Raving Toy Maniac

The Harry Potter Alliance launches the Hunger is Not a Game Campaign
Working together with Oxfam, the HPA announces campaign to coincide with the release of The Hunger Games Movie

March 2012 - Boston, MA - The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) will celebrate the release of The Hunger Games by partnering with Oxfam to raise awareness of hunger-related issues around the globe. Hunger is Not a Game, the HPA's first Imagine Better campaign, unites fans of The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter fan community, and Oxfam to tackle the pressing issue of the politics of hunger.

"For children around the world, hunger is something they live with every single day. Just as in The Hunger Games series, hunger is often used as a way to oppress and control a population," said HPA Executive Director Andrew Slack. "Through our project Imagine Better, we have teamed up with The Hunger Games fan community, as well as Oxfam, to seek food production reform to ensure that no child is ever caught up in corporations' deadly game."

Garbage Pail Kids

By The Topps Company, Inc.
Introduction by Art Spiegelman
Afterword by John Pound

"We were trying to help another generation of juvenile delinquents come of age."
- Art Spiegelman, from his introduction

"Kids loved them; parents hated them."
- John Pound, from his afterword

March 2012 - Garbage Pail Kids: More than twenty-five years later, you can still rattle off the names of all your favorites, long after your mother finally scraped the last of the "Oozy Suzy," "Potty Scotty," and "Acne Amy" stickers off your refrigerator door. You loved them as much as your parents despised them, and now the Garbage Pail Kids phenomenon (Abrams ComicArts; April 2012; U.S. $19.95 / CAN. $21.95; ISBN: 978-1-4197-0270-9) is here to gross us out all over again.

Toys'R'Us: Cody Simpson Dolls

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Toys"R"Us is the Ultimate Cody Simpson Destination, Offering Toys and Lifestyle Merchandise Inspired by the Teen Popstar in its Stores Nationwide

Australia-Born Musician, Cody Simpson, Covers the Retailer's Spring "Swagtastic" Catalog, Featuring Fan-Favorite Items From Life-Size Standees to Singing Dolls

WAYNE, N.J., March 13, 2012 -- As 15-year-old Internet sensation turned superstar Cody Simpson climbs the charts and steals kids' hearts, fans will shriek with excitement when they receive the latest Toys"R"Us catalog in homes this Friday, March 16, picturing the Australia-born singer on the cover. Filled with "Rockin' Accessories and Fashion Faves" for today's trendy tweens, the catalog features a selection of Cody Simpson toys and gear available at The World's Greatest Toy Store™.

CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK @ YOUR LIBRARY APRIL 22 - 28

March 2012 - CHICAGO – With spring cleaning underway, many Americans will struggle with how to protect keepsakes. From April 22 – 28, thousands will turn to libraries during Preservation Week @ your library, a time when public and academic libraries will provide information and expertise on how to preserve collectables, family documents, textiles, digital items and much more.

Preservation Week @ your library is themed "Pass it on," and participating libraries will help connect library users with preservation tools; promote the importance of preservation; and will strive to enhance knowledge of preservation issues among the general public. During the week, libraries will focus on preservation themes including: Monday, LP (vinyl) records; Tuesday, quilts; Wednesday, comic books; Thursday, slides; Friday, digital photos; and Saturday, family letters.

The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association; Library of Congress; and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, are the sponsors of Preservation Week @ your library.

Mezco Reveals Universal Monsters: 9inch Scale Frankenstein

March 2012 - New York - Mezco proudly presents one of the world's most famous monsters... Frankenstein! Constructed by the infamous Dr Frankenstein from corpses, and resurrected by curious machines powered by a bolt of lightning, he terrorized the countryside. Now he is brought to life by Mezco's award-winning design team. This 9inch scale Frankenstein features a real cloth coat and shirt. His finely detailed body boasts ten points of articulation and is covered with scars from his assembly. Each Frankenstein is packaged in his own collector friendly display box. Since being revealed at the recent 2012 New York International Toy Fair, Frankenstein has been heaped with praise:

"...unique and dynamic..." – Famous Monsters Of Filmland

"...I will buy a set as soon as they're released... " - Bob Burns

"...impressive...I want them all..." - BattleGrip.com

Mezco Reveals Mars Attacks Plush

March 2012 - New York - Based on the iconic trading cards, Mars Attacks, that forever changed the face of science fiction. Mezco brings these Martians to life with this 8inch scale plush figure. The other-worldly creation features the Martian's signature exposed oversized brain and bulbous eyes, along with the iconic green spacesuit.

Revealed at the 2012 New York International Toy Fair in February, they have already received praise:

"...totally nailed the detail in their brain-like head..." wrote Kastors Korner, "The cuddliest alien I've ever seen! He's invaded my heart!!" says Eric Resnik of YouBentMyWookie.

Marvel and Aurasma Unveil "Marvel Augmented Reality" at SXSW

"Avengers VS X-Men" Spurs Historic First Major Comic Book AR Initiative

AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2012 -- Yesterday, at the SXSW Interactive Festival, Marvel Entertainment unveiled Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comic book company. As part of the recently announced Marvel ReEvolution, which brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before, the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma will be released on April 2 for iOS 3GS, 4, 4S and high-powered Android devices. Fans can first discover the power of this new app in Avengers VS X-Men #1, arriving in comic stores on April 4 and kicking off the comic book event of the year in which the world's most popular Super Heroes go to war!

CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2) EXHIBIT SPACE TO BE 50% LARGER THAN LAST YEAR

Ticket Sales up 52%

Film Producer Dishes on The Dark Knight
'The Boy Who Loved Batman' Shares 5 Things You Didn't Know About His Fave Superhero

March 2012 - Excitement about the newest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," is already revved up for its July 20th premiere. Details about the Warner Brothers film starring Christian Bale as Batman and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman are cloaked in secrecy. But executive producer and diehard Batman fan Michael Uslan knows a Dark Knight thing or two that may surprise you.

"I grew up immersed in comics. I loved them all. My hands-down favorite, though - then and now - is Batman," says Uslan, who wrote about his comic obsession in his new memoir, THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN (www.theboywholovedbatman.com), available in bookstores and on amazon.com.

Avengers Villain Ultron Coming to DST's Marvel Select Line

March 2012 - It's a fact that Diamond Select's good friends over at Gentle Giant have been dying to design an Ultron action figure for them for close to two years now. Since the character has always been an awesome-looking villain, DST has been willing to add it to the line, but they could never find the right place for it in their schedule. Well, with everyone talking about the Avengers' big movie, DST is giving Gentle Giant the opportunity to bring the Avengers' big bad to life this August. With Jason Wires behind the paintbrush, they're sure you'll be pleased with the outcome… although Ant-Man and the Wasp clearly aren't, judging by the 7-inch Ultron's detailed display base.

Pre-order Ultron today at your local comic shop or your favorite online retailer; to find your nearest comic shop, visit comicshoplocator.com!