BC Toy Spotting: Captain Marvel, Funko, Batman, NECA, WWE, and More!

Welcome to the latest edition of BC Toy Spotting! We are in and out of stores pretty much every day, and we figure (ha!) why not show all of our fellow collectors what we are coming across on pegs and shelves. As collectors, we know that staying on top of what is in stores can be almost a full time job, so we are here to help you with your toy hunts and outings. This week we found new Captain Marvel dolls and Hot Wheels, new Funko (of course), WWE figures, Venom jack-in-thebox, and more! Let’s take a look.

On the Funko kick this week, two Jim Lee special edition Pops can be found at Gamestop, with the Joker Hush Pop and shirt combo and his Aquaman Pop showing up. nacho Libre, La Casa de Papel, and El Chavo are all available now, and How to Train Your Dragon 3 Pops were found at Gamestop and Hot Topic. IT Mystery Minis are also popping up. Finally, more Fortnite as Vynl two pack made their appearance.

Targets are getting their new Jurassic World Legacy Collection T-rex, which is a repaint, and the Hollywood Rides Ghostbusters Ecto-1 car.

Also at Target this week we found the whole wave of new WWE Top Picks Elite figures featuring Braun Stroman, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, and Roman Reigns, along with new battle packs of Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle and the B-Team. Transformers BotBots are appearing more frequently, and we tracked down the new Target exclusive Thermal Vision Fugative Predator from NECA (look for a review of that this week).

Exclusives popping up in stores including a Jim Lee DST Batman Gallery statue at Gamestop and a Venom Jack-in-the-Box at Hot Tpoic showed up in stores this week.

And finally, Captain Marvel toys and such have started to invade stores. Two different Hasbro dolls, one with electronics and one that comes with Goose are available, and Hot Wheels character cars are flying off the pegs. Seriously, get ready for lots more Captain Marvel in the coming weeks in these columns.

What are YOU finding in stores right now? Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter using the #BC_ToySpotting

The post BC Toy Spotting: Captain Marvel, Funko, Batman, NECA, WWE, and More! appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/05/bc-toy-spotting-captain-marvel-funko-batman-neca-wwe/
Jeremy Konrad

Let’s Take a Look at The Loyal Subjects Masters of the Universe Wave 2

Masters of the Universe Loyal Subjects figures are some of the coolest that the company has ever offered. Their first wave was easy to track down, and while the ridiculous odds of putting a full set together make it a little less fun to collect, damn if they are not fun to have on the shelf. Wave 2 was shown off, and it took so long for them to come out that most of us forgot about them. When I walked into Hot Topic last week and saw the remnants of a case, I snatched up all they had left. Let’s take a look at them shall we?

These new Masters of the Universe figures feature the new type of boxes they are offering. Gone are the blind boxes of old, although some do have a paper over the bubble. Most come with a small window showing off the figure inside. Like always, the sides and the backs show off the rest of the figures in the wave including the really rare ones you will never get on the back. I really like this new box, and I hope they stick with it.

Comparing He-Man’s, you can see that these fit in smoothly with the first waves figures. The legs on these new ones seem sturdier though, and they don’t bow into the middle like previous figures. Little changes like that will keep me coming back. I got my hands on four Masters of the Universe figures in all: Battle Armor He-Man, Fisto, Mekaneck, and one of my most wanted figures, Mer-Man.

Sadly, each figure has flaws. Battle Armor He-Man doesn’t hold his weapons very well, Fisto falls over a lot when holding his sword, Mekaneck is missing his other head so I can’t display him with his neck extended, and he also came with two right arms. Mer-Man’s right arm comes off when you move it. Just a disaster on QC. For how much these cost, they need to do a much better job than this.

Overall, I can’t say I am happy with this purchase. If I was not a huge Masters of the Universe fan and a sucker for all things He-Man, I would gladly not give this line another cent after all the issues these have. As Hot Topic exclusives, good luck finding them as well. The sculpts are great, but that doesn’t do you any good when the figures have so many problems.

