Raving Toy Maniac

April 12, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - many more new preorders have just been listed this morning:

Diamond Select Item: http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=12515

Star Trek Select Jean-Luc Picard
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11971&mode=re...

Star Trek First Contact Enterprise NCC-1701-E Ship PX Exclusive
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11970&mode=re...

The Walking Dead Minimates Series 04 - Set of 8
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11975&mode=re...

Jekyll & Hyde 7" Figure
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11973&mode=re...

The Hunchback 7" Figure
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11972&mode=re...

Marvel Minimates: Wave 53 - Thor The Dark World Set of 8

Netflix and Hasbro Announce Expanded Multi-Year Kids Programming Agreement

New Hasbro Studios Shows Littlest Pet Shop and Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters Soon Available in U.S. and Canada to Watch Instantly

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. and PAWTUCKET, R.I., April 11, 2013 -- Netflix, Inc. and Hasbro, Inc. today announced an expanded agreement making two of the hottest new Hasbro Studios shows, Littlest Pet Shop and Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters, available to Netflix members in the U.S. Kaijudo is available now and Littlest Pet Shop will be available summer 2013.

Through this agreement, Netflix becomes the exclusive over the top streaming subscription destination in the US for five of Hasbro Studios most popular shows – My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, Transformers Prime, Transformers Rescue Bots, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters, and Littlest Pet Shop. New seasons of each of the shows will be available for members to watch instantly one month after their finale airs on The Hub Network.

C-3PO Actor, Anthony Daniels, Scheduled to Appear at Star Wars Celebration Europe this July in Essen, Germany

April 2013 - Anthony Daniels, the actor behind C-3PO, the golden protocol droid that was a central character in all six Star Wars movies, is scheduled to attend Star Wars Celebration Europe July 26-28 in Essen, Germany. Daniels will be attending the weekend fan festival to sign autographs and meet fans in the Celebration Autograph Hall as well as appear on the main Celebration Stage for an interview with Warwick Davis.

Stern Pinball Launches Metallica Game

MELROSE PARK, Ill., April 11, 2013 -- Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's leading maker of real pinball games and the AAMA 2012 Manufacturer of the Year, proudly announced today the availability of the Metallica pinball game. The newest addition to the iconic Stern collection of rock and roll machines honors one of the world's foremost rock bands. The Metallica pinball game channels the band's notoriously fast tempos and aggressive musicianship to set the tone for an exhilarating player experience.

Players will be able to bang their heads and their flippers to 12 classic Metallica hits including "Master of Puppets," "One" and "Fade to Black." Other action-packed game features include an electric chair, snake, grave marker and unparalleled magnetic action. With the addition of the Metallica pinball game, Stern Pinball continues to hit the mark by attracting an array of pin players from Metallica devotees to gamers and consumer electronic connoisseurs.

DreamWorks Animation Acquires IP For Trolls With Plans To Take Iconic Dolls' Brand (And Hair) To New Heights

American Girl Branding Vet Shawn Dennis Tapped to Head Trolls Global Franchise

GLENDALE, Calif., April 11, 2013 -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. has acquired the IP for the iconic Troll franchise from the Dam Family and Dam Things of Denmark with plans to introduce the beloved brand to a new generation of fans around the world. In support of the brand's enormous global potential, DreamWorks Animation has named American Girl veteran Shawn Dennis as head of brand development to cultivate this classic franchise.

"Trolls is a brand with over fifty years of deep heritage and we are thrilled to bring this iconic, multi-generational property to DreamWorks Animation," said Chief Operating Officer Ann Daly. "We have big plans for this franchise and Shawn Dennis is uniquely suited to lead this charge. She helped grow the American Girl brand into a household name and by bringing this expertise to Trolls she will introduce these characters to legions of new fans around the world."

April 11, 2013 - 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.

- Carter’s Recalls Infant Clothing with Zippers Due to Choking Hazard

- Baby Socks Recalled by Trumpette Due to Choking Hazard

MCDONALD'S® BRINGS SKYLANDERS GIANTS TO HAPPY MEAL®

Nine Skylanders Giants-Themed Happy Meal Toys & $10 Coupon for Skylanders Giants

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - April 10, 2013 - Skylanders Giants Happy Meals arrive at McDonald's restaurants as Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), launches the company's first-ever partnership with McDonald's USA LLC, the nation's leading foodservice provider. In North America, the inaugural Skylanders Giants Happy Meal program will run from April 12 - May 2, while supplies last, and will rollout in other select countries later this year.

April 2013 - Funko has announced new Wackly Wobblers based on The Big Bang Theory. In this batch, the characters are dressed in Star Trek uniforms, with one in 36 to be given a special metallic paint variant.

Expect to see Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj in stores around May 2nd.

In Store April 10, 2013: Ghostbusters, Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars, Alice and more!

April 10, 2013 - There's something strange (and awesome) in your neighborhood! It's another huge New Toy Day for Diamond Select Toys, with seven separate products winging their way to comic shops and specialty stores! Whether you prefer Klingons or Carbonite, fairy tales or Strange Tales, or have strong feelings either way on Jell-O, there's something waiting for you from DST! Find your local comic shop at http://comicshoplocator.com, and if they didn't get it in, see if you can order it!

Star Trek Electronic Klingon Disruptor

April 10, 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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NEW DC COLLECTIBLES