Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Lord of the Rings Action Figures

Let the journey to Middle Earth and see what the Lord of the Rings action figures are now available.

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If you have not heard, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy of the book in three volumes of The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien is based. The movie trilogy consists of three live action fantasy epic films: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).

Lord of the variety ofRings figures

The books and movies have a huge following, with games and toys will be created for the fans. Here you will find many of the Lord the Rings action figures ranging in size from 6 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, and even 20-inch figures. The cost of individual figures, can be less than $ 4 to $ 130 or more.

Any character you're looking for is expected from the series in some form. It can be difficult to find someof the most obscure in large size. Here you will find the numbers of the most interesting creatures including Shelob, the spider monster.

An example of a particularly noticeable is the Lord of the Rings Aragorn Lord of the Rings Epic Scale 20-inch figure with sound. This highly detailed figure amounts to 20 cm in height and includes ranger Aragorn's sword, torch, knife to eat, Elven hunting knife, quiver and bow and arrows. Can be found online for sale in the area of ​​$ 35$ 39.

Bundle pack with different figures

There are signs bundled packages, some with up to 20 characters found. She Warriors and Battle Beasts.

If you buy the numbers for the game or viewing may be important for you to get figures of the same entity, or at least near the same size. In this case, the bundled packages can be very useful, as all figures are in a pack usually the sameScale.

Set of game, gift sets, boxed sets

There are armies of Middle-earth playsets, numerous figures and accessories are all to scale.

There are Lord of the Rings gift sets and box sets from $ 10 to $ 100 These rates are more than one figure, between horse and rider.

Poseable figures

Super poseable figures are usually a flexible wire frame so that it can be positioned in different ways.What makes it more fun to play in various scenes.

For collectors and players

The figures are collectors items and can also be used in various games. Some people will probably only get one or two of their favorite characters, while some want to collect all the familiar characters of the trilogy.

Whatever your interest in The Lord of the Rings action figures above, you are probably at least something that isenjoy for years to come.

Perhaps interested to know that in addition to action figures, there are many other types of Lord of the Rings merchandise. You statues, costumes, cards, posters, pewter, medals, jewelry, swords and much more. And 'Lord of the Rings really is a world buyers.

If you are a gamer, a collector or fan of Lord of the Rings books and movies, you can use products that will bring joy for a long time.Just look around for a while 'following the advice provided here and on our website, and you are sure to enjoy the journey.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Action Figures - For the Boys

Toys and games form an integral part of every child's life. A look at a child's toys collection can make you decipher volumes about his\her disposition. This is also where a boy child differs from a girl. Girls prefer kitchen sets and Barbie dolls, whereas boys like to play with guns, cars and Superman figures. This is why all toys shops whether virtual or on the high street have compartmentalized the toys and distinguishes between them on the basis of gender.

Focusing on what interests boys, a mention must be made of the plethora of action figures that have engulfed the toy market of UK. Special mention can be made of varied popular action figures like Doctor Who 5" Action Figure - Captain Jack and the Empty Child manufactured by Character Options, Guy of Gisborne 5" Figure and Deluxe Horse Set that features a well sculpted realistically galloping horse, and Thinkway's Spiderman - Interactive Green Goblin.

A plethora of companies have created a brand name for themselves by manufacturing children's favourite characters in the form of action figures. Getting to play with their favourite characters gives your child a high and fills him up with enthusiasm. Various popular brands in UK that have created a niche market for themselves include Hasbro, Vivid Imaginations, Dark Horse, Tokyopop, Character Options, Play Inc. et al.

Just like the brands, there are several popular characters that have grasped huge chunks of UK market by their mass appeal and liking amongst the kids. Some such popular characters include Transformers, Batman, Gundam Wing, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Power Rangers etc.

Action figures, robots, action figure playsets, super heroes and police\fire and rescue can easily be regarded as some of the best gift options when it comes to boys. Also, finding the one that best suits your budget and requirement is no hassle any longer. The World Wide Web offers you with enough options and variety in the same.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Wrestling Toys and Play Sets Are in Store For an Action Packed Christmas

No matter the trend, Wrestling toys are a big draw for fans young and old. Whether it's kids wanting to play and stage their own grudge matches between the stars of the ring, or collectors intent on gathering all of their favourite wrestling stars together, Wrestling toys and wrestling play sets are a great idea for Christmas gifts.

