Sunday Funnies: Michael Mozart of JeepersMedia

Michael Mozart is a toy industry guru who has been posting short video reviews of strange toys and products on Youtube for the past year. Of course there is a boatload of toy reviewers on Youtube, but Mozart isn't your run of the mill review guy. He collects some of the oddest toys ever released, and shares them with his viewers. Posted above is a clip of the "Pooping Dog Barbie" (always a favorite of mine) and you can find all his other hilarious reviews at the link below.

Michael Mozart's Odd Toy Reviews [Youtube]

Toy Collection of the Week - Shredder's Masters of the Universe Collection

For this week's feature, we take a look at Shredder's "He-Man & The Masters of the Universe" collection. Check out the 3 minute video as he walks you through his collection. There may be bigger He-Man collections out there, but he makes a very watchable presentation of his toys and shows off a few rarer pieces such as Snake Mountain. It certainly has me looking forward to the MOTU Classics coming this fall.

Transformers Animated news update - with pics of new 3-pack

Lots of news on the Transformers Animated front as we get ready for the next waves.
Pictured above is a preview of a new Target Exclusive 3-pack. It features Rescue Ratchet (Deluxe class) as well as Starscream and Prowl (both of the smaller Legends class). Ratchet comes with a "rescue" backpack and repair tools. No word yet on when it will hit stores, but probably before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Wave 4 Deluxe has appeared at some online retailers, but not at retail yet. In the $20 Voyager class, triple-changer Blitzwing was available for a limited time at HasbroToyShop, but has since sold out. He also appeared at some Walmarts around the nation in small amounts, but still not a nationwide roll-out. Leader class Ultra Magnus has also appeared at HasbroToyShop and BigBadToyStore for a short time but no signs of him at retail yet. Expect all this to change as we get into September as all of them should be showing up soon.
Also, pictures have surfaced on Ebay of a repackaged Voyager Class Optimus Prime now boxed in his robot mode instead of his vehicle mode. He was one of the harder to find Animated figures, so looks like they will be pumping out some more of this popular figure soon.
Update: The first image of Shockwave in package has been revealed via the usual Chinese Ebayers. An earlier video we linked to says he is due out in December.

Bank Robber Joker coming this November

Here's a preview of the new Bank Robber Joker from Hot Toys due out this November. I still can't find a Movie Masters Joker (like alot of people) but this one looks even better. Of course, it costs a lot more too (roughly $120). I love the accessories that come with the figure, and the attention to detail is top notch. His duffel bag even opens to reveal various nefarious things. Look for it this November.

A ton more pics here [via Toysrevil]

Hasbro to raise prices September 1

Hasbro, the giant toymaker behind such lines as Transformers, Star Wars and G.I. Joe is set to raise it's wholesale prices on September 1. This has been a good, no, great year for Hasbro. The company's stock has nearly doubled since the beginning of 2008, and their profits are up big compared to 2007. But citing higher shipping costs due to fuel prices, Hasbro will be raising prices to wholesalers. It's up to the retailers themselves whether to pass this increase along to the consumer, but I'm betting on "Will Definitely Pass It On".
The article talks about how Iron Man was a big success for Hasbro this year. Too bad the same can't be said for the Indiana Jones toys. The shelves are still overflowing with Indy action figures and I expect to see some big clearances on them soon.

Hasbro to raise prices September 1 [marketwatch.com]

Star Wars fan builds full-size Landspeeder

Wow, just wow. We reported previously on the guy who built the full-size Batmobile tumbler. Well, not to be outdone, a Star Wars mega-fan named Daniel Deutsch has built a working replica of the Landspeeder from Episode IV. No, it doesn't actually hover, but it can be driven at reported top speed of 25 mph. Oh, and he also built a working R2-D2 droid to go with it. Check out the link for the full story and lots more pictures.

Fan builds full-size Star Wars Landspeeder

Marvel Legends - Target Exclusive Wave

Ready or not, here comes another Marvel Legends Build-A-Figure wave. I've seen reports on the internet that they are at retail now, though stores may vary as a trip to my local Target yielded nothing.
Collect all 6 and build the giant Red Hulk who looks really pissed off even by Hulk standards. Keep your eye open for the Wolverine variant chase figure in his X-force uniform. But remember, these are all Target exclusive so don't be lookin' at Walmart.

