After a year of waiting, I got my chance to return to Toy Fair this week at the Javits Center in New York. Last year, I broke my press cherry and attended Toy Fair 2011 – it was a magical experience. There I stood, a lover of toys and games, surrounded and overwhelmed by future plastic prospects. This year, I had a game plan and got a chance to really take note of, not only the fantastic creations that will flood retailers’ shelves, but also the immensely large business and marketing aspects of the toy industry. It was quite eye-opening. (more…)

When you think of death, toys don’t usually come to mind. It takes a unique individual to appreciate repulsive and downright weird collectibles. I, for one, am one of those people. If you’ve ever seen an episode of Oddities on the Discovery Channel or Science Channel, then you know that there is a small percentage of the population that enjoys macabre curios. It also makes you realize that there’s not much of a fine line between carnival treasures and antique medical equipment. Here is a look at items that could be considered anything from abominations to toys and collectibles. (more…)

I first met Jordan Hembrough when I was a waiter at a small café. I made a Star Wars joke and we became fast friends. Unwinnable’s Ken Lucas and I worked with him a few times at New York Comic Con, and we had a blast. One day, Jordan mentioned that he was pitching a show to the Travel Channel about toy collecting, but we fell out of touch after I left the job.

Fast forward to New York Comic Con 2011. I literally bumped into Jordan walking around on the show room floor. We headed back to his booth and I was shocked to see the number of cameras floating around. He was at NYCC filming the pilot episode of Toy Hunters for the Travel Channel, which revolves around Jordan scouring the nation in search of rare and sought-after toys.

Ken and I recently stopped by his office for a quick interview and to check out a 5-minute clip of the show. Unlike most reality show stars with overblown, scripted personae, what you see is what you get with Jordan. His enthusiasm for collecting toys and the joy he gets out of finding that rare piece is almost contagious, reminding you of how fun it is to discover that awesome toy hiding behind an army of peg warmers. (more…)

It has been a great year of toy hunting and it’s coming to a close. Team Unwinnable has sifted through the banal and bland to uncover some truly great gems. Here are our picks for the best toys of 2011. (more…)

If you’ve read some of my past toy and collectible previews, then you know that as much as I like toys, I like weird oddities just the same. So in the spirit of this holiday season, I’ve put together a gift guide of sorts to help find something different than the usual garbage that can be found strewn on a shelf at your local market. (more…)

Well, toy fans, it’s been a while since the Spring Spectacular toy update. Since we last visited, I purchased Sideshow Collectibles’ exclusive Red Ninja from the G.I. Joe collection and I must say that it is one of the better 1/6^th scale figures I have had the pleasure of owning. It is outfitted with a variety of ninja weapons and a swanky sedge hat that would make Raiden of Mortal Kombat jealous. The exclusive edition adds a second head complete with a sculpted ninja mask. While I’m on the subject of G.I. Joe, I recently pre-ordered the exclusive edition of Zartan, who comes outfitted with compound bow and evil Duke mask. (more…)

Wow, so apparently Mattel is actually going to make a Fearless Photog figure, huh? Really? For those not familiar with that whole bag, here’s the lowdown on Nathan Bitner, creator of Fearless Photog.

The kid who designed it apparently wound up working for Bungie, got ripped off by a prostitute named Genesis and joined the army. It sure is an interesting read!