Raving Toy Maniac

Stride Rite Gets Kids Ready For A Blockbuster Summer

LEXINGTON, Mass., May 2, 2012 -- Stride Rite Children's Group (SRCG) brings blockbuster summer movie excitement to kids with the all-new X-celeRacers™ by Stride Rite® Marvel collection. Premiering at locations where Stride Rite shoes are sold, X-celeRacers inspires kids to be super -- to the Power of X -- with styles featuring their favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man.

The new X-celeRacers sneaker features an X-tra fast strap with an adjustable closure for X-traordinary fit, X-Grip with a grooved outsole for X-treme traction, X-tra Flex with a lightweight outsole for X-ceptional agility and X-treme lightweight cushioning for comfort.

CANTON, Mass., April 30, 2012 -- Baskin-Robbins, the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, is ready for the arrival of Men In Black™ 3 to the big screen on May 25. Beginning May 1, Baskin-Robbins, in partnership with Sony Pictures, brings the spirit of Men In Black 3 into participating Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide with a host of delicious frozen treats and promotions inspired by the blockbuster film franchise.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to bring the buzz and excitement of Men In Black 3 to Baskin-Robbins guests," said John Costello, Chief Global Marketing and Innovation Officer at Dunkin' Brands, parent company of Baskin-Robbins. "This highly anticipated film is a great way to kick off the busy Baskin-Robbins summer ice cream season. We're delighted to work with Sony Pictures on this endeavor and celebrate the movie in fun and delicious ways."

Out of this World Menu Items

National Free Comic Book Day Hits Saturday, May 5th;
Over 3.5 million comics to be given away free to comic shop customers

NEW YORK - May 2, 2012 - On May 5th, over two thousand comic book shops across North America and around the world will share the magic of comic books with their communities when they give out over 3.5 million comic books - free of charge - during Free Comic Book Day, which marks its eleventh anniversary this year.

There's literally a free comic book available for everyone's taste, including such favorites as The Avengers, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers... there's even a comic book on Animal Planet's The World's Most Dangerous Animals.

May 2, 2012 - It's Wednesday again, which means it's time to visit Ye Olde Local Comic Booke Shoppe to pick up the latest releases. (It's also Free Comic Book Day, so some of those comics might not cost you a dime!) But besides comics, your local shop should also be getting in some sweet new Minimates from Diamond Select! Marvel Minimates Series 44, featuring some George Perez-style Avengers, and the Halo Series 4 Box Set, featuring Master Chief and Cortana, both hit stores today. If your local shop doesn't have them, order them today, or find an online retailer who can hook you up!

Find your closest comic shop at comicshoplocator.com! And get regular DST updates on Facebook and Twitter!

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2012 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2: BATMAN

Profile America - Wednesday, May 2nd. One of America's favorite superheroes appeared for the first time this week in 1939 — as Detective Comics introduced a new crime fighter - Batman. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the Caped Crusader was an immediate hit and has entertained several generations of fans, as he and sidekick Robin battle such criminals as the Joker and Catwoman to protect Gotham City. Batman has appeared in movie serials, feature motion pictures, and several television series, both with live actors and in animation. But after 73 years, he is still featured in comic books. Comic books are part of the $46 billion a year periodical publishing industry in the U.S. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at http://www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 242
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 51112

May 2, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from http://www.bigbadtoystore.com about a big batch of new arrivals. There were big deliveries of new items this week so we have many more instock announcements than normal. Also a nice round of new preorder items.

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NEW PREORDERS
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TRANSFORMERS PRIME ARMS MICRON VOLUME 02
The second wave of includes Megatron/Cannon, Bulkhead/Knuckle, Arcee/Blade and Snapping Turtle/Shield. We have these figures listed at $29.99 for a Box of 12, or $849.99 for a Case of 300.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=Arms+Micron+Volume+02

BANDAI JAPAN COLLECTOR ITEMS
Saint Crown Cloth 1/6 Scale Poseidon Seiya, Ultraman Max Ultra-Act Figure, Super Robot Chogokin Might Gaine, Robot Spirits Sazabi, Leo, and Leo Option Set.

May 2, 2012 - The third day of CustomCon 31 is now online!

The Day Three galleries include:

• New Avengers
• Tim Burton's: The Batman Minimates
• Marvel Legends Golden Age The Crusaders Two Packs
• Being Human - Wave Three
• 80's Action Figures as Minimates
• Marvel Legends: Soldiers and Scientists

Thunderbirds products are go!
New Classic Thunderbirds licensing campaign begins with manual for fans of all ages

May 1, 2012 -- 5... 4... 3... 2... 1! Thunderbirds are go! ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment's Classic Thunderbirds licensing programme is already making an impact - in the all-important publishing category with a brand new Thunderbirds guidebook. The International Rescue Thunderbirds Agents' Manual from Haynes Publishing is due out this summer and is an informative and entertaining guide to the world's foremost rescue organisation.

Gerry Anderson's famous supermarionette show still enjoys enormous consumer awareness and a strong fan base nearly 50 years after Thunderbirds first hit our TV screens. That's why ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment met a number of potential licensees at Spring Fair as part of the process of creating a licensing programme for the Classic Thunderbirds brand.

May 1, 2012 - The next series of Halo Minimates is hitting comic shops tomorrow and Toys "R" Us stores any day now, so we thought we'd show you the packaging for this amazing assortment. The two-packs will only be at TRU, the four-pack is only at comic shops and specialty stores -- both have Master Chief and Cortana, but the rest of the figures are only available at their respective locations! Check out the carded pics and collect them all!

Pre-order the TRU two-packs at toysrus.com, and find your closest comic shop at comicshoplocator.com! And get regular DST updates on Facebook and Twitter!

Bloomington, Minnesota - April 30, 2012 - MetaCon 2012, the largest upcoming comicon, sci-fi, and anime con to come to Minneapolis is thrilled to announce that two more stars from Power Rangers will be joining the convention in 2012. Michael Copon (Blue Ranger, Time Force) and Nakia Burrise (Yellow Ranger, Turbo, Zeo, Mighty Morphin') will join MetaCon from August 31 - September 2, 2012 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minneapolis for autograph signings and question and answer sessions. MetaCon will gather thousands of fans of TV, comics, sci-fi, anime, and popular culture to the Minneapolis, Minnesota area for a three-day weekend celebrating fandom and nerd life.