Universe of Violence Chaos Dimension: Wave 2

UoV magnet & character cards

Universe of Violence is back! The last we heard from this long-running indie toy line was in 2014, with the release of the fantastic Satyrant and Venus Maneater figures. Now, we've got three brand new brutes to add to the gang via UoV Chaos Dimension Wave 2.

Meet West Nile, Deadface II and Hell Chicken.

All three figures were sculpted by Jimmy Rommel and cast by Justin Gadze, who collaborate as Ironhaus Productions/Ironhaus Productions Oz (Jimmy's based in the U.S. and Justin is in Australia). Anyone familiar with Jimmy's work should be able to recognize these gnarly monsters as his creations. As usual, the sculpts are full of character, highly detailed, and fit right in with past UoV releases. Combine that with the great care Justin obviously took in producing the figures, and you've got a release well worth picking up.

The figures are available now through the Ironhaus Oz Storenvy site. All three are sold individually in rubber, with a variety of colors offered (there are also some special variants randomly thrown into the mix, like color-changing, scented and glow-in-the-dark figures). They range from about 1.75 to 2.25 inches tall. Plus, to coincide with Wave 2, Ironhaus has re-released both Venus Maneater and Satyrant in both rubber and resin. All come in a bag with a header card along with awesome freebies such as Neclos Fortress-styled character cards, stickers and a fun UoV magnet.

Here's a closer look at each character in Wave 2:

WEST NILE

This figure has been in the making for a long time, and now it's finally seen the light of day. As you can see, it has an amazing amount of texture and detail, with the whole body being made up of what looks like exposed muscle. It's a kickass sculpt that really embodies the spirit of UoV. I also just discovered that my figure changes color when put under warm water--it goes from the orangey-red shown in the photo to a lime green. So cool.


DEADFACE II

You might remember the Deadface character from previous Universe of Violence releases. He first appeared in one of the original UoV sets from 2012. Here we have an updated version of this muscle-bound baddie with a fresh, more dynamic sculpt. My favorite part of this figure is the face--check out that creepily sadistic expression ol' spike-hand's got going on.


HELL CHICKEN

Remember Jimmy's popular Hell Turtle figure from a few years ago? Well, now we've got Hell Chicken! This seems to be the most popular figure in Wave 2, and for good reason. I mean, it's a creepy demonic chicken monster. The concept in itself is an instant win, and the sculpt does not disappoint. It doesn't necessarily scream "chicken"--the wing-arms are the most chicken-like part--but that's not really a bad thing. I like the fact that it's a monster that's somewhat chicken-like, instead of the other way around. I chose one in a neon purple color reminiscent of neon purple Monster in My Pocket figures, and I don't regret that choice. It shows off the detail really well. Mine also came in one of the scents, which smells kind of floral. I believe it's the "aphrodisiac" scent. Maybe the scent Hell Chicken emits to lure prey into its lair before attacking?

And there we have it--the latest UoV offerings from a couple of very talented guys. Again, you can pick up all three figures here.

It's good to have UoV back, don't you think? 

Universe of Violence II: Satyrant & Venus Maneater

Until now it had been a while since we'd seen anything new from the excellent indie mini figure line Universe of Violence, but at long last UoV has made its triumphant return with a new spin and two fantastic new figures, Satyrant and Venus Maneater!

Both figures are the work of Justin "Metal Monkey" Gadze, who is keeping UoV going as "Universe of Violence II: Chaos Dimension" with the blessings of UoV originators Jimmy Rommel and Eric Nilla. As soon as I found out Justin was working on these figures, I couldn't wait to see them. Knowing he does great work and that we share some favorite toy lines like Monster in My Pocket and Neclos Fortress, I was sure his UoVII creations would be something special.

And they most definitely are. Justin really went all out to introduce this new phase of UoV. I love these figures!

Neclos Fortress-style UoVII mini cards

The two new characters are Satyrant, who looks like a cross between a satyr and a demon, and Venus Maneater, a killer plant monster. The pair first became available a couple weeks ago, and while Justin did the design and sculpting, Eric Nilla handled the casting of this initial batch in rubber. Justin sold both figures in many different random colors (including thermal color change and glow varieties) through his online store. Both figures are already sold out, but there are plans for additional releases of them in the future (details TBA--keep an eye on Justin's blog).

Aside from the figures themselves, I really like the fact that the release includes Neclos Fortress-inspired mini character cards with great artwork by Justin. It's a cool homage to one of the best keshi lines ever, and brings a really fun '80s fantasy/RPG element into UoV.

But the main attraction, of course, is the figures. So let's take a closer look at them both.

VENUS MANEATER

I've always thought plant monsters were awesome (I think I wore out a VHS of "Little Shop of Horrors" by watching it pretty much daily when I was a kid), so it's no surprise that the Venus Maneater is my favorite. This sculpt is so fierce! I love how vicious it looks, from the many long, sharp teeth and huge, curling tongue of its main head to its multiple other mini heads that look like they could do some serious damage in their own right. It's like a Piranha Plant on a mega dose of steroids. The figure has some bulk and heft to it, which makes it look extra formidable alongside most other monster minis.

