Years in the making, this project was part of a series of designs created for Mondo Collectibles and Marvel Comics/Disney for their line of their tiki mugs. This was the first of the group of designs that made it to final production and retail. While I can't share the others due to the possibility of release, here is the famed classic Silver Age villain, Fin Fang Foom.
These were the initial brainstorming designs to figure out the overall look of the mug. Ranging from just a head, to the full body in "landscape", I tried to explore some interesting looks for this space dragon.
Eventually with the help of creative lead Mike Bonanno, we landed on a more conventional "tiki" design of the character in the typical stranding upright in a crouched position. It's always tricky working with winged characters, especially in a three dimensional cylindrical shape.
Having to wrap the wings around was a trip, and I also explored what we could do with the tail. By having it just rest on the side, coiled underneath, and then with an asymmetrical look creeping up the back. 
The team eventually went with the asymmetrical tail going up the back as the pose to go with, and from there I moved to refine it.
The final piece was sculpted by 3D artist Brian Oskins and was manufactured by Tiki Farm and was released in three different colorways. (as shown above)
While it was not my first tiki mug design for Mondo, nor the first that went into production, it is one that I'm quite proud of considering the legacy and history behind this character as well as its connections to the Marvel Comics Universe. I'm quite proud to finally be able to say I've designed something for Marvel. Which is something a younger me had always dreamed of.
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