Scoop #4

Another New DCUC Figure Revealed! 

New York Comic Con is still one more day away… and the new Mattel announcements will be on Saturday, but Mattel has given us permission to show you one more sneak peek at one more upcoming Amazing DCUC figure.

Once again, we cannot tell you where he fits in the line yet (that news will be on Saturday!) just that you are getting another great classic villain in the line.

But before we reveal… just remember that we will have reporters running around gathering coverage for us at NYCC so be sure to check back here for our coverage!

ok… I’ll stop typing now.   Prepare to be AMAZed!

(more…)

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • 1 Comment

A message from the founders of AFI:

So over the course of the past few years that we’ve been working on AFI, Julius Marx and I have had many discussions of what we want the site to be. Foremost in those discussions has been the ideal that AFI would not only be haven for like-minded collectors to gather and talk about toys, but also a place where anyone could come talk about anything they wanted, without being ridiculed or having the discussion devolve into flame wars or ad hominem arguments.

Although it has sometimes been tough to reach that balance, we couldn’t be more proud of the community and our Mods for making AFI exactly everything we hoped it could be. The only thing that we thought might be missing was a steady stream of news and commentary. Oh sure, we’ve tried to keep the news page and blogs full of content, but in practice it has been a hard juggling act. And the site has suffered somewhat from the delays between updates.

With any luck, that’s all a thing of the past now. We’re retiring most of the old blogs in favor of a bold new concept: Men of Action, the AFI Mega Blog! We’ve invited some old friends, and some new ones, who we feel best exemplify the AFI standard. And we’re turning them loose to talk about anything they want! We find them most interesting and highly entertaining and we’re betting that you will too. And this blog will finally give our faithful readers plenty of reasons to check in every day. 

We couldn’t be happier with our roster of superstar bloggers, either: Matt "Iron-Cow" Cauley, Pierre "Airmax" Kalenzaga, Jim Abell, Glenn "Glenn2000" Moss, Chip Cataldo, Bill "Fresh Monkey" Murphy, Jeremy "SpyMagician" Sung, Dan "CantinaDan" Neumann, Scott "Boneyard" Rogers, Erik "Superfriend" Skov, and our old AFI stalwarts Jason "JJJason" Chirevas, Jeff Cope, and Ryan "The Superfly" Prast!

Go check ‘em out; they’re already posting like crazy, and leave them a comment or two. Enjoy!

- Daniel "Julius Marx" Pickett & Jason "ToyOtter" Geyer

Share:

Posted by Jason Geyer • No Comments

Today, over at Entertainment Weekly’s website they debut the first two of DC Direct’s new Watchmen figures based on the Warner Brothers’ WATCHMEN movie hitting theaters next year.  Shown are Night Owl and Rorschach sculpted by Jack Matthews and Tim Bruckner.  These and possibly more will be on display at DC Direct’s booth at NYCC starting on Friday.

Head over to EW.com for more.

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • 1 Comment

TANDEM TWIN Animal Girls: Dog Bonnie 

Torrance, CA, April 15, 2008 – From the weird and wonderful world of TANDEM TWIN, Yamato presents master sculptor Kouichi Yamazaki (TANDEM TWIN)’s latest incarnation: DOG BONNIE.  Inspired by the Golden Retriever, the submissive Bonnie is the perfect companion to TANDEM TWIN’s dominant Dog Alma (previously released) or twin Dog Annerose.  Kneeling at approximately 7.00", Bonnie includes chain to create themed display with Alma/Annerose, display base and a host of accessories:  two interchangeable heads, two interchangeable chest parts, eyeglasses, and mask.

 

Shipping August / September 2008, Yamato USA and its distribution partners AAA Anime, Diamond Comics, BBCW, Grosnor Distribution, and Yes Anime are now accepting preorders for TANDEM TWIN Animal Girls: Dog Bonnie.  For more information, please visit Yamato USA’s website at www.YamatoToysUSA.com.