If you want to try your luck with these, head here.

 

The post Let’s Take a Look at The Loyal Subjects Masters of the Universe Wave 2 appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/05/loyal-subjects-masters-of-the-universe-wave-2-figures/
Jeremy Konrad

Nominees Announced For Diamond’s 2018 Gem Awards

Courtesy of Diamond Comic Distributors, here are the nominees for the Diamond Gem Awards of 2018, to be voted on by comic book retailers in the direct market.

Participating comic store owners will also be entered in a draw to win a $200 Diamond Select Toys backlist credit, and five will also win one box each of FCBD store bags

Diamond says that “nominees were chosen by a panel of Diamond product specialists based on their overall impact on the industry, while comics and related merchandise were chosen on the merits of their sales performance and quality from the past year.”

2018 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Over 3%
Image Comics
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Dark Horse Comics
IDW Publishing

2018 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 3%
BOOM! Studios
Oni Press
Valiant Entertainment
Aftershock Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Lion Forge
Titan Comics

2018 Comic Book of the Year, $3.99 or Under
Die!Die!Die! #1 – Image Comics (MAY188000)
Heroes In Crisis #1 – DC Comics (JUL180592)
Amazing Spider-Man #798 LEG – Marvel Comics (FEB180830)
Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #1 – Dark Horse Comics (AUG180314)
Firefly #1 Main Cvr – BOOM! Studios (SEP181285)
Rick and Morty #37 Cvr B Vasquez Var – Oni Press (FEB181698)
Red Sonja/Tarzan #1 – Dynamite Entertainment (MAR181393)
Sonic the Hedgehog #1 – IDW Publishing (MAR188177)

2018 Comic Book of the Year, Over $3.99
Barrier #1 (of 5) Collectors Ed – Image Comics (MAR180571)
Action #1000 – DC Comics (FEB180142)
Batman #50 – DC Comics (MAY180450)
Venom #1 – Marvel Comics (MAR180796)
Fantastic Four #1 – Marvel Comics (JUN180762)
MMPR Shattered Grid #1 Main Cvr – BOOM! Studios (JUN181222)
Xerxes Fall of the House of Darius #1 – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180011)
Red Sonja Holiday Special – Dynamite Entertainment (OCT181096)
LOEG: The Tempest #1 – IDW Publishing/Top Shelf (APR180310)

2018 Licensed Comic of the Year
Aliens: Dust to Dust #1 (of 4) Main Cvr – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180019)
Star Wars #50 – Marvel Comics (MAY180928)
Stranger Things #1 – Dark Horse Comics (JUL180419)
Star Wars: Tales From Vader’s Castle #1 – IDW Publishing (AUG180680)
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Anniversary Special #1 – BOOM! Studios (APR181103)
Marvel Action Spider-Man #1 – IDW Publishing (SEP180644)
James Bond The Body #1 – Dynamite Entertainment (NOV171526)

2018 Magazine of the Year
Image + – Image Comics
Mad Magazine – DC Comics
Back Issue- Twomorrows Publishing
Illustration Magazine – Illustration Magazine
Full Bleed – IDW Publishing
Heavy Metal – Heavy Metal Magazine

2018 Backlist Publisher of the Year
Image Comics
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Dark Horse Comics
IDW Publishing
Dynamite Entertainment

2018 Original Graphic Novel of the Year
My Hereos Have Always Been Junkies – Image Comics (JUL180133)
Thanos Infinity Siblings – Marvel Comics (DEC170936)
James Brown: Black and Proud – IDW Publishing/Top Shelf (JUN180747)
Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass – BOOM! Studios (JUN181213)
Neil Gaiman’s A Study in Emerald – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180021)
The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins – First Second Books (MAY181739)
Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network HC PX Ed – Kodansha Comics (JUL182431)
Sheets – Lion Forge (JUN181858)
Brandon Sanderson’s White Sand Volume 2 – Dynamite Entertainment (AUG171504)
Green Lantern: Earth One Volume 1 – DC Comics (DEC170239)

