Tribune’s Dick Tracy will make an appearance as a hyper-articulated 6” action figure in creator Chester Gould’s black and white comic strip style. The World’s Most Famous Detective will be available in two limited run action figures. The limited B&W standard version with suit and pistol, will be available at the Shocker Toys booth #321. The limited B&W variant figure, with Tracy in his iconic trench coat with Tommy gun, will also be available at the booth.

October 16th - 18th, Pier 94 NYC, Tribune’s Dick Tracy will make an appearance as a hyper-articulated 6” action figure in creator Chester Gould’s black and white comic strip style. The World’s Most Famous Detective will be available in two limited run action figures. The limited B&W standard version with suit and pistol, will be available at the Shocker Toys booth #321. The limited B&W variant figure, with Tracy in his iconic trench coat with Tommy gun, will also be available at the booth.

Shocker Toys' booth will also highlight their new articulated designer line, Mallows, with three exclusives: A Mallow version of the CCI Guy, The Phantom with yellow/black trunks and Dethklok’s favorite rock and roll clown, Dr. Rockzo. On hand will also be DIY blank Mallows in black or white to design your own creations for fun at home or at the shows on-site custom contests. Artist custom Mallows will be showcased featuring artists such as Phetus, Rsin, Mad Hatter Creative and more. So make sure to stop by and try your hand at designing a one of a kind Mallow.

If Dr. Rockzo isn't enough for fans of Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse, Shocker Toys will also be featuring the re-release set of the now legendary Dethklok set that took the metal world by storm in 2008.

Booth #321 will feature contests, giveaways, feedback and new products. Also, meet Wizard Guest Geoff Beckett, the CEO of Shocker Toys, who will be answering questions about upcoming releases for Mallows, Indie Spotlight Series 2 and 3 and more. Be sure to mark it on your list of booths to visit.

In addition to the debuting exclusives, updates to the Indie Spotlight line will be on display at the booth. This includes Series 2 in the final development stages, lineup and preliminary development for Series 3, and for the third Wizard show since Chicago, Indie Spotlight Series 1 is back in stock. Look for the full lineup available at the booth along with Translucent Scuds and more. Shocker Toys will also be sponsoring after-parties on Friday and Saturday at Pier 92, one featuring Naughty by Nature!

Also look for us at the VGXPO in Philadelphia 10/9 - 10/11. We will be in the booth with SMOKE, the professional wrestler, with product on hand.

Stores and Press are urged to contact Shocker Toys at info@shockertoys.com for more info about wholesale specials on-site and interview opportunities.

About Shocker Toys, LLP.
New Jersey based Shocker Toys, LLP current roster includes Indie Spotlight 6" scale independent comic book action figures, Who Wants to be a Superhero figures, 3" Shockinis, Metalocalypse figures and Mallows. For more product and licensing information visit the company's website ShockerToys.com

BBC hosts Doctor Who talent for their first ever appearance at Comic-Con. In support of BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who Specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego.

Tamashii Web Shop limited item, orders begin 5/18 2009

Designed by Kawamori himself, this clear version is actually dubbed the "Fold Color" version, replicating the appearance of the VF-25F during a space fold maneuver.

This beautiful toy will retail for 15,000 yen, and is only available through the Tamashii Web Shop. Scheduled to ship 9/2009

KOTOBUKIYA AND ACTION FIGURE XPRESS PRESENT TWO NEW IRON MAN MOVIE BUSTS!

KOTOBUKIYA AND ACTION FIGURE XPRESS PRESENT TWO NEW IRON MAN MOVIE BUSTS

Tokyo, Japan October 24, 2008 - Kotobukiya and internet retailer Action Figure Xpress are pleased to announce not one, but TWO exclusive, all-new Iron Man Movie Fine Art Busts due out early next year! Each exclusive will be limited to just 500 pieces, along with a limited edition two-pack featuring both busts packaged together with a certificate of authenticity.

The first bust features Iron Man in his Mark II Armor with light up repulsor hand and marquee base! The second bust features Iron Man in his Mark III Armor with visor up, revealing the man beneath the armor - Tony Stark! This bust features an incredible likeness of actor Robert Downey, Jr., and like the Mark II Armor both the repulsor hand and marquee base light up.

