Yesterday I went to the Five Points Festival in Brooklyn to meet up with Sam Heimer of H&H Toys and he had several prototype sets of the Milk & Cheese figures on hand. Sam had them on display at his table and when I was walking around a vendor who recognized me from NYC comic shows told me that he saw bootleg Milk & Cheese figures at someone's table. I told them they were legit.
I'm really happy with how they came out, they're actually a little chunkier and larger than I had thought they'd be -- I knew they'd be small based on the H&H Mythos figures (originally based size-wise on old Monster In My Pocket/M.US.C.L.E./Keshi figures) but they had more "presence" than I expected, if that makes any sense. They measure about 1 1/2" by 2" and are cast in resin, fyi. You can see the Mythos figures and a few of Sam heimer's original designs in the photos accompanying the prototype figures. I'm really excited that this came together, because if you follow my Instagram you know I'm a big fan of the H&H stuff. I was trying to get the nerve up to ask Sam if he'd be up for perhaps doing a set of M&C figures, and a message from him beat me to the punch. So that worked out nicely.
The figures should be available fairly soon. They're already being pulled, I've seen pictures of multiple sets (and seconds, the figures that aren't perfect but might still be worth selling down the line -- apparently the axe that Cheese is holding can be difficult to extract as cleanly as desired).
The only thing left to do is basically get the front sticker art for the box cleaned and colored. I've reached out to someone about handling that because Sarah is likely not going to be able to work on it. So, as soon as that's taken care of the first drop of fifty sets will happen fairly soon after.
Plans are for multiple drops, they will be done the usual way H&H sells the Mythos sets and other figures, an Instagram tease or two of the date and time (usually Fri 6 or 7 p.m. EST, https://www.instagram.com/hh_toys_inc ) and then sales will be done at their webstore ( https://www.hhtoyco.com ) for the first fifty customers to get through and get a set. We are very likely going to see a glow-in-the-dark variant, which would be cool. I don't know about any additional variants, we talked about how easy it would be to paint them (black eyebrows, white gloves and feet for Cheese and the bottle and axe), but I don't think there's plans for painted versions. if I remember correctly the set is going to retail for around $36, reflecting the costs of making them.
I have brought up the subject with Sam about possibly making a variant or exclusive for folks backing the Patreon at the $10 level. A drop of exclusive figures, or maybe I'll draw something to go in the box as an add-on, I don't know, it's something I'm looking into. I am a newbie to this kind of production and I'm not the one pulling the figures of the one paying the sculptor, the guy pulling the sets or the resin bills.
And we're talking about maybe doing something else together if these do well enough to warrant it. Apparently a lot of the issues are getting the right sculptor and sculpt. But I let Sam know I'd be up for further collaborations. I think a pair of Eltingville Club sets would be wild, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Anyway, the M&C set is definitely happening, and should be happening soon.
I have some photos I took at the Five Point Festival which I'll post separately.
Otherwise, hope everyone's well. Depressing week, to say the least.