The range of officially licensed Wrestling figures and play sets available continues to evolve and grow, with new figures and new accessories to check out. As ever, action figures of the famous wrestlers are a major draw for fans. Some of the best selling Wrestling toys currently available include stars such as Jeff Hardy, Hornswaggle, Evan Bourne and many more.

There are single figure packs, double packs and box sets available. There are also fantastic play sets such as the WWE Spring Ring or even the a thumb wrestling arena! The arena play sets that are available are a great idea for both children and collectors, as they offer somewhere to display figures and other collectibles in a wrestling themed environment.

It may be best to check out which particular element of wrestling collectibles the person you;re getting a gift for prefers. If not action figure and toys then there are posters, rucksacks, t-shirts and lots of other things to choose from. Wrestling merchandise is a superb idea for a Christmas gift as they're not linked to any one season, meaning they'll be appreciated a long time after the festive period has passed.

Think creatively- what would they really get the most out of? How about a replica wrestling belt? There are several available to check out alongside all of the other official wrestling goodies out there. The possibilities are countless, and the best wrestling toys remain one of the best Christmas gift ideas for fans of in-the-ring excitement.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

7 Tips For Buying Action Figures

This short guide explains what you need to know before buying your action figures, where you should look for them, the best places to buy your figures, and how to decide who to trust if you're ordering online.

1) Know Your Subject

Make sure you know which figures were made, when they were made, how many, the rare or "chase" figures, and how much they originally sold for and their going price now.

Most of this information is available on the manufacturer's websites.

The best and quickest way to find out a figures "selling price" is by doing an advance search on eBay for completed auctions.

You will then be able to get a list of all auctions for that item that have finished within your chosen time period, how many bids they had and the price they sold for.

Please note though that there are several other factors to be taken into account here, e.g. the category they were listed in, the item description, quality and the "sales ad" or "copy".

Also eBay is very much a "buyers" market, meaning that the prices achieved for items are generally a lot lower than retail.

2) Popular Doesn't Always = Valuable

Many people are under the false impression that the more popular an action figure is then the more valuable it will be; however this is often NOT the case.

A prime example was the Moore Action Collectibles series 1 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Action figures which had six Buffy figures, three Angels, two Willows and only one Giles per case.

So which sold for the most?

Buffy right?

WRONG!

The Giles and Willow figures became the most sought after and began selling for anything up to $30 each!

And Buffy?

Well she was being "dumped" for a mere dollar!

Why?

Simple because of the old Supply vs Demand rule.

Remember there were 6 TIMES more Buffy figures than Giles.

The moral of this story:

Be Careful with what you're buying and know you're market.

3) What Should I Consider Before I Decide Where To Buy My Action Figures?

There are several different factors that will ultimately influence where you buy from and how much you will pay, so we'll look at these first then where to buy.

New or Secondhand?

Before you jump to decisions and decide on only buying new figures first think about what you are going to do with your action figure.

For example if you are going to customize it (more on customizing later) then you would be wasting your money buying a new figure.

Production Quantities:

Most mass produced figures will be readily available from your local high street stores such as Toys R Us, Wal-Mark, Woolworths, K-mart, EB, Gamestop etc.

Limited production figures on the other hand are generally sold in specialist stores such as Forbidden Planet and local comic book shops.

Quantities

As with most things the more you buy the greater your bargaining power and the better your chances of negotiating a bigger discount.

Rarity:

The rarity of the action figure you are looking for will not only influence where you buy it from but also the price you are likely to have to pay for it.

5) Where to Buy Your Action Figures From

There are many different places you can go to buy your action figures and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.


High Street Stores: You're first and best place for buying any mass produced action figures.

Specialist Stores: Good for your "niche" market action figures, short production runs, and exclusives. Generally more expensive but you will usually get better and more individual service.

Car Boot & Garage Sales: Excellent places for finding bargains but generally any action figures found here are likely to be in poor condition, but great for spare parts, accessories or loose figure to use for customizing.

Online Shops/Stores: Excellent value and generally good service and most items can be pre-ordered. However shipping cost can be prohibitive and you need to choose your supplier carefully.