Mark II Armor

Entertainment Weekly Magazine gives a first-hand and in-depth look at J.J. Abrams's vision for the upcoming prequel film to the unexpectedly-groundbreaking classic 1966-69 science-fiction series.

(Spoiler warnings are marked in appropriate areas, but you can still read most of it without fear.)

J.J. Abrams (TV's "Alias", "Lost", & "Fringe", 2006 film "Mission: Impossible-III") is hoping to breathe new life into an old franchise in May 2009. After a long four year break- drawn out by the failure of television series "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2001-05) and the tenth feature film "Star Trek: Nemesis" (2002)- the saga will return to the big-screen for an astounding eleventh time. But this time, while things will remain familiar, some other things will be different...

Check out Entertainment Weekly Magazine's full article by Jeff Jensen online, and on-the-shelves October 24th.

An excerpt from the online article:

"...

'I don't think people even understand what Star Trek means anymore,' [Abrams] says, sitting outside his editing suites at Paramount, sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with a cartoon question mark. Abrams saw [Star Trek: The Motion Picture] in 1979 with his father, veteran TV-movie producer Gerald Abrams, at a theater on the Paramount lot. But he feels no warm-fuzzy nostalgia about it. In fact, Abrams can sum up his regard for Trek in two words: Galaxy Quest, the 1999 hit starring Tim Allen that satirized Trek with painful precision. 'It's so ridiculous, so accurate, so sophisticated, it spoils the Star Trek universe,'' he says.

Plus, at heart, Abrams is still more of a Star Wars guy. 'All my smart friends liked Star Trek,' he says. 'I preferred a more visceral experience.' Which is exactly why he accepted Paramount's offer in 2005 to develop a new Trek flick; creatively, he was engaged by the possibility of a Star Trek movie 'that grabbed me the way Star Wars did.' That meant a bigger budget and better special effects than any previous Trek film, plus freedom to reinvent the mythos as needed. 'We have worldwide aspirations and we need to broaden [Trek's] appeal,' says [Brad Weston, Paramount's president of production]. 'Doing the half-assed version of this thing wasn't going to work.'

..."

Additionally, Entertainment News International posted never-before-seen widescreen pictures from the film on their own site; though unrelated to EW's article.

(left-to-right: Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, and Zoe Saldana)

(Most of ENI's images I have saved to the gallery for this article on CDX.)

(Official teaser trailer debuted in the Abrams-directed film "Cloverfield" on December, 2007)

"Star Trek" will debut in theaters on May 8th, 2009, and is being released in a joint ventue between Paramount Pictures, and Abrams' own Bad Robot Productions.

Organic Hobby, Inc in conjunction with Beagle proudly introduces its new products for the U.S. market, Fumikane Shimada "Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth" is based on the Japanese OVA anime known as "Strike Witches," directed by Kunihisa Sugishima and produced by Gonzo. When a mysterious force suddenly attacks the world, only the girls who have magic can fight against them. They install weapons in their own bodies and fight in the sky, the land, and the sea. The battle to protect the world begins. Directly inspired by Fumikane Shimada's Mecha Musume illustrations, Shimada himself acted as the character designer for the series. The first OVA episode was released on January 1, 2007. Along with a serialized light novel, a televised anime series has been announced which will premiere on September 3, 2008. The figure is a 6 ½" tall, fully painted and comes in a window box.

"Fumikane Shimada - Elizabeth" will be available in October with a SRP of $75.00.

Organic Hobby is one of the largest Hobby and Toys makers/manufacturers in Japan and is also very popular for its specialty in "Anime & Manga" industry. Organic Hobby, Inc (U.S Office) is introducing these and other unique products based on J-POP culture to U.S. markets and customers. All of our company's product can be found throughout our official distributors such as AAA Anime, BBCW, Diamond, 88 Dragon Trading, Entertainment Earth, Yes Anime, etc...

IKKI TOUSEN - RIYOMOU SHIMEI with its window box is a highly detailed 8 Inch PVC figure that comes with an ABS base and will be released October 2008.

IKKI TOUSEN - RIYOMOU SHIMEI with its window box is a highly detailed 8 Inch PVC figure that comes with an ABS base and will be released October 2008.

