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FAN ARTICLE: Bill Mantlo Tribute by Andrew Cosson

Today's Fan Article contribution comes from Andrew Cosson and is his tribute to comicbook legend, Bill Mantlo.

Sadly Mr. Mantlo - one of Marvel's most influential modern writers - was injured in a hit and run incident some years ago and was left with brain damage that resulted in him requiring constant care and attention. Oregon-based store Floating World Comics host regular fund-raising drives for Mr. Mantlo, where professional and amateur artists are invited to donate works for their auctions - such as this one - based around Rom The Spaceknight, the toy-turned-comicbook character Mantlo was instrumental in translating to the printed page (as he did with Marvel's other toy-based property, The Micronauts.)

As well as including the Spaceknight also features characters from the Micronauts series, plus - from ''mainstream'' Marvel - The Hulk and Alpha Flight's Box and Snowbird.

FAN ARTICLE: GI Joe's Agent Helix by Jafari Stew AKA Chris Para

It's a rare treat when we see GI Joe-based pieces in our Fan Article feature, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw the work of fellow Real American Hero fan Jafari Stew (AKA Steel Brigade over at the HISS Tank Forums and Chris Para in real life.)

This image comes from Chris' Jafari Stew Art Blog, a site I highly recommend fans of GI Joe and visual art pay a visit to, and depicts a variant costume-version of Agent Helix, the ''secret'' character introduced in the 2009 GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra video game from Electronic Arts. 

Are you an artist who creates toy-inspired artwork? Do you customise your own figures? Or do you build your own dioramas and visual vignettes? If so, then we'd love to hear from you! Please email your submissions to us, including your on-screen credit/name and any links to your other works you'd like to share and you could be featured in an upcoming Fan Article.

FAN ARTICLE: Snack-Eyes Barbosa's Scarlett Custom Gear

We've already seen Snack-Eyes Barbosa's custom-made GI Joe gear, so when he sent this second set of images showing more of his work - this time covering the Rise of Cobra Scarlett (Base Camo) figure - I knew I had to share this with our readership.

FAN ARTICLE SPECIAL FEATURE: Snack-Eyes Barbosa's Custom GI Joe Gear (With Tutorial)

Much as I love the great amount of gear and weaponry the average GI Joe figure comes with, I'm also often disappointed to see how little thought the designers at Hasbro give to storing these pieces when not in use. And it seems I'm not the only one, as That Figures reader Snack-Eyes Barbosa submitted this custom sheath and holster work, which I immediately wanted to share with you.

But it gets better, as he's also included a number of ''how-to'' shots, for any other readers who fancied trying it for themselves...

FAN ARTICLE: Micronauts Team Sigma by Will Jones

Welcome to Fan Article, our special Feature that showcases some of the best in toy-based artwork and custom toys.

Today's entry is this set of awesome custom figures, Micronauts Team Sigma by Will Jones.

FAN ARTICLE: Boba Fett by David H.

The subject of today's Fan Article is Boba Fett, from feature regular, David H.

As David says, ''He was the first Star Wars character to come out as a mail order action figure before he was introduced in the films. Unless of course you count The Star Wars Holiday Special which aired on TV between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. But since hardly anybody saw it (not to mention how lame it was) I don't really count that. Like the vast majority of pre-teen Star Wars fans at the time my first look at the Boba Fett character came when I saw The Empire Strikes Back upon its release in theaters. I've done numerous illustrations of him over the years but this one from 1999 I think is the best one.''

If you're an artist who creates toy-related artwork and would like to see your work featured in an upcoming Fan Article, then please email us your submissions, along with your on-screen credit, any information about your inspirations or details of your work, plus any links to other pieces you'd like to include.

FAN ARTICLE: ROM and the Micronauts by David H.

Today's offering comes from Fan Article regular, David H. and depicts ROM the Spaceknight and The Micronauts, two toy lines that received their own comicbooks from not only Marvel, but also from creative genius, Bill Mantlo.

The story goes that Mantlo's son, Adam, received a number of Micronaut toys for Christmas and - as Adam sat assembling and then playing with the toys - Mantlo was immediately taken with the micro-scale figures and persuaded Marvel to pursue the licence.

Sadly, Bill Mantlo was injured in a hit-and-run accident almost a decade ago and suffered irreparable brain damage. He now lives in a care home where he requires full-time care. Over the years, numerous comicbook creators have helped support Mantlo through a variety of projects. You can see more of these projects here.

If you're an artist who'd like to see your work featured in an upcoming Fan Article, please email us your work, along with your on-screen credit/name, along with links to your other work, background on the piece or any other information you'd like to share.

FAN ARTICLE: GI Joe's Baroness by David H.

