Now available in the US are collectibles from a new company to the US. De Agostini Publishing has been around since the 1950s and they recently launched Fanhome under that umbrella as a way of getting collectible pop culture items into the hands of fans.
Some of the licenses include Marvel, Star Wars, Fast & The Furious, and more.
Recently we got to chat with Nicola Drago, CEO of Fanhome about what they are offering and what is coming up from them.
The Convention Collective: How did the company come about? With all the different collectible/figure companies out there, why did you want to start your own?
Nicola Drago: De Agostini Publishing created the category of continuity publishing in 1959 when it published Il Milione, the first ever encyclopedia that people could buy one piece (or one magazine) at a time, that soon became a global hit and sold millions of copies. Since then, the company has been constantly expanding and updating its range of products and offerings. Fanhome is the newest brand under De Agostini. Fanhome combines our publishing expertise with pop culture to provide exclusive collections and models for fans looking for the most immersive journeys possible into the universes they love.
TCC: You have quite a few different licenses (Marvel, Star Wars, Fast & The Furious, and more). What was your reaction to being approved for them?
Nicola: Fanhome has a long history in working with licenses and we’re thrilled to make our collections and models available to the United States for the first time. We focus on collaborations fans have been dreaming of to provide exclusive, original products that they can enjoy. Fanhome is very proud to have long-lasting relationships with many leading licensors as we continue to expand our portfolio across multiple franchises. Stay tuned for more collaboration reveals over the coming months!
TCC: What’s your background? Were you a collector who wanted something different or…?
Nicola: I’m fourth generation of the family who has owned De Agostini for 100+ years, so you can imagine how continuity publishing, collections and build-up models were the bread and butter of my childhood. Now we are bringing that expertise to fans of pop culture around the world
TCC: What’s next for the company? Expanding your selection with current licenses, or getting new ones?
Nicola: We are always working on developing our product catalogue as well as expanding our partnerships. In recent years, we have created extraordinary products such as the Iron Man armor or the F&F Dodge Charger replica, just to give two examples, that we first launched in Europe and are now bringing to USA. Our goal is to continuously reinforce our collections catalogue and never stop surprising the fans with original designs and amazing experiences and be a reference of the market.
TCC: With comic and fan conventions slowly ramping back up, can we expect to see you at any this year or next?
Nicola: We’re happy that these events are coming back because it’s a great way to have direct contact with the fans and allows us to learn more about the products they may want to see from Fanhome. We can’t give away any details yet, but we can say that we look forward to participating and being present at both large and small fan events to showcase our brand and products in the future.
At this moment our collections and models are exclusive and can be ordered only through Fanhome.com. In the future, we may expand to new channels such as retail or different e-commerce sites.
TCC: Thanks for your time Nicola!
Full press release is below with more information on Fanhome and their products.
One June 1st, Fanhome, the leader in subscription-based collections and models, will make its first line of products available for purchase to fans in the United States for the first time. See below for additional details.
· Fanhome’s initial debut will introduce subscription-based build-up models for Marvel’s Iron Man, Star Wars’ R2-D2, and the iconic Dodge Charger from the Fast & Furious movie franchise. Fanhome will also unveil highly detailed figures of Street fighter characters treasured among the fandom communities.
· Each month fans receive a standard shipments consisting of a 16-page magazine full of rich history and interesting facts about their favorite franchise, along with detailed instructions to build their model.
· Marvel’s Iron Man Product Description
o Fans can immerse themselves in magazines devoted to Iron Man’s endless adventures, exploring the incredible superhero’s career from his origins in the 1960s to the present day. Stunning detail, fully articulated and with spectacular light effects, this superb 2-foot tall replica of the Mark III armor, comes complete with a step-by-step assembly guide and a 16-page magazine.
· Fast & Furious’ Dodge Charger Product Description
o Fans can build a faithful replica 1:8 scale model of the Legendary Dodge Charger from the Fast & Furious Saga! A car so powerful that even Dominic Toretto himself was afraid to drive it, it will surely become the start of any model collection. This car has perfect lines and brutal 375-horsepower, becoming the best-known vehicle in the Fast & Furious movie franchise.
· Star Wars’ R2-D2 Product Description
o R2-D2 is an exclusive build-up model from the classic Star Wars trilogy. It is an accurate half-size replica of the droid made as an advanced, autonomous robot with interactive intelligence, powerful motors, and multiple modes and functions. R2-D2 will react to human presence and respond to voice commands.
· Street Fighter Collection Description
o Street Fighter Figures is a superb collection of the most famous and rare characters from the Street Fighter Saga, based on the Classic Japanese fighting video game. Each figure is approximately 3.5 – 5.5 inches (character dependent), complete with base. This is the most complete collection available officially licensed by Capcom where fans will get to know 60 characters from the Street Fighter universe including a range of favorites from Ryu, Ken and Chun Li to Guile, Vega and Blanka. This is the essential collection for all Street Fighter fans.
