There has been no shortage of The Simpsons merchandise during the show’s epic run that started way back in 1989. One character that has been noticeably absent however is series creator himself, Matt Groening. Immortalizing him in a 6-inch vinyl toy in celebration of the 500th episode set to air this month, Kid Robot has designed this new release. Adding to their ongoing Simpsons collaboration, the toy version of Groening is complete with glasses, goatee, and a sketchpad with Homer’s head scribbled on. Grab the toy now from Kid Robot’s online shop or pick one up at either of their brick and mortar shops listed below.

Kidrobot New York
118 Prince Street | Map
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-966-6688

Kidrobot Los Angeles
7972 Melrose Avenue | Map
Los Angeles, CA 90046
TEL #: 323-782-1474

Hasbro‘s Lazer Tag System for 2012 has been updated so you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch to provide heads-up display and increase your firing distance of over 250 feet. The Nerf Blaster is equipped with a slot into which you can drop in your iDevice, and once you’ve downloaded the free app, you can use it to monitor your gear and power levels, as well as start and host multiplayer games with up to 23 other players. The app also features a global Lazer Tag leaderboard and keeps track of user profile and stats, plus you’ll be able to unlock rewards like a more powerful virtual blaster. While the system allows for a single player experience with enhanced with augmented reality, the real fun will be to dispatch your friends with extreme prejudice, and use blast trajectory to see exactly where you shot them. The new and improved Lazer Tag Blasters will be available in stores starting August 1st, retailing for $40 individually or $70 for a set of two. via: The Verge

Lord of the Rings‘ fans need to beckon no longer. In satisfying the devotees of J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantastical saga, LEGO unveiled the first few mini figures from its collaborative collection, set to be available this summer. The preview include the heroes of Middle-earth – Legolas, Gandalf the Grey, Pippin, Merry, Frodo, and more. It also include its villains – Ringwraith, Moria Orc, Uruk-hai, in addition, a detailed image of Gollum. Not sure if his eyes would glow-in-the-dark, but its is almost certain that he is still looking for his “precious”.

Usually the one avoiding the spotlight, the KAWS Partners statue marks the second time artist Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, publicize himself as the subject of his work. In the likeness of bronze sculpture by Tom Otterness, the odd yet whimsical piece features Donnelly reaching skyward while his all-too-familiar caricature, Companion, evade in embarrassment. Like all other KAWS’s creations, there is something fantastical and strange about KAWS Partners. And while words can convey the theme behind the status, it can certainly be yours now as kawsone.com opens for sale at Noon EST.

Release Date: January 27th, 2012 (TODAY!) | Noon EST

With February right around the corner, it’s reasonable to expect more and more romantically inclined goods from all corners. And while MEDICOM TOY has already shown off their official Valentine’s Day BE@RBrick, it’s hard to take a look at the ‘Cute Kiss’ model shown here and not get a similar feel. Even better, this one comes in at 400% size vs. the 100% of the aforementioned model, and believe us size does matter. The half and half graphic on the toy features a boy and girl character meeting in the middle for a kiss, with a healthy dose of pink to cement the cutesy theme. Continue reading for the full shot and be on the lookout for this new piece from MEDICOM toy at your local collectibles shop. via Project 1/6

A jolt of inspiration can be from anywhere, even miniature plastic bricks. After stints with Pac-Man and Star Wars, Moleskine announced its next collaborative series to be with LEGO. A total of four editions in either Moleskine Ruled or Plain Notebook models, each is to come with imprinted covers, related bookmark, stickers, and themed graphics.  The limited edition will also include a LEGO patch for you build up and out as a temporary expression of your imagination.  The special collection will be available in limited quantities starting March 1st of this year.

Now is probably a good time to remind all of you male readers out there that Valentine’s Day is, in fact, just around the corner. That means it is time to plan a present for your loved ones, and take a look at what MEDICOM TOY has in store for BE@RBRICK fans. Their 2012 Valentine’s Day BE@RBRICK comes in a 100% size, its body is made from translucent pink plastic with silver glitter flakes mixed into it. On its stomach, a silver heart is printed with the message ‘Love & Happy Valentine’, mirrored by a smaller silver heart on the left eye. The figure is contained in a heart-shaped, red packaging and is available at project 1/6 online store.

Ron English, artist and self-described “Master of POPaganda,” has initiated a quick-strike guerilla campaign condemning the high sugar content of children’s breakfast cereals that’s both clever and devastatingly effective. It started last October with parody cereal boxes (Cap’n Corn Starch, Sugar Frosted Fat) covertly placed on the shelves of L.A.-area grocery stores, and culminates with the upcoming debut of the “Fat Tony” vinyl figure. The first run of the morbidly obese Tony the Tiger figures will number 500, with subsequent smaller releases featuring the figure in different colorways. There’s no word yet on an official release date, but Fat Tony is expected to drop soon.

LEGO Stormrapper by designholic*

Do you have an appetite for all things pixelated? How about racking up thousands of frequent flyer miles from your multiple visits to LEGOLAND? Let’s face it, you have the classic symptoms of LEGO Maniac. While incurable, there are treatments to alleviate the insatiable craving, like ReBrick, a new social media platform for LEGO Maniacs.

No more filling your Facebook photo albums with your LEGO pics. ReBrick allows you to share your creations among your fellow maniacs and get instant feed-backs from them. The platform is still in its preliminary design phase, there won’t be any complex features, yet. But unlike other social media, LEGO got some of its most devoted fans involved in ReBrick’s developments. So expect a fury of activities to take place in the coming year. via: Wired

OriginalFake and MEDICOM TOY are unveiling a very interesting project titled KAWS Partners. The usually reserved KAWS have been molded into a figure alongside his long time partner in crime, the Companion. Resembling a bronze statue, the miniature figures are set up on a circular base. KAWS is seen waving his hand but the Companion looks to be a little bit camera shy. OriginalFake is also launching some mens and ladies t-shirts featuring the same graphic on the front. All of the items will be dropping this Saturday, January 28th at OriginalFake store in Tokyo.

OriginalFake
5-3-25 Minami-Aoyama Oh Bldg. B1 FL | Map
Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan
TEL #: +81-03-3499-3333

What’s the anticipation level for The Dark Knight Rises, the final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy? Tickets for the film, which is scheduled to open July 20th, have already sold out for the first midnight Imax screenings in certain American cities. It’s no wonder, then, that Hot Toys is re-launching this 1:6 scale replica of the Batmobile from the Dark Knight films. Made from plastic and featuring functional headlights, cockpit opening panel and moveable braking flaps, the collectible Batmobile is scheduled for a second-quarter 2012 release.

This past December Medicom Toy launched the BE@RBRICK World Wide Tour 2 in Tokyo, in which a total of 73 different 1000% BE@RBRICKs, each customized by a different artist or brand, were put on display. The exhibit included a Stussy BE@RBRICK design inspired by a vintage Shawn Stussy surfboard from the 1980s. Cast in a bright yellow hue, the figure was adorned with a stylized underwater motif, featuring colored bubbles and fishes formed with zigzag lines. Stussy is celebrating the BE@ARBRICK World Wide Tour with the release of a 100% and 400% Stussy BE@RBRICK, both of which can be purchased now through Stussy’s webstore.