The ultimate nemesis for your action figures is here.
Just imagine, you’ve got your vintage U.S.S. Flagg GI Joe aircrat carrier set up, with the Real American Hero forces assembled on deck…and then you hear a screeching voice demanding to speak to Admiral Keel Haul while yelling “I pay all your salaries!”
With a newly-launched Kickstarter campaign, Namespace LLC is daring to introduce Karen into the world of 3 3/4″ action figures. This beastly, entitled apparition is perfectly-scaled to terrorize your 1980s GI Joes, classic Kenner Star Wars figures, and any ReAction figures from recent years.
Also available is Karen’s favorite object of abuse, Joe the Manager.
Namespace LLC is using Kickstarter to bring positive change and a playful humor to the collectible toy market with their 1:18th scale Karen and Joe the Manager figures.
This might be a horror beyond belief, but why should action figures be spared the wrath of the entitled and privileged tantrum tornado?
Let’s go to the press release:
Bringing together global expertise in product design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution, the team’s Kickstarter campaign aims to transform the iconic and recognizable characters of the entitled Karen and overworked Joe the Manager into fun and inspiring collectible toys.
“We’re looking for fun even in uncertain times like these,” said Matt Jacquot, Sales Manager at Namespace, “and with these two characters, we want to encourage positive change and even foster a little more tolerance.”
The 3.75 inch action figures are based on the modern cultural phenomenon of the vocal, privileged Karen and her customer service counterpart, Joe the Manager. The funding campaign has begun and will run for 30 days to secure the funding for production. Namespace has chosen this route to reduce customer risk and to introduce Karen and Joe to the largest possible audience.
With founding members from the US, UK, China, France, Spain and India, the team chose freelance Ukrainian designer and illustrator Denys Samboval to work on the project and help bring Karen and Joe to life.
“I take inspiration from the everyday,” Denys said, “and we’ve all seen Karens or Joes in the news or in our daily lives, so this project was easy to relate to.”
The company has already invested in the design and prototyping of the figures in preparing for market, and the Kickstarter campaign for Karen and Joe the Manager action figures is available HERE.
With her “Live, Laugh, Love” designer shirt and permanent suspicious scowl face, Karen is all too familiar to everyone, and may even be too frightening for kids or sensitive adult collectors.
Poor beleagured Joe sports a nametag and a facemask and let’s face it…he isn’t getting paid enough to put up with this crap.
You could just get Karen, and put her up against Darth Vader or Destro. Or you could just get Joe and rescue him from the constant abuse of Karen. Maybe let him hang out Shipwreck or Han Solo. Or you could get the pair of them and have them locked in their eternal struggle.
Each figure is available on Classic-style or modern backing cards. There are some ambitious stretch goals, which, if unlocked, will add trading cards, pogs and accessories for both figures. If they do super-well, an “Adventures of Karen” comic book could be included.
This is a fun Kickstarter campaign with reasonable reward levels (comparable to a regularly-priced 1/18th scale action figure) and a definite topical bent. It might fun to get a Karen just so you can shoot cellphone video of her making a fuss and embarrassing herself with your other action figures.
(Editorial note: Karen insists that she isn’t embarrassing herself, I’m embarrassing myself. Now she’s throwing stuff on the floor so I have to wrap this up.)
You can support the Karen (and Joe the Manager) Kickstarter campaign at THIS LINK.
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