FIGURES AND MORE EXCLUSIVE!!

TOY FAIR 2010: UNDERGROUND TOYS

Next up, one of my favorite companies: Underground Toys. Underground Toys is the American distributor of toys based on the popular British Sci-Fi drama: Doctor Who. With massive changes coming to the series this year, Underground is looking to capitalize on the increasing popularity of the show. In addition, they are increasing their American offerings with some U.K. Star Wars product they have acquired U.S. distribution rights to. Read on for the latest about Doctor Who, Star Wars and the “Secret Room.”

Star Wars: Underground has acquired the distribution rights to a line of Star Wars product produced in the U.K. The products range from sound byte key chains to plush versions of your favorite characters. There are also pens and jewelry and several other items. The product looks really good and should be a winning line for Underground.

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Doctor Who: As cool as the Star Wars stuff is though, for Underground this year, as in the past, it is all about “Who”. Of course, I am talking about Doctor Who, Britain’s long running Sci-Fi institution. The latest revival of the series, which began in 2005, has attracted a huige cult following both in the U.K. and, recently, here in America. That is mostly due to the popularity of the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant. Tennant, who also played Hamlet last year for the Royal Shakespeare Company, stepped away from the role this year. Tennant’s final episode as the Tenth Doctor: “The End of Time, parts 1 and 2″ were broadcast during the Holiday Season. Here in America, nearly 1 million people watched on BBC America as Tennant’s Tenth Doctor regenerated into the Eleventh Doctor, who will be played, in this Spring’s forthcoming Series One, by Matt Smith. Smith, at 27, will be the youngest actor to ever play the Doctor. To celebrate Tennant’s finale, Underground has released a series of four figures based on The End of Time.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE END OF TIME YET AND DO NOT WANT CHARACTERS AND PLOT SPOILED, STOP READING NOW.

Still here? OK. The End of Time assortment consists of: Tenth Doctor (“Battle Damaged” version: suit is torn and face is cut from the fall through the ceiling window of the Gate Room, comes with Sonic Screwdriver, as played by David Tennant), The Master ( “Emo” version, post-resurrection with blond hair and black hoodie, as played by John Simm), The Narrator (Rassilon, Lord President of the Time Lords, who will stop at nothing to cheat death, comes with staff, as played by Timothy Dalton) and the Eleventh Doctor (Post-regeneration, in a pristine version of the Tenth Doctor’s suit, comes with Sonic Screwdriver, as played by Matt Smith. THIS IS THE FIRST ELEVENTH DOCTOR FIGURE!). This set is hitting stores now. I will be reviewing these figures soon.

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Underground is also paying tribute to the rich history of the show by releasing several series of Classic Doctor Who figures, a trend which will continue this year, with the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) getting his first figures. There has also been talk of a box set of all eleven Doctors, which would see the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) get his first figure, but the set has not yet been confirmed. There will however be a new series of Classic figures this year.

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However, all the anticipation is for the new series product. To my overwhelming shock, there was new series product at Toy Fair. It was kept hidden from view in a “Secret Room” Even more amazing to me is the fact that they let me in to see it! Now, lest you think to yourself “what’s the big deal? They’re only toys”, let me tell you that they are so protective of this product, that I had to sign a BBC Non-Disclosure agreement to see them. I was not allowed to take any photographs, but I can assure you, I will have the official images when they are made available. I can’t talk about what I saw in too great a detail. I can tell you however that I saw the first figures of the Eleventh Doctor in his new costume. And I saw the mock up for his new companion Amy Pond. There will be new packaging for the figures as well. I also saw some surprises, which I will keep secret, and the unbearably cool new Sonic Screwdriver. Underground has also picked up the rights to a new line of Doctor Who products being made in Britain by a company called WOW Toys. These products also look really cool and I hope to be able to show images soon.

The new series premieres April 3rd in the U.K. and April 17th in the U.S. on BBC America. I should have more to show you by then.

For more information on Doctor Who, visit www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho. For more information on Underground Toys, visit www.underground-toys.com.

My overwhelming thanks to Robyn Morgan at Underground Toys for all her help and for letting me in the “Secret Room”

That does it for Underground Toys. Toy Fair coverage continues with yet another new company: Jazwares.