Mondo hat exklusiv via USAToday große neue Entwicklungen angekündigt. Man will die Seite redesignen und nun nach Movie Art Prints und Schallplatten auch ins Spielzeuggeschäft einsteigen. Gemeint sind damit zunächst große und detailgetreue Nachbildungen im Stile von Sideshow oder GentleGiant, aber Mondo Chef Justin Ishmael sieht seine Produkte irgendwann auch in den Regalen von Target stehen, was bei den Sammlern natürlich für gehörige Skepsis sorgt (The Horror! The Horror!).

Mondo hatte bereits vor Kurzem eine George Romero Figur anzubieten und teaste bereits im Mai eine größere Produktpalette an. Nun will man passend zur MondoCon mit einem neuen Redesign (überfällig!) der Homepage und neuen hochwertigen Figuren punkten. Den Anfang machen eine Iron Giant Figur, Mike Mitchells Mikey aus seiner Just Like Us-Serie sowie eine Figur von niemand Geringeres als Alfread Hitchock. Die Figuren werden jetzt am Wochenende auf der Comic-Con bereits vorgestellt, weshalb man wohl erst dann erste Bilder vom kleinem Hitchcock erwarten darf.

Die Figuren werden ähnlich wie die Schallplatten nicht limitiert, sondern können vorbestellt werden. Mondo produziert dann die gekaufte Menge. Der Iron Giant dürfte wohl eine ganze Stange Geld kosten, weshalb ich da wohl passen werde. Den Mikey werde ich mir als großer Fan von Mike Mitchell jedoch wohl holen müssen und Hitchcock klingt mit seinen Utensilien (“his directors chair, clapboard, cigars, as well as props from his most famous films- a butcher knife, a raven, and a seagull”) auch höchst interessant. Das dürfte sich wunderbar auf dem Regal vor der Sammlung seiner Filme machen.

Hier die gesamte Pressemitteilung mit allen Einzelheiten.

Mondo is doing toys! The launch of figures for The Iron Giant, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Alfred Hitchcock are Mondo’s first foray into toy collectibles, with the subjects and diversity of design reflecting Mondo’s unique passions. The initial offerings include replicas as well as toys from artist-based designs, which can be previewed at San Diego Comic-Con in Mondo’s booth (#835).

Toys join Mondo’s growing list of pop culture passions in posters, vinyl, gallery events, VHS and apparel. “I am so pumped to announce toys! We’ve been working on this in secrecy for a year and now it’s time to let you guys know about it. We’ll be focusing on existing properties that we love as well as working with artists to bring their own creations to life. This is a new area for us, but I resist the term ‘expansion’ since the goal for Mondo has always been to be a place where artists and designers can work to have their visions realized, whether that’s through posters, gallery shows, vinyl, apparel or now toys,” said Mondo CEO Justin Ishmael.

THE IRON GIANT

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, The Iron Giant has reaped praise as being among the greatest animated films ever made (recently ranked #7 on Time Out’s 100 Best Animated Movies list) and it was important for Mondo to honor the film with an appropriately stunning collectible.

The Iron Giant Collectible Figure

The 16″ tall figure will have over 30 points of articulation, light features, and other fun surprises! Accompanying The Iron Giant will be a Hogarth figure, scraps of metal for him to munch on and a Seafood sign that has a removable “S” to put on his chest. He will also include an interchangeable head and gun attachment, giving a choice of displaying the figure as the regular version, or the “War” version! The figure was designed from the actual CG files used in the film, for ultimate accuracy.

The Iron Giant Bolt Replica

The Iron Giant Bolt is a life-sized replica of the wayward flashing piece of The Iron Giant, as seen in the film. 6″ in length, with a flashing light feature, and authentic details from the film, it’s the perfect-sized piece to display at home, and to show that there’s always hope in the end.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

The First Turtle Vinyl Figure

This vinyl figure is based off of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creator Kevin Eastman’svery first drawing of a “Ninja Turtle,” which formed the basis of the popular comic. Struggling artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird came up with the Turtles in November 1983 while living in North Hampton, Massachusetts and the spark came from this drawing, which Eastman drew initially as a joke featuring a bi-pedal turtle with nunchucks and a mask. The figure stands 6″ tall, and features a classic black and white paint design, based on the original art!

Lil Mikey Vinyl Figure

This will be Mondo’s first toy based on a design from an artist that they work with frequently. Mike Mitchell has a series of pop culture characters called “Just Like Us” and this toy is based on his design in that series for Michelangelo. Turtle fans and people of a particular age will note the accuracy of the real TMNT ice cream on a popsicle stick.

The “Lil Mikey” figure reflects Mondo’s goal to have many of its toys based on artist designs in addition to replicas.

“If I had $5 when I was a kid, it was going to be spent on a ninja turtle figure. So much of my childhood was defined by TMNT, I watched every episode, I had the toys, the shirts, the games, the comics. I wish I could say “Lil Mikey” was a dream come true, but I never could have fathomed this happening. I am so extremely excited about this figure, and I can’t wait to show it off at SDCC,” said artist Mike Mitchell.

HITCHCOCK 1/6 Scale figure

The worlds most famous director is immortalized in this 1/6 scale figure, which features an authentic likeness, his directors chair, clapboard, cigars, as well as props from his most famous films- a butcher knife, a raven, and a seagull! He also features a fine-tailored suit, several interchangeable hands, and a figure stand.