Raving Toy Maniac

Alice Returns in Her Royal Suit from Madness Returns!

March 2013 - Madness is coming again! The response to the first series of figures from from the hit video game American McGee's Alice: Madness Returns was so overwhelmingly positive that Diamond Select Toys is coming out with yet another version of heroine Alice Liddell!

Joining the standard Alice and Hysteria Alice figures is Royal Suit Alice, featuring Ms. Liddell in yet another outfit that provides different benefits and abilities in different regions of Wonderland. Alice acquires the Royal Suit, which helps her access her invincible Hysteria mode, in the ruins of Queensland, where the Queen of Hearts is slowly regaining her power. Royal Suit Alice comes armed with her Vorpal Blade, Hobby Horse and Pepper Grinder weapons. Check out the packaging below, and look for Alice to hit comic shops and specialty stores in April!

March 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of blind-boxed 2.5-inch Mystery Minis vinyl figures, this time based on DC Comics characters.

The counter display has 24 boxes, each containing a variety of Classic and Movie characters:

• 3 Superheroes (Batman, Dark Knight Batman, Bat Girl)
• 3 Valiant Poses
• 5 Super Villains (Joker, DK Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman)
• 1-3 Menacing Poses

Expect to see these in stores around April 24th.

March 21, 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.

- Magura USA Recalls Bicycle Hydraulic Disc Brakes Due to Collision Hazard

- Yuba Bicycles Recalls Mundo Cargo Bikes Due to Injury Hazard

- 50 Years of Poison Prevention Efforts Result in Lives Saved; Emerging, Toxic Hazards Still Lurk in Many Homes

- CPSC and ACCC Warn of Poison Dangers with Liquid Laundry Packets

The Mirror Universe Enterprise Invades the Star Trek Minimates Line!

March 2013 - Fans of Star Trek and Minimates alike have been anxiously awaiting the release of the USS Enterprise in Minimate Vehicle form, and the stylized starship is only a few short months away from being in stores. Now, Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum are happy to announce a new Minimates Starship that's exclusively at Entertainment Earth!

Heroes Return in Thundercats Classic Minimates Series 3 by Icon Heroes

Honolulu, HI, March 20, 2013 – It's time for Thundercat reinforcements! Icon Heroes, LLC just released the highly anticipated third series of Thundercats Classic Minimates. A whole new line of heroes come to Minimate life with Tygra, Cheetara, Wilykit and Wilykat. As a special bonus feature, this set includes a mini RoBear Bill figure.

Produced in conjunction with Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum, each Minimate stands 2 inches tall with 14 points of articulation and key character accessories. Tygra has his bolo whip, Cheetara and her staff, and the Thunderkittens with their smoke bombs, lassos, and hoverboards. This make a great addition to the Series 1 heroes set of Lion-O, Panthro, Jaga and Mumm-Ra and Series 2 villains set of Slythe, Jackalman, Vultureman, and Monkian.

March 20, 2013 - Diamond Comics has sent along this video clip of actor Thomas Jane in support of Free Comic Book Day. (Mr. Jane is sporting a youngish Clancy Brown look here, and we heartily approve of the effort.)

This year's Free Comic Book Day will be May 4th. http://www.freecomicbookday.com

The video was shot at Secret Headquarters in Silver Lake, CA. http://thesecretheadquarters.com/

Thomas Jane's RAW Entertainment

March 20, 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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BATMAN CLASSIC 1966 TV FIGURES SERIES 01, 02, BOX SET
We have just listed the first two waves of the Batman Classic 1966 TV Figures, as well as the first box set. The first wave includes Batman, Riddler and Penguin and is listed at $54.99 for the Set of 3; the second wave of Batman Classic 1966 TV figures Case includes two of Joker and one each of Batman, Penguin, Riddler and Surf's Up Batman, and is priced at $104.99. We have them listed as a Set of 5 (one of each figure) at $94.99, and the Joker singly at $17.99. The new Box Set includes Batman and Robin walking up the side of the building; this two-pack is the only way to get the Robin figure, and is listed at $32.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=batman%20classic%20tv

March 2013 - Funko has announced a second batch of POP! vinyl figures based on Game of Thrones.

Expect to see Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Robb Stark, and Renly Baratheon in stores around April 11th.

Two New 'Iron Man 3' Minimates Revealed: Extremis Soldier and "Suit Up" Tony Stark!

March 2013 - The latest Iron Man 3 trailer has everyone talking about what kind of products we'll see on toy store shelves as the movie's release date approaches. And while they still need to keep some of their figures under wraps, Diamond Select Toys has unveiled two more Marvel Minimates based on the film!

The first, "Suit Up" Tony Stark, will be one of four Toys "R" Us-exclusive Minimates, and will come packaged with a mystery figure to be revealed later. He is shown wearing parts of the Mark 42 armor, which can be summoned and controlled via mental link in the film, as seen in the trailer. The boots and gauntlets will be removable, and Tony will also come with regular hands and shoes.

Matt Anderson x outsmART originals: The Night Terror Owl

March 2013 - The Night Terror Owl by Matt Anderson

"You begin to sense - deep down inside you - that something has gone very wrong. Slowly, almost dimly, you regain enough consciousness to realize that you are suffocating, that some heavy weight is lying on your chest and crushing your lungs. Suddenly you realize your breathing has almost stopped, and you are dying for air. Terrified, you scream! At once, you seem to awaken. There is this thing hovering over you, crushing the very life out of your lungs. You shout at the thing, but it won't leave you alone."

Presenting The Night Terror by Matt Anderson from outsmART originals. http://nvy.gd/ZOm11y