Raving Toy Maniac

March 2, 2012 - The word has come down from collectors that Colossus is one of the best Marvel Select figures Diamond Select Toys has made in a long time -- possibly ever! So we're asking you to take pictures of him! Send us a picture of your Colossus in the coolest pose and setting, whether it's as part of a killer diorama on your shelf or in a brutal fight scene or out and about in the real world, and you can win a massive Marvel Select prize pack! The winner will get six Marvel Select X-Men figures, including some rare chase figures, plus an unpainted pre-production test shot of one of our past X-Men figures! It's our biggest Marvel Select X-Men-themed photo contest ever!

Rules:

- Take a photo in which the Marvel Select Colossus figure is the central character. You can include other figures or just Colossus, but all of the toys in the photo should be from Diamond Select Toys. No toys from other toy companies will be allowed. Photos with obvious non-DST content will be deleted.

Prize #4 of the 20 Big Prizes From K'NEX®
Enter for your chance to win 20 pounds of K'NEX!

Hatfield, PA - March 01, 2012 - K'NEX Brands, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is pleased to announce the launch of "Win 20 Pounds of K'NEX" Sweepstakes. From March 1, 2012 at 9:00am EST through March 15, 2012 at 3:59pm EST, K'NEX fans can enter for their chance to win 20 pounds of K'NEX product.

Entrants can enter once per day either through the K'NEX Facebook page (which links to the K'NEX 20th Anniversary Celebration page of the Knex.com website), or directly through KNEX.com. Contestants must be 18 years or older to enter. Please see official rules for details. http://www.knex.com/20thanniversary/20BigPrizes/20lb-knex.php

"We are very happy to give back to our loyal K'NEX fans who have shown such great support for us over the past twenty years," said K'NEX President and CEO Michael Araten.

March 2, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including Samael Resin statue, Marvel Select figures and Captain America Bowen Designs statue!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Samael Resin Statue Darksiders
• Boomer 7 inch action figure Left 4 Dead

March 2, 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.

LED Night Lights Recalled by AmerTac Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

Papa Bear Loungeabouts Children's Pajamas Recalled by Retailers Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

Toys"R"Us®, U.S. Helps "Shine A Light For Autism" During Sixth Annual Fundraising Campaign to Benefit Autism Speaks

WAYNE, N.J., March 1, 2012 -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced the launch of its two month in-store fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Now through Monday, April 30, monetary donations will be collected at all Toys"R"Us® and Babies"R"Us® stores and online at Toysrus.com/AutismSpeaks.

March 1, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PREORDERS
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DC UNIVERSE ALL STARS SERIES 02, 03 - SETS, SINGLES
Mattel has announced two upcoming waves of DC Universe All Stars figures.
Series 02 includes JLA Flash, Red Robin, Supergirl and JLA Superman, while
Series 03 has Batgirl, JLA Batman, Hawkman and Steel with Hammer. Each single
is listed at $17.99, while the Sets of 4 are listed at $69.99 each, $10 off the
MSRP.

REAL MASTERPIECE CHE GUEVARA 1/6 SCALE FIGURE
Enterbay has announced their latest Real Masterpiece figure, Che Guevara. The
revolutionary leader figure is 1/6 scale and includes the Che Guevara head

Milestones: African Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond
Geppi's Entertainment Museum to Stage "Epic" New Exhibit

(Baltimore, Maryland) February 29, 2012 - Up until now there has been no serious attempt to showcase African Americans in the world of comic books, and the impact of their creative excellence, which has been a mainstay of the industry for as long as comics have been an American art form. That will change during Black History Month 2013 as Geppi's Entertainment Museum (GEM) presents Milestones: African Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond, a major special exhibit developed and curated by Michael Davis, co-founder of Milestone Media.

The special exhibit will run from February 1, 2013 until March 1, 2014 and it will feature not only the work of mainstream Black creators, but also that of those who consider themselves outside the mainstream, and even those who want nothing to do with the mainstream.

So So Happy x Toy2R Custom Qee Project

March 1, 2012 - Toy2R is thrilled to jump into 2012 with a new DIY project, especially when it's tied to one of the fastest growing brands – So So Happy. In collaboration, between Toy2R and So So Happy, an incredible roster of artists have been invited to customize 8" Qees inspired by the So So Happy characters and brand. Over 30 artists are taking part in this project and the Qees will be displayed at venues and trade shows across the country for 2012.

Participating artists include: Albert Art, AW177, Sneaky Raccoon, Chauskoskis, Diogo Machado, Frank Mysterio, A Little Stranger, Howie Green, Fuller Designs, JC Rivera, Jon-Paul Kaiser, Julie West, Ardabus Rubber, Kim Mayhew, Leecifer, DGPH, Matt Anderson, MeSmithy, Mikie Graham, Grimsheep, Pocket Wookie, RSIN, Scott Kinnebrew, Scott Tolleson, Shawn Wigs, Steve Lew, Valerie Bermudez and Valerie Gudell.

Hasbro Named by EPA as a Winner of Inaugural Climate Leadership Award

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- February 29, 2012 -- Hasbro, Inc. was named today as a winner of the inaugural Climate Leadership Awards, recognizing corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Company was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) (formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change), and The Climate Registry (TCR), for "excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management."

FAO SCHWARZ CELEBRATES 150TH ANNIVERSARY BY PRESENTING GALLERY OF HISTORIC TOYS

Commemorative Exhibit Features Dozens of Timeless Playthings – From a 1905 Richard Steiff Teddy Bear To a 1976 Hello Kitty Plush Toy – Providing Visitors with a Look Back in Time at The Legendary Toy Store

WAYNE, NJ (February 22, 2012) – Since 1862, one brand has embodied whimsical, high-quality, innovative toys. Now celebrating its 150th Anniversary, FAO Schwarz is marking this rare milestone in the world of retail by unveiling a special gallery featuring prototype, original and early editions of some of the best-known toys in the world, alongside some nostalgic items from the FAO Schwarz archives. Displayed prominently throughout the famed flagship store in New York City, "A Gallery of Historic Toys," will be on display now through April 10.