Hallmark Introduces 2013 Exclusive Keepsake Ornaments at SDCC, NYCC and D23 Expo!

Hallmark continues its participation at the nation’s largest pop culture fan conventions with four Keepsake Ornaments exclusively developed for 2013 events.

Three ornament designs will be sold in limited quantities at Comic-Con International, to be held July 18-21 in San Diego, Calif., and at New York Comic Con, set for October 10-13 in New York City:

• Wrath of the Rancor™ – Created especially for event sales, this ornament captures Luke Skywalker’s struggle with the savage creature dwelling below Jabba the Hutt’s palace as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™.
• U.S.S. Kelvin™ – As featured in the 2009 Star Trek movie, this Federation starship exclusive is a “battle-scarred” variant of the same Keepsake Ornament available starting in July in Hallmark Gold Crown® stores.
• Man of Steel – Inspired by this summer’s big-screen adventure of the same name, Superman is the subject of this event-exclusive Keepsake Ornament. Details and images of this ornament will be announced later this year.

At the D23 Expo 2013, slated for Aug. 9-11 in Anaheim, Calif., Hallmark will offer limited quantities of one design:

• Cinderella’s Castle – Featuring battery-operated light and sound, this exclusive Keepsake Ornament will boast a different look from the ornament available starting in July in Hallmark Gold Crown stores.

More information about Hallmark’s plans for these fan events will be announced closer to the respective dates.

Starting April 15, the 2013 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Dream Book showing this year’s entire line of Keepsake Ornaments will be available in Hallmark Gold Crown® stores and online at Hallmark.com.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Hallmark makes the world a more caring place by helping people express what’s in their hearts and spend time together – a privilege few other companies in the world enjoy. Hallmark greeting cards and other products are found in more than 39,000 retail outlets in the United States, including the network of flagship Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. The brand also reaches people online at Hallmark.com and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and cable’s top-rated Hallmark Channel. Worldwide, Hallmark offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. This privately held company is based in Kansas City, Mo., and is led by the third generation of the founding Hall family. Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com for more details.

via Hallmark Press Release

Disney is RUMORED to Buy Hasbro…

Last week, Disney and George Lucas shocked everyone by announcing that Lucas had sold LucasFilm, the rights to the Star Wars films and its characters to Disney for approximately $4 billion. This week, rumors are flying that Disney may possibly buy Hasbro! Disney would then become somewhat of a monopoly of gigantic proportions to entertainment (theme parks and movies) and its merchandising of products (toys and games)!

The Lucasfilm acquisition has been reported as taking only 6 months to complete, so these discussions with Hasbro are probably pretty serious. This can definitely impact the entertainment industry in a big way. Disney would get the rights to the Transformers, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony, Dungeons and Dragons and several other tv/movie/game/toy franchises. It would definitely broaden their audience and also bring back some franchises back to Disney to be under one roof.

It seemed for a time that Disney was losing its grip on their audience until it acquired Pixar. There seemed to be too many “princess” movies and not enough movies that boys would like. Marvel and Star Wars have definitely changed that picture. Will prices for Disney-owned merchandise go up significantly as well? Hopefully not, but only time will tell.

If all this does come to pass, what happens to The Hub (and other shows) and the comics with IDW and Dark Horse? Do they all go away? Or will Disney incorporated everything? There are still a lot of questions to be answered here. Hopefully, most entities will stay in place in some way. Overall, it’s good for Disney, hopefully it will be good for fans as well.

