Aaaand we’re back! Hello and welcome to a brand spanking new edition of Toy News Tuesday! In case you were wondering what happened, we took the week off last week to focus on all of the awesome that was happening at NYCC, so we hope you didn’t miss us too much! Now we’re back in full force with the one weekly column right here on ScienceFiction.com where we seek out all of the awesome news you need to know about any announcements and cool happenings in the toy industry and put them all in one easy to find place for you! You’ve already had a week off, so let’s not waste any time and get right into the Toy News for the week of October 21, 2014!
Hot Toys Of Future Past
With ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ having blown up this summer’s box office and revitalizing the ‘X-Men’ film franchise, it’s no surprise to see the collector community rallying together to celebrate with all new toys based on the film! It looks like Hot Toys, one of the toy industry’s key players, has decided to blow the top clean off of things with the reveal of their all new ‘Future Wolverine’ one-sixth scale figure!
This all new figure features the likeness of actor Hugh Jackman as everyone’s favorite adamantium-clawed mutant as he appeared in the ‘future’ portions of the recent summer blockbuster. The full release from Hot Toys is below:
The X-Men has returned onto the big screen earlier this year with the critically-acclaimed and highly-popular X-Men: Days of Future Past! With the mutant race being exterminated by powerful Sentinels in the future, Wolverine was sent back to the past in order to stop the war before it began and save his kind from the terrible fate.
To celebrate the launch of this hit movie’s DVD and Blu-Ray, Hot Toys is delighted to present the new 1/6th scale Wolverine Collectible Figure from X-Men: Days of Future Past. The movie-accurate collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Hugh Jackman as the future Wolverine in the movie featuring a newly developed head sculpt, specially-tailored future Wolverine battle suit with armor parts and Wolverine’s signature metal claws.
Groot Dancing Into The Hears Of Millions
The wait is over! If you weren’t satisfied by Funko’s upcoming POP! Vinyl Bobblehead version of Dancing Baby Groot, the people at Marvel and KIDdesigns have announced the officially licensed electronic Dancing Baby Groot! And it actually dances!
This adorable little guy will dance along to an electronic version of The Jackson 5’s ‘I Want You Back’ (because apparently licensing the real version costs too much?) from a tiny built in speaker in his plant-pot base and will be setting you back approximately $14.99! He’s expected to be dancing his way onto store shelves this holiday season in early December, so be sure to put him at the top of all of your wish lists!
‘Toy Guru’ Departs Mattel
Earlier this week well known Mattel marketing manager Scott “Toy Guru’ Neitlich announced that he has parted ways with Mattel. Neitlich was known best as the ‘face’ of Mattel’s online collector website MatteyCollector.com, where they managed many of their online subscription services and exclusive figures. He saw over the development and release of many of Mattel’s most popular lines like ‘Masters of the Universe Classics’, ‘DC Universe Classics’ and Mattel‘s ‘Ghostbusters’ line.
In an interview with AFI, Neitlich assures fans of Masters of the Universe that the brand is still in good hands, and that while things could still change, there are already plans laid out for the line in all of 2015 and well into 2016. It sounds like He-Man fans can rest easy!
While ‘Toy Guru’ has yet to reveal where he’ll be heading next, the crew at AFI have got the inside scoop and revealed that he has “been headhunted” by another toy company.
(via AFI)
The Good, The Breaking Bad, and The Ugly
If you’re a part of the collector community, then you’ve no doubt heard by now of the massive controversy surrounding Toys R Us and Mezco’s ‘Breaking Bad’ toyline. It has been kind of all over the place this week, so let’s give a quick run down:
The cliff notes version, is that a Florida mother has become highly offended that a ‘family store’ like Toys R Us is carrying action figures of characters like ‘Breaking Bad’s drug-dealing Walter White in their stores alongside all of the characters that her child likes. She is afraid that having this kind of toy available in the store her child shops in could have a bad influence over her child, and took particular note of the fact that the ‘Breaking Bad’ figures even had tiny drug-bags as accessories packaged in with them. Ironically, she says she has no problem with the show itself (and enjoys it even), but does not feel that these figures should be readily available in Toys R Us Stores. So now this woman has started an online petition on Change.org in order to force Toys R Us to remove the figures from shelves.
