Don’t blink! You might miss out on an all new Toy News Tuesday! We’re 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! As always, it’s been a busy week here and we’ve been doing our best to find all of the most important news you need to know about what’s going on in the toy industry! This week we have the pleasure of diving into some of the first San Diego Comic Con Exclusive announcements, which will be flowing like a whitewater river in the coming weeks leading up to the convention! Besides these reveals, there’s plenty of other awesome stuff in the Toy News for the week of May 24th, 2016!
Mattel Teases SDCC Plans
While we don’t have any solid information as to exactly WHAT they will be offering, Mattel has given fans a few things to think about with a recent teaser image posted this past week on Mattel’s various media sites! The image showcases a number of Mattel’s top brands, including fan favorites like ‘She-Rah’, ‘DC Universe’, ‘HALO’, and ‘Thundercats’! One thing noticeably missing from the list is ‘Masters Of The Universe’, which has been strongly represented with an exclusive for the better part of the last decade! With all of the other rumors circulating around that line, is this just one more hint that the line is coming to a close for good? Only time will tell.
Check out the full list of brands we can expect to see represented at Mattel’s San Diego Comic Con booth this year:
It’s Not Easy Being Green
When it comes to making amazing collectibles, Hot Toys either does, or does not; there is no try! They’ve proven that once again with their latest reveal, an all new 1:6th scale Yoda figure based on his appearance in ‘Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’! This guy may be on the small side, but he’s packed with details and a ton of cool accessories you won’t get anywhere else! Yoda includes alternative heads, hands, a unique display base and more! He really is the ultimate Yoda figure. Check out the full release from Hot Toys below:
Jedi Master Yoda was the most wise and powerful of all Jedi. For over 800 years, Yoda instructed young Jedi and instilled in them a profound sense of discipline, strength, and unity. During the dark times when Galactic Empire ruled the galaxy, Luke Skywalker went to Dagobah in search of Yoda for training to become a Jedi which led to path that will restore balance to the galaxy!
Today, Hot Toys is excited to officially present the 1/6th scale Collectible Figure of Luke’s wise mentor Yoda from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back!
The highly-accurate collectible figure is specially crafted based on the image of Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. It features two newly developed head sculpts, specially developed body, finely tailored costume, a range of detailed accessories including a cane, crate container, small lamp, LED-light up power unit, and Dagobah diorama figure base with rocks.
Star Wars fans should not miss out on the opportunity to add the legendary Jedi Master to your collection!
“Yes, This is Him! This Is Tony Stank!”
People have been asking Hasbro to make one for a while now, but the people over at Tamashii Nations apparently want your money more! Tamashii Nations have granted the wishes of 6″ scale Marvel collectors everywhere with the announcement of their new 6″ scale Figuarts Tony Stark figure!
This super articulated figure sports Tony’s look from ‘Iron Man 3’ and includes arm and leg interchangeable armor pieces so you can have Tony partially armored like in the opening scene of the movie! As always with Figuarts figures, Tony features a highly detailed sculpt and a crazy amount of articulation, so he is likely to be the end-all-be-all Tony Stark figure for the foreseeable future. This figure is set to hit stores this October for around $60, which seems a small price to pay to finally own a proper Tony Stark figure!
(via ToyArk)
More Marvelous Marvel Minimates!
As always, the team over at Diamond Select Toys has some fantastic new Minimates coming our way based on some of our favorite Marvel heroes and villains! If you’re into Marvel Comics, or even just their Netflix television series, then you’re in for a real treat this week!
First up is the new Marvel Minimates Series 69 (wow this series has seriously been running this long and still continues to amaze?!)! This new wave is based on classic Marvel Comics and brings us several characters first ever Minimate releases! For the first time ever in Minimate form, we’re getting Tigra, Enchantress, Black Knight and TWO versions of Blizzard! We’re also getting a Classic Falcon, as well as Mandroid! Blizzard II will be the standard release, with Blizzard I a rare one-per-case chase figure! These are due out in October.
If you’re not huge on the old school comics, but love what Marvel has been going with television lately then maybe the new ‘Jessica Jones’ box-set is more up your alley? This new Minimate figure 4-pack includes the titular Jessica Jones, as well as Killgrave, Luke Cage, and Trish Walker! Each figure includes alternative parts and it looks like a ton of fun accessories are set to be included as well when this set hits stores in October!
Who’s Laughing Now?
