Two covers for you this month: Mattel’s Avatar (featuring a FREE augmented reality I-Tag for you to try with your webcam) or Hasbro’s Iron Man 2 (image but not final cover glimpsed above. It’s gorgeous).

And inside those covers? I thought you’d never ask…

• Hasbro talks about their plans for Iron Man 2, Marvel Universe, Marvel Legends and more in 2010 and beyond!

• An interview with Avatar producer Jon Landau on the movie, the toys and taking technology to the next level.

Just a quick housekeeping note before you run out to buy your issue: Wizard is in the process of transferring all of our editorial content online rom wizarduniverse.com to wizardworld.com. That means that, sometime in the future, this blog will disappear. Rest assured we will be starting one up at wizardworld.com. So if you suddenly find yourself FarePlay-less, head over to wizardworld.com and see if the new blog has started up yet. Thanks, guys. You’re the best.

Quite a different cover for us, eh? Stunning, though! Whether or not you’re a fan of Twilight (or Tonner’s very, very pretty character figures), there’s tons of stuff for you to enjoy in the new issue of ToyFare!

•I’m really friggin’ excited about the new Twisted ToyFare Theatre storyline that kicks off in this issue. When Dr. Strange pisses off the Ancient One, he decides to train a new Sorcerer Supreme. A man by the name of…Victor Von Doom! All you Mego Doom fans are going to be pleased with this one…

• The long-awaited new Star Wars Fan Choice Poll kicks off in this issue! See the nominees in this issue, then check out wizarduniverse.com tomorrow to cast your vote!

• Find out how Tonner’s Character Figures are made, and check out our Guy’s Guide to Twilight so you can be conversant on the phenomenon!

• Horror fans, check out our horror movie preview and our retro feature on the horrific ’80s toy line, the Inhumanoids!

• We catch up with our Robot Chicken buds Matt Senreich and Tom Root about their new Adult Swim show, Titan Maximum!

• Plus, new DC Direct statues, Incoming, newly expanded Big Shots and much more!

So new comics come out on Thursday instead of Wednesday this week. But never fear, beloved readers. We used that extra day to make ToyFare #147 THAT MUCH more awesome for you! Here’s what you’ll find beneath that amazing Mattel Batman cover (amazing covers being the new trend for us)…

• With Batman on the cover, Incoming goes DC Universe Classics CRAZY! Incoming kicks off with five pages of DCUC coverage, including the WORLD PREMIERE of Wave 12! That’s right. If that weren’t enough, we’re also world-debuting a new toy line from DC Direct! It’s a good month to be a DC toy fan (and ToyFare reader).

• Speaking of Batman, we take a look at the awesome character designs of the villains in the new Arkham Asylum video game and talk to the man who gives voice to Batman in that, the new animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and just about everything else that’s awesome: Kevin Conroy! Want to know what Kevin thinks of Christian Bales’ Bat-growl? Find out here!

• Speaking of Arkham, we’re blowing out our video game coverage this month, with a look at NECA’s eagerly anticipated Bioshock toys and a run-down of the hottest games coming out this season (plus their toy tie-ins, of course)! Plus, what toys would video game visionary (and Brutal Legend creator) Tim Schafer like to see made of his characters? And what video games would we like to see made of classic toy lines?

• In Twisted ToyFare Theatre, our G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover wraps up with a road trip, a wedding and a death. Who makes a love connection, and who kicks the bucket?

• All this, plus our usual columns, price guide, the world’s best editor’s letter and more more more!

For those of you who haven’t read the issue (for shame), we contacted Hasbro, Diamond Select Toys, FunKo, Kotobukiya and Gentle Giant about letting you, the fans, decide which characters they should pick for their next products. So let your voice be heard!

–TJ

Star Wars is Forever! So said the poster that used to hang on my bedroom wall, and that poster has proven to be incredibly prescient! Now, in a non-movie year, ToyFare checks in with the folks who make the Star Wars collectibles you love to find out what’s coming next. Plus, the chance to affect what’s coming next for yourself… Read on!

• Our amazing cover features the new Quarter Scale Darth Vader by Diamond Select Toys. Inside, find out how DST put this amazing new line together!

• The great Star Wars fan poll! Vote on upcoming collectibles from Hasbro, DST, FunKo, Kotobukiya and Gentle Giant!

• An exclusive preview of DK’s new Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary!

• We chat with Lucas Licensing’s Chris Spitale and Star Wars collector Steve Sansweet to find out how these products get made, and what the craziest products ever have been!

• Behind the scenes of the new Clone Wars: Republic Commandos video game – we find out how Lucasarts works with the other branches to create a unified product!

• The latest Star Wars products fro Hasbro, Uncle Milton, Revell, Medicom, Sideshow and more!

Plus, totally non-Star Wars-related stuff!

• Retro feature: Exo-Squad. Whatever became of this beloved early-’90s toy line and cartoon?

• Twisted ToyFare Theatre: At long last…G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers. Or at least, some Joes and Cobras and Transformers Vs. other oes and Cobras and Transformers. Check it out for yourself!

• Plus, Incoming, Big Shots, Hot Plate and all the other usual goodies you know, love and crave on a monthly basis!

Holy crap! So TTT volume 10 was supposed to ship at the end of July, but apparently Diamond got in early and just decided to ship it out to comic shops a couple of weeks ago. So if you haven’t seen it at your LCS yet, make sure you ask for it by name!