The figures in this wave:
- Wolverine
- Wolverine variant (X-Force Uniform)
- The Silver Savage
- Adam Warlock
- Spiral
- Union Jack
- Spider-man in black suit

G.I. Joe comic packs wave 5 hitting the shelves

G.I. Joe comic packs wave 5 are out now -- saw some myself at Toys 'R' Us last night. There are some nice figures in this wave. Yes, they are giving us *another* Cobra Commander but at least he is one of the coolest versions yet, in his full dress outfit with a freaking sword. As always, the MSRP is $9.99 each.

The sets in this series are:
- Destro & Iron Grenadier
- Lt. Falcon & Nemesis Enforcer
- Cobra Commander & Tripwire

Also, if you missed out on any of the past waves, BigBadToyStore is running a clearance special right now with some of the older comic packs going for as little as $3.99.

The 12 Sexiest Action Figures Ever Made

Topless Robot today posted a list of the 12 Sexiest Action Figures Ever Made. Check it out.
Of course we can all argue with some of the picks (Lady Jaye instead of Scarlett?! No Lara Croft? Are Mini-mates really sexy?) but I think they nailed #1 dead on. When I met Princess Leia, err I mean Carrie Fisher, at the 2004 Comic Con she had stacks of about 10 or so different pictures that you would choose from and then she would autograph it for you. One of the stacks though was MUCH smaller than the others, showing that was the by far the fan favorite. Of course it was her in the Slave Leia outfit. And of course it is the one I picked. She autographed it for me and then proceeded to spill her water bottle all over it. But she was nice enough to make me another one.
Since that memorable scene in "Return of the Jedi", the Slave Leia outfit has been imitated many times over the years, but I think the best impression I've seen of it is G4's Olivia Munn at the 2007 Comic Con. I'll be in my bunk.

Futurama series 4 -- New Build-A-Figure wave begins

I've always been a fan of Futurama, even when it wasn't cool. The show was resurrected from its grave last year, and hopefully won't be killed off again. I started my Futurama toy collection at the 2007 San Diego ComicCon with "Mating Season Zoidberg" and I wish I would have bought a few more as it is one of the rarer figures now.
Since then, Series 1 through 3 have come and gone -- but now a new wave is upon us.
Series 4, 5 & 6 will each feature 2 figures per series, and each figure includes one of six Build-A-Figure pieces to construct Robot Santa!
Series 4 (pictured above) consists of Fry (as Captain Yesterday) and Nudar (that rascally alien). Release date is August (which, looking at the calendar, is almost over) and I still haven't seen them in stores yet -- but you can pre-order them online. Series 5 (Super King Bender & Calculon) and Series 6 (Amy & Clobberella) will follow in October and November, respectively.

Transformers Mini-Con 12 pack headed to K-Mart soon

First talked about at BotCon in April, the Transformers Mini-Con 12-pack is a K-Mart exclusive set that includes a wide assortment of the awesome little transforming robot mini-cons. The 12-pack is due out in September, and like we've seen before with other Transformers, once they start showing up for sale by Chinese Ebayers the American release isn't far away.
Look for these at K-Mart soon.

For better pictures of each individual Mini-Con, go here.

Star Wars Legacy Saga Legends - Wave 2 is out

The second wave of action figures in the Star Wars Legacy Saga Legends line is officially due out on September 11, but they have just been made available for sale now online at HasbroToyShop. Expect to see them in stores soon.
The wave features a lot of re-issues and re-paints, which I guess is the function of this line. Do I really need another Darth Vader? Fresher stuff can be found in The Clone Wars and Legacy Build-A-Droid lines, which both also have new waves set for release in a few weeks. But put me down for a Darth Maul.
Legacy Saga Lengends Wave 2 features:

- Clone Trooper Officer (Red)
- Darth Vader
- Darth Maul
- Jango Fett
- 501st Clone Trooper
- Shock Trooper
- ARC Trooper
- Battle Droid 2-Pack
- BARC Trooper

Update (9/7/08): These are now in stores, as I bought most of them at Toys 'R' Us tonight.

Toys Are Us - The Movie

No, it's not a film about the giant toy store. "Toys Are Us" is billed as the world's first documentary on designer vinyl toys. It was shown last month at the San Diego Comic Con, but now a special "Director's Cut" DVD has been released, which includes two new mini-documentaries titled "Toymaking 101", which showcases the process of sculpting and marketing toys, and "An Ancient Vinyl History," which looks at vintage Japanese vinyl character toys. If you have any interest in designer Do-It-Yourself toymaking, you should check it out. Watch the trailer above, and then visit the producer's website, X-Ray Films, for more information including where to purchase a copy for yourself.

