Friday, May 27, 2011

Weekly Roundup: New Arrivals & Pre-orders!

It's been a busy week here at ToyWiz.com - you won't believe what's new! You can see all of our recent arrivals by clicking here, or read below for a few personal favorites.

At the beginning of the week, we finally got our hands on the Transformers 3 Dark of The Moon Exclusive Action Figure 2-Pack: Voyager Optimus Prime with Deluxe Comettor and the Movie Exclusive Cyberverse Legion Class Action Figure 3-Pack: Bumblebee vs. Soundwave with Bonus Rodimus. These are fantastic toys & a great value!







Next, we decided to "go green" when we received 4 new Green Lantern Movie Exclusive Action Figure 2-packs, plus the Green Lantern Heroclix Booster pack! These are already selling fast! As if that didn't have us set, the next shipment brought 5 new Tomar-Re action figures and 3 Mattel Supercharged Action Figures that light up! My favorite so far though is this huge Movie Masters Green Man:



Cars 2 merchandise rolled in like crazy too, including Pull Back Racers and I love the new Cars 2 plush!



And for those of you watching out for our Beyblades arrivals, we've got fantastic new items in.



There's really just too much new stuff to mention it all, so click on our New Arrivals tab at the top of the page to browse it yourself. New Minimates are there and oh yes...let's not forget God of War Series 1 Action Figures!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

WizKids Sells Out of Marvel HeroClix: Captain America! (But We've Still Got Pre-Orders Available!)

WizKids Inc. has sold out of it's entire inventory of the newest set, Marvel HeroClix: Captain America, according their recent press release. It is set to be released in July, but we've still got pre-orders up...for now!



Three ordering options are available from ToyWiz.com:

Individual Booster Packs (5 Figures for$14.99

10 Booster Packs for $99.99

Counter Top Display of 24 Random Figures for $59.99

 

 

Friday, May 20, 2011

Thundercats - HO!

Ah, the glorious eighties, the decade that launched some of the best cartoons of all time (and the collectibles that went with them): Voltron, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and of course...Thundercats!

We've got tons of collectors and fans who remember the decade with sweet nostalgia. With the debut of the new Thundercats series on the Cartoon Network premiering soon, a whole new generation is set to follow the adventures of Lion-O  and the rest of the crew. Of course, we're ready for the new action figures and roleplay weapons from Bandai - they can't get here soon enough! In the meantime, we have plenty of items up for pre-order and we'll be posting more releases as they come available.

[caption id="attachment_962" align="alignnone" width="209" caption="It's not just Lion-O! We're already taking orders for Tygra, Grune the Warrior, Mumm-Ra, Wily-Kit, Wily-Kat, Cheetara and Panthro, plus the Sword of Omens and more!"]Lion-O Action Figure[/caption]

Thursday, May 19, 2011

FINALLY! The CDC gets on board with Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness

If you're ready for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for any emergency. emergency.cdc.gov

As you well know, I'm the one in charge of Zombie Survival Planning here at the ToyWiz.com warehouse, and usually, it's a thankless task. People simply underestimate the real danger of an undead uprising. So I couldn't be happier to see that the Centers for Disease Control has finally issued it's recommendations for how to survive the inevitable zombie attack! Click the graphic above to see their recommendations!

 

200 Million Die-Cast cars would make quite a traffic jam...

Since the release of Cars, that's about how many die-cast cars Disney has sold, according to The Telegraph:
Half of all six to 11-year-old boys in the United States own a Cars T-shirt. Disney’s consumer products division has made roughly $6billion (£3.7billion) from Cars, making it the second-most successful film merchandising franchise of all time – trailing only Star Wars. (Source)

Well we've certainly noticed that around here - our Cars fly off the shelves as soon as they make the site! With the new Cars 2 coming out July 22, we've already been selling the tie-ins for months, and new merchandise is still arriving regularly. We'll be trying to keep up with demand when the film hits theaters, but I expect that for some items and models, supplies & availability could be limited due to demand.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Action Figure Museum

No, I'm not talking about my living room here...there's an actual Action Figure Museum you can visit in Oklahoma!

