Rather than waste your time with a lot of chatter, I figured I’d pass along this press release, sent out by NECA today and forwarded by El Capitan himself:

NECA Acquires WizKids Assets from Topps

09/14/2009

The National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Inc. (NECA) has purchased the majority of the assets of WizKids, Inc. from The Topps Company, Inc., including the award-winning Clix family of games, which includes HeroClix, ActionClix, HorrorClix and SportsClix. NECA will also acquire the WizKids brand, the Pocketmodel Game family of games, including the Pirates of the Crimson Coast, Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Cursed Seas games, and the Mage Knight line of games.

The assets of WizKids that were purchased by NECA have been transferred to a wholly owned NECA subsidiary operating out of its offices in Hillside, New Jersey, which will operate under the WizKids name.

Clix pioneered the collectible miniature category and HeroClix has been the leading collectible game in the comic genre since its 2002 debut, due to its innovative game platform and deep collection of characters from the respective worlds of Marvel and DC Comics. NECA will continue the successful HeroClix product lines from powerhouse brands DC Comics and Marvel.

The Pocketmodel Game family of games includes the Pirates of the Cursed Seas PocketModel Trading Card Game, which is the latest in the successful line of Pirates card games that has run since selling out its first run in 2004.

“WizKids has created the best games within the collectible miniature and constructible genres and NECA is proud to help continue this great legacy,” said Joel Weinshanker, President and CEO of NECA. “The HeroClix engine is the envy of the industry and many companies have attempted to emulate it without success. We’re thrilled to deliver HeroClix to the gamers.”

NECA has hired Lax Chandra, who ran the WizKids subsidiary for The Topps Company, to be the President of NECA’s newly formed subsidiary, which will operate under the WizKids name. Former WizKids employees Chas Delong, Wade Sugiyama and Mike Elliott have also been brought on to help with the transition.

In the coming days and weeks, the new WizKids company will make further announcements about upcoming release plans.

For further information and updates, visit www.necaonline.com.

You can read the original press release here.

Of course, visitors to the blog (and the store) know that Heroclix is set to make its big comeback…but most interesting is that the press release also mentions forgotten games like ActionClix, SportsClix, and Mage Knight. Will NECA revive those franchises? It’s hard to say. Also conspicuous by way of its absence – the Star Wars Pocket Model game. We’ll just have to see how it all shakes out.

For now, though, it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief as the long, arduous process of waiting for confirmation is over – Wizkids is back under NECA.

Now for some Hammer of Thor information…please?

Above: Pictures from the league season-closing Battle Royale!

Our league winner this season was Chad DeBoer, and our fellowship winner was Brandon Lepard. The league leader in Critical Hits was Josh Parks, and the co-league leaders in Critical Misses were Chad DeBoer and Jon Lefevre. Thanks to everyone who came out every week and made this league so great! Watch this space (and the website) for details on what’s next for SWM organized play at the Hall of Heroes.

You’re still welcome to come in Wednesday, of course.

Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) – Hall closed, no Draft

Wednesday, September 9 - First week of Casual Magic, featuring Planechase format. If all goes well we will have additional Planechase decks available for sale. Buy-in of $1, start time 6:30PM SHARP. First place wins half the take in Hall of Heroes Fun Bucks!

Also Wednesday – the return of Magic 2010! This is the third printing and it is inexplicably already sold out in pre-orders, so get it while you can!  We will have four boxes available that day.

Friday, September 10 – FNM as usual.  $5 buy-in, 6:30PM start time.

• NECA will be working with Topps to produce Heroclix.
• Hammer of Thor is slated for release in November.
• The figure lists seen on HCRealms appear to be accurate, though the dials may not be.

Want more information? HCRealms has a great wrapup of the whole situation and a preview of what we can expect from the new set, and you can read about it here.

Oh, and don’t forget that we’ve got 20% off all Heroclix products now through the end of August at the store! Boosters, maps, singles…if it’s Heroclix, you can get 20% off. Now is a great time to start building up your collection, after all.

Holy cats, y’all! That right there is one pretty card box. Want it? Then you’ve got to get yer posterior down to the Hall this Saturday for Magic: The Gathering Game Day!

I’ll let Michael’s press release speak for itself (well, I’ll make snarky comments anyway, but here it is):

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Compete for the crown of Magic 2010 Champion at your store! (by which we mean the Hall of Heroes – ed.)

Game Day takes place at participating Wizards Play Network locations worldwide one month after the Magic 2010 release. Game Day is the first opportunity to play the Standard format on a global scale with the cards from Magic 2010!

Entry Fee:      $5.00

Game Time:   1:00PM

Format

• Standard Constructed

• Deck lists are recommended

• Swiss rounds – 50 minutes per round

• Number of Swiss rounds based on attendance

• All players may participate in all Swiss rounds

• The top 8 players after the Swiss rounds will advance to the single-elimination finals

• In the case of an event with 16 players or less, the Swiss rounds will be followed by a cut to top 4

• In the case of an event with exactly 8 players, there will be three Swiss rounds with no single-elimination cut

• Top 8 matches will be best 2 of 3

• Where necessary, the standings after the Swiss rounds will be used to determine final order in the standings.

