DAY 1

Hey everyone!   Welcome to the launch of Action Figure Insider’s 8th Anniversary Celebration.  As has been the case for the past seven years, on the week of our anniversary we have a little something we like to call “Scoop Week” where we bring you a variety of new, exclusive news on all your favorite action figure, collectibles and toy lines.

I can’t imagine us having a stronger start than this scoop from our good friends at Mattel.  We have been granted permission to debut the image of one of my most anticipated action figures of 2013 – Catwoman from their 1966 Classic TV Series Batman™ action figure line!  It’s not an exaggeration to say that I have waited my whole life for this action figure line and I know there are a lot of you out there that feel the same way I do.

Up to this point we have seen five of the 6 single carded figures in this first wave at both Mattel’s booth at Toy Fair 2013 and the 66 Batman event at Meltdown Comics, all except for the Catwoman figure.   We knew Catwoman would be coming because she was listed on the banner at the Toy Fair event, but we didn’t know which actress of the three they would choose first.

Below pictures are of the paint master so it DOES NOT have all of the articulation cut in yet.  Rest assured the articulation will match the rest of the line.

Catwoman is the fourth and final major recurring villain that frequently teamed up with fellow evildoers Joker, Penguin, and Riddler, so Mattel is completing a team AND opening up the number of great moments from the series that fans may want to “re- enact” with these figures.

This is the first-ever 6” scale Julie Newmar Catwoman, and the Design Team tells us it was a thrill to finally be able to capture this iconic rendition of the character in plastic!

The Mattel Sculpting Department poured a lot of love and attention into this portrait sculpt, creating MANY different versions over several months as they worked to capture the beauty of Julie Newmar and Catwoman!  I think we can all agree that their hard work and attention to detail paid off!   Just look at the texture and paint job on that catsuit!   It looks like it just popped off your TV screen!   All of the likenesses shown for this line have been top notch and the Catwoman figure is no exception.  That face sculpt is one of the loveliest that Mattel has ever done.

And now we are proud to bring you as part of AFi’s 8th Anniversary Celebration: “The Meow Heard ‘Round The World“  – Mattel’s 6″ Julie Newmar’s Catwoman!!

 A quick recap on what we know so far about Mattel’s Classic TV Series Batman™ line:

·         The line was first announced at SDCC 2012 at one of Mattel’s panels, this is the FINAL figure reveal in the long-awaited Classic TV Series Batman™ line!

·         The Classic TV Series Batman™ line is coming this summer to Toys R Us and other fine online retailers.  The line includes 6” figures, TV Moment 2-pack, and the Batmobile.

·         Classic TV Series Batman™ 6” Figures- These 6” highly detailed, authentic action figures represent top characters from the show, with attention paid to the tiniest details to represent each actor’s likeness! Each figure includes a display base with retro style “trading card” backdrop.

The first wave of single carded figures will be:

•  Batman™
•   The Riddler
•   The Penguin
•  Surfing Contest Batman™
•  The Joker
•   Catwoman

·         In addition to the single 6” figures, the segment also includes:

o    Classic TV Series Batman™ TV Moment 2-Pack- 2-pack of 6” Batman™ and Robin action figures, with “wall” display base. Robin figure is exclusive to this pack, which brings to life one of the most iconic moments of the TV show where Batman™ and Robin are climbing the wall! Can be displayed two ways: flat on a tabletop (just like the actors “climbed” the wall in the show) or mounted on the wall. Features a window that really opens!

o    Classic TV Series Batman™ 6″ Scale Batmobile- The iconic Batmobile in the Classic TV Series Batman™style! Seats two 6″ action figures, making this the perfect complement to the 6” assortment.

A HUGE ‘THANK YOU” to the Mattel DC Retail team for letting us debut this beautiful figure!   We will have more reveals and scoops all week, so keep checking back and tell your friends!

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The first official trailer for Thor: The Dark World . The sequel to Marvel’s Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Christopher Eccleston.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery ” #83 in August, 1962.

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Mid May will see the next release of HeroClix miniatures for that game, this time themed on the various eras, friends and enemies of the Teen Titans.  But it comes with a twist.  A new type of piece, the team base, is being added.

Classic 80s Wolfman Perez New Teen Titans

In the past, it has often been difficult to field a team that feels like a team unless you were playing a high point game.  Also, members of teams were often released a few at a  time, making collecting a team a long process of waiting.  Now this all changes.  Team bases mean you can play many more characters at once, as part of the team base.  Team bases also mean that all members of a specific era are more likely to be made.  Case in point, for the first time in years, we are getting a new Raven figure.  While Beast Boy and Cyborg have been getting some love recently, we have not seen Raven, in any form, since the set named Icons.

For more on team bases, follow the links:

Teen Titans Team Base preview

Cyborg, Raven and Wonder Girl preview

Changling, Kid Flash, Robin and Starfire preview

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This summer, chances are you may find yourself with a bottle that needs opening. So why not do it in style? Diamond Select Toys has four new solid metal bottle openers coming out this summer — Galactus, Domo, the Punisher Logo and the Expendables Logo — and each has the potential to make you the coolest person on the beach. Check out the new packaging shots of all four, and pre-order at your local comic shop, or your favorite online retailer!

