Pre-Orderpalooza

Here's a look at the toys you're going to want to order in advance to avoid missing out.

BigBadToyStore

• Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Movie Masterpiece Wolverine from X-Men: The Last Stand
• NECA Terminator Collection Series 3
• (Halloween 2012) Walking Dead - Dale & Female Zombie Black & White Minimates

Entertainment Earth

• Marvel Select Venom Action Figure
• Batman Arkham City Series 3 Batman Action Figure
• Predator 2 Predators 1:4 Scale Action Figure Set

 Amazon

• Star Wars Vintage Collection Episode VI Ewok Lumat
• Star Wars Expanded Universe Republic Trooper
• Star Wars Vintage Collection Clone Wars Ahsoka

New Batch of Gremlins

New assortments of NECA's Gremlins and Mogwai action figures are finally shipping. Here's a look at who's got what in stock.

Mogwai Series 2

• Mohawk - BigBadToyStore ($13.99), Amazon ($14.99)
• Combat Gizmo - Amazon ($14.94)
• Daffy - Amazon ($14.99)
• Set of 3 - BigBadToyStore ($39.99)
• Full Case - BigBadToyStore ($184.99)

Gremlins Series 2

• Lenny - BigBadToyStore ($15.99), Toys R Us ($17.99), GoHastings ($15.52), Amazon ($19.81, Free Prime Shipping)
• Phantom - BigBadToyStore ($15.99), Toys R Us ($17.99), GoHastings ($15.52)
• Brown Gremlin - Toys R Us ($17.99), GoHastings ($15.98)
• Set of 3 - BigBadToyStore ($49.99)
• Full Case - Entertainment Earth ($238.99), BigBadToyStore ($211.99)

A Random Toy >> Alien

I was only three years old when the Alien sequel was released in 1986. I don't understand the chronology of the toys as they relate to the movies, but I very distinctly remember collecting Kenner's Aliens toys. According to a quick Google search, the Kenner line was released in 1992--six years after the movie debuted in theaters.

It always bothered me that the figures were only loosely based on the characters from the movie. Bishop, in particular, looked completely different from his movie counterpart--with his his segmented metal helmet and glasses. I suppose the Kenner design made for a more interesting action figure, but honestly, I was more fascinated with his huge gatling gun than his shiny headpiece.

Entertainment Earth >> Sale > NECA

If you mention NECA on Todd McFarlane's Spawn.com forums, your post will likely vanish. I don't know if NECA has an official forum, but they do have a Facebook page. Log on there to find out such interesting facts as what NECA stands for. Just don't mention Spawn! Actually I don't think they mind.

You can mention whatever company you like on the Toy Sale Boat forums. Today we're talking about the NECA sale at Entertainment Earth. For a limited time, EE has slashed 20-percent off over 150 different NECA collectibles. You can browse the entire listing here.

I chose to spotlight Gizmo, because as I've mentioned before, I'm a big Gremlins fan and NECA has done a wonderful job bringing Gizmo to life. For so long there were no good Gizmo toys. I bought a puppet from the Hallmark store around the time Gremlins 2: The New Batch was released. It was probably the best looking Gizmo doll at that time, but everything NECA has made just blows that puppet out of the water.

Not that I would advise getting your Mogwai wet.

NECA >> Gremlins > Mogwai Series 1

( image courtesy Entertainment Earth)

There's no doubt that my favorite showing at this year's Toy Fair were NECA's Mogwai action figures from their Gremlins line. There have been tiny PVC figurines, high-scale replicas and everything in-between, but none of the Mogwai merch released over the years has managed to capture that perfect balance of cute and menacing that personify the Mogwai.

NECA looks to have nailed the look of the little critters and also managed to cram in extra personality in the form of articulated eyes and ears. The first assortment of Mogwai is scheduled to ship this June and include:

• Gizmo 
• George
• Lenny

A second assortment is scheduled for a few months later and is slated to include:

• Combat Gizmo (Rambo)
• Mohawk
• Daffy

The listing on Entertainment Earth mentions that the Mogwais will ship in cases of fourteen figures, so there should be plenty to go around when they invade this summer.

Just don't feed them after midnight.