Raving Toy Maniac

August 2013 - The Star Wars Celebration convention held in Essen, Germany last week had a nice surprise for action figure collectors: new Star Wars Black figures!

Hasbro has released press images of seven new figures:

The new 6-inch figures are:

• Bespin Luke Skywalker
• Obi-Wan from Episode III
• Stormtrooper from Episode IV

The new 3.75-inch figures are:

• Commander Neyo from Episode III
• Darth Plagueis (Expanded Universe)
• Mace Windu (Clone Wars)
• Vizam from Episode VI

August 1, 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.

- Cannondale Recalls Slice RS Bikes Due to Fall Hazard

- Be Amazing! Toys Recalls Monster Science and Super Star Science Colossal Water Balls Due to Serious Ingestion Hazard

- Far East Brokers Recalls Ladybug-themed Kids' Outdoor Furniture Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

DreamWorks Animation Teams with Hasbro for Two Tentpole Franchise Properties

Leading Branded Play Powerhouse Comes Aboard for B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations and Trolls

GLENDALE, Calif. & PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- July 31, 2013 -- In a powerful ghost and troll combo pack, Hasbro, Inc., a leading branded play company, and DreamWorks Animation have entered into an agreement to create toys and games inspired by DreamWorks Animation's B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations and Trolls properties. Through this deal, Hasbro will unveil franchise-inspired product lines across major toy categories, with theatrical releases supporting B.O.O. and Trolls arriving in theaters in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

"B.O.O. and Trolls are incredible properties and we are thrilled to be collaborating with DreamWorks at the very early stages of these great franchises," said Samantha Lomow, Senior Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Marketing at Hasbro. "Both properties offer rich and expansive play patterns and we cannot wait to get started."

More Universal Monsters Merch is Heading Your Way for Halloween!

August 2013 - For three years, Diamond Select Toys has done its best to scare you out of your wits every Halloween, with new toys and collectibles based on the classic creatures of Universal Studios' Universal Monsters library. Well, this year is no different, because DST has new action figures, retro-style figures and vinyl bust banks coming to stores starting in September!

WIZKIDS/NECA ADDS MARVEL SUPER HEROES TO TABAPP™ ELITE

New Update and Physical Figures Out Now, Featuring Invincible Iron Man

Hillside, NJ & Cary, NC – August 1, 2013 – Get ready for a heroic expansion as WizKids/NECA and MFV, developers of the recently launched TabApp™ Elite, today released a new update adding famed Marvel Super Heroes to the app. Three new physical figures featuring The Invincible Iron Man have hit store shelves, available as a TabApp™ Elite Starter and Booster Pack. The free update for iPad® and Android™ tablets is available now.

Accompanying the three new physical figures, Iron Man, War Machine and Iron Patriot, the content update includes 13 Marvel Super Villains, such as Iron Monger, Red Skull, M.O.D.O.K. and Magneto. Also with the new update, the action now takes place in exciting new 3D Isometric perspective.

NECA ANNOUNCES LIMITED-EDITION BIOSHOCK 2 SPLICERS 2-PACK

Adds Final Two Splicers, Crawler and Special Variant Edition Ladysmith, to Collection

Hillside, NJ – July 31, 2013 – BioShock fans and collectors rejoice! NECA, a world leader in licensed consumer goods, today announced the availability of the final two BioShock 2 Splicers, Crawler and Special Variant Edition Ladysmith, which complete the series. The limited-edition pack is available now at GameCrazy.com for $34.99US.

The latest collectibles, fully poseable and measuring in at 7" in scale, join previously and exclusively released Splicers Brute and Ladysmith.

August 1, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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

1/4 SCALE PREMIUM FORMAT STORMTROOPER COMMANDER - RETAILER EXCLUSIVE
We now have the 1/4 Scale Stormtrooper Commander up for pre-order. This Sideshow Store Exclusive features detailed battle armor and an E-11 blaster and is listed at $359.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SSC11226&mode=re...

1/6 SCALE STARCRAFT II JIM RAYNOR TERRAN SPACE MARINE
This Jim Raynor figure has a fully articulated body and stands at 15" tall. The detailed armor features light up elements in the chest and engine vents, and Jim’s impressive cache of weapons includes a C-14 Impaler Gauss rifle, a massive sniper rifle, and his signature revolver. It is listed at $499.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=SSC11225&mode=re...

August 1, 2013 - As if the online coupons for the grocery store weren't annoying enough to keep up with, now Target is also doing it. They've added a thing called Cartwheel for more coupon options. If you have it, you can "stack" the Cartwheel discounts with your regular paper coupons and also any Target-issued coupons.

Smartphone users can install the Cartwheel app and then let the cashier scan their phone, or low-tech folks (myself included) can log in via Facebook and then print out a scanner code for the cashier to use. The printout also includes a nice checklist to remind you of what exactly you've loaded onto your account, what the discount it, and when it expires.

I noticed Cartwheel when I was checking their printable coupons for new toy coupons - they had a big banner at the top of the page that all but clicked itself for me.