2018 Reprint TP or HC of the Year
Unnatural Volume 1 – Image Comics (SEP180132)
Action Comics 80 Years of Superman – DC Comics (DEC170241)
Batman White Knight – DC Comics (JUL180733)
Jimmy’s Bastards Volume 1 – Aftershock Comics (DEC171040)
X-Men Grand Design – Marvel Comics (DEC170935)
Venom by Donny Cates Volume 1 – Marvel Comics (AUG181081)
Divinity The Complete Trilogy Deluxe Edition – Valiant Entertainment (NOV172041)
Rick and Morty Pocket Like You Stole It – Oni Press (NOV171803)
Lumberjanes Volume 8 – BOOM! Studios (OCT171293)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula – IDW Publishing (MAY180753)
Hellboy Omnibus Volume 1: Seed of Destruction – Dark Horse Comics (JAN180104)
Motor Girl Omnibus – Abstract Studio (JAN181088)

2018 Licensed TP or HC of the Year
Star Wars Darth Vader Dark Lord Sith Volume 2: Legacy’s End- Marvel Comics (JAN181040)
The Beatles Yellow Submarine- Titan Comics (FEB181797)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 3- Viz Media (JAN182047)
Disney Manga The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey Volume 1- Tokyopop (JUL182329)
Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast- Heavy Metal (JUL181963)
Saban’s Power Rangers Soul of the Dragon – BOOM! Studios (AUG181366)
Aliens Dead Orbit – Dark Horse Comics (JUL170125)
James Bond Casino Royale – Dynamite Entertainment (JUL171682)
Transformers Bumblebee: Win If You Dare – IDW Publishing (JUN180660)
Rick and Morty Pocket Like You Stole It – Oni Press (NOV171803)

2018 Manga TP of the Year
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs Volume 1 – Seven Seas/Ghost Ship (DEC171792)
My Hero Academia Volume 13 – Viz Media (APR181944)
Star Wars Lost Stars Volume 1 – Yen Press (MAR182086)
Dementia 21 – Fantagraphics Books (JUN181751)
Mob Psycho 100 Volume 1 – Dark Horse Comics (JUN180383)
Attack on Titan Volume 24 – Kodansha Comics (FEB181626)
Captain Harlock Classic Collection Volume 1 – Seven Seas Entertainment (JAN181869)

2018 Manga Publisher of the Year
Seven Seas/Ghost Ship
Viz Media
Tokyopop
Yen Press
Dark Horse Comics
Kodansha Comics
Seven Seas Entertainment

2018 Anthology of the Year
Where We Live: A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas – Image Comics (MAR180600)
Thanos Legacy #1 – Marvel Comics (JUL180975)
Frankenstein Junji Ito Story Collection – Viz Media (AUG182424)
Lumberjanes Bonus Tracks – BOOM! Studios (NOV171352)
Now #3 – Fantagraphics Books (FEB181556)
Anthony Bourdain’s Hungry Ghosts – Dark Horse Comics (MAY180324)
Aftershock Shock Volume 1 – Aftershock Comics (JAN181139)
Black Crown Omnibus Volume 1 – IDW Publishing (SEP180775)
Puerto Rico Strong – Lion Forge (JAN181776)

2018 Indie GN of the Year
Bingo Love – Image Comics (DEC170648)
Berlin The Complete Edition – Drawn + Quarterly (JUN181666)
A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns – Oni Press (FEB181690)
Poochytown – Fantagraphics Books (APR181550)
Your Black Friend and Other Strangers – Silver Sprocket (DEC171793)

