MINIATURE RECORD PLAYER PROVIDE REVOLUTIONARY MUSIC EXPERIENCE

With advancements in technology, who would have known the simplicity of listening to music via vinyl recordings would be back in fad? But it is and toy manufacturer MGA Entertainment is catering to fans of the medium with a real working miniature record player as part of its Miniverse collection. While you can't listen to full albums, I find this mini version of a record player that you can listen to singles on really cool. I can absolutely see this on my work desk and using it from time to time when a song would be a nice picky me up.

MGA’s Miniverse Real Music™ features fully playable mini vinyls and a real working mini record player, this groundbreaking launch transforms music fandom into something you can unbox, style, showcase, and spin. Perfectly detailed and pocket-sized, it delivers an authentic listening experience right in the palm of your hand.

MGA's Miniverse Real Music™ Vinyls provide real song listening experiences from powerhouse artists across pop, rock, hip-hop, reggae, and soul including Britney Spears, The Beach Boys, Def Leppard, Public Enemy, Amy Winehouse, Imagine Dragons, Elton John, Blink-182, Bob Marley, and more! Bravado, Universal Music Group’s industry-leading licensing and brand management division, served as a key partner in bringing the name, image, and likeness of globally renowned artists into the Miniverse collectible category. Rooted in a shared passion for music culture and fandom, the partnership ensures each miniature release authentically celebrates the legacy and impact of the artists fans know and love.  

You can collect mini records through purchasing blind bags that contain a random assortment of 4 vinyls and a stackable mini record crate for display. With 20+ songs to collect, including hits like…Baby One More Time, Rocket Man, and Fight the Power, you can build the ultimate mini music library. 

And these aren’t just for show. Every mini vinyl comes to life with MGA’s Miniverse Real Music™ Record Player, a real working mini turntable with retro-inspired styling, collectible mini speakers, and a display-ready furniture piece, designed to complete the mini music experience. Each set also includes a playable mini vinyl featuring a Classical Rock Remix of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, ready to spin right out of the box. It’s compatible with the full Real Music™ Mini Records collection, so fans can enjoy the biggest hits in the smallest way possible.

A limited quantity of MGA’s Miniverse Real Music™ Vinyls (MSRP $11.99) and the Real Music™ Record Player (MSRP $21.99) will be available for preorder at https://shop.mgae.com beginning April 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM PT. Orders placed during the presale period are expected to ship in June 2026.

TEANIE TOTS

Fans of Moosh-Moosh plush toys and travel pillows should check out Teanie Tots a new line of collectible vinyl figures from MMG Brands. Teanie Tots are cute 1.5 inch figures inspired by Moosh-Moosh characters that sit within tiny tea cups. While this toy line embraces its roots with Moosh-Moosh, MMG Brands plans on developing Teanie Tots as becoming distinct filled with unique characters and stories.

The 2024 Teanie Tots Collection includes the following characters:

BOBA

Whether it's tea parties with friends or embarking on epic quests in a child's imagination, Boba the bear is ready for every adventure.

CANOLLI

Out digging dirt or running in the grass, Cannoli the dog is a wonderful companion for every backyard playtime. Made in durable high-quality vinyl, Cannoli is ready for any game of fetch-the-teaspoon.

CHICKPEA

Chickpea the bird is eternally excited to host tea parties and welcomes every new friend with graceful ease. Always eager to meet new people and make them smile, Chickpea is an excellent friend for any child.

FRITTER 

Friendly, a little silly, but always focused: Fritter the frog will jump as high as needed to get any job done! No mountain too high and problem too small, Fritter will tackle it with a can-do attitude.

TRUFFLE

If there is something Truffle the pig loves more than cooking, it’s being neat and tidy. Whether making finger sandwiches for the tea party, or cleaning up what’s left, Truffle is always happy to help.

PISTACHIO 

Pistachio the rabbit is always on the move. Whether in the garden growing all sorts of beautiful plants, or hopping around from one friend to the next, Pistachio is eternally excited and ready for anything.

