August 8, 2005 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several new items of interest to collectors:

PRE-ORDER ASTROMECH DROIDS (For Less!): We have listed new pre-orders for the upcoming Astromech Droid Set exclusives at lower pricing than the company who owns this exclusive is offering their own customers. Each set is available singly for $36.99 (versus $39.99) or the full set of 10 figures is $69.99 (versus $74.99). Set #1 contains R3-T6, R3-T2, R2-C4, R4-A22, R2-Q2 and Set #2 contains R3-Y2, R2-M5, R2-A6, R4-E1, R2-X2. We also have a case of 10 sets (50 droids) available at $294.99. Pictures of all the droids are available now on the pre-order menu.

PRE-ORDER STAR WARS UNLEASHED 3: Instead of the standard 2 sets per case assortment, Hasbro is spicing things up a bit for the Wave 3 Unleashed Figures. There will be 1 set of 3 new figures (Han Solo as Stormtrooper, Chewbacca, Clone Trooper) as well as 1 Darth Vader from wave 2 and an extra Han Stormtrooper and Clone Trooper. We have now listed single figure pre-orders for the Darth Vader, Han Stormtrooper and Clone Trooper along with the existing Set of 3 Pre-Order.

MARVEL FIGURE FACTORY: These cool little figures have not been widely released yet and we were lucky to get an early shipment. The figures are generally about 3" to 4" tall and come disassembled in a small plastic crate. Each kit contains 15 to 25 pieces that snap together easily to complete the figure. There are 8 normal figures listed plus a single 'Mystery Figure' listing. There are 12 possible Mystery Figures to collect - each mystery figure box is packaged blind and randomly so you won't know which figure you'll receive until you open the box. Figures range from $5.99 to $9.99 and we have a decent quantity in stock now. Normal figures include: Hulk, The Thing, Iron Man, Venom, Wolverine, Dock Ock, Spider-Man and Green Goblin. Each figure also includes 4 trading cards that can be used to form a huge mural when you have enough cards.

FANTASTIC 4: A large variety of Toy Biz Fantastic 4 figures and toys have just arrived:

- 12" Figures: The Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, two versions of the Human Torch - all great looking figures at very reasonable prices.

- 6" Figures: Mr. Fantastic with add on parts, Stomp N Clobber Thing, Power Blast Invisible Woman, Flame-On Human Torch

- Dress Up: Thing Feet, Thing Fists, Thing Dress-up, Human Torch Dress-up, Mr. Fantastic Extending Arm

- Vehicles: Fantasticar Modular Space Vehicle, Thing Hot Rod, Human Torch Motorcycle

- Electronic & Misc: Flying Light Up Human Torch, Tuff Talking 14" Thing with 13 Phrases, Super Stretch Mr. Fantastic, Wacky Wall Crawlers

SPIDER-MAN CLASSICS: Both wave 13 and wave 14 of Spider-Man Classics have just arrived. Wave 13 is available as a set of 3 with the two typically cheesy Spider-Man figures and a nice Magic Change Mysterio figure for $34.99. Wave 14 improves the cool / not so cool figure ratio substantially - Sets of 5 are available for $44.99 and include Buzzing Beetle and a chromed Tail-Strike Scorpion along with the fairly interesting Spin N Trap Spider-Man, and the peg warming Web Trap Spider-Man and Web Cannon Spider-Man (each of which are also available separately)

MAGI-RANGERS TRAVELION: Just in from Japan - the Travelion is an awesome steam engine train combining set that uses all the engines and cars to form a larger robot. Parts of this set can be combined with the Magi King and DX Wolkaiser as well. All 3 figures are in stock now.

OTHER ITEMS IN STOCK:

TRANSFORMERS: The Masterpiece Ultra Magnus MP-02 is now back in stock for $99.99 and we have tons of other Transformers in stock as well.

MICROMAN: More of the Batman Begins Ras Al Ghul have arrived, we are still working on more Batman.

CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: Deluxe sized figures have just arrived including Dancing Snoopy who comes with a piano that plays a large portion of the famous theme song. Santa Snoopy and the very fun 'Pathetic Tree' are also in stock.