Raving Toy Maniac

Crayola and Mattel Announce Colorful New Multi-Year Worldwide Licensing Partnership

Crayola Brings the Magic of Barbie® and Hot Wheels® to Life Through New Line of Creative Activities and Digital Coloring App

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- April 11, 2012 -- Mattel, Inc., the world's largest toy company, and Crayola, the largest children's art supply maker, announced today a global licensing partnership. The two companies join forces, giving children creative experiences that bring popular Barbie and Hot Wheels properties to life with Crayola colors.

DC DIRECT RE-LAUNCHES AS DC COLLECTIBLES, EXPANDS ONLINE OFFERINGS

DC Collectibles features high-end collectible products and toys based on characters from DC Comics, Vertigo and MAD

BURBANK, CA, April 11, 2012 – DC Entertainment announced today that its collectibles product line, previously known as DC Direct, has been re-launched with a new brand – DC Collectibles. Additionally, in early May 2012 DC Collectibles will expand its online store (http://www.DCComics.com/Collectibles) to offer its entire product line for sale on the web, in addition to the line's primary availability in comic book retail locations. For those fans who prefer to purchase a product in-store, the website will also provide information on the closest retail location that carries a particular DC Collectibles product.

Middle East Film and Comic Con and New York Comic Con Announce Strategic Relationship

Global objective to spread Convention culture into new markets and leverage experience, resources of both parties

United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2012: ExtraCake P.R.A, organisors of the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC), presented by Samsung Galaxy Note, are proud to announce that the MEFCC is now a sister event to one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, the New York Comic Con (NYCC).

The strategic relationship has evolved as a way of sharing expertise and resources towards not only spreading the culture of entertainment conventions into new markets but also to add value to the Middle East's largest pop culture festival in years to come.

With the objective of building a consistent platform for regional talent and giving international entertainment companies a high quality outlet within the region, both teams will be sharing resources, expertise and working more closely together in the future.

April 11, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - Here is a quick update from BBTS about some more exciting new preorder, cool new arrivals, and a new Clearance Sale!

OVERSTOCK CLEARANCE SALE
We've cut prices on a wide variety of older and overstocked items. Take a look at the new sale menu for great deal on Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars, BBTS Exclusives, Marvel, DC, He-Man and More!
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=9358

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NEW PREORDERS
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GENTLE GIANT APRIL SOLICITATIONS

April 2012 - It's Wednesday, which is the day of the week that new Diamond Select Toys products hit comic shops and specialty stores across the U.S., and while only one DST product comes out today, it's a doozy! DST and the DMV don't normally have much in common (no lines, friendly employees, better photography), but DST manufactures almost as many license plates. First it was the Back to the Future "OUTATIME" plate, then it was the Ghostbusters "ECTO-1" plate plate, and now it's the Knight Rider "KNIGHT" plate! (You may think that KITT's license plate read "KITT," but it actually read "KNIGHT," as in "Knight Industries Two Thousand.") This plate is just the thing to make your car look like a high-tech piece of machinery, or at least justify your frequent conversations with it. Pick one up today!

Look for it at your local comic shop, specialty store or your favorite online retailer! You can find your nearest comic shop at comicshoplocator.com!

Hasbro Announces Its Newest Sustainable Packaging Initiative; Company to Improve Product-to-Packaging Ratios for Range of Global Brands

Effort will reduce environmental impacts by minimizing material used

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- April 10, 2012 -- Global branded play leader Hasbro, Inc. today announced plans to reduce materials used in product packaging for many of its highly popular global brands, including MY LITTLE PONY, NERF and PLAY-DOH. This new initiative will result in an approximate 15 percent improvement in the average product-to-package ratio of brands and products included in the initiative, with retail availability of Hasbro products in the more environmentally-efficient packaging beginning this year.

Over the next two years, retailers and consumers will begin to see an even broader range of packaging efficiencies put in place, including redesigned disposable boxes and blister packs that use less material. As an example, a more efficient package design for the 2013 MY LITTLE PONY assortment pack is expected to reduce the size of shipping containers by 20 percent, creating transportation efficiencies.

SEAN ASTIN TO APPEAR AT CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)

Actor Joins Extensive List of Guests from Entertainment World to Appear at Annual Pop Culture Convention

Norwalk, CT, April 10, 2012: Show organizers at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which is set take place this coming weekend, April 13 – 15 at McCormick Place in Chicago, have announced that Sean Astin will appear as a guest at the show. In addition to featuring top artists and creators from the world of comics, C2E2 is a showcase for celebrities from all corners of the entertainment universe including film, TV, books and music. Sean Astin is well remembered for his role as loyal Samwise Gamgee in the universally acclaimed Lord of the Rings; his role as Mikey in the 1980's classic The Goonies; and his title role as the American working class hero in Rudy. He joins other entertainment celebrities at C2E2 including:

John Barrowman
Nicholas Brendan
Ryan Buell
Lauren Cohan
John Cusack
Anthony Daniels
Josh Gates

April 9, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including Captain Action figures and costumes, Star Wars Pendants and Marvel Figurine Magazines!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Nemesis Statue Resident Evil
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Hand Glove with Lighted LED
• Dr. Evil 12 inch deluxe action figure

Barbie Collector Unveils Hunger Games™ Katniss Barbie® Doll

April 9, 2012 - "May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor."

Paying tribute to Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant heroine of The Hunger Games™ who is beloved by millions, Barbie® Collector introduces: The Hunger Games™ Katniss Barbie® doll for the adult collector.

The Katniss Barbie® doll depicts the strong and ever resourceful heroine as she enters the arena to defend herself in a brutal Government sponsored game which she has entered after volunteering to take her younger sister’s place.

She wears a black hooded jacket with orange trim, a black t-shirt, army green cargo pants and utilitarian brown boots.

On her shoulder, she totes her trusted bow and arrow and of course, proudly wears her mockingjay pin on her lapel to symbolize freedom. Her hair is fastened into her signature, loose braid.

Barbie® Announces Plan to Turn the White House Pink with a Run for the Oval Office

Barbie® Doll Stands on Her Own (Literally!) for the First Time with the Barbie® I Can Be...™ President Doll

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- April 4, 2012 -- Today, Barbie® doll formally threw her pink hat into the presidential campaign ring by unveiling the new 2012 Barbie® I Can Be...™ President doll. The global icon will represent girls of all ages on her road to the "Pink House," serving as the "B Party™" candidate. Barbie® will hit the campaign trail with a full-scale "glam-paign" alongside her longtime political advisor – The White House Project®. With a designer pink power suit and a new Tumblr blog, Barbie® stands on her own (literally) as this campaign's sole female candidate.