Star Wars Celebration VI Exhibitor List and Floor Plan

Exhibitor	Booth #
740 The Game On Air	109
A Wrinkle in Time	116
Acme Archives Ltd	747
Action Figure Authority, AFA	308
Advanced Graphics	1014
Andrea Swabb	TAT21
Asylum	TAT02
Atomic Age Collectibles	312
Austin Browncoats	1205
B&D Star Wars	105
Barnes & Noble	129
Brass Monkey Tattoo	TAT09
Brian’s Toys	1102
Brick Envy	206
Bricks & Boards, LLC	1202
CMI Toys	1103
Camp Planner Industrial (CPI)	223
Cantina Collectibles	1223
Cartamundi USA	320
Chris 51 Tattoos	TAT29
Collectors Rebellion	1120
Comic Images	402
Completist Publications	1306
Cool Cat Collectibles	1021
Custom Art by Jeremiah	TAT10
DC Area Star Wars Collecting Club	548
DK Publishing Inc	813
Dark Horse Comics Inc	839
Diamond Select Toys	632
Digital Source Marketing, LLC	1226
Disney Theme Park Merchandise	341
Disney Theme Park Merchandise	331
Draven’s City Limits Collectibles	1140
Drew Baker	1038
eFX Inc.	921
Earloomz	811
Jedi Council Forums & FanForce	554
Fantasy Flight Games	739
Forcepowered Collectibles	202
Fox Valley Tattoo	TAT20
Full Sail University	229
Galerie, USA	933
Gentle Giant LTD	521
Star Wars Super Collector’s Wish Book	1224
Glitch Gaming Apparel	121
Glitch Gaming Apparel	1039
Hallmark Cards Inc	803
HASBRO	721
Her Universe	915
Hollywood Heroes	212
Hornby America, Inc	431
Howling Wolf Enterprises	1125
HYP Hats	433
iAM Enterprises, LLC (iAM3DStore.com)	1033
Imagez Photography	445
Imperial Class Tattoo, LLC	TAT16
Imperial Quartermaster & Dimension Decals	1111
Intergalactic Trading Co Inc	1213
J&J Collectibles	1122
Japan Star Wars Modeling Alliance	552
Jason Palmer Studios	941
Joe Corroney & Jan Duursema
Joe Corroney & Jan Duursema	1040
Jolie Rogue Tattoo	TAT17
Josh Bodwell Tattoos	TAT28
Jumpin Jammerz	1010
Juniors Comics & Cards	215
KE Toys & Games	207
KIF’S	1032
Kotobukiya	903
Krypton Comics Inc	1211
Lego Systems Inc	321
Legendary Costume Works	1106
Limited Edition Collectibles	203
Lost in a Vacuum	106
Matt Busch / Planetmatt Entertainment	220
Mega Star Wars	1203
Michael Bianco	TAT26
WeLoveFine.com	512
Mikes Comics & Collectibles	435
Mikes Comics & Collectibles	536
Mimoco	313
Mississippi Mandalorians	551
Museum Replicas	530
Nappy Artist	TAT15
Nerdist Industries	1240
Neutral Zone, LLC	113
Norwich Star Wars Club, UK	550
NVIDIA	833
Ohio Star Wars Collectors Club	453
Orlando Science Center	309
PSA, Professional Sports Authenticator	1110
Pain & Wonder	TAT04
P Novelties	122
Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society	451
Phil’s Toys	1220
Tattoos By Chris Jones	TAT27
TAT-TWIN Skin art by Piero Bockos	TAT19
Pitt Stop Cards	304
Plush Gallery Tattoo	TAT24
Rancorhill Collectibles	1204
Random House – Del Rey	910
Rebel Base Comics & Toys	1112
Red Rocket Tattoo	TAT13
Red Rocket Tattoo – Vinny Romanelli	TAT23
Reynolds Advanced Materials	441
Dave Dorman	939
Rubie’s Costume Co Inc	403
Russell Walks Illustration	408
Scholastic Book Fairs	533
Scion	1239
Scott Blair	TAT08
Scott Bohrer	TAT07
Shadows on the Wall	221
Sistine Skin – Jerry Watelski	TAT06
Sistine Skin, LLC	TAT03
tuff city	TAT01
Sorry! No Subtitles	120
Star Pix Collectibles	1127
Star Wars Vegetable Carving and Jedi Order of Japan	455
Star Wars Grand Florida Alliance	449
Starbase Atlanta	1003
Stylin Online	549
Stylin Online	541
Stylin Online	927
Suchiu Art	1041
Super7	315
SWAG 77	448
Tattoos by Brian Stringer	TAT14
Tattoos by Thomas Kersnowsky	TAT11
The Contact Lens Company	1105
The Dark Empire	650
The Force United	450
The Saber Guild	349
Maverick Arts/The Art of Monte Moore	225
The Art of Ralph McQuarrie	1141
Spencer Brinkerhoff III	1138
The Art of Tsuneo Sanda	1139
The DAVE School	1133
The Jedi Assembly	452
The Midsummer Knights Dream	110
Outer Rim Toys and Collectibles	1107
Prop Store	1026
The Toy Cave	1121
The Toy Federation	1114
ThinkGeek	303
Through and Through Tattoo	TAT18
Time Machine Collectibles	112
Times Forgotten	302
Topps, USA	413
Toy Chamber Collectibles	1322
Toy Dump	102
James Gallo Toy Heaven-Coining A Galaxy	1221
Toynk.com	1011
Tribbletoys.com / GIANTmicrobes	108
Trinity Tattoo Co – Steve Roberts	TAT22
Trinity Tattoo Company – Earl Funk	TAT12
Uptown Tattoos	TAT05
Utilikilts LLC	213
Wookieepedia	351
Workman Publishing Co	911
SiriusXM Satellite Radio	907

