Batman and Doomsday Clock Win Comics of the Year, DC Wins Publisher at Diamond 2017 Gem Awards

Bleeding Cool ran the nominations for the Diamond 2017 Gem Awards, a couple of weeks ago. Comic book retailers voted. And the winners have been announced.

DC took home Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Over 3% Market Share) in 2017. Retailers recognized DC with the most Gem Awards–seven–including the Comic Book of the Year $3.99 or Under with Batman #24; Comic Book of the Year – Over $3.99 with Doomsday Clock #1 (of 12); Backlist Publisher of the Year; Licensed TP or HC of the Year with Batman TMNT, volume 1, shared with IDW Publishing; Best All-Ages Original/Reprint Graphic Novel with DC Super Hero Girls TP volume 4: Past Times at Super Hero High; and Original Graphic Novel of the Year with Wonder Woman Earth One, volume 1. DC Collectibles, the collectibles branch of DC Entertainment, won Collectible Statue of the Year with the DC Designer Series: The Joker by Brian Bolland Statue.

Marvel Comics earned three Gem Awards, including Top Dollar Market Share Publisher of the Year (not a voted category), Top Dollar Comic Book of the Year (not a voted category) for Marvel Legacy #1; and Licensed Comic of the Year with Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1. The Dollar category seems to have been one, over the years, that Marvel has requested.

Image Comics received three Gem Awards, taking home Reprint TP or HC of the Year with The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan; Best Free Comic Book Day Book with FCBD 2017 I Hate Image; and Best New Comic Book Series for Redneck.

IDW Publishing received three Gem Awards as well, taking home Anthology of the Year with Love is Love GN; Best All Ages Series with Ducktales, and shared Licensed TP or HC of the Year with Batman TMNT, volume 1 with DC.

Dark Horse Comics took home the Gem Award for Trade Book of the Year with The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts HC.

Retailers also recognized AfterShock Comics as New Publisher of the Year for 2017, VIZ Media with two Gem Awards, including Manga Publisher of the Year; Funko for Toy Manufacturer and Toyline of the Year.

Here is the list in full:

2017 Diamond Gem Award Suppliers of the Year

2017 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Over 3%: DC Comics

2017 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 3%: Aftershock Comics

2017 Backlist Publisher of the Year: DC Comics

2017 Top Dollar Market Share Publisher of the Year: Marvel Comics

2017 Manga Publisher of the Year: VIZ Media

2017 Game Manufacturer of the Year: WizKids

2017 Toy Manufacturer of the Year: Funko

2017 Diamond Gem Award Products of the Year

2017 Comic Book of the Year – Under $3.99: Batman #24, DC Comics

2017 Comic Book of the Year – Over $3.99: Doomsday Clock #1 (of 12), DC Comics

2017 Top Dollar Comic Book of the Year: Marvel Legacy #1

2017 Best New Comic Book Series: Redneck, Image Comics

2017 Best All Ages Series: DuckTales, IDW Publishing

2017 Best All Ages Original/Reprint GN: DC Super Hero Girls, volume 4: Past Times at Super Hero High, DC Comics

2017 Licensed Comic of the Year: Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1, Marvel Comics

2017 Licensed TP or HC of the Year: Batman TMNT, volume 1, DC Comics/IDW Publishing

2017 Original Graphic Novel of the Year: Wonder Woman Earth One, volume 1, DC Comics

2017 Reprint TP or HC of the Year: The Walking Dead: Here’s Negan, Image Comics

2017 Indie Graphic Novel of the Year: My Favorite Thing is Monsters GN Vol. 1, Fantagraphics Books

2017 Manga TP of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Volume 1, VIZ Media

2017 Anthology of the Year: Love is Love GN, IDW Publishing

2017 Magazine of the Year: Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal Magazine

2017 Trade Book of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts HC, Dark Horse Comics

2017 Best Free Comic Book Day Book: FCBD 2017 I Hate Image, Image Comics

2017 Game Product of the Year: Marvel HeroClix: Deadpool and X-Force Booster Brick, WizKids/NECA

2017 Toy Product of the Year: Marvel Gallery: Dr. Strange PVC Figure, Diamond Select Toys

2017 Toy Line of the Year: POP!, Funko

2017 Collectible Statue of the Year: DC Designer Series: The Joker by Brian Bolland Statue, DC Collectibles

The post Batman and Doomsday Clock Win Comics of the Year, DC Wins Publisher at Diamond 2017 Gem Awards appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/19/batman-doomsday-clock-dc-diamond-2017-gem-awards/
Rich Johnston

Spotted the new #Funko #mortalkombat figures today at @gamestop First time seeing them in the wild.

Spotted the new #Funko #mortalkombat figures today at @gamestop First time seeing them in the wild.

Follow AFi on Instagram

via http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/spotted-the-new-funko-mortalkombat-figures-today-at-gamestop-first-time-seeing-them-in-the-wild/
AFi Admin

Hellboy Wields Excalibur Sword In New PREVIEWS Exclusive Pop!

Raised from the depths of Hell by occult-loving Nazis, Hellboy was saved and brought up by his adopted father Professor Broom and became the heroic red-hued hero we know and love. In The Storm, Hellboy confronts his destiny as the bearer of the sword Excalibur and now you can collect him in adorable Pop! form!

