The Ultra Complete WoS/SCS Timeline: Pre WoS - 5/12/2003 - WoS Memories and Customs - Simpsons Action Figures - Simpsons Collector Sector - Message Board

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The Ultra Complete WoS/SCS Timeline: Pre WoS - 5/12/2003

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markwars1972	The Ultra Complete WoS/SCS Timeline: Pre WoS - 5/12/2003	Lead	[-]
Posts: 11910 (07/16/02 07:23:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Here it is folks, the entire history of the SCS and the WoS: 1999 >June 1999 First reports of upcoming Playmates Simpsons line hit the pages of Tomart and Lees Action Figure News. > September 1999 - First pictures of the World of Springfield line are shown in Lees AFN. > November 1999 - Full set of Wave 1 figure pictures along with Barney and Moe are posted on the web at the Raving Toy Maniac website. Pictures of the Living Room and the Kwik-E-Mart are also revealed there. 2000 > January 2000 WoS arrives on the shelves of Toys R Us. > January 2000 - Tomarts #73 Cover: "Toy Fair 2000" with a nice illustration of 1st wave Homer (along with Edward Sissorhand, Darth Maul, Professor X and others). -pg. 7 - "News Brief" implies that all "8 figures converse" with each other. Playsets are listed at $20. > February 2000 The first playsets hit shelves at TRUs across the country. > February 2000 We see the 2000 product line pictures from Toy Fair 2000. Waves 1-3 are listed as: Wave 1: -Homer -Bart -Grampa -Lisa -Krusty -Mr. Burns Wave 2: -Moe -Barney -Kamp Krusty Bart -Nelson -Ned Flanders -Chief Wiggum Wave 3: -Smithers -Milhouse -Lenny -Ralph Wiggum -Groundskeeper Willie -Otto Wave 1 Playsets: -Marge and Maggie w/ Living Room -Radioactive Homer w/ the power Plant Wave 2 Playsets: -Apu w/ the Kwik-E-Mart -Principal Skinner w/ the School Wave 3 Playsets: -Side Show Bob w/ the Springfield TV Studio -Pin Pal Homer w/ the Bowl-A-Rama > February 2000 - Lee's AFT #88 pg. 20 - "The first eight carded figures include Simpsons family members Homer, Bart, Lisa and Grampa. Four Springfield regulars round out the group of eight; Krusty the Clown, Barney, Moe the Bartender, and Mr. Burns. Connect any of these to an Intell-Tronic Environment and give voice to the entire town of Springfield. Three environments are planned for the initial release, and include The Simpsons Living Room w/Marge and Maggie, The Nuclear Power Plant w/Radioactive Homer, and the Kwik-E-Mart w/Apu. Each Environment is encoded with a computer chip that recognizes any of the figures and causes them to speak when connected to it." Pictured are Moe, Barney, Mr. Burns, Grampa, Lisa, Homer, and Krusty the Clown. Also pictured are the living room w/Marge and Maggie, the stickers are a closed window, nothing on the T.V., and a closed door. The Power Plant w/RA Homer has the variant stickers (closed doors and a panel with gauges on it). The Kwik-E-Mart w/Apu playset has a closed door sticker with no one standing outside, just glass. Another pic shows a hand placing Burns over a sound chip, and it reads: "Place figures over Intelli-Tronic Environments to activate character dedicated sound chips!" > February 2000 - Toy Fare #30 pg. 14 - An article about WoS lists the Wave 1 figures and mentions only the Living Room as being in the first assortment. Other waves are said to include Smithers, Flanders, Wiggum, Moe, Barney, Milhouse, Nelson, Otto, Lenny, Willie, Ralph, the Power Plant, and Kwik-e-Mart. Pics of Wave 1, Barney, Moe, and the Kwik-e-Mart are shown. > March 2000 - Lee's AFT #89 pg. 40 - "On the Pegs" Photo page front view of Nuclear Power Plant playset along with Bart, Krusty & Homer on cards (first version of cards). > March 2000 - Tomart's #75 Cover: "Toy Fair 2000" photo of SB Bart (with white legs and blue "boots") is featured on the front cover along with Yoda, Cartman and others. -pg. 3 - "Table of Contents" Photo of Pin Pal Homer -pgs. 24-25 - "Simpsons" Photo of Pin Pal Homer, Smithers, Flanders, SB Homer (green tie, gray shoes), Skinner, Wiggum, Barney, Moe, SB Bart & Nelson. Prototype photos of Springfield Elementary & Kwik-E-Mart. Photo of Playmates display area packaging shots of Wave 1 Homer & Power Plant plus first two waves displayed open with accessories. In the background, there are the cardboard illustrations of the next playsets. > March 2000 - Toy Fare #31 pgs. 10-11 - An article about advancing toy technologies mentions the Intellitronic voice chips. Jeff Trojan is quoted. The Kwik-e-Mart and Living Room are pictured. -pg. 88 - Big Shot featuring customs of Qui-Gonn Willie and Ralphakin. > April 2000 - Lee's AFT #90 pg. 28 - "Investmentary" WOS makes first appearance. They point out theyve been best sellers since first released leaving only Barts. They point out Grampa, Mr. Burns and Lisa are hard to find. -pgs. 32-33 - "Toy Fair Tour The Simpsons" pictures of prototype Kwik-E-Mart (differences: chalkboard for specials instead of Free Refills sign, squishee tops look like a real slurpees with food coloring and ice crystals instead of just gray (both mini squishee and giant squishee display). Stickers not on prototype. Prototype of Classroom except for sticker of schoolyard on the windows, it looks exactly the same. Living Room & Nuclear playset same as release. Photos of illustrations from Playmates of future playsets: Krustylu, Moes, and Town Hall. Photos of: Barney, Nelson, Wiggum, PinPal Homer, SB Bart, SB Homer, Flanders, Moe, Skinner & Smithers. (Barts legs are painted white his blue shoes look more like boots). -pg. 82 - "Poor Jims 2000 Toy Almanac" Release schedule through 2000. Wave 1 listed as Now, Wave 2 June and Wave 3 September. Playsets Wave 1 Now, Wave 2, June and Wave 3 TBD. -pg. 118 - "Price Guide" First listing of WoS. Prices range from $6 (Bart) - $8 (Homer) - $12 (rest) for first wave MOC and $20 MIB for playsets. > April 2000 - Toy Fare #32 pg. 40 - Toy Showcase is highlighting the Wave 1 Homer figure. -pg. 86 - Lisa is featured in a Big Shot. > May 2000 Bill LaRue interviews Jeff Trojan about the WoS line for his website Collecting Simpsons!. Trojan reveals the revised Wave 2 offerings for the first time. > May 2000 - Toy Fare #33 cover - PP Homer is included in a montage. -pg. 14 - Article about cartoon toy line growth mentions the WoS. Pics of Moe and Homer are shown. -pg. 32 - Article about Toy Fair 2000 mentions the WoS. Pics of Flanders, Smithers, and Wiggum are shown. -pg. 36 - Top 25 Toys of Toy Fair 2000 names WoS the #1 line. Mr. Burns is pictured. -pgs. 76-77 - Top 10 Hottest Action Figures - 4. Mr. Burns 5. Grampa 6. Homer -pg. 79 - Market Watch - Krusty, Mr. Burns, and Homer are touted as the hottest figures in the line. -pg. 86 - Bigshot of Krusty. > May/June 2000 The first (and only) World of Springfield TV ads run in the U.S. market. > June 2000 - Raving Toy Maniac website unveils the Toys 'R Us exclusive Tree House of Horror. > June 2000 - Toy Fare #34 pgs. 58-59 - Top Ten Action Figures - 4. Mr. Burns 9. Grampa -pgs. 60-61 - Featured in Market Watch, mentions SS Bob coming in a future "Springfield TV Studios" playsets. Pics of Krusty, Lisa, Bart, and the Mattel Nelson are shown. -pg. 84 - Both the Playmates WoS and the 1990 Mattel Simpsons toys are added to the price guide. Only the six Wave 1 figures are listed. > June 2000 - Special Simpsons Insert from Toy Fare #34 - Features include: - show history & timeline - sneak peek of PP Homer, Barney, Smithers, Flanders, Wiggum, Moe, Nelson, Skinner, SB Homer, SB Bart, KK Bart, and the school playset - article about voice work on the show - article about the making of the toys w/pics of Jeff Trojan - poll for most wanted future figures (CBG 47%, Itchy & Scratchy 23%, Troy McClure 18%, Dr. Nick 7%, Patty & Selma 4%, Dr Hibbert 1%) - showcase of "Best Episodes" - FOX and WoS websites are given - Back Cover is a Playmates ad featuring Wave 1 > July 2000 - Tomart's #79 pg. 4 - "Treehouse of Horror" full page picture of THOH (prototype colors). Noted as TRU exclusive available in September at $25.99 to $29.99. > July 2000 - Toy Fare #35 pg. 61 - Top Ten Action Figures - 7. Mr. Burns -pg. 77 - Mugshot of Mr. Burns -pg. 93 - Mugshot of Krusty > August 2000 Wave 2 figures and playsets arrive in stores. Smithers is not included in initial shipments and is subsequently short packed. Note that there was a seven month period between waves. > August 2000 - Toy Fare #36 pg. 61 - Top Ten Action Figures - 6. Mr. Burns -pg. 64 - Bigshot with Mr. Burns and Radioactive Homer -pg. 85 - price guide adds only the Kwik-e-Mart; Mugshot of Lisa Simpson -pg. 103 - Ad for the upcoming GitD Homer offer. > September 2000 TRU exclusive Tree House of Horror arrives on shelves. It is actually marked down to $14.99 in December 2000. > September 2000 - Lee's AFT #95 Cover 1: Mayor Quimby on Town Hall playset. Cover 2: Sideshow Bob on Krustylu Studios playset. -pg. 6-8 - "The Simpsons" - WoS market described as sizzling. Written info: release recap of wave 2; wave 3 (listed as October) and Wave 3 playsets (November). Listing of 2001 possible releases by waves other than Duffman, all of the listed figures was released in either 2001 or 2002. (Casual Homer is listed as Homer in Underwear). Exclusives are listed as "available now" Wizard mail-in Radioactive Homer & TRU THOH. Photos: prototype of Town Hall, Krustylu also listed as prototype, Quimby, Sideshow Bob, Moe, SB Homer, KKB & Nelson. The KKB "prototype" picture has him wearing a shirt that clearly has a sticker on it. The prototype of THOH looks different from final release: cemetery gate lavender, gremlin green, Flanders eyes, King Kong Homer Tan & Brown, slight different color to Vampire Burns outfit. There are photos of wave 2 cards and playset boxes, wave 1 with figures "in character" on playsets holding accessories -pg. 134 - "Price Guide" MOC Bart, Homer same Krusty [$8] , Lisa, Grampa, Burns [$15+], no pricing change on MIB playsets. GITDH listed as $12 MIB. > September 2000 - Toy Fare #37 pg. 4 - Ad for the GitD Homer offer. -pg. 9 - First mention of WoS in a letter, even though it isn't about the WoS. -pg. 10 - Playmates is listed in the "Company Black Book": Customer Service 611 Anton Blvd., Suite 600 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 428-2000 -pg. 20 - THOH1 is announced and pictured (the prototype). They also report that Playmates had confirmed CBG for early 2001. -pgs. 52-53 - Two page spread for the GitD Homer offer with coupon insert. > October 2000 Bill LaRue launches the Collecting Simpsons! Message board. > October 2000 GitD Homer begins to arrive in mailboxes. > October 2000 - Lee's #96 pg. 75 "Investmentary" Points out wave 2 hitting shelves Burns, Grampa & Lisa hard to find from wave 1 and they report that Flanders may be short packed in wave 2. > October 2000 - Toy Fare #38 pg. 54 - "Top Twenty Five Figures" article mentions Homer and Mr. Burns as 'also rans'. -pgs. 66-67 - Featured as the "Toy Story" is the 1990 Mattel line. WoS is mentioned and the Homer figure from each line is pictured and compared. -pg. 70 - Market Watch snippet about Wave 1 and the upcoming Wave 2. Flanders is pictured. -pg. 79 - Toy vs. Toy - Mr. Burns