Super-bastard Box Art Characters (http://super-bastard.com), consists of 16 unique toys in one set, with 4 unique characters on each face of the box. Collectors have an opportunity to collect all 16 toys/64 characters in the series. Each toy is individually placed in a sealed box (blind assortment). They are produced in a limited edition with only 1000 copies of each toy on the market. Each toy is made with card stock plus matt lamination and stands 4” in height. Super Bastard is distributed worldwide by DKE and sells at a retail price of USD5.95 per toy. They are set to launch in September 2006.

Super-bastard Box Art Characters (http://super-bastard.com) are colorful and fun to play with. Each toy has 4 characters, each with a custom designed suit. Characters include Uncle Sam, George W. Bush, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Queen Elizabeth II, Mother Teresa, a mummy, a Japanese wrestler, a cave man, dominatrix and so on. The toys are designed so that you can detach the head or the pants. Once removed, it reveals either a skull or underwear. What makes it exciting isn’t how cool or funny their underwear is, but that collectors can interchange their heads and pants with different bodies. Can a George W. Bush head go with a Saddam Hussein commander suit? How about president Mao wearing a super hot bikini?

The idea behind Super Bastard was inspired by early mix and match books and the Postmodernist movement. Postmodernism asserts the borrowing of art. Postmodern architecture was born from an assemblage of different cultures and design styles. Postmodern artwork has no real consistent theme. Therefore, no originality exists, especially with the explosion of mass media. Everything becomes a copy of what’s been done before.

In reality, people judge by appearance and first impressions usually last. The way you dress is the way people think you are. When attracted to a political leader, do we really know what happens “behind the scenes”? To me, an identity is variable, like postmodernism. Change the dress or language and an identity changes. This is how Super Bastard Box Art Characters (http://super-bastard.com) were born. By interchanging body parts, the characters become a new figure. At the same time, we get a chance to see through what really lies underneath.

ABOUT UNDOBOY

Originally from Malaysia, Undoboy now resides in New York. After graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design from the Ringling School of Art and Design in 2005, he spent time as an interactive designer at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, before becoming an art director at JWT New York.

CAN I UNDO?
Friends have always asked about the meaning behind “undoboy”. Can I undo or redo something?

Back in Malaysia and even now, people try to create cool user names for their email addresses. I tried hard to come up with a cool name back then. “Undo” was the word that stuck. The inspiration came from painting and my inability to undo the mistakes I made. In some way it signified life and its constant movement forward. We can never undo a particular event in life, yet we all wish we could. Does this mean we are imperfect? Since then, I’ve used the name Undoboy.

THE PATH TO DESIGN
As a child I was obsessed with drawing and crafting. In high school, my love for things creative grew. I listened to rock and electronic music. Those beautiful and crazy CD album covers strengthened my appreciation for design. I grew, my tastes grew and my passion was fueled. I felt that design and art spoke together; similar to words and musical instruments. I had notebooks filled with doodles, sketches and wild ideas. These would serve as fertile ground for the future.

WHAT CHANGED ME
I love iconography and character design, with gradients being one of my trademarks. My inspiration comes from everywhere, but I’m particularly influenced by Japanese design, an influence I attribute to growing up with manga and Japanese/Hong Kong pop culture. The Superflat movement has had a very strong impact on my beliefs. I also admire Andy Warhol and love the way he intertwined art and pop culture.

NOW
Today, my love for design creates conflicts on commercial projects. Commercial art is never that satisfying. Design should be fun, yet the commercial aspect has innate conflicts for an artist. Creativity has the power to simplify life and on some level, bring happiness to both the public and the artist. Whenever I design, I remind myself of that. A project should contain a voice within the work and therefore retains its uniqueness. If I maintain my voice throughout my work, then my path within design will be fun and at the same time an opportunity to learn.

And this is where my own line of toys called Super-Bastard Box Art Characters (http://super-bastard.com) comes in. This project marks my first independent commercial venture. I had the idea in school, and it was always well received. Friends always pushed me to produce it. The toys are highly interactive. Super Bastard should bring some drops of happiness to my family, friends and the public. Hopefully, this is the first step to producing my own fashion label or maybe even more toys in the future.