Not For Sale: BBW BARBIE DOLL

We said imagine all day, not eat all day. Otherwise, you might become the next "New Idol" is the latest series of sculptures by Italian artist Franceso de Molfetta.  In fact, the sculptor calls his solo exhibition at Milan's Don Gallery just that -- New Idols.  More accurately, de Molfetta offers a new look at old 80's icons- like 'Barbie The Hutt' (above).  Mattel's got a cash cow (no pun intended) right there, probably even bring home more bacon than Mad Men.

Batman, JFK, King Kong, ET, and a very well-hung Superman and more join Barbie as members of de Molfetta's odd-looking to even slightly grotesque collection. If you haven't had breakfast yet - don't. You'll get fat! Check out the artist's unique vision here - and don't say we didn't warn ya!

Figures In Action! Barbie Adding MAD MEN In July

Wondering if you're a Pop Icon? Check the toy aisle. Find a Barbie  or Ken doll in your likeness, and you'll know that not only have you arrived, but your place in the pantheon of pop culture is assured, reserved, and complete with stocked wet bar. Yes, when it comes to Mattel's infamous Barbie, there comes a point when the doll is no longer a doll, but a status symbol.

After just three seasons, Lionsgate /AMC's multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning  series about Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s, Mad Men, has attained that laudable level of popular-culture popularity.  This July, Mattel's premium-price collectors’ series for adults - the Barbie Fashion Model Collection - will add four new  versions of Barbie and Ken styled after Mad Men characters - from left:  Joan Holloway, Roger Sterling, Don Draper and Betty Draper.

In top form, the  Mad Men Barbies and Kens will be attired and accessorized in iconic costumes fans of the series will immediately recognize  as spot-on to their televised counterparts, the key players from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency.  Our fave: Barbie Joan Holloway, who's looking mighty chic in that purple skirt suit she tops off perfectly with the styled red coif and her staple accessory - a pen necklace. 

The Mad Men  dolls are the latest additions to Mattel's high-end collectibles line that's also been responsible for immortalizing The X-Files Mulder and Scully, the cast of Twilight,  Star Trek, Wonder Woman, and I Love Lucy in Barbie fashion.   But the Mad quartet are unique in that they're the first licensed dolls to ever join Barbie's esteemed signature silkstone collection. They'll also be in limited supply; the toy manufacturer's only making 7,ooo to 10,000 of each, and the dolls will be available only in specialty stores and on the web at either
amctv.com or barbiecollector.com.   Each of the four dolls will carry the mad price of $74.95.

For an even more elaborate run down of the new Barbie and Kens, we suggest you check out AMC's Mad Men blog and their interview with Robert Best, a former Project Runway contender and the Mattel fellow who designed the dolls in question. Check it out at the [link]. 

Otherwise, we'll send you home with the news that Mad Men's fourth season is gearing up for the big debut on Sunday 25 July.  Mad Men info is [here] and [here].

Figures In Action! Barbie Vs Lady Gaga

What, did you think our Figures In Action! Series was going to be all superheroes? Half the pictures we've ever seen of Lady Gaga make us believe she's got a superhero fetish of her own (just check out pic #2 below) -- while the other half are just plain unbelievable.  Seriously,  if we didn't know any better, we'd think Bad Romance was performed by Marilyn Manson and Britney Spears' love child who also may have read  Grant Morrison's The Invisibles one too many times. 

But for the record, we're not pointing fingers at anybody. Except at  photographer Weikang Lu's recent work dolling up Barbie as the 'Fame Monster' herself, that is. Lu recreated a year's worth of Lady Gaga's most outrageous outfits for the infamous blonde bombshell, and we have to say Barbie's looking pretty damn glam.  In fact, she pulls off the crazy couture better than our Lady herself.  We've got three of our favorite ensembles here, but Lu's fashion show is far more robust. If you'd like to see what else Barbie's wearing a la Lady Gaga, the entire photo shoot is HERE or HERE.

Fun with Dolls: Katana Barbie in "Kill Ken"

Kill Ken via [Freaking News]

No Toy 4 Tots: Palm Beach SugarDaddy Ken Doll is Sweet!

We've been knee-deep in -- not to mention running behind on -- Star Trek XI coverage (which we'll note will continue Wednesday and Thursday on your favorite comicsblog, natch!) but we didn't want you to think that Trek is the end-all of abbracadabbling.

Our kind of magic wouldn't be any fun at all if sometimes reality wasn't stranger than fiction. And believe us, today's been one of those times.

But don't take our word for it -- take Mattel's. Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken is the Barbie manufacturer's latest version to take their popular neutered male's namesake. From his green print jacket to his pink shirt and that white little dog he's got on the Day-Glo leash, Sugar Daddy Ken is sure to give Barbie a run for her money as the toy world's reigning fashonista.

We'll admit this Ken doll looks like a college kid's homemade protest, but Mattel's behind this one. The company told the New York Post Sugar Daddy Ken came into being in response to the numerous requests they've received from collectors of their "Adult Barbie Collector's Line." He may not be the kind of doll young girls -- or boys for that matter -- should expect under their Christmas trees, but a few guys and gals at the Springfield Home Office would like nothing better.

Oh, by the way -- Mattel says Ken's little yap dog's name is Sugar, making Ken Sugar's daddy. Sure thing, Mattel. You get props on the doll, but we're not buying your name's explanation one bit.

If you'd like to buy Ken this Christmas, he's part of Barbie's Gold Label Collection. That means he comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a $70 price tag. Entertainment Earth [Link] has him, but we'll be shopping around before we bring him and his Sugar home for the Holidays.