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NECA Gets Sesame Street
July 26, 2024 |
Star Wars Review: Night Trooper (Gray Helmet, The Vintage Collection)
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![Star Wars](newsicons2/galactichunter.jpg) Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Night Trooper (Gray Helmet, The Vintage Collection). Just about a year ago we were all waiting to see how the Ahsoka show would turn out, and a year later we've got some troopers and figures and a giant vehicle on the way. This one retools some elements of a very good trooper figure, and the set has a couple of other flavors of him we can get to later. If you like the design, it's a pretty good figure. Read the whole review.
--AP
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HasLab G.I. Joe Cobra Rattler Launched, Doing Fine
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![G.I. Joe](newsicons2/gijoe.jpg) Via Hasbro Pulse: WE LIVE IN FAME OR GO DOWN IN FLAME. With a Gunner, patches, and Baroness as stretch goals, the jet is 7,024 of 9,000 backers at press time. With 45 days to go and 18,000 backers needed for all the figures, the $324.99 set of toys is likely to be funded by next week and I'd bank on it being fully funded.
It includes Wild Weasel and tons of rockets. And stands, and helmets. And a ladder.
--AP
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ThunderCats to Master the Universe
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![Masters of the Universe](newsicons2/motu.jpg) Via SDCC/Toy Habits/whatever: Snake Lair MOTU Origins SDCC 2024 Booth Reveal. This is a crowdfund project coming to Mattel Creations next month, and it looks pretty good. It's big. I was expecting something simpler.
A Masters of the Universe x ThunderCats crossover was mentioned, but as far as I can tell nothing was shown yet. After Turtles of Grayskull and this year's Demogorgon, it makes sense that we're going to see more of these things as licensing deals are signed. It's not necessarily what hardcore collectors want, but a lot of fans (and dads) will buy these. And if it's cool, all the better, ThunderCats has struggled to find footing in any sort of modern mass-market line. Maybe this one will click.
And Toy News International revealed Mattel SDCC 2024 Masters of the Universe MORE Images with what looks like Turtles of Grayskull Mekaneck & Rattlor, Filmation She-Ra & Hordak, .
--AP
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Ad: New Star Wars, Masters of the Universe, Street Sharks at Entertainment Earth
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Ad: Pre-order all sorts of new toys from Mattel, Hasbro, and more! Check out the Star Wars The Vintage Collection Moff GideonŐs Imperial Light Cruiser Hallway Playset. New versions of Mando and Bo-Katan are up in Star Wars The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figures Wave 20 Case of 8. New orders are welcome today and all of these items qualify for free USA shipping.
Also don't miss the Voltron Black and Gold Edition Robo-DOU Action Figure - Entertainment Earth Exclusive - it's awesome!
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Nintendo Switch This Week
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![Nintendo Switch](newsicons2/switch.jpg) This week's batch of titles on the eShop: Arcade Archives FOOTBALL CHAMP, COSMIC FANTASY, SNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS, and over a dozen more.
--AP
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RIP Big Lots?
July 25, 2024 |
Review: Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins Orko Action Figure
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![Figure of the Day](newsicons2/fotd.jpg) Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Reissued! This Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins Orko Action Figure is from 2020, but he just got reissued with those Filmation-style figures. He's bigger than Classics Orko, but the colors aren't quite a perfect match for the cartoon - he's darned close though. Do read on, and come back tomorrow for more fun!
--AP
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Custom Hot Wheels Beat-All Color Shift Paint with Real Riders
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![Meat the Beat-Alls](newspics24/0725hw.jpg) Via Orbitdyne on Etsy: Hot Wheels Custom Beat-All Unique Color Shift Paint - with Real Rider Wheels. He's taken a clear car - a clear car - and gave it color-shift paint so it looks awesome. Also new wheels, so it looks like a totally new toy. It's for sale on Etsy now, and there's a video there showing off the color shifting paint in a rotating video. Check it out, it looks like a dramatic change.
He also posted a very cool Custom Painted Super 7 ReAction Godzilla 57 X-Ray Glitter to eBay. It looks like a Sofubi toy but at pretty cheap prices - as proud owner of some glitter Godzilla and Gigan toys, I have to say I love this kind of thing and you should go check out his stuff.
--AP
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More Nintendo and Game Keshi 3D Scans
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![Nintendo](newsicons2/nintendo.jpg) Via Archive.org: tons of Nintendo, Square, Capcom and other Keshi figure 3-D scans! Winged moai, Link, Ridley, Kremlings, E. Honda, and more - it's worth a look, and if you have a 3D printer you should upsize some and send me a few.
