San Diego Comic Con Jem And The Holograms IT exclusive: Twilight In Paris

Every year, Jem fans eagerly await the announcement of the Integrity Toys San Diego Comic Con exclusive Jem doll - much desired and sought after all over the world. This year's special release is a Quick Switch Jem/Jerrica doll (for me this is probably the reason this system was developed in the first place), in a special package, courtesy of the multi-talented Alain Tremblay from IT. Let's find out more about the doll:

TWILIGHT IN PARIS™ JERRICA BENTON/JEM Doll 
Ages: 15 and up
Approx. Retail Price: $149.99 US
($162.00 with California Sales tax included at the show)
Available at Hasbro's Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego

This fully articulated, Special Edition Twilight in Paris™ Jerrica Benton/Jem doll stands 12.5 inches tall and features all of the components needed to transform the doll from Jerrica Benton into Jem via Integrity Toys' QuickSwitch system that allows users to easily pop the head sculpts on and off, as well as the corresponding clothing components.

As a bonus, this highly sought after collectible is brought to fans intricately packaged in a custom souvenir box that turns into a 30" tall diorama of the Eiffel Tower to use as a background to display Jem And The Holograms. Doll stand and certificate of authenticity included. Following the convention, a limited number will be available on HasbroToyShop.com.

The outfit is based on a vintage 80's Flip Side Fashion, which was called "Like a Dream" back in the day, now paired to go with movie director Anthony Julian. Instructions are provided to help turn the package in the the Eiffel Tower Diorama:

As I mentioned in the introduction, the packaging was created by Alain Tremblay, The actual doll was designed by Vaughn Sawyers. Both guys are huge fans of the series and they keep on proving it with each successive release in this line.

The price of $149.99 announced above does not include California Sales tax, so the actual price at the SDCC show will be $162.00 tax included.

Important: This release is a HASBRO exclusive and neither the W Club or IT Direct will have any quantities available of this doll or have access to it in any way. IT will not be able to help anyone pre-order this exclusive either and does not have further information about timing or anything else at this time.

If you are curious and would like to view the entire "Twilight in Paris" music video, here it is:


HASBRO and its logo, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2015 HASBRO. All rights reserved.
All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

First W Club doll for 2015 is here - and it is Poppy Parker

Just a couple of nights ago, W Club members received news of the very first doll to be offered to them for 2015. And it is none other than Poppy Parker, making it a sneak peak into this year's line of Poppy dolls that will be inspired by the top models of the 60s, Model Scene. The surprise was that she is not just a doll - she is a gift set with three different outfits and three different heads. Yes, the quick-switch system is alive and well and makes an appearance again this year, despite the problems with last year's Loni/Poppy doll, Sabina Havoc, that had her heads wobbly on the switch neck; Integrity Toys had to replace many bodies (including my doll's). The set is called Mood Changers (fitting) and two of the three fashions are mod-inspired (with a space-age hint) while the third is more early 60s. Let's see what's in-store:

Item # PP079
Mood Changers
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll Gift Set
The Model Scene Collection
2015 W Club Exclusive
Limited Edition Size: TBA 
Estimated Ship Date: Approximately 
Special W Club Price: $160.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax*.

*Deposit of $30.00 due immediately at pre-order, balance of $130.00 + shipping and handling (and tax for Maryland residents) due approximately Fall 2015.

Doll Tech Specs:

Head Sculpts: Poppy
Body Type: Poppy Parker™ 
Quick Switch Feature: Yes
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Colors: Auburn (Head # 1), Raven (Head # 2), Lilac (Head # 3)
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied

Poppy's first look is an elegant party dress in black satin with silver and black organza overlay. Glittering jewellery, a matching bolero jacket and black hose and shoes complete this "Jazzy" ensemble. Her hair is in a side swept low bun in a shade of auburn and her make-up is in smoky shades of grey. I think this is the best version of this gift-set, she's the winner hands down. I'd get her even if she was just this one single doll. Pure perfection.

The second look is a delicate lace pant-suit in a vision of sea foam. Satin trim details finish off this look on Poppy. Her side parted raven wavy hair accentuates her make-up in complementary shades of sea foam. This one looks great - it would look even better if the outfit was in white or black. This is straight from Courrèges in 1964, as you can see below (photo by Ronald Falloon):

It is also very similar to what Diane Kruger wore to the Met Gala on Monday, by Chanel. Her face looks gorgeous, even with this particular eye-shadow. She could be Meghan Draper from Mad Men on a night out.

The last look is a pale pink mini dress with silver sequin trim.Completing the look is a smashing hairstyle in a subtle shade of lilac and pink make-up making for an over the top, space age look. A Poppy with lilac hair!

She looks a bit weird in this hair colour and make up - if she was not in the gift set, I do not think I would buy her as a stand-alone doll. Which is precisely why she's offered like this.

This outfit is a Pierre Cardin original from 1969, a pink silk-crèpe mini-dress with puffed metallic trim around the hem and collar, as we can see in the photo from L'Officiel below (photo by Roland Bianchini):

Poppy Parker is a 12-inch vinyl/plastic articulated fashion doll with three fully rooted, interchangeable heads. Comes complete with accessories and a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only. Pictures of prototype shown; final production colors and textures may vary slightly. All photos (unless otherwise mentioned) and doll information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission

Jem and the Holograms line gets a new addition: exclusive WClub Techrat doll

Integrity Toys W Club members get some exclusive dolls each year. One of them is always a Jem line doll, since they got the license, partnering with Hasbro. So the W Club introduced their fourth 2014 doll yesterday and it's Techrat from the Jem And The Holograms series.It is the very first time in the brand's history that this character is being made into a doll. It features a newly developed version of the QuickSwitch system designed to work with the Homme body, so Techrat comes with not one, but two heads: his signature, screen accurate "shaved head" look and a basic long haired look that will give every fan more versatility - and entice people outside the Jem fandom to get the doll, since it features the Declan sculpt, until now only available in conventions as part of the Colour Infusion collections. 

Item # 14063
Techrat™
Dressed Fashion Figure
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
Adult Collectible
Official 2014 W Club Exclusive
Limited Edition Size: TBA 
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 
Estimated Shipping Date: Approximately Spring 2015

Doll Tech Specs: 
Scale: 12.5-inch / 1:6 Scale
Head Sculpt: Declan X2 (partially rooted and fully rooted)
Body Sculpt: FR: Homme
Skin Tone: FR White 
Hair: Black
Quick Switch Feature: Yes
Eyelashes: No

Techrat is a fully articulated 12.5-inch vinyl fashion figure with fully rooted hair. He comes dressed in his layered 80's look with sport shoes. He also comes with his period accurate personal computer. As a bonus item, the doll also includes a second long-haired head that can easily be swapped using the Homme version of the QuickSwitch system. Doll stand is included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. **Clear computer stand not included.

Hmmm. I do not collect Jem, so the doll is outside my scope. Declan is the most coveted sculpt from the male Colour Infusion dolls, but here he does not look as sexy or hip as he does in that collection. In fact, if the informative email from Integrity did not mention it was this particular sculpt, I would not have believed it is the same one. What a different hairline and styling can do! I bet it will be popular with the non-Jem collection pack, as they covet the sculpt, hence the second head (the normal pricing also will play a part as the CI male dolls go for mucho mullah). Some Jem fans complain about how the pants and shoes are quite not like the 80s styled look he has in the series, They also mention his hair part starts lower on the left side of his head (i.e. smaller bald area). In any case, this is still a prototype we are seeing and the final doll could be tweaked.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Prototype shown, colours may differ depending on your computer monitor. Clear computer stand not included. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2014 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**