Gentle Giant will release a fully-loaded deluxe version of R2-D2 complete with eight accessories.

The ever-popular astromech droid from the Star Wars saga will come with a periscope scanner, mechanical gripper, utility saw, Luke’s Return of the Jedi lightsaber, and more, all of which can all be assembled into the statue’s exposed chest or dome panels.

The 7-inch-tall, 1/6th scale Poly Stone statue is hand painted and will be a limited edition.

This deluxe R2-D2 will be available Spring 2010. No word yet on price or pre-ordering [...]

Once upon a time, someone somewhere created a sleeping bag re-creation of the Tauntaun corpse that Luke Skywalker used for warmth in that classic scene from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. This someone was greatest online store ever created (proclaimed by I, anyway), ThinkGeek, and it was actually just a little April Fools silliness. Well, the gag was so popular, that people were called, papers were rustled, and ThinkGeek was given permission by George Lucas and Lucas Films to actually produce the sleeping bag, and you…yes, YOU can go and own one soon.

The sleeping bag (seen above, click to go large) is made of a nice, soft Tauntaun fur, and the inside is over-flowing with the natural comfort of intestinal embrace. Better yet (and my personal favorite touch) is the inclusion of a little lightsaber zipper, that allows you to cut open your desperate escape from the freezing cold winter every single time you use it! [...]

It’s still Tuesday somewhere right now and I said I’d finish up my Comic-Con coverage by today, so here it is! My San Diego Comic-Con 2009 SWAG round up.

In Hall H, which is the biggest auditorium at the convention center, there’s typically volunteers handing out items at the very beginning of the day. Sometimes it’s freebies, while other times it’s a ticket you can use to redeem a bag of swag from one of the exhibit floor booths. Thursday was a Tron coin, which led to a scavenger hunt that resulted in a trip to Flynn’s Arcade; Friday was a ticket to redeem a bag of Warner Bros. freebies at the WB booth; and Saturday was a poster and pencil for Lost and I found out that those entering the Hall later in the day got a ticket to get Iron Man 2 items (I was there bright and early, so I missed out on this last ticket).

I feel like I snagged a lot more swag last year, but there were still a few goodies to be had this year [...]

We already brought you coverage of the Twilight Saga: New Moon panel from the San Diego Comic-Con. Now, here’s some images from the New Moon items that were on the exhibit floor. You can see all the pictures of the items here below.

Hallmark set up an area with their Twilight-themed items, once of which was a sneak peek at their 2010 Bella and Edward Keepsake Ornament, which showed the sculpt in progress. Along with the new ornament was an array of New Moon party supplies, but I didn’t see up them on the Hallmark site yet, though they are they are available for pre-order at Birthday Direct and include paper cups and plates and plastic utensils. Judging by how Bella’s birthday party turned out in New Moon, I’m not sure how well a New Moon-themed party would go over, but hey, if you dig the movie, here’s the theme for you [...]

There are any number of things to pick up at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, but the ones everyone looks for are the SDCC Exclusives.

So, here is a list of the top five things that will be surfacing on eBay in the next few hours.

1. AFX Transformers Battle Damage Jetfire Bust

One of the coolest characters from Transformers 2 returns in his original form from the cartoon. Not only is this a really cool looking bust, but it also comes with a variant head to give it it’s original Macross/Robotech look. This is too cool for words, but I guess only if you’re like me and are both a Transformers and Robotech fan [...]

You’ve seen them on gaming tables or in display cases, preserved and painted to amazing quality. If you’re a Dungeons & Dragons player like myself, odds are you have one of your own to represent your fantasy persona. They come separately packaged or in multi-figure kits, typically sculpted from plastic or pewter. These days, they can even be bought pre-painted for the avid gamer who would rather spend more time rolling dice than sitting at a painting table.

But where’s the fun in that?

If you’ve ever looked at a beautifully painted miniature and said to yourself, “I wanna do THAT!” then this, my friend, is the column for you.

I’m sure some of you may be thinking, “There’s no way I could ever be able to paint like that,” but don’t be discouraged! The people who do those incredible paint jobs started off just like you, and with the right guidance and plenty of practice, you could be giving them a run for their money in no time.

For the duration of this column, I will be discussing the techniques of painting your own miniature. I do not profess to being a professional by any stretch of the imagination, but that is the beauty of this rewarding and relaxing hobby… You don’t have to be a professional to share the tips and techniques that you’ve discovered! [...]

Alright, my peoples. Let us kick off our Week of Geek: Terminator Salvation right.

To coincide with the release of Terminator Salvation this week from Warner Bros. Pictures and Sony Pictures how about Geeks of Doom gives two (2) lucky readers a copy of Terminator Salvation — The Videogame, along with the official strategy guide AND a supremely awesome T-600 bust?!?!

