The first hint of this was when AKA_Qthulhu tweeted that Dark Horse was being provided as the source of a number of new Game of Thrones items, according to Big Bad Toystore, which led to my asking HBO... and they confirmed, and said a press-release would be out within the week.
And don’t you know it? Here it is:
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed cable television shows of 2011 was Game of Thrones, created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. The hit series is based on A Song of Ice and Fire, the best-selling fantasy novel series by George R. R. Martin.
Dark Horse Deluxe is proud to announce, in partnership with HBO, a vast Game of Thrones product line debuting in the spring of 2012, leading up to the show’s second-season premiere in April. Licensed product categories derived from the series will span a large range, including statues, busts, and action figures; prop and jewelry replicas; and barware, stationery, and other collectibles. This exciting new line of products debuts with a range of branded magnets, patches, playing cards, coaster sets, and more.
“We are delighted to be part of HBO’s licensing roster for Game of Thrones. We are big fans of the television adaptation,” said Dark Horse’s VP of Product Development, David Scroggy. “We are working closely with HBO to develop a line of products inspired by the series that will delight the fan base.”
Based on the best-selling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones debuted on HBO in March 2011. In a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, trouble is brewing. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and the ancient Wall that protects the realm from the darkness beyond, two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue, and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences.
Look for the first round of items in Diamond’s January Previews catalog; they will arrive in specialty retailers everywhere in March of 2012.
The initial offerings are a bit slight, but this is just the start. The possibility of statues, busts, and action figures will certainly leave some fans drooling, while prop and jewelry replicas will certainly please others. So far as we know, replicas of weapons is something that Dark Horse won’t be offering at this time, as Valyrian Steel holds those rights.
Me, I’d like a Mountain that Rides with horse-beheading action.