Raving Toy Maniac

July 5, 2013 - 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.

- A Call to Action: Parents and Children Need to 'Pool Safely' in Pools and Spas over the July 4th Holiday

- Toys R Us Recalls Remote-Controlled Helicopters Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

July 4, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

We have just received preliminary information that the MP-12 will be reissued in December or January! Preorders have been opened for the 2nd production run of the MP-12 at $79.99

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11736&mode=re...

July 2, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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New PRE-ORDERS
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BIG BAD TOY STORE SHARED EXCLUSIVE PREDAKING
This Platinum Series shared exclusive reissue includes die-cast parts and gold coloring, and we have him priced at $119.99. He is expected to arrive in the middle of next month.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22988&mode=re...

GENERATIONS TITAN METROPLEX
The tallest Transformers figure ever is up for pre-order. He changes from robot to city to battle station and includes lights and sound effects. He will ship out on August 1st, so be sure to get your orders in so that yours can ship ASAP.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22897&mode=re...

BOTCON 2013 EXCLUSIVES

Toys"R"Us® Heads to Comic-Con International in San Diego at Entertainment Earth® Booth #2343 with Nine Noteworthy Exclusives

Collector-worthy TRANSFORMERS, Pretty Ponies, a Batmobile and a Limited Edition Fairy All among Toys"R"Us Comic-Con Exclusives

July 2013 - Building on its tradition of offering an unbeatable assortment of toys for kids and collectors of all ages, Toys"R"Us® has revealed its lineup of nine exclusive items available in honor of its fifth appearance at the highly anticipated Comic-Con International in San Diego, which will take place from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21. Offered in partnership with Entertainment Earth® at Booth #2343, conventioneers will find Comic-Con merchandise based on fan favorite series, like Adventure Time™, WINX Club®, TRANSFORMERS, Batman and The Walking Dead.

Minimates are Skybound with New Invincible and Thief of Thieves Box Sets!

July 2013 - Comic book writer Robert Kirkman may be best known to the world for creating The Walking Dead, the comic series that inspired the smash hit TV show. But in the world of comic books, where he has his own imprint at Image Comics – Skybound Entertainment – he's equally well-known for his sprawling superhero creation, Invincible! The series recently passed its 100th issue, and now Kirkman has re-teamed with Diamond Select Toys, makers of the Walking Dead Minimates line, to make Minimates based on Invincible, as well as his newest hit comic, Thief of Thieves!

Marvel Select Iron Man 3 Figures are Blasting Into Stores!

July 2013 - The long wait is over! The Iron Man Mark 42 armor from Iron Man 3 made its debut last week at comic shops and specialty stores around the world, and fan reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. From the interchangeable parts to the great articulation to the massive armor bay accessory, it's got everything an Iron Man fan could want! And this week, those fans will get the next figure in the line: War Machine!

Like the Mark 42, War Machine stands 7 inches tall with 16 points of articulation, and comes with an interchangeable unmasked head and armor bay. However, instead of interchangeable hands, War Machine comes with a fully articulated shoulder cannon. He will be sold exclusively in comic shops and specialty stores starting on July 3, in the distinctive Marvel Select packaging, with side panel art for shelf display.

Monogram International's 2013 Comic-Con Exclusive Number Nine

4" PVC Set

July 2013 - Monogram International - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Bane are featured in this 4 piece PVC Figure Set presented by Monogram International for the 2013 Comic-Con. Get your set now, there are only 100 available!

- Perfect size to decorate your desk or cubicle.
- Highly detailed and colorful sculpts.
- Set of four looks great in a display case.
- Exclusive Black Outfit Batman
- Item # 45255
- 100 Piece Limited Edition
- $25.00 Retail Price
- Booth 3744

July 2013 - Playmates Toys is bringing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International, with a panel about the action figures and an exclusive Shredder action figure.

Shredder will be sold at the Nickelodeon booth, so mark your floor maps now!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Action Figure Showcase - Playmates Toys, the master toy licensee for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is hosting a panel during Comic-Con.

When: Thursday, July 18th 2PM-3PM
Where: Comic-Con International: San Diego, Room 25ABC
What: Hear what's now, new and next for our favorite action figures! The panel will offer sneak peeks at future toys and attendees can ask questions of 'team green' members who've worked on all three incarnations of the Turtles since their debut decades ago.

Diamond Announces New Graphic Novel Common Core List

(BALTIMORE, MD) - (July 1, 2013) - To help educators and librarians select graphic novel materials to fit into their Common Core Standards curricula, Diamond Book Distributors (DBD) has created the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List.

"Diamond is a firm believer in graphic novels as legitimate teaching tools," said Kuo-Yu Liang, DBD's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "With the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List, we hope to help educators and librarians get ahead of the curve of this new initiative, while enjoying some great stories and art."

VIZ MEDIA INVITES YOU TO GET UGLY WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW UGLYDOLL® ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS

The Award-Winning Distinctive Plush Toy Characters Define The "New Beautiful" And Come To Life In A New All-ages Full-Color Graphic Novel Series Launching Across North America In July!

San Francisco, CA, July 1, 2013 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers a fresh dose of all-ages fun as it announces the July 2nd launch of the UGLYDOLL original graphic novel series. UGLYDOLL: GOIN' PLACES! will be published by VIZ Media, is rated 'A' for All Ages and will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

VIZ Media's UGLYDOLL graphic novel series is a first for Wage™, Babo™, OX™, Ice-Bat™ and their friends. In the series, they'll take readers on a colorful journey through the Uglyverse™, where "ugly" means unique and celebrating who you are is the new beautiful.