Raving Toy Maniac

Celebrate the start of spring at Toys"R"Us, Canada's Moonlight Madness sale

Evening event ideal for parents to stock up on great deals just before Easter

TORONTO, March 19, 2013 - With Easter and March Break happening within two weeks of each other, getting a great deal and saving time is the perfect combination for parents and gift-givers looking to fill those baskets and keep their kids entertained. Shopping for spring essentials and cool Easter toys just got easier with the upcoming one night-only Toys"R"Us Moonlight Madness sale on Friday, March 22, featuring incredible deals and savings.

Moonlight Madness will take place at every Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us retail location (except Express stores and where prohibited by local by-laws) and online at http://Toysrus.ca. The sales begin in-store at 6 p.m. local time (check your local store for hours) and online at 6 p.m. EST. With featured deals ranging from 30% - 50% off added every hour on everything from toys to baby gear, parents and gift givers are sure to find something for everyone.

March 19, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - more exciting new items have been listed on BBTS:

Tomb Raider Minimates - Set of 8 - $29.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11961&mode=re...

Marvel Minimates: Wave 52 - The Wolverine Set of 8
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11957&mode=re...

Universal Monsters Retro Cloth Series 04 - Set of Phantom & Metaluna Mutant
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=171&category=6511

Impossible Toys - Detailed Video Review - These new videos illustrate a big jump in quality and design over past releases for Impossible Toys. At about 9:25 in the first video, the reviewer does a great job showing the quality of the items:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbXX44aVBUc

The second video goes into detail about the transformation of the figures:

Diamond Select Announces Marvel Select Action Figure, Minimates for 'The Wolverine'

March 2013 - The Avengers. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The Amazing Spider-Man. The Marvel cinematic universe is constant source of great characters and costumes for the Minimates mini-figure and Marvel Select action figure lines from Diamond Select Toys. This year three films based in the Marvel Universe will make it into Select form, and while all three films are highly anticipated, one has been shrouded in secrecy, leaving fans to only guess at what toys the film might bring. But now DST has unveiled their newest Select figure, for 20th Century Fox's The Wolverine, and announced an assortment of Minimates, as well!

ThinkGeek Announces Con Tour Exclusives for PAX East 2013

Never-before-seen shinies available at Booth 386 and Online

FAIRFAX, Va., March 18, 2013 -- ThinkGeek has provisioned an away team for the trip to Hoth (aka Boston, MA) for PAX East March 22-24, 2013. This intrepid team will be traveling with never-before-seen limited edition Minecraft and Portal Con Tour Exclusives.

The ThinkGeek 2013 Con Tour Exclusives are:

• Gold Pickaxe and Sword from Minecraft – A follow up to the Minecraft Foam Sword and Foam Pickaxe, two of ThinkGeek's most popular items, the Gold version has shiny EVA foam and all the con bling you'll need. Retail will be $25 for each.
• Starfield Portal 2 Turret with Sound – Oh, there you are. This special edition variant on ThinkGeek's Portal 2 Turret LED Flashlight is bound to be a sought-after collector's item. This can be yours for $10.

MARCH MADNESS: Designed to Win Giveaway

March 2013 - outsmART originals presents its MARCH MADNESS online giveaway. Purchase or preorder any t-shirt in the outsmART originals store and you're automatically entered for a chance to win $300 of designer art toys - FREE. Just one way to say thanks for all the support so many people from across the globe have shown outsmART and our artists!

As we prepare for Spring, we are proud to add more incredible artists to our already stellar lineup. From the world of art toys, tattoo designers and international illustrators, outsmART originals will be releasing new designs from Matt Anderson, Emilio Garcia, JC Rivera, Joe Pimentel, Casey Price, and Mr. Plob - just to name a few.

While many of our releases have featured exclusive giveaways from the artists, just by supporting these artists, you'll get an even bigger chance as outsmART originals says thanks with prize packages each month. Ready?

March 2013 - Funko has announced a second batch of POP! Television vinyl figures based on The Walking Dead.

Expect to see Michonne, Glenn, Michonne's Pet #1, Michonne's Pet #2, and the Tank Zombie in stores around April 4th.

If the regular versions aren't enough for you, there will also be several variants available:

• Blood Splatter Michonne - Harrison's Comics
• Blood Splatter Michonne Walkers #1 & #2 - Harrison's Comics
• Blood Splatter Glenn - Man of Action Figures
• Blood Splatter Tank Zombie - Fugitive Toys
• Mud Splatter/Glow in the Dark Michonne + Pet Walkers 3-Pack - Diamond Comics

March 18, 2013 - It's a showdown between the Light Side and Dark Side in the first "This Is Madness" tournament! Vote for your favorite Jedi, Sith, scoundrel, rebel, or bounty hunter and help decide who is, once and for all, the galaxy's most popular Star Wars character.

The first round begins on Monday, March 18! Cast your votes and come back every day for new matchups and results, and be sure to check on Tuesday, April 9, to see who will be named winner of "This Is Madness!" http://starwars.com/This-Is-Madness/

March 2013 - Hasbro has released new images and details of their upcoming Jurassic Park 3D action figures:

JURASSIC PARK 2013 PRODUCT INFORMATION

On April 5, 2013, the groundbreaking classic film, JURASSIC PARK will be released in 3D by Universal Pictures in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original release. Hasbro is excited to bring the JURASSIC PARK 3D film to life in toy form to a new generation of kids, exclusively at Toys "R" Us.

The 2013 JURASSIC PARK line from Hasbro will include the following products:

ACTION FIGURES

JURASSIC PARK DINO BATTLERS Figures
(Approximate Retail Price: $7.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: April 2013)
In 2013, JURASSIC PARK comes to life for a new generation of kids when it's released in state-of-the-art 3D format. This two-pack of JURASSIC PARK DINO BATTLERS figures delivers the ferocity of the movie dinosaurs in 3-inch size! Each package will include details about each dinosaur's speed, strength and special abilities. Four different two-packs to collect including Velociraptor vs. Tyrannosaurs Rex and Spinosaurus vs. Velociraptor! Each pack sold separately.

March 2013 - We've gotten word of another casting call for collectors! This particular show is casting in Denver and several other cities in the United States. If you are interested in being featured on the show, contact [email protected].

I work for a television company that is making an exciting new documentary series that celebrates fascinating collectors and collections from across North America.

In the 14 episodes of "Collectors" we pay tribute to private collections and the dedicated people who assemble them: anything from rare sports artifacts to vintage salt and pepper shakers, from antique clocks to action figure memorabilia - and everything in between.

I am reaching out to you because we would love to feature an avid toy collector and his/her collection.

"Collectors" is hosted by Andrew Zegers, an appraiser and collector from "Antiques Roadshow Canada." Our first episode showcased a broad range of collections from vintage toys to high-end hats, from all kinds of Wonder Woman memorabilia to several hundred snow globes amassed by actor Corben Bernsen of "L.A. Law."

LOS ANGELES, March 14, 2013 -- "Dolls with a Conscience." Plinio J. Garcia, Franceil Masi and Andrew Ruesch have formed a partnership called Indy Plush. Indy Plush is a Green America Certified organization that designs, makes and distributes plush dolls, clothing and books inspired by children and made in Los Angeles.

The filler in the dolls is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles that are locally melted and spun like cotton candy. The adorable baby onesies are 100% organic cotton. Franceil Masi, a kindergarten teacher designs the dolls, while her partners, Andrew Ruesch and Plinio Garcia, market and operate the business, calling themselves "plush pushers."