Noboto Neo Phase review!

Hi guys, I am Mebbles, a new contributor on here at The Keshi Drop and I have a little review of a crazy awesome figure I got from Onell Design recently! Being by Onell, of course it's Glyos compatible, and that means it has a lot of movable joints and parts can be replaced. I was sure amazed how much this guy can move about! It even has wrist articulation!

   Ok, ok, I'll try to keep my hype level down a tad, but it's always awesome to get a figure that you haven't got something from before. The color of the variant I got is a dazzling transparent green that is very pleasing to the eye. The height of the figure is pretty small as you can see, but I think it's a perfect size, especially for people that like keshi or keshi-like sizes. It comes with a different head that has another eye style and also some extra pieces to do stuff with (which I am unsure what to do with since I don't have any other Glyos thing to modify and I am happy on how this guy looks outside right outside the bag).

  All together, the figure comes with 19 parts, which amazes me how much of that is the highly articulated figure itself!



If you too are interested in Onell Design stuff check out their website here:
http://www.onelldesign.com/store/

  

Purist Ramblings: Art Without the Artist!

Hey, Earthlings, it's 2015 and let's cheer for what I hope will be another awesome year of tiny, rubber, minifigures of all sorts!  Wooooo!  I can't wait!  But, first, check out the new gloss of paint!  Say hello to The Keshi Drop!  I know it's not much, but I think it was time I do something, even if it's not a ton, and pull a little away other intellectual properties, their logos, and all that.  I've gotten a lot of attention last year, and I owe it to everyone to do on the merits of my writing and posts and not on the shadow of another toy line we all love, but I have more New Year Resolutions than just that.

I want to cover bigger issues.  Now, now, yes, they will all still be about keshi and minifigure greatness.  I just want to tackle bigger discussion points in our community.  I want to do more than just toy reviews.  Sure, they will still be there, but I think that job is already filled by so many talented people.  I don't need to add to that.  I can do something I feel more passionate about than passing on information really anyone else could find on the Internet.  I want to push the boundaries.

And I want to do that... now!

What if your favorite musician blurted something offensive out on Twitter?  What if your favorite actress acted really poorly and rudely at a charity event?  What if your favorite sports player was exposed as some sort of criminal?  The question I ask is:  Can you enjoy the art without the artist?

It won't take you too long in a community of a particular category to find out the ones crowds will love or hate for various reasons, the keshi community is no different.  Everyone is different and everyone has different degrees of tolerance, for example, so I wonder if it's possible to be a toy maker and sell your product to people that don't like you.  Is there a Walmart effect?  Could a product could be too good to pass up?  I think in many possibilities there are, but many not in designer toys.  Our community is a niche within a niche within a Russian egg doll wrapped in an enigma inside a box.  It might be small and refined enough, that personal connection can be made, and thusly, can an inferior product be more successful when the artist behind it is generally loved by the community?


I've talked to a few people on the matter.  Granted, it should have been more, but I did find some common threads.  I've found in cases where the product wasn't a necessity in life and generally considered small, like a mom and pop store, feelings of the producer of the product were valued more.  I find it strange, yet not.  How does a big box store like Walmart get the pass, when they have possibly the worst reputation in the States?  I'm not sure they always do, but certainly, when the individual customer has a bigger say or impact, you'll find a stronger connections, positive or negative.   At least, with the small numbers I have, that's my guess.

I'm not going to call out any names.  This isn't a witch hunt or a drama stunt to get attention, so I hope everyone respects that and leaves names out of comments as well, but the keshi community has there share of polarizing people.  There are some artists out there that have a well of talent, and really could be the next big thing, if they only knew how to stay out of some nasty flame wars.  Maybe it's inescapable.  Everyone deserves to have an opinion and to voice it.  Whether to stand behind your product or your beliefs at a given time might be something for business psychology class, or something.

Regardless, something may be said that the keshi community, your product demographic, is rather small.  It's been said by various artists that sales numbers have been consistent for the last few years.  One could gather that's it's only growing by the number of people leaving the hobby.  Under that, one could suggest there is less room for error.  Each offended or insulted person is a larger percentage of the demographic.

To be honest, I have found myself turned away from some artists' work because of their online interactions.  I, unfortunately, found it so unsettling I couldn't clear the stigma away from the product.  I knew it was of that artist.  I could notice, or I felt I noticed, design choices made from the mind of that artist and I couldn't assume the product more mine than theirs.  Even with a gorgeous collection from a very talented hand, I couldn't stomach supporting the work, and I actively make a mental note when looking at independent keshi I am unfamiliar with just to make sure it's not from them.

