Alright folks!  We’re back with the great customizer and co-founder of hockeycustoms.com, Chris.  In last week’s interview, Chris shared his love for action figures.  He also discussed what got him into customized figures.  This week, we discuss his first custom Mighty Muggs, Flash!

NS: What made you decide to customize a Mighty Muggs figure?
C: I don’t really know. I had a couple of hockey customs on the go for a couple of different customers and then my PC crashed, so i was without all my graphics and order lists for about 3 weeks. I was starting to get a little bored with just sitting around and after seeing some custom Mighty Muggs on ebay a few weeks earlier, I decided to give it a shot. It looked like it would be pretty simple and a good way to pass the time waiting for a new PC.

NS:  Can you describe the process from beginning to end?
C: Basically I used the same process in customizing the Mugg figure as I did for a Sportspick, with 1 exception. I didn’t take the Mighty Mugg apart. I found that all the moving joints were internal so there would be no paint rubbing. I did a light sand on the original paint, in this case a Han Solo Mugg. I taped over the eyes and mouth area because I really liked the face on it and I wanted to use them for my version of Wally West as the Flash, then I put on 2 light coats of gray primer and 3 coats of satin white spray paint as a base coat. I brushed on the red of the costume with acryllic paint and then painted on the yellow boots and the lightning around the arms and belt. Then I made decals for the Flash logo and the ear wings on his cowl. I had debated whether or not to make the wings out of sculpty and have then come off the side of the head, like the real ones would, but I didn’t think it would fit with the rest of the figure, so I left them 2D. After everything was on, I removed the tape, did any touch ups and clearcoated the whole figure with Testors Model master Flat varnish.

Custom Muggs Flash created from Han Solo figure (bottom)

NS:  Over here in the US, it’s pretty tough finding the figures, is it also hard finding Mighty Muggs in Canada?
C: That’s tough to say. I’ve seen alot ot my local Zellers and Wal-marts, but they all seem to be series 1 Star Wars. I haven’t seen any Indiana Jones Muggs and only a few of the Marvel ones, but they were all series 1 or 2. That seems to be the case most of the time. My local stores will pick up a 1 or 2 cases of series 1 and 2 and then nothing for months on end. We still haven’t seen Mattel’s DC Classics series 2.

NS:  Why did you decide to do Flash instead of the bigger DC names like Batman and Superman?
C: Flash is my guy. I’ve always loved the Flash, even as a kid, my favorite heroes were Flash and Spider-man, but Flash was always #1. I used to say when I worked at the comic store that every collector has 1 main guy, 1 main character they follow no matter what, and for me, that’s the Flash, comics, TV, movies, toys, books. No matter what. Remember the TV show from the early 90’s? I bought it when it came out on DVD 2 years ago, classic stuff.

Top: Custom Flash. Bottom: Official Mighty Muggs Figure

NS:  What did you think of Justice League: The New Frontier, where Flash is one of the main characters?
C: I was a huge fan of New Frontier, both the comic and the animated movie. I really liked how they portrayed the Barry Allen of the 60’s in the movie: very humble and almost self depreciating, but also very, very powerful. It was right up my alley.

NS: What other figures do you customize besides Muggs and NHL Sportspicks?
C: As of now it’s just McFarlane NHL sportspicks and the 1 Mighty Mugg. I would like to get into customizing other action figures, like the DCUC or DC Classics, but there’s an area I have little knowledge of…….moving joints….and I don’t have the time right now to tackle it. Sometime in the future though, we’ll see.

NS: Do do any commissions?
C: I do commissions for NHL figures, or other hockey figures, that’s what I’m focused on right now, especially with the website I co-own with EJ (Voodoo Chylde), Zac (Eddie20) and Mike (the Guide).  I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with some really great people doing that. I want to improve my processes a little more, gain some more experience on the other customizing techniques before I take any commissions for other customs. I’d like to try a few more Mighty Muggs customs before I start to offer those. I never expect people to pay for something that’s inaccurate or subpar. If someone gets a custom from me, I want them to walk away thinking and knowing that they got the best of the best.

NS: Last but not least, who would win in a race, Superman or Flash and why?

C: Easy, Flash. He’s done it many times already and there is 1 reason that stands out for me. The Flash can run faster than light, in fact 3 of the 4 Flashes can run faster than light, Barry, Wally and Bart…….Superman can not.

**End of Interview**

I want to thank Chris again for the interview.  If you’re interested in custom figures and have more questions about it, you can reach him through his website, hockeycustoms.com. I hope you guys enjoy the read!  BTW, that Flash tv show did kick ass.  I used to watch it every week, time to Netflix it!

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