Raving Toy Maniac

Assemble the Ultimate 3D Experience with Marvel's THE AVENGERS Collector's Edition RealD 3D Glasses

March 2012 - To celebrate the May 4th release of the summer's most anticipated film - Marvel's THE AVENGERS – RealD & Marvel have teamed to release a set of four character themed RealD 3D glasses.

Featuring designs for Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America, beginning in the month of April fans at will be able to collect these limited edition RealD 3D glasses at special events, fan screenings and via upcoming online giveaways. Collector's Edition Marvel's THE AVENGERS RealD 3D glasses will also be available at select AMC Theatres, National Amusement Theatres and independent theatres throughout the U.S. beginning as early as midnight on May 3rd.

For more information and to start your collection Like/Follow http://www.twitter.com/RealD3D http://www.facebook.com/RealD3D

March 2012 - The new wave of Minimates mini-figures based on the hit video game Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is in stores now, and they look amazing! Diamond Select Toys wanted to take their product for a test-run, so they threw the entire specialty wave's line-up into the ring one two-pack at a time and took pictures of the fighters facing off. (They even threw in a couple from Wave 1 for good measure.) Each 2-inch mini-figure comes with a display base, and most come with a bunch of additional accessories, so check out the gallery here!

http://www.artasylum.com/gallery/marvel-vs-capcom-series-2/

MvC3 Minimates Series 2 is available in comic shops and specialty stores now -- to find your nearest comic shop, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com! And be on the lookout for more exclusive MvC3 figures coming soon to Toys "R" Us!

Mega Brands reports fourth quarter and 2011 results

MONTREAL, March 14, 2012 - MEGA Brands Inc. (TSX: MB) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011. (All figures are expressed in US dollars.)

Consolidated total net sales in 2011 increased 2% to $376.8 million compared to $368.0 million in 2010. Sales increased 2% in Toys product lines and 3% in the Stationery & Activities segment. On a geographic basis, sales were up 1% in North America and 5% in international markets.

Reported net earnings were $8.3 million in 2011 compared to $131.1 million in 2010. Reported earnings in 2011 include a $3.0 million loss on the settlement of debt in 2011 and, in 2010, a $144.3 million gain on the settlement of debt and transaction costs and other expenses of $13.4 million.

March 14, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from BigBadToyStore - please check out a variety of exciting new preorders pictured below as well as this week's latest arrivals.

-------------
NEW PREORDERS
-------------

STAR WARS VINTAGE 2012 WAVE 2.0, 2.2, 2.5
Three new assortments have just been listed - each with figures unique to their specific wave. Take a look at the top 3 listings here for info on all the new figures.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=star+wars+vintage

TRANSFORMERS PRIME - DELUXE WAVE 03
Knockout, Hot Shot, and Vehicon have been added to the TF Prime lineup. We have sets of 3 available at $54.99, cases of 8 for $104.99 and singles of Hot Shot and Knockout at $17.99 - check them out here:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=prime+deluxe+03

Presenting the Winners in DST's Marvel Select Colossus Photo Contest!

March 2012 - Congratulations to everyone who entered Diamond Select Toys' Colossal Marvel Select Photo Contest! While only four winners were chosen, DST received almost 30 photos of the Marvel Select Colossus figure, each one better than the last! You'd think that so many pictures of the same steel mutant would get repetitive after awhile, but the sheer variety of backgrounds and displays and lighting choices made each new entry a wonder to behold. Here are the winners!

The first runner-up was Alexander Villamor Diaz, who shot Colossus sizing up Juggernaut for a game of one-on-one. Colossus has even taken his shirt off for it! Juggernaut was a frequent player in these photos, but DST loved the angle and the drama created by the piece... plus the fact that the rubble surrounding Colossus all came from other Marvel Select display bases!