Luckily, in the year I have been following this hobby, I am holding this strike on only one artist, that will remain unnamed.  Everyone else I've seen or interacted with, through forums or videos on Youtube, have been nothing short of amazing.  Even a character like the Super Sucklord is a treat and an obviously passionate artist, hungry to push his art form to the very limit.  And guys like Mark from Mystical Warriors of the Ring have showed the blog here patience and understanding that certainly earns my respect and fandom.

What about the rest of you?  I am excited to hear your thoughts on it as well!  Do you find it hard to enjoy work from people you don't particularly like?  Please, share your thoughts and opinions below, but please don't bring up any names unless it's positive.  I don't want that sort of weird, tabloid, attention.

So that's it, Earthlings!  That's the first post of 2015!  It was a blast and a honor blogging it up last year and I can't wait to do more of the same this year.  It's a brand new year with a brand new name, but it'll be same old nonsensical, rambling, borderline brainless, SpiderEarth giving all the insides to this awesome keshi hobby.  Happy New Years, everyone!

Toy Haul 12/27/2014!

What sort of keshi fanatic would I be if I didn't get anything of the sort this holiday?  Maybe it wasn't more than some, but who's really counting?  But anyway, I received some keshi in the mailbox recently, so let's dive in!

I've really been in the mood for some new OMFG minis.  Of course I follow and collect October Toy's OTMFG line quite seriously, but I can't really forget all the awesome variants out there for the classic line.  What was really itching my wallet was their Quazar variant in their webstore.  It's a clear pinkish purple.  It's amazing-looking, and if their store was open while my wallet was blowing away in the wind, I would have grabbed the set.  Unfortunately, I wasn't born so patient.

That'll be a Toy Haul post for another time, because this time I picked up both Series 1 and Series 2 of the Shelflife.com Exclusive Blood Rage OMFG minifigures.  Maybe you can see why.  When you can't have clear pink, go for clear red.  Yes, exactly.

These guys are gorgeous!  Full, thick, bright, and they all have that amazing PVC smell that eventually gives me a headache, but I'll never learn.  I always love the weight of October Toy's keshi.  They have such an unmatched quality that makes me wonder why I don't hunt after the variant sets more.

I'll have to change that soon, just as soon as I track down those clear pinks first.

Check out October Toy's website here!

Also, this post marks my 50th entry in this blog, and likely my last for 2014.  I want to thank everyone for dropping by, reading my stuff, and sharing your opinions with me.  I've said it before, I made this blog with no intention of it getting any views or attention from anyone.  I am very thankful for all this and I look forward to a whole new year of crazy keshi ramblings.  Thank you all again.

Rise of a New Colorway!

Just announced on their Instagram, that's @littlerubberguys for those not hip and cool enough to be following them yet, is the first colorway set for the Rise of the Beasts mini line scheduled for a February/March release.

These army green variants of the rhino and scorpion colors look just amazing, and they have me so excited for their release.  For those who like them that way, there are some with even paint applications too.

I personally love the throwback color to the classic army men green.  Granted I love myself an abundance of glitter and translucent neon colors, but something like this certainly resonates deeply with memories of pouring out buckets full of little green men to wage war all over carpet.

For the collectors out there, outside the incredibly hard-to-get prototypes, our color variants are flesh, black, gold, and now soon to be army green.  Any hope for a pink glitter?  We'll have to wait and see.

As always, check out all the other awesome Rise of the Beast goodies here!

Early Evolution!

For those hardcore collectors and rarity chasers, Mystical Warriors of the Ring just announced they have something that might be right up your alley.

They only have a handful, maybe it was five sets total in the world they mentioned, but they are test shots of the new MWOTR ring set called Evolution.  They are currently working out the finer details on the new figures and these sets are the product of that.  Most companies would destroy them, but like the preview pieces at Designer Con, they are releasing them to their fans to get an early look at what's to come in the near future.

Keep in mind, though, these are not the final products either.  Both sets are working models and the final design may have slight alterations here and there.  The Designer Con set was done in a hard plastic and this recently released set was done in a much softer material.  It appears they are working on some science with their figure's detail and the materials at their disposal.  It's all very cool and exciting, and I can't wait to see what the final product will look like.  Unfortunately for me, my budget doesn't allow me to be the 'keshi baller' I wish I could be, so I'll have to let these enviously pass me by.  I will, however, be first in line for the final PVC version of series two.

This set is only available via email, primarily because of the low numbers available, I am guessing.  In fact, it appears there are still pieces of the Designer Con test shots available in their store.  If either of them interest you, please check out their website and give them some love!

For Mystical Warriors of the Ring news and minifigures click here!

A Mandatory Mutation!

