As I have been preparing files for the English language version of Lucha Libre #7, I'm reminded of the amazing Rednecks Gobi created. Gobi went on a rabid artistic fury and created a whole cast of Redneck characters. The designs were so amazing that they became the primary inspiration for Tequila's second story (which begins in Lucha Libre #7).

While Gobi was drawing them he claimed it felt like he was undergoing an exorcism. It was an exhausting process, but Gobi had to get these demons out of him.

We've posted the different characters prior. But here they are as Gobi originally composed them on one large art file.

Kami Robo literally translates to 'paper robot'. But there's far more to it than the title suggests. Yasui, the founder of Kami-Robo, initially created robots out of paper to play with as a means of letting his imagination run wild without destroying his favorite plastic and metal toys. This quickly became an obssession that would take a life of its own. His homemade paper robots almost immediately stopped resembling his favorite Gundam robots and begun to manifest unique personalities that came through in their fighting methods. Yasui even began tinkering with the craftmanship behind the robots construction. Unlike action-figures who's ball joints allowed them to move into awkward positions no human could ever do, Yasui attempted to create joints in his robots whose limitations accurately reflected the limitations of human joints.

Flying robot battles became more and more like wrestling matches. Yasui made a wrestling ring and created an intricate wrestling federation. 200+ figures with their own backstories were made. Kami-Robo became an ambitous homemade toy universe that existed in the mind of Yasui.

In 2004, 22 years after Yasui first began making his paper robot wrestlers, Yasui began filming his wrestling matches and posting them on a website for others to view. In 2005, Yasui started having public matches. In order to ensure he could give matches complete concentration (as he fully controls both wrestlers in matches), Yasui has his back to the audience. The audience can watch the match on screens showing different views of the fight as it unfolds.

I find it incredibly courageous and fascinating that Yasui commited to 'playing' with these homemade toys and that, with time, it was able to find an appreciative audience. As with any true Artist, it seems that these wrestling matches speak through Yasui. There's a whole universe in Yasui and his paper warriors are his means of getting that universe out of him.

I remember seeing Kami-Robo set up at San Diego Comicon in 2007. Unfortunately I was unable to watch any of Yasui's fights.

Here's some great videos about Yasui and Kami-Robo:

As can be seen by this commercial, your Muttpop Toys can now be used as a tax write-off.

Here's a cool art piece Fabien did to promote a convention appearance that Jerry, Bill, Gobi, and Fabien are doing in France, March 2009. In it, you can see his versions of Mini Gobi, Mini Bill, and Mini Fabien. I love the limited color palette. It reminds me of shonen jump comics in Japan.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT FABIEN'S ART BLOG (IN FRENCH).

Kotaku did a wonderful job putting together this article on making WRESTLE JAM, the fake NES game starring Mickey Rourke's character (Randy "The Ram" Robinson) in THE WRESTLER movie. It's a fascinating synopsis of the various elements that attributed to the games creation. It's pretty fascinating how ambitious the project was for a minor element of the critically praised film.

I particularly love the faux game's music (it's included below as a YouTube file).

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE.

WRESTLE JAM theme song (visuals are from the classic NINTENDO PRO WRESTLING):

Jorge Garcia (Hurley from JJ Abram's LOST television series) decided to show some of his Film Director terminology using Minizira, Ultraman, and our very own Red Demon Original figure.

Mr. Garcia has excellent taste in toys. If Red Demon hangs out with Legends like Ultraman and Minizira... does that make Red Demon a Legend by association?

Jorge Garcia would make a helluva Dr. Pantera. He'd be perfect for a live action LUCHADORES FIVE film (check my comparison image below to see what I mean).

CHECK OUT JORGE GARCIA'S LOST BLOG POST WITH RED DEMON BY CLICKING HERE.