Raving Toy Maniac

American Music, Pop Culture Expo On Tap For March 2013

April 2012 - HERSHEY, Pa - USA Theatres, which operates a portable drive-in and outdoor movie theatre in Central Pennsylvania, is spinning into the world of vinyl records and pop culture memorabilia, with the launching of the American Music & Pop Culture Expo.

According to the company, the expo will feature numerous vendors buying, selling and trading a variety of popular culture merchandise, such as DVDs, tapes, posters, books, magazines, autographs, comics, trading cards, photos, artwork, jewelry, t-shirts, toys, games, pins, buttons, lunchboxes, advertising items, rare LP vinyl records, CDs, albums and singles (33s, 45s, 78s), players and musical instruments.

Previous shows and conventions, organized by USA Theatres, included a non-sports card convention, which featured various exhibitors from the non-sports industry, and an antique toy and coin-op show, which featured quality exhibitors of fine antiques and collectible toys, including coin-operated items such as jukeboxes.

THE BUNNYPOCALYPSE IS UPON US!

April 2012 - It's Friday the 13th again and that can only mean one thing... Voltaire and his evil teddy bear friend, Deady will be invading the popular on-line role-playing game, AdventureQuest Worlds! And this time, it's going to be a BUNNYPOCALYPSE! Deady's comic book nemesis, Sleezter Bunny is trying to take over the world of Lore and only you (disguised as a bunny) can stop him! Of course Voltaire and Deady will be there to help you.

April 13, 2012 - During a C2E2 panel today moderated by Geoff Johns, DC Collectibles revealed an exciting line-up of new products, including a new Dr. Manhattan BEFORE WATCHMEN statue, an all-new We Can Be Heroes 7-pack action figure set featuring the DC Comics - The New 52 action figures, and variant busts from The Dark Knight Rises product line.

The Dr. Manhattan statue is the third figure to be revealed in a line of products based on characters from the highly-anticipated BEFORE WATCHMEN prequel comic book mini-series. Statues for Rorschach and The Comedian were previously announced and all of the figures will go on sale later this year.

April 13, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - here are a few new items listed today:

Hot Toys City Hunter Predator
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=HOT10389&mode=re...

New Diamond Select:
Universal Monsters, Alice - Madness Returns, Halo Minimates, Lenore, Munsters, Anakin Bust
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=9386

Round 2 Model Kits - a ton of sci-fi and music related kits have just been listed
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=round+model

A Toy Design First: Max Toy Company Collaborating with #1 Star Wars Artist Dave Dorman and Dorman's Young Son

San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL -- April 11, 2012 -- Max Toy Company CEO Mark Nagata is pleased to announce his first-ever collaboration with Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning artist Dave Dorman, and Dave Dorman's seven-year-old son Jack Dorman. This also marks the first time Max Toy Co. has collaborated with a father-and-son team, but according to Nagata, "Dave's son Jack has already exhibited some uncanny art chops, so this unique team will make for a way cool monster design. Add Dave's passion for Japanese monsters and his design sense to the mix, and I know this toy will be a best seller." Nagata, who named his own company after his own son, understands the power of the father-son creative connection.

Comic Book Legend Stan Lee & POW! Entertainment launch new Comic Convention with Comikaze Entertainment Inc.

Los Angeles' Only Comic Convention Comikaze to rebrand as Stan Lee's Comikaze presented by Pow! With This Year's Much Anticipated Annual Event in the Fall.

Beverly Hills, Calif. (April 12, 2012) – Comikaze Entertainment Inc., the operator behind the largest multimedia pop culture, comic book, horror, anime and gaming convention in Greater Los Angeles, has announced a strategic partnership with world renowned pop culture icon Stan Lee and his company POW! Entertainment. With a staggering 40,000 attendee turnout and over 300 exhibitors during its 2011 debut, this one-of-a-kind-expo was promptly recognized and embraced by attendees, the comic convention industry, and the greater LA area. In fact, LA Weekly named Comikaze Expo the "Best New Convention".

April 12, 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.

Additional Fire Incidents Prompts Baja Motorsports to Reannounce Dirt Bike Recall

GT, Giant and Trek Bicycles with SR Suntour Suspension Forks Recalled by SR Suntour Due to Fall Hazard

Nan Far Woodworking Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards; Sold Exclusively at jcpenney

Diamond Select Toys and IDW to Unleash the Battle Beasts at C2E2!

San Diego, CA (April 13, 2012) - Since 2010, Diamond Select Toys has been searching to find the right partner to introduce their Battle Beasts brand to a broader audience. Now the search is over, and DST and IDW Publishing have teamed up to immortalize a new breed of Beasts! At this year's Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which runs from April 13-15, the two companies will offer a taste of what's to come: DST will give out an ashcan preview of IDW's upcoming BATTLE BEASTS comic-book mini-series, as well as an exclusive promo Minimate of one of the book's lead characters!

DK Publishing Donates $95,000 in Books on Behalf of 501st Legion and Rebel Legion

NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 -- DK Publishing announced today a $95,000 children's book donation on behalf of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, two all-volunteer organizations of Star Wars™ costume enthusiasts who raise money for children's charities all over the world. The donation, a record-breaking amount for DK, was made to The Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., who dispersed over 7,000 new, full-color reference books to The Pajama Program for distribution to children across the country.

"We love our ever-growing relationship with the 501st and Rebel Legion volunteers," said Rachel Kempster, DK's Director of Marketing and Publicity. "They are devoted, caring groups of people, who are more than just our partners in business—we also consider them our friends." Kempster was inducted as an official Friend of the Legion at last year's Comic-Con International in San Diego by 501st Legion Officers Lesley Farquhar and Mark Chu-Lin of the Southern California and Central California Garrisons respectively.

HEROCLIX ONLINE RELEASES NEW FIGURE SET, ANNOUNCES MARVEL'S GALACTIC GUARDIANS

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - April 11, 2012 - NECA/Wizkids, the makers of HeroClix Online, today released their latest Marvel HeroClix collection, Galactic Guardians Fast Forces. The figures not only hit retailer shelves in physical form, but are available now in virtual format in HeroClix Online, adding six new figures to the online game.

New figures from the collection include Nova, Silver Surfer, Gladiator, Quasar, Beta Ray Bill and Ronan the Accuser and can be used with all other Marvel figures and maps currently in game.

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

For news updates and announcements, follow HeroClix Online on Facebook and Twitter.

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