The Harry Potter Alliance launches the Hunger is Not a Game Campaign
Working together with Oxfam, the HPA announces campaign to coincide with the release of The Hunger Games Movie

March 2012 - Boston, MA - The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) will celebrate the release of The Hunger Games by partnering with Oxfam to raise awareness of hunger-related issues around the globe. Hunger is Not a Game, the HPA's first Imagine Better campaign, unites fans of The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter fan community, and Oxfam to tackle the pressing issue of the politics of hunger.

"For children around the world, hunger is something they live with every single day. Just as in The Hunger Games series, hunger is often used as a way to oppress and control a population," said HPA Executive Director Andrew Slack. "Through our project Imagine Better, we have teamed up with The Hunger Games fan community, as well as Oxfam, to seek food production reform to ensure that no child is ever caught up in corporations' deadly game."

Garbage Pail Kids

By The Topps Company, Inc.
Introduction by Art Spiegelman
Afterword by John Pound

"We were trying to help another generation of juvenile delinquents come of age."
- Art Spiegelman, from his introduction

"Kids loved them; parents hated them."
- John Pound, from his afterword

March 2012 - Garbage Pail Kids: More than twenty-five years later, you can still rattle off the names of all your favorites, long after your mother finally scraped the last of the "Oozy Suzy," "Potty Scotty," and "Acne Amy" stickers off your refrigerator door. You loved them as much as your parents despised them, and now the Garbage Pail Kids phenomenon (Abrams ComicArts; April 2012; U.S. $19.95 / CAN. $21.95; ISBN: 978-1-4197-0270-9) is here to gross us out all over again.

Toys'R'Us: Cody Simpson Dolls

iYiYi

Toys"R"Us is the Ultimate Cody Simpson Destination, Offering Toys and Lifestyle Merchandise Inspired by the Teen Popstar in its Stores Nationwide

Australia-Born Musician, Cody Simpson, Covers the Retailer's Spring "Swagtastic" Catalog, Featuring Fan-Favorite Items From Life-Size Standees to Singing Dolls

WAYNE, N.J., March 13, 2012 -- As 15-year-old Internet sensation turned superstar Cody Simpson climbs the charts and steals kids' hearts, fans will shriek with excitement when they receive the latest Toys"R"Us catalog in homes this Friday, March 16, picturing the Australia-born singer on the cover. Filled with "Rockin' Accessories and Fashion Faves" for today's trendy tweens, the catalog features a selection of Cody Simpson toys and gear available at The World's Greatest Toy Store™.

CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK @ YOUR LIBRARY APRIL 22 - 28

March 2012 - CHICAGO – With spring cleaning underway, many Americans will struggle with how to protect keepsakes. From April 22 – 28, thousands will turn to libraries during Preservation Week @ your library, a time when public and academic libraries will provide information and expertise on how to preserve collectables, family documents, textiles, digital items and much more.

Preservation Week @ your library is themed "Pass it on," and participating libraries will help connect library users with preservation tools; promote the importance of preservation; and will strive to enhance knowledge of preservation issues among the general public. During the week, libraries will focus on preservation themes including: Monday, LP (vinyl) records; Tuesday, quilts; Wednesday, comic books; Thursday, slides; Friday, digital photos; and Saturday, family letters.

The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association; Library of Congress; and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, are the sponsors of Preservation Week @ your library.

Mezco Reveals Universal Monsters: 9inch Scale Frankenstein

March 2012 - New York - Mezco proudly presents one of the world's most famous monsters... Frankenstein! Constructed by the infamous Dr Frankenstein from corpses, and resurrected by curious machines powered by a bolt of lightning, he terrorized the countryside. Now he is brought to life by Mezco's award-winning design team. This 9inch scale Frankenstein features a real cloth coat and shirt. His finely detailed body boasts ten points of articulation and is covered with scars from his assembly. Each Frankenstein is packaged in his own collector friendly display box. Since being revealed at the recent 2012 New York International Toy Fair, Frankenstein has been heaped with praise:

"...unique and dynamic..." – Famous Monsters Of Filmland

"...I will buy a set as soon as they're released... " - Bob Burns

"...impressive...I want them all..." - BattleGrip.com