beats George Burns. -pg. 91 - By the Numbers featuring Homer Simpson. -pg. 111 - Ad for the next issue's Simpsons Wish List (pics of customized Disco Stu, Cletus, CBG, Mr. Teeny). > November 2000 - Lee's AFT #97 pg. 75 "Investmentary" Burns dropping in price as it was apparently shipped with wave 2. Smithers is short packed. Final bit of advice, "Buy now while you can." -pg. 118 "Price Guide" No changes to first wave or playsets. Wave 2 listed with Ned & Bart without hymn stickers listed at $10 [regular versions $8] Most wave 2 figures at $8 Smithers at $12 MOC. All playsets at $20 MIB. GITDH still at $12. TOH listed at $35 MIB. > November 2000 - Tomart's #81 pg. 70 - "The Simpsons" Photos of the front of wave 2 figures in packaging along with the prototype photos of Town Hall and Krustylu. > November 2000 - Toy Fare #39 cover - Pics of customized Bumblebee Man and Muumuu Homer -pg. 8 - Muumuu Homer custom fully pictured -pgs. 66-72 - Article about WoS wishes featuring customs of Muumuu Homer, Troy McClure, Capt. McCallister, Patty & Selma, Pimple Faced 'Kid', Kang & Kodos, Dr. Nick, Itchy & Scratchy, and Bumblebee Man. They also correctly list Wave 3. -pgs. 74-75 - Market Watch talks about new Wave 2 figures (minus Smithers) and says that Skinner is the real mover. > December 2000 Toy Fare #42 names WoS Best Toy Line of 2000 and gives the line the Best Action Feature award. They also make the first mention of the spin-off celebrity line and give us our first pictures of the Wave 4 figures plus Kent Brockman. > December 2000 - Lee's AFT #98 pg. 26-27 "Simpsons Checklist & Dream Figures" Photos of the first two waves, GitD Homer & THOHs figures w/ their accessories there is also a Simpson TV series fun fact of that character with each photo. Their 11 dream figures: Cletus, Mr. Sparkle, Handsome Pete, Shari Bobbins, Matt Groening, Willie as Freddy, Dr. Colossus, Knight Boat, Pimple Faced Kid, Pepi, & Selma from Lisas hallucination. -pg. 58 "Investmentary" THOH rated "best return set is destined to be gold down the road. Stashing an extra or two is a no brainer." They also recommend the w/o sticker Bart/Flanders and short packed Smithers. > December 2000 - Tomart's #82 pg. 4 - "Playmates" front photos of the following in packaging: THOH, Springfield Elementary, Kwik-E-Mart and GitD Homer. They note that Playmates "has stated that pretty much every Simpsons characters fans will want will be developed within the next 2 years " > December 2000 - Toy Fare #40 pg. 79 - Market Watch mentions Mr. Burns and Lisa as "hard to find" and talks about Wave 2. Smithers is said to be Wave 2's hottest figure and they state the obvious by saying Homer and Bart figures are the slow movers. John Stelzner of Playmates is quoted as saying the production was increased for Wave 2. -pg. 80 - Short Pack erroneously reports Smithers was short packed at K-marts and Targets due to his sexual orientation. Market Climate pictures Ned and says that WoS figures are "flying off of shelves". -pgs. 82-83 - Top Ten Action Figures - 1. Smithers 2. Wiggum 4. Barney 7. Flanders -pg. 87 - Mug Shot of Bart Simpson -pg. 94 - Big Shot with Krusty -pg. 103 - Price Guide includes all of Wave 1 & 2.
markwars1972	Re: The Ultra Complete WoS/SCS Timeline: Pre WoS - 7/16/2002	#1	[-]
Posts: 11910 (07/16/02 07:58:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	~WoS/SCS Timeline continued~ 2001 > January 2001 Wave 3 figures and playsets arrive in stores. This assortment is the first to be evenly packed, and is out after only a five month period. > January 2001 - Lee's AFT #99 Cover: small photo of Groundskeeper Willie -pg. 25 The Simpsons Photos of Wave 4 along with CBG (from playset) factoids about the character or the TV series accompany each figure. A list of the wave 5 figures and Main Street is included. Also mentioned is the fact that Matt Groening would like Playmates to do all 300 characters. -pg. 40 Lees 7th Annual Golden Toy Award Simpsons win Best Action Figure Line Comic Book/Animation Based. > January 2001 - Toy Fare #41 pgs. 18-19 - Article about electronic chip prices mentions WoS. Barney is pictured. -pg. 19 - "Briefs": Wave 4 figures minus Casual Homer are announced, Wave 5's SS Mel, Martin, Bartman, and Captain McCallister are said to be due in 2001. -pg. 35 - "Incoming": Pictures of Krusty-lu w/ SS Bob and Town Hall w/ Quimby -pg. 54 - Buyer's Guide features WoS. PP Homer, Ned, Apu, and Kwik-e-Mart are pictured. -pg. 56 - Timeline has Homer as "Toy of 2000" -pgs. 82-83 - Top Ten Action Figures - 2. THOH1 3. Smithers 9. Flanders -pg. 101 - THOH1 is added to the price guide. -pg. 112 - GitD Homer debuts in the price guide at $15. -pg. 127 - GitD Homer cover ad for next issue. > February 2001 - Lee's AFT #100 Cover: Bumblebee Man & Bartman photo with a background of WOS figures. -Inside Cover: A Playmates ad lists the 2001 lineup and features a large WoS crowd shot featuring the first pics of Rev. Lovejoy, Jimbo, Hibbert, Frink, Hans Moleman, and Pimply Faced Teen. It also gave a sneak peek at the unannounced Kang, Kodos, and Radioactive Man. In the ad Playmates congratulates themselves for winning Lees Best Action Figure line. -pg. 6 "Letters" - Bart of Borg writes in with photos of the three variants of Neds accessories: Good Book, Hymns & blank. -pg. 30-31 Sneak Peek at Simpsons 2001 Two-page photo spread of Captain McCallister, Jimbo Jones, Kent Brockman, Bartman, Sideshow Mel, Reverend Lovejoy, Bumblebee Man & Martin. Each is accompanied by a factoid. They also recommend scrutinizing the Playmates ad for whats coming in 2001. -pg. 60 Investmentary THOH1 is noted as destined for the fabled Toy Hall of Fame. > February 2001 - Tomarts #84 Cover: small photo of Ralph in corner -pg. 3 Table of contents: photo of Milhouse -pg. 10 "Action News Briefs A blurb on Playmates comeback says it is due in large part to the WoS line and touts major line extensions with 5 assortments in 2002. -pg. 34-35 The Simpsons Best Toy Line of 2000 Makes Way for a New Year Two page photo spread of the wave 3 & 4 figures. Text has rundown on whats to come in waves 3, 4, 5 & 6 no changes from actual releases. A listing of playset releases for the year includes: Krustylu (listed as Krustyland Studios), Town Hall, Bowl-a-rama, Comic Book shop, First Church of Springfield and Noiseland Arcade. Included is info about A Main Street environment in the works for July, it then lists all the stores (from the prototype pic) set will be compatible with 50 characters more than 100 phrases price point estimated at $45 to $50.) Theres also mention of the Simpsons Family Car at $19.99 they presumed it would part of WOS so they wondered if there would be an exclusive figure. -pg. 50-51 2000 Figure of the Year Voting Simpsons win Most Popular AF Line for 2000 breaking Starwars 4-year hold at #1. Simpsons won with 398 votes, SW was second at 355. Of the best individual figures, Mr. Burns finished second to Jeff Hardy (WWF) (157 votes to 149), Homer Simpson was 8th with 79 votes. For best vehicle, playset or accessory, Simpsons were 1st, 2nd, and 6th Kwik-E-Mart (210 votes), Treehouse of Terror (as they listed it) with 200 votes, and Living Room with 124 votes. > February 2001 - Toy Fare #42 cover: CBG w/cheeseburger -pg. 8 - pic of Willie -pgs.14-16 - An angry letter about poor paint jobs on WoS is included. The main gripe is the "bleeding" eye paint. -pg. 26 - "How Dey Do Dat?" The Power Plant playset is pictured with the bottom panel off. Jeff Trojan explains how the voice chips work. -pgs. 28-29 - Article about how characters are chosen quotes Jeff Trojan and Matt Groening. Trojan talks about Mainstreet and the cancellation of Bette Midler and Johnny Carson figures. All of Wave 5 is pictured (characters not figures) minus Brockman. CBG is pictured too. -pgs. 30-32 - Each of the nine Wave 4 figures is pictured along with Brockman. -pg. 47 - WoS awarded "Best Toy Line" award. Pictures of the Living Room, Kwik-e-Mart, Wiggum, Devil Ned, Marge, Homer, Maggie, Apu, Bart, and Krusty are featured. -pg. 58 - WoS awarded "Best Action Feature" award. Pictured are Homer and Skinner on the School. -pg. 72 - Passport - Your toy guide to France. Wiggum and Devil Ned are pictured. -pg. 80 - Priceline - WoS Marge is said to have sent Mattel Marge's prices 'sky high'(???). -pg. 87 - Mugshot of Apu. -pg. 110 - GitD Homer rises to $30. > February 2001 markwars1972 suggests to Bill that perhaps a WoS specific forum is needed. Bill not only makes a new forum, but he makes markwars1972 the second staff member (effectively ending his social life). > February 2001 Pictures of Waves 4 6 are taken at Toy Fair 2001. The only thing that changes from this initial release list is the cancellation of Main Street. > March 2001 - Tomarts #85 pg. 8 Action News Briefs Blurb on WoS having 5 waves in 2002. > March 2001 - Lee's AFT #101 pg. 6 "Letters" - A reader writes in asking for an updated price guide they include a photo of wave 3 figures but point out wave 3 is just hitting the stores. - pg. 18 Toy Fair They repeat the wave 3 photo along with prototype photos of Krustylu & Town Hall. > March 2001 The happy sumo joins the staff. > March 2001 - Online retailer the Pumpkin Patch puts up a preorder for a Radioactive Man/Fallout Boy two-pack, the first time anyone has heard of the set. > March 2001 - Toy Fare #43 pg. 14 - Buzz snippet mentions that Playmates President Ron Welch stepped down and Charles Ipp replaced him. Pic of Grampa is shown. -pg. 85 - Mugshot of Skinner. -pg. 95 - GitD Homer rises to $50. > April 2001 - Lee's AFT #102 Cover: small photo of Snak Simpsons 2001. -pg. 18-19 Toy Fair 2001 Photos of wave 6 figures, Main Street, PF Teen & Hans Moleman. There is also photo of the Family Car. Also included are photographs of the Comic Book Shop, Church, BAR & Arcade. The Arcade & Church are prototype photos. -pg. 74 Investmentary They note that Lisa, Power Plant & THOH1 along with Milhouse are hot investments Otto, Nelson & Moe get a $$ versus Bart/Homer who get a $. > April 2001 - Tomarts #86 Cover: New Simpsons Announcement photo of RM & FB with a nuclear explosion illustration in back ground. -pg. 7 Action News Briefs Brief mention that RM&FB was Diamond/EB exclusive and therefore was not shown at Toy Fair. -pg. 32-33 The Simpsons Two page photo spread of RM & FB, and waves 5 & 6. There is mention of another THOH exclusive but "retailer unannounced as of yet". -pg. 34-35 The Simpsons Playset photos of Church, Arcade, Bowl-a-Rama and Comic Book Shop. Church & Arcade are prototype pics. Picture of family car and 6 talking figures (canceled) are also included. Pimply-Faced Teen & Hans are featured in another photo as well. Last but not least is a giant photo of Main Street - it only features 3 pegs and 3 buttons. > April 2001 - Toy Fare #44 p.1 - Inside Cover: WoS ad from Playmates lists Waves 3 - 6 and shows first time pics of Kang, Kodos, Radioactive Man, Pimple Faced Teen, Jimbo, Hibbert, Lovejoy, and Hans Moleman. -pg. 82 - Shortpack - says Wave 3 will be even packed, Milhouse is pictured -pg. 103 - Toy vs. Toy: Smithers loses to Slimer. > April 2001 Wave 4 figures and playsets arrive in stores on schedule