The success of September’s Montreal Comic Con means that the organizers aren’t going to waste any time prepping for the next one! And so, on December 6th, expect a one-day Comic Con featuring guests like Kane Hodder, Lloyd Kaufman and Monica Rial, plus a number of other guests soon to be announced! You can check out the official website for more info!

And coming up even sooner is the Montreal Toy Con–it’s a little out of the way for downtown-dwellers, taking place in St. Laurent’s Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, but if you’re looking for the best new and vintage comic, toys and collectibles, this is worth the trip! There’ll be a ton of dealers, plus cosplayers, LEGO and building enthusiasts and more! It goes down October 18th, costs only $4 (Kids 5 and under free) and is sure to be a blast! Click the pic to visit the site and find out more!

Hot off the presses from the New York Toy Fair…I found this interesting Newswire article about a new product.

MEGA Brands Launches a New Spin on Classic Battling Tops

Finally Putting the Power to Command in your Hands, Battle Strikers make North American Debut at New York Toy Fair

MONTREAL, Feb. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - MEGA Brands Inc (TSX: MB) is charged with excitement to introduce the first innovation to battling tops in over 50 years. Battle Strikers will be launched at the highly anticipated 2009 ToyFair in New York this month.

Unlike your parents’ and grandparents’ battling tops, Battle Strikers require no ripcords or pull strings. Featuring magnetic technology, Battle Strikers puts you in control, a first for any battling top. Battle Strikers are launched into battle with the Turbo Launcher, powering the “Strikers” up to 7500 RPMs. With the power of magnets, each ‘Striker’, has the ability to jump, dodge, and move into battle with the Controller. The sixteen unique, collectable and customizable Strikers are magnetically enhanced, and calibrated to different degrees of endurance with offensive or defensive precision.

“Battle Strikers draws on classic boy play patterns–collecting, creating, competing–and a proven play patterns–battling tops–to create a dynamic new brand for today’s kids,” says Chris Byrne (A.K.A. The Toy Guy (R)). “The toys encourage each individual player to hone their talent, ingenuity and skill to create unique competitive challenges that will foster social interaction and just plain fun.”

First unveiled at Hong Kong and UK Toy Fairs in January with great excitement, Battle Strikers are causing an industry-wide buzz. While battling tops have existed for over 2000 years, this classic toy has seen little to no innovation in recent decades – until now.

“With Battle Strikers, we have taken a classic play pattern and completely revitalized it,” states Vic Bertrand, Chief Innovation Officer of MEGA Brands. “We have integrated one of our core technologies to transform a ‘launch and watch’ toy into a ‘launch, control and battle’ experience”

See Battle Strikers in action at Youtube:

About MEGA Brands

MEGA Brands is a trusted family of leading global brands in construction toys, games & puzzles, arts & crafts and stationery. They offer engaging creative experiences for children and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable and high-quality products that deliver on our Trusted Brands promise. Visit www.megabrands.com for more information. The MEGA logo, A Family of Trusted Brands, Mega Bloks, Rose Art, MagNext and Board Dudes are trademarks of MEGA Brands Inc. or its affiliates.