Diamond Comics Distro Addresses Pandemic Response & Effects on Comic Industry

Statement from Steve Geppi, Diamond Comics Distribution CEO:

As everyone knows, the world faces ever-increasing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its effects on the comics & collectibles and tabletop gaming industries have been felt far and wide.  We are hearing from thousands of retailers that they can no longer service their customers as they have in the past, many of them forced to close by government action or resort to in-person or curbside delivery. Even those still open are seeing reduced foot traffic in most cases, a situation that seems likely to worsen with time.

Sonic The Hedgehog Debuts Early on Digital March 31 and 4K, Blu-ray, DVD on May 19

Get ready for epic fun and super-sonic action when everyone’s favorite hedgehog races home in the blockbuster hit SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, debuting early for purchase on Digital March 31, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and for rental on demand or disc May 19.

The Digital*, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray releases are packed with sensational bonus features: See Sonic the Hedgehog’s next adventure around the world in a new animation; get more of Sonic in deleted scenes; laugh at the hilarious blooper reel; explore the origins of the legendary blue hedgehog; see Jim Carrey bring Dr. Robotnik to life; watch along with awesome commentary by director Jeff Fowler and the voice of Sonic, Ben Schwartz; and more!  Plus, for a limited time, the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo packs will include a printed, Limited Edition comic book featuring an adventure with Sonic and The Donut Lord.

Garden State Film Festival Readies Virtual Screenings

Stars shine this Thursday, 26 March 2020, when the Garden State Film Festival presents hundreds of independent films virtually through parallel and dynamic digital streaming in light of the global COVID-19 crisis, and the announcement from the Governor of the State of New Jersey further restricting public gatherings.

That's right! You can see an incredible selection of +240 innovative films through an unprecedented four-day, live-stream event on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Starving for interesting entertainment during self-isolation? GSFF 2020 is the perfect antidote. Enjoy popcorn in your PJ's while streaming hundreds of feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, animation, student films, premieres, and more top-quality cinematic showmanship.

The Spooky Side of Sesame Street, Part 1: “Don’t Eat the Pictures.”

By Roxie Guarino, Nightmare Fuel Investigator

In his iconic roles as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, Carroll Spinney inspired millions of children to laugh and learn on “Sesame Street”. Now, just shy of 50 years on the air, we’ve said goodbye to one of our favorite childhood friends.  We’ll miss you, Mr. Spinney!

But as with all things…”Sesame Street” has a dark side. YouTube, the Lost Media Wiki, and TV Tropes are just a few sites where you can find generations of viewers talking about the many segments that creeped them out. This new series will highlight some of those most infamous moments. For our first installment, we honor the late Carroll Spinney with one of Big Bird’s greatest moments. It’s brought to you by the letter D, for ‘defeating a demon and defying a deity of death.”

Toy Fair 2020: Hasbro's Ghostbusters Preview

Almost time to head into New York City and set up shop for Toy Fair 2020! As I prep the gear and ready my camera for a hell of a workout, the news is coming in hot and heavy. One such item is from a source who provided new, official pictures from Hasbro's Ghostbusters line, confirming the newest licensor is exploring the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon look (kinda?) along with a movie accurate line touching on everything from the first appearance to the newest film, Afterlife.

Toy Fair 2020: Prepare Your Bodies for Anchorman: The Game - Improper Teleprompter

Live on Kickstarter.com, and being shown for the first time at New York Toy Fair, Anchorman: The Game - Improper Teleprompter is an adult party game from Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment based on Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's hit comedy, which also stars Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, David Koechner, and a host of other comedians.

The game is inspired by Ron Burgundy's susceptibility to read whatever is written on the teleprompter, no matter how strange or inappropriate. Players compete by sabotaging other anchors' news stories with ridiculous magnetic words and phrases to try and get them to laugh while reading the news.

Toy Fair 2020: Wicked Cool Toys Pokemon Preview

Fans of the iconic Pokémon brand are in for a treat as Wicked Cool Toys, a Jazwares company, plans to introduce new products at New York Toy Fair. As the global toy master licensee (ex-Asia) for the brand, Wicked Cool Toys is celebrating the new generation of Pokémon with new products for the world’s #1 entertainment franchise. The line also covers figures, role play, plush, electronics and more.

My Partner Eevee ($19.99)
Play with Eevee like never before! My Partner Eevee has a built-in microphone and touch sensor technology that lets you and Eevee communicate in a new and fun way. With over 50 different reactions to your touch, your voice, and even music, watch My Partner Eevee come alive as its head and tail moves! My Partner Eevee has 20 iconic sound effects and expressions. My Partner Eevee lets you bring the thrill of becoming a Pokémon trainer into the real world! Gotta Catch ‘Em All!™
Available: August 2020 Ages: 4+

Toy Fair 2020: Diamond Select Fulfills Your Every Pop Culture Wish

And you thought FUNKO was all in on the licensing! Diamond Select have always been there to champion the underserved geek licenses we dreamed would be little plastic people some day. Movies, TV, Cartoons, Retro, Modern...Diamond Select is there, watching what we watch and loving it all as much as we do, as is evident in the products they crank out yearly. How many products you ask? HOLY GEEZ..it's a lot! Today we'll take a peek at some items Diamond Select will be bringing to New York this weekend for Toy Fair 2020...

