Toy Aisle Trolls > I C Dead DCUC

April 8, 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.

Poester JHndz sends along a pair of DCUC swaps.

Supposed to Look Like: This and this

Problem: The DCUC Green Lantern Hal Jordan has been swapped for a DC Direct Hal Jordan; not actually that bad a trade, to be honest. Kinda weird really, since this is the most easily-available Hal Mattel has made, whereas that DCD Hal Jordan is harder to find. The second figure is a JLU Black Manta in place of Deadshot, and it’s clearly wrong.

Karmic Payback: The troll or trolls who perpetrated this crime are caught on camera self-pleasuring to World of Warcraft, which is then uploaded to YouTube for all to see.

Toy Aisle Trolls > The Shave and the Trolled

February 23, 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.

Poester MB must live in a troll-heavy area, because he drops not one, but two douchetrocities on us:

Writes MB:

Found both of these at the same Wal-Mart in Greenville, SC. The only Kyle that I have seen and the plastic was cut with a box cutter in the shape of the sword. What makes it even better was that they also took the box cutter as the package for that was on the shelf on the other side of the aisle. I’m sure that the Brave and Bold one just had Superman pulled out of the hole at the top, which is exactly what I thought I would see when I first saw this set.

At least the Kyle remains intact in its package–even the BAF part is there. I’m wondering if this wasn’t just a case of a careless employee slashing the package as he opened the case of figures. I missed the fact they stole his sword. Terrible.  And odd. He really wanted just the sword that bad? AND he stole the box cutter he used to do it? Wow. I assume this guy will be be moving up from torturing pets and stealing toys to the FBI’s Most Wanted in a few years.

There’s no excuse for stealing the Superman figure–much less from a toy set aimed at five-year-olds. Unless said excuse is “I’m a total douchebag”–which doesn’t excuse the theft, but at least would be honest.

Toy Fair 2011 > DC Universe

February 19, 2011 | Poe

DSCF0325

(DC Universe Gallery)

Mattel had plenty of DC Universe stuff on display at the collector’s event last Sunday, from DC Universe Classics to Batman: Legacy, to Young Justice and Action League, to Green Lantern and Retro Action DC Super Heroes. (more…)

Toy Aisle Trolls > Arkilljoy

February 7, 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.

Mr. G submits this for your disapproval:

(more…)

Toy Aisle Trolls > Mean Lantern

December 15, 2010 | 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.

3B sends this in:

(more…)

Ask Mattel > Answers for November 1

November 1, 2010 | Poe

1.) You recently announced that the Winston w/ Slime Blower was delayed. Is there any chance the delay is because you’re adding the “football pads” part of his outfit?

He is delayed to make him more accurate to the film. He will have the full vest and pads when released. (more…)

SDCC > Rustin Parr’s Report, Day 3

July 24, 2010 | Rustin Parr

Friday 7/23

What does one do on Day 2 when the vast majority of exclusive figures on their list were acquired on Day 1? Stroll and go to Panels! And pick up the voucher pre-sale stuff from Matty, of course (incredibly painless and easy – Hasbro, et al, should take note and do the same!). (more…)

SDCC > Mattel DC Panel News

July 23, 2010 | Poe

It looks like 2011 will be the Year of the Green Lantern for Mattel’s DC Universe division.

Some highlights from the panel:

  • DCIH will focus on Green Lantern in 2011
  • There will be two DCUC-style waves of Green Lantern Classics, of six figures each, with a CnC for each wave
  • Some GLC figures will have swappable hands and heads
  • Wave 2 will feature an original Red Lantern figure created by the Four Horsemen and named by Geoff Johns
  • DCUC Green Lanterns may get the Blue Beetle super-articulated treatment
  • Ch’ip is coming
  • There will be 6 new DC vs. MOTU 2-packs, including Hawkman vs. Stratos (blue wing/red backpack variant) and Aquaman vs. Mer-Man (minicomic colors variant). Trap Jaw also in the works, possibly to be paired with Cyborg Superman or Metallo
  • Legion of Superheroes will get a DCUC 12-pack
  • More pics at TNI

ToyFare #157 & 2011 Club Eternia/Club Ecto-1 news

July 15, 2010 | Poe

The latest issue of ToyFare, #157, hit newsstands this week, and it’s chock (what’s a chock? anyway) full of news. News you didn’t already know. Or maybe you did, but I didn’t. Among the highlights:

  • The Four Horsemen’s new line is Symbiotech, which should be familiar to Fantastic Exclusive voters. Still early on in the production development, but they’re coming!
  • Fantastic Exclusives Scarabus and Raven are still coming–look for more when the Horsemen relaunch the FE website just before SDCC.
  • Mattel will be producing a 6″ Ghostbusters II 4-pack with removable Santa hats which will be available at TRU in October. That’s Toys ‘R Us, Matty haters. Relatively minor bummer: no slime throwers.
  • DCUC Wave 16 includes Jonah Hex and the Creeper, with CnC Bane. (Pics of all, plus Green Lantern Classics ’90s Kyle Rayner, included in magazine).
  • The DCUC Fan Poll candidates, the winner to be turned into a CnC figure, are: Blockbuster, Girder, King Shark, Nekron, Shaggy Man, and Wildebeest. Vote at Wizardworld.com. Nekron will win.
  • JLU is getting the Gray Ghost (might be old news?)
  • Gentle Giant is creating massive 12″ versions of the vintage Boba Fett, Stormtrooper and Walrus Man 3 ¾” figures.
  • DCD Arkham Asylum Bane is just as crazy as the videogame version.
  • There’s a full-page ad of Carnivus (no Whiplash ad, apparently), that says he carries the “Sword of Saz,” which is apparently a reference to the Filmation series–“Saz” was some sort of feline mythological hero.

Mattel also released official news on the 2011 Club Eternia subscription. It’s all-in, so those of you hoping for tiered subscriptions are out of luck, I’m afraid. The sign-up will go from 7/21 at 4 p.m. PT through 8/4 at 4 p.m. PT. The January figure, Club incentive figure, and map poster will be revealed at the Friday SDCC panel.

But wait–there’s more! Ghostbusters fans get their own subscription, Club Ecto-1. It’s $20 for six figures plus a club exclusive figure.

But to quote Geordi La Forge, don’t take my word for it–buy your copy of ToyFare #157 today! Then you get all the pretty pictures.