Toy fair features array of multimedia creations

Part one of two

NEW YORK — Time was when I would find myself climbing lots of stairs to avoid the massive crush of buyers jammed into elevators at the busy International Toy Center building at 200 Fifth Ave. during my annual pilgrimage to the American International Toy Fair.

Last week, however, my reason for using the stairs was that the elevators barely worked as I tried to visit the few companies still there, holdouts at a place that once was the apex of creativity for toy makers.

The building has been sold and gutted to create condos or office space. As I roamed the dusty, broken halls, I sadly reflected on the 87-year history of the structure, which saw the debut of such giants as G.I. Joe and Barbie.

I also was part of its history over the 10 years I visited with companies. Special moments for me included meetings with Regis Philbin as he demonstrated a “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” hand-held game; a talk with Rosie O’Donnell, who promoted Miss Spider plush dolls; and even an encounter with John Travolta, who stopped by the Trendmasters showroom to ogle his “Battlefield Earth” action figures.

It is a history that must be carried over to the massive warehouse known as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and a few showrooms scattered around the Big Apple.

Reflections aside, I still managed to compose myself and find an abundance of toys, action figures and multimedia creations based on comic books, cartoons, movies and pop-culture icons.

Here, by company, are some of the best to be released this year.

Hasbro

Expect the home of G.I Joe, who celebrates his 25th anniversary this year, to dominate toy aisles in 2007 thanks to its multitude of pop-culture products based on Marvel Comics and “Star Wars” universes as well as its classic property, coming to theaters in July as a live-action movie, “Transformers.”

• First, the popular minifigure squad-based game Attacktix gets new figures added to its core collections culled from all of Hasbro’s key licenses. That means more booster packs ($4.99 for two figures) and starter sets ($9.99) filled with Jedi and Sith, an Optimus Prime or two and comic-book characters such as Sandman, Spider-Man (who knocks opponents down as he swings around a pole) and the preferred gray version of the Incredible Hulk.

• To celebrate “Spider-Man 3,” Hasbro offers a long list of items: 28 6-inch-tall action figures ($7.99 each) to be released throughout the year (the Venom variants are especially cool); a Spider-Man versus Venom Nerf Blaster play set ($29.99); and the Mr. Potato Head Spider Spud ($9.99), which comes with 12 parts to change between Peter Parker and Spidey.

• The 30th anniversary of the first “Star Wars” film means an avalanche of 33/4-inch figures ($6.99 each), including a Ralph McQuarrie Stormtrooper and a heavily battle-damaged Darth Vader. Even more impressive is a deluxe Darth Vader Transformer ($49.99) play set in which Darth changes from the evil Sith Lord to a Death Star and comes packaged with microvehicles and figures.

• in addition to plenty of action figures under the “Transformers” movie moniker, children will find the Ultimate Bumblebee ($89.99), which changes from a Chevrolet Camaro concept car featured in the film to the beloved character, more than two decades old. It offers lights, sounds and a cut of Devo’s “Whip It” to round out the fun.

Also, the Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet ($29.99) looks ripped from the film and gives fans a chance to play roles: They can sound like a robot, speak familiar phrases and hear Optimus transform.

Story Continues →