The Return of the King

Mattel's Masters of the Universe (MotU), one of the company's most successful multimedia franchises, is to return in the Fall!

Behold King Grayskull, who will be a SDCC Exclusive! King Grayskull is the inaugural MotU figure to feature super articulation and classic detail sculpting by the Four Horsemen. Grayskull comes in a brand new package, featuring lights and sounds, which transforms into a mini Castle Grayskull playset.



Castle Grayskull was once home to King Grayskull, an ancestor of Prince Adam. He appears in the Episode, "The Power of Grayskull", waging battle and ultimately defeating the Snakemen led by King Hiss. King Grayskull's triumph was shortlived and he dies defending his kingdom from Hordak. During his lifetime, King Grayskull ruled with wisdom and compassion.

With the emphasis on the collectors market, and The Four Horsemen in the sculpting saddle, the revitalised MotU line is sure to raise the bar on what constitutes the very pinnacle in mass produced collectibles! Read my childhood Masters of the Universe recollection!

If anyone at Mattel is reading this, please contact me to discuss the possibility of running a 'give-away' competition during the holiday season! Thank you in advance.

UK Toyfare Transformers Press Release

2007 was a hugely successful year for Transformers, with a blockbuster movie supporting an ever popular toy range. 2008 is set to be just as exciting with the release of the new Transformers: Animated series. Hitting TV screens from march, it's a great twist to the classic story of the "robots in disguise"

Transformers will be exploding into living rooms across the country with the all-new Transformers: Animated series set to launch this Easter. featuring on Nickleodeon, fans everywhere will be treated with the next generation of the popular struggle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The series will be supported by a whole new range of action figures in the style of the new cartoon with some familiar faces such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron. The full toy line will be available mid year.

Transformers: Animated is a high-octane, animated action-adventure series based on the beloved 1980s 'robots in disguise' of toy and cartoon fame. The Autobots continue their battle against the Decepticons on Earth and this time they have human friends to help them in the search for the AllSpark, such as their energetic 8-year-old guide, Suri Sumdac.

Also launching this Autumn / Winter is the Universe Toy Range which is set to capture the classic Transformers styling, going back to Generation 1 and the Beast Wars, bringing back your favourite characters to excite and inspire a new generation of Transformer fans.

2008 is going to be another big year for the 'robots in disguise' and fans are going to be with them every step of the way!

New Products Include:
Transformers AllSpark Blasters - £19.99
Movie Screen battles - £19.99
Legends AllSpark Battle Packs £5.99
Animated Range - £4.99 - £49.99
Universe Range - £2.99 - £39.99

Santa Sec

What to get your favourite little consumer this Christmas? What do you mean you had barely even thought about it? It's already mid-October for goodness' sake!

It will drive the rest of the family to distraction within minutes of being unwrapped, but a new Dalek mask made of flesh-pink ribbed plastic will be one of the "must-have" toys this Christmas, retailers predicted yesterday.

The mask, modelled on a one-eyed Dalek-human hybrid which appeared in the episode Daleks in Manhattan, changes the voice of the wearer to the metallic scream of the doctor's mortal enemies. Games based on films and TV characters will fill Santa's sack this year, according to toy manufacturers who made their annual prediction of Christmas best-sellers yesterday.

The Movie Hero

Ultimate Bumblebee has eclipsed my modest expectations! Here he is, case fresh, direct from Hasbro UK's warehouse!



Ultimate Bumblebee elicits the kind of gadget-geek excitement once reserved for Tomy's Omnibot! It's no wonder he's made it into this year's Toys R' Us Fabulous Fifteen and among the toys chosen as "12 Best toys of 2007" by Parija B. Kavilanz, senior writer at CNNMoney.com. Or was it the profit margin?

Fiscal matters aside. Ultimate Bumblebee is one cool electronic toy for boys and girls of any age! Omnibot who?

Galactica Goodies

DST Launches Battlestar Galactica Action Figures!

