He-Man® and the Masters of the Universe®  Continues Expansion of Action Figure Line as Sun-Man™ Arrives at Global Retailers

He-Man® and the Masters of the Universe®  Continues Expansion of Action Figure Line as Sun-Man™ Arrives at Global Retailers



EL SEGUNDO, Calif., — February 1, 2022 — Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today that the Rulers of the Sun, with its multicultural Black, Latino and Asian characters, will be joining the Masters of the Universe Origins™ line in 2022. The first hero to join He-Man is Sun-Man,

He-Man® and the Masters of the Universe®  Continues Expansion of Action Figure Line as Sun-Man™ Arrives at Global Retailers
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one of the pioneering Black action figures, available for preorder today and arriving on shelves around the globe this Spring. As the 40th anniversary of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe kicks off in 2022,  Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun bring He-Man new, powerful partners in his battle against evil. 


The Rulers of the Sun line will be joining the Masters of the Universe across multiple toy lines, including Masters of the Universe Origins, inspired by the original toys from the 1980s, and the new Masters of the Universe: Masterverse which celebrates the evolution of the franchise. Along with Sun-Man, upcoming allies include Digitino™, a Latino computer wizard and Space Sumo™, an Asian telekinetic ninja.  Together they fight for justice against their nemesis, the evil Pig-Head™, a devious and spiteful lord who spreads fear and despair around the world.


Created in 1985 by Yla Eason, inspired by her son, who feared he could never be a superhero because of the color of his skin, Sun-Man was a groundbreaking character for Black children and superhero fans alike, who saw a hero who looked like them and whose superpower was actually drawn from the organic connection between his skin-color and the power of the sun.


“When I originally created the character of Sun-Man, it was to show my son that heroes come in all skin colors,” said Yla Eason, creator of Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun. “Partnering with Mattel has been an honor, bringing this full circle and making it possible for a new generation of kids around the world to see themselves represented in their toys with the powerful portrayal of Sun-Man and his friends.”



“This job requires one to be a bit of a toy historian, and I always knew of the existence of Sun-Man, and of the high prices that vintage examples would go for in the Masters of the Universe collecting community. Even knowing that, it was only a couple of years ago that I came across Yla’s story, and it really resonated with me as another black toymaker,” said Ed Duncan, SVP – Action Figures, Games and Plush Design, & Inventor Relations at Mattel. “Sun-Man was a carefully crafted toy, designed to add something valuable to Masters of the Universe play back in the 1980s… the value of diversity. That value has only increased with time. Seeing people like yourself represented as strong powerful heroes is something black children were frequently denied through the years. Characters like Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun are a great step in the right direction.”


Previously released through Mattel Creations as a special limited edition figure last year, Sun-Man immediately sold out within minutes, showing the passion of fans for the hero. Under this partnership licensing agreement, Mattel is granted the right to produce Sun-Man from The Rulers of the Sun collection. Olmec Toys and Yla Eason retain all rights to the Sun-Man property. Mattel’s purpose across all franchises has been to empower the next generation to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. As a part of this commitment, the company will continue to find ways that our content and toys can better represent the diverse world kids live in today. 


Masters of the Universe was first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of action figures that quickly became a $2B franchise across toys and consumer products, solidifying the franchise’s role as a pop culture fixture in the eighties. The line consisted of eight core characters – He-Man™, Man-At-Arms™, Stratos™, Teela™, Beast Man™, Mer-Man™, Skeletor™ and Zodac™, that continues to expand. From the beginning, the brand was built upon the message of becoming the best version of yourself. Reimagined and reintroduced as a complete 360 franchise with multiple toy lines, digital games, publishing titles, sold-out global collaborations and critically-acclaimed animated content on Netflix, the Masters of the Universe franchise is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022. 

Masters of the Universe Origins Sun-Man is available today for preorder on Amazon.com, Target.com and Walmart.com. 


About Masters Of The Universe Origins 

It’s an exciting time to be a Masters of the Universe® fan! For longtime fans and for a new generation of kids who love acti

He-Man® and the Masters of the Universe®  Continues Expansion of Action Figure Line as Sun-Man™ Arrives at Global Retailers


 Black, Latino and Asian Characters Join Iconic Toy Line 

as it Celebrates its 40th Anniversary 


EL SEGUNDO, Calif., — February 1, 2022 — Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today that the Rulers of the Sun, with its multicultural Black, Latino and Asian characters, will be joining the Masters of the Universe Origins™ line in 2022. The first hero to join He-Man is Sun-Man, one of the pioneering Black action figures, available for preorder today and arriving on shelves around the globe this Spring. As the 40th anniversary of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe kicks off in 2022,  Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun bring He-Man new, powerful partners in his battle against evil. 