Once again our friends over at Gentle Giant are doing their best to hit you right in the nostalgia, this time with yet another figure in their phenomenal 12″ Jumbo Figure lines! This one comes to us as part of their Jumbo ‘Super Powers Collection’ series, in the form of one very un-gentle giant, The Joker! This figure is a jumbo-sized take on the classic 1980’s ‘Super Powers Collection’ Joker figure and even includes that classic figure’s large mallet accessory! Check out the full release from Gentle Giant below:
In 1984, Kenner began the release of their next line of extremely popular action figures: The Super Powers Collection! This line included heroes and villains such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Joker and many more. Gentle Giant Ltd. is proud to announce Gotham City’s Crown Prince of Crime, The Joker! This jumbo figure will be the next release in this stunning line of retro figures. The Joker jumbo figure was developed using state of the art 3D technology. Gentle Giant Ltd. has taken an original mint condition Super Powers Joker figure and created a highly accurate digital model with the use of 3D scanners. This digital model was then scaled to 1:6 scale, and printed using top of the line 3D Systems printers. These pieces are then used in manufacturing to produce extremely accurate scaled replicas right down to The Joker’s, ridiculously, oversized mallet! The Super Powers Collection jumbo figures from Gentle Giant Ltd. are made from high quality vinyl and ABS plastic parts. Many of these figures also include fabric capes and accessories. Finally, each incredible figure features retro art packaging and comes in a protective re-sealable blister pack.
December DC Solicits
Another month goes by and brings us even more solicitations from our friends over at DC Collectibles! Be sure to check out your Previews book this month to order some of these, as they’re all likely to sell out quick! We’ve got new stuff from ‘Batman: The Animated Series’, ‘Arkham Knight’, ‘Harley Quinn’ and more! Check out the new solicits from DC Collectibles below:
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES: CHRISTMAS WITH THE JOKER ACTION FIGURE
From the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode “Christmas with The Joker,” the Clown Prince of Crime is decked out for his holiday TV appearance designed to lure the Dark Knight to his doom! Comes with candy cane, Christmas tree, elf and extra hands.
Measures approximately 6”
$28.00 US
BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT: BATGIRL AND ORACLE ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK
Barbara Gordon appears in this new action figure 2-pack in two of her heroic identities as seen in the hit video game Batman: Arkham Knight! As Batgirl, she comes with a Batarang and extra hands. And as Oracle, she comes with a highly detailed wheelchair!
$60.00 US
Batgirl – 6.9”
Oracle – 5.15”
DC DESIGNER SERIES: GREEN LANTERN AND SUPERMAN BY GREG CAPULLO ACTION FIGURES
Superstar artist Greg Capullo lends his artistic vision to Green Lantern and Superman in the latest Designer Series action figures!
$28.00 US Each
HARLEY QUINN: RED, WHITE AND BLACK ARKHAM ASYLUM STATUE
Sculpted by JACK MATHEWS
Dr. Harleen Quinzel started her career at Arkham Asylum, and she hasn’t strayed that far from there! Harley’s got a hot new look inspired by the bestselling video game Batman: Arkham Asylum in the latest RED, WHITE AND BLACK statue! Measures Approximately 7” Tall
$80.00 US
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS: MERA BUST
Designed by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO • Sculpted by JACK MATHEWS
The Queen of Atlantis is reimagined with an appropriate nautical theme in
the latest DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS bust!Limited edition of 2,500; Measures Approximately 7.5” Tall
$60.00 US
DC COMICS COVER GIRLS: HARLEY QUINN STATUE SECOND EDITION
Designed by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau • Sculpted by JACK MATHEWS
The Mistress of Mayhem returns to her classic look in this second edition of one of DC Collectibles’ most popular statues. Measures Approximately 8.5” Tall
$100.00 US
DC DESIGNER SERIES: WONDER WOMAN BY ADAM HUGHES STATUE
Designed by ADAM HUGHES • Sculpted by JACK MATHEWS
Wonder Woman takes her lasso in hand in this new Designer Series statue envisioned by Eisner Award-winning artist Adam Hughes, whose work has appeared on so many issues of WONDER WOMAN. Measures Approximately 12” Tall
$130.00 US
NECA Reveals Most Radical SDCC Exclusive Of All Time And More!
The crew over at NECA have knocked it out of the park this week with two amazing announcements for new products coming our way! The first is arguably the coolest San Diego Comic Con Exclusive ever announced by anyone (Ever. Of All Time. Forever.), while the other is an excellent addition to an already established retail line!
First up, this week NECA revealed their plans for a San Diego Comic Con Exclusive Retro-Video-Game styled ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ series based on the Konami classic ‘TMNT’ Arcade Game! These 6″ scale figures are going to be sold in two figure 4-packs with one set containing the four turtles- Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo; and the other including The Shredder, and three different Foot Soldiers! All of these will be painted up to look like their classic video game counterparts, and so far they look amazing! Here’s the full release from NECA:
We couldn’t be more excited to announce two Comic-Con exclusive sets that have been in the works for a while now! From the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4-player arcade game, we’ll have 4-figure box sets for both the Turtles and the Foot Clan coming to San Diego Comic Con.