Syfy Premieres COLLECTION INTERVENTION Tuesday, August 14 at 10PM ET/PT

The six-episode series follows Elyse Luray as she “helps couples, families and individuals whose pop-culture memorabilia collections have become damaging obsessions.”

In Syfy‘s newest reality series, Collection Intervention, premiering Tuesday, August 14 at 10PM (ET/PT), former Head of Special Collections at Christie’s, Elyse Luray helps couples, families and individuals whose pop-culture memorabilia collections – from Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica to Catwoman and Barbie – have become damaging obsessions, creating financial strife and a huge strain on their lives.

In each of the six hour-long episodes, Elyse will create a strategy that helps these collectors curate and showcase their collection by assessing where the true value lies and then allow them to decide what’s worth keeping and what they can sell. These massive collections include dining rooms stuffed with 30,000 comic books, a garage filled to the rafters with Catwoman memorabilia, and an almost uninhabitable house filled with Transformers. For each collector, parting with some of their collection may free up some much needed space in their home, provide a cash windfall to get out of debt, or even just allow a couple to become more focused on their relationship.

In the premiere episode titled “A Disturbance in the Force,” what started out as a single room dedicated to Star Wars has grown to take over the entire Concord, California home of Garet and Consetta. When Elyse quickly realizes the Star Wars collection has intense emotional meaning to Consetta, she fears that Consetta may not be able to part with a single item. If Elyse is going to help this couple take back their house, she’s going to have to use The Force to break through to them.

Also in the episode, disgruntled Los Angeles housewife Lolly calls Elyse to see if she can help her husband Mark let go of some of his extensive Catwoman collection so they can start to pay some bills. When Elyse sees the collection, which has overtaken their garage, she is stunned by the poor manner in which Mark has stored the collectibles he says he loves. Nonetheless, to save their relationship and pay down their debt, Elyse helps Mark identify what in his collection is truly important to him while pushing him to let go of what is not.

Collection Intervention is produced by High Noon Entertainment with executive producers Pam Healey, Jim Berger and Elizabeth Grizzle Voorhees.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

via Syfy Press Release

Spike TV To Present Fans A Front Row Seat To “Comic-Con All Access Live”

Network’s “All Access” Franchise to Feature Top Names in Pop Culture, Comics and Entertainment Including Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, Zachary Levi’s Nerd Machine, Stan Lee, the Cast of “Doctor Who” and others

The Live Multi-Platform Event Airs on Spike TV on July 13 at 4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT

Spike TV announced today that the network’s live “All Access” multi-platform franchise, which covers the biggest events in gaming, pop culture and technology, will return with “Comic-Con All Access Live.”  The live event which airs on Spike TV, in HD, on Friday, July 13, from 4:00 – 7:00pm ET/1:00 – 4:00pm PT, will be the command center for all of the top entertainment headlines during the event, and the Comic-Con viewing party destination for fans at home.  “Comic-Con All Access Live” will cover the top panels and announcements from the event, host the hottest stars of the genre, including Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, Zachary Levi and much more.

“We are excited to bring our ‘All Access’ multi-platform franchise to Comic-Con 2012,” said Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Multi-Platform Programming, Spike TV.  “Comic-Con is a celebration commemorating everything that fans love about comics, movies, TV shows and games, and ‘Comic-Con All Access Live’ will provide fans with an interactive and up-close experience that only Spike TV can deliver.”

Kevin Smith will join the “All Access” team to serve as moderator of “Comic-Con Bonus Round,” a live series of roundtable discussions surrounding comic books, pop culture and entertainment.  In addition, Nerd Machine’s Zac Levi, David Coleman and Alison Haislip, will return to the “All Access” franchise to give fans an exclusive sneak peek into their popular Nerd HQ event.