PANNINI

There’s never a boring moment after Panini the cat sashays into the room. Mischievous and quick, trouble is soon to follow wherever the little cat goes.

NOBLE COLLECTION ADDS MINECRAFT LICENSE TO ITS PORTFOLIO

From BendyFigs action figures to replica props from the Harry Potter movies, there is a fantastic portfolio of products available from The Noble Collection to be geeked about. I've enjoyed an out of this world game night playing Star Trek Tridimensional Chess, had a Bowtruckle sneak into work with me, and surprised my daughter with a magical present courtesy of The Noble Collection. Now they've added a new brand to the collection that is sure to delight my video game fanatic son ... MINECRAFT!

The Noble Collection will explore the world of Minecraft with a unique and intricate line of collectibles including a signature Chess Set and real-world prop replicas that will bring Minecraft to life as never seen before. The new collection will be available for pre-order Holiday 2022, with new products rolling out through 2023 and beyond.

The Noble Collection, known for its high quality collectibles featuring intricate details and superior sculpts, will bring this expertise into the Minecraft collection. Products in the line will showcase a real world interpretation through realistic styling cues, for a new and immersive Minecraft experience. The elevated collector-grade products will allow the Minecraft community to celebrate the world of Minecraft on a new level.

See what is new with The Noble Collection on their Instagram feed. While you are doing that make sure to be following @Geekdad248 on Instagram too. Enjoying the geeky side of life from the 248 here in Metro Detroit!

Marvel & Funko Join the Subscription Mystery Box Mailers Craze

Subscription mystery boxes where people sign-up to receive periodic shipments through the mail that are filled with goodies that fit into some sort of theme has become a hot new fad.  Services like Loot Crate, Nerd Block, and Hero Box surprise their subscribers with specially selected  t-shirts, toys, comic books, and other collectible, often times exclusive, items that provide a thrill to recipients when opening a new package each time one arrives because they don't specifically know what they are getting in advance.  Will the contents be awesome, will they be a disappointment, are they useful, or will they just be more clutter around the house?  You won't know til you rip open the box!

Now Marvel and Funko, who up to now had been supplying items for other mystery box services, are joining this trend themselves with the creation of the Marvel Collector Corps.  Starting in April 2015, people can subscribe to get a box delivered to them every other month that will have a theme based upon a Marvel Entertainment property.  Each mystery box will contain a t-shirt randomly selected from 4 choices in your designated size, a Funko stylized vinyl figurine, and 2 premium accessories that tie into the package's theme.  Marvel promises that for the $25 per box charge that subscribers will receive exclusive items that are exclusive to the Marvel Collector Corps.

To help promote this new service, Marvel Collector Corps is letting people know at least one item that will be in the first mystery box - an Iron Man Hulkbuster Funko vinyl figure!  Plus they have released the themes for the first two mystery boxes which tie into upcoming Marvel superhero movies: AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON for April and ANT-MAN in June.

Subscriptions for Marvel Collector Corps can be purchased for specific individual months or annually (6 boxes).  For more information, visit www.collectorcorps.com

How Much is a Used Storm Trooper Boot Worth?

How much is a used storm trooper boot worth? I guess we'll find out on October 16th when Prop Store auctions off in London more than 375 original television show and movie costumes and props including a hover board prop used by Michael J Fox in Back to the Future (1989), a Batman suit & cape used onscreen by the stunt double in Batman Returns (1992) and a storm trooper boot from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).  Can't jump the pond to participate don't worry because the auction will also be carried live via the Internet to let people around the world in on the action.  You can also register and enter a pre-auction bid on an item if you want to just throw out a number you'd be willing to pay for a collectible and see if you can win.  CLICK HERE to see the entire catalog of movie memorabilia up for auction by Prop Store.

