Raving Toy Maniac

Diamond, USAopoly and Skybound Team Up to Offer Exclusive The Walking Dead Monopoly and Risk Games

This September, two classic game franchises get the zombie treatment from creator Robert Kirkman's best-selling Eisner Award-winning comic book series.

(BALTIMORE, MD) - (March 27, 2013) - Zombies are massing to make a run at your real estate and they're bent on world domination in updated takes on the classic game franchises, Monopoly and Risk. Brought to you by USAopoly - and available exclusively from Diamond Comic Distributors - MONOPOLY: The Walking Dead Survival Edition and RISK: The Walking Dead Survival Edition games are both slated for a September 2013 release. Kirkman's groundbreaking The Walking Dead graphic novels were #1 in sales for the past two years.

"We're extremely excited to be working with USAopoly and Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image Comics in what promises to be two great games that are destined to be bestsellers for retailers," said Bill Schanes, Diamond's VP-Purchasing.

Legendary KISS Founders Gene Simmons And Paul Stanley Are Going To Rock 'n' Roll The Hub Network With "KISS Hello Kitty," A New Animated TV Series In Development

LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2013 -- The Hub Network, the fastest growing children's cable network, has optioned the rights to a new series, "KISS Hello Kitty" (working title), based on the highly successful KISS x Hello Kitty line of products from Sanrio, maker of Hello Kitty, a pop icon since 1974.

KISS, an iconic rock band known for its creative merchandising, and Hello Kitty, one of the most unique and popular lifestyle brands, came together in 2010 for an unexpected collaboration - KISS x Hello Kitty. This global collection of hugely desirable co-branded products connects KISS and Hello Kitty followers all over the world with hundreds of licensed items across all categories, including apparel, toys, electronics, stationery, and back to school merchandise, among others.

'Iron Man 3' Minimates Get Suited Up in High-Tech Packaging!

March 2013 - Everyone knows what Tony Stark will be wearing in this summer's Iron Man 3, but what will the Iron Man 3 toys be wearing? Diamond Select Toys has worked up some nifty new packaging for their assortment of Minimates based on the movie, and while the Toys "R" Us-exclusive figures are still top-secret, we can show you the full specialty assortment in their boxes right now!

Check out the pictures below, and pre-order at your nearest comic shop or specialty store today!

Visit comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest comic shop, and get regular DST updates on Facebook and Twitter!

Photographic Evidence of Strange Tales Marvel Minimates Uncovered!

March 2013 - The Marvel Minimates in Diamond Select Toys' upcoming "Strange Tales" box set were inspired by classic Marvel horror comics of yesteryear, but until today they have been only legend. However, new photographic evidence has surfaced that captures the box set's four characters in their natural habitats, proving once and for all that these Minimates are real... and awesome!

INDIANAPOLIS SAYS "YO JOE!" AND WELCOMES THE 19th ANNUAL G.I. JOE CONVENTION

G.I. Joe Con 2013 Kicks Off with Hundreds of Paratrooper KRE-O G.I. JOE KREON Figures

Indianapolis - March 28th, 2013 - Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro's official G.I. JOE Collectors' Convention, G.I. Joe Con, is pleased to announce that this year's premier G.I. JOE fan event will kick-off in true G.I. JOE fashion as hundreds of KRE-O G.I. JOE KREON figures are launched from the Indiana Government Center Garage (north side) at 10:30 am ET Friday, April 5, 2013. The KRE-O G.I. JOE KREON figures are an all-new offering from Hasbro and are available exclusively at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide and online at http://Toysrus.com. All media outlets are invited to cover this fantastic kick-off event (registered convention attendees only), which is just one of the many festivities being held at the JW Marriott on April 5-7, 2013, in the great city of Indianapolis.

C2E2 WELCOMES NEW COMICS PUBLISHERS TO ANNUAL POP CULTURE EVENT

First Time Exhibitors to Bring Brand-New Artists, Writers and Stories to Show!

Norwalk, CT, March 26, 2013: Officials at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) have announced that there will be many new and fresh faces at the annual pop culture extravaganza this year. Several notable comics publishers will be exhibiting at the show for the first time. They will be joining other leading publishers, such as Marvel and DC Entertainment, who have helped to make C2E2 the preeminent pop culture event in the Midwest since its debut in 2010. Officials are projecting that exhibitor space at C2E2 will be approximately 25 percent larger than last year! A few of the creative and innovative new companies on hand this year will be Action Lab Entertainment, Athleta Comics and Lion Forge Comics. In addition, Reload Comics and 2000 AD/Rebellion will be at C2E2 for the first time promoting their widely popular properties and titles.

March 28, 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.

- Bell Sports Recalls BMX Bike Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury; Sold Exclusively at Toys R Us

- iCandy World Recalls Cherry Strollers Due to Strangulation Hazard

- BabyHome USA Recalls High Chairs Due to Strangulation Hazard

- Bugaboo Recalls Cameleon3 Strollers Due to Fall Hazard

- WRSI Recalls Kayaking and Rafting Helmets Due to Head Injury Hazard

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES WONDERCON ANAHEIM 2013 SCHEDULE!

MARCH 22, MILWAUKIE, OR - Dark Horse Comics is headed to California's must-attend event on the comic book convention schedule - WonderCon Anaheim!

Join us for signings at booth #819! Free comics and/or prints with each signing while supplies last.

Tickets for signings at the Dark Horse booth will be distributed from the opening of WonderCon on Friday, March 29. Please note that lines may be capped or tickets issued for any signing as needed. Inquire about your favorite signings as early as possible. Some restrictions apply. All events are subject to change.

Comics, books, and collectibles will be available for purchase from Dark Horse or your favorite retailer.

DARK HORSE SIGNINGS

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

12:00 p.m. BEANWORLD signing with creator Larry Marder
- Free Beanworld action figures and sketch cards

2:00 p.m. CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT signing with writer Josh Williamson
- Free 11" x 17" print featuring art by Felipe Massafera

Nerdist Industries And Lucasfilm's Course Of The Force Returns For An Epic Second Journey July 9-16

Lightsaber Relay Strikes the California Coast

SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2013 -- On the heels of last year's monumental, first-of-its-kind event, Course of the Force, the lightsaber run that captivated the attention of Star Wars™ fans around the world, is returning July 9th – 16th, 2013. Kicking off at the famed Skywalker Ranch, participants will continue the relay run down through San Francisco with several stops along the California coastline before reaching the finish line - arriving just in time for the start of the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con® International convention. Nerdist Industries' founder Chris Hardwick will be back to host the event, with city-stops along the way featuring "Conivals" where fans can celebrate their love of the Saga with live entertainment, expo booths, giveaways and much more.

DQE Announces a Licensing Deal with Walmart and 12 Other New Licensing and Merchandising Agreements for 'The Jungle Book'

HYDERABAD, India, March 28, 2013 -- DQ Entertainment International (DQE), a leading animation, gaming, live action, entertainment production and distribution company, is pleased to announce a number of new licensing and merchandising deals concluded during the quarter ended March 2013, mostly in USA.

The most significant of these were signed by DQE's partner in North America, Australia and South Africa, SMC Entertainment Group, Inc. ("SMC") in collaboration with the home-video distribution licensee Phase4 Films, who have launched "The Jungle Book" DVDs across all Walmart stores in USA and are launching in Canada soon.

Recently, DQE and SMC concluded a high-value licensing deal with Burger King Worldwide (BKW) for a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) - promotion that will begin worldwide in June '13.

Other important new licensing and merchandising agreements for "The Jungle Book" franchise concluded recently include:

• Magic Jump Inc. for inflatable bounce houses in USA and Canada