Diamond Select Toys are proud to announce a partnership with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to manufacture action figures and ships based on the SCI FI hit original series, Battlestar Galactica! Reimagined by Ron Moore, Battlestar Galactica tells the story of the last survivors of mankind and their quest to escape the murderous Cylons in their search for the mythical 13th Colony, Earth.

Battlestar Galactica premiered as a mini-series in 2003 to rave reviews from both critics and fans of the classic property, setting viewership records for the SciFi Channel. Leaving much of traditional science fiction behind, the new Battlestar Galactica instead focused on character-driven conflicts and the series’ epic storytelling style as viewers followed the triumphs and hardships of the Colonial Fleet. Having received the prestigious American Film Institute’s honorific “TV Program of the Year” for the second consecutive year, the stellar drama returns to the SciFi Channel on January 21st in a new timeslot; Sunday evenings at 10:00 pm EST.

In addition to the riveting plots and special effects, Battlestar Galactica features an incredibly diverse cast of characters portrayed by a mix of seasoned veterans and Hollywood newcomers. Accomplished actors Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell provide the necessary leadership as Admiral Adama and President Roslin, with a sizable supporting cast featuring the talents of Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhof, Grace Park, Jamie Bamber and James Callis. With guest stars like Lucy Lawless, Dean Stockwell and Battlestar Galactica veteran Richard Hatch, this impressive cast steals the show and delivers rock-solid performances week after week.

DST plans to release the first action figure assortment this summer. The debut series will feature several key characters from the smash-hit series, including the seductive Six herself! Specific product announcements, as well as timetables for their release dates, will be featured in future Diamond Select Toys communications and at next month’s American International Toy Fair.

Shop Doctor Who

Today I've launched a dedicated shop for all things Doctor Who!

Doctor Who Shop UK

Doctor Who Shop USA

Buy toys, games and books under one roof and be assured of excellent order fulfilment (provided by Amazon).

Christmas is less than six weeks away! Happy holiday shopping and please bookmark.

Looking for me?

The latest Hot Toys RoboCop figure will come complete with Flight Pack.

Wow!! If you know the Hot Toys figures you already know their RoboCop likeness is the best in 12" doll form ever - now with the addition of the flight pack this will be the hottest RoboCop figure FPI have ever offered!

As with all Hot Toys, RoboCop is likely to be available for a very limited time only.

Heavy Metal

In 1979, you could go buy your favourite Star Wars vehicles in die-cast from Kenner. Then, there weren't a whole lot of options, but today Hasbro brings back all the detail and collectibility of die-cast metal with its Titanium Series of toys!

Starting with Star Wars, Hasbro brings all of the best-loved characters, vehicles, and more to the world of die-cast metal collectibles. With Battlestar Galactica and Transformers new and old, there's fun for every sci-fi fan with Hasbro's Titanium Series.

Each collectible item has moving parts, display stands, and so much more. The AT-AT has moving legs and a snowy base, the Imperial Shuttle has wings that descend, and the Titanium Ultra Millennium Falcon has an entire crew of figures sculpted inside! Collect them all!

Did anyone call for a metal webslinger? Hasbro's highly successful Titanium brand now includes an assortment of die-cast metal action figures licensed from The House of Ideas.



Bringing heavy metal detailing to the world of Marvel's most famous characters, including: Spider-Man, Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus.

Oh! Mustn't forget to wish readers a happy and safe Hallowe'en!

Micro Heritage

They're more than meets the eye and the most popular Microman spin-off. All your favorite classic Transformers characters are back with toys inspired by the original run of Autobots and Decepticons.

Wave 1 includes Rodimus (red sports car, aka Hot Rod), Astrotrain (train/space shuttle), Bumblebee (yellow sports car), Starscream (grey and red fighter jet). (Subject to change.) Generation One is back with these exciting toys!