Tonight is the night!  Tonight is the night I finally got a Mutant Mania figure in my hand!  Now this is particularly important, because, as my normal readers know, I've been something of sour towards keshi minifigure toy lines that have not fell into some arbitrary mold I created with all the wisdom and knowledge of a toy collector who barely knows what he's talking about. 

These strict guidelines began to fell apart during the release of the Rise of the Beast line, which I gave really high praise.  Admittedly, I didn't make a large ROTB order.  Really, I just ordered a single figure, just for curiosity sake, and when it came in, I wish I had purchased a ton more.  I wondered why, considering I was so rough on almost every other multi-part keshi toy lines prior.  I chalked it up to the fact I had the figure in my hand, and when I had it in my possession, I could give it a better judgement.  I could feel it and smell it and maybe I could find qualities to like that just doesn't reach out from a picture.  So I wondered, what if I picked up figures I previously felt I wouldn't like?  

One toy line I previously described as a design disappointment was Moose's Mutant Mania.  Despite it being clearly inspired by the Kinnikuman, I felt the three-part figure was not worth my time.  The figures have an exposed back with a flexi-spine component holding the entire thing together.  It allows the figure to change it's parts with others in the toy line, as well as letting them bounce around and hit each other.  Still, I was not a fan, but like before, maybe my feels would change.

I picked up a single blind box and it finally came in the mail.  I was pleased to get one with not a lot of paint application, and in fact, pink is one of my favorite colors, but I don't think my opinion was swayed all that much.  And really, considering I feel this particular figure may be the best-case-scenario for Mutant Mania to win over my love, it probably should have made a stronger impact, but it didn't.  The flexi-spine is just awful.  Miserable, even.   In hand, his pieces feel a lot more looser than I hoped.  He would likely fall off his spine with a vigorous shaking.  I could super glue him together, but I won't.  That doesn't feel right.

Despite all that, the plastic's color and feeling is really great, and standing alone, not moving, he looks like a really convincing imitation.  So, as odd as this sounds, with virtually failing grades, he's hanging just well with the rest of the keshi collection, and I think he'll stay there just fine.  But I don't think I'll be collecting any more, unless I came across more in a collection or lot.

Hot Rise of the Beasts Leak!

Unless you follow @littlerubberguys on Instagram, which I suggest you do, this hot piece of leaky news will come as a pleasant surprise.

What we are looking at are non-articulated, rubber casted, prototypes of the new lion character from the Rise of the Beasts mini figure line.  Being a test shot, they are slightly larger than their production brothers, but that ain't no thing but a chicken wing.  Notice anything sweet with these guys yet?  What, no pegs, you say?  Solid chunk of awesomeness?  Heck, yeah!  Tickle that purist bone!

What truly is the icing on the cake is that these awesome guys are going on sale January!  At the time of the post, I have no idea how many there actually are or will be available for purchase, but if I had to guess, I would say it's going to be quite the small release, maybe just these four.  I'll certainly keep you all in the know when I find out more.

But, hey, don't wait for me to be your source of Rise of the Beast information.  Go give them love and support here!  Also, you can find all kinds of amazing LRG-exclusive OMFG and SUCKLE sets too.  Just go and empty your bank account.

Ni Has the Good Stuff!

Wait, before we go off and do the big Glyos post, I want to mention something really neat sort of tucked in and a little hidden away that I really love.

They are called Anomalies and they find their home at 481 Universe/ Ni's Stuff.  Ni's Stuff generally has astronaut-inspired figures, and bits and pieces, all compatible and interchangeable with other Glyos-friendly toy lines, but there are also the sluggish freaks, The Anomalies.

Anomalies are beautiful single-mold minifigures made in the same shiny or brightly-colorful PVC as the rest of their releases.  They appear to be the native inhabitants of distant alien planets, possibly twisted and warped by climates and conditions completely foreign to mankind.

I personally love these guys, not just for their wildly-unique alien designs but also for their shininess.  I've said it a million times - I'm such a sucker for glitter and metallic variants.  And lucky me, this Friday, December 19th, 481 Universe is releasing a gold accessory head pack that includes two bright and shiny gold anomalies.

Sadly, Anomalies used to come in sets of six, but I can understand, in the Glyos world, how these guys may be looked upon as outcasts.  I, of course, stick by my last remaining strands of keshi purism, while I still have it.  Still, the accessory packs are still worth looking into and purchasing.  If nothing else, you'll have a nice large pile of amazing heads to trade to other Glyos collectors for their anomalies, which is exactly the game I've been playing.

I shared it last post, but I'll do it again.  For more awesome Ni's Stuff, check out this link here!  Go check them out!  He has much more than just the Anomalies I enjoy.  Plus, the one of a kind custom figures are worth a look too, if you're more of the hardcore sort of collector.

