Just like anyone else who is interested in the business of toys, I find myself spending most of my time looking forward to Toy Fair. Granted, unlike everyone who gets to view the coverage as it is posted on the almighty Interweb, I only get to experience it in hindsight. I know what you’re thinking, but I assure you I’m not complaining. Could you imagine if I was? No one in their right mind would complain about covering Toy Fair, especially considering that by doing so I’m able to give you all something to look at, and that is the reason that people like Dan Curto and I will spend a week of sleepless nights editing photos and writing up stories after spending all the sunlit hours of the day talking about toys. That said, I’m more than happy to miss out on the actual event that is Toy Fair.

Some years are better than others, and you never know what to expect. In the past we’ve dealt with everything from hotel rooms smaller than the average home’s foyer to wet melting snow that is a foot deep. Every year has its challenges, and for 2008 it was problems with the network. I don’t think I could describe to any of you what it feels like to get back to the hotel after shooting all day only to find out that your emails, publishing site, and web pages are down for the count. (A Rebelscum first). This caused more stress than I’ve ever felt in my 12 years of Internet media work, and trust me; there have been periods of great stress. As always we worked our way through it and spent the rest of the time playing catch up. For people like us, not getting the scoop out first is a giant frustration, so we were more than a little deflated at times, but at the end of the day, we still managed to get our work done and we were able to get up all the coverage you have grown to expect from Rebelscum and Cool Toy Review.

On the topic of the two sites, this Toy Fair marked the first anniversary for Cool Toy Review, and while Dan and I had spent almost a year developing the non-Star Wars site before it launched last year, it was the last 365 days that put us to task, and we’re both quite proud of what we have achieved. Our divide and conquer approach to the two sites has worked out better than we ever thought it would. What’s more important than that however is how well received our work has been by both the companies we cover and by all the people who read the sites. There is no greater pleasure than doing right by all of you.

The show itself was a little weird, as many of the companies we usually look forward to seeing weren’t around this year. There were a few trends we noticed everywhere we turned, and it all gives us hope for a bright future for little plastic men. There are three certainties this year:

1: Indiana Jones Will Surpass All other Licenses In 2008

That’s right, Henry Junior will be everywhere and most of our favourite companies will be involved. With Hasbro, Gentle Giant, Diamond Select, Sideshow Collectibles, and Kotobukia producing products based on the four Indiana Jones films, there will be something for everybody.

2: 3-3/4" Figures Will Dominate Toy Shelves Once Again

With every mass-market manufacturer offering their brands in the trusted Star Wars scale, we’ll all be able to enjoy collections that wont eat up all the available displaying real estate.

3: Urban Designer Toys Are On Their Way Out

Historically speaking what usually leads to the demise of underground coolness? Be it punk rock, break dancing, even comic books, the one thing you can count on is the mainstream acceptance is always the death rattle. With a lot of companies offering vinyl collectible figures to the masses, you can rest assured that this once unique movement is no longer avant guard.

Looking beyond these facts, there were certainly some big winners this year, in all categories. As you can expect, Hasbro’s showroom was a blast (although a private viewing would rock). Consistently, all their boys� action toys products looked great. I found it really odd that there were some negative statements made about their Clone Wars toys. Maybe they just need to be seen in person to be appreciated, but I can’t fathom how a true Star Wars fan could possibly not like toys that look exactly like the source material� especially if said toys are super articulated. Of course, in the 7 years I’ve been on the Rebelscum team, I’ve grown quite accustom to the perpetual negative sentiment in our community, but since most of the negativity is said while hiding behind online handles and everyone still buys everything despite their negative statements, I guess the truth behind it all speaks volumes. In the case of this line however, there is nothing Hasbro could have done to please the naysayers. If they made the figures match the current line everyone would complain that the figures don’t look like the source material, and if they produced figure in both styles those same negative nellies would have complained that Hasbro was trying to milk them. There truly is no winning, so let me just say to the Star Wars team at Hasbro that I think they did an exceptional job and the line is both dynamic and above par. Good work guys.

On the topic of Hasbro, lets look at their other lines. Their new G.I. Joe offerings are so wonderful it puts a tear in my eye (if only we could get them in Canada) and their Hulk movie figures are going to be a hit with kids. Sure they are a smaller scale (3-¾" scale) than their other Marvel toys, but with good reason. For the first time the unstoppable green force of nature will be able to interact with toy environments and adversaries. And besides, just because the movie figures aren’t the same scale as the Marvel Legends line, collectors may yet see them produce a movie version in scale down the road. They set that precedent already with the inclusion of X3 figures.

