Raving Toy Maniac

July 25, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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STAR WARS 6" & 3.75" BLACK SERIES 2 - CASES/SINGLES
Star Wars Black Series 2 figures have just been listed. The 6" figures include Slave Leia, Boba Fett, Ep IV Han Solo and Ep IV Greedo. These can be purchased either individually or as a case. The 3.75" figures include Pablo-Jill, Luminara Unduli and Ep III Clone Trooper(41st) among others.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=13425

BANDAI SDCC 2013 EXCLUSIVES
The Power Rangers Samurai Metallic 5-Pack is now up for pre-order and is listed at $224.99. Among the other Bandai items listed are the MMPR Stand Three Pack, the DBZ Ultimate Spark Shodo Three Pack, Gundam Assault Kingdom EX1 Kshatrya and Naruto Shippuden Half Age Characters Naruto & Sasuke "Dattebayo".

July 25, 2013 - Congratulations to Casimir on the 10th anniversary of his custom action figure site Inanimate Objects!

Head over to see the newly remodeled site at http://www.pilliod.net/ or read up on the evolution of the site in Casimir's column at AFhub.com.

July 25, 2013 - The fine folks of Toy Break (the same people behind October Toys!) have posted a video of their Indie Toy Secrets panel from the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Watch the panel on YouTube and check out the still pictures from the panel, posted to Flickr.

The official description of the panel is:

Learn how some of today's leading independent toy designers have taken their ideas from concept to production and beyond. Join us to find out how action figures, mini figures, plush characters, and resin collectibles come to life with the help of veteran toy makers George Gaspar (October Toys), Scott Tolleson (Stolle Art), H. Eric 'Cornboy' Mayse (The Four Horsemen), and Jay Garcia (MANA Studios). Moderated by Ayleen Gaspar (Toy Break).

July 2013 - Funko has announced a new round of Mystery Minis; this time the 2.5-inch figures are Hello Kitty dressed up for Halloween.

Expect to see these blind-boxed cuties in stores around August 8th.

July 2013 - Funko has announced three new 5-inch vinyl figures of Hello Kitty dressed up as classic monsters: mummy, zombie, and Frankenstein.

Expect to see this costumed trio in stores around August 8th.

July 2013 - Funko has announced two new POP! Vinyl figures based on Nightmare Before Christmas - "Day of the Dead" Jack Skellington and Sally.

Expect to see this pair in stores around August 1st.

July 2013 - Funko has announced a new Beetlejuice Wacky Wobbler - look for him in stores around September 19th.

WIZKIDS/NECA, MFV LAUNCH NEW CARD GAME APP, SHUFFLING THE DECK™

Features Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - July 24, 2013 - Following the recent launch of WizKids Games' hit card game Shuffling the Deck™, the game creator alongside sister company and Cary-based game developer, MFV, today announced Shuffling the Deck™ for iPad®. The new app is themed for the hit film Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures "Pacific Rim", and available free from the App Store now.

Developers have brought the leading tabletop card game to digital form, combining dynamic gameplay with engaging special effects, immersive sounds and multiple play modes.

In Shuffling the Deck™ players are given secret character cards, taking on their characters' roles to earn as many points as they can each turn, while discovering treasures and avoiding danger. At the end of the game, secret characters are revealed and the player with the highest points wins.

Game Features:

AM2 ANNOUNCES 2013 CONVENTION POSTPONED

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 24, 2013) - With great regret, AM2 announces that they will postpone their event till an indefinite future date.

"It is with great regret that we are postponing this event," states Chase Wang, "all exhibitors, Artist Alley participants and attendees have either received FULL refunds or are in process of receiving their FULL refunds-this is due to inaccurate mailing/email addresses, if there are any issues individuals can contact us at [email protected]."

Follow us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AM2Con

Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AM2Con

About AM2

Located in Anaheim, California - AM2, established in 2010, is a multi-day (3 day) public fan convention aspiring to be a key meeting place for fans that share a common interest in Asian music, Animation/Anime, and Comics/Manga. More information can be found at www.am2con.org

(RTM note: we're a bit sad to see this, if only because Taco Bell had what was likely the best fast food promotion of all time, the Star Wars toys back in 1997.)

Taco Bell® Becomes First Quick Service Restaurant to Discontinue Kid's Meals and Toys Nationally

IRVINE, Calif., July 23, 2013 -- Taco Bell® today announced that it will discontinue kid's meals and toys at its U.S. restaurants, becoming the first national quick service restaurant chain to do so. Select restaurants will begin the removal in July, with nationwide implementation anticipated by January 2014.

"As we continue our journey of being a better, more relevant Taco Bell, kid's meals and toys simply no longer make sense for us to put resources behind," said Greg Creed, chief executive officer of Taco Bell. "What does make sense is concentrating on expanding choices that meet and exceed the diverse needs of consumers of all ages, without losing focus on what makes us great today."