~ Welcome to RTMemo
~ Featured This Issue
        - Plan-B Toys
        - Barbie as Daphne
        - the Dark Crystal
        - Vampire: the Masquerade
~ News Highlights
~ From the Buzz
~ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz
~ From Art.com
~ Toy Link of the Week
~ Non-Toy Link of the Week

------ Welcome to RTMemo ------

Tonight's the night! Midnight Madness again. Many toy stores (Toys'R'Us, KB, etc) will be open at midnight so that they can sell Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (AOTC) toys at 12:01 a.m. The 23rd is the official date when stores are allowed to sell AOTC items, although much has trickled out already here and there. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, many online stores will be set up to sell AOTC merchandise at that late hour as well. And if you don't want to wait up that late, stop by the Buzz on Tuesday to read reports from collectors who took part in the Midnight Madness.

------ Featured This Issue ------

PRO-Files: Plan-B Toys
In March, RTM visited the secret location of Plan-B Toys in the Midwest - read about the people behind the Special Forces action figures, as well as some of your favorite ReSaurus figures:
http://toymania.com/columns/profiles/planb.shtml

Spotlight: Barbie as Daphne
The RTM Spotlight breaks out the Scooby snacks to brave the pink aisle to tell you about the Barbie as Daphne set from the Scooby Doo film:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/daphnedoo.shtml

Spotlight: the Dark Crystal
The RTM Spotlight takes a close look at the Jen and Kira action figures from Sideshow Toy, based on the 1982 film, The Dark Crystal:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/darkcrystal.shtml

Spotlight: Vampire - the Masquerade
The RTM Spotlight straps on a garlic necklace and examines the three Vampire: the Masquerade action figures from Diamond Select:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/dsvampire.shtml

------ News Highlights ------

Newsweek Talks Star Wars
The April 29th issue of Newsweek (on sale April 22nd) has an article about Attack of the Clones, with a focus on what Lucasfilm did differently this time, including cutting back on the merchandising. The article quotes Philip Wise of RebelScum.com:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1794.shtml
http://www.msnbc.com/news/741646.asp?cp1=1
http://www.rebelscum.com

Ice Age Plush Toys
JAKKS Pacific's plush toys based on the Ice Age film are in Blockbuster stores across the US:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1788.shtml

Harlem Globetrotters Bobble Heads
The limited edition HG bobble heads are available only on the official Harlem Globetrotters web site:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1783.shtml

Muppets Series Two
Palisades Toys has released official images of their second series of Muppets action figures:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1776.shtml

Godzilla from Bandai
Bandai will be releasing several sizes of Godzilla action figures in 2002:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1773.shtml

Madame Alexander at McDonald's
These toys are at McDonald's until the 25th, see how they compare in size to a Kelly doll and a "McDonald's Barbie":
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1774.shtml

DC Direct
April 16th was the latest round of DC Direct announcements... See the new action figures (Classic Crime Syndicate):
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1771.shtml
The new collectible busts and statues:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1770.shtml
And the new posters:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/1769.shtml

------ From the Buzz ------

Mr. Articulate speculates about figures from the Daredevil movie:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/81562.shtml

Emerje has spotted new Digimon figures:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/81546.shtml

Mar-Vell inquires about the stickers on the New Years Optimus Prime:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/81479.shtml

Copper Floor would like to make a list of "mobster" toys:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/81431.shtml

(The posts on the Buzz last only a few days, so if you are reading this more than two or three days after this issue of RTMemo was sent out, the posts will likely be gone.)

------ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz ------

Alex would like to trade his Nexus comics for your Savage Dragon comics:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/7607.shtml

BlazeEagle is looking for some Ninja Turtles:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/7589.shtml

------ From Art.com ------

New Poster Pages
We've added a couple of new poster pages this weekend...
Scooby Doo posters (art.com):
http://www.toymania.com/links/art-scoobydoo.shtml
Attack of the Clones posters (art.com):
http://www.toymania.com/links/art-artaotc.shtml
AOTC posters (allposters.com - different selection, including Jango Fett):
http://www.toymania.com/links/art-aotc.shtml

------ Toy Link of the Week ------

The Exo Squad Toy Domain
An archive of Exo Squad action figures, this site also features custom figures, a forum, a list of variations in the ES figures, and links to many other Exo Squad sites:
http://www.exosquad.com/

------ Non-Toy Link of the Week ------

Which (blank) Are You?
We've featured Kids Turn Central in this spot before, but this page was too much fun to not mention. Wendy has assembled a page of links to a slew of those "what are you" quizzes. Find out which teddy bear you are, which soft drink you are, which Invader Zim character you are, and tons more:
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/links/whoquizlinks.htm

------ In Closing ------

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- the RTM Staff
http://www.toymania.com