Young and bold, RODIMUS races headlong into danger, throwing caution – and his orders – to the wind. He dreams of heroic deeds and hopes one day to gain the recognition his actions deserve. Despite his inexperience, he is a talented fighter. In battle, he can often be seen racing at speeds up to 180 miles per hour, dodging explosions and laser blasts in an attempt to close on his objective.

ASTROTRAIN thrives on panic and fear. Though he is mainly used as a transport vehicle for moving warriors and supplies, he only truly feels at home pounding AUTOBOT warriors into scrap metal. His ionic displacer rifle can scramble AUTOBOT sensors, causing confusion in the enemy ranks, and his huge bulk casts a terrifying shadow across a battlefield. Those AUTOBOTS who survive a fight with ASTROTRAIN often need only hear the echoing boom of his engines in the distance to once again quake in fear. Awesome TRIPLE CHANGER figure converts from robot to space shuttle with retractable landing gear to train with attachable rifle and back again!

Small compared to most other TRANSFORMERS, BUMBLEBEE more than makes up for through his incredible bravery and willingness to go places larger robots won't. Capable of aerial and underwater missions, he is more versatile than many other AUTOBOTS. His eagerness to do his part leads him to above and beyond the call of duty, often placing him in grave danger. It is a testament to his skill that he has never been captured. Awesome robot-to-cruiser vehicle figure features a WAVE CRUSHER watercraft and trailer that convert to a jet pack!

Ruthless, cold-blooded, and capable, STARSCREAM makes no secret of the fact that he wants to replace MEGATRON as leader of the DECEPTICONS. The fastest flyer among the DECEPTICONS ranks and one of the most dangerous warriors ever to grace the skies of CYBERTRON, he is still something of a coward. He cares too much for his own skin to ever take the risks the overthrow of MEGATRON would require. Awesome robot-to-vehicle figure features twin null-ray cannons with firing projectiles in robot mode and flip-down landing gear in fighter jet mode!

Add these to Santa Claus' list or, even better still, pre-order from Forbidden Planet!

Friday the 13th

With Halloween only a few weeks away. Now is the ideal time to purchase the Cyberman Voice Changer Helmet, which is billed as one of this years "must-have" holiday toys according to BBC News.

A must for Doctor Who fans old and new!

This Voice Changer is a Replica Cyberhead at 1:1 scale which features speech, sound effects and lights.

It has three play buttons.
Button 1--Play Cyberman phrases with light up mouth.
Button 2--Change your voice into a Cyberman's for role playing with light up mouth.
Button 3--Cyber weapon sound effect.
Please note: Requires x3 AA Batteries Included
Manufacturer's recommended age 5+

Doctor Who Underground

BBC Worldwide announced today the appointment of Underground Toys Ltd. as the North American manufacturer and distributor for Doctor Who toy and collectible products, including the popular figure line from the UK’s award-winning Character Options Group. The deal was brokered by MOST MANAGEMENT, BBC’s North American licensing agency for the Doctor Who franchise.

Underground Toys will be bringing action figures, R/C figures, 12" collector dolls, clocks, watches, electronic gadgets, electronic keychains, diaries and more to market through their own distribution channels, direct-to-chain stores and through sub-distributors around the country. Underground Toys directly supplies specialty market retailers including Borders, Hot Topic and Spencer Gifts as well as independent retailers, comic book and hobby stores. Underground Toys will begin shipping initial products in time for the holidays, with a full roll out of the items in February 2007 at the International Toy Fair in New York.

Already a huge success in the UK, the Doctor Who toy line was the second highest-selling last Christmas in the UK and is expected to repeat its success this year. The line also won Best Licensed Toys and Games Award and the Innovation Award at the 2006 Licensing Awards.

“Underground Toys recognizes that there is a growing demand for Doctor Who products at retail in the USA and will be strongly pushing and supporting the brand into specialty retail,” said Robyn Morgan, Underground Toys' Licensing Manager. “We are focused on executing the merchandise program effectively in conjunction with the growing popularity of the new Doctor Who series."

