Raving Toy Maniac

LEGO Systems Unveils 250 New Building Sets at American International Toy Fair

- Builders of all ages will be inspired by endless LEGO possibilities, from new preschool play options to classic themes and new licenses to the introduction of the most advanced LEGO® robotics product ever -

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2013 -- American International Toy Fair -- LEGO Systems, Inc., makers of the world's leading construction toys, will unveil its largest collection of build and play toys ever – 250 new products – at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. With new products launching throughout the year, children of all ages and interests will find a LEGO® building set or theme to spark their building creativity, inspire storytelling and role play or keep them engaged in imaginative play for hours. New items are on display in Booth #1351 in Hall 3B of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from February 10-13.

On Sale This Week from DST: Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars and Lenore!

January 31, 2013 - It's a big week for Diamond Select Toys! Comic shops and specialty stores will get in a variety of new products from DST this Wednesday, including the latest Marvel Select, Marvel Minimates and Star Trek electronic starship releases! It's the best of all worlds! Check out the full list below!

Star Trek Electronic Enterprise B
The long wait is over! The Enterprise B is finally ready to leave drydock! One of the most fan-requested Star Trek ships, the Excelsior-class starship is finally on its way as an electronic ship replica from Diamond Select! Packaged in a "Try Me" window box so customers can test its movie-accurate lights and sounds, the Enterprise B measures 16 inches long and comes with a display stand. SRP: $60.00

January 30, 2013 - Hasbro has released his update on their new 6-inch Star Wars action figure product line, promising more to come during Toy Fair in a few weeks:

Star Wars fans,

Yesterday, Hasbro's new line of collector-targeted Star Wars figures, Star Wars Black, was announced on USAToday.com, which will include both traditional 3.75-inch action figures and a brand-new scale, 6-inch figures. Hasbro is excited to now share with you its official photography for the first 6-inch Star Wars Black figure, X-Wing Pilot Luke Skywalker.

The official description for the 6-inch line is below:
STAR WARS® BLACK SERIES 6-INCH ACTION FIGURES
(Approximate retail price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2013)

Announcing Celebration Europe Celebrity Host, Warwick Davis!

January 30, 2013 - Fans attending Star Wars Celebration, the official Lucasfilm event for all things Star Wars, will enjoy the talents of an extraordinary Celebrity Host, Warwick Davis.

Davis, who has been well known to Star Wars fans since his career-starting performance as Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi, will preside at the Celebration Stage, the hot spot for the biggest shows of the weekend.

Expect great entertainment. Davis, a veteran Celebration host, is known for having a bit of fun with his guests, and coaxing unexpected exploits and information from them on the stage. The event takes place this July 26-28 in Essen, Germany.

"Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite"

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

January 25, 2013 - After a bevy of emails and phone calls, the formalities have been wrapped up, and at long last everyone can exhale and properly share the word with an excited Internet. Yes, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

"It's very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said Kennedy. "J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."

Star Wars Celebration Europe Coming to GERMANY in 2013

Tickets now available

January 2013 - Star Wars Celebration Europe, the official Lucasfilm event for all things Star Wars, is coming to Messe Essen, Germany July 26-28, 2013. Tickets are now available at http://www.starwarscelebration.eu

The event, which is expected to draw between 25,000 and 30,000 Star Wars enthusiasts to Essen, marks only the second time Lucasfilm has presented an official Celebration in Europe, the first time being in 2007 in London.

"Essen is a perfect location for Celebration Europe," says Mary Franklin, Sr. Events Lead at Lucasfilm. "The passion and enthusiasm for Star Wars and The Clone Wars is tremendous in Germany. Messe Essen offers an ideal meeting place for the fan community from all over Europe and a good setting for all the special Star Wars programming we are planning."

January 7, 2012 - Hasbro has released a new update about some of their Star Wars action figures:

Star Wars fans,

The Droid Factory line which was slated for spring 2013 has been cancelled. We were very excited about this line at its inception and wanted to give fans an early sneak peek when we unveiled it at Star Wars Celebration this past summer. Unfortunately since then, through the course of development, we realized that the price would have to be increased and we felt that the value we were adding with the droid parts was no longer substantiated.

As a result, we have decided to rework our 3.75" figure program to create a line that is on-par with the quality and pricing of the Vintage Collection. Many of the figures intended for the Droid Factory will become available in this new line in the fall. We'll be able to share more news on this at Toy Fair.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Marks its Milestone 100th Episode

Saturday January 5, 2013 on Cartoon Network

December 31, 2012 - Star Wars: The Clone Wars celebrates 100 episodes with a new installment that uncovers an elite Republic clone commando who has gone "Missing in Action," airing Saturday, January 5th at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.

Given the series' title and its backdrop of galactic warfare, Star Wars: The Clone Wars often focuses on the valiant and tireless clone troopers tasked to defend the Republic from darkness. The vivid personalities of these soldiers often challenge many assumptions about the nature of clones, and has created a roster of individual heroes. This tradition continues in the 100th broadcast episode, "Missing in Action," with the intriguing addition of Gregor, a Republic clone commando suffering from amnesia who has seemingly forgotten his true nature.

December 11, 2012 - Hasbro has released two updates on their Star Wars Vintage action figure product line - one for the US market and one for the international market:

STAR WARS VINTAGE FIGURE LINE: U.S. REGION UPDATE
Great news, STAR WARS action figure fans! Hasbro will be re-issuing "fan favorites" from the popular VINTAGE line. We heard fans loud and clear, and as such only the "best of the best" characters from previously released waves will be featured in the revived line. The new series of VINTAGE figures will be available starting in early February 2013. Distribution of characters may vary by location and is not controlled by Hasbro, so please check your local retailer for your favorite characters around that time.

Characters to be featured in the line include the following in the U.S. market:

• Episode I Darth Maul
• Episode VI Luke Skywalker (Lightsaber Contruction) - Deleted Scene figure
• CW Anakin Skywalker
• Episode IV Darth Vader
• Episode V Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit)
• Episode II Aayla Secura
• EU Nom Anor
• Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
• Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)

November 2012 - Funko has announced a new batch of 3D POP! Vinyl Bookmarks, this time featuring Angry Birds Star Wars characters. The bookmarks are six inches long and should be available now.

Look for Angry Bird X-Wing Pilot, Darth Vader Pig, and Stormtrooper Pig.