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!

It’s Wizard World Philadelphia this Friday-Sunday, and ToyFare is all over it like a motherlover!!!

Philly is our big toy show, so ToyFare is going to be running programming all weekend long (like the Hall of Fame Awards, seen above!). Me and my new semi-smart QWERTY phone are going to be Tweeting all the news and panels, all weekend long, so make sure to follow me for all the updates.

Here are the panels we’ll be involved in:

Friday

1pm – 2pm
Toys: Room 201C
The Four Horsemen: What’s Up With The Four Horsemen?
Join the sculptors extraordinaire as they take a journey through their amazing work for Mattel and on their own Fantastic Exclusives line, give hints to aspiring sculptors and debut brand-new toy images for the first time!

2pm – 3pm
Toys: Room 201C
Ask Diamond Select Toys – Live!
Join the company behind Ultimate Quarter-Scale Star Wars figures, classic Trek toys and a bevy of MiniMates, from Marvel to the Godfather, to see what they’ve got coming down the pike! Join DST’s Chuck Terceira as he answers your questions and shows off upcoming products.

3pm – 4pm
Toys: Room 201C
How a NECA Figure is Made
Join the sculpting team behind toys like Cult Classics, Street Fighter IV and Twilight as they share tips and tricks for turning clay into works of art!
Showcase: Room 202B
Tom Savini Q&A
Learn the secrets of Special Effects from the King of Splatter! (Hosted by my man TJ Dietsch!)

4pm – 5pm
Toys: Room 201C
A Look Ahead w/ Tonner
Join the makers of the incredible Tonner Character Figures as they share the latest news on their exciting lines, from the DC Stars collection to Doctor Who and Torchwood, and beyond!

5pm – 6pm
Toys: Room 201C
Big Toy Industry Panel
Got a question about anything going on right now in the toy industry? These guys have all the answers! Join nearly every toy industry guest who’s going to be at Wizard World Philly, from Jesse Falcon to the Four Horsemen, as they appear onstage together to talk shop and answer your questions!
Moderated by Justin Aclin

Saturday

11am – 12pm
Toys: Room 201C
How to Sculpt w/ Tonner
Join world-renowned sculptor Robert Tonner, CEO of Tonner Inc., for his “Sculpting from Clay to the Finished Product” panel. Learn how the process works from beginning to end, get sculpting tips and tricks, and learn about the artistry he puts into each Tonner Character Figure. Participate in a Q&A with the sculptor himself and, of course, there will be giveaways at the end!

12pm – 1pm
Toys: Room 201C
NECA – A Look Ahead
Makers of some of the finest movie and video game toys in existence, join NECA’s Director of Product Development Randy Falk and the NECA team as they share some secrets about what’s next for the exciting company!

1pm – 2pm
Toys: Room 201C
Marvel Toys: Legends and Beyond!
Join Marvel Legends mastermind Jesse Falcon as he takes a look back at the legendary Marvel Legends line, including some figures that never made it to store shelves. Jesse, Legends sculptor Phil Ramirez, and David Vonner and Scott George from Hasbro’s Marvel team will be on hand to take your questions about your favorite Marvel figures!

2pm – 3pm
Toys: Room 201C
How to Sculpt w/ Tim Bruckner
Take advantage of this unique experience to learn about toy and statue sculpting from one of the masters of the form – this year’s ToyFare Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bruckner, the man behind many of your favorite DC Direct collectibles and more!

3pm – 4pm
Toys: Room 201C
Toy Customizing 101
The hit ToyFare magazine section comes to life on stage! Whether you’re new to the world of customizing action figures or you’re a seasoned pro looking for expert knowledge, our panel of noted customizers and toy industry pros will be able to shed some light on this fast-growing hobby. Stick around afterward for the custom toy contest!
Featuring Justin Aclin (ToyFare Magazine), T.J. Dietsch (ToyFare Magazine), Matt “Iron Cow” Cauley (DST’s MiniMates), Robert Torres (Art Asylum) and Pierre “Airmax” Kalenzaga.

4pm – 5pm
Toys: Room 201C
Custom Toy Contest
Presented by ToyFare magazine! Think you’ve got what it takes to be an award winning action figure customizer? Enter your figures in the 3.75-5 inch, 6-7 inch, and 8-12-inch cloth costumed categories for a chance to win prizes, including custom figures that have been featured in ToyFare, and a chance for your figure to appear in the magazine!
For more info on our contest rules and submission guidelines, please check the Contests Page.

5pm – 6pm
Toys: Room 201C
Second Annual ToyFare Hall of Fame Awards
It’s like the Kennedy Center Honors, but with more build-a-figures! Join the ToyFare staff and toy industry luminaries as we salute this year’s inductees: Jesse Falcon (Marvel Legends), Tim Bruckner (DC Direct), Randy Bowen (Bowen Designs) and Hasbro’s Transformers (represented by product manager Aaron Archer). Randy Bowen will have a special video acceptance, and the rest of the honorees will be on hand to be presented with this year’s amazing statuettes, designed by the dream team of the Four Horsemen and Clayburn Moore!

Sunday

12pm – 1pm
Toys: Room 201C
Twisted ToyFare Theatre: Behind the Stupidity
Join the creative team behind ToyFare Magazine’s award-winning satirical comic strip Twisted ToyFare Theatre to find out what sort of magic they employ to produce their patented brand of satirical goodness (hint: it’s voodoo!). Get an exclusive peek at the next Twisted ToyFare strip, and answer TTT trivia to win crap! In this case, crap refers to TTT collected editions.

1pm – 2pm
Toys: Room 201C
Shocker Toys – What’s To Come
Come meet the crew of Shocker Toys and find out what they have in store for you this year!

3pm – 4pm
Comics: Room 204A
Humor in Superhero Comics
Join ToyFare’s own Justin Aclin as he explores the ways that comics make you laugh. Not all comics are 100% dark and serious, there’s a reason why they’re called “Funny Books”.
Hosted by Justin Aclin with awesome guest panelists Kevin Maguire, Dan Slott, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente!