Art Asylum: Locked Inside (cont.)

The Art Asylum seems almost omnipresent today. I can't seem to go through a day without encountering something that has been touched in some way by the inmates. Don't believe me? OK, here is a list of just a few of the projects they have been involved with recently:

• CHAOS! Dark Alliances figures
• Silent Screamers
• Krofft Superstars
• Elf Quest
• Stark Raven

Need I go on? What is really most impressive to me is not just the volume of work, but its diversity. From the towering Lucifer figure (destined to be this year's most impressive single figure in my opinion) to the stylized Silent Screamers to the cartoonish Krofft figures, the Asylum certainly isn't a one-trick pony. For all the dark attititude, these guys can really make the cute stuff as well as the edgy items. This is a talent that will serve them well in the long haul.

So why has this one group of artists distinguished themselves among a whole host of other design houses and extremely talented individuals? I think the answer to that question may be as varied as the products that the Asylum has developed. My own personal feeling is that it has something to do with integrity. This is largely a function of Digger's direction of the company. Love him or hate, it doesn't matter. You always know where you stand with Digger.

Lest you think this is a trivial concern, please take my word as someone who has worked within the toy industry, this is a rarity. I can honestly say that Digger is one of the few people I have met in working in the toy industry that actually took the time to get to know me beyond what I could do for them. I have spent literally hours on the phone with Digger just shooting the breeze, often not talking about the toy business at all. I consider him my friend.

Let me finish this piece by relating a story from my October visit that I believe says more about Digger and the Asylum than I could ever relate by simply listing their numerous accomplishments and honors. As I had mentioned, I was visiting New York and made time to visit with Digger to see the new studio. The very same day, Digger was preparing for a party later in the week to celebrate the opening of the new Asylum studio. A band named Sick (whose album cover was designed at the Asylum) was flown in to play at the rooftop party. Unfortunately, hotel reservations got mixed up and they had nowhere to stay so they were crashing at the Asylum.

I had a plane to catch so I said my goodbyes and grabbed a cab back to the airport. As luck would have it, bad weather set in and my flight was cancelled. The airline I was flying had waited until the very last moment to cancel the flight so by the time they did, there were no hotel rooms to be found and I was stranded in LaGuardia airport. Knowing only one New York area phone number by heart, I phoned Digger.

I told him what had happened and he insisted that I come back to the studio instead of waiting all night in the airport. I explained to him that my per diem (the cash you get for expenses on these little business trips) was about gone and that I wasn't sure I had enough money for a cab to the studio and then back to the airport in the morning. He wouldn't hear of it. He just told me to get in a cab and he'd take care of it.

So I returned to the Art Asylum studio where I spent another crazy night with the inmates. Things seemed to wind down around 4:30am. Digger and I were the only two left awake. He was heading home to his abode and I was heading back to the airport to standby for the morning's first overbooked flight. As Digger hailed me a cab, he shoved all the money he had in his pocket into my hand and told me to get it back to him "whenever."

This is why Digger deserves to be an honored guest at the Wizard World Convention. It is a little kindness that made a big impact on me personally. When you visit Wizard World, make sure you stop by and talk to Digger. You'll be glad you did.

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