Toy fair figures can tickle the interest of action fans

Second of two parts

NEW YORK — One of the more familiar pop culture icons on the planet was hidden in secrecy at this year’s American International Toy Fair.

While walking through Fisher-Price’s showroom, I was quickly ushered into a dark, curtained-off area and introduced to a bubbly spokesman who began to reveal the latest version of the plush interactive Sesame Street star, Elmo. The little fellow is celebrating his 10th year of existence with a new model dubbed the T.M.X. (Tickle Me 10).

Unfortunately, it was only a ruse, as the spokesman pressed a button to reveal a promotional video, not of the doll, but of the few annoying humans — such as Mattel head honchos, PR folks and journalists — who have seen the interactive deity. They had no problem gushing about the product that will fill store shelves this September for $39.99.

However, a quick note to Fisher-Price. The next time I have to waste moments of my life to get monumentally teased about something, it better involve Elizabeth Hurley, Sheryl Crow and Andie MacDowell and not a 15-inch-tall Muppet.

Luckily, I was able to see plenty of other products from other companies devoted to pop culture icons. Here are some of the best related to comic books, cartoons and popular films.

Techno Source

The maker of low-cost, portable gaming systems maintains its license with Warner Bros. and Marvel Entertainment to incorporate some legendary heroes into its pixelated products.

First, the company’s Penny Arcade systems are miniature, tabletop versions of the machines seen in mall arcades that require users to actually drop a penny into the game’s slot to play while controlling the action with a joystick.

New releases this year feature The Batman: Battle in the Bay ($12.99), which has the player help the Caped Crusader tackle Killer Croc, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze and Spider-Man; and Pumpkin Bomb Barrage ($12.99), which highlights Web Head as he rescues Mary Jane from the Green Goblin.

Next, Techno’s 3-D color V.I.E.W. (Virtual Interactive Electronic Window) system takes the child into the world of superheroes when he puts on goggles and uses its side buttons to either battle Bane, the Joker and Mr. Freeze in Gotham City with the Batman version, or web sling and dodge bolts from Electro in the Spider-Man virtual version ($24.99 each).

Mega Blocks

In addition to adding new buildable characters — some with magnetic joints — based on the Marvel Comics universe, the chief rival to Lego has pulled a coup with block-building sets based on the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, “Dead Man’s Chest,” which will hit theaters this summer.

Most impressive is the Black Pearl pirate ship (175 pieces, $39.99), which comes with highly detailed miniversions of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, along with fabric sails, a pulley system, cannons that fire and deck panels that open to access the captain’s cabin.

Sideshow Collectibles

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