Our third series of action figures from Stargate: Atlantis will be arriving in stores later this month. Check out the full article to see updated packaging shots of the entire wave! (more…)

This has been a monumental year for DST and Art Asylum. We released 34 action figures, 125 Minimates, 10 retro figures, 5 twelve-inch figures, 7 replicas, 21 busts, 17 statues, 1 Ultimate Quarter Scale figure and over 30 exclusives! As if that wouldn’t keep us busy enough we also modified our Marvel license to concentrate on Marvel Select and Minimates, got our Star Wars and Indiana Jones lines up and running, introduced several new products into Toys R Us stores nationwide and set up deals to deliver some truly awe-inspiring stuff in 2009.

With that in mind, I present “2008: My Favorite Toys”!

Top 5 Action Figures

1. Battlestar Galactica Cylon Centurion - Hands down, best figure of the year. When I first saw the designs for this figure I never thought we’d be able to pull it off due to all the additional articulation, interchangeable parts and working pistons. Flash forward a year and color me impressed.
2. Star Trek II Saavik - This little lady had to make my list, if only for being the first Saavik figure to actually resemble Kirstie Alley (sorry Playmates). I can remember a discussion about which actress to base the action figure on (Kirstie or Robin) and everyone agreed to stick with my girl Kristie. If only everything else were as easy to settle.
3. Marvel Select Arachne - Arachne made my list because I felt somewhat responsible for her getting the shaft in years past. I’m a big Spider-Woman fan so when we released our first Julie Carpenter version at San Diego Comic Con I was pleased. Then I saw the pages of Omega Flight and Marvel Comics Presents where they basically redesigned her entire costume, thereby making our brand new action figure obsolete! This Arachne was my chance to put things right and I’m very glad we could include her in the assortment.
4. Marvel Select Hulk - When you have to triple-strengthen the cardboard and adhesive for your action figure, you can tell you’ve got a great Hulk figure on your hands!
5. Stargate Season 10 Daniel & Teal’c - While I’m a big Stargate fan, these particular figures made my list because I invented them in about five minutes. Seriously! While trying to come up with an economical yet timely and fan-focused Stargate item I combined parts from several past releases and realized I could make both the Ori Daniel and the “Unending” Teal’c with virtually no additional costs. Getting them approved by DSTChuck and making it all the way to your collection? Priceless.

Top 5 Minimate Releases

1. Marvel Series 2: Iron Man Movie - Two words. Removable. Armor. Ok, three more words. Best. Minimates. Ever!
2. Avengers #1 Box Set - I don’t think I can find enough good things to say about this set. Sure I wish we could have included Thor in there for a “real” Avengers #1 set, but this gets us two all-new founding Avengers, a Kirby Hulk and an important version of Iron Man - plus TONS of new pieces for a variety of costumed looks. My current configuration? De-armored Tony Stark, Ant-Man and Modern Wasp (sniffle, hope to see you soon Janet!).
3. BSG Razor Single Pack Asst - This is the set that delivered amazing new retro Cylon sculpts AND a dead Six - ’nuff said!
4. Marvel Series 19 & 20 - I have a special place in my heart for these series of Minimates. I was fortunate enough to have quite a bit of input into both lineups due to DSTChuck’s back requiring surgery and an extended break from the office. I pushed as hard as I could to get as many X-Men included as possible while still representing the Avengers and Spider-Man, but never in a million years did I think I’d be able to add Havok, Polaris, Angel, Archangel, Apocalypse AND Ms Marvel on the list! If you’re curious, Ms Marvel = X-Men because of the whole Rogue/coma/”oops I stole your powers” thing.
5. BSG Series 4 - Laura Roslin, Tom Zarek, a two-legged Felix Gaeta, an undead Cally Tyrol, Lab Baltar, Head Baltar and the cantankerous Doc Cottle all in one series? I must be dreaming!

Top 3 Busts/Statues

1. BSG Cylon Bust - I love this bust so much it’s currently on the main shelf in my Battlestar Galactica-themed bathroom. Has Season 4.5 started yet?
2. BTVS Essence of Willow Statue - Ah, Buffy - my first true passion. This Willow statue not only lights up my Buffy collection, it doubles as a night light! Doing smiles on any action figure or statue sculpt can be disastrous, but in this case I wouldn’t have it any other way.
3. BSG Mark II Viper Statue - Whether you prefer your Battlestar Galactica new school or old school, this Mark II Viper design is just dripping with retro sci-fi goodness. I can’t even count how many times I’ve popped off the cockpit canopy and put my BSG Minimates inside, but it’s got to be a few hundred at this point.

