By: Marlene Sharp
Time travel back to 2022. It was Dickensian at its core. It was the best of times and the worst. The pandemic stubbornly persisted; folks supersized their toy collections; Richard Gottlieb published GLOBAL TOY NEWS; and commercial diver/toy sculptor/graphic novelist/Gottlieb mentee Vadim Govorov – a.k.a. Rubber Ninja – enjoyed his first print interview in the seminal plaything publication.
The tail end of 2024 is no less of the Dickens but markedly different. One of the starkest changes is the world’s October 2023 loss of Richard Gottlieb. On the first anniversary of Richard’s passage, Rubber Ninja recalled the lasting impact of his toy industry sensei.
GLOBAL TOY NEWS: Besides the absence of your toy and graphic novel coach Richard Gottlieb, how has your life changed since 2022?
Vadim Govorov: Since 2022, Rubber Ninja (C’est moi!) retired from professional diving in New York City and moved south with a flock of birds. I settled in Fort Myers, Florida. While hoping for a peaceful retirement, I discovered that my maritime expertise – mostly deep sea diving and underwater construction – is still in demand, especially on the Gulf Coast. So, I picked up my trusty fins again, and set my sights on the Seminole Gulf Railroad Bridge over the Caloosahatchee River. Hurricane Ian destroyed it, and I swam to its rescue. After a year of hard work and unexpected challenges, the rail cars are rolling again and delivering vital supplies to the community.
GTN: What do you miss about Richard?
VG: I met Richard at New York Toy Fair some years ago, and it almost seems by accident. But I know now that it was divine guidance! At that moment, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a grown man so involved and so passionate about toys. We felt connection right away. Richard was so impressed with my work that he organized a meeting with Nickelodeon network executives to introduce me and my hand-sculpted, clay creations. Richard and I became a good friends and spent many hours discussing different ideas. I told Richard about my childhood growing up in Ukraine, and how good toys were hard to find, and how I used to make my own! That’s the way I discovered my talent: it was from pure necessity.
In time, Richard’s health deteriorated, but he continued to work as hard as he possibly could. Last time I saw Richard was just before he was ready to go to Germany for the special operation. We communicated mostly by pen and paper but managed to tilt a few glasses of ale together beforehand. I wished him good luck and hoped to see him later and in better shape.
The news of Richard’s passing came unexpectedly from his wife Wendy. She told me that my illustrated story about Rubber Ninja brought a smile on his face every time he read my handwritten, hand-drawn, and hand-colored pages. For that, she was grateful. That my work gave Richard moments of joy in the most difficult time, well, it inspired me and made me even more determined to continue developing my story. Richard will always have a special place in my heart. I miss my friend, and I intend to make him even prouder of my creative accomplishments.
GTN: Like Richard, you are a dad! Does your son follow in Rubber Ninja’s footsteps?
VG: My wonderful teenage son Henry is still in high school. I know that he is very impressed with his father’s occupation, though! How? Because he works as a lifeguard during his school breaks . . . This is obvious homage to yours truly, right? Henry talks about the prospect of becoming an NYC firefighter. This is another tribute to his Pop, of course. Like divers, firefighters don’t function without water!
GTN: What’s next for Rubber Ninja as a graphic novel character, a work of art, and/or a toy?
VG: I would like the world to meet, accept, and appreciate Rubber Ninja, because he is a unique chap with an abundance of practical knowledge and experience, a great sense of humor, a love for adventure, and respect for the underwater world. He intends to embark on many exciting missions in the future and would like to take his rightful place in the Super Hero Hall of Fame (not to be confused with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, the NFL Hall of Fame, or the Grammy Museum).
To achieve Rubber Ninja goals, I have set the following in motion:
- A draft graphic novel series. The first book is complete; the second is in progress.
- Updated social media. My Facebook and LinkedIn posts now reflect more of my creative pursuits and relate to my toy sculpts, sketches, and stories.
- A new LinkTree grows! Here it is: https://linktr.ee/RubberNinja
If all goes according to plan, you will see more Rubber Ninja on these GLOBAL TOY NEWS pages in the very near future! Check your oxygen tank; the new stuff will take your breath away!
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