• 24K, Competitive REL

• All Universal Tournament Rules and Magic: The Gathering Floor Rules are in effect for this event unless specifically overruled by information in this Format Document

• Players must bring pen, paper, card sleeves and appropriate counters.
• All participants receive a Naya Sojourners promo card exclusive to Magic Game Day, while supplies last

• The top 8 receive a Mycoid Shepherd full-art promo card exclusive to Magic Game Day

• The winner receives the Magic 2010 Game Day winners certificate, as well as the Magic 2010 Champion title

• Two Mycoid Shepherd full-art promo cards exclusive to Magic Game Day will be awarded as door prizes at each location.

• And first prize? Why, it’s this thing right here:

(I mean, I just can’t stop looking at it. - ed.)

In addition, the Hall will provide boosters of M10 in the same breakdown as we do for Friday Night Magic, to the top eight places based on attendance.

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So what are you waiting for? A written invitation? Consider this your written invitation, Chumley. Get over to the Hall this Saturday and play Magic to your little heart’s content during Magic: The Gathering Game Day!

Oh, all done with the excuses? Then let’s talk.

The Paper and Plastic League is the Hall of Heroes’ weekly game league! Every Tuesday and Thursday, you can take part in the card or minis game of your choice!

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Tuesdays

Monsterpocalypse – Giant monsters on a small scale! Create a team of beasts from a variety of different factions and battle for control of the city, destroying buildings and causing havoc all the while.

Naruto CCG – Based on the hit anime, build a deck around your favorite teenage ninja (who is neither mutant nor a turtle) and duel for supremacy!

Wednesdays

Star Wars Miniatures – This d20-based miniatures game based on the little-known “Star Wars” movies is fast-paced, fun, and easy to learn with limitless strategic possibilities. Whether you choose to go with the Dark Side or be a sissy, you’ll have a blast! Come by Thursday nights to test your mettle against fellow players, and try your hand at bi-weekly tournaments to earn prizes and league points! Tournaments carry a $2 entry fee (or equivalent purchase), freeplay is…free.

Pokemon TCG – Do you have a compulsive need to catch ‘em all? Indulge it with the Pokemon TCG. Play in a fun, casual atmosphere and earn points for cards and League Badges! Cost is $2 (or equivalent purchase).

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG – I can’t honestly explain what this is, but if you’re in the mood for duelin’, take it to the Hall of Heroes and play with your friends…maybe even make some new ones! Cost is $2 (or equivalent purchase).

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Yep, the Paper and Plastic League is a fantastic way to learn a new game or play a favorite with other like-minded individuals! Isn’t that awesome?

Not awesome enough? Why, you little…OK, how about this? Get 10% off all products related to featured games on their Paper and Plastic Nights! Want to pick up a pack of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards on Thursday? Awesome, ten percent off. Got your eye on some Monsterpocalypse maps? You get ten percent off on Tuesday nights. Basically, if the game is featured in PnP play that night, you get ten percent off products pertaining to the game. What a deal!

So there! You should really go out and play. Paper and Plastic League nights run from 6P-9P Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hope to see you there!

Yup, that’s  a copy of “Batman: Hush” signed by none other than series writer Jeph Loeb. A closer view:

Yup, Batman buys his comics at the Hall of Heroes. It has to be true. Jeph Loeb wouldn’t lie.

Wait…what’s that image up there?

That isn’t…could it be?

I think it is!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, after over a year of broken hearts, corporate wrangling and multiple offers and deals that seemed to go nowhere, Heroclix is back!

The game has been picked up by action figure manufacturers NECA, who are new to the gaming scene but from the sounds of things have hired at least a few staff members from the old Wizkids crew to help run the game. While no official announcement has been made (and we’ll pass it along when it happens), the Thor’s Mighty Chariot figure intended to serve as the Buy it By the Brick promo for the never-released Hammer of Thor set is already available for sale at NECA’s Comic-Con booth, which might as well be official confirmation. In addition, word has it that Hammer of Thor will be released this fall!

We here at the Hall of Heroes are incredibly excited about this news and want to pass that excitement on to you with a great discount! Starting now through August, all Heroclix products are 20% off at the store! Whether you’re looking to pick up singles or a few boosters, you’ll want to take advantage of this limited time offer and build up your collection. And if you’ve never played Heroclix before, now is the perfect time to start.

We’ll be announcing new Heroclix tournament and play schedules soon as well, so stay tuned!

Bookmark this page and keep an eye on it, because the coming days, weeks, and months will bring with it all the news that’s fit to print about the store. Whether it’s a listing of events or new products, you’ll find it here. You’ll also find some blog-exclusive sales and deals that aren’t available anywhere else, so make sure you keep it between yourself and everyone you know.

Enjoy the blog, and make sure you stop by the store whenever you’re in beautiful Mount Pleasant!