About Us
At the height of the Japanese transforming robot boom in 1984, Select Merchandise brought together several imported licenses under the Convertors banner. Released in multiple languages across three continents, Convertors combined robot action figures with puzzle-based mechanics, encouraging imaginative play and hands-on problem solving, while its character-driven mythology helped distinguish the brand in a crowded market.
Alongside Convertors, the company also developed other toy lines, including Ninja Assassins/Ninja Defenders, centered on a group of international ninjas defending the globe from evil assassins, as well as Gabby Bear, a companion toy compatible with Teddy Ruxpin.
While Select explored a range of imaginative toy concepts, Convertors has always remained at the heart of the company. Today, that legacy continues through a renewed focus on storytelling, new product development, and preserving the creativity that made these lines distinctive in the first place.
Mission statement
We believe stories shape character as well as imagination. Our mission is to create enduring stories rooted in truth, courage, and wonder, conducted with integrity and fairness, that inspire the moral and creative imagination of the next generation.
Impact & Vision
Historical Impact through Preserving Creative Heritage
Select Merchandise came onto the scene during the 1980s transforming robot craze. Our modern revival of Convertors is rooted in preserving and extending that distinctive piece of toy and comics history for a new generation.
Through publishing, storytelling, and future product development, we aim to carry forward imaginative properties that might otherwise fade from cultural memory.
Economic Impact through Supporting Independent Creators
The project is designed to create opportunities for writers, artists, colorists, letterers, translators, and other creative collaborators, united in a shared vision and contributions to a larger narrative world.
Our aim is to support human-created work, emphasizing craftsmanship, fair collaboration, and sustainable opportunities for independent creators, including contributors working across international borders.
As the company grows, Select intends to expand partnerships within the broader independent publishing ecosystem, supporting cross-border creative collaboration and shared imaginative development.
Creative Impact through Economic Development
While publishing is the present focus, the long-term vision includes broader intellectual property development through licensing, product design, and small-scale manufacturing.
Future growth may support both creative and practical labor, with the potential to contribute to independent employment, international collaboration, and related economic activity.
International Impact through Global Storytelling
We plan on multilingual editions that reflect our commitment to making these stories accessible across cultures and languages. Current publishing plans include: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Korean editions, with additional language opportunities under exploration.
Educational Impact through Imagination with Purpose
At its heart, this project is guided by the belief that timeless stories and imaginative play can do more than entertain; they can help cultivate character, imagination, and moral reflection, particularly among younger audiences.
Planned Areas of Impact
- Preservation of legacy intellectual property
- Support for independent creative labor
- Cross-border artistic collaboration
- Multilingual publishing and cultural exchange
- Future small-scale manufacturing and job creation
- Educational storytelling rooted in imaginative play
Community Benefit
Expanding Access Through Storytelling
Select seeks to make independent comics accessible across linguistic, geographic, and economic boundaries through multilingual publishing in both print and digital formats.
In addition to traditional retail distribution, planned access efforts include donated materials for schools, public libraries, and underserved institutions, helping extend these stories to readers who may not otherwise have access.
As the project grows, Select also aims to support public-facing engagement through signings, educational events, interviews, and other opportunities that connect readers directly with creators, including planned outreach to libraries and youth reading programs.
Supporting Artists and Creative Opportunity
A central aim of the project is to create opportunities for writers, artists, translators, and other contributors, including emerging creators who may not otherwise have clear pathways into professional publishing.
By emphasizing fair collaboration and opening doors to new talent, the project seeks to support independent creators and contribute to a more sustainable creative environment.
Cultural and Economic Benefit
This project is intended to benefit not only readers and creators, but also the broader communities connected to independent publishing, including local comic retailers and booksellers.
Through international collaboration and multilingual publication, the work seeks to encourage cultural exchange and expose readers to creative voices and artistic perspectives from multiple countries.
Community Enrichment
Through public events, educational engagement, and accessible storytelling, the project seeks to contribute to literacy, imagination, and cultural participation within the communities it reaches.
The work also aims to offer stories of courage, responsibility, and moral imagination, particularly for younger readers.
Comics as an Artistic Medium
This project is grounded in the belief that comics are a legitimate literary and visual art form worthy of recognition, preservation, and cultural stewardship.
As a medium combining narrative, illustration, design, and sequential storytelling, comics occupy a distinctive artistic space and offer meaningful cultural and educational value.
Public Benefit Areas Under Exploration
- Donations to schools, libraries, and underserved institutions
- Support for emerging creators and creative career pathways
- Public engagement through signings, talks, and educational events
- Cross-cultural access through multilingual publishing
- Economic support for independent booksellers and comic retailers
- Community enrichment through storytelling and imaginative literacy
