Raving Toy Maniac

DARK HORSE COMICS TO PUBLISH KING CONAN: THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON!

ADAPTING ROBERT E. HOWARD'S ONLY CONAN NOVEL!

February 2013 - MILWAUKIE, OR – Dark Horse Comics is thrilled to announce the return of a fan-favorite Conan creative team. Writer Timothy Truman, artist Tomás Giorello, and colorist José Villarrubia are set to adapt Robert E. Howard's only Conan novel in two six-issue miniseries.

The first series, titled The Hour of the Dragon will run through October 2013 and continue in a second arc titled King Conan: The Conqueror starting in February 2014.

More about The Hour of the Dragon: King Conan has faced many threats to his throne in Aquilonia - but none more deadly than a traitorous alliance backed by the resurrected sorcerer Xaltotun, at whose command mountains crumble!

With The Legend of Conan announced for 2014, King Conan is essential reading!

Praise for Timothy Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia:

Limited Amount Of Mezco 2013 Toy Fair Catalog Now Available To The Public

February 2013 - Generally only available to Toy Fair attendees, Mezco is now making a limited number of Toy Fair catalogs available to the general public.

The 8.5x11 inch softcover contains 28 full color pages of Mezco product including 6 pages of Living Dead Dolls items, all new licenses, 4 pages of Breaking Bad items, Child's Play, Thundercats, and more!

This catalog was created for distribution at the 2013 New York International Toy Fair and will ship after 2/15/2013.

This catalog is not sold in stores and is exclusive to Mezco Direct.

CRYSTAL DYNAMICS AND DARK HORSE BRING LARA CROFT BACK TO COMIC BOOKS STARTING WITH TOMB RAIDER: THE BEGINNING

February 2013 - MILWAUKIE, OR, JANUARY 30 – Crystal Dynamics™, a Square Enix® studio, and Dark Horse Comics, today revealed they have partnered to bring the re-imagined Lara Croft back to print in the world of comics. Look for news on the new series following the release of TOMB RAIDER®, the highly anticipated origin story for Lara Croft®, available March 5, 2013, and will chronicle Lara's journey after her harrowing adventure in the Dragon's Triangle.

To kick off the partnership, Crystal Dynamics and Dark Horse have teamed up to create "TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning." This will be the first installment in the new TOMB RAIDER comic book series, and is a prequel to the events in TOMB RAIDER. "TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning," was written by lead game writer Rhianna Pratchett. Fans can get the first series early when they pre-order TOMB RAIDER at Best Buy.

On Sale This Week from DST: Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars and Lenore!

January 31, 2013 - It's a big week for Diamond Select Toys! Comic shops and specialty stores will get in a variety of new products from DST this Wednesday, including the latest Marvel Select, Marvel Minimates and Star Trek electronic starship releases! It's the best of all worlds! Check out the full list below!

Star Trek Electronic Enterprise B
The long wait is over! The Enterprise B is finally ready to leave drydock! One of the most fan-requested Star Trek ships, the Excelsior-class starship is finally on its way as an electronic ship replica from Diamond Select! Packaged in a "Try Me" window box so customers can test its movie-accurate lights and sounds, the Enterprise B measures 16 inches long and comes with a display stand. SRP: $60.00

"STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS" First Of Its Kind App Available For Free From The App Store And Google Play

First Surprise Unlocked During The Second Quarter Of The Big Game February 3rd

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 1, 2013 -- "STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS" first of its kind application, based on J.J. Abrams' upcoming Paramount Pictures film, is now available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play. Users who have the app will have unprecedented access to all STAR TREK content, as well as the opportunity to participate in missions and win valuable prizes.

Utilizing the latest technologies from Qualcomm Incorporated, such as Qualcomm Labs' Gimbal™ platform and Qualcomm Vuforia™ augmented reality platform, the app will allow users to delve deeper into the Star Trek universe by interacting directly with materials from the eagerly awaited film to unlock additional content and experiences. The users collect points, see content, and work their way through the Star Trek Academy.

