The following post features art that is of an intentionally obscene nature, though not for obscenity's sake. Therefore, the meat, of this post is hidden behind the break. Last October, I read on the Mishka Bloglin about Carlos Enriquez-Gonzalez, a Venezuelan contemporary artist, who makes these fantastic fiberglass kaiju-esque creatures. Around that time, he revealed a creature so magnificent, he knew the only way to full realize it was to craft it again, and make it 9 feet tall. That creature, recently unveiled this month, was the Vagina Lips Monster...

Via Carlos - In the work “MAGICAL VAGINA” the artist intends to embody one of these ideas: vagina as the giver of life, a symbolic tunnel through which we can go from one world to another, birth, death, transformation. In a world in which the culture of the phallic has been imposed and the vagina mistreated and denigrated to the point of being seen as something vulgar or pornographic, arises the proposal of its vindication to take her to the same level of equality with the phallic symbol, its encephalic body and its standing posture point out the thinking presence, that feels, that observes its surroundings with her attentive eye and wants to be acknowledged, respected, “the vagina life giver, powerful, exists, feels, wants to be loved without having to hide, enables rebirth, generates life. I intend the confrontation with the free spectator, give him something that invites him to reflect about the theme on how this feminine organ has been mistreated and denigrated, because the vagina can connect us with the most pure, powerful and mysterious forces of the universe, God present? The vagina has been wounded for a long time, “skimmed blood.”

The "Magical Vagina" goes on the auction block in October, and should be expected to fetch around $15-$30k for Carlos' efforts. If I had that much dough floating around, this would be mine. photos via the bloglin.

I've always wanted to paint a kaiju. I think the airbrushed style of Eastern vinyl is just tops, and I wanted a stab at my own. I decided my first foray would be on this marvelous new figure from the Lake Monsters Series, Chris Ryniak's Big Muscamoot. Since the story goes that these monsters hail from the Great Lakes, I figured my custom would have to be from Lake Erie. colors were easy to decide, but I haven't airbrushed since I was making Star Wars and El Camino models as a kid with my dad. I even dragged out the old airbrush kit that I used almost 10 years ago. I think it went pretty well, but I may invest in a decent-er airbrush, any suggestions on a good model? I hear Badger is pretty good. I'll have more pics up on the flickr soon.

I've always wanted to own an unpainted Kaiju. There is something about the naked glisten of vinyl that's just tops. Rotofugi + Squibbles Ink held a lottery to sell off some of their SDCC Lake Monsters Big Muscamoot release and I got pulled for the Orange Factory Reject Unpainted model. Apparently, they had some manufacturing issues with their factory and some of the Orange figures didn't come out so perfect. Thats ok, I think I'm gonna make a Lake Erie custom.

Urban vinyl, designer toys, upscale toys, collector figurines... no matter what you call them, these are NOT the toys you buy at Walmart. The BBC has an ongoing series called "Japaorama" where they focus on parts of the Japanese culture... a segment on urban vinyl was bound to happen. If you are still wondering why I collect these things, the clip below sums it up nicely. Via ToyBot Studios

I nearly dropped the Boogie Man when I opened the box from Mishka and found out it glows. Let me rephrase, this thing lights the fuck up.  If diecast Cyco Simon suspenders weren't enough, the innards of the Boogie Man have a flashing light that activates when disturbed, kinda like those crazy balls you get in machines. The Boogie Man is by far my favorite piece i've collected. It makes me feel like I'm a legit kaiju collector, no? Either that, or a budding Lamour Supreme/Mishka Stalker. I took some more pics, which you can check out from the links below. Click through to see my first kaiju I ever bought, Super 7's Stomp, glowing in the dark (Jay and I had a last minute long exposure party before bed last night). CURE + MISHKA Boogie Man (@flickr) Toys from Hero and Sound (@flickr)

