I have recently been granted a rare opportunity to do a Q&A session with Yulli – in the hopes of getting to know a little more about the talent behind several of Hot Toys’ great sculptures.

For the small number of action figure collectors who haven’t yet heard of her name, Yulli is the chief sculptor behind Hot Toys’ very successful series of 1/6 scale figures based on several hit movies including The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Aliens vs. Predator.

Her work on the upcoming Bank Robbery Joker (unanimously voted by collectors as the best TDK Joker head sculpt) and Harvey Dent Two-Face are highly anticipated. Just take a close look at some of her sculpting and one will understand why she and Hot Toys are such household names among the 1/6 community.

Ken Shum of Ignite Co. sent us some advanced info on their latest 1/6 BROWN NINJA action figure. This Ninja figure will be branded under “Crazy Owners” which is a new company acting as the Exclusive World Wide Agency for Ignite Co.

Item no.: COF-001
Item name: …

So now that SDCC has come and gone, and the Mattel crew has revealed all the great new DC Universe Classics figures coming in the next few waves. Now it’s time for you, the fans, to vote on who you want to see in 2009 and beyond!

The folks behind …

The following article and interview were written and conducted by John Charles, a NJ-based journalist who covers a diverse range of topics from finance, to toys, to advertising, and the psychology of shoppers.

Standing over 6 feet 7 inches tall, Brian Steele is one of the most interesting actors one could ever meet. Many are familiar with his work, but his face is virtually unknown. That’s because Brian Steele aka Creature Boy specializes is playing characters under layers of makeup and prosthetics. He’s taken some time from his busy schedule working on a new project and promoting Hellboy 2: The Golden Army to answer a few questions for us about Hellboy, acting, and being an action figure:

Brian Steele with Mezco’s Wink action figure – Photo courtesy of MezcoToyz.com

JC: You’ve done quite a few films and are very often in iconic battles that are the showpiece of a film. Yet because of you wear prosthetics/ makeup/ costumes you are virtually unrecognizable. What’s it like being an action star whose work is famous but whose face isn’t?

BS: I have no problem being unrecognizable. It’s all good! I have the best job in the world. Portraying these characters I get a chance to bring them to life then let them live on their own.

AFHub Handle: RG
Real Name: Rene Gerard F. Galvez
Year of Birth: 1969
Location: Pasig

I met Rengie (or RG, as he is known online) in person for the first time during AFHUB’s Christmas party last year. Unfortunately, that meeting was sorely brief and embarrassingly uneventful – which shamefully was all my fault. Trying to play good host to everyone, I was desperately juggling my time between tables and barely made it to RG’s when he told me he had to leave. What? So soon?

We managed to meet again during the TAGCOM toy event last March where he brought his custom figures of characters from the DC animated universe. I got to know a little more about the guy and was happy to find out that I am not the only person in my age bracket who still gets giddy seeing new toys based on the Justice League cartoons.

He’s a husband, a dad, a restaurateur, a vocalist for a band, and of course, an action figure collector (and customizer to boot) – this not-so-brief exchange aims to highlight a few of the many hats Rengie wears.

Yamson Yu (a.k.a Naughty Boy), who is currently vacationing in the US, sends in several photos he took of the toy shopping places he has visited while in SoCal. Here he is with fellow AFHUB mainstay Patrick Mercado (a.k.a. Carthut) taking a breather from a busy toy hunting day….

Last Friday (Dec. 7), San Miguel Beer’s Cerveza Negra bar tour featured some toy collections of young professionals over at Figs and Olives in H.V. Dela Costa, Makati. One of the featured collections is the Wrestling championship replicas of our very own Kenway Chee (a.k.a. Clark Ken). The event also …

AFHub Handle: 1ringwdforce
Real Name: Earl Madriaga
Year of Birth: 1975
Location: Alabang

It’s been a while since I last posted a write-up on one of our AFHUB regulars. Work has really been relentless and I’ve only had enough spare time to post regular toy news/updates on the forum. Anyway, the …

AFHub Handle: ncajayon
Real Name: Niño Harn Cajayon
Year of Birth: 1980
Location: Sucat, Parañaque

Niño Cajayon is a name that I have learned to associate with dramatic toy photography. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, keep reading this write-up and take a look at the …

Every so often, you get the rare opportunity of meeting a person who is low-key and unassuming, yet who possesses great talent coupled with depth of character. Noli Coronado is one such person. And I have recently been given that rare opportunity to sit down with the guy …