Category: Toys & Collectibles

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Diamond Select Toys’ Next Wave of Universal Monsters Collectibles

Diamond Select Mini-Mates, "Kings of Fools" Quasimodo and Esmeralda

Toy Fair 2012 revelations continue with a look at Diamond Select Toys. In this centennial year of Universal Pictures, Diamond Select is poised to continue their roll-out of licensed Universal Monsters figures with an interesting assortment of creature creations. Product waves 1 & 2 gave us exceptional interpretations of the “top tier” in Universal’s horror hierarchy, featuring Frankenstein, Count Dracula, The Mummy, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Select packaging added great extras like the Mummy’s massive sarcophagus and a jaw-dropping Julie Adams figurine for the Gillman to menace.

Phantoms and Mutants and Moles, oh my…
Waves 3 & 4 – due in September 2012 and 2013 respectively – will offer an intriguing variety as we dive deeper into the monster pantheon. Some of my favorite characters will be represented including silent horror icon Lon Chaney Sr. in the role of The Phantom of the Opera and the mother of all bug-eyed monsters The Metaluna Mutant from 1955’s “This Island Earth”. Select packaging will again include impressive extras (pipe organ, Metalunan Interocitor) and collectors should be aware of some Toys R Us variants. The Invisible Man is listed for a Toys R Us September 2012 release also but wasn’t on display – or was he?

The pictured Wave 4 prototypes (some still awaiting licensor approval) give us a sneak peek at the next range of silent through 50’s options. This time Chaney Sr. portrays Notre Dame’s hunchback, Quasimodo. Boris Karloff’s Dr. Jeckyll is complimented by his monstrous Mr. Hyde in select “roof top” edition. Karloff’s J&H terrorized comedians Abbott & Costello and is a fun, unexpected, choice. I’m extremely jazzed to add The Mole Man (“The Mole People”, 1956) to the collection. I always loved those creepy claws.

More Monstrous Fun…
Other goodies expand the “Retro Cloth” line with Series 3’s “Bride of Frankenstein” and “Creature From the Black Lagoon” and Munsters fans will love the details on the “racer” garbed Herman, Grandpa, and Lily characters due for September 2012 release. The Munster kids – werewolf Eddie and and misfit Marilyn – will arrive in a two pack this summer and sometime in the future we may even be treated to a Munster’s mansion grand stairway, with house pet “Spot”.

For those strapped for shelf space (like myself) the very popular Mini-Mates figures can quench your collector itch without making you a candidate for an episode of Hoarders. A nice option for memorabilia minded Dads and Uncles, the design ingenuity of these blocky little babies always makes me chuckle. Mummy and silent Hunchback sets are in the pipeline for later this year.

Diamond’s newest Universal related product is a line of vinyl “Bust Banks”. Starting with the Frankenstein monster (prototype pictured) and the Black Lagoon Creature. Imagine the coolness factor of carting these puppies to the local TD Bank change counting machine. Both are slated for September 2012.

SkeletonPete Says…
Diamond continues to produce quality sculpted figures in packages priced to give buyers the opportunity to own display pieces as well as keep pristine packages for their collections. Considering that Frankenstein’s bride was on the short list for the Universal Monsters line, my personal wish-list would include Ernest Thesiger’s Dr. Pretorius (complete with bottled homunculi), Dwight Frye as Fritz, and of course Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein.

Keep an eye on SkeletonPete for information on Diamond’s first wave of “Mad Monster Party” figures, and hit Ken Pierce’s PiercingMetal Musings for Toy Fair coverage, soon to include Marvel Select, DC Direct and superhero mini-mates.

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Toys & Collectibles

Mass Effect Reaper Replica to join Dark Horse Stable

Mass Effect Reaper Replica from Dark Horse Comics

More exciting news from the absolutely amazing 2012 American International Toy Fair. Here’s a quick note to alert Mass Effect franchise fans about Dark Horse Comics‘ upcoming Reaper replica. While I was visiting their booth to get a peak at the new line of “Good Luck Trolls” (“Wishniks” to those my vintage), Dark Horse’s V.P. of Product Development, David Scroggy, gave me the OK to shoot some first-look photos of their Mass Effect Reaper replica just cleared for licensing. As you can see from this prototype, collectors will be treated to an exceptionally detailed rendering of these bio-mechanical starships.

Thanks so much to David and Chris G., Product Development Manager, for taking time out from what is essentially a sales event to give me a look at some of the incredible new items to come from the company. Check back soon for more information and photos of Dark Horse’s newest collectibles.

Now go download your Mass Effect 3 demo.