This PREVIEWS Exclusive Hellboy Pop! (JUN178581, $11.99) is available to preorder now at your local comic shop! Don’t miss out!

via http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/hellboy-wields-excalibur-sword-in-new-previews-exclusive-pop/
Daniel Pickett

Disney Pint Size Heroes and Star Wars Pop Three Pack Are Coming From Funko

Disney and Star Wars seem to have new Funko products announced constantly. Today is no different, as Disney characters come to life in a new wave of Pint Size Heroes, and the Death Star crew gets time to shine in a brand new Pop three pack.

First we will look at the Walmart exclusive Death Star crew Pop three pack. All three sculpts are great, with the gunner and trooper especially turning out great. Somehow the officer comes off as smug, it must have something to do with the eyebrows. Out of the three I love the gunner the most. That is also one of my favorite Kenner figures as well, so any love given to that character is going to have my attention. This will be hitting shelves in February.

 

Disney is getting its second wave of Pint Size Heroes. As far as I can remember, they are the first ones to get a second wave of these. They all look awesome, particularly the Wall E and Monsters Inc. figures. It is a really great mix of more modern Disney favorite alongside classics like Peter Pan and Dumbo. As far as exclusives go, Toys R Us is where you can find Baymax in both regular and armored versions, along with Hiro from Big Hero 6. At Hot Topic you will find Lilo and Stitch from that film, along with Scrump. These will be in stores in March.

You can preorder the non-exclusive Disney Pint Size Heroes here.

The post Disney Pint Size Heroes and Star Wars Pop Three Pack Are Coming From Funko appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/15/disney-star-wars-funko-pop-heroes/
Jeremy Konrad

Coming Soon From Funko: Disney Pint Size Heroes Series 2!

Pint Size Heroes: Disney S2

The newest series of Disney Pint Size Heroes are here!

This series features some of your favorite Disney characters.  Unwrap the blind bags to find Donald Duck, Dumbo, Sulley, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell, Wall – E, and many more!

Collect them all this Winter!


At Toys”R”Us you can find Armor Baymax, Baymax and Super Hiro!

Lilo, Stitch and Scrump can be found at Hot Topic!

Coming in March!

via http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/coming-soon-from-funko-disney-pint-size-heroes-series-2/
Daniel Pickett

Black Panther Figures Should All Be This Cool: Looking at the New Walmart Exclusive

Black Panther is everywhere right now, especially in the toy aisle. Funko Pops, role-play items, and action figures. There’s a little bit of everything right now. We already took a look at the wave of Hasbro Marvel Legends that started hitting stores at the beginning of the month, and now we will take a look at a unique figure hitting exclusively Walmart.

The figure comes in the standard Marvel Legends packaging that has been around for years now. Big window box, showing off the figure and accessories. Cool key art related to the figure on the sides, big picture of the figure on the back. Behind the figure is a big Black Panther logo. The description on the back of the box reads:

T’Challa wears a glowing suit made with Vibranium technology as the warrior hero Black Panther.

The figure itself is a comic-based look for Black Panther, with the energy suit from the current run of comics. It has quite the striking look to it. From the pictures I had seen before, the markings on the suit looked pink, but in reality they are more purple. Nevertheless, it looks awesome. It really adds a uniqueness to the third Black Panther figure on shelves right now.

Both head sculpts are great, as well, although the energy suit one with the yellow eyes is the better of the two. My one complaint about this figure is that the heads are hard to get back on once taken off, especially the regular head. His necklace can go over his head, however, so it is easy to remove.

This is one of the easiest figures to pose I have ever gotten my hands on. If you want to keep the energy blasts on his hands, though, lift them level or higher. Otherwise, they’ll fall right off. While I’m thinking of it, this is the 1,725th figure (all numbers approximate) to come with these energy blasts. I’m getting a little tired of them.

All in all, however, this is a damn near perfect figure. It is by far my favorite Panther figure and will become the go-to figure for my displays. The figure has such a cool look, is perfectly articulated, and is just one of the better-looking figures and exclusives you will see.

If you would like one, they should be in Walmart stores now. Or, you could keep an eye here for when it goes up for order.

The post Black Panther Figures Should All Be This Cool: Looking at the New Walmart Exclusive appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/15/black-panther-figure-walmart-exclusive/
Jeremy Konrad

Kylo Ren Gets an Awesome Target Exclusive Funko Set

Kylo Ren was recently the first of 12 new Funko Pop exclusives going up for order on Friday on Target.com. This first release is a t-shirt and Pop combo. Featuring deluxe packaging, This cost $24.99 for the combo. Kylo Ren, of course, is coming off an appearance in The Last Jedi, and this set is based on his appearance from the film.

Packaging-wise, this one looks really sharp. All of the lettering is metallic and shiny in black and silver. Weirdly, the Target logo is nowhere to be seen on the box. It says Target, of course, but no bullseye. This is a very saveable box. I actually think I’d like to see more special boxes like this. It’s fresh and different than the classic Pop box we are all used to. I welcome whenever they want to do something like this.

