ReedPop handles a few events and a lot of them are going online-only this year. SDCC is run by a different outfit, but a number of panels were placed online with exclusives largely being sold directly to the consumer - a sensible strategy. The roll-out for New York remains to be seen but one thing is for sure: I won't see you there! (Which is a shame, I had some swell pins made to give away at cons this year and I'm not any of them.)

--AP

Available now! The Transformers Generations War for Cybertron Earthrise Deluxe Cliffjumper Action Figure is a smaller toy, but you can see where the money goes with more paint, more articulation, and more accessories. So read on, and come back tomorrow for more!

--AP

If you have an AVS, you probably don't need one - but it does have built-in support for CRT monitors which is why I am looking at this and actually considering it. I assume it will have sold through in ten minutes, but we'll see, won't we?

--AP

"Also a victim of the layoffs: DC Direct, the companyŐs in-house merchandise and collectibles manufacturer. The division has been shuttered after 22 years, another move that was rumored when Warner Bros. Consumer Products began taking a more active role in DC merchandising."

DC and Diamond split earlier this year, and it's unknown what the future is going to look like for... well, anything.

--AP

Be sure to send in your questions for the next thrilling update!

--AP

On one hand I appreciate this - Masters of the Universe characters are colorful, fun designs for toys - but on another, more accurate hand... c'mon. Throw us a bone. Skeletor. Scare Glow, anybody as a 3-inch figure. Any of these guys would look stunning as a 3-inch figure packed in with a random castle or blind bag even without any sort of attribution. At least we know they're giving it a shot, but it's a pity it's not the actual thing people were asking to get for the last decade or so.

On the bright side, you've got a year to go through Kohl's and thrift stores to find Imaginext stuff without as many people competing with you. Here's hoping they can fit in some of the more fun playsets and vehicles in this cheaper format - we've already seen that the brand support what is basically the Roton and it was a mere seven bucks.

--AP

--AP

Here in Phoenix, Metrocenter Mall bulldozed the Macy's - formerly Broadway Southwest - for a Walmart. The Walmart removed the connection to the mall, so you couldn't get in the mall from the Walmart. It took about two years, but the mall just closed for business a few weeks ago. Walmart did not bring extra traffic to the other stores or food courts - so I don't know if this means Amazon might bring people needing a place to go for lunch to the table. But hey, anything to fight the blight of another abandoned retail mausoleum. When those buildings turn into concrete husks, it can take a while for them to get filled by another tenant - or knocked down.

--AP

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--AP

At retail: Skully and Instant Sports: Summer Games.

--AP

A cleared, 8-foot table was used to remove the toy from the box and assemble it. So what hope do you have?

The instruction book is 32 pages. When asked how long it takes to convert, Mark the Graphic Designer says "If I follow the instructions I can convert Unicron in about 50 minutes to an hour." So I'm just going to say maybe plan on taking a day off of work next spring for this one.

--AP

Newish! Playmobil Scooby-Doo! 70287 Scooby and Shaggy with Ghost Figures is the figure set you wish you had as a kid, with a slightly better but still classic-ish ghost. It's worth your money. So read on, and come back tomorrow for more!

--AP

Packaging shows the class of 2011, much like the previous batch of glow Bluestar guys were the class of 2010. This time around you can expect Commander Comet, Alpha 7, Electron+, and Mystron.

--AP

The band features Charles Moothart, Ty Segall, and Chad Ubovich. Ty Segall has more bands than I do action figures, and has a new release pretty much constantly. You might want to check this out.

--AP

These guys tend to put out great creatures and what seems to be a legit letter announcing Predator figures coming has also been making the rounds, so if these show up near you - presumably at Walmart or Argos - give them a look.

--AP

Available now! The Transformers Generations War for Cybertron Earthrise Battle Masters Soundbarrier Action Figure is a ramp and shield and it's somewhat hard to come by. So read on, and come back tomorrow for more!

--AP

Since pre-sales were also shut down for the dock, cables, screen protectors, and other peripherals, it's a safe bet they're going back to the suppliers to order another run as we speak. Analogue seems to understand the nature of a "collectible" when it comes to how they sell their hardware. Again, there will be more.

While many are crying foul on scalpers or sneakerbots, it's also important to remember that there's a really good chance this market is underserved. While Chinese manufacturers offered the GB Boy and GB Boy Colour, there haven't been any portable GameBoy consoles that accepted cartridges in the US in years. Also there were 16 or so years of GameBoy Pokemon kids around the world who bought millions of copies of old games that want a new system or to play on a big screen. Also notable, many Redditors and Twittizens posted how they were planning to buy 2 units - one for them, one for a spouse.

I have to assume they'll have a few different colorways down the road and multiple runs, mostly because there are GameBoy collectors that have multiple units with different shells, mods, or other feature sets.

--AP

Be sure to send in your questions for the next thrilling update!

--AP

According to Transformers fans online, a lot of (if not all of) the Netflix pre-orders for the first wave may still be unfilled - so if you see these guys in a store on your grocery trips, go ahead and pick them up.

--AP

There's more about it on Vintage Is the New Old, and also Analogue Pocket goes up today for pre-orders if you need a replacement GameBoy.

--AP

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 for you - I just need some help making sure that the site costs me only time, and hopefully not money. Thanks for your support!

--AP