This News Is Not For You: A Hasbro Story

I've been covering collectibles for somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 years, with 12 or so of them spent putting San Diego Comic-Con hours under my belt, so if that doesn't earn me a purple heart in the geek army, I don't know what would. In the past, when I've aired my grievances against companies, I've been called "arrogant" and "entitled" or even "elitist" so I'd like to put that out there from the get go. If I come off this way, just understand it comes from frustration. Frustration that 15 years of writing on the internet earns me nothing in the eyes of most industry executives and more often than not, puts me in the same cramped, hot room with 100 other individuals at events like Toy Fair where a fair deal of these folks pull out their camera phone to record the day. Do I think I am better than them? I do not, but I am certainly working harder than them, as are many other people in the room who showed up ready to take more than 20 pictures and spend the rest of their time trying to squeeze free samples from anyone who will listen. Sites like Cool Toy Review, Action Figure Insider and ToyNewsInternational show up ready to sweat, with very little time to take the 900 pictures their readers expect, patiently waiting for they guy with the massive iPad to finish his painfully slow sweep across the entire display. Most of us do this for little or nothing, and that is our choice, but we cross our fingers every day that the companies will make this job as easy as they possibly can. Often, they do not.

Toy Fair 2014: Nintendo Steals Center Stage

It amazes me that, every year at Toy Fair, not only are the Mario Brothers present somewhere on the show floor, but they've been presented in a new format, new scale or delivered in a way we've yet to see. It is like the slowest roll out of an amazing, evolving toy line! Few other licenses can boast as much. Today, We'll visit with JAKKS Pacific and Tamashii Nations to check out their contributions to the immortal worlds of Nintendo.

For the first time ever, JAKKS Pacific has teamed up with Nintendo to bring fans the latest and greatest toys featuring favorite characters from Nintendo!

Toy Fair 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy Action Figures, Roleplay & More

We've done more than a couple of stories on Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy, mostly because it was brought to life by James Gunn, the man who gave us Slither and Super...and the idea of him bringing a Marvel Comics epic to the big screen made many a heart burst from sheer joy, much like when we heard Joss Whedon would be handling The Avengers!! It's an amazing time to be a Marvel fan, and so we had high hopes (but low expectations) for Hasbro's Guardians of the Galaxy toy line. The Iron Man 3 toy line brought us from Marvel Universe levels of articulation and overall quality (in the Iron Man 2 line), to a dumbed down, barely articulated figure line with soft sculpts and limited paint applications. It was our sincerest hope that those figures gathering dust on the pegs would usher in a new era of quality and innovation combined, making toy lines both children AND collectors would snap up on site. I'd say the results are mixed.

Toy Fair 2014: threeA's First Appearance

In a world of toy collectors, collectibles hunters and art toy enthusiasts, there is a constant urgency for innovation; an original thought among the endless piles of standard action figures, whether it be toward licenses we've come to know or all together new concepts. With the highly artistic eye and hand of Ashley Wood leading the way, threeA has made some of the most sought after robot toys the world has ever seen. With ball joints, fully articulated hands, functional gear packs and paint jobs that speak to a specific environment beating against a massive metal structure, threeA's robots, at any scale, are in-arguably unmatched.

2014 will mark the first year threeA has shown their products at New York Toy Fair. While a lot of their releases are still original creations, this year presents a great deal of licensed product. Current licenses include Marvel Comics (with Iron Man in 4 colorways and Doctor Doom), Team Fortress 2, Portal, and Metal Gear Solid.

Toy Fair 2014: Jazwares Still Game Crazy with Minecraft, Plants vs Zombies and Sonic

Another special request has us diving into the breakaway hit of 2013; MINECRAFT! Jazwares surprised everyone with their blocky action figure line, 8bit adorable plush and innovative papercraft, which seemed like the perfect way to translate the angular video game world to collectibles.

Though the property shows no signs of slowing down, Jazwares still seem to be taking a fairly conservative approach to product release, announcing just enough new product to leave that fanbase wanting more. On tap are...

Toy Fair 2014: Back On Track...Barely

15 years or so of Toy Fair and I still don't know how to avoid being attacked by geek plague. Still a rookie. Suffice to say, during the closing hours of the show, my condition was deteriorating, though I ignored it...and that night I was exhausted and ate diner like a hobo fighting for the non muddied bits of an overturned bucket of KFC, but still overlooked the signs...and since my girlfriend works like most of the human race, I did my load out from her place at 6am, rode back to central New Jersey and had just enough energy to hook my computer back up before totally falling apart. There, face down on my couch with Star Trek: Deep Space 9 playing in the background, I remained immobile til my mom took pity on me and brought me a bag of drugs the likes of which would make Hunter S. Thompson turn his nose up in disgust. Sure, we aren't professional pill poppers at Idle Hands, but we know the secrets of NyQuil, Aleve and Sudafed, and so, like a delirious, unsteady toddler, I stumbled around my apartment for the last four days, gauging my competence, periodically, at such advanced skills as accurate key striking and keeping the computer screen in focus (the damn thing likes to vibrate when it's angry.)  I'm still not 100%, but there's MOUNTAINS of toys to talk about...so let's get back to it!

