Author ArchiveCheck it out, even WSJ is feelin’ the Obama Action Figure… Suspend Your Disbelief: How to Enjoy an Inauguration FullyBy Peggy Noonan Flying in, we take the route over the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson, the Tidal Basin: the signs and symbols of the great republic. And you’ve seen it all a thousand times but you can’t stop looking, and you can’t help it, your eyes well. After a minute you realize you must have a moony look on your face, and you lean back. The lady to your right, engrossed in a paperback of “Marley & Me,” sees nothing. Your gaze continues across the aisle, and you see another woman looking out the window in the same way, avidly taking it in. Her view includes the Capitol. She leans back. I know her. A woman of the Reagan era, an old acquaintance, and when we land we greet each other. “Isn’t it something that no matter how many times you see it, it still grabs your heart?” I say. She responds, wonderingly, “I never see it that I’m not moved. To this day.” We are grownups, we have seen limits and imperfections, compromises and mess, and yet this brilliant thing endures. Lincoln will always be Lincoln, and nothing can mess that up. The District is braced happily for the onslaught. You can’t fail to see the excitement. The inauguration is all anyone talks about. Everyone seems to preface their observations with how many they’ve seen. “This is my fourth inauguration,” and “This is my eighth time with one of these.” But everyone feels that this one is different. “The calm before the storm” said the desk clerk in the quiet lobby of a Georgetown hotel. “It starts Friday.” The shops are full of tchotchkes: Obama cocktail glasses and coins, plastic Obamas standing at podiums waving flags. A clerk shows me the Obama wristwatches for $35. I buy a friend an Obama Action Figure whose arms and legs can be configured to walk forward, pointing us toward the future. Check out our main
We’re honored.
The first shipment of limited edition “HOPE” Obama Action Figures and “Inaugural” Obama Action Figures, 500 of each, sold out in only 24 hours on JailbreakToys.com! Founder Jason Feinberg, who is currently in D.C. getting prepared to sell the original Obama Action Figure in the “Inaugural Zone” at Inauguration Day, has created a waiting list for the next release of the limited editions, slated for January 28th. Jason knew the incredibly unique Obama toys would go fast, but had no idea they would sell out in a single day. Our best advice if you want an Inaugural Obama or HOPE Obama before they’re gone? Don’t wait for Inauguration Day to order them!
The Hope Obama Action Figure is an homage to famed artist Shepard Fairey’s iconic red, white, and blue illustrated poster image of Obama that still dots countless shop windows and residential yards. If there is one defining image that this moment in time will be remembered by, the HOPE image is it. The Inaugural Obama Action Figure celebrates this unbelievably exciting time in American history. As Barack Obama graces the world stage for Inauguration 2009, the gold-suited Inaugural Obama Action Figure will be gracing toy collections across the country. Each edition is limited to 3,000 pieces and will never be produced again. Each box has its own unique number stamp-engraved into the cardboard. Due to extremely high demand and limited quantities, there is a 12 piece per customer limit on each figure. The figures will be sold exclusively at JailbreakToys.com for $20.09. (We couldn’t help ourselves, it seemed so much better than $19.99.) If you want one, better come get one before they’re gone. Just sayin’.