for the first time! This is only three months after the last wave. > April 2001 Pin Pal Burns is solicited in Toy Fare #46. He is also sold online at Wizard World. The sellout is immediate and thousands receive their envelopes back. > April 2001 Sideshow James joins the staff. > May 2001 - Lee's AFT #103 pg. 31 I-News New feature covering online news. The hottest online auctions items are ranked by Gold, Silver & Bronze status. Lisa & GITD get Gold, Mattel Simpsons rank a Silver & playsets get a bronze. There is a photo of Lisa on card listed as having sold online for $32. -pg. 128 Investmentary They pretty much repeat the advice from the month before but add that "its not a bad idea" to get a wave 1 Homer & Bart before its too late. They also think SBB and KKB will eventually rise in price. > May 2001 - Tomarts #87 "Action on the Shelves Photos of the full set of wave 3 on cards. > May 2001 - Toy Fare #45 cover: Mascot Homer is pictured -pg. 18 - Snippet about Wizard World's services uses WoS figures as examples. -pgs. 53-54 - Toy Fair Report shows pics of Waves 5 & 6, Arcade, Church, and Family Car. The main display is also shown along with Mainstreet, Hans, and PFT. -pg. 74-75 - Top Ten Action Figures - 2. Moe 4. Milhouse 6. Nelson. -pg. 77 - Mugshot of Smithers. -pg. 102 - GitD Homer rises to $55. -pg. 111 - PP Burns is advertised in the ad for the next month's issue. > May 2001 Jason Sly joins the staff. > June 2001 - Lee's AFT #104 pg. 30 I-News Hot Auction Items: GITDH Gold, Mr. Burns Silver, Groundskeeper Willie, Itchy & Scratchy Bronze. -pg. 128 Investmentary They go out on a limb and note that the first three waves of WOS are/were as hot as SW-POTF2 and rank pretty much rank everything from wave 4 (figures & playsets) as $$$ - Patty, casual homer & Lenny get a $$. > June 2001 - Tomarts #88 pg. 57- Entertainment Earth ad w/ Wave 6 figures and Wave 4 playsets. > June 2001 - Toy Fare #46 cover: Small cartoon of PP Burns -pg. 2 - PP Burns figure is pictured. -pg. 16 - Toy of the Month - Town Hall w/ Quimby -pg. 38 - Custom Silver Screen Simpsons - Article features customized figures of Clockwork Orange Bart, Hannibal Burns, and Willie Krueger. -pgs. 48-49 - PP Burns offer in a 2-page spread with the coupon. -pgs. 58-59 - Top Ten Action Figures - 5. Moe 9. Nelson -pg. 59 - GitD Homer is pictured and the attached article talks about it selling for $100+ online. -pg. 65 - Toy vs. Toy - Devilman beats Devil Ned. -pg. 82 - GitD Homer rises to $95. > June 2001 Bill LaRue closes the Collecting Simpsons! Message board. On June 14th markwars1972 re-launches the Simpsons Collector Sector Message board. The new board has 100,000 visits in the first nine days. > June 2001 phalen180, blueduck37, and jmurray3 join the staff. > June 2001 jara19, Squishee Slinger, and Jedi Jones join the staff. > July 2001 - Lee's #105 Cover: Kodos photo in corner -pg. 26-27 Simpsons - Wave 5 & Wave 6 figure photos (listed as series 5 & 6) are shown along with prototype photos of Church & Arcade. There are also photos of the Xmas set, THOH2, and RM & FB on the Lunar Base. The photo of Main Street has a big CANCELLED stamped across it with a "Doh!" underneath. A brief recap of the Maxim controversy and Jeff Trojan answering questions about the line is also included. Trojan's direct quote is, Unfortunately, the Main Street playset didnt garner wide enough retail support." Large shelf size and a high price point are blamed. He goes on to say, "Our full 2001 line exceeds 2000, and 2002 is planned to be even bigger yet. He also says where Hans and PF Teen will be included in a future wave (actual releases matches what he promised). They also list the planned exclusives for 2001: Boxing Homer, Pin Pal Moe, Radioactive Man & Fallout Boy, THOH2 & the Xmas set. -pg. 32 I-News Hot Auction Items: TOH1 Gold, Moe Silver. -pg. 129 Investmentary WOS moves to the front of the list. They recommend picking up all the playsets they also recommend picking up the 15 interactive Homer and Bart They upgrade Moe to $$$ but downgrade KKB and SBH to $. > July 2001 - Tomarts #89 (July/August) Cover: New Simpsons Announcement Small photo of Krusty in corner. -pg. 7 Action News Briefs New Simpsons Figure Announcements accompanied with photos of Pimply Teen and 15 Krusty, listing of wave 7 & 8 (no changes). Wave 9 lists only: Nick Rivera and Herman, Wave 10: Marvin Monroe, Mother Skinner, Disco Stu, Rod & Todd, Duffman. Playsets listed are Sept/Oct: Burns Manor/Smithers & Town Square w/ Jebediah Statue. They also list the exclusives of RM & FB, THOH2 with Kang, Kodos & Spaceship Homer, and CCBG & PP Moe from Wizard. -pg. 16 Simpsons Photos of the full set of wave 4 figures on cards & wave 4 playsets MIB. > July 2001 Wave 5 figures and playsets arrive in stores, again it only takes three months. This time there are no playsets since Main Street was cancelled and the Church and Arcade were delayed until Wave 6. > July 2001 SCS launches its own website with phalen180 as webmaster. > July 2001 A&Es The Incurable Collector features a segment on Simpsons Collectibles. > July 2001 - Toy Fare #47 pg. 12 - Toy Maniacs has an ad featuring Milhouse and KK Bart. -pgs. 32-33 - Wave 5 and 6 (minus Mascot Homer) are pictured -pg. 37 - Toy Fare exclusive Boxing Homer has a quarter page ad. -pg. 62 - Marketplace article about exclusives mentions THOH1, Devil Ned is pictured. -pg. 81 - Wave 3 is added to price guide along with playsets through Wave 5 along with the family car. -pg. 91 - GitD Homer rises to $125. > July 2001 Playmates updates their website (for the first time in over a year) with the first eight waves listed. > July 2001 Meester Sparkle and MichaelCrawfordMWC join the staff. Sideshow James and phalen180 are promoted to the administrator level. > July 2001 Pin Pal Burns begins to arrive in mailboxes. > July 2001 The First Annual Blinky Awards are voted on by the SCS community. The winners: Best Simpson Family Member Figure of 2000 Homer Simpson (Wave 1) Best Child Figure of 2000 Milhouse (Wave 3) Best Exclusive Figure of 2000 Devil Flanders (THOH) Best Custom Figure of 2000 Deep Space Homer by paulactionfig Best Variant Figure of 2000 Devil Flanders (THOH) Best Accessory of 2000 Blinky (Wave 1) Best Supporting Character Figure of 2000 Apu and Mr. Burns (Wave 2 and Wave 1) Best Playset of 2000 Kwik-E-Mart (Wave 2) Lifetime Achievement markwars1972 Best Figure of 2000 Chief Wiggum (Wave 2) > July 2001 Jeff Trojan, VP of Marketing for Playmates Toys, returns the SCS 10 questions for the first time. This is also the first time Waves 9-10 are revealed. > August 2001 - Lee's AFT #106 pg. 30 I-News Hot Auction Items: Ralph, Itchy/Scratchy Bronze. -pg. 42 Investmentary WOS still at the front of the list. Itchy & Scratchy, Ralph, Moe, Playsets all get a $$$. WoS called most popular line in ToyLand. Itchy & Scratchy, Ralph Wiggum, Moe, and the Interactive Playsets are listed as $$$ (Best Return). > August 2001 The SCS Message Board has its 500,000th visit. > August 2001 Antoine Bugle Boy joins the staff. > August 2001 Convention Comic Book Guy is solicited in Toy Fare #50. As usual Wizard World sells them online. Once more they sell out immediately. > August 2001 Online retailer Toy Fever reveals early artwork for the Kitchen playset and the cancelled Aztec Theater playset with Rainier Wolfcastle. > August 2001 SCS holds a fundraising drive to eliminate all ads from the message board. Due to member generosity it is over in ten hours. > August 2001 - Toy Fare #48 pg. 16 - Simpsons Rumor Control: According to Playmates Phil Hartman characters might not be made, Mainstreet is on hold indefinitely, Hans will be released as a carded figure, Krusty Burger will have PFT, Kitchen set will have Muumuu Homer, there will be a X-mas set with Santa Homer, Bart w/ Santa Hat, Lisa on Santa's Little Helper(?!?!?), and a X-mas tree with a bird house. Also said to be in the works are Krabappel, Cletus, Dolph, Lou, and Officer Marge. -pg. 37 - Incoming page has pics of Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy. -pg. 43 - Entertainment Earth ad has pics of Wave 4 playsets and Wave 6 figures. -pg. 63 - Full page ad for the Boxing Homer / Toy Fare Subscription bundle; pics of PP Burns and GitD Homer w/ "Sold Out" stamped across them are shown. -pg. 65 - Marketplace Ups and Downs reports Lisa's value to have risen to $20. Her pic is shown. -pgs. 66-67 - Top Ten Action Figures - 1. Comic Shop w/ CBG 2. Itchy & Scratchy 3. Ralph 5. Willie 7. Lenny -pg. 81 - Wave 4 added to price guide. -pg. 90 - GitD Homer rises to $130. -pg. 99 - Full page ad for Toy Fare #49 featuring the Boxing Homer offer. > September 2001 spanikopita & CletusTSJY join the staff. > September 2001 The SCS message board tops 1,000,000 visits. > September 2001 TRU gets Tree House of Horror 2 exclusive playsets. > September 2001 - Wave 6 figures and playsets arrive in stores after only two months. This is the quickest time yet. > September 2001 SCS gets its 1000th member. > September 2001 Electronics Boutique receives exclusive Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy playsets. > September 2001 - Lee's AFT #107 "Investmentary" Mentions that Wave 5 has been showing up "on the shelves of toy stores across the country and disappearing just as quickly". They give "series 5 a solid $$ rating." > September 2001 - Tomarts #90 pg. 22 San Diego Comic Con Photo of RM & FB on base. > September 2001 - Toy Fare #49 Cover: Small corner pic of Boxing Homer -pg. 2 - Boxing Homer is pictured again as a plug for the offer. -pg. 13 - Small pic of Grampa in corner plugging the article on page 67. -pgs. 56-57 - Two page spread for the Boxing Homer offer with mail in coupon. -pg. 67 - Marketplace feature article discusses consistent sell outs, retailer support of even case mixes, and mixed feelings about the number of variants. The article also shamelessly plugs the Toy Fare exclusives and says that the RA Man set and the X-mas set will be the next hot items. Pics of Lisa, Marge, and Grampa are shown. -pg. 68 - Ups & Downs - Barney is said to have risen to $14. -pg70-71 - Top Ten Action Figures - 1. Comic Shop w/ CBG 2. Willie 3. Itchy & Scratchy 6. Bowl-a-rama w/ PP Apu 8. Ralph 9. Lenny -pg. 77 - Full page ad for CCBG / Toy Fare Subscription bundle; pics of PP Burns & GitD Homer are shown and once again shamelessly touted as sold out. -pg. 87 - Mugshot of Willie; Bigshot featuring SB Homer and Marge -pg. 98 - Price guide debuts PP Burns at $100; GitD Homer rises to $140. -pg. 107 - Ad for Toy Fare #50 features CCBG and promises the first pics of Kang and Kodos. > October 2001 - Lee's AFT #108 pg. 5 I-News Hot Auction Items: PPBurns Gold. -pg. 50 Investmentary They point out WOS is now even packed "so no more short packing like Lisa or Milhouse" (Milhouse was short packed?). They like Captain McCallister & Bumbleeman as sure bets but recommend buying all of Wave 5 & 6. > October 2001 - Tomarts #91 Cover: Simpsons Special Issue Photo of Cletus with a thought balloon (Look MAW! Im One of Dem Collectibles!) -pg. 32-33 The Simpsons Photos of wave 6 figures plus Cletus & Hans Moleman. There is a brief history of The Simpsons TV series