Raving Toy Maniac

The Hellboy Timeline: Top 10 Events in the Life of HELLBOY!

November 2012 - Dark Horse Comics has released this handy chart to get you up to speed on the top ten events in the life of Hellboy, in time for Hellboy in Hell.

Mattel and Walmart Canada Revolutionize Window Shopping with Canada's First Virtual Pop-Up Toy Store

Virtual store in Toronto's PATH system creates easy holiday shopping for tech-savvy, time-crunched commuters

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2012 - To help Torontonians celebrate the holiday season, Mattel and Walmart Canada today launched the first pop-up virtual toy store in Canada, providing a unique QR code-based shopping experience for commuters and gift-givers. Located in the PATH, Toronto's underground walkway, the virtual toy store will run for four weeks and provide the ultimate ease in shopping for the next generation of gift-givers.

"Walmart is a top destination for innovation and for holiday shopping, especially when it comes to toys. We're thrilled to partner with Mattel to bring this exclusive out-of-store experience to our busy customers," said Cheri Anthony, Walmart's director of merchandising for toys. "It's another way we can help Canadian families create holiday magic for less."

November 5, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - some cool new items listed this morning:

MakeToys Missile Launcher - Marine Type & Jungle Type
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=maketoys+missile

Play Arts - Dark Knight Trilogy - Batman
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10384&mode=re...

Play Arts - Dark Knight Trilogy - Bane
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10383&mode=re...

Play Arts - Kingdom Hearts Tron Legacy - Sora
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10385&mode=re...

Play Arts - Kingdom Hearts Tron Legacy - Riku
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SEP10386&mode=re...

Excellent Toys - Hercules Head Upgrade Kit
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=EXC10000&mode=re...

Erector Spins Out Its Sonic The Hedgehog Collection

PARIS, Oct. 25, 2012 -- Sonic enthusiasts everywhere will now be able to bring their favorite blue hedgehog and his world to life as they build model play sets and vehicles offered by Erector®, a division of Meccano®. The brand is set to release three buildable play sets and two buildable vehicles inspired by one of Sega's most iconic video game characters of all time. Sonic the Hedgehog, who has appeared in more than 65 video games, will jump off the digital screen with the Erector sets that are available now exclusively at Toys 'R' Us and http://toysrus.com.

Fans can now build the most popular vehicles and video game environments from Sonic's games with these highly detailed Erector sets featuring easy-to-follow instructions. The new Sonic the Hedgehog Erector collection features both Sonic and Knuckles, their signature speed racers, and their engaging environments:

New Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Limited-Edition Statue Revealed

THE MASTER CHIEF VS THE HUNTER Statue Pre-order Now!

Tempe, Ariz. - November 2, 2012 – McFarlane, Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries reveal the first ever HALO 4: FORWARD UNTO DAWN resin statue THE MASTER CHIEF VS THE HUNTER.

HALO 4: FORWARD UNTO DAWN is an exciting story of heroism and sacrifice taking fans back to the beginning of the Human-Covenant War. The live-action digital series created in partnership with top Hollywood talent from film, television and new media, FOWARD UNTO DAWN delivers an exciting story, leading into the events of Halo 4, the biggest entertainment event of 2012.

This highly detailed, hand-painted, cold-cast resin statue depicts the series' climactic scene, when the Master Chief - out of ammo and out of options - single-handedly faces the unstoppable rampage of an invading Covenant Hunter to save the lives of UNSC Cadets.

The Battle Continues...in Orlando - Just Announced: Blockbuster Mega-Attraction "TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D" Coming To Universal Orlando Resort In Summer 2013

Hugely-Successful Attraction Will Now Be Featured at Three Universal Parks Worldwide

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 2, 2012 -- Get ready – it's time to prepare for battle...

Universal Orlando Resort announced today that its next blockbuster attraction will be the widely-popular TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D. The groundbreaking ride – created under license from Hasbro, Inc. and based on its iconic TRANSFORMERS brand – will bring the intergalactic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons to Universal Studios Florida in summer 2013.

New Photos of New Marvel Minimates in Action!

November 2012 - Marvel Minimates Series 47 and TRU Series 14 are in stores, and they're driving old-school comics fans wild!

By "old-school," we of course mean fans of Chris Claremont's lengthy run on Uncanny X-Men, including the period of time in which he faked the team's death and moved them to an abandoned town in the Australian Outback. Even in the middle of nowhere, they still managed to run afoul of numerous enemies, including their old foes, the spacefaring Brood! Series 47 includes Wolverine, Rogue, Colossus, Dazzler and Longshot in their classic looks, plus an army-building Brood, who comes with regular Wolverine as well as a rare variant Brood-infected Wolverine!

Hasbro, Inc. Provides Donation of Cash to Relief Agencies and Games to Shelters to Assist with the Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

$100,000 in total grant support to the American Red Cross, World Vision and Feeding America; Plus 10,000 games donated to World Vision and the American Red Cross

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- November 2, 2012 -- Hasbro, Inc. announced today that it has provided $100,000 in combined grant support through the Hasbro Children's Fund to the American Red Cross, World Vision and Feeding America to support their relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, over 10,000 games have been donated to shelters along the east coast.

"Our hearts go out to the many victims of Hurricane Sandy," said Brian Goldner, president and CEO of Hasbro, Inc. "We hope our support will assist these organizations who are working tirelessly to deliver critical services to those impacted by this disaster."

CPSC Urges Consumers to Change Batteries in Alarms This Weekend When Changing Clocks for Daylight Saving Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 2, 2012 - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is encouraging consumers to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms this weekend.

"When changing clocks this weekend for Daylight Saving Time, remember to change the batteries in smoke and CO alarms," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Fresh batteries in alarms are essential to keeping your alarm working and on guard to protect you and your family."

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 4, 2012.

About two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that don't work. CPSC also recommends that consumers test their alarms once each month and place smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom.

Fire departments responded to more than 366,700 residential fires nationwide that resulted in more than 2,300 deaths, more than 12,500 injuries, and $7.09 billion in property losses annually, on average, from 2008 through 2010.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. Introduces 'Pay In Store' For Online Orders

New Option Allows Customers to Visit Any Toys"R"Us® or Babies"R"Us® Store Nationwide to Complete Their Online Order Using Any Payment Method - Cash or Credit - Accepted In Store

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 31, 2012 -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that it has launched "Pay In Store," a new payment option for orders placed through http://Toysrus.com and http://Babiesrus.com. Customers now have the ability to shop thousands of toys and juvenile products available online and pay for them in any one of the company's 873 stores across the country, using any payment type, including cash or check. Payment is accepted at all registers. This service is the latest example of the company's continued efforts to enhance its omnichannel capabilities, utilizing all channels to provide customers with the most convenient shopping experience.