Earlier this year, we announced that we’re diving into collectible toys, focusing on existing properties that we love, as well as working with artists to bring their own creations to life. We can’t think of a better example of these two things than our first toy release, Lil' Mikey, available for Pre-Order today!
Those of you who attended the Toy-Making Panel at MondoCon in September got a behind-the-scenes look at how Lil' Mikey came to be (among others in the first fleet of Mondo toys). For the unfamiliar, Lil' Mikey is a 9” Vinyl premium collectible figure based on the Michaelangelo TMNT illustration by Mike Mitchell from his Just Like Us series.
Here’s what Mike Mitchell had to say about the project:
“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.
When I was in art school in Chicago, I dropped into Rotofugi, an awesome gallery/designer toy shop that I frequently rode by and not five minutes into it, I was hooked on designer toys. I hardly had any money in those days, but I loved stopping by when I could as the toys were very inspiring to me. I've wanted to make a toy ever since, and I couldn't have asked for a better one to start with.
It's not super easy to get a toy made, it requires capital and various experienced parties. But this has been an extremely rewarding experience, thanks to Dan Willett at Unboxed and Justin Ishmael, who has sort of been my partner in crime during this. We're both huge toy dudes, and have enjoyed the process of seeing this come together through various people around the world.
I can't wait for the finished product. I don't have any of my own work hanging up in my house, but this will 100% be occupying a shelf."
After working with Dan Willet at Unbox & Brock Otterbacher over the past year to make the Lil' Mikey figure a reality, we’re proud to present this beautifully crafted – dare we say adorable – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figure.
You can Pre-Order Lil' Mikey today! We estimate orders will ship out in the first quarter of 2015. Note: No gallery pick-ups for this item.