Diamond Select – Page 2 – Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation

What Battle Beasts Rights Does Diamond Select Have?

On April 18, 2012

battle beasts by toy find!, on Flickr

Phil Reed over at Battlegrip speculates on the specific rights Diamond Select Toys has to Battle Beasts. I actually discussed this on PGPoA way back in 2009, and even then it was rumored DST only had the trademark on the brand name, not the creature designs (or the rub-sign feature).

It seems obvious TakaraTomy (the Japanese rights holder of Transformers) still has the rights to Beastformers, the Japanese toy line that became Battle Beasts when imported to the U.S. and Europe. As the original name suggests, in Japan the line was tied in to Transformers (specifically the Japanese Headmasters franchise). And now it looks like TakaraTomy may beÂ moving forward with some new productÂ under the name Beast Saga.

(A brief aside to Phil’s main question: I suspect the confusion over whether DST “paid someone” for the trademark is due either to someone at the C2E2 DST panel misspeaking, or someone misunderstanding or misreporting what was said. I do think they simply snapped up the trademark when TakaraTomy let it lapse. Also, I believe you pay the government a fee when you pick up a lapsed trademark, so that may be what the “paid” is referring to.)

Odds ‘n Ends > AICN, Collector Gene, MOTU Fan Films, SHM Rodan

By Poe

On April 17, 2012

In Odds 'n Ends

PGPoA was mentioned on Ain’t It Cool News’ AICN ToysÂ section yesterday in regard to my recent post about DCUC. Unfortunately, the quote they attribute to me is actually something I quoted from NoisyDvL5’s editorial on ItsAllTrue. I posted a comment to try and set the record straight.
It’s been a banner week for Power Pals. PPP Ben Leach, who comes from a whole family of collectors (toy and otherwise), have opened their own website, the Collector Gene. Here’s how he describes it:Â Â “What separates us from a lot of collecting websites is a.) we own everything that we write about (and if we don’t, we clarify that), and b.) all four of us collect and are going to contribute to the website. Obviously, I’m going to write about the kind of stuff that appeals to your readers, but if your readers like shows like Antiques Roadshow or Pawn Stars, then I think they’ll appreciate everything on there. “
I’m not sure how many have heard of this, but there’s a group doing MOTU fan films. I haven’t watched them yet, but here’s their website. I suppose I owe it to you all to look into this further, so I will once I can get through some of my existing backlog.
At long last, Diamond Select is giving me the Mego-style Creature of the Black Lagoon I’ve been asking for since they created the line. It will be on my desk at work. Oh yes.
I’ve started using the PGPoA Facebook page more – primarily for stuff like recent purchases, random toy-related links, and news bits and other stuff on weekends. If you’re not on Facebook or don’t follow the site you won’t miss anything important, but for those of you jonesing for a more frequent PGPoA fix should keep an eye on it.
English page for S.H.MonsterArts Rodan. I’m such a mark for this line.
So, what sold out in yesterday’s Mattycollector sale? Thunder Punch He-Man, Tri-Klops, & the Voltron Yellow Lion. As of this posting, Draego-Man, Orko, and other figs are still there. I’m tempted to buy another Orko to see if I can get a Prince Adam without incredibly loose ankles, but does such a thing even exist?
This humor in this Saturday morning cartoon parody StarbariansÂ is a bit tasteless, but the animation is well done – and the name and concept kick ass. How did every 1980s toy-and-cartoon producer miss “Starbarians”? This is the decade that created Dinosaucers!
Diamond Select had a ~~prototype sculpt of a new Battle Beast~~Â grey retailer summit version of VorinÂ ~~on display~~ at C2E2.
Here are some new pics of the Play Arts Kai Mass Effect 3Â figures. Now you can create your own ambiguous ending to Shepard’s saga!

Diamond Reveals Their Plans for Battle Beasts

By Poe

On April 12, 2012

In News

The new Battle Beasts website has gone live. Highlights:

There will be a new comic from IDW,Â Â written by Bobby Curnow (Godzilla Legends, Night of 1000 Wolves) and penciled by Valerio Schiti (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Donatello, Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron)
At San Diego Comic-Con,Â DST will unveil the first full wave of Battle Beasts Minimates, which will be in stores in late fall of 2012. The first wave of two-packs will focus heavily on characters who appear in the comic, and will have a gameplay element, as well. DST will also have an exclusive two-pack of Battle Beasts for sale at the show.

So it looks like the figures will indeed be Minimates in the style of the previous con exclusives, and not the fully-sculpted action figures we saw prototypes of a while back. That’s disappointing, but the Minimates style is very popular with collectors and kids alike, and this will allow Diamond to offer the kind of variety and character selection the original Battle Beasts line was known for. It’s probably a shrewd move.