The shirt included is a standard Pop Tee. Basically just a picture of the Kylo Ren Pop inside with holographic blues and logos. It is a cool shirt, but I wish it was a blend instead of 100% cotton. Cotton tends to shrink and lose its shape faster. That drives me nuts, but they’re mass producing these so fast that I guess I understand. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.

As far as the Pop itself, I love it. While the glow-in-the-dark figures look kind of weird on their own, when you get the glow effect actually going, it looks exceptional. It took about four minutes in front of a lightbulb to get it fully charged and glowing, but I love the way the body lights up the other parts of the bobblehead. His face scar pops (sorry, not sorry) while the figure glows. Just a home run all around.

Sadly, I can’t link anyone to buy this, as it is sold out. Aftermarket prices have been hovering around $45-60. But if you want any of the other 12 Funko Pops they will be selling, keep an eye here.

The post Kylo Ren Gets an Awesome Target Exclusive Funko Set appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/13/kylo-ren-target-exclusive-funko-set/
Jeremy Konrad

The Weekly Static s01e22: Sabrina, Constantine, Vampires, and More!

Give me some rope I’m coming loose, I’m hanging on you. Give me some rope I’m coming loose, I’m pulling for you now. Give me some rope, I’m…The Weekly Static!*

(read in a summer movie trailer voice)

In a world corrupted by darkness…one man will show them the light. Coming Summer 2018, it’s…

The Weekly Static is our righteously desperate-yet-endearing look at the past week in the land of the networks, cable, streaming, smoke signals, cloud formations, and shadow puppets from what an interesting, unique and entertaining perspective. At least that’s how it reads on paper – let’s see how it goes… So what exactly is the moral of this little story? It’s pretty simple:

● Offer a blunt, honest perspective on a handful of random TV news posts from the past week that also highlights your relentless team of news-thirsty Bleeding Cool writers and the quality work they do. My views are my views and not a reflection of the opinions of those who wrote the article. Translation? I own what I say 110%.

● Spotlight a news item we missed, but we’re pretty damn sure you’ll find it interesting.

● Feed my voracious ego with copious amounts of praise, adulation, social media shares, pizza, Superman Funkos, Eisner Awards, write-in votes for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election (not letting this one go) and opportunities to play “Victim #8” in a Freddy, Jason or Michael movie (admit it…it would be kinda’ cool).

Netflix Taps Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka for Riverdale Spinoff ‘Sabrina’

Walking Dead Stuntman John Bernecker’s Mother to “Seek Justice” for Son’s On-Set Death

The 75th Annual Golden Globes Are Tonight, We’ll Be Live Tweeting

The Toys That Made Us: 6 Brands That We are Going to Need Episodes on Pronto

ABC Developing Indian-American ‘Hero,’ ‘Jetsons’ with Live Effects

New Krypton Trailer Has Superman’s Grandfather Making “Timely” Decision

Constantine Animated Series to be More Like Hellblazer Comic

Bryan Fuller Officially Joins ‘The Vampire Chronicles’ Creative Team

Comedy Central’s Late-Night Lineup Goes Live After Trump’s State of the Union

“President Donald Trump’s coming State of the Union address could provide late-night hosts with instant material, and Comedy Central’s wee-hours programs don’t intend to squander the opportunity.

Both “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” and “The Opposition with Jordan Klepper” will air live episodes on Tuesday, January 30, the night Trump is expected to deliver his speech to Congress and the American public. Both shows will simulcast the first segment of their live episodes via Facebook Live. The hosts intend to use the moment to offer instant analysis and commentary on the event…”

*With buckets of honor and respect flowing through the Karma-sphere to the mighty “Fighters of Foo.”

The post The Weekly Static s01e22: Sabrina, Constantine, Vampires, and More! appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/12/weekly-static-s01e22-sabrina-constantine/
Ray Flook

Marvel Gets 2 New Funko Products Featuring Deadpool and Venom

Marvel and Funko have partnered yet another exclusive, this time for the …Universal Studios Islands of Adventure Theme Park store? The other announcement is their latest Hikari Friday reveal, this time featuring everyone’s favorite symbiote Venom.

Happy Hikari Friday!

Marvel’s villain Venom is the newest to join Hikari XS!
Limited to 1500 pieces, Venom is shown in a glittery red and white.

I do not collect Hikaris at all; they don’t do anything for me. But I must admit, these are pretty sweet-looking. For some reason, I really like the red one. I thought the silver one was Anti-Venom at first.

These will be limited to 1500 sets and available at the end of this month.

The other is more curious, as a ripped mask Deadpool Dorbz exclusive is coming to the Marvel Islands of Adventure store in Universal Studios. No word on edition size, but he will be available in the park starting tomorrow, January 13th. Talk about a quick turnaround. Strange to see yet another theme park with exclusives now. Disney has been getting them for a while now — you have to wonder how successful this will be. I imagine if it was a Pop it would get collectors more excited. If this does well, that can’t be too far behind, though.

The post Marvel Gets 2 New Funko Products Featuring Deadpool and Venom appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/12/marvel-new-funko-deadpool-venom/
Jeremy Konrad