Raving Toy Maniac

May 2013 - May 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of POP! vinyl figures based on The Walking Dead.

Expect to see The Walking Dead POP! - Series 3 in stores around July 11th. Series 3 includes Rick Grimes, the Governor, Merle Dixon, and a Prison Guard Walker Zombie.

There are also several variant versions of the Walking Dead POP! figures coming this summer. Scroll past the pictures to see the list, or stop at the Prison Guard Walker picture to avoid spoilers from Season 3 of the television series.

Remember to stop scrolling at this next picture if you don't want to see the spoilers. No, I don't think you have a short attention span, mostly I need more text here to bump the spoilery bits off the "preview" portion that shows up on the news page.

Kids Who Read Beat Summer Slide

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2013 -- For kids, few moments in life are more glorious than the end of the school year and the start of summer vacation. Hooray! Three whole months of sweet freedom!

But when school's out, kids from low-income families have a real problem on their hands.

Unlike their more affluent peers, most of them don't spend summer break at the library or reading books in the backseat on family trips. In fact, many of them won't open a book until school starts up again.

Those three months off take a disastrous toll. Experts call the effect "summer slide" and it erases months of hard-earned progress in school, lost ground that kids in need can't afford.

Books are the answer. Studies show that kids from low-income families who have access to books over the summer not only beat the summer slide, but make even greater gains than kids from wealthy and middle-class families.

Actor Jaden Smith Focuses On Earth Science in a New NASA PSA

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2013 -- Jaden Smith, star of Columbia Pictures' movie "After Earth," is featured in a new NASA public service announcement that describes the contributions of the agency's Earth science program to environmental awareness and exploration of our home planet.

The public service announcement features imagery from "After Earth" as well as animations of Earth data from 17 orbiting NASA satellites. The satellites are making cutting-edge observations of the entire Earth system, including the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and snow and ice. The observations are used by scientists worldwide to improve our understanding of our complex planet, better predict the future of our changing climate, and enhance life on Earth today.

May 30, 2013 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

- Fred Meyer Recalls "Chicken Dance" Easter Chicks Due to Hearing Damage Hazard

- Pottery Barn Kids Recalls Sweet Lambie Crib Bumpers Due to Entanglement Hazard

- Vive La Fete Recalls Children’s Pajamas Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

- H&M Reannounces Recall of Children’s Water Bottles Due to Choking Hazard

Toys"R"Us® Introduces Lemon Smiles Challenge To Kick Off Its 2013 Campaign To Benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Company Anniversaries Nationwide Fundraising and Awareness Program to Help Find a Cure for Pediatric Cancer

May 30, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

We've just received the go-ahead from Hasbro to list the highly awaited Star Wars Black line!

View Everything Here:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=2013%20star%20wars...

6" Figures Wave 1 includes:

Luke Skywalker
Darth Maul
R2-D2
Sandtrooper

The set of 4 is priced at $83.99, singles are also available.

The 3.75" series case includes:

1x SW EPII PADME AMIDALA
1x SW EPII CLONE TROOPER SERGEANT
2x SW EPII ANAKIN SKYWALKER
2x SW EPIV BIGGS DARKLIGHTER
1x SW EPIV LUKE SKYWALKER
2x SW EPV DARTH VADER
2x SW EPVI BIKER SCOUT
1x SW EPIII CLONE PILOT

Sets & Singles are also available

----

We've just listed more exciting new Hasbro items:

GI Joe Retaliation 3.75" Figures Series 03.5

This great new case features many new figures and is priced at $114.99 - Singles are available as well:

NOW IN STOCK: FUTURAMA PLUSH SERIES 2 PRODUCTS

(Van Nuys, California - May 13, 2013) - Toynami is pleased to announce the launch of the new FUTURAMA PLUSH SERIES 2 PRODUCTS! Now in stock!

Snuggle up with more of your favorite Futurama mini characters as super cute plush! The series of collectible plush continues by featuring Kif, Morbo, and Hypnotoad as 10-inch huggable toys. These adorable plush made their debut at last year's Comic Con and were an instant hit! Don't miss out on your opportunity to bring home the next installment of the popular Futurama Plush!

"Futurama is a property we are always excited to do more with!" says Toynami CEO and Founder, George Sohn. "Following the success and popularity of the first Futurama series, we are excited to continue bringing more characters from the much loved animated sci-fi comedy to loyal fans!"

Nickelodeon Opens First-Ever Branded Retail Destination; Launches 1,000 Square Foot 'Nick Shop' In Toys"R"Us Times Square

Shop Provides Consumers One-of-a-Kind Nickelodeon Shopping Experience in Heart of New York City

NEW YORK, May 29, 2013 -- Nickelodeon announced today the launch of its 'Nick Shop' in Toys"R"Us Times Square, the company's international flagship store. The 1,000 square foot Nick Shop is an immersive Nickelodeon retail experience jam-packed with fun and adventure around every corner. The Nick Shop features exclusive New York-branded products such as kids and adult apparel, accessories, plush toys, drinkware, home goods and more, featuring Nickelodeon characters including Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Winx Club, SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, retailing between $5.99 and $49.99. Additionally, the shop, located on Level One of The World's Greatest Toy Store™, offers visitors an assortment of Nickelodeon-branded toys, books and DVDs.

May 29, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

--------------
NEW PRE-ORDERS
--------------

PORTAL 2 1/6 SCALE FIGURES - P-BODY, ATLAS
The two player character robots from the co-op mode of Portal two will soon be released as 1/6 scale figures. Each has a light-up eye and removable portal gun, and they are priced at $209.99 each, saving you $10 off of the MSRP.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=Portal%202%201/6

TRANSFORMERS MASTERPIECE MP-13 SOUNDWAVE RESTOCK
An overseas vendor has offered us more MP-13 Soundwave figure stock for our customers. Soundwave comes with Masterpiece Laserbeak as well as a scaled Megatron in gun mode, and is listed at $229.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11481&mode=re...

MACH 5 GAUNTLET, PISTON

On Sale This Week: Femme Fatales Kabuki Statue and Star Trek Cutaway Enterprise!

May 2013 - The summer is officially here, and Diamond Select Toys is kicking things off with two new releases on New Toy Day! This Wednesday, comic shops and specialty stores across North America will get the two latest masterpieces from DST: the newest Femme Fatales PVC statue, and the most detailed Star Trek ship ever! Check out the pics!

Femme Fatales Kabuki PVC Statue