T-shirts, toys, even artsy statuettes

Consumers are struggling to stretch their budgets, control their credit cards and make their mortgage payments. But one of the retail industry's big lures for shoppers this spring and summer will be a cascade of the most nonessential products possible, all spun from movies such as "Speed Racer" and the long-awaited fourth installment of "Indiana Jones."

The merchandise is coming in an array of forms, ranging from T-shirts and trading cards to glitzy electronic toys and artsy statuettes. The target audience is kids of all ages -- including grown-up kids -- as well as a variety of collectors, video game fans, film buffs and trend junkies. Basically, almost everybody.

Many of the products are about to arrive in shelf-stuffing batches because May features the release of four consecutive pop-culture flicks: The comic book-based "Iron Man" on May 2, the anime-rooted "Speed Racer" on May 9, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" on May 16 and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" on May 22.

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Gotham City’s wickedest villain becomes a 1:6 scale figure! Dressed in an intricate fabric costume consisting of a shirt, tie, vest, blazer, pants, overcoat, and loafers, and including movie-specific accessories of three knives, a handgun with removable clip, a bank robbery mask, and three sets of hands, the figure also comes with a display stand. Packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a fifth panel. Limited Edition! • Collector figure

Item is due to ship by Early July, 2008.

We are unable to guarantee the availability of limited edition Advance Order items. In rare circumstances the supplier may not deliver a full order to us.

Advance Order dates are subject to change without notice. However, in most cases your Advance Order will ship on the scheduled release date to the commercial marketplace.


apr080295pad$89.99

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Every adult action figure collector most likely believes the toys from their generation were the best and who can argue with them? It’s part of their childhood. As a child of the 1980’s I could easily write an editorial on why that was the best decade for action figures. Perhaps, I will in the near future but the fact of the matter is we are arguably experiencing the best decade for action figures.

Today’s action figure market no longer only caters to children but the growing numbers of adult collectors resulting in a plethora of different licensed toys from today’s and yesterday’s movies, comic books, television shows and video games.



What collector could have imagined that over twenty years after the release of Jim Henson’s wonderful film Labyrinth, that we’d see action figures of Jareth the Goblin King (David Bowie)? Or the continuing expansive line of Street Fighter 2 action figures and statues? I could go on but I think you get the point.


On top of all that goodness, the changes in action figure technology is so far advanced then ever before. Try comparing an original Transformer to the sophistication of today’s engineering and complexities of a Transformer. There is none. Articulation is another amazing improvement the action figure market has seen. A large selection of action figures including Hasbro Toys: Marvel Legends and McFarlane Toys: Halo 3 action figure boasts 18-28 points of articulation. We’ve never seen anything like that before!

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Let 'Age of Pharaohs' Inspire You

Copyright 2008 TMP International, Inc.

SPAWN Series 33, Age of Pharaohs, was inspired by classic Egyptian mythology, transporting the SPAWN mythos to the dynasties of ancient gods and timeless legends.

We've got a monumental challenge for you.

Think of the great monuments of ancient Egypt. The Sphinx, the Great Pyramids, the tombs and temples. Envision yourself transported back in time, and design a monument to SPAWN. Or imagine crossing the desert and coming upon an ancient tribute to the SPAWN god. Your entry can be as simple as a drawing or painting - or as involved as a scale-model diorama. The media is of your choice.

Send a jpeg (no larger than 60K) to contests@mcfarlane.com by midnight, April 3 to be eligible to win.

Prizes will be awarded for awesomeness, originality and creativity. Here’s what’s at stake:

* 1st Prize: A complete set of SPAWN 33 figures signed by Todd McFarlane
* 2nd Prize: A complete set of SPAWN 33 figures (unsigned)
* Honorable Mention: Winner's choice of 1 SPAWN 33 figure




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The doors of the Alberta Aviation Museum on Kingsway Avenue yesterday might as well have opened into a time machine.

Behind them, Edmonton's Pop Culture Fair lured a swarm of crazed collectors and nostalgic bargain hunters.

For children of the 1980s especially - mostly 30-something men - the bazaar made them feel a little younger.

Items for sale included countless figurines, Nintendo games and the usual Star Wars stuff, while rarities included an old Nabisco Shreddies box with the Freddie and Eddie mascots on it and an Atari 7800.

"I thought I'd feel old coming here but it's been great. Seeing these things brings back memories I thought I forgot," said Justin Marshall, 31.

He was one of dozens of men who lingered at James Thompson's Irresistible Collectibles booth.

Thompson, 31, has spent the last few years buying up mint quality Transformers and G.I. Joe toys like those he played with growing up in Leduc.

He marvels at the resale value of classic toys.

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When artist Mike Wieringo passed away, he was in the middle of his latest Marvel Comics book, a What If? story. Mike had completed seven pages of what became a massive 27-page story. With Mike’s passing, Marvel Comics generously provided access to the script and Mike’s art to The Hero Initiative, and Mike’s friends stepped up to finish the story, and pay tribute to Mike. Now, What If…This Was The Fantastic Four?: A Tribute to Mike Wieringo is slated as a massive, 48-page tribute book for June shipping that contains the full story, and additional written tributes to Mike.

The tremendous list of talent participating in the book includes Jeff Parker, Arthur Adams, Paul Renaud, Stuart Immonen, Cully Hamner, Alan Davis, David Williams, Sanford Greene, Humberto Ramos, Skottie Young, Mike Allred, Barry Kitson, and Val Staples. Cover artwork is by Mike Wieringo and Paul Mounts, and The Hero Initiative is publishing the book with the full support of both Marvel Comics, and the family of Mike Wieringo.

This book is listed in Diamond Previews and the Previews Order Form under “Hero Initiative,” so order there! The book retails for $4.99.

“While Mike was always looking forward as an artist, he had a genuine appreciation of the efforts of those that came before him. He knew that, without their hard work and talent, he would not have had a career. He was a great and generous guy and he would have been thrilled to be a part of this book. And I’m honored that I’ve been allowed to be a part of it as well,” said Matt Wieringo, Mike’s brother.

Consumers are struggling to stretch their budgets, control their credit cards and make their mortgage payments. But one of the retail industry's big lures for shoppers this spring and summer will be a cascade of the most non-essential products possible, all spun from movies such as "Speed Racer" and the long-awaited fourth installment of "Indiana Jones."

The merchandise is coming in an array of forms, ranging from T-shirts and trading cards to glitzy electronic toys and artsy statuettes. The target audience is kids of all ages - including grown-up kids - as well as a variety of collectors, video game fans, film buffs and trend junkies. Basically, almost everybody.

Many of the products are about to arrive in shelf-stuffing batches because May features the release of four consecutive pop-culture flicks: The comic book-based "Iron Man" on May 2, the anime-rooted "Speed Racer" on May 9, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" on May 16 and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" on May 22.

Doesn't that suggest competitive suicide, especially when the economy resembles one of Indiana Jones' dreaded snake pits?

Not necessarily, according to a variety of observers.

Longtime Bay Area comic book store owner Joe Field said comics and graphic novels - a core piece of the spring merchandising push - are classic "counter-economy" products.

Comics and some related items, Field said, become "inexpensive nesting entertainment"

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