and its merchandising in comparison to Beavis & Butthead and South Park (excitement, massive overexposure, etc ), but Simpsons has caught second wind, first action-figure success for millennium. Photos of the TRU exclusive Family Xmas set prototype picture and THOH2. -pg. 34-39 Photos of every figure and playset on card or in-box through wave 5 with accompanying Playmates SKU. Page 39 features THOH1, GitD Homer, PP Burns, and the Family Car in original packaging. Page 38 features a price guide of every figure through wave 5. There is a brief rundown of upcoming figures for 2001 and 2002. > October 2001 - Toy Fare #50 Cover: Kang and Kodos -pg. 2 - Pic of CCBG plugging the figure offer. -pg. 8 - Pic of custom "Frank N. Homer". -pg. 20 - A spoof of a Clinton figure features several WoS accessories - cheeseburger, Good Book, and Lisa's sax. -pg. 30 - Incoming page has pic of THOH2. -pgs. 56-57 - Two page spread for CCBG offer with mail in coupon. -pg. 66 - An article about toy eras lists the Simpsons as "the Star Wars of the 00's". Pics of Homer and Milhouse are shown. -pg. 75 - Ups and Downs says Barney has risen to $18. -pgs. 76-77 - Top Ten Action Figures - 5. Comic Shop w/ CBG 7. Willie 8. Ralph -pg. 92 - Bigshot of an X Files alien and KK Bart -pg. 94 - PP Burns rises to $100; GitD Homer rises to $150 in the price guide. > October 2001 Entertainment Earth posts pictures of Wave 7 figures and playsets. > October 2001 jmurray3 and blueduck37 are promoted to administrator level in the staff. > October 2001 Pin Pal Moe, solicited in Toy Fare #52, is sold online by Wizard World. They sell only 500 online and the collecting world is up in arms. > October 2001 TRU gets the exclusive Family Christmas playsets. > October 2001 Boxing Homer begins arriving in mailboxes. > November 2001 beerbaron and B0b Frankendorfer join the staff. > November 2001 - Lee's AFT #109 Cover: Photo of Muumuu Homer in the corner (no longer called hyper-obese Homer). -pg. 5 I-News Hot Auction Items: RM&FB, THOH2 Gold. -pg. 24-25 Simpsons Front-view photos of Church, Arcade, and RM & FB in package. Photos of Krusty Burger & Simpsons Kitchen playset with figures are also shown. There are photos of wave 7 with factoids about the characters. They also print a highly disputed list of 2002 exclusives. The list includes numerous figures based on characters from the Bongo comics story arc, When Bongos Collide as well as the lineup for THOH3, a B-sharps 4-pack, the first three waves of Celebrity figures, and adjusted Wave 9 and 10 lineups. Amazon.com and Paula at Playmates submit different lists and confusion rains down upon the collecting community. (We are currently still awaiting confirmation on this.) -pg. 76 Investmentary THOH1 gets a $$$+ and RM & FB gets a $$$. > November 2001 - Tomart's #92 pg. 20 - Announcements section has pics of Wave 7 figures and playsets. > November 2001 - Toy Fare #51 pg. 14 - Buzz: Announcement of 2002 Lineup. The following is what they reported: `February - Celeb Series 1 (Troy, Fat Tony, Herb) `March - Wave 8 figures (Kearney, Uter, Sherri & Terri, DD Bart, Chalmers, Ripped Willie), Wave 8 playsets (DMV w/ Selma, Lunchroom w/ Doris), and Celeb 2-pack (Lurleen and Col. Homer) `June - Wave 9 figures (Dr. Nick, Herman, Busted Krusty, Prison SS Bob, Highschool Homer, Highschool Marge) and playsets (Retirement Home w/ Jasper, Police Station w/ Eddie) `September - Wave 10 figures (Dr. Monroe, Agnes, Disco Stu, Rod & Todd, Duffman, Bart TBD) and playsets (Burn's Manor w/ Maid Smithers, Town Square w/ Jebediah) -pg. 39 - Planet Action Figure ad features Wave 6 figures and Wave 5 playsets. -pgs. 72-73 -Top Ten Action Figures - 1. Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy 3. Bumblebee Man 5. Captain McAllister 7. Martin 8. Sideshow Mel -pg. 81 - Wave 5 added to price guide. -pg. 93 - Mugshot of Patty > November 2001 - Playmates sends SCS exclusive pictures of the Colonel Homer and Lurleen Lumpkin 2-pack, Troy McClure, Fat Tony, Herb Powell, and the High School Homer & Marge 2-pack. > November 2001 - SCS debuts in the Simpsons Top 100 Websites List in the #23 spot. > December 2001 - Lee's #110 Cover: Illustration of Xmas Bart wearing red santa hat and a pic of Homer in the corner. -pg. 7 I-News Hot Auction Items: THOH2, PP Burns Gold, Xmas set silver (photo of Xmas set with auction price of $60). -pg. 101 Investmentary THOH2 gets a $$$+ secondary market legendary. -pg. 102 Price Guide News Toy Showcase. Highlighting the hottest pricing news. Family Xmas with front photo MIB - $60, THOH2 - $80 and RM&FB $80 with photo. > December 2001 - Tomarts #93 pg. 62 Simpsons Photos of Wave 6 figures on cards & wave 6 playsets in boxes. Also photos of RM & FB, THOH2 & Xmas in boxes with a note that the exclusives seem to selling fast and are instant collectibles. > December 2001 - Toy Fare #52 Cover: Pic of PP Moe in top corner -pg. 2 - Pic of PP Moe plugging the offer; pic of the KEM w/ Apu also shown. -pg. 7 - A letter writer complains about the number of Homer and Bart variants along with the lack of female characters in the WoS line. A pic of Bartman is shown. -pg. 34-44 - An article lists every line from every figure in every playset through Wave 6, exclusives included. Each playset is pictured along with the pack-in figures. Mainstreet is also pictured and mourned due to it's "cancellation". -pgs. 52-53 - Two page spread featuring the PP Moe offer with mail-in coupon. Pic of the Bowl-a-rama with all four Pin Pals is shown. -pgs. 70-71 - Top Ten Action Figures - 1. THOH2 3. Radioactive Man & Fallout Boy -pg. 78 - Bigshot w/ Wiggum and Sigmund the Seamonster -pg. 88 - PP Burns drops to $90; GitD Homer rises to $152. -pg. 94 - Bigshot w/ Bumblebee Man and Resident Evil's Leon Kennedy -pg. 103 - Ad for Toy Fare #53 featuring X-mas Bart and X-mas Homer. > December 2001 The SCS message board tops 2,000,000 visitors. > December 2001 - Convention Comic Book Guy begins to arrive in mailboxes. > December 2001 - The Raving Toy Maniac website reveals the first pictures of Wave 8 figures and playsets. A week later they also release the first full color pics of the Series One Celebrity line. > December 2001 Playmates sends Pin Pal stickers to Michael Crawford to be distributed to SCS board members. > December 2001 Wave 7 figures and playsets hit store shelves. Initial shipments included a Krusty Burger with no stickers on the accessories and a convex drive-thru monitor.
markwars1972	Re: re	#2	[-]
Posts: 11910 (07/16/02 08:15:15) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	~WoS/SCS Timeline continued~ 2002 January 2002 - The Second Annual Blinky Awards are voted on by the SCS community. The winners: Best Simpson Family Member Figure of 2001 Casual Homer (Wave 4) Best Child Figure of 2001 Ralph Wiggum (Wave 4) Best Exclusive Figure of 2001 - Kang (TRU THOH2 exclusive) Best Custom Accessory of 2001 - Board with a nail in it by paul actionfig Best Custom Figure of 2001 - Frank Grimes by Heads Up Customs Best Variant Figure of 2001 - Milhouse as Fallout Boy (EB/Diamond exclusive) Best Accessory of 2001 Sax on the Beach with Bleeding Gums Murphy (Wave 6) Best Couple - Lenny & Carl (Wave 4 and 6) Best Supporting Character Figure of 2001 - Carl Carlson (Wave 6) Most Important Figure to Own in 2001 - Ralph Wiggum (Wave 4) Best Playset of 2001 - Android's Dungeon and Comic Book Shop (Wave 4) Best Non-WoS Item for 2001 - Season 1 DVD Set Lifetime Achievement Rick from New Force Comics Best Female Figure of 2001 - Kodos (TRU THOH2 exclusive) Best Male Figure of 2001 Snake (Wave 6) > January 2002 - Lee's AFT #111 pg. 7 I-News Hot Auction Items: THOH2, Boxing Homer Gold, Silver Krusty Doll (not WOS) photo of TOH2 with auction price of $80. -pg. 102 Price Guide News Toy Showcase. Highlighting the hottest pricing photo of THOH2 MIB prices listed: THOH1 - $120, THOH2 - $100, RM & FB - $90, Family Xmas - $70, Boxing Homer - $50. > January 2002 - Tomarts #94 pg. 62 Simpsons Photos of the upcoming wave 8 with possible prototype photos of the DMV & Cafeteria. There are also photos of the first three waves of blockos. > January 2002 - Toy Fare #53 Cover: X-mas Homer -pg. 7 - A letter complaining about the cancellation of Mainstreet is printed. A pic of the set from Toy Fair 2001 is shown. -pg. 22 - Incoming has a pic of all of Wave 7's figures and playsets. -pgs. 78-79 - Top Ten Action Figures - 2. THOH2 4. Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy -pg. 88 - THOH2 debuts in the priceguide at $70. -pg. 90 - Bigshot with Captain McCallister -pg. 97 - Toy vs. Toy: Ralph Macchio beats Ralph Wiggum > January 2002 Action Figure Express posts the first full color pics of the TRU exclusive Col. Homer and Lurleen 2-pack. > January 2002 Main Street is revealed to be slated for release. Days later SCS posts the first pics. A few days later still SCS reports that this set will be a TRU exclusive. > January 2002 - Pin Pal Moe begins to arrive in mailboxes. > January 2002 PopcornUK provides SCS with the first pics of Vivid Toys (the European distributor of WoS) upcoming Wave 1 assortment of chipless figures. The assortment includes Apu and Marge & Maggie on cards. > February 2002 - The SCS Message Board gets it's 3,000,000th visit. > February 2002 - Lee's AFT #112 pg. 23 - a full page for Wave 8, featuring the prototype pics, prototype pics for Celeb wave 1, and this short article note, the "page xxxxx" is a misprint in the magazine. It should say page 32) "The award-winningest action figure line out there of late, is Playmates' Simpsons line. It's taken Lee's Golden Toy Award for two consecutive years, last year and this(see page xxxxx). This is a stalwart action figure collector favorite that's seeing a lot of action online at auction. 