Issue 50 : Saturday 25th March, 2017
The Mephitsu Archives have been bringing you Action Figure news since 2014, but it was the 14th of November 2015 when we launched the Sat-TOY-Day newsletter. This collection of Action Figure News (that had caught my eye) started as a two page document and has now reached its 50th issue. Over the past 50 issues we have published via the website, over at Issuu.com and also via our Social Channels. For anyone and everyone who has ever read or shared one of our issues - thank you And some specific mentions to some key supporters over the past 50 issues Darth’s Hutt Toys In The Attic Star Action Figures Clect.com Kapow Toys Forbidden Planet Simon G (for sending me all the news I missed) Glen M Dando Keith S AFTCUK The Neca Aliens, Predator and Terminator Group And of course my long suffering family Stick with us‌. We are only getting started
It was at Toy Fair 2017 that we found out about Diamond Selects plans for the upcoming 5th film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series Dead Men Tell No Tales. And now we have these lovely promotional images and a release date for the figures. There will be three figures in the series, but at this point we only have images for two - Jack Sparrow and Barbosa. The third figure will be key protagonist Salazar and we assume he is being held back for spoiler reasons. If you purchase all three figures then the diorama pieces packed with them will assemble together to make the deck of the Black Pearl pirate ship. The figures are due for release in September 2017 and the UK price is expected to be around the ÂŁ23 mark.
The Diamond Select range of Pulp Fiction 7" figures has been in development for a couple of years at least, and we are now one step closer to a release date of the first of these figures with the following promotional images being released alongside a due date of September 2017. The first wave will be the usual three figures and will be made up of Butch, Jules and Marsellus. The diorama pieces for Butch and Marsellus will be sidewalk pieces from their chase scene. Jules will come with a corner of the room in which the "big shootout" takes place. The figures will retail for around ÂŁ23 here in UK.
A Diamond Select Toys Release! These 7-inch scale action figures based on the film include diorama pieces that combine to build the deck of the Black Pearl pirate ship. Sculpted by Gentle Giant! A Diamond Select Toys Release! Bring the coolness of Pulp Fiction home with you! Quentin Tarantino's 1994 movie masterpiece is now a highly detailed line of 7-inch collectible figures, bringing the film's cool-as-ice cast to your shelf! The first series includes go-for-broke boxer Butch Coolidge, born-again hitman Jules Winnfield and fearsome mob boss Marsellus Wallace. Each character is 7-inch scale, with detailed paint applications and the actor's likeness, as well as 16 points of articulation and character-specific accessories. Plus, each comes with a diorama piece: Jules includes the room where the big shootout takes place, and Butch and Marsellus each come with a piece of sidewalk from their chase scene! Packaged in display-ready Select packaging with spine artwork for shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant!
SH Figuarts are expanding their 1/12 Hall of Armour even further with the release of the Iron-Man Mk2 suit later this year.
The news of a new Yoda kit from Bandai surfaced early in 2017 and we would go on to discover this was a dual release containing a 1/6 scale kit and a 1/12 scale statue. After a few images taken at Trade Shows, we now get a good look at this release with the following promotional images. The kit will retail in Japan at 3000 yen. That is equivalent to just £22 here in UK, and $26 in the US. Sadly, locations outside of Japan are not receiving these Bandai kits presently due to a licensing issue. Even Bluefin's deal in the US to distribute kits is limited presently to the vehicle line. That will leave UK and US customers having to get creative in obtaining these direct from Japan. The kit is due to release on 28th March 2017.
The metallic silver Mark 2 was first seen in Iron-Man 1 and returned in Iron-Man 2 when Tony and Rhodes squared up. The suit would later go on to be converted into the War Machine suit. The Mark 2 comes with alternative hand options as well as flight and firing effects that can be plugged into the hands or feet. Pre-orders go live shortly on the Mk2, but it is a Webstore exclusive so availability outside the Far East will be dependent on any overseas deals with distributors like Bluefin. The Japanese RRP is 6480 Yen, that converts to £47 or $57
The Qui-Gon Jinn 1/12 SH Figuarts figure has done the rounds for a number of months at various Far East shows without a confirmed release date. It has now been confirmed that Qui-Gon will be released August 2017, with pre-orders going up shortly. He will be packed with alternative hand options, and two facial expression options. His light-saber will also be included. The release of Qui-Gon will allow SH Figuart collectors to finally recreate the Duel from Episode 1 - and the promo pictures show us how good and dynamic that display could be. Qui-Gon will however be a Webshop exclusive in the Far East, although other exclusives have been distributed outside of Japan via Bluefin or other international distributors.