Meanwhile, on the entirely opposite end of the spectrum, collectors have begun to rally around the idea of making sure these figures are kept on store shelves. Action Figure Insider’s Daniel Pickett has also taken the liberty of starting up a petition for Toys R Us to keep the figures from ‘Breaking Bad’ and just about anything else on the adult collectors market stocked on their shelves. Pickett feels that if the ‘Breaking Bad’ figures are removed, it’s only a matter of time before other popular lines aimed at adult collectors are also on the chopping block.
It’s worth noting that Toys R Us is one of the few remaining large toy specialty stores in the U.S., and that they already take it upon themselves to keep all figures aimed at adult collectors in a separate aisle from most of the toys aimed towards children, so the odds of a child becoming enamored with Walter White while they are looking for the new Optimus Prime are already pretty slim. But alas, things are rarely as simple as ‘use common sense when shopping’, and here we are at an impasse.
(via AFI)
Red Hood Only Hangs at Gamestop
It was probably only a matter of time, but it looks like video game retailer Gamestop is getting into the exclusive figure market! The gaming giant is currently offering pre-orders for an all new exclusive 7” scale Red Hood figure from DC Collectibles! This figure will be based on the characters look in the all new ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ video game and is set to feature most of the standard DC Collectibles points of articulation, as well as his iconic dual pistols as accessories. Gamestop is also offering exclusive Red Hood ‘in game’ content with a pre-order of the game, so Jason Todd fans have a lot to be excited about!
(via TNI)
DC Collectibles May Solicits
The team over at DC Collectibles have recently released some solicits for items that collectors can expect to hit shelves around May of 2015, but with those solicits came some close up clear images of a bunch of new figures fans have been aching to feast their eyes on!
First up is the third wave of figures based on the classic ‘Batman The Animated Series’! This wave is set to include Tim Drake Robin, The Creeper, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Baby Doll! This is the first time we’ve gotten a look at a few of these (although they were alluded to at SDCC), and the first time in the history of the character that we are seeing a figure of Baby Doll!
Next up, we’ve got two new figures coming for fans of The CW’s hit live action DC series ‘Arrow’! DC Collectibles has given a first look at their new figures of The Dark Archer (Merlyn) and Deadshot! These are expected to hit in May of 2015 as well, so be sure to order them early and give your Arrow figures some baddies to fight!
Mafex Catwoman is Purr-fect
While I’m sure you thought we were done with new figures based on Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight’ Trilogy, Medicom has one last surprise in store for you with their all new MAFEX Selina Kyle/Catwoman figure! Based on the characters design in the 2012 summer blockbuster ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, Selina Kyle is Medicom’s final figure in their ‘Dark Knight’ series.
This 6” figure comes with a slew of interchangeable hands and other accessories, so she’ll fit right in with your other ’Dark Knight’ figures; MAFEX or not (although I’d imagine she’d go wonderfully with the recently released MAFEX Batman 2.0 and MAFEX Batpod). Fans can expect to see her hitting comic specialty stores around July of 2015 with an expected retail price of around $49.99.
(via AFI)
The Best of The Best Minimates
Never one to let down their fans, the team at Diamond Select have announced a third wave of their ever popular ‘Best of Marvel’ Minimates! This has become the surefire way to get fans all of the fan favorite characters that they might have missed as an earlier release, without retreading too much ground. These figures are all characters that have seen release already, but these versions are ever so slightly different or maybe just a little more updated then the original release. The full release from DST is below:
A Diamond Select Release! The best Marvel Minimates DST has ever made are back for a third series! Four more two-packs of Marvel’s most famous heroes get the ultimate Minimate treatment, including Marvel NOW Captain America with Spider-Sense Spider-Man, Transforming Grey Hulk with MK 29 Armor Iron Man, Classic Hawkeye with Lab Attack Ant-Man and Luke Cage Power Man with Dragon Attack Iron Fist! Each Minimates mini-figure stands 2 inches tall with 14 points of articulation and features a variety of interchangeable parts and accessories.