How about that one? How ’bout.

Yep. Geeks of Doom has the Terminator Salvation goods and we’re giving it to ya good. Well, two of you. We’ve got two sweet Terminator Salvation prize packs to bestow upon dos lucky geeks—one for XBox 360 and one for Playstation 3. It looks like the crew at Evolved Games outdid themselves because judging from the video and images below this game looks freakin’ amazing!

We ask that you please specify which gaming platform you’d prefer in the comment section of the entry form [...]

I’m sure most (if not, all) of you are aware of the promotions that fast food giant Burger King has been running for J.J. Abrams‘ box office smash Star Trek, where they offer Trek-themed toys to kids and Trek-themed drinking glasses to adults. It, of course, has been nearly beaten to death by various ad campaigns, whether in the form of radio announcements, television spots, or ridiculous-looking window clings stuck to the fronts of most of their buildings.

If it sounds like I am complaining, I assure you, I’m not. It’s been a long while since a chain such as BK has released glasses like these, because nowadays the “adult toys” usually constitute watches of some sort (like the awesome Star Wars ones or the terrible talking Simpsons ones; take your pick), and I was always a huge fan of the collectible cups and mugs that they have offered throughout the years (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Batman Forever? Yes please!). So hearing that they were going back to basics and offering a line of four cups to collect was awesome news to hear… about two months ago [...]

In conjunction with the latest Star Trek film, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company has debuted the first-ever officially licensed Star Trek Bears.

Available now are two new Bears, one each of Kirk and Spock complete with uniforms based on the ones worn by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek television series from the 1960s. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company also altered their traditional Bear pattern to make Spock’s ears.

The 15″ Captain Kirk Bear wears black boots and pants and a gold shirt bearing the U.S.S. Enterprise command insignia. The 15″ Spock Bear features his recognizable Vulcan ears and wears black boots and pants with a blue shirt complete with the sciences insignia [...]

The final day of the Battlestar Galactica live charity auction is underway right now at California’s Pasadena Convention Center, with bidding to start at 10am PST.

If you can’t make it down to the Center, you can watch the live stream at Auction Network and bid on the items up for grabs in real time.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction, which has over 900 items available from the SCI FI Channel series, will go to benefit United Way.

This final auction will include items like Lee Adama’s (Jamie Bamber) bomber jacket; the painting that Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) painted in her Caprica apartment before the Cylon attacks; the Galactica Podium; Admiral Adama’s (Edward James Olmos) desk chair; a full size Viper Mark II ship; and a full size Blackbird Stealth ship. The infamous red dress worn by Number Six (Tricia Helfer) and a Starbuck flight suit will also be offered in this auction [...]

In an interview with Lucasfilm editor Bonnie Burton, our new pals over at the massive Star Wars site Galactic Binder unearthed a gem in fanboy crafting — an adorable crocheted R2-D2 plush toy!

This fan-made Amigurumi R2-D2 doll was first picked up by the official Star Wars blog from a feature at CodeRetard, which contains several photos of the little R2.

This is a one-of-a-kind creation, unfortunately, because I know I want one. Bravo to the craftspeople on this one! [...]

Zazzle has created a series of Star Wars retro-inspired travel posters.

Two of the three posters in the series, one each for Hoth and Tattooine, are available StarWarsShop, with one for Coruscant coming soon.

The posters were inspired by the FDR-era government-sponsored WPA (Works Progress Administration) posters. The Hoth poster (my favorite!), enticing you to visit that planet’s ice caves, is a direct take on the WPA “See America” poster [...]

Last month, we posted about Intel/Lenovo’s Star Trek Exploration Sweepstakes, which gave entrants a chance to win several prizes, one of which was a Star Trek Messenger Bag.

Now, the good folks at Intel/Lenovo have given Geeks of Doom one of these cool messenger bags to give away to one of our readers!

One (1) winner will receive:

– (1) Star Trek Messenger Bag

This exclusive, collectible quality messenger bag comes with a laptop sleeve and lots of pockets, and has the Star Trek emblem on the front flap.

TO ENTER: Fill out the form below and submit. Entry form HERE.

RULES: One entry per person. All entries must be in by Friday, December 26, 2008 at 9pm EST. This contest is only open to residents of the United States. No international entries will be accepted. Void where prohibited. Winners will be chosen randomly from valid entries and will be notified by email. NOTE: We will not sell your contact info into spam slavery. Enter with confidence [...]

Amazon is having a big December Deals Toy Sale where you can get up to 70% off select item.