Collectors Fairs and Comic Cons: An excellent place to find any exclusives or action figures missing from your collection and to find out the latest news and gossip.

Magazines and Newspapers: Make sure you check the classified section regularly, you'll be surprised by what you can pick up at bargain prices.

Government Auctions/Local Auctions: These are held regularly to sell off any goods seized by customs, VAT Inspectors or bankruptcy. There are many bargains to be found at local and government auctions as they are generally not advertized and few people know about them

Online Auctions:

Dealing with online stores or auction sites brings its own unique set of problems and dangers and can be a minefield BUT they can also be a very good resources.

6) Who Do You Trust?

The biggest problem with buying your action figures online is finding an honest, reliable, and efficient trader with excellent service and reasonable prices without the extortionate shipping prices.

Below are the steps that I usually take when I'm looking for a new supplier.


Google search the item

Look at the top ten sites listed

Check the prices, don't forget to include shipping and bulk discounts.

Send an e-mail enquiry, if they take more than a day or two to answer then reconsider using them.

Google the site name: check reputation

Short list the top three and make a "trial" order from your top choice.

Follow these simple steps and you should find a trustworthy and reputable dealer to order from without running the risk of loosing your money.

7) A More Few Tips and Hints

The biggest scam on the internet currently is phishing or identity theft. NEVER EVER EVER give out any passwords, id's, bank details etc by email.

Always go to the companies or banks website through your browser, i.e. Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Opera etc.

Google Alert- this is an excellent tool and highly recommended. Let's say you are looking for a Rock WWF(E) wrestling figure. All you need to do is add an alert for The Rock, or The Rock WWF and whenever this is used on a forum or website (or eBay listing) Google will email you with a link to the site or auction concerned!

Register on any relevant forums or newsgroups, these are great sources for finding figures either for trade or sale, often in mint condition.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

He-Man Action Figures: Cartoon Series History

When He-Man first hit television screens in 1983, it took the cartoon world by storm. First and foremost, it was the first cartoon series directed at children that had a collection of toys, the He-Man action figures to accompany it. Generally, advertising directed at children was heavily censored so that the makers of the He-Man action figures, Mattel, used the cartoon to promote the brand was considered innovative at the time.

Also it was the first cartoon that had a certain amount of violence. Up until that point, cartoons typically fitted the Tom & Jerry slapstick mould but He-Man had a cast of characters and stayed true to its comic book origins. To get around the strict censorship concerning violence in children's cartoons, most of the episodes ended with a 'moral of the story' or 'life lesson' to justify the story lines.

It was also the first cartoon to be produced for syndication, which meant that for the first series a bulk of 65 episodes were made, which meant the show could be broadcast across thirteen weeks which allowed it to build its fan base and establish the brand. This series was hugely popular and before long every child in the UK and the USA wanted their own collection of He-Man action figures.

It is also thought that the series was one of the cheaper cartoons to produce when in fact it was the most expensive animation production of its time. However, the cast of voices that were used were kept to a minimum, so for example a woman named Linda Gary provided all the voices for all the female characters.

The production company that Mattel used for the first series was Filmation and when they decided to convert the story into a cartoon, they decided to expand the storyline to make way for a new range of He-Man action figures.

The story begins in Eternia where Prince Adam / He-Man lives with his parents, King Randor and Queen Marlena. Prince Adam is considered by all who know him as lazy, clumsy and generally useless. However, the prince has a secret power which the Sorceress of Grayskull who lives in Castle Grayskulls endows upon him.

When he lifts his magic sword, with the words, "By the power of Grayskull! I have the power!" the prince is transformed into He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe. The story line of the fist series is concerned with protecting Eternia from the evil Skeletor who is determined to steal the power of Castle Grayskull.

When Mattel wanted to extend the range of He-Man action figures, they looked to He-Man's sister, Adora who was kidnapped at birth and raised by the evil Hordak. She also has special powers and transforms into She-Ra.

After She-Ra, the creators of He-Man looked to the past for inspiration. So the next series of He-Man is based in Preternia, which is ancient Eternia. This series explains the origins of He-Man, how he got his special powers and was also the inspiration for a whole new range of He-Man action figures.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Checking Out the New Iron Man 2 Toys

If you are taking a look at this particular article, you might be among the millions of captivated fans that had long awaited the sequel to the impressive Iron Man movie, and now you are wanting to celebrate the second film the best way that you know how: to purchase some of the coolest and best Iron Man 2 toys for your collection.

