Bubble Gum Batman x Joe Ledbetter (NYCC '19)

Toy Tokyo is a renowned specialty toy store located in New York City’s East Village at 91 Second Avenue, between East 5th and East 6th Streets. Established in 2000 by owner Israel “Lev” Levarek, the store has become a haven for collectors and enthusiasts, offering a diverse selection of toys and collectibles.   The store specializes in a wide range of items, including vintage and contemporary toys, action figures, designer art toys, and pop culture memorabilia. Much of its inventory is imported from Japan and Hong Kong, featuring products related to anime, superheroes, and iconic franchises. Notably, Toy Tokyo offers exclusive items from brands such as KAWS, Funko, Ron English, and Medicom Toy. DC Comics art toys are collectible designer figures that reimagine iconic DC superheroes and villains—such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Joker—through unique artistic styles, materials, and interpretations. These toys blend comic book aesthetics with urban vinyl, sofubi, and pop art influences, making them highly sought after by both comic fans and designer toy collectors. DC Comics art toys combine the legacy of classic superhero storytelling with modern pop art, urban vinyl, and collectible culture. These toys appeal to comic book fans, designer toy collectors, and pop art enthusiasts, offering fresh, artistic takes on some of the world’s most iconic superheroes and villains. Influenced by classic animation, graphic design, and daily life, Joe Ledbetter's art is... well... a lot of things. Light-hearted in its approach, he often combines cute and cuddly creatures with unfortunate — albeit humorous — situations. With a lean on the subversive and absurd, these scenarios are all too familiar, questioning our tendency of taking life (and ourselves) too seriously. While working as a graphic apparel artist for three years, Ledbetter got involved in the Los Angeles underground art scene, beginning with group shows like Cannibal Flower. By the summer of 2004, he had honed his trademark visual style of emblematic line-work, vibrant colors, and endearing characters to the point of quitting his day job. With international appeal, he has had numerous solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Taipei, Istanbul, and Amsterdam. His incredible cast of creatures have since been emblazoned on over 100 designer vinyl toys, as well as apparel and lifestyle brands, the world over.