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The good folks at Hot Toys know how much we love their incredible 1:6the scale figures – and now they with the release of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 the are looking for us to take out a second mortgage on our homes!   They are cashing in on the Hall of Armors concept with 3 new movie accurate offerings:

Iron Man 3 is about to hit the theaters very soon and as you’ve probably seen from the trailer, a number of new suits will be introduced in the movie.

Today, we are excited to announce 3 of these suits are first to join Hot Toys’ 1/6th scale collectible product lines: Heartbreaker for MMS Diecast Series, Igor for MMS Series, and Red Snapper for PPS Series.

We’ll be bringing more suits into our different series, so fans please stay tuned for more in the future!

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Twice a month the gang from Mattel are kind enough to answer five questions from AFi readers.  The Mattel marketing and PR team, have replied with the answers to our latest round of questions that AFi readers have posted in our forums.

Here is our latest round of questions and their answers:

Q1. What retailers should fans expect to carry the Batman Classic 1966 TV Show figures?

A1.  The Batmobile is a Toys R Us exclusive.  The other items can be found at Toys R Us and other fine online retailers.

Q2.  What is the designer-signed figure you are offering us a chance to win? What line is it from? Do we get to choose it?

A2.  This will be an existing figure. Details have not be released yet, stay tuned!

Q3.  Is the Batman Legacy Justice League (DCnU Brave & Bold) line going to continue? There were quite a few figures that could be included into the line (Firestorm, Atom, Shazam, Black Manta, Blue Beetle, Joker, Grodd). Maybe some new figures?

A3.  You’ll have to wait and see!

Q4.  Normally we see the SDCC exclusives in April.  Are we still on track for that this year?

A4. We hope so. It all depends on when we get samples in that are photo ready.

If you’d like to ask a question for the  January 15th submission then feel free to post your questions in our Mattel Q&A question submissions thread!   Remember they can be about any Mattel product including MOTUC, Ghostbusters, WWE, any of the Mattel DC lines, Voltron and Cars. Twice a month we draw our submission question directly from the ones that AFi readers post.

You can submit new questions in this thread.

Thanks again to the team at Mattel for taking time to answer our questions!

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As if the Marvel Universe couldn’t get more exciting than it was, the universe-wide reshuffling known as Marvel NOW has made things even cooler in the MU! Not only are we seeing team-ups we’ve never seen before, we’re seeing brand-new looks for some of the universe’s biggest heroes. And Diamond Select is bringing those looks to the Marvel Minimates line!

Series 51, which is exclusive to comic shops and specialty stores, will include the following two-packs:
- Superior Spider-Man and Nova (Sam Alexander)
- Shanna the She-Devil and a Reaper
- Nick Fury Jr. with Heavy SHIELD Agent (includes Commander Rogers
parts)
- Maria Hill with Heavy SHIELD Agent (rare variant)

Additionally, Toys “R” Us and toysrus.com will dedicate most of their 16th series of Minimates to Marvel NOW, with updated looks for:
- Iron Man and Hulk (with R.O.B.)
- Wolverine and a Reaper
- Captain America and Scarlet Witch
- Phoenix Five Emma Frost and Colossus

Check out the pics, and pre-order the specialty assortment at your local comic shop or favorite online retailer. To find your nearest location, visit comicshoplocator.com! Shipping in June!

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We saw these at Toy Fair and couldn’t wait for the official announcement – And here it is from our friends from Funko!

 

Available MAY 21ST!

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Here is an update on some new preorders BBTS have just listed:

Man of Steel Play Arts Kai – Superman
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10426&mode=retail

Man of Steel Play Arts Kai – General Zod
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10427&mode=retail

Kotobukiya Man of Steel 1/6 Scale ArtFX Statue – Superman
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11085&mode=retail

Iron Man War Machine 1/6 Scale ArtFX Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11077&mode=retail

Catwoman New 52 Version 1/10 Scale ArtFX+ Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11084&mode=retail

1/6 Scale Men In Black III – Agent K (1969)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DRG10283&mode=retail

1/6 Scale Men In Black III – Boris (Prison)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DRG10284&mode=retail

Alternity Transformers x Super GT 04 GTR Maximus
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11691&mode=retail

TG23 Metroplex (Import Version)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11692&mode=retail

TG24 Optimus Prime & Bumblebee Two Pack
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11693&mode=retail

Dr. Wu – The Metro’s Eyeball
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DWU10034&mode=retail

DC Domo Plush
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=dc%20domo

Classic Batman 8″ Figure Carrying Case
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=figures%20toy%20classic%20batman

Aoshima Model Kits – Knight Rider and Thunderbirds
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=aoshima

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STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME is finally available next Tuesday, April 23, taking players on an amazing, completely original Star Trek adventure. The game’s producers worked closely with the creative teams behind the films to deliver the most authentically Star Trek video game ever created.

A new video feature released today by Paramount Pictures provides more insight into the ways that STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME creates an astonishingly authentic Star Trek experience — including the participation of Star Trek actors Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban and Anton Yelchin.

As a quick reminder for your readers, it’s still not too late for fans who pre-order STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME to receive the special “Elite Officer Pack” with exclusive weapons and uniforms.  In addition, GameStop PowerupRewards members who pre-order STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME for Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 will also receive an exclusive KRE-O mini-build of the U.S.S. Enterprise and a collectible poster.  Pre-order details are available at www.startrekgame.com, and these special offers are valid for games pre-ordered through Monday.

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