Raving Toy Maniac

October 30, 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.

- Meijer Recalls Halloween Projector Flashlight Due to Burn Hazard

MSC Cruises And The LEGO Group Partner To Create Ultimate LEGO Experience At Sea

New, Unique Shipboard LEGO® Playrooms and LEGO® Competitions and Games Available for Free to MSC Cruises' Guests

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 30, 2014 -- MSC Cruises and the LEGO Group have joined forces to bring children and families the ultimate LEGO Experience at sea, including LEGO® designed playrooms and entertainment options.

As part of the partnership, MSC Cruises is implementing a special program across its fleet in which children, as well as adults, will have the chance to compete in LEGO® themed competitions and games on a designated day during a sailing. Children who participate in the LEGO® Experience Day will receive an official LEGO® Junior Master Builder diploma. In addition, all guests will have the chance to meet and greet Sailor Walkabout – the LEGO Sailor Mascot – who will be available during cruises for photos and entertainment.

October 2014 - The fourth issue of LittlePlasticMen is avilable online!

http://www.littleplasticmen.com/e-mag/v1n4/

This issue has a summary of toys announced at New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con International, an interview with Steve Varner, a musing about whether cosplay is hurting the dealer floor at conventions, and a talk with Jerry Macaluso about some of the unproduced action figures from SOTA Toys.

You can read it online or download the .pdf to read on a device when you are offline.

October 2014 - The Toy Pizza series on YouTube has a new episode online!

Episode 39 features toys from fan-favorite horror movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street.

October 30, 2014 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hot Toys and Sideshow Sale!
42 items from Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles are now on sale!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=17163

Sale!
150 Featured Sale Items on Sale! Great figures from Transfomers, Marvel, DC, Video Games, Third Party, And Much More!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=16673

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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MP-11SW SKYWARP EXCLUSIVE
Now joining the other Decepticons of the sky we have Skywarp. This awesome Masterpiece exclusive is priced at $199.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK12001&mode=re...

BARRICADE AND PROWL EXCLUSIVE

BotCon is headed back to the Midwest in 2015, show to be held in St. Charles/Chicago, Illinois June 18th - June 21st!

Fort Worth, TX - October 24th, 2014 - Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro's official Transformers Collectors' Convention BotCon, announced today that next year's award-winning convention will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort June 18th thru June 21st in the great city of St. Charles, right outside of Chicago. In 2015, fans from the Midwest and across the world will be able to celebrate another exciting year of the Transformers brand at this amazing event! You can make your hotel reservations now at www.BotCon.com/BotCon2015.

For G.I.JoeCon, there is no place like Springfield! The 2015 G.I.Joe convention to be held April 9th - April 12th in Springfield, Illinois.

Fort Worth, TX - October 24th, 2014 - Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro's official G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention G.I.JoeCon, announced today that next year's amazing convention will take place at the Prairie Capital Convention Center April 9th thru April 12th in the wonderful city of Springfield, Illinois. In 2015, fans from the Midwest and across the world will be able to celebrate another year of G.I. Joe at this exciting event! You can make your hotel reservations now at www.GIJoeCon.com/il2015

Universal Monsters Action Figures Star in New Animated Short Film

October 2014 - Every year, the spirit of Halloween takes over the world for 31 glorious days, and Diamond Select Toys unleashes a new batch of Monsters! Based on Universal Studios' iconic horror films of the 1930s, '40s and '50s, DST's 7-inch scale Universal Monsters action figures have become an annual tradition, and now they're starring in their first-ever stop-motion animated short film!

On Sale This Week: New toys from Clerks, Marvel, Godzilla and PvZ!

October 2014 - It's another big week for comic shops, as Diamond Select Toys has delivered another super-exciting batch of new products! Their Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare action figures continue to roll out to stores, along with their Clerks 20th Anniversary Minimates set, an all-new Best of Marvel Minimates series, and the highly anticipated Mechagodzilla Vinyl Bust Bank! Read on for more details, and reserve yours at your local comic shop!

Clerks Minimates 20th Anniversary B&W Box Set

October 24, 2014 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hot Toys and Sideshow Sale!
42 items from Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles are now on sale!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=17163

Sale!
150 Featured Sale Items on Sale! Great figures from Transfomers, Marvel, DC, Video Games, Third Party, And Much More!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=16673

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

MP-11SW MASTERPIECE SKYWARP EXCLUSIVE
Masterpiece Skywarp is now available for pre-order and is listed at $199.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK12001&mode=re...

APS-03 DECEPTICON BARRICADE & SOUNDWAVE TWO-PACK
The most popular Decepticons are back! Included in the two-pack are Barricade with Frenzy and Soundwave with Laserbeak and Mr. Gould. It is listed at $144.99.