G.I. Joe wave 12 preview

The G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary line is currently on wave 9. We covered the upcoming waves 10 & 11 here, but now new images have appeared on the internet of G.I. Joe wave 12. This wave isn't due out till near the end of the year but I'm really looking forward to some of these to fill out my army.
Pictured above are:
- Tripwire (with 2nd piece of MASS Device)
- Storm Shadow (with ninja gear)
- Cobra Diver (with 3rd piece of MASS Device)
- Cobra Trooper (with red symbol)
- Python Patrol Crimson Guard
- Ripper (Cartoon colors version)

Star Wars comic packs wave 2 coming in September

Four sets of new Star Wars comic packs are inbound in the next few weeks. Each pack comes with 2 action figures and a comic book reprint that features the 2 characters. The most interesting to me is Cade Skywalker & Darth Talon. Cade is the offspring of the Skywalker line, and he roams the galaxy about 100 years after the destruction of the Death Star as a Jedi turned bounty hunter. Want to know more? Read the comic book that comes with him. The other sets feature a pair of Imperial Knights, a pair of Mandalorians, and Princess Leia & Dengar.
Here's the complete list:
- Legacy #2: Darth Talon & Cade Skywalker
- Legacy#6: Antares Draco & Ganner Krieg
- Marvel Star Wars #68: Dengar & Fenn Shysha
- Marvel Star Wars #69: Princess Leia (Hoth) & Tobbi Dala

They are available for pre-order now or get them in stores next month.

Sunday Funnies: Questionable Toys Edition

Amazing Pets wants to know "How wet will you get from a Loving Licks kiss?"
Watch the 30 second commercial.

Toy Collection of the Week - Revisiting the "Million Dollar Transformers Collection"

Perhaps you remember this story from last summer: A woman from Escondido, California was auctioning off her late husband's G1 Transformers collection. The collection contained over 275 original Transformers from the 1980s, most in their original unopened boxes. She put it on Ebay with a Buy-It-Now price of one million dollars. And someone actually bought it. Newspapers around the world ran stories about the "Million Dollar Transformers Collection" and many were shocked, since even using generous pricing the collection wasn't worth 7 digits. Well, she never got the money. Turns out it was a 5 year old kid messing with her, so she relisted it. This time, she got bids of over $90,000 but she had set a reserve price above that amount, so the collection didn't sell again. Finally, she listed it a third time on Ebay, and it sold for $50,000, her minimum bid. That price works out to about $180 for each Transformer, certainly a somewhat more reasonable price.
Who bought this collection and what happened to it? I am unable to find any answers to those questions, as the buyer was kept secret and they never came forward. My best guess is that an investor bought the collection and then resold them all one-by-one on Ebay over the last year.
(For more pictures of the collection, visit this link.)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is full of surprises

If you haven't seen the new Star Wars animated movie yet (or even if you have) check out this list of 10 Easter Eggs to look for in the film.
As for me, I finally got around to seeing it tonight. ToyGirl and I headed out to the 10pm showing at the local megaplex. In what might be a bad sign for the film we were the only ones in the entire theater. I realize its not opening weekend anymore, and it was a bit late, but seeing nobody else in the theater on a Friday night seemed odd.
As for the movie, I won't bore you with a long review, but I actually liked it. It was mostly entertaining, if a bit childish at times, but I think that was on purpose. It wasn't greatness by any means, but better than I was expecting. I'm sure it will be on DVD before Christmas though, so if you miss it in theaters, you won't have to wait long.

Transformers Universe news: Unicron returns! Again.

Did you miss out on Transformers Armada Unicron back in 2003? Well, you are in luck then because he's about to return.
Hasbro produced the massive Unicron in great quantities that holiday season. I still have one Mint In Box taking up space in the closet -- but he was also insanely cool. A huge robot that transforms into a planet that eats things is always a good idea. If you remember the original Transformers movie from 1986, Unicron was one bad ass mofo.
The last re-release of Unicron in this size was in the Energon line of 2005-6, but at least he was repainted black. But this time we don't even get a repaint. Now part of the Transformers Universe line, Unicron is a Toys 'R' Us exclusive and has been spotted in Singapore and is slowly making his way east. Look for these to take up lots of room on shelves this holiday season.

Also, pictures of a Universe 2-pack have turned up on the web, showing a Galaxy Force version of Cybertron Optimus Prime, and Cybertron Crumplezone. No official word on when or where this is going to be released, but rumors are it may be an exclusive for a particular store.

And finally, Ebayers from China have once again provided a look at some prototypes and early releases that we should see down the line at some point.

