McFarlane Toys To Launch Revolutionary Building Block Sets For AMC's Walking Dead Exclusively At Toys R Us

Famed artist and award-winning toy designer Todd McFarlane and McFarlane Toys are unveiling a revolutionary evolution in brick building toys based on television’s most watched drama, AMC’s The Walking Dead. Known as a game-changer for its realistic action figures, including those based on The Walking Dead, McFarlane Toys is adding a new licensed category to the company's portfolio. The new The Walking Dead toys will extend McFarlane's high standards of artistic vision, realistic accuracy and incredible detail into the brick building toy aisle alongside of other leading manufacturers.McFarlane Toys’ The Walking Dead building sets and figures will be available this fall only at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com

The initial McFarlane Toys’ The Walking Dead brick building line will feature realistic sculpts, light-up and shaped features, iconic environments, and dozens of your fan-favorite characters and walkers. Both collectors and fans of the cult phenomenon can literally recreate their favorite scenes with this new highly detailed and realistic The Walking Dead product line.

“Twenty years ago I walked into the action figure aisle, saw an artistic void, and asked, can these toys look cooler? The answer was yes, they could, and I’ve survived twenty years next to the big boys creating those artistic toys,” said McFarlane. “Now I’m walking into another aisle with that same question, and the answer is still yes!”

“Will these be the best building sets out there? I’ll leave it up to the consumer to decide,” said McFarlane. “But, will it look cooler? Yes. Will it be more detailed? Absolutely. Will it be more realistic? I guarantee it!”

The Walking Dead series one product line will feature building sets, expansion packs, and figure blind bags for consumers to build their own The Walking Dead apocalypse:

The Building Sets: MSRP $9.99-64.99 – Daryl Dixon with Chopper, The Governor’s Room, and Prison Tower with Gate.  Expand your brick building apocalypse with additional figure and accessory packs.

Blind Bag Figures: MSRP $2.99 – Daryl Dixon, Michonne, The Governor, Carl Grimes, Riot Gear Walker, Michonne’s Pet Walker, and Herd Walkers.

ABOUT THE WALKING DEAD:

The Walking Dead is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. The series tells the story of the months and years after a zombie apocalypse and follows a group of survivors, led by sheriff Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Emily Kinney, Danai Gurira, Chad L. Coleman and Sonequa Martin-Green. The series is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, David Alpert and Tom Luse. The Walking Dead returns October 2014.

ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN:

Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man and Thief of Thieves. In 2010, Kirkman formed his own Image imprint, Skybound, which publishes his own work and Witch Doctor, Guarding the Globe and Clone.  Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and 2012. In April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit Emmy®-winning television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. AMC is developing Thief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. Your destination for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles is www.Skybound.com

ABOUT AMC:

Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade, or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC brings to its audience something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network reigns as the only cable network in history ever to win the Emmy^® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, and boasts the most-watched drama series in basic cable history with The Walking Dead.  AMC’s original drama series include Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, Turn, Halt and Catch Fire and the forthcoming Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul. AMC also explores authentic worlds with bold characters through its slate of unscripted original series like Comic Book Men, Small Town Security, Talking Dead, Game of Arms and Freakshow. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel, and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Something More.

ABOUT MCFARLANE TOYS:

Grammy-and Emmy-winning producer/director Todd McFarlane creator of Spawn, is the force behind McFarlane Toys, one of America’s top action figure manufacturers. McFarlane Toys has become a leader and redefined the standards within the action figure industry.

Image Expo- 20 Years of Independence

In 1992, frustrated by the way their creations were being exploited, some of the biggest artists in comics set out to tell the stories they wanted to tell, the way they wanted to tell them. These artists formed Image Comics, one of the biggest comic publishers in the industry. Through the creation of Image Comics fans have seen the creator-owned Spawn, Savage Dragon, Youngblood, The Walking Dead and Witchblade series’ (just to name a few) become some of the biggest sellers in the industry.  Last weekend in Oakland, Image’s five partners (Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino and Erik Larsen) and their fans gathered to celebrate twenty years of independent comics.  

