A Slice of Niku Heaven at SDCC

SDCC & Kinnikuman
MMA legend Josh Barnett was at the SDCC Gargamel x Grass Hut booth on Saturday meeting fans and signing autographs!

Josh Barnett x 100t

Josh signing my AACC x Kinnikuman x Art Junkie shirt! 

There are so many Kinnikuman and personal connections here is it crazy!  A few of the reasons why this was hands down my most memorable experience at the Con this year:

• Josh is one of the most skilled and toughest dudes on the planet.  I am a huge fan.
• He is a fan of Kinnikuman, and Yudetamago are big fans of his MMA and Pro Wrestling careers.
• Josh personally knows both members of Yudetamago. 
• Both Yudetamago and Josh have done collaborations with Art Junkie.
• Art Junkie makes rad Kinnikuman shirts, and Kato-san is part of the Niku family. 
• I just so happened to have an AACC x Art Junkie shirt (Josh is linked to both). 
• Josh was so incredibly nice and cool the whole time we chatted ~ A true class act!
• This all went down at the Gargamel x Grass Hut booth (amazing guys and friends)!

Josh mentioned that he has a one of a kind, full color, signed piece of Buffaloman art... how cool is that?  He also talked about Shimada-sensei's connection to the MMA world, and his history with Megumi Fuji and Art Junkie.  Wow, what an awesome day!

Kinnikuman 対 Le Merde @ SDCC 2011

Hands down my highlight of SDCC 2011 was meeting Le Merde and chatting it up about vinyl toys and the Kinnikuman universe.

Le Merde wielding the mighty Megalith and neato Kinnikuman thingy

In a rather serendipitous twist of fate I hit the Gargamel x Grass Hut booth, and discovered the undisputed holy mecca of Kinnikuman fans at the con.  Three cheers for Art Junkie Kinnikuman shirts.

Le Merde as it turns out is a HUGE Kinnikuman fan, and I give him major props for taking some time to kick it will ol' Nama Niku at their booth.  He is insanely talented, and I seriously dig all his figures and artwork.

He explained that his new Megalith design was partially inspired by his passion for M.U.S.C.L.E. and Kinkeshi, and I have to say that the sculpt is beyond cool.  He also let me check out some of the crazy keshi the Gargamel guys brought for him from Japan ~ can't get enough of rare boots!

Be sure to check out Le Merde's collabs with Super7 and Gargamel.  You can also see a sample of his vinyl figures over at his blog.

Some of the Le Merde goodies I picked up @ SDCC 2011:

The Heavens shining down on a truly epic Megalith vinyl blank

 SDCC Le Merde x Super7 Burgerbuns meets Geronimo

 Le Miniverse ~ You Guys HAVE to get these!

Gargamel SDCC Exclusive w/ Le Merde's Hujili's Ghost

 A little Le Merde Art action

 Flesh Mania print by Le Merde ~ a possible new meaning here... ?

Super thanks to Lucky Nakazawa and Josh Barnett for noticing my Art Junkie T, and for being so incredibly nice.  Josh is a MMA legend, and it blew my mind to be chatting with him about Art Junkie and Yudetamago.  Make sure to grab the latest issue of Drunken Master featuring an interview with Josh, and keep your eyes peeled for the Lucky Nakazawa x Gargamel FU Robo... (go toybot!)

Also big thanks to Arbito and the Gargamel guys ~ really digging my Mini Squishy figures and Mini Pocket Kaiju.  It was totally rad to talk to you all about Kinnikuman and the amazing figures you are creating!

Can't wait for SDCC 2012!