Monopoly - Empire Edition

Played the new Monopoly: Empire game the other day. It's definitely a lot different from the classic one that we all still enjoy - so much so that I'm willing to basically call it a different game - however it's actually really fast paced and fun! I was especially pleased by the selection of modern brands that you could buy - as evidenced by the collection I racked up shortly before winning.


Posted by charlie on January 30th 2014, 07:41 PM
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Egyptian Articulated Dog - 1400 BC

Here's a new one! This carved dog has an articulated jaw, and is estimated to be from the Late Dynasty in Egypt, around 1400BC! Saw this at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York last week, and knew it would fit right in!


Posted by charlie on January 29th 2014, 05:30 PM
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Marble Mania "Quest" Set, by Techno Gears

This new "Quest" set in the Marble Mania line by Techno Gears, which I spotted at Big Lots, looks like a tremendously fun contraption!


Posted by John on January 27th 2014, 07:29 PM
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TMNT: Z-Line aka Sky Commanders

These new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle "Z-Line" sets put me fantastically in mind of a personal favorite - Sky Commanders. I'll just imagine that the product director is also a fan, and made it happen. Hopefully I can set up an interview with Playmates and find out!


Posted by charlie on January 26th 2014, 07:25 PM
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A Year of Sword and Laser

I made it through and read all 12 selections from the very fun Sword and Laser book club in 2013. This is what that looks like. Only thing nearly as pretty as 1980s toy box art, is a stack of books!


Posted by charlie on January 25th 2014, 07:22 PM
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The Best Solar? Solar Cat

OK - clearly not as toy related as usual, but I must say that bookish Solar Cat is, perhaps, the very best sort of solar.


Posted by charlie on January 23rd 2014, 07:21 PM
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Lego - The Movie

These new Lego Movie sets look like tremendous fun, and the scenes they depict should be off the handle. Can't wait to see these up close at Toy Fair in a few weeks!




Posted by John on January 21st 2014, 07:19 PM
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Transformers Generations - Junkheap

Stumbled across my old Junkheap figure the other day. I'm reminded how pleased I am that Hasbro took the time to make these so we can all recreate one of the greatest (stupidest?) scenes from Transformers: The Movie. Of course - hopefully you picked up 20 or 30 of them to do it right!


Posted by charlie on January 18th 2014, 07:17 PM
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Han Shot When?

I'm happy to see that a stock clerk at Target was feeling humorous this morning. The rest is left as an exercise for the reader!


Posted by John on January 14th 2014, 07:15 PM
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$5 Buys a Lot of Vader

I just had to laugh about what a tremendous amount of Vader a $5 price difference appears to buy (compared to the diminutive Anakin on the right). Granted, the big Vader is a hollow shell, but I think it looks pretty great and even has cloth goods! Seems like a good thing to have towering over your SW shelf in the collection. Several have already moved from the shelves in stores here, so may be going fast - good luck!


Posted by charlie on January 8th 2014, 04:32 PM
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Mattel's DC Comics Multiverse

I am thrilled to see that Mattel has also gone back to a properly articulated figure with their new DC Comics Multiverse line that just recently popped up on pegs at my local Target. The figures are solid and detailed, and have more than 4 joints - well done! They seem to be going fast, and may be that much more popular given the improvement they represent over much of last year. Here's to a good start to 2014!


Posted by charlie on January 3rd 2014, 04:29 PM
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