“Underground toys has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the market along with an enthusiastic approach to the Doctor Who brand,” said Anna Hewitt, Head of International Licensing, BBC Worldwide. “We are thrilled that fans both new and old in North America will have a chance to purchase Doctor Who products.”

The first season of the new Doctor Who proved a huge success for SCI FI Channel, delivering an average of 1.5 million viewers each week. The second season began with a two-hour premier on September 29th, where over a million viewers tuned in to watch the new Doctor, David Tennant.

Doctor Who: The Complete First Series has become BBC Video’s best selling ‘Doctor Who’ DVD title ever in North America. The second series will arrive on DVD January 16, 2007, following the airing on SCI FI Channel this fall. In addition, over forty classic Doctor Who episodes are currently available on DVD through BBC Video, with new releases in the classics line releasing each quarter. A range of Doctor Who novels, featuring adventures from the new and classic Doctor Who series, is available through Diamond Book Distributors.

Toys "R" Us "Hot Toy"

Fellow collectors may want to read the following Toys"R"Us press release issued on Tuesday.

WAYNE, NJ (September 26, 2006) As holiday shopping commences, Toys "R" Us has released THE definitive list of toys destined to be big winners with kids across the country this year. Culminating months of review, today Toys "R" Us unveiled its annual "Hot Toy" list of 36 toys that will top wish lists from coast to coast. Organized by age from Baby's First Christmas to Big Kids, customers looking for the perfect gift can turn to Toys "R" Us for the best selection of must-have and exclusive toys new to the market in 2006. From the overall list, the "Fabulous 15" were chosen, representing the very best, new toys of the holiday season. Toys featured on the list are available at all Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and at www.toysrus.com.

"As a global toy retailer, our "Hot Toy" list is the result of a yearlong evaluation of new toys from around the world," said Ron Boire, President, Toys "R" Us, U.S. "We are in the toy business 365 days a year, and our team worked hard to identify fun toys that will leave kids speechless when they open their gifts this holiday season." He continued, "With new toy shipments arriving in our stores daily, customers can count on our toy-trained staff to help them find the perfect gift this Christmas at The World's Greatest Toy Store."

THE TOYS "R" US FABULOUS 15 THE BEST OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Following are the Toys "R" Us "Fabulous 15," representing the best new toys of the holiday season (listed in alphabetical order):

*Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes from ToyQuest®
*Designer's World™ from Tiger® Games
*Dora's Talking Cash Register™ from Fisher-Price®
*ESPN® Fast Action Football™ from Fisher-Price®
*Kid-Tough™ Digital Camera from Fisher-Price®
*Laugh & Learn™ Baby Grand Piano from Fisher-Price®
*Mindstorms® NXT from LEGO®
*My Scene™ My Bling Bling™ Styling Head from Mattel®
*Pink Nitro Notebook™ from VTech®
*Power Rangers Deluxe Manticore Megazord from Bandai®
*Speed Stacks® StackPack® from Play Along®
*Sound City Railway from Imaginarium
*Tap Dancing Mumble from Thinkway
*"T.M.X." ™ Elmo from Fisher-Price®
*Wii™ from Nintendo®

Old Saint Nick's going to need a lorry to carry all this cool stuff!

T.M.X

Ordinarily I'd never mention Sesame Street on a blog predominantly concerned with Doctor Who and cult collectibles! The show was a staple of my childhood and this toy is just too cool.

Be the first to own what will be one of the hottest toys this Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic!

TMX Elmo is now in stock at The Entertainer!

Ten years ago, everyone's favorite Sesame Street character made history as one of the most sought-after toys of all time. The toy caused a frenzy, with anxious toy shoppers waiting for hours in long lines when they heard news of a new shipment. Since Tickle Me Elmo's 1996 introduction, he's done the Chicken Dance, the Hokey Pokey and his very own version of Y-M-C-A.

Hop on over to The Entertainer and watch Elmo in action!

The Entertainer

In time for the holiday season, let me introduce The Entertainer.