Mishka is steadily becoming my number 1 hipster thread label of choice... mostly for reasons like this.... Mishka, along with Cure, harnessing the incredible talents of Lamour Supreme (he did the Mongolion), have released this supremely limited top-notch quality vinyl piece from hell. Cast in Acid Green translucent vinyl, with MISHKA colors sprayed thoughout, Cyco Simon suspenders, Goat Mask, hatchet, guts, and a MadBall homage head... god this piece is amazing. And I fear I'll never touch it. The Boogie Man dropped at the 350 Broadway Mishka shop in NYC yesterday, May 21st. There was a big party, Lamour showed up to sign some stuff, doodle, and I'm sure there aren't any left. If anyone sees one for sale let me know. Going back to Mishka being so fucking awesome, did you know that they sell vinyl/kaiju online and at 350 Broadway? I'm really excited for the upcoming releases that Mishka + Lamour Supreme are working on. Its all speculation, but I'm certain we'll see a Mishka Mongolion release in the future, too. More pictures here (via the Bloglin). UPDATE: MISHKA hooked me up and $150 bones later... I'll have it in my hands soon.

Catching up on news from my newest favorite (and now permanently tattooed) kaiju, Toybot Studios posted today about a new test pull of Super7's Mongolion, in translucent jade vinyl.

San Francisco, CA. Thought to be lost in the tomb of Ghengis Khan, the Jade Mongolion Idol was recently discovered. It is believed to have magical powers and it is said that anyone that possesses it will wield the strength of the mighty Ghengis Khan army. It was recently discovered by the famous archeologist Alexander Banned in a remote cave somewhere in the Khentii Mountains in Mongolia earlier this year. This rare artifact is currently on display under glass and heavy security at Super7 in San Francisco, CALIF.

As soon as Mongolion was announced, people were clamoring for an eventual Jade release. Whether this colorway will go into production or not is unknown but damn is it sexy. a little touch of spray to antique and its golden, err.. jaden.

A week ago, I asked you, readers,  if ya'll wouldn't mind contributing to a birthday fund so I could purchase the SDCC 2008 Frank Kozik Salary Ika Clear/Money Filled Colorway. Within an hour, 2 sweet, blog-reading sugar daddies dropped the neccesary fundage to make my wish come true. Salary Ika came in the mail today, and its more awesome than I thought. I also promised pictures... And its actual US Currency that's shredded, making up the guts of the Salary Ika.

For even more pictures, visit the flickr set here.

One of my favorite things about Kaiju is that normally each toy will be released in an original colorway, then as popularity increases, more and more interesting colorways appear. I tend to only want one figure, and I'll wait till I see the style I like best and collect. The Super7 Skulletor Mummy boy light blue vinyl, and sprayed to pay homage to He-Man's nemesis: Skeletor; I'm really digging the blue and yellow.  He's available for for a right $50 at Super7 store, online and in SF, on the day AFTER my birthday, the 17th of January. I'm normally not a "cute" Kaiju fan, but I like all things Super7 and who can resist a happy mummy? Skulletor Mummy Boy @ Super7

So my Birthday is coming up next Friday and I was thinking how awesome it would be if all the people glued to my lifestream would Chip In and get me a present. Consider it  for the peek I give you into my life. It would really encourage me to give back more, and I'd cherish for ever... I don't want much, I was actually going to ask for a new harddrive for the ole macbook pro, but I found something more frivolous and awesome: Frank Kozik's SDCC 2008 colorway for Salary Ika, available at rotofugi for 110 bucks. If you read my blog then you know my love for vinyl, my obsession for Kozik, and my fascination with this particular figure. The colorway is an exclusive SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) 2008 colorway, featuring a clear body stuffed full of shredded money,  lightly airbrushed to tint. Salary Ika is part of the Super 7 series, and is produced by InTheYellow. If you would like to make my Birthday wish come true, please click on the Chip In widget below, or on my sidebar to the right. It will take you to a paypal page where you can send money via paypal, or use your credit card of choice (look for the link on the bottom left of the paypal page). $5 dollars, $10 dollars, $50 any little bit will help. The fund will last till the 16th, which is my birthday. I'll be 23 in case you were wondering. UPDATE: Thanks to two incredible donations of $60 and $50  from John and Joe respectively - two people I have never met (that I know of) but who have become honorary sugar daddies - I reached my birthday wish in an hour and the Salary Ika is on his way to my grateful arms! You guys rock! If you wanted to donate, you still can, I could use the money for other things, like web hosting costs, booze, birthday lapdances, Excedrin for my post Blowoff hangover... But I'm truly grateful for all of it. Thanks!