. Murder makes its deathly appearance on October 24th and retails for $399.99.

Kidrobot Black DigesTED by Alex Pardee

Sadly, it’s been kind of rare that The Blot gets really excited about a Kidrobot Black figure. But every once in a while they release something truly awesome…like Alex Pardee’s DigesTED vinyl figure! This incredibly detailed figure has a limited edition run size of just 250 nightmarish pieces, comes hand numbered and includes Alex’ signature engraved on the bottom. Exclusive to black.kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide, DigesTED will retail for $200 each and is scheduled to hit store shelves on March 28th.

Something evil lives inside a trusted old friend. Slick gloss looks alien against innocent molded fuzz. Red orbs glow in contrast to dull white eyes. Sinewy arms finished in fists clenched. Patches and scars, once signs of years of love, are evidence of previous horror. Deep inside, a child is trapped. There is no escape.

Kidrobot Black Domestic Hunger Vinyl Sculpture by Blaine Fontana

Last week Kidrobot released its newest Kidrobot Black figure entitled “Domestic Hunger” by Blaine Fontana. KR Black has really been an uneven series with some killer pieces and a few super over priced questionable choices. Thankfully Fontana’s piece is pretty cool (although I’m not sure its $500 price tag is justified). The truth is Domestic Hunger is really more of a wall sculpture than a vinyl figure since it can’t stand on its own. It actually has to be installed by either wall mounting or hanging it. The Blot’s tempted to say this might be one of my favorite KR Black pieces released so far.

Like a siren, Domestic Hunger lures. Grounded by gleaming roots spreading from its base, its glossy upturned roof and weathered texture speak of home. A home with pointed teeth and hungry tongue. Like an insatiable pet, it must be fed.

Kidrobot Black Domestic Hunger by Blain Fontana has a limited edition run size of 200 pieces, with each figure hand numbered with the artist’s signature engraved on the back. Packaged in a display box, this 17” vinyl sculpture can be purchased now at black.kidrobot.com, Kidrobot retail stores and select retailers worldwide.

Kidrobot Black - Kuro Megami by Junko Mizuno

The newest Kidrobot Black release dropped last week and it is insane (in a good way!). Kuro Megami by Junko Mizuno is 11 inches of black vinyl craziness. Like the Asian ancients before her, Kuro Megami commands power with imagery. Under her breasts, a skull and heart reside. She houses both life and death. She is a symbol for worship and a vessel for cosmic energy: strong and unsympathetic.

Kuro Megami features flowers seductively leading to the serpent in her womb. She wears a coat of hair that shines like armor, protecting her body as well as her identity. Two sweet and small guards stand at her feet with chains holding them in two of six gloved hands. This figure seriously has it all! And The Blot does love it’s trademark Junko hair! I’m also a little jealous of it.

Kidrobot Black x Junko Mizuno Kuro Megami vinyl figure has a limited edition run size of 200 pieces, comes hand numbered with the artist’s signature engraved on the bottom, and is sold exclusively at black.kidrobot.com and select retailers worldwide for $400 each.

Kidrobot Black - Goddess Vinyl Figure by Doze Green

Bow before her, the Goddess approaches. Unshroud Doze Green's mystical black Goddess from her premium packaging and discover why faithful pilgrims journey far and wide to bask in her splendor. By far the most magnificent Kidrobot Black creation ever conceived, this visionary vinyl figure stands an incredible 20 inches tall! Exquisitely rendered in matte vinyl and embellished with gloss-touched details, Doze's latest depiction of the symbol of fertility will have you in awe of her organic-mechanized mythic form.

You may have noticed The Blot never commented on Kidrobot’s latest Kidrobot Black release, the Goddess by legendary NY graffiti artist Doze Green. To be honest, I’ve had a real problem with Kidrobot Black since its inception. To me the releases have never lived up to the hype (or their ginormous price tag)…until now. The Goddess has finally taken Kidrobot Black to where it was supposed to be: reigniting the designer toy scene with cutting edge, extremely limited edition all black figures. It’s just too bad it’s taken four releases to finally get to this point.

