The Todd McFarlane Update is reprinted with permission. To receive this newsletter in your email inbox, you can subscribe at http://www.spawn.com/news/mcfarlaneupdate/default.aspx?flag=n.
April 14, 2004
Todd McFarlane Update
More hockey classics, 12-inch figs & NASCAR
Welcome to the Todd McFarlane Update. The news just keeps coming with another set of hockey greats announced. Check out the story below, as well as news about new 12-inch figures, NASCAR, Spawn, and our upcoming Conan line. No, not Conan O'Brien! Welcome to everyone who is new to the update, as well as those who've been here since the beginning! The database count is now more than 38,300!
Here are the latest headlines from the News Section of spawn.com, plus contests and much more! We encourage your interest and feedback.
In the News
To read the full text of the stories listed below, please click here: http://spawn.com/news/.
- McFarlane, Marcel Dionne ink hockey figure licensing deal
- McFarlane Toys' 12-inch toy program 2004
- Spawn Reborn 2 toy photography unveiled
- Conan series one action figure names revealed
- NASCAR Series 3 figure lineup finalized
McFarlane, Marcel Dionne ink hockey figure licensing deal
Mahovlich, Cournoyer, Cheevers debut in hockey legends figure line
McFarlane Toys has secured a licensing agreement with hockey legend Marcel Dionne. Dionne is working in partnership with several of hockey's greatest players who will be featured in upcoming McFarlane's Sports Picks NHL classics action figure series.
The first three will debut in September at retailers worldwide and will be featured in McFarlane's signature action poses with authentic on-ice equipment including National Hockey League team marks, and will be included in the line along with two Wayne Gretzky action figures (as previously announced). In addition to the two Gretzky figures, the players in the line are:
-- Frank Mahovlich, who played for 22 seasons in both the NHL and World Hockey Association. During his Hall of Fame career, he won the Calder Trophy in 1957-58 as the league's best rookie while in Toronto. His NHL career also took him to Detroit and Montreal, earning six Stanley Cups along the way with both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. His best scoring season was in 1968-69, when he netted 49 goals for the Red Wings. In addition to his distinguished career on the ice, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1998.
-- Yvan Cournoyer, who began his Hall of Fame career in 1963, playing 16 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. During his years on the ice, he won 10 Stanley Cups and became the team captain in 1975. "The Roadrunner" is among the all-time leading scorers in Canadiens history, with a career best 47 goals in the 1971-72 season. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1972, scoring six goals and 12 points during the finals that year.
-- Gerry Cheevers, who played 19 seasons from 1961 to 1980 in goal primarily with the Boston Bruins. During Cheevers' Hall of Fame career, he was the net minder for the Bruins teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. He has one of the best career playoff marks in NHL history at 53-43 and was known for his trademark stitch marks on his goalie masks.
"Creating an action figure series representing classic hockey players was one of my main goals when I started the McFarlane's Sports Picks lines," said McFarlane Toys founder and CEO Todd McFarlane. "Now, with the help of legendary players such as Marcel Dionne and Wayne Gretzky, we've begun to make that goal a reality."
"We're very pleased to be working with McFarlane Toys," said Marcel Dionne, president of Marcel Dionne Enterprises and a Hall-of-Fame player himself. "Todd has so much passion for the world of hockey and how better to bring the hockey legends to the McFarlane's Sports Picks NHL classics line."
The licensing agreement allows McFarlane Toys, which is an official NHL licensee, to produce action figures ranging in size from 5 to 18 inches, and includes worldwide distribution.
McFarlane Toys' 12-inch toy program 2004
Here are the large-scale figures we're releasing this year
We at McFarlane Toys are big fans of larger-scale figures. We release them in limited overall numbers, but we sure love the insane level of detail our sculptors and painters can get into the 12-inch-scale figures.
Spawn Reborn 2 toy photography unveiled
All six photos of upcoming refresh figure series... plus added surprise
For the second year running, McFarlane Toys is releasing a Spawn Reborn action figure series; a series that focuses on redecorating previously released Spawn figures.
Conan series one action figure names revealed
Photography coming soon on this much-anticipated line
McFarlane Toys is extremely excited about our upcoming Conan action figure line, inspired by the Hyborean legends as originally written by Conan's creator, Robert E. Howard. (And, truth be told, we're big fans of swords and muscle-bound heroes and dragons and heavily armed female warriors and... oh, sorry.)
NASCAR Series 3 figure lineup finalized
Third ActionMcFarlane driver line sure to be a hit
ActionMcFarlane is proud to announce the driver lineup for the upcoming NASCAR Series 3. The third series from our partner company is due in stores this October, featuring two legends, six active Nextel Cup drivers and one NHRA phenom.
News from the 'net
Contests, Contests, Contests
The crack team at spawn.com has lots of stuff to give away to our dedicated Web site users. Be sure to enter any of the contests listed on the new Contests Section of spawn.com for your chance to score cool McFarlane prizes. And check back often as this section is updated with new contests periodically. Good luck.
ToyFest 2004
Check out the ToyFest page for the latest news on McFarlane Toys and the 2004 lines.
Spawn.com Message Boards
Do you have an opinion or question about the McFarlane empire? Or, do you have something you want to buy, sell or trade? Visit the Spawn.com Message Boards community or your choice. Registration is fast, cheap (free) and easy!
Where to Buy and Release Dates
Not sure where to find you favorite McFarlane Toy? Check out the spawn.com Where to Buy page. When can you buy it? Go to the Release Dates chart from our Toys page.
Thanks!
The Todd McFarlane Update is reprinted with permission. To receive this newsletter in your email inbox, you can subscribe at http://www.spawn.com/news/mcfarlaneupdate/default.aspx?flag=n.