While no date is given, I'm going to bet you'll see it go live for San Diego Comic-Con in a couple of weeks. That's coming, by the way, despite there being a certain air of indifference.
--AP
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Big Lots Closing Many Locations
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![Toys](newsicons2/toys.jpg) Via Timeout: HereŐs the full list of Big Lots stores that are closing and why. I missed this story until I drove by a Big Lots yesterday and saw a big "STORE CLOSING" banner.
Some locations had a pretty paltry, dusty, or old selection of toys - and the prices weren't exactly cheap given their origins as a place where you'd usually find closeouts and other really cheap stuff. The location near me is up to 20% off, so you might want to see what's left before the chair becomes much harder to find.
The chain has about 1,389 locations, and it looks like roughly 150 may be closing so far. There used to be a few nearby, now the closest is 20 minutes away. This means I'm unlikely to make it a regular stop from now on.
As a hunter of weird, cast-off, discount toys, it's been a bad year here in the USA with the losses of Tuesday Morning and 99 Cents Only, too. I assume TJ Maxx/Ross/Marshalls/Ollies are doing fine, and Dollar Tree is expanding.
--AP
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Enjoy San Diego
July 24, 2024 |
Star Wars Review: Nash Durango (Crimson Firehawk Pilot, Young Jedi Adventures)
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![Star Wars](newsicons2/galactichunter.jpg) Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Nash Durango (Crimson Firehawk Pilot, Young Jedi Adventures). I had absolutely zero intention of buying this vehicle pilot, or this line, but clearances at Ross make things too cheap to pass up - for $45 the figure (and vehicle) is actually pretty decent. For under $10, you should run out and buy the set. Functionally, she's a lot like a big Imaginext figure with a massive head - but she's 4-inches tall, meaning you can put your 3 3/4-inch figures in her ship if you really want to. The sites are a little wide, but that means pretty much anyone will fit. Her hair turned out well, she has no accessories... are you sold yet? Read the whole review.
--AP
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Review: Mattel Matchbox Push'n Puller Die-Cast Metal Vehicle
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![Figure of the Day](newsicons2/fotd.jpg) Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Peg warming now! This Mattel Matchbox Push'n Puller Die-Cast Metal Vehicle is something I kept seeing, ignored, saw again, ignored and eventually picked up and looked at. Why isn't it selling? I don't know - it's two front ends of a car, bolted together, so either way is "forward." It has two sets of copyright markings, two steering wheels, two driver seats... it's weird. It's fun. It's a toy and you can probably find one (or ten) at a Dollar Tree or a Target near you right now. As a thing to fidget with on your desk, it's worth the buck. Do read on, and come back tomorrow for more fun!
--AP
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Ad: New Transformers MPG and Iron Man Helmet at Entertainment Earth
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Ad: Pre-order all sorts of new toys for the holidays and beyond! Pick up Transformers Masterpiece Edition MPG-12 Shattered Glass Optimus Prime, Transformers Masterpiece Edition MPG-13 Shattered Glass Jetfire, Transformers Adamasmachina AMT-01 Rodimus, and Avengers Endgame Marvel Legends Iron Man Mark 85 Premium Electronic Helmet Prop Replica. New orders are welcome today and all of these items qualify for free USA shipping.
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Mattel for Sale?
July 23, 2024 |
Review: Hasbro Transformers Studio Series 86 Dinobot Snarl
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![Figure of the Day](newsicons2/fotd.jpg) Something new every day-- unless it's old! Our exciting Figure of the Day continues for you lucky people! Is there anything we won't cover in this column? Probably not!
Newish! The Hasbro Transformers Studio Series 86 Dinobot Snarl is now sold out, and hopefully you got it. It's a big sturdy fellow with a sword, and it's worth picking up if you stumble on one at a store. You probably won't. But you should get one. Read on, and come back tomorrow for more fun!
--AP
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Custom Hot Wheels T-Rexstroyer Spectraflame with Real Riders
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![R-E-X-X-XY](newspics24/0723hw.jpg) Via Orbitdyne on Etsy: Hot Wheels Custom T-Rexstroyer faux "spectraflame" Ruby Red - with Real Rider Wheels. He's a friend and I have some of his pieces - a 12" Clone Trooper, a 3 3/4" Blue Stars, some Glyos - and his new project is fancy Hot Wheels with incredible paint and, in some cases, tire upgrades.