2018 Trade Book of the Year
Fantastic Four: Behold Galactus – Marvel Comics (MAR180974)
Bill Sienkiewicz Mutants and Moon Knights and Assassins Artifact Edition – IDW Publishing (APR180447)
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth Shortcuts – BOOM! Studios (MAY181211)
Pokemon Seek and Find Pikachu – Viz Media (DEC171940)
The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood Volume 2 – Fantagraphics Books (NOV171663)
The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia – Dark Horse Comics (DEC170068)
Marvelocity: The Marvel Art of Alex Ross – Pantheon Books (JUL182072)
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 – Gemstone Publishing (APR181582)
Batman Secrets Sam Kieth Gallery Edition – DC Comics (MAR170443)

2018 Game Manufacturer of the Year
IDW Games
Paizo Publishing
WizKids/NECA
2018 Game Product of the Year
Marvel Heroclix: Avengers Infinity War Colossal Booster Brick – WizKids/NECA (DEC172935)
Batman: The Animated Series Gotham Under Siege – IDW Games (JUN180756)
My Hero Academia: The Card Game – Shinobi 7 (JUL183082)
Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook – Paizo Publishing (MAY182921)

2018 Toy Manufacturer of the Year
Dark Horse Comics
DC Collectibles
Diamond Select Toys
Good Smile Company
Beast Kingdom
Mezco Toys
Funko

2018 Toy Product of the Year
Batman: The Animated Series Batman Expressions Pack – DC Collectibles (SEP160384)
DC Essentials Batman Action Figure – DC Collectibles (DEC170421)
Iron Giant Diecast 1/12 Scale Action Figure – 1000 Toys (JAN188313)
Avengers Legends Gear Infinity Gauntlet – Hasbro Toy Group (JUL178729)
Marvel Select Thor: Ragnarok Gladiator Hulk Action Figure – Diamond Select Toys (JUL172803)
POP! Rick and Morty Pickle Rick No Limbs PX Vinyl Figure – Funko (DEC178162)

2018 Toy Line of the Year
DC Essentials
DC Artist Alley
One:12 Collective
Funko POP!
Marvel Gallery
Nendoroid

2018 Collectible Statue of the Year
Batman Black and White The Batman Who Laughs Statue – DC Collectibles (MAY180609)
DC Core: Batman PVC Statue – DC Collectibles (MAR180390)
Marvel Gallery Avengers 3 Thanos PVC Figure – DC Collectibles (APR182161)
Lady Death La Muerta Statue – CS Moore Studio (FEB182340)
Marvel Animated Style Spider-Man and Mary Jane Statue – Gentle Giant Studios (JAN182455)
Overwatch Mercy 12 Inch Statue – ThreeZero (MAR188055)
DC Supergirl Returns Bishoujo Statue – Kotobukiya (JUL178830)

2018 Best Free Comic Book Day Book
FCBD 2018 Barrier – Image Comics (JAN180007)
FCBD 2018 Avengers Captain America – Marvel Comics (JAN180009)
FCBD 2018 Disney Princess Ariel Spotlight – Joe Books (JAN180008)
FCBD 2018 BOOM! Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Special: Shattered Grid – BOOM! Studios (JAN180002)
FCBD 2018 Invader Zim Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy – Oni Press (JAN180010)
FCBD 2018 Dark Horse Overwatch and Black Hammer – Dark Horse Comics (JAN180003)
FCBD 2018 Riverdale – Archie Comics (JAN180001)
FCBD 2018 Comics Friends Forever – First Second Books (JAN180005)
FCBD 2018 Transformers Unicron #0 – IDW Publishing (JAN180006)
FCBD 2018 Doctor Who #0 – Titan Comics (JAN180011)
FCBD 2018 Pokemon Sun and Moon and Horizon – Viz Media (JAN180012)
FCBD 2018 DC Comics DC Super Hero Girls #1 – DC Comics (JAN180004)

2018 Best All Ages Series
Bully Wars – Image Comics
DC Super Hero Girls – DC Comics
Marvel Super Hero Adventures – Marvel Comics
Steven Universe – BOOM! Studios
Invader Zim – Oni Press
Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey – Tokyopop
Plants VS Zombies – Dark Horse Comics
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – IDW Publishing

