SDCC 2016: The Magical World Of Martin Hsu

I have been a fan of Martin Hsu’s for many, many years. His art perfectly captures the whimsy and fantasy of imagination. He brought with him many con-exclusives, several of which were one of a kind.

Martin’s Dragon Boy character was given special treatment with these classic figures, customized by the artists: Sean Chao, Jeremiah Ketner, Frank Montano, Cassia Harries, Jim Evans, and Mark Nagata.

Dragon Boy also materialized as a con-exclusive resin figure, limited to nine pieces. This photo was taken mid-day on the second day of SDCC and the line was already mostly sold out!

Also for sale was “Dragon  Boy Tales,” an art book that featured daily sketches by Martin. Some of the original art was also for sale at Martin’s booth. You can learn more about the process behind “Dragon Boy Tales” on here.

For me, the highlight of the Martin’s booth was his adorable Dragon Dog plush. The fellow was inspired by Dragon Boy’s companion, Blacky. He is mostly made of a minky fabric. However, its tongue has a more sponge-like quality and the nose is leathery. I loved the combination of textures!

Another fan favorite was the Kindreds “Powder” figure set. This con-exclusive completely sold out. It was a 50-piece limited run. Made of resin, these figures had some heft to them. There was something quietly touching about this set. I think it was the concept behind it, that feeling of being safe and protected. Plus, I loved the fact that the child figure can either ride atop the bear figure or hide between its forepaws.

At Martin’s booth, I was introduced to the smartphone app, PowerCore. The app allows you to register products (there were several at the con that participated in this program) and unlock special stickers that can be used in online chat. Each QR code is unique and is used to authenticate your purchase. It is a pretty cool added incentive for collecting designer toys.

You can check out more of Martin Hsu’s work at his website.