Toys R Us have received stocks of the first wave of the 40th Anniversary Black Series figures. The five figures went up for order online, although most have currently sold out for home delivery. There have also been numerous sightings in store, including our own as follows. R2-D2 is already in short supply, being packed just one per case. The figures are priced at £24.99 each
Not yet confirmed, but this image is circulating online and seems to indicate that the Disney Store are going to repack the three key droids of C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB8 as a trio for 2017.
Despite all the new Batman and DC material out right now, Medicom are sticking with the Christian Bale era with this release of a Dark Knight Trilogy MAFEX Batman 1/12 figure. Batman is based on the look from Batman Begins, and is cleverly designed so you can swap out the chest piece and the unmasked head to recreate the look of Bruce trying on the prototype suit. Packed in the release are a masked and unmasked head, with a good likeness to Bale. There is an interchangeable chest plate, grapple gun, batarang and the cape is also removable.
SH Figuarts will be bringing collectors a 1/12 Spider-man from Homecoming later this year. So far we only have this photo from a catalogue courtesy of Taghobby. Spidey will be super articulated and will come with various swap out parts like interchangeable eye expressions, shooting webs, what appears to be a cell phone and a backpack.
He will hit stores in November and is priced at 6800 Yen - £49 / $61
He is due to ship in August 2017 and will retail at 6,264 Yen, that is £45 or $56
Medicom have confirmed details of their 2nd Wonder Woman MAFEX 1/12 figure, and it looks like a nice upgrade versus the original version which was based on her appearance in Batman vs Superman. This new version is based on her look from her upcoming standalone movie. It will come with two head options, sword of Athena, Shield, two versions of her Lasso of Truth as well as swap-out hand options and a display stand. She is due to hit stores around November 2017 and will retail in Japan for 5800 Yen - £42 / $53
The Mezco One:12 Wolverine figure was revealed at their Toy Fair Preview event in February 2017, and following on from the Logan announcement last week we now have the full details of this comic based Wolverine. The comic based Wolverine will arrive with 30 points of articulation and with a new One:12 sculpted body more aligned to the characters build than previous releases. He will have the usual tailored soft goods outfit and come with a neutral head and a snarling head. As it's Wolverine alternative hands are a must - claws in and claws out - as well as hands to hold the Katana blade that is also included. There will also be the usual One:12 base. Wolverine is scheduled to arrive between August and October 2017, and has a US RRP of $80 with pre-orders up now for US customers. UK customers should expect to pay around £80.
With a shadowy past the X-Men member known as Wolverine was a soldier, mercenary and part of the mysterious Weapon X program. His mutant abilities consist of animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor, and six retractable bone claws in his hands. The bone claws and his skeleton were infused with a nearly indestructible Adamantium compound to make him even more formidable while part of the Weapon X program. THE WOLVERINE ONE:12 COLLECTIVE FIGURE FEATURES: ● A newly developed One:12 Collective body accurately depicting the characters physical build. ● Two (2) newly developed head portraits. ● Over 30 points of articulation ● Hand painted authentic detailing ● Over 15cm tall ● Six (6) interchangeable hands including ○ One (1) pair of clawed fists (L & R) ○ One (1) sword holding hand (R) ○ One (1) fist (L) ○ One (1) pair of holding hands (L & R) COSTUME: ● Sculpted gloves on each hand ● Vambrace on each forearm ● Shoulder pads ● Belt with sculpted pouches ● Sculpted boots
NECA have revealed the packaging design for their
ACCESSORIES: ● One (1) Muramasa blade katana ● One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo ● One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post Each One:12 Collective Wolverine figure is packaged in a deluxe, collector friendly box, designed with collectors in mind there are no twist ties for easy in and out of package display.
flap.
Ultimate Gizmo 7" figure, based on the Mogwai's appearance in Gremlins. Gizmo will follow the usual style of the Ultimate Series with a fully enclosed box and the figure slipped behind a two side opening
Gizmo is due to ship later this month (March 2017) in the US at least. UK stocks should follow within a few weeks.
