It’s interesting how some things that start small can grow to be so much bigger than you ever expected! As a hard core Star Wars collector over the years, I’ve always had smaller collections of toys I’ve always loved and appreciated throughout my life. MadBalls have always been there as one of these loves. Living in Stuttgart Germany at the time of their initial release in 1985/6, I was a fan and a collector of MadBalls from day one. The comic books were acquired at Robinson Barracks at the newsstand on Base. The balls and the head-popping toys were purchased on Patch Barracks Army Base (where we lived). I actually got to revisit this exact location in 2018. (Pictures go here)
I have continued to collect and acquire more and more MadBalls related paraphernalia over time. The majority of my original foam MadBalls succumbed to the dreaded ‘dry rot’ effect. This is how you know how old your MadBalls are…the later run pressings and depending on which country they were manufactured, they changed the foam recipe, and the later balls are still holding up today.
I have been checking out the MadBalls reddit page from time to time. I was asked by the ‘BOTs’, to administer the MadBalls subreddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Madballs
There’s also a MadBalls ‘FanWiki’ site, that I have looked into.
https://madballs.fandom.com/wiki/Madballs_Wiki
The company Hunter Products in Australia, has some different MadBall varieties right now. They are based on the current CloudCo. designs.
https://www.hunterproducts.com.au/madballs
MyBalls
I have many plans to sculpt and produce characters from the MadBalls comic series and animated features. So far I have done three complete sculpts. ‘Freakella’ from Escape From Orb show, as an action figure sized toy. ‘Freakella’ as a deluxe 8inch+ MadBall and ‘Baby HornHead’ as a standard 4-5inch MadBall. Each one was made from standard grade SuperSculpy.
As an artist that includes the ability to sculpt, I have been working on multiple original sculptures that include some never before realized MadBalls toys. My plans are to both sculpt and produce retail worthy pieces for both self customization as well as public offerings.
I’ve also been custom painting retail MadBalls and streaming some of the progress on my YouTube channel.
Baby Hornhead
Appearance MadBalls STAR comic issue 8
Aladdin Sane Head
This figure is not finished by far, but is ery ambitious. I have used a spray to strip away all the factor paint from this Horn Head by Premium DNA. I have then used ye ole’ trusty SuperSculpy and created the beginnings of a David Bowie / Horn Head mashup.
Since moving to Maui, I have been able to devote some time and focus on getting a streaming setup fully functioning. In doing so I have started streaming at times of creation. I don’t have any sort of schedule or plan, I just go as I do.
Action Figures
Original Amtoy, Matchbox and modern Premium DNA
Comic & Cartoons
I have worked to scan every MadBalls comic and related printed materials. I produced a custom DVD that contained both MadBalls animated features as well as all the STAR comics original US domestic print run.
Original MadMail Logo
I recently acquired a piece of graphic design history! The original handmade logo for the fan mail section of the original comic book run. The item was up on eBay for quite a while with no bids.
MadBalls Logos
These are the various logos that have been created for MadBalls products. Would love to track down the original design elements for the logo similar to the MadMail.
