From Think Geek: Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

From the bright minds at ThinkGeek.com comes a fantastic Tauntaun sleeper, perfect for those cold winter nights. It has a glowing lightsaber zipper pull and is machine washable.

[$39.99 from Think Geek]

Cute Doctor Who

The success of the Star Wars "Galactic Heroes" led to the line expanding to include other Hasbro licences such as Transformers, Indiana Jones and Marvel comics. Fans, like myself, really liked the chibi-esque deformations to beloved characters.

Other toy developers have followed this trend to varying degrees of success. UK company Character Group have done a great job with these Doctor Who Time Squad figures. The line is companion free, populated by adversaries of the Doctor, and one David Tennant Doctor. The product is still very new so I can't wait to see what they do with the later waves.

Fandom loses a legend: Forrest J. Ackerman

Forrest J. Ackerman died December 4th 2008 at the age of 92. I didn't know him personally, but I knew his reputation.

He coined the term "sci-fi" and wore a homemade costume to the first World Science Fiction Convention in New York City in 1939. His collection of movie memorabilia and props was second to none. He was a writer, editor, literary agent and actor.

He was inclusive in his fandom and passionate to the end. In a time when one is quick to elevate one branch of fandom over others, it is important to remember that the first fandom was inclusive and diverse.

He was the giant that lifted my fandom up so I could see farther than I ever would have alone.

• Wikipedia article
• Sci-Fi Slacker article
  

Reason #23 why I want to go to New York

potatohead spiderman
Originally uploaded by istolethetv.

Here we see "Spuderman" attempt to get in a New York cab. "Spuderman" is a Hasbro mascot promoting the new "Spiderman Mr. Potatohead" at the recent New York Toy Fare.

Awesome.

Upcomming Star Wars Toys

Galactic Heroes from Hasbro are Star Wars figures aimed at ages three to eight. They are child-like cartoony representations and are about two inches tall and have limited articulation. If you thought Darth Maul couldn't be "cute," you were wrong.

I collect some of these, if the particular figure really catches my eye. And a set did make me take notice in the Wave 3 of the 2007 series. There I find a "Return of the Jedi" Luke and Vader "final dual" two-pack. As you can see their poses are mirrored in a kind of classic fencing stance. I can't help but think of "Jazz hands" when I see this.

Also, the Red Royal Guard is awesome, and cleverly packaged with a Death Star Gunner so to get the requisite number of two flanking guards, you have to buy an additional pack. Curses!

Also of note is the new Jedi Star Fighter Lego set complete with hyperspace ring. This is cool enough to make me think about getting it, but the deal maker is the Lego Kit Fisto mini-fig. This is the first time the Jedi has been made in Lego form, although I figured one would be in the works since he was a playable character in the Lego Star Wars game.

Star Wars themed Flash Drives

Mimoco is a company that creates USB flash drives with unique, artist designed cases.

Their Star Wars Series has super-deformed R2-D2, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and Stormtrooper bodies to make your flash drive reflect your personality.

They are a bit pricey, with a 1GB drive starting at $79.95 with the top end being the 4GB unit at $169.95, but being the first on your block with something like this is priceless.

[Link]

Rayguns! Kick Ass Rayguns!

Snagged from Boing Boing, I find a new line of 1:1 scale antique styled sci-fi props from Weta Workshop's Designer Greg Broadmore. The Rayguns, or "Dr, Grordborts Infallible Aether Oscillators" are sweet looking, though likely out of my price range.


Pictured here is the "Goliathon 83 Infinity Beam Projector".

matched set ray guns,
originally uploaded by Lockwasher.

These are thematically similar to the weapons made by Lockwasher whose flick photoset of retro-futuristic weapons can be seen here: Intergalactic self-defense mechanisms.

One would be a fool not to pack something like this on any deep space expedition from the first half of the last century.

Technorati Tags:
raygun, retrorocket, retro, spaceman

Obey the Daleks

EX-TER-MIN-ATE your way to fun! ThinkGeek has a great set of remote control Daleks, that would rock in any office style environment. Set these loose around your cubical for wacky hyjinks and hacky wijinks.

They are based off the "Dr. Who and the Daleks" movie so they come in three technicolors, which ship randomly meaning you only have a 1-in-3 chance of getting the colour you want, but the Daleks don't care.

Technorati Tags:
Thinkgeek, Dalek, Remote control, exterminate

Labyrinth and Dark Crystal Figures

Plan B Toys has a great new set of Labyrinth and Dark Crystal figures available. These two films have always kind of lacked in the toy/merch department so these new figures are a real boon for collectors that grew up with these films.

If only I knew someone who liked this sort of thing...

Technorati Tags:
Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, Jim Henson, Plan B Toys, figurines

"Well, I can see you're serving drinks, but this place is dangerous"

Thinkgeek has a Star Wars Pewter Bar set that must be one of the coolest adaptations of the licence yet.

You know all the hep cats on Coruscant had a set like this:

• Darth Vader - Corkscrew
• R2D2 - Bottle Opener
• C3PO - Foil Cutter
• Yoda - Wine stopper

The set is missing a jigger and a strainer, but even lead free modern pewter is rarely used for items that will be in contact with food or drink. A Boba Fett flame thrower cigarette lighter would also be a nice addition.

Technorati Tags:
star wars, barware, thinkgeek

I found it on eBay

Odd find on eBay today. The officially licensed "Sith Lord" air freshener is a strange leverage of the number one license for the year.



To "Smell like a Sith" is not a selling feature, is it?

Tags: StarWars AirFreshener eBay Sith