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE 10
We’re finally graduating into double digits with the mind-shattering tenth 104-page book full of the funniest award-winning “TTT” comic strips from ToyFare magazine! Whether you’re a die-hard Twistie (which we just decided our fans are called right this moment) or a drooling noob, this book’s got something for you!

PLUS:
o “TTT” STRIPS!
“Twisted ToyFare Theatre Volume 10″ is guaranteed to be the only place where you can see Megatron detained at the Mexican border as an illegal firearm and new Decepticon leader Starscream facing a massive walkout!

Plus: Captain America gets killed, and it’s up to his non-threatening sidekick Bucky to replace him…if training to be a badass (and dressing like one) doesn’t kill him first!

Master Chief and 300 Spartan warriors do battle against the God-King Mario. Can they defeat his army of turtles, mushrooms and different types of turtles?

Spider-Man gets unwillingly recruited into a cosmic police force. Stallone and Schwarzenegger wreak bloody vengeance on Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme. And Chewbacca’s son Lumpy shoots Princess Leia.

Mark Hammill says, “If there’s a more outrageous, consistently funny comic strip out there, I’d love to see it.” Are you gonna tell Luke freakin’ Skywalker he’s wrong?

o THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE “TTT” UNIVERSE
Just to prove that we are paying attention to this crap. Get your fill of the most obscure ephemera about your favorite “Twisted ToyFare” characters!

o CUSTOMIZING 101
Find out how to make your OWN Megos with our intrepid customizer, Vince Callaghan!

Definitely pick this one up, and let us know what you think!

Holy moley, wouldja look at that cover? But that’s nothing compared to the great stuff (G.I. Joe-related and otherwise) that lies inside! To wit:

• Our second annual DC Universe Classics fan poll! Who will join The Question as the next fan’s choice winner? Heck, who’s even nominated? Read the issue to find out!

• An interview with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra screenwriter Stuart Beattie and another interview with actors Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Rachel Nichols!

• An interview with the Joe toy team, including a look at the upcoming movie Destro and Cobra Commander figures!

• Secrets of the Joes revealed from Joe historian and author Mark Bellomo. How does G.I. Joe owe its existence to Donald Duck?

• A talk with the team behind the upcoming Joe video game – what secrets does it have in store for old-school fans?

• A G.I. Joe-themed price guide, complete with the return of sequential Big Shots!

• Twisted ToyFare Theatre: Part 2 of the epic showdown between nature’s deadliest enemies – Ewoks and Stormtroopers!

• A look at the brawlers who make up Jakks Pacific’s eagerly anticipated UFC line!

• Customizing 101 – how to customize your MiniMates!

• A brief chat with Hard Hero about their upcoming Thundercats statues and busts!

• Plus tons more toys in Incoming, the usual great sections and, of course, ROM and Kate Plus Eight!

Keep coming back for more views of Tonner and other SDCC exclusives!

If you missed Wizard World Philadelphia this weekend, you missed…well, this:

• The ToyFare Hall of Fame welcomed its second class of inductees! Randy Bowen delivered a video message (and some Ozzy), while inductees Tim Bruckner, Jesse Falcon and Aaron Archer (on behalf of Transformers) were on-hand to pick up their trophies. Speaking of trophies…check out that $#%!! On the left you’ll see last year’s original trophy, sculpted by the inimitable Tim Bruckner. On the right, this year’s trophy, sculpted in tribute to last year’s by the dream team of The Four Horsemen and Clayburn Moore!

• Speaking of Jesse, he and David Vonner and Scott George from Hasbro world-debuted three new Marvel Legends: modern Madrox, X-Force Warpath and Lady Bullseye! All three will be part of upcoming two-packs.

• Speaking of The Horsemen, they were on hand to show off some new prototypes, including the world’s first look at fully-painted Teela from Masters of the Universe Classics.

•Speaking of Hall of Fame inductees, one of last year’s honorees, Randy Falk, ran down some exciting new license announcements for NECA, including one video game line that’s sure to get everyone talking: Bioshock! Big Daddy toys, y’all!

• Speaking of (last time I’m using that gag) just about ALL those guys, they were on the Big Toy Industry panel on Friday night, which is a totally unique opportunity to hear legends from all corners of the industry rap about what’s going on in the toy biz right now. If you want to hear how the economy is affecting your favorite lines, or where guys like Jesse and the Horsemen think innovation will take the toy industry in the next 25 years, you can head to this dude’s blog and download an audio file of the entire panel. I highly suggest you do.

• Fans also got a look at some upcoming MiniMates art courtesy of Diamond Select Toys, a sneak-peek at the second and third series of Indie Spotlight toys courtesy of Shocker Toys, and the huge announcement that Tonner Doll got the license they were born for: Lord of the Rings! Budding artists also got master classes in sculpting from Robert Tonner and Tim Bruckner, and budding customizers got a schooling on our very first Customizing 101 panel with Matt “Iron-Cow” Cauley, Pierre “Airmax” Kalenzaga and Bobby “Bobby T” Torres. Seriously, it was so friggin’ educational I think I earned a new degree just moderating it.

Big thanks to all the fans who came out, all the toy industry pros who made it great, and DJ Skeletor, who put on the single most evil karaoke night I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting gonged offstage during. Thanks, guys!