The Marines have been collecting Toys for Tots since 1947. Semper Fi!

And it’s grown far beyond and extra curricular activity for off duty Marines. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved making the annual Toys for Tots drive an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. Over the last 62 years, the US Marine Corps Reserve have distributed over 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation has added to the toy collections by purchasing nearly a half billion dollars in toys to insure that no child gets left behind at Christmas.

And this year, as with any year, the campaign needs your help. You know the mission – pick up an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl and look for one of those dashing jarheads sitting next to a collection box near the entrance to the store. Or, you can Swing by http://www.toysfortots.org/ to make a cash donation to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. While at the site, you can find more information on a toy collecting center in your area.

Semper Fi and Merry Christmas!

The subscriptions, which are about $30 annually, allow toy fans of these lines to purchase toys that aren’t available in stores. They are the ultimate exclusives. For DC Universe, for example, subscribers will be able to purchase true collector 6″ character figures including Poison Ivy, Atrocitus, The Flash 1 and Starman. Also available will be a fan voted oversized figure of Metron with his Mobius Chair. In MOTUC Club Eternia, subscription price $20, fans will have access to long-awaited figures like Sorceress®, Fisto™ and Kobra Kahn. as well as Filmation character Shadow Weaver and a bonus map poster of Preternia.

Voltron will offer for $15 subscription and price of figures the five Lions (black, green, yellow, blue, red) that form Voltron plus five Pilots in 3 ¾” scale (Keith, Pidge, Hunk, Allura, Lance). With all five Lions, an enormous 23″ tall Voltron figure can be built. Also, collect all pilots and receive pieces that create the Voltron Collect and Connect® Ultra Blazing Sword. Note that pilots and lions will come in sets of two.

All told, the subscriptions will require an annual commitment of over $200 with subscription and action figure purchases. But if you’re hard core for these particular Mattel toys, there’s no better way to get the hard ones. Offer ends October 3rd.

Hat Tip – AFI

The exclusive Minifig that comes with the Blu-ray release is of a Young Han Solo and it comes attached to the Blu-ray version of the Lego Star Wars special. In addition, Walmart is pressing a full promotion with special collectible cans and boxes of Pringles and General Mills cereals. The Pringles cans each feature a Star Wars character on one of six different Pringles flavors. There’s Original Darth Vader, Princess Leia Pizza, Skywalker Sour Creme and Onion, Boba Fett BBQ, Han Solo Salt and Vinegar, and Chewbecca Cheddar. Collect three different boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honeynut Cheerios, and Lucky Charms, and the three will reveal a large Star Wars Mosiac which is pretty cool.

But the real coolness is that exclusive young Han Solo minifig. And if you’ve seen the Padawan Menace when it was broadcast on Cartoon network, you know it’s a really funny half hour of Lego Star Wars camp. The Exclusive Blu-ray will go on sale Sept. 16.

Hat Tip – RebelScum

Here’s a few that will be available at the HasbroToyShop Booth on the showroom floor:

G.I. JOE SKY STRIKER VEHICLE WITH STARSCREAM DECO AND 3.75″ COBRA COMMANDER SPECIAL EDITION FIGURE

This is where the worlds of G.I. JOE and TRANSFORMERS combine as the Sky Stryker Jet comes the legendary Decepticon Starscream. Comes with the evil COBRA Commander figure, which can fit in the cockpit of the jet. Cost is $49.99, (Ages: 4 & up)

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON SPECIAL EDITION ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME FIGURE
This is a slick TRANSFORMERS MECHTECH ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME action figure with a special edition foil-wrapped, slide-out package and customizable sticker sheet. The MECHTECH ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME figure features lights, launching projectiles, electronic battle sounds and phrases and three modes of conversion – vehicle, robot, and robot with “mech suit.” The trailer, serves as weapons depot and command center, converting into the ultimate “mech suit” for OPTIMUS PRIME. Price: $79.99
(Ages: 5 & up)