My particular figure was cast in a blue-green rubber that looks very similar to a color that was a staple in the Neclos Fortress line, which I'm happy about. In fact, it fits in really well with all the different Neclos plant monsters (see for yourself below). It looks like it could be the "mean green mother" of them all.

SATYRANT

  
Satyrant is another suberb sculpt. The various details and textures on this guy are really impressive, from the fur on his legs to the chain the wraps around his body to his screw-like horns. Also, I just love the weirdo demon-satyr combination in general. Like the Venus Maneater, he's got quite a big presence when put next to most other mini figures--if he were a villain in a video game, he'd definitely be a boss!

My figure comes in an orangey-red that I think really suits the character well. Plus, I realized when I was holding it for a bit that it's one of the thermal color change versions--he turns yellow when he gets warm! How cool is that?

This figure also looks great with Neclos figures. He made me think of the many demon characters in the Neclos line, so I got a shot of him with some of those figures (below). He looks like he could be their leader, just like Venus Maneater could be the leader of the plant monsters.

And there you have it. UoVII has started off with a bang, don't you think? I'm definitely impressed, and looking forward to seeing what's next. 

What's your take on these guys? Were you able to get some of your own from the initial release? If not, do you plan to pick any up in a future release?

Universe of Violence: Cythulhu

WHAT: One of the latest and most impressive creations to hit the indie mini figure market, Cythulhu puts a cyborg spin on the classic, ever-popular H.P. Lovecraft creature Cthulhu.

Cythulhu is the last released figure in the original incarnation of the Universe of Violence custom keshi line by Eric Nilla and Jimmy Rommel (I say "original incarnation" because MetalMonkey/Justin Gadze has plans to continue the line, which is very exciting...more on that here!). Both the sculpting and casting of Cythulhu were done by Eric.

This guy really is fantastic. For one, I love his dynamic, triumphant pose, which makes him look like he's just gained control of the cosmos. Even his facial tentacles are raised up, which is a fun touch. Another feature that adds to the coolness is his removable wings, which plug into two small holes in his back and help get across the cyborg concept nicely with some mechanical-looking details sculpted onto them. These features must have been tough to make happen for a rubber mini figure, but Eric did an excellent job pulling it off.

In addition to his removable wings, Cythulhu even comes with a little book accessory--his very own literature called the "Cthulunomicon."

Cythulhu has been released in a wide range of colors, and as you can see my particular figure is a vibrant neon pink. Although it can be tough to photograph, I am a big fan of the color and think this character looks great in it. Between the detailed, dynamic sculpt and the bright color, I don't think this figure could be any more eye-catching!


WHEN: Cythulhu first became available in July of 2013. At the time of writing this post, the figure is still available to purchase in multiple colors.


WHERE: Sold online via Eric Nilla's store.


WHO: Designed, sculpted, cast and sold by Eric Nilla.

Vote for Universe of Violence in the Designer Toy Awards!

Over the past year I've been really impressed with a lot of the indie toy lines being unleashed into the world. There's so much creativity out there, and it's really exciting that fellow fans of classic mini figure lines like MUSCLE and Monster in My Pocket are keeping awesome new mini figures for sale even if they're rarely seen from mainstream toy companies these days. Probably the line I've been most impressed with is Universe of Violence from IroNilla Productions, a.k.a. Eric Nilla and Jimmy Rommel. They started the line last year and this year have been tearing it up by releasing a great new sculpt every single month. That's why I was happy to see UoV nominated for "Best Mini Series" in the 2013 Designer Toy Awards!

I voted for them as soon as I saw it, and I plan to vote again as many times as possible (you can vote every 24 hours). If you're also a fan of what Jimmy and Eric do, be sure to click here, find Universe of Violence at the bottom of the page, and vote! Then vote again. And again. And keep voting.

ALSO, Jimmy has been nominated on his own in a separate category, "Best Break-Through Artist"! In addition to his part in UoV, Jimmy has created a bunch more cool stuff like Gorewad Monsters, HORDE and the brand new Micro Bastards, all of which you can find more about on his blog. So vote for Ironhaus Productions in that category here! 

Here are some more pics of Jimmy and Eric's creations for more proof of why they deserve your votes:

Universe of Violence

If you're at all into custom mini figures, you're probably already aware of Universe of Violence, a very cool line of rubber monster warriors that began last year as a collaboration between Eric Nilla and Jimmy Rommel. I recently wrote about the first "boss" figure of the line, Hell Turtle, but I thought it was high time for a post to show off more of these weirdos. So far, there have been eight different figures released--three sets of two as well as two bosses sold individually--and the ninth UoV figure, bulky wrestler dude Arn Hellstorm, just went up for sale. While we wait for him to show up, let's take a closer look at who makes up this crazy Universe to date:

Hell Turtle and Elephunt: These are the line's first two boss figures, meaning they're bigger, bulkier and all-around more formidable than the other characters. Hell Turtle was sculpted by Jimmy and has amazing detail, particularly the awesome-looking back of the shell. It would have been easy to disappoint after this guy, but Eric's Elephunt warrior does not; he sports an amazing sculpt as well, and even has a removable helmet! It's safe to say these are going to be two of my favorite figures of the year.

