Playing with Toy Fair 2011: Recap, Part I
Having fun at Toy Fair is hard work.
OK, So I’m not likely to get much sympathy about the “hard work” bit, but Toy Fair is an overwhelming experience at which toy manufacturers will show off their wares for retailers, wholesalers, and the press from around the world. Anything and everything from yo-yos to high ticket collectibles and everything in between. But on to the fun stuff.
The venerable cartoon “Thundercats” is getting a reboot soon, and Bandai showed off a complete line of 4″ figures. They also had 8″ figures done of classic “Lion-O” and “Tygra.” Take a look at the difference between new and classic “Lion-O” (again – keep in mind that the Classic figure is really twice the size of the New one).
The 4″ figures have a magnet embedded in their backs that activate features in other playsets & accessories. Of course, if you want Snarf, ya gotta get the ThunderTank. Ain’t that always the case?
With 2011 being a full year for comic book movies, Diamond Comic Distributors had a LOT of great stuff to show off including Marvel Select figures for “Thor”.
I was impressed with how much Thor looked like Chris Hemsworth. Diamond also had a great figure for “Captain America.”
Diamond had some new additions to their Minimates line from Art Asylum with “X-Men: First Class” minimates from the movie as well as an old school “X-Men” line up.
They had some other Minimates from the recent Capcom videogame “Marvel vs. Capcom 3,” and while I couldn’t take any shots yet, I’d have to say my favorite was the Super Skrull. I’m only hoping Galactus is a little bit bigger than the rest like he should be.
I was really impressed with the detail on a mass level 4″ figure like the stuff JAKKS Pacific put out for Disney’s epic movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” As a neat little gimmick the 4″ figures and the Queen Anne’s Revenge ship come with special UV paint. Special LED accessories that come with the figures light up hidden secrets. Take a look:
I also saw figures and playsets for the Dreamworks movie Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman. More about that for another time.
NECA had some good and truly impressive figures and collectibles from a wide variety of licenses like “Predator,” “Scarface,” “Gears of War,” and this guy:
After something like 10 years of dying, going to different publishers, and being stuck in development Hell, I’m glad to see that “Duke Nukem Forever” will be finally coming out soon.
In the next segment, some updates from JAKKS Pacific, Diamond, a smattering of zombies, Master Chief, and more.