1st Look at “GUAN YU” by Luke Chueh x Pobber Toys at #STGCC2017
Showcased at the recent the Pobber Toys booth at Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Con 2017 (Sept 9-10) was a line-up of “SAMURAI” figures (the base figure designed by Jon-Paul Kaiser) - featuring designs from (right-to-left of image): Quiccs’ custom-turned production resin “Baby Ghost”, JPK’s own skeletal-skull headed Samurai, Huck Gee’s “Skullhead Samurai”. AND steathily beside them all, a LUKE CHUEH-designed figure based on JPK's SAMURAI!
Folks had a “first look” at Luke Chueh’s "Guan Yu" (name TBC)! The "God of War" is seen with his "guan dao" (named "Green Dragon Crescent Blade" in Chinese-lore), instead of the previous "katana" welded by Skullhead Samurai!
A closer look at the head sculpt design of the unpainted sample feature Luke’s infamous "bear" character under the beard and battle helmet! Extremely interesting (to me anyways) is the overt Eastern/Chinese influence and aesthetics in this design, something rarely seen in his art (that I know of in recent years), IMHO.
I’ll attempt to update ya’ll as soon as I have further info, meanwhile I’d suggest you stay connected to their Instagram @pobbertoys for updates!
WHO IS “GUAN YU”: "Guan Yu (died 220 CE),courtesy name Yunchang, was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han – founded by Liu Bei – in the Three Kingdoms period.
As one of the best known Chinese historical figures throughout East Asia, Guan Yu's true life stories have largely given way to fictionalised ones, most of which are found in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms or passed down the generations, in which his deeds and moral qualities have been lionised. Guan Yu is respected as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness. He is portrayed as having a red face.
Guan Yu was deified as early as the Sui dynasty and is still worshipped by many Chinese people today in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among many overseas Chinese communities.
Traditionally, he is portrayed as a red-faced warrior with a long lush beard." (Wiki)
(Cheers for the headsup, Jake! Additional pic thanks to @kaiju_mafia)
ASIDE: Coincidentally, you might have remembered seeing an incarnation of "Guan Yu" before - as a one-off custom by Trigger Design for the Skullhead Samurai Custom Show held in FLABSLAB, circa April 2017 :)