The Rulers of the Sun line will be joining the Masters of the Universe across multiple toy lines, including Masters of the Universe Origins, inspired by the original toys from the 1980s, and the new Masters of the Universe: Masterverse which celebrates the evolution of the franchise. Along with Sun-Man, upcoming allies include Digitino™, a Latino computer wizard and Space Sumo™, an Asian telekinetic ninja.  Together they fight for justice against their nemesis, the evil Pig-Head™, a devious and spiteful lord who spreads fear and despair around the world.


Created in 1985 by Yla Eason, inspired by her son, who feared he could never be a superhero because of the color of his skin, Sun-Man was a groundbreaking character for Black children and superhero fans alike, who saw a hero who looked like them and whose superpower was actually drawn from the organic connection between his skin-color and the power of the sun.


“When I originally created the character of Sun-Man, it was to show my son that heroes come in all skin colors,” said Yla Eason, creator of Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun. “Partnering with Mattel has been an honor, bringing this full circle and making it possible for a new generation of kids around the world to see themselves represented in their toys with the powerful portrayal of Sun-Man and his friends.”




“This job requires one to be a bit of a toy historian, and I always knew of the existence of Sun-Man, and of the high prices that vintage examples would go for in the Masters of the Universe collecting community. Even knowing that, it was only a couple of years ago that I came across Yla’s story, and it really resonated with me as another black toymaker,” said Ed Duncan, SVP – Action Figures, Games and Plush Design, & Inventor Relations at Mattel. “Sun-Man was a carefully crafted toy, designed to add something valuable to Masters of the Universe play back in the 1980s… the value of diversity. That value has only increased with time. Seeing people like yourself represented as strong powerful heroes is something black children were frequently denied through the years. Characters like Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun are a great step in the right direction.”


Previously released through Mattel Creations as a special limited edition figure last year, Sun-Man immediately sold out within minutes, showing the passion of fans for the hero. Under this partnership licensing agreement, Mattel is granted the right to produce Sun-Man from The Rulers of the Sun collection. Olmec Toys and Yla Eason retain all rights to the Sun-Man property. Mattel’s purpose across all franchises has been to empower the next generation to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. As a part of this commitment, the company will continue to find ways that our content and toys can better represent the diverse world kids live in today. 


Masters of the Universe was first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of action figures that quickly became a $2B franchise across toys and consumer products, solidifying the franchise’s role as a pop culture fixture in the eighties. The line consisted of eight core characters – He-Man™, Man-At-Arms™, Stratos™, Teela™, Beast Man™, Mer-Man™, Skeletor™ and Zodac™, that continues to expand. From the beginning, the brand was built upon the message of becoming the best version of yourself. Reimagined and reintroduced as a complete 360 franchise with multiple toy lines, digital games, publishing titles, sold-out global collaborations and critically-acclaimed animated content on Netflix, the Masters of the Universe franchise is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022. 

Masters of the Universe Origins Sun-Man is available today for preorder on Amazon.com, Target.com and Walmart.com. 

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Playmates Toys Reveals Its Initial 2022 Lineup of Star Trek Figures

Playmates Toys Reveals Its Initial 2022 Lineup of Star Trek Figures


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (January 24, 2022) – Some of the most iconic characters in the Star Trek universe are among the toys featured in the summer 2022 launch of Playmates Toys’ all-new collection of Star Trek action figures and accessories. Playmates marks its much-anticipated return, after a 12-year absence, as the global licensee across action figures, vehicles, ships and role play for all ViacomCBS Star Trek Properties. 

The first figures and toys from Playmates will be available to fans this summer in a collection of retro figures from the most popular Star Trek TV and movie franchises, and from the latest hit series on Paramount+. The five-inch, 1:14 scale figures will feature the extraordinary attention to detail Playmates is known for, each with 14 points of articulation and packaged in either 1990s nostalgic packaging or newly designed Star Trek Universe blister cards, depending on the character. 

startrek returns to @playmatestoys

“Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms Drizzt & Guenhwyvar (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)”

Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms Drizzt & Guenhwyvar (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)