TRANSFORMERS PRIME OPTIMUS PRIME FIRST EDITION FIGURE
Based on the Hub’s hit animated series, TRANSFORMERS PRIME, this special edition OPTIMUS PRIME figure converts from robot to truck mode and features a premium decor only available during Comic-Con figure. And, the packaging becomes a wearable accessory for the leader of the Autobots. Price: $19.99, (Ages: 5 & up)

Other cool toys available include STAR WARS VINTAGE REVENGE OF THE JEDI SPECIAL EDITION DEATH STAR COLLECTOR’S PACK, MARVEL LEGENDS THOR SPECIAL EDITION FIGURE, NERF N-STRIKE TRANSFORMERS BARRICADE OPTIMUS PRIME RV-10 Blaster and more.

And look for the cool ComiCon panels featuring Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS Brand Panel (Thursday, July 21 from 2:30 – 3:30 PM in Room 24ABC)
Hasbro Studios “The Making of ‘Transformers Prime’” (Thursday, July 21 from 3:30 – 4:30 PM in Room 24ABC),Hasbro STAR WARS (Friday, July 22 from 11:00am-12:00pm in Room 7AB), “Evolution of Transformers Animation” presented by Shout Factory and Hasbro Studios (Friday, July 22 from 5:30-6:30 PM in Room 8), and Hasbro MARVEL (Saturday, July 23 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM in Room 9)!

See you at the Con!

Hat Tip – TFormers

The 6″ action figure was announced at the 2011 Toy Fair in New York last February and was even at the prototype stage. But with less than a week to go, Marvel Legends Heroic Age Thor is a no show on Hasbro/Marvel’s official releases for ComiCon exclusives. Attempts to contact Hasbro on the fate of Marvel Legends Heroic Age Thor have gone unanswered.

Course, that doesn’t mean anything. The week before ComiCon you’re going to be pretty busy packing up and getting ready to head south to San Diego. But the fact that there hasn’t been any released information on the Marvel Legends Heroic Age Thor figure is interesting and is causing speculation on the interwebs. Especially since the action figure was supposed to be the flagship of the Marvel Legends comeback line for Hasbro. Maybe there’s been design changes that’s causing delays. But one thing is certain, we’ll be asking about it at the HasbroToyShop.com booth when we get there.

Meanwhile, here’s a reminder of what Marvel/Hasbro are bringing to the Con:

MARVEL MINI MUGGS THE AVENGERS SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTOR’S PACK ($34.99), MARVEL UNIVERSE 16” SPECIAL EDITION SENTINEL FIGURE ($59.99), MARVEL MIGHTY MUGGS SPIDER-MAN SPECIAL EDITION FIGURE ($15.99). All of them will be available at the HasbroToyShop.com, Booth #3329 throughout the Con and in limited numbers afterwards online.

Hat Tip – MarvelousNews

Continuing our look at the toy exclusives that will be available at the ComiCon International in San Diego, we’ve got a doozy today … the Neft Optimus Prime Blaster. And let me tell you, this one is making me want to roll out and get it!

Put a new “spin” on your battles with this motorized, semi-auto BARRICADE RV-10 blaster! The 10-dart revolving barrel keeps the “firepower” coming and the compact design of this sidearm blaster means it’s easy to take along on any “mission”. The tactical rail and stock attachment give you the versatility to add additional accessories (sold separately) to hit your mark with precision. Quick and reliable, your revolving barrel blaster is the one to turn to when you’re outnumbered and need to blast your way to victory.

Based on the Nerf-N-Strike Barricade RV-10, the blaster is styled with a custom Optimus Prime paint job and graphics. It is a motorized semi-automatic Nerf blaster with a revolving barrel that holds 10 Nerf Whistle darts. It’s powered by three AA batteries (not included) and has a tactical rail and stock attachments to add accessories (sold separately) to make the blaster even more awesome.

The only real downside is that Hasbro is charging $24.99 for this exclusive (booth #3329) at ComiCon (with limited quantities to be offered at the HasbroToyShop.com site after the Con) , while it’s generic equivalent is $17. So if you don’t mind not having the sweet red/blue paint scheme, save yourself 33% and pick it up at a toy store near you in Nerf Yellow.