Worth mentioning here for sure is their sale on Star Wars toys and games. Right now, the Star Wars 3.75″ New Millennium Falcon is on sale for $99.99 (down from $179.99; I saw this at a big-chain toy store this week for $159.99). This replica of the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs features electronic lights, sounds, phrases, and various moving parts; has light-up headlights, cockpit, and hyperdrive Dejarik table; an area to treat wounded passengers in the medical bay; and comes with 7 projectiles, mini-fighter vehicle, and Han Solo and Chewbacca action figures (and instructions on how to put it all together!).

Another must-have for the Star Wars fan is the Star Wars Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot for $89.99 (down from $169.99). Just say, “Hey, R2″ and this little robot is ready with over 40 voice commands — tell me you’ve never wanted your very own R2 (I have!!!). This little droid moves on his own, has a front beam for light, and an extendable arm that can hold your beverage! He can also go into “Game” mode, where he’s plays games, spins, dances and plays music, and can even guards your room with his sentry alarm [...]

When I was a teenager, I had this huge Metallica poster hung up on my faded yellow, flowery wallpapered wall (yeah, the same wallpaper my parents put up days before I was born, but I digress). The image on it was of the Master of Puppets album cover with the demon creature from the Jump In The Fire EP superimposed on it. Periodically, my Dad — who was typically quite tolerant of my heavy metal postered walls — would come in, point at the poster, and yell, “Get that Devil off the wall already!” But, I didn’t take it down; even when I moved into my first apartment, I hung it up in my bedroom. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that I finally retired it (it’s still folded up in a box in my closet). Don’t ask me why, but I really liked that damn “Jump In The Fire” demon.

So, imagine my surprise and delight when I found out this week that same creature has been turned into a 12-inch action figure! The Jump in the Fire Action Figure being sold through the official Metallica Store for $99.99 (but you’re a member of the Metallica Fan Club [like me], go through the MetClub Store to get it discounted at $79.99.) [...]

At the end of October, I was invited by Laika Entertainment to a sneak peek here in NYC of their upcoming 3D stop-motion animated feature Coraline. I got to see 30 minutes of the film, after which writer/director Henry Selick came out for an audience Q&A.

Soon after the screening, I got an email from the Coraline Team out in Portland, OR, telling me to be on the lookout for a package from them specially made for me with me in mind and that I will be one of 50 people slated to receive such an item — each being one of a kind.

This is a big deal for me, because I’m a great fan of the Coraline book, I love stop-motion, and c’mon, it’s Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas. There’s a reason I can’t stop writing about this project! Anyhow, so I couldn’t imagine what they’d be sending, but the other day it arrived — a handcrafted aged box with an oval plate that read “Handmade in Oregon – 14/50.” Inside the box was a weathered letter with a wax seal with a black button just like the ones used in the film. The letter explained why I was getting such a unique gift and a bit about how it was made. From what I can tell, from the few other people online I saw who’ve gotten their own box, most of the message is a standard form letter, but there’s one paragraph that specifically addresses the recipient. My paragraph has some nice things to say about Geeks of Doom (we’re artistic, hilarious, unconventional…), but probably the coolest thing it said was …

THAT’S WHY WE ADMIRE GEEKSOFDOOM – (GREATEST NAME EVER).

As most of you Twilight fans know, Summit Entertainment had a Twilight panel at this year’s San Diego Comic Con this weekend (see SDCC 08: Summit Entertainment’s ‘Twilight’). On the Con floor, there was also a Twilight booth, which had freebies, contests, and a chance to get your picture taken with cardboard cut-outs of the stars from the upcoming film.

It’s safe to say the Twilight booth was one of the more frequented ones at the Con. I mean, the whole place was a madhouse, but that booth did real well this weekend. I fought my way over to it to see what kind of swag I could get my hands on. I missed out on the t-shirts, but I did snag a small poster and trading card sample set for myself … and extra ones for you guys who didn’t get a chance to go to the Con.

I have five extra sets of the Twilight trading card samples. If you want a pack, then just leave a comment here telling me why you think the Twilight movie will be awesome. I’ll pick 5 winners from those who leave a comment on this entry and one person will also get one of the posters.

Our pals over at Double Viking gave us the head’s up about a real cool Dark Knight themed t-shirt, created by the folks over at Bam! Kapow!

Those of you who’ve seen The Dark Knight know that The Joker does quite the magic trick with a pencil. I don’t want to spoil it for the four people who haven’t seen the movie yet, but trust me, it’s a neat treat.

The t-shirt is available for $22.94 here in either white or black; both shirts have red writing that says “How about a magic trick?” along with a drawing of a pencil.

This time, a Cube and Stack Wall-E Action Figure … with Pop-Out Action … arrived in the mail.

This week, Hallmark will roll out their new keepsake ornaments, with new selections for geeky titles like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Batman.