New sculpts – Tons of accessories – Arcade cabinet packaging
More information regarding pre-orders for those attending SDCC will be announced later this week.
TMNT (Arcade Appearance) – Turtles Box Set
Cowabunga, dude! This SDCC-exclusive box set is based on the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4-player co-op arcade game and features brand new figure sculpts and deluxe packaging. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael stand approximately 6” tall and feature over 30 points of articulation, including double knee joints to fully showcase their mastery of the martial arts. Special paint deco reflects the Turtles’ in-game appearance. The box set is packed with accessories, including signature weapons, interchangeable hands, pizza power-up and more. The set comes in gorgeous, display-friendly 5th panel window box packaging that re-creates the look of the actual arcade cabinet!
TMNT (Arcade Appearance) – Foot Clan Box Set
Cowabunga, dude! This SDCC-exclusive box set is based on the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4-player co-op arcade game and features brand new figure sculpts and deluxe packaging. Shredder and the Foot Clan stand approximately 6” tall and feature over 30 points of articulation, including double knee joints for dynamic poses. Special paint deco reflects their in-game appearance. The box set is packed with accessories, including oversized hammer, swords, throwing star, rifle, dynamite and more. The set comes in gorgeous, display-friendly 5th panel window box packaging that re-creates the look of the actual arcade cabinet!
The obvious question on everyone’s minds now is “when can we get these outside of SDCC?”. Sadly, NECA has already announced that you will not be able to! They announced through their Twitter account this week that-
“FYI – the only way we are able to make TMNT in this scale is for cons only & sold only in sets. License restrictions, no retail. #facts”
This means we won’t be seeing any kind of retail release for these figures unfortunately, which means many of us are set to be at the mercy of scalpers if we want to pick these sets up (which obviously, we will probably want to). It’s also unlikely we will ever see these figures released in non-video-game styled paint applications due to licensing restrictions.
Unrelated, in non-TMNT news NECA also revealed plans for a new ‘ALIEN’ figure 2-pack based on the Dark Horse Comics ‘ALIENS: Genocide’ series! This new figure 2-pack will include the recently released ‘Big Chap’ and ‘Dog ALIEN’ sculpts redecoed in the iconic red color scheme featured in the ‘Genocide’ storyline. This is being dubbed a ‘Concept Figure’ set, and should fit in perfectly with the previously released ALIEN Warrior and ALIEN Queen ‘Genocide’ figures.
McFarlane Previews ‘Assassins Creed’ Movie Figure
This week we got our very first look at McFarlane Toys’ upcoming figure of ‘Aguilar’ from the live-action ‘Assassins Creed’ movie being released later this year! As revealed over on IGN, this figure is going to be in the 7″ scale and was made using a 3D scan of actor Michael Fassbender, who plays the character in the film. Aguilar will include both a sword and a wrist blade, as are the standard weaponry for the ‘Assassins Creed’ series, as well as a movie themed display base. This figure is set to release in October for around $20 as part of the ‘Blue’ series in McFarlanes ‘Color Tops Collection’!
The 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!
“We Did It Morty! We Did It! We’re *BURP* We’re POPS! Morty!”
In a move that surprised no one, Funko has revealed plans for a set of POP! Vinyls based on the hit Adult Swim animated series ‘Rick & Morty’. The set is currently only made up for our titular heroes, but if they do well here’s hoping for some of the supporting cast in a second wave! These are due out in July.
Amazon Celebrates Captain America
Online retailer Amazon.com has announced a new Funko POP! Vinyl exclusive in the form of a ‘Sepia Tone’ Captain America figure! This figure is being released to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Captain America, and is fittingly set to release on July 4th 2016! The Amazon.com Exclusive Sepia Tone Captain America is up for pre-order now.
Praise Be!
The show hasn’t even aired yet and Funko has already got a full wave of three figures coming our way from AMC’s upcoming live action adaptation of the ‘Preacher’ comic series! This wave is set to hit stores in August and includes Jesse Custer, Arseface, and Cassidy.
New One Off Pops!
So while many of our new POP! Vinyl announcements have been waves or series of new figures, this week we had a few one-off POP! Vinyls announced that all sound amazing in their own right while they stand alone from the crowd! This week’s new reveals include Space Ghost, The Big Friendly Giant (who is oddly not a 6″ Super-Sized POP!), and a 6″ Super-Sized POP! of Elliot from ‘Petes Dragon’! These are due out this summer!
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!
Jordan is a Toy Columnist & Staff Writer here at ScienceFiction! Journalist, Musician, Toy Collector, and Overall Awesome Guy! For more on Jordan’s thoughts, toys, and wacky adventures, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
