Homies are a series of two-inch plastic collectible figurines representing various Chicano Mexican American characters. The line of toys was created by David Gonzales and based on a comic strip that Gonzales created featuring a cast of characters from his youth. The main character, based on Gonzales himself, was called "Hollywood." The strip, which later changed its title to The Adventures of Hollywood,

In 1998, Gonzales released the first set of Homies figurines, initially sold in supermarket vending machines located in Chicano communities.

  • Mr. Raza — highly educated, with degrees in Chicano Studies and Latin American and Pre-Columbian History
  • Shady — mother who works as a stripper to support her son

Since they are roughly 1/32 in scale, and are cheaper and more readily available than the figures purpose-manufactured for the hobby, Homies and Gonzales' other figures are sometimes used in the scenery of slot car layouts.<!-- NEED VERIFIABLE SOURCES HERE, NOT HOBBYIST FORUMS -->

Spin-offs and ancillary products

Homies characters have been featured on school folders, lunchboxes, breath mints, and beach towels.

Other spin-off toys include The Palermos, a line featuring a fictional Italian American former mafia family now running a pizzeria; and a Trailer Park series.

In other media

In the Season 1 finale episode of The Venture Bros, "Return to Spider-Skull Island", Dr. Orpheus acquires a "Homeboy" figurine from a diner's vending machine, a clear reference to the Homies figures.

American Dad shows Stan breaking a Fabergé egg and saying, "I thought it would have candy or at least a little homie in there."

In 2007, LATV produced a stop-motion animated show about the figures called The Homies Hip Hop Show. Featuring the voices of Karen Anzoategui, Eduardo Arenas, and Wendy Carrillo, the show went straight to DVD.

In 2008, the Homie Rollerz video game was released on the Nintendo DS.

References

  • El Padrecito Ministries