BANDAI NAMCO DEMON SLAYER ACTION FIGURES

Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. is adding characters from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba to its Ultimate Legends line of anime show inspired action figure toys. Ultimate Legends brings Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, and Zenitsu Agatsuma to 5-inch figure form with an impressive 27 points of articulation and screen accurate details from the show that can be viewed on Netflix. Each figure includes character-specific accessories, an extra set of hands, and comes in collectible packaging featuring artwork from the anime. In the show, based upon the stories of a Japanese manga publication, a family is attacked by demons and only two members survive - Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, who is turning into a demon slowly. Tanjiro sets out to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and cure his sister. Inosuke and Zenitsu become Tanjiro's traveling companions on his quest.

“The demographic of anime fans has evolved drastically over the past decade, but what hasn’t changed is their devotion to showing off their fandom in any way possible,” Trish Garrett, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Brand Strategist, communicated to ageekdaddy.com. “We’re excited to offer Demon Slayer fans a way to interact with their favorite characters!”

Fans can pre-order Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, and Zenitsu Agatsuma beginning today, March 3rd. Bandai’s Ultimate Legends line launched last year with Naruto characters, including a young and adult version of Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake. With Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba joining Ultimate Legends, fans can anticipate even more characters from popular anime shows coming in the near future.

Ultimate Legends Demon Slayer Features: 

● Ultimate Legends HD delivers a high-quality figure created to look exactly like your favorite character from the popular anime series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

● Each character in the Ultimate Legend HD series is approximately 5 inches tall with 27 points of articulation

● Ultimate Legends HD series features extra accessories and a collectible package

● Collectible packaging with beautiful art reveal on the inside of the cover 

● Recreate iconic scenes from the anime 

● Recommended for ages 4+

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GUNDAM INFINITY SERIES

Fans of the GUNDAM BREAKER MOBILE video game available for Apple and Android devices will appreciate the newest robotic warrior toys that are now available from Bandai America. The Gundam Infinity Series lets fans of the game hold in their hands 4.5-inch toys that replicate their favorite mechs from the video game as well as the anime and manga stories that inspired it. There are five to choose from and collecting all of them will allow you to build a sixth figure that is not otherwise available.

The Gundam Infinity Series includes Barbatos, Astray Red Frame, Gundam Artemis, RX-78-2 and Wing Gundam.  Each figure in the collection has interchangeable Arms/Legs/Torso/Head that can be mixed and matched across all the figures for a multitude of customization options. Plus each comes with a variety of accessories ranging from laser blasters to swords. Plus collect all five to construct the classic MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

BARBATOS

The Gundam Barbatos is one of 72 ""Gundam"" frames that was produced and used in the Calamity War. It is powered by two Ahab reactors which give it exceptional maneuverability and speed. This mech was originally introduced in the Iron-Blooded Orphans anime series. The toy includes mace and sword weapons for Barbatos as well as weapons to utilize when constructing the MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

ASTRAY RED FRAME

The MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame is a Mobile Suit from the Gundam SEED series of manga, novel and photonovel. The MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame is one of five identical prototype mobile suits developed by Orb using stolen data from the Earth Alliance's G Project.  The toy includes a  Gerbera Straight Katana, Type 71 Beam Rifle, and Shield as well as the build a figure body/torso accessory for the MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

GUNDAM ARTEMIS

A high performance Mobile Suit based on the GX-9900 Gundam X and ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam. Although its performance and maneuverability is high, it is difficult to control for novice pilots. This mobile suit was introduced in the Gundam Breaker Mobile video game. The toy comes with a Satellite Cannon with accompanying power panel system  as well as the build a figure head accessory for the MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

RX-78-2

The RX-78-2 is the primary robot warrior featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam television series. It is the most iconic of Mobile Suits would turn the tide in favor of the Earth Federation during the One Year War against the Principality of Zeon. The toy includes a Beam Saber, XBR-M-79-07G Beam Rifle, and RX*M-Sh-008/S 01025 Shield as well as the build a figure arm accessories for the MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

WING GUNDAM

The XXXG-01W Wing Gundam (aka Gundam Zero-One) is the titular mech of the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing series. The toy comes with a Buster Rifle, Beam Saber, and Gundamium Alloy Shield along with the build a figure leg accessories for the MS-06F Zaku Mobile Suit.

