Raving Toy Maniac

March 16, 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.

Guidecraft Recalls Children's Play Theaters Due to Tip-over Hazard

Universal Monsters Minimates Series 3 Scares Up Some New Monsters!

March 2012 - As Diamond Select enters its third year of making officially licensed Universal Monsters toys, they're expanding their Minimates mini-figure line to include a new monster, as well as resurrecting a monster from the vault!

The first specialty-exclusive 4-pack due out this fall is based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Universal's first film adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel, released in 1925. It starred Lon Chaney as the abused bellringer Quasimodo, a mute, half-deaf hunchback who lives in the famed Paris cathedral. In the film, Quasimodo is coerced into kidnapping the beggar Esmeralda, which runs him afoul of the smitten Captain Phoebus. That set's characters include Quasimodo, Phoebus and the set-exclusive Esmeralda and "King of Fools" Quasimodo.

Gentle Giant is proud to bring you two new items for March 2012!

Modern Wolverine Mini Bust

*Snikt*

The unique sound of Wolverine's Adamantium claws unsheathing sends chills through villains everywhere. One of the most popular characters of the Marvel Universe for almost forty years now, Wolverine has come a long way since his first appearance in Incredible Hulk #180 back in 1974. Now a leader of his own team of X-Men, the former loner has taken responsibility for the future of mutantkind by following in Professor Charles Xavier's example and opening the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. But don't think he's gotten soft in his old age. Just remember bub, "I'm the best at what I do, and what I do isn't very nice."

Death Star Droid Jumbo Kenner 12" Retro Figure

VISIT VIZ MEDIA AT WONDERCON, BOOTH #206

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES ACTIVITIES AND CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES FOR WONDERCON 2012

VIZ Media Treats Attendees To Special "Test Drives" Of New WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Digital Manga Magazine

San Francisco, CA, March 13, 2012 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, returns to WonderCon 2012 as the show comes to Anaheim, CA, March 16th-18th at the Anaheim Convention Center. WonderCon is one of the country's best comics and pop culture conventions. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 206. Complete details on WonderCon are available at: www.comic-con.org/wc.

Throughout the convention, VIZ Media will treat WonderCon attendees to special "test drives" of the company's new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA digital manga magazine. Drop by the VIZ Media booth, sample the new digital content, and complete a special survey to be entered to win a new Apple iPad 2! The winner will be notified following the show.

BIOWARE AND DARK HORSE ANNOUNCE MASS EFFECT 3 ­­ IN-GAME ITEMS ON PC AND XBOX 360 FOR FANS WHO PURCHASE MASS EFFECT ART BOOK

Assemble the Ultimate 3D Experience with Marvel's THE AVENGERS Collector's Edition RealD 3D Glasses

March 2012 - To celebrate the May 4th release of the summer's most anticipated film - Marvel's THE AVENGERS – RealD & Marvel have teamed to release a set of four character themed RealD 3D glasses.

Featuring designs for Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America, beginning in the month of April fans at will be able to collect these limited edition RealD 3D glasses at special events, fan screenings and via upcoming online giveaways. Collector's Edition Marvel's THE AVENGERS RealD 3D glasses will also be available at select AMC Theatres, National Amusement Theatres and independent theatres throughout the U.S. beginning as early as midnight on May 3rd.

For more information and to start your collection Like/Follow http://www.twitter.com/RealD3D http://www.facebook.com/RealD3D

March 2012 - The new wave of Minimates mini-figures based on the hit video game Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is in stores now, and they look amazing! Diamond Select Toys wanted to take their product for a test-run, so they threw the entire specialty wave's line-up into the ring one two-pack at a time and took pictures of the fighters facing off. (They even threw in a couple from Wave 1 for good measure.) Each 2-inch mini-figure comes with a display base, and most come with a bunch of additional accessories, so check out the gallery here!

http://www.artasylum.com/gallery/marvel-vs-capcom-series-2/

MvC3 Minimates Series 2 is available in comic shops and specialty stores now -- to find your nearest comic shop, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com! And be on the lookout for more exclusive MvC3 figures coming soon to Toys "R" Us!

Mega Brands reports fourth quarter and 2011 results

MONTREAL, March 14, 2012 - MEGA Brands Inc. (TSX: MB) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011. (All figures are expressed in US dollars.)

Consolidated total net sales in 2011 increased 2% to $376.8 million compared to $368.0 million in 2010. Sales increased 2% in Toys product lines and 3% in the Stationery & Activities segment. On a geographic basis, sales were up 1% in North America and 5% in international markets.

Reported net earnings were $8.3 million in 2011 compared to $131.1 million in 2010. Reported earnings in 2011 include a $3.0 million loss on the settlement of debt in 2011 and, in 2010, a $144.3 million gain on the settlement of debt and transaction costs and other expenses of $13.4 million.

March 14, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from BigBadToyStore - please check out a variety of exciting new preorders pictured below as well as this week's latest arrivals.

-------------
NEW PREORDERS
-------------

STAR WARS VINTAGE 2012 WAVE 2.0, 2.2, 2.5
Three new assortments have just been listed - each with figures unique to their specific wave. Take a look at the top 3 listings here for info on all the new figures.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=star+wars+vintage

TRANSFORMERS PRIME - DELUXE WAVE 03
Knockout, Hot Shot, and Vehicon have been added to the TF Prime lineup. We have sets of 3 available at $54.99, cases of 8 for $104.99 and singles of Hot Shot and Knockout at $17.99 - check them out here:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=prime+deluxe+03

Presenting the Winners in DST's Marvel Select Colossus Photo Contest!

March 2012 - Congratulations to everyone who entered Diamond Select Toys' Colossal Marvel Select Photo Contest! While only four winners were chosen, DST received almost 30 photos of the Marvel Select Colossus figure, each one better than the last! You'd think that so many pictures of the same steel mutant would get repetitive after awhile, but the sheer variety of backgrounds and displays and lighting choices made each new entry a wonder to behold. Here are the winners!

The first runner-up was Alexander Villamor Diaz, who shot Colossus sizing up Juggernaut for a game of one-on-one. Colossus has even taken his shirt off for it! Juggernaut was a frequent player in these photos, but DST loved the angle and the drama created by the piece... plus the fact that the rubble surrounding Colossus all came from other Marvel Select display bases!