It’s a tuned JDM Mitsubishi Evo GSR … oh, wait a minute … it’s an econo-box base Mirage with Hello Kitty stickers. This limited edition Mirage will be tuned by Sanrio to kick-off Hello Kitty’s 40th birthday.
Japan: Hello Kitty Econo-Box
October 29, 2013 by 3 Comments
Custom Dunnies by Local Bay Area SF Artists
October 24, 2013 by 1 Comment
Curated by artist and dunny fan Big C, the custom Dunny event took place at Kidrobot SF.
Pokemon XY Review
October 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I have been playing the Pokemon games since Red/Blue. I bought the new Pokemon game (Pokemon Y) that recently came out for the 3DS, and I’ve been enjoying it to no end. I’ve been stuck on the “Wonder Trade” section of this game, helping me trade for the other starters in the game. Wonder Trade is a function in the game that lets you trade away any Pokemon you don’t want for another to anybody around the world. You won’t know what Pokemon you will be getting though so it is a bit of a risk. You might give away a level 50 Pikachu and receive a level 3 Caterpie. However, if you don’t want go sit through all the random trades to get what you want, you can always try GTS (Global Trade Station). GTS lets you choose which Pokemon you are looking for and see if anybody is trading it, provided you have Pokemon they want to trade for. The only thing that’s not great about GTS is getting the message “A communication error has occurred”, which forces you to end the game and restart it. Just be ready to get that message over and over.
Nintendo 2DS Review
October 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I bought the Nintendo 2DS last Monday so that I can play the new Pokemon game. Since I didn’t already have a 3DS, I thought that the new 2DS would be a good buy. It doesn’t have the 3D feature in it which was fine with me because I never liked it to begin with; it always got me dizzy. Without the 3D I had thought that the battery life would also be a lot better. I was wrong on that. The battery doesn’t last that long. My original DS probably had a better battery life than the 2DS. For a portable console, it may not last too long if you’re out and about. Playing with it connected to the charger will probably be your best bet while you play.
Halloween Android Mini Figure!
October 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Just in time for Halloween, check out this cool pumpkin-inspired Android mini-figure by artist Gary Ham.
Bike Baron is my new Addiction
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Okay, I admit that I was hooked on Candy Crush Saga these past couple of months and became vain trying to get top scores! I’ll stop now and delete it from my iPhone. Now a new game I’m looking at is Bike Baron.
Kidrobot Dunny Evolved 2013
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Our Ramen team showed up for the Kidrobot Dunny Evolved release event at Kidrobot SF retail store. The vinyl collectible toy series features 5 artists: Huck Gee, Frank Kozik, Kronk, McBess and Scott Tolleson, and each artist created 3 different figures for the set.
New York Comic Con 2013 Teaser!
October 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’m still jet lag after 3 days, our Ramen and a Half team had a great time in New York City and checking out New York Comic Con 2013 which took place this past weekend – October 10-13, 2013. Stay tuned to our Retrenders.com and our YouTube Channel for videos from NYCC 2013!
Kidrobot Dunny Evolved
October 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
On October 10, 2013 – Kidrobot launches Series 3 of Dunny Evolved 3″ vinyl toys. Each artist picked in this Dunny Evolved line-up created 3 dunny designs.
Thrud The Barbarian by Carl Critchlow
October 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Is it He-Man? Conan the Barbarian! No, it’s not – it’s our wandering beer-guzzling warrior Thrud The Barbarian! Comic artist Carl Critchlow first unleashed his character Thrud as a college project, where it first appeared in a fanzine in the 1980s and then spawned a six-year comic strip run on Games Workshop’s “White Dwarf” magazine.
Interview with Sharky! author Dave Elliot
October 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Don’t know the name Dave Elliot? Well, he’s worked at DC, Marvel, 2000AD and Heavy Metal, just to name few places. Over 25 years in the comics scene, our Retrenders team catches up with Dave Elliot about his new Sharky! graphic novel published by Titan Comics.+++++++++++++++++++
RTNDR: You have worked with artist Alex Horley on many projects, what is the work relationship like when you guys do a project together? Is there much collaboration on story building and character designs?Dave Elliot: Both Alex and myself have very similar influences. Kirby, Frazetta and John Buscema are all at the top our lists. We have had enough of those fevered fanboy chats late into the evening that even before we started we both knew what the other wanted to do. For Sharky some of the character designs were set but Alex made them his own and then we built from there.
We wanted to do something that was a tribute to those creators as well, so in true Kirby style we wanted to come up with as many ideas as possible and then throw them in. I think after all the decompressed storytelling of the last 15-20 years Sharky must read like a roller coaster ride. I think we managed to get enough ideas for 20 comics in those original four issues.
RTNDR: As you mentioned in the Sharky! graphic novel a origin story of Gunmetal is coming, can we also get a story arc on Thor Stormhausen (Max to her friends)?
David Elliot: You’ll see Thor again in issue 256 of Heavy Metal this month. She makes a brief appearance with Sharky in a new Maximum Force story where Sharky tries to get Max Carnage to get back in the game and help him build a new team.
RTNDR: How about a kick-ass team-up of Thor Stormhausen and Vampirella?
Dave Elliot: That would be awesome and a lot of fun.
RTNDR: In Sharky! Volume 1: When Titans Clash! there are lots of special guests like Savage Dragon, The Mask, Madman and Wildstar. How did you come about grabbing these characters?
Dave Elliot: I knew all the creators so I just asked them for permission and they said yes. It was just a brief use and all for fun. Those creators got that. Sharky has since gotten to team back up with Mister Monster as well as meet El Zombo in Monster Massacre.
