A Word With Kitbasher Retrogimmick About His Quarantine Diddy Action Figure

Here at CISED, we are always on the lookout for new art/designer toys to hit the market. We are especially interested in toys inspired by Black culture. We have published a few blogs on the topic and one that stood out for me, personally, was my interview with Dano Brown about the lost Def Jam action figures. Dano’s discipline is called kitbashing, the art of dismembering existing figures and “Frankinsteining” the various parts to create a new and unique figure, usually inspired by pop culture. These pieces (mostly GI Joe-sized in stature) are available in limited number, with most being one-of-a-kind.  

On Instagram, I was contacted by Alain of WEIRD, a custom apparel and merch company. He read my profile on Dano’s Def Jam figures and showed me another hip-hop-inspired piece by kitbasher Daniel Bein, better known as Retrogimmick. The piece was of Sean “Diddy” Combs as he appeared on Instagram Live during the current stay-at-home period imposed by COVID-19. Like most kitbashed products, there is an element of humor in the Puffy piece because the spelling on the t-shirt are reversed “since IG live flips everything around.” The figure is also truly commemorative because it features Diddy’s never before seen, grayed-out beard. 

I sat down with Retrogimmick and we discussed his history as a kitbasher, the art of bootlegging (a topic in kitbashing that I didn’t go into with Dano), why he decided to make Diddy a toy and more. Check it out below:

How did you get into kitbashing?

I've actually had an interest in it since the mid-90s and made a couple. Then, a few years ago, I realized that custom toys were this cool underground scene on Instagram and other social media. I've been hooked ever since.

Have you always had artistic talent?

I've been drawing since I was a little kid. Mostly comic book stuff and He-Man, but figures were something I've loved since before I can remember. Applying my artistic impulses to figures feels even more natural than drawing.

Do you only sell your work on Etsy?

I sell on Etsy, eBay sometimes and I do direct commissions of people's friends, favorite characters, etc.. Those I do through Instagram, Facebook or email. However, people want to get in touch. 

You call what you do bootlegging and that has a negative connotation sometimes. Can you explain the notion of bootlegging when it comes to toys? Have you ever run into trouble for making an unauthorized toy?

Bootlegging toys used to just mean reproducing a licensed character and selling it, but now it can apply to licensed reproduction or even your own work. It usually involves making a mold of an existing toy, or your own custom toy, and reproducing it using resin. Or you can make a crazy translucent Darth Vader with glitter inside and call him Darth Glitter, which I've done. Or a green Vader with a giant blunt-saber in place of his lightsaber and call him Dope Vader: Dank Lord of the Spliff. Then it becomes sort of an art-parody/terrible joke.

I haven't run into trouble for unlicensed toys yet. Usually, people are flattered. And I don't produce huge quantities. A couple of copyright holders have asked me not to sell a figure of them and I just comply rather than cause an issue. 

How do you choose which toys you make?

I try to choose something I love or that I think other people love. Something they'd never expect to see a figure of and are surprised and happy to see. That's often the goal. 

What made you want to make a toy of Quarantine Diddy? What is it about Diddy that would make him a good toy?

Alain at WEIRD suggested it and I thought it was a great idea. Diddy is an icon. And with the IG live videos and the beard, it gave the toy more of a specific tie into current events. I think that worked better than just doing a regular Diddy, though that would be cool, too.

What ended up happening to the Quarantine Diddy figure?

Right now I still have it. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I'd really love to get it into Diddy's hand somehow or just have him see it (and like it).

What can people look forward to from you in the near future?

I'm doing lots of commissions and I'm really into doing figures of popular musicians now. Of course, I'll always do Star Wars and other parodies, too. Also, my first love when it comes to toys is He-Man/Masters of the Universe. I'm planning to do a line of original characters that are my own creations, but He-Man inspired. Kind of a darker version of He-Man. Maybe with a mini-comic. 

Retrogimmick’s work can be viewed and purchased in his shop on Etsy. He can be followed on Instagram at @retrogimmick.

For the Diaspora shop, click here.

For the Black American shop, click here.

For flags, click here.

For books, click here.