Raving Toy Maniac

Cartoon Network Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Ratings Growth and a New Generation of Content for a New Generation of Kids

The #1 Network with Boys 6-11 Announces Slate of New and Returning Series

CartoonNetwork.com Ranks as #1 Domain in Kids Category

March 28, 2012 - Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, along with double-digit growth and its #1 status with boys 6-11 on all of television, Cartoon Network announced today several new and returning series to its programming line-up.

Having its best first quarter with kids in prime in five years (up 28% vs. 2011) and showing the most gains compared to the competition in the kids space, the network's afternoon Upfront presentation held at New York's Roseland Ballroom paid tribute to the past and present with a full orchestra playing classic Cartoon Network television theme songs and live performances from the creative talent behind the hit animated comedy series Adventure Time and Regular Show.

March 28, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PREORDERS
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VEHICLE VOLTRON TRANSFORMING FIGURE
Most Wanted & Miracle Productions are producing a new 13" tall version of Vehicle Voltron (Voltron I) that will be over 50% die-cast. It can separate into the 15 individual ships and they in turn can merge into the three larger team ships; it also comes with a number of different weapons and new articulation options. We have this set listed at $259.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MWN10002&mode=re...

NEW BOWEN MARVEL STATUES - THUNDERBIRD, RETRO BLACK CAT
Two new Marvel statues are on the way from Bowen Designs. He reaches back into Marvel's past for both, with 12" former X-Man Thunderbird and 17" Black Cat Retro statues each listed at $229.99.

March 28, 2012 - The New York Times has posted a follow-up interview with the Four Horsemen, to get their reaction to reader suggestions on the original interview.

If you missed it last week, the original interview (two pages) was at this link.

March 2012 - Classic Star Trek fans rejoice! Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as Mr. Spock on this Thursday's episode of The Big Bang Theory -- but he won't be playing the role by himself. Instead, Nimoy will lend his voice to an 8-inch, cloth costumed Mr. Spock figure from Diamond Select Toys' Star Trek Retro Cloth action figure line! An exact replica of the classic 1970s Mego figure (faithfully executed for Diamond Select by the designers at EMCE Toys), Mr. Spock has a conversation with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) in a dream, and convinces Sheldon to open up a rare, mint-in-box Teleporter Playset (released in the U.K. by Palitoy in 1975).

Soundgarden Records First New Song in 15 Years for "Marvel's The Avengers"

END CREDIT TRACK "LIVE TO RISE" TO BE INCLUDED IN AVENGERS ASSEMBLE COMPILATION

BURBANK, Calif., March 27, 2012 -- Marvel Music/Hollywood Records announce the return of Soundgarden with the release of the band's first song in 15 years, "Live to Rise." The song will be featured in the end credits to this year's highly anticipated movie, "Marvel's The Avengers." "Live to Rise" is included on Avengers Assemble, a 14-track compilation of music from and inspired by the film. Avengers Assemble will be released on May 1, 2012.

Soundgarden stated, "We've been hard at work on our new album, which will come out this Fall. When the opportunity arose to write an original song for 'Marvel's The Avengers' film came our way, we thought it could be a cool match. We are excited to release our new song 'Live To Rise,' which is also the only new song in the film. Here's a taste. Loudest of Love." http://youtu.be/lVWjZ6Hk9Jg

MINNETONKA, Minn., March 26, 2012 -- Beginning late this month Blip Toys' popular mini-collectable, Squinkies, will be the featured girls toy during a four week release in the new McDonald's Happy Meals.

Squinkies are 1" squishy, squashy collectible toys that each come in their very own bubble container. Since its launch in 2010, Squinkies has earned numerous awards and continues to be a white-hot collectable phenomenon available in over 100 countries worldwide.

Blip Toys and McDonald's have partnered to create 32 unique collectible Squinkies toys, each on their own rocking base, for this Happy Meal promotion. Like the original Squinkies, every toy will come in its own specially-sized, themed bubble that kids can pop open to reveal the "surprize inside."

There are four different themes which include zoo, fantasy, pets and ocean. Kids can collect elephants, kitties, mermaids, and more, as well as four exclusive rare Squinkies characters designed specifically for the McDonald's Happy Meal.

Lifetime Barbie Collection to Be Sold Online by Caring Transitions of North Central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 26, 2012 -- Caring Transitions of North Central Ohio, a company specializing in estate sales, downsizing and senior moves today announced the sale of a vast Barbie collection on the company's exclusive online auction Web site, http://www.ctonlineauctions.com/ncentraloh.

The sale, starting at 9 a.m. EST today, Sunday, March 25th, features more than 400 lots of Barbie dolls, clothing ensembles, accessories, furniture, vehicles, novelties, convention items and other Barbie collectibles. This extensive collection has been fueled by a local collector's passion for Barbie and it has been in process for more than 50 years.

March 2012 - The Toy2R USA web store will be starting its Spring Sale at midnight tonight (3/26/12)!

• 20% off everything in stock (use coupon code SPRINGQEE).
  • That's right - everything in stock, new releases to classic pieces - all 20% off!

• 30% off orders of $100 or more (use coupon code: QEEPLOSION).
  • Make off with some sweet deals on your favorite Toy2R items, by ordering $100 or more, you'll save 30%!

Get some spring savings and stock up on those figures you've been waiting to pick up!

Only at www.toy2rusa.com - Pass It On!

March 2012 - Toy collectors and fans of the 80s are in for a treat this weekend as the 2012 Canadian 80s Toy Expo will be at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel - 600 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill, Ontario this Sunday, April 1st.

Featuring Canada's largest dealer room of vendors selling 80s related merchandise, former WWF Tag Team Champion Fred Ottman aka
Tugboat/Typhoon/Shockmaster is scheduled to attend from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. Also available is an exclusive print by Matt Moylan who will be setup at the event selling prints and doing sketches for the attendees celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Masters of the Universe toy line. Additionally the 501st Canadian Garrison representing the Galactic Empire in the Star Wars universe with Stromtroopers, Sith Lords, Bounty Hunters and other Imperial Denizens will join the event for photo ops with attendees.

March 2012 - Get your money out of that dusty vault and shine it up nice, because Diamond Select Toys has a new place to keep your cash! Spinning out of DST's successful line of Star Wars bust banks comes the all-new Universal Monsters series! The most famous monster of all, Frankenstein's Monster, will kick off this new line of 8-inch vinyl banks -- from the front it just looks like a high-quality bust, but turn it around and there's a slot to stick your change in! Nobody will want to raid your savings when they're safe inside this resurrected giant!