Raving Toy Maniac

Star Trek Legacy Minimates Series 1 Is Now Mint-on-Picard!

May 2013 - Check out packaged shots of the specialty and Toys R Us two-packs for Star Trek Legacy Minimates Series 1, fully articulated 2-inch mini-figures with plenty of weapons and accessories. They're heading to stores in June, but here's a sneak peek!

To refresh your memory, the following are at comic shops and specialty stores:

- Admiral Kirk & Khan (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
- Captain Picard & Borg Queen (Star Trek: First Contact)
- Captain Sisko & Jem Hadar (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
- Captain Archer & Xindi (Star Trek: Enterprise)

Then, at Toys "R" Us and toysrus.com:

- Captain Kirk & Kahn (gold shirt) (Star Trek: The Original Series)
- Captain Picard (captain's jacket) & Hugh (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
- Captain Sisko (vest) & Gul Dukat (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Toys"R"Us® Becomes The Ultimate Despicable Me 2 Destination

Assemble the Minions! All-New Line of Merchandise, from Action Figures to Fart Blasters, Based on the Upcoming Film Available First at The World's Greatest Toy Store®

WAYNE, N.J., May 22, 2013 -- Toys inspired by the highly anticipated 3D-CG comedy adventure film Despicable Me 2 from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have made their debut at Toys"R"Us® stores nationwide and online at http://Toysrus.com. Through May, The World's Greatest Toy Store® is the only U.S. retailer to offer an all-new line of toys based on the movie, making it the ultimate Despicable Me 2 destination. Fans eager to get their hands on the coolest action and interactive figures, plush, games and more, need look no further than Toys"R"Us.

The movie, which arrives in theaters on July 3, is the sequel to the 2010 smash hit Despicable Me, which became the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. Despicable Me 2 promises more laughs with the return of super-villain Gru and his arsenal of gadgets and gizmos, his adorable girls and the unpredictably hilarious Minions.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and the LEGO Group Announce LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes Now Available for Wii U

Best-Selling LEGO Batman Game Makes a Heroic Leap to the Wii U GamePad

BURBANK, CA -- (May 21, 2013) - Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games today announced LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes arrives for the Wii U™ system, bringing to the platform an adventure already enjoyed by millions. Widely praised as one of last year's best games for the entire family with sales reaching more than 3.5 million units worldwide, LEGO® Batman 2: DC Super Heroes recently took home the prize for best family game at the 2013 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.

LEGO® Batman 2: DC Super Heroes offers a humorous and endearing journey into the DC Universe, pitting the most memorable of DC superheroes against its most vile of villains, as part of a story that is fun for all ages. The LEGO version of Gotham City delivers a sprawling playground of exciting combat, imaginative puzzles and a near-endless number of collectibles.

May 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of POP! vinyl figures based on Disney characters.

Expect to see Disney Pop! Series 5 in stores around June 27th. Series 5 includes:

• Carl from Up!
• Russell from Up!
• Merida
• Mary Poppins
• Baloo
• King Louie
• Genie
• Jafar
• Jasmine
• Alice in Wonderland
• Dumbo
• The Rocketeer

STEPHEN HAWKING RECEIVES COMIC BOOK TREATMENT OF HIS LIFE STORY

May 2013 - Bluewater Productions newest comic book release this week tells the story of the physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking. Released today "Stephen Hawking: Riddles of Time & Space" features an illustrated version of his life story.

Stephen Hawking is one of the most brilliant minds of this century. Bluewater Productions is bringing you his life story in this unique comic book format. Find out all about the man the myth and the legend!

"Stephen Hawking: Riddles of Time & Space" is written by Michael Lent & Brian McCarthy with art by Zach Bassett. The comic book features a cover by Robert Aragon.

Southern Connection - JUNE RELEASES from outsmART originals

May 2013 - outsmART originals is proud to announce the release of 4 new t-shirt designs for June.

From Argentina is the new shirt design by Patricio Oliver aka PO! based on his globally popular Tenebrae mythos.

Also from Argentina, the design group known as Dgph Topo featuring their newest vinyl creation, Ultramole. The shirt will make way for the release of this highly anticipated vinyl figure.

From Brazil and part of the mega talented group of artists, Red Mutuca is the first release from Igor Smolii Migliano Ventura called Silence.

Newest GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® Title Presented to TOMY for World's Tallest Toy Train Track

TOMY set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for Tallest Toy Train Track, building tower that reached 17 feet 4 inches with innovative Chuggington StackTrack™, in front of hundreds of excited kids and their families on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

May 23, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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TEAM FORTRESS 2 BLU PYRO & DEMO - LIMITED EDITION
Just put up for preorder are the BLU versions of the Pyro and Demo characters from Team Fortress 2. They are listed at $21.99 each.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=neca%20fortress

DAFT PUNK S.H. FIGUARTS THOMAS, GUY-MANUEL
Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk are the newest S.H. Figuarts figures to be announced. Each figure includes seven sets of alternate hands and is priced at $44.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=figuarts%20daft%20...

SUPER ALLOY 1/6 SCALE JUSTICE LEAGUE SUPERMAN

May 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of 2.5-inch Mystery Minis, this time based on The Walking Dead.

Expect to see these blind-boxed cuties in stores around June 20th. This first series includes Daryl Dixon, Merle Dixon, and eight different zombies, including the Well Zombie that you can actually pull apart.

Variants include blood-spattered versions of the Dixon brothers, blood-spattered zombies, and glow-in-the-dark zombies. Check out the rarity scale below to find your favorite.

The Hulk Smashes Through the Ages in His Own Marvel Minimates Box Set!

May 2013 - Fans love the Marvel Minimates "Through the Ages" box sets because they offer a chance to collect some of the coolest alternate looks for the character featured in each set. But in Diamond Select's next box set, Hulk Through the Ages, you can collect four of the Hulk's coolest alternate personalities!

From Las Vegas enforcer Joe Fixit to futuristic despot The Maestro, from the peace-seeking Barbarian Hulk to the rage-filled Composite Hulk, the four Minimates in this set represent the Hulk at his best and worst, and thanks to the Hulk's unique psychiatric problems, each could be called a different character, and not just a costume change. (Although the Maestro does come with an interchangeable cape and helmet, while Joe Fixit has a interchangeable shirt and hair.)

Check out packaged photos below, and pre-order the set today at your local comic shop!