Toys 'R' Us making room for more G.I. Joe merchandise

Toys 'R' Us has been performing a nationwide reset this week, changing around the shelf space devoted to certain toy lines. Reports of this broke on the internet a few days ago, and a trip to my local Toys 'R' Us confirms the findings.
The biggest benefactor I can see is the G.I. Joe section, who has been given more pegs for action figures and additional space for boxed merchandise such as vehicles and DVD-sets. The 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line has been hard to find in stores, especially the rarer figures. Before this reset, Toys 'R' Us devoted only a small end cap to the figures, but hopefully this new room will herald in larger shipments in the future.
One exclusive that is destined for Toys 'R' Us in the near future is the G.I. Joe Sea Command 3-pack (pictured above). The new figures included in this set are Deep Six, Lt. Torpedo, and Cutter. And now you know; and knowing is half the battle.
Update: Here is a picture of all three of the upcoming Toys 'R' Us exclusive 3-packs.

DC Universe Classics Wave 3 in stores now - Wave 4 on the way

DC Universe is busy pumping out action figures for their fans. Wave 3 is hitting stores now, and the upcoming Wave 4 will debut in September. Both sets include variants, so keep an eye out for those.
Wave 3 figures are:
- Deathstroke: The Terminator
- Robin
- Nightwing
- Sinestro
- Green Lantern
- (Variant) Sinestro Corps. Sinestro [packed with a 50% frequency]
- (Variant) Deathstroke: The Terminator Unmasked [30% frequency]
Each of the five action figures includes an exclusive Build A Figure piece. The Wave 3 Build A Figure is the very large Solomon Grundy.

Wave 4 (September):
- Wonder Woman
- Captain Atom
- Ares
- Cyborg
- Batman Beyond
- (Variant) Gold Wildstorm Captain Atom
- (Variant) Artemis Wonder Woman
Collect all of Wave 4 and you can put together the purple villain Despero who is the first Build A Figure to include his own accessories (a massive rifle and hand-gun).

Transformers Titanium Series Grimlock, Prowl starting to appear in stores

Toys 'R' Us exlusive "War Within" Titanium Series Grimlock and Prowl have started to show up at some stores across the nation. The 6" figures are featured in their Cybertron mode and cost $20 each. In case you didn't know, The War Within comic book series deals with the civil war on Cybertron between the Autobots and the Decepticons before they came to Earth. I personally like the die-cast quality of the series, but unfortunately these are some of the last figures in the line as the Titanium Series has been canceled.

Deals! Deals! Deals! Save money on your toys

Who likes to overpay for toys?

Entertainment Earth just launched a very unique "Low Price Guarantee" on Monday. They now guarantee that they will have the lowest price on any toy you order from them or they will pay you the difference. Here's the guarantee from their website:

"If, within 14 days of purchase, you find the identical item available from any qualified U.S.-based Internet retailer for less -- excluding shipping, processing, and tax -- we'll refund 100% of the difference. The item must be in stock on the U.S.-based Internet retailer's website."

There are a few other details, such as Ebay doesn't count and neither do coupons, closeouts or rebates. But if you are searching the dozens of online toy stores looking for the lowest price before ordering, now you know that if you see it cheaper within 14 days, you get a refund on the difference. Not bad.

Speaking of coupons, in the current wave of Transformers Animated Toys, there is a coupon code you can use at Hasbrotoyshop.com to get 10% off your purchase of ANY and ALL Transformers you order from them, not just the Animated series. The code is TF2009. It doesn't expire until 12/31/09 so use it at checkout every time you order Transformers from them.

And finally, StarWarsShop.com has announced a new feature of their Bargain Bin called "The Weekly 6". Each week they will have 6 new deeply discounted deals for purchase on their site. Check out this week's offerings for some big savings on Star Wars merchandise.

World of Warcraft series 4 preview

DC previewed their upcoming World of Warcraft series 4 this week. Pictured above is the Succubus Demon. The wave also includes a Tuskarr, a Gnoll Warlord, a Murloc 2-pack, and the Deluxe figure Lady Vashj. They are all due out on April 1, 2009.
Also, Series 3 is due for release in late November/early December and can be pre-ordered now.
Now grab a 12-pack of Mountain Dew, and get back in your mom's basement.

Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary Celebration on the road now

The first Hot Wheels debuted in 1968, so Mattel is celebrating 40 years of making miniture cars by having a Hot Wheels road trip. It started on August 19th in El Segundo, CA and has stops along the way in Wendover, Utah (Aug. 21), Speed, KS (Aug. 24), Indianapolis, IN (Aug. 30), Detroit, MI (Sept. 1) and Watkins Glen, NY (Sept. 5). Here's what they have planned:

At each stop, you can expect to find Hot Wheels® designers on hand for autographs, life-size Hot Wheels® cars, Hot Wheels® “driver’s license” kiosks, Hot Wheels® downhill racing, a display showcasing the history of the brand, and product demonstrations. And don’t miss your chance to see the one-of-a-kind jeweled Hot Wheels® car created for the anniversary and the production of the four-billionth car!

Get all the details and the exact locations and times here.

New Star Wars Galactic Heroes vehicles

Just released in stores and online are the diminutive but sleek looking Darth Vader & TIE Fighter from Episode IV and the not-quite-as-cool Obi-Wan & Star Fighter from Episode II. Each is sold seprately for an MSRP of $20.

Hasbro started the whole pint-sized "Heroes" line with Star Wars Galactic Heroes but since then they've released Transformer's Robot Heroes, Marvel Super Heroes Squad, and now G.I. Joe has Combat Heroes coming next month. You can still order the Snake Eyes & Timber Comic Con exclusive from HasbroToyShop.com that launched the Combat Heroes line. I've personally enjoyed them all except the Robot Heroes -- I just can't get into Transformers that don't Transform.

UPDATE: The next wave of Star Wars Galactic Heroes vehicles (pictured below) should be out next month. The wave features Jabba's Skiff and Dagobah X-Wing Fighter

Transformers Animated season 1 DVD out today

Transformers Animated: Season 1 was released on DVD today. It's about $20 and you can order it here from Amazon.
Or you can go here and watch all of Season 1 and 2 online for free.
The DVD doesn't really include any extras, and in fact doesn't include the first 3 episodes that formed the pilot for the series. So I can't recommend the DVD, but the series is still worth watching.
The story builds slowly, and it takes a few episodes to get going. Its one of those series that grows on you, especially as more and more Transformers make their appearances. Season 3 is coming in early 2009 on Cartoon Network, so you have some time to catch up.

Voltron live-action movie coming or not?

With the Transformers movie a huge-hit, and the G.I. Joe movie arriving next summer, Hollywood has been looking for other toy-related properties to put on the big screen. The Voltron live-action movie has been in early works, but yesterday came news that it is changing hands -- moving from New Regency to Relativity, the company that brought you Ghost Rider, The Forbidden Kingdom, and Wanted. But it is still far from a done deal, and this isn't the best of news for those hoping for a quality movie. Hopefully any movie would spark some new Voltron toys. The Voltron Masterpiece Collection was released last year, and it is still available from some online retailers, but besides that the Voltron toy line has been pretty dormant here in U.S.
In the same article, the Robotech live-action movie is talked about, but it is another project that is far from certain. Previous articles have mentioned that Tobey McGuire's production company is involved, but that the movie wouldn't be set in the Macross generation due to a dispute with the Japanese owners of the Macross franchise.
Toy fans can only hope that both movies make it to theaters some time in the future, as toy lines coinciding with their release would be very likely. And who wouldn't want to see Voltron on a 50 foot screen?

Voltron movie changing hands [animenewsnetwork.com]

Halo 3 action figure news dump

Lots of happenings in the Halo 3 toy universe. The McFarlane series of Halo 3 toys have been flying off the shelves. Series 1 was released in March, and Series 2 was released last month and is quickly disappearing.

Series 3 is set for release in September, with 6 new figures:

• MASTER CHIEF
• SPARTANS
• ELITE COMBAT
• JACKAL MAJOR
• FLOOD COMBAT HUMAN
• WAR CHIEFTAIN (Weapon Class)

Also, an exclusive Halo 3 2-pack (pictured above) will be coming to Fred Meyer stores in November. This boxed set will include the Master Chief and the Brute Chieftain featured in Series 1.

• HALO 3 2-PACK FRED MEYER EXCLUSIVE

And speaking of exclusives, if you missed the San Diego Comic Con Halo 3 exclusives (Spartan Soldier EVA "HellSpartan” plus an exclusive clear Spartan Soldier) you can now order them online from the official Halo 3 site. They had a limited run of 3,000 each, so supplies could run low -- so hurry up if you are interested. They are $30 for the set.

