Completely arbitrary headline alert! This is a list of what I think are the hottest, mostly video game-themed toys and books of next week's San Diego Comic-Con, based on years spent developing tastes and whims specifically geared towards making me spend entirely too much money on colorful pieces of plastic. There are so many excellent wonderful pieces of plastic this year.
I've been a hardcore toy collector for two decades now, which means covering the annual parade over generally overpriced exclusives that is San Diego Comic-Con is a dangerous proposition, yet here we are. Next Wednesday I fly across the country and spend several days trying to balance meetings and coverage with shopping, each day spent lugging around bags of purchase alongside my usual equipment. I'm going to sweat all over the place. It'll be beautiful.
What am I buying? Why, the coolest exclusive goodies of Comic-Con 2013, of course. It's right there in the title.
Let's see how much damage my wallet is going to take this year!
Mini Sylvanis
Vendor: Blizzard Entertainment — Booth 115
The first in an exclusive line of micro action figures, Mini Sylvanas is the most adorable queen of the undead ever. I love her. More than you.
Price: $18.00
Transforming Zergling/Baneling Plush
Vendor: Blizzard Entertainment — Booth 115
Pull a zipper, and this Zergling plush magically transforms into a Baneling. There might be some tucking involved, but when isn't there?
Price: $35
D-Arts Bass & Treble
Vendor: Bluefin Tamashii Nations — Booth 3545
Following up on last year's gorgeous Vile figure, D-Arts brings us an early release of Bass and Treble. Bass is nice, but Treble? I want all the Trebles, forever.
Price: $43.99
Game of Thrones 7-Inch Stark Shield Wall Plaque
Vendor: Dark Horse Comics — Booth 2615
Because sometimes you love a group of people so much you've got to paint a giant target on your back. Limited to only four pieces — oh wait, that's just the Starks.
Price: $30
Aardman Superman Action Figure
Vendor: DC Entertainment — Booth 2315
Do I even have to explain how wonderful this is? Okay then — so wonderful.
Price: $24.95
Superheroes of Green Lantern Four-Pack
Vendor: DC Entertainment — Booth 2315
Who in their right mind would spend fifty bucks on a set of action figures, when all he wants is the tiny blue-and-red cat? Guilty.
Price: $49.95
The Venture Bros. Naked Brock Samson 3 3/4-Inch Figure
Vendor: Entertainment Earth — Booth 2343
We've already discussed naked, bloody Brock Samson, ready to feel the kill all over your G.I. Joe collection. My wife would kill me if I didn't buy this, so it shouldn't count towards my budget. Just don't tell her about the Death's Head Monarch and Dr. Mrs The Monarch set, because I need that $60 for snacks.
Price: $15
Archer - Pam's Dolphin Puppet
Vendor: Factory Entertainment Inc. — Booth 3351
The perfect gift for anyone who works in human resources and pit fights. Plus, I love puppets.
Price: $25
G.I. Joe Skystriker Vehicle with Jetfire Deco and V.A.M.P. with Autobot Hound Deco and 3.75-Inch Snake Eyes & Baroness & Decepticon Bludgeon Special Edition Pack
Vendor: Hasbro — Booth 3328
My god. The grand finale in a series of G.I. Joe / Transformers crossovers, this set is freaking epic. It's got a jet, and a jeep, and the Baroness with Decepticon Ravage on a leash. There's Snake Eyes with an Autobot symbol, a mini-Blaster with even tinier cassettes, and a G.I. Joe scale figure based on the Decepticon Bludgeon. Holy shitsnacks.
Price: $99
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic DJ Pon-3
Vendor: Hasbro — Booth 3328
Packed in a lighted box with Swarovsku crystals on her sunglasses and horn, this fan-named DJ pony will be mine. It is divine providence.
Price: $49.99
Transformers Generations Titan Class Metroplex
Vendor: Hasbro — Booth 3328
The final figure in the Fall of Cybertron line, this is a con-exclusives of the $119 retail release, with chrome legs and accents and a set of a dozen tiny figures to crawl all over him. You know I need this.
Price: $149.99
Mimobot Ice King and "Fan -Favorite" (Derpy)
Vendor: Mimoco — Booth 2913, 5338
While I question the overall sanity of collectible flash drives, collectible anything with Derpy from My Little Pony or the Ice King from Adventure Time makes perfect sense.
Price: $20 Each
Friday the 13th Jason (1989 Video Game Appearance)
Vendor: NECA — Booth 3145
Pure class from head to toe, this is Jason from his NES appearance, complete with horrible color scheme and NES-themed box. I've never cared much for horror collectibles, but in this case I'm making an exception.
Price: $25
The Elder Scrolls V Astrid with Blade of Woe
Vendor: Symbiote Studios — Booth 5636
While Symbiote is also bringing a Doom Marine and a Dark Elf in Daedric Armor to the show, my money's on the leader of the Dark Brotherhood, looking incredible cute with her tiny little Blade of Woe.
Price: $19.99
Batz Maru x Ryu / Hello Kitty x Akuma Plush
Vendor: Toyami — Booth 3229
Just look at these little bastards. They are perfect. If a Street Fighter X Sanrio game isn't announced soon, I'm gonna set the building on fire.
Price: $45 each
Eight-Inch Adventure Time Beemo Plush
Vendor: Toynk — booth 3551
Finn and Jake never go anywhere without Beemo. Well, except for all the times they've left him behind. Which is most of the time. Poor little video game console.
Price: $20
Mega Man 25 Official Complete Works Limited Hardcover Edition
Vendor: Udon Entertainment — Booth 4259
Udon is bringing a bunch of special convention edition art books to the show this year, but this hardcover Mega Man tome, with its convention-exclusive blue laser foil dust jacket? It's the blue bomb, yo.
Price: $100
Add it all together, and what do you got? An entire year of generic brand cat food. Might explain why the cats like eating cardboard backings and plastic bubble packaging.
Of course this is not all of the Comic-Con 2013 exclusive merchandise available next week — I've not even touched on comic books. You can go through the list yourselves right here, and share your picks in the comment section, because I need more shopping suggestions for some stupid reason.