Big Bad Toy Store has the Dark Knight – Mister Potato Head style. The Dark Knight Spud, which is made under license by PPW in Los Angeles, has Mr. Potato Head putting on the cowl and cape and making his voice sound like a he just swallowed a frog. It comes with cowl and cape, batarang, utility belt, and the trademarked Dark Knight black suit and boots.

No other details are known about the Dark Spud – whether he’ll have a Tumbler or SpudPod, but you can imagine the kitchy play on words with it. We do know that it’s available on Preorder for $17.99 for a June 2012 delivery. And if you pony up another $2, you can get a “collector’s grade” edition. Whatever that means. Sounds like an opportunity to just get another few bucks from you for a special box worth a quarter.

I rather like these special Spuds, but I just wish they’d come up with just the pieces to add to it as the last thing I need is a closet full of potatohead torsos. Coruse, I remember when you used REAL potatoes for dressing up! Good times.

Hat Tip – TNI

“One brick to rule them all, one brick to find them, one brick to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them …”

Last month, we reported that LEGO had signed a deal with Warner Brothers to release minifigures and sets wrapped around the epic JRR Tolkein series (and Peter Jackson films) of The Lord of the Rings. The first character we saw appeared to be Frodo, holding the ring of power that he would have to take on a long journey to Mordor. Then came Aragorn’s turn. And now we have a new poster which has LEGOlas (yes, that’s right, everyone is jumping on that pun). But there’s more coming as we take the Fellowship’s journey towards summer …

Is this the Fellowship minfig lineup?

Some fans have been speculating that LEGO has very quietly been releasing LOTR minfigs in the LEGO Collectible Minifig Series with LEGOlas like elf in Series 3, a familiar looking dwarf (Gimli) in Series 5, and perhaps Aragorn’s Ranger look in Series 7. If so, that’s genius. It may also be LEGO’s way of seeing if an LOTR minfig is wanted. Of course, they’ve already got that answer.

But we’ve also been seeing leaked images of the sets being offered later this year including The Mines of Moria, The Battle of Helms Deep (can’t wait for that one), Attack on Weathertop, and a set built around the Army of the Urakai (orcs). Check out these images before we have to take them down! The complete LOTR line is launching this summer and there’s going to be some pretty slick sets, and you can bet that Traveller’s Tales will also release a LEGO Lord of the Rings Video Game.

Hat Tip – TheOneRing

Family Fun Magazine has named Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Toy of the Year for 2011. Other honorable mentions for the year include Meon Deluxe Animation Studio (which uses animation strips and light to create art), Perplexus Epic & Rookie (rotating puzzle balls), LEGO Alien Mothership set #7065 and the Razor BoGo PogoStick.

Our kid testers loved reconfiguring the obstacles and tracks while tester moms appreciated that the brackets adhere with 3M Command Strips, which don’t damage walls and can be easily replaced when the stickiness wears off. – Staff of Family Fun Magazine regarding Hot Wheels Toy Tracks

The Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set won appreciation from both kids and moms for it’s ease of construction, near infinite combinations, and simple cleanup. And at a price of $30 for the starter set and $17 for add on sets, Wall Tracks is a very affordable way to start your Hot Wheels collection or add to an existing one.

I think this is an excellent choice (although the color-able cardboard pirate ship has a certain play with the box vibe I like) for Toy of the Year, but I think they should break out into sub categories of girls toy of the year and boys toy of the year. As it stands, the top 10 toys (which also include the LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet, and Richard Scarry’s Airport) are all very male centric. Although I also am surprised that the Hot Wheels Video Racer didn’t crack the top ten, either.

What do you think should be the 2011 Toy of the Year? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now like we said, there are SPOILERS about here, so if you’re a hard core Spidey fan and are looking forward to the reboot then you better stop reading right now. Frankly, I didn’t see a need to reboot the universe. I thought that the Toby McGuire portrayal was fine and even the lesser sequels were an enjoyable 2 hours for munching popcorn. But reboots are the new sequel and as such, they’re all the rage, no matter how soon a film has been out (witness The Hulk which has been rebooted three times in 10 years). Anyway, here you go ….

Not only to the sets show that Spidey’s villain du jour is Lizard Man, but also shows the fate of Peter Parker’s main squeeze Gwen Stacey …

“One action set-piece towards the end of the film sees the Lizard transform a whole Swat team into scaly mutants that look like him. Then there’s a huge battle. Some of the scene is based upon the famous issue of the comic in which Gwen Stacy died.”

Additionally , there are sets which include scenes that recreate movie plot points like Lizard’s Sewer Lab scene and Spidey’s tete a tete with Lizard in a bridge battle scene. So in the end, there’s plenty of fun to be had here, and if you’re both a Spiderman and a MegaBloks fan, you may find that the film reruns your imagination when you go see it.

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!