The Obama Action Figure, released by Brooklyn-based Jailbreak Toys in 2008, took the toy world by storm, flying off shelves at huge retailers like Urban Outfitters and Borders, making appearances on the Conan O’Brien, The View, in People and Essence magazines, as well as inclusion in the National Museum of American History collection of Presidential memorabilia. Jailbreak Toys founder Jason Feinberg a.k.a. J*Rock had no idea during Obama’s early campaign that this designer toy would ever reach the level of success that it has. “I came up with the idea to create the figure before the first Democratic Primaries,” said Feinberg whose first limited edition is now fetching up to seven times the retail price on eBay. “There was more than excitement surrounding Obama’s campaign, there was engagement and I wanted to find a way to support his message.” As the Presidential Inauguration approaches, two new limited edition Obama Action Figures will be sold exclusively at JailbreakToys.com. Breaking from the conservative dark suit of the original Obama Action Figure, J*Rock will be releasing the Limited Edition Inaugural Obama Action Figure in a funky, fresh and very shiny gold suit, while keeping the action figure Washington, DC-ready in a classic red tie. An homage to famed artist Shepard Fairey’s prolific campaign posters, the Hope Obama Action Figure was created by Nelson X Ascensio for the ART + ACTION = OBAMA 08 exhibition in New York this past October. Ascensio was inspired by Fairey’s iconic red, white, and blue illustrated image of Barack Obama that so recently dotted countless shop windows, residential yards, and even Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2008 cover. Shepard Fairey and Nelson X Ascensio, both allies of Jailbreak Toys, were pleased to grant permission to apply the design to the special Limited Edition Hope Obama Action Figure. Going on sale January 12th at JailbreakToys.com, the 3,000 limited edition figures will undoubtedly sell out quickly. The 6” figures have eight points of articulation and are numbered and packaged in an illustrated window box. Sign up for the Jailbreak Toys newsletter to receive word of the Jailbreak Toys founder, Jason Feinberg a.k.a. J*Rock, is available for interview to discuss the immediate success of the Obama Action Figure, the release of the two limited edition Obama Action Figures, and the entire Jailbreak Toys line. Media requests may be directed to Jenn Breckenridge of agitprop media group via email at jenn@agitpropmedia.com. Conan O’Brien did a hilarious skit on Jailbreak Toys‘ 6,000 McCain “dolls,” as he called them, that we had left over after the election. These McCain action figures, as we call them, were developed by Jailbreak Toys due to a special request from a specific retailer. Though there was some internal resistance to creating this figure by Jailbreak Toys founder Jason Feinberg aka J*Rock, he figured every good superhero character has an arch enemy. So McCain Action Figure was born. And he just died 6,000 deaths on Conan, check it out… FYI: We just saw that a “bag of john mccain dolls from conan obrien show” was listed on eBay with a starting price of $36. Funny.
Thank you America. Yes We Did. Now I don’t like this dude’s name either, but MC Yogi has put together some incredible lyrics explaining what Barack’s presidential future could look like, with some unbleievable graphic animation backing him up. According to MC Yogi, “‘Vote For Hope’ was written to encourage and inspire the hip hop generation—and everyone—to get involved, and contribute their time, energy, creativity, and other resources to be the change they want to see in the world. We have been inspired by the artistic and musical contributions that have been pouring out accross the nation in support of Barack Obama’s campaign. Vote for Hope is our offering to this creative movement. It is our way of adding our small voice to the collective voice of millions of Americans calling for a change.” The greatness of the “Obama ’08: Vote For Hope” video can not be denied. Check it out and comment below. If you love this, share it with your friends and colleagues. And most importantly: Vote on November 4th!
Singha Beer is going to hook up the brews and we have some very exciting musical guests coming on board. We’ll keep you posted on the latest details here at The Jailbreak. ART + ACTION = OBAMA 08 The Showroom NYC at Toy Tokyo To participate in ART + ACTION as an artist, sponsor, or buyer, please contact Jenn Breckenridge immediately at jailbroke@gmail.com. All press inquiries for ART + ACTION, please contact Todd Fraser at todd@agitpropmedia.com. Share this post with all the artists, toy collectors, Obama fans, and swing voters you know!
Jailbreak Toys, makers of the edgy, sculptural Obama Action Figure, will present ART + ACTION = OBAMA 08 at Toy Tokyo’s gallery: The Showroom NYC on October 17th. Contemporary artist greats, such as Mars-1 and Damion Silver, design mavens, and legendary graf writers will customize J*Rock’s Obama Action Figures with their unique vision of America. 10% of the sale of each figure will go to the artist, with the remainder going to the Obama For America campaign. Art superstar Ron English will be doing a signing of his Abraham Obama posters. If you’d like to be involved in ART + ACTION, please send your mailing address and a jpeg or hyperlink of your work to jailbroke@gmail.com before October 1st. All figures must be returned to Jailbreak Toys by October 12th to participate. If you’re in New York on October 17th, come check out the show! ART + ACTION = OBAMA 08 The Showroom NYC at Toy Tokyo Share this post with all the artists, designers, and urban vinyl fiends you know!
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