Transformers Legends Wave 2 now on shelves

They're cute, they're tiny, they're less than 5 bucks. Transformers Universe Legends are the smallest of the Universe line (followed by Deluxe, Voyager and Ultra in that order) but when you are looking for an affordable fix to your Transformers addiction, or a less complicated figure for the youngster in your life, they are just the ticket.
Reports from around the internet are that Wave 2 is now hitting the shelves. In this wave you'll find Hound, Jazz and Megatron (in his G2 tank form).

That's no moon! Lego Death Star arrives in September

The latest version of the Lego Death Star is set to arrive September 16th. At over 3800 pieces and sized at 16" tall by 16" wide when fully assembled, it is a massive build. It includes an army of 24 mini-figures, a TIE fighter for the hanger bay, and even has the trash compactor monster. It features many of the movie environments for you to explore, such as Leia's detention cell, the aforementioned trash compactor, and the Emperor's throne room. Preorder now, though like many of Lego's Deluxe products it is on the expensive side at $399. But if you'd just like to take a closer look at this cool toy, check out this link for some more pics.

Sunday Funnies: Roadkilltoys.com

What better way to completely scar the children in your life than plush toys that look like road kill animals? Well, head on over to Roadkilltoys.com and check out their line of grotesque and hilariously realistic stuffed toys. That's Twitch the Raccon pictured above; he comes complete with a body-bag and toe-tag. They also have a new limited edition Rabbit named Grind, who features lovable life-like intestines hanging out of his squashed body.
Roadkilltoys.com is located in London and you can order online, but at roughly $46 each these carcass toys don't come cheap.

Toy Collection of the Week - Josh Budich

I've written before about the software I use to keep my toy collection organized. Well, a Star Wars collector named Josh Budich has his own unique way that requires a bit more skillz but results in a very cool online database of his collection. His 600+ figure collection is shown on his website with a small pixelated icon of each toy, and clicking on one brings up details and pictures of the real item. Josh is an artist/designer by profession and he obviously put a lot of time into this. We thank him because toy collections are meant to be looked at and shared. It's also very educational for Star Wars collectors, as his collection can be searched in various ways and features many exclusive items you may not know about.

Josh Budich's Online Star Wars Collection

Star Wars toys now at McDonalds

Head over to McDonalds and get your Happy Meal on to get your free Star Wars ummm... just what the hell is that? Some kinda vehicle/bobblehead hybrid? Spaceships with giant heads attached? Who thinks this stuff up? The Transformers Animated Happy Meal toys a couple weeks ago were cool, but these seem a bit wacky. I would have preferred the vehicles without the heads, but oh well, I'll still probably collect them all. Wait, there's 18 of them? Maybe not.
Next up in the Happy Meal rotation is Lego Batman toys in a couple weeks.

Star Wars toys now at McDonalds [Happymeal.com]

Transform and Roll Out this November (preorder now & get free shipping)

We've known about the Optimus Prime 25th Anniversary super-bad-ass with trailer re-issue since earlier this year at Botcon. He's due out on November 1st, and just like his old G1 self, he comes with his trailer, plus you get a DVD of the original first three G1 cartoon episodes and an Autobot shield that recites some well-known Optimus phrases. He retails for $69.99 and his blue is a bit more vibrant than G1 and his shorter smokestacks have left some message board posters outraged (its because of today's different toy safety standards) but he is still going to be at the top of many a Christmas List.
You can now pre-order him at Etoys and get free shipping. I haven't seen him available for pre-order anywhere else yet. Hurry before the scalpers get them all!

Membership has its Privileges

The Transformers Collectors' Club is just about ready to ship their eagerly awaited Seacon exclusive collector set (pictured above, click the image to see a close-up). It's available for purchase only to members. Membership starts at $40 a year, but you get some benefits with that price: the monthly Master Collector magazine, the bi-monthly Transformer magazine insert, a free classified ad in the magazine every month, and a free exclusive Transformer every year. You also get the opportunity to purchase some cool Transformer shwag, like the Seacon set. Though it will set you back about $119, the Seacon collection includes remakes of all six of the classic Seacons and all the accessories needed to form Piranacon. [Update: The price is currently the "estimated price" and may change depending on how many people order. Also, non-members can order it for $40 more but you might as well join the club for the same $40 and get all the other stuff too.]
For G.I. Joe fans, Master Collector also has a G.I. Joe Collectors' Club with similar benefits. And they just announced their upcoming free action figure. Join or Renew your G.I. Joe Club membership by March 16th, 2009 and get Undertow, pictured below, absolutely free.

