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Thu 4 Oct 2007 |
The 10" QEE D.I.Y. Project: Bart Simpson Art Exhibition takes on the UK this month. Toy2R and Diamond Comics are proud to announce that Forbidden Planet will host an exhibit of more than 50 customized Bart Simpson Qees. Its the one chance to catch the exhibit in the UK to view these amazing original creations. This exhibit continue to grow with more than 160 custom BART SIMPSON QEE in the current collection.
 EXHIBITION RUNS FROM: 10th October – 4th November 2007
Can be seen at:
London Megastore – 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR
Bristol Megastore – Unit 4, Clifton Heights, Bristol, BS8, 1ED
Here’s the offical announcement:
Forbidden Planet is proud to announce that we are the ONLY UK stop on the worldwide tour of the Toy2R and Diamond Comics’ 10” Qee D.I.Y Project: Bart Simpson Art Exhibition. From 10th October to 4th November 2007 you can see the exhibition on display in our stores front windows. The tour marks the launch of the licensed line of Qee figures based on The Simpsons characters.
Some of the most influential pop culture artists, designers and illustrators from around the world were giving a blank 10” Qee of Bart Simpson to customize however they liked. They painted, sculptured and re-imagined the blank Barts to make a totally original creation based on their own style. It seemed like a natural thing to mix one of the most iconic characters of modern times with the most cutting edge creatives around today, most of who grew up watching The Simpsons.
The Qee figures are a part of the Vinyl Toys culture that started in Japan and has become a phenomenon throughout the world. Qee’s were created by ToyR2 and can be as small as 2” tall or a massive 2 feet high. Urban Vinyl is now being recognized as an art form worth investing in as the figures are mostly limited editions and highly collectable.
The Bart Simpson Qee tour has already been to LA, New York, Paris, Florence and Rome. Forbidden Planet is the only place in the UK you can see this exhibition. The tour will finish in Hong Kong at the end of the year and the majority of the customized figures will be auctioned off and all proceeds will go to charity.
Forbidden Planet will also be selling blank Bart Qees so people can do their own one off designs!
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Wed 3 Oct 2007 |
The Frazetta series continues with Moon Maid, based on original art by master fantasy illustrator, Frank Frazetta
  ReelArt Studios and Dark Horse Deluxe are proud to present the Moon Maid statue, the second of an ongoing collection inspired by the original artwork of one of the world’s most beloved fantasy illustrators, Frank Frazetta. In a collaborative effort of two of the industry’s greatest creative talents, the authoritative three-dimensional interpretation of master-sculptor, Tim Bruckner, depicts one of Mr. Frazetta’s most famous works and was personally overseen and approved by the master. This amazing statue is minutely detailed, stands 10" tall, and comes securely packaged in a full-color box.
“The challenge of interpreting a work like Moon Maid, with Frazetta’s very personal anatomical dynamics and painterly aspects, into three dimensions could be daunting,” says David Scroggy, VP of Product Development for Dark Horse Deluxe. “In lesser hands than Bruckner’s, one might find the sculptor’s fingerprints to be more prominent than the artist’s brush strokes—not so here. I think we have arrived at a collaboration that furthers Frazetta’s vision by bringing it forward into three dimensions while leaving the greatness and personal style of the original source material intact.”
ReelArt Studios is a producer of top quality resin statues and busts, specializing in movie, pulp, and comic book characters. Their focus is on creator-owned properties, using the top figure-sculptors in the world, to bring the collector something unique. In most cases, the products they sculpt are licensed, meaning that the trademark/copyright holder was involved in every phase of production. ReelArt Studios’ statues and busts are distributed exclusively by Dark Horse Deluxe, a subsidiary of Dark Horse Comics—the world’s largest publisher of creator-owned comics and graphic novels.
Moon Maid will be available in January 2007 with a retail price of $175.00. For a 3D view of the Moon Maid statue, click here: http://specialtyretailers.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=15-092&qtvrsize=big
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Mon 1 Oct 2007 |
Patriot’s famed QB immortalized in three new figures based on ‘Stylized Realism’ Found in Comic-Book Art
 Carlsbad, Calif. (September 28, 2007) – Upper Deck gives collectors another reason to log onto allstarvinyl.com next week as Tom Brady’s line of All Star Vinyl figures drop online. Brady’s new figures come in three unique editions of the famed Patriot’s passer, including a road edition which features Brady wearing New England’s white jersey. Additionally, the line of new releases will feature a black edition figure of Brady, which has proven to be the most highly-sought after variant of the All Star Vinyl figures. Finally, to satisfy collectors looking to reminisce, Brady’s likeness will be available to fans in a retro edition figure that features #12 in the nostalgic red jersey and white pants, complete with patriotic tube socks worn by the Pats in the 80′s.
Tom Brady can count four Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards among his many accolades. Now, the talented QB who was touted as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year in 2005 and was named to AP’s All-Pro Team the same year, can add All Star Vinyl action figure to his extensive list of career achievements.
