THE TOYS THAT MADE US Invades Kickstarter With Massive Deluxe Art Books and Retro Collectibles!

Oni Press and The Nacelle Company Celebrate Barbie, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe, Power Rangers, and More in the Ultimate Tribute to Toy History

Clear some space on that collector shelf, fam, because the toys that built our childhoods are coming home in a massive new way!

Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher that has been shaking up comics and graphic novels since 1997, is joining forces with global entertainment powerhouse The Nacelle Company to unleash THE ART OF THE TOYS THAT MADE US. Inspired by the smash-hit streaming series created by Nacelle founder and CEO Brian Volk-Weiss, this deluxe project dives deep into the unforgettable designs, artwork, advertisements, concept art, packaging, and creative history behind some of the biggest toy brands ever produced.

After three hit seasons, with two more seasons on the way, THE TOYS THAT MADE US is blasting off television screens and landing directly on collectors’ shelves through a beautifully designed pair of deluxe, oversized hardcover art books debuting first on Kickstarter. And because simply dropping two massive books would apparently be too calm, the campaign is also loading up on limited-edition merchandise, campaign exclusives, and enough retro goodness to make your inner ten-year-old start checking the couch cushions for allowance money.

As every legendary Saturday morning toy commercial warned us back in the day, get them while supplies last! Packed with artwork, stories, production material, and behind-the-scenes treasures pulled from THE TOYS THAT MADE US archives, this two-volume collection is being positioned as the ultimate companion piece for anyone who ever tore open a toy package, studied the box art, or begged their parents for “just one more figure.” Each hardcover clocks in at roughly 250 pages, giving collectors nearly 500 pages of plastic-powered pop-culture history.

The books will spotlight the brands and visual iconography that helped define generations, including Hasbro favorites G.I. Joe, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, My Little Pony, Nerf, and Transformers. Mattel’s legendary lineup will also receive the deluxe treatment, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Masters of the Universe®, and Polly Pocket®.

The celebration does not stop with the household heavyweights. Nacelle’s growing roster of revived properties will also step into the spotlight, including Biker Mice From Mars, Power Lords, RoboForce, Sectaurs, C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, Barnyard Commandos, and The Great Garloo. Basically, this campaign is walking through the toy aisle of our memories and grabbing everything before somebody’s mom says it is time to leave. Wepa!

Alongside the two-volume THE ART OF THE TOYS THAT MADE US collection, the Kickstarter campaign will feature another major release, NACELLEVERSE: YEAR ZERO. This oversized deluxe hardcover collects the first year of the action-packed NacelleVerse comics published by Oni Press and Nacelle, bringing together adventures starring Biker Mice From Mars, RoboForce, Sectaurs, Power Lords, and C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa. The collection features an all-star roster of comic book talent, including Melissa Flores, known for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers; Matt Hotson, writer of Power Rangers: The Return; Francis Portela of Green Lantern; Juan Gedeon of DC: The Jurassic League; V Ken Marion of Green Lantern; and more.

Collectors will also receive a brand-new, never-before-seen wraparound cover from acclaimed artist Karl Kerschl, whose work includes Gotham Academy. That is already enough material to make a collector’s wallet start sweating, but Oni Press and Nacelle are not finished.

As part of THE ART OF THE TOYS THAT MADE US, the companies are taking fans back to the glory days of racing through local store aisles, scanning every shelf, and praying nobody else grabbed the final figure first.

The campaign will include limited-edition, Kickstarter-exclusive collectibles and bonus items such as official THE TOYS THAT MADE US lunch boxes, VHS tapes, toy stands, collectible pin sets, and plenty more surprises. Yes, VHS tapes. Somewhere, a VCR just woke up from a thirty-year nap and whispered, “My time has come.”

These are more than pieces of plastic. They are characters, vehicles, worlds, memories, and creations that have survived across generations. We knew them. We loved them. We traded them, battled them, lost their accessories under the couch, and occasionally watched their resale value explode while regretting everything we opened as kids. Now, The Nacelle Company and Oni Press are celebrating those iconic brands with THE ART OF THE TOYS THAT MADE US, live now on Kickstarter.

“It took seven years to sell The Toys That Made Us to Netflix and get the show on the air, and every day since has been a dream, including this book series that allows us to take many of the ‘relics,’ as we call them, from the cutting room floor and bring them front and center into all of our lives!” said Nacelle founder and CEO Brian Volk-Weiss.

“We are trying to put on your shelf a meaningful complement to what we put on your screens, and selfishly speaking, it’s already been a ton of fun getting to this point!”

Oni Press Director of Business Development Sam Kusek believes the campaign is being built to give longtime fans the definitive THE TOYS THAT MADE US experience.

“I think this campaign is going to give fans of The Toys That Made Us everything they could want and more!” Kusek said. “We’re working meticulously with Nacelle every day to make sure that no stone is left unturned here! These books will be the ultimate toy guide!”

Following Oni Press’ record-setting Kickstarter campaigns for CULT OF THE LAMB, MURDER DRONES, and RICK AND MORTY, THE ART OF THE TOYS THAT MADE US is now officially live. Collectors, nostalgia warriors, toy historians, and grown adults who still know exactly where their childhood action figures are stored can visit the official Kickstarter campaign now.

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