He's a pal, he ships fast, and he has a lot of Godzilla, sofubi, and even a custom Cantina playset that I insist you look at. I'm not saying you have to buy it, but I got one, and I like it.
--AP
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Venture Capital Has Come For Your Children('s Toys)
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![Four Arms](newspics24/0723mt.jpg) Via Reuters: Exclusive: Buyout firm L Catterton approaches Mattel with acquisition offer, sources say. Mattel has been in talks to buy (or be bought) many times over the past few decades, so this may or may not be a nothingburger - but it's worth noting given how many firms are snapping up toy or toy-related IP companies in recent years. Notable from the article:
"The move could prompt other potential suitors to consider bids for Mattel, including rival Hasbro (HAS.O), opens new tab, which has become aware of L Catterton's approach and is discussing whether it should also submit an offer, one of the sources said. Hasbro and Mattel have held unsuccessful merger talks over the years."
If history is any indication, nothing is likely to come of this, but it can be hard to predict. Paramount just got bought.
--AP
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Ad: New Deadpool at Entertainment Earth
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Ad: Pre-order New Deadpool Figures and Toys from Hasbro and Funko! The Deadpool Hearts Wolverine Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #1413 - Entertainment Earth Exclusive and more are all due this year.
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RIP Halo the TV Series
July 22, 2024 |
Star Wars Q&A at Galactic Hunter
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![Q&A by Adam Pawlus](newspics15/ghqa2.jpg) Galactic Hunter has posted Q&A: The Cantina Was a Hit, More Star Wars Aliens?. It's new! Be sure to click through and read up on the latest!
Be sure to send in your questions for the next thrilling update! We now have one for next week - but could use some for the following week.
--AP
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New NES Game From Tengen?
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![BES](newsicons2/nes.jpg) For NES and Famicom via Tengen Games: Zed and Zee. I saw the game mentioned but did a double-take at the name of the publisher, and thankfully their site has a story:
"On a whim, [homebrew developer Jeff] Silvers conducted some research in 2022 and discovered that nobody owned the Tengen name. Recognizing a unique chance to pay tribute to one of his formative influences, Silvers began the process of registering the "TENGEN" trademark, receiving a "Notice of Allowance" from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in March 2024."
This sort of thing happens a lot - if a company lets a trademark lapse, someone might get it. Hasbro let Battle Beasts idle, so Diamond Select Toys got it. Kay-Bee Toys went unused, so someone got it and tried to license it to would-be stores that eventually resulted in nothing. There are lots of expired marks out there and we've seen things appear in unusual places as someone realizes it and jumps to snag them.
You can get a ROM for $5 or a cartridge for $50.
--AP
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Support 16bit.com and Galactic Hunter via Patreon
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We're taking donations for server costs! Really. One of the rewards is Q&A a few days early - you can read next Monday's installment as soon as it's ready, which can be as early as 1:00 AM my time on Monday!
![](http://www.16bit.com/graphics/patreon-468x72.jpg) Become a Patron!
If you've got a dollar a month to share, please Visit the Galactic Hunter Patreon and help cover our server costs. I'll still put in hours of work, writing, photography, and research - I just need some help making sure that the site costs me only time, and hopefully not money. Thanks for your support!
--AP
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RIP Bob Newheart
July 19, 2024 |
Star Wars Review: Grogu (Epic Hero Series)
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![Star Wars](newsicons2/galactichunter.jpg) Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Grogu (Epic Hero Series). You can probably find him in stores, and if you can't, the same figure comes with Mando's N-1 Starfighter (but doesn't include the floating pram accessory.) Grogu is a good enough figure, just tiny, and very similar to the Kenner Retro-style figure in many respects. He's also bigger than The Vintage Collection releases. Read the whole review.
--AP
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Nintendo Switch This Week
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![Nintendo Switch](newsicons2/switch.jpg) This week's batch of titles on the eShop: Arcade Archives TINKLE PIT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, and over a dozen more.
--AP
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Ad: McFarlane Toys Goes Marvel at Entertainment Earth
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Ad: Pre-order new McFarlane Marvel Statues and Hasbro Marvel Legends Action Figures today! They're pre-orders coming later this year, and some pretty exciting things for fans of old Marvel comics, new pre-orders are welcome. Also don't forget, orders of $79+ ship free!
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Click Here for News from July!
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