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Bandai America ONE PIECE Action Figures

Ahoy mateys! Bandai America has created a new lineup of action figures that will allow you to imagine pirate adventures inspired by the popular ONE PIECE anime television episodes and manga comics. Cisco Maldonado, Senior Director of Brand Strategy at Bandai America, devoted some time from his busy schedule for a one on one interview with a Geek Daddy to share some highlights about this new addition to the company's Anime Heroes toy collection.

The story of One Piece is an epic adventure about treasure hunting pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, who is on a quest to become the King of the Pirates. Luffy and his friends journey through the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and beyond in search for the legendary treasure, One Piece, that once belonged to Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Before Gol D. Roger’s death, he revealed to everyone that his treasure, the One Piece, was hidden at the end of the Grand Line. This inspired people to become pirates themselves and sail toward the treasure, beginning what has become known as the Great Age of Pirates. 

Bandai America's 6.5-inch scale ONE PIECE action figures are a great way for people to engage in imaginative play recreating their favorite moments from the anime show that can be seen on Netflix or the pages of the manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. Each of these Anime Heroes action figures feature over 16 points of articulation providing a multitude of posing possibilities making them wonderful for both playing and displaying. Every figure also includes two sets of switchable hands and character-specific accessories. 

Bandai America ONE PIECE action figures will be hitting Target store shelves by mid-April and Walmart's toy aisle in June. They are also available online via amazon.com. Other toy retailers are also expected to begin selling the Anime Heroes ONE PIECE action figures in 2021 so keep an eye out for them at your favorite stores. Fans of the tv series and comics as well as those who appreciate cool looking action figures are sure to be geeked about these new toys.

LUFFY

Luffy, Captain of the Straw Hat pirates, has set out to be the King of the Pirates. Luffy goes on adventures aiding those in need and collecting more friends and members for his crew along they way. Luffy is also regarded as one of twelve pirates who are referred to as the "Worst Generation" with a bounty of 1,500,000,000 on his head.

ZORO

Zoro is a former bounty hunter and the first crew member of the Straw Hat Pirates. His dream is to become the greatest swordsman in the world. 

SANJI

Sanji (also known as Black Leg), is the Straw Hat pirates chef as well as their third strongest fighter. It is his dream is to find the rumored chef's paradise, the All Blue, which is where the waters of East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue meet, along with their wildlife. 

Which action figure is your favorite? Mine is Zoro. You know a great pirate has to be able to be a master of the cutlass! That being said all three (Luffy, Sanji and Zoro) get a Geek Daddy nod of approval for these toys replicating the anime characters' in such detail it seems as if they've jumped off television screens or out of comic book pages when holding these action figures in your hand.

For more information about toys from Bandai America check out their website and social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter. If you are going to be on Twitter and Instagram make sure to follow @Geekdad248 too!

On FREE COMIC BOOK DAY remember your First Amendment Rights

Since 1986, when Michael Correa, the store manager for a Lansing, Illinois comic book shop called FRIENDLY FRANK'S was arrested for the possession and sale of comic books as obscene material, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) has provided legal assistance to protect the First Amendment rights of the readers, creators, retailers, publishers, and librarians of comic books, manga, and graphic novels.  Twenty-eight years later the CBLDF is still tackling censorship issues and standing up for First Amendment rights, including its recent efforts to have a Utah law that censored Internet speech and a California law that eliminated First Amendment protections for violent images declared unconstitutional by Federal Courts.