Odds ‘n Ends > Battle Beasts, Disney/WB, & a new Outer Space (Wo)man?

By Poe

On April 11, 2012

In Odds 'n Ends

As of this posting it’s just under a day and a half to go until we find out what Diamond Select’s plans are for Battle BeastsÂ (probably at C2E2, if I had to guess). Keep an eye on this site.
As a favor to Poe Power Pal and resident homicidal maniac Doc Thomas, please “Like” the Australian store Popcultcha on Facebook. If they get 10,000 likes, they’ll have a 20%-off-everything sale, and Doc Thomas has promised to review every single thing he buys here on PGPoA. (Actually I just made that last part up, but I’m going to hold him to it anyway.)
Bored at work? Poester SpedÂ linked me to this list of “30 Cool Toy Commercials From the â€™90s.”
Topless Robot picked up on my “DC Universe Tragic” post, and Rob agrees that the problem is as much DC as it is Mattel.Â I noticed in the comments the growing idea that the superhero comics of the big two are a dying medium that will soon move almost entirely to movies/TV/videogames. I think that’s just as well, if only because at least that would force Disney/WB to employ some goddamned consistency (for a TV season, or at least two hours in a theater). Side note: how soon before Marvel/DC becomes Disney/WB?
I somehow missed this, but Outer Space Men creator Mel Birnkrant has created a new OSM member, “Terra Firma – the Woman From Space,” who will evidently be sculpted by the Horsemen and added to the OSM line. Since Major Matt Mason – the original, if unofficial, Earth OSM member – is owned by Mattel, I think the curvy Terra is a perfect fit. Or rather a “snug” fit, judging from that costume – ring-a-ding-ding!

Pic of the Day > Dracula vs Conan by Reis O’Brien

By Poe

On March 28, 2012

In Photos

Pic of the Day > Firefight by ajayinthelife

By Poe

On January 27, 2012

In Photos

Battle Beasts to return on April 12, 2012?

By Poe

On January 2, 2012

In News

I was perusing the Battle Beasts News and discovered something I’d completely missed: a countdown timer for Battle Beasts from Diamond Select. (Or supposedly from Diamond Select–BBN says Diamond posted it, but I couldn’t find the original link.)Â It appears to be set for April 12, 2012. What will happen on that day? BBN speculates that there will be some sort of announcement at C2E2, which begins the 13th.

What will it be? More of the Minimates-style Battle BeastsÂ we’ve seen so far? Or the even more awesome fully-sculpted figures they showed at SDCC 2010?

As a reminder, I’m not sure we’ve ever confirmed whether Diamond Select has the rights to anything aside from the trademark name “Battle Beasts”–i.e., they may not have the rights to any of TakaraTomy’s character designs.

Pic of the Day > munsters herman by PaulNomad

By Poe

On October 27, 2011

In Photos

Pic of the Day > Diamond Select Universal Monsters – The Mummy [Exclusive] by Ed Speir IV

By Poe

On October 26, 2011

In Photos

Odds ‘n Ends > October 19, 2011

By Poe

On October 19, 2011

In Odds 'n Ends

The Spawn Message Board was taken down last Friday. Rustin Parr of OAFE has written an excellent obituary here. His comment that the Spawn Board was the birthplace of the online toy collecting community is only mildly hyperbolic–I certainly got my start there, and many other well-known online toy personalities, such as Michael Crawford, congregated there in the late ’90s. I invented the pseudonym “Poe Ghostal” for that board, way back in 1999. Of course, I hadn’t visited the board in years–ever since McFarlane Toys began its long slide into sports and statuism after the Spawn lines of the early 2000s (with the one positive blip being Halo)–but the board’s demise is still worth some brief reflection.
Diamond Select has created a rather awesomeÂ “Mini-Mation” video starring their pirate-themed “Calico Jack” Minimates.
ItsAllTrue.net has a great review of the TRU-exclusive 1970s-style Arkham CityÂ Batman (it comes free with a purchase of the game at TRU, or, like me, you can buy it separately for $14.99). Of course, the actual 1970s game skin is a completely unique model, not just some new graphics over the regular suit…
BigBadToyStore has two major new exclusive G.I. Joe 7-Packs: Slaughter’s Marauders and the Dreadnoks. You can save $10 if you buy both sets together. The sets include a mix of new figures and repaints.
Bandai let me know they’re having a Ben 10 Sweepstakes. Kids can enter the contest by submitting codes from Ben 10 toys toÂ helpben10.com. The winner gets an all-expenses paid trip for three to London to ride the Ben 10: Ultimate Mission roller coaster at the Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth, Staffordshire — plus the winner will have a bonus chance to win $10,000 on top of the grand prize. So if you’ve got a child, grandchild, or nephew or niece who’s really into Ben 10, be sure to mention it to ’em.

Tag: Diamond Select Page 2 of 6