Top 3 Exclusives

1. Marvel Select Red Hulk (Big Bad Toy Store) - When we first came up with the idea for a Marvel Select Red Hulk exclusive we didn’t know much about the character or even how long he’d be sticking around in the Marvel Universe but it’s safe to say I’m loving this character. Now if we can only figure out who the heck this guy really is!
2. Civil War Minimates Box Set (Action Figure Xpress) - We really pushed the envelope with this set by including so many extra pieces but I think it’s pretty clear that peopled loved this set for that very reason. I’m still managing my Marvel Comics addiction so it should be no surprise to anyone that Civil War remains one of my favorite comic book storylines (even if the ending did kind of suck).
3. Invaders Minimates Box Set (San Diego Comic Con) - Another Marvel Minimates pick, big shocker! The multi-generational aspect of the Invaders really appeals to me because it’s one of the few times a team is tied to one particular time period. The X-Men and Avengers have gone through so many changes over the years that it’s kind of hard to keep track, but the Invaders don’t really have to worry about that. They’re a World War II Nazi-fighting team and they don’t stray from their wheelhouse.

Top 3 Replicas

1. Back to the Future Flux Capacitor - I didn’t have a lot to do with this particular replica, but I’ve always loved Back to the Future and anything related to time travel. Now if I can just figure out how to install it in my DeLorean…
2. Star Trek Communicator - The only thing that would make this replica better is more Uhura
3. Mouse Guard Trio Statue - True these little guys aren’t exactly replicas, but they are life-sized!

No, that’s not a joke about the economy. I’m talking about the Darth Vader Rotocast Bust Bank! We just got our first finished sample from the factory, and it is very cool. If you haven’t ordered yours yet, do so now. Lord Vader commands it. Yeah, that was corny, but the fact of the matter is: I don’t have a need for banks but, after I saw this one, I decided to keep it for myself (shhhh, don’t tell DSTChuck - he thinks it’s his).

We’re back with another installment of Ask DST with questions submitted by YOU! This week we take a look at questions from Star Wars, Marvel and Transformers fans plus a hint at what DST products are likely to appear in Toys R Us! (more…)

Woooooooo. Big excitement today kiddies. We’ve got our first pic of the appoved base sculpt for the Marvel Select Wolverine figure based on the upcoming and super-secret movie. Not getting the meaning? You’ll just have to stay tuned (and surf the web for spoilers).

Now normally I’m super-excited ANY time we get advance art from Marvel Comics, but this time takes the cake! Check out Newsarama’s story on the upcoming Avengers: The Initiative #20 and see if you can spot the source of my jubilation! (I’ll wait right here while you check).

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These dates represent our best estimated in-store dates and may change as production warrants. We’ll be updating these dates through our blog in an effort to bring customers the most up-to-date information possible. See the full list after the jump.
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So, everyone knows about my PVC figure based on the “School’s Out” pin-up by Joe Linsner. But, what you may not have heard is that we have created a limited edition exclusive variant. The details are still working themselves out, but as soon as we know more, you will be clued in on when and where to place your orders. Until then, go clear off some extra space on your shelves, because no true Dawn or Linsner fan will be able to choose between the colors - you’ll have to get them both.

OK, ask and ye shall receive. Back in 1992 (pretty sure it was ‘92) a run of hats were produced based on the one Marty McFly (Jr & Sr) wore in 2015 in Back to the Future II. Since then, BttF fans have been murmuring about the need for a new run of hats. There is a rumor that an overseas company is making them without a license (but they are not calling them “BttF”, so it’s cool). BUT, why in the world would you want to by an imitation when you can just get your dear Uncle DSTSchaff to make licensed ones for you? Trust me, you are going to love the look, the feel, and the price. All I need to do now is get the licensor to approve it (pesky legal details, always mucking up my fun and carnage). Stay Tuned…

Dear Fellow Star Wars Fanatics!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh , oh my gosh… He’s here he’s really here! The UQS Anakin has made his way to my desk and I took lots of great photos of him for the blog gallery. Keep your eyes peeled because he is just as awesome as the others have been. I couldn’t wait to get this guy, although in the movies Hayden Christensen doesn’t really do it for me, the character himself is really deep and super involved, I love the twisted and tortured one’s! The eyes are great on this sculpt, I kept catching myself really focusing in on them when taking the pictures. The hair is also spot on, I was skeptical that the hair would come out perfect but it did and I almost with it were real hair and not resin. Enough gushing, Anakin is here and he is awesome, I can’t wait to share him with all of you!

DST-Jen