2002 promises a repeat of that action, with a gaggle of Groening characters, including the ones you see on this page. The new "Celebrity" assortment is going to be a good one, featuring characters voiced by Hollywood's greats. Series 8 figures and Intellitronic Environments are shown below and at right. Watch for these figures to hit between now and March." - pg 32: 9th Annual Golden Toy Awards-these are presented comic book style, with Lenny Lee giving the awards out to the figures. The relevant block on page 32: Lee: "Our first award is for "Best Store Exclusive", and it goes to Playmates Toys' Simpsons Treehouse of Horror 2 playset." Kodos: "Thank you, puny human!" Kang: "Yes, you shall be spared when we purge the Earth of your kind!" Page 34: awards continued... the relevant blocks this time read: Lee: "Playmates' Simpsons line is our winner for "Best Animated Line" of the year." Snake: "Alright!..." next block(Snake is picture shooting Lee, who has already lost a hand and taken a stake to the heart from other award winners...) Snake: "...Sucker!" - pg. 101: Inve$tmentary -"The Simpsons(Playmates) With the holiday season in our rear view mirror, keep an eye on the Toys R' Us exclusive Simpsons Family Christmas Set($$). Being a seasonal item, it's a clearance sale cinch. Considering that the Simpsons premier episode was a Christmas special, it just screams perennial must-have." > February 2002 - Tomarts #95 - Troy McClure pictured in upper-right hand corner of cover; Text blurb mentions New Simpsons among the issues features - pg. 62: Prototype pictures for Celebrity series 1 figures; Carded pictures of Wave 7 figures and Assortment C playsets > February 2002 - Toy Fare #54 pg. 22 - Web Poll: Which celeb would you like to see made next in the WoS line? `Mulder & Scully - 23% `Leonard Nimoy - 18% `Spinal Tap - 14% `Larry Burns - 10% `Mel Gibson - 7% `Darryl Strawberry - 6% `The Who - 3% `Robert Goulet - 1% `Other (Adam West, Steven Hawking, Lucy Lawless) - 11% -pg. 67 - Planet Action Figure ad features Wave 7 figures and playsets. -pg. 72 - Sold Online: Simpsons JLA customs - this featured items made by our very own member, Emerald Energy. -pgs. 76-77 - Top Ten Action Figures - 1. X-mas Set 4. THOH2 8. Krusty Burger 10. Kitchen Playset -pg. 83 - Toy vs. Toy: Krusty beats Clown (Spawn) -pg. 85 - Wave 6 is added to the price guide. -pg. 95 - Boxing Homer debuts at $45; PP Burns falls to $75. -pg. 101 - Mugshot of SS Bob > February 2002 - Celeb Series 1 begins to show up in stores nationwide. > February 2002 - SCS sends staff to the Toy Fair in NYC. We provided the following: - images of Wave 8 loose and carded - Wave 9 (Disco Stu, Rod & Todd, SB Lisa, SB Grampa, Prison Bob, and Busted Krusty) - Assortment E playsets (Jasper w/ Retirement Home and Eddie w/ Police Station) -concept art for Wave 10 (SC Homer, Agnes, Wendell, SB Marge & Maggie, Dr. Monroe, and Resort Smithers) -concept art for Assortment F playsets (PJ Burns w/ Burns Manor and Dr. Nick w/ Doctor's Office), Celeb Series 2 (Brad Goodman and Lionel Hutz) - announced Celeb Series 3 (Lyle Lanley, Llewellyn Sinclair, and Hank Scorpio) - announced Celeb Series 4 (Mindy Simmons, Number One, and Artie Ziff) - pics of Mainstreet w/ Crazy Old Man - pics of packaged Celeb 2 pack #1 and EB exclusive HS Homer and HS Marge - confirmed THOH3 and New Year's playsets - pics of first three Bongo figures (Homer, Apu, Krabappel) and confirmation of six more (Marge, Maggie, Bart, Lisa, Skinner, and Grandpa) > February 2002 - Prices rise a dollar on average for WoS carded figures. > February 2002 - EB announces exclusive KBBL Radio Station w/ Bill and Marty. Only a concept sketch is shown. > March 2002 - Lee's AFT #113 Cover: Colonel Homer, Lurleen, Mobile Home playset - pg. 11 A picture of the High School Marge & Homer playset/figures prototypes is shown and info on how to order one from EB is given. - pg. 28: Playmates Toyfair coverage, no words other than the names of what's pictured. They show the Lurleen/Homer set, Wave 8, Wave 9, the mini figure sets, and the School Bus. - pg. 101: Inve$tmentary - "This line's been golden ever since it debuted, and Playmates' decision to do away with the "One Homer and One Bart in Every Assortment" rule has only made it stronger. It's paved the way for the addition of classic Simpsons characters like Cletus the Slack-jawed Yokel($$) and Hans "Football-in-the-Crotch" Moleman($$)--both of which have been included in the newest assortment. We can't say enough about the potential of this line, so grab 'em while you can. Yes, Hans comes with the football." - pg. 102: Price Guide News - "Series 7 is out and pretty common($8ea.) Cletus however is bringing in slightly more($10) mainly because he's the best figure in the assortment. Exclusives are also still going strong. Boxing Homer and The Convention Comic Book Guy are bringing about $60 each on the secondary market. Here's what's going on in the other Simpsons assortments: Milhouse(+$22), Otto(+$20), Nelson(+$20), Homer Casual(+$12), Itchy and Scratchy(+$16), Groundskeeper Willy(+$17), Ralph Wiggum(+$17), Martin Prince(+$12), Bumblebee Man(+$13), Captain McCallister(+$12), Snake(+$12), Dr.Hibbert(+$10), Bleeding Gums Murphy(+$10), and Prof.Frink(+$10)." > March 2002 - Tomarts #96 - Pg. 16/17- Results of 2001 Figure of the Year Voting: The Simpsons line came in fourth place (Hyper-Obese Homer is pictured) in the Most Popular Action Figure Lines category w/ 351 votes. In the Best Vehicle, Playset, or Accessory category, THOH II came in third w/ 203 votes, Comic Book Shop come in fourth w/ 201 votes, Simpsons Christmas came in fifteenth w/ 53 votes. > March 2002 - Toy Fare #55 pg. 6 - A letter correcting some mistakes in their article about playset lines is printed. -pg. 9 - Entertainment Earth has an ad featuring the Wave 7 figures. -pg. 18 - Web Poll has a cartoon pic of Ralph. -pg. 46 - Best of the Best - Best Toy Line Award: WoS. Pic shows Church, Lovejoy, Willie, Fallout Boy, Radioactive Man, Capt. McCallister, Mascot Homer, and Frink. -pg. 79 - Boxing Homer rises to $50 in the price guide. -pg. 87 - Ad for Toy Fare #56 featuring Troy McClure. > March 2002 - Variant packaging arrangements for accessories are found for the Herb Powell and Troy McClure figures. > March 2002 - The SCS Message Board has its 3,000,000th visitor. > March 2002 - Col. Homer and Lurleen 2 pack begins to arrive through Amazon.com. > March 2002 - Wave 8 figures and Assortment D playsets are found on shelves. > March 2002 - Jeff Trojan, VP of Marketing for Playmates Toys, leaves Playmates for a position with Play Along Toys. > April 2002 - Lee's AFT #114 - Pg. 7: In their "Hot Online Auctions" section, they have the 'Dolph error printed variant' listed as a "good return". -pg. 16: Playmates Toy Fair coverage. This is a picture spread featuring the Wave 8 figures and playsets, Wave 9 figures and playsets, School Bus, and packaging pictures of the first Celebrity series and the Colonel Homer/Lurleen set. -pg. 110: In their "Price Guide News", they report that the Radioactive Man/ Fallout Boy set is now $30- in value while Pin Pal Moe is bringing $40+ on the secondary market. They also report on the Dolph error variations- 1) We re created a diversion! ($12+), 2) We ve created a diversion (sticker over error- $10+), and 3) We ve created a diversion! (printed- $8+). -In the Price Guide, there is an "Altered States" spotlight (with pictures) on the the three above mentioned variations on the Dolph card. > April 2002 - Tomart's #97 - Cover featuring Lionel Hutz and the original Bart. -pg. 8- "Simpsons in 2002": This half-page article is a detailed description of Playmates' Simpsons offerings in 2002. The items mentioned include Wave 9, Wave 10, Celeb Series 3 and 4, Colonel Homer/Lurleen set, Bowling Marge and Jacques two-pack, Main Street, THOH III, Times Square New Years Eve, Prom two-pack, KBBL, Blockos, Bobbleheads, Bongos, 9" collector figures, Episode-specific theme packs. -pg. 32-33: "The Simpsons" (Toy Fair coverage): Picture spread featuring Wave 9 figures and playsets (Police Station and Retirement Castle), Episode-specific theme packs, Colonel Homer/Lurleen set, and the Prom set. > April 2002 - Toy Fare #56 Cover: Troy McClure -pg. 36 - Incoming has pics of the Wave 8 figures and playsets as well as the Celeb Series 1 figures. -pg. 82 - Marketplace discusses whether or not the market for WoS is slowing down, the consensus is that it is not. Pics of Frink, BB Man, and Krabappel are shown. -pg. 101 - Wave 7 and the X-mas set are added to the price guide. -pg. 109 - Boxing Homer rises to $55; GitD Homer rises to $155. > April 2002 - A U.K. exclusive video ("Film Festival") is released with a Wave 1 Homer packaged with it. > April 2002 - ActionFigure.com posts pics of the believed to be cancelled Rabbi Krustofsky figure. Sources at FOX later reveal to SCS that Jackie Mason's contract is the hold up and that the figure is being delayed. > April 2002 - Board Administrator markwars1972 obtains a Chief Wiggum test shot figure from an eBay seller in Taiwan. > April 2002 - Playmates provides the SCS with the first pics of Bowling Marge, Jacques, and the Fast Lane playset. > April 2002 - The EB/Diamond exclusive 2-pack of Highschool Homer and Marge w/ Prom playset arrives in stores. > April 2002 - The SCS launches its own Logo store selling various t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, hats, and other sundry items. > April 2002 - The SCS has its 4,000,000th visitor. > April 2002 - Playmates and SCS team together to poll collectors about what figures they want to see in upcoming Waves. The top ten vote getters are: 1. Duffman 2. Rainier Wolfecastle 3. Maude Flanders 4. McBain 5. Miss Hoover 6. Gil 7. Herman 8. Frank Grimes 9. Helen Lovejoy 10. Kirk Van Houten > April 2002 - Playmates updates their website revealing several changes to the 2002 lineup. A new version of the Squeaky Voiced Teen wearing a Lard Lad's uniform is added to the Mainstreet playset, Cooder replaces Lyle Lanley in the Celeb Wave 3, and Scout Leader Flanders replaces Agnes Skinner in Wave 10. The THOH3 is also revealed to be the Ironic Punishments Department and will include Dream Catcher Willie, Hugo, Witch Marge, and Donut Head Homer. > April 2002 - The SCS obtains a sketch of the defunct Times Square playset from Playmates. > April 2002 - Rick from New Force and MWC from the SCS break a story about a potential mail away offer from Playmates with Wave 10. More info is forthcoming.... > May 2002 - Lee's AFT #115 pg. 6- Action Review: A letter writer inquires about the value of a Sunday Best Bart figure w/ a Ned Flanders insert in the bubble (there are pictures). The answer given is that its just a funny, little glitch. They do speculate that it may be worth about $20. - pg. 7: HOT Online Auctions: Pin Pal Moe is listed as a Great Return; Series 8 is listed as a Good Return - pg. 78: Inve$tmentary: Troy Mc Clure is listed as $$ (Above Average Return); Boxing Homer, CCBG, and Pin Pal Moe are listed as $ (Average Return); Uter is listed as $$$ (Best Return); and the Interactive Playsets are highly recommended with a $$$+ rating. > May 2002 - Tomarts #98 - pg. 48: Carded Wave 8 figures added > May 2002 - ToyFare #57 - pg. 59-60: The 2002 Preview shows pics of Wave 9, Asst. E playsets, the interactive School Bus, and the episode specific pvc sets. They mention that Celeb Series 2, Wave 10 (they list SC Homer, SB Marge & Maggie, Dr. Monroe, Wendell, Resort Smithers, and Agnes Skinner), and Asst. F playsets (Burns Manor w/ Pajama Burns and Doctor's Office w/ Dr. Nick) are all on the way. -pgs. 74-75: Top Ten Action Figures - 5. Troy McClure 6. Fat Tony -pg. 94: Boxing Homer rises to $60 > May 2002 - Vivid Toys (a Playmates distributor in England) announces two more waves of WoS non-interactive figures. They are: Series 3 - SB Bart, Milhouse, Smithers, and Itchy & Scratchy Series 4 - SB Homer, Flanders, Barney, and Moe > May 2002 - A U.K. exclusive video is released with a Wave 1 Bart figure packaged with it. > May 2002 - UltimatelySimpsons247, JB00gie, Guy Incognito, and littleyellowpeople are added as moderators. > May 2002 - Rick at New Force breaks the biggest story since Toy Fair when he gives the product listings through the first quarter of 2003. The following items are announced for the first time: Wave 11: Blue Haired Lawyer, Kirk Van Houten, Rainier Wolfcastle, Gil, Plow King Barney, Larry Burns Asst. G Playsets: Bart's Treehouse w/ Military Bart and Courtroom w/ Judge Snyder Wave 12: Mr. Plow Homer, Don Vittorio, Mr. Largo, Luann Van