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Music Toys & Collectibles

Avengers Assemble… and Tune Up

Peavey Electronics and Marvel Entertainment collaborate on some tuneful tie-in's

In the hands of The Who’s Peter Townshend it could give a whole new meaning to “Hulk Smash!”, but one of the more surprising tie-in’s to be featured at New York Toy Fair 2012 is Peavey Electronics officially licensed Marvel Comics Series guitars and accessories. Some of Comicdom’s greatest superheroes are rendered on these straps, plectrums, percussion instruments and six strings, which run from entry level acoustic to student and upper tier electric models.

At only $49 the half size acoustic model is a great incentive for the young comic fan to try his or her hand at music. Electrics are offered as 3/4 ($139.99) and the full sized Rockmaster ($179.99). Peavey’s 3 Predator models sport more realistic imaginings of The Mighty Thor, Captain America, as well as a positively rippin’ graphic of Ghost Rider on his flaming motorcycle, and retail for $399.99. You can see the Predator models on Peavey’s website.
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Music SkeletonPete Says Toys & Collectibles

Tom Morello Jump Starts NY Comic Con

Tom Morello fires up Black Spartacus @ NYCC Special Concert

New York Comic Con 2011 offered Press, and those willing to spring for 4 Day passes, a chance to get a 3 hour event “sneak peak” in advance of the inevitable onslaught of fandom sure to descend on The Jacob Javitts Center on official day one.

They’ll be plenty of images to peruse here on SkeletonPete over the next few days. Along with Piercing Metal’s Ken Pierce I’ll do my best to give you a healthy overview as well as a closer look at things that draw my attention. From the small taste we got today it looks like it will be an “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” weekend. It’s a veritable storm of dazzling sights.

Capping off the evening on October 13 Rage Against The Machine’s guitarist Tom Morello, AKA “The Nightwatchman”, treated post preview attendees to a sterling set at the venue’s IGN theater space. Morello, with Freedom Fighter Orchestra cohorts, lauded the NYC grassroots “Occupy Wall Street” movement for their resolve with “Save The Hammer For The Man” (co-penned with Ben Harper). He introduced his new guitar “Black Spartacus” with a tune of the same name and mesmerized the crowd with quiet (“Garden of Gethsemene”) and thunderous (“Ghost of Tom Joad”) moments, including some of his patented guitar abuse.

Tom admitted surrendering to his inner sci-fi and comics geek. “You gotta embrace it”. The set also served to herald the release of Orchid, a graphic novel written by the guitarist. The story cycle will be presented by Dark Horse Comics in 12 installments, the first of which was made available at the convention kick-off concert by Mid-Town Comics. Morello describes the titled teenage heroine as “part suicide girl, part Joan of Arc, who becomes the Spatacus of whores”. Interior art is by Scott Hepburn, with a special convention variant cover rendered by a SkeletonPete fave, Shepard Fairey.

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Music SkeletonPete Says Toys & Collectibles

Dangerous Curves: 2011 Brooklyn Guitar Show @ Brooklyn Bowl

Heaven = Bowling, Beer and Guitars

So Many Strings, So Little Time
I’ve been carrying a camera for about two thirds of my life, but also slinging a guitar for around the same amount of time. These are two very dangerous vocations when it comes to what is known in tech/hardware obsessed circles as G.A.S. or Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Therefore, walking onto what is normally the concert floor of Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday, September 18 was not for the faint of heart guitar fan or the “G.A.S.sy”. Being surrounded by row after row of gorgeous Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsches and a unique selection of boutique six strings and basses was overwhelming. Where do you look first? How do you take it all in? Don’t you NEED one of each?

The 2011 Autumn Guitar Show offered free access to peruse the wears of vintage shops as well as new guitar, effects and amp builders. It was exciting to see so many young luthiers with their diverse visions of the perfect instrument. See the links below to their websites. During the course of the afternoon I spied Steely Dan’s Walter Becker casually chatting with the vendors, metal stalwart Kenny Pierce representing his PiercingMetal webzine, his coverage of the show can be read here. Good friend Tommy F. was heralding the soon to be available on the East Coast Lang Amplifier line. Guitar Wear designer Jodi Head was there with her delicious array of beautifully rendered straps and accessories. The black leather with conchos and the briar rose pattern (pictured below) were two of my favorites.

SkeletonPete Says…
Congratulations to promoters/coordinators Lisa Sharken (Vintage Guitar Magazine) and DJ Uncle Mike on a great show. It was fun to mingle and chew the fat with like minded folks in a nice relaxed atmosphere that reminded me of the earliest days of Comic Cons (1969-70). A total SkeletonPete hat trick. Family bowling on the lanes, Kelso Nut Brown Lager on the taps, and a sea of curvaceous six strings. I hope guitar goddess Lisa and the gang do this again soon.

Pertinent Links:
Cobra Guitars
Hahn Guitars
Jodi Head Guitar Wear
Lang Amps
Mas Hino NYC
NiceRack Effects Systems
Pigtronix Effects
Sheridan Guitars and Basses
Vigier Guitars and Basses

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