In additional to legal advocacy, the CBLDF also provides educational outreach regarding citizens rights in regard to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.  CBLDF is partnering with the comic industry's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY event to help educate people about the importance of the First Amendment in a free society.  CBLDF will be distributing 2 books at 2014's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, a parents guide on comic books & a comic book that has stories that explain the rights provided through the First Amendment, that you can pick up for free at participating comic book shops.

The CBLDF's publication, "RAISING A READER!" answers parents and educators questions about comic books, such as: what skills do they offer kids? What resources are available for using graphic novels in education? How do you teach reading with a comic page?  If you are a parent with young readers at home, pick this up!

"DEFEND COMICS" is a FREE COMIC BOOK DAY comic book that takes a light-hearted look at a serious topic.  It explores the censorship of comics through sketches by some of today's most talented artists.

For more information about the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, visit www.cbldf.org

CLICK HERE to find a participating FREE COMIC BOOK DAY location near you. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is the first Saturday in May (5.3.2014).

Comic Book Review: Alice in Wonderland

Our bedtime reading this week has been Dark Horse Comic’s adaption of “Alice in Wonderland”. This hardcover book demonstrates that comics can be a fun outlet for parents to enjoy with their young children...in my case 4 year old twins.  I enjoy finding books that have artwork that will draw their attention into the pages, help expand my childrens' interaction in the story-telling, and foster an appreciation of creativity and the arts.  Eisner & Ignatz Awards-nominated Rod Espinosa accomplishes just that in his sketched version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale that provides a mind’s eye of Wonderland to its readers.

I appreciated that this book was entertaining enough to keep my children’s attention as we read through the pages together and didn’t have content that would be concerning in regard to potentially creating nightmares for the kids.  Many of the recent revisions of Alice in Wonderland in movies, television, and publications have had a very dark and dangerous tone to them and I was pleased that the comic did not take that tact in its interpretation of Alice’s adventures.  That being said there are challenges and dangers portrayed in this comic where anyone could risk at anytime losing their head at the displeasure of her Majesty ... you just can’t have a Queen of Hearts who doesn’t say “Off with her Head” ...  which demonstrates that Wonderland may be a fascinating place for a visit, but you really don’t want to stay too long.

Espinosa illustrates this comic with a Manga-influence that gives a light air to the artwork which helped capture my kids’ attention.  We had recently read some Beatrix Potter books at bedtime and my daughter was delighted to tell me the drawings in this “Alice in Wonderland” story reminded her of some of the watercolors from the Potter stories.  The other thing the artwork reminded me daughter of, which has become somewhat amusing, is she believes the Mad Hatter character looks like Jay Leno so whenever she sees a commercial for the Tonight Show (of course she doesn’t stay up that late to watch the show) she yells out “look daddy it’s the Mad Hatter”.  One critique is that while characters like the Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, and Deck of Card Knights really boldly pop out from the pages at you, the White Rabbit just has this blah uninteresting appearance to him that really isn’t up to par with the rest of the drawings in the comic and becomes somewhat of a mild distraction from enjoying that character’s portions of the story.

All in all Dark Horse Comic’s “Alice in Wonderland” was an enjoyable read that passed the Geek Daddy’s bedtime reading test in that it was exciting and interesting enough to entertain my children, kept their attention long enough for them to get sleepyheaded, and didn’t have any content or pictures that result in either of my kids waking up in the middle of the night because they became scared from the story.  My daughter who dressed up as Alice for Halloween last year really enjoyed us reading the story together and seeing how the character was portrayed in the comic so an extra kudos to Rod Espinosa from her as well!

 I was provided a free advance copy of the comic to review from the publisher.  The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

“Alice in Wonderland” is scheduled to go on sale February 19, 2013 for a suggested retail price of $19.99.  Amazon.com has the book available for pre-order at a discounted $13.59 and Barnes & Noble has it available to pre-order for $13.45.