Hello readers. Now that we’re removed from New York International Toy Fair, I wanted to give my Highlights of the 2013 NYTF.
It seems like the coming year is going to be ripe with nostalgic wares for collectors of almost every age to be on the hunt for. We have updated versions of Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle villains, and Castle Grayskull. We’ll also see some long dreamed of collectibles from the 1966 Adam West Batman TV series with Batmobile, a certain Austrian commando who fault a Predator in the jungle, and six inch Star Wars figures from Hasbro.
For myself, there is a close tie between my favorite news to come out of New York Toy Fair this year. The news about merchandise based on the 1966 Adam west Batman TV series wasn’t exactly new to anyone who follows this sort of thing (there was an announcement a few months ago that a deal had been reached), and even seeing some advance images before NYTF (Mattel’s Facebook page had put some up, and some etailers used them in solicits for preorders) stoked the flames, but seeing the actual product in pictures from the showroom was amazing. I grew up watching the reruns of this show in afternoons and on Saturday mornings, so getting the chance to own little plastic versions of this Batman and Robin will make my summer.
My other favorite reveal, which also got a jump on NYTF by about a week, was the news that Hasbro was finally going to make 6 inch scale star Wars figures; something a section of the collecting community has been asking them to do for years. The initial 4 figure wave consists of Luke Skywalker in X-Wing pilot gear, R2-D2, Darth Maul from Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and a Sand Trooper from “A New Hope”. The detail and articulation on the 3 figures looks absolutely astonishing, and the amount of extras they included with R2 should definitely help offset his costing the same as the other 3 figures in the wave. There will be a second wave this year, as well as a possible exclusive for San Diego Comic Con in August, as a jumping on point for collectors, and an official launch of the “Black Series”.
For fans of Masters of the Universe, we got to see the initial sculpt of the Castle Grayskull that will be offered next fall, but is only available as a preorder right now, until March 4, 2013. The price is a little steep for many, but the sheer size of the playset and the fact that Mattel is offering it at all is impressive. If I could guarantee that I would have money to cover the total cost when it’s ready, I would jump on it, despite having no place to put it currently. The vintage castle was one of my prized possessions growing up, so much so that even in it’s less than ideal condition, I still own it and the Snake Mountain playset.
For those of you who are like me, and grew up in the 1980s, Playmates has announced that they will release Bebop and Rocksteady in the TMNT Classics line to face off with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles they released this past summer. Fear not, if you missed them at retail, and it’s likely you might have in Maryland, they will be released again with Shredder’s flunkies. Like the turtles themselves, these two are a combination of influences, not fully adhering to the vintage toy or cartoon aesthetic. I personally like this, as I was never truly fond of the original toy look, and find the animated looks a little too goofy. They slated for sometime around summer release, but sadly they are the only new Classics items this year. It appears we’ll have to wait for any potential Shredder, Foot Ninja or Master Splinter until next year, if ‘sales go well’.
The biggest reveal and I mean this literally, is the reveal of a new Transformers Metroplex figure coming our way from Hasbro. The sheer size of this figure looks to even put Mattel’s castle Grayskull to shame. I had the original Generation 1 version of this toy growing up and I loved it, despite its slightly awkward ‘rolling tank’ mode. This thing is TWO FEET TALL! Take a moment to let that soak in. He represents the look of the character in the Fall of Cybertron video game, but looks to share some of the same design cues as the G1 toy, which I like, as I’m not too fond of the video game looks for most of the toys I’ve seen released. Like the castle though, I just have no place to put a 2ft tall robot, so I’ll have to hope some friends locally pick him up, so I can visit and share in the awe.
Last, but certainly not least, is Dutch from Predator from NECA. This figure of Arnold from the sci-fi classic Predator will finally allow all of us Predator figure collectors to pair them with someone within the same line. I admit having them face off with an Arnold Terminator is fun, but we need Dutch yelling “Get to da shoppa!!” at all of our other figures. There will be 4 versions of Dutch, and based on the video review of the sample figure, they will be highly sought after. The first wave is slated to ship sometime within the next month or so, and features 1 version of Dutch, a jungle Predator, and a mid cloak water splashed Predator from later in the film.
These are just my favorite reveals from the year’s New York Toy Fair, but feel free to visit thefwoosh or toynewsi.com for more in depth coverage of the event. I hope to bring my readers first hand reports next year, on a day to day basis.
Thanks for reading. I’ll see you in the toy isles.
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