Speaking of The Future Past…
One of the big reveals from Diamond Select Toys at New York Comic Con was their new Marvel Retro line of figures! They’ve revealed a look at next year’s upcoming Wolverine Box Set via their Facebook Page. Also on hand at NYCC (but not pictured) were early prototype sets based on Captain America, Spiderman, and Thor!
Marvel Retro Wolverine Action Figure Box Set, coming in 2015! Includes one “classic” Wolverine action figure in vintage style box, plus two bonus heads and costumes!
DST is on the Bleeding Edge
Diamond Select Toys have done it again. Done what, you ask? Well, they’ve gone and created yet another amazing exclusive Marvel Select figure! This time the exclusive figure is Bleeding Edge Iron Man! Based on the appearance of Tony Stark’s Mark 38 armor, this all new 7” scale figure will feature sixteen points of articulation and is set to be a MarvelShop.com Exclusive figure for the first few weeks before expanding to Disney Stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The full release from DST is below:
Since his comic-book debut in 1968, brilliant inventor Tony Stark has always stayed at the forefront of technology as he developed newer and better versions of his Iron Man armor. He’s come a long way from the transistors of the 1960s, and his latest suits of armor can respond to his very thoughts! Now, Diamond Select Toys and marvelshop.com have collaborated on an all-new Marvel Select action figure immortalizing one of Iron Man’s most high-tech armors ever: Bleeding Edge Iron Man!
Debuting in Invincible Iron Man #25, the Mark 38 armor is actually made up of millions of nano-machines stored inside Tony Stark’s body, which exit through the pores of his skin using repulsor technology to form a protective layer over his entire body. While Stark has since developed other armors, the Mark 38 represented a new way of thinking about Iron Man, and was truly on the “bleeding edge” of comic book technology.
Exclusively available at marvelshop.com starting October 13, this 7-inch action figure has 16 points of articulation, and comes with a display base that simulates Iron Man’s flight path through the wing of an enemy fighter jet. Base and figure will come packaged in display-ready Select figure packaging, with comic art on the side panel for easy reference during on-shelf storage.After October 27, the Marvel Select Bleeding Edge Iron Man figure will be made available on disneystore.com, and will begin to make its way to Disney Store shelves in the U.S. and Canada.
The Walking Clem
Telltale Games, Skybound, and McFarlane Toys are teaming up to bring ‘Walking Dead’ fans one of the most fan demanded characters the series has ever known, Clementine! Yes, Clementine, the young girl who has been the lead of Telltale Games ‘The Walking Dead’ video game series for two full seasons now, so it only seems right that she is celebrated in plastic form! While details as far as the release schedule for this figure are scarce so far, the full details from the original announcement of the figure are below:
Announced today at New York Comic-Con onstage with Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman, a Clementine action figure developed by SKYBOUND, Telltale Games, and McFarlane Toys will be coming very soon!
Clementine, or just “Clem,” is the heart and soul of Telltale’s The Walking Dead franchise over two seasons and she is probably the figure Skybound is asked to make the most often. Well, they’ve heard you, and we’re super excited to show it off RIGHT NOW! Here’s Telltale’s Clementine in bloody and clean versions! Exclusively from Skybound, the Clem figure will be available in both Full Color and in Blood Splattered Color versions and comes with backpack, pistol, and hammer! Stay tuned for full release details!
Hodor! Hodor Hodor Hodor
Dark Horse Comics has announced yet another figure in their ongoing series of highly detailed ‘Game of Thrones’ collectibles with the reveal of Bran and Hodor! Yes, technically this is two figures, but with Hodor always carrying Bran around on his back like on the hit HBO series, it only makes sense to have these two sculpted together as one big figure. These figures stay in scale with the few previously released or announced figures that we already know about like Joffrey Bratheon, Tywin Lannister, and Peter ‘littlefigner’ Baelish.
Expect Bran and Hodor to hit shelves sometime around April 2015, with a suggested retail price of $39.99.