Hat Tip Seibertron

Check out this lineup in the set:

__ VC08: Darth Vader
__ VC09: Boba Fett
__ VC22: Admiral Ackbar
__ VC23: Luke Skywalker (Endor Captive)
__ VC25: R2-D2 (with Pop-Up Lightsaber)
__ VC26: Endor Rebel Commando
__ VC27: Wicket
__ VC41: Stormtrooper
__ VC62: Han Solo (Trench Coat)
__ VC63: B-Wing Pilot Keyan Farlander
__ VC64: Leia Organa (Slave Outfit)
__ VC65: TIE Fighter Pilot

Of the 14 in the set, twelve are full size, while two are minifigs. And after the Con, they will be available for sale later this year for the full size 12. The 2 mini-figures will only be available in ComiCon boxed set.

No word on a price for the entire set (you can bet it won’t be cheap), but it’ll be available at the Hasbrotoybox.com booth on the main dealer floor while supplies last.

Hat Tip – Rebel Scum

The action figure set features Delta Squad, the crack Clone Trooper commando unit who battles the Trade Federation’s relentless droid army. The four members of the covert group include stoic leader Boss; expert marksman Sev; computer hacker Fixer; and wisecracking demolitions expert Scorch. Also includes a Geonosian Warrior and battle accessories.

The exclusives will be available each day during ComiCon at the Entertainment Earth Booth, #2343. All exclusives are available while supplies last and most usually parcel them out in limited quantities from day to day. So if you’re a Star Wars fan and you absolutely must have this exclusive, it’ll pay to get in line sooner, rather than later. Course, you can avoid the line altogether by logging onto toysrus.com/comicon and buying them online. But then there’s shipping. Or wait until they’re available in stores.

Life is all about tradeoffs.

Toys R Us is joining forces with Entertainment Earth and Hasbro to provide this cool muscle car turned Autobot. For those who don’t know anything about Transformers outside of Michael Bay and Shia LeBeouf, Rodimous Prime took over the Autobots from Optimus in the 1986 animated movie Transformers.

Rodimus comes with a miniature compansion named Target-Master Offshoot; a buzz saw; and the something called the Matrix of Leadership. Rodimus Prime’s rifle also doubles as Offshoot’s blasters, providing extra firepower against the Decepticons.

It’ll be available beginning Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 24, in limited quantities, at the Entertainment Earth Booth #2343. Fans can also pick it up online at Toysrus.com/comiccon2011 starting Thursday, July 21. After ComiCon, it’ll be featured at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com.

And as usual, these exclusives will be available in limited quantities and are usually rationed out from day to day. Once they run out, you’ll have to get in line again the next day and take your chances. So if you want to buy this cool Transformer, make sure you get in line EARLY.

Hat Tip – TFormers.com

Underground Toys will be selling an exclusive Dr. Who Toy at the BBC America booth which will feature River Song and the Pandorica chair. The toy will be sold at booth #3949 for $30.00.

The toy features River Song, frequent companion and rumored wife to The Doctor. An enigmatic character, River Song divides her time between being incarcerated in the Storm Cage penal facility in the year 5000 something and escaping to lead the Doctor on a thrilling adventure. River knows a lot about the Doctor’s future and we have discovered that she’s the daughter of the Doctor’s current companion Amy Pond. (SPOILERS!!)

The Pandorica is a prison cage designed by an alliance of the Doctor’s foes to contain him. But when used, it ends up destroying the universe except a lonely big blue marble, Planet Earth. The Doctor is able to escape and uses the Pandorica to first heal Amy Pond – after she gets shot by a plastic version of her lover Rory – and then to heal the explosion of the TARDIS which sets off the Big Bang 2 and reboot the entire universe.

As always, when buying exclusives at ComiCon, you need to get them early. Sales of items like these are usually parceled out over the course of four days and once their allotment is gone for the day, it’s GONE. So get in line early for your Doctor Who exclusive!

Hat Tip: TNI