Raving Toy Maniac

Check Out the Star Trek Select Kirk and Spock Figures in Action!

May 2013 - The ultimate Star Trek action figures are almost here! Arriving next month, the first two figures in Diamond Select Toys new, deluxe Star Trek line will be a classically-styled Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, each with interchangeable parts and a diorama base. We got in a couple of packaged samples, and couldn't wait to bust them open and send them on an away mission! Check out the pics of Kirk and Spock in action on an alien planet – and in the Enterprise's engineering section – demonstrating their various interchangeable parts, including hands, legs, heads, accessories and more! Pre-order both today at your favorite online retailer or your local comic shop!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the Next Star Trek Select Figure from DST

May 2013 - Star Trek Select Kirk and Spock are on their way to U.S. shores, and fans are already looking beyond them to see who will follow in their footsteps. Well, Diamond Select Toys has unveiled the next Select, and it's the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise D and E, Jean-Luc Picard! Wearing his classic TV outfit, Picard has been captured in the middle of a previously unseen engagement with the Borg, firing his phaser aboard a Borg ship, with a fallen foe at his feet. The figure will feature limited articulation and a detailed likeness by Patrick Piggott (prototype shown), and will come in shelf-ready Select display packaging. Look for him to beam down this fall, and join Captain Kirk and Spock in the Select hall of fame! Pre-order him today at your favorite online retailer or your local comic shop!

Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Scheduled to Appear at Star Wars Celebration Europe this July in Essen, Germany

May 2013 - Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm and producer of Star Wars Episode VII, will make her inaugural Star Wars Celebration appearance in Essen this July. Kennedy will make an appearance on the main Celebration stage talking with celebrity host Warwick Davis about her amazing career in the movie industry and her recent move to Lucasfilm.

"When I joined Lucasfilm, I immediately saw the true passion shared by Star Wars fans around the world. I'm thrilled to attend my first Star Wars Celebration and see in person that energy that makes the Star Wars experience so special."

May 15, 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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NEW DC COLLECTIBLES

Star Trek's Enterprise-E Makes 'First Contact,' and the Excelsior Joins the Fleet!

May 2013 - Diamond Select's fleet of electronic Star Trek ships is undergoing a rapid expansion of late, and two new starships are preparing to join fans' collections!

First up is a limited variation on the U.S.S. Enterprise E – the First Contact edition! With a new, detailed paint scheme based on Star Trek: First Contact, this new E is visually distinctive from the previous edition, which was based on its appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis. With the same great lights and sounds as the previous E, it will be a striking addition to any fan's collection, and will be ready to ship this summer.

Jon-Paul Kaiser x outsmART originals - Summer Collection

May 2013 - outsmART originals present the Jon-Paul Kaiser T-Shirt Summer Collection: http://outsmartoriginals.storenvy.com/

Previously launched as the Return to the Sea set, due to popular demand we have expanded the collection to include reverse colorways for the season. The collection includes both the Skull of the Corsair and The Mermaid tees available on black or white t-shirts. In addition, the mens tees will be screen printed on Ultra Cotton Tees for a classic fit while the ladies tees will be screen printed on American Apparel Fine Jersey tees for a super soft and flattering fit.

Shipping in June and priced at only $20.00 each, outsmart originals and Jon-Paul Kaiser are sweetening the pot by adding some great incentives:

Live Long & Eat Bacon... New Release from The Bacon University (outsmart originals)

May 2013 - outsmart originals - It's only logical that we offer up a new bacon sci-fi tee for this week from our sister company, The Bacon University. Now in stock and just $15.00 - now available while supplies last: http://nvy.gd/XZfZh9

Running into someone who doesn’t care for bacon is like meeting someone from another planet. In that case, this tee will keep the universal message of Bacon alive. Screen printed on ultra cotton tees for a classic fit and comfort. Available for men and women.

Live Long & Eat Bacon!

Pretty Ugly Announces Custom Designed Footwear with The Ave Venice

Green Brook, NJ - May 14, 2013 - Pretty Ugly™, LLC owner of the UGLYDOLL® brand has partnered with The Ave Venice, a concept store that delivers unique and legendary footwear. The Ave Venice will be offering a selection of custom designed and printed UGLYDOLL Converse Chuck Taylors.

The first UGLYDOLL was drawn in a letter written by David Horvath to his now-wife, Sun-Min Kim. In the letter, David drew the character we now all know and love as Wage™. Their dream was to tell stories through books and toys. Fast forward over ten years and UGLYDOLL has become a household name where 'ugly' means special and unique.

Disney's Mike And Sulley Don Monster-Sized Milk Mustaches In New got milk? Ad

Monsters University Stars Scare Up Some Protein with Milk at Breakfast

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 -- Disney-Pixar's Monsters University takes everyone's favorite scare pair, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, "Sulley," back to their college days, where they learned that nothing scares up successful days more than a breakfast with milk. A glass of milk – with 8 grams of high-quality protein in each 8 oz serving – can help power your monster days.

The new Milk Mustache ad features Mike and Sulley from their days as MU coeds sporting the iconic Milk Mustache. The ad, being released in advance of the film's June 21 release, reads "Scare up some protein. Monster days start with milk at breakfast. got milk?"

At MU, it takes a lot to fuel a day of scaring. Fortunately, milk – the breakfast super food – has 9 essential nutrients, including protein.

Toys R Us and Touchrate Elevate the Shopper Experience In-Store through Interactive Digital Tablet Displays

ORLANDO, Fla., May 14, 2013 -- Touchrate, in collaboration with Toys R Us, Inc., has just released interactive sales-assist solutions in select Toys R Us stores. Touchrate tablet and touchscreen devices extend the marketing message in-store, helping shoppers to learn and better select products and brands in the aisle.

Touchrate provides the hardware, dynamic graphics, software, content, installation and maintenance monitoring while Toys R Us suppliers populate the solutions with data and content.

Apple and Touchrate were among the first to introduce this self-help concept to retail with Touchrate's introduction in 2009 and Apple in their retail stores in 2010.

Touchrate touchscreen solutions empower consumers in-store using self-help touchscreen technology with a decision tree of product knowledge, algorithms of peer-like purchases and social sharing. Shoppers make an emotional investment, when they thoughtfully engage, select and decide by touching a self-help sales-assist touchscreen, in exchange for product guidance in-store.