The Entertainer is the largest independent retailer of toys in the UK, with over 25 years offline and 8 years online experience. The brand ‘The Entertainer’ has been well established amongst parents through its network of 41 stores.

The Entertainer’s target audience is young children to late teens together with a small adult market (via board games). The product range includes many brand names such as Bratz, Doctor Who, Pixel Chix, Tamigotchi, Playmobil, Thomas & Friends, Hasbro, Mattel, Lego, Hornby, Star Wars, TP Activity Toys , MB Games, Barbie, Fisher Price, TOMY, Play-Doh, Heelys and many more.

Drawing Red Shadows

As I was writing a bio for MySpace. I recalled the following anecdote, which is loosely relevant to the themes of this very blog!

When I wasn't playing with Star Wars, Transformers, Zoids, Masters of the Universe or G.I. Joe toys. I was sending unsolicited toy franchise submissions to Palitoy (the famous Coalville company which sub-licensed products from Hasbro and Kenner)! For example Baron Ironblood's, original UK name for Cobra Commander, Man o' War submersible. Whilst Palitoy invariably couldn't accept my ideas, their customer relations department graciously sent me posters and action figures along with dutifully returned artwork and a thank you note! Incidentally, Character Options is the modern equivalent of Palitoy and hopefully will not suffer its forebears fate.

In the UK weekly comic Battle Action Force, Baron Ironblood mercilessly allowed the destruction of the Red Shadows before emerging as Cobra Commander and the advent of the Marvel comic.

This brief quote from Marvel comics gives an insight into the motivation for the creation of Cobra Command:

"I'm not going to be ground under the wheels of big government!... I'm going to create an underground organization that will bypass government restrictions, and garner power through terrorism and extortion!... I won't stop until my organization coils around the whole world like a giant cobra!"-- Cobra Commander, circa. 1978

Unlike the animated series, Marvels G.I. Joe comic presented an insidious and palpable terrorist threat in the form of Cobra. From Crimson Guard to Zartan, the enemy was violent and relentless.

TRU Calling

During my recent sojourn to East Anglia, I visited Toys R Us Ipswich store. I hadn't set foot in a Toys R Us in over six years and was eager to see, for myself, their exclusive 5" & 12" Cybercontroller figures!

The shelves were overflowing with 12" Daleks, Doctor Whos and Cybercontrollers. The latter was a total and utter disappointment and my disdain was shared by fellow Whovians! On the other hand, the 5" figure is superb.

The Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest point of sale displays were stunning and dwarfed even Barbie's in-store presence!

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Back in 2003 I joined Palisades' Collectors Club in order to purchase the elusive Micronauts! Therefore it was with great disappointment that I recently learned of Palisades demise - their bookmark took me to LMTD™! Their commitment to product and customer satisfaction was exemplary.

The following email, from Mike of Palisades, announces the closing of the company. Here is what the email said:

"I regret to inform you that after more than 11 successful years, Palisades Entertainment, LLC has discontinued its business of manufacturing and selling licensed and proprietary action figures, collectibles, toys and other goods. This development parallels a general trend within the toy industry, including the bankruptcy of one of Palisades’ largest customers.

Palisades has sold a substantial portion of its assets to another industry player, an affiliate of C.A.S. Iberia, Inc. named Limited by CAS, Inc. That company will continue the sale of certain of the brands that Palisades developed, including the Factory X line.

The sale transaction did not include employment for me or my wife Kate, who many of you know. Consequently, neither Kate nor I will be reachable at the buyer’s offices, nor will we have any ongoing relationship with the buyer.

I don’t have any plans for the immediate future beyond enjoying life with Kate and our children, until I figure out our next chapter.

I’d like to take this time to thank all of my friends and colleagues, and in particular, the team that helped me build and nurture Palisades for so many years."

Silver Screen Starscream

Hot on the heals of Hasbro's highly collectible Transformers Titanium series. The following news should stir even the most jaded fan of Takara's enduring toy line.

