Raving Toy Maniac

Derby City Comic Con Returns to Louisville June 28th-29th

Louisville, KY (June 17, 2014) - A star studded line-up of comic royalty including New York Times bestselling author and writers Mark Waid (Daredevil, Hulk, Kingdom Come), Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Flash, Surrogates) and Tony Moore (co-creator of the Walking Dead) headline over 225 exhibitors and comic creators at Derby City Comic Con, Louisville's original comic con!

Returning to the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville for its fourth year and first two-day convention on June 28th and 29th, the event just keeps growing, pushing its current 45,000 square foot event space to its max. Over 4300 comic book fans turned out for the third annual Derby City Comic Con last year, (which marked over 44% increase from 2012) and we're expecting an even larger crowd this year!

"If you think you know Derby City Comic Con, you haven't seen anything yet," says convention director and owner, Chuck Moore.

You Can't Be What You Can't See: Meet Entrepreneur Barbie®

June 18, 2014 -- With 150+ careers, Barbie® has always encouraged girls that if you can dream it, you can be it. With the launch of the Entrepreneur Barbie® doll, available now, she is blazing trails along with other female leaders who are proud to be the boss. This year alone, female entrepreneurs have graced the cover of TIME's Most Influential People issue and lead 1-in-5 start-ups. Alongside Barbie®, female entrepreneurs are changing the world, surpassing their goals and showing girls they can be both capable and captivating.

To celebrate her newest career, Barbie® has partnered with a diverse group of female entrepreneurs. These women include the founders of Girls Who Code, Rent the Runway, One Kings Lane, Plum Alley, Genuine Insights, Sugarfina and The TomKat Studio, who all have inspiring stories for girls today and are truly #unapologetic about living their dream.

Fangirls Assemble! Her Universe and Marvel Team Up to Launch the Ultimate Fangirl Fashion Apparel Line

New York, NY (June 19, 2014) - Her Universe™, the leader in female genre merchandise, announced today a breakthrough collaboration with Marvel Entertainment and Disney Consumer Products to create a fashionable collection of empowering Super Hero apparel for the ever-growing female fan base of Marvel comics, films and television series. The Marvel by Her Universe line of "geek couture" is premiering with an action-packed assortment of Captain America fashion items along with fan favorite Marvel characters on fashion tops, tanks, dresses, cardigans, hoodies, skirts, leggings and more that will inspire fangirls of all ages to channel their inner Super Hero.

June 20, 2014 - 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.

- Reebok-CCM Recalls Throat Collars Due to Laceration Hazard

June 2014 - Another week, another nifty batch of action figures and toys Kickstarter!

- Sculptor Rocco Tartamella has a campaign to produce a 7-inch action figure of the Archangel Michael. The figure will have a 20-inch wingspan. The stretch goal is a demon action figure for Michael to fight. This campaign closes on July 18th.

- Generation Grit is a series of action figures with inspirational stories for boys. Each 1/6th scale figure (10-5/8" tall, as each figure will be of a child) will come with a book about his adventures, as well as with an interesting variety of detailed accessories. The first figure will be Mac Mason. The Generation Grit campaign ends on July 3rd.

June 2014 - The Toy Pizza series on YouTube has a new episode up!

Click here to check it out! This episode features Super Mario toys from today and the past few decades.

June 18, 2014 - Sideshow Collectibles has a new contest going, and it is a doozy - the prize is a life-size Han Solo in Carbonite!

One person will win the life-size Han and a second person will win a prize pack of (smaller) Han Solo items. Enter by August 15, 2014.

June 18, 2014 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

BigBadToyStore will be at Botcon! Stop by and say hello if you'll be at the show.

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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DRAGONBALL Z FUNKO POP! FIGURES
Super Saiyan Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Perfect Cell and Frieza figures are now up for preorder! Each figure is listed at $9.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=funko%20dragonball

DIABLO III SHADOW DIABLO ACTION FIGURE
The blue Shadow Diablo figure stands over 9" tall and has a poseable tail that's over 12" long. It is hand-painted, featuring over 25 points of articulation, and is listed at $24.99, $5 off MSRP.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=neca%20diablo

NEW TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, HERO MASHERS

June 2014 - DC Collectibles - BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES ROBIN, THE JOKER, MAN-BAT AND POISON IVY ACTION FIGURES

Based on the designs from the hit shows Batman: The Animated Series and New Batman Adventures comes the next wave of your favorite characters: Robin, The Joker, Man-Bat and Poison Ivy!

Each figure comes with a display base and episode specific accessories!

EACH FIGURE SOLD SEPARATELY

$24.95 US
On Sale December 2014
Allocations May Occur

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES ROBIN - 5.25" TALL
22 POINTS OF ARTICULATION
EPISODE: ROBIN'S RECKONING PT. 1
ACCESSORIES INCLUDE:

• Bola
• Additional Hands
• Additional Cape
• Grappling Gun

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES THE JOKER - 6.25" TALL
18 POINTS OF ARTICULATION
EPISODE: THE LAST LAUGH
ACCESSORIES INCLUDE:

• Helmet
• Make Up Sponge
• Knife
• Pearl Necklace
• Telescope
• Joker Card
• Brick
• Additional Hands
• Comb

June 2014 - DC Collectibles - BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS BATMAN, DEATHSTROKE, BLACK MASK AND THE JOKER ACTION FIGURE 4-PACK

Batman is joined by three of his deadliest adversaries, Deathstroke, Black Mask and The Joker-in the latest 4-Pack based on their designs from the hit video game Batman: Arkham Origins. Featuring new Batman hand sculpt and Remote Claw accessory!

$59.95 US
On Sale December 2014
Allocations May Occur

BATMAN - 6.75"
DEATHSTROKE - 6.75"
BLACK MASK - 6.75"
THE JOKER - 6.7"