“Comic-Con All Access Live” will also feature an interview with Stan Lee and the creators of Amazing Spiderman, in honor of the superhero’s 50^th anniversary, an exclusive reveal of the landmark #700 issue of “Amazing Spiderman,” interviews with Mark Hamill, Kit Harington from Game of Thrones, and visits from the cast of Doctor Who, and MMA fighter Nate Quarry who stops by to talk about his “Zombie Cage Fighter” comic book.  Dhani Jones (former NFL player and host of Spike TV’s “Playbook360”) will also be on hand to give a behind-the-scenes look into the “Walking Dead Escape” experience at Petco Park, and viewers can also watch “All Access” host, Katie Linendoll run a quarter-mile segment in the inaugural “Course of the Force” lightsaber relay, dressed in an R2D2 costume, to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation.  “Course of the Force” is a Star Wars tribute event beginning in Santa Monica and ending in San Diego.  The relay race takes place from July 7-11.

Also, in celebration of the revolutionary work in the comics, movies and sci-fi industry in the past year, Spike TV will present the “Spike’s All Access Live Comic-Con Game Changer of the Year” award to the most innovative name in the genre for 2012 and is asking fans to help choose the winner.  From visionary directors, inspired actors and comic book architects, viewers can elect Jim Lee, Joss Whedon, Christopher Nolan, Kevin Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Kirkman or David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.  Fans can vote by visiting www.spike.com/events/all-access-comic-con/game-changer-of-the-year.

“Comic-Con All Access Live” will be supported on Spike TV through “All Access Weekly” and “Playbook 360;” online on Spike.com,  GameTrailers.com and MTV Geek; socially through its Facebook and Twitter feed @SpikeTV; and through mobile phones and tablets including iPhone, iPad and Android devices.  The live special will also deliver digital pre and post shows, online simulcasts and interstitial programming throughout the weekend.

The “Comic-Con All Access Live” team includes “All Access Live” veterans Katie Linendoll (“All Access Weekly”), Geoff Keighley (“GTTV”), Justine Ezarik (“GTTV”) and Daniel Kayser (“GTTV”).

Spike TV’s “All Access” hosting team will broadcast from their own Comic-Con studio at Petco Park, overlooking the San Diego Convention Center, and will feature coverage of the most anticipated panels, breaking entertainment news and announcements, exclusive interviews with the biggest names in pop culture and entertainment and much more.  Fans can also interact with the “Comic-Con All Access Live” hosts and guests through Twitter using #SDCConSPIKE.  Show hosts will use Spike TV’s social media outlets to answer viewer questions and provide feedback in real-time throughout the live show.

Gil Colon, Kevin Kay, Geoff Keighley and Jon Slusser serve as Executive Producers for “Spike Presents Comic-Con All Access Live.”  For more information about “Comic-Con All Access Live,” please visit allaccess.spike.com.

Sponsors for “Comic-Con All Access Live” include Dodge as a convergent sponsor, Burger King and GEICO as on-air sponsors and Axe as the show’s digital sponsor.

Considered to be the home of the largest comic book and popular arts event in the world, Comic-Con 2012 will run from July 12-15, 2012 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

A Better Look at Hasbro’s Comic-Con 2012 Exclusive Carbon Freezing Chamber

Hasbro has released better images of the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Carbon Freezing Chamber and the Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite figure. The exclusive Jar Jar figure is based on the full-size version which is on display at Lucasfilm. The Jar Jar Carbonite figure can be flipped to show the impression of where Jar Jar was after he was thawed out from the Carbonite. Don’t forget that this figure will only be available at Comic-Con in July.

The 7-figure set includes:

• Jar Jar Binks – Episode I
• Clone Trooper Lieutenant – Episode II
• Shock Trooper – Episode III
• Sandtrooper with Sentry Droid – Episode IV
• Princess Leia (Bespin Gown) – Episode V
• Darth Vader (Emperor’s Wrath) – Episode VI
• Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite

 

May the 4th Be with You, Celebrate with a 20% Discount at the Hasbro Toy Shop!

“May the 4th be with you!” The Star Wars community is celebrating Star Wars Day which technically should have been on May 25th because that’s when Star Wars premiered at the theaters in 1977. Oh well, people liked the sound of “May the Fourth be with you” better and it stuck.

