It's James Groman ( creator of Madballs! )
Posted 22 February 2016 - 05:32 AM
Funny, I was just checking out this listing on ebay a few minutes ago!
http://www.ebay.com/...T0AAOSwcBhWUQy-
I like how they tell you not to eat them!
Posted 22 February 2016 - 05:58 AM
Is anyone else loving that the artist who made these things is asking how he can acquire bootlegs?
Posted 22 February 2016 - 06:02 AM
Well, I mean there's less impotus to have them reproduced, as a result.
That's all I am going to say about that.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 06:33 AM
Is anyone else loving that the artist who made these things is asking how he can acquire bootlegs?
It would conceivably be a lot cheaper than acquiring originals, amiright?
Posted 22 February 2016 - 06:55 AM
Well, I mean there's less impotus to have them reproduced, as a result.
That's all I am going to say about that.
But I like it when you go off about bootleg stuff...
PF
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Posted 22 February 2016 - 07:22 AM
Great, now these will get even more expensive!
I'm always kind of surprised when the sculptors of these old lines don't even own any. I'm assuming he doesn't, if he's asking about getting a bootleg set.
I've "heard" of these discussed and referenced, but I had never actually looked at the sculpts until seeing that Instagram pic. They are amazing. The detail is fantastic, and reminds me just a touch of some of the Slugg stuff, even though I know they aren't the same at all.
So these are pretty pricey to collect?
PF
Feel free to take a look at our FB and Instagram pages... for an example of out balloon work!!
Also, we are trying to get our FB page to 500 likes by the end of OCT 2014, if you like our designs, please help us out! Thanks! And ANY LRGers - feel free to make a balloon REQUEST and we will see what we can post on your behalf!
www.MadCapBalloons.com
www.facebook.com/MadCapBalloons
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Posted 22 February 2016 - 07:35 AM
"Impotus" should have read as "impetus". Typo on my part.
As for the issue of the bootlegging, I don't even want to get into it. I could make that argument until I am blue in the face, but the end result is: People don't care. They just want what they want, and they want it cheap. The fact that Groman would have to buy bootlegs of toys he sculpted/designed, and folks don't find that troubling? That says enough to me.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 07:36 AM
I've "heard" of these discussed and referenced, but I had never actually looked at the sculpts until seeing that Instagram pic. They are amazing. The detail is fantastic, and reminds me just a touch of some of the Slugg stuff, even though I know they aren't the same at all.
So these are pretty pricey to collect?
PF
Yeah, they don't show up a lot, and it doesn't help that they weren't released in the U.S. They were released in two different materials, soft rubber and hard plastic. The hard plastic go for the most money because the rubber ones tend to deteriorate.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 07:41 AM
It seems like he is just asking someone who could potentially cast him a set to hook him up, because he knows that he cannot afford or even track down an original set.
Don't these sell for $50-$100 each?
Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:01 AM
Yeah, they don't show up a lot, and it doesn't help that they weren't released in the U.S. They were released in two different materials, soft rubber and hard plastic. The hard plastic go for the most money because the rubber ones tend to deteriorate.
Wow - with the level of detail... I can't even imagine those in soft rubber! I can see why the hard rubber ones are more the way to go. I didn't know they didn't come to the USA, that explains why I know so little about them.
It seems like he is just asking someone who could potentially cast him a set to hook him up, because he knows that he cannot afford or even track down an original set.
Don't these sell for $50-$100 each?
WTF? Seriously? WOW... thats crazy pants.
PF
Feel free to take a look at our FB and Instagram pages... for an example of out balloon work!!
Also, we are trying to get our FB page to 500 likes by the end of OCT 2014, if you like our designs, please help us out! Thanks! And ANY LRGers - feel free to make a balloon REQUEST and we will see what we can post on your behalf!
www.MadCapBalloons.com
www.facebook.com/MadCapBalloons
www.instagram.com/MadCapBalloons
Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:31 AM
I instantly fell in love with this line when I first saw pics of them on this forum years ago. It only makes them more sweet now that I know James Groman was the sculptor! BEB are very fun to collect ( if you are into hard to collect lines ) but it can get expensive.
Edited by Jackson, 22 February 2016 - 08:37 AM.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:41 AM
So for example, this unopened package went for a little less than $30 (after S&H) and that was probably a good deal then:
http://www.ebay.com/...QAAAOSwv-NWUhws
Really neat line. I'm gonna have to learn more, although I don't think I'll be collecting them anytime soon lol...
PF
Feel free to take a look at our FB and Instagram pages... for an example of out balloon work!!
Also, we are trying to get our FB page to 500 likes by the end of OCT 2014, if you like our designs, please help us out! Thanks! And ANY LRGers - feel free to make a balloon REQUEST and we will see what we can post on your behalf!
www.MadCapBalloons.com
www.facebook.com/MadCapBalloons
www.instagram.com/MadCapBalloons
Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:45 AM
I had no idea people were trying to identify the sculptor.
James Groman has kept a blog since 2007. There are loads of Madballs stuff on there. Seem like someone could have asked him if he perchance knew who sculpted the BEB. And then he could have said -- Ohmagerd! I did!
Anyway, maybe FKRO should interview him! I really liked the interview with John Rauschelbach.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 08:58 AM
Feel free to take a look at our FB and Instagram pages... for an example of out balloon work!!
Also, we are trying to get our FB page to 500 likes by the end of OCT 2014, if you like our designs, please help us out! Thanks! And ANY LRGers - feel free to make a balloon REQUEST and we will see what we can post on your behalf!
www.MadCapBalloons.com
www.facebook.com/MadCapBalloons
www.instagram.com/MadCapBalloons
Posted 22 February 2016 - 09:46 AM
Always Looking for Battle Beasts PM if you got extras!!!!
Posted 22 February 2016 - 10:05 AM
I mean, as a single dad, I get that. Totally. Ballin' on a budget.
At the same time though, bootlegging is stealing.
If the demand for a revival for these things was strong enough, they'd make more. It's not entirely unfeasible that a group like Super 7 could get the license to do some... But not while the thirst for these is being quenched by folks stealing the IP. Just saying.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 10:27 AM
Edited by optimusdrizzt, 22 February 2016 - 10:29 AM.
Always Looking for Battle Beasts PM if you got extras!!!!
Posted 22 February 2016 - 10:34 AM
Is he just the designer not the sculptor?
Just ask him.
He has immediate connections at both Warpo and Mondo, if not others.
It seems like revamping this line would be a real possibility.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 10:37 AM
I mean, it wouldn't hurt to suggest it!
Besides, they'd no doubt be cheaper than the "artisanal" hand casted forgeries.
As for the license, I am not sure where the rights are. Galoob made them, Galoob was absorbed by Hasbro... but I don't know if the copyright still rests with them or has expired.
Posted 22 February 2016 - 10:39 AM
James should take 24 of his unreleased sketches and make new sculpts. I'd be all for a BEB series 2 set!
Posted 22 February 2016 - 11:49 AM
Posted 22 February 2016 - 12:33 PM
So for example, this unopened package went for a little less than $30 (after S&H) and that was probably a good deal then:
http://www.ebay.com/...QAAAOSwv-NWUhws
Really neat line. I'm gonna have to learn more, although I don't think I'll be collecting them anytime soon lol...
PF
The reason I think the carded ones went for less is because they contained the softer rubber figures