Exclusive Hand Made Transformers Figures Up-For-Grabs!

Transformers -- a robot toy range that has spawned several successful comics across the globe down the years and will see the launch of a new UK comic title from Titan in October -- has a massive collector fan base, and owners Hasbro have decided to do something special to celebrate this by offering a once in a life-time opportunity to win some awesome hand made figures of characters from the new Transformers: Animated series.

These amazingly rare figures will be displayed in unique collector cases and will only be available to win through a prize draw on HasbroToyShop.co.uk, and is the first time ever that Transformers figures have been displayed in this way.

The figures up for grabs will be Megtron Deluxe, Leader Bulkhead and Roll Out Command Optimus Prime.

Transformers: Animated, screening on Nicktoons in the UK, is a high-octane, animated action-adventure series based on the beloved 1980s ‘robots in disguise’ of toy and cartoon fame. The Autobots continue their battle against the Decepticons on Earth and this time they have human friends to help them in the search for the AllSpark, such as their energetic 8-year-old guide, Sari Sumdac.

The competition launches on Monday 25 August 2008 and will run until Sunday 14 September 2008. No purchase is necessary and the competition is open to residents in the UK, aged 18 years or over. If you want a slice of Transformers history make sure you log on!

Titan launches its Transformers Animated Comic, complete with wrist blaster free gift, on 23 October, complementing its existing Transformers Comic. The title will include new comic adventures, puzzles, features and more heavy-metal action than you can shake a photon-enhanced Laser Blaster at!

• Visit the HasbroToyShop.co.uk
• Visit the Titan Magazines Transformers Comic Animated Page

Forbidden Planet Polls its Punters

In 1978, Forbidden Planet opened its first store in London’s Denmark Street (better known to some as "Tin Pan Alley") and has been at the forefront of all things science fiction, Fantasy, Cult TV and Film, including books, comics, DVDs and toys ever since. The chain's London Megastore is the biggest shop of its kind in the world and now has eight other stores around the country run by the London-based Titan Entertainment Group*.

To mark this auspicious occasion, FP has decided to find out what have been the most outstanding moments in Sci/Fi, fantasy and cult entertainment over the last 30 years.

All people have to do is enter their suggestion in each category in their online poll. They'll then tot up the results and come up with the definitive lists by the people who know best!

The outstanding moment can only be something that has been released from 1978 onwards, which means you can't cite the intial release of Star Wars way back in 1977 but anything goes from pretty much then on - be it your favourite book, film or TV show.

Who in the Sci-Fi world has made you hot under the collar? And what's been the least scary monster ever?

It's easy to take part and they could be in with a chance of wining £300 worth of Forbidden Planet vouchers. All you have to do is go to www.forbiddenplanet.com and vote,

The poll closes on Friday 15th August 2008 and The Top Ten in each category will be announced shortly afterwards.

* "Eight shops?" someon sqauwked from the back... "there's more than that!" For those of you wondering, there are two Forbidden Planet chains, the result of all sorts of company changes and splits over the years. One is based in Scotland and known as Forbidden Planet International and the other is run by Titan, who also run Titan Books, Titan Magazines and the Forbidden Planet web site etc. There. that was simple to understand really, wasn't it? (There's more on this on Wikipedia or read an interview with the London FP's owners Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung)

Dare, Mekon T-Shirts On Sale Online

In our recent review of the Dan Dare and The Birth Of Hi-Tech Britain exhibition at London's Science Museum, Jeremy Briggs mentioned the Dan Dare/Mekon t-shirts and how they weren’t in the online store.

Peer Lawther, E-Marketing Executive at the Museum, has kindly been in touch to say this problem has now been rectified.

The Dan Dare and Mekon shirts come in 100% cotton and are available in black or white in children and adult sizes.

• Buy the Dan Dare shirt from the Science Museum Store

• Buy the Mekon shirt from the Store

New Hammer and Carry On stamps from Royal Mail

2008 is the fiftieth anniversay of both Hammer's classic Dracula movie and the Carry On films (although in the case of the latter you'd be forgiven for not knowing that giving the lack of fanfare over such a milestone!).

To celebrate these landmark anniversaries, on 10 June the Royal Mail are releasing a scrumptious set of stamps featuring poster art from Carry On Sergeant (which featured Doctor Who actor William Hartnell), Carry On Cleo and Carry On Screaming (which both included Jon Pertwee in the cast), The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy.