You can pre-order Gizmo at our partner Toys in the Attic by clicking HERE
Review : "Rescuing Newt" Ripley & Newt NECA, Aliens Wave/Series : 30th Anniversary Release Released : February 2017 ÂŁ44.99 - ÂŁ49.99 The NECA Alien collecting world exploded on Alien Day 2016 (26th April) when NECA announced, via actress Carrie Henn, that they will be making a Newt figure for their 7" Aliens range. Excitement soon turned to anger as NECA confirmed that Newt would exclusively be available to attendees of San Diego Comic Con 2016 and not released generally. While many questioned the decision to licence and sculpt a figure for such a limited market, NECA did promise they would explore an avenue to get Newt into general release - the issue for them being to make the figure financially viable. SDCC 2016 came and went and the odd SDCC Newt figure popped up on the secondary market at inflated prices. And then just as things were calming down NECA fulfilled their promises of a Newt release by announcing the Rescuing Newt box set for release in late 2016 / early 2017. This two pack would take their existing Aliens Ripley figure and give her some revised decor and a new head sculpt to match that iconic scene - and iconic movie poster. Newt would be packed in, but would loose all the accessories she came with at SDCC - namely the Marine Helmet, School Award and the Casey doll head (the Marine helmet looks to be getting a release via the 2017 Marine Armoury Set). The Rescuing Newt box set has now hit UK shores, so let's unpack this highly anticipated release and see what's what.
The clever part now is that this front is a flap which once unfastened from it's Velcro clasp opens up to recreate the movie poster, but this time in figure form. Underneath this front cover is a window into the packaging and Ripley and Newt are packed, pre-posed, in the same position (pretty much) as the movie poster. There are no eggs in the set, and perhaps for the price throwing in a couple might have been nice, but NECA have got round this with some cut out eggs that cover the feet of the Ripley figure. The reverse of the flap shows off the amazing theatrical photography NECA use so often to promote their figure with Ripley and Newt once again surrounded by Alien eggs and facing off against the 2015 deluxe release of the Alien Queen. Just so fans aren't confused, there is text at the base of this flap to confirm neither eggs nor the queen are sold separately. The two spines of the box are a deep blue design depicting more Alien eggs. The sides carry the 30th Anniversary circular logo, now printed and not a sticker, and under this the Aliens logo and in the same font the "Rescuing Newt Deluxe Boxset" text. The spine finishes with the NECA and Reel Toys logo.
Packaging wise, the set dispenses with the usual Aliens clam-shells and switches to a design akin to that of the NECA Ultimate figures. The front of the box recreates that famous 1986 Aliens movie poster, with Sigourney Weaver carrying the young Carrie Henn while brandishing her combined Pulse Rifle and Flame Unit - surrounded on all sides by Alien eggs. The Aliens logo sits top centre under which is the subheading for the sequel "this time it's war". The only other addition to the front is an over sticker for the 30th Anniversary, using the same stylised Xeno head that we saw on other releases from 2016 like the Frost and Vasquez figures, and that Stasis chamber creature pack. I can only assume the choice of this being a sticker is so purists can peel it off to keep the front of the box identical to the movie poster.
Round the back of the box you will find three images of the two figures in varying poses. Under this is a text box that briefly confirms the plot of Aliens and how the two characters from the box-set meet in the movie. Under this text is the content details - Ripley, Newt, Ripley's Pulse Rifle/Flame Unit and the new Flame Effect. For those who don't turn the box over to the base other than for opening it up - take a look across from the credits at the the Reebok logo for the Alien Stomper trainers that Ripley wears in the movie, and that are replicated in this set - there's dedication to detail.
The figures are accessed via the top or bottom flap and they then slide out in their internal tray. The box here reveals its first surprise in a small baggie that is sellotaped under the inner tray. In here is the Casey dolls head accessory that originally came in the SDCC version. There is no mention of this being included, so a nice surprise addition by NECA for the fans.
The other win is to cast the head in the glossy flesh plastic which makes her look sufficiently sweaty. The hair is also high gloss, yet looks like wet sweaty hair and not glossy plastic. The paint application to the head is good too with intense eyes, thin lips, the teeth picked out in white and a bruise on her right cheek. Once you passed the head, and everything now is identical in sculpt to the original 2015 figure. However, the paint is massively improved. The vest captures every crease and fold and has gone from an off white in the original figure to include some yellow staining - a perfect progression to the state of Ripley at the end of the movie. The 2015 figure tried to capture some staining on the shoulders but these looked more like grey globs. Here they are muddy and dirty and very natural.
