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Written by Nick Messina
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Tuesday, 18 May 2010 |
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It's Jedi vs. Sith in issue #210 of Lee's Toy Review, which sports a spectacular double cover featuring Sideshow Collectibles' newest polystone diorama: "Senate Duel," Yoda vs. Darth Sidious. |
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Written by James Tomlinson
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
TOP SECRET SUPER SPY UNMASKED...
Delve into the intrigue below Gentle Reader, at the risk of finishing this page knowing too much.
The mysterious syndicate known only as the "Void" operates within a level of secrecy so obscure the world at large is unaware of its existence despite the fact that it’s machinations sway the balance of the world as we know it. The Void's vast range of influence is felt from the fall of governments to socks missing from the laundry -- "always the left sock," according to Michael "Mez" Markowitz, president and wizard behind the curtain at the cutting edge Mezco Toyz.
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Written by Steve Fink., Edited by J.A. Tomlinson
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
Like most kids who grew up in the late '70s I was a huge Star Wars fan. Around 1979, I got a set of Colorforms called "Space Warriors," which had some very unusual-looking aliens depicted in the box art. Inside the box were the traditional, two-dimensional peel and stick vinyl Colorforms versions of those same characters. The box and logo were very reminiscent of the look Kenner chose for its Star Wars toy line (black star background, white letter font), so I think my mom actually bought it for me because it had that Star Wars vibe to it. I used to stare at that killer box art, what I took to be actual photos of fantastic alien figures; they were way cooler than the aliens in Star Wars!
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Written by James Tomlinson
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
INTERVIEW: Frank Varela of Mattel
How did you get into package design?
FV: I got into package design simply by applying for a position at Mattel. At the time, I didn’t have packaging experience, rather I was hired for the strength of my portfolio, and my knowledge and passion for DC Comic Characters. Before coming to Mattel, I worked for 15 years as a graphic designer and art director. During my career, I worked on a variety of projects for entertainment, commercial and corporate accounts. For example, I designed and art directed for home video campaigns such as The X-Files. I also designed and art directed the syndication campaign for "ER" for both publication and outdoor advertising, as well as worked on in-theater standee and POP projects.
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Written by Nicholas R. Messina, Jr.
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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Meccano to Trilogo: French to European Vintage Star Wars Action Figure Toys
A Comprehensive Guide and Visual Reference
By Stéphane Faucourt
First Printing, France, October 2006
ISBN 2-9527046-0-0
http://www.meccano2trilogo.com
Ready for the best gift from France since the Statue of Liberty and Laetitia Casta? Then check out Stéphane Faucourt’s Meccano to Trilogo: French to European Vintage Star Wars Action Figure Toys. It’s the first comprehensive guide to Star Wars figures distributed in France by Meccano (a contraction of "make and know") between 1979 and 1982, and the most complete visual reference to the trilogo figures that rounded out the vintage Kenner line.
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Written by James Tomlinson
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Tuesday, 01 January 2008 |
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Toy collectors and dealers are pop-culture treasure hunters who, owing to their painstaking and deep-diving searches for things they’ve yet to get into their collections or inventory, make the occasional remarkable archeological discovery. The right kind of discovery can help the rest of us better understand the history of the toy industry and greatly enhances the appeal of our beloved pastime. Bruce Zalkin is one of those treasure hunters. |
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Written by Nicholas R. Messina, Jr., Edited by J.A. Tomlinson
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
This issue, our main man on the Star Wars brand, Nick Messina, had a chance to put some questions to Hasbro’s main man on the Star Wars brand, Derryl D. Depriest. Here’s what we got when we put those two heads together. [Nick’s questions appear in italic.]
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Written by James Tomlinson
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Monday, 22 October 2007 |
As anyone who’s been collecting anything for more than a month knows, the condition of a collectible significantly impacts its secondary market value. As anyone in the habit of buying collectibles in online auction, or via online retailers knows, a lot of what gets advertised as "mint condition" isn’t mint condition at all when it arrives at your door. Mind you, we’re not talking about product damaged in shipping, we’re talking about product being purveyed by sellers who either don’t know the difference between a "C-9" condition item and Shinola — or worse — a seller that does know the difference but is misrepresenting the condition in order to garner a higher price. Does this happen all the time? No. Many online sellers of collectibles are very knowledgeable about the product they’re dealing in, and most are scrupulous. But, it has happened often enough to become a problem that screamed for a solution. Well, there is a solution. On the periphery of the action figure hobby marketplace is a grading service that’s time has come. It’s clear that its time has come because it’s becoming more and more of a presence in the marketplace, and more and more relied upon by collectors wanting to value their collectibles and collections; a service for collectors who are willing to pay a little money for a lot of peace of mind.
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Written by James Tomlinson
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Tuesday, 09 October 2007 |
We’ve had our eye on this line from McFarlane Toys for quite some time. So have a lot of other folks it seems, because as we look forward to Series 7 and 8 of the line this coming fall and winter, by all indications, and according to Todd McFarlane, it’s still selling “solidly” at retail. |
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