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Toys & Collectibles

Rocket in Your Pocket: Monogram’s Cool Key Rings

monogram international, toy fair 2015, marvel, dc comics, key rings, bust banks
Just a few of Monogram’s Marvel Collectible Keyrings

Monogram International Inc. is noted for their years of creating unique licensed collectibles and novelties, and I’ve been tracking their creations over many Toy Fairs. Their bust banks are particular favorites of mine, and they have created many ComicCon exclusives in this range. Antman and Loki are stand out additions to the line this year.

Key Characters…
Photographing the varied items at their 2015 New York International Toy Fair booth, I quickly became enamored with Monogram’s soon to be released series of 3D Foam Figural Key Rings. Licensing spans the Marvel, Disney, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and DC universes. The 2” characters have a nice chunky feel, soft but not “squishy.” Their super cute wide-eyed designs are fun and inventive and should make them popular with both youngsters and collectors of stylized characters.

monogram international, toy fair 2015, marvel, dc comics, key rings, bust bank
3D Figural Foam Keyring Foil Packs and Display Box.

Chase Scene…
Each keyring series includes 9 standard characters and 2 exclusive figures. Marvel Series 1 includes, Spider-Man, Hulk, Nick Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Iron Man, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Star-Lord. The two “chase” characters illustrated on the bag in silhouette appear to be variants of Iron Man and Rocket. They will be sold as foil pack “blind bags.” Inside each package the characters are wrapped in cardboard to discourage the “touchy feely” collectors from trying to divine their purchase in advance. It keeps things honest and trading brisk.

monogram international, toy fair 2015, marvel, dc comics, key rings, bust bank
My Monogram Rocket Raccoon 3D Keyring just hanging out.

The Monogram folks were so kind as to offer Ken Pierce (PiercingMetal.Com) and I a mystery bag each, and of course we opened them immediately. I was happy to find Galaxy Guardian Rocket Raccoon in mine, especially since he was not included in the Monogram display.

monogram international, toy fair 2015, marvel, dc comics, key rings, bust bank
Monogram’s Avengers Paperweight as a work in progress..

Weight of the Universe…
Monogram also unveiled a very early look at their Marvel Avengers paperweight. Shown in unpainted prototype it’s an out of the ordinary collector’s piece, nice for the desk of that comic obsessed executive you know. Standing atop the Avengers logo, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Ultron and the Hulk are all nicely sculpted ranging at what seemed to be 4-5 inches tall. Although not shown at Toy Fair, likely still in the sculpt stage, the company’s product art illustrates The Abomination and Loki as part of the set as well.

monogram international, toy fair 2015, marvel, dc comics, key rings, bust bank
Loki ponders what universe he’s in, as Superman looks on.

SkeletonPete Says…
Though not originally a fan of the mystery box or blind bag collectible model, I’ve come to understand its strengths. Commercially the “thrill of the chase” for your favorite characters certainly drives sales but psychologically adds a layer of fun via anticipation and surprise. That’s not such a bad thing for kids to experience in a world of mostly instant gratification. A personal analogy is how much I enjoyed chasing after 45 RPM’s with Non-LP B-Sides by my favorite musical artists. Now those “bonus” tracks are a click away for download and not truly special at all.

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Toys & Collectibles

Bat-Mites: Kotobukiya’s “Lil Gotham” Figures Announced

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kotobukiya, dc comics, lil gotham, batman
DC’s Lil Gotham gang as collectible 2″ figures (Photo courtesy of Kotobukiya)

Let’s Get Small…
Fans of DC Comics Batman, Lil Gotham series have some welcome merchandise on the horizon. Scheduled for June 2015, a selection of seven characters will be brought to collectors by toy maker Kotobukiya.

Quite appropriately the Lil Gotham figures are – well – little. They average 2 inches tall and are made of soft PVC. They’ll be sold blind bagged, two to a package, in any one of six bright colors. Represented are Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Joker, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, all as envisioned by artist Dustin Nguyen.

zatanna, dc comics, kotobukiya, bishoujo
Kotobukiya adds Bishoujo Zatanna to their selection of manga styled heroines. (Photo Courtesy of Kotobukiya)

Do You Believe in Magic in a Young Girl’s Heart…
New to Kotobukiya’s line of Bishoujo styled statues, which cast well known heroines in the playful “pretty girl” manga look, is DC’s Zatanna. The Mistress of Magic should be ready for her first reveal at the New York International Toy Fair.

SkeletonPete Says…
Kotobukiya is noted for their high quality ArtFX statues. They have licensed products that span the DC and Marvel Universes, Star Wars, Mass Effect and more. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing many of them on display at recent fairs and conventions. Please enjoy the gallery below.

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Toys & Collectibles

They’re Dead, They’re All Mezzed Up: Mezco @ Toy Fair 2013

Mezco adds Universal Monsters Dracula to Rule Their Living Dead Dolls
Mezco adds Universal Monsters Dracula to Rule Their Living Dead Dolls
Beware the Eyes that Paralyze…
The Mezco Toyz Universal Monsters franchise will welcome Count Dracula to the Living Dead Doll team in October 2013. Mezco’s press release describes the figure thusly, “From his widow’s peak to the hem of his cape, every detail of Dracula has been captured. The Count wears one of the most regal outfits ever produced for a Living Dead Doll; he comes complete with full evening dress, his trademark cape, his famous medallion, his red Carnelian stone ring, and even his watch chain, have been carefully recreated. Special attention has been paid to his hypnotic eyes…”

Banner Day…
Mezco also announced a special limited edition Living Dead Dolls Banner for order only at Mezco Direct. The 18” X 36” 10 oz. vinyl collector’s item is emblazoned with the images of dolls from the soon to be released Series 25. Scheduled for May 2013 the new series adds 5 more terrible tots to the Mezco mix. Cracked Jack, Asa, Sospirare, Gretchen and Luna are the newest denizens of the Mezco netherworld.

LLD Scary Tales Vol 5: Spider Gang Miss Muffet, and the silent lamby Little Bo Creep
LLD Scary Tales Vol 5: Spider Gang Miss Muffet, and the silent lamby Little Bo Creep
Tales, You Win…
The Scary Tales LDD series will expand by two characters with Volume 5; Lil Bo Creep and Little Miss Muffet. The Bo Creep doll sports a dead lamb chapeau and Hannibal Lechter style face mask, while Miss Muffet represents for her gang “The Spiders.”

"Mad Moma" Norman Bates Gets the Mezco LLD Spin
“Mad Moma” Norman Bates Gets the Mezco LLD Spin
Psych-Out…
Also displayed at the NY 2013 Toy Fair was the Psycho inspired knife wielding Norman Bates dressed as dear ol’ Mother and a shocked bath towel wrapped Marion Crane. The prototypes were still pending licensor approval at the time of these photographs.

Living Dead Figurines Series 3 and Variants with Mystery box percentages
Living Dead Figurines Series 3 and Variants with Mystery box percentages

Mystery Boxed Mini’s Series 3…
Series Three of the Living Dead Doll Figurines adds 5 more characters and their variants to the blind boxed collectors’ favorites. These miniatures measure 2 inches tall and are a fun choice for any space strapped collectors.