The Brute and Blemmyae Warrior: These guys were sold as one of UoV's first sets of two. As you might expect, the Brute is a big shambling mound of terror. I think those are giant sharp teeth he's got in his abdomen, and he pretty much has no face, which is kinda creepy (I don't know why, but things without faces just are). The Blemmyae Warrior is one of the more straightforward sculpts of the line so far, but also one of my favorites. You can pair him with the series 3 Monster in My Pocket Blemmyae figure and get double the Blemmyae fun.

Cedargief and Eyeklops: These two also came as a set. Don't be fooled by the pleasant Eastery colors of their incarnations pictured above--they mean business. Just look at how badass Cedargief is with his highly-detailed wood-monster body and ready-to-rumble pose, and you can't go wrong with a figure that combines a cyclops with tentacles, can you? Great stuff.

Big Arm and Deadface: Finally, we've got the third set of two released last year. And I saved the creepiest for last. From the first second I saw it, Eric's aptly-named Big Arm has weirded me the hell out with its gigantic, veiny, bulging right arm paired with a pygmy body. Yikes. I still don't know exactly what to make of it, and I kind of like that. Deadface is not quite as strange. You know, just a deranged ghoulish psychopath with a spike for a hand.

BONUS! Baby Violence-mongers: While we're taking stock of this line, I thought it would also be a good time to show off the interplay between UoV and another Nilla/Rommel collaboration, Gorewad Monsters. As you can see, some of the UoV characters have mini Gorewad counterparts. Too cool.

With plans to release a new UoV figure every month this year, I'm really looking forward to seeing everything Jimmy and Eric have in store for us. Keep an eye on their respective blogs linked above to stay in the loop on future releases!

Universe of Violence: Hell Turtle

When I wrote about Gorewad Monsters last month, I mentioned that the same guys who are behind those figures, Jimmy Rommel and Eric Nilla, also collaborate on a line called Universe of Violence. I also mentioned how out of the two lines, I was only collecting Gorewad Monsters. Well, damn. I knew that would only last so long. As soon as I laid eyes on the not-so-little little rubber guy above, Hell Turtle, I knew I had to finally take the plunge into the Universe of Violence.

Whereas Gorewad Monsters are very small (around 1"), Universe of Violence figures are bigger, and instead of the gross-out humor of the Gorewads, they focus on badass brute monster warriors. They are made out of the same type of bouncy rubber, though, and both lines go together well; the Gorewads make perfect companion figures to the bulkier UoV monsters. In fact, the two lines even share some of the same characters. Big Daddy Hell Turtle, for example, is complemented by a fun-size "Diet Hell Turtle," which was first made available last year as part of the initial set of three Gorewads. Check out the big guy protecting the little guy below (awwwww....):

As you can see, this dude sports a fantastic sculpt done by Jimmy. The flesh/pink color of mine (colors are filled randomly) shows the impressive details very well. The spiky area behind Hell Turtle's head is awesome, and he's even got a little turtle tail sticking out of the bottom of his shell. Oh, speaking of his shell--it's freaking amazing! It could be my favorite part of the figure. Turn him around and you see that his shell is actually a big, demonic-looking face with sharp teeth, sinister, beady eyes and a cool, bumpy texture throughout. It looks so great that you might not be able to decide whether to display the figure facing forward or backward.

The other major thing to mention is that when you place Hell Turtle on your shelf next to your other toys, you'll notice that he looks like a beast compared to most other little rubber guys. Probably the only other mini figures that look as threatening are some of the C.U.T.I.E.s... (I kid, I kid). The bulkiness of this figure is definitely part of what makes it so appealing. HT is a UoV "boss" and costs $16, and when you consider the size of the figures, the work that goes into making them and the fact that they are packaged with one of four bonus exclusive Gorewad Monsters (I got this one), the price is well worth it. Below is a photo of HT with some other LRGs so you can see what I mean (looks like he's about to eat Great Beast for breakfast, eh?).

Now that I have Hell Turtle, I'm anxious to get some more Universe of Violence figures. And based on what Jimmy and Eric have said, it seems like there will be plenty of opportunity to add to the collection throughout 2013, with at least one new figure planned to come out each month (including another boss figure yet to be revealed, this time sculpted by Eric, that will be for sale next month). If you want to catch up on the Universe of Violence figures that have been released so far, including Hell Turtle and the six other sculpts from 2012 (plus the nine Gorewads that went up for sale last year), it sounds like you'll be able to do so via Eric's store through February, when they'll be retired to make room for the new stuff.

Can't wait to see what else is in store for Universe of Violence this year!