Toy Fair 2014: Hex Bug Transformers 4 Nano & Warriors

We originally, quite accidentally, gave you a sneak preview of this line back during our first days of UK Toy Fair coverage! Did you catch it? The UK reps sure did! We're heading into the final stretch of collecting data and shooting thousands of images at New York Toy Fair 2014, and as luck would have it, we can now show you Hex Bug's awesome Transformers 4 Warriors!!

Those jumpy, twitchy little Hex Bugs launch into battle with a Transformers 4 movie theme specific to characters like the heroic Autobots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Crosshairs, Drift and Silver Knight and sinister Decepticons Galvatron, Lockdown, and Stinger. With weapons spinning, flailing, stabbing, mashing and slicing, the battle rages on as the bots take damage and one emerges victorious. Each bot has an insignia that flips up, marking them Autobot or Decepticon, so the battle lines are as clear as they can get. Customize your Warrior for battle with any Transformer weapons and armor for hundreds of combinations!

Toy Fair 2014: Maleficent from JAKKS Pacific

Enter the world of Disney’s Maleficent and discover the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain. From Maleficent’s beautiful and beloved forest home filled with magical creatures, to the king’s castle where her fateful encounter with Princess Aurora changes both of their lives forever, follow Maleficent’s journey and experience the story of Sleeping Beauty as it’s never been told before. Timed to the release of Disney’s Maleficent in theaters this May, JAKKS Pacific relives the magic with the beautifully detailed 11.5 inch Maleficent Fashion Dolls that kids and collectors alike will love.

Play out the story of the beautiful and mysterious Maleficent and make her come to life! The 11.5 inch Maleficent Fashion Doll features the dark beauty Maleficent in her black, glittery gown with dramatic drape and detailed iconic curved horns. This doll has a true-to-character look and feel inspired by Disney’s Maleficent. (SRP $19.99, Ages 3+)

Toy Fair 2014: Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Figures : Take 2

RIGHT! So some time back, we had an excellent tipster email in with a full report on the look of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters from the new film. Unfortunately, this news came a little early for the licensors, and so we took the info down. Flash forward to today! We've been to the Playmates Toys booth at New York Toy Fair 2014, we were officially lead into an official room where official figures were shown by official looking people, one of which made awesome hand motions toward the toys in a showroom model fashion as the first person described the lines, and after getting a thumbs up from the crew...WE CAN NOW, OFFICIALLY DESCRIBE THE DAMN TURTLES!!

Toy Fair 2014: The Bridge Direct Strawberry Shortcake

Hey, this one was requested! ....and I like pleasing people. Amid The Bridge Direct's WWE Construction toys and The Hobbit action figures was a line who survived the 80's, continually going toe to toe with My Little Pony and the DemiGod, Barbie, herself. This destroyer's name is STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!! ~shudder~

Toy Fair 2014: A Pastel Explosion with Hasbro's My Little Pony

OK! About to head to bed for my 4am wakeup call to shoot LEGO..which we only do because we love you...so before I slip into my coma, we thought we'd give the people what they want. MY LITTLE PONIES!!! We've tackled the topic a couple of times in the past couple of weeks, so we are certain we've got plenty of information online, so let's get right to the eye candy with plenty of shots of the Rainbow Rocks, Rainbow Power, the build a pony Pop line and more!

Toy Fair 2014: Gentle Giant Takes on Marvel Comics

Toy Fair is an event for industry folks, retailers and press. Because of the exclusivity of the event, the toy loving public relies on the press to bring back the images and info that will keep them up nights, wondering how they will explain to their loved ones that they absolutely needed that 1:6th scaled Keaton Batman Batmobile for a paltry 900 dollars. Since Toy Fair exists on the internet for all of you at home, we said screw it, let's invite our friends who don't take the trip to New York to get in on the fun. ...And that's when Gentle Giant reps contacted me before I had the chance to email them. THEY WERE LISTENING. Spooky.

Let's dive right into our visit with Gentle Giant, starting with their newest Marvel Comics offerings...

