PRESS
LET'S BE ONYX: A NEW CREATIVE THINK-TANK SHAPING THE FUTURE OF POP-CULTURE
North Hollywood, CA - July 6th 2023 - Let's Be Onyx, is a new cutting-edge powerhouse collaboration of five accomplished entities, all with a rich history of pop-culture success. Sharing vision and decades of collective experience, Let's Be Onyx will create unique pop-art collecting experiences and provide services to talented emerging artists and new and existing brands with collaborative access to creative, production and distribution opportunities to share their visionary work.
Let's Be Onyx’s mission has two fundamental pillars. The first centers on authentic representation through sculpts, graphics, and products that embody the best in EVERYONE while simultaneously breathing new life into classic intellectual properties and original brands. By combining expertise and innovation, the team at Let's Be Onyx revitalizes pop-culture icons and pioneers fresh narratives that resonate across diverse audiences.
“Our team is playing on so many levels. We are consistently sparking wildly creative ideas, while showing reverence for classic icons and making a statement with how we represent people from diverse backgrounds and their culture.” – Acori Honzo
The second pillar focuses on empowering emerging artists and brands. Offering access to unparalleled experiences and cutting-edge tools, Let's Be Onyx delivers a platform for aspiring creatives to share their visionary imaginations. Through mentorship and collaboration, Let's Be Onyx fosters a vibrant and increasingly inclusive creative community.
These two pillars underscore our motto “EVERYONE HAS FUN!”
“As a kid, I rarely saw toys that looked like me. So, it’s a dream come true for black and brown characters to take their rightful place alongside beloved childhood heroes. I feel like I am in a time machine, going back to honor the kid in me.” – Kwame Holland
The founding members of Let's Be Onyx comprise five entities:
Acori Honzo and LaWanda Shepherd (from the House of Honzo) - Philadelphia based artists renowned for their figural art celebrating the historical figures, culture, and lore of the African American community.
Kwamé Holland - A world-famous rapper, producer, influencer, and pop-culturalist, who brings his unparalleled creativity and unique perspective to Let's Be Onyx.
Atomic Toybox Entertainment - Led by Michael Polis, a renowned producer of film, TV entertainment, and consumer products, Atomic Toybox Entertainment is poised to shape the future of pop-culture with Let's Be Onyx.
GoHero - Led by Steve Forde, GoHero is an esteemed team of artists, designers, and producers known for their groundbreaking licensed collectibles and original pop-art products, as well as their strategic creativity for iconic brands.
Disburst – A prominent distributor and brand activator in the designer toy space, boasting strong connections with top retailers, artist tastemakers, production studios, and led by Scott Kuenzli. Scott brings multiple decades of experience in the software, visual arts, and retail industries, having cut a path through all three from ground floor entry to strategic leadership over his professional careers.
Let's Be Onyx is excited to announce its debut at the renowned San Diego Comic Con 2023 at booth #2549. Attendees can expect a showcase of new original projects and licensed collaborations that epitomize the cutting-edge creativity that Let's Be Onyx stands for.
To stay updated with Let's Be Onyx's latest endeavors, we encourage fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals to subscribe to their newsletter and follow their social media accounts:
Website: letsbeonyx.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsbeonyx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lbocollective
For media inquiries, interview requests, or further information, please contact:
hello@letsbeonyx.com
About Let's Be Onyx:
Let's Be Onyx is a groundbreaking creative think-tank comprised of five accomplished entities with decades of award-winning experience in leading pop-culture projects. With a mission to revolutionize the industry through unique pop-art collecting experiences and empowering emerging artists and brands, Let's Be Onyx is at the forefront of shaping the future of pop-culture. By creating fresh narratives and promoting representation, Let's Be Onyx aims to inspire new ways of collecting pop-art.
About Atomic Toybox:
Atomic Toybox Entertainment, Inc. produces creative and interactive content for gaming, television, mobile, and consumer products, partnering with world-class distributors, broadcasters and producers. Founded in 2003, the company has focused on creating content with today’s emerging audiences in mind, crafted specifically so that they can be leveraged into multiple touch-points-to spark imagination wherever viewers go.