Pre-order 

$39.99                                         

Product Description

Limit of 2 per customer.
Fans and collectors can finally add one of the most popular and recognizable Dungeons & Dragons characters to their action figure collections with the Drizzt Do’Urden figure!
Imagine epic battles from the Forgotten Realms with this Drizzt & Guenhwyvar 6-inch-scale action figure 2-pack! Featuring multiple points of articulation, these highly poseable figures feature premium design and deco, inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance video game. Drizzt & Guenhwyvar come battle-ready with 10 accessories, including iconic swords Icingdeath and Twinkle, 6 cards featuring exclusive artwork, and an oversized Icewind Dale d20. And with custom artwork by Max Dunbar, the Dungeons & Dragons Drizzt & Guenhwyvar package will make a mark on shelves. Available exclusively through Hasbro Pulse.
Includes: 2 figures, 10 accessories, 6 cards, and Icewind Dale die.

A drow from the Underdark city of Menzoberranzan, the third son of Matron Mother Malice of House Do’Urden — born on the eve of battle

The highly poseable, fully articulated Drizzt and Guenhwyvar 6-inch-scale figures feature premium deco, inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance video game

This Drizzt action figure comes with 10 character-inspired accessories, including 2 swords — Icingdeath and Twinkle — and the Figurine of Wondrous Power  

This Hasbro Pulse exclusive action figure 2-pack features custom artwork created by the talented comic book and concept artist Max Dunbar

This Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms Drizzt & Guenhwyvar action figure set is available exclusively through Hasbro Pulse, and comes with 6 cards and an oversized Icewind Dale d20

The Mandalorian NERF Blaster Pre-Orders Are Now Live

Every Monday morning, Disney reveals their new product line for The Mandalorian. The event is called Mando Mondays and today, there was a great reveal that nobody was expecting. That is, the Ambam Phase-Pulse Blaster, the signature weapon of The Mandalorian.

This replica blaster is produced by NERF and you can pre-order the awesome replica today. The blaster is over four feet long, and has the sound effects of the blaster that you see on The Mandalorian. It also comes with ten darts that you can load one at a time. The electric scope has a illuminated lense inside of the scope. Hasbro provided me with images for me to share.

The images that were provided, showcases the accuracy and attention to detail of the blaster that is seen on The Mandalorian. This will be a hot item to own next year during Comic Con season, or during the 2021 holiday season. The NERF brand has produced many Star Wars products and it is no surprise that The Mandalorian would be on the list. I also hope that there will be a variant color to match the colors of the actual one on the series so that way, anyone can have a accurate costume of The Mandalorian. NERF collectors and Star Wars fans will be happy to have this in their possesion.

You can pre-order the Amban Phase-Pulse Blaster via the link below. The price will be $119.99 and it will be expected to ship in July 2021. I suggest to order quick because it is now sold out on Amazon. Also to note, this blaster will hit the retail stores in the fall of 2021. Season 2 of The Mandalorian is on Disney+. New episodes of The Mandalorian airs each Friday morning.

Pre-Order on Entertainment Earth

Be sure to check out Mando Mondays to check out the latest product announcements.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content.

The LEGO Group and Nintendo reveal full product range for new LEGO® Super Mario™ play experience

The wait is over… today’s full reveal shows fans how they can ‘level up’ their LEGO® Super Mario™ gameplay, creating exactly the LEGO universe they want their beloved character to come to life in!

BILLUND, June 16, 2020: The LEGO Group today revealed the full product portfolio for its LEGO® Super Mario™ experience. Fans can expand on the LEGO Super Mario range announced in April with a whole new range of Expansion Sets, collectible Character Packs and Power-Up Packs. The result of a unique partnership with Nintendo, LEGO Super Mario will reinvent the way people interact with Super Mario in the physical world. The products announced today give fans the chance to build Mario’s house, search for treasure hidden by Toad, and defeat a Koopa Troopa in the Guarded Fortress. And of course that’s not all!

The partnership was announced earlier this year, and in April the fun-packed Adventures with Mario Starter Course was revealed alongside two Expansion Sets. The Starter Course is key to unlocking the entire play, being the only set to feature the interactive LEGO® Mario™ figure that collects coins in game levels created with LEGO bricks. LEGO Super Mario brings new interactivity and gameplay to the traditional LEGO brick experience.

All sets come with their own series of unique challenges and characters for fans to play with, or to play against friends. In addition to the Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set and Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set announced in April, the Expansion Set line-up includes: the Guarded Fortress Expansion Set, the Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set, the Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set, the Desert Pokey Expansion Set, the Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set and the Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set.

