November 2011 Notable Toys — Action Figures

Based on Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the Hasbro Transformers Ultimate Optimus Prime Figure is the premium movie-adapted Transformers toy on the market. Designed for ages five and older, and standing over 22 inches tall, this action figure features a sleek design, glowing weapon lights, and battle and conversation sounds.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 3.8 out of 5 stars from 40 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Large; unique; comes with trailer. Cons: Some of the limbs are not very sturdy; not enough points of articulation.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Very detailed. Cons: Bigger than "voyager class," yet smaller than "deluxe" class, making it awkward to display. 

The LEGO MiniFigure Series 5 adds 16 all-new, special MiniFigures to the growing LEGO MiniFigure Collection. Each MiniFigure comes in a sealed, mystery bag. Each character has its own special accessories, display plate and collector's leaflet. Inspired by movies, sports, history and just everyday life. This collection includes: Fitness Instructor, Snowboarder Guy, Lizard Man, Lumberjack, Gladiator, Small Clown, Egyptian Queen, Evil Dwarf, Boxer, Ice Fisherman, Zoo Keeper, Graduate, Royal Guard, Cave Woman, Detective.
— As of 10/10/2011 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews on ToysRUs.com.
— Robert Lightburn from Cville's Hobbies, Games and Toys in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that LEGO items sell well with the tween crowd.

Start collecting the Super Sprowtz books now with the Bundle Pack. Includes all four books, introducing kids to all the characters and the story behind Super Sprowtz. Super Sprowtz pledges to donate 18 cents per book sold to Hunts Point Alliance for Children (HPAC) - a non-profit in Hunts Point, Bronx serving the most at-risk youth in the country, in the second poorest community in the United States. The Super Sprowtz book series are FSC certified (Forestry Stewardship Council), eco-friendly and made in the USA. Super Sprowtz cares about Planet Earth.

Named for its 2 horns similar to those of a bull, this carnivore had extremely short arms, even shorter than those of the T-Rex. This Carnotaurus is in scale and was developed with the collaboration of paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This model is intricately hand-painted and is phthalate and lead free and thoroughly safety tested. The scale for this figure is 1:30 and measures approx. 1.75” tall. It includes educational information in 5 languages and is appropriate for ages 3+.

Playmobil Figures Series 1 Pink contains twelve different girl figures that can be collected, assembled, and interchanged.  Each Figure comes unassembled in its mystery pack, so children can put them together, or interchange its parts to create a new character. Each counter display contains 48 figures, four each of the twelve figures. Recommended for ages five and up. Launch date: 2011.

Playmobil Figures Series 1 Blue contains twelve different boy figures that can be collected, assembled, and interchanged. Each Figure comes unassembled in its mystery pack, so children can put them together, or interchange its parts to create a new character. Recommended for ages five and up. Launch date: 2011.

The Sandtrooper Deluxe Figure - Desert Sands Detachment 12 inch Figure features:  Armored Body with over 30+ points of articulation; Detailed and hand painted Sandtrooper helmet portrait; Highly detailed full body armor set with updated weathering deco ;One (1) pair trigger grip hands; One (1) pair support hands; Survival Pack with updated configuration; Long Cycle Filter; Short Cycle Filter ;Grey Pauldron; Sergeant Pauldron; Two (2) Triple Magazine Waist Pouches; Triple Magazine Chest Pouch; Belt Pouch; BlasTech E-11 Blaster; BlasTech DLT-19 Heavy Blaster Rifle; RT-97C Heavy Blaster Rifle; BlasTech T-21 Light Repeating Blaster; Desert base stand cover; Lower support extendable figure stand with Star Wars logo. Launch date: November 2011.

Paul Frank's iconic monkey, Julius, has become a collectible toy produced by Super Rad Toys. Julius comes in two versions, Do-It-Yourself and Original. Now kids can own their favorite character to play with or collect. "The quality of Julius is what sets him apart. WIth his articulating head, arms, and feet you can pose Julius any way you like," Sidney Richlin, owner of Super Rad Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Infrared control flying spaceman with twin rotor propulsion, bright diode lights and ultralite micro components. "We haven't seen another item that is similar to this one," Ernie Wong, president of Master Toys & Novelties, Inc., told ITDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011.

In the Classic series, Lion-O is a fierce defender of freedom and a brave and noble leader, one that the other ThunderCats are proud to stand beside. This highly detailed figure is stylized after the 1980’s animated cartoon series. Lion-O figure includes: the Sword of Omens (Long Sword), Sword of Omens (Short Sword), Claw Shield and extra posed hand. Lion-O stands at 8" tall. Also has 18 points of articulation.
– As of 09/01/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com.

Playable Metal blocks are made in aluminum alloy. There are 10 different shapes each with threaded holes on many of its facets. Blocks can be interconnected using specially designed screws. This patented connecting mechanism makes building flexible structures possible for each two adjacent blocks can be secured in any easily adjusted angle. Playable Metal blocks are available in 7 metallic colors. This set includes, 22 playable metal blocks, 39 connecting screws, 6 aluminum rods, 2 special rods (sports pack), L-shaped wrench.

This Jumbo Marble Whacker is a two player marble game where players operate sets of Flippers and attempt to smack and whack a rolling marble into a goal. The game is played with 20 large one-inch diameter marbles. The Flippers are controlled by by pushing big wooden buttons at the sides of the game. All wood construction, and Made in America. "This is a brand new game with an old fashioned look and feel.  It is built to last for many years," Mike Spikes, owner of American Toy LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

When he was 14 years old, Peter Parker was bitten by a spider that had been irradiated in a nuclear experiment. Something in the spider's venom changed him, over night, from the nerdy kid he'd been to something else entirely. Given incredible strength, speed and stamina, he reveled in his power. The tragic death of his uncle threw Peter's good fortune into fierce perspective, giving him direction. From that day on, he vowed to battle evil wherever he could find it as The Amazing Spider-Man. Detailed with defined "muscles", pose this Spider-Man action figure in a battle-ready pose with his "spinning" web accessory aimed at the enemy! Fully articulated, he's ready to make a stand in your collection. Action figure comes with a "spinning" web accessory and a S.H.I.E.L.D. file with a secret code.
— Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells 6 Spider-Man action figures from Hasbro each month, and that they're his best-selling action figure.
— In a Summer 2012 survey Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell a dozen Spider-Man figures each month.

The HEXBUG® Larva is a micro robotic creature that slithers forward on smooth surfaces using a slow, rhythmic flexing motion. Just like real larvae, each of these creepy crawlers reacts to its environment, instinctively changing direction upon sensing an object in its path and wriggling off to explore a clear, undisturbed path ahead. Its behavior is eerily mesmerizing to watch and interact with. The HEXBUG Larva is CPSIA approved for kids ages 8 and up. The HEXBUG Larva features a forward facing infrared sensor that allows it to detect fellow squirming larvae and other objects in its path. When the HEXBUG Larva encounters a road block, it spins around on two micro robotic wheels hidden beneath its hard exterior shell and heads off in a new direction. Three button cell batteries are included. Available in various translucent colors including Red, Green, Indigo, Orange and Black. Launch date: mid-August 2011.