Houten, Database, Malloy Asst. H Playsets: Military Antiques Store w/ Herman and School Playground w/ Janey Mail-in figures will be offered with Waves 10-13. By sending in four UPCs from the current wave and $5 collectors can receive the following figures - Wave 10: B Sharps Homer, Wave 11: B Sharps Apu, Wave 12: B Sharps Skinner, and Wave 13: B Sharps Barney. A boxed set commemorating the upcoming 300th episode is announced, but no details are given about the figures or environment to be included. Moe's Tavern w/ Duffman is announced as an EB/Diamond exclusive. Celeb Series 3 is announced to be the last in the All Star Voices line. Future celeb figures will be incorporated into the regular waves of figures as evidenced by Larry Burns and Malloy's inclusion in Waves 11 and 12 respectively. > June 2002 - Lee's AFT #116 pg. 110: Price Guide News: "The UK-only Marge/Maggie (+30) and Apu (+25) have been released carded. These should be good items for collectors who don't care to buy the playsets." There is a picture of the carded Marge/Maggie. > June 2002 - Tomarts #99 Cover has a pic of Captain Kwik Apu in top corner. -pg. 3: Picture of Indigestible Bulk Homer advertises the issue's Simpsons article. -pgs. 32-33: Pictures of Brad Goodman, Fast Lane 2-pack, packaged Prom, packaged Mobile Home, episode specific PVCs, Bongo figures (Indigestible Bulk, Vampiredna, Captain Kwik), Blocko 9-pack, carded Celeb Series 1, and packaged Asst. D playsets. > June 2002 - ToyFare #58 pg. 7: A letter writer asks about the Wave 5 card back stickers covering the "Aztec Kitchen" text. The response says 'the Aztec Theater is planned for later this year', something we know isn't correct. -pg. 20: The web poll asks which toy line will be the "next Simpsons". The Muppets get 61% of the votes, while the Peanuts get the other 39%. -pg. 73: Mugshot of Dr. Hibbert -pg. 75: Celeb Series 1 is added to the price guide, they debut at $10 each. -pg. 79: CCBG debuts in the price guide at $40; PP Moe also debuts at $40; PP Burns drops to $60; GitD Homer rises to $160; and Boxing Homer is completely left off of the list. -pg. 95: An ad for ToyFare advertising features the issue #50 cover of Kang and Kodos. > June 2002 - Playmates provides the SCS with the first ever pics of Celebrity Series 3, Series 10 Figures, Asst. F playsets and figures, and Main Street's SVT in Lard Lad's uniform. > June 2002 - The first pics of Wave 9's figure accessories show up on Amazon.com. > June 2002 - The SCS celebrates it's first anniversary with week long contests and giveaways. The winners list is as follows: Day 1: PsychoDBoy & Kroyton Day 2: grizzly bear underwear & Ham Salad Day 3: silentsamaritan & Dr Nguyen Van Faulk Day 4: illyanadmc & BrokeAsAJoke Day 5 Grand Prize Winner: Pschtyckque > June 2002 - One day before it's first anniversary the SCS reaches the 5,000,000 visits mark. > June 2002 - Playmates provides the SCS with photos of THOH3. > June 2002 - Celeb Series 2 hits shelves. > June 2002 - Playmates provides the SCS with the first photos of B Sharps Homer. They also provide new pictures of the Bongos figures and the interactive School Bus. > June 2002 - An ad for the WoS figures appears on the side panel of Kellogg's Corn Pops. The figures featured are Fat Tony, Flanders, Grampa, Wiggum, Snake, Hibbert, Moe, Bart, Otto, Homer, Patty, Milhouse, Lisa, Ralph, Cletus, and the Krusty Burger playset. > June 2002 - Wave 9 figures and playsets hit shelves. > June 2002 - EB posts the first pics of the prototype for the KBBL set with Bill and Marty. > July 2002 - Lee's AFT #117 Cover has Stonecutter Homer figure in the top corner. -pg. 3: Pic of PJ Burns advertises Simpsons article -pg. 7: In the "$$$Hot Online Auctions$$$" section, it lists the UK carded Apu figure as a Silver ('Great Return'). There is also a small picture to the right of the carded Apu and a caption that mentions it sold for $25 in an auction. -pg. 18: "The Simpsons": Pictured here are the prototype images for Series 10 figures, Assortment F playsets (Burns Manor and Dr. Nick's Office), All-Star series 3, and Main Street. They also give detailed info on the mail-away promotion. Text reads, "Playmates is embarking on a mail-away promotional offer a series of 10 B-Sharp figures [somebody's reading their press release wrong.], that will begin shipping in September........Details about the promotion, along with the questionaire, will be packed with the Series 10 figures. A decal on the blister of the Series 10 packaging will alert you to the fact that you're buying a figure with that info enclosed...." > July 2002 - Tomarts #100 Cover features a tall birthday cake surrounded by, and topped with, action figures. At bottom center is the Wave 1 Bart figure. -pg. 26: Top 25 Action Figure Lines of All-Time: #14 is the Simpsons. Pictures of carded Mattel Bart, Mattel Maggie, WoS Grampa, WoS Lisa, WoS Ralph, and THOH I are featured. The text reads, "Mattel did The Simpsons in 1990. A second series was pitched, but never produced. It was a fun line, but failed to meet the company's expectations. Perhaps it was too early. Karl Aaronian left Playmates for a two-year stint at Dreamworks in charge of toy licensing. He was wooed back to Playmates in 1998. Concurrently, the company acquired the Simpsons license and has been feeding a Simpsons toy frenzy ever since. Production is not as large as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles success, but it is a steady, profitable business with a never-ending cast of characters from The Simpsons TV series. Collector support has been major to the brand, but kids like the irradiated characters just as well. Now if we could only find the leftover Mattel figures." > July 2002 - ToyFare #59 pg. 73: Market Watch reports that Wave 8 is worth an average of $37 online, or $85 with Asst. D playsets included. A picture of Uter is featured. -pg. 91: PP Moe rises to $45; Pin Pal Burns rises to $90; GitD Homer rises to $165; and while Boxing Homer is listed again CCBG is left off. > July 2002 - Forbidden Planet provides the SCS with the first photos of the carded Bongo three-pack. > July 2002 - SCS members in New York (Buffalo & Syracuse) report WoS figure being used in commercials promoting the syndicated Simpsons on the WB. Commercials with Quimby, Moe, and Lenny & Carl are reported. > July 2002 - Playmates releases a tentative release schedule for 2003, the list: Series 11 Blue Haired Lawyer, Kirk Van Houten, Rainier Wolfcastle, Gil, Plow King Barney, Larry Burns (Rodney Dangerfield) Bart's Treehouse with Military Bart Court Room w/Judge Snyder Series 12 Mr. Plow Homer, Don Vittorio, Mr. Largo, Luann Van Houten, Database, Number 1 (Patrick Stewart) Military Antiques w/ Herman School Playground w/Janey Series 13 Helen Lovejoy, Freddy Quimby, Tuxedo Krusty, Legs, Princess Kashmir, Dr. Stephan Hawking (Stephan Hawking) Aztec Theater w/McBain Ned's House w/ Maude Flanders Series 14 Luigi, Louie, Sarcastic Man, Willie in Kilt, Miss Hoover, Mrs. Botz (Penny Marshall) Powerplant w/Frank Grimes Springfield Town Square w/Jebediah Springfield > August 2002 - Lees #118 Cover: Features the B-Sharp Homer figure with the headline The Best Of The Be Sharps -pg. 8: In the Toy Gazette there is an article called Playmates to cut Best of the Be Sharps. Either they know something we don't or the good folks at Lees are VERY confused. The article states that Playmates is embarking on a mail-order promotional offer comprising a series of 10 Be Sharps figures which begin shipping in September.. The Be Sharps promotion will be ongoing, with a new exclusive figure being offered with each new series of Simpsons figures. Be Sharps Homer kicks the promo off with Series 10. He will be followed by Be Sharp Apu in Series 11, Be Sharps Skinner in Series 12, and Be Sharps Barney in Series 13. But thats not figures! you wail. Well, keep reading! -pg. 115: Price Guide- Sunday Best Lisa ($8 ) , Sunday Best Grampa ($8 ) , Prison Krusty ($8 ) , Prison Sideshow Bob ($8 ) , Disco Stu ($8 ) , Rod & Todd ($8 ) , Brad Goodman ($8 ) , Lionel Hutz ($8 ) , Police Station ($25), Retirement Castle ($25) > August 2002 - Tomarts #101 Cover: Features a full-page picture of Wave 1 Homer, Squeaky Voiced Teen, and Crazy Old Man in front of Moes Tavern on the Main Street playset. The headline reads: The Simpsons: Upcoming Figure Releases Revealed! -pg. 32-33: The Simpsons- This article features their announcements of the lineups for THOH III, WoS series 10 figures and playsets, Celebrity Series 3, and the Main Street playset [Note: They refer to this set as the Town Square playset]. Prototype images are shown for each item. > August 2002 - ToyFare #60 pg. 20: Incoming features pics of Celeb Series 2, Fast Lane 2-pack, and the Bongo figures (Indigestible Bulk, Vampiredna, Captain Kwik). -pg. 77: Market Watch features a pic of the Mobile Home 2-pack and says that while the Mobile Home is getting $40 online the Prom set is only getting $20. -pg. 88: Wave 8 figures, Asst. D playsets, the Prom set, and the Mobile Home set are added to the price guide. -pg. 97: Boxing Homer rises to $42; PP Burns falls to $55; CCBG is back in the price guide. > August 2002 - The SCS staff heads to the San Diego Comic Con and provides pics of Moe's Tavern w/ Duffman, B-sharp Homer, Wave 10 w/ accessories, KBBL w/ Bill & Marty, and Celeb Wave 3 (Hank Scorpio, Llewellyn Sinclair, and Cooder). Matt Groening himself is given an SCS WoS 2000 poster. Some news highlights: - Renewed advertising efforts (these include ads on Kellogs cereal, a coupon in the Season 2 DVD set, and the mail-away promotion) : They've noticed the slowdown in sales, particularly with Waves 7 and 8. They are looking at a variety of ways to increase sales across the board, and keep the line going strong. Hence, the renewed focus on advertising. - The new plastics: They have no idea about this. There was nothing done on their end, and it's likely just a new batch of plastic. Remember, they've been running these things for years now, and as time goes by the lots of plastics and materials are going to vary. - There are no plans of any kind for WOS scale vehicles. - The New Year's Set has not been finalized and approved at this time. - Malloy was on the artwork for Series 12, but has been removed from plans for that series. - We WILL get a WoS packaging change in 2003. - Mail-Aways Packaging?: They will just be polybagged. - Will there be enough B-sharps to go around?: They have no fears, as they will run them in waves as the orders come in. Obviously they'll be some cut off, but they've done this before and never run into any trouble. > August 2002 - The Second Season DVD hits shelves with a coupon for WoS. > August 2002 - Playmates announces (through the SCS) that they cancelled Celebrity Wave 3. They offer Sinclair and Cooder to collectors through a mail-in offer. Any two UPCs from Wave 9 or earlier plus $5 gets you the figures. Scorpio is set to be released as part of Wave 10. > August 2002 - THOH3 hits TRU shelves. > August 2002 - Bowling Alley w/ Jacques & Marge hits TRU shelves. > August 2002 - Playmates gives the SCS the first pics of the upcoming TRU exclusive Family New