CUSTOM CON 33 ENTRY: VICTOR ZSASZ

Victor Zsasz is the last of my Custom Con 33 entries, and, possibly, my favorite, due to the level of detail. Based on the serial killer who makes a score mark on his body for every victim, I discovered Mr. Zsasz much later, but found him disturbing/endearing enough for Batman's rogues' gallery.

Produced in February 2012, Victor Zsasz was, I feel, a breakthrough piece for me. He features one of my most detailed paint jobs-- featuring TONS of washes-- right down to the most minute detail. I have a couple different favorite features: The blood detail on his feet make them look real and Zsasz's two different color eyes. While doing research, I found sources that said Zsasz had blue eyes, and others that said green. Inspired by David Bowie, I split the difference and gave him both.

When people ask me which piece I'm most proud of, out of everything I've done so far, I usually show them these pictures. He seems like such a basic, simple design, but it's the simplicity that's deceptive-- making him look like a real, 4" tall person was no small feat.

NEXT TIME: NEW EXPERIMENTS FOR 2013 FROM THE LAB!

CUSTOM CON 33 ENTRY: O FRABJOUS DAY! CALLOOH! CALLAY!

I've loved the Mad Hatter as long as I can remember. Granted, at first it was the Lewis Carroll version of The Mad Hatter from Disney's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland that hooked me, and it's still my favorite Disney picture... then I discovered my favorite superhero had an adversary based on the Hatter! His depictions in Batman: The Animated Series and the works of Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale are constant inspirations.

While I love the Hatter's portrayal in B:TAS, I was never a fan of the character design. This one's much more based on the original Tenniel Alice in Wonderland book illustrations and the comics color scheme. Completed in Spring 2012, Mad Hatter is a mix of a number of different figures, but he's primarily a Dr. Henry Jones torso and Luke Skywalker head. I really liked the cold, creepy expression on his face. While it doesn't fit Luke, it certainly worked for Jervis Tetch.

NEXT TIME: "I chose to exterminate the zombies. I chose to kill. But I hurt myself, too -- to remind me that even I am only human!"

CUSTOM CON 33 ENTRY: THE 9 LIVES OF SELINA KYLE

As crazy as it sounds, I never truly appreciated Catwoman until I saw Anne Hathaway's portrayal in Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. I loved her take-- a bad-ass, morally ambiguous grifter/ con woman that you never fully trust, even though Batman does. I guess that sums up their relationship...

Completed in 2012, Catwoman was another early piece for Gotham's Most Wanted, and the epitome of a lazy bastard custom-- a GI Joe movie Baroness with a head from the third party sculptor. The figure originally had a different head, based off of a 25th Anniversary Scarlet, but I was never truly pleased with it.

While I've always loved Catwoman's design from Batman Returns, I wanted to leave that alone a little bit, and kinda combine it with Darwin Cooke's head design with the cat-eye goggles. When I spotted that head sculpt online, I had to snag it, and now I'm totally happy with the piece. Right now, I don't see myself making another for quite some time.

NEXT TIME: "O FRABJOUS DAY! CALLOOH! CALLAY!"

CUSTOM CON 33 ENTRY: THE CURIOUS CASE OF ARNOLD WESKER

Of all of Batman's rogues, Arnold Wesker (The Ventriloquist) is one of the most fascinating. I discovered him (and crime boss Scarface) through Batman: The Animated Series, and still consider that depiction to be the definitive iteration of the character.

Produced in 2011, Ventriloquist and Scarface were some of the first completed pieces from Gotham's Most Wanted. Ventriloquist is the quintessential lazy bastard custom (LBC): Henry Jones, Sr. figure and eyeglasses with a new, random white guy head from my fodder Graveyard. Scarface was a Minimate (perfect for its blockiness) with fodder bin head, hands, and feet. Ironically enough, Scarface has more articulation than Ventriloquist, who is one of my only custom pieces to feature "T-crotch" style articulation. Rather than being merely an accessory, I really wanted Scarface to be a piece unto himself.

NEXT TIME: THE 9 LIVES OF SELINA KYLE

CUSTOM CON 33 ENTRY: HEART OF ICE

Mr. Freeze has always been one of my favorite villains-- I kinda have a thing for cold-themed baddies-- but his portrayal on the Batman: The Animated Series (and Mike Mignola design) cemented it. His debut episode humanized him and made Victor Fries a tragic character, which is, ultimately, the saddest thing about his full descent into evil.

Produced in 2012, Mr. Freeze is quite different from many of my pieces. Most of my work is created with "modern" GI Joe toys and Star Wars figures, but Freeze was built off a vintage O-ring Deep Six base. Not only did it fit Freeze's aesthetic perfectly, but Deep Six was a childhood favorite, which makes the piece extra special. I had always wanted to use that torso for Mr. Freeze, so when I found it in my fodder Graveyard, I snatched it up. The head is Destro (with old Joe goggles), the lower arms and legs are from an old B.A.T., with Marvel Universe hands grafted on. Freeze's backpack is from the original base figure, with the ice cannon coming from my Star Wars armory.

I may revisit the figure, because some of the articulation is hindered. I may replace the lower limbs entirely, but the rest of the toy will be untouched-- I love it way too much.

NEXT TIME: THE CURIOUS CASE OF ARNOLD WESKER

MIKE SANCHEZ: MAN OF ACTION!

The first officially completed piece for the New Year, Mike Sanchez: Man of Action was completed today, January 2nd, 2013.

Mike was created as a gift for a friend of mine. I switched things up a little bit by going primarily with vintage-style O-ring GI Joe parts, as a little bit of a throwback. Mike and I both grew up in the 80s and 90s, so I wanted his toy to look like it could've been hanging right next to Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow back in the day.

Once Mike gets me a few images, I'm planning on creating some custom packaging. I'm thinking A LOT of 80s-style graphics and explosions, and prominent beardiness. NEXT TIME: CUSTOM CON ENTRIES CONTINUE! WHO WILL THE BATMAN APPREHEND NEXT?

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM STRANGE LABS!

COMING 2013... HAPPY NEW YEAR!