Toy Fair 2014: JAKKS Pacific's 2014 Lineup with Maleficent, Nintendo, Disney Pirate Fairies & More

Toy Fair kicks off later today with a giant sized helping of Hasbro products, followed by the actual show opening its doors Sunday morning. Until then, we are sure to see the press releases fall like rain...or snow...as is the case on the east coast. No more snow. Please lord...please. ~the shoveling...~ Today, JAKKS unleashed their 2014 lineup, and while there are no accompanying pictures, information on a new Nintendo toy line and Maleficent products add to the building anticipation for the actual product reveals at the show....something we haven't had much of this year! Let's dive right in...

Toy Fair 2014: QMx Adds DC Comics Universe to its Q-Pop Line of Adorable Collectible Figures

Quantum Mechanix Inc. (QMx) announced today that it has signed a deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, to bring the heroes and villains of the DC Comics universe to its roster of Q-Pop® figures.

The newly minted deal lets QMx take the decidedly lighthearted style of Q-Pops and apply them to such beloved DC Comics Super Heroes as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and other members of the DC Comics universe.

Toy Fair 2014: Mattel's Toy Fair Sneak Peek with Barbie, Batman, Marvel Hot Wheels, Monster High & More

As our beloved toy companies jump on the internet and, one by one, painfully blow the excitement of Toy Fair by revealing their key items, Mattel took to the web and, very quietly, decided to show off a nice sampling of their 2014 lines, saving the ultra, mega, super awesome stuff for the big show. THERE'S A LESSON TO BE LEARNED HERE, REST OF THE TOY INDUSTRY!! Let's take a look at what Mattel's got on tap...

Toy Fair 2014: Peek Inside Pop Culture Shock Collectibles Headquarters

Idle Hands visited with Pop Culture Shock Collectibles to find out what our favorite sculptors of monstrous, mixed media statues are up to. While they won't be at New York Toy Fair this weekend, we thought we'd take the opportunity to peek at all things geek shipping soon and in progress, drooling over every bit of clay on the table as we pondered what could be. PCSC's 2014 lineup includes Master of the Universe, Street Fighter, Robocop, Sons of Anarchy, Bee and Puppy Cat, Mortal Kombat and Bravest Warriors, so before we get to the mega eye candy, let's discuss the newest items shipping this year...

Toy Fair 2014: Marlene Bonnelly's Impending Geek Overload

Toy Fair is coming!

I’m honored to say that this will be my first year attending on behalf of Idle Hands, and I couldn’t be more excited. Next week I’ll be embracing my inner child as I gleefully romp through rows and rows of colorful toys, action figures and collectibles, snapping away with my camera and likely drawing the ire of respectable retailers everywhere.

There will be a lot featured at the show, but there are a few items I’m most looking forward to seeing up close. Apologies in advance to their respective companies for my inevitable face-prints on the glass.

Toy Fair 2014: DC Collectibles Reveals Their Entire 2014 Lineup

DC Collectibles, the exclusive line of toy and collector items from DC Entertainment, announced today an exciting 2014 product line-up just in time for New York Toy Fair.  DC Collectibles will offer a wide range of new action figures and collector’s items based on DC Comics’ iconic characters and other properties including the highly-anticipated Son of Batman direct-to-video film and Infinite Crisis, the upcoming video game from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Turbine. And for the first time ever, new 6” scale action figure lines based on designs from both Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures will be released later this year.

Toy Fair 2014: K'NEX Continues Nintendo Lines with More Mario Universes

Back into the K'NEX coverage with a continuation of their wildly popular and imaginative Nintendo lines, focusing specifically on the many adventures of Mario and friends. On display at UK Toy Fair and Nuremberg Toy Fair were items from Super Mario, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. U, Mariokart, Mariokart 7 and Mariokart Wii. No further info at this time beyond the new products you'll spot below and the release dates you'll find beside them, so dive right in and enjoy!

Toy Fair 2014: Hasbro's 6 inch Guardians of the Galaxy Action Figures

Our good friend Kara Warner over at Yahoo Movies landed this exclusive reveal from Hasbro, showing off their Marvel Legends Infinite Series 6 inch action figures. Like the lesser named Marvel Legends before them, the Infinite series has been shown to pack in the super articulation we enjoy along with excellent paints and sculpting alongside a build a figure piece you combine to make someone tiny, ...or someone that looks like he can devour your other action figures.

Kara reports: "Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana in the film), Peter Quill/Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) — attendees will be the first to see the two remaining figures when they're unveiled Saturday. And no, Groot (the tree-like creature voiced by Vin Diesel) doesn't count in this case because he's the Build-a-Figure character for the line"