Raving Toy Maniac

Walmart Announces "Pay with Cash" for Online Purchases

First major retailer to allow customers to pay cash for items online at Walmart.com without a credit, debit or prepaid card.

SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 26, 2012 -- Walmart today announced the launch of its "Pay with Cash" offering for online orders at Walmart.com in the United States. Now, customers can shop a broader selection of items online -- hundreds of thousands more items beyond its stores -- at Walmart.com and pay for them with cash at all Walmart stores in the U.S. and also in Neighborhood Markets. Walmart is the first major retailer to offer online purchases without the need for banking services or a credit, debit or prepaid card. "Pay with Cash" will help millions who rely on cash transactions, as well as those who are wary of using credit cards online, to shop Walmart's affordable and expanded online merchandise.

April 26, 2012 - 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.

Target Recalls Bunny Sippy Cups Due to Injury Hazard

Manhattan Group Recalls Baby Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

Girls' Jackets Recalled by Louise Paris; Waist Drawstrings Pose Entanglement Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Ross Stores

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Bike Brake Levers Due to Crash Hazard

Blog post about pool safety - Drowning is Silent: Portable Pools

HEROCLIX ONLINE RELEASES MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS MOVIE SET

Provides Codes for Virtual Figures Within Physical Sets

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - April 26, 2012 - Wizkids/N.E.C.A., the makers of HeroClix Online today announced the arrival of the game's latest Marvel collection, Marvel's The Avengers, which adds 16 new figures to the online game and are also available through codes in physical sets.

Joining the current line-up of Marvel characters, Marvel's The Avengers Starter Pack figures include Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Hulk. Thor, Hulk, Nick Fury, Captain America, Iron Man, Agent Coulson, Skrull Infiltrator, Hawkeye, Tony Stark and Heimdall are also available as Single-Figure Boosters.

Offering players an alternative way to collect, free codes for the virtual Marvel's The Avengers Starter Pack can be found in physical Marvel's The Avengers HeroClix Starter Packs. Additionally, codes for individual, random, virtual Gravity Feed Singles can be obtained through physical Gravity Feed Single-Figure Foil Packs or Booster sets.

For more information on HeroClix Online, visit http://hco.heroclix.com/.

Hasbro Teams Up with Global Pop Phenomenon One Direction to Debut Toy and Game Collection

Fashion Dolls, Figures, and More Will Be Available Fall 2012

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- April 24, 2012 -- Hasbro, Inc. announced today it has entered into agreement with worldwide musical sensation One Direction to produce a new line of toys and games based on the members of the popular boy band. Quickly becoming one of today's hottest musical groups, One Direction's debut album "Up All Night," which features the hit songs "What Makes You Beautiful," and "One Thing," rose swiftly to the top of pop charts across the world. With a large, dedicated fan base, including more than 4.7 million Facebook fans and 3.1 million Twitter followers, tickets for the group's debut tour in the U.K. sold out within minutes prompting expansion into tour dates in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

April 25, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from http://www.bigbadtoystore.com about a big batch of exciting new preorders as well as more cool new arrivals.

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NEW PREORDERS
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TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS 2012 SERIES 01 - CASE, SET, SINGLES
This first wave of 2012 Generations comes from the Fall of Cybertron game, due out in August. The case includes three each of WFC2 Optimus Prime and WFC2 Jazz, along with two of WFC2 Shockwave, and is listed at $104.99. The set of one each of the three is also up, priced at $47.99. Finally, we have singles of Optimus and Jazz, each listed at $15.99.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=Transformers+Gener...

HOT TOYS - MGS SNAKE EATER VIDEO GAME MASTERPIECE FIGURES - NAKED SNAKE, THE BOSS

Hasbro Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter 2012

• Net revenues of $648.9 million for the first quarter 2012 versus $672.0 million for the first quarter 2011; foreign exchange had a negative $8.5 million impact on first quarter 2012 revenues;
• Net loss of $2.6 million, or ($0.02) per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $17.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in 2011; Excluding $11.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, of severance costs, first quarter 2012 net earnings were $5.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share;
• International segment revenues up 14% to $289.7 million, reflecting growth in all major geographic regions; International revenues up 17% absent negative $8.2 million impact of foreign exchange;
• Boys product category revenues up 4% and Preschool revenues up 2%;
• Positive point-of-sale trends in the U.S. and international markets versus the first quarter 2011;
• Gained share in the U.S. and Europe

April 2012 - It's Wednesday, which means hordes of comic book fans are flocking to their local comic shops to pick up the latest releases. For those of you hoping to pick up the latest issue of Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose (the deluxe and signed editions of #73 arrive today), you may also want to swing by the toy department, because the newest Femme Fatales statue from Diamond Select Toys is also shipping to stores! Raven Hex, the stern sorcery-slinging sister of Tarot, stands 9 inches tall and is cast in PVC plastic, which puts her price far below that of most resin statues. Our original statue of Tarot is sold out, and we expect her sister to move just as fast! Pick one up and take her home today -- those comic stores get cold at night.

HASBRO BRINGS 'MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE' EXCITEMENT TO DALLAS WITH THE 18th ANNUAL TRANSFORMERS CONVENTION

The TRANSFORMERS Global Entertainment Phenomenon Rolls Into Texas With Special Guests, Interactive Experiences and Much More

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (April 24, 2012) – Thousands of TRANSFORMERS fans from around the world will celebrate the iconic brand from Hasbro, Inc. in Dallas as the TRANSFORMERS fan convention known as "BOTCON" serves up a Texas-sized helping of AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS from April 27-29. Hasbro and the TRANSFORMERS Collectors' Club, will be offering opportunities to engage in and learn about the TRANSFORMERS brand that can only be experienced at BOTCON.

WIZKIDS, NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT COLLECTIBLES ASSOCIATION REVEAL 2012 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY FIGURE

Hillside, N.J. - April 24, 2012 - Wizkids and National Entertainment Collectibles Association (N.E.C.A.) today revealed the 2012 Free Comic Book Day figure to be distributed at no cost to collectors, enthusiasts and fans at comic shops nationally on Free Comic Book Day, Saturday, May 5th. The physical figure, Thor, comes from the Marvel's The Avengers HeroClix collection and will also contain a code for its digital counterpart.

This year marks Wizkids' fourth year participating in Free Comic Book Day, offering comic book shops around the country a free Super Hero figurine to distribute to shop-goers.

"Comics are a big part of what we do at Wizkids," said Jerome Gonyeau, marketing and community manager at Wizkids. "Supporting the event and providing a special item for the community in appreciation of the art is something we'll continue to do."

DARK HORSE DIGITAL ANNIVERSARY SALE

DARK HORSE DIGITAL CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR!

April 24, 2012, MILWAUKIE, OR - Dark Horse Digital reaches a new landmark, turning one year old this Friday. To thank our loyal fans, Dark Horse announces an anniversary appreciation discount.

This weekend, Dark Horse Digital is offering 10% off all titles in the web store, with an additional coupon to newsletter subscribers and new subscribers who have signed up by this Thursday. And yes, the coupon stacks with an even greater discount off your order!

The sale starts this Friday (April 27) and ends Sunday (April 29) at midnight PST - so head over to Dark Horse Digital and sign up for the Digital Newsletter to maximize your discount on some incredible comics.

Dark Horse Comics launched its standalone comic-reader app and digital store on April 27, 2011 and has received incredible support from the continuously growing digital-comics fan base.