Headed by four-time Emmy nominated Michael Polis, Atomic Toybox is an independently owned and operated company and has offices in Los Angeles. Michael has a passion for creating projects in celebration of his Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage. www.atomictoybox.com
About The House of Honzo:
The House of Honzo is Philadelphia-based creative team comprised of husband and wife Acori Honzo and LaWanda Shepherd.
Acori is a multimedia artist who focuses primarily on sculpting and prototype development. His influences range from Basquiat and Norman Rockwell to comic book artist like Alex Ross. His works directly respond to the surrounding environment and uses everyday experiences, nostalgia and moments in history as a starting point.
LaWanda Shepherd blends both creative and business as Operations Manager for Depicting Our Peoples Excellence aka DOPE - the first Black high-end art figurine line.
Together, they develop thought provoking projects that aim to honor the past and inspire the future of art and collectibles. IG @acorihonzo
About Kwamé:
Kwamé is a world-famous talented artist, songwriter, and producer. Kwamé first emerged on the music scene at large in 1989 at the age of 16 with one of Hip Hop's classic album, “The Boy Genius “ and “A day in the life” along with classic songs such as the Rhythm and Ownlee Eue, selling over 3 million records.
Working with his peers at the top echelon of the music industry, Kwamé produced on many multi-platinum albums garnering over 30 Million sales and has # 1 singles such as “On Fire" by G Units Lloyd Banks and Will Smiths "Switch" and Vivian Green’s “Get Right Back To My Baby”.
In addition to working with music industry elites, Kwamé scores for television and film and operates MAKE NOISE RECORDINGS distributed by Universal Music Group.
Beyond music, Kwamé is trendsetter in fashion and pop-culture with the recent launch of Toy2sDay, his pop-collectibles channel. IG @kwamevision
About GoHero:
Since 2001, GoHero has been at the forefront of the vanguard movement in designer toys. GoHero produces consumer products in-house, bringing to market original IP, untapped licenses, and iconic art-driven collectibles. Additionally, GoHero collaborates and consults with select brands delivering innovative solutions. GoHero's award-winning works have appeared in print and online publications, TV, film, museums and sold in specialty retail markets around the world.
Headed by veteran strategist/artist/designer Steve Forde, GoHero is a family-owned business that continues to develop original IPs and collectible experiences based-on characters worthy of the pop-culture spotlight. www.gohero.com
About Disburst:
Disburst Ltd works with creative artists and brands on the production, distribution, and strategic business growth connecting creatives with retail opportunities. Founded in 2016, the company strives to bring the greatest range of creative products to the retail marketplace through relationships across hundreds of emerging and established brands and creatives facilitating an unparalleled diversity of expression in consumer products.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and maintaining facilities in Los Angeles, Disburst is led by Scott Kuenzli. www.disburst.build
GOHERO PARTNERS WITH ATOMIC TOYBOX ENTERTAINMENT
TO LAUNCH ORIGINAL SCI-FI ENTERTAINMENT AND COLLECTIBLES
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - October 20, 2022 – GoHero, makers of award-winning collectables based on pop-culture icons announced today its partnership with Atomic Toybox Entertainment, producers of award-winning animation and live action entertainment brands, for the launch of Forgotten Future©, a new property and toy line.
The first peek into the Forgotten Future is a new line of limited-edition designer vinyl figures with articulation and accessories featuring “Zappy© – Mysterious Laser Boy of Space”. The Zappy vinyl figure stands 9” tall, comes with a removable jet pack, ray gun, and holster and comes in multiple color variations exclusive to retailers. The limited-edition Zappy collectible is available for pre-order now and distributed by Disburst to retail at designer toy stores everywhere.
“We blended the action of Rocketmen, the horror of War of the Worlds, and the charm of E.T. with shocking results!” – Steve Forde, GoHero
Forgotten Future is an exciting adventure that explores the story of a boy cursed with cosmic secrets of a Martian invasion that threatens humanity and the lost heroes he must find in order to save the world once more. The Forgotten Future universe serves as a setting for multiple new stories and twists on old favorites. In addition to Forgotten future, Atomic Toybox and Go Hero are developing several exciting new properties to produce in-house and for third-party licensing.
