Raving Toy Maniac

LET'S GO VOLTRON FORCE®!
VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURES FOR ALL AGES WITH NEW VOLTRON FORCE GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

VOLTRON FORCE® Updates the Classic '80s Sci-fi Epic For A Whole New Generation of Fans

San Francisco, CA, April 3, 2012 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, debuts today the riveting outer space action of VOLTRON FORCE®, in a new graphic novel series that complements the animated series currently airing on Nicktoons. VOLTRON FORCE Volume 1: SHELTER FROM THE STORM, under the VIZ Kids imprint, is rated 'A' for All Ages and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Clayburn Moore Brings Dean Yeagle's Curvaceous Mandy to Life in Upcoming Limited-Edition Statue!

April 2012 - Award-winning animator and Playboy cartoonist Dean Yeagle has granted The CS Moore Studio Ltd the license to release a statue based on his vivacious pinup dream girl, Mandy. The Dean Yeagle Mandy & Skoots Statue will be sculpted by Clayburn Moore, widely regarded for his beautiful interpretations of the female form.

After Dean's curvaceous Mandy appeared online in 2002 (a neo-Mandy was featured in one of Dean's Playboy cartoons that year), she's appeared in art books and original pieces for collectors and a number of Paris art galleries. Over the years she has developed a devoted fan following, eagerly waiting to see what situations the winsome cutie and her dog Skoots will find themselves in next.

April 2012 - Jon-Paul Kaiser's PANDAIMYO 5 inch Mini Qee

Wind whispers through grass,
I stand in the moonlit trees,
Hills echo life's loss.

Toy2R proudly presents the next Jon-Paul Kaiser 5 Inch Mini Qee – PANDAIMYO. Expect this warrior to land this summer with an SRP of $28.00 each, and be on the lookout for other members of his warrior clan...

Wholesale orders now being accepted through Toy2R's global network of distributors.

Prize #6 of the 20 Big Prizes From K'NEX®
Enter for your chance to win 8 tickets to Cedar Point® Amusement Park!

Hatfield, PA - April 02, 2012 - K'NEX Brands, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is pleased to announce the launch of K'NEX'S Win Eight Tickets to Cedar Point Amusement Park Sweepstakes. From April 3, 2012 at 9:00am EST through April 18, 2012 at 3:59pm EST, K'NEX fans can enter for their chance to win 8 tickets to Cedar Point Amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio for the 2012 operating season.

Entrants can enter once per day either through the K'NEX Facebook page (which links to the K'NEX 20th Anniversary Celebration page of the Knex.com website), or directly through KNEX.com. Contestants must be 18 years or older to enter. Please see official rules for details. http://www.knex.com/20thanniversary/20BigPrizes/Cedar-Point.php

"We are happy to give back to our K'NEX fans who have shown such great support for us over the past twenty years," said K'NEX President and CEO Michael Araten.

KMART'S 'HOT 8' TOYS IGNITE PLAY FOR SUMMER
Retailer Reveals the Season's Top Toys to Get Kids Active

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (April 3, 2012) - Coinciding with unseasonably warm weather throughout many parts of the country, Kmart has announced the summer's "Hot 8" toys. This year's Hot 8 list emphasizes fun, durable toys that kids will love and give parents the peace of mind their children will be active and happy all summer long.

Featuring trampolines and swing sets, Power Wheels and swimming pools, the Hot 8 toy list encourages adventurous, outdoor play for kids of all ages. Plus, new enhanced safety features include swing sets equipped with double-walled slides and trampolines with 12-foot protective nets and padded poles.

A SQUARED ELXSI ANNOUNCES 'STAN LEE AND THE MIGHTY 7' DEAL

International kid's entertainment company to produce animated and live action content for legendary comic book creator's new project

(April 2nd, 2012 – Beverly Hills, CA) – Today A Squared Elxsi Entertainment LLC (A2E2), a joint venture between A Squared Entertainment and Tata Elxsi Ltd, announces it is developing stories across multiple platforms and formats based on the brand new 'Stan Lee's Mighty 7' comic series which has just hit stores around the world.

'Stan Lee and the Mighty 7' introduces Lee's new group of extra terrestrial super heroes and also sees the creator of Spider-Man and the X-Men, appear alongside his new creations. The deal will see the development of transmedia content based on the new characters who include Strongarm, Laser Lord, High Rise and others, whose powers range from super strength to shrinking ability.

LAUREN COHAN TO JOIN STEVEN YEUN FOR PANEL & SIGNING AT CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)

Stars of The Walking Dead To Participate in Q & A with Fans; Followed by 3-Hour Signing!

Norwalk, CT, April 2, 2012: Lauren Cohan, who plays the popular character Maggie Greene, the principal love interest of Glenn (Steven Yeun) in AMC's The Walking Dead, will appear along with Yeun at this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). Yeun's appearance at C2E2 was recently announced (3/28) and Ms. Cohan's appearance has just been confirmed by show organizers. The two stars of the hit television series will appear at the pop culture convention on Saturday, April 14 where they will conduct a Q & A with fans followed by a free 3-hour signing.

Mezco Releases Limited Edition Living Dead Doll Banners For Series 23

March 2012 - NY - Due to overwhelming demand caused by the Living Dead Doll window display at New York's famous Forbidden Planet, Mezco is releasing a limited run of collectible vinyl banners.

The Living Dead Dolls Series 23 introduces Teddy, Quack, Agatha, Jennocide and Betsy: these little terrors fancy a cup of tea, with a twist of terror and a pinch of arsenic.

Printed on durable 10 oz. vinyl, this limited-edition banner set measures an eye catching 18 inches wide by 36 inches tall (approximate) each.

This set contains a total of 6 different banners:
Group shot
Teddy
Quack
Agatha
Jennocide
Betsy

Only 13 of these banner sets will be produced for sale.
http://www.mezcotoyz.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=1079

Mezco will alo be offering an individual banner as part of a limited run:
http://www.mezcotoyz.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=1078

Etch A Sketch®: Shake It Up, America!

-NEW AD CAMPAIGN MAINTAINS POLITICAL NEUTRALITY FOR THE CLASSIC DRAWING TOY AFTER POLITICAL GAFFE-

BRYAN, Ohio, March 30, 2012 -- Ohio Art's Etch A Sketch® found itself at the center of U.S. politics last week, drawing up an abundance of attention and elevating the iconic toy to political icon. To maintain the classic drawing toys political neutrality, a series of three new ads developed by Team Detroit, Ohio Art's advertising agency, are slated to hit social media channels today.

"With Etch A Sketch® shaking up the political debate, it was our desire to develop a campaign that encourages Americans to get involved in the process and vote," says Martin Killgallon, Senior VP Marketing & Product Development at Ohio Art. "We feel these ads are fun and engaging and will continue to keep people interested throughout the remaining presidential campaign."