The annual New York International Toy Fair is fast approaching, and Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant Ltd. have hundreds of new items on their way to the Big Apple to show off to toy buyers and press. So now it’s time for a sneak peek! New items from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, the Black Widow movie, the Justice League cartoon, Ghostbusters, IT, Predator 2, The Exorcist, The Nun, Annabelle, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and The Mandalorian can be seen below (most shipping this fall), and look for more new items to be revealed at the show! Pre-order through your local comic shop or at shop.diamondselecttoys.com!

Night Flight and Sub Pop Announce Music Video Streaming Partnership

Night Flight is pleased to announce a new partnership with vanguard indie record label Sub Pop for the Night Flight Plus streaming service. Night Flight Plus members can now watch over 50 Sub Pop videos with new introductions by the show's original host Pat Prescott. Featured artists include Weyes Blood, Mudhoney, Sleater-Kinney, Orville Peck, and more.

Toy Fair 2020: McFarlane Reveals Video Game Action Figure Lineup

Hot off the heels of McFarlane Toys' Mortal Kombat SPAWN action figure reveal, we thought we'd take a look at some of the other video game properties McFarlane will be dishing out the good plastic for in 2020. We've announced most of these releases as part of the UK leg of our Toy Fair tour, but now you get to see each figure in AMAZING TECHNICOLOR!!! Sure, why not.

McFarlane expands their DOOM action figure line, adds a new dragon buddy from Elder Scrolls for the Game of Thrones dragons to play with, and fortifies their ranks with a new Call of Duty figure, sure to get toy photographers dreaming of the possibilities as they add this merc to their ranks. Listen, in a toy world where no one makes THUGS for the super heroes to pound on, we get excited over stuff like this!! Let's dive in!

Toy Fair 2020: FAO Partnering with Super7 for Super Shogun Transformers Optimus Prime

Super7 is expanding its license with Hasbro, Inc. on an incredible fan favorite: Super Shogun TRANSFORMERS Optimus Prime! This oversized figure is available for preorder only, and exclusively at select partner retailers, including iconic toy retailer FAO Schwarz. Super Shogun TRANSFORMERS Optimus Prime retails for $350 (including shipping), and is available for preorder, launching Friday, Feb 21, available through Mar 31.

Toy Fair 2020: McFarlane Unveils Mortal Kombat Spawn Action Figure

AND HE'S ARTICULATED!!!

Just when fans thought that Mortal Kombat couldn't get any better... SPAWN enters onto the scene of Mortal Kombat 11! McFarlane Toys has teamed up with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios to bring SPAWN to the world-renowned Mortal Kombat franchise. For the first time, McFarlane Toys is REVEALING a SPAWN Mortal Kombat Action Figure!

Toy Fair 2020: All Elite Wrestling & Jazwares Unveil "Unrivaled" Toy Line

Jazwares, a global leader in play, and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the new professional wrestling league that is taking America by storm, are tag-teaming on AEW’s first line of action figures and role play collectibles.  Featuring AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, Cody, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley and more, the new AEW UNRIVALED line will be on display at Jazwares’ booth at Toy Fair New York on Feb. 22-26, and will hit retail later this year.

AEW UNRIVALED collectible action figures will boast 25 points of articulation, real 3d scanned likenesses and a variety of accessories and authentic ring wear.  With multiple Waves per season, fans can collect the stars of TNT’s new, popular weekly show AEW DYNAMITE, including MJF, Darby Allin, Dr. Britt Baker, Brandi Rhodes, Hangman Page, Jurassic Express and many more.

Toy Fair 2020: DC Direct Returns with a Killer Lineup

DC Collectibles, known for its iconic lines of collectibles, statues and action figures, directly from the source, is returning to the name on which it was founded, DC Direct. The move to rename reaffirms DC Direct’s commitment to source DC material and validates the authenticity of being truly “from the source”.

“Returning to the name DC Direct just makes sense,” said Jim Fletcher, Creative Director, DC Direct. “The name lets our fans know that we have unparalleled and direct access to DC editorial and the industry’s premier talent, which in turn allows us to create an extensive offering of unique and high-end product lines that are truly authentic to DC.”

During New York Toy Fair, DC Direct will display its striking new 2020 action figures and statues in its booth. This year’s lineup will feature an all-new statue line based on the The Joker, a revamped Artist Alley line, and additions to expand its best-selling action figure and statue lines including DC Essentials, Batman Black and White, Harley Quinn Red, White and Black, DC Designer Series, DC Bombshells, and more.

Toy Fair 2020: WowWee's 2020 Lineup

WowWee®, a leading manufacturer of innovative consumer entertainment products, will unveil an exciting array of new brands and product line extensions at the North American International Toy Fair in New York City (Booth #2771) February 22-25, 2020. Get swept up in a wave of fun with the global pre-school sensation Pinkfong® Baby Shark™, featuring all new innovations and line extensions across multiple licensed toy categories. Be on the lookout for Power Treads™, the all-surface vehicles that power over, under, and through a scalable track set. Play non-stop with MiP Arcade™, an evolution of the WowWee fan-favorite MiP ™ robot, featuring an enhanced game suite and top tier tech upgrades. And for all the collectibles fans out there, WowWee continues to surprise and delight with newness from Lucky Fortune™, the TOTY-nominated feel-good fashion accessory, and Party Surprise™, an inventive spin on the unboxing experience. Among the many different toy and game brands that WowWee is presenting, the company will also debut its latest entry into a new consumer category with BriteBrush™, the smart toothbrush for kids that makes it fun to brush right...right out of the box!