According to their website, you'll find over 13,000 action figures, plus drawings from local artists. It is the devoted to the art and sculpting of action figures, so if you take the video tour, you'll see not only complete figures, but original sculpts as well.

So the next time someone gives you a hard time about how many action figures you collect...remind them, it's art!

[caption id="attachment_955" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="If you're looking for high-end collectibles, search our site for items made by Hot Toys, like this Iron Man 2 action figure, now up for pre-order. When you see the features, articulation and level of detail, there will be no doubt that these are art! "]The Iron Man Mark V 12 inch Figure[/caption]

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

LEGOs in Space!

The Space Shuttle Endeavor took off yesterday morning with some special cargo - worms, squid embryos...and LEGOs.
According to NASA, "The construction process and activities with the sets will demonstrate the challenges faced when building things in the microgravity environment of space."

This partnership program plans to inspire kids across the nation by sending sets to classrooms and allowing them to compare results with those achieved by astronauts on the space station. To read an interview with Dr. Julie Robinson, Chief Scientist, International Space Station Program, click here.

[caption id="attachment_951" align="alignnone" width="285" caption="LEGO City Space Shuttle"][/caption]

Latest Videogame Rankings

Advertising Age has posted sales rankings for the top video games in the US market from April. Even though Call of Duty: Black Ops has been out awhile, it's sales grew to fourth spot, but Mortal Kombat 2011 leads the pack. No wonder our pre-orders for Mortal Kombat Action figures are through the roof! We expect these to ship this summer, and we'll upload images for those as soon as we can. Funko is also shipping some awesome Wacky Wobblers for Mortal Kombat fans.



 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Monster Monday: The Zombie Basics



[caption id="attachment_937" align="alignleft" width="142" caption="Classic Style: The Walking Dead"]Zombie Roamer[/caption]

Continuing on my zombie invasion theme, let's get a few things out of the way. Although you can break down the undead into dozens of different types and styles, I'm going with 3. It's enough to get you started and cover the bases for most of the apocalypses we expect to encounter. And we're resourceful people here - I assume that if the zombies throw us for a loop, we'll drop back and adjust as needed! Either way, the warehouse here is fully set up so that we can play trading card games for years, if necessary, while barricaded inside with all the energy drinks we'll ever need. If you can make it here to join us, I'll think about letting you in. The codeword is PHYREXIA, which, coincidentally, you can also enter at checkout now to get 5% off your order.


Zombie Field Guide



The Voodoo Zombie: Well aren't you the lucky survivor! The Voodoo zombie is easy enough. There may be only one, or at most, only as many as the priest dug up to raise from the dead. They aren't contagious, move slowly and have no intelligence, so have at them - these should be easily dispatched, but you may have to form a posse to take out the zombie-maker who set them on you in the first place. That might prove more difficult.

 

[caption id="attachment_938" align="alignright" width="101" caption="Actually, I think she's fine to watch the kids for awhile."]Sideshow Collectibles 12 Inch Figure The Dead Zombie Subject 1025: Babysitter[/caption]

The Classic Zombie: A bit trickier, but still survivable. They're rotting, slow, shambling and stupid. They may or may not come out in daylight, but they're very contagious and arrive in large numbers. What raised them? A virus? Plague? Some sorcery? It doesn't really matter. You'll have to take them out with a disgusting headshot because they're also very squishy, so steel yourself for the splat! Alternate method: try burning them. Sometimes this works, but be ready for the headshot if it doesn't. And whatever you do, don't get bitten!


The Nimble Zombie: We've seen some fast-moving zombies, climbing zombies, and zombies that can be killed in normal ways. If they're coming fast, one option is to be faster! They're still not smart, so cleverness counts too. This is one of the few situations in which Parkour might come in very handy...unless your zombie pursuers are extremely agile as well. Assuming that the undead have far greater stamina than you do, just get inside a safe building or room and barricade in!