G.I. Joe is there! (somewhere)

I like the new G.I. Joe vehicles. You like the new G.I. Joe vehicles. Everyone likes them, making them a bit hard to find in stores. Wave 1 has been out for a few weeks, and I just now managed to lay my hands on a case fresh Cobra Trouble Bubble/G.I. Joe Ram motorcycle combo pack (pictured above) last night at Target just as they were stocking the shelves. But I still have yet to see the coveted HISS Tank on shelves anywhere.
Meanwhile, Wave 2 is coming in October, to be followed by Wave 3 and its imposing awesomeness.
Highlights of Wave 2 include the Cobra Firebat and the G.I. Joe SHARC. Wave 3 includes the Cobra Fang & Claw combo pack and the G.I. Joe AWE Dunebuggy.
Also, the Target exclusive Cobra Rattler airplane has just been spotted in some stores. To get your hands on one of these babies, expect to battle Ebay scalpers, crazed Joe fans, and small children - possibly all at the same time.
Update: Besides the Cobra Rattler, the G.I. Joe Conquest is also a Target exclusive that has just started to trickle into some stores. Both are pictured below.

Update #2: Supposedly the ones above leaked onto shelves before they were supposed to. Officially they are to be released sometime during the first week of September.

New Star Wars animated movie to be a crapfest?

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" opens tomorrow. Fans are excited and the lines are forming now. Wait... are the lines forming? Does anyone care about this movie? There are no official pre-release media reviews for this movie, which is usually a bad sign. But there were some limited sneak previews last weekend, and at least one guy with a blog says he and his kids liked it. Another internet review says it was like "watching a bad video game" and that it was total crap.
I'm planning on seeing it, but I'm not expecting "The Empire Strikes Back" out of it. George Lucas has pretty much lost his way lately. Next up for Star Wars fans to complain about is the new TV show on the USA network this October. "The Clone Wars" may end up ranking up there with "The Phanton Menace", but at least we got some new toys out of it.

Mighty Muggs moving more merchandise

I have to admit, I don't get the love for Mighty Muggs. Vinyl potato-shaped toy dolls just don't do it for me, I guess. But to each their own. Apparently someone likes the Mighty Muggs as they keep making more and more of them, for more and more collections.
Marvel, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones characters currently all have Mighty Muggs, with the G.I. Joe line due out soon. Actually, that Storm Shadow one looks pretty cool. Hmmmm... I might actually consider buying that one.

Top 10 Fatty McFat Toys

If you are a reader of ToplessRobot.com, you've already seen this list, but I wanted to link to it for those that haven't. As they say on their site, "let us pity—and yet, celebrate—these big-boned heroes of plastic with this list."

Top 10 Fattest Action Figures of All Time [ToplessRobot.com]

G.I. Joe hunting - with previews of the upcoming waves

I've recently found that the GI Joe 25th Anniversary figures are becoming slightly easier to find in stores. It seems Hasbro is upping production on this extremely popular line. Many of the previous waves have been almost non-existent in stores, snatched up immediately by rabid collectors. Wave 9 is in stores now, and I actually bought a few of them last night at one of the local mega-chains.

Wave 10 should be arriving in stores around the beginning of September. This wave has a chase figure variant: transparent Wraith (pictured above). So be on the lookout for him.
Wave 11 follows in October, and features Matt Trakker from the classic toy line M.A.S.K. joining the Joe team (pictured below).

Of course, like many toy collectors I prefer to buy these figures at retail in person, so I can pick out mint copies and avoid shipping costs, but I am often forced to purchase some of them online if I want to complete my collection. It's easy if money is no object, but if you are looking for the best online deal on GI Joe figures I recommend Entertainment Earth. Of all the online toy stores, they seem to sell their GI Joe figures for the cheapest. GI Joe carded figures retail in stores for $6.99. You can pre-order the 8-figure Wave 10 and Wave 11 right now from Entertainment Earth for $55.99 which works out to roughly $6.99 a figure, the same as in the stores. Of course you have to pay some shipping, but if you factor in the money you would spend on gas, sales tax and time spent hunting, its pretty much the same. And this way you are guaranteed the figures you want.

Latest Lara Croft news from superfan ToyGirl

If you made it to any of the big conventions this summer, you had a chance to purchase the giant limited edition Lara Croft figure released by Tonner. This 17” tall British beauty model was based on the Tomb Raider Legend video game (which I have just recently finished playing and can't wait to sink my claws into the upcoming Underworld video game this November).
The Tonner figure carried a hefty price tag at $125, but managed to completely sell out and is only available now on the secondary markets. If you can lay your hands on one, you now have a piece of my heart.

