Star Wars x Vans Vinyl Figures by Funko - Darth Vader & Boba Fett

On Star Wars Day 2014, Vans launched its new line of Star Wars sneakers. Drawing inspiration from the Star Wars galaxy, Vans has created custom prints incorporating timeless Star Wars characters into new and heritage Vans designs. To celebrate this release Journeys has teamed up with Funko to produce limited edition Star Wars x Vans vinyl figures! This blind box series includes Darth Vader and Boba Fett sporting Van’s signature classic checker slip-on sneakers and holding a skateboard.

Aren’t these figures awesome? But there’s a catch! The only way to get one of these stylized Star Wars vinyl figures is by pre-ordering a pair of these new Star Wars x Vans sneakers from Journeys here. For each pair of sneakers you buy you randomly get one of the two 6" figures seen here (while supplies last). The Blot’s still trying to find out more information on these Journeys Exclusive Star Wars x Vans vinyl figures, like their run size or if they will ever be available for purchase individually. The Blot really wants this Boba Fett figure, but unfortunately none of these Star Wars sneakers come in my size! What’s a toy collector to do!?!

Star Wars x Vault by Vans Sneaker Collection

It’s May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, and so it’s all Star Wars, all day here at TheBlotSays.com: When The Blot first heard about the new Star Wars x Vault by Vans sneaker collection I was really pumped! But then I saw pictures of the designs and was thoroughly disappointed. I mean sneakers with vibrant ‘80s prints, palm trees and AT-ATs??? Terrible! There’s also two different sneakers featuring Darth Vader and Stormtrooper heads with crossing pirate swords and light sabers. Yeah, that’s creative…

Vans also took skate legend Steve Caballero’s iconic logo and given it a Star Wars twist. Now Caballero’s logo features a skateboard riding, light saber brandishing Yoda using the Force to fight the good fight on a marshmallow colored sneaker and a battle-ready Darth Vader with an invitation to the dark side on a black sneaker. This simplistic design is definitely the coolest release in the entire Star Wars x Vans collection. Here’s hoping the corresponding Star Wars x Vans apparel collection is much better!

The Star Wars x Vault by Vans Collection goes on sale June 2014 and will be available in limited production in the U.S. at The Vans DQM General NYC and Boston, Open Ceremony, LA Store, NYC Store, NYC Ace Hotel Store. Additionally, the Star Wars x Vault by Vans Collection will be available in limited production globally at Colette in Paris, Firmament in Berlin, Open Ceremony in London, Tresbien, Off The Hook in Montreal.

SDCC 09 - Believe Dero Resin Figures by Jermaine Rogers

Jermaine Rogers, one of The Blot’s favorite artists, had three awesome prototypes on display at San Diego Comic Con 2009. The first two were red and blue prototypes of an upcoming resin release of Rogers’ popular character Dero, entitled Believe. The Believe Dero resin figures looked incredible in person, and I couldn’t get over how big they were (around 8-10 inches in height). Jermaine let me hold one, and its craftsmanship was remarkable.


Also on display was a very raw Veil: Specimen 129 resin prototype that is currently in development. It had something very funky looking in the middle of it (like a piece of coral), but what I really liked about the head is that it had a magnet at the bottom of it. As Jermaine explained it, the plan is to have a magnet placed at the top of the figure’s neck as well, so that the two pieces can latch together magnetically. It will give the resin figure some articulation, so that you will be able to rotate the figure's head while still having it attached to its resin body. How cool is that!?!


Also on display was a pair of Jermaine Rogers x Vans sneakers. They looked pretty sick, so I had to take a pick. Not sure of the drop date on these kicks, but check out your local Vans store to reserve a pair!

The Blot meets artist Jermaine Rogers

The Blot was going through some files on my computer and I realized I never talked about my trip to Friendswood, Texas to meet renowned artist Jermaine Rogers. I can’t believe Rogers’ signing for Vans took place back in April, where has the time gone? Anyway, Jermaine was super nice and talked to me about a variety of things including his history designing artwork for rock concert posters and his line of designer vinyl figures. I also wanted to share some of the cool free shwag I got while at the Vans store, including this Jermaine Rogers designed Vans t-shirt signed by the artist:


Jermaine also hooked me up with this awesome 7-color screen print entitled “Little Animals Grow… (Teach Your Children).” On JermaineRogers.com he talks about the piece, stating that “it's interesting how our society provides several ways of teaching a child to get very comfortable with the feel of a pistol in his hand. Every little detail of this image has its own little meaning. I hope some of you will like it.” (link) It’s definitely a striking piece of artwork and I love the hand drawn Dero head Rogers added to the screen print for me. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do!


Jermaine said he’s got a few exclusives in the works for this year’s San Diego Comic Con, so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for those and look forward to speaking with him again in a few weeks down in sunny San Diego.

Artist Jermaine Rogers Set To Appear In Houston, Texas Tonight

The Blot got really excited yesterday when I found out that Jermaine Rogers, one of the truly greats in modern rock poster art, will be in Houston, Texas tonight for the grand opening of a new Vans Store in Friendswood. Some might say Friendswood is a suburb of Houston, but I’m not so sure. Google Maps predicts it’s going to take me 30 minutes to an hour to drive there, that doesn't sound like a suburb to me. Oh well, it’s bound to be worth it as Jermaine will be making live art on site and both he and Vans will be giving lots of swag away to attendees.


I’ve been a huge fan of Jermaine Rogers awesome work ever since I first saw his vinyl figure Veil: Specimen 129, which comes in a variety of colorways. Since then he’s also dropped the awesome Squire vinyl figure and more artwork than I could possibly mention here (he's done concert posters for artists like Radiohead, Neil Young, Tool, Weezer, David Bowie, Willie Nelson and Morrissey). If you’re interested in seeing more of his artwork then I highly recommend checking out his art archive here, and if you live in Houston I suggest heading down to Friendswood tonight for a meet and greet with famed artist Jermaine Rogers.


What’s really cool about Rogers’ appearance tonight at the new Vans store is that he evidently likes to exchange gifts with fans. Jermaine even says on his website that “whenever I do events like this...whether it's at San Diego Comicon or whatever, I like to exchange gifts with folks. Bring me something cool and I'll give you something cool back. One girl at an appearance I did for VANS in Salt Lake City made me a pretty complex little wallet out of felt, leather and thread and I gave her a 2004 Bowie poster. The wallet rules: it's got a rainbow lightning bolt on it.” (link) Any suggestions on what I should bring to trade!?!


Jermaine Rogers will be at the Vans Store at Baybrook Mall tonight, Friday, April 17, 2009, for its grand opening from 5:30-9:00pm. The store is located at 19400 Gulf Freeway; Friendswood, Texas 77546.