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Granted this one is a little bit out of our normal wheelhouse, but it recently came to my attention that something troublesome might possibly be afoot in the world of comic books, and yes there is a action figure connection here, so bear with me. Artist Tristan Jones has recently made a claim on social media stating that artist Greg Land has traced his work for the cover of the upcoming ALIENS OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 soon to be released by Marvel Comics. If you hadn't heard, Marvel is taking over from Dark Horse Comics the publishing of Alien and Predator comic books, likely due to Disney's recent acquisition of 20th Century Fox who holds the rights to those properties. This upcoming Omnibus is one of the first Alien offerings being put out by Marvel. For those not familiar, Jones worked on the original 2016 Dark Horse Comic limited-series called Aliens: Defiance as well as doing the packaging art for the NECA action figure based on that same series, hence the action figure connection to this story. Jones states that Land traced his work for the cover of the upcoming Marvel publication and provided visual proof in his accusation. If you do a quick google search on artist Greg Land, it doesn't take you long to see this isn't the first time someone has made an accusation of this type against him. I don't personally follow the inner-workings of the comic book industry enough to know how common a problem this type of thing is, or even if tracing with modifications like the claim states is legally considered plagiarism. I would think it would be, but seeing this isn't the first time Land has been accused of this, and he seems to continue to be employed by a company like Marvel, not to mention Jones is seemingly going to social media instead of seeking out a lawyer, I just don't know. Legal or not it definitely doesn't seem like a very cool thing to do.

Boss Fight Studio, creator of fan-favorite, highly articulated figures announces their latest action figure line, The Umbrella Academy from television studio Universal Content Productions and brokered by UCP’s licensing agency, Striker Entertainment! With characters based on the wildly popular Netflix show, the action figures will feature Boss Fight’s signature multiple articulation points allowing for creative and imaginative poses. “The Umbrella Academy has long been one of our favorite shows,” says Catrina Arana, Partner and Art Director at Boss Fight Studio, “we love each character and the uniqueness; I’m excited to bring them to action figure form.” The first wave of figures will include Klaus, Vanya, Diego, and Cha-Cha and is anticipated to hit shelves in Q2 2021. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Boss Fight Studio” says Curtis Matthews, Licensing Executive at Striker Entertainment LLC. “Their signature high articulation and attention to detail will really bring the character personalities forward. The poses and movement possibilities are exciting.” Launched in 2013, Boss Fight Studio originally brought their fan favorite Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. IP to market, allowing for easy customization and playability of toys. As the company grew, they’ve expanded to host some exciting licenses bringing that same high articulation and attention to detail to fan-loved brands. Umbrella Academy is the latest brand added to the portfolio. “We can’t wait to excite new fans with these toys. This is our first license with a contemporary show playing as we design. It will be fun to transform the beloved characters along with the story lines on the show” says Arana. “I’ve already started brainstorming how to bring Season 2 characters to life and I can’t wait.”

The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe HC Val Staples (W) and “Pixel” Dan Eardley (W) On sale Nov 25 FC, 712 pages $59.99 HC, 9” x 12” A massive, 700-plus-page, full-color hardcover chronicling the quintessential toys of He-Man, She-ra, and the other Masters of the Universe! This compendium is the perfect addition to any toy fan’s collection. By the power of Grayskull, you have the power! Look for this to be released from Dark Horse Comics in November 2020.

So be it . . . Through the power of The Force you will die!

Dark Horse Books and Nickelodeon are proud to present The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a definitive guide to Nickelodeon’s CG-animated series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From the visionary minds behind the 2012 hit series, this brand-new book allows fans to get to know the Turtles like never before, featuring exclusive art from all five seasons and insider commentary curated by the show’s executive producer Ciro Nieli, plus an introduction by Teenage Mutant NinjaTurtles co-creator Kevin Eastman. Step into the sewers of New York for a look at the teenage Heroes in a Half-Shell with early concept sketches, beautiful background paintings, and glimpses into the innovative CG-animation production that brought their mean, green world to life! Whether it’s exploring the Turtles’ lair, discovering the myth and culture of the legendary ninja and samurai, or experiencing the streets of New York City, it’s all presented within these pages of The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles goes on sale April 16, 2019, and is available for pre-order at Amazon and your local comic shop. This 184-page hardcover retails for $39.99.

Dark Horse, alongside creator Mike Mignola and 1000toys, are proud to present the fully articulated, 1/12th scale Hellboy action figure of your dreams. Made from PVC and standing at 7.5" tall, this stellar Hellboy figure comes with closed fist hand, open hands for holding other accessories, gun, utility belt, and removable cloth jacket. Feel fully qualified to embark on your own paranormal investigations with this full-fledged member of the B.P.R.D. at your side. You can pre-order this figure now at BigBadToyStore.com.

Today, Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce its newest business venture, Dark Horse Direct. A newly established division, Dark Horse Direct is focused on bringing high-end, limited production collectibles directly to consumers from their online storefront, Direct.DarkHorse.com. The vision behind DH Direct is to offer fans the finest statues, toys, and figures from their favorite graphic novels, television series, and video game franchises. “Dark Horse Direct is the latest example in Dark Horse’s long history of innovative business practices,” explained President and Founder Mike Richardson. “Dark Horse constantly looks for new ways to inspire passion in our fans in every format possible, which is why a direct-to-consumer program is the most logical move as we continue to grow our business and cultivate new fans.” The first Dark Horse Direct offering available is the Game of Thrones: Tormund Giantsbane Figure! Available for pre-order now, Tormund retails for $40.00 and is due to ship to website customers in early August 2018. As a bonus, 300 of the figures will also be available for purchase in the Dark Horse retail booth #2615 at San Diego Comic-Con! The inaugural DH Direct lineup continues with the Umbrella Academy: Spaceboy Maquette. Masterfully sculpted and painted at 14” tall by 19” wide, this Umbrella Academy: Spaceboy Maquette evokes the character exactly as writer Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance, True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys) and artist Gabriel Bá (Two Brothers, Daytripper) conceived him to be. The Umbrella Academy: Spaceboy Maquette retails for $299.99 and is now available for pre-order. Dark Horse Direct presents a throne fit for the true leader of Westeros with the Game of Thrones: Iron Throne 18” Replica. With HBO Licensing and Retail and the talented artisans at Gentle Giant, DH Direct has replicated the seat of the kings of Westeros. This replica retails for $499.99 and will ship later this year, opening for pre-order in the coming weeks. Leading the new division is former Dark Horse Director of Marketing, Melissa Lomax. “I am incredibly honored to oversee Dark Horse Direct,” said Lomax, Dark Horse Direct’s new Director of eCommerce. “This is an exciting new opportunity for us to create fresh and unique collectibles that will delight our current fans, as well as new pop-culture enthusiasts, with premium concepts and formats. Get excited! Some really special items are coming and want a place in your home.”