Raving Toy Maniac

Free Comic Book Day Generates Record Attendance, Coverage
An estimated 1.2 million people attended Free Comic Book Day in 2013

(BALTIMORE, MD) - (May 28, 2013) - The first Saturday in May 2013 was a busy day for participating comic shops all over the world, as retailers gave away a record-breaking 4.6 million comics in almost 2,000 different locations during Free Comic Book Day. An estimated 1.2 million comic fans flocked to their local comic shops to take in the festivities. Customers lined up in front of their favorite stores the day before to make sure they were one of the first to get the 52 free comics offered by 40 publishers this year.

Mezco Toyz Announces Axe Cop 4inch Scale Figures Series 1

May 2013 - New York - He's a cop... with an axe... he's AXE COP!

He's the best crime fighter the world has ever known thanks to his trusty axe, his pet T-rex, Wexter (with maching gun hands!) and a group of crime-fighting partners unlike any you've ever seen!

Axe Cop is the internet comic sensation based on a story a five year-old boy narrated to his twenty nine year old brother, who happens to be an illustrator. What began as a simple tale became an award-winning comic, and upcoming animated tv series on Fox, and now makes the leap to super cool collectible with Axe Cop 4inch Scale Figures Series 1!

Series 1 contains:

Axe Cop - The star of the show, with axe, poopsucker gun (to help him conquer Planet Poop), Uni Baby, and lemon grenade (all the explosive power of a regular grenade but with a lemony freshness).

Dr Doo Doo - One of Axe Cop's many arch enemies, with Doo Doo soldier, and sword. Also includes clear stands to create the "hover" effect.

May 27, 2013 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

- Lea Industries Recalls Children's Beds Due to Fall Hazard

- A Call to Action From CPSC: Teach All Children How To Swim and Put a Fence Around All Pools

May 28, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update on some items we have recently listed:

Portal 2 - 1/6 Atlas Figure
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=THR10079&mode=re...

Portal 2 - 1/6 P-Body Figure
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=THR10080&mode=re...

TMNT 6" Retro Collector's Figure Series 01 - Set of 4 - Restocking
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=PLM11292&mode=re...

MP-13 Masterpiece Soundwave with Laserbeak - Restocking
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11481&mode=re...

GI Joe 2013 - Basic Figures - In Stock
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=2013%20basic%20joe

New Bandai Tamashii Exclusives
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=12844

1/6 Scale Morgul Lord Figure - Price Reduced to $159.99

THE LEGO GROUP UNVEILS WORLD'S LARGEST LEGO® MODEL TO DELIGHT LEGO STAR WARS™ FANS ACROSS THE GALAXY

- More than five million LEGO bricks used to create life-sized X-Wing starfighter in celebration of new LEGO Star Wars animated TV special "The Yoda™ Chronicles" premiering on Cartoon Network -

NEW YORK, May 23, 2013 -- The LEGO Group today unveiled the world's largest LEGO model, a 1:1 replica of the LEGO® Star Wars™ X-Wing starfighter, in New York's Times Square. To celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Yoda Chronicles on Cartoon Network on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT), the massive replica took 32 master builders, five million LEGO bricks and over 17,000 hours to complete. The model weighs nearly 46,000 pounds, stands 11 feet tall and 43 feet long, with a wingspan of 44 feet. The Model will "take off" for a summer landing at LEGOLAND® California Resort where it will be installed through the remainder of the year.

GODZILLA Sets His Eyes on North American Retailers with Help from Diamond

(BALTIMORE, MD) - (May 16, 2013) - Toho Company, Ltd. the producer of twenty-eight GODZILLA motion pictures, and Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels and pop-culture merchandise, have reached an agreement that will bring the best GODZILLA merchandise from Japan and beyond to the United States and Canada. Diamond will choose, market, and distribute the highly desired and sought after GODZILLA toys, comics, collectibles, and lifestyle products, many of which have previously been available only in Japan.

Star Trek Legacy Minimates Series 1 Is Now Mint-on-Picard!

May 2013 - Check out packaged shots of the specialty and Toys R Us two-packs for Star Trek Legacy Minimates Series 1, fully articulated 2-inch mini-figures with plenty of weapons and accessories. They're heading to stores in June, but here's a sneak peek!

To refresh your memory, the following are at comic shops and specialty stores:

- Admiral Kirk & Khan (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
- Captain Picard & Borg Queen (Star Trek: First Contact)
- Captain Sisko & Jem Hadar (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
- Captain Archer & Xindi (Star Trek: Enterprise)

Then, at Toys "R" Us and toysrus.com:

- Captain Kirk & Kahn (gold shirt) (Star Trek: The Original Series)
- Captain Picard (captain's jacket) & Hugh (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
- Captain Sisko (vest) & Gul Dukat (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Toys"R"Us® Becomes The Ultimate Despicable Me 2 Destination

Assemble the Minions! All-New Line of Merchandise, from Action Figures to Fart Blasters, Based on the Upcoming Film Available First at The World's Greatest Toy Store®

WAYNE, N.J., May 22, 2013 -- Toys inspired by the highly anticipated 3D-CG comedy adventure film Despicable Me 2 from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have made their debut at Toys"R"Us® stores nationwide and online at http://Toysrus.com. Through May, The World's Greatest Toy Store® is the only U.S. retailer to offer an all-new line of toys based on the movie, making it the ultimate Despicable Me 2 destination. Fans eager to get their hands on the coolest action and interactive figures, plush, games and more, need look no further than Toys"R"Us.

The movie, which arrives in theaters on July 3, is the sequel to the 2010 smash hit Despicable Me, which became the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. Despicable Me 2 promises more laughs with the return of super-villain Gru and his arsenal of gadgets and gizmos, his adorable girls and the unpredictably hilarious Minions.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and the LEGO Group Announce LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes Now Available for Wii U

Best-Selling LEGO Batman Game Makes a Heroic Leap to the Wii U GamePad

BURBANK, CA -- (May 21, 2013) - Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games today announced LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes arrives for the Wii U™ system, bringing to the platform an adventure already enjoyed by millions. Widely praised as one of last year's best games for the entire family with sales reaching more than 3.5 million units worldwide, LEGO® Batman 2: DC Super Heroes recently took home the prize for best family game at the 2013 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.

LEGO® Batman 2: DC Super Heroes offers a humorous and endearing journey into the DC Universe, pitting the most memorable of DC superheroes against its most vile of villains, as part of a story that is fun for all ages. The LEGO version of Gotham City delivers a sprawling playground of exciting combat, imaginative puzzles and a near-endless number of collectibles.

May 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of POP! vinyl figures based on Disney characters.

Expect to see Disney Pop! Series 5 in stores around June 27th. Series 5 includes:

• Carl from Up!
• Russell from Up!
• Merida
• Mary Poppins
• Baloo
• King Louie
• Genie
• Jafar
• Jasmine
• Alice in Wonderland
• Dumbo
• The Rocketeer