These three Hammer films all starred another Doctor Who in the form of Peter Cushing. The presentation pack includes notes from sci-fi/movie expert Kim Newman.

• See the stamps and order them at www.royalmail.com

Dan Dare Cap Badges, Dredd Buckles Released

Following the sell-out success of its Judge Dredd badges, Termight Replicas has announced two new licensed products available for pre-order. Both are full-sized props, with the same gold-plating as the Dredd badge, but this time combining it with coloured hard enamel.

The Dan Dare cap badge will be 4.5cm in diameter and costs £9.95. The concept art is by Chris Weston, based on Frank Hampson’s original design.

The Judge Dredd buckle will be 12cm wide by 9cm tall, and costs £39.95. The concept art is by Michael Carroll, based on Cliff Robinson’s design and input.

• Both items can be pre-ordered by cheque or PayPal post-free worldwide from the Termight Replicas website: www.termight.co.uk/dtt.php

Judge Dredd © 2008 Rebellion A/S. Dan Dare © 2008 The Dan Dare Corporation Ltd.

Every Letter Printed Wins A T-Shirt!

...is how the editor of The Victor, James Halley, enticed his readers to write into the comic's letters page, Tupper's Talk-In. The Tough Of The Track was runner Alf Tupper who of course mixed competitive running with eating fish and chips.

Any former Victor readers out there who would like to re-live their childhood can now purchase a new fully licensed Tough Of The Track t-shirt - and this time they are available in adult sizes.

Fine'n'Dandy specialise in D C Thomson licensed merchandise, which inevitably means Beano and Dandy, however it is worth looking through the rest of their catalogue at the other items they have. While the Jackie alarm clock may not be top of your list, you might be more interested in the Dennis The Menace place mats or fridge magnets of classic annual covers.

The Fine'n'Dandy website can be found here.

Subscribe to a ... T-Shirt?

Here's a weird one, but so wacky it's worthy of mention. Subscriptions, it seems, are no longer limited to comics and magazines - you can now subscribe to a t-shirt. And over 2500 people already have.

T-post is described by the creators as "a wearable magazine". Instead of a subscription to a magazine in your mailbox, you receive T-shirts. As a subscriber, you receive a new t-shirt based on a current news item every six weeks - a story that, if it hasn't made the news, should have, in the view of the people behind t-post. Select designers provide their interpretation of a specific news story and that design is combined with the actual news which is printed on the inside of the shirt.

"What's fascinating about T-post is the interaction it creates," says Peter Lundgren, Editor-in-Chief at T-Post. "Nobody asks you about the article you just read in the bathroom.

"But if you’'re wearing an issue of T-post, people tend to ask what it'’s about. The next thing you know, you’re talking about the ethical treatment of robots or some bank robbers in Brazil who got away with 45 million bucks, you'’re forming your own opinion, getting someone else to think about the topic, and it just keeps going from there.

"Because the news is printed inside the shirt, the subscriber is left with an opportunity to interpret and communicate the meaning behind the shirt," he adds. "It really becomes the subscriber’s interpretation of the story, which is even more interesting to hear about, I think."

The latest design, pictured here is titled "De-evolution?", designed by Matt Furie, a San Francisco based illustrator who says he spends all day in his room drawing and watching YouTube. At night he parties, dances, strips down to his boxers and pours milk all over his body in front of strangers (well, he only did that once).

He likes to draw monsters and animals, likes fur and fangs and feathers, scales and fantasy.

But he especially likes fur, so it's not surprising to see that his vision of the future human race (split in two, as predicted by evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry) includes a fair amount of just that. Fur.

• A subscription to T-post costs 26 Euros per T-shirt, and can be delivered anywhere in the world. All shipping costs are included in that price. More information from their web site: www.t-post.se

New Airfix Doctor Who Kits

Airfix, the British model kit manufacturer, had many problems last year attempting to get the first of their new Doctor Who kits, Welcome Aboard, into shops in time for Christmas. The saga was even detailed on the BBC TV series The Money Programme.

Stocks of the kit, featuring 1:12 scale models of the Tenth Doctor, Martha and the Tardis, should now be more readily available.

Airfix have now announced their 2008 range and it includes two further kits for Doctor Who fans, Dalek Encounter, which will feature Dalek Sec with its casing open and, for Kylie fans, the Doctor and Astrid from the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned.

• Buy Welcome Aboard kits from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Voyage of the Damned from Amazon.co.uk (Released 10 March 2008)