~ Welcome to RTMemo
~ Featured This Issue
        - Comic Wars
~ News Highlights
~ From the Buzz
~ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz
~ From DisneyStore.com
~ Toy Link of the Week
~ Non-Toy Link of the Week

------ Welcome to RTMemo ------

We're not really sure what happened last week, but out of the blue there was a LOT of news. So we'll be quiet here and leave room for more news links. :-)

------ Featured This Issue ------

RTMisc: Comic Wars
RTMisc reviews the book Comic Wars, by Dan Raviv. The book details the story of Marvel Comics in the 1990s: the bankruptcy and the battle for control of the company:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/rtmisc/comicwars.shtml

------ News Highlights ------

Croc Hunter at Subway
Subway will be featuring Crocodile Hunter toys in their Kids Pak meals starting July 8th:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1941.shtml

Ernie Pyle GI Joe
Hasbro's D-Day Collection of 12-inch GI Joes includes an Ernie Pyle action figure:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1942.shtml

Cartoon Network to test GI Joe
The Cartoon Network will be airing a test run of GI Joe: A Real American Hero in July. If you want them to air more episodes, let them know:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1947.shtml

Battle of the Planets Figures
Diamond Select presents G-Force action figures: Mark, Princess, and Keyop. There will also be a Previews-exclusive "civilian Keyop" figure:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1950.shtml

Marvel Select Spider-Man Figure
Diamond Select's other major action figure announcement this month is the Ultimate Spider-Man figure, the first of the Marvel Select figures:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1951.shtml

Hasbro to Distribute STIKFAS
STIKFAS and Hasbro have signed an agreement under which Hasbro will distribute the unique STIKFAS figures world-wide. Expect to see them in stores in the US in July for about $10:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1954.shtml

Alien Queen Mini-Bust
Palisades has announced their next mini-bust in their Aliens series, the Alien Queen herself:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1956.shtml

Star Trek Busts from Sideshow
Sideshow Toy has the license to make busts of Star Trek characters. Which Star Trek? All of them. Movies, television, the whole franchise:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1967.shtml

Good News for Macross Fans
A lawsuit in Japan has settled the issue of who owns the copyright to Macross/Robotech, and thus who can license out the rights for toys. This means even more Macross toys at domestic prices:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1971.shtml

Pillars of Argonath Figures
Sideshow/Weta announces a set of polystone Argonath figures which will be included in a deluxe DVD set of the first Lord of the Rings film this November:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1972.shtml

GI Joe Meets Sinbad
Hasbro and Dreamworks have signed an agreement for 12-inch GI Joe action figures to be based on the upcoming animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas in 2003:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1977.shtml

See? We told you there was a lot of news last week. And that list was just the "highlights." Catch up on the rest on the main news page and the most recent archive page:
http://www.toymania.com/news/
http://www.toymania.com/news/06032002_06042002.shtml

------ From the Buzz ------

TheDark points out something interesting about the Spidey movie trailer:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/93264.shtml

AG's "Caption the Pic" this week involves Avengers:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/93206.shtml

SpyMagician ponders bootleg possibilities:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/93192.shtml

Japester has good luck with HeroClix boosters:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/93186.shtml

(The posts on the Buzz last only a few days, so if you are reading this more than two or three days after this issue of RTMemo was sent out, the posts will likely be gone.)

------ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz ------

Bruenor has some of his custom figures on eBay:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/7811.shtml

Juan is looking for a 13-inch Spawn action figure:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/7809.shtml

------ From DisneyStore.com ------

Free Shipping Offer
From now until June 16th (Father's Day), the online Disney Store is offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more. More details at:
http://www.toymania.com/disneypromo.shtml

------ Toy Link of the Week ------

LUGNET
If you are a LEGO collector, you need to see LUGNET. LUGNET offers reference material for over 4,500 LEGO sets, a "cool LEGO site of the week," a LUGMAP for finding local LEGO users groups, an online minifig generator, a gallery section for sharing your LEGO images, and a large variety of LEGO-related forums. The forums can be read through your browser or your newsreader (newsgroups), or you can subscribe to receive the messages in your email:
http://www.lugnet.com/

------ Non-Toy Link of the Week ------

FIFA World Cup 2002
In the United States, we call it "soccer," but the rest of the world calls it "football." Whatever you call it, the whole world is watching this month, as teams from around the globe compete for the World Cup. Check the standings at the official site:
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/

------ In Closing ------

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- the RTM Staff
http://www.toymania.com