The two figures are strapped in place by the usual black ties, and some additional plastic clear parts that help with the posed position and I also suspect are to try and protect paint rub between the two figures. The pose holds firm well enough once unpacked and looks pretty natural considering this is two articulated action figures and not a statue.
Each arms is also a glossy plastic and look sweaty and grimy. The vest is sculpted with a strap across the chest area and clipped into a belt. and a further ammunition strip is slung loose over this. The ammo strap can be removed if you wish as it is a separate item. The trousers have the look, like the Series 5 version, of being a little too high in the waist.
Let's look at Ripley first, and she stands 7" high and is essentially the same figure we saw back in 2015 in Series 5. The head however is a brand new sculpt, and while it is less than flattering on a lot of images - it is really nice from most angles in hand. The issue is the open mouth, and that doesn't work face on. Face her head either side though and you can see the likeness to Weaver.
They are also a slightly variant colour in the waist section vs the legs which exaggerates the problem. These have been dirtied up further with dry-brushed dirt on the lower legs. The figure ends in the Reebok Alien Stomper trainers. These are a little less defined than the earlier version. The colours are all there but there is a rushed look to them with some of the cream still showing the grey colour underneath.
The waist is jointed but will not move without some force and I would recommend you leave it alone. Ripley then comes with ball jointed hips under this flexible groin area. These won't let her sit or kneel, but allow you to widen the stance - useful when she is carrying Newt. The knees are single jointed and hidden really well under the leg sculpt. The ankles are on rockers to help spread the feet for extra stability.
Ripley comes with her Pulse Rifle / Flame Unit combination. Due to the way she is packed you will likely find the weapon to be warped and may need to heat this with some hot water or a hair dryer to straighten out. Again, this is the same as the 2015 version but looks nicer as there are some very deliberate paint app improvements in the way of bright silver scratches to represent the green paint being scratched off in the encounters with the Aliens. These scratches are there on the 2015 version, but are not as bright and aren't instantly visible. The weapon has a flexible strap and this fits over Ripley's head and allows her to carry the weapon slung or in hand.
The other accessory that comes with Ripley, and is brand new to the set, is the flame effect for the Flame Unit. In the past I have not been a fan of these clip on effects, but I was swayed by the Smart Gun effect that came with Vasquez - and this flame stream is just as good. It is cast in a see through orange flows really well from what initial looks like liquid, thought to jagged flame at the end. It has been engineered to slot into the Flame Unit without any obvious plugs or clips - preserving the look of the weapon for anyone who doesn't wish to use the flame part. The Flame Unit has obviously been ever so slightly tweaked to accept the flame as you cannot retrospectively fit it onto the 2015 version or the unit that comes with Windrix or Frost. You will also need to be mindful that the fit is not secure and you may find your flame effect easily dislodged and could fall off on its own.
Articulation on Ripley starts with a ball jointed head which you will need to play with on display to capture the best angle to see the Weaver sculpt from its best side. The arms are ball jointed and the elbows then are jointed with a swivel. These two arm joints allow the right arm to hold the weapon with the elbow bent and the left arm then can come out straight to cup the barrell. The wrists remain a weak spot as they have a very small and fragile pin. The hands therefore will rotate but don't force them to swivel by much or you will have a broken hand. You will also need to watch out for paint rub round the shoulder joints - the white on my shoulder joint flaked off on both sides on first movement of the joint. Thankfully it is hidden when the arms are put back down. Now over to Newt, the figure that caused so much ruckus on Alien Day 2016 through to SDCC. She stands 5" high with a stunning sculpt and likeness to Carrie Henn as she was in 1986. There is no neutral sculpt here either, and NECA have captured that scared look that she carried through a lot of the film with pursed lips and nervous eyes. She is painted to look dirty, which is no mean feat as quite often it comes out looking like brown paint on a figure. Here, you truly believe Newt's face is dirty and if you took a wet cloth to her face you could clean her up. Her hair is shoulder length and cast as an individual piece, so the lower section hangs loose and is flexible enough to move with the head. The hair is dirty too with some blonde highlights to show the natural colour through the grime.