Encased in luxurious black and gold quarters bearing Doze Green’s signature in gold foil, this striking sculpture is individually numbered, has a limited edition run size of 200 pieces and retails for $500. I was surprised to learn that Kidrobot Black figures can now be purchased at specialty retailers worldwide, and not just at Black.Kidrobot.com. Kind of takes away from the concept doesn’t it? The figure is currently sold out online, but I know of a few designer toy stores that still have them in stock (I just saw one at Kidrobot LA this past weekend). Grab one of these massive 20” figures while you still can!

Kidrobot Black - The Deek by Jeff Soto

After a limited release at New York Comic-Con 2010 comes the official release of KR’s newest Kidrobot Black figure, The Deek by Jeff Soto. Straight out of California based artist Jeff Soto's childhood horrors, this axe wielding 6.5 inch vinyl nightmare features burning red eyes and ice blue stars tattooed to his hands.

Known for his striking visual imagery, Jeff Soto's art is inspired by childhood toys, skateboarding, graffiti and hip-hop, and popular culture. His paintings are highly sought after and exhibited in cities throughout the US and abroad.

The Deek by Jeff Soto, a signed web-exlusive, stands 6.5” inches tall, has a limited edition run size of 150 figures and will retail for $100 each. The figure’s official online release date is currently unknown.

Kidrobot Black Skull by Russ Karabalan / SSUR

The second Kidrobot Black figure has been announced, and it’s an all black vinyl skull with gold teeth designed by Russ Karabalan a.k.a. SSUR. (link) The skull is adorned with SSUR’s trademark design and that’s really all we currently know about KR’s next Kidrobot Black release.


I’ve got to say, when Kidrobot first announced its new line of Kidrobot Black figures, The Blot was really excited. It sounded like a real attempt by the designer toy company to go back to its roots, but we’re now two figures in and I’m feeling extremely underwhelmed. After the line’s first release, the Midnight Magi by Gary Baseman, I was really hoping to be blown away by KR’s second Black figure. Oh well, I guess third time’s a charm!?!

Kidrobot Black - Midnight Magi by Gary Baseman

Yesterday, Kidrobot announced a new line of vinyl figures under the new imprint “Kidrobot Black.” Kidrobot Black toys are created especially for Kidrobot's most devoted fans and collectors and each toy is produced as a super-limited run. This unexpected announcement threw The Blot for a loop, but in a totally good way! Honestly, after all the bad PR Kidrobot has been getting from collectors for the past year this is exactly the type of project KR needs to be doing for its core fan base. I for one am really excited to see what comes from it.


Designed by acclaimed artist Gary Baseman, the Midnight Magi is an elegant 8 inch matte black vinyl figure featuring white and pink accents that highlight the linework indicative of Baseman’s style. A leader of Los Angeles’ underground art movement, Baseman is a fine artist, painter, toy designer, and TV & movie producer whose work often blends toy culture and fine art. The Midnight Magi, the first Kidrobot Black release, drops today, Tuesday, January 12, at 12pm EST at black.kidrobot.com. The 8” figure is limited to just 200 pieces and will retail for $100 each.


Kidrobot Black was created by Kidrobot founder Paul Budnitz out of his love for vinyl toys. The line is inspired by the aesthetic of the late nineties urban vinyl toy movement, with an emphasis on texture and simplicity of form and color. Part of the goal of Kidrobot Black is to revisit this aesthetic and modernize it with cutting edge designs by Kidrobot’s top toy designers.

KR has invited some of its favorite artists to participate, and asked them to use BLACK as a theme and to concentrate on simple, elegant form rather than on elaborate paints. Artists were urged to take risks they might not otherwise take. Future releases will arrive from time to time on the Kidrobot Black home page, black.kidrobot.com.