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Before I get into the news for this month, I just want to comment on
something that I have noticed that is going on. After the attacks of
September 11th it seems that there has been a run on toys that have to do
with the various emergency services that responded to the attack. While
I hail this as a good thing because there are a lot of good toys out there
that can feed a child's imagination and maybe encourage them to go into
these fields, but there is the element out there that is trying to make a
quick buck off this popularity. These speculators will buy up a bunch of
the hot/popular toys and then mark them up and sell them on their own
through an on-line auction site, in the newspaper or to a dealer so that
you will have to pay an even more outrageous mark-up. So I say if your
child is clamoring for something related to fire fighters, police or
paramedics than do not solicit these kinds of people. I know how parents
want to satisfy their children's wants and needs at Christmas, but going
to these people will just drain your wallet. Instead, try to focus on some
things that they might enjoy. For example the 12 inch G.I. Joe line has
one fire fighter figure that was out about this time last year and another
one due out in time for Christmas based on the FDNY. If you cannot find
any of those, than go after the old stand by of the toy fire truck or
ambulance.
Now onto the rest of the news.
Mattel's first wave of re-made Masters of the Universe figures has done
so well, that they have decided to do a second wave. In this wave, we
will have Battle Sound He-Man and Battle Sound Skeletor as well as
normal figures of Mekanek, Ram-Man, Tri-Clops, Whiplash (when was
this guy in the original line?) and my personal favorite Trap Jaw. Look for
Battle Sounds He-Man and Skeletor some time this month and the
others due some time in early 2002.
The Simpsons line of toys has another two playsets and a seventh
series of figures due out this month. Look for the Simpson's Kitchen
playset with the most disturbing action figure to come out of a toy line
since Austin Powers in his Underwear, and that is the Muumuu Homer
figure. There's just something about that light blue muumuu with red
flowers and white hat that disturbs me. The other playset is Krusty
Burger with the pimply faced teen. He was supposed to be in the large
Springfield Town Square playset, but that was
cancelled and he was put in here. The only thing that would make this
line even better is a Grandpa Simpson figure from the time that he worked
in the Krusty Burger. The Seventh series is filled with figures of Officer
Marge, Dolph (one of the four bullies), Cletus (who better have a funny
voice chip), Hans Moleman, Officer Lou and Ms.Krabappel. Look for all
of these to be hitting store shelves some time this month.
Toy Biz has put out another series of figures based on the X-Men
Evolution cartoon. Due out this month are another four figures. These
are Magneto, Battle Ravaged Wolverine (with small Sabretooth figure), a
vary thin Juggernaut and Kurt Wagner (AKA Nightcrawler). All figures
will have some type of action.
A new company to me, IF Labs, has the rights to make a line of nine inch
figures based on the Dragon Ball Z movies. The first line is due out in
January with Goku, Piccolo, Cooler and Lord Slug. The good guys in the
line look like they have taken part in some heavy duty fighting because
they're sculpted with torn or missing clothes. The second line is due out
in May 2002 and have Goku in spacesuit, Krillin in Spacesuit,
battle-damaged Vegeta and Meta-Cooler.
DC Direct has a threesome of figures due out in April 2002. This time
they are shooting for the Golden and Silver age fans with releases of
Shazam, his enemy Black Adam and then not related to either of the
others: Sgt. Rock. The figures will be at least six inches tall and have
some type of accessories.
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