No matter what kind of zombies are amassing against you, it's usually a good idea to stick with the basic rules:


  • Don't get bitten

  • Go for the headshot, with fire as a possible alternative

  • Don't assume they're only active at night or that a motionless zombie is a dead/incapacitated zombie

  • Always plan an escape route and a safe spot


And if anyone does get bitten, well, you know what to do.


Friday, May 6, 2011

Fan Forum Friday: BrickArms!

Brickarms Custom Mini Figure WWII German Soldier WilhelmFan communities can be a lot of fun: no matter what toy or game you're into, there's usually a place online to find out more information, chat with like-minded people and show off your collections, customizations and finds. For "Fan Forum Fridays," I'd like to introduce you to some interesting places to hang out and discuss hobbies.

Today, my focus is BrickArms, those highly detailed custom weapons and accessories for LEGO Minifigs that have a huge fan base! You'll be amazed at the things some people can make and do with these!

First stop, the BrickArms Forums. You'll find a wealth of information here, including updates from the manufacturer and photos from the people who love them.

And don't forget to check out the BrickArms Flicker Group for page after page showing pictures of creative ways to use BrickArms accessories.

This is a fantastic, friendly community and a great place for sharing tips, tricks and pictures of your BrickArms creations, so be sure to stop by to say hello!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Show your BrickArms Mystery Pack findings...and let's see those 24K gold weapons, too!

BrickArms Mystery PackBrickarms makes incredible, high-quality accessories for your LEGO minifigs, and now we're able to offer fun  Mystery Packs of weapons, and just as the headline says - there's a chance that you'll find a 24k gold-plated item in your order! And if you want to be sure you'll get the golden gun (or other weapon), order the case of 20 packs - we guarantee a golden surprise inside!

We'd love to see what you get, so please, post your pictures! Send us a link on Facebook or respond to comments here to show off your mystery BrickArms. You can also email your pics to me, anissa@toywiz.com. And if you make an unboxing video or review, let us know! We're still offering $25 gift certificates for our favorite ToyWiz.com videos!

Every pack contains 13 items, one each of these colors:

  • White

  • Silver

  • Bronze

  • Green

  • Mystery Metallic Swirl or Mystery Trans

  • Trans Clear

  • Trans Blue

  • Trans Red

  • Trans Yellow

  • ASSORTED CAMO PRINTED PATTERN

  • Chrome

  • Brown

  • Helmet (Blue,Red, OD Green or White)

  • AND 1 PACK in 20 will contain a 24K GOLD PLATED BRICKARM!


For those who haven't seen the incredible detail already, click here to check out some of the BrickArms we offer.

Order Single Mystery Packs

Order a Case of Mystery Packs (guaranteed to include a gold-plated weapon)

Browse all BrickArms individual accessories and sets

Monday, May 2, 2011

Monster Monday: Zombie Survival, Part 1

I've decided that for the next several weeks, "Zombie Monday" is in order. Consider it a public service from ToyWiz.com and Bebette...we're here to help you live through the zombie invasion with tips and tricks for being among the handful of living people left on earth after the uprising. I hope you'll follow along because I've put a lot of thought into this, and I'd really like for you to be alive to join my band of survivors when the time comes. Especially those of you with skills.

I have a pretty wide variety of unusual skills myself. Balloon animals? I can do that. Nunchuck skills? Sadly, no. But I promise to be impressed by yours. But back to my skills - what's the point in being able to deal 3-card Monte or put together a wicked Halloween costume on the fly? It's all probably a lot less advantageous than you'd think. So I've been rating my various abilities in terms of how useful they'll be during the inevitable zombie invasion, because that's just how my mind works. And because really, when they come (oh, and they will come), it isn't just about being able to wield random weapons scavenged from a sporting goods store, it's also about being essential to your group of survivors so that when they have to decide whether to leave you behind or come back for a daring rescue, you'll be worth saving.

[caption id="attachment_916" align="alignnone" width="219" caption="TCG Skills are also important for this particular survival group."]Magic the Gathering Ninth Edition Single Card Rare #143 Lord of the Undead[/caption]