Raving Toy Maniac

December 13, 2012 - CustomCon 33 Day Four is online at The Fwoosh!

The Day Four batch of galleries includes:

• Legends of Assassin's Creed Exclusives by Whiskeytango
• Mugging for the Camera by Ibentmyman-thing
• Return of Marvel Legends Wave 3 – All Bucked Up by Thwiptster
• Star Trek The Next Generation 25th Anniversary HD Wave by Andy Kinnear

December 12, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

FANSPROJECT FUNCTION X-1 TOYS FOR TOTS EXCLUSIVE FIGURE
BigBadToyStore has teamed up with FansProject to make the holidays a little brighter for some great kids. We will be donating $20 (wholesale) worth of toys to Toys for Tots for each Function X-1 figure purchased between now and December 16th. The figure is still being kept a secret, but we can tell you that it converts from robot to four-wheeled vehicle mode and features two scoped rifles, and is listed at $68.99. A new collectible toy for you, as well as toys for those who could really use and enjoy them - help us make the holidays merry for everyone!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=fpj10030&mode=re...

JANUARY 2013 DC COLLECTIBLES LISTINGS

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)

December 12, 2012 - CustomCon 33 Day Three is online at The Fwoosh!

The Day Three batch of galleries includes:

• Game of Thrones by Sasha
• Gotham's Most Wanted by Robert Strange
• Fatal Five by Charles Rouse-Rodriguez
• X-Men by Ibentmyman-thing
• Marvel Legends Skagg The Storm Giant Build-A-Figure Series by CRobTheCreator

Take a look back at the previous CustomCon events.

December 11, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - some great new listings today:

Preorders:

$20 Toys for Tots Donation & FansProject Function X-1 Mystery Figure - Ends December 16th
FansProject and BigBadToyStore are teaming up to help out needy children this holiday season! FansProject and BigBadToyStore will be donating $20 (wholesale cost) worth of toys to the Toys for Tots organization for every piece of the Function X-1 figure preordered by December 16th. We'll gather up the huge donation on December 17th and deliver it to Toys for Tots and we'll post images shortly after that.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=fpj10030&mode=re...

New DC Collectibles - Joker Statue & More
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11423

New Bandai Japanese Exclusives
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=11409

December 11, 2012 - CustomCon 33 Day Two is online at The Fwoosh!

The Day Two batch of galleries includes:

• DC Universe Catman Classics by Irobo'dmyron-thing
• Marvel Legends Dark X-Men by Ibentmyman-thing
• Marvel Legends Exclusives by Lestat
• Marvel Legends Lockjaw Series by Highmore Studios
• Mirage Ninja Turtles Classics by Christothor

December 2012 - Every year, the World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) group issues a "Top Ten Worst Toys" list to aid parents and other gift-givers in shopping for holiday toys for children.

The Worst 10 for 2012 are:

• Magnetic Fishing Game
• Bongo Ball
• Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 Dart Gun
• Spinner Shark 4-Wheel Kneeboard
• Explore & Learn Helicopter
• N-Force Vendetta Double Sword
• Water Balloon Launcher
• Power Rangers Super Samurai Shogun Helmet
• Playful Xylophone
• The Avengers Gamma Green Smash Fists

Be sure to visit WATCH's official 2012 page to read more details about why each toy was included on the list.

Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Shopping Tips, Mobile Website Can Help Parents Shop Safe

Washington D.C., Nov. 20, 2012 – Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America's store shelves, according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group's 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

This morning, U.S. PIRG released the report, joined by Commissioner Robert Adler from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Dr. Bryan Rudolph. It reveals the results of laboratory testing on toys for lead, cadmium and phthalates, all of which have been proven to have serious adverse health impacts on the development of young children. The survey also found small toys that pose a choking hazard, extremely loud toys that threaten children's hearing, and toy magnets that can cause serious injury.

December 10, 2012 - CustomCon 33 Day One is online at The Fwoosh!

The Day One batch of galleries includes:

• Vampire Diaries by Sasha
• X-Force by Ibentmyman-thing
• Legion 5 Pack by Charles Rouse-Rodriguez
• Marvel Legends Phoenix Five box set by Truwe 316

Take a look back at the previous CustomCon events.

December 2012 - The end of the year is fast approaching, and that means that it is awards time again... go vote!

The OAFEs over at OAFE.net are collecting nominations for their Toy of the Year. For more details, check out their page for nominating for the awards.

You can also look back at the winners from past years.