The first day kicked off with the Keynote Address from Eric Stephenson making some awesome announcements of some upcoming Image offerings. Some of the most notable:

-Jupiters Children from Mark Millar

-Black Kiss 2 from Howard Chaykin

-Happy from Grant Morrison

Saturday saw a full line-up of panels that kicked off with Womanthology: What Zeitgeist? featuring Trina Robbins, Maria Huehner, Nicole Sixx, Fiona Staples and Bonnie Butler with moderator Blair Butler.  For those that don’t know, Womanthology is an anthology which showcases over 100 female creators. The project started out as an idea that was tweeted, which then caught on and eventually snow-balled into a Kickstarter project. By the end of the first day, the project reached its goal of $25,000 and in the end, went on to exceed its goal with over $100,000 in funding (for more on Womanthology click here). The book releases on March 20, 2012. Keep your ears open because Maria Huehner stated at the panel that, “There is a next step” and that all will be announced around the same time as the book’s release!

Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Jim Valentino, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen and Rob Liefeld were on hand at the Twenty Years of Independence: The Image Comics 20^th Anniversary Panel. During the panel they recounted the story of Image Comics’ founding. McFarlane said, “Rob was gonna do his thing, Erik was gonna do his thing and Jim (Lee) and all of a sudden it was like, “Why are we sorta kinda thinking about doing all of these things independently?” So, with Todd McFarlane, Jim Valentino, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld all on board, Image Comics was born. "The reason Image worked is because it was a collective. We were all jonesing to do our own thing. We loved our time at Marvel, I'm just speaking from a place of honesty, and I was just excited to do something else. It wasn't like 'I'm done with Marvel' or 'Marvel's treated me wrong’” said Liefeld.

Hands down, the biggest panel of the Expo was The Walking Dead Live with Robert Kirkman, Norman Reedus and Steven Yeun with Chris Hardwick as moderator. If you’ve ever seen The Talking Dead, this panel was a live version of that. To view the full video of the panel from Youtube and hotmilkgt click here

Sunday consisted of workshops from some of the best and brightest in the industry including: Joe Casey (Ben 10), Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, John Layman and many others. Image Comics has come a long way from being, the little publisher that could. “We are 20 years now into the failure. Maybe 20 years from now it will (fail), but I don't think so. I think it'll outlive all of us,” said Silvestri. He summed it all up best in the Twenty Years Panel when he said, "The thing about Image Comics when we started 20 years ago, and it still holds true today, even though we have more experience and we've learned a lot, both from successes and failures, is that the dysfunction of Image is actually the function of Image. Image was formed by seven lunatics who, like Todd said, backup for a running start off a cliff. The beauty of Image is the fact is that now, with 20 years of retrospect, what Image did, what it stood for, has literally become a part of pop-culture history."

Cartoon Art Museum Exhibition: Image Comics: A 20th Anniversary Celebration

In 1992, seven of the most popular comic book artists in the world joined forces to create Image Comics, a company specializing in the publication of creator-owned comics and graphic novels. The first wave of Image Comics was an immediate hit with fans, and the company has grown over the past two decades to become one of the largest comics publishers in North America. In addition to publishing work by the Image partners, they give a voice to work by numerous independent creators. Its best-known series include Spawn, Savage Dragon, Witchblade, The Darkness, Invincible and The Walking Dead.

The Cartoon Art Museum’s exhibition Image Comics: A 20th Anniversary Celebration features over 40 pieces of original artwork spanning 20 years, including works from all seven Image founders, Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Jim Lee (WildC.A.T.s), Rob Liefeld (Youngblood), Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Whilce Portacio (Wetworks), Marc Silvestri (Cyberforce), and Jim Valentino (Shadowhawk). Works from Image partner Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) will also be included in this historic exhibition.

The opening reception for Image Comics: A 20th Anniversary Celebration will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 7:00-9:00pm. Special guests include Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead, Invincible), Fiona Staples (Saga), Ryan Ottley (Invincible) and many more to be announced, as well as a few last-minute surprises. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased here: guestlistapp. Admission to this party will be $5-$50, with tickets sold on a sliding scale. This party kicks off the three-day Image Expo which will be held at the Oakland Convention Center from Friday, February 24 through Sunday, February 26. Please visit Image Comic Expo for details.

