Last week Diamond Select released news that Thor would be joining the ranks of the Marvel Select line, but that wasn’t enough for the Asgardian God of Thunder!  Taken from the legendary J. Michael Straczynski’s new Thor series, this Marvel mainstay is ready to make his triumphant debut!

The Mighty Thor sports the new chain-mail costume designed for his latest ongoing series, which chronicles the iconic hero’s struggles to rebuild Asgard on Earth – eight feet above Oklahoma!  With over 14 points of articulation and a deluxe Asgard base, not even Loki himself can stop this legendary god as he battles a new era of enemies and deals with the fallout of Civil War, World War Hulk and more!

Sculpted by Gentle Giant, this is one hero you can’t pass up!  Look for the Mighty Thor in stores next March and don’t forget  – Marvel Select Zombie Spider-Man ships this week and the Colonel America arrives next week! 

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ACTION FIGURES

 

NEW TEEN TITANS: SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES

Based on the art of George Perez

One of the most popular Teen Titans storylines of all time appears in 3-D, with female assassin Terra infiltrating the Teen Titans as a spy for Deathstroke (seen here without his mask), thus threatening the lives of Robin, Jericho, and the rest of the team! Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.

Advance-solicited; On sale May 21, 2008 Action Figures

DEATHSTROKE 6.75”

TERRA 5.75”

ROBIN 6.125”

JERICHO 6.25”
 

SMALLVILLE: Series 2 ACTION FIGURES

Over the course of this phenomenal series, fans have witnessed the roots and growth of the world’s greatest superhero. Now, DC Direct presents the birth of the world’s greatest Superhero team, Smallville style! Grab a moment of the episode entitled “JUSTICE,” where some of Earth’s greatest heroes come together for the first time!

Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) sends out for reinforcements and Impulse (Bart Allen), Aquaman (Arthur “AC” Curry) and Cyborg (Victor Stone) return to Smallville to help him take down LuthorCorp’s secret lab.

During a break-in at the LuthorCorp facility, Bart is captured and tortured by Lex Luthor, and Clark rushes in to rescue him – but is felled by meteor rock.  Chloe contacts Oliver for help, and the newly formed team springs into action.

Advance-solicited; on sale May 7, 2008  Action Figures 

IMPULSE 6.625”

GREEN ARROW 6.75”

CLARK KENT 6.75”

AQUAMAN 6.75”

CYBORG 6.625”

 

Bizarro 13” Deluxe Collector Figure

BIZARRO is the newest addition to DC Direct’s line of realistically proportioned, super-heroic 1:6 scale figures! This deluxe collector figure comes clothed in an intricate and authentically detailed fabric costume, dons a “Bizarro #1” medallion, has an extra set of hands, and includes a display stand. Includes a display stand and is packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a fifth panel.

Advance-solicited; on sale May 28, 2008  Collector figure $69.99 US
 

AVAILABLE SOON!

Robin – 2/6/08 – JUL07 0319

Power Girl – 1/2/08 – JUN070288

Batgirl – 11/21/07 – APR070280

Batman (Classic) – 11/21/07 APR070279

 

AVAILABLE NOW!

Nightwing – FEB070373

Martian Manhunter – OCT060314

Superman (Classic) – AUG060302

Shazam! – JUL060262

The Flash – JUN060270

Aquaman – MAY060243

Two Face – FEB060360

 

STATUES
 

BATMAN VS. THE JOKER STATUE

Sculpted by Jonathan Matthews

FIRST IN A SERIES OF STATUES FEATURING BATTLES BETWEEN NOTORIOUS NEMESES! (actually, I think this is the 2nd.  GL vs Sinestro was first!)

Featuring work by some of DC Direct’s premiere sculptors, this new line of statues featuring classic confrontations begins with a battle between notorious enemies Batman and The Joker.

Sure to be two of the most talked about characters this year, Batman and The Joker are depicted here in a classic scenario: Batman fights to prevent The Joker from escaping Arkham Asylum

BATMAN VS. THE JOKER is a limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue measuring approximately 14" tall x 7" wide x 8" deep. It includes a Certificate of Authenticity and is packaged in a 4-color box. This limited edition statue is manufactured to order.

Advance-solicited; on sale May 14, 2008 Statue $195.00 US

 

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE SERIES 2: Batwoman BUST

Designed by Terry Dodson

Sculpted by Jim Maddox

The popular WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE line of cold-cast porcelain busts continues with the addition of Terry Dodson’s Batwoman bust! This crime-fighting partner of Batman appears here standing atop a gargoyle base and ready to throw the batarang clutched in her fist. This Batwoman Bust measures approximately 5.5” tall x 3.5” wide x 2.5” deep and is packaged in a 4-color box.