"Tom Brady is regarded throughout the NFL as an extraordinarily driven and determined player," said Upper Deck Authenticated Brand manager Dave Sanders. "Such characteristics are indicative of a player who will see long-term success in the NFL, making Brady’s All Star Vinyl figures highly desirable for collectors."
Fans will be able to scoop up Brady’s road edition figure (limited to 1500) for $49.99 USD, a dual-pack featuring the road edition and retro home edition (limited to 500) for $99.99 USD and the highly exclusive black edition for $99.99 USD. Each figure is produced in limited quantities to ensure long-term collectibility.
Tom Brady’s latest trio of figures will be available to members of the All Star Vinyl Platinum club Tuesday, October 2nd at 9:12 am PDT while the general public can race to obtain the collectibles twenty four hours later on Wednesday, October 3rd at 9:12 am PDT. Platinum club members are limited to one figure per member, with the limitation lifting following the public release on Wednesday.
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Mon 1 Oct 2007 |
 The next property to join Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles’ growing library of licenses is none other than the 1968 classic that introduced the world to damn, dirty apes, Planet of the Apes! With five feature films, two television series, comic books and more – the Planet of the Apes universe has been a part of popular culture for the past forty years. Now with DST at the helm, new Planet of the Apes merchandise will be hitting stores next year!
As with their successful Star Trek license DST has partnered with Emce Toys to release an array of ape-related products, beginning with reproductions of the hugely popular eight-inch cloth retro figures originally released by Mego in 1974! Beginning with the classic Cornelius and Ursus figures, fans of the original retro-style figures will be able to add these timeless collectibles to their collections complete with their original accessories and packaging style. Further assortments will include the popular Dr. Zaius and Dr. Zira as well as other figures from the classic line!
“The first Planet of the Apes toys were produced by Mego – a fact which has guaranteed these innovators a place in toy history,” said Michael Leavey, Sales and Marketing Supervisor for Diamond Select Toys. “Since their designs have withstood the test of time and become legends in the toy industry, it’s only natural to introduce these classic collectibles to the next generation of fans.”
Starting in 1974, Mego released their eight-inch cloth figures to phenomenal fan response. The runaway success of the Planet of the Apes franchise led the company to expand into playsets and other accessories. Available in 2008, the first Planet of the Apes figures in this classic style in more than twenty-five years will be Cornelius the chimpanzee and Ursus the gorilla. Just as with their original releases, both will feature traditional articulation, cloth uniforms and plastic accessories.
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Fri 28 Sep 2007 |
 Diamond Select Toys has updated their site with the fourth series of Battlestar Galactica Mini-mates.
With the second series of Battlestar Galactica Minimates on stores shelves and the third wave due in stores later this year, we’re extremely pleased to reveal the next pint-sized BSG release! The fourth wave of space-faring Minimates will include the highly anticipated President Laura Roslin & Tom Zarek, Lieutenant Gaeta & Specialist Cally, Doc Cottle & Dr. Baltar as well as the limited Miniseries Baltar variant!
Battlestar Galactica premiered as a mini-series in 2003 to rave reviews from both critics and fans of the classic property, setting viewership records for the SciFi Channel. Leaving much of traditional science fiction behind, the new Battlestar Galactica instead focuses on character-driven conflicts and the series’ epic storytelling style as viewers follow the triumphs and hardships of both the humans aboard the Colonial Fleet and the Cylons bent on following them to Earth.
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Wed 26 Sep 2007 |
 September 26, 2007 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc. announces that DC HeroClix®: Crisis will be the next DC HeroClix release. Crisis, a loaded title for DC Comics fans, is a story that spans three decades and many Earths and that has completely changed the DC universe.
DC Comics’ Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline chronicles the multiverse-spanning battle between some of DC’s most remarkable heroes — including SUPERMAN, BATMAN, THE FLASH, GREEN LANTERN and WONDER WOMAN — and the evil ANTI-MONITOR, whose goal is the end of all existence. Crisis on Infinite Earths was only the beginning of the story that has continued through popular titles such as Infinite Crisis, Identity Crisis and the current Final Crisis storyline. DC HeroClix: Crisis brings the fight to players with figures from all of these DC titles.
“We had been looking for ways to make HeroClix relevant to current storylines when DC pitched the idea of a Crisis set to us,” said Mark Tuttle, HeroClix brand manager. “The Crisis story is pivotal to every DC storyline. And it’s just cool.”
DC HeroClix: Crisis will release in February 2008 and will be supported with a robust Organized Play program. A companion product releasing April 2008, the DC HeroClix Anti-Monitor Action Pack, will bring one of DC’s most fearsome villains to the HeroClix game table.
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Wed 26 Sep 2007 |
The First Game to Merge the Vinyl Toy Trend with the World of Computer Gaming to Deliver an Entirely New Interactive Play Experience for Tweens
 EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – September 26, 2007 – Mattel Inc.’s Radica:® brings its innovation and creative use of technology to the forefront of the marketplace with the introduction of U.B. Funkeys™, the hot new game that taps into the latest trend of using computers and the Internet to bring toys to life in an entirely new way.
