Ep. 290 Toys on Tap w/ Whiskeyjack Toys: The Brutal Reality of Making Action Figures

Kaiju Go co-founder Chaz joins Toys on Tap to break down how two friends turned a love of kaiju films and toys into one of the most talked-about small toy events around.And the philosophy is simple: throw a great party and take care of the artists.We talk about:• Growing up obsessed with dinosaurs and monsters • Starting Kaiju Go in 2023 • Combining designer toys with classic kaiju films • Why artists table for FREE • Keeping the event intentionally small • Curating sofubi, resin, and kaiju artists • Fans lining up hours before doors open • Volunteers keeping everyone hydrated in the Texas heat • Designing Kaiju Go’s killer merch • What could change next yearKaiju Go isn’t chasing massive growth. It’s chasing longevity, community, and one ridiculously good day every year.On Instagram: @Kaiju_goThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Subscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@ToysontapSubStack: @toysontapPalmstreet: Toys on Tap: Live on Sundays 6pm

WhiskeyJack Toys founder joins Toys on Tap to talk about the brutal, expensive, and incredibly rewarding reality of making 3.75-inch action figures.Darren wanted to make toys since discovering G.I. Joe as a kid, but getting there included lost molds, failed production runs, a $100,000 factory disaster, and one very expensive education.We talk about:• Falling in love with G.I. Joe • Buying his first toy company • Losing $100K in overseas production • Starting over with Whiskey Jack Toys • Building Hidden Force • Why action figure tooling gets so expensive • Relaunching a failed Kickstarter • Reusing parts without making figures feel repetitive • Factory delays, QC, and production nightmares • Designing toys kids can actually play with • Impact, Chaos, and what comes nextThis one is packed with toy-business lessons, painful mistakes, and proof that sometimes getting absolutely crushed is just part of figuring out how to do it right.On Instagram: @whiskeyjacktoysThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Subscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Photographer, collector, and first-time toy maker Robert of Manic joins Toys on Tap for a deep dive into the obsession behind the collection.From Godzilla, horror movies, skateboarding, and photography to spending $320 on designer vinyl on day one, Robert’s path into toys went from zero to full rabbit hole FAST.We talk about:• Discovering Kidrobot and blind boxes • Falling hard for sofubi • Owning 57 Cinema Monsters and 83 Obake Dogs • Turning toy photography into Manic Images • Working alongside Amy at Lulubell • Learning toy production in Japan • Carrying Amy’s influence forward • Creating his first figure, Spooky • Halloween buckets, punk rock, cats, and hoodiesThis one is funny, emotional, and extremely toy-nerdy, in the best way. At its core, it’s about why the objects matter less than the people, memories, and excitement we attach to them.On Instagram: @manic_svxccThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Subscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Egyptian artist Marwan Shahin joins Toys on Tap to tell the wild story of how one piece of street art completely changed his life.During the Egyptian Revolution, Marwan created the Anonymous Pharaoh, a stencil that became a symbol of the uprising, landed in museums, and eventually helped launch an international art career.We talk about:• Growing up and collecting toys in Egypt • Creating the Anonymous Pharaoh • Art during the Egyptian Revolution • Moving to the United States • Meeting artists he once looked up to • Turning his artwork into designer toys • Building Shahin Studios with his brother • Printing artwork on real Egyptian papyrus • Creating Nine Lives • Bringing more Egyptian culture into toysFrom revolution to resin, this episode is about making art that actually means something On Instagram: @shahinstudios Thanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Empire Blisters: If you are looking for blisters for vintage toys or new bootleg figures head over to https://www.empireblisters.com and use code TOYSONTAP10 for 10% offSubscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Fixed Temple Toys joins Toys on Tap to talk nostalgia, street art, resin casting, and the strange little creatures taking over his world: the Glorbles.What started as stickers and woodcuts grew into resin toys, sofubi, costumes, videos, secret codes, and a full sci-fi universe packed with agents, cults, robots, and soul-sucking blobs.We talk about:• Dragon Ball Z, Spawn, and Jurassic Park• Skateboarding, Nirvana, and street art• Learning mold making and resin casting• Discovering the designer toy community• Building the Glorble universe• Wearing a giant Glorble head at conventions• Turning booth displays into storytelling• Sofubi, scented toys, and future releases• Working inside a vintage toy storeThis episode is weird, funny, creative, and full of the kind of energy that makes you want to stop overthinking and start making.On Instagram: @fixedtempletoysThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Empire Blisters: If you are looking for blisters for vintage toys or new bootleg figures head over to https://www.empireblisters.com and use code TOYSONTAP10 for 10% offSubscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Blake Wright, publisher and editor-in-chief of Toy Collector magazine, joins Toys on Tap to talk Star Wars, lost toy history, and keeping print alive.Blake shares how a childhood love of action figures grew into a journalism career, the Toys That Time Forgot book trilogy, and a magazine built to sit proudly beside the toys on your shelf.We talk about:• Growing up with the original Star Wars toys • Hunting figures in the early internet era• Uncovering unreleased toy lines and prototypes • Creating Toys That Time Forgot • Funding three books through Kickstarter • Preserving stories before they disappear • Launching Toy Collector magazine • Landing exclusive reveals for 25 covers • Running nearly every part of the magazine himself • His graphic novel Moon Man ZeroThis episode is a fast, fun look at collecting, publishing, and why toy history deserves to be saved in print.On Instagram: @toycollectrThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Empire Blisters: If you are looking for blisters for vintage toys or new bootleg figures head over to https://www.empireblisters.com and use code TOYSONTAP10 for 10% offSubscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Illustrator, toy designer, filmmaker, and lifelong storyteller Chogrin joins Toys on Tap to trace a creative journey shaped by two cultures and an unstoppable love of characters.Growing up in Ecuador, Chogrin absorbed everything from Super Sentai and Japanese heroes to Ghostbusters, Ninja Turtles, and classic rubber-hose animation. After moving to the United States and starting over, he turned that mix of influences into a career that led from Cartoon Network to Adventure Time, gallery shows, designer toys, filmmaking, and Magic: The Gathering.We talk about:• Rebuilding his childhood toy collection • Working behind the scenes on Adventure Time • Finding his voice through illustration • Turning art-show ideas into 3D objects • Creating Guru del Toro and his “Guru” toy series • Designing toys inspired by TMNT and Jurassic Park • Opening your own doors instead of waiting • His next short film, Sector 1218This episode is a fast, inspiring look at what happens when curiosity, persistence, and genuine fandom collide.On Instagram: @chogrinThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Empire Blisters: If you are looking for blisters for vintage toys or new bootleg figures head over to https://www.empireblisters.com and use code TOYSONTAP10 for 10% offSubscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