The Hasbro Toy Shop is having a 20% off all Star Wars merchandise today only! Here is their press release:

Happy Star Wars Day!
We wanted to let you know that as part of Lucasfilm’s official May the 4th celebration, Hasbro is proud to offer 20% off on all Star Wars products on HasbroToyShop.com* for today only! This is a great chance to save on items like Star Wars Fighter Pods, Star Wars action figures, and more! For more information on how to save 20% on all Star Wars items today only on HasbroToyShop.com, click: http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/star-wars-may-the-fourth
Thanks, and May the 4th Be With You!

Remember that this deal ends tonight at midnight, so be quick! The Promo Code is SWFAN20 and it’s good towards the purchase of STAR WARS products currently available on the Hasbro Toy Store site. The discount applies to the pre-tax and pre-shipping amounts, cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer and is valid only while supplies last. Enjoy!

Syfy’s Hit Series HOLLYWOOD TREASURE Kicks Off Second Season Traveling to “Middle-Earth” With Sean Astin

Syfy‘s hit series Hollywood Treasure, starring collectibles expert Joe Maddalena, will return for its second season Tuesday, May 22 at 10PM (ET/PT). Each episode takes viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia, with the season opener traveling to “Middle-earth” and featuring actor Sean Astin‘s Lord of the Rings collection.

Upcoming season two episodes will showcase the Whitney Houston costume from The Bodyguard; the house in American Horror Story; items from the television series Lost; the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard; the original camera George Lucas used to film Star Wars and Maddalena’s personal Holy Grail – the lost pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

During its Summer 2011 season, Hollywood Treasure ranked in the top 10 cable unscripted series in its 10PM time period, finishing #7 among Adults 25-54 and #8 in Adults 18-49.

Each episode of the documentary-reality series follows Maddalena – owner of Profiles in History and the world’s largest auctioneer of original movie, television, science fiction, fantasy and pop culture collectibles – as he and his crew travel the globe searching for the most compelling, rare, and sought-after Hollywood memorabilia. During each show, Maddalena also presides over auctions where the collectibles are sold to fans and collectors from around the world.

Some of Maddalena’s previous finds include the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat from The Wizard of Oz and the vintage Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. Last season, he worked with Debbie Reynolds to auction off her extraordinary estate of film costume and prop memorabilia.

Hollywood Treasure is produced by Gurney Productions with Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney as executive producers.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
.

via Syfy Press Release

Boston Comic Con 2012 is This Weekend!

Kevin Eastman, Simon Bisley, Joe Sinnott, Bernie Wrightson, Ivan Reis, Steve Epting, Jill Thompson, Paolo Rivera, Renae De Liz, Ed McGuinness, Phil Noto, Becky Cloonan, David Petersen, Alex Maleev, Jeremy Bastian, Katie Cook, Tom Raney, Chrissie Zullo, Joe Benitez, Mark Brooks, Jamal Igle, Jim Cheung, Tim Sale, Skottie Young, Stephanie Buscema, Ben Templesmith, Cliff Chiang, Bill Sienkiewicz, Geof Darrow, Joe Quinones, and many more!

Also, for the first time in a long time and most likely the last time, appearing in one room together are the LEGENDS OF MAD MAGAZINE – Al Feldstein, Al Jaffee, and Paul Coker.

Marvel Comics will be in the house conducting artist portfolio revues searching for that next young gun artist!

We’ve got GAMING, ARTIST PANELS, COSTUME CONTEST, FILM FESTIVAL, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, and our first ever ART AUCTION!

Finally, who could forget the official, exclusive, Marvel Comics approved Avengers Boston Comic Con T-Shirt!!!

Tickets are currently available online through the convention website or at the door. Prices are $20 for a single day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. Kids 10 and under get in free with paid adult admission!

About Boston Comic Con
The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe. This year’s convention will be held Saturday April 21st and Sunday April 22nd opening at 10:00 am each day at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon)
.
via Boston Comic Con Press Release

Comic-Con 2012 Star Wars Exclusives from Hasbro

Here’s some information on the exclusives from Hasbro for San Diego Comic-Con 2012. First, we have a recreation of a “Lost” Line Look from the Kenner vault! Carbonite Freezing Chamber package with six highly articulated single carded 3.75″ figures — one from each film. Plus, a new exclusive figure!

The other exclusive is Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite. It is a new tooling at 3.75″ with vintage packaging.

More info to come!