Raving Toy Maniac

Salt Lake Comic Con Is Baaack! With Great Success Comes Great Responsibility

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 14, 2013 -- Dan Farr Productions DBA, Salt Lake Comic Con (SLCC) (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced today it will hold two Comic Con events in 2014, including a 2014 Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience (FanX) on April 17-19, 2014 and the Second Annual Salt Lake Comic Con 2014 on September 4-6, 2014.

The decision to produce two events in 2014 was based on overwhelming fan response to the SOLD OUT September 2013 inaugural event.

Norman Reedus, star of the hit series The Walking Dead™, will headline the initial celebrity guest list at April's 2014 FanX. Reedus will be joined at FanX by Walking Dead co-star Chandler Riggs, Brent Spiner and Marina Sirtis from Star Trek: The Next Generation™, Kelly Hu from X2:X-Men United™ and Adam Baldwin of Firefly. Over 100 additional celebrities and guests will be announced between now and the April event.

Pleygo Partners With Generation Rescue For First Ever "Pleygo LEGO® Holiday Brick Drive Campaign" To Support Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Campaign Supported by Real Housewives of New Jersey Cast Member, Jacqueline Laurita

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2013 -- Just in time for holiday giving, Pleygo (www.pleygo.com), the "Netflix-like" service that allows families to rent LEGO® sets, has joined forces with Generation Rescue (www.generationrescue.org), a national non-profit providing immediate treatment assistance and hope to families affected by autism, to "build" much-needed awareness and funds through the first-ever "Pleygo LEGO Holiday Brick Drive."

Running from November 13th through January 2014, the drive will collect LEGO bricks to stock Generation Rescue-affiliated doctors' offices and medical facilities.

November 17, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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VOLTRON 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS SET
This set includes all five lions with LED eyes, die-cast and plastic construction, weapons and more, along with a special display base including a key that unlocks sound effects. This set is listed at $224.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TOY10608&mode=re...

FT-04 SCORIA
This masterful figure changes from 10" robot to Triceratops, and comes with a sword with a 'fiery' translucent blade. He is listed at $199.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=FTS10003&mode=re...

WARBOTRON WB01-01, 02, 03, 04, 05

November 16, 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.

- Step2 Recalls Ride-On Wagon Toys Due to Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Toys R Us

- Dream On Me Recalls Cradle Gliders Due to Infant Fall Hazard

- Children's Pajamas Recalled by Babycottons Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

- L.L. Bean Girl's Pajamas Recalled Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

November 2013 - Funko has announced three new POP! Movies and POP! Television vinyl figures - all based on your favorite robots.

Look for Robby the Robot (Forbidden Planet), The Iron Giant, and Robot B9 (Lost in Space) to be in stores around December 24th.

November 2013 - Funko has announced a new POP! Heroes vinyl figure - this one is Judge Dredd, and is due in stores around December 10th.

November 2013 - Funko has announced two new POP! Television vinyl figures based on Beavis & Butt-Head.

Expect to see these new POPs in stores around December 24th.

K'NEX Building Sets Available at Toys "R" Us® for All Ages

New Sets Promise Big Building Fun!

Hatfield, PA – November 2013 – K'NEX Brands, the US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love ®, is pleased to introduce seven new building sets only available at Toys "R" Us. Sure to spark creativity, these K'NEX building sets offer endless fun for builders of all ages.

These exclusive K'NEX building sets include popular brands such as The Beatles™, KISS®, Lincoln Logs®, and Super Mario™. These sets are perfect for any builder and make great gifts for the holiday season!

Beatles Yellow Submarine™ Building Set

Toy Industry to Induct Five Outstanding Individuals into Esteemed Hall of Fame

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2013 -- The Toy Industry Association (TIA) announced today that it will induct Jill Barad, former chairman and CEO of Mattel; Horst Brandstatter, president of PLAYMOBIL/Brandstatter; the late Jack Friedman, former chairman, CEO & co-founder of JAKKS Pacific; and the late co-founders of Wham-O, Arthur "Spud" Melin and Richard Knerr, into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

The five individuals were selected for induction by members of the Association in recognition of their significant contributions to the industry and the impact they have made on the lives of children through a lifelong commitment to toys and play. They will join an impressive roster of 62 toy industry luminaries who have been previously inducted into the Hall since it was established in 1984. Their induction ceremony will be held on February 15, 2014 in conjunction with the annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards celebration.

Huggable 2013 Art Van Furniture Charity Bear Makes Holidays Happier For Children And Charities

Proceeds from purchase of stuffed animals benefit Art Van's Million Dollar Charity Challenge Partners

WARREN, Mich., Nov. 11, 2013 -- The Art Van Furniture 2013 Charity Bear has arrived sporting a brand new look. Classically styled with light brown fur dressed in a red knit sweater with white snowflakes, the snuggly stocking stuffer is sure to bring smiles to children's faces and much needed monetary support from sales to benefit the retailer's 150 Million Dollar Charity Challenge partners. The collectible 2013 Charity Bear is available now through January 1, 2014 at all 35 Art Van Furniture stores in Michigan, Chicagoland, Ohio and Indiana.

Art Van Furniture first introduced the Art Van Charity Bear in 2010 as a festive way to give back to the community. Each stuffed animal retails for $29.95, and all proceeds from sales of stuffed animals benefit an Art Van's Million Dollar Charity Challenge partner of the guests' choosing.