Very pleased to announce here the debut of the first toys from my own company, Tokay Toys... The Shampuvians... We developed these guys over the course of the last two years- I came up with the concept and character design drawings and my partner, the mega-talented Mike Ridge, did the sculpts, molds and casting. I handled paint. Here's the story of these tube-socked freaks (also printed inside the header cards): Frankie (“Knuckles”) and Ruben (“Blades”), they’re typical Sector 19/Zuggazunna district guys: ultra-low-level street-creepers, known for losing at their game more than half the time. They find some old lumi-masks for sale at a night market (scavenged cargo from a derelict freighter that had been drifting forfuckingever and a day.) They install zippers in the back, snug ‘em up for a nice tight fit. Get these cute little tunics, make a pair of homemade champ-belts, fix up some beater voidbikes… think they have “a thing” now, and they’re gonna go raiding. Okay. Lacking the sheer berserker rage of their crime-idols, they reach out to Blades’ chem-printer cousin. Cousin comes up with a soapy transdermal goo, formulated to interact with the pungent oils leaching from the decaying, porous rubber of the masks. “Use it like a shampoo,” he tells ‘em. “Start lathering as soon as y’can see the whites- greens, yellows, reds, whatever- of their eyes. Oh, hey… whyn’cha call yourselves “Shampuvians”!” Chemically emboldened… but still they need something more: they’re fixated on finding some kinda figurehead, make it look and feel like they’re agents of a larger guiding force. One delirious night, they end up transfixed by an old telesignal- grainy scraps of an ancient story, “Dunked in The Deep”. One character… every time this guy is in frame, a quiet focus overcomes Knuckles and Blades… a clarity. Their perfect tactical godhead, found. They get a bioassembly printed the next morning… the Shempuvian, made real. The voidbikes are mounted… the psychengines scream... The guys are 3.5" huge; Knuckles and Blades are cast in a semi-soft rubber, the Shempuvian is cast in resin. May 2017: the first rubber pulls of Knuckles and Blades, test-painted (I called Knuckles' distressed paint app the "Found In The Yard" version... would love to do a release like that)... sculpts were much further refined after these, and all new molds made: Thanks for looking!!
I'm curious if there's a backstory as to why your two characters are named after a DJ and a singer/musician. No reason, or are you a fan?
THANKS, Dabeed! Waitaminute on that kiss... lemme just... zip this mask on... zzzziiizz!! Great question, Deb! Most of my artworks contain some number of disparate, seemingly odd connections... usually it has to do with currents in my head (often musical) when I'm making the thing, and sometimes these references don't even make sense to me, at first. I have songs or artists I love in just about all musical genres (except the abomination of crass commercial mediocrity called "modern country"), and over the past few years my go-to soundtrack for working on art (including Shampuvians) has been The Duane Train on the mighty WFMU. Among many other things, Duane plays quite a bit of excellent house music. Blades and Knuckles were already (nick)named thusly when one day I just made the Frankie Knuckles association while listening to the Train; the Ruben Blades association just flowed from that. I like how it plays within the concept as just a weird coincidence- these guys are from some other timespace yet their given & nicknames combine to reference these Earth musicians.
Great story Mitch, love the background world-building and thought you have put into these. The detail is very impressive, and Mike did some beautiful work on those sculpts. They have such a great aesthetic, pulp sci-fi right out of a Metal Hurlant strip (which goes right along with the story you have developed). I love 'em, and think it is so nice to see something unique and different, made just out of creativity and love. Looking at them, I am sure you won't need it, but I wish you all of the best with these, and your new toy line. Excited to see what is to come! And, in case it is not evident already, I approve this message.
-His work having been responded to with a Police Academy meme, he died contented and at peace- Steve! Thank you, Sir- all of your kind words on this are very much appreciated. EXACTLY. Entirely. Metal Hurlant and the world of 70s-80s Euro sci-fi comics (along with a handful of other precise influences) were never far from my mind as I developed these. I like to imagine these guys on their hang tag in some Italian department store in 1984. Very good call, man!
LOL Mike, these are so fun! I just realized too that's a DP mask correct? Great reference and scaling down. I've been looking at your profile pic for so long now and just never made that DP connection.
YES, Chris! Another connection made... the masks Knuckles and Blades found at the night market were indeeed Don Post "Gargoyle" masks (aka "Glo-in-Dark Alien")! Another beloved arty-fact of my youth, brought in here...
No relation, I'm sure, but I now find myself thinking of the Good Doctor Octagon... More connections never made. Carry on.
These are great! Very fun characters and beautifully sculpted. What are were they cast in? I know you mentioned rubber but any chances you can be more specific?
It's a semi-hard rubber that Smooth-On makes... the name of the product escapes me right now. We tried to hew as close to the rubber of Kinkeshi/M.U.S.C.L.E. as possible.
I absolutely love these. Just so zany and fun, and I love that you built up a little story universe for these dudes to fit into! This is the kind of toy set I wish I could see more of... something that actually took thought, creativity, and a good sprinkling of humor.
Rad! Really cool sculpts and a fun, goofy, creative back story. Beautiful casting and painting as well.