Speaking of the Marvel Legends stuff, it was sad to see a lack of product in this line (even though we went there knowing that we wouldn’t see much, as it was reported in an earlier 411 report). This line has unrightfully turned into the redheaded stepchild in the eyes of many collectors, but if better quality plastic and more accurate silhouettes aren’t important to collectors, who knows what is.

Diamond Select Toys also shined this year with a range of cool stuff in all their popular lines as well as the addition of a new license that is the toy world’s equivalent of a permit to print money. Personally I’m very excited with where they are taking the Art Asylum Star Trek line, with the addition of the Borg wave (the sound of Homer drooling over a donut) two figures based on the original motion picture, which is too cool for words. Their ¼ scale Star Wars figures are also pretty dang cool, and while we know that they still need to do more work on them, the $75 price point will offer a venue for collectors who can’t dedicate the bank to collect Sideshow Collectible’s fantastic Premium Format figures.

Other notable mention must go out to DC Direct, Mezco, Gentle Giant, and NECA, who are all continuing to improve and offer products that I personally can’t wait to get, most notably Mezco Toyz’s Heroes line. When looking at them in person I almost threw up with joy. With the interest of remaining professional, I kept it in my mouth and swallowed it back down. Photos don’t do this line justice, and that’s something you’ll have to take my word for. They also confirmed that they will be producing not only 3-3/4" versions, but 1/6 scale as well. They will utilize the same body as the 1/6 scale Warriors figures. Those bodies, by the way, reminded me of the Medicom body, so all’s good. Hopefully we’ll see these at San Diego Comic Con.

This year marked the first time we ever paid Master Replicas a visit for CTR only, and we were please to be welcomed by our friend Barry, who after working on Star Wars Celebration Europe ended up staying with Corgi and joining their US team. Now if only they can find a way to get their cool Harry Potter line on North American toy shelves (and in our CTR photo archive where they belong).

The biggest hole was the absence of Sideshow Collectibles. As everyone who reads Rebelscum and Cool Toy Review can tell you, I’m a massive Sideshow Freak. Their absence meant that I altogether missed out on their new products (since reporting TF means no time to surf the net) and seeing my pals. Thankfully I got my orders in on the Gandalf, and Indiana Jones figures, but I would have preferred actually seeing everyone. So to Brant, Brock, Tom, Heath, Scott, Seth, Anastasia, and Monty (and anyone else who I might be missing) that I’ve enjoyed seeing every February, I hope that you all make it out next year!

On the media front we saw a lot of new faces, and the lack of familiarity did have its own intrinsic problems. You see, when it comes to visiting the bigger companies, the Internet media is often bundled in with the fan sites and pushed through like a bunch of sweaty cows with cameras. Those of us who have been photographing beside one another for years (I’m referring to you Steve, Adam, Paul, and Mike) have built a good rapport and have learned to work together and through common courtesy and respectful communication. As such, all of us get good photos. This year we had a slew of would be photojournalists who were only concerned about their own photography and their lack of experience and respect for others slowed the process completely. To all these people, I really can’t stress how much they can improve their ability to work through a display by learning their equipment before an event. Practice makes perfect, and with rooms full of toys in your houses all you need is the will to take the time to learn your craft before jumping into the photo pits.

Looking directly at the so-called press tours, other companies have not learned to how to do this right yet. Hasbro’s almost got it perfect, but their five-hour event really did eat up a lot of precious time. That said they had the best cattle call this year. The worst? Mattel. Hands down Mattel. There was a lack of control. There were too many people all in one area, and when you mix in all the new wet-behind-the-ears photographers, it was a mess. Not to mention that there was no presentations given to keep the reporters busy while the photographers were doing their job. To add to this, it seemed like some of the representatives were there only to make sure no one touched anything. Matter of fact, one representative knew absolutely nothing about the line he was supervising. There is a lot of room for improvement for next year. Clearly this is in my editorial not to shake an angry finger as much as it is to address issues that should be looked at and resolved for next year. Keeping that in mind, it would be great to have all the big companies get together to coordinate their press events. I’m assuming everyone knows one another, but on the odd chance that they don’t I’ll personally offer to provide the email information to the different companies. After all, what the media sites do to get information out warrants a bit more effort on the companies parts to make it easier on the reporters.

And there you have it. 2008’s International Toy Fair is done. To everyone involved, be it our fellow reporters, the companies exhibiting, and all our readers who were with us through the week, all I can say is cheers! Everyone deserves a vacation! Lets do it again next year!