“Transforming classic science fiction concepts into fresh and exciting stories for a new audience is both a thrilling and gratifying experience.”- Michael Polis, Atomic Toybox Entertainment
This light-hearted expression of space heroes and monsters is licensed and produced by long-time collaborator, Executive Replicas.
“I fell in love with the design, illustrations and animation. We are excited to finally be making it come to life in figural form!” – Winston Dunlop II, co-founder Executive Replicas.
GoHero and Executive Replicas have co-produced high-end collectibles, many of which were the first-ever figure of beloved pop-culture icons (The Shadow, Doc Savage, Lost in Space, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Vincent Price, Stan Lee).
Learn more about Zappy, the Forgotten Future, and more at GoHero.com
ABOUT GOHERO
GoHero LLC, est. 2001, produces collectables of licensed science fiction and pop-culture icons and original properties with a specialty in reviving classic characters for a new audience. GoHero’s award-winning works have seen in print, film, TV, museums, specialty stores, and in private collections around the world. Notable first-ever figure projects include Buck Rogers, The Shadow, Doc Savage, Flash Gordon, Weekly World News, and Ray Harryhausen. In addition, GoHero provides strategic consulting and creative services for select brands. Founded by Steve Forde, GoHero is an independently owned and operated company in Philadelphia. www.gohero.com
ABOUT ATOMIC TOYBOX ENTERTAINMENT
Atomic Toybox Entertainment, Inc. est. 2003, produces live action, animated, and interactive content for gaming, television, film, mobile, and consumer products, partnering with world-class distributors, broadcasters and producers. The company has ownership positions in established properties such as Captain Action® in addition to newly created properties with industry leaders in science fiction, fantasy and family genres. Headed by four-time Emmy nominated Michael Polis, Atomic Toybox is an independently owned and operated company and has offices in Los Angeles. www.atomictoybox.com
ABOUT EXECUTIVE REPLICAS
Executive Replicas, Inc., etc. 2006, produces consumer products based on comics, sci-fi, and horror brands. Notable projects include: Stan Lee, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Frank Frazetta, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Bettie Page, Vampirella and more. Founded by brothers Winston & Martin Dunlop, Executive Replicas is owned and operated out of New York. www.executivereplicas.com
GOHERO ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERS, PROJECTS, AND
RETURN TO SAN DIEGO COMIC CON!
We are excited to finally announce our new partnership with at Atomic Toybox Entertainment and our return to SDCC, booth 3921.
GoHero and Atomic Toybox Entertainment have been working behind the scenes on amazing sci-fi projects with may just melt your mind! We will be offering some first-looks and sneak peeks later this month at Comic Con. Full press release for the event. You won’t want to miss it!
In additional to our partnership with Atomic Toybox Entertainment, GoHero is part of a new high-end collectibles initiative with Kaustic Plastik, Infinite Statue, and our distribution partners at Disburst. Exciting new projects and first-ever projects and properties are in development now and will be announced in the days and weeks to come.
To kick-off this next phase of GoHero, we are offering Kaustic Plastik’s exclusive artist edition of the amazing Peter Sellers! This DOUBLE PACK exclusively made for SDCC it will be Available in ONLY 100 PCS, 100% Assembled by renowned painter Artist Dario Barbera in ITALY, hand-numbered and signed, with the exclusive Baguette Parisian hand-painted by Dario!
Click here for more
information and
how to order!
Learn more at the links below
and stay tuned for more
exciting announcements!
About Atomic Toybox:
Atomic Toybox Entertainment, Inc. produces creative and interactive content for gaming, television, mobile, and consumer products, partnering with world-class distributors, broadcasters and producers. Formed in 2003, the company has focused on creating content with today’s emerging audiences in mind, crafted specifically so that they can be leveraged into multiple touch-points-to spark imagination wherever viewers go. Headed by four-time Emmy nominated Michael Polis, Atomic Toybox is an independently owned and operated company and has offices in Los Angeles. www.atomictoybox.com
Kaustic Plastik - kaustic-plastik.com
Infinite Statue - infinitestatue.com
Disburst - disburst.com