Raving Toy Maniac

Bif Bang Pow! to Produce Star Trek™ Art Program Collectibles

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 29, 2012) - Bif Bang Pow!, under a license from CBS Consumer Products, will produce tins, drinkware and other items derived from the Star Trek: The Original Series Art Program.

The program includes inspiration from Star Trek: The Original Series with 80 movie-style pieces of art eclipsing every episode of the initial Star Trek television series, including the first pilot.

Starting today, fans can pre-order the first 16 pieces of art beautifully displayed on high-quality shot glasses. Each month a new set of four additional pieces of art will be available to order.

"For close to 50 years, the characters of the Star Trek universe have taken us where no one has gone before, and now Bif Bang Pow! will be transporting all-new collectibles into homes and offices all over the world," said Jason Lenzi, CEO of Bif Bang Pow! "We couldn't be more excited for fans to seek out what we have planned for the final frontier. Look for additional Star Trek news from us in the months leading up to Toy Fair 2013."

HEROCLIX ONLINE PRESENTS "SEASON'S GROOTINGS" HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Gifts festive Holiday Objects and Figure

Hillside, N.J. - December 3, 2012 - WizKids Games today announced a special holiday celebration for players and fans of HeroClix Online, entitled Season's Grootings. As part of the celebration, developers have delivered a free Marvel Groot figure to all active accounts and are giving away several in-game objects including a festive Season's Grootings object, Holiday Tree, Ole Claus and Snowman. The celebration runs through January 2, 2013.

As part of the festivities, one Marvel Groot figure has been delivered to all active HeroClix Online accounts as of today. To claim their special gift, players will need to log in to their account before the end of the Season's Grootings celebration.

December 3, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Igear Mini Warriors MW-05, 06, 07, 08
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11297

SXS Cold Weapons
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2810&category=8943

We've just listed two brand new Shared Exclusives!

BBTS Shared Exclusive - Platinum Series - Year of the Snake - Fall of Cybertron Omega Supreme = $99.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22422&mode=re...

BBTS Shared Exclusive - Platinum Series - Year of the Snake - Optimus Prime = $79.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22423&mode=re...

Order both and save $5
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HAS22424&mode=re...

Meijer, Random House Children's Books And First Book Bring New Books To Children In Need For Holidays

68,000 Brand-New Books Will Go to Children Throughout the Midwest

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 2012 -- Michigan-based retailer Meijer and Random House Children's Books are joining forces with First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to children in need, to give 68,000 brand-new, high-quality books to children from low-income families in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

"We're delighted that Meijer and Random House have stepped up to put new books into the hands of children who so desperately need them," said Kyle Zimmer, First Book's president and CEO. "We know that reading skill is the number one predictor of success in school, and now tens of thousands of kids will have new books in time for the holidays."

The books will go to children at local schools and community programs in First Book's national network.

New "Earth as Art" Book Illustrates Beauty Of Satellite Views

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2012 -- A stunning array of images of our home planet, taken by Earth-observing science satellites, are featured in a new NASA publication. The book, "Earth as Art," is available in hardcover, electronically, and as a free iPad application.

The 158-page book celebrates the aesthetic beauty of Earth in the patterns, shapes, colors and textures of the land, oceans, ice and atmosphere. Images include snow-capped mountain peaks in the Himalayas, Arizona's Painted Desert, the Mississippi River Delta spreading into the Gulf of Mexico, a Saharan dune sea in Algeria, and Byrd Glacier in Antarctica.

November 30, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - some great new items have just been listed today:

Perseus Six Figure Boxed Set with Bonus Parts
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TFC10029&mode=re...

Transformers - Skate Board Decks
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=transformers%20skate

BBTS Exclusive - Dark Energon Deluxe - In Stock Now
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=dark%20energon%20d...

Sci-Fi Revoltech #042 - Iron Man Mark VII
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KAI10461&mode=re...

Diablo 21" Polystone Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=ssc11190&mode=re...

Kitana 1/4 Scale Statue (LE 350)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=pcs10026&mode=re...

New Funko - Spongebob, Batman Speaker & More

November 2012 - The fine folks at Dark Horse have a few suggestions for your gift-giving (or gift-requesting) this holiday season:

Chance To Win 'The Black' an 8" Custom Dunny by Sergio Mancini from outsmART originals

November 2012 - UPDATE: The Black T-Shirt by Sergio Mancini

Black may not take any other hue, but one lucky customer is going to score big with outsmART originals current release!

The Black T-shirt by Sergio Mancini is available for pre-order from November 27th through December 3rd exclusively at www.outsmartoriginals.com. Limited to only 200 shirts and everyone who purchases a shirt will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win THE BLACK an 8" CUSTOM DUNNY by SERGIO MANCINI!

Our shirts will be the screen printed on 100% cotton American Apparel Fine Jersey t-shirts and is available in a variety of sizes for both women and men (up to 3XL). Only $25.00 and shipping mid-December, the shirts will be just in time for the holidays.

Fans and collectors shouldn't pass up this opportunity at a chance to win a customized 8" Dunny by the artist himself, while supporting his first apparel release!

November 29, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

BBTS Exclusive - Dark Energon Deluxe - In Stock Now!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2819&category=8917

Transformers Skate Board Decks - The Loyal Subjects - $54.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=transformers%20skate

Darksiders II - Death Scythe Replica
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=2681

Medicom RAH Hush Batman - In Stock
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MED10700&mode=re...

Knight Morpher KM-06 - In Stock
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MMC10008&mode=re...

Toy Industry Foundation Announces CASA for Children as New National Partner

$200,000 grant and toy donations inspire hope for abused and neglected children across the U.S.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2012 -- The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) has announced a new national partner, CASA for Children (CASA), for 2013. In communities across the country, CASA's highly trained volunteers provide one-on-one advocacy for children in the foster care and family court systems. Appointed by a judge, CASA volunteers fight for and protect a child's right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family. Thanks to a $200,000 grant and ongoing toy donations from TIF, CASA will expand its network of volunteer advocates serving more than 234,000 foster children in 2013. The partnership also aims to provide kids with stability and emotional support by helping CASA volunteers bond with children through toys.