Raving Toy Maniac

March 30, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including Gentle Giants Wolverine bust, Bowen Statues and Sonic Tails & Knuckles statues!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Gentle Giant Wolverine Yellow Mini-Bust
• Retro Black Cat Statue Bowen Designs
• Thunderbird Statue Bowen Designs

MEGA Brands and Mattel announce worldwide licensing partnership

Barbie® and Hot Wheels® to be First Mattel Brands Included in New Collection

MONTREAL AND EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 29, 2012 - MEGA Brands Inc. announced today a multi-year global licensing partnership with Mattel, Inc. - the world's largest toy company - to develop construction toys based on the world's most iconic kids brands, Barbie® and Hot Wheels®. The new lines will be available at retail starting in spring 2013.

This strategic alliance leverages the MEGA Bloks brand and its expertise by bringing Mattel's most powerful properties to life in the fast-growing construction toy category.

The Mega Bloks Barbie™ collection will provide girls with a completely new Barbie play experience. With a focus on creative play and customization, the possibilities are endless. The line will feature Barbie and her friends in a buildable world of fashion and dream locations.

March 2012 - Dark Horse has announced their panel schedule for the 2012 Emerald City Comicon:

Friday - March 30th

ECCC Spotlight Series: Brian Wood
Room: 211
Time: 3:00 - 4:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. This hour, join creator Brian Wood as he talks about his work on Conan, DMZ, Northlanders and many others.

Falling Skies Screening and Q&A
Room: 4C1-2
Time: 3:00 - 4:00

STEVEN YEUN TO BE SPOTLIGHT GUEST AT CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)

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

Norwalk, CT, March 28, 2012: Noted actor Steven Yeun, currently starring in the role of Glenn in AMC's hit original series The Walking Dead, will appear at this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). In addition to his starring role in The Walking Dead, Mr. Yeun has also recently starred in an episode of the television series Law & Order: Los Angeles and an episode of Warehouse 13. Steven Yeun, who lived in Chicago where he performed with the Second City Theatre, will appear at C2E2 on Saturday, April 14 where he will conduct a Q & A with fans followed by a free 3-hour signing.

March 30, 2012 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

Baby Dolls Recalled by Lakeshore Learning Materials Due to Choking Hazard

Cartoon Network Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Ratings Growth and a New Generation of Content for a New Generation of Kids

The #1 Network with Boys 6-11 Announces Slate of New and Returning Series

CartoonNetwork.com Ranks as #1 Domain in Kids Category

March 28, 2012 - Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, along with double-digit growth and its #1 status with boys 6-11 on all of television, Cartoon Network announced today several new and returning series to its programming line-up.

Having its best first quarter with kids in prime in five years (up 28% vs. 2011) and showing the most gains compared to the competition in the kids space, the network's afternoon Upfront presentation held at New York's Roseland Ballroom paid tribute to the past and present with a full orchestra playing classic Cartoon Network television theme songs and live performances from the creative talent behind the hit animated comedy series Adventure Time and Regular Show.

March 28, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PREORDERS
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VEHICLE VOLTRON TRANSFORMING FIGURE
Most Wanted & Miracle Productions are producing a new 13" tall version of Vehicle Voltron (Voltron I) that will be over 50% die-cast. It can separate into the 15 individual ships and they in turn can merge into the three larger team ships; it also comes with a number of different weapons and new articulation options. We have this set listed at $259.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MWN10002&mode=re...

NEW BOWEN MARVEL STATUES - THUNDERBIRD, RETRO BLACK CAT
Two new Marvel statues are on the way from Bowen Designs. He reaches back into Marvel's past for both, with 12" former X-Man Thunderbird and 17" Black Cat Retro statues each listed at $229.99.

March 28, 2012 - The New York Times has posted a follow-up interview with the Four Horsemen, to get their reaction to reader suggestions on the original interview.

If you missed it last week, the original interview (two pages) was at this link.

March 2012 - Classic Star Trek fans rejoice! Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as Mr. Spock on this Thursday's episode of The Big Bang Theory -- but he won't be playing the role by himself. Instead, Nimoy will lend his voice to an 8-inch, cloth costumed Mr. Spock figure from Diamond Select Toys' Star Trek Retro Cloth action figure line! An exact replica of the classic 1970s Mego figure (faithfully executed for Diamond Select by the designers at EMCE Toys), Mr. Spock has a conversation with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) in a dream, and convinces Sheldon to open up a rare, mint-in-box Teleporter Playset (released in the U.K. by Palitoy in 1975).

Soundgarden Records First New Song in 15 Years for "Marvel's The Avengers"

END CREDIT TRACK "LIVE TO RISE" TO BE INCLUDED IN AVENGERS ASSEMBLE COMPILATION

BURBANK, Calif., March 27, 2012 -- Marvel Music/Hollywood Records announce the return of Soundgarden with the release of the band's first song in 15 years, "Live to Rise." The song will be featured in the end credits to this year's highly anticipated movie, "Marvel's The Avengers." "Live to Rise" is included on Avengers Assemble, a 14-track compilation of music from and inspired by the film. Avengers Assemble will be released on May 1, 2012.

Soundgarden stated, "We've been hard at work on our new album, which will come out this Fall. When the opportunity arose to write an original song for 'Marvel's The Avengers' film came our way, we thought it could be a cool match. We are excited to release our new song 'Live To Rise,' which is also the only new song in the film. Here's a taste. Loudest of Love." http://youtu.be/lVWjZ6Hk9Jg