Kidrobot DamGun ‘Bots
September 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Ramen crew visited Kidrobot SF for the release of the DamGun ‘Bots. If you’re a Gundam fan or just an anime mech-head, then you might like these ‘Bots. Kidrobot pays homage to these plastic snap-on model kits with their own DamGun ‘Bots.
Japan Only: Butt Pudding (Crayon Shin-Can)
September 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
From the Japanese manga series by Yoshito Usui comes the Crayon Shin-Can butt-shaped edible pudding. The dessert kit comes with DIY instructions and when you’re done you can eat Shin-Can’s twerking butt.
The Big Wow! Comicfest Wrap-Up!
September 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Yes, it was a long weekend for the Ramen crew, but here is an “End-All” rundown on what “The Eddie” and Ramon have accomplished at Big Wow Comicfest. And not to mention, being a bit silly and fatigued from a long adventurous weekend.
Hosts: Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel
Producer: Johnny Moreno
Executive Producer: Stephen Jang
Sharky! by Dave Elliot & Alex Horley
September 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I got a glimpse of the off-beat muscle-bound Sharky and his friends in the graphic novel anthology Monster Massacre Vol. 1, and now we get a full Sharky graphic novel from writer Dave Elliot and artist Alex Horley. Why does Tank Girl have to get all the crazy fun? Sharky gets in on the action too. If you’re looking for Shazam!, well this isn’t it bitches! This is Sharky!
From BIG WOW! Comicfest: Ivy Doomkitty, Cosplayers and we finally get our comics autographed by Stan Lee!
September 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The “Eddie” and Ramon have made it to the end of the line – sort of like coming to the end of the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, but here at Big Wow! Comicfest, we’ve come to the end to meet Stan Lee!
We also get to talk to a couple more cosplayers, three girls promoting Castle Corsetry and a local comic artist, and we interview Ivy Doomkitty to find out about her role at Big Wow! Comicfest.
Fan Film: The Dark Knight Legacy
September 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Red Hood on film! Well, this is a fan-made film, but it’s pretty darn entertaining. If you’re a fan of DC Comics’ Batman universe you will probably enjoy watching this short directed by Brett Register.
Kidrobot x Marvel Labbits and Frank Kozik
September 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Last week in SF, our Ramen crew went to a special Kidrobot event with artist/designer Frank Kozik and his Marvel Labbit series.
Drink: Hello Kitty beer
September 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Sanrio surely has licensed Hello Kitty on everything and anything, now a limited edition batch of Hello Kitty beer. This fruity alcoholic concoction has 6 tropical flavors like Lemon Lime, Peach and Banana. The beer is produced by Taiwanese beer maker Long Quan.
Tokidoki x Peggy Guggenheim Collection
September 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
When we hear people mentioning “modern art” or “contemporary art”, one of the words that pops up in our minds is the “Guggenheim”. Now Tokidoki is collaborating with the Guggenheim to bring us “The Peggy Guggenheim Collection.”
From Big Wow Comicfest : Toshio Maeda (前田俊夫) – Famous Japanese Comic Artist
September 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
“The Eddie” was able to get a brief interview with Japan’s famous adult manga (comic) artist or Hentai (perverted) comic artists, Toshida Maeda. Click on his name to view his website.
He’s very well known and we feel pretty lucky have interviewed him. His comics may be for adult eyes only, but he definitely has solid good advice for anyone – including young artists wanting to get into comics and make it as a career.
Monster Massacre Vol. 1
September 12, 2013 by 1 Comment
Are you tired of the regular ho-hum superhero comics? How about something with big muscles, big guns, sexy babes, scary monsters and dark humor? Titan Comics’ Monster Massacre Vol 1. is a anthology collection of sci-fi/fantasy stories from the top writers and comic book artists in the industry.
Kidrobot x Street Fighter Series 2 Release Party
September 5, 2013 by 2 Comments
I still remember that feeling of saving up all my quarters for the week and rushing to my local 7-Eleven store where they would have video game arcades like Space Harrier, Daytona USA, Thunder Blade, Operation Wolf, Afterburner and of course Capcom’s Street Fighter! Those were the days, but let’s move on … Kidrobot’s first Street Fighter 3″ vinyl figures were super popular and now it’s back with a Series II.
Ramen goes Snack Tasting @ Japan Expo 2013
September 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Not all anime-cons are about cosplay, manga, buying toys and going to the different panels, our Ramen and a Half team goes snack tasting at Japan Expo 2013. The convention took place August 23-25th, 2013 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA. Our host Eddie and Jonelle hit-up JFC International to taste all the yummy snacks and candies. With their stomachs full, they also headed to the Yakult booth to drink the healthy yogurt drink.
Interview with Legendary Character Designer: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
September 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
At Japan Expo 1st Impact 2013, Jonelle from “Ramen & a Half” had the pleasure of interviewing iconic artist and character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. His famous works include Nadia, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. Emanuel, the agent for Yoshiyuki Sadamoto was our translator during the interview.
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RTNDR: What was your background and inspiration in becoming a character designer and artist?
Sadamoto: First, it was the director Yamaga Hiroyuki, the director of The Wings of Honneamise who asked him to do the character design. It started here. Up to that time, it was manga that had led him to draw his own characters for his personal works and this, in turn, led him to work in character design.
Johnny Moreno
Edward Ballar
GuestContributor
Ramon Angel
Al Woo
Stephen Jang
SW biko
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