The doll's head accessory is tiny, but easily recognisable. It also carries two different paint tones - one for skin and one for hair -as well as black eyes. It doesn't fit perfectly into Newt's hand, but she can hold it in a fashion. So there we have it, a set of 2 figures. One that was originally a limited SDCC exclusive. Another that was released 2 years ago and that has gone up in price on the secondary market. The Ripley figure also has enough improvements to warrant double dipping even if you aren't bothered by Newt. The weathering and sweaty skin really ramps up the realism, and for me this is now the better figure for an Aliens display and she would also look brilliant in your Power Loader.
She comes in her damaged dungarees, complete with ripped knees through which you can see her dirty and scuffed skin. The whole ensemble is weathered and dirty, and beautifully sculpted with plenty of creases, folds and buttons. Newt's skin is painted, and that means there is some flaking round the hands and these do also look a little chalky.
The rating for me is all around value for money. This is a two pack, that comes in just a touch higher than two new single releases. You can shop around for a better price, but for me at the UK RRP of ÂŁ45 I would have loved for NECA to squeeze in a couple of Alien eggs.
Newt is designed and articulated to both stand on her own, but also to grip from Ripley's neck with her legs either side. The head is ball jointed and can move to either side, and as we mentioned the hair works in any position thanks to the flexible plastic. The arms are ball jointed at the shoulder, with a rotating elbow and wrist rotation. There is a torso joint in the chest which helps the carrying pose by bending the body slightly into the side of Ripley. The hips are ball jointed and the knees single jointed. These aren't to let Newt knee or sit down, but rather grip the waist of Ripley when she is being carried. She will however stand on her own and the rocker ankles help her do this.
That all being said, there is no doubt this is a very nice release and the only flaw really is the few patches of paint rub and those fragile wrists. I am going to score this two pack a 5 out of 5.
14th November 2015
Issue 01 : Saturday 14th November, 2015
Issue 01 : Saturday 14th November, 2015
Disney Elite hits “A New Hope” So it was the fourth Disney Elite this week (Force Awakens figures aside), with the Stormtrooper as seen in A New Hope hitting Disney store shelves. The US got these in store on the Monday, they then went online and into UK stores on the Tuesday. Richard, a regular contributor on our Facebook Page, was kind enough to share these "in hand" photo's of the Stormtrooper he picked up and of his Elite collection to date And although he isn’t due for another 2-weeks, we also got our first look this week of the Elite Series Darth Vader. Lord Vader showed up boxed in Singapore and will hit US stores on the 23rd November, and online and UK stores one day later on the 24th. 1/12 collector’s unhappy with Hasbro’s version may well be tempted by the Elite Vader. The key will be how he scales with the Hasbro figures? Most of the Elite so far have been closer to 1/10 than 1/12 but Maul for example did work well enough to give Vader fans hope that this “may” be a potential improvement upon the Hasbro version. If you want to order the Stormtrooper from Disney then CLICK HERE
The weeks NECA reveals (they are always good for 2-3 at least a week) started with the first images of their upcoming Hateful 8 range of figures. The licence to the new Tarantino Movie will see NECA release all 8 main characters. These figures will be in the 8" retro clothed action figure range and will be limited to 3000 of each of the main characters. Expect these in December. “For Quentin Tarantino’s eighth movie, we have a special treat for fans! Our newest retro clothed action figure line features all eight main characters from The Hateful Eight, and is a limited edition release – only 3,000 of each will be made available globally. Each fully articulated figure stands 8” tall and is dressed in intricately tailored fabric clothing, similar to the iconic toy lines of the 1970s. All feature authorized likenesses, and come with character-specific accessories from the movie, like pistols, rifles, shackles, gun belts, holsters, and more, in window box packaging” NECA also continue their Ash vs The Evil Dead reveals, and this week's teaser picture was of Ash's signature chainsaw and shotgun. These figures will be in the more traditional 7 inch realistic style and we know that we will be getting Ash himself as well as at least one of the “Evil Dead” creatures.We look forward to seeing more reveals on this exciting new line and it should hit stores at some point in 2016.