Also announced today are ten collectible enemy characters that are available in blind bag Character Packs, adding that extra level of excitement. Each pack will contain a buildable character and action tag to play with – it could be a Paragoomba, Fuzzy, Spiny, Buzzy Beetle, Bullet Bill, Bob-omb, Eep Cheep, Blooper, Urchin or Peepa!

Every Expansion Set and collectible Character is made to be used with the Adventures with Mario Starter Course, for an enhanced play experience. The entry point set features seven action bricks for different interactions with the LEGO Mario figure, which has LCD screens in its eyes, mouth and belly to display instant reactions to movement, color and action bricks. In May, the LEGO Group and Nintendo also announced a series of Power-Up Packs – including Cat Mario and Builder Mario – to help boost gameplay with a variety of suits for LEGO Mario that each reveal new features and powers.

“With today’s announcement, 16 LEGO Super Mario sets have been introduced and I am really looking forward to seeing how people’s play expands with these and the unique Power-Up Packs,” said Takashi Tezuka, Executive Officer and Game Producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd. “Each player’s preferences and imagination are different. By adding already owned LEGO bricks onto the Starter Course, and different LEGO Super Mario expansion sets, we hope that people can create various different Mario worlds and continue enjoying them indefinitely.”

“The reaction to LEGO Super Mario has been incredible,” said Jonathan Bennink, Digital Design Lead on LEGO Super Mario, the LEGO Group. “Super Mario is such an icon – and fans have been highly anticipating the release of the full details of the product line. Our entire range – from the Starter Course to the Power Up Packs, through to the Expansion Sets and Character Packs – have been built to bring Super Mario, his friends – and his enemies – to life. We love how creative Nintendo and LEGO fans are, and can’t wait for them to unleash their imaginations in how they interact with Super Mario in the real world.”

Fans will also love the free LEGO Super Mario app created by the LEGO Group, a supporting feature to further enhance the physical play experience. It keeps track of scores to encourage continuous rebuilding, as well as providing digital building instructions with zoom and rotate viewing tools to make building easier, suggestions of other creative ways to build and play, and a safe forum to share ideas with friends.

The full LEGO Super Mario assortment will launch August 1st 2020, but fans can pre-order the LEGO Super Mario Starter Course on www.LEGO.com and from select leading retailers around the world now (subject to availability).

All Elite Wrestling Makes Their Presence Known at the New York Toy Fair

All Elite Wrestling has finally made it’s way to the 2020 edition of the New York Toy Fair this past weekend and debuted their toy line to the press and the mainstream audience. Their toyline is produced by Jazwares has a series 1 and series 2 and they will both be released in August of this year.

Of the series 1, it will consist of the AEW Superstars Cody, Brandi Rhodes, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and The Young Bucks. There will also be a “Chase Edition” of series 1 that will feature Chris Jericho in his “Inner Circle” outfit with the AEW World Heavyweight Championship, and one with Cody Rhodes with is outfit from the All Out event.

Series 2 will consist of Jon Moxley, Dustin Rhodes, “Hangman” Adam Page, MJF (Maxwell Jacob Friedman), Rey Fenix, and Pentagon JR. The “Chase Edition” has two names that will not be revealed yet until the spring. There will also be two versions of the ring itself as one is an action ring, and the other, will be a full scale ring that will come with 35 pieces. Also, the full scale ring will be packaged with a Kenny Omega figure with his black and green outfit.

There will also be a toy version of the AEW World Heavyweight Championship as well and I spoken to a representative of Jazwares to inquire if there will be plans to have more toy versions of the other championships and I was told that there will be and that will be previewed later this year around New York Comic Con time.

Here is the video of what was displayed at the AEW location at the Jazwares booth along with Kenny Omega and Adam Page’s reaction to seeing their figures for the first time.

And here are my interviews with AEW Superstars Ortiz and Santana, MJF, Darby Allin, and “Hangman” Adam Page as we all talked about the figures and about the upcoming AEW Revolution PPV.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content. Contact me at julian@alternativemindz.com

NEWS – DC Collectibles Reveals #101 Batman Black and White Statue – by Frank Miller

DC Collectibles has revealed the latest statue in the popular Batman Black & White series – Armored Batman by Frank Miller. #101 in the series is based on the iconic designs from Frank Miller’s 1986 series, The Dark Knight Returns.

This armored Batman perfectly encapsulates the worn-out, dystopian vibe from the comics while showing the technological power Batman possesses in the story.

While the figure is not due to hit shelves till summer 2020 it will for sure be one you won’t want to miss!

Frank Miller & Jim Fletcher (Executive Director, DC Collectibles))