Designed for tween boys and girls, U.B. Funkeys™ is one of the first interactive games to combine two popular trends of kids today – vinyl toy collecting and the world of computer gaming – to create a fun and funky virtual world that kids control. With more than 40 different U.B. Funkeys™ characters in all, some more common than others, each one has its own look and colorful personality, and unlocks new zones to explore and new games to play when connected to a computer through the U.B. Funkeys™ hub. By playing games, kids can earn coins to redeem in-game prizes such as items to customize and decorate their “crib” within the U.B. Funkeys™ game. Once their crib is “decked” out, players can upload it to the U.B. Funkeys™ website (www.UBFunkeys.com) to share and compare with friends.
“U.B. Funkeys embodies the way kids play today – they love to collect and they love to play computer games – and now they can enjoy the best of both worlds,” said Jim Wagner, Senior Vice President of Radica, Mattel Brands. “By adding innovation and an interactive play experience to the popular trend of collecting vinyl toys, we are delivering a completely unique game that will appeal to today’s tweens.”
How It Works
To get started, players install the game software that is included in the U.B. Funkeys™ Starter Kit onto a PC and plug the U.B. Funkeys™ hub into the computer’s USB port. Once installed, players can collect and use different character figures to access different zones and games within the world of Terrapinia™ – a virtual world and home to the U.B. Funkeys™. By placing the characters into the U.B. Funkeys™ hub, players can change their character onscreen and begin unlocking new zones for more game play, and ultimately, more opportunities to earn coins to buy cool items to customize their crib. Once a player’s crib is decked out, it can be uploaded and shared with friends online.
The U.B. Funkeys™ Starter Kit comes complete with a hub, two U.B. Funkeys™ character figures and PC software for $19.99. U.B. Funkeys™ characters are available individually for $4.99. For more information on U.B. Funkeys™, and to learn more about each character and the world of Terrapinia™, visit www.UBFunkeys.com.
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Mon 24 Sep 2007 |
Trio of new figures based on ‘Stylized Realism’ Found in Comic-Book Art
 Carlsbad, Calif. (September 21, 2007) – Upper Deck gets set to release a new line of All Star Vinyl figures depicting famed New Jersey Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur. All-Star Vinyl figures portray popular sports heroes from across all sports in a slick urban style, and the latest release of Brodeur is no exception to the rule.
"Due to Brodeur’s popularity in the collector marketplace and the fact that goalies in general tend to be some of the most collectible sports figures, we expect this release to draw a huge response from sports fans" said Upper Deck Authenticated Brand Manager Dave Sanders. "Brodeur’s pose with his outstretched arms resting on his upright stick almost in a gladiator type stance really fits the look and attitude of our All-Star Vinyl line. As the first-ever goalie to be released, we expect this one to sell-out really fast."
Brodeur’s iconic look is unmistakable on the new figures which feature the goal protector decked out in full pads and trademark removable mask which fans can opt to leave on or off with three unique figures to choose from, collectors and fans alike will be racing to own one.
Brodeur’s collection of figures include a Home figure wearing the Devil Rays signature red jersey (limited to 1500) which will retail for $49.99, a road edition (limited to 500) which be sold only in a "dual pack" with the home edition for $99.99, and a black edition figure (limited to 250) for $99.99, which features the goalie in all black with a sleek gold trim, which has become the most coveted variant of the All Star Vinyl line.
Members of the exclusive All Star Vinyl Platinum club will be able to scoop up the latest figures of the NHL legend beginning Tuesday, September 25th beginning at 9:30 AM PDT. The figures will be available to the public Wednesday, September 26th at 9:30 AM PDT at www.allstarvinyl.com.
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Mon 24 Sep 2007 |
Halo 3 will be launching tonight at midnight at all 24 hour Wal-Mart locations. Wal-Mart will have a dedicated check-out lane(s) just for Halo 3 purchases, and the first 20 or so customers will get an exclusive Halo 3 dogtag with purchase of the game.
Why wait for hours at Gamestop, man? (Full disclosure: I might have been involved in designing this promotion, so help a brother out and shop at Wally World tonight! Plus, you might find toys there, so it’s like a win-win.)
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Fri 21 Sep 2007 |
 We have a new feature posted on Hasbro’s recently released 25th Anniversary GI Joe: Real American Heroes line. And for this feature I knew I had to bring in some BIG GUNS. Fresh Monkey and Spy Magician are two of the biggest JOE nuts that I know. They sit down and do an "Ebert and Roper"-esqe review of the product that is out so far.
I hope you have as much fun reading it as they did writing it! Click here to read all about it.
We also have a look at the next 2 waves at the very end.
When you’re done reading, and it you have any questions be sure to ask them in our Hasbro GI JOE Q&A forum.
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