Hallmark Reveals Plans, Exclusive Keepsake Ornaments for Comic-Con 2014

Booth will feature artist signings, product previews and giveaways

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 17, 2014) — Hallmark once again will showcase its creative products at Comic-Con International when it opens next week in San Diego.

This is the seventh year for Hallmark to exhibit at the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world. Hallmark will provide more than 130,000 attendees access to event-exclusive Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and a pair of itty bittys® plush collectibles. Other perks include visits with a Keepsake Ornament artist and sneak peeks of Hallmark products to be released in 2015.

Comic-Con Exclusives

During the convention, held July 24-27, 2014, Hallmark will sell limited quantities of the following Keepsake Ornaments:

•Wampa™ – This Keepsake Ornament created especially for event sales depicts the ferocious horned predator that attacked Luke Skywalker on the ice planet Hoth as seen in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™. In place of actual wampa fur, the ornament is covered in velvety flocking. Sales limited to 200 pieces per day as part of a total production run of 1,800 ($35 each).

•Arkham's Avenger – Inspired by the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City, Batman crouches on a rooftop gargoyle in this Keepsake Ornament created as an event exclusive. Sales limited to 175 pieces per day as part of a total production run of 1,575 ($35 each).

•War Machine™ – As featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this event exclusive is a repainted variant of last year's Iron Patriot™ Keepsake Ornament. Sales limited to 150 pieces per day as part of a total production run of 1,350 ($25 each).

Since December 2012, iconic characters of film, comics and television have appeared as sweetly and uniquely styled plush itty bittys® exclusively in Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. In celebration of this fall's addition of Star Wars™ characters to the itty bittys line, Hallmark is offering a two-pack of itty bittys styled after a Tusken Raider™ and a Bantha™ as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope™. Sales limited to 300 pieces per day as part of a total production run of 2,700 ($20 per pair).

Each of these event exclusives also will be available to attendees at New York Comic Con, Oct. 9-12, 2014.

Activities at the Hallmark Booth

"We're very happy to be returning to Comic-Con this year to trade stories and share memories with our passionate fans," said Beth Dorr, associate merchandise manager for Keepsake Ornaments. "We look forward to giving sneak peeks at our new Hallmark products in a creatively designed exhibit space. We'll also have all the fun reasons for stopping by our space that Comic-Con goers have come to expect from us."

Visitors to Hallmark's booth in the Lucasfilm Pavilion will walk into a stylized version of the desert planet Tatooine, where they will see familiar characters, including some in Lucasfilm-owned costumes that provide a perfect photo opportunity. There will be additional opportunities for photos with costumed members of the 501st Legion daily throughout the convention.

Visitors also can collect a series of five buttons featuring Keepsake Ornaments that will be handed out for free while quantities last. The button series features Star Wars designs with a limited quantity of one design given away each day of the event.

Visitors to Hallmark's booth will be able to meet and receive free autographs from Keepsake Ornament Artist Jake Angell, who will sign the War Machine™ ornament he sculpted.

Inside Hallmark's booth, visitors will be treated to up-close looks at Hallmark products including many of the new 2014 Keepsake Ornaments such as Godzilla, the flying time machine of Back to the Future Part II and Cornelius of Planet of the Apes, while getting an early preview of what's ahead for 2015.

An official schedule of all Hallmark fan activities at Comic-Con International will be available at the Hallmark booth in the Lucasfilm Pavilion, located at Booth 2913-H in the Exhibit Hall.

More Comic-Con Fun

Comic-Con goers will be encouraged to share a fan-favorite photo or moment they want to keepsake by using the hashtag #KeepsakeIt in social media and by entering online at Hallmark.com/KeepsakeIt. Submissions to the website will be entered to win weekly prizes and a grand prize of Keepsake Ornaments, plus $3,000 toward a #KeepsakeIt Family Vacation. Learn more at Hallmark.com/KeepsakeIt.

Starting July 21, before Comic-Con International begins, follow Hallmark on Twitter (@Hallmark) to learn more how to enter to win one of two Hallmark prize packages: 1) a set of the Comic-Con exclusive Keepsake Ornaments, or 2) a pair of the Comic-Con exclusive Star Wars itty bittys plush characters. This Twitter giveaway provides fans who may not make it to San Diego a chance to win Hallmark's Comic-Con exclusive items.