Year's Eve playset. > August 2002 - The first Bongo three pack shows up at retail, then three days later the line is cancelled by Playmates due to undisclosed complications with Fox. > September 2002 - Lee's #119 Cover: In the upper left, there is a small picture of the Duffman figure above a graphic indicating that this issue contains their San Diego Comic Con coverage. -pg. 30: Playmates coverage from the Comic Con- This picture spread features images of Moe's Tavern w/ Duffman, Bongos Collide set, KBBL w/ Bill and Marty, Dr. Nick Riviera w/ Dr.'s Office, Mr. Burns w/ Burns' Manor, and the Jacques and Bowling Marge set. -pg. 54: Inve$tmentary- "If you're like most Simpsons collectors, you were jazzed that Playmates produced Apu, Marge and Maggie figures, but you were a bit dismayed when you learned they'd be shipped with playsets as opposed to on blister cards. Well, we've good news for you. Apu ($$$- Best return) and Marge with Maggie ($$$- Best Return) have been released on single blister cards in the U.K., and to date that's the only way them on that style packaging...." -pg. 112: Price Guide News-- "Many of the expensive Simpsons pieces have dropped of late. Lisa ($45), Grandpa ($35), Barney ($20), Chief Wiggum ($20), Waylon Smithers ($40), Moe ($20), Milhouse ($18 ) , Otto ($18 ) , and Nelson ($18 ) . One of the reasons for the plummet is because the first assortments had at least one short-pack (Lisa, and Smithers for example). Ever since the cases have been packed more evenly, secondary market interest in the line has wavered and pieces have been sitting in TRU and KB. Also, the once mighty Simpsons exclusives have fallen; Pin Pal Burns ($50), Convention Comic Book Guy ($30), Boxing Homer ($30), and Pin Pal Moe ($20).... There are two reasons for this: 1) The pieces have become too common and are just not selling high. 2) The collector can't get a hold of one and has no choice but to bid for one online at some outrageous price. Most collectors we've spoken too are opting not to buy them at inflated prices." The carded Bongos 3-pack is pictured here, though no mention is made of them on the page. -pg. 123: Price Guide- Lisa, Grampa, Barney, Chief Wiggum, Waylon Smithers, Moe, Milhouse, Otto, Nelson, Pin Pal Burns, Con. Comic Book Guy, Boxing Homer, and Pin Pal Moe are all listed as 'Cold' (drop in price). The Bongo Comics 3-pack is listed as 'Hot' (increase in price). > September 2002 - Tomart's #102 Cover: The top panel mentions "Simpsons" among the features. -pg. 8: Action News Briefs- Happy 14. This is a report on the online mail-away Celebrity figure offer. The details of the offer are given...... No picture of the figures (just the Simpsons logo) and no info on where to find the certificate, though. -pg. 15: San Diego Comic Con- This page has coverage of Playmates Toys at the Comic Con, though most of the text focuses on the TMNT line. It does mention and have pictures of Moe's Tavern w/ Duffman, KBBL w/ Bill and Marty, and B-Sharp Homer. > September 2002 - ToyFare #61 pg. 30: Incoming features pics of THOH3 and Mainstreet. -pg. 92: Boxing Homer falls to $36; PP Moe falls to $40; GitD Homer falls to $160. > September 2002 - A UK exclusive 4-pack featuring Chief Wiggum, Nelson, Kamp Krusty Bart and Pin Pal Homer is released as a Woolworth's exclusive. > September 2002 - Playmates reports the following news to the SCS: -The WoS line is seeing a fairly substantial decrease in sales. That means that Playmates had to revisit the line list for 2003 in some capacity. -There is no change to any of the current wave releases. It will still be the same announced figures, still six to a wave, same announced waves. -The WoS playsets are getting spaced out. There will only be one per wave now (as opposed to the current two). The Courtroom will come with wave 11, Bart's Treehouse with wave 12. -Very few exclusives will be released in 2003 to any group. > September 2002 - Main Street hits TRU shelves. > September 2002 - Wizard World offers damaged boxed Pin Pal Moe, CCBG, and Boxing Homers on their website for $19.99. > September 2002 - Playmates updates their 2003 offerings list: Series 11 (January): Blue Haired Lawyer, Kirk Van Houten, Rainier Wolfcastle, Gil, Plow King Barney, Larry Burns -Courtroom w/ Judge Snyder -Mail-Away Figure= B-Sharps Apu Series 12 (April): Mr. Plow Homer, Don Vittorio, Mr. Largo, Luann Van Houten, Database, Number One -Bart's Treehouse w/ Military Bart -Mail-Away Figure= B-Sharps Skinner Series 13 (Mid 2003): Helen Lovejoy, Freddy Quimby, Tuxedo Krusty, Legs, Princess Kashmir, Dr. Stephen Hawking -Military Antiques Store w/ Herman -Mail-Away Figure= B-Sharps Barney Series 14 (Late 2003): Luigi, Louie, Raphael, Willie in Kilt, Miss Hoover, Mrs. Botz -Aztec Theatre w/ McBain -Mail-Away Figure= Stonecutter Moe > October 2002 - Lees #120 -pg. 7: $$$ Hot Online Auctions $$$-The Treehouse of Horror 3 set is listed as Gold (Highest Return) -pg. 9: Lee's Toy Gazette-- A news item on the Celebrity Mail-Away offer is featured here. It contains the Playmates press release description of the promotion as well as details on how the offer works. The two figures are pictured. They also feature a copy of the order form, which readers can photocopy and send in. -pg. 78: Inve$tmentary- The Simpsons (Mattel): They bring up the success of the first two THOH sets and mention that the third THOH ($$$- Best Return) is just as successful. They state that this "line shows no sign of losing steam, so make you purchase yours before they're gone". *Please note that the mistake in the company name is their's. -pg. 112: Price Guide News - Simpsons (Playmates)-- They state that "The Simpsons line has been in a rut and pieces are dropping in value every month. As with the past two years, one piece outshines them all - it's as close to a sure thing as you're going to get. We speak, of course, of the Treehouse of Horror set ($70). -pg. 123: Price Guide- The following items are listed as 'Hot' (price increase)... THOH 3, Bowling Alley set, Prom set, and Mobile Home set. The Bongo Comics 3-pack is listed as 'Cold' (price decrease). > October 2002 - Tomarts #103 Cover: The top bar mentions "Simpsons" as being featured inside. -pg 7: Action New Briefs- A news item on the Celebrity Mail-Away offer for Cooder and Sinclair states that the Simpsons Collector Sector (us) and Playmates are working on this special offer. It gives details on how to get the figures and features a picture of them. -pg. 25: Playmates- This is an update on recently released WoS merchandise. It features carded images of Bongo 3-pack, THOH 3, All-Star Series 2, Series 9 figures, Assortment E playsets, and the Bowling Alley set. > October 2002 - ToyFare #62 -pg. 30-31: Incoming- Pictures of Wave 10 figures and playsets are featured along with a pic of the cancelled Celeb Series 3. -pg. 74: Marketplace- "International Invasion" This article discusses the effect of the UK figures on US figure prices. It mentions the Kwik-E-Mart, Lisa, Mr. Burns, and Grampa as all dropping in price. A pic of Apu is included. -pg. 88-89: Price guide has added Wave 9 playsets. -pg. 96: Price guide lowers PP Burns to $50 and the GitD Homer to $125. > October 2002: A West Coast dock worker lock out delays numerous products. Wave 10, Mainstreet, THOH3, and KBBL are all affected. Australia and Europe actually receive numerous products before the U.S. > October 2002: Playmates sends the SCS the first pictures of Wave 11 and the Courtroom playset. > October 2002: Wave 10 hits retail shelves - Scorpio is included in some cases in which Scout Leader Flanders is shorted. > October 2002: KBBL hits retail shelves. > November 2002 - ToyFare #63 Cover #1 features Hugo from the THOH3 playset. -pg. 2: There is a pic of a custom Luke Skywalker done WoS-style advertising a custom Simpsons article. -pg. 30: Incoming - Pictures of KBBL w/ Bill and Marty and the Moe's Tavern playset w/ Duffman are featured. -pg. 54-58: "Access Hollywood" This is a big article about custom Simpsons celebrity figures in the wake of the Celeb Series being cancelled. The article is written by Justin Aclin (member Hemlock DaRosa) and features customs from Joe Amaro, Michael Browne (member MakerOfThings), and Chris Gawrych (member Heads Up Customs). Customs featured are Cecil Terwilliger, Mel Gibson, Spinal Tap, Ken Griffey Jr. w/ gigantism, Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, Leonard Nimoy, Jay Sherman, Mark Hamill, and Dr. Stephen Hawking. Member MIT Scooby (Chris Lyons) is also showcased for his programmable playset. -pg. 76: Top Ten Hottest Action Figures - 5. THOH3 -pg. 97: Toy vs. Toy - Djas Puhr (Star Wars figure) vs. Jasper, unfortunately Djas wins the match. > November 2002 - Moe's Tavern is first offered on Amazon.com for preorder. > November 2002 - The official FOX online store reoffers Wave 1 Homer and Bart, Wave 2 Sunday Best Bart, Wave 2 Kwik-E-Mart and Springfield Elementary playsets, and all of the Wave 4 figures. > November 2002 - In the monthly Q&A between the SCS and Playmates it was revealed that Playmates has plans for rereleased figures. Playmates asked for the SCS's input on this endeavor. > November 2002 - Cooder and Sinclair begin to arrive in mailboxes. > November 2002 - The New Year's Eve playset begins to hit shelves. Less than a week later it is discovered that there is a variant (clear star vs. solid star). > November 2002 - Playmates sets up an online rebate inquiry site to help collectors track their B# exclusive offers. > November 2002 - The SCS is sent pictures of the forthcoming Bart's Treehouse playset. Playmates also sent pics of the boxed B# Homer and a testshot photo of B# Apu. > December 2002 - ToyFare #64 -pg. 6: A letter inquiring about the cancelled Rabbi Krustofski figure is printed. They give the standard response that Mason wouldn't agree to the offer Playmates presented him with. -pg. 18: Buzz - A small article about the Celeb 3 mail-in offer reports that since few retailers ordered the 3rd Series Playmates decided to offer Cooder and Sinclair as a mail-in. The SCS address is given as the place to go for the order form. They also mention the B-Sharps offer and say that a B-Sharps Wiggum w/ B-Sharps playset will be a TRU exclusive next summer. -pg. 56: In an article about Product Managers for various toy lines there is a section about Pat Linden of Playmates. He mentions that he'd love to do a Simpsons house but costs are too prohibitive. He also says that Cletus is his favorite figure (Cletus is pictured). -pg. 86: Price Guide updates add the Bongo 3-pack, Bowling Alley, THOH3, and Wave 9 figures to the list, ToyFare exclusives are also relisted with the WoS line, and the listings are now formatted by wave rather than alphabetically. > December 2002 - The first rereleases are revealed to be Mr. Burns and Moe. > December 2002 - The first photos of Wave 12 are revealed by Diamond Comics. > December 2002 - The first photos of the new packaging style are shown when American Dreams shows it's pictures of the boxed Courtroom playset. > December 2002 - Wave 11 and the Courtroom playset hit shelves. > December 2002 - B# Homer starts to show up in mailboxes.