Japan retail will be 6980yen.

Edgy Series About Two Miscreant Boys’ Adventures In A Surreal Metropolis Is The Only Japanese Manga Title To Win This Year

San Francisco, CA, August 1, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its manga, TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, by acclaimed creator Taiyo Matsumoto, won a 2008 Eisner Comic Industry Award for the Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan. Named for pioneering writer and comic artist Will Eisner, the awards recognize exemplary comics, graphic novels and other pop writings and are given each year as part of the annual Comic-Con International convention.

The manga, which is published by VIZ Media under its Signature imprint, was also the inspiration behind the Tekkonkinkreet animated feature film from Sony Pictures directed by noted visual effects artist and producer Michael Arias (The Abyss, Princess Mononoke, The Animatrix).

TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE presents a gritty depiction of urban and social chaos surrounding a pair of outcast kids. Orphaned on the mean streets of Treasure Town, Black and White steal and fight to survive but remain fiercely loyal to each other. The result? The citizens of Treasure Town are afraid of them, the police are afraid of them, and even the local yakuza gangsters are afraid of them…and when a crime boss known as the "Rat" returns to Treasure Town, a confrontation is set to occur.

VIZ Media released TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE in August 2007 and bundled all three volumes of the original series into a new, premium omnibus edition that includes a color poster insert and 12 additional full-color manga pages – the first time these pages were published in the U.S. An insightful interview with Michael Arias and screenwriter Anthony Weintraub is also featured in the foreword. TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE is rated “M” for Mature Audiences and has a Suggested Retail Price of $29.95. In addition to TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, Matsumoto’s other notable works include BLUE SPRING and NO. 5 (both published by VIZ Media) and PING PONG, which was also adapted into an award-winning live action film that is available domestically from VIZ Pictures.

“We are extremely honored to have TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE recognized by the comics industry with this notable award,” says Alvin Lu, Vice President, Publishing, VIZ Media. “Taiyo Matsumoto has won international critical acclaim for his honest and unflinching depictions of young peoples’ lives and for his unique, immediately recognizable art style that blends both Japanese and European influences. We invite everyone to explore this award-winning series now available in a gorgeous omnibus edition from VIZ Media!”

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com

TV Guide’s Special Double Issue Featuring STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Hits Newsstands Thursday, August 7

TV Guide’s Special Double Issue Featuring STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Hits Newsstands Thursday, August 7

July 28, 2008 (New York, NY) – On August 15, Star Wars returns to theaters as it’s never been seen before, in the first-ever animated adventure set in a galaxy far, far away: STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS from Lucasfilm Animation. TV Guide magazine is celebrating the excitement with four collectible covers and a multi-media CD-ROM which is presented exclusively by Toys“R”Us.

The disc will be affixed to four collectible covers of the August 11 special double issue on newsstands Thursday, August 7. The covers will feature favorite Star Wars characters as well as new additions to the galaxy: Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ashoka Tano; Obi-Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress; Yoda and Count Dooku; and R2-D2 and C-3PO.

The special edition of TV Guide commemorates not only the first Star Wars animated theatrical release, but also the fall premiere of the weekly STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated television series on Cartoon Network.

The special CD-ROM created by TV Guide and Lucasfilm Ltd. features never-before-seen material, including:

• Sneak peeks at STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
• Behind-the-scenes video of the making of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
• On-camera commentary with executive producer George Lucas and Dave Filoni, director of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
• Photo gallery of characters featured in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Extras on the disc include links to video games and a behind-the-scenes tour of Lucasfilm Animation’s production studio in Marin County, Calif. Readers will also be able to link directly from the CD-ROM to www.Toysrus.com for exclusive STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS merchandise, including the STAR WARS 3 ¾-inch B-Wing fighter from Hasbro.

“We are excited to participate in the debut of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, and to partner with Toys”R”Us to provide a completely engaging experience for our readers,” said Pete Haeffner, Publisher of TV Guide. “THE CLONE WARS is a visually stunning addition to the movies and also introduces an incredible new TV series this fall. It’s been a fantastic collaboration.”