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF TRANSFORMERS-MANIA WITH TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION DVD

Icons OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON Star in Special Edition DVD to Hit Retail Shelves This Holiday Season

New York, New York, May 30, 2006 - When MEGATRON said, “It’s over Prime,” he had it all wrong. This fall, the home entertainment group of SONY BMG Music Entertainment pulls out all the stops for the 20th Anniversary of the pop culture phenomenon and original theatrical release, TRANSFORMERS: The Movie with an explosive special edition DVD.

The new DVD marks the return of the out-of-this world animated big screen bonanza that catapulted the likes of OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, STARSCREAM, SOUNDWAVE and even the DINOBOTS into pop culture icons. The TRANSFORMERS: The Movie 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD will be packed with premium features and behind-the-scenes footage developed with input by and for TRANSFORMERS fans across the country.

TRANSFORMERS: The Movie 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD will tap into the huge, multi-generational TRANSFORMERS fan base. The special edition DVD will power into retail stores across North America in November 2006 -- just in time for the holiday gift giving season.

“The TRANSFORMERS franchise continues to thrive across multiple platforms, and we are excited to celebrate this pop culture phenomenon with a compelling new DVD tribute,” said Jim Wilson, Executive Vice President, General Manager of Home Entertainment for SONY BMG. “By teaming with TRANSFORMERS fans, we have developed an exclusive product with premium content and special features that will be sure to attract fans of all ages.”

The 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD includes never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, interactive games and collectible packaging. The film features the voice of Orson Welles in his final role, as well as stars Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, John Moschitta, Peter Cullen, and Frank Welker. The DVD also features a winning soundtrack featuring the iconic theme "The TRANSFORMERS" performed by Lion, and the popular "The Touch," performed by Stan Bush.

For more information on TRANSFORMERS: The Movie 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD log on here.

To coincide with the special edition DVD release, this fall Hasbro will pay a special tribute to the rich history captured in the saga that is MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE with the TRANSFORMERS Classics line of figures. Available in November 2006, these new figures will feature updated versions of the first generation of TRANSFORMERS (or “G1”), inspired by the look and spirit of the original figures and characters.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

Mecha Metamorphosis

During last week's trip to London, I had time to browse the collectible stores and found myself drawn to Star Wars Transformers!

The cynical side of me had resisted the temptation to embrace what detractors are referring to as a franchise cro$$over! However, once I spied Luke Skywalker and Boba Fett, in their respective vehicle modes, there was no turning back.

eBay scalpers have attempted to cash-in on the UK shortages. Now these new Transformers are appearing on shelves as diverse as Forbidden Planet and Asda! Larger retailers are charging £12.99 and, trust me, this is a steal!

Not only are these toys well designed, but the packaging excudes quality. The only fly in the ointment is that the figures are on bubble packs, which may irk collectors who want to preserve the condition of the boxes. My advice would be to open 'em up and display!

Nuovi Micronauti

Following the collapse of Mego's movie tie-ins and the company's untimely demise. New Micronaut product, which was already in production, had no means of distribution.

This is where the history of the line becomes opaque! Some of these boxed vehicles, like Lobstros and Ampzilla, have been seen with Mego packaging. Yet most of the liquidated stock was bought up by an Italian company named GiG and released almost exclusively over there.

While it is (somewhat) common to find Centaurus, Lobros, and Kronos on Italian cards, some examples of these on English Mego packaging have surfaced too. Both Emperor and Megas can be found bearing Lion Rock and Gig logos, while Sharkos and the new addition Magno figures would only be seen in Italian packaging.

It seemed GiG in Italy was set on continuing the Micronauts property much the way Mego originally had, and they too signed a deal with Takara to import and produce their own versions as well. In fact it was during a family vacation to Lake Garda, that I acquired most of my existing Micronaut collection - Force Commander, Oberon, Hornetroid (one of the coolest collectibles ever) and Green Baron amongst others.

In recent years Palisades Toys attempted to resuscitate the brand.