Advance-solicited

On sale May 7, 2008 Bust  $55.00 US

 

AVAILABLE now!:

2007: Series 1 Designed by ADAM HUGHES

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: POWER GIRL JUN060280

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: ZATANNA AUG060310

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: BATGIRL OCT060315

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: BIG BARDA DEC060324

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: DONNA TROY FEB070375

 

COMING SOON!:

2008: Series 2 Designed by Terry Dodson

Women of the DC Universe: Wonder Woman – 1/16/08 JUN070301

Women of the DC Universe: starfire – 3/19/08 AUG070361

Women of the DC Universe: Cheetah – 4/2/08 SEP070311

 

 

POSTERS 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: HEROES Poster

Art by Alex Ross

From the cover of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #12

Advance-solicited; on sale May 21, 2008 * Poster * $7.99 US

 
 

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: VILLAINS  Poster

Art by Ian Churchill

From the cover of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13

Advance-solicited; on sale May 21, 2008 * Poster * $7.99 US

 

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Torrance, CA, September 7, 2007 - Yamato USA’s is pleased to announce its latest Online Shop Exclusive,  Sonsaku (Sitting) Special Color Version.  Sculpted by Japan’s ZENKO, this "booby-bomb" girl may be down for the count; but she still manages to turn on her own unique, ditzy charm.  With a playful wink, she knows what you spy… and who won’t with an enclosed mirror display base!  And just for that extra touch (literally), this Sonsaku features pliable PVC material, appropriately enough… in her breasts.  This special color version 1/7th scale PVC statue features Sonsaku in a battle damaged Rakuyou High School Uniform.  Packaged in collector style window box,  Sonsaku (Sitting) Special Color Version is limited to 120 pieces in North America, and available exclusively through Yamato USA’s Online Shop at www.YamatoToysUSA.com for the special, limited-time price of $55 (regularly $68) now through September 24.

Click on the image for the full view. 

For more information on this and Yamato’s other fine products, please visit us at www.YamatoToysUSA.com.

(more…)

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“You don’t believe in me,” observed the Ghost.
“I don’t,” said Scrooge.
“What evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of your senses?”
”I don’t know,” said Scrooge.
“Why do you doubt your senses?”
”Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than grave about you, whatever you are.”

–A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.

AFI catches up with Master Sculptor Tim Bruckner and we find out all about his new personal project; A line of busts based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.   We get to see works in progress, complete turnarounds of the first three busts and a hint at future additions to the line. 

All of this in a new feature we like to call :

 

Click here to read the feature 

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The following is a transcript of the testimony given by Mattel’s CEO about the recent toy recalls and Mattel’s new preventative measures they have put in place to make sure things of this nature do not happen again. 

 

TESTIMONY OF ROBERT A. ECKERT CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MATTEL, INC. SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a cooperative effort to ensure the safety of children’s toys, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced an agreement with its product safety counterparts in the Chinese government aimed at stopping the use of lead paint in the manufacture of toys and addressing other product safety issues. At a "Consumer Product Safety Summit" held today in Washington, D.C., CPSC made known that China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has agreed to take immediately action to eliminate the use of lead paint on Chinese manufactured toys exported to the United States. Lead paint on toys sold in the U.S. has been banned since 1978.

In addition to the lead paint agreement, the two agencies announced work plans for cooperation in four product categories: Toys, Fireworks, Cigarette Lighters, and Electrical Products. The Work Plans provide a roadmap for bilateral efforts to improve the safety of these products, which represent some of the most frequent hazards under CPSC’s regulatory jurisdiction.

CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord stated that the Work Plans show "significant forward progress" in the agency’s efforts to bring Chinese-made consumer products into line with U.S. safety rules.

(more…)

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The time has come once again to let your voice be heard and help to choose and create an all new exclusive action figure for the Four Horsemen’s FANtastic Exclusive 3 project! If you’ve ever wanted your chance to work in the action figure industry, here’s your chance to get a taste of it, and be our bosses.

In this third installment of FANtastic Exclusive, the Four Horsemen have promised many changes in store for action figure fans. The first, most noticeable change will be that some properties have been removed from the running, while others have stepped I to take their place.

As some may have already heard, the winning property of both FAN-Ex ‘06, and FAN-Ex ‘07 – Seventh Kingdom has been removed from voting. The reason for this is that the overwhelming popularity of this property has enabled it to become it’s own separate action figure line, and will allow Seventh Kingdom to continue apart from, yet still side-by-side with the other FANtastic Exclusive properties.

And don’t fret if you’re a fan of the other two properties that have been removed from voting in FANtastic Exclusive 3. You’ve neither seen nor heard the last of either Chrysalis or the Aliens line. There’s a good chance they could reappear, possibly slightly revamped, in later versions of FANtastic Exclusive.

