Tomopop's Best of 2009: Designer Vinyl and more

12:00 PM on 01.09.2010   |   Colette Bennett

I learned something from our Best of 2009 Japanese PVC list -- there's no such thing as a complete list when it comes to awarding the accolades for the best toys. For instance, I truly believed I had listed every figure we loved based on the responses of Tomopop editors, but in the comments I realized I had left out several stunning pieces. Curses! Whatever shall I do?

I figured since I had the best of Designer Vinyl planned for just a few days later, I would comb my brain more carefully and pray that I wasn't forgetting any of the beautiful figures that came out last year. I have a feeling no matter what though, I'll forget a few. Argh! Hopefully you'll visit the comments and share your favorites with us as well.

Hit the break and we'll tell you our top picks!

Cranston Fellows Jr.
Made by Lou Pimentel
Release date: August 2009
Price: $80

A lot of good vinyl and resin came out last year. That being said, a lot of it simply fell into that general category of good but not remarkable. Then, you have a guy like Cranston. Lou Pimentel's little demon stole hearts the moment his gloriously mischievous face started to pop up in teasers, and the variants and customs have only continued to enthrall fans. Also, we love that Lou went with resin over vinyl, as it makes Cranston feel that much more substantial. At any rate, the figure is a total victory, and we absolutely adored it.

Michael Jackson Billie Jean Ver.
Made by Hot Toys
Release date: March 2009
Price: $150
Buy here

Everything Hot Toys touches pretty much turns to gold -- their sculpting abilities are beyond compare to most other toys in the same genre (although Medicom's RAH series comes close). They immortalized Michael Jackson several times last year, but our own MJ resident fanatic Rio McCarthy named this one her pick of the year. Surely, capturing Michael's trademark attitude was no cup of tea, and any collector or fan of the pop star should be honored to have such a piece of his or her shelf.

Wood Labbit
Made by Amanda Visell and Frank Kozik
Release date: June 2009
Price: $50

If Amanda Visell touches something, it's likely to be good. Add a touch of Frank Kozik to that mix, and that likelihood soars even higher. The  Wood Labbit was an exclusive offering at last year's San Diego Comic Con and made it possible for collectors to get their hands on a version of the figure (the later series Amanda did sold for $600 a pop). We loved everything about this figure's simplicity and cute factor, and it was an easy choice for our picks of the year.

Celsius OG
Made by: Kuso Vinyl and Rotobox
Release date: November 2009
Price: $80
Buy here

Kuso and Rotobox simply knocked it out of the park last year with this unique and beautiful offering. Everything from the packaging to the accessories was simply a joy for a vinyl fan to get their hands on, and with a perfectly reasonable price tag, they could afford to, too! This is another figure that's seen an array of dazzling customs after its release, proving its versatility. Don't hesitate if you want it -- this is one of the few pieces on this list you can still purchase!

The Dark Knight MMS DX 01 Joker
Made by Hot Toys
Release date: Third Quarter 2009
Price: $150
Buy here

Hands down, one of the most stunning figures of the year. Sure, it's one hell of a way to remember Heath Ledger if you're into that sort of thing, but let's admit it: this is sheer badass. As usual, the figure comes packed with an onslaught of accessories including the policeman costume from the film and boasts 35 points of articulation. Sure, Hot Toys always does top notch work, but this one simply floored us.

Crappy Cat BeaterMan Ver.
Made by Van Beater/Jamungo
Release date:
Price:$64.99
Buy here

The original Crappy Cat came out in late 2008, so the figure itself isn't new. However, I couldn't imagine the figure in a better incarnation as I loved it to begin with, so when I saw the BeaterMan version I admit I was completely head over heels in love. Crappy takes on a robotic ship kind of vibe with this colorway, which just reminded me of what an awesome sculpt the original is in the first place. When a toy is already great and new colorways reinvent it, that's what art in this medium is really all about.

Avalanche
Made by Cris Rose
Release date: n/a
Price: n/a

Cris Rose blew our minds time and time again last year with one incredible custom after another. Based on the Smash original figure, Cris worked his magic and came up with something truly incredible. This piece was sold to a private collector, but if you subscribe to his Flickr photostream you can keep up with all his newest creations.

And that's it for our picks of 2009! What were your favorites?