Outlandish Xmas!

George and Ayleen at October Toys always have a cool thing going, both with their OMFG line and their OTMFG monthly releases.  I love dropping in every 15th of the month and checking what new minis or variants are up, and snagging a few just as they are released is always part of the fun of collecting keshi.

This month, they are releasing a couple new color variants for minis I have complete sets of already, so the collection grows!  We're looking at a holly berry red Zombie Pheyden, another amazingly static gylos figure, and the lump of coal black Brocotal.

Damn it, me!  Why are we always ripping on Glyos?  We know Rise of the Beasts is an awesome line and you'll likely appreciate any other line with interchangeable pegs, you just have to have it in your hands...

Maybe it's time to drop in to Onell Design or 481 Universe, grab a few figures, and finally haul them to the old blog.  New Years resolution, maybe?

You don't have to wait for me, either!  Check out everyone's sites just below!

October Toys - click here!

Onell Design - click here!

481 Universe - click here!

Thanks for checking in and until next time, Earthlings.

Blog Name Change?!

When I started this blog a few months back, I only had intention of it being my own dark corner of the Internet to ramble like an insane adult toy collector.  I never thought in a million years I'd get as many visitors I do, spanning from all kinds of places around the world.  I am truly thankful for the attention, however, it now makes me suspect some of my design choices need to be revisited.

More importantly, I feel the name of the blog may be too close to trademark properties for me to keep it any longer.  I haven't been given any sort of scary emails or anything, which is good, but I certainly want to stand on my own two feet too.  I don't particularly want to fool visitors into believing this is solely a Monster In My Pocket blog or one really only about toy reviews.  At it's core, this place is my rusty, creaking, seat at the toy collecting freak show.  This is my interpretation of what I see, so maybe I need to reflect that better.

So, in the passing weeks, I've been seriously toying with a few different name changes to the blog, but I don't want to do anything without the thoughts of my readers.  What do you guys think?  Would a name change over the New Year be best?  Trust me, if we change the name, it'll be the name that sticks forever.

Share your thoughts below!  Thanks!

Share a Coke with a Keshi!

You know, it's weird.  I can see a million different areas in products and media where this a bit less attractive to downright awful, but I always love keshi in cross promotions with products, and the stranger the better.

Maybe I enjoy the idea of tiny, rubber, minifigures getting in the hands of new people, but I think it has more nostalgia than that.  I think my acceptance of promotional keshi dates back to the cereal box toys of the 80's and 90's, especially the rubber Flintstones figures we all got.  I would argue that keshi has always tried to be that freebie attached to some product, so that's why it may get the pass while others don't.

One promotional set that I recently discovered and fell in love with was a Square Enix cross-promotion with Coca Cola, because why not.  In Japan, there was limited edition Final Fantasy themed bottles of soda, all of which came with a little red baggie attached.  Inside the baggie was a little Final Fantasy minifigure, either painted or in a translucent red variant.  Most are in classic poses, but some are so awesomely cheesy that they are holding soda bottles or giant bottle cap signs.

I particularly love the plain red ones, and plan to be getting a good little lot sometime soon on the second market.  Now, the red bases the figures stand on are a giant eyesore, but it's no where as bad as the Marvel Test Tube Goo bases are.  I'll certainly do a more detailed review once I get a few in my hands.

A Wild Dunny Appears!

...Or rather Dumny, as I learned today.

Either way, it was a big news day over at the SUCKLE 2 Kickstarter page.  With it winding down before, it released the Kozik minifigure, but now with just over 48 hours from the time of this post, there are even more additions to the new series!

I was on the trail of this mysterious Dunny bootleg minifigure, and finally we have news about it and then some.  SUCKLE hit their goal today, so they have released three stretch goal figures free to those who have funded the project for $45 and up.

Just over $25k now, the Glyos Sucklord, in his glorious non-articulated, non-interchangeable, glory will be unlocked at $26k. $27k will unlock the Blowpeg, and finally $28k will unlock the ever sneaky bootleg Dumny.

 It was slow getting the first goal down, but I have no doubts DKE and the Sucklord will be getting their $28k stretch goal in no time.  The set now is somewhere around 14 figures, without having to look into it and count everything, and people must be looking through their wallets for at least an extra $45.

It's still not too late to jump on either!  Go here to visit the Kickstarter and support them before it's too late!

EDIT:  With only 24 hours left, these three stretch goals look to be soon reached, so two more have been added!  At $29k, Karate Chump Galactic Jerkbag and at $30k, Reality TV Star Sucklord!