For just under $200, kids can take these 46 colored panels and snap them together to create whatever structures they can imagine. From boxes to tunnels to mazes to forts. Just about anything can be created with them. And they are easily put together by connecting one to another, meaning that kids as young as 6 can build to their heart’s content. And thanks to their all weather, UV resistant design, the Configurable Fort can be left outside as well. It’s sturdy construction can also be reinforced with optional joint attachment clips that allow for the taking of more weight a kids climb on top of them (I dunno about that, I smell a recall brewing).

But when it’s time to put away, kids can easily tear them apart and neatly stack them, with storage in a faux leather zippered carrying case. And they also lie flat for easy storage underneath a bed or inside a closet or storage space. Parents will love them because they can also double as storage containers for other toys. And with their design, they can easily be enlarged for bigger items. And that means that kids can turn clean up time into play time as well. It’s a fantastic all purpose toy and containment system.

Available at Hammacher Schlemmer.

Hat Tip – Our sister site, Coolest-Gadgets

The clear, plastic toy is based on the Dual Model Kit made by Takara Tomy. It stands about 10″ tall and does have articulating arms and retractable swords. Note that Clear Prime can point, move his arms, and change standing positions. Sadly though, it doesn’t transform into a Semi Truck, and from what I can tell, you still have to put it together which looks to be quite the challenge. But who cares?! It even has a compelling look in the face along with those piercing eyes. A very nice piece for Transformers fan looking for a unique looking display piece which pops.

If I could swing it, I’d spend the almost $190 just to get that toy and toss the Blu-ray! But that would be almost as much a waste as buying a ticket to the movie.

Hat Tip – Seibertron

When they first hit the marketplace, 3D printers were very expensive. So expensive they had a fancy name – rapid prototypers. They were the domain of engineering companies who used computer aided design and then printed plastic parts to verify that they would work in an overall design like an engine or machine. Then the MakerBot came and changed everything. Suddenly, for less than $1500, anyone could create a 3D object and print it out into a plastic 3D design. Since then, the web has exploded with 3D printers, and as such, the price has started to plummet.

So much so that parents considering spending a few hundred to get their kids a 3D printer is a real possibility now and that’s where Orgio comes in. At a price around $800, kids can draw up a toy of their own design and then, with the included 3D software scan, clean up and print out their OWN TOYS! The Orgio is just in prototype now, but you can bet that it’ll find a toy maker looking to take advantage of the Maker culture and undercut their competition at the same time.

Now sure, $800 is a bit much, but as time goes on the price should drop to the cost of a PS3. And when it does, kids will suddenly become the creators of their own toys and play will come full circle back to a child’s imagination.

And that’s a very good thing.

Hat Tip – DVice

Eva’s Last Stand has a wrecked Warthog with gatling gun and UNSC Marine ready to repel an attack from Covenant Forces.

Then comes the UNSC Elephant, a mammoth troop carrier bringing reinforcements of man and materiel (including a mini quad bike that looks like a Warthog had a baby). Covenant Forces have their own strike packages including what looks like a giant plasma gun facing off against a rocket Warthog, and their Phantom Troop Carrier. I love the purple shade – it’s so non military.

The UNSC has the Falcon with Landing Pad, which looks like a V22 Osprey that has been crossed with the Pelican carrier. And finally, two playsets which have forces facing off including Assult on HIgh Ground and the HALO Anniversary Edition Floodgate.

And MegaBloks is digging deeper into the PC Game geek world, signing deals with Blizzard Entertainment for playsets based on World of Warcraft and Starcraft. So, let Lego have the Harry Potters and Obi Wan Kenobi’s of the world … MegaBloks has Master Chief! And you know in a fight, those UNSC Marines could take a StormTrooper any day!

Update: AFI reports that MegaBloks is going viral with a video contest. Halo/MegBloks fans can take their favorite Master Chief, make a stop motion video and then post it for a chance to win some great Halo prizes! Check it out. And if you make a movie, drop us a link so we can feature it!

Hat Tip – BrickShow

Well, of course you’re going to want to. But if there was ever a reason to keep a toy unopened to retain it’s value, it’s when the manufacturer makes a huge mistake and releases the wrong toys inside. That just screams eBay auction in about 10 years … but we digress. Here’s what you need to do to get your Kreon Optimus Prime minifig …

1. Download the “replacement parts order form” for Kre-O Optimus Prime

2. Print out and complete the form … entering the quantity of Kreon Optimus Primes to be replaced and your mailing information.

3. Mail the form in. It may also be a good idea to include a scan or xerox of the UPC code for good measure.

4. Hasbro Consumer Affairs will process your request and will send you a return shipping label for the incorrect item. Sadly, that means you don’t get to keep it.

5. Ship that in and await the prerequisite 4-6 weeks for replacement.

Hat Tip – Seibertron