“For more than three decades, Toys“R”Us has been the ultimate destination for kids and collectors interested in bringing home the magic of their favorite STAR WARS films,” said Greg Ahearn, Senior Vice President, Marketing and e-commerce, Toys“R”Us, U.S. “Sponsoring TV Guide’s enhanced CD-ROM reinforces Toys“R”Us as the ultimate Star Wars retail experience to 20 million consumers and offers fans new reasons to discover toys based on this all-new STAR WARS adventure.”

About TV Guide
TV Guide magazine, now a part of Macrovision Solutions Corporation, is one of the most popular weekly magazines in the country with more than 20 million weekly readers. From behind-the-scenes looks at broadcast, cable and syndicated shows and their stars and characters to sneak peeks at television’s most intriguing plotlines, TV Guide magazine has every corner of the television medium covered. TV Guide is the premier, comprehensive source for entertainment news, guidance, and information about America’s most popular leisure time activity.

About Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,500 stores, including 584 Toys“R”Us stores and 262 Babies“R”Us stores in the U.S., more than 687 international stores in 33 countries, which includes licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at www.Toysrus.com.

STAR WARS, THE CLONE WARS, Lucasfilm and related properties and character names are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) has signed Darren Aronofsky to direct and David Self to write a new installment for its ROBOCOP franchise. Aronofsky, the director of The Fountain, and Self, the writer of Road to Perdition, make a formidable creative team, fast tracking the ROBOCOP motion picture and spotlighting it as one of the most anticipated new films for 2010.

LOS ANGELES, CA July 24, 2008 – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) has signed Darren Aronofsky to direct and David Self to write a new installment for its ROBOCOP franchise. Aronofsky, the director of The Fountain, and Self, the writer of Road to Perdition, make a formidable creative team, fast tracking the ROBOCOP motion picture and spotlighting it as one of the most anticipated new films for 2010.

The announcement was made today by Mary Parent, Chairman, Worldwide Motion Picture Group, MGM.

In making the announcement Parent said: “Darren is undeniably one of the most talented, original and visceral film makers, and David is one of the greatest writers in Hollywood. All of us at MGM couldn't be more excited.”

Phoenix Pictures’ Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Brad Fischer and David Thwaites will produce ROBOCOP. Cale Boyter, Executive Vice President Production at MGM will oversee the project for the studio.

Phoenix Pictures’ Chairman and CEO Mike Medavoy said: “After making the first ROBOCOP at Orion more than 20 years ago, I’m thrilled to be helping to return this character to the screen with our partners at MGM and through the eyes of Darren Aronofsky and David Self.”

Phoenix co-presidents Brad Fischer and David Thwaites added: “With a filmmaker of Darren Aronofsky’s vision and imagination and a writer of David Self’s caliber, we are poised to bring to the screen an entertaining and provocative film, which will now be under the creative guidance of two of the best storytellers working in our industry today.”

Aronofsky’s credits include Pi, Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain. He is completing the feature, The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. He is repped by CAA and attorney Carlos Goodman.

David Self's credits include 13 Days and Road To Perdition. He wrote God of War for Universal, to which Brett Ratner is attached to direct, and was a writer on Universal's Wolfman currently in production. He is represented by UTA and attorney Karl Austen.

The original ROBOCOP, which premiered in 1987, was "part man, part machine and all cop." The film's storyline focused on the future of law enforcement as a terminally wounded cop returns to the police force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories. The original film was nominated for two Academy Awards – Best Film Editing and Best Sound. Since the film’s debut, ROBOCOP has become one of the most successful titles in MGM's vast film library. The franchise continues as a worldwide phenomenon, especially in the U.S., Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. ROBOCOP, ROBOCOP 2, and ROBOCOP 3 have sold approximately 4.1 million gross DVD units worldwide.

About Phoenix Pictures

Phoenix Pictures was founded by Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer in 1995 and has produced such films as Zodiac, Holes, The Thin Red Line, and The People vs. Larry Flynt. The company is currently in production on Shanghai, directed by Mikael Halfstrom and starring John Cusack, and in post-production on Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams and Ben Kingsley. ROBOCOP continues the company’s strategy of producing high-profile event movies with important filmmakers.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.