Official GUNDAM Information Portal "GUNDAM.INFO" Reopens after Remodeling; Commemorative Registration Campaign Under Way

TOKYO, Jan. 31, 2013 -- NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. (hereafter referred to as BNG) has refurbished its official portal site for GUNDAM information.

The site, which can be accessed in Chinese (both traditional and simplified), English and Korean, carries a variety of information, including the latest news on GUNDAM, movies, music, GUNPLA and other goods, games and publications, for GUNDAM fans around the world. The renewed site introduces NAMCO BANDAI IDs which permit a player to set up a GUNDAM as his/her own avatar, fight with other GUNDAM avatars and collect GUNDAMs. GUNDAM fans can enjoy attractive and entertaining contents.

To commemorate its refurbishing and reopening, the GUNDAM.INFO site has been carrying out a Registration Campaign since December 1, 2012, for GUNDAM fans the world over, except those living in Japan. Featured prizes include "iPad minis" and "telephone cards." To enter, please visit the "Registration Campaign" page on the site.

- GUNDAM.INFO official site:
URL: http://www.gundam.info/

Site Features:

Star Trek Online Celebrates Three-year Anniversary

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013 -- Perfect World Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce that celebrations for the Three-year Anniversary of Star Trek Online have officially begun. Starting today, Captains are invited to experience "Temporal Ambassador," a special Anniversary Episode starring Denise Crosby who will be reprising her role as Lieutenant Tasha Yar from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Players can also look forward to a wealth of rewards by participating in Star Trek Online's Three-year Anniversary in-game event hosted by everyone's favorite omnipotent being, the notorious Q.

"We've come a long way since Star Trek Online first launched in February 2010," said Daniel Stahl, Executive Producer at Cryptic Studios. "Since then, I've had the pleasure to serve alongside one of the most talented development teams in the industry. Moving forward, the mission will remain the same: Star Trek Online is a game built by Star Trek fans, for Star Trek fans -- and we will continue to bring the universe we love so much to life."

Mattel Reports 2012 Financial Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Worldwide net sales up 5% from the prior year;
• North American(1) gross sales up 5% and International gross sales up 8%;
• Worldwide gross sales for core brands: Barbie® down 4%; Hot Wheels® up 2%; Fisher-Price® up 6% and American Girl® up 13%;
• Gross margin increased 40 basis points of net sales; SG&A increased 710 basis points of net sales; adjusted SG&A increased 100 basis points, excluding a litigation charge of $137.8 million;
• Operating income was $373.5 million; adjusted operating income was $511.3 million, excluding the litigation charge, compared to operating income of $497.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011; and
• Earnings per share of $0.87; adjusted earnings per share of $1.12, excluding the litigation charge, vs. prior year of $1.07.

Full-Year Highlights

• Worldwide net sales up 2% from the prior year;
• North American gross sales up 2% and International gross sales up 4%;

February 1, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Two new Fansproject items

CA-09 Car Crash
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=FPJ10034&mode=re...

CA-10 T-Bone
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=FPJ10035&mode=re...

Factory Entertainment announces Game of Thrones® collectibles license

Concord, CA – January 30, 2013 -- Factory Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with HBO® (Home Box Office, Inc.) to produce a line of collectibles across several categories from the Emmy® award winning television series Game of Thrones.

Products include:

• Collector Plush – Direwolves, Dragons, Dragon Eggs and other creatures and characters in detailed collector plush form.
• Throw Pillows – High quality decorative pillows bearing the sigils and mottos of the Great Houses of Westeros.
• Prop Replicas – Iconic objects and costume elements replicated in exacting detail as quality limited editions.
• Sculptural Miniatures – Scaled polystone sculptures of key castles, buildings and environments featured in the series.

The first products are currently in development with a planned release starting in the summer of 2013. Initial prototypes will be unveiled in the Factory Entertainment Booth (#4979) at New York Toy Fair in February.