Now, you might be getting them for your kids and that's fine too. But you don't have to sell yourself short, though. You are certainly going to be able to have some fun with the new lines of action toys that are being released in conjunction with the latest film. If you are a collector, though, now would be the time to snatch up some of these action figures to hold onto.

While these might not especially be action figures that have never seen the market, these figurines that are being released now far exceed the figurines of the past. They are more detailed, more versatile and are likely going to be worth a considerable amount more in mint condition thirty years from now than some of the action figures from the past are right now.

So whatever your reason might be, there are plenty of these toys to choose from, though this particular article might lean a little more towards the straight action figures. There are several that are being released for this second action film, the most impressive of course, being Iron Man himself. This action figure is true to form to the film's depiction, complete with bolts that can be shot from his chest.

There is also an impressive action figure for War Machine, Iron Man's comrade. This particular figurine is also true to form with incredible detail and functionality. This features the second suit that is fully on display in the second film and this action figure allows you to utilize a number of retractable weapons, much like the arsenal of weapons that War Machine actually has.

For the kids, you might consider the Iron Man 2 Mega Power Boost - Rocket Boost action figure. This is more of a kid friendly look to Iron Man. This is complete will all kinds of different features, including: eleven inch span of wings, cannon functionality and a plethora of action sounds. So this might not be the piece for a collector, but for the Iron Man fan, this is golden.

Now that you have a good idea of what kinds of Iron Man 2 toys are out there, you should have a decent idea of what you might be able to find. While there are plenty more, this is a good preliminary look for both the collector and the avid toy enthusiast of any age.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Your Money's Worth - Why Are Anime Figures Expensive?

Anime figures are often criticised for their price, ranging from £10.00 to £20.00 per piece. Anime figures are only toys that easily get dirty and broken once kids start to play with them, so why sell them at a high cost? They seem to be just like any other toy that expires after a week. The consumers seem to be shortchanged with such bargain.

But there is actually more to anime figures than what meets the eye. If you look closely into the figure, you will notice that every detail is well-thought out and beautifully crafted. Moreover, it can also be observed that the quality of the material used to build it is superb and flawless.

In truth, they are not mere toys, but art forms created not to satisfy the appetite of the masses, but to meet the highest standards of cultured men.

Behind Every Anime Figure is an Artist

Toys are usually made in batches. Normally, this is done in a factory. Industrial workers produce toys using machines.

In stark contrast, anime toys are created by individual artists who use their bare hands when they work. It is not machines that make them but men with mind and soul. This is why it is very noticeable that every feature, even the smallest of detail, in each one of them is done in perfection.

A manga book fanatic will know for a fact that each element-from the shoe, to the eyebrow colour, to the nail polish-found in every figure faithfully resembles its original form which can be found in the manga where it was based from. This is because the sculptors who make the figures collaborate closely to the manga's illustrator. This dialogue adds to the artistic creation of each masterpiece.

Anime Figures Expressing Man's Inner Thoughts and Feelings

Normally, when we think of anime, what immediately comes to mind are large eyes, big breasts and long legs. In Japanese culture, they explain that this kind of human portrayal reflects the Japan's frustrations as a race.

Most Japanese want to have large eyes, big breasts and long legs. For them, having those qualities make a person attractive. This view of beauty stands evident in how the Japanese represent man in anime.

However, nature gave the typical Japanese the exact opposite of what they want: two small eyes, two small breasts and two short legs. This is why the dream to have large eyes, big breasts and long legs is only made possible by the Japanese through the creation of action.

Toys As Japanese Sculptures

Japan believes that the anime figure is a form of Japanese sculpture. It is a product of modernity. The Japanese have high esteem to this new breed of sculpture as it appeals even to the kids. According to the Japanese, these new sculptures ought to be treated with utmost care and respect for they are not mere toys.

Figures As High Art

Overall, toys are priceless pieces of art. They were made by human beings through the creative use of their mind and soul in order to express ideas and emotions.

So, if you really think about it, when you buy an anime figure, you have the advantage in the bargain.