Toy Aisle Trolls > Skal(lox)ped

August 11, 2011 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.

Submitted by: WW

What It’s Supposed to Look Like: This

WW writes:

Long time reader, first time “caller”! I was in a Walmart in Catonsville, MD and I stumbled upon the attached example of a Toy Aisle Troll. As you can see, they stole the Skallox/Nite-lik Red Lantern body and replaced it with a *broken* Atom body. Atom’s broken leg was just free-floating in the package. The package rim was covered in tape, so it was obvious to anyone that it had been opened. Surprisingly, the Stel part was still there.

Toy Aisle Trolls > Lack Hand

August 9, 2011 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.

Submitted by: Poe

The Problem: The BAF piece is missing, and the Mattel Black Hand figure has been replaced with a DC Direct Black Hand.

What It’s Supposed to Look Like: This

Poe writes: Poester Sped and I came across this at the Toys R Us in Dedham, MA. Someone at TRU was evidently vaguely aware of the problem, as it’s got the reduced-price red sticker. But for all I know they just thought the BAF piece was missing–even Sped missed the fact it was a DCD Black Hand until I pointed it out.

Odds ‘n Ends > August 8, 2011

August 8, 2011 | Poe

  • I’m putting together what I’m calling “Bat-Week”–a week of reviews of Batman-related toys. I was hoping to do it this week, the week after Shark Week, but it didn’t come together. So it will be either next week or the week after.
  • I missed this out of SDCC, but it appears Mattel is actually looking into an opt-in option for subscribers for the six “Anniversary” figures in 2012 (Fearless Photog, Draego-Man, and the other four new characters). If that happens, I’ll be both surprised and pleased. The vehicles and Granamyr are still excluded because the pricing on them isn’t known yet (though they’ve been saying $80 for Granamyr).
  • DCUC is on sale for $9.99 at TRU this week, evidently. If you’re short on Mary Marvels or Steppenwolfs, now’s your chance to stock up.
  • Speaking of TRU, apparently the “Mad Love” Joker/Harley two-packs are hitting stores. It would be just my luck if every other Mattel DCUC 2-pack has pegwarmed but I never even see this set.
  • On a related note, I’ve started looking for the K-Mart exclusive Golden Age Batman w/ Bat-Mite. All I’ve found are empty pegs for Batman Legacy figures that haven’t been put out.

Mattel adds Poison Ivy to Infinite Earths sub (& why I’m still not biting)

August 2, 2011 | Poe

Why oh why oh WHY did I mention the idea of Batman figures in a subscription? Mattel announced another figure for the Infinite Earths subscription:

Hey DC Universe fans, you asked for it, you got it! Here is the reveal of another 6″ character in the DC Universe Club Infinite Earths subscription program…Poison Ivy!

What’s more, they’ve made it clear we will not see these characters as figures (or at least, not next year):

To clarify the DC Universe Club Infinite Earths subscription, If the sub does not move forward, the figures announced will not be a part of the 2012 retail line. The only way we will create these DC Universe figures in 2012 is through the subscription program. To get Starman, Atrocitus, Flash 1, and Poison Ivy, sign up for the sub.

I had to think it over. The sub is more tempting now, but I was mildly surprised to find I still didn’t want to sign up–not for Poison Ivy alone. (Probably the only single figure who could get me to sign up for an entire sub is Red Robin.)
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Toy Aisle Trolls > Tex Vex

July 27, 2011 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.

Submitted by: DC

The Problem: The Lizard has been replaced with, of all things, Wave Rider Nemo; Mary Batson has been replaced with a DC Direct Deadshot.

What It’s Supposed to Look Like: This and this

DC writes:

I found these at my local Wal-Mart, here in Arlington Texas, across the street from where they had the Superbowl. There were two more I didn’t take pictures of. Oh, One of the DCUC, Hourman I think, had a Marvel Legends Nick Fury in it.

I turned them over to the toy dept. manager and asked to speak to customer service and someone in returns and tried to explain the scam, how someone was taking the BAF parts, and most likely selling the full BAF figure on ebay, not too mention the loose figure alone would recoup their cost, not to mention making money back on the return. I explained how to easily check on figures what the actual figure is (I mean deadshot in a Mary Batson? C’mon. I didn’t even get into how it was not even a DCUC Deadshot)

Anyway I was treated to a LECTURE about how I was wrong because collectors do not open figures, so no one would open a figure to take out a BAF piece. I got this from the Toy Dept. manager, and the Returns Department Manager.

I’m a 45 year old Recruiter and Trainer and I was stunned at how they treated me like an idiot, in the face of proof. I mean, they literally treated me like I was wasting their time, and I was HANDING them proof of theft, and explaining a pervasive scam.

Amazing.

P.S. After it was all said and done, I bought the DCUC with the Nick Fury, because, hey, Marvel Legends Nick Fury…

Arkillo Collect and Connect (DC Universe Classics)

July 18, 2011 | Novelty

It’s DCUC month over at Toy a Day and I’ve opened up my second wave of figures.  Which means that there’s a new CnC figure to be put together and reviewed.  Since I did Kilowog here last week, and got a handful of positive comments (Thanks guys, much appreciated!) I thought it would be a treat for the Poesters to enjoy this next figure from the the first Wave of the Green Lantern DC Universe Classics, Arkillo.

Arkillo is a figure that was newly (and recently) created for the Sinestro Corps.  He was the first character (shown within the comic) to be recruited to the Sinestro Corps.  Supposedly, it’s his huge size that instills fear into those that crosses his path.

He hails from the same space sector that Kilowog is from, namely Space Sector 674.  However, he’s not from the same planet nor is he the same race as Kilowog.  Still there are similiarities with Kilowog.  They are both huge, they are both drill sergeants to their respective Corps.  Arkillo is also a slave-driver that drives the Qwardian weaponers to create more yellow rings for the Sinestro Corps.

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Ask Mattel > Answers for July 15

July 15, 2011 | Poe


1.) Mario asks: In regards to the Voltron subscription, will the frequency of figures released be closer to MOTUC or Ghostbusters, & what will the price point be?

You will just need to wait for SDCC to find out all the details.

2.) Snarf! Snarf! asks: Regarding the “little guys” in MOTUC… Figures that would be smaller than a regular figure but larger than a “Pack-in” character” (Guys like Gwildor or Rotar and Twistoid) if/when they’re available, will they come single carded (with plenty of accessories to compensate for the smaller size) or will they come in Multi-fig packs like the GL 3 pack of “little guys”? (more…)

Happy Clawful Day!

July 15, 2011 | Poe

OK, the phrase “happy Clawful day” sounds kind of funny–like “have a happy awful day!” Heheheh…sigh. Some days you’re just not on.

Anyway, today is the day you can get your own Animal Clawful action figure. Also on sale:

  • Buzz-Off
  • JLU Stripe
  • DCUC Super Powers Stands

And don’t forget the massive All-Star sale! (more…)