2018 Best All Ages Original/Reprint GN
Moonstruck Volume 1 – Image Comics (OCT170655)
Venom Adventures Digest – Marvel Comics (JUN180976)
Sci-Fu GN – Oni Press (NOV171791)
Steven Universe Volume 2: Punching Up – BOOM! Studios (NOV171371)
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Volume 11: Lost Peg Leg Mine – Fantagraphics Books (FEB181549)
Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight – IDW Publishing (DEC170522)
Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2: Heroes at Home – Dark Horse Comics (APR180034)
DC Super Hero Girls: Date With Disaster – DC Comics (NOV170216)

2018 Best New Comic Book Series
Gideon Falls – Image Comics
Green Lantern – DC Comics
Catwoman – DC Comics
Immortal Hulk – Marvel Comics
Cosmic Ghost Rider – Marvel Comics
Rick and Morty Presents – Oni Press
Firefly – BOOM! Studios
Elvira Mistress of the Dark – Dynamite Entertainment
She Could Fly – Dark Horse Comics
Marvel Action Spider-Man – IDW Publishing/Marvel Comics

The post Nominees Announced For Diamond’s 2018 Gem Awards appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/04/nominees-announced-for-diamonds-2018-gem-awards/
Rich Johnston

Coming Soon from Funko: Disney•Pixar Toy Story!

Disney•Pixar: Toy Story – Pop!, Pop! Ride and Pop! Keychain

Bling out your keychain with the greatest pals any kid—or adult—could ask for. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Alien are ready to go on an adventure as Pop! keychain figures.

 

Slinky Dog is available as a Pop! keychain BoxLunch and Hot Topic shared exclusive.

 

Woody and RC, Andy’s beloved remote control car, are on patrol as Pop! Rides pals.

Rounding out the cast of beloved toys, Wheezy, Slinky Dog, Buzz (dressed as Mrs. Nesbitt from the 1st film), Bullseye and Bo-Peep are looking for adventures of their own!

 

A flocked Bullseye is available as a Funko Web exclusive.

Coming Soon!

via http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/coming-soon-from-funko-disney%e2%80%a2pixar-toy-story/
Daniel Pickett

Diamond Splits Billing Around Free Comic Book Day to Make it More Affordable for North American Retailers

Comic book retailers have to pay for the comic books they give away on Free Comic Book Day. Usually 25 cents a copy, depending on the publisher.

So, while it often works as a promotion for individual stores and the medium as a whole, it can cost a store dear if they are handing out tens of thousands of comics, which is not unusual.

Diamond Comic Distributors, who run FCBD now, have a plan to make this year’s event a little more affordable for some retailers.

Diamond will bill participating American and Canadian retailers on two invoices, the twelve Gold books will be billed alongside comics out on May 1st. And the remaining thirty-nine Silver books alongside comics on sale on May 9th. Which may help retailers use the proceeds from selling comics on FCBD to pay for a big chunk of the free ones.

However, if you are not in the US or Canada, retailers are even more out of luck as international dealers, like all of us on the UK, will be billed in full a month earlier on April 10th. And will then have to suck it for a month until Free Comic Book Day when they can use the comics to generate traffic to their stores…

At minimum, it only costs $75 to participate in Free Comic Book Day, ordering 25 copies of the twelve Gold titles. All participating retailers will get a FCBD promotional poster, window cling, two shelf talkers, a listing on the FCBD Store Locator, and you can order the FCBD exclusive sale items, like the John Constantine Funko Pop.

As to the rules for stores, they must give at least one free FCBD title to customers without any purchase required. And stores can’t sell any of the copies on Free Comic Book Day.

That does offer the possibility of only allowing more than one free comic with a purchase, and on the Sunday, retailers can sell copies for whatever they can get away with. And they can be sold online from the Monday.

You never know what they may go for…

The post Diamond Splits Billing Around Free Comic Book Day to Make it More Affordable for North American Retailers appeared first on Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.

via https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/01/04/diamond-splits-billing-free-comic-book-day-affordable-north-american-retailers/
Rich Johnston