A few items I'd throw on my wish list is the Blue Harvest crew cap [a bit of trivia is that to try and keep the filming of Return of the Jedi a secret they called the movie Blue Harvest during its production], the Ralph McQuarrie Star Trek StarFleet Headquarters Painting [McQuarrie did the concept art to assist with the production of many of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies of the 1970s and 1980s & is one of my favorite artists] and the Antarctic Ancient Control Chair used in the television shows Stargate SG-1 (1997) and Stargate Atlantis (2004-2009) [which are two of my favorite tv shows from the old SciFi Friday days of the SyFy Channel].  The auction catalog features appraised values of items [in pounds not dollars] but they could go for lower or higher amounts based upon bidder interest and the reserve [lowest bid seller will accept] on the prop or costume.  A certificate of authenticity from a reputable appraiser is provided for each prop and costume to help preserve the value of items purchased in the auction.

Unfortunately while I find the props and costumes featured in this auction really incredible and would love to showcase them at my home or office, the prices are most likely going to be way out of the ballpark for my participation.  A biker scout helmet used in Return of the Jedi is appraised to go for around 8,000 to 10,000 pounds for example and the storm trooper boot I mentioned earlier is appraised to go for 800 to 1,200 pounds.  You may be able to find something somewhat affordable and interesting if you really look through the catalog though such as a Ralph McQuarrie Christmas Card that was sent out by LucasFilm to the cast and crew of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back that is appraised in the range of 80 to 100 pounds.

If you would really love to have a piece from one of your favorite movies or television shows this could be the chance to pickup a one of a kind collectible that you can appreciate and cherish for a long time...I just would advise against spending your children's college fund for a prop or costume no matter how cool it is.  I'm pretty sure there are some people out there contemplating that after taking a look through this auction's fantastic catalog.

 For more information or to participate in the Prop Store Auction visit: www.propstore.com/liveauction

NFL ADDS SOME POP WITH NEW LINE OF FUNKO FIGURINES

 

The popular Funko vinyl toys that mimic pop culture entertainment figures is adding the NFL to its ranks this fall.  Debuting just in time for the kickoff of the National Football League's 2014 season is a new line of Funko Pop! figurines that depict some of football's greatest athletes.  Funko's Pop! Viynl toys are modeled in Japanese chibi style which portrays an exaggerated caricature that is small and chubby with stuffy limbs and over-sized heads giving characters the resemblance of small children.  The NFL joins a wide array of licenses that Funko already holds for a variety of entertainment properties including DC Super Heroes, Disney, Star Wars and The Walking Dead among others.

Funko will be releasing toys of 26 players from 19 NFL teams ranging from Detroit's Calvin "Megatron" Johnson to Washington DC's Reggie Griffin III.  Each figure will be 3.75" and come with a removable helmet.  Each figure will also capture a unique feature of a player in his chibi caricature.  For example, Calvin Johnson will have on eye black, Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews  have long locks of hair, Andrew Luck will be sporting his lucky beard, a bandage adorns JJ Watts nose and RGIII will be wearing a beanie.  The lineup of represented players ranges from SuperBowl Champs to ProBowl super stars to some of the top rookies picked up in this year's draft.  Yes Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney made the cut.

Each player is also assigned a number on Funko's 2014 roster of NFL figures:

01 Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
02 Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
03 Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
04 Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
05 Tom Brady, New England Patriots
06 Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
07 DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos
08 Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
09 J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
10 Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
11 Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
12 Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
13 Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

14 Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
15 Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
16 Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
17 Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
18 Eli Manning, New York Giants
19 Victor Cruz, New York Giants
20 Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
21 Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
22 Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
23 Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
24 Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans
25 Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns
26 Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

This isn't Funko's first foray into mocking up sports figures, but will be its first effort with the NFL.  They have also featured NBA players and WWE wrestlers in the past, plus captured Major League Baseball's mascots in vinyl in the past.

Players are sold separately and suggested retail price is $9.99.  Keep an eye out at stores for your favorite players this fall.  Also note that once a wave of Funko toys is released they normally aren't reproduced again which makes them collectibles that are often grabbed up; so if you see a player you want at a store pick him up because you may not be able to find the toy again once it is sold out unless you go to ebay and pay a huge markup.

For more info, visit www.funko.com