Welcome, Aggressors! As you can tell, we here at Aggressive Comix have a new page. We hope you’re enjoying our move into a bigger direction. Our first Artist Spotlight at the new digs , of course has to be huge, so please awe in amazement at this “life sized” Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon. HTTYD is one of my all time favorite animated movies, both parts one and two and the shorter animated series make my heart swell. Toothless is an iconic character not just for kids but for adults as well. When I saw that John Marks of BRAZENMONKEY had built his own Toothless and is taking it on tour, I had to share! (I look out for you guys ?) Find out more about John, his build, and his upcoming schedule below.

 

TD: Please tell our aggressive comix readers about yourself and background in building.
JM: I’m a master sculptor, costume maker and prop builder as well as special effects artist with a BA in Art from the University of Missouri. I have been doing building and creating professionally for the last twenty five years.
TD: I’ve seen your work and it’s all fantastic but recently, (like just finished two days ago) you’ve created an incredible “life sized” movie replica version of Toothless from HTTYD. WOW! How long did is take and what were some of the steps going into deciding to take on this task?
JM: Firstly, thank you very much! As to how long it took to build him, it was approximately four months and over 1000 man hours. (I know sculpting the head alone took over 100.) When it came to building him, I had decide what budget I could afford, location to build him, (I knew I would need a LOT of space!) and how I was going to engineer him to not only be able to come apart so he could fit in my truck to transport, but building him in such a way that he could take the weight of people sitting on him.

TD: As a fangirl of all things toothless and HTTYD, I have to ask, why toothless? Are you huge fan of HTTY?
JM: I AM a fan of Toothless! I love the movies and shows, but there were two reasons I decided to build him. One was last year, when I was touring with the Hulk, et al, I put together a little voting box at my booth where people could vote for the next project they would like to see done. I had listed four ideas that I had been wanting to do for awhile. Well, Toothless won hands down. I was still hesitant about doing him because I knew it would be my biggest undertaking to date, but then came my second reason. I saw the previews for the “How To Train Your Dragon: Live Action Spectacular” on line. The animatronics and the look of the dragons were amazing, BUT “Toothless” did NOT look like “Toothless”. In fact, he was brightly colored and had a rounder build. I was confused and disappointed, and I KNEW I could build a much better likeness to the film. ….so off I went! ?

 

TD: Where will you be taking Toothless, conventions, charity events etc?
JM: As of right now, I am focusing on taking him to conventions, (See my latest itinerary) but early next year, I plan to do a charity event in Erie, PA.
TD: Do you have any future builds coming up? what would be a dream project to do or company to team up with.

JM: I have been commissioned to do realistic baby dinosaur “puppets” for a group in Scotland, and another gentleman wants me to build him a life-sized “Grinch”. As for a dream project, I always thought doing a stop action Claymation film would be a lot of fun. (Tedious and arduous, but a lot of fun. ? ) and as for a dream team to work with…well…the most obvious answers: Henson’s Production, DreamWorks, Pixar. Really, anyone that pushes the creativity and makes a quality product.

 

TD: Team Cap or Team Iron Man?
JM:Tough question! There is validity on both sides of the argument (war), but in my heart, I am still a liberal and believe in small government, so freedom, baby! Go Team Cap!

 

 

Holy cow that’s so awesome! If you’re wanting to keep up with John and his adventurous with Toothless and see what he has in store next, follow his Facebook page, and show him some love. Tell him I sent ya! – Taffeta