“Dead or Alive, You’re Coming With Us”
There isn’t a single property out there that Hot Toys can’t take and make it seem even more awesome than it already is. While most people would argue that ‘Robocop’ is already pretty awesome and doesn’t need Hot Toys help in being deemed as such, I don’t think anyone will complain about the new Robocop one-sixth scale figures that Hot Toys just announced!
Hot Toys recently revealed their all new Battle-Damaged Robocop and Alex Murphy figure two-pack, bringing the direct likeness of actor Peter Weller to one-sixth scale for the first time ever! Both figures are 100% screen accurate to the original ‘Robocop’ film, and feature a veritable cornucopia of accessories to make them a part of your definitive ‘Robocop’ collection! Murphy is available only in the two pack, while Battle-Damaged Robocop is also sold separately. The full release from Hot Toys is below:
The prototype of the new battle damaged version Robocop Collectible Figure captured many fans’ attention when it was shown in toy fairs earlier this year as it is the first ever official 1/6th scale collectible figure which features a remarkable likeness of Peter Weller! The cyborg officer has been very popular with fans, but we can’t forget about the man who was brutally “murdered” to become RoboCop. We are delighted to present a special collectible figures set which includes the highly-anticipated 1/6th scale collectible figures of the battle damaged version of RoboCop and Alex Murphy in police uniform!
The movie-accurate RoboCop (Battle Damaged Version) Collectible Figure is specially crafted based on the image of Peter Weller as the battle damaged RoboCop. It features a new sculpted head sculpt with mechanical details, specially painted battle damaged armor, working thigh gun holster, detailed weapons and accessories.
The movie-accurate collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Peter Weller as Alex Murphy in his police uniform in the film featuring a newly developed head sculpt, highly detailed costume, weapons, and accessories.
Don’t miss the chance to pre-order the Collectible Figures Set if you are a RoboCop fan!
Chasing Spirits
In one of his final announcements with Mattel, Scott ‘Toy Guru’ Neitlich revealed the 2015 Masters of the Universe Classics ‘Chase’ figure to be on the hunt for! Last year it was Loo-Kee and Cowl, and the year before it was the ‘Spirit of Hordak’ figure. Now, in 2015, MOTUC Collectors can look forward to hunting for The Spirit of Grayskull! Few details have been released about this figure as of now, but as per usual with MOTUC Chase figures, you can expect more news to trickle out as the figure gets closer to release sometime next year!
Funko Forecast
Get ready for the Funko Forecast! This is where we’re going to be showcasing all of the cool new announcements and reveals from Funko! With all of the awesome that consistently seems to be flowing out of those guys, it shouldn’t be hard to keep this section alive each and every week!
Hot Topic’s Batman is Feeling Blue
Hot Topic and Funko are at it again! This time Hot Topic has an Exclusive POP! Vinyl dark blue Batman figure based on his appearance in the ‘Arkham Asylum’ video game series! This figure goes hand in hand with previous Hot Topic exlusives like the early releases of Arkham Harley Quinn and The Joker!
ReAction Reactions
Here’s a sneak peak at the recently revealed Funko ReAction ‘Alien’ Series 2 and ‘Pulp Ficiton’ Series 1! This second wave of ‘Alien’ figures includes Spacesuit Ripley, Big Chap, and two versions of Kane!
Pulp Fiction Series 1 includes fan favorites like Vincent Vega, Jules Winnfield, Mia Wallace, and Jimmie Dimmick! These are all expected to be hitting the market in November.
Funko Summons POP! Vinyl
With the first series of POP! Vinyl figures based on collectible card game ‘Magic The Gathering’ having only just hit shelves recently, Funko has wasted no time in getting Series 2 on it’s way to collectors everywhere! New figures in Series 2 include Gideon Jura, Elspeth Tirel, Tezzeret, Kiora Atua, Sarkhan Vol, and Nicol Bolis! These are expected to hit in November!
And with that, we bring this week’s Toy News Tuesday to a close! What do you think about the new items announced this week? Do you plan on picking up anything we mentioned in this week’s column? Are there any lines or brands you’d like to see more coverage of? Let us know in the comments section below! Until next week, happy toy hunting!
