Raving Toy Maniac

CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK @ YOUR LIBRARY APRIL 22 - 28

March 2012 - CHICAGO – With spring cleaning underway, many Americans will struggle with how to protect keepsakes. From April 22 – 28, thousands will turn to libraries during Preservation Week @ your library, a time when public and academic libraries will provide information and expertise on how to preserve collectables, family documents, textiles, digital items and much more.

Preservation Week @ your library is themed "Pass it on," and participating libraries will help connect library users with preservation tools; promote the importance of preservation; and will strive to enhance knowledge of preservation issues among the general public. During the week, libraries will focus on preservation themes including: Monday, LP (vinyl) records; Tuesday, quilts; Wednesday, comic books; Thursday, slides; Friday, digital photos; and Saturday, family letters.

The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association; Library of Congress; and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, are the sponsors of Preservation Week @ your library.

Mezco Reveals Universal Monsters: 9inch Scale Frankenstein

March 2012 - New York - Mezco proudly presents one of the world's most famous monsters... Frankenstein! Constructed by the infamous Dr Frankenstein from corpses, and resurrected by curious machines powered by a bolt of lightning, he terrorized the countryside. Now he is brought to life by Mezco's award-winning design team. This 9inch scale Frankenstein features a real cloth coat and shirt. His finely detailed body boasts ten points of articulation and is covered with scars from his assembly. Each Frankenstein is packaged in his own collector friendly display box. Since being revealed at the recent 2012 New York International Toy Fair, Frankenstein has been heaped with praise:

"...unique and dynamic..." – Famous Monsters Of Filmland

"...I will buy a set as soon as they're released... " - Bob Burns

"...impressive...I want them all..." - BattleGrip.com

Mezco Reveals Mars Attacks Plush

March 2012 - New York - Based on the iconic trading cards, Mars Attacks, that forever changed the face of science fiction. Mezco brings these Martians to life with this 8inch scale plush figure. The other-worldly creation features the Martian's signature exposed oversized brain and bulbous eyes, along with the iconic green spacesuit.

Revealed at the 2012 New York International Toy Fair in February, they have already received praise:

"...totally nailed the detail in their brain-like head..." wrote Kastors Korner, "The cuddliest alien I've ever seen! He's invaded my heart!!" says Eric Resnik of YouBentMyWookie.

Marvel and Aurasma Unveil "Marvel Augmented Reality" at SXSW

"Avengers VS X-Men" Spurs Historic First Major Comic Book AR Initiative

AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2012 -- Yesterday, at the SXSW Interactive Festival, Marvel Entertainment unveiled Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comic book company. As part of the recently announced Marvel ReEvolution, which brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before, the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma will be released on April 2 for iOS 3GS, 4, 4S and high-powered Android devices. Fans can first discover the power of this new app in Avengers VS X-Men #1, arriving in comic stores on April 4 and kicking off the comic book event of the year in which the world's most popular Super Heroes go to war!

CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2) EXHIBIT SPACE TO BE 50% LARGER THAN LAST YEAR

Ticket Sales up 52%

Film Producer Dishes on The Dark Knight
'The Boy Who Loved Batman' Shares 5 Things You Didn't Know About His Fave Superhero

March 2012 - Excitement about the newest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," is already revved up for its July 20th premiere. Details about the Warner Brothers film starring Christian Bale as Batman and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman are cloaked in secrecy. But executive producer and diehard Batman fan Michael Uslan knows a Dark Knight thing or two that may surprise you.

"I grew up immersed in comics. I loved them all. My hands-down favorite, though - then and now - is Batman," says Uslan, who wrote about his comic obsession in his new memoir, THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN (www.theboywholovedbatman.com), available in bookstores and on amazon.com.

Avengers Villain Ultron Coming to DST's Marvel Select Line

March 2012 - It's a fact that Diamond Select's good friends over at Gentle Giant have been dying to design an Ultron action figure for them for close to two years now. Since the character has always been an awesome-looking villain, DST has been willing to add it to the line, but they could never find the right place for it in their schedule. Well, with everyone talking about the Avengers' big movie, DST is giving Gentle Giant the opportunity to bring the Avengers' big bad to life this August. With Jason Wires behind the paintbrush, they're sure you'll be pleased with the outcome… although Ant-Man and the Wasp clearly aren't, judging by the 7-inch Ultron's detailed display base.

Pre-order Ultron today at your local comic shop or your favorite online retailer; to find your nearest comic shop, visit comicshoplocator.com!

Colossus Photo Contest Prizes Revealed!

March 2012 - The full prize packages have been revealed for the Colossus Photo Contest happening on Diamond Select Toys' Facebook page! Only a few days remain to take your picture of the new Marvel Select Colossus figure and maybe win a slew of Marvel Select X-Men figures!

Grand prize:
- Jean Grey and Rachel Summers Marvel Girl test shots with gates
- Cyclops (X-Factor variant)
- Magneto (unmasked variant)
- Deadpool (unmasked variant)
- Sabretooth (standard version)
- Gambit (long-haired variant)
- Juggernaut (unmasked variant)

Two runners-up will also be chosen to receive individual Marvel Select X-Men figures:
- Magneto (standard version)
- Gambit (standard version)

The Rules:

March 9, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new arrivals including Halo Reach Series 6 action figures, Nightmare Before Christmas statues and The Avengers tin tote!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Bettie Page 1/4 scale statue
• Dark Knight Rises Batman Bust
• Dark Knight Rises Catwoman Bust

THE CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2) AND THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO TO HOST PANEL ON COMIC AND FINE ART

Joint Presentation to be Held at Rubloff Auditorium