First up is the seven piece Charles Atlas magnet set, which recreates panel-by-panel the classic comic strip where a skinny young man named Mac learns that building a strong body is the best way to get back at the beach bully who ruins his date. Each panel is featured as an individual magnet, so you can arrange the set in order, use them individually, or rearrange the panels out of order for a surreal take on this nostalgia tale of self-respect and redemption. Build muscle and increase your stamina by picking up the Charles Atlas magnet set, on sale January 31 for $12.99.

Complete your bodybuilding routine by bench-pressing the Charles Atlas Zippo lighter. Using a newly-developed carbon-graphite etching technique, Zippo has been able to reproduce a photo-quality, world famous image of "The World's Most Perfectly Developed Man" on the front of this handsome chrome Zippo. Don't be bullied into buying a lesser lighter! On March 7, the Charles Atlas Zippo can be yours for $29.95.

Get it and you'll never get sand kicked in your face again!

Dark Horse Comics adds a fantastic new dimension to its line of classic-styled metal lunchboxes in May with the release of two new, classic-comics themed boxes - one based on Will Eisner's most legendary character, The Spirit, and the other depicting Windsor McKay's whimsical and adventurous Little Nemo in Slumberland.

From his secret crime laboratory hidden below Wildwood Cemetery, the mysterious vigilante know to the city as The Spirit fights crime, champions the weak and debilitated, and sets women's hearts a-flutter. Dark Horse worked closely with the legendary and prolific Eisner to choose a variety of stand alone images from The Spirit art archives to adorn the Spirit lunchbox, scheduled for retail release on May 23, 2001.

May 23 also heralds the release of Dark Horse's Little Nemo in Slumberland lunchbox. Designed around a delightful assortment of McKay's delicate, detailed drawings and subtle, expressive watercolors, this lunchbox features Little Nemo and his friend Flip in the well-known "walking bed" scene.

Each box in Dark Horse's exclusive line of study and transportable lunchboxes measures 8" x 7" x 3-3/4", depicting your favorite scenes from pop-culture fandom on full-color, embossed metal. With sturdy metal-hinged handles of molded plastic, these lunchboxes are as fun to carry as they are to collect. These newest additions to the Dark Horse lunchbox line will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.95 in May.

One of 2001's most anticipated films is director Henry (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) Selick's foray into the bizarre and disarming world of Monkeybone. In celebration of the groundbreaking live-action/animated feature, Dark Horse Comics has joined forces with 20th Century Fox Studios to capture the eccentric edge of this dark, spirited comedy with a line of great collectibles - a pair of limited-edition polyresin statues and a limited-edition Monkeybone wristwatch.

"Anyone who's interested in toys and collectibles knows that Henry Sellick's films, especially The Nightmare Before Christmas, have inspired some of the most fascinating and popular merchandise on the market today," said Dark Horse product development manager, Chris Beeson. "We're pleased to be a part of Monkeybone history from the start."

The first statue in the Monkeybone collection features the film's namesake imp, Monkeybone - the trouble-making alter-ego of star Brendan Frasier's character Stu Miley. Monkeybone is the derelict denizen of a mysterious world known as Downtown, which is where Miley finds himself when he sinks into a coma. Clad in a funky fez and little else, Monkeybone is the living picture of primal mischief, and Dark Horse has captured him in fantastic detail from the smirk on his mug to the curled tip of his tail. Including its "Exit Pass"-shaped base (the Exit Pass is a key plot element in the film), Monkeybone stands 8" tall.

Next up is the grotesquely charming Street Squash statue, based on an odd-ball trio of wise-cracking roadkill from the film. Brimming with sass and messy with splatter, the 6" tall Street Squash statue features a run-over rabbit, a bloodied racoon, and a smiling, skeletal snake. Each statue in the Monkeybone collection is limited to an edition of 1,000 pieces and will be available for the suggested retail price of $99.99. Monkeybone goes on sale March 28th, and Street Squash hits April 25th.

[Posted 12/12/2000]