Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron Marvel Minimates Series 2

Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum have finally unveiled the final two “mystery” figures in their Marvel Minimates Series 63, which means it’s finally time to blog about DST’s second assortment of Avengers: Age of Ultron Minimates! The Blot just can’t believe it took them this long to announce it since Avengers 2 is already out of theaters and this Minimates series hit store shelves this week. Avengers: Age of Ultron Marvel Minimates Series 2 includes Hulkbuster Iron Man with “Rampaging” Hulk, Hulk with Ulysses Klaue, The Vision with a Hydra Soldier and a variant set of “Phasing” Vision with a Hydra Soldier.

Each Avengers: Age of Ultron Marvel Minimates Set includes two 2” mini figures featuring 14 points of articulation and a variety of interchangeable parts and accessories. These Minimates 2 packs should be hitting store shelves now, but just in case you can order the entire Age of Ultron Series 2 assortment from Entertainment Earth for $29.99 here.

Mutant Vinyl Hardcore 1 Year Celebration Releases: Sludge Demon & Leviathan

Although the first Mutant Vinyl Hardcore vinyl figure was created about 4 years ago, it was only 1 year ago that Rich Montanari of MVH decided to become a full time monster maker and quit his day job. To celebrate that special occasion (which happened to fall on his birthday – happy birthday Rich!), Mutant Vinyl Hardcore will be releasing his newest and oldest MVH toys this weekend: the Sludge Demon and Leviathan. The unpainted black Sludge Demon is cast in jet black soft Japanese vinyl and includes two MVH stickers, one button and a metal rimmed paper MVH hanging tag. This old school figure will retail for $65 and will go on sale at the Mutant Vinyl Hardcore online store this Sunday, August 16th, at 12:00 PM EDT.

The Leviathan is cast in slate blue soft Japanese vinyl and features dark gray, silver, metallic blue, and copper sprays with tons of BLOOD SPLATTER! Each figure includes a haunted axe, severed head and trident weapon, a Berserker sticker, hand painted unique MVH paper with metal rim tag and a goodie bag of shark gummy candy. This bad boy will be available via lottery only for $215. The lottery is open now here and will close on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 11:59pm EDT. Winners will be notified on Saturday, August 15th.

DC Comics Mopeez Plush Figures by Funko

This fall Funko will be releasing its second line of Mopeez designer plush figures featuring the heroes and villains of the DC Comics universe! These 4.5” plush figures are weighted on the bottom to retain a slouchy posture and adorable frustration. To kick off this grumpy new line of DC Comics Mopeez Plushes, Funko will be releasing a wave that includes Batman, Superman, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Robin, Batgirl and The Flash. Even your favorite superheroes have bad days!

The DC Comics Mopeez Plush Series is scheduled to hit store shelves in September 2015, but if you can’t wait you can pre-order all seven plush dolls from Entertainment Earth now for just $7.99 each here.

Gallery 1988 presents Mattel: An Art Tribute to 70 Years of Toys

This Friday, Gallery 1988 opens its newest exhibit, a collaboration with Mattel, curated by Dave Perillo, celebrating 70 years of toy making! It is a truly epic mash-up of art and toys by some of biggest names in the world art, including Andrew Kolb, Anthony Petrie, Ian Glaubinger, Jason Edmiston, Jerrod Maruyama, 100% Soft, Rich Pellegrino, Tom Whalen and more.

Gallery 1988 will be hosting an opening reception for Mattel: An Art Tribute to 70 Years of Toys this Friday, August 14th from 7-10pm at the G1988 (West) location (7308 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046). Any remaining artwork will be made available online at the Gallery 1988 online store the next day.

D23 Expo Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Awakens Prints by Mark Englert & DKNG

Gallery 1988 is teaming up with Lucasfilm and HP for a very special event entitled “Art Awakens” to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. To promote this event, Gallery1988 will be releasing two epic Star Wars: The Force Awakens screen prints exclusively at this weekend’s D23 Expo.

Mark Englert’s The Force Awakens print features good guys Finn, Rey and droid BB-8, along with a squad of X-Wings and the Millennium Falcon, while DKNG’s Star Wars print features the bad guys Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma and a pair of First Order Stormtroopers, plus a squadron of TIE Fighters, printed on metal. Both prints can be purchased at the Art Awakens D23 Expo booth #1415.

Playful Gorilla & Cash Cannon presents The Arsenal of Artists “No Toon Left Behind!” Group Art Show

Playful Gorilla and Cash Cannon have assembled a who’s who of artists for this weekend’s The Arsenal of Artists “No Toon Left Behind!” Group Art Show, which pays tribute to a time long gone when Saturday mornings were for sitting in front of your television set and watching nothing but cartoons! While the landscape of children’s TV has changed forever, those of us who grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s remember what it was like spending those early weekend hours watching some of the most ridiculous awesome animated shows of all time.

The Arsenal of Artists gather this Saturday, August 15th, from 4-9pm at the Suburban Vinyl Art Gallery in Waldwick, NJ to raise their voices and recall their memories leaving no ‘toon behind! “No Toon Left Behind!” will feature the biggest lineup of the summer, which includes unbelievably roster of talented artists ranging from toy artists to customizers, from digital illustrators to 3D artists. Each participating artist will bring original artwork with a cartoony twist throwing back to their favorite childhood memories.

The Arsenal of Artists “No Toon Left Behind!” Group Art Show will include a BBQ party with door prizes, raffles, free food, drinks and guaranteed great times!

Lucasfilm, HP & Gallery 1988 Celebrate Star Wars: The Force Awakens with “Art Awakens” Program

In celebration of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lucasfilm, HP and Gallery 1988 have teamed up to launch an exciting new program entitled “Art Awakens”. The program kicked off earlier this week with the launch of a 2 month long nationwide fan art competition across the US. Amateur artists can submit their Star Wars: The Force Awakens inspired art on ArtAwakens.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming professional art exhibit later in the year.

Additionally, coming this November to Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles is a 3 day Star Wars: The Force Awakens art exhibit featuring top professional and emerging contemporary artists. All new original pieces will be auctioned off in the name of Star Wars: Force for Change to benefit UNICEF Kid Power, which gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power band, kids earn points which unlock food packets for malnourished children around the world.

Five lucky winners of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fan Art Contest, chosen by a judging committee that includes members from Disney, Lucasfilm and the legendary visual effects house Industrial Light and Magic, will have their art featured in the professional gallery exhibit. The winners will also have the opportunity to be flown out to Los Angeles to attend the VIP opening night, among other prizes from HP.

Additionally, an HP “Bend the Rules” Award will be granted to one of the five grand prize winners upon completion of a questionnaire with the highest score in the Innovative Use of Technology category. The HP “Bend the Rules” Award winner will receive an HP Notebook Computer to help them push the boundaries of art and creativity.

Meet Sekure D’s First Production Figure, Pork Russel!

Yesterday, Sekure D posted this awesome teaser image for his very first production toy! Meet Pork Russel, a collaboration between Sekure D and his buddy Jem in Singapore. Inspired by Big Trouble in Little China, one of Sekure D’s all-time favorite movies, Pork Russel stands 6” tall and is a mash-up Kurt Russell’s Jack Burton with his Mack Truck in the film, the Pork Chop Express!!! What a freaking brilliant idea. The Blot can’t wait to find out more about this exciting upcoming release.

The Flash Season 2 First Look: Teddy Sears as Jay Garrick

Yesterday, The CW released this epic teaser image for the upcoming second season of the hit DC Comics television show, The Flash! The image features Grant Gustin as The Flash and Teddy Sears as Jay Garrick recreating the iconic cover to The Flash #123. Looks amazing, right!?! That issue, entitled “Flash of Two Worlds”, marked the very first meeting of the Golden Age The Flash, Jay Garrick, and the Silver Age The Flash, Barry Allen. The Blot seriously can’t wait for DC Comics’ Earth One and Earth Two to converge next season with the addition of Garrick to The CW super hero universe.

The Flash Season 2 premieres on The CW on Tuesday, October 6th, at 8/7c.

“The Joker” Phuak Vinyl Figure by Clogtwo x Mighty Jaxx

Pongsatorn “Phuak” Jongwilas is an actor in Thailand known for horror comedies such as Pee Mak (2013), See prang (2008) and Ha phraeng (2009). A huge fan of DC Comics’ The Joker, he has teamed up with Mighty Jaxx and artist Clogtwo to transform Phuak into his very own vinyl figure. Not only that, but it’s being released in a Joker inspirec colorway! The Blot’s such a sucker for a good comic book inspired colorway and this one works perfectly with the Phauk 4” vinyl figure.

Initially launched at Thailand Toy Expo 2015, where Phuak signed hundreds of figures for his fans, they are finally being given an official wide release to collectors all over the globe! The Phauk vinyl figure was designed by Clogtwo and produced by Mighty Jaxx. It stands 4” tall and is made of PVC plastic. It is currently available in three colorways (White, Black and The Joker) and comes packaged on a black and white blister card. Pick one up today at the Mighty Jaxx online store for just $10, or a set of all three colorways for $27.