Knowing my love of GI Joes, David H. was kind enough to produce this specially-themed piece, depicting the GI Joe team's nemesis, The Baroness, in all her evil glory.

David is a pretty talented guy, especially as this drawing produced - as he informed me - whilst he was having dinner and watching TV! Multitasking and drawing, two things I can't do...

If you're an artist with a toy-themed piece of art you'd like to see featured in and upcoming Fan Article, then please feel free to email your submissions to us with your on-screen credit, any background or extra information you'd like to share on the image and any links to your other works you'd like to include.

FAN ARTICLE: Nova Sigma Gyro by Argonaut X

Today's Fan Article is another custom piece from Alexis Dyer AKA Argonaut X.

The Nova Sigma Gyro is probably Alexis' most ambitious design yet, a vehicle created from 114(!) individual pieces. Alexis notes that the only non-Mego pieces - the bubble cockpit, red seat and black tread - are from an Interchangeables Cosmic Amphi-Copter, but the other part were assembled from seventeen different Micronaut toys, including the Hornetroid, Giant Acroyear, Stratostation and more.

For the full list of sources and to read more about this awesome vehicle, you can visit the Nova Sigma Gyro's Flickr Page. As ever, Alexis' other work can be seen on his Flickr Index.

If you're an artist who'd like to see their work featured on That Figures, you can email us your submissions. Please remember to include your on-screen name/credit, along with any other information or links you'd like us to include.

FAN ARTICLE: Micronauts Micropolis by David H.

From David H. comes this great illustration depicting the Micropolis, city of the Micronauts.

Based upon the Deluxe Building sets (which included the Galactic Command Center, Interplanetary HQ and Microrail City), the illustration includes a number of other Micronaut toys, including a Space Glider, the Astro Station, a Thorium Orbiter and more. There's even an Acroyear in there!

If you're a toy-inspired artist who'd like their work featured on That Figures, then email us with your name, links to your site and any other information you'd like to include.

FAN ARTICLE: Optimus Prime vs Bonecrusher by David H.

Today's Fan Article is this piece featuring Optimus Prime and Bonecrusher from the Transformers, as rendered by regular guest artist, David H.

The image is David's recreation of a scene from the 2007 Bayfest, The Transformers, where Optimus Prime and Bonecrusher duel on an elevated freeway. The movie may not have made a good impression on me, but David's artwork is cool.

If you've an art piece, custom figures, illustration or other work you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Fan Article, then feel free to email your submissions, along with your on-screen name and any links or other notes you'd like to include.

FAN ARTICLE: ROM The Spaceknight by David H.

Today's Fan Article comes from previous contributor David H, who this time has chosen ROM the SpaceKnight as the subject of this very cool piece. Although ROM himself was a fun toy, he was built around his electronic features and so wasn't what you'd call well-articulated. It's good then to see him in a more dynamic role!

If you've an illustration, custom figure or other piece of artwork you'd like to see featured here, you can email your submissions to us. Just remember to include your on-screen credit and any links to your work you'd like to share.

FAN ARTICLE: Acroyear by Will Jones

Another day, another fan-art submission!

Today's offering is a pencil sketch of Acroyear, from Will Jones. Will says of the piece, ''I tried to channel my inner [Jack] Kirby to thank a friend for his help. This is the result.''

You can see more of Will's work - both traditional and digital - at his DeviantART page.

Are you an artist with a penchant for producing toy-related artwork? Would you like to appear in an upcoming Fan Article? Then send us an email with your submissions, along with your on-screen credit, site links and any other information you'd like to share and we'll showcase your work!

FAN ARTICLE: Custom Micronaut Alien Figures by Argonaut X

Following on from yesterday's first Fan Article, today we're showcasing the Micronaut Aliens again, this time in two pieces created by Alexis Dyer AKA Argonaut X.

As Alexis explains, ''both of these are customized/painted action figures I created using the body parts of the original Micronaut Aliens action figures.'' Once constructed and given a new paint-job, they were photographed and from there, Alexis created these Photoshop montage pieces of the new aliens, Spydrox and Sabrewing.

You can see more of these great figures (and other works) on his  flickr page.

And if you're a toy-related artist who'd like to see their work featured, please feel free to email us your submissions!

FAN ARTICLE: Micronaut Aliens by David H.

Welcome to the inaugural entry in Fan Article, our - hopefully - ongoing series showcasing the best in toy-related fan art.

We're kicking off with this piece by fellow blogger David H, who, knowing my love of all things Micronaut, was kind enough to share his rendition of Mego's Aliens series (that's Antron, Centaurus, Membros and Repto for the uninitiated.)

Do you have a piece of toy-based artwork you'd like to share? If so then email it to That Figures and we'll feature it!