The newest addition to FANtastic Exclusive is actually an old friend! Way back in 2005, when the Four Horsemen first started doing summer convention exclusives of their own, their very first release was Commander Argus of the Four Horsemen property, Magma C.O.R.P.S. Well, Magma C.O.R.P.S. is back, and this time Commander Argus brought some buddies along with him!

Be sure to check out FANtastic Exclusive 3 online right now to get a look at all of the properties and characters you’re going to have to choose from as soon as voting goes live later this week!

Also, many new characters have been added to the properties you’re already familiar with, so be sure to stop into the FANtastic FANatics message boards to voice your opinions about your favorites and not-so favorites. FANtastic Exclusive 3. Summer vacation’s over.

Time to get back to work.

 

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Adult Swim, the #1 destination for young adults, is taking the pop culture strength of its programming lineup to the retail shelf through an exciting deal with Kidrobot, providing fans the opportunity to collect their favorite characters from the late night network. Kidrobot will launch a 3-inch Blind Box mini figure collectable series featuring popular characters across the Adult Swim programming lineup starting in February 2008.  

"Kidrobot is a master in creating very cool toys that are perfect for Adult Swim fans and toy collectors," said Christina Miller, vice president of consumer products for Cartoon Network Enterprises.  

"These characters represent some of the greatest pop-art developed over the last ten years, and are a big inspiration to my own work," said Paul Budnitz, president/founder of Kidrobot.  "So of course I’m totally blown away that Kidrobot is getting to do this!"  

Kidrobot will develop figurines for a portfolio of characters featured during Adult Swim’s lineup.  Starting in February 2008, 3-inch Blind Box mini figures will be available for fans willing to take a chance on what character they actually get inside.  The chances of getting a particular figure are listed as percentage rates on the side of each branded box.  All figures are wrapped in foil to prevent anyone from sneaking a peek at which character is featured, maintaining the experience and value to the line of figures. Kidrobot will feature 16-20 different figures per
series, and be made available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America.

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We now have a full feature up on this highly anticipated boxed set.  Grodd is painted correctly, the Red Hood’s vac-metalized dome is great, and you shouldn’t be reading here!  You should go now and check out the full feature over in the features section!

 

Thank you again to Mattel for allowing us this first look at the finished product.

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Hasbro’s Star Wars Saga Legends Fan Voting will be live on starwars.hasbro.com this weekend!  Voting will be live by 5 PM EST today, if not earlier.

We want your votes!  Phase 1 is now complete; Star Wars collector-fan sites around the Web have told Hasbro which characters they want to see brought back as Saga Legends in ‘08.  Now Hasbro’s asking the fans to place a final vote for their favorite 3-3/4" figures that they want to see as part of the final Saga Legends wave in Spring 2008!  

The top 20 are below, and from these your readers and fellow fans can vote for up to 5 figures.  Voting will run for 14 days, and the top 5 vote-getters will become Saga Legends!
   
# Figure  
1 – ARC Trooper (Clone Wars) red & gray #43 (Saga)  
2 – Bespin Guard (Power of the Jedi)  
3 – Chewbacca (Early Bird kit)  
4 – Clone Trooper (Treachery on Saleucami 2007 exclusive)  
5 – Clone Trooper Pilot w/ball turret (Saga ’02 #49)  
6 – Coleman Trebor (Saga)  
7 – Colonel Wulf Yalaren (Death Star Briefing Room 2006 exclusive)  
8 – Commander Neyo (Treachery on Saleucami 2007 exclusive)  
9 – Covert Ops Clone Trooper (2005 exclusive)  
10 – Ephant Mon (Saga)  
11 – Graxol Kelvyyn (Watto’s Box)  
12 – Gungan Warrior (Fambaa set exclusive)  
13 – Pablo-Jill (EpIII/OTC bridge line)  
14 – R3-A2 (Battle of Hoth multi-pack)  
15 – Shadow Stormtrooper (2006 exclusive)  
16 – Sio Bibble (Episode I)  
17 – Stormtrooper (Vintage OTC)  
18 – Utapau Shadow Trooper (2007 exclusive)  
19 – Zev Senesca (Snowspeeder Pilot)  
20 – Zutton (Blue Snaggletooth)

NOTE:  There are TWO list changes from last week.  The major one is the removal of Han Solo (VOTC) from eligibility because there is a high likelihood that he will be used in another set and will not be available.  Instead, the next highest-rated figure, R3-A2 from the Battle of Hoth mullti-pack.  The Bespin Guard listing has been corrected – it is not possible to vote for "black ethnicity" since no such figure was released.  Instead, the listing will be corrected to say "Bespin Guard (Power of the Jedi)"

May the Force be with you… 

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