markwars1972	Re: re	#3	[-]
Posts: 11910 (07/16/02 08:24:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	~WoS/SCS Timeline continued~ 2003 > January 2003 - The SCS runs a poll at Playmates request to find out what the 50 Most Desired figures are. The results are: 1. Maude Flanders 2. Frank Grimes 3. Agnes Skinner 4. Drederick Tatum 5. Manjula 6. Artie Ziff 7. Cecil Terwilliger 8. Brandine 9. Capital City Goofball 10. Akira 11. Poochie 12. Arnie Pie 13. Grandma Jacqueline Bouvier 14. Sam and Larry 15. Seven Duffs (at least one of) 16. Three Nerds (Benjamin, Doug,& Gary) 17. Roger Myers Jr. 18. Lyle Lanley 19. Lucius Sweet 20. Mindy Simmons 21. Future Robot Burns with Robot Smithers 22. Comic Book Guy as the Collector 23. Grandma Mona Simpson 24. Colonel Tex (Rich Texan) 25. Arthur Crandall and Gabbo 26. Lindsey Naegle 27. Deep Space Homer 28. Rex Banner 29. Glowing Alien Burns 30. Sanjay 31. John (proprietor of Cockamamies) 32. Very Tall Man 33. Uncle Moe 34. Richard and Lewis 35. Evil Homer 36. Spud 37. Jasper as Frostillicus 38. Handsome Moe 39. Bigfoot Homer 40. Sober Barney 41. The Octuplets (Apu's eight children) 42. Grampa Simpson in Flying Hellfish Uniform 43. Monorail Homer 44. Assistant Superintendent Leopold 45. Ninja Bart 46. Nipple Suit Apu 47. Sneaky (black outfit) Homer 48. Summer Cool Lisa 49. All American Apu 50. Armin Tamzarian Skinner > January 2003 - Toyfare tentatively confirms a Be-Sharps Bicentenial playset. > January 2003 - Moe's Tavern hits shelves across the country. > January 2003 - The first packaged pics of B# Apu are provided to the SCS from SciFi Warehouse. They also provide us with the concept sketches for Waves 13 and 14, as well as the Military Antiques and Aztec Theater sketches. > January 2003 - The 300th Episode Set (once slated for a March 2003 release) is pushed back to July/August. > January 2003 - The Third Annual Blinky Awards are voted on by the SCS community. The winners: Best Interactive Environment - Main Street Best Simpsons Family Member Figure of 2002 - Donuthead Homer Best Exclusive Figure - Donuthead Homer Best Variant Figure of 2002 - Donuthead Homer Best WoS Accessory - Lionel Hutz's Smoking Monkey Best Custom Figure of 2002 - Frostillicus (by RK Dragon) Best Custom Playset - Stu's Disco (by paul actionfig) Best Couple - Rod & Todd Best Line Spoken in a World of Springfield Playset in 2002 - "To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." (Homer on Main Street) Best Non-WoS Item - Season 2 DVD Best Supporting Character - Dr. Nick Riviera Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Simpsons Collecting Excellence - Michael Crawford MWC Best Child Figure - Uter Best Female Figure of 2002 - Marge the Witch Best Male Figure of 2002 - Hank Scorpio > February 2003 - The SCS Staff attends Toy Fair 2003 in New York City and has a meeting with Playmates Toys. The following information is learned: Wave 11-14 lineups are confirmed as follows... Wave 11 Blue Haired Lawyer Kirk Van Houten Rainier Wolfcastle Gil Plow King Barney Larry Burns Wave 12 Mr. Plow Homer Don Vittorio Mr. Largo Luann Van Houten Database Number Moe (repaint) Mr. Burns (repaint) Wave 13 Helen Lovejoy Freddy Quimby Tuxedo Krusty Legs Princess Kashmir Dr. Stephen Hawking Wave 14 Luigi Louie Sarcastic Man Willie in Kilt Miss Hoover Ms. Botz The following mail-in offers were also confirmed... Wave 10 - Be Sharp Homer Wave 11 - Be Sharp Apu Wave 12 - Be Sharp Skinner Wave 13 - Be Sharp Barney Wave 14 - Stonecutter Moe The following playsets were also confirmed... Asst. G - Court Room Environment with exclusive Judge Snyder Asst. H - Bart's Treehouse Environment with exclusive Military Bart Asst. I - Military Antique Shop Environment with exclusive Herman Asst. J - Aztec Theater Environment with exclusive McBain The following rerelease two packs were also confirmed... Homer, Marge and Maggie with Simpsons House Diorama Grampa and Apu with Kwik-E-Mart Diorama Krusty the Clown and Milhouse with Krustylu Studios Diorama Waves 11-14 were also photographed by the SCS, as were the B# figures. Prototypes of the rerelease 2-packs were photographed. Sketches of the Aztec, Collector's Lair, 300th set, B# Centennial playset, Future Burns set, Stonecutter Moe, and Retro set were also photographed. > February 2003 - New Force Comics and EB Games are awarded the Future Burns playset exclusive. > March 2003 - B# Apu arrives in mailboxes. > March 2003 - SCS Message Boards get massive overhaul and facelift to match them more closely to the website. This is the first such change since the first two weeks of the board's existance. > March 2003 - TV Guide Magazine's "Toy Chest" features upcoming figures Stephen Hawking and Ms. Botz. > March 2003 - FOX and Playmates Toys extend their licensing agreement through 2006. > March 2003 - Prototype images of an unpainted Future Burns set are sent to the SCS from Playmates. > April 2003 - Wave 12 hits shelves. > April 2003 - Playmates toys sends photos of Wave 13 packaged testshots to the SCS. > April 2003 - Photos of testshots of the Retro set figures are sent to the SCS via Playmates. > April 2003 - At Playmates request the SCS holds a poll to see if collectors would buy chipless figures if voice rights could not be obtained. Over 88% of respondants said they wanted the figures anyway they could get them. Playmates also asked for collectors' thoughts on Themed waves and playsets. Response to this question was more in the middle. > May 2003 - Photographs of the rerelease 2-pack prototypes and revised dioramas are sent to the SCS from Playmates. > May 2003 - The 300th Episode set is officially cancelled. > May 2003 - In the monthly Q&A session with the SCS and Playmates the plans for a seasonal set in addition to THOH4 are hinted at. It was also revealed that Playmates no longer had the rights to produce any other Phil Hartman-voiced figures. ---------------------------------------------------------- If you find any mistakes or you can think of anything else please let me know.
GuinnessGulper	Re: re	#4	[-]
Posts: 10642 (07/16/02 08:26:22) Tzar of Simpsacrap Master List Warrior Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	SWEET! "July 2001 A&Es The Incurable Collector features a segment on Simpsons Collectibles." This is the one that got me started on this whole thing... I had no Simpsacrap at all before then. What a year it's been for me!
Gooker1	Re: re	#5	[-]
Posts: 7765 (07/16/02 08:34:04) SCS Deputy Wishes name was: Lance Uppercut Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	And look atcha now GG, you got a ton of this stuff!!! That is mighty complete Mark. This will be great timeline info for a future book. Do you have some scans of those early release photos too? That'd also be a nice addition to a book.
markwars1972	Re: re	#6	[-]
Posts: 11910 (07/16/02 08:35:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have tons of pictures.
Ham Salad	Re: re	#7	[-]
Posts: 15157 (07/16/02 08:55:01) Canned Moderator Net Wt. 3.5 Oz (99g) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	*Quote:* "Could that be any more extensive??" Chandler? Help the SCS and become one of Mark's Master List Warriors! Go here for details!
Gooker1	Re: re	#8	[-]
Posts: 7765 (07/16/02 09:02:07) SCS Deputy Wishes name was: Lance Uppercut Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Yep HS. I find that episode one of their funnier ones.
Ham Salad	Re: re	#9	[-]
Posts: 15157 (07/16/02 09:03:45) Canned Moderator Net Wt. 3.5 Oz (99g) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Spread the news! Gooker1 is really Chandler Bing posing as a Simpsons collector!
blueduck37	Re: re	#10	[-]
Posts: 20139 (08/09/02 09:26:33) Webmaster Type Guy &Administrator You're All Banned! Number 37 Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Lees #118 Cover: The cover features the Be-Sharp Homer figure with the headline The Best Of The Be Sharps Pg. 8: In the Lees Toy Gazette, there is an article called Playmates to cut Best of the Be Sharps. Either they know something we don't or the good folks at Lees are still VERY confused. The article states that Playmates is embarking on a mail-order promotional offer comprising a series of 10 Be Sharps figures, that begin shipping in September.. The Be Sharps promotion will be ongoing, with a new exclusive figure being offered with each new series of Simpsons figures. Be Sharps Homer kicks the promo off with Series 10. He will be followed by Be Sharp Apu in Series 11, Be Sharps Skinner in Series 12, and Be Sharps Barney in Series 13. But thats not figures! you wail. Well, keep reading! Pg. 115: Price Guide- Sunday Best Lisa ($8 ) , Sunday Best Grampa ($8 ) , Prison Krusty ($8 ) , Prison Sideshow Bob ($8 ) , Disco Stu ($8 ) , Rod & Todd ($8 ) , Brad Goodman ($8 ) , Lionel Hutz ($8 ) , Police Station ($25), Retirement Castle ($25), and the School Bus ($15) are listed as HOT. Id say the Bus is hot all right you cant even find it in stores. The new Tomarts coming in a few minutes. [EDIT]: Here it is... Tomarts #101 Cover: The cover features a full-page picture of Wave 1 Homer, Squeaky Voiced Teen, and Crazy Old Man in front of Moes Tavern on the Main Street playset. The headline reads: The Simpsons: Upcoming Figure Releases Revealed! Pg. 32-33 The Simpsons: This article features their announcements of the lineups for THOH III, WoS series 10 figures and playsets, Celebrity Series 3, and the Main Street playset [Note: They refer to this set as the Town Square playset]. Prototype images are shown for each item.
Gooker1	Re: re	#11	[-]
Posts: 7765 (08/09/02 09:44:37) SCS Deputy Wishes name was: Lance Uppercut Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Nothing new eh? Shucks.
kane31666	Re: re	#12	[-]
Posts: 7948 (08/09/02 09:49:43) Moderator Anti-Variant Soldier Number 11 Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I love how BD is still keeping tabs for this. What dedication.
Gooker1	Re: re	#13	[-]
Posts: 7765 (08/09/02 11:21:02) SCS Deputy Wishes name was: Lance Uppercut Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I always forget about this until it's updated!
wolvokjs	Re: re	#14	[-]
Posts: 3009 (08/09/02 11:26:58) Saves big money at Menards Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Nice list!
Unregistered(d)	Re: Merger Proposal	#15	[-]
Posts: 0 (08/09/02 11:46:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark- I'm pretty sure some lunatic had compiled all of the "date stamps" on the WOS products a while back, trying to figure out (pun intended) when each series was actually minted & shipped. Do you know if they ever finished? If they did, you might be able to integrate some of that info into this timeline. I'm sure it can't be too time-consuming (ooh-pun NOT intended); its not like this is your vacation time or anything!
Unregistered(d)	Re: Merger Proposal	#16	[-]
Posts: 0 (08/09/02 11:50:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Neat list! http://mywebpage.netscape.com/FZol3/invaderkeithspritesheet.gif
markwars1972	Re: Merger Proposal	#17	[-]
Posts: 11910 (08/09/02 11:54:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for the updates Jeremy. I'll get ToyFare in next week. I will also be adding the rest of July and beginning of August through the SDCC. As for the date stamp info....right you are GuG. Next week I will be doing my price guide update, but there may be time to add that in here as well.
Isevenl	Re: Merger Proposal	#18	[-]
Posts: 4403 (08/09/02 12:41:08) Positive Polly Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My eyes had to take a break 3 times reading all that. And my fingers felt bad for your fingers, having to type all that
markwars1972	Re: Merger Proposal	#19	[-]
Posts: 11910 (08/09/02 12:44:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It's a labor of love! And hey, that post was way shorter than any of JJ's.
kane31666	Re: Merger Proposal	#20	[-]
Posts: 7948 (08/09/02 13:10:59) Moderator Anti-Variant Soldier Number 11 Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	what I would give for a JJ Vs. SS battle again.

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