 Note:  For mature collectors only.  Dog Alma sold out.  Check with your local retailer for availability.  Dog Annerose is available through Yamato USA’s online shop at www.YamatoToysUSA.com for the special price of $60 (regularly $72) through April 2008.  Quantities are limited to 300 pieces and ship May 2008.

---

STORY! IMAGE! FIGURE! EX

Yamato Announces the Next Two Chapters in Its Popular Series: Eggplant-sama & RingoNoyamano

 

Torrance, CA, April 15, 2008 – Yamato is pleased to announce the next two chapters in its Story! Image! Figure! EX PVC statue collection:  Eggplant-sama from okama’s Food Girls and RingoNoyamano, the Masked HENTAI from Oh! Great’s Air Gear. 

 

SIF EX: Food Girls – Eggplant-sama

Somehow, we don’t think this is what mom had in mind when she told us to eat our vegetables…  Meet Eggplant-sama from manga-ka okama’s slightly naughty illustrated book Food Girls.  The latest in Yamato’s Story! Image! Figure! EX PVC statue collection, this little morsel is a faithful reproduction of a wonderful piece by famed sculptor Shuji Hagii (Studio Saru Bunshitsu Kasetsujo).  Standing approximately 10.25", this 1/6 scale statue captures every lush detail of Eggplant-sama right down to her firm, yet supple… er, eh… eggplants… all ready to be pealed with removable top and bottom.  Vegetables never looked so tasty!

 

SIF EX: Air Gear – Ringo Noyamano, the Masked HENTAI

Dignified, but shameless.  Air Gear’s Ringo Noyamano as the Masked HENTAI remembers to cover her face, but forgets her backside!  And what’s up with that bag??? This quirky piece of the leader of the Sleeping Forest and current Thorn King (Queen) from Oh! Great’s manga Air Gear is the latest piece in Yamato’s Story! Image! Figure! collection.  Based on a piece by Yasuhiro Uchijima (essence.), this 9.00" PVC statue of Ringo Noyamano the Masked HENTAI faithfully captures the sculptor’s unique techniques.  Each part — boots, bag, body — have an irresistible attractiveness making for a cool, erotic figure which is destined to be one of the stand-out collectibles of the year.

 Yamato USA and distribution partners AAA Anime, Diamond Comics, BBCW, Grosnor Distribution, and Yes Anime are now accepting preorders for Yamato’s SIF EX: Food Girls – Eggplant-sama and SIF EX: Air Gear – Ringo Noyamano, the Masked HENTAI.  For more information, please visit Yamato USA’s website at www.YamatoToysUSA.com.

 

---

 

(more…)

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

 

Freelancer John Charles has gone into the Mezco studios and made it out to tell the tale.  In this new exclusive feature we learn of the new Hellboy Roto Movie Bust.  The interesting thing about this bust is the fact that it has 3 points of articulation!  

Head over to the features page and check out the details and pictures of this great new item! 

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

We getting closer to the release of the Dark Knight product release.   Mattel anticipated that the product should be hitting the first week of May, however our own Jeff Cope reported finding the Movie Masters line at a Toys R Us in Ohio today.

Let’s take a closer look at the Four Horseman sculpted Dark Knight Movie Master line:

 

BATMAN/Bruce Wayne

 

The Joker

(more…)

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

 

 

AFI’s resident Speed Racer super-fan Jeff Cope has put together a great feature looking at a big batch of Mattel’s new Speed Racer product based on the upcoming Warner Brother’s feature opening May 9th in theaters. 

Anyone that has walked into a Toys R Us in the past two weeks has seen the wave of new product for this movie.  What’s what and what does it all do? 

There’s lots of great pictures, great insight and a real love of these characters all packed into one feature, just waiting for you to read. 

Click here to read the Speed Racer feature. 

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

 

Scoop #3

Diamond Select Toys’ San Diego

Comic Con Exclusive

Transformers G1 Optimus Prime Bust

Hot on the heels of their G1 Thundercracker bust at NYCC comes the this scoop!  One of DST’s 2008 San Diego Comic Con exclusives will be the G1 Animated Optimus Bust.  This awesome bust is limited to just 750 pieces.