As for upcoming Lara releases, Sideshow Collectibles has a 12" arctic outfit Lara Croft action figure coming out this fall that you can pre-order now for $79.99.

In other Tomb Raider news, the new official Lara Croft model was announced this week.
The winner (pictured above) is the lovely Alison Carroll. But watch out -- this gymnast is perfectly capable of kicking your butt (I want her job).
Check out more photos of Alison here.

New Transformers Animated photos - Blazing Lockdown revealed

TF08.net has posted some new photos of the upcoming Transformers Animated "Blazing Lockdown" with in-package photos showing Lockdown's new flame deco and chainsaw attachment. Also, the back of the package shows the other figures included in the wave, including Swindle, Blurr and Swoop. Since Swoop is actually starting to appear at some online retailers (along with Sentinel Prime and Elite Guard Bumblebee), I would bet this new wave would be due out next, sometime around October, which is a little sooner than Hasbro first announced.

Millennium Falcon review will leave you reaching for your wallet

When I first saw the new Millennium Falcon at Toys 'R' Us, I was a bit blown away by how big it was: Over 2 & a half feet long. And the hefty price tag of $160 made me question if I really needed such a large toy in my already cramped-for-room toy collection. But after reading this review, I now want - no, I now NEED one. The shear amount of features and attention to detail in every facet of this toy is something we haven't seen in a long time. I challenge you to look at this review and not want one for yourself. As the reviewer says, this is the Millennium Falcon we've always wanted. Finally big enough to include pretty much all the aspects from the movies (with some minor compromises) this ship is no ordinary toy.
Follow the link below to see for yourself.

Review of the new big Millennium Falcon [JediInsider.com]

Latest ToyFare magazine hits stores Wednesday

ToyFare Magazine #134 hits the racks this Wednesday (or the mailbox if you are a subscriber like me). On the cover is the first look at the new Skeletor from the Masters of the Universe line, and inside is behind-the-scenes coverage of the return of this classic series. We'll have more on this later in the week, but wanted to give you a preview of the cover story.
Update: Here is a link to just what you'll find in the latest issue.

Sunday Funnies: Inflated Ebay auction of the week

Now you can own a rare Optimus Prime Zippo Lighter for the low low price of $5,000! That's it! Just 5 G's. Free shipping. Such a deal.

Sneak peak at Transformer Animated Xmas releases

Here is a short video showing some of the upcoming Transformers Animated figures due for release this December:

Star Wars B-Wing Fighter exclusive now at Toys 'R' Us

As part of the Legacy Collection, Toys 'R' Us released an exclusive Star Wars Dagger Squadron B-Wing Fighter in stores -- and it is now available online too. The Dagger Squadron is from the Star Wars comic book series. The B-Wing fighter was always one of my favorite Star Wars vehicles; this version comes with pilot Lt. Pollard and will set you back $39.99.

Star Wars B-Wing Dagger Squadron exclusive [Toysrus.com]

How to keep your toy collection organized

If you have a large toy collection like I do, spread out over many different boxes, rooms, and locations, or even if your collection is small and growing, you need a way to keep track of what you have. I used to just use a word file to list what I had, but wanted a better solution. If you search places like Download.com you'll find dozens of different "Collection" software for everything from games to toys. I tried out about a half-dozen different products, from Frostbow Collection Manager to Data Village toy collector. But all seemed lacking (and often bug filled). Worst of all, all were free to try but required you to buy the full version to unlock all the features or store more than 20 or so records.
I finally found Keeper from Raven Labs. It is everything I wanted in a collection manager. It lets you create entries, organize multiple collections, name all your fields yourself, and insert pictures. It has advanced features such as report generating, checklists, or publish your collection on the internet or import things from Ebay. It is extremely easy to use, yet powerful. And best of all it is 100% free! It's only available for Windows as far as I know, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to better organize their collections.
And you can use it for any kind of collection, not just toys. The picture above is a screenshot of my current Transformers Animated collection. Follow the link to try it out for yourself.

Keeper Collection software [Download.com]

Robotech Beta Fighter up for pre-order

The Masterpiece Collection from Toynami continues, this time with the coveted Robotech Beta Fighter, which has never been produced before. A fan favorite from the New Generation series, the Beta Fighter will set you back a little bit (like all the Masterpiece Collection pieces, high quality = high price) at $149.99 each.
The first wave is in Blue, and is designed to interface with the blue Alpha fighters. Red and Green versions will follow after the first production run of 10,000.
These will sell out, so pre-order now for October/November delivery.

Robotech Masterpiece Beta Fighter Volume 1 [Robotech.com]