Raving Toy Maniac

August 24, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

NECA Terminator Collection Series 03 - Kyle Reese, T-800 (Tanker Truck Pursuit), T-1000 (Liquid Nitrogen)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=NEC11965&mode=re...

Eaglemoss Lord of the Rings Chess Set Pieces
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=514&category=8887

Walking Dead - Funko POP Figures
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=1097&company=199

Marvel and DC Eaglemoss
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=10401

Hot Toys Wolverine 1/6
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10413&mode=re...

Sideshow Premium Format Darth Malgus
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SSC11168&mode=re...

The Hobbit and LOTR - United Cutlery Weapons

August 2012 - JAKKS Pacific has sent along a few images of their S.L.U.G. Zombies figures, which are now in stores. (We are in Colorado and have already spotted them at Target.)

The figures are available as single packs (in blind packs, so you don't know which one you are getting), three-packs, and 12-packs:

S.L.U.G. Zombies®

JAKKS Pacific is delivering collectability and fun like never before with its new lineup of 2" figures called S.L.U.G. ZOMBIES Scary Little Ugly Guys™. Each Zombie features wacky names and stories, such as Neil Armgone, Grave Lincoln and Braineatin' Brandon. Kids and adults will love to collect and play with these unique figures! Choose from single blind packs ($1.99), 3-packs ($3.99) and coffin-shaped 12-packs ($9.99). With over 100 figures to collect this year alone, S.L.U.G. Zombies is a craze that won't die! Ages 5+. S.L.U.G. Zombies are currently available at all major retailers, including Toys R Us, Target and Walgreens.

In Stores This Week: Fear Itself Minimates and Neon Iron Man!

August 22, 2012 - Wednesday is traditionally "New Comics Day," but we should really re-name it "New Toy Day!" So many comic-store exclusive items have been coming out from Diamond Select Toys that toy collectors have just as much reason as comic fans to keep their Wednesdays free to pick up the new arrivals. This week, DST is offering new Minimates and a new neon sign -- check 'em out!

Fear Itself Marvel Minimates: The Worthy

To commemorate the Earth-shattering Marvel storyline, Diamond Select Toys is releasing two box sets of Minimates! The Worthy box set includes Cul, The Serpent (the Asgardian god of fear); his herald Skadi (a.k.a Sin, the Red Skull's daughter); Mokk, Breaker of Faith (formerly the Grey Gargoyle); and Angrir, Breaker of Souls (formerly the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing). Each comes with a massive hammer, and the Serpent also comes with his staff.

SiriusXM Announces the Return of "Star Wars Celebration Radio"

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2012 -- SiriusXM today announced the return of Star Wars Celebration Radio - a limited-run channel broadcasting live from Star Wars Celebration VI, the official Lucasfilm event celebrating the award-winning Star Wars™ saga.

Star Wars Celebration Radio will launch Thursday, August 23 at 6:00 pm ET, the day the event kicks off at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It will air through Monday, August 27 at 3:00 am ET on Sirius channel 123, XM channel 142, and channel 770 online and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and mobile devices.

Star Wars Celebration Radio will feature interviews with iconic cast members from the Star Wars films, as well as insiders/key players whose behind-the-scenes whose contributions to the series are well known to fans. SiriusXM listeners will be able to listen in on live panel discussions from Star Wars Celebration VI throughout the weekend and hear colorful commentary from celebrity fans and other attendees.

August 2012 - Previews and IMAX have teamed up for the PREVIEWSworld/IMAX The Dark Knight Sweepstakes.

Enter by August 31st to win tickets to see The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX, or other Batman-themed prizes such as posters, tshirts, and The Dark Knight Rises Bane Bust from DC Collectibles.

Top 20 Chosen by Children's Museum Visitors and Fans to determine the '100 Toys (& their Stories) that Define Our Childhood'

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 21, 2012-- The results are in and more than 20,000 Children's Museum of Indianapolis online visitors and fans have voted for their favorite toys from the last century. It is all part of the '100 Toys (& their Stories) that Define Our Childhood' interactive in which the museum asked people to choose the top 20 toys to represent the last 100 years. This list of 20 iconic toys includes:

G.I. Joe®
Etch A Sketch®
Transformers®
Spirograph™
LEGO® Toys
Hot Wheels®
Barbie®
Candy Land®
View-Master®
Lincoln Logs®
Bicycle
Raggedy Ann®
Play-Doh®
Little Golden Books®
Crayons
Mr. Potato Head®
Cabbage Patch Kids®
Roller Skates
MONOPOLY®
Silly® Putty

Beginning today, the public is once again invited to vote for their favorites among the top 20 to rank the toys, which will ultimately determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners.

Prize #14 of the 20 Big Prizes From K'NEX®

Enter for your chance to win a trip to the National Museum of Play and Toy Hall of Fame!

Hatfield, PA – August 2012 – K'NEX Brands, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is pleased to announce the launch of K'NEX'S "Win a Trip to the National Museum of Play and Toy Hall of Fame" Sweepstakes. From August 10, 2012 at 9:00 am EST through August 27, 2012 at 3:59pm EST, K'NEX fans can enter for their chance to win a trip to the National Museum of Play and Toy Hall of Fame.

K'NEX® To Host MARIO KART™ Wii Building Set Event At New York City's NINTENDO WORLD Store

Fans Can Meet Mario and Luigi, Build, Play and Win Prizes Thursday, August 23rd!

Hatfield, PA, August, 2012 - K'NEX, the only U.S. construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, is celebrating the addition of new K'NEX Mario Kart™ Wii Building Sets to the wildly successful and award winning building line on Thursday, August 23rd with a fun-filled, in-store event for fans. The celebration will be held at the Nintendo World Store in New York City's Rockefeller Center from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Designed for children ages 6+, the Mario Kart Wii Building Sets combine the award-winning K'NEX building system with beloved characters from the popular Mario Kart Wii game, bringing Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong and other fan favorites from the video screen to the construction aisle!

CHEF GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN TO BE SPOTLIGHT GUEST AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

Renowned Chef Will Host Exclusive NYCC Dinner at The Lambs Club and Headline Food & Comics Panel!

Norwalk, CT, August 22, 2012: New York Comic Con (NYCC) officials have today announced that Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, the accomplished chef who has presided over some of the country's top kitchens, will be a Spotlight Guest at the annual pop culture convention in October. Chef Zakarian will host an exclusive dinner at The Lambs Club, his popular New York City restaurant on West 44th St., as well as be the main attraction for a Food & Comics panel which will take place along with other NYCC programming at the Javits Center on Friday, October 12, 2012.

August 22, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PREORDERS
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METROID FIGMA SAMUS ARAN FIGURE
The heroine of the Metroid video game series is getting her own Figma action figure. She comes in her armor suit, with accessories like an energy blast and her ball form. This figure is currently listed at $64.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MF10270&mode=retail

DIAMOND SELECT NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS