We’ve once again teamed up with our awesome friends over at Star Ace Toys to look at one of their Defo-Real The Lord of the Rings series statues. What are we looking at today? None other than the Lord of the Rings himself, Sauron. This Sauron, unlike the other pieces in this series so far, does have some polystone aspects. He’s pretty darn detailed, solid paints, and he looks awesome. You can get him right now for $90, from places like our friends at Sideshow Collectibles.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Star Ace Toys Defo-Real Sauron Review”

As we reach the 15th day of our Tolkien Advent Calendar celebration, we are thrilled to offer up something a little different: our 2020 official merchandise!

'Be Of Good Hope' TheOneRing.net's 2020 T-Shirt
‘Be Of Good Hope’ TheOneRing.net’s 2020 T-Shirt – https://teespring.com/be-of-good-hope

Early this year, Middle-earth Enterprises gave us the official go ahead to produce a new shirt for 2020, but unfortunately, due to time and resources, we never had a chance to post it. (As you may or may not be aware, TheOneRing.net is a not-for-profit website run by 100% volunteer energy – and we’ve been this way for our entire 21 year history. psst – it is one reason we’re pretty much the same team as we’ve always been!) We support our efforts by selling shirts and more at conventions and gatherings. Clearly this year was a bit different; BUT we’re delighted to be able to bring you this new design now – and just in time, as ‘hope is kindled’ for better days in 2021!

Excitingly, the design is available not only in a number of different shirt styles, but also as a sticker, a mug, a tote bag, and – perfect for right now – a face mask! The link to purchase is below – there are many colors and cuts of shirt available to customize your on-demand order. Oh, and you can even place orders in the EU!

TheOneRing.net is proud to offer our ‘Be of Good Hope!’ design. Officially licensed, these quotations from JRR Tolkien remind us all that when we are able to be together again, it will be a merry day indeed! Perfect for any fan of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, or any of the worlds and works of our favorite author. Say goodbye to 2020 by treating yourself and your loved ones, and enjoy these words of comfort from the Professor. Hope is kindled!

There will be better days ahead; ‘It’s only a passing thing, this shadow … And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer.’ We here at TORn are holding on to that, and we’re wishing happy days in 2021 for you and your loved ones. Start the year with a positive message: purchase your shirt and more today at TeeSpring.com. Thank you for supporting TheOneRing.net!

Our 'Be of Good Hope' Shirt is offered in a variety of styles and colors at https://Teespring.com/be-of-good-hope
Our ‘Be of Good Hope’ Shirt is offered in a variety of styles and colors at https://Teespring.com/be-of-good-hope

Editor Note: Join TheOneRing.net as we focus on the recent cast member announcements for Amazon TV’s The Lord of the Rings inspired TV series. Throughout the month, and as part of our Tolkien Advent Calendar celebration, we will be taking a deep-dive into their previous work, relating that to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien. And some days, we bring you something a little different, as an Advent Calendar surprise! Today’s calendar is below!

Day 15 of TheOneRing.net's Tolkien Advent Calendar Celebration
Day 15 of TheOneRing.net’s Tolkien Advent Calendar Celebration

During Sideshow Collectibles Comic-Con at-home event, they showed us a preview of a brand new Defo-Real figure and now we’ve  been surprised with another.

Collectors got to see a preview of the Morgul Lord Defo-Real figure, which is limited to only 500 pieces. Fans can grab him right now for $90, with a ship date of quarter one of next year.

The surprise for collectors is we can now also pre-order a Treebeard Defo-real figure. He’s not alone though, as you also get a little Merry and Pippin who are taking a ride on Treebeard. Fans will be able to get these three characters for $105 with a shipping date of quarter one of next year as well.

We saw Thranduil on Throne during our friends at Weta Workshop’s Comic-Con at home. It’s the next superb piece in their Masters Collection series, and it goes live for pre-orders on Tuesday, September 15th.

These Masters Collection pieces do not last long, and with only 400 of these being made, that streak is going to continue. Collectors should log into their accounts before it goes live (times listed below) and be ready to be quick with the order button.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Weta Workshop’s Thranduil on Throne Pre-Order”

It’s that time of year, when fans from the world over gather in downtown Atlanta, for a weekend for well-mannered frivolity. Or crazed depravity. Or, most likely, some combination of the two. This year, alas, coronavirus means no in-person DragonCon, which is sad for all those who are missing seeing friends there. But it’s great new for anyone who has never been able to get to Atlanta, as this year you can join the fun online! And there is PLENTY going on for fans of Middle-earth. Let’s take a look…

Staffers deej and greendragon will be taking part as ever, and TheOneRing.net’s panel will be online at 11.30am ET on Saturday (5th). There, deej and greendragon will be joined by High Fantasy Track assistant director Madeye Gamgee, who was recently lured into joining the TORn staff. We’ll be looking back on the past 12 months of Tolkien fandom, and looking forward to see what we can be excited about in the year ahead. (Spoiler: there’s actually rather a lot!)

Before that, on Friday evening at 8.30pm ET we’ll be hosting a Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (EE) watch along. Set up your own device, and we’ll all hit play together at 9pm precisely; and text chat along as we watch. AND earlier on Friday, you can catch a panel with none other than Nori, Ori, Bombur and Bifur: Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, Stephen Hunter and William Kircher will be appearing together to chat all things dwarvish!

There are lots of other things happening which will be of interest to Tolkien fans. Here’s a list of highlights of the con weekend, beginning this evening:

Tolkien Come to Virtual Dragon Con High Fantasy
Schedule 2020 (all times are Eastern Daylight)

Thursday, Sept. 3
9-10 pmSylvester McCoy (from 2011)D*C Classics
10-11 pmWe Have Always Fought: Warrior Women in High Fantasy D*C Fan Tracks
Friday, Sept. 4
10–11 amGreg Hildebrandt SpotlightD*C Main
5:30–6:30 pmDwarves on the Loose!(Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher)D*C Main
8:30 pm onwardWatch-a-Thon! Fellowship of the Ring (hitting “play” together at 9 pm EDT)High Fantasy track YouTube:https://youtu.be/zO3UAWQJX-4
Saturday, Sept. 5
5:30-6:30 amGreg Hildebrandt Spotlight (rebroadcast)D*C Main
11:30am – 12:30 pmAn Unexpected Virtual Party: the Latest News from Middle-earth from TheOneRing.netHigh Fantasy track YouTube:https://youtu.be/dssLi0d5WpQ
Sunday, Sept. 6
4 – 5 amSylvester McCoy (from 2012)D*C Classics
11:30am – 12:30 pm“The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien”: an Hour with Author John GarthHigh Fantasy track
YouTube:https://youtu.be/pgX1AeHrC4Q
4 – 5 pmÉowyn and Faramir: The Faces of the Fourth AgeHigh Fantasy track YouTube:https://youtu.be/v_0AhJiaUS8
6 – 7 pmHobbit Guests (from 2015)D*C Classics
7 – 8 pmThe Silmarillion in 60 Minutes (with costumes!)High Fantasy track YouTube:https://youtu.be/iWxhNKw33XI
8:30 pm onwardHobbit Drinking Songs (with the Brobdingnagian Bards)High Fantasy track. YouTube:https://youtu.be/EtKfDPR_tus

All of this content is available on links. For DragonCon Classics, click here. For DragonCon Fan Tracks, click here. For DragonCon Main, click here. And for any of the High Fantasy track panels, see the specific links included above. Also be sure to check out the High Fantasy track’s Facebook page for further details, and all the other exciting panels they have lined up. (You can catch Madeye Gamgee talking Narnia, and greendragon talking The Witcher!) AND you’ll also want to check out opportunities for autographs and virtual meet and greets, from Jed Brophy, Adam Brown and Stephen Hunter! Click here for details.

And as if that weren’t enough… We are also excited to let you know that there WILL be TORn t-shirts available! You’ll be able to order them online, and we’ll be revealing the designs for 2020 in our panel on Saturday, 11.30am ET. So please join us then! We’ll also post links here for buying, after Saturday’s reveal.

It’s all happening at DragonCon 2020. We may not be able to gather in person, but we can still have merry meetings online; see you for panels, movie viewing, and more. Let the fun begin!

The awesome folks at Star Ace Toys have announced two new Middle-earth Defo-Real figures.

The first is the Dark Lord himself, Sauron, which can be pre-ordered right now at Sideshow Collectibles for $90. This figure, unlike others in the series, has a limited edition run of only 500 pieces.

The other new figure was announced during Sideshow Collectibles Comic-Con at Home. Fans can keep informed about this new figure, via an RSVP link, which will place them on a list to be notified when the Morgul Lord himself is available for order.

That’s not all! If you need an extra Balrog in your life, and who doesn’t, you can order the light-up version for $96 which will be shipped during the fourth quarter of this year.

Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Star Ace Toys Defo-Real Sauron and Morgul Lord”