Raving Toy Maniac

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

BBTS PHOTO CONTEST: COLLECTIONS
Enter a photo of your collection for a chance to win up to $500 store credit. Be among to the top 5 collections to win. You can vote once a day until the contest ends on August 7th. Collection image must be approved before it will show up in the contest. Entries after 3PM CST will be approved first thing in the morning the next business day.
http://www.facebook.com/BigBadToyStore/app_347079715370008

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

"BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" MOVIE MASTERPIECE BANE, TUMBLER

Battle Beasts Conquer Comic-Con!

Diamond Select Toys, IDW, Peavey and Coffin Case Launch Battle Beasts With New Toys, Comics and One-of-A-Kind Prizes at SDCC 2012!

July 2012 - At Comic-Con International 2012 in San Diego, Diamond Select Toys launched their latest original property, Battle Beasts, across multiple platforms, including toys, comics, animation and music. Each release of the weekend showcased a different aspect of the Battle Beasts brand that will make it a property to watch out for in the coming months.

The first Battle Beasts toys, utilizing Diamond Select's popular Minimates mini-figure body, went on sale at Comic-Con, in the form of a two-pack featuring protagonist Vorin and a show-exclusive character, Zik.

Bloomington, MN - July 23, 2012 - Meta Con, Minneapolis's massively-multigenre fan convention, is pleased to announce that comic-book reviewer Linkara and comedy rock band Possible Oscar will be appearing at the upcoming 2012 convention. Possible Oscar and Linkara join other guests including musicians Rumgumption and YTCracker, television stars Nakia Burrise, Michael Copon, Jessica Rey and Jason Faunt, martial artist Samurai Dan, abridged series creator LittleKuriboh, and voice actor Todd Haberkorn. Over 2,000 fans will convergence on the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minneapolis for Meta Con, from August 31 to September 2, 2012. The full guest list can be found at http://metaconvention.com/guests

July 2012 - The world of Minimates is growing by leaps and bounds every day -- in fact, with all of the new properties getting Minimated, it's gotten positively huge! Luckily, now there are more ways to get around that giant universe than ever! The Toys "R" Us-exclusive Knight Rider KITT Minimate vehicle just recently hit stores, and now there are three more Minimates-scale conveyances heading to stores this fall! Check out the next batch of mini-rides coming soon from Diamond Select Toys!

Munsters Koach Minimate Vehicles

The Dark Knight Goes Digital: Sakar International Launches Batman-Themed Electronics

Summer of Super Hero Blockbusters Continues with New Line of Batman Gear to Celebrate July 20 Release of Final Installment in the Dark Knight Trilogy

EDISON, N.J., July 19, 2012 -- As movie-goers wait with anticipation for the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy, Sakar International, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment, today announced the debut of its new line of Batman electronics and accessories to commemorate the release of Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' The Dark Knight Rises, which hits theaters and IMAX® nationwide on July 20.

Dawn: Executioner is the Next Femme Fatales Statue from DST!

July 2012 - The next 9-inch Femme Fatales PVC statue to hit stores from Diamond Select Toys is none other than the First Lady of Femme Fatales -- Dawn, created by Joseph Michael Linsner! Inspired by the cover to Cry for Dawn #8, this crimson-armored version of Dawn is titled Dawn: Executioner, and skilled sculptor Steve Kiwus has adapted the look and pose from that cover into three dimensions. Below, you can see the early control art Linsner drew up for DST, Kiwus' final rendering, and the final piece. And check out the exclusive variant version! Made especially for Hastings stores (and http://gohastings.com), this exclusive purple-and-black variant of Dawn -- color scheme designed by Linsner himself -- will hit stores at around the same time as the regular edition. Look for Dawn: Executioner to hit comic shops and online toy stores on August 1!

Hasbro Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2012

Second Quarter Results Consistent with Company Strategy to Shift U.S. Shipments Later in the Year

• Net revenues of $811.5 million for the second quarter 2012 versus $908.5 million for the second quarter 2011; Second quarter net revenues declined 7% excluding a negative $34.4 million impact of foreign exchange;
• Net earnings of $43.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $46.0 million or $0.33 per diluted share in 2011 (excluding a favorable tax adjustment and costs associated with establishing Hasbro's Gaming Center of Excellence); Second quarter 2011 net earnings were $58.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share as reported;
• Operating profit at 10.6% of revenues versus 10.3% in 2011 (excluding the Gaming Center of Excellence costs) or 8.9% as reported a year ago;
• Second quarter 2012 operating profit increased in the U.S. and Canada and Entertainment and Licensing segments.

July 23, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including Justice League Wonder Woman and Cyborg figures, Just Us action figures and Codex 1/6 scale figure from the Guild.

Featured Pre-Orders

• Justice League Cyborg Action Figure
• Justice League Wonder Woman Action Figure

Dreamworks Animation Agrees to Acquire Classic Media

Casper the Friendly Ghost, Where's Waldo?, Lassie, George of the Jungle and Christmas Classics Among Extensive Portfolio of Intellectual Property Sold to DreamWorks Animation for $155 Million

GLENDALE, Calif., July 23, 2012 -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Classic Media, owner of one of the most extensive portfolios featuring many of the best-known and most-enduring franchises in all of family entertainment, for $155 million in cash from Boomerang Media Holdings I LLC, a portfolio company of Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR.

Classic Media's library of intellectual property, which is focused on family characters and brands, features a vast collection of filmed entertainment with over 450 titles and more than 6,100 episodes of animated and live-action programming. Classic Media owns one of the world's largest comic book archives and media rights to the titles in the Golden Books library, which have sold over two billion copies worldwide. Their properties have been distributed in over 170 territories around the globe.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products Announces Worldwide Licensing Program For The Dark Knight Rises

BURBANK, Calif., July 19, 2012 -- The Bat-Signal soars above the skies as Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and its global partners launch the worldwide licensing and merchandising program that supports the eagerly awaited epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's phenomenally popular Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. As the summer blockbuster swoops into theaters, beginning July 20, WBCP unveils the unprecedented lineup of global licensees and products capturing the excitement for the film around the world.

"Batman is one of the most iconic characters in the world and our global merchandising program inspired by The Dark Knight Rises offers fans of all ages an opportunity to extend their experience beyond the theater," said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "The characters, gadgets and vehicles created by Christopher Nolan have opened up a world of great product opportunities."