Steven Nunes, aka Steve Beef the “Sofubi Shy Guy", joins Toys on Tap to talk horror, collecting, and the creation of M.U.D. Toys.Steven traces his obsession from Ninja Turtles, Goosebumps, vintage masks, and early sofubi discoveries in New York to partnering with longtime friend and turning their monster ideas into Japanese vinyl.We talk about:• Discovering sofubi at the Mishka store • Collecting NAG, Super7, masks, VHS, and sneakers • Photography, tattoo shops, and creative influence • Living with anxiety and agoraphobia • Launching M.U.D. Toys • Creating Barfy, Grim Bones, and Grim Oni • Hand sculpting vs. digital sculpting • Collaborations and community support • Clothing and accessories for toys • What M.U.D. Toys is making nextThis episode is funny, honest, and packed with monster-toy energy. Steven proves you do not need to have everything figured out, or be the loudest person in the room to make something unforgettable.On Instagram: @m.u.d.toysThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Empire Blisters: If you are looking for blisters for vintage toys or new bootleg figures head over to https://www.empireblisters.com and use code TOYSONTAP10 for 10% offSubscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

In this episode, Andrew, also known as Spaceboi, returns to Toys on Tap to talk about the evolution of Space Boi and the growing universe around the character.Since his last appearance, Spaceboi has expanded far beyond one figure. What started as different versions of Space Boi has grown into Space Girl, Space God, plushies, resin toys, sofubi, vehicles, mechs, blind bags, and large-scale booth displays that feel like their own world.We also dive into the realities of being an artist in a changing economy. He talks about shifting toward plushies, keychains, small resin toys, and useful accessories while still pushing bigger creative ideas forward. He also discusses the importance of trusted artist communities, honest feedback, and learning how to separate your ego from your work.All of this episode leads us to the upcoming Space God custom show at Indie Toy in Alhambra, featuring custom sofubi pieces from over 25 artists, new Space God colorways, blind bag plushies, and a full shop takeover.If you have ever wanted to see world building in action. Look no further!On Instagram: @spaceboidegaSurvey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMVsuiDuwYxfqoUY4G4ekQRm8lDREEhQ43xRmjH0H_2lv-Jw/viewform?usp=headerThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Subscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap

In part two of this conversation, Quang Le shares the story behind the creation and evolution of Creature Bazaar.After years spent collecting toys, building relationships, and learning the industry from the inside, Quang and Brandon turned an idea into one of the most recognizable names in the sofubi community. Quang discusses traveling throughout Japan to meet artists where they lived, launching Creature Bazaar, navigating the challenges of the pandemic, transforming into a web store almost overnight, and eventually helping grow events like SummerSlime into community staples.More than anything, this episode explores what it means to build something that lasts. Rather than chasing growth for growth’s sake, Creature Bazaar has focused on relationships, history, and creating experiences that bring collectors and artists together.Whether you’re a toy maker, collector, or creative entrepreneur, Quang’s perspective on community building, adapting through change, and playing the long game offers valuable lessons far beyond designer toys.On Instagram: @photosalaquangOn Instagram: @creature_bazaarThanks to Our SupportersRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!Subscribe and Follow AlongInstagram:@toysontapLinkedin: Abraham MustoFacebook:@toysontapYoutube:@Toysontap