|
Before I get started with this month's news on the toy-collecting front,
I want to say two things. First, I've decided to go to a static title for my
toy news articles rather than going insane month after month trying to come
up with some fun title. Second, if you can, go check out the latest copy of
`Toyfare'. Inside you will find their Top 25 action figures from about the
1970's to the present. Let me just say, while the GI Joe 3.75" line made an
appearance in the Top 10 of the list; it is still a bogus list. Anything that
has 6 action figures that need to be imported in order to be purchased and one
that is well over $250 is just not top 25 material in my book. So to right this
wrong, next month I'll be assembling my own Top 10 list of action figures from
the 1970's to the present. (I would do a top 25 list, but that would take too
long and would require at least two months to assemble.
With that said, let's get to this month's news.
Apparently, National Hockey League player Tony Twist is suing McFarlane
Toys because McFarlane used his name as the name of one of the mobster characters
in his Spawn comic series. Mr. Twist was awarded 24.5 million dollars by the
courts in July and if Todd McFarlane's appeals do not go through, then it will
see the end of the Spawn comic line and the end of the entire line of McFarlane
Toys. Frankly, I hope it is not over turned because the number of times that my
family has been burned by the inferior product that he has put out in the past.
In other news, be on the look out for new versions of the action figures
from the X-Men movie lines. Toy Biz has gone back and re-done some of the first
line of figures in order to make them look more like the characters in the movie
and to make them a bit more kid friendly. Jean Grey will get not only have her
hair pulled back, but also a bra to cover up things. Storm will be getting a
better paint job on her skin and eyes as well as a bra. Logan will get a new
facial expression and flannel shirt as well as a new way of him being packaged.
Professor X is the last one to get this make over. He gets a new head that is
supposed to look more like Patrick Stewart. Start looking for them on your toy
shelves soon.
The people at 21st Century Toys are producing a line of four-inch action
figures that are based on the soldiers from World War II, Vietnam and modern
armed forces. The first set, due in September, will have 10 to 12 separate
figures, six vehicles and a number of playsets based on World War II. It appears
that they will only be available at Toys R Us stores.
Toy Biz, the makers of the X-Man movie figures, has acquired the rights to
make action figures based on the "Lord of the Rings" movie due out at the end
of next year. Look for them to arrive in time for Christmas 2001.
The new line of Star Wars figures should have arrived at your local store
in the new Power of the Jedi packaging. The removal of the CommTech chips has
not affected the price of the figures as anticipated with the average price drop
being about 20 cents. I managed to snag a Tuskin Raider Sniper at my local Target
store, and the quality of the figures seems to have improved. It looks like the
ones I'll be getting out of this line is the Gungan Trooper and Battle Droid
Security. Around this Christmas look for K-3P0, Mon Calamari, the Biker Scout
and the pod race announcers Fode and Beed. Twelve-inch figures due out soon are
the three pack of Bossk, IG-88 and 4-Lom. Also, this month should see the release
of a Toys R Us exclusive 12-inch Sandtrooper and Dewback costing about $70. Lastly,
this fall Hasbro will release the fan club exclusive Carbon Chamber playset for
Star Wars. It will come with an exclusive Bespin security guard. Keep an eye out
on the Hasbro web site for more information.
Jakks Pacific is releasing more figures for its Titan Tron playset. These will
be using the Real-San technology that I commented about last month. Look for the
likes of The Rock, Edge, Chris Jericho, Farooq and Bradshaw, Big Show, Triple H
and Tazz. I know I'll be getting a few of these for people for Christmas. Also
from Jakks Pacific, look for figures from the new movie based on the television
series "Charlies Angels."
A while back, I made mention of action figures from X-Toys based on the
characters from the television show "Saturday Night Live," and it looks like that
list has been updated. Look for the likes of Opera Man, Linda Richman (the Coffee
Talk Lady) Hans and Frans and Roseanne Roseannadanna.
DC Direct has two more exclusive figures out in February 2001. These will be
Raven with a "smoky" base, and the other is Cyborg with interchangeable hands.
That looks like all for this month. As always; comments, article ideas, flames
can be sent to me at the E-Mail address at the beginning of the article.
|