If there is one thing NECA do really well is innovate new products and they certainly never restrict themselves to Action Figures. This week they announced their next 1:1 lifesize item, a replica Egg from Aliens along with its very own 1:1 scale Facehugger. The announcement was made on Twitter and was accompanied by the three promotional shots you see to the left. The egg will stand 36 inches high and will be inclusive of LED lighting that makes the inside of the egg glow. Transform any room into a deadly alien breeding ground with this Life Size #Xenomorph Egg — complete with its own eerie lighting and life size#facehugger! As seen in the 1986 horror classic #Aliens, this full-sized replica stands almost 36” tall, and articulated flaps with a wire armature allow you to actually open the top folds of the egg. The included full-size facehugger has a bendable tail, so you can pose it anywhere… waiting to drop on unsuspecting prey from overhead, or simply lurking inside the egg. The Life Size Xenomorph Egg is made of detailed, hand-painted foam and stands on its own. A switch activates the #LED lights inside the base to create a menacing, otherworldly glow effect. Requires 3 AAA batteries, not included. Starts shipping to retailers in March 2016!
Keep watching on our FACEBOOK and TWITTER pages for more details, or sign up for our Sat-TOY-Day news update every Saturday
https://goo.gl/RAZQxj
Issue 01 : Saturday 14th November, 2015
Tie Fighter Incoming Hasbro's giant 6 inch scale Black Series Tie Fighter has started to show up at Forbidden Planet. The first sighting came in from Southampton (part of Forbiddenplanet.com). This was soon followed up with limited stock turning up at Smyths and Toys R Us. So far it seems that, aside from Forbidden Planet and the independents, only Toys R Us & Smyths will carry this in store physically on shelves. Asda and Argos are doing this as an online exclusive, as of course are Amazon and Zavvi. Zavvi (click the link right) remains most competitive at £149.99 but you run the risk of them not getting stock which is a common issue. It was also revealed this week that we may see the Black Series 6 inch Battlefront Shock Trooper a lot sooner than we expected. The initial date for this was March 2016, but press releases from Walmart in the US indicate this figure will be available sooner and linked to the Battlefront game launch. News of his being available this weekend was exaggerated. We now await a firm release date from Walmart and to find out if this will translate to Asda in the UK - but we can hope.
CLICK HERE for the full story on the Walmart announcement courtesy of Yakface.com
You may remember that 2 weeks ago we broke the news that Aldi will be stocking a new Hasbro range of 6 inch scale 5 point of articulation Star Wars figures. These had been spotted in Taiwan and France, and Aldi are bringing these to the UK (and we also know to Germany) in November as part of a large Christmas Gift event. These figures will be sold at £6.99 and there are five to choose from - Darth Vader, First Order Stormtrooper, First Order Snowtrooper, Finn and Kylo Ren. The figures will hit Aldi stores from Thursday 26th of November, and like most of their promotions will be a one shot deal for about a week - so get in quick if you are after these. My intention is to pick up a full set for a review, and if these are half decent then the Storm & Snow Troopers may be bought in bulk for bulking out a First Order army. Aldi don’t stop there as they will also have a selection of 3.75” Rebels items. The will have the three 2014 Rebel ship assortment of the Phantom, Inquisitor’s Tie and AT-DP for £17.99. There is then a selection of five figures but only The Inquisitor & Stormtrooper are included from Rebels with the others being an X-Wing Luke, Han Solo and Clone Wars Obi Wan. These figures will retail at £5.99. CLICK HERE for the full interactive Aldi catalogue
Fans of Game of Thrones may want to follow my latest review challenge “Winter is Coming” With 4 of Funko’s Game of Thrones figures reviewed and archived, my new challenge is to find and review the remaining figures from series 1 and 2 by the end of the year. Watch out for Brienne of Tarth who will go up this weekend. For Star Wars Black Series collector's, watch out for our review of the Amazon Evolution of the Stormtrooper set - this should land in the next 2-weeks direct from the US.
Thank you to everyone who has followed the Mephitsu Archives and the “news that caught my eye” for close to 12 months now in one format or another. Today we start a new journey with the PDF publication of the newsletter. You can now sign up to receive this newsletter every Saturday direct to your inbox using the sign up button above. Don’t worry, we won’t pass any details to anyone else and you can unsubscribe at any point. The PDF format will also now allow us to archive older newsletters much easier, for these to be downloaded and read offline on devices like Tablets and KIndles. And we are exploring the publication of these on other online formats.