Raving Toy Maniac

A Toy Design First: Max Toy Company Collaborating with #1 Star Wars Artist Dave Dorman and Dorman's Young Son

San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL -- April 11, 2012 -- Max Toy Company CEO Mark Nagata is pleased to announce his first-ever collaboration with Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman, and Dave Dorman's seven-year-old son Jack Dorman. This also marks the first time Max Toy Co. has collaborated with a father-and-son team, but according to Nagata, "Dave's son Jack has already exhibited some uncanny art chops, so this unique team will make for a way cool monster design. Add Dave's passion for Japanese monsters and his design sense to the mix, and I know this toy will be a best seller." Nagata, who named his own company after his own son, understands the power of the father-son creative connection.

Comic Book Legend Stan Lee & POW! Entertainment launch new Comic Convention with Comikaze Entertainment Inc.

Los Angeles' Only Comic Convention Comikaze to rebrand as Stan Lee's Comikaze presented by Pow! With This Year's Much Anticipated Annual Event in the Fall.

Beverly Hills, Calif. (April 12, 2012) – Comikaze Entertainment Inc., the operator behind the largest multimedia pop culture, comic book, horror, anime and gaming convention in Greater Los Angeles, has announced a strategic partnership with world renowned pop culture icon Stan Lee and his company POW! Entertainment. With a staggering 40,000 attendee turnout and over 300 exhibitors during its 2011 debut, this one-of-a-kind-expo was promptly recognized and embraced by attendees, the comic convention industry, and the greater LA area. In fact, LA Weekly named Comikaze Expo the "Best New Convention".

April 12, 2012 - 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.

Additional Fire Incidents Prompts Baja Motorsports to Reannounce Dirt Bike Recall

GT, Giant and Trek Bicycles with SR Suntour Suspension Forks Recalled by SR Suntour Due to Fall Hazard

Nan Far Woodworking Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards; Sold Exclusively at jcpenney

Diamond Select Toys and IDW to Unleash the Battle Beasts at C2E2!

San Diego, CA (April 13, 2012) - Since 2010, Diamond Select Toys has been searching to find the right partner to introduce their Battle Beasts brand to a broader audience. Now the search is over, and DST and IDW Publishing have teamed up to immortalize a new breed of Beasts! At this year's Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which runs from April 13-15, the two companies will offer a taste of what's to come: DST will give out an ashcan preview of IDW's upcoming BATTLE BEASTS comic-book mini-series, as well as an exclusive promo Minimate of one of the book's lead characters!

DK Publishing Donates $95,000 in Books on Behalf of 501st Legion and Rebel Legion

NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 -- DK Publishing announced today a $95,000 children's book donation on behalf of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, two all-volunteer organizations of Star Wars™ costume enthusiasts who raise money for children's charities all over the world. The donation, a record-breaking amount for DK, was made to The Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., who dispersed over 7,000 new, full-color reference books to The Pajama Program for distribution to children across the country.

"We love our ever-growing relationship with the 501st and Rebel Legion volunteers," said Rachel Kempster, DK's Director of Marketing and Publicity. "They are devoted, caring groups of people, who are more than just our partners in business—we also consider them our friends." Kempster was inducted as an official Friend of the Legion at last year's Comic-Con International in San Diego by 501st Legion Officers Lesley Farquhar and Mark Chu-Lin of the Southern California and Central California Garrisons respectively.

HEROCLIX ONLINE RELEASES NEW FIGURE SET, ANNOUNCES MARVEL'S GALACTIC GUARDIANS

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - April 11, 2012 - NECA/Wizkids, the makers of HeroClix Online, today released their latest Marvel HeroClix collection, Galactic Guardians Fast Forces. The figures not only hit retailer shelves in physical form, but are available now in virtual format in HeroClix Online, adding six new figures to the online game.

New figures from the collection include Nova, Silver Surfer, Gladiator, Quasar, Beta Ray Bill and Ronan the Accuser and can be used with all other Marvel figures and maps currently in game.

For more information on HeroClix Online, visit http://hco.heroclix.com/.

For news updates and announcements, follow HeroClix Online on Facebook and Twitter.

About WIZKIDS/NECA, INC.

Crayola and Mattel Announce Colorful New Multi-Year Worldwide Licensing Partnership

Crayola Brings the Magic of Barbie® and Hot Wheels® to Life Through New Line of Creative Activities and Digital Coloring App

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- April 11, 2012 -- Mattel, Inc., the world's largest toy company, and Crayola, the largest children's art supply maker, announced today a global licensing partnership. The two companies join forces, giving children creative experiences that bring popular Barbie and Hot Wheels properties to life with Crayola colors.

DC DIRECT RE-LAUNCHES AS DC COLLECTIBLES, EXPANDS ONLINE OFFERINGS

DC Collectibles features high-end collectible products and toys based on characters from DC Comics, Vertigo and MAD

BURBANK, CA, April 11, 2012 – DC Entertainment announced today that its collectibles product line, previously known as DC Direct, has been re-launched with a new brand – DC Collectibles. Additionally, in early May 2012 DC Collectibles will expand its online store (http://www.DCComics.com/Collectibles) to offer its entire product line for sale on the web, in addition to the line's primary availability in comic book retail locations. For those fans who prefer to purchase a product in-store, the website will also provide information on the closest retail location that carries a particular DC Collectibles product.

Middle East Film and Comic Con and New York Comic Con Announce Strategic Relationship

Global objective to spread Convention culture into new markets and leverage experience, resources of both parties

United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2012: ExtraCake P.R.A, organisors of the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC), presented by Samsung Galaxy Note, are proud to announce that the MEFCC is now a sister event to one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, the New York Comic Con (NYCC).

The strategic relationship has evolved as a way of sharing expertise and resources towards not only spreading the culture of entertainment conventions into new markets but also to add value to the Middle East's largest pop culture festival in years to come.

With the objective of building a consistent platform for regional talent and giving international entertainment companies a high quality outlet within the region, both teams will be sharing resources, expertise and working more closely together in the future.

April 11, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from BBTS about some more exciting new preorder, cool new arrivals, and a new Clearance Sale!

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http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=9358

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