Todd McFarlane To Attend First Ever Image Expo

                                 Image: Jeff Newton

In celebrating 20 years of independent comic book publishing, Todd McFarlane joins fellow Image Founders and Partners at the Image Expo in Oakland, CA February 24^th-26^th, and he’s bringing his toy and publishing companies with him!

If you didn't get your hands on the exclusive signed version of the resin statue, Spawn: The Beginning, sold online only, now is your chance!  A limited number of statues will be available at the show, so be sure to get yours early at the McFarlane booth. The first 75 people who purchase a statue will receive access to a private signing with Todd McFarlane on Saturday, February 25^th at 4:00 PM.  As an added bonus, each person will receive a FREE signed advanced copy of Spawn #217, along with the FREE copy of Spawn #1 and #2 included with your resin statue purchase!

To know where to catch McFarlane in action, here’s an inside look at his events for the weekend:

Todd McFarlane Signing

Saturday, February 25th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Don’t miss your chance to meet legendary comic creator Todd McFarlane! Signing limited to two items per person. Tickets available the morning of the signing at the McFarlane Companies booth, #36.

Twenty Years of Independence: The Image Comics 20th Anniversary Panel

Saturday, February 25th
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM


Twenty years ago, a group of young artists left their work-for-hire jobs to forge their own path in comics. The result was Image Comics, a publisher dedicated to creators’ individual visions and a champion of creative ownership. The Image Comics partners and some of the original founders now come together to talk about that momentous meeting of minds and talent.

Panelists: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino


From Page to Screen: Comics on TV

Saturday, February 25th
3:00 – 4:00 PM

How do producers go about translating comics for the small screen? How does working in comics compare to working in television? A panel of comics creators who have worked in television — whether as producers like Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) and Brian K. Vaughan (Lost), writers like Jay Faerber (Ringer), creators like Joe Casey (Ben 10) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn), or a little bit of everything like Blair Butler — will assemble to talk about the ins and outs of the industry.

Panelists: Blair Butler, Joe Casey, Jay Faerber, Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, and Brian K. Vaughan

Todd McFarlane Exclusive Spawn: The Beginning Resin Statue Signing

Saturday, February 25th
4:00 – 5:30 PM

Join Todd McFarlane for an exclusive signing devoted to the first 75 fans to purchase our limited edition Spawn: The Beginning resin statue. All signed versions of this collectible are sold out in our online store, so this is a rare opportunity to get your hands on one. Tickets will be given away with purchase at the McFarlane Companies booth, #36, along with a FREE signed advanced copy of Spawn #217.

Pro Tips with Todd McFarlane

Sunday, February 26th
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

In a world of comic book icons, comic superstar Todd McFarlane and his creation Spawn have clearly stood the test of time. Now McFarlane himself is inviting aspiring creators and fans to an extended workshop where he'll share behind-the-scenes tips and tricks about his creative process. Armed with a Wacom and more than 20 years of experience as one of the most successful pros in the business, McFarlane will show fans how to unleash their own creativebeast within! WORKSHOP ROOM A

 

The Walking Dead

This past Christmas a friend gave me a copy of “The Walking Dead” Book 1 Being a firm believer in the coming zombie apocalypse I was excited to dig into this collection. The black and white Image comic by Robert Kirkman began its run in 2003. Since then, it’s become so successful that filmmaker Frank Darabont and AMC plan on bringing it to the small screen. The story revolves around officer Rick Grimes, his family and a small band of survivors in search of a place to call home in a world overrun with zombies. The strength of the book lies in the writing. Its focus is on the characters and how they interact with each other and their reaction to the situation they’ve been placed in. Kirkman takes the time to show the characters doing things like learning to shoot guns and collecting firewood and it never feels laborious for the reader. He develops each character so brilliantly that you find yourself caring for each and every one of them and fearing for their safety. Some of them crack under pressure, some grow and some do what must be done in order to survive. Do yourself a favor and read it. Do your local comic shop a favor and pick it up!