DST has the blessing of having Robert Yee on staff now and no one has a bigger love of Transformers that this guy.  If you have never had the pleasure of seeing DST’s G1 Transformer product, do yourself a favor and see one up close.  Bet ya can’t buy just one! 

As part of our 3rd Anniversary we a proud to be able to announce this bust and show you the first image of this impressive piece. 

 

(more…)

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

Toy Superstars Clayburn Moore, the Four Horsemen and
Randy Falk of NECA Will Be Inducted In The Inaugural Ceremony!

Congers, NY (April 15, 2008) – The Wizard World comic convention is coming to Philadelphia from May 30th to June 1st. The convention will host the 1st Annual ToyFare Hall of Fame Awards. ToyFare, America’s leading consumer toy publication, will be honoring three entities for their significant contributions and impact on the toy industry. This year’s inductees are Randy Falk, Clayburn Moore and the Four Horsemen.

As the Director of Product Development for NECA, Randy Falk has helped bring amazingly lifelike sculpts of pop culture’s most iconic figures to the masses. With their collector-friendly figures of Hellraiser, Harry Potter, John Lennon and the Pirates of the Caribbean, NECA has shown that toys aren’t just for kids. “I am an avid toy fan and collector and I feel very lucky to be working in the toy business and to be able to make a living doing something that I truly love,” Falk said. “To be recognized and honored for it goes far beyond my expectations.”

The man behind C.S. Moore Studio, Clayburn Moore, called his inclusion in the inaugural awards ceremony an “unexpected and very much appreciated surprise.” Moore has long been the sculptor of choice to create breathtaking statues of modern comic book legends—especially curvaceous heroines like Fathom and Witchblade. And through Moore Action Collectibles, he was a pioneer in bringing figures of many unfairly overlooked properties to life.

Instead of bringing about the apocalypse, Four Horsemen Studios have brought about wildly imaginative sculpts of He-Man, Batman and the rest of their respective universes through their work at Mattel and NECA. Factor in their entirely fan-decided Seventh Kingdom toy line and it’s obvious that the Four Horsemen have the fans in mind. “We’ve been big fans of ToyFare magazine since their very first special issues and they have always been very supportive of everything we’ve worked on,” said a spokesman for the group.

The ceremony for the 1st Annual ToyFare Hall of Fame Awards will be held on Friday, May 30th at 5 PM in the ToyFare Theatre. This is one awards show you’ll want to sit through to the end! You can purchase your tickets for Wizard World Philadelphia at www.wizardworld.com.

(more…)

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments

Hasbro has updated us with the latest answers to our GI Joe 

questions.  If you have GI Joe questions you want answered 

be sure to post them in this thread.

Q1. Will the Joe team consider diving into the niche viper world?  Alley Viper, 

Frag Viper, Range Viper, Night Viper, SAW Viper and so on? 

A: Yes, we are always looking for new vipers and have some cool ones coming 

later in 2008

Q2: Will we see Classic Zartan, his swampskier and/or more dreadnocks? Any 

chance of a 5 pack for Zartan and his henchmen ??

A:We are considering the swampskier, but right now there are no plans for 

dreadnoks or a 5 pack.

Q3: We've seen at least two versions of Scarlett, Lady Jaye, and Baroness 

what are the chances of seeing one 25th version of the other Joe ladies, 

Cover Girl, Jinx, and Zarana? 

A: In 2008, none of the other Joe ladies will appear.  Maybe in 2009.

Q4: Will there be GI Joe Movie "preview" figures similar to what Hasbro 

did with Star Wars movies? If so, when might we expect to see them on 

shelves? 

A: We are still developing the movie line and are looking for the best 

in class launches that we should emulate.   In other words, it is too 

early to discuss.

Q5: What is the story behind the reappearance of Sigma 6 at U.S retail? 

These seem to be newly produced figures, are there going to be more?

A: There will not be any more 8'', this is a trickle of 2007 product.

Share:

Posted by Daniel Pickett • No Comments