Our latest episode features independent toy designer and comic book creator Peter Goral, whose childhood immersion in Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, and Star Wars launched him to the forefront of the bootleg art toy movement. Peter shares his journey from an avid toy collector and gifted artist to creating paintings to kitbashing existing toys to make new creations, before learning to make molds and cast his own original figures. We explore how his work reimagines classic characters into new pieces that resonate with collectors worldwide, including his breakthrough creation Phantom Starkiller, a celebrated Super 7 toy and bootleg sensation that became so popular it spawned its own comic book series. Peter wrote Phantom Starkiller for Scout Comics' Black Caravan imprint, working with artist Joseph Schmalke to bring the cosmic tale of the Cryptocrystalline Stone and the skeletal warrior known as "The Cosmic Ghoul" to life in comic form, and continued the saga with Count Draco Knuckleduster: The Curse of the Cryptocrystalline Stone in 2